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, June 5, 2025 Present: Joseph Rand, Mayor Pascale Jean-Gilles, Trustee Joseph Carlin, Trustee Nathalie Riobe-Taylor, Trustee Also Present: Andrew Stewart, Village Administrator Dennis Michaels, Village Attorney Linda Donnelly, Village Clerk Absent: Donna Lightfoot-Cooper, Trustee Meeting called to order at 7:30 pm Pledge of Allegiance Mayor’s Introduction The Mayor opened by acknowledging the community’s response to a challenging week following two fires that occurred simultaneously on Tuesday. One affected three apartments on Gedney Street, while the more serious fire at Nyack Plaza severely damaged a building and displaced about a dozen families. Thankfully, no lives were lost and there were no overnight hospitalizations. The village provided emergency hotel accommodations for affected families, and community donations—over $75,000—are now funding ongoing temporary housing. The mayor extended deep thanks and gratitude to the following individuals, departments, organizations, and community members for their exceptional response and support: Local Fire Departments: • Nyack Fire Department – all companies Mutual Aid Fire Departments: • Haverstraw • Sparkill • Hillcrest • Nyack • Monsey • Valley Cottage • Nanuet • West Haverstraw • Haverstraw Town • West Nyack • Pearl River • Thiells • Piermont • Tarrytown • Sloatsburg Page 1 of 14  Other First Responders: • Orangetown Police Department • Local EMS Volunteers Individuals Recognized • Nicole Hines – Executive Director; coordinated family identification, hotel placements, GoFundMe fundraising, and aid distribution. • Bill Batson – Assisted in compiling lists of affected residents and contact outreach. • Kim Cross – Nyack Center; coordinated meal service and ongoing donation efforts. • Steven Papus – United Way; provided intake services and gathered essential personal items for displaced individuals. • Bishop Springfield – Did a wonderful job getting his church together to provide assistance with air-conditioned rooms and taking care of everybody. • Louise Parker – Condolences to Louise and Minerva Parker and the Parker family who lost their sister this week – someone who lived in one of the affected units. Despite the loss, Louise, a former Deputy Mayor, was actively helping during this difficult time. Thank you to Louise for her continued service to the community. Organizations and Agencies • Red Cross – Provided on-site assistance within 90 minutes and issued $600 vouchers per resident. • RC Dept. of Social Services – Present the following day to assist with family needs. • United Way – Provided logistical support and needs assessment. • Nyack Center – Assisted with meal coordination and ongoing support. • People to People – Donated supplies for affected families. • St. Ann’s Food Cupboard – Provided food and donations. • Grace Church – Opened their facilities for residents to gather supplies. Government Officials and Supporters • Trustee Donna Lightfoot-Cooper – Absent due to directly assisting displaced families with relocation. • County Executive Ed Day • Deputy County Executive Mike Hoblin – On-site support and coordination. • Town Supervisor Theresa Kenny – Reached out with offers of support. • County Legislator Beth Davidson – Assisted in communication and coordination. • All Members of the Village Board of Trustees – Participated in response and support efforts. • Village Hall Staff – Andy Stewart, Marie Tlsty and Rosa Martinez who were on site doing incredible work all day getting people taken care of. Local Businesses • Fresh Market – Donated water, Gatorade, and sandwiches for emergency response. • Strawberry Place – Offered free meals to all displaced families. Community • Nyack Plaza Residents and Community Members – Commended for supporting one another throughout the emergency. • Displaced Families – Acknowledged for their resilience, patience, and strength under incredibly difficult circumstances. The Mayor expressed deep gratitude for the collaborative efforts and compassion shown by all parties involved. Their contributions helped ensure safety, provide immediate relief, and offer ongoing support to those affected by the fires. Page 2 of 14 Congratulations to Deputy Mayor Pascal Jean-Gilles for being honored as a “distinguished alumni” by her alma mater, Mercy College. She will be formally recognized at an event on Friday. A well-deserved honor. Event Announcements: • African-American Day Parade: Postponed to next Saturday due to weather. • Nyack Pride Day (Sunday, 11:00 AM): o All-day street fair celebrating the local LGBTQ+ community. o Thanks to Brooke Malloy and Rockland Pride for organizing. • Firefighter Parade (Sunday, 9:00 AM): o Starts on New Street, proceeds down Broadway and up Main to Midland. o Includes a memorial ceremony at Oak Hill Cemetery for fallen firefighters. o Public encouraged to attend and show support for volunteer firefighters. • "Wear Orange" Anti-Gun Violence Event (Saturday, 6:30 PM): o Organized by Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety. o At Memorial Park (rain location: Angel Nyack). o Nyack bridge to be lit orange in honor of the cause. • Summer Event Guide: o Print and online guide with events through Labor Day