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 27, 2025 Present: Joseph Rand, Mayor Pascale Jean-Gilles, Trustee Donna Lightfoot-Cooper, Trustee Joseph Carlin, Trustee Nathalie Riobe-Taylor, Trustee Also Present: Andrew Stewart, Village Administrator Dennis Michaels, Village Attorney Linda Donnelly, Village Clerk Absent: Meeting called to order at 7:30 pm Pledge of Allegiance Mayor’s Introduction Congratulations to new business openings in Nyack – Bright Path Childcare, Nyack Neighborhood Veterinary Practice and Kantina Kita; this Saturday is the last day to see Black History Month Exhibition at the Historical Society from 1:00-4:00 PM; this Sunday the Nyack Film Festival begins at Hotel Nyack; next Friday Rockland Pride Night Market at the Pride Center at the corner of Jackson Ave. and Franklin St.; Nyack Art Collective Art Exhibition on the 1st Friday in the adjunct room next to Burger Loft; April 10th local band Coheed and Cambria event hosted by the Nyack Chamber of Commerce. The band will be getting a key to the village for the work they’ve done within Nyack; April 29th, Angel of Nyack will be hosting a Maker’s Market at the First Reformed Church building at Burd and Broadway COMMENTS FROM THE VILLAGE BOARD Trustee Jean-Gilles – Request to close the meeting in honor of Alexa White a former Nyack resident who passed in a tragic accident Trustee Carlin – Last week’s monthly Water Board meeting on water quality – Water Board responded honestly, respectfully and were very professional PRESENTATIONS Dominic Pilla, Planning Board referral of 80 S. Broadway application for a fourth floor Special Permit from Board of Trustees with conditions Trustee Carlin – You have to provide for more than the 10% requisite of affordable housing. Page 1 of 10  Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper – Why are you seeking a 4th floor? DR Pilla Assoc. – Provides for a more attractive layout. Trustee Carlin – I object to the 4th floor. I believe in maintaining the historic character of the Village. Mayor Rand – I feel not out of keeping with the rest of the community. I’d rather have a nice building that’s a nice place to live. A step up from what currently exists in this space. My inclination is to say yes. David MacCartney, Atty., Feerick Nugent MacCartney, representing Hanneman Funeral Home – Opposed to four stories. Out of character for the neighborhood. Overlooking/overshadowing the funeral home. Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper – On the fence. Would like to see a three-story rendering and to hear from the nearby residents and businesses. Trustee Jean-Gilles – Would like to see more concessions and feel the public benefit is sparse. Not ready to make a decision now. Trustee Riobe-Taylor – Would like to see without the four stories. Not ready to render a decision. Mayor Rand – Submit a three-story rendering and we will discuss again in two weeks. PUBLIC HEARINGS Community Development Block Grant 2025 Application Continue Public Hearing on Community Development Block Grant 2025 Application from 03/27/2025 Administrator Stewart gave a brief overview. Federal money awarded through the County of Rockland for sidewalk, paving improvements. Committee convened, proposals and concepts reviewed. Two viable projects – Kilby St. sidewalks and paving; paving Artopee Lot with angle parking, ingress and egress, and shade trees. Consensus is to go with Kilby St. sidewalks and paving. Mayor Rand invited public comment. Chris Scialabba – Area between Children of America and hospital is missing a chunk of sidewalk. Administrator Stewart – Can’t use CDBG money on a state road. Motion by Trustee Jean-Gilles, seconded by Trustee Riobe-Taylor to close the public hearing on Community Development Block Grant 2025 Application On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Yes Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes ADOPTION OF MINUTES – 03/13/25 On motion of Trustee Carlin, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles. The minutes of the meeting held on 03/13/2025 were accepted as presented. Page 2 of 10 ACTION ITEMS RESOLUTION NO. 2025-33 – ACCEPTING AUDITED VOUCHER SUMMARY The following resolution was offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles. WHEREAS, the Audited Voucher Summary was presented to the Nyack Village Board of Trustees at its regularly scheduled meeting of March 27, 2025. RESOLVED, the General Fund Claims set forth on Pages 1 through 13 in the below listed amounts are approved for payment: GENERAL FUND $156,515.31 NYACK PARKING AUTHORITY $ 8,893.12 WATER FUND $ 2,759.77 CAPITAL PROJECTS – 2017 IMPROVEMENTS $ 2,239.02 TRUST AND AGENCY FUND $ 1,607.79 On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Yes Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-34 – ADOPT THE REVISED GREEN ENERGY PROCUREMENT POLICY The following resolution was offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles. WHEREAS, the Village of Nyack routinely procures 100% renewable power for its electricity accounts, but is seeking to increase the portion of energy generated from renewable sources within the State of New York, RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees approves the attached VILLAGE OF NYACK – GREEN POWER PROCUREMENT POLICY, 3-27-25 to guide green energy procurement for Village electricity accounts to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Yes Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes Page 3 of 10 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-35 – ADOPT THE REVISED COMPLETE STREETS POLICY The following resolution was offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles WHEREAS, “Complete Streets” that take into account multiple users, such as bicyclists, users of scooters and skateboards, pedestrians, seniors, youth, children, persons with disabilities, motorists, movers of commercial goods, and users of public transportation, contribute to a higher quality of life, a healthy economy and environment, and a thriving community; and WHEREAS, the integration of multi-modal transportation in the design