Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES December 16, 2019 PRESENT: Mayor Monachino Lapey Trustee Annunziata Trustee Senerchia Trustee Bennett Trustee Cataldi DeLillo Attorney Cornachio Manager Pierpont 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. OPENING REMARKS The Mayor said that this was the first agenda to her knowledge in the history of the Village of Pelham Manor where opening remarks is slated on the document and we do have opportunity for public comment, which we have been taking, but it hasn’t been an official spot on the agenda. It has made its way onto the agenda to close out 2019. The Mayor said that the fire inspection and first responder dinner on December Sixth was lovely. Senior personnel from Westchester County and many accomplished people were in attendance. The Mayor said that it was beautifully run and it is recognition of our outstanding Fire Department and the work we do here. She thanked the firefighters, volunteers and the Chief. Mayor Monachino Lapey spoke about the Westchester County shared services program that was adopted unanimously by the municipalities in attendance. She asked the Village Manager to speak a little more about this. Manager Pierpont said that there is a Westchester Shares portal which municipalities can register for and look for opportunities to share services and equipment. He said that Westchester County is looking at consolidating waste water treatment districts. Former legislator Michael Kaplowitz has been hired by the County to evaluate that important component for shared services. Food scrap recycling was on the list. In addition, the County will be issuing its report on a county wide program in January. We’ll know more and have more information about what they are going to do, if anything, in January and we’ll see how we fit in that model. The Mayor said that in her opinion we have a great system whereby we are able to take and put in initiatives and programs that work for us. The County allows us to do this. She said that even if you vote for the overall Shared Services plan, you can cherry pick the items that work best for your community. You are not bound by the entire plan. She said that she thinks it is very fair and works well for us. The Mayor asked Manager Pierpont to speak about the communication from Department of Transportation regarding the proposed monopole. Manager Pierpont spoke with Lance MacMillan, the Regional Director from Region 8, and Mr. MacMillan wants to meet with state legislators after the holidays about the Village’s proposed location. The Manager said that our proposed location which used Village property, is not out of the mix. The property is a little lower and the pole may have to be higher. The Mayor said that that there are several proposals. The Manager said that he was talking about the proposal on Village owned property. The Mayor said that the area located on the first exit down on the Hutchinson River Parkway was specifically spoken about by Trustee DeLillo and Trustee Senerchia as an alternate site for the pole. She thought that, in her opinion, this site that was highlighted by Trustee Cataldi DeLillo and Trustee Senerchia is the best site for the monopole. The Mayor wished Maggie Klein, the editor of the PelhamsPlus and The Pelham Weekly, a happy retirement. She said that it has been a pleasure to work with her in so many capacities throughout the years. She said she got to know Maggie, before she was Mayor, when she chaired the Pelham Preservation and Garden Society and served in a number of other volunteer capacities. She asked if some Board members would like to say a few words. Trustee Bennett said that Maggie Klein will be sorely missed. She recalled working with her when she was working with Little League and Recreation and said that it was always a pleasure. Trustee Annunziata said that Maggie had been at many board meetings and he thanked her for her years of service. Trustee Cataldi DeLillo said that she performed a big service for this community and said that it was a pleasure to get the local news. She said that is something very valuable and may not be as available as it has been. She wished her good luck. Trustee Senerchia said that she has been a staple in the community and it has been a pleasure working with her. The Board said that they especially liked The Pelham Weekly, a printed weekly newspaper, and the Friday “Have You Heard” column. Everyone in attendance congratulated Maggie Klein on her retirement. -------------- MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 25, 2019 REGULAR MEETING The Mayor asked if there were any comments, questions or corrections to the minutes. Trustee Cataldi DeLillo said that on page four the last paragraph should read Trustee Cataldi DeLillo thought that it would be helpful if the state representatives have some communication from Village of Pelham Manor residents in their hands as they navigate discussions with the Department of Transportation so that their position is bolstered. The Mayor recalled the discussion and said that she thought this was a fair and accurate representation of the discussion that transpired and perhaps made it a little clearer. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the minutes from the Regular Meeting on November 25, 2019 be and hereby are approved as amended. ------------ REPORTS Police Commissioner Annunziata discussed the Police report with Chief Carpenter. He said that he was glad to see that no vehicles were entered this month. The Police Commissioner said that there was an attempted break in when someone was home. The dog was barking, and the homeowner could see the doorknob turning. The perpetrator was arrested due to the quick response time of the police. He was released on his own recognizance. The Chief said that he was released on bail and the new bail reform measures will include burglary. The Police Commissioner said that there were three driving under the influence incidents and one car flipped over. The Chief said these incidents have picked up. The car flipped over on the Post Road. He said that the Village has its own in house toxicological machine which covers drugs and alcohol. Police Commissioner Annunziata said that people are losing packages that are being delivered to their homes. He said that people are sending him pictures of packages being torn open and the contents taken. The Chief said the more eyes the better. If residents see something that doesn’t seem right, they should call the police and they check it out. He said that’s what they’re there for. Trustee Bennett said if you see your package you should take it in or have a neighbor take it in or put it where it can’t be seen. She said this is happening nationwide. The Mayor said anything of this nature should be reported to the police department immediately. Any type of criminal activity should be reported directly to the police and then the Police Commissioner. She said that residents should go through the First Responders first. Trustee Cataldi DeLillo said that the police may have information that the Board may not have at that moment. They may have information about something that may be going on not far away. It is important for them to have all the information in real time. Chief Carpenter said that people are not wasting the Police Department’s time. He said that we’d rather you call us. The Mayor and Board thanked the Police Chief for his report. Fire Commissioner Senerchia discussed the Fire report with Chief Ruggiero. He said that it was a fairly routine, but busy month. He said that he appreciated the department’s hard work. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. The Village Clerk said that it was a standard month issuing dog licenses and building permits. It was a busy time in the building department. The DPW Superintendent said that the October report shows the beginning of the leaf collection season. The organic waste program jumps up significantly. The Village composts over one thousand tons of organic waste per year. He said that it’s quite an operation. The Mayor asked if there are any other municipalities that compost that much at their own facility and the DPW Superintendent said that he couldn’t think of another one. He said that the County runs a program where you pay to tip and the material is shipped upstate. He said that Scarsdale used to have quite a robust program, but they stopped doing it. He spoke about the paving on Pelhamdale Avenue and shade tree pruning. He said that there is a change of seasonal duties. The last trip around the Village to collect unbagged leaves was done today. He said leaves will now need to be bagged. The Mayor asked out of the almost forty municipalities in the County, if Pelham Manor is the only one with that leading environmental program. He said that the County does takes some things from communities to be composted, but the material is taken upstate. To his knowledge, Pelham Manor is the only community that has this type of program. Mayor Monachino Lapey also said that the same people who pick up garbage and recycling also do street maintenance. The DPW Superintendent said that they also do park maintenance and snow removal. He said there’s a lot of work that is done. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Police, Fire, Village Clerk and DPW reports be and hereby are adopted. -------------- RESOLUTION DESIGNATING WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020 AS THE DATE OF THE VILLAGE ELELCTION AND THE TIME THE POLLS WILL BE OPEN After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that WHEREAS the next general Village Election for officers in the Village of Pelham Manor would normally be scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, 2020 and WHEREAS, in any Village in which the general Village Election, or a special Village Election for officers pursuant to Election Law 15-104, is scheduled to be held on the third Tuesday of March, for any year in which the Seventeenth day of March shall fall on such Tuesday, the Board of Trustees of such Village shall provide that such election shall be held on the Eighteenth day of March, and WHEREAS, the polling place for the Village Election will be the Firehouse located at 4 Penfield Place, and WHEREAS, the polls will be open from six o’clock in the morning until nine o’clock in the evening NOW, THEREFOREBE IT RESOLVED, that Wednesday, March 18, 2020 be and hereby is designated as the day of the Village election. ------------ RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 26952-27043 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 26952- 27043. -------------- OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Monachino Lapey asked if there was any comment from the public. Gianni Magnani, 435 Carol Place, thanked the board and administration for their hard work and wished everyone a joyous holiday season and a Happy New Year. Toby Marxuach- Gusciora, 901 Plymouth Street, asked about the status of the e-commerce facility and was told that the Board did have a communication from the applicant’s attorney which has to be reviewed with the Village’s attorney. She also asked about the grant from Amy Paulin for pedestrian safety. The Village Manager said that the Village has submitted its design to the Department of Transportation and have asked them to approve the design. Mayor Monachino Lapey wished everyone Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to those that celebrate it. She wished everyone a Happy New Year. -------------- 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