releasing this weekend. o Printed copies to be distributed at Sunday’s firefighter parade. COMMENTS FROM THE VILLAGE BOARD Trustee Carlin – Thank you to the Mayor for coordinating everything and getting all these people together. Good job! Trustee Jean-Gilles – Thank you Mayor for all the work that you’ve been doing. As always Nyack really does take care of its own. It’s nice to see everyone stepping up and chipping in. PUBLIC COMMENT PUBLIC HEARINGS Amend Village Zoning Code, so as to Modify the Definition of Sign, and to Add a Definition of Mural Continue Public Hearing on Amending Village Zoning Code, so as to Modify the Definition of Sign, and to Add a Definition of Mural Motion by Trustee Jean-Gilles, seconded by Trustee Carlin at 8:30 pm to re-open public hearing to Modify the Definition of Sign, and to Add a Definition of Mural Mayor Rand invited public and Board comment. Administrator Stewart – Explained that because murals legally fall under the definition of signage, they would typically require approval from the Architectural Review Board, which focuses on commercial Page 3 of 14  signs. To address this, the village created a new rule exempting murals from that definition, giving the Village Board authority over mural approvals. They also developed evaluation criteria—covering design quality, community involvement, durability, maintenance, and property owner consent—to ensure a thoughtful, professional process for public mural proposals. Christine Burns – Supports the idea of separating murals from commercial signage, noting that murals have unique qualities and should follow their own clear criteria. She also expressed concern that the existing signage review process is overly rigid and could hinder artists. Administrator Stewart – Explained that the new law exempts public murals from ARB review, gives approval authority to the Village Board, and outlines an application process requiring design, community engagement, property owner consent, and professional quality. A mural proposal can then be referred to the committee for deeper review and feedback. Mayor Rand – Explained that the mural committee would handle early planning—identifying artists and developing ideas—then consult the Public Art Advisory Committee for input before moving too far ahead, ensuring informed guidance throughout the process. Dominick Pilla – Expressed concern about the Village Board being the final authority on mural approvals, warning it could create property rights issues and lead to vague, arbitrary decisions. He recommended that a separate, non-political committee—rather than elected officials—handle mural approvals, as is standard in many municipalities. Trustee Jean-Gilles – Acknowledged Dominick Pilla’s concerns but emphasized the need for clear guidelines and community input in the mural approval process, noting that elected officials remain accountable to the public and should play a role in final decisions. Dominick Pilla – Argued that, like with planning or architectural boards, mural decisions should be handled by an appointed committee—not the Village Board—to ensure a thoughtful, non-political process. He believes having the elected board make final mural decisions is a poor structure. Mayor Rand – Explained that the Village Board's role in mural approvals is meant to be a last-resort fail- safe—not to choose designs or make creative changes. If something went seriously wrong in the mural process and sparked public concern, the Board could respond. Otherwise, design decisions would rest with the mural creators and advisory committee. Christine Burns – Stated that the Village created the mural advisory committee specifically to avoid having the Village Board hold too much power over mural approvals. She believes the committee was formed to address the same concerns raised about political overreach, ensuring a more balanced, community-driven process. Trustee Jean-Gilles – Noted that while some oversight is necessary due to the use of public funds, it shouldn't be overly strict. She likened the process to the hotel tax grant, where the board reviews the final result more as a formality and recognition than as strict gatekeepers. Mayor Rand – Explained that while the Village Board doesn't handle the artistic aspects, it retains final approval over public mural projects—similar to how it handles hotel tax grants. A separate committee vets proposals and recommends funding, but the board gives a final up-or-down vote due to the involvement of public funds. Motion by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles to close the public hearing on 06/05/2025 at 8:53 pm, Village Hall, 9 N. Broadway, Nyack. Motion carried. ACTION ITEMS RESOLUTION NO. 2025-92 – ACCEPTING AUDITED VOUCHER SUMMARY The following resolution was offered by Trustee Carlin, seconded by Trustee Riobe-Taylor. WHEREAS, the Audited Voucher Summary was presented to the Nyack Village Board of Trustees at its regularly scheduled meeting of June 5, 2025. Page 4 of 14  RESOLVED, the General Fund Claims set forth on Pages 1 through 9 in the below listed amounts are approved for payment: GENERAL FUND $ 72,749.17 NYACK PARKING AUTHORITY $ 22,133.17 WATER FUND $ 7,768.27 CAPITAL PROJECTS – 2017 Improvements $ 14,322.07 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 . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-93 – APPROVE A PERMIT APPLICATION FOR A WEDDING CEREMONY IN MEMORIAL PARK The following resolution was offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles. RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Nyack approves an application for the use of the Memorial Park Gazebo by Michelle Goodwin and Christopher Barone for a wedding ceremony on Saturday, August 23, 2025, 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM with the understanding that the Village is going to establish a policy regarding governing the issuance of permits for private events in the near future. Trustee Carlin – Opposed using the village gazebo for a private two-hour event, citing concerns about setting a precedent and limiting public access. Mayor Rand - Acknowledged that the village has traditionally not allowed weddings in public spaces but noted growing interest—led by local merchants like Susan Wilming—in promoting Nyack as a destination wedding location. He agreed with concerns about public space exclusion but felt a small, time-limited use was acceptable. He emphasized the need for a clear policy and approval process, which is currently in development. Trustee Jean-Gilles – Noted the village already allows private events like baby showers, birthdays, and church gatherings in the park. She questioned why weddings should be treated differently, especially if the event doesn't take up the entire park. She also suggested looking at models like Hook Mountain, where spaces can be rented for private use. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes Page 5 of 14 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-94 – APPROVE A LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH RIVERTOWNS SUP AND YOGA LLC, TO CONDUCT BUSINESS FROM NYACK MARINA The following resolution was offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles. RESOLVED, the Village administrator is authorized to sign a license agreement with Rivertowns SUP and Yoga, LLC for the use of Nyack Marina in 2025 for a fee of 5% of gross revenue from Nyack-based bookings, subject to the review and approval as to substance and form by the Nyack Village Attorney. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-95 – APPROVE A PERMIT FOR AN EVENT IN MEMORIAL PARK The following resolution was offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles. RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Nyack approves an application for the use of the Upper Lawn by Craig Smith, for the Phoenix Festival, October 13, 2025. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-96 – APPROVE A PERMIT FOR A BLOCK PARTY STREET CLOSURE ON SUMMIT ST The following resolution was offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles. Page 6 of 14  RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Nyack approves an application for a block party street closure on Summit St, between Depew and Hudson Ave, Saturday, June 14, 2- 7 PM. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-97 – AMEND CHAPTER 360 (ZONING), AND §299-2 (BANNERS), OF THE CODE OF THE VILLAGE OF NYACK, SO AS TO MODIFY THE DEFINITION OF SIGN, TO ADD A DEFINITION OF MURAL, AND TO PRESCRIBE REVIEW AND APPROVAL/DENIAL OF MURALS BY THE VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES The following resolution was offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles. At 8:00 PM, during a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Nyack (“Village”), convened on June 5, 2025, the below-described Public Hearing was (i) opened, or (ii) was opened at, and continued from, a prior meeting (or meetings), or (iii) was opened at, continued from, and closed at, a prior meeting (or meetings); and the following Resolution was duly offered and seconded, to wit: WHEREAS, the Village Board of Trustees (“Village Board”) is the duly elected legislative body of the Village, and authorized to adopt Local Laws amending the Village Code, including amendments to the zoning regulations embodied in Chapter 360 (Zoning) of the Village Code (“Zoning Code”). WHEREAS, the Village Board has published a Notice of Public Hearing in the Journal News, digitally posted said Notice on the Village’s website, and physically posted the Notice on the Village’s official bulletin board, in accordance with NYS Municipal Home Rule Law §20, with regard to proposed text amendments to the Zoning Code, which amendments are summarized as follows: the proposed Local Law, if adopted by the Village Board, will enhance the economic and commercial viability, and preserve the livability, quality of life and aesthetic character, of the Village’s businesses, commercial uses and residences in the Downtown Mixed Use-1 (DMU-1), Downtown Mixed Use-2 (DMU-2) and Corridor Commercial (CC) Zoning Districts, and their surrounding neighborhoods, by establishing a process by which public murals may be reviewed and approved by the Village Board of Trustees, including modifying the definition of sign to add a definition of mural, which Local Law is appended hereto, made a part hereof and marked as “ATTACHMENT B.” WHEREAS, copies of: Page 7 of 14  (i). the proposed Local Law, (ii). the