and maintenance of streets and highways will increase efficiency of the road network, reduce traffic congestion by increasing mobility options, limit greenhouse gas emissions, and improve overall safety and quality of life; and WHEREAS, a Complete Streets policy, which accounts for all users, aligns with best practices endorsed by municipal planners, public health professionals, and organizations such as traffic engineers, will result in traffic-calming measures that will increase the mobility and safety of roadways to pedestrians and motorists alike; and WHEREAS, the Village of Nyack acknowledges the value of incorporating features such as sidewalks, bicycle lanes, shared-use paths, pedestrian refuge islands, transit stops, curb extensions, street trees, permeable pavement, bioswales, and other sustainable features to enhance safety, accessibility, and environmental resilience; and WHEREAS, the Village shall incorporate the best practices for Complete Streets design, ensuring that all departments coordinate efforts to maximize connectivity, safety, and access for all travelers; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Village Board of Trustees of Nyack hereby establishes and adopts the Complete Streets Policy attached hereto as Exhibit A, and made part of this Resolution, and that said exhibit is hereby approved and adopted. RESOLVED, that the Village of Nyack shall view all transportation improvements as opportunities to enhance safety, access, and mobility to all travelers in the Village while integrating measures that promote resilient and multimodal connectivity to make walking and cycling a viable alternative to driving. Trustee Carlin – Village Code states cyclists are to ride “single file”. Suggest signs be installed on Main St. and Broadway. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Yes Page 4 of 10  Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-36 – APPROVE AN APPLICATION FOR AN EVENT IN MEMORIAL PARK The following resolution was offered by Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper, seconded by Trustee Jean- Gilles RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Nyack approves an application by William Araneo for a wedding event in the gazebo at Memorial Park on Sunday, June 1, 2025. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Yes Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-37 – APPROVE CLOSURE OF VETERANS SQUARE PARKING LOT FOR A SPECIAL EVENT, “THE BIG PLUG-IN” CELEBRATING ELECTRIC VEHICLES The following resolution was offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Lightfoot- Cooper RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Nyack approves the closure of Veterans Square Parking Lot for a Special Event, “The Big Plug-In” celebrating electric vehicles, organized by Steve Cea and the Nyack Sustainability Committee, on Saturday, May 10, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm (rain date 05/17/2025). On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Yes Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes Page 5 of 10 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-38 – OPPOSE NYS ASSEMBLY BILL A8386/SENATE BILL S3397A “FAITH BASED AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACT” The following resolution was offered by Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper, seconded by Trustee Jean- Gilles WHEREAS, the “Faith Based Affordable Housing Act,” in an ill-conceived attempt to foster much-needed housing development, both affordable and market rate, provides for high density housing zoning on any property owned by a religious group in New York, regardless of how long the religious group has owned the property, and prohibits referral to a Planning Board for site plan review, prohibits consideration of on-site parking need, prohibits any height restriction less than the highest existing building (which might have a steeple on it…), and in many other ways exempts these property owners from routine local land use regulations, WHEREAS, the Act’s lack of language pertaining to eligibility that addresses the historical ownership of a subject property by a religious group, essentially enables a religious group to buy and develop property without regard to local zoning, potentially unleashing a frenzy of new development completely unrelated to the presumed intended beneficiaries of the proposed law, WHEREAS, the Village of Nyack is a NYS Pro-Housing Certified community that has welcomed substantial new housing development over the last decade, has its own affordable housing program, has an inclusionary zoning law that new development set aside more than 10% of new units as affordable, and has a housing authority and a substantial privately owned affordable housing sector, which is to say, the Village supports reasonable housing development, RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Nyack opposes the “Faith Based Affordable Housing Act,” as currently written and requests Assemblyman Pat Carroll and Senator Bill Weber, and any other stakeholders to this poorly designed legislative proposal, take action to stop this bill unless and until it can be substantially changed to reflect our concerns articulated above. Trustee Jean-Gilles – Hasn’t left the Committee yet; a lot of opposition. Recommend people reach out to our local representatives with your opposition. Trustee Carlin – Good that our representatives in the assembly and senate know how Nyack feels so they can advocate against it. Mayor Rand – In favor of resolution. Opposition has to do with the fact that it overrides zoning, not about where people want to live. About maintaining our integrity and authority over our own zoning code. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Yes Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes Page 6 of 10 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-39 – SET A PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND CHAPTER 360 (ZONING) OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF NYACK, SO AS TO MODIFY THE REGULATIONS THAT PROSCRIBE THE MAXIMUM HEIGHT OF FENCES, WALLS AND HEDGES AT CORNER LOTS The following resolution was offered by Trustee Jean-Gilles, seconded by Trustee Carlin RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Nyack schedules a public hearing to amend Chapter 360 (Zoning), of the Code of the Village of Nyack, so as to modify the regulations that proscribe the maximum height of fences, walls and hedges at corner lots, for 8:05 pm, Thursday, April 24, 2025. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Yes Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-40 – SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2025 The following resolution was offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Jean-Gilles RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Nyack schedules a public hearing on the Preliminary FY 2025-2026 Annual Budget for Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 8:00 PM, as well as budget workshop meetings on April 3 and April 15, 2025, at 6:30 PM. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Yes Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-41 RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF NYACK TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING TO AMEND CHAPTER 360 (ZONING), OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF NYACK, SO AS TO MODIFY CERTAIN REGULATIONS REGARDING ADULT-USE RETAIL DISPENSARIES (RECREATIONAL CANNABIS) The following resolution was offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Lightfoot- Cooper Page 7 of 10  RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Nyack schedules a public hearing to amend Chapter 360 (Zoning), of the Code of the Village of Nyack, so as to modify certain regulations regarding adult-use retain dispensaries (recreational cannabis), for 8:00 pm, Thursday, April 24, 2025. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Yes Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes PUBLIC COMMENT Daniel Jean-Gilles – Should 80 S. Broadway be granted a special permit, additional affordable housing units should be required. This is what is valuable to the community; in terms of cannabis regulations – NYS law is very clear on distance. Village regulations should not be more stringent than alcohol or tobacco. Chris Scialabba – Doesn’t want to see dispensary in downtown Nyack Owner, Brasserie – Too many smoke shops, homeless people panhandling and patronizing smoke shop Carmen Bowen – Concerned with safety of children in the downtown with dispensary location Cory Forman – Reconsider legislation of dispensaries Raphael – Cannabis shouldn’t be in downtown David – Retail cannabis on Main St. is no different than any other business. Dispensary has higher standards than most businesses. Owner, Nyack Fresh Market – Criminal activity should be addressed. Kal – Dispensary proximity to children Mayor Rand – Concerns are being heard, Board voted in favor of DMU-1 an DMU-2 extension because we believed it shouldn’t be treated differently than liquor stores or bars. Wish it didn’t go into Starbucks. Don’t think this is any more exposure than a liquor store. Trustee Carlin – Headline written on the petition is absolutely false. Sympathetic to cause. Law is in place was done by the Village Board at the time and we must honor that law. Starbucks has Page 8 of 10 been vacant for a year. Will formulate a backstop to NYS regulations. I’m very sympathetic. We don’t want restrictions that bring lawsuits. Trustee Jean-Gilles – Suggestion to Board, have owner come and address the communities’ concerns; there’s an issue of equity by wanting to exclude the downtown and limit to the CC area. Hearing that you want to keep in a predominately black and brown community that are already disproportionately affected by a lot of these things. Zones were expanded for equity purposes. DEPARTMENT REPORTS (based on availability) Orangetown Police Department – Continue to extend invitation to speak Village Attorney – For clarity purposes, cyclist fine “One Abreast” is $150 Village Administrator – Budget workshop schedule – Move from 4/3 to 4/1 at 6:00 PM OLD BUSINESS Amend Village Zoning Code to Exempt Public Murals from ARB Review and Empower the Village Board of Trustees to Review Public Mural Draft Resolution for next meeting to discuss and set a public hearing NEW BUSINESS Restaurant bump out policy Trustee Carlin – Increase fee; sidewalk dining has to be at least 5 ft.; cut down number and not opposite each other Trustee Jean-Gilles - Consider not doing; get response from businesses Jack Bozet– Mixed responses. Factors play in – weather, economy, parking Petition “Protect Nyack’s Youth: Call for Stricter Cannabis Dispensary Regulations” Chaya Pilla, Yalana Graves, Mike Hassan, Kristin Kidder, Dominic Pilla – Advocating for responsible placement of dispensaries. Not wanted in the downtown corridor. Health and safety concerns of our children. Want the Board to add stricter location regulations. COMMUNICATIONS Michael DeRobertis, application to sell flowers from Hezekiah Easter Square every second and fourth Saturday, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, April – October 2025. Vendor fee. Mayor Rand – Provide us with actual dates in case there is a conflict with another event Trustee Jean-Gilles – Good idea Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper – Checking the dates are important Trustee Carlin – Seems very dense with 11 vendor booths Preliminary approval – draft resolution for next meeting (with dates) Honan, 3/12/25, re: 80 S. Broadway, with copies of letters to Village Planning Board (2/21/25) and County Planning Department (3/6/25) Page 9 of 10 Louise Parker, Back to School BBQ hosted by Nyack NAACP, August 16, 2025, Depew Ave. Preliminary approval – draft resolution for next meeting Katy Erdman, Summit Street closure request, Saturday, 4/19/25, noon – 8 PM Request for Wedding Proposal at Gazebo Village Board Approval EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn in memory of Alexa White. Motion offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles. Motion carried unanimously. VILLAGE CLERK Page 10 of 10