Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES March 9, 2020 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 we’re in the midst of a busy, challenging time with the novel coronavirus on everyone’s mind. She said that we have stayed current with information and are in regular contact with other local municipal authorities and elected officials and we have been in regular contact with the County which has been very helpful with providing the latest guidance and latest updates from the State and the Center for Disease Control. She said that the Village Manager was on a conference call today with the County and has an update for us. She said he will also be on a conference call on Wednesday. Manager Pierpont said that there wasn’t much new to report. He said that the Village has put protocols in place such as having people sign in when visiting Village Hall and keeping record of that log, having an internal disinfectant policy which includes disinfecting the areas twice a day, and keeping six feet from one another. He said that on Wednesday there will be a White House conference call. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that we have protocols and guidance on the Village website, Facebook page and Nixle alerts. She said that they are a lot of common sense recommendations used during flu season such as washing your hands for at least twenty seconds, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, cover your mouth when you cough, sneeze into a tissue and throw it away and clean and disinfect frequently used objects. The Mayor said that Norma Drummond, who was to give a Census 2020 presentation, was unable to attend tonight’s meeting. -------------- MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 24, 2020 REGULAR MEETING The Mayor asked if there were any comments or corrections to the minutes as distributed. Trustee Cataldi DeLillo said that she had two corrections. In the Opportunity for Public Comment Section on page five in the second to last paragraph, she would like it to read that she said that notwithstanding this, Crown is still charged to deliver on programmatic goals and there are parameters that guide them towards those goals to produce a monopole that will work. Therefore, Crown cannot just do whatever it wants. Trustee Cataldi DeLillo said that on the next page the second to last comment should include that in Route 1/The Hutchinson cloverleaf Crown’s information suggests that the I-95 Hutchinson cloverleaf delivers more success towards their programmatic goals. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that she thought that was a fair and accurate representation of what occurred at the meeting. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the minutes from the Regular Meeting on February 24, 2020 be and hereby are approved as amended. ------------ REPORTS Police Commissioner Annunziata discussed the monthly report with Police Chief Carpenter. He spoke about larcenies from vehicles and identity theft or fraud. He said that it seemed like they were only going into unlocked vehicles and the Chief said that was true but said that the perpetrators are still going onto private property. The Police Commissioner said that people should not leave purses and valuables in a car whether it’s locked or unlocked. He said that windows have been broken and the items have been taken. The Police Chief said that one thing that especially stood out was the forgery on Priory Lane where someone was trying to forge someone’s deed to their home. The Police Commissioner said that he knew someone where a deed had been fraudulently transferred to another person and the true owner lost the house temporarily because the deed had been falsified. The Mayor recommended that people contact the Police Department if they have a question or something unusual comes up. She said it’s better to call than think later if only I had reached out. The Police Chief said that the phone is answered twenty- four hours a day seven days a week. He said that he would rather have someone call if they’re concerned about whether something is legitimate. He said that the residents should not feel that they are wasting the Police department’s time. Police Commissioner Annunziata said that the work the Chief and his department do is appreciated. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. The Village Treasurer’s report was postponed because some financial data is still being compiled. The Village Clerk said that there was a slow down in building permits and said that trend will be monitored. The Department of Public Works Superintendent said that because we didn’t have any snow to speak of in January the department has been doing a lot of tree pruning and getting a head start on some of this work that is normally done in the spring. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Police, Village Clerk and DPW reports be and hereby are adopted. -------------- POLICE OFFICER PAUL ROBERTS ASSIGNED TO THE POSITION OF DETECTIVE The Mayor read the following background information on Police Officer Paul Roberts. Police Officer Paul Roberts is 32 years old and currently lives in New Rochelle with his fiancée. After graduating from Western New England College, with a degree in Criminal Justice, Officer Roberts went on to become a Correctional Officer with the Westchester County Department of Corrections. Shortly thereafter, Paul was hired by the Pelham Manor Police Department in December of 2013. Officer Roberts has proven himself to be a dedicated, responsible and competent member of this organization. Police Officer Roberts will continue to be an asset to both our community and police department in his new assignment as a Detective. Mayor Monachio Lapey swore in Paul Roberts as a Police Detective. All in attendance congratulated the Officer on his assignment as a Detective. --------------- RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 27283-27322 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 27283-27322 -------------- OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Monachino Lapey asked if anyone had public comment. Anthony Marrella, 103 Iden Avenue, said that he had spoken with Maryanne Joyce, from Senator Biaggi’s office, and she had some handouts on a budget forum and the 2020 Census. He spoke about the tax system and said that one hundred thousand people have left New York State. He said that fewer people will be paying more taxes and said that this was a disturbing trend. He also said that the estate tax in New York needs to be reviewed. He said that he had urged the senator to look at the issue of the estate tax. He said that New Jersey eliminated the estate tax. It has an inheritance tax. He thought that in the future something could be done on this issue. The Mayor and Board thanked Mr. Marrella for his comments. Gianni Magnani, 435 Carol Place, wanted to publicly thank the Department of Public Works for the tree pruning of some dangerous dead limbs that were hanging over some cars and the street. He said that they came and did a beautiful job and he wanted to thank them publicly. Toby Marxuach Gusciora, 901 Plymouth Street, asked about the status of the monopole. The Mayor said that the Village is dealing with counsel on this. Maurice Owen-Michaane, 457 Siwanoy Place, spoke about the proposed monopole. He followed up with Cathy Draper from Assemblywoman Amy Paulin’s office. He foiled information and got documents related to the monopole. He said that state officials do have power. New York State contracts with Crown. He said that he believes that Pelham Manor has done everything it can. The State government has to pick up the pace and get behind the people of Pelham Manor. He said that the Department of Transportation answers to people, and they are empowered to do something. Whether they choose to do that or not is another story. He said that he believes the government can do something and should listen to people. Steve Shekane, 917 Washington Avenue, said that he had also spoken with Cathy Draper and Maryanne Joyce and was very disappointed in the attitude that there is nothing they can do. He said that it is his perception that the Village has been abandoned by State representatives and our neighbors in Pelham. He said that there are not as many people pushing against this site as there were against the site near the Library, and the state representatives have said that there’s nothing they can do. Mr. Shekane said that the DOT answers to the Governor not the legislature. He said that we have to push harder. He also said that he will be able to see the monopole from his house if it is placed at the Cloverleaf at exit 6. It is closer to his house and he will be able to see the proposed monopole. He said that a significant number of people will be able to see the monopole especially people on Split Rock and Grant Avenue. -------------- 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