narrative Memo of Robert (“Bob”) Galvin, AICP, Village Planner (“Village Planner”), dated 5-9-25 (“narrative Memo”), (v). the State Environmental Quality Review Act (“SEQRA”) Part 1 (entitled Project Information) of the Short Environmental Assessment Form (“EAF”), prepared, and signed, by the Village Planner, dated 5-1-25, (vi). Part 2 of the SEQRA EAF (entitled Impact Assessment), prepared and recommended by the Village Planner, dated 5-1-25, (vii). Part 3 of the SEQRA EAF (entitled Determination of Significance), prepared and recommended by the Village Planner, dated 5-1-25; were all provided to the Village Board, in accordance with NYS Municipal Home Rule Law §20. WHEREAS, following compliance with all public notice requirements as mandated by the applicable NYS statute(s) and the Village Code, and distribution of the proposed Local Law to the Village Board as per NYS Municipal Home Rule Law §20(4), on the Public Hearing date the Village Board (i) opened, or (ii) previously opened at a prior meeting, and held open/continued, or (iii) previously opened and held open/continued, and closed, at a prior meeting (or meetings), a Public Hearing on the proposed Local Law. WHEREAS, the Rockland County Planning Department, pursuant to NYS General Municipal Law (“GML”) §239-l, et seq., reviewed the proposed Local Law and provided a GML review report to the Village Board, dated 5-12-25 (“GML report”), which GML report recommended the Village consider amending Section 4-11 to establish standards relevant to murals, WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees overrides the County recommendation in light of the fact that the proposed approval process already requires submission of information pertaining to standards for mural construction, design, ownership and durability. WHEREAS, prior to the Public Hearing, the Village Board sought comments on the proposed Local Law from the Village Planning Board, as per Village Code §360-5.6(B)(3)(a); and the Planning Board reviewed the Local Law at its meeting held on 5-5-25, and provided a written advisory opinion/recommendation to the Village Board, stating it was in favor of the law as drafted. WHEREAS, there being no other SEQRA Involved Agency, as an additional part of this Resolution herein, if adopted on the Public Hearing date, the Village Board declares itself to be, and assumes the role of, SEQRA Lead Agency. WHEREAS, the Village Board, after reviewing the Waterfront Assessment Form for Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP) Consistency Review, prepared and recommended by the Village Planner, dated 3-18-25, and after considering all of the discussion and analysis by the Village Board with respect to the documents referenced and considered by the Village Board at its Public Hearing held on the Public Hearing date, and at any prior Public Hearings that were held Page 8 of 14 open, and continued, to the Public Hearing date, the Village Board finds and determines that the proposed Local Law is consistent with the LWRP and the Village’s Comprehensive Master Plan. WHEREAS, the Village Board, acting in its capacity as the SEQRA Lead Agency, and after reviewing the aforementioned Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 of the SEQRA EAF, which SEQRA EAF Parts 1 through 3 were all prepared and recommended, on behalf of the Village Board, by the Village Planner; the Village Board hereby adopts the said SEQRA EAF Parts 1 through 3, and incorporates them by reference as if fully set forth herein. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Village Board, after conducting a “hard look” review of all environmental factors, including, but not limited to, all of the said SEQRA EAF Parts 1 through 3, and the Village Planner’s narrative Memo, hereby determines that there will be no potential significant adverse environmental impacts resulting from the Village Board’s adoption of the proposed Local Law, and makes a Determination of Non-Significance under SEQRA, thereby determining and issuing a SEQRA Negative Declaration. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Village Board finds, after reviewing the proposed Local Law and the Village Planner’s narrative Memo, that this Local Law, if adopted by the Village Board, will enhance the economic and commercial viability, and preserve the livability, quality of life and aesthetic character, of the Village’s businesses, commercial uses and residences in the DMU-1, DMU-2 and CC Zoning Districts, and their surrounding neighborhoods, by establishing a process for the review and approval of public murals and updating definitions of sign and mural accordingly. NOW, THEREFORE, based on all of the documentation and information before the Village Board, and the findings and determinations made herein; BE IT RESOLVED that the Village Board hereby adopts the Local Law in the form and substance as appended hereto as “ATTACHMENT B,” and as same may have been amended “by- hand” during the Public Hearing. