Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES May 11, 2020 PRESENT: Mayor Monachino Lapey Trustee Annunziata Trustee Senerchia Trustee Bennett Trustee Cataldi DeLillo Manager Pierpont ABSENT: Attorney Cornachio 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 the Village had an exciting guest on the schedule. She said that County Executive George Latimer will be speaking a little later and she asked anyone waiting to speak at the public hearing to mute their phones until they are ready to speak. The Mayor said that the Board continues to work collaboratively with the County, who has scheduled guests for us at times. She said she and the Village Manager are typically on calls three times a week with the County. She said that they work collaboratively with federal representative Senators Gillibrand and Schumer, Congresswoman Lowey and Westchester County Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler. She said that County Executive George Latimer was on speaker phone and that he would give a Covid-19 Update. ------------- COVID-19 UPDATE BY COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER The County Executive said that with modern technology Ellen Hendrickx, who is on the Hudson side of the County, while he is on the Sound Shore side of the County, was also on the call. He said that we have over thirty-one thousand cases of Covid County wide. Twenty-eight thousand tested at least two weeks ago. They have cleared two weeks and have cleared any health jeopardy. The County Executive said that there are three thousand three hundred seventy- seven active cases County-wide. That number is down from a peak of eleven thousand active cases a month ago. There are less than five hundred people hospitalized for Covid. At the peak, there were twelve hundred hospitalized. He said that one thousand two hundred eighteen people have died from Covid. He said that last night there were nine individuals who died. At its peak he said we were losing forty to forty- five people a night. He said that we’re on the down slope. The County Executive said that we’ve tested over one hundred twelve thousand people which is eleven per cent of County’s population. He said that is far in advance of any other area. He said that year to date Pelham Manor has had one hundred two cases and now only two are active. The Village of Pelham had one hundred eighty-two cases and they have nine active cases. He said that is tangibly better. The State is in charge of re-opening. The County must meet seven metrics established by the State. He said that this information is on the Governor’s website. He said that the region has met five of them and he said that he believes it will meet the other two in a week to ten days. The County Executive said that the Governor makes the game plan, and it is by his authority that we reopen. County Executive Latimer said that the Emergency Services office is being used to get Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and hand sanitizer to cities, towns and villages. The County has an economic development team to help people apply for Small Business Association ( SBA ) loans and grants. He said that we have a health and financial crisis, and we have to do the best we can. The Mayor thanked him. She also thanked Ms. Hendrickx, who provides us with reminders and summaries, for her hard work. Manager Pierpont asked where can local businesses reach out for information on small business assistance. The County Executive said that Bridget Gibbons, director of economic development, was the contact. Her e-mail is bgibbons@westchestergov.com and her phone number is (914) 995-2900. He said that she is working through VolunteerNY. Trustee Cataldi DeLillo asked about his sense of how long start up will take. She said that we will go through the four phases, but asked if he had a guestimate of how long it would take to reopen. The County Executive said that if the number of infections doesn’t increase, he thinks by the end of June all four categories will open. He said that he was loath to do Fourth of July celebrations because of the large number of people who attend them. He said that he didn’t think Phase One and Phase Two would be much of a problem. He said that landscaping was considered a low risk action. He said that tennis may be added back to low risk actions. The County Executive said that golf was never shut down. He said that he is hopeful that by the end of June businesses will reopen. He also said that when businesses open some people may not feel comfortable patronizing them. Trustee Annunziata spoke about PPP program for federal loans. He said that the information is that it has to be used within eight weeks. Many businesses have been closed by the Governor and employees are on unemployment assistance. He said that doesn’t make sense. County Executive Latimer said that the federal program and state mandates collide. He said that he will send this concern over to Congressman Eliot Engel’s office and then to Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. He said that the it should be the federal conversation first, because it is a federal program, and the state conversation second. Trustee Annunziata said that made sense because it would require a change in policy at the federal level. Trustee Annunziata said that Connecticut is opening this week and the fear is that people will go there and come back and possibly spread the disease. Trustee Senerchia spoke about Westchester County Center being used for antibody testing for first responders. He asked if there was a plan for testing for other essential employees. The County Executive said that there will be anti-body testing for other essential employees. He asked that a list of employees be sent to Ellen Hendrickx. Trustee Senerchia thanked both the County Executive and Ellen Hendrickx. The County Executive said that we will do this together. The Mayor said that the update went well. Trustee Annunziata and Trustee Bennett said that it was very informative. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that our first responders are participating up at the County for anti- body testing. The Mayor said that the Police Department has reached out to the elderly and immune compromised and still has some washable face masks available. They were donated by Hanes. She said residents can call (914) 738-8807 and our team will drop off as many as you need for you and your family. The Mayor spoke about a noise situation with 47 District in the Bronx. She said if there is a problem, residents should always call us and our police department will give you the number if it’s a New York City area. It’s also important to call 311. Don’t just call the precinct. She said that the City keeps very accurate records of 311 calls. Manager Pierpont said that the Police will also call New York 47 or Mount Vernon as well. Trustee Cataldi DeLillo gave a tree update. She said that it was her pleasure to attend an EcoPel Zoom event on tree canopies which she found very interesting. Manager Pierpont said that that the Village evaluates every publicly owned tree every year. Many mature trees are at the end of life in the environment they’re in between the sidewalk and the curb. We prune them and try to hold onto them as long as we can. He said that we plant fifty trees a year. Ninety-five percent are majestic species such as maples and oaks. He spoke about the western end of Esplanade. He looks at the space between the curb and sidewalk. If we have three feet, it is ok to plant there. He said that eighteen inches will not work. It is not enough room. If we can’t find room, we will find a spot on the median. The Village Manager said that the location of above ground and underground utilities as well as water services lines, gas service lines and overhead wires have to be taken into account when planting trees. He said that the Board has supported a very good tree program and it shows. Trustee Cataldi DeLillo spoke about New York Power Authority tree program and asked about the Village’s participation in the program. Manager Pierpont said that the Village has participated in this program for many years. The New York Power Authority has a tree planting program where you buy one and you get one free. The Village pays for twenty-five trees and gets fifty. The Village gets an additional twenty- five trees. He said that this is a very beneficial program for the Village’s tree planting system. Trustee Cataldi DeLillo said that it is difficult for trees in our environment. They provide practical benefits such as modulating temperature, sound attenuation and improving air quality. They are beautiful and add so much character to our community, but the roots are hard on sidewalks. Trustee Cataldi DeLillo also spoke about trees being pruned. Manager Pierpont said that Con Edison has a strict program of pruning around wires that are there to protect electricity. He said that is why the Village is careful about where trees are placed. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that Mr. Pierpont is a certified tree steward. The Mayor urged residents to fill out their Census forms. She said that we’re in the top ten communities on response rates. She urged residents to keep up the good work. The Mayor said that Shore Park opened on a limited basis on May First. She said on June First we will be adding dogs on leashes if all continues to go well. People have been cooperative for the most part by wearing masks and observing social distance. She said that on June First dogs on leashes will be allowed at Shore Park. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that she loved to highlight young people involved in sports. She often mentions swimmers Jenny Bell and Kate Douglas. She said that tonight she wanted to mention Nick Senerchia, a Senior at Pelham High School, who excelled in baseball. There was a nice write up in the Journal News on Trustee Senerchia’s nephew Nick. He was a Pelham High School baseball star and she said that she was sorry that he didn’t get his spring season. The Mayor congratulated the Senerchia family on Nick’s great write up and outstanding career at Pelham High School. ----------- The Mayor said that the Board has not had the Chiefs in attendance and asked Police Commissioner Annunziata if he would give a summary of the Police Department report. The Police Commissioner said that the report was brief but he said that residents must lock their cars. Three automobiles were entered last month. One of those car entries led to a burglary. The person took the garage opener, opened the garage and burglarized that car. He also mentioned shoplifting at BJ’s. He said that one perpetrator on line at BJ’s was cutting the line and causing a scene. The person was not arrested. He also mentioned that the police had a number of domestic disputes and commended them on how they handled them. The Police Commissioner said that our first responders have to treat every person as if they were a Covid-19 positive case. ---------- ACTION THE ANNUAL STORMWATER MANAGEMENT REPORT After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the annual stormwater management report be and hereby is adopted. ------------ RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 27473-27511 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 27473-27511 ------------ 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