Village Board of Trustees Meeting

Minutes of the regular meeting of the Village of Nyack Board of Trustees held at 7:30pm on Thursday November 12, 2020 at Nyack Village Hall, 9 N. Broadway, Nyack, New York Hon. Dr. Don Hammond Presiding: PRESENT Dr. Don Hammond Mayor Louise Parker Trustee Donna Lightfoot-Cooper Trustee Elijah Reichlin-Melnick Trustee Marie Lorenzini Trustee ALSO PRESENT James Politi Village Administrator Jennifer Hetling Village Clerk/Treasurer ABSENT Walter Sevastian Village Attorney Meeting called to order at 7:30pm Pledge of Allegiance As we continue to address our respective challenges associated with COVID-19, Village government continues to operate. And as there are matters the Village must continue to address as part of keeping the Village operational, our November 12, 2020 Village Board meeting remains as scheduled and was held remotely. We will be keeping the Agenda (see posting on website) to essential items. On March 7, 2020, in Executive Order No. 202.1, Governor Cuomo suspended certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law to permit a Village Board to meet and take actions authorized by law without permitting in public in-person access and authorizing such meeting to be held remotely by conference call or similar service, provided that the public has the ability to view or listen to such proceeding and that such meetings are recorded and later transcribed. The Village will be activating a remote meeting platform for the November 12th Village Board meeting, which will enable residents to phone in and listen to the meeting in compliance with the Executive Order. In the interests of the public's health and safety, the Village Board strongly encourages residents to utilize this platform. The Village Board appreciates your patience and understanding during this difficult and evolving situation. Please be sure to check in on the Village website for updates which will be posted on an ongoing basis. Adoption of Minutes October 22, 2020 – Motion by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper, seconded by Marie Lorenzini to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by a unanimous vote. Public Comment - None Action Items Resolution No. 2020 – 68 Resolution of the Nyack Village Board to accept the Audited Voucher Summary #16-2020 Motion by Donald Hammond, seconded by Marie Lorenzini to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by a unanimous vote. Resolution No. 2020 – 69 Resolution of the Nyack Village Board approving the use of retention and disposition schedule for New York local government records Motion by Louise Parker, seconded by Marie Lorenzini to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by a unanimous vote. Resolution No. 2020 – 70 Resolution of the Nyack Village Board establishing the standard work days for specific elected and appointed officials Motion by Donald Hammond, seconded by Marie Lorenzini to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by a unanimous vote. Resolution No. 2020-71 Resolution of the Nyack Village Board approving the submission of the 2020 unpaid taxes to Rockland County for relevy Motion by Louise Parker, seconded by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by a unanimous vote. Resolution No. 2020-72 Resolution of the Nyack Village Board adopting the 2018 international building code and 2018 international residential code as adopted by new York State on May 12, 2020 Motion by Donald Hammond, seconded by Marie Lorenzini to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by a unanimous vote. Public Comment Department Reports to the Board of Trustees Orangetown Police Department – The Mayor and Village Administrator James Politi met with the police today. There has been a bit of an uptick in arrests but it is centered around 2 people. They also talked with the police about enforcing the new 10pm curfew from the State. The 2nd meeting of the police reform task force was on Tuesday. They are working on how to manage putting together a document and getting public comments. Village Attorney – The justice court is up and running but not handling as many cases as before COVID-19. The planning board has been active. The hospital’s site development plan for the garage was approved. Sylvia Welch is applying for a grant that the resolution was needed. The restaurant “Joe & Joe’s” has changed ownership and they have requested a waiver of the 30 day waiting period for the liquor license. Motion by Donald Hammond, seconded by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper to waive the waiting period for the liquor license for 273 Main St. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Village Administrator – The Village has a COVID policy and site review done by Montefiore Nyack Hospital. He is working on a new concept to meet the project objectives for the TAP project. All the other projects are moving ahead. Village Clerk – Treasurer – Rabbi Ehrenreich submitted his request to place a menorah in Veteran’s Park the first week of December with a lighting on December 13th at 4pm and taken down after Hanukkah ends. Motion by Marie Lorenzini, seconded by Louise Parker to approve the menorah placement and the gathering will be discussed with Rabbi Ehrenreich. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Communications Letter from Meals on Wheels regarding a Thanksgiving meal delivery opportunity Way finding signage approval request from Rockland County Nyack Visitors Center at Hudson Market Trustee Donna Lightfoot-Cooper commented that the signs are beautiful and clear. Trustee Reichlin- Melnick agreed and asked where the signs would be located to which Mark Davidoff stated one would be at the intersection of Route 59 and Route 9w, one at the intersection of Franklin and Main and the last at the Shell station as you come off of Route 87. Motion by Donald Hammond, seconded by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper to accept the design and placement of the signage. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Public Comment – None Comments from the Village Board of Trustees Louise Parker – None Donald Hammond – He is working on getting an additional board member for the Nyack Housing Authority that he will bring to the board at the December meeting. Jim Montesano asked for a meeting with him and the Orangetown supervisor because they want to redo the upper field of the middle school to adjust for a new traffic pattern. They want to go into a partnership with the Village and the Town to help put up lighting and then the turf field could be used by the Village for recreation but he does not yet have details on cost. There was a Business Council document sent to the board for review. They have a lot of holiday ideas and are trying to bring all businesses together with the Village. COVID cases are starting to go up. Everyone should continue to encourage people to wear masks and social distance. He is looking at doing another mask distribution with the help of the County and the Nyack Mask Makers. Elijah Reichlin-Melnick – Asked if a request had been received for the placement of the menorah in Veteran’s Park. Motion by Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, seconded by Marie Lorenzini for an executive session related to litigation. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Marie Lorenzini – Correspondence was received about putting a creche in Veteran’s Park. Attorney Sevastian stated that religious symbols in the park would need a plaque stating that it is not sponsored or endorsed by the Village of Nyack. Motion by Marie Lorenzini, seconded by Louise Parker to approve the placement of a crèche in Veteran’s Park with the same parameters as the menorah. Donna Lightfoot-Cooper – Stated that she was in Karim Deen’s store on Main St. and there was a lot of garbage outside. James Politi will contact her tomorrow to give her a status update. Stated that there has been a person in the Village that has been ripping people off. Mayor Hammond stated that he has been arrested several times recently. She has heard that the Housing Authority office has closed temporarily due to COVID. Executive Session Motion by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper, seconded by Elijah Reichlin-Melnick to enter executive session. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Motion by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper, seconded by Elijah Reichlin-Melnick to exit executive session at 8:36pm. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Adjournment Motion by Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, seconded by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper to adjourn the Village Board meeting at 8:36pm. Motion passed by unanimous vote.