Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES March 11, 2019 PRESENT: Mayor Monachino Lapey Trustee Annunziata Trustee McLaughlin Trustee Bennett Attorney Cornachio Manager Pierpont ABSENT: Trustee Senerchia PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND FIRE SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT Mayor Monachino Lapey led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance and notified those in attendance where the fire exits were located. The Mayor said that Trustee Senerchia has the flu. Two of his four children also have the flu. She said that he sends his regrets but is very well versed and up to speed on the docket. The Mayor said that it is budgeting season and the New York State tax cap is two point four nine per cent. The Village budget must be under 2.49 % to be tax cap compliant, and the Village intends to be tax compliant. Mayor Monachino Lapey thanked the Village Manager and Department of Public Works who have been working collaboratively with the Village of Pelham and the City of New Rochelle on a traffic safety issue on the corner where Colonial, Manor Ridge Road, Ancon and Kings Highway come together. An all way stop has been placed at that intersection. If you are coming down from Manor Ridge Road you will see an all way stop sign. The Mayor commented that she received positive feedback from residents on the sidewalk plow and thinks DPW is mastering the craft of using the new plow. The Mayor said that the little glitch with the podcast while switching over to our new website has been fixed and information is flowing more freely. Mayor Monachino Lapey announced that because of scheduling obligations with trials and work commitments this would be Trustee McLaughlin’s last meeting as a sitting Trustee. She thanked him for his many years of service as Village Attorney and Trustee. She said that she has known him since their children were in kindergarten. She said that it has been a pleasure to serve with him. Trustee Annunziata said that he has served with Trustee McLaughlin for all seven years he’s been on the board. His keen insight, intelligence and friendship have been invaluable. Trustee Bennett said that it has been an absolute pleasure to serve with him and said that she admired his lawyerly skills and that he would be greatly missed. Trustee McLaughlin said that it was with a genuine sense of humility and gratitude that he was leaving his position. He served three years as Village Attorney and four years as Trustee. He worked with three Mayors and has been the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works and the Fire Department and has worked alongside the Police Department. He said that it has been a genuine honor. In ancient Greece all were expected to serve in the government. In current Israel all men are expected to serve in the military to instill a sense of civic duty. He said that he leaves a better lawyer and a better citizen. Like the ancient Greeks and the Israeli soldiers, he has an optic on how the Village is run that most citizens don’t get to see. He said he got to see a tremendous amount of dedication, talent, experience and love for the Village from Village employees. All put Pelham Manor first. He said that the Village works like a well-oiled machine. Trustee McLaughlin thanked the employees for their continued service. He said that he has great admiration and respect for the Board’s duties. He said that with John Pierpont, the Mayor and Trustees at the helm he leaves the Village in very good hands and wished everyone the very best of luck. -------------- MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 25, 2019 REGULAR MEETING The Mayor asked if there were any comments or corrections to the minutes. There were no comments or corrections. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the minutes from the Regular Meeting on February 25, 2019 be and hereby are approved. ------------ REPORTS Police Commissioner Annunziata discussed the monthly report with Chief Carpenter. He said that one thing did not happen this month. No automobiles were entered overnight. The Police Commissioner also said that no checks were reported stolen from mailboxes and then written out to the wrong people. There were a few minor shoplifting incidents at CVS but not much that directly affected our residents. The Police Commissioner said that the police department does a great job diffusing domestic disputes. There were two shoplifting incidents at T- Mobile. They don’t give the police the surveillance video and it doesn’t seem that they want to take the time to follow up on the incidents. The Police Chief said that there was a trespass incident listed on page thirty of the report. The response time was three to four minutes. This criminal trespass was about six thousand five hundred dollars in cash that was sent to a homeowner’s address unbeknownst to the homeowner. Hopefully the person will be able to get the money back to the female in Michigan after the case is concluded. The case involved a grandmother who was told to send money to a Pelham Manor address to help her grandson. It was a fraudulent circumstance. A resident saw the truck delivery and called the police. The police were able to arrest the person waiting for the delivery. Because the person was processed properly through the system, the New York State Police were able to advise the Village that this person had recently been caught doing the same thing in New Rochelle. The resident, Village police and State police worked together to make a good outcome. We hope that the woman will get her money back. The Police Commissioner advised people to talk to family members to make sure they’re ok before sending money. The Mayor asked about school walk throughs and the Police Chief said that they are done every day at Prospect and Siwanoy. The walk throughs are done at different times of the day. The students now look forward to seeing the officers. The Mayor said that these police walk throughs are helping with our community outreach and there has been positive feedback on them. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. The Village Clerk said that the lull in building activities in January has turned around and the number of building permits increased in February. He said that it was a usual month in the Village Clerk’s office. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Police and Village Clerk reports be and hereby are adopted. -------------- ADMINISTER OATH OF OFFICE TO POLICE SERGEANT Mayor Monachino Lapey said that it is always wonderful to assist with a promotion. The Mayor said that detective Leal, soon to be Sergeant Leal, was one of the responding officers to her home several years ago. He was very patient with someone in her family who left the premises unlocked. He was so understanding. He took evidence and returned it. The level of follow through and professionalism was evident. The Mayor said that there are many facets to good police work. The way he treated the residents and connected with the residents who experienced a crime made us feel very good. The Mayor read the bio for Andrew Leal. The Mayor said that he is also multilingual. He is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. The Mayor administered the Oath of Office to Sergeant Leal. All those in attendance congratulated the new Sergeant. ------------- PARK USE REQUEST FROM THE REVEREND JACOB BOLTON, 901 PELHAMDALE AVENUE, TO USE WEIHMAN PARK ON SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2019 FOR THE ANNUAL HUGUENOT MEMORIAL CHURCH EASTER EGG HUNT FROM TEN O’CLOCK IN THE MORNING UNTIL ONE O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON The Reverend Jacob Bolton requested the use of Weihman Park on Saturday, April 13, 2019 for the annual Easter Egg hunt from ten o’clock in the morning until one o’clock in the afternoon. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Reverend Jacob Bolton be and hereby is granted permission to use Weihman Park on April 13th for the annual Easter Egg hunt. ------------ RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 26061-26103 After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Mayor be and hereby is authorized to sign abstract of vouchers numbers 26061-26103. -------------- PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Monachino Lapey asked if there were any additional comments from the public. Gianni Magnani, 435 Carol Place, asked about the status of the Fulton Avenue Bridge, which is currently closed. He said that it was closed for major repairs last year. Manager Pierpont said that the bridge, which belongs to Westchester County, had a mishap. He said that he heard that it may have been hit by a barge. The bridge was totally rehabilitated. It was closed for almost a year. There is a new structure. It has all new steel framing and new grading, Gianni Magnani said that he was concerned that the truck traffic might not be able to use the bridge and would use exit 15 from I-95 and go through Pelham Manor using the Boston Post Road. The Mayor said we would have to get more clarity for you on this. She said that we will look into it. Jessica Calzolaio,1436 Roosevelt Avenue, spoke about heavy traffic on Shore Road and speeding on Pelhamdale Avenue. She was especially concerned with traffic crossing Pelhamdale Avenue from the Post Road. She spoke about a driver, who was driving extremely close to her car, speeding on Pelhamdale Avenue and going through stop signs on the way to Shore Road. She wanted to know about speed monitoring. The Mayor thanked her for coming forward to discuss her traffic concerns. She said that the Village has enforcement mechanisms. Manager Pierpont said that the Village has a stealth speed monitor, radar enforcement and a trailer mounted speed monitor that can be used. He also said if Ms. Calzolaio knows the license plate of the driver the Village can reach out to that person and let them know that we don’t appreciate that type of behavior. He said that the stealth speed monitor measures the speed of every car and we review the information to see if there’s a pattern. He said that we need to start by getting the time of day data and we can do additional monitoring once we get that information. Jessica Calzolaio also spoke about signs that show how fast a person is going and was told that the speed trailer shows you how fast you’re going. The Mayor suggested that the stealth speed monitor could be used. She said that the speed trailer may be considered unsightly by some people. It has flashing lights and some people have asked that it be moved from in front of their homes. The Village has had success with rotating it to requested locations. The trailer does get moved around because some people do not want it in front of their homes permanently because they find it unattractive. Trustee McLaughlin said that this is the beauty of a small village of five thousand people. We have our own Fire Department and our own Police Force. When you call, someone will answer and you will get a response. The next thing you know, you have a stealth speed monitor in front of your house. Trustee Annunziata said that some of the additional traffic was because several bridges were closed. The traffic backed up and people were looking for alternate routes. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that the Police Chief will get on this tomorrow. Toby Marxuach-Gusciora, 901 Plymouth Street, asked about the status of the e-commerce distribution center. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that the Board had expressed concerns about traffic, height and pollution and they heard those concerns and asked for time to do additional research before coming back to the Board. They will be at the fist regular Board meeting in April which is April 8th. Maurice Owen- Michaane, 457 Siwanoy Place, asked if they were coming back with the same plan or a modified plan. He said that he was not against the use, but had concerns about the proposal. The Mayor said that those concerns were passed along to the developers. Manager Pierpont said that they heard the concerns from the public and the Board loud and clear and said we’ll see what happens. -------------- EXECUTIVE SESSION After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Board be and hereby is authorized to conduct an Executive Session to discuss the following: Personnel Matter No action was taken in Executive Session. -------------- ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. -------------- Clerk