Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES March 10, 2022 PRESENT: Mayor Monachino Lapey Trustee Bennett Trustee Owen-Michaane Trustee Cataldi DeLillo Attorney Cornachio Manager Pierpont ABSENT: Trustee Senerchia PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND FIRE SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT Mayor Monachino Lapey announced that the Pelham Cub Scout Pack 4 Webelos would lead those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance and she notified those in attendance where the fire safety exits were located. ------------ OPENING REMARKS Mayor Monachino Lapey opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. She said that prior to this Board meeting the Webelos met with the Board and had wonderful questions with respect to the departments in the Village for the Board members. She said that she, the Board, and the Village Manager appreciated the opportunity to have a robust discussion with them. The Mayor said that it’s always a pleasure to meet with the next generation. She thanked Police Commissioner Bennett, Deputy Mayor Cataldi DeLillo and Manager Pierpont for attending the meeting and answering questions. She thanked Trustee Owen-Michaane for arranging the meeting. She said that his son is a Webelo. The Mayor said that it is important for the younger generation to know what we do on a day to day basis. ----------- ADMINISTER OATH OF OFFICE TO POLICE OFFICER FRANK LYNCH The Mayor thanked Chief Atkins and Lieutenant Sancho for providing the bio regarding Officer Lynch. She said that Frank Lynch is twenty- three years old and lives in Peekskill. He attended Quinnipiac University and earned a Bachelor’s degree in legal studies and economics. Officer Lynch worked as a Seasonal Park Ranger with the Westchester County Police Department before being hired by the Pelham Manor Police Department in January 2021. He graduated from the Westchester County Police Academy in May of 2021. Frank Lynch is an asset to both the community and the Police Department. Mayor Monachino Lapey administered the Oath of Office to Frank Lynch. All in attendance congratulated Police Officer Lynch. ---------- MINUTES FROM THE FEBRUARY 28, 2022 PUBLIC HEARING AND FEBRUARY 28, 2022 REGULAR MEETING The Mayor asked if there were any questions, comments or corrections on the minutes. There were no questions, comments or corrections. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously 1  RESOLVED, that the minutes from the February 28, 2022 Public Hearing and February 28, 2022 Regular Meeting be and hereby are approved. ----------- REPORTS Pollice Commissioner Bennett discussed the monthly report with Chief Atkins. The Police Chief said that there was an uptick in identity theft. Police Commissioner Bennett asked the Chief if he had any advice on how residents can protect themselves. Chief Atkins said that people need to be aware that there is a lot of e-mail and text message phishing happening. He said if something comes from a financial institution you should call them to make sure they really sent the request. The Chief said that there was an uptick in larcenies. He mentioned 24 Hour Fitness and said the detectives are working with management to help come up with a solution. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. The DPW Superintendent said that the recycling rate continues to be very good. It is s sixty- eight per cent year to date. He said that it will go up next month because of the large organic part of our waste stream as we pick-up spring leaves. He commented that the storm in February was responsible for twenty- three hours of overtime which is well within the budget. He said that we may have some snow this weekend, but we are prepared for that. The DPW Superintendent said five streetlights had photo cells replaced. He said that the police department keeps a list and residents can call and report streetlights that are out. The Village Clerk said that it was a busy month for dog licenses. He said that the program is very robust in the Village. It is a state law to license your dog, but it is also good for the health of the dog. He said that there were thirty-one building permits issued. It was busy, but not as busy as it was. Five letters in lieu of a certificate of occupancy were processed. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Police, DPW and Village Clerk reports be and hereby are approved. ----------- REQUEST TO INSTALL THREE NEW EXTERIOR DOORS AT FAIRWAY/SHOPRITE SUPERMARKET Mayor Monachino Lapey said that we have a request form Fairway/Shoprite to install three new exterior doors. She asked that the Village has a design criteria in that district and she asked the Village Manager for more information on this request. Manager Pierpont said that Fairway is going to become a Shoprite. They would like to make a couple of changes in the doors. This request is for some minimal changes. They want to move a door where there is a glass panel now and replace a door with a glass panel and they want to put in an additional exit door in the rear of the building The Mayor said that she was thrilled this Fairway Market and the Wines and Spirits store remained when they went through bankruptcy. She said that we want to work with this business. The Mayor said that she didn’t see anything that struck her as inappropriate. Trustee Bennett said that we were very lucky that the Fairway stayed open. She said that the changes seemed miniscule. She thought that they were very minor and the Village should work with them. 2 Trustee Cataldi DeLillo asked if there was any reason they are doing the signs under a separate permit.. The Manager said that he didn’t think they were ready. He said that when the signs are ready they will be reviewed by the Village’s consultant and the Board may also want the Planning Board to review them. Trustee Cataldi DeLillo asked what was going to happen to the Fairway Wine and Spirits? The Manager said that he thinks it’s going to remain as Wine and Spirits. He was told that they intended to try to keep it. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the changes submitted by Fairway/ShopRite Supermarkets be and hereby are approved. ------------ RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE USE OF SCANNABLE ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR THE MARCH 15 2022 VILLAGE ELECTION. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that the Village Manager is also the Election Officer. She asked him for a little more detail on this subject. Manager Pierpont said that the Absentee Ballots have always been hand counted. Last year there was a tremendous number of Absentee Ballots. This year there are fewer Absentee Ballots and he thought it was a good time to try out this scannable ballot. They can still be hand counted if there is problem. He said that other communities have used these ballots, but Pelham Manor has not tried them. Trustee Bennett said that this could make life easier. The Mayor said that the Absentee Ballots are counted at the end of the night. She thought that this made sense and that we should give it a try. Trustee Cataldi DeLillo asked how the ballots look. Manager Pierpont said that they look just like the regular ballots except they’re marked absentee. At the close of the polls the Village Clerk gives all the absentee ballots, in their envelopes, to the Election Inspectors. The Election Inspectors then look at the ballots and determine whether that’s an eligible voter. Once they make the determination that the ballot inside that envelope is a valid ballot to be counted, they’ll open the envelope, put the envelope to one side, and drop the ballot without looking at it into our ballot box. Once all those have been certified and ones that are questionable have been set aside to be looked at later, we open the ballot box and run them through. We’ll run them through so that there’s no association between an envelope with a person’s name and signature on it and a ballot. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the use of Scannable Absentee Ballots for the March 15, 2022 Village Election be and hereby is approved. ------------ SHORE PARK REQUEST The Mayor said that Kurt and Allison Wiesenmaier, 975 Grant Avenue, requested the use of Shore Park on Saturday, April 2, 2022 from eleven o’clock in the morning until two o’clock in the afternoon, with a rain date of Sunday, April 3, 2022 for their son’s fourth birthday party. 3 After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that Kurt and Allison Wiesenmaier be and hereby are granted permission to use Shore Park on Saturday, April 2, 2022 with a rain date of April 3, 2022. ----------- RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 29764-29810 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 29764-29810. ---------------- PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Monachino Lapey asked if anyone had any comments or questions. There were no comments or questions from the public. --------------- EXECUTIVE SESSION The Mayor said that there were issues regarding an employment 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: Employment Issue and a Legal Matter No action was taken in Executive Session. -------------- ADJOURNMENT Mayor Monachino Lapey wished everyone a Happy Saint Patrick’s Day. There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. -------------- Clerk 4