Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES August 22, 2022 PRESENT: Mayor Monachino Lapey Trustee Senerchia Trustee Bennett Trustee Owen-Michaane 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 safety exits were located. ------------ OPENING REMARKS Mayor Monachino Lapey opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. She said that the office and service departments remain well staffed in spite of vacations. The Mayor said that the Village of Pelham has terminated parking in two lots for Pelham Manor residents. She said that the Village of Pelham Manor appreciates the hardship for thirty-five of its residents and is trying to look for some solution. The lots are entirely within the Village of Pelham. Manager Pierpont is looking at what options may be available for these residents. ----------- MINUTES FROM THE JULY 11, 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 RESOLVED, that the minutes from the July 11, 2022 Regular Meeting be and hereby are approved. ----------- ADMINISTER OATH OF OFFICE – FIRE FIGHTER BRIAN HADE Mayor Monachino Lapey said that she was going to administer the Oath of Office to Brain Hade. She said that it is wonderful to be able to support local talent when we can. She likes to foster the types of promotions for people who come back to the community. She said that Brian and his family are so committed to Pelham and Pelham Manor. She said that Brian Hade graduated from Pelham Memorial High School in 2014, and received his Bachelor’s degree in Communications from SUNY Cortland in 2018. He worked in advertising and then joined his family’s business. He will attend the Westchester Fire Academy in September. The Mayor administered the Oath of Office and all in attendance congratulated Fire Fighter Hade. . ----------- 1 OATH OF OFFICE FOR NEW FIRE CAPTAIN JOHN REBHOLZ The Mayor said that John Rebhholz is also from the community. He attended Pelham schools and Iona College. In 1996 he was a dispatcher for Westchester County and in 1998 joined the Village of Pelham Manor Fire Department. He has three children. In January, he will attend First Line Officer school in New York City. The Mayor administered the Oath of Office to John Rebholz. All in attendance congratulated the new Fire Captain. ----------- REPORTS Police Commissioner Bennett reviewed the monthly report for with Chief Atkins. The Police Commissioner thanked the Chief for the Nixle alert on Speed Awareness Week. She said that there were twenty- three automobile accidents in July. The Police Chief Atkins spoke about driver inattention, use of cell phones while driving and speed. Police Commissioner Bennett said that larcenies were down for the month. There were four from retail areas. There was a burglary during the month. There were cameras, but they weren’t working. She also reminded residents that they can be added to the dark house list if they are going away. The Police will check the exterior of your house while you’re away. Larcenies from cars are down. The Chief said that he would like to attribute that to people locking their cars. The Mayor and Board thanked the Police Chief for his report. Fire Commissioner Senerchia reviewed the monthly report with Fire Chief Greco. He noted that it was another busy month. Chief Greco spoke about a vehicle fire, automatic aid from the Village of Pelham and a boat rescue near Shore Park. Cross training with the Village of Pelham on proper evacuation from the school system, and fires from the batteries in e-bikes and scooters were also discussed. In case of fire, the e-bikes need to be submerged into water and people need to evacuated the area immediately because the toxins are very potent. The Mayor and Board thanked the Fire Chief for his report. The Village Treasurer spoke about expenditures, revenues, and tax collections and said that they were on track. He said that it is early in the fiscal year, but it is starting out well. The DPW Superintendent said that the recycling rate for the month was forty- three percent, street lights were replaced, pot holes were filled, and the sewer lining continued. Trees along the water in Shore Park were trimmed and the track was replenished with crushed stone. The Village Clerk reported that there were twenty-eight building permits for the month, which was a significant decrease, one Board of Appeals application and two letters in Lieu. There were nineteen notices of violation issued by the Code Enforcement Officer. Trustee Owen-Michaane wondered if after Covid people were going on vacation or if inflation was the reason for the decrease in numbers. The Village Clerk said that, generally speaking, when the information gets to the Building Department the general contractors are hired and plans are in place and moving ahead. He didn’t recall a seasonal variation like this. