Village Board of Trustees Meeting

Minutes of the regular meeting of the Village of Nyack Board of Trustees held at 7:30pm on Thursday December 10, 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 Walter Sevastian Village Attorney Jennifer Hetling Village Clerk/Treasurer 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 December 10, 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 December 10th 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 – November 12, 2020 Motion by Louise Parker, seconded by Marie Lorenzini to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Public Comment – None Resolution No. 2020 – 73 Resolution of the Nyack Village Board to accept the Audited Voucher Summary #18-2020 Motion by Donald Hammond, seconded by Elijah Reichlin-Melnick to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by a unanimous vote. Resolution No. 2020 – 74 Resolution of the Nyack Village Board approving the 2021 meeting dates for the Village Board and all Land Use Boards Motion by Marie Lorenzini, seconded by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by a unanimous vote. Resolution No. 2020 – 75 Resolution of the Nyack Village Board approving the continued work with Joule, the Community Choice Aggregation Administrator, to increase awareness about the community solar program Motion by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper, seconded by Louise Parker to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by a unanimous vote. Resolution No. 2020 – 76 Resolution of the Nyack Village Board adopting a local law amending Chapter 342 of the Code of the Village of Nyack entitled “Waterfront Consistency Review” Motion by Donald Hammond, seconded by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by a unanimous vote. Resolution No. 2020 – 77 Resolution of the Nyack Village Board to adopt the Village of Nyack Local Waterfront Revitalization Program and waterfront consistency review law. Motion by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper, seconded by Marie Lorenzini to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by a unanimous vote. Resolution No. 2020 – 78 Resolution of the Nyack Village Board to established a Business Council for the Village of Nyack. Motion by Donald Hammond, seconded by Marie Lorenzini to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by a unanimous vote. 1. PUBLIC HEARING 7:45pm To consider adopting a local law to amend Chapter 342 of the Code of the Village of Nyack, entitled “Waterfront Consistency Review” Motion by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper, seconded by Marie Lorenzini to open the public hearing at 7:47pm. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Attorney Sevastian explained that a waterfront consistency review provision and a waterfront revitalization program has been in the code. Due to some state funding we have been able to update it. There have been some amendments to ensure that land use projects are consistent with the goals of the Village and mitigate impact of future development on the natural resources. Motion by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper, seconded by Marie Lorenzini to close the public hearing at 7:49pm. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Department Reports to the Board of Trustees Orangetown Police Department – Mayor Hammond stated that he and Administrator Politi met with the police and there were a number of arrests recently in the Village but not really in the downtown area. Village Attorney – There are a number of open litigation cases that he has been working on. The state has stopped in person court proceedings so they are working on doing pleas by mail. The Time Hotel had issues completing work in the roof shielding mechincals and a fine was paid. Village Administrator – The water improvements project is moving along. They are on Upper Depew working. DPW is prepping for the winter and getting their equipment ready. Jim Hastings from Montefiore Nyack Hospital is requesting 4-5 spaces on N Midland Ave.on December 16 an 17 to put a tractor trailer to distribute turkeys and apple pies to the staff at the hospital. Motion by Donald Hammond, seconded by Louise Parker to allow the hospital to use the parking spaces. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Village Clerk – Treasurer – The independent audit began this week and they will continue to work on it. Old Business Finance review – James Politi stated that the budget will have a shortfall this year so he has been working with Mayor Hammond and Jennifer Hetling to see how to correct this. The parking authority is expected to bring in $100k in net profits, there should be building permits revenue coming in that was unexpected of $200k, there will be an amnesty program in the NPA that should create a profit of $60k, the marina fees are up from what was budgeted by $35k. He will also watch the overtime costs. Mayor Hammond stated that with these changes we expect to break event his year. He will continue to monitor the budget over the next 5 months. New Business Review of traffic and parking studies – Nyack Hospital Parking Garage, Nyack, New York Attorney Sevastian stated that as part of the land use process for the hospital to build a parking garage the Village asked that a parking study be done. There were suggestions made in the report. This should be reviewed at a future workshop. - Community Solar Energy - Set special meeting for re-organizational meeting – Jennifer Hetling will put out a couple dates in the first week of January to see what fits in everyone’s schedule. Communications Request from Bill Batson to extend the parking grace period to 2:30pm for farmers market vendors Motion by Donald Hammond, seconded by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper to extend the grace period to 2:30pm for vendors only. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Correspondence from Angela Turner Warren regarding the traffic on South Midland Ave. – James Politi and Mayor Hammond are reviewing this and will get back to the board. Setting a Public Hearing to consider a request to designate the John Green House as an Historic Landmark Motion by Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, seconded by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper to set the public hearing. Motion passed by unanimous vote. South Broadway Business request to close the roadway from Hudson Ave to Murray’s gas station for an outdoor event on Friday, December 18, 2020, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. – Trustee Parker asked what the cost to the Village would be and Administrator Politi stated it would cost about $700 but the local businesses would be paying for it.. Motion by Donald Hammond, seconded by Louise Parker to allow the street closure. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Nyack Chamber request to use the Veteran’s Gazebo are for an outdoor Holiday Gift Fair on Saturday, December 19, 2020, 10:00am to 3:00pm. Motion by Louise Parker, seconded by Marie Lorenzini to approve the Holiday Gift Fair. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Public Comment - None Comments from the Village Board of Trustees Elijah Reichlin – Melnick – Announced that this would be his last meeting at Village Trustee because he was newly elected to the State Senate. The trustees all wished him well. Louise Parker – None Donna Lightfoot-Cooper – There is a Nyack Housing Authority meeting next week that she planson attending. Marie Lorenzini – Thanked the Mayor for all he is doing with the community to help Nyack. Donald Hammond – He watched the Tarrytown meeting and one of the thing he saw was that they are not bagging the meters this year because they don’t think it helps the businesses. Instead it lets people park their card all day long and there is no turnover. People of South Nyack have been asking a lot about merging with Nyack or annexing property. (See Mayors statement) Since Trustee Reichlin-Melnick is resigning, he will be interviewing some candidates for his position over the next week. Adjournment – Motion by Donna Lightfoot-Cooper, seconded by Elijah Reichlin-Melnick to adjourn the meeting at 8:38pm. Motion passed by unanimous vote.