Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES October 25, 2021 PRESENT: Mayor Monachino Lapey Trustee Senerchia Trustee Bennett Trustee Cataldi DeLillo Trustee Owen-Michaane 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 safety exits were located. ------------ OPENING REMARKS The Mayor opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. She that she and Deputy Mayor Cataldi DeLillo were honored to attend the Centennial celebration at Pelham Memorial High School. There were moving speeches and boards with photos. Later they took a tour of the infrastructure and the building with Trustee Bennett. The Mayor said that she, the Deputy Mayor and Trustee Senerchia are alumnae of Pelham High. She said that so many Board members have children who attend or attended Pelham High School. The Mayor recommended the Facebook and website of the Town Historian Art Scinta for a chronology of the schools with special attention to Pelham High School. Manager Pierpont spoke about post tropical storm Ida and where the Village can make improvements. He met with a consulting engineer about the ability to open up some catch basins. The catch basins along Grant Avenue and Monroe Street are larger and drain well, but there may be opportunities to do work further uphill in the Hunter and Edgemere neighborhood. We may be able to intercept water. He said that we’re looking at that and some other general tweaks to the system and working on improving the receiving systems where stormwater runs off. Manager Pierpont spoke about the Thruway Authority and when the Thruway was built. He said that when the Thruway was built over Pelhamdale Avenue, it was elevated and a levy, or dam, was created. He said that there is a receiving system on I-95. There are culverts under the highway. There are sixteen catch basins along the Thruway and along the median. He said that as of Friday ten of the sixteen catch basins were cleaned. He said that they are about fifteen feet deep and material was piled to the top and pipes needed to be cleaned out. He said that we reached out to Alex Betke for help. A zoom meeting with the Thruway Authority was held. As built plan with drainage channels was reviewed and the need to get back to original capacity was discussed. He asked Mr. Betke if he had any contacts at the New York City Parks Department. Forest Road and Elm Tree Lane discharge to the parks system. He said that we’re working on that. He said that improvements to systems downstream or us that receive our water should help a lot. Trustee Bennett thanked the Village Manager. She said that after Ida residents wanted to see if the catch basin and streets close to their homes could be looked at to see if something could be done to help alleviate flooding. She said that he met with her several times and with residents and that meant a lot to people who suffered through a lot. She said that it was reassuring. Manager Pierpont said that the pictures of the silted catch basins speak for themselves. He said that work needed to be done and more needs to be done. Mayor Monachino Lapey reminded residents that on September Twenty-Ninth Manager Pierpont spoke at the Board meeting about the maintenance program that the Village has for its two collection systems that we shepherd along in our jurisdiction that we have control over. She said that these are measures that he’s taking proactively by working cooperatively with other jurisdictions. 1 Trustee Bennett announced that a Category 3, Second Place honor was awarded to Police Officer John Luiso at the Westchester County Law Enforcement Memorial and Awards ceremony on October 21, 2021. John Luiso received the commendation for saving the life of a distraught person on September 2, 2020. She congratulated him and thanked him for his service. -------------- OATH OF OFFICE FOR POLICE OFFICER SHECORE SPEID The Mayor said that Shecore Speid is being sworn in as a Police Officer. She said that he is twenty-eight years old and lives in the Bronx with his family. Mr. Speid attended Joy Jay College and earned a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2015. He began his law enforcement career in 2019 as a Police Officer with the City of Mount Vernon Police Department. Prior to that, he was employed by New York City Corrections as a correctional officer. He brings professional experience and a multitude of training certificates. Mr. Speid is looking forward to combining his experience and work ethic to help serve the Village of Pelham Manor. Mayor Monachino Lapey administer the Oath of Office to Shecore Speid. All in attendance congratulated Police Officer Shecore Speid. The Mayor asked Police Chief Atkins to give an update on Pelham Together. Chief Atkins said that the Pelham Manor Police Department and Pelham Together will have a meet and greet on Veterans’ Day, November Eleventh, in front of Police Headquarters from one o’clock in the afternoon until three o’clock. It is for the “You and Me” program for residents with developmental disabilities. A departmental registry has been created for families of special needs residents which provides important contact information. He said that children of all ages are encouraged to attend this event and meet members of the Pelham Manor Police Department. The “You and Me” program is aimed at assisting special needs residents of the community. - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 11, 2021REGULAR MEETING The Mayor asked if there were any questions, comments or concerns on the minutes. There were no questions, comments or concerns. Trustee Cataldi DeLillo said that on page five p the second line in the second sentence the words “in any given year” should be added after the one hundred year storm and the words “ in any given year” should also be added after words five hundred year storm. The two sentences would read as follows. The chance of a one hundred year storm in any given year is one percent. The probability of a five hundred year storm in any given year is .02 percent. The Mayor said that was an accurate reflection of what was said and concurred with the amendments. