Village Board of Trustees Meeting

Minutes of the regular meeting of the Village of Nyack Board of Trustees held at 7:30pm on Thursday September 12, 2019 at Nyack Village Hall, 9 N. Broadway, Nyack, New York Hon. Dr. Don Hammond Presiding: PRESENT Dr. Don Hammond Mayor Louise Parker Trustee Marie Lorenzini Trustee Donna Lightfoot-Cooper Trustee Elijah Reichlin-Melnick Trustee ALSO PRESENT James Politi Village Administrator Walter Sevastian Village Attorney Jennifer Hetling Village Clerk/Treasurer Meeting called to order at 7:30pm Pledge of Allegiance Nyack Thanks – Eileen Kuster-Collins Adoption of Minutes August 8, 2019 Motion by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper, seconded by Louise Parker to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Public Comment Action Items Resolution No. 2019 – 66 Resolution of the Nyack Village Board to accept the Audited Voucher Summary #15-2019 Motion by Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, seconded by Marie Lorenzini to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Resolution No. 2019 – 67 Resolution of the Nyack Village Board to approve the Rockland County Pride Center to host a block party on Jackson Ave. on September 28, 2019 Motion by Louise Parker, seconded by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Resolution No. 2019 – 68 Resolution of the Nyack Village Board approving the submission of a grant application for grant funding through the Environmental Facilities Corporation Motion by Marie Lorenzini, seconded by Louise Parker to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Resolution No. 2019 – 69 Resolution of the Nyack Village Board to issue a negative declaration under SEQRA for the Nyack water distribution improvement project Motion by Louise Parker, seconded by Marie Lorenzini to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.  PUBLIC HEARING Zoning Amendments to Use Specific Standards for Solar Energy Collectors - For purposes of adjournment to consider comments of Rockland County Planning Department Motion by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper, seconded by Louise Parker to open the public hearing at 8:06pm. Village Attorney stated that the Village has laws on limitations on solar energy collectors. The Village is looking to change this however the Rockland County Planning Department was not in favor of this. The attorney said he was not sure the Planning Department had fully understood what the Village law would have done. He asked that the Board adjourn this to the November meeting Motion to adjourn the public hearing to November 14, 2019 by Louise Parker, seconded by Marie Lorenzini. Motion passed by unanimous decision. Public Comment Drew Burke - In light of the recent shootings, the Board needs to work more closely with the police department and state legislators to stop the violence. The Board agreed. Joe Carlin – 51 N. Broadway has had the sidewalk barricaded for months and asked what the status is to which Mayor Hammond replied that the building owner has hired an engineer and they are waiting on the results. The Village Attorney stated that the building owner has been issued an order to remedy, they are working with the building department and the next step would be to issue a summons. Asked is the parking meters are leased and if the lease includes maintenance. Asked if the new meters could be retrofitted with bill collectors to which Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper stated that the bill collectors caused too many jams and repair issues. He stated that he was disappointed that the meters do not take dollar bills. Stanley Cesar – Stated that he has witnessed reckless behavior by the owner, Isaac Hershko, owner of Brickhouse. While working for the Brickhouse he tried his best to better the business. The things that happened there were not proper and there are still wrongs happening. Janice Falcicchio – Claimed that James Elkick, Rockland County Consumer Protection, did an investigation of 92 Main St. and supposedly he informed her that he was shocked that the Village of Nyack Building Inspector was not cooperative when informed that there has been electrical work performed at the location without a permit. Laura Weintraub – Owner of 43 N. Broadway who attended a meeting a couple of months ago and questioned when the work was going to be done on the exterior 51 N. Broadway. Stated that she hasn’t heard anything on the progress and told the board that the issues have still not been resolved. Trustee Reichlin-Melnick and several members of the Board expressed their frustration that the issue is still ongoing. Drew Burke – An ambulance is stopping on Main St. in the wrong direction to get coffee which could cause traffic problems. Stated that he does not agree with the Village giving daily parking space permits out on Depew Ave. because it causes an inconvenience to the residents on that street. Stated that the Building Inspector is doing a great job with the contractors that are working on Depew Manor. Department Reports to the Board of Trustees Orangetown Police Department – None Village Attorney – The Joule contract is ready to move forward and can be signed by the Mayor. The board agreed that groups of 10 to 40 using the park can be issued permit by the Village Clerk and groups over 40 must get approval from the Village Board. Section 250-10 of the Parks and Recreation Law must be revised to accommodate this. Motion to set a public hearing for the park law on October 10, 2019 by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper, seconded by Elijah Reichlin-Melnick. Motion passed by unanimous decision. The parking code needs to be changed on Gail Drive to reflect 9am-12pm no parking, to codify the 15 minute parking limit rule at Village Hall and the Post Office and no long term parking at Memorial Park. These laws will be drafted and reviewed by Mayor Hammond and Trustee Reichlin-Melnick before the public hearing is set. The Village Planner is seeking amendments to the storm water management section of the village code and storm water pollution protection provisions of the zoning code. Motion for a public hearing on November 15, 2019 at 8:15pm by Marie Lorenzini, seconded by Louise Parker. Motion passed by unanimous decision. The RFP for 15 Burd Street has been drafted for a food