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-98 – DENY A 40+ PERSON PARK PERMIT FOR AN EVENT IN MEMORIAL PARK The following resolution was offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Carlin. Page 9 of 14  WHEREAS, the Board is in receipt of an application from Sury Schwartz/Sanz Day Camp, 50 Slinn Ave, Spring Valley, NY, a summer camp located outside of the Village of Nyack, to bring 70 children to Memorial Park to use the splashpad, playground and waterfront picnic tables, on July 24, 2025, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm, WHEREAS, Nyack Village Code §250-11(G)(2) (Prohibited Acts) requires applications by groups of 40 or more people to obtain permission from the Board of Trustees, and Nyack Village Code §250-16(D)(2)(a) (Standards for issuance) prescribes criteria for permitting large groups, i.e., 40 or more persons as per §250-11(G)(2), and one such criteria is consideration of whether, (a), “the proposed activity will unreasonably interfere with or detract from the general public enjoyment of the park,” RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees denies this application based on the reasonable expectation that a group of children of this quantity will likely overwhelm the splashpad and playground, and, thereby, inadvertently exclude the general public from the enjoyment of park facilities. Administrator Stewart - Explained that village code requires a permit for groups over 10 and Board approval for groups over 40, with guidelines focusing on public access and scheduling. He expressed concern that allowing a 70-person day camp to use Memorial Park would monopolize key areas (splash pad, playground, picnic tables) during busy hours, negatively impacting public access. Mayor Rand - Opposed the idea of a paid camp essentially selling access to a public park, warning it could lead to a flood of similar requests. He emphasized that Memorial Park is limited in size and heavily used and suggested larger or better-suited parks for such activities instead. Trustee Carlin – Agree 100% Trustee Jean-Gilles - Emphasized the need for clearer regulations to distinguish between small, reasonable group uses of the park and large-scale events that could overwhelm it. Supports allowing limited, non-exclusive use but expressed concern over the scale of requests like a 70- or 250-person group, noting that such numbers are typically only seen on major holidays like the 4th of July. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-99 – APPROVE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THE YMCA TO PROVIDE BASKETBALL PROGRAMMING TO NYACK YOUTH The following resolution was offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles. WHEREAS, the Village has a $25,000 grant from NYS Office of Children and Family Services to fund youth basketball programming, Page 10 of 14  WHEREAS, the YMCA has expertise in youth sports and has an existing a program of indoor/air conditioned summer basketball camp and has proposed an additional basketball program to take place on Thursday evenings in Nyack Memorial Park basketball court on a “drop-in” basis for Nyack youth, RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees approves a program agreement with the YMCA for free basketball programming for Nyack youth, and furthermore, approves YMCA exclusive use of the basketball court in Memorial Park on Thursday evenings, July 3 to August 28, and the allocation of the NYS grant to cover the costs of this programming for Nyack youth. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-100 – AUTHORIZE SCHEDULING OF A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER A PROPOSED LOCAL LAW TO PLACE A STOP SIGN ON BURD STREET AT RIVER STREET The following resolution was offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Carlin RESOLVED, the Village Board of Trustees approves the scheduling of a public hearing on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 8:00 PM in Nyack Village Hall, 9 N. Broadway, Nyack, NY, to consider a proposed local law (Attachment A) to place a stop sign on Burd Street at River Street to increase the safety of motorists and pedestrians. Trustee Jean-Gilles – Suggested conducting a comprehensive traffic study to ensure stop signs are being placed appropriately and to consider whether other traffic-calming measures like speed bumps might be more effective in some areas. Administrator Stewart – Emphasized the importance of involving traffic experts when evaluating stop sign requests. He noted that he and the Mayor consulted with a traffic consultant who reviewed the area using Google Street View and offered alternative traffic control suggestions On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes Page 11 of 14 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-101 – APPROVE A HOME RULE REQUEST FOR SENATE BILL S6859-A AND ASSEMBLY BILL A7323-A REGARDING A VILLAGE OF NYACK HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX The following resolution was offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Jean-Gilles RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Nyack approves a home rule request for New York State Senate Bill S6859-A and New York State Assembly Bill A7323-A, to extend the hotel occupancy tax that will otherwise expire at the end of 2025. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes RESOLUTION NO. 2025-102 – AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT WITH KOZ SECURITY SERVICES, LLC FOR A SAFETY PATROL IN THE VILLAGE The following resolution was offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Carlin WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees deems a foot patrol of unarmed security professionals essential to creating a perception and reality of greater safety and security in the downtown and waterfront park, and has budgeted $40,000 for this service in the FY 25-26 budget, WHEREAS, Koz Security, LLC, provides trained, insured, experienced security officers for a wide range of special events and other purposes, and is very familiar with the Nyack community, RESOLVED, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Nyack directs the Village Administrator to implement a service agreement with KOZ Security, LLC, in a form acceptable to the Village Attorney, to provide a schedule of safety patrols focused on the downtown area and the waterfront park, prioritizing evenings when pedestrian, shopping and entertainment activity is most frequent. Mayor Rand explained that the village previously budgeted $40,000 for a public safety officer (constable) to address quality-of-life issues downtown. Due to civil service approval delays and lack of suitable applicants, the role was never filled. As an alternative, the village is now pursuing a service agreement to provide trained personnel for scheduled safety patrols in the downtown and waterfront areas, focusing on evenings when activity is highest. This will ensure a visible, non- police presence to help maintain order. Trustee Jean-Gilles – Expressed reluctance about using private security but acknowledged it's necessary due to previous unsuccessful efforts and ongoing issues at the waterfront. She hopes it improves the situation, though she wishes the police were more effective. Trustee Carlin – Will they be uniformed? Visible? Page 12 of 14  Administrator Stewart – Yes Mayor Rand – Agreed the measure is not ideal but necessary, noting efforts to get OPD to implement foot patrols have been unsuccessful so far. On roll call the vote was as follows: Trustee Jean-Gilles . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Riobe-Taylor . . . . . Yes Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper . . Absent Mayor Rand . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes Trustee Carlin. . . . . . . . . . . Yes DEPARTMENT REPORTS (based on availability) Village Administrator – • Crack sealing is complete, effectively preserving pavement. • DPW painted a Pride crosswalk, praised for its quality. • Fire response on Tuesday took significant village resources. • Clerk’s office continues inventorying and shredding old documents weekly. • Shoreline path design is progressing with public input. • Village Hall projects underway: bidding for roof, HVAC, and solar array. • DPW projects: roof and solar array also in development. • Sidewalk project (north side, incl. Marion & Jefferson) is nearing bid stage. • High Avenue drainage project (funded by FEMA, $740K) is in design and will help divert stormwater from Nyack. OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS Public Arts Advisory Board Administrator Stewart – Explained the proposal to create a Public Arts Advisory Committee to assist with reviewing and advising on public art projects, such as murals. The committee would help reduce the burden on the board by providing expert input and recommendations, similar to the business council. It would be ad hoc, not codified in law, and have no decision-making power—only advisory. The committee’s scope could go beyond murals and include broader public art and beautification initiatives. Park Permitting Policy Aims to provide clear, consistent guidelines for evaluating large group use of village parks. While existing law outlines basic permit criteria (e.g., ensuring public access, safety, and cost considerations), the new policy suggests additional factors to help balance community access with special events. These include: • Whether the event is charitable, village-sponsored, or charges fees • Its cultural, educational, or local relevance • Availability of alternative venues • If the organizer is based in the village Page 13 of 14  The goal is not to restrict events but to ensure fair, thoughtful use of limited public space like Memorial Park, while preserving public enjoyment and minimizing taxpayer burden. – Draft resolution for next meeting. COMMUNICATIONS Jason Webley, Flotsam, park use application, floating circus event, 9/7/25, 6-7 PM. Resolution for next meeting Matt Seig, Rivertown, park use application, movie, gazebo, Friday 8/15/25 (8/22/25 rain date). Resolution for next meeting Naomi Camilleri, Yoga Festival, Memorial Park, 8/23/25. Festival is free – aiming to unite local yoga studios and wellness vendors. Highlighted Nyack’s historic connection to yoga through Pierre Bernard, an early U.S. yoga pioneer based in the area. Event would include yoga classes, wellness services, and quiet activities like sound healing, aiming to attract a broad community and potentially become an annual tradition. – Draft resolution for next meeting. EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURNMENT Motion offered by Trustee Riobe-Taylor, seconded by Trustee Carlin to adjourn meeting. Motion carried. VILLAGE CLERK Page 14 of 14