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously 2  RESOLVED, that the Police, Fire, Village Treasurer, DPW and Village Clerk reports be and hereby are approved. ----------- PROPOSED BUDGET TRANSFERS FROM GENERAL FUND TO CAPITAL FUND This year’s budget includes a proposed transfer of one million one hundred fifty thousand dollars from the General Fund to the Capital Fund. This will fund storm drainage improvements and go toward the purchase of a fire engine. There is currently six hundred thousand dollars set aside for the purchase of the fire engine. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that one million one hundred fifty thousand dollars be and hereby is transferred from General Fund to Capital Fund. The Mayor said that this was very methodical budgeting work. Trustee Cataldi DeLillo said that these transfers did not involve borrowing. She said that these are investments with budgeted money. The capital projects will confer benefit to residents on a daily basis. Trustee Senerchia said that it is a multi-phase effort and proper planning is wise and much needed. The Mayor mentioned that the documents were on the Village website. ----------- RESOLUTION TO ADOPT FYE 2022 BUDGET AMENDMENTS Mayor Monachino Lapey said that these documents are on the Village website. The Manager said that once the budget is adopted, we follow that plan. Variations occur on various lines. These amendments are internal to the appropriation side of the budget and will balance the expense lines. Some lines came in over and some came in under. Overall, the expenditures came in under budget. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Fiscal Year End 2022 budget amendments be and hereby are adopted. ------------ CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND PURCHASING PLAN The Mayor asked the Village Manager to describe the Capital Improvement and Purchasing Plan. The Manager said that it is a five- year plan for Capital and Equipment expenditures. The goals are to be able to fund improvements to the sanitary sewer system and the storm drainage system, street resurfacing, and sidewalk replacement. The goal is to be able to purchase a fire truck, new lawn mower, garbage truck, pick- up truck and a utility dump truck. Further out, two additional garbage trucks and a fire truck would be purchased. The Mayor said that it’s very well laid out. The Manager said that it’s a plan. Trustee Senerchia said that no borrowing is shown. Trustee Bennett said that it was well organized and user-friendly. 3 Trustee Cataldi DeLillo said that it was a responsible plan. ----------- AUTHORIZE VILLAGE MANAGER TO SIGN THE BID FOR INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS This is a global bid for infrastructure repairs that the Village may undertake as we come across issues in our mitigation. For example, drainage might be redirected and damaged catch basins could be repaired. ELQ Industries was the only bidder, but they are very good and the Village has a long history with them. The engineers working for the Village recommended they be awarded the work. Trustee Senerchia said that it was unfortunate that the Village only received one bid, but said that he has worked with ELQ and they are extremely responsive, do great work and are reliable. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED that the Village Manager be and hereby is authorized to sign the bid for infrastructure repairs. ----------- AUTHORIZE THE VILLAGE MANAGER TO SIGN THE BID FOR SANITARY SEWER AND STORM DRAIN CLEANING AND INSPECTION Fred Cook Jr. Inc. is very familiar with the Village’s system. This bid is to clean and televise the Village’s storm drain system and one fifth of the sanitary system. Trustee Cataldi DeLillo asked if this included taking elevations and was told no that will be done by surveyors with the engineering company. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Village Manager be and hereby is authorized to sign the bid for sanitary sewer and storm drain cleaning and inspection. ---------- AUTHORIZE VILLAGE MANAGER TO SIGN THE BID FOR STREET MILLING AND RESURFACING Mayor Monachino Lapey said that Laura Li Industries was the low bidder for this work. The Manager said that they are a fine company. They are new to this work, but split off from a well- known company. He said that the Village’s budget for this work is five hundred thousand dollars. The low bid is five hundred six thousand dollars. He said that this will be the first budget modification for next fiscal year. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Village Manager be and hereby is authorized to sign the bid for street milling and resurfacing with low bidder Laura Li Industries in the amount of five hundred six thousand dollars. ------------ BLOCK PARTY REQUESTS Rachel Arbeit Robertson, 517 Manor Ridge Road, requested that Manor Ridge Road be closed from Boston Post Road to Colonial Avenue for the Annual Block Party on Saturday September 10, 2022 from one o’clock in the afternoon until nine o’clock in the evening with a rain date of Sunday, 4 September 11, 2022. Todd Nice, 471 Manor Lane, requested that Manor Lane, where it intersects with Siwanoy Place, be closed for a Block Party on Monday, September 5, 2022 from three o’clock in the afternoon until seven thirty in the evening. Joanna McCormick, 1314 Bolton Road, requested that all of Bolton Road be closed for their Annual Block party on Saturday, September 10, 2022 from twelve o’clock in the afternoon until ten o’clock in the evening with a rain date of Sunday, September 11, 2022. The block party on Bolton Road will be permitted until nine o’clock in the evening. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the street closings for the Block Parties on Manor Ridge Road, Manor Lane and Bolton Road be and hereby are approved. -------------- SHORE PARK REQUESTS Lauren Greenspan, 25 Priory Lane, requested the use of Shore Park on Saturday, August 27, 2022 from eleven o’clock in the morning until one o’clock in the afternoon with a rain date of Saturday, September 3, 2022. Gianni Magnani, 435 Carol Place, requested the use of Shore Park on Sunday, August 28, 2022 from two o’clock in the afternoon until six o’clock in the evening. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that Shore Park requests from Priory Lane and Carol Place be and hereby are approved. ------------- WALK- A- THON The Mauro Family, 130 Townsend Avenue, requested the use of the Esplanade for a walk-a-thon to support the National Down Syndrome Society on Sunday, September 18, 2022 from ten-thirty in the morning until approximately twelve-thirty in the afternoon. The Mayor said that this is a very worthy cause. She asked if they were going to use the sidewalk, because the Board does not need to give permission to use the sidewalk. The Manager said if they use the sidewalk they will not need police presence. The Manager will find out if they intend to use the sidewalk or the street. If they choose to use the street, they will have to have get, and pay for, police presence. ------------ RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 30214-30343 VOUCHER NUMBER 30277 WAS VOIDED 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 30214-30343. Voucher Number 30277 was voided. -------------- 5 PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Monachino Lapey asked if there were any comments or questions. Amy Goodman, 1242 Pelhamdale Avenue, followed up on the possibility of a pedestrian crossing at Pelhamdale Avenue and Grant Avenue and a crossing guard at Black Street. She spoke about traffic awareness flags used by pedestrians when crossing from one side of street to the other side. She asked about the pedestrian corners at the intersection of Colonial Avenue and Pelhamdale Avenue. The Village Manager said that he thinks the vertical curve at Grant Avenue will be a problem, but will have the traffic engineer look at the area. He said that the entire right of way involving Colonial Avenue is located in the Village of Pelham. Trustee Senerchia said that the Village of Pelham was milling and paving Colonial Avenue. It was on Nixle and Facebook. Toby Marxuach-Gusciora, 901 Plymouth Street, spoke about flooding between now and December and said that hurricane season was coming. She spoke about using a Village Park by Manor Lane for runoff and suggested that Tai Montanarella and Melissa Eustace are knowledgeable and would share information, and asked if there were updates on Save the Sound and the Monopole. The Mayor said that the Village does a good job for one point two miles. She said that Tai Montanarella and Melissa Eustace have shared information with the board and said that we look at it. She said that Counsel is out of state and will be back for the first meeting in September. The Monopole appeal is perfected and waiting and discussions continue with Save the Sound. Benjamin Argyle, 440 Pelhamdale Avenue, asked when the first phase of the engineers’ report will be ready and was told the first quarter of 2023. --------------- 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: Personnel Matter – Collective Bargaining No action was taken in Executive Session. -------------- RESUMPTION OF REGULAR MEETING HEARING OFFICER After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that Stephen Pappalardo, former Village Manager of the Village of Scarsdale, NY be designated to hear appeals from determinations made by the Police Chief with regard to applications for benefits under Article XIX of the collective bargaining agreement between the Village and the Pelham Manor Police Association and that he conduct the hearings, make a record of the hearings and provide an opinion and recommendation with regard to any such hearing. AUTHORIZATION TO SIGN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WITH CSEA 6 After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Village Manager is authorized to sign the collective bargaining agreement between the Village and the Civil Service Employees Association. -------------- ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. -------------- Clerk 7