Village Board of Trustees Special Meeting

Minutes of the special meeting of the Village of Nyack Board of Trustees held at 12:00pm on Thursday July 15, 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 Marie Lorenzini Trustee Elijah Reichlin-Melnick Trustee ALSO PRESENT Walter Sevastian Village Attorney James Politi Village Administrator Jennifer Hetling Village Clerk/Treasurer ABSENT Meeting called to order at 12:01pm 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 July 15, 2020 Village Board meeting remains as scheduled. As Village Hall is closed, the meeting will have to be held remotely (see below). 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 July 15th 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. Pledge of Allegiance Public Comment - None Action Items Resolution No 2020 – 47 Resolution of the Nyack Village Board to modify the parking meter zone list for the Village of Nyack The board stated that they had no questions on changing the hours from 9am-6pm to 10am-7pm. Mayor Hammond stated that there was a suggestion to meter Liberty St and a section of Piermont along the park and the board agreed that they do not want to meter these areas. They did agree that the metered areas on side streets would be long term and not subject to the 3 hour maximum. Trustee Reichlin-Melnick stated that a discussion about maximum parking hours was had last year when the meters were updated allowing for 4 hour parking plus an option for an additional hour. Since then the downtown is now less congested so it’s strange that we are now making it less convenient. When the downtown starts bustling again we can revisit this. Mayor Hammond stated that he has heard there is a turnover issue currently and there is a need for limiting on-street parking hours. Trustee Parker stated that we need to establish the rules now before parking regulations go back into effect. Trustee Lorenzini agreed with Trustee Parker. Trustee Reichlin-Melnick stated that if the board is going to continue with this resolution then long term parking on N Broadway should also be considered. Mayor Hammond stated there is a lot of parking on side streets in that area. Mayor Hammond polled the board regarding changing the on-street time limit to 3 hours to which Trustees Parker and Lorenzini were for it and Trustee Reichlin-Melnick was against it. Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper had left the meeting. Motion by Donald Hammond, seconded by Louise Parker to accept the motion as presented. Motion passed by a vote of 3-1 (Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper absent, Trustee Reichlin-Melnick nay) Public Comment – 1. PUBLIC HEARING A local law to amend Chapter 330 of the Code of the Village of Nyack, entitled “Parking Meters and Parking Meter Zones”, as pertains to the administration and hours of parking meter enforcement within the Village of Nyack (Held open from the July 9, 2020 meeting) Mayor Hammond read proposed Resolution No. 2020-47 Attorney Sevastian explained the code is supposed to have zones and it should be reviewed annually. Parking zone A is all on-street parking and parking lots. Parking zone B are areas that are not metered. Public Comment – Sky of Hudson House – Asked why the hours of enforcement is being changed from 6pm to 7pm. Ellyn Rabinowitz – Ending enforcement at 6pm is consistent with other towns in the area and is good for business. Changing to 7pm is not convenient and will keep people from coming downtown. Tom Jones – Asked if the spaces on Depew Ave between Piermont and Broadway that have been free will continue to be free. Village Administrator James Politi responded that that block would be available for long-term parking and would be metered. Margaret Amador – Asked if having no metered parking overnight was going to continue through the winter considering snow removal to which Mayor Hammond responded that there are still regulations that prohibit overnight parking on Main St. Motion by Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, seconded by Marie Lorenzini to close the public hearing at 12:24pm. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Old Business Communications Public Comment - None Adjournment Motion by Louise Parker, seconded by Marie Lorenzini to adjourn the Village Board meeting at 12:45pm. Motion passed by a 4-1 vote (Trustee Lightfoot-Cooper absent)