and beverage operation license. This license will be for a term of 10 years with (2) 5 year options. It has an alternative to management the Marina but it is not mandatory. The RFP has a restriction that the business would need to be closed by 1am. The RFP will be published on Monday September 16, 2019, there will be a mandatory meeting on October 8, 2019 and submissions will be opened on November 22, 2019. The license would start on January 1, 2020. Village Administrator – Spoke about the Public Works/Capital Projects Update (attached) Parks and Recreation – report attached LED Project – Suggested 3000 lumen fixtures as they are the only ones that are dark sky compliant to which the board agreed. Project should be completed in the early spring. A map from Hopper House was provided to show where the bike rack would be which they suggested at a prior meeting. The design of the bike rack will be presented at a future meeting. Request for executive session for the review of the CBA. Motion by Louise Parker, seconded by Elijah Reichlin-Melnick to approve this request. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Village Clerk – Treasurer – Reviewed the discussion had with the Finance Committee and stated that budget v. actual as reviewed and certain lines were identified to keep an eye on. Fees for single use of the Senior Center was reviewed and the Clerk-Treasurer asked that the Board consider reviewing the fees charged to the groups that use the Center on a regular basis. Commission and Authority Reports to the Board of Trustees Water Commission The annual report has gone out. The rate increase went out as well. The billing software was updated and will hopefully increase efficiency. Dan Massillio, Deputy Water Superintendent is retiring and Gilbert Francois will be replacing him. A new operator, Brian Wilson, was hired. Parks Commission Jim Willcox reviewed the request of Andrea Paul to put a park bench near the skate park in memory of _____ and is in favor of it. They are working together on the design of the bench and asks that the Village approve this request. Motion by Donald Hammond, seconded by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper to approve the memorial bench. Motion passed by unanimous vote. The Parks Commission would like to look at the rules for memorial benches going forward to determine space and regulations on the requests in a formal manner. Nyack Parking Authority Finance Update Policy Nyack Housing Authority Old Business Communications Request from Nursery School of the Nyacks to host a fall pumpkin patch fundraiser at the Veteran’s Park gazebo on October 12, 2019 from 10am-3pm – held over from August 8, 2019 meeting for Village Attorney review The board denied this request – fundraisers are not allowed in the park Request from Peter Costa to use the gazebo in Memorial Park for a wedding of 30 people on September 26th at 3pm Request was denied Request from Linda Belnick for a refund $4.50 for an overpayment caused by unfamiliarity with the new parking meters. – New documentation provided Request from Roger Harris to use Memorial Park on July 18, 2020 from 8am to 7pm for the Nyack Memorial BBQ with approximately 350 people Roger Harris, Michael Powell, and Eric Shakur spoke about how the Nyack Memorial BBQ got its start, what happens during the event and how funding is obtained. The Village approved this request. Request from The Montessori Center of Nyack to close Fifth Ave. from Marion St. to North Broadway from 8:30am to 2:30pm for a school picnic on October 4, 2019 The Village approved this request. Request from Boy Scout Troop 2002 to have an overnight campout for approximately 15 people to bring awareness to the homeless in Memorial Park on September 20-22 from 5pm to 8am Ian Graham, Kier Lavesque spoke about the request which builds community awareness of the problems in the community. The scouts would also be collecting food and household items for local food pantries. Motion by Marie Lorenzini, seconded by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper to approve this request. Motion passed by a unanimous decision. Request from the Nyack Community Garden Members to host a pot luck dinner at the Senior Center on October 17, 2019 from 5pm-930pm for approximately 50 people The board approved this request. New Business Discussion of possible PILOT agreement for the Pine St. Homes Public Comment Drew Burke – Discussion of the PILOT agreement should be addressed to the Nyack Housing Authority Board and not just to the Chair. Alan Englander – Sidewalks on the south side of Main St. in the general area of 236 Main St. are in poor shape. Comments from the Village Board of Trustees Elijah Reichlin-Melnick – The County used to have a program to buy open space and the Village supports this. He urges the Village to support the current plan by the County Legislature to re-instate this program. Marie Lorenzini – None Donna Lightfoot-Cooper – On Hudson Ave near the post office it is very dirty.  There are a lot of street lights not working in the Village and should be looked at for safety concerns. Mayor Hammond suggested that a Parking Enforcement Aide review this. 48 S. Franklin Ave. has water being drained from the basement. This water is becoming stagnant in the road because the storm drain in front of the house needs to be cleaned. There is a lot of need for housing in the Village. Louise Parker – There is a parking spot on Depew Ave near the clock shop that makes turning a problem. Mayor Hammond suggested that a traffic study be done in the area. Donald Hammond – NAACP Youth Council is having a service on September 22 at 6pm at the Nyack High School where Mayor Hammond will be honored. There will be a complete street workshop at the RCC Culinary Institute on September 26 at 9am. Executive Session Motion by Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, seconded by Louise Parker to move to executive session at 10:19pm. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Motion by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper, seconded by Marie Lorenzini to exit executive session at 10:33pm. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Adjournment Motion by Marie Lorenzini, seconded by Louise Parker to adjourn the Village board meeting at 10:33pm. Motion passed by unanimous vote.