Village Board of Trustees Meeting

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Village of Nyack Board of Trustees Held at Village Hall at 7:30 pm on Thursday, March 13, 2025 Present: Joseph Rand, Mayor Pascale Jean-Gilles, Trustee – arrived 8:00 pm Joseph Carlin, Trustee Also Present: Andrew Stewart, Village Administrator Dennis Michaels, Village Attorney Linda Donnelly, Village Clerk Absent: Donna Lightfoot-Cooper, Trustee Nathalie Riobe-Taylor, Trustee Meeting called to order at 7:39 pm Pledge of Allegiance Mayor’s Introduction The Village of Nyack won the $4.5 million NY Forward grant for downtown revitalization – HVAC system for Angel Nyack, workforce housing for volunteer firefighters, redevelopment of waterfront, connect Main St. and Broadway to the waterfront, beautify thruway underpass and murals. Very grateful to NYS, Mid-Hudson Redevelopment Committee, Governor Hochul and her team. Thank you to Andy Stewart, Ann Marie Tlsty, Sylvia Welsh and Don Hammond. Thank you to Ken Zebrowski and Al Samuels of the RBA, Steve Densmore of Choice Words, and the members of the grant committee – Susan Wilmink, Phil Donnelly, Kim Cross, Mark Davidoff, Paul Adler, Thomas Schneck, Pastor Carl Washington, Elliot Forrest, Terry Clark and Don Hammond. Civil rights activist and local artist, Bill Batson and I hosted a lunch with the organizers of the underground railroad consortium to discuss Nyack being a part of the historical trail re-enactment of the underground railroad. They saw multiple historic sights of Nyack. Thank you to the Nyack Center for hosting the lunch and My Father’s Kitchen for providing the food. We will not be a part of the trail but will be a part of the map and program as being a side trip. Thank you to NYS Assemblywomen Zimmerman. NOTE: 3/22, 2:00 pm 122 Main Street – Grand Opening of the Village’s New Veterinarian Practice Page 1 of 9 COMMENTS FROM THE VILLAGE BOARD Trustee Carlin – Saturday, April 19 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, Keep Rockland Beautiful Event. Register on their website to join us. Notifications are posted on social media. We will be meeting at the YMCA – donuts & coffee! PRESENTATIONS PUBLIC COMMENT Marcella Mazzeo – Nyack Cars and Coffee on S. Broadway, Sunday, April 6, 7:30 am – 10:30 am. Involves partial closure of S. Broadway to Hudson Avenue. Cars in regular parking spots. Only classic cars. Kim Cross – Nyack Center/Rockland Pride Center hosting a community dance party, Friday, March 21 – free to everyone. Tickets available to Women of Leadership and Vision brunch Saturday, March 15. Potential of putting out information for helping people through immigration defense. Kal Toth – First time a store with blackened windows and security guard on Main St. Mayor Rand – Not going to the ARB or the Planning Board. The Village has no jurisdiction over a medical cannabis dispensary. They are regulated by the NYS and must abide by certain rules, one of which requires security and windows where people can’t see in. We will work with the owners to ensure it doesn’t look unsightly. Sean Mack – NYS law mandates medical. You have no choice. Can’t ban or your violating state law. Most highly regulated and secure business and will improve Main St. Thomas Daly – Cannabis dispensaries. Can we not make changes to zoning policy? Mayor Rand – Village opted in to allow cannabis sales in DMU-1. A year ago, extended allowance to DMU- 2 commercial district north of Main St. – time/place/manner restrictions. Will be taking up legislation. 2,000 ft barrier blocks out dispensaries. Medical dispensary will block out other dispensaries by State regulation. Regulation could be changed and eliminated. Village will be in favor of adding that type of distance restriction and possibly some type of operation restrictions. Real issue are the local smoke shops that are alleged to be selling cannabis. Those are not legal or licensed. Those types of businesses have been shut down, it’s just been a slow process through the State. Once a legal dispensary goes into a jurisdiction, they start to shut down the illegal ones. What happens when they want to sell recreational? Mayor Rand – If they do that then they now have to comply with our regulations. How do we know our town isn’t going to become an eyesore? Mayor Rand – As long as they are abiding by the building code, we have no authority. If they are illegally selling cannabis, they will eventually be stopped from doing it. Trustee Carlin – I know for a fact the Rockland County DA is investigating. Sally Clark – If there is any way to work the NYS to move this, is there anything we can do? Mayor Rand – We will have a discussion about this on 3/27. Carmen Bowen – Reiterated concerns about having a dispensary. Inform you to think about ways we can restrict further dispensaries. Page 2 of 9 Patty – Medical dispensary 200’ from school – music schools are considered schools. Parents will shy away. Mira – Couldn’t we amend our zoning laws not to allow anything you don’t want open in the downtown. Mayor Rand – State law supersedes local law. No authority over medicinal. We cannot legally opt out once you opt in. We could amend zoning to change time/place/manner. Would