Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES November 11, 2019 PRESENT: Mayor Monachino Lapey Trustee Annunziata Trustee Senerchia Attorney Cornachio Manager Pierpont ABSENT: Trustee Bennett Trustee Cataldi DeLillo PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND FIRE SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT Siwanoy Pack 4 presented the colors and led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Mayor notified those in attendance where the fire exits were located. The Mayor said that she had a few announcements. The Mayor thanked Siwanoy Pack 4 and troop leaders, Mr. McDermot and Mr. Owen-Michaane, who were both Eagle Scout recipients. Mr. Owen-Michaane is also a member of the Village’s Zoning Board of Appeals. The Mayor also recognized Mr.Huffridge. She thanked the scouts for presenting the colors and leading everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. She said it is always an honor to have our guests from the elementary schools. She said that she was an alumna of Siwanoy. The Mayor wished a Happy Veterans Day to all who have served and mentioned her grandfather Doc Monachino, who as a young surgeon just out of medical school served on the front lines in World War II and her father who was an Army reservist. The Mayor said that the Village Board meets on holidays but it honors and recognizes the service of all veterans. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that Trustee Cataldi DeLillo, was absent because she was not feeling well. The Mayor said that Trustee Bennett was unable to attend the meeting because she had a previous engagement in New York City. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that she and Deputy Mayor Annunziata attended the Pelham Civic Association’s awards dinner which honored Peter DiPaola and Dr. Anne Frost. Peter DiPaola has served the community for many years and is retiring from public service at the end of the year. Dr. Anne Frost has also served the community for many years. Her husband, Lou Frost, had been a Mayor in Pelham Manor. The Mayor said that State Senator Alessandra Biaggi, Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, a representative from the Eliot Engel’s office and County Legislator Terry Clements were in attendance. She said it was well attended, very meaningful and there was wonderful camaraderie. Trustee Annunziata said the honor was well deserved. They both served the community for so many years. ------------ MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING ON OCTOBER 28, 2019 The Mayor had one adjustment on the top of page two. She was discussing how waste is incinerated in an enclosed environment and turned into energy. The Mayor stated on the record, and would like it reflected in the minutes, that the EPA considers this process to be a renewable resource. She believed the addition to be a fair and accurate representation of what she said. Trustee Senerchia agreed and Trustee Annunziata said that it was a great point. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the minutes from the October 28, 2019 Regular Meeting be and hereby are approved as amended. -------------- REPORTS Police Commissioner Annunziata discussed the Police report with Chief Carpenter. The Police Commissioner commented on the unusually high number of domestic disputes and how the officers handled them professionally and peacefully. Commissioner Annunziata commended Village residents on locking their vehicles. He said that two potential car burglaries were averted on Carol Place. Two incidents were reported within an hour of each other, but the cars were locked and the suspects moved on. The Police Commissioner spoke about stealing large screen tv’s from BJ’s. They took them out the emergency exit. The police followed them into the Bronx and arrested them. He said it was great work. Police Commissioner Annunziata also said that there was an arrest at CVS. Chief Carpenter said that there were over four hundred fifty incidents. He said that it was a somewhat busy month. The Police Commissioner said that he was only giving the highlights and there were approximately fifteen incidents a day. The Mayor said that the report doesn’t go through Halloween. She wanted highlight the Chief’s community outreach, largely at the Board’s request and specifically at her request, of going into the schools interfacing with the children and establishing those partnerships at an early age with respect to Halloween safety. Mayor Monachino Lapey spoke about Nixle being on the Halloween gift bags for the children and the advanced training for the officers and said that it was very much appreciated. She said that the Chief pioneered the use of Nixle in this community. She said that many people ask her why they receive information on their Nixle alerts about areas that are not in Pelham Manor. She said they don’t mind the additional information, but don’t understand why they receive text alerts about another community. She said that this is done via zip code and asked the Police Chief to explain this. The Police Chief explained how to subscribe to get Nixle alerts. People text the numbers 888-777 to zip code 10803. When Pelham Manor first started using Nixle no one else was using this system. The text messages for Pelham Manor come under Pelham Manor PD. He said that it is his understanding that the Village of Pelham is now using Nixle. The Villages share the zip code 10803. People may get messages from the Pelham Manor Police Department as well as the Village of Pelham which come in under Pelham PD. He said that the zip code is the catalyst for Nixle. Residents will receive information from Pelham as well as Pelham Manor. The Mayor said that, in her opinion, the more information the better. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. The Village Clerk said that October was a very active time in the Building Department. Fifty- four building permits were issued. This is a sign of economic strength in our community. He also said that it was a big month for Notices of Violation. They were issued mostly for leaves that were put out on the wrong date or leaves that were put out un bagged before October 15th. The number of copies indicates the health of the real estate market. The number usually signifies the number of homes that are trading in the community. He said that it is a number that we like to keep track of. The Department of Public Works Superintendent said that the report for September showed average to normal activity. He said that street paving on Esplanade, Bon Mar Road, Suburban Avenue and Sherwood Avenue was done in September. About three hundred fifty thousand dollars-worth of paving was completed. The following month over two hundred thousand dollars of paving was done on Pelhamdale Avenue as part of the regular paving program. He said that we continue to improve and catch up on our roadway maintenance through our paving program. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that the DPW Superintendent does interface with residents when they bring egregious situations to his attention. He has a very well planned and structured program, but when residents bring acute conditions to his attention he can talk to residents about them. He said that we do and we try to accommodate them if possible. He spoke about Bon Mar Road and how the residents were anxious to have that street paved last year. We look to see if any utility work is scheduled for the area and the last time the road was paved. It just couldn’t be worked into the program last year. We were able to make adjustments to this year’s schedule and the street was paved. If we receive complaints we go out and look to see if a short term fix can be done. He said that we have a very robust paving program. In the last three or four years the Village has spent close to one point five million dollars in paving. This has all been done without any need to borrow because this Board has been forward thinking in its allocation of funding. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Police, Village Clerk and Department of Public Works reports be and hereby are accepted. --------------- E COMMERCE UPDATE The Mayor said that an e commerce facility is proposed for our Village. She said that Pelham Manor is not zoned for this use at this time. She asked the Village Manager to give some background on this issue. Manager Pierpont said that this concept was first introduced to us in early 2019 and he said that the Village does not have a zone that allows for it. They would like the Board to consider it. It will take a lot of review and the Board will have to take a close look at it. He said that he wanted the public and the Board to know that they received some documents from them and we, the staff and outside counsel, are reviewing them. He said that they would like to see if the Village will move ahead with it. Manager Pierpont mentioned that before anything was to be reviewed, the Board requested that twenty-five thousand dollars be placed in a Trust and Agency account. Outside studies for reviewing this proposal or research by outside counsel will be paid out of this account. He said that this will be on the agenda in December. Staff and outside counsel are reviewing it. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that this data just came into our possession recently. Outside counsel with review it with counsel here. Manager Pierpont said that he thinks this is going to be a long process because there is a lot to consider. Trustee Annunziata asked him the next steps in the process. Manager Pierpont said the project would need an amendment to the Village’s zoning ordinance. It would require an amendment to the Business 2 District to add a special permit use and outline conditions under which a property would qualify for that special permit use and outline under which conditions a special permit may be issued. It would also outline what conditions would have to be lived up to as part of a special permit. They would have to go through SEQR ( State Environmental Quality Review) review. He said that we have gotten some information. He wants the Board and the public to know that it is in the very early stages. He said that they will present their submission and then their Environmental Quality Review in terms of environmental impacts associated with this use and how, and if, they can be mitigated. The Mayor said the Board will take public comment and questions at the end. ------------ SET BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE FOR DECEMBER The Mayor said a quorum is needed to act and as it gets closer to the holidays that may be more difficult to achieve. The normal meeting dates are the second and fourth Mondays of the month. Manager Pierpont suggested that the meeting date be December 16th which falls between the normally scheduled meetings of December 9th and December 23rd. The Mayor and two Trustees in attendance said that they were available for a Board meeting on December 16th. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Board meeting for December be and hereby is scheduled for December 16, 2019. ------------- RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 26859-26898 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 26859-26898. -------------- PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Monachino Lapey opened the meeting for public comment. Maurice Owen-Michaane, 457 Siwanoy Place, spoke about the e-commerce update. He asked if a special permit use or zoning is granted, and the applicant is not abiding by certain commitments, could the special permit be rescinded and could that severely impact, if not close down, the facility if things get egregious? The Mayor said that is her understanding, but said that we have not had a chance to review this. She said that we’ve just gotten some language. She said that one Trustee is recusing herself from this matter and the Board is missing the other Trustee. It has not been reviewed by counsel internally or with outside counsel. The Mayor said that, speaking for herself, she is not interested in entertaining any option where we don’t maintain control, some type of control, to preserve the quality of life and the character of the community. She said that it’s a balancing of equities. The Board will have to see where the legal language comes down and get advice from counsel. Trustee Annunziata agreed with the Mayor’s statement. Maurice Owen-Michaane said that he appreciated the Board’s judicious movement on this proposal. He said that the tax revenue, fees and permit revenue sound very good, but that has to be balanced by the needs of Pelham Manor and its residents. The Mayor said that she is very mindful that this is a walking district where children go to school and she has great concern for preservation and the environment. Maurice Owen-Michaane said that Samantha Hinton, 6 Bon Mar Road, was unable to attend tonight’s meeting but wanted to let the Board know that there was graffiti on a New York State DOT traffic control unit at Boston Post Road and Black Street. Only DOT can clean it. It’s on Esplanade between Boston Post Road and Black Street. She tried to clean but it didn’t come off. Manager Pierpont said that there is a traffic controller cabinet at the intersection of Boston Post Road and Esplanade. If that is not it, it may be owned by a cable provider. The Mayor suggested that the next step be done through the Village. She said she was very concerned about residents touching high voltage wires. Jessyka Calzolaio, 1436 Roosevelt Avenue, said that she was a PTA President at Prospect Hill School. She spoke about parking issues and the signage around the school. She had a presentation with model cars and a drawing to illustrate driving and parking difficulties around the school. She said that there is only one sign at Hudson Street that says No Entry from eight o’clock in the morning until four o’clock in the afternoon. There are no signs that say Plymouth Street is one way. She said that there is no language that says you can’t park in certain areas, such as No Parking From Here to Corner. She said the bigger issue is the driving issue on Plymouth Street. Southbound traffic to the school should be one way in the morning. She spoke about having to make three point turns to be facing the right direction. She said that cars are getting bigger and people cannot make turns without going into a driveway. She said that people have to go over the sidewalks. She said that her two year old ran in front of a car and would have been under the car’s bumper if not for a sensor on the car. She wants someone to look into this. Maybe it could be one way from Jackson to Hudson. She said that she is not sure what the answer is. The Mayor said that the we have looked at this with the Police Chief. Manager Pierpont said that there is another alternative that he will talk to the Chief about. He said we may look at “Do Not Enter” during school hours except for people who live there. He said that the circulation pattern was designed by a AAA traffic and pedestrian engineer. He said that there are no sidewalks because of topography changes. He said to allow parking in an oncoming lane of traffic creates its own set of dangers. He said you could park on Washington. Jessyka Calzolaio said that the teachers take all the parking spaces on Washington Avenue. There may be a few left toward Peace Street. Trustee Annunziata said that his four daughters went to Prospect Hill and two granddaughters currently go there so he is concerned about traffic safety. Jessyka Calzolaio said that with the construction at the field there will be even fewer spaces. Trustee Senerchia said that he is sure the school will reach out to the Village and the Police and they will be included in the construction project. The Mayor said that a year and a half ago at Prospect Hill the Police were out there performing traffic monitoring and enforcement. The Mayor said that the police are out there routinely. She said that we appreciate your concerns and will continue to look at these points. Toby Marxuach-Gusciora, 901 Plymouth Street, asked if there was any news on the monopole and was told that there has been no new news. Maurice Owen-Michaane said that he has been in contact with Assemblywoman Amy Paulin’s office and they have not heard anything. He was told that no news is good news. The Mayor said that our record is clear and unambiguous. She said that we oppose this monopole in its current form and current location. She said that our record speaks for itself and under this process it is incumbent upon Miss Phillips Murray to be in touch with us. She said that she was also cautiously optimistic. Trustee Senerchia spoke about the Fire Department’ s involvement in the schools. He said that they recently had Fire Prevention Week and Captain Greco and Firefighter Jason Tortorella were at Prospect Hill. He said that his children came home and made a fire escape plan for their house. He thanked the Chief and the Fire Department for the education they are doing. He said that he appreciated the Fire Department and Police Department and said that some of them being local goes a long way. He said they do a great job. The Mayor thanked him and commented that Trustee Senerchia was an alumnus of Prospect Hill. ------------- EXECUTIVE SESSION No action was taken in Executive Session. -------------- ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. -------------- Clerk