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was RESOLVED, that the minutes from October 11, 2021 Regular Meeting be and hereby are approved as amended. ----------- REPORTS The Village Treasurer spoke about the September expenditures. He said that they were tracking as anticipated. There was additional paving done on Beech Tree Lane, Elm Tree Lane, and Forest Road. He said that the Village received CHIPS reimbursement from the state. He said that building permits were a little less. He said that next month the Village will receive sale tax which will be just under three hundred thousand dollars which is better than expected. 2 Trustee Owen-Michaane asked if building permits are lower than in previous months and was told yes. He was told that building permit fees were running between twelve and sixteen thousand dollars. Now the permit fees are seven thousand five hundred dollars. He said that he will keep an eye on it. Trustee Owen-Michaane asked if the Village would hit its revenue projection if the fees remain at this level and was told no. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Village Treasurer’s report be and hereby is approved. ----------- RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FIREHOUSE AS THE ONLY POLLING PLACE FOR THE MARCH 15, 2022 ELECTION Mayor Monachino Lapey said the following resolution set the polling place for the Village election in March. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Pelham Mano Firehouse, 4 Penfield Place, New York be and hereby is the only polling place for the March 15, 2022 Village of Pelham Manor Election. ------------ RESOLUTION DESIGNATING OFFICES AND TERMS TO BE FILLED IN THE MARCH 15, 2022 ELECTION The following resolution was presented. WHEREAS, the next general Village election for officers in the Village of Pelham Manor will be held on March 15, 2022 and WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees must designate by resolution and publish the offices which are to be filled in such election and the terms thereof, NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees designated the following offices as vacant at the end of the current official year to be filled at the Village election to be held on March 15, 2022 for the following terms: Trustee Two Years Trustee Two Years The Village Clerk is hereby directed to publish this resolution in full in THE JOURNAL NEWS. ------------- RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 29267-29317 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 29267-29317. 3  ---------------- PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Monachino Lapey asked if there were any comments or questions from the public. Amy Goodman, 1242 Pelhamdale Avenue, thanked Trustee Owen-Michaane for the crossing help at Black Street while Pelhamdale Avenue was being paved. She spoke about the overpass on Pelhamdale Avenue and said that there should be a height sign. She thought it might be able to be attached to the truck overpass. She said that she didn’t think that drivers were aware of the height. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that there is a sign and we are looking at it and re-evaluating signage. She said that it was a Board decision to provide the crossing guard on Black Street. Amy Goodman said that a height sign may have been dislodged. She asked if the Village would have to go to Amtrak to have a sign placed on the overpass and was told yes. The Mayor said that we continue to look at this. Cindy Courtien, 1044 Clay Avenue, said that she often drives on the Boston Post Road, the Hutch and I-95 and said that there are more trucks stuck under the tressles. She said that a bigger issue is that a lot of drivers are from out of state and they don’t know the roads. They take their chances. She said that it’s been happening for years. Alexy Scholl, 1076 Grant Avenue, spoke about the houses flooded by Ida. She spoke about ongoing collaboration to do more regular cleaning. She asked if the Village was planning to apply for flood mitigation funding. She said that over a million dollars is available. Manager Pierpont said that if we find work we can do, that qualifies, we apply. Meredith Shu, Manor Lane, spoke about Fema grants and homes being raised. She gave the example of homes being on stilts to avoid flooding. She said that homeowners can’t apply. The Village has to apply for the funds. She said that there are other grant opportunities. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that sometimes it is not a fit. She said that we get updates regularly. Tony Marrella, 103 Iden Avenue, spoke about flooding and homeowners’ insurance policies. He said that they should examine what coverage they have. He said that the biggest problem is mold. Allison Frost, 4579 Boston Post Road, asked if the red-light cameras were active yet and was told no. She thanked the Board for the speed monitor on Esplanade. Trustee Bennett said that the Board heard from residents. She mentioned that residents on Manor Ridge Road had requested it and the best plan for when and where it should be placed was determined by the Police Department. The Mayor said that the Village responds to acute situations and requests, and the police also use their own judgement on these types of matters. Allison Frost asked if there was an update on a traffic study on Boston Post Road. Manager Pierpont said that a zoom call is scheduled with a vendor for Four Corners. He said that cameras can measure things such as speed and the type of vehicle but it is not a formal traffic study of Boston Post Road. Alexy Scholl spoke about using Village Hall for the March election. She spoke about a proposal to shift the elections to the County and asked if the Board was still looking at that. She said she was in favor of that and thought that it would take one thing off Mr. Pierpont’s plate. The Mayor said that the Board has considered it. She said that we looked into it and found that our Village would still be responsible for many things. She said that we don’t know that County 4 elections are run any better. She said that we are continuing to look at it. Trustee Senerchia reminded everyone to be safe out there for Halloween and to have a great time. The Mayor and Board thanked everyone for their comments. ------------- EXECUTIVE SESSION The Mayor said that there was an issue regarding a personnel matter and a legal matter. 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 and Legal Matter No action was taken in Executive Session. -------------- ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. -------------- Clerk 5