not impact medical. Village Atty – There are two types of cannabis laws – recreational and medicinal. NYS regulates medicinal. There is NOTHING the Village can do about medical. Nyack Resident – Increase restrictions for cannabis Kristin Kidder – Concerned about proliferation. Main St. not safe. Consider what the residents are thinking and our concerns. Nyack Resident – Increase restrictions PUBLIC HEARINGS Community Development Block Grant 2025 Application Motion to open the public hearing offered by Trustee Carlin, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles Open Public Hearing on Community Development Block Grant 2025 Application Motion to keep public hearing open to March 27th at 8:00 pm at Village Hall, 9 N. Broadway, Nyack, so moved as recited by legal counsel, offered by Trustee Jean-Gilles, seconded by Trustee Carlin On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . Absent Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes ADOPTION OF MINUTES – 02/27/25 On motion of Trustee Carlin, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles. The minutes of the meeting held on 02/27/2025 were accepted as presented. ACTION ITEMS RESOLUTION NO. 2025-27 – ACCEPTING AUDITED VOUCHER SUMMARY The following resolution was offered by Trustee Jean-Gilles, seconded by Trustee Carlin. Page 3 of 9  WHEREAS, the Audited Voucher Summary was presented to the Nyack Village Board of Trustees at its regularly scheduled meeting of March 13, 2025. RESOLVED, the Village Board hereby approves the General Fund Claims set forth on pages 1 through 12 in the amounts of GENERAL FUND $79,723.72 PARKING AUTHORITY $14,573.05 WATER FUND $22,848.22 CAPITAL PROJECTS – 2017 $10,763.50 On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . Absent Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-28 – APPROVE THE GRAND FONDO BIKE RACE The following resolution was offered by Trustee Carlin, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles. RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Nyack approves an application from Lidia Fluhme of Gran Fondo NY for the annual bike race event, 8 AM, Sunday, May 18, 2025, along Piermont Ave, Gedney Ave, and North Broadway. No Village support needed. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . . Absent Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-29 – APPROVE APPLICATION FOR EASTER EGG HUNT IN MEMORIAL PARK The following resolution was offered by Trustee Carlin, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees approves an application from Tyrone Williams to host an Easter Egg hunt in Memorial Park on permit for Memorial Park for an event on April 19, 2025, subject to sufficient insurance indemnification. Page 4 of 9 On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . Absent Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-30 – APPROVE APPLICATION FOR MUSIC ON THE HUDSON SUMMER CONCERT SERIES IN MEMORIAL PARK The following resolution was offered by Trustee Jean-Gilles, seconded by Trustee Carlin RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees approves an application from Nyack Parks Conservancy for a Music on the Hudson Summer Concert Series on the following dates in Memorial Park: Tuesdays, July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29 and August 5, 2025, using the gazebo, and including a separate resolution to waive the prohibition on consumption of alcoholic beverages in the park. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . Absent Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-31 – ALLOW PURVEYING/SALE BY PRIVATE VENDOR/MERCHANT, AND CONSUMPTION BY CUSTOMERS, OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WITHIN A VILLAGE PARK FOR SPECIAL EVENT The following resolution was offered by Trustee Carlin, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles WHEREAS, the Village Board of Trustees (“Village Board”) has previously granted its permission, by way of the Village Board’s Resolution No. 2025-30 dated March 13, 2025, to Nyack Parks Conservancy to organize, host, conduct and run the Special Event known as “Music on the Hudson Summer Concert Series” at Memorial Park on Tuesdays, July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29 and August 5, 2025, between the hours of 5 PM and 10 PM, in accordance with said Resolution. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Village Board, (1) as per §250-15(A)(2) of the Village Code, grants and allows (a) Nyack Parks Conservancy to purvey/sell alcoholic beverages, and (b) the consumption, by its customers, of Page 5 of 9 alcoholic beverages, during the aforesaid Special Event “Music on the Hudson Summer Concert Series” at Memorial Park; and (2) this Resolution is subject to, and conditioned and contingent upon, Nyack Parks Conservancy complying with all applicable laws, statute, rules and regulations relating to such purveying/sale, and consumption, of alcoholic beverages, including, but not limited to, those prescribed by the State Liquor Authority. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . Absent Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-32 – ADOPT THE GREEN FLEET RIGHT-SIZING AND EFFICIENCY POLICY The following resolution was offered by Trustee Carlin, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees approves the attached policy to guide sustainable vehicle fleet management, favoring best practices in vehicle procurement, surplusing, and the minimization of greenhouse gas emissions. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . Absent Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-33 – APPROVE FOR THE PURPOSES OF A CAR SHOW ON S. BROADWAY FROM ENTRANCE TO MURRAY’S GAS STATION TO HUDSON AVENUE, THAT AREA TO BE BLOCKED ON SUNDAY, APRIL 6, FROM 7:30 AM TO 10:30 AM FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE CAR SHOW. The following resolution was offered by Trustee Carlin, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees approves a car show on S. Broadway from the entrance to Murray’s Gas Station to Hudson Avenue, that area to be blocked on Sunday, April 6th, from 7:30 am to 10:30 am, for the purposes of the car show. The Village will pay the expense of closing the street for this one event. Page 6 of 9  Trustee Carlin – Concerned about the logistics of closing the street Administrator Stewart – Cars can come from south only to Murray’s On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . Absent Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes DEPARTMENT REPORTS (based on availability) Orangetown Police Department – Conference call with OPD. Stated there is no coordination with ICE. In terms of coordination, they do have to follow the law. Understanding of the concerns people have. Village raised concerns of downtown and they are working on it. Update on shooting – working on case, uncooperative victim. Village Attorney – Village Administrator – Village Clerk – OLD BUSINESS Draft amendment to local law to exempt public murals from ARB review. Mayor Rand called for a motion to set a public hearing on Thursday, April 24 at 8:00 pm Motion offered by Trustee Carlin, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles Motion to set a public hearing on Thursday, April 24 at 8:00 pm on Thursday, April 24 at 8:00 pm to exempt public murals from ARB review. Motion offered by Trustee Carlin, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles. Motion carried. Draft amendment to local law on maximum height of hedges on corner lots Set date for public hearing Local Municipal ID cards policy Kim Cross and Jesenia Blanco – ID cards issued by local government and accepted by agencies and officials as proof of identity for those that have no other type of official identity. Cost neutral for municipality. Valuable to most vulnerable communities. Trustee Carlin – How do we prevent fraud? How do we make sure the card can’t be copied. Maybe a marking of the village that can’t be duplicated. Kim Cross – Can’t use for anything other than identifying who you are. No notable fraud has been documented. Mayor Rand – Voluntary for people to get. Small costs for the machine and supplies. Information is not public, not foilable. Nice thing to do for the community. Page 7 of 9  Trustee Jean-Giles – Are we taking pictures? Kim Cross – Yes Trustee Carlin – How difficult is it to get a state issued ID? Kim Cross – Not an option for the people we would like to issue to Mayor – Issuing an id that they are residents of Nyack NEW BUSINESS Revised Complete Streets Policy Current policy won’t get credits. Better language and what the purpose is and who it benefits. Resolution for next meeting Mayor Rand – Thank you for all your hard work. Administrator Stewart – What Marcy and Steve do is extraordinary. They literally brought in over $1 million in grants for the village. Marcy Denker – The Village of Nyack should be very proud. When we get certified at the silver level, we will be 1 of 14 municipalities in the State of New York. Green Energy Procurement Policy This policy says we want to continue with community solar purchases. Making commitment to keep doing what we’re doing. Resolution for next meeting Restaurant bump out policy Agenda for next meeting Petition to ban cannabis sales in Nyack Board of Water Commissioners – invites the public to attend their regularly scheduled meeting on 3/20/25, 4:30 pm, for in-depth discussion of any concerns about water quality. COMMUNICATIONS William Araneo, wedding event, Memorial Park gazebo, Sunday, June 1, 2025. Resolution for next meeting Steve Cea, “The Big Plug-In,” EV celebration event, Veterans Parking lot, Saturday, May 10, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Ribbon cutting and celebration of new charging stations Local residents with electric vehicles, EV dealers and music. Resolution for next meeting Stephen Honan, re: Site Plan, 80 S Broadway Take letter under advisement EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion by Trustee Carlin, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles to enter into executive session at 9:33 pm. Page 8 of 9 Motion by Trustee Carlin, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles to end executive session at 9:44 pm. Motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT Motion offered by Trustee Jean-Gilles, seconded by Trustee Carlin. Motion carried unanimously. VILLAGE CLERK Page 9 of 9