Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES October 24, 2022 PRESENT: Mayor Monachino Lapey Trustee Bennett Trustee Cataldi DeLillo Trustee Owen-Michaane Attorney Cornachio Manager Pierpont ABSENT: Trustee Senerchia 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. The Mayor spoke about the tragic loss of Larissa Acocella following a long medical battle. She was related to many people in the Village including the Perillos and the Barbieris. Her brother is a teacher at Pelham High School. She was an accomplished banking strategist and fought valiantly to the end. She wished the family peace during this difficult time. She said that Mr. Pierpont knew her. Manager Pierpont said that he knew her very well. She was a friend of his son and was a very sweet young woman. The Mayor said that Trustee Senerchia has an event with his family and will be unable to attend the board meeting. He sends his regrets. The Mayor asked the Village Manager for an update on infrastructure. She said this information is on Facebook and residents can sign up for e-blasts on the Village’s website. She said that the Village has been very diligent in advocating with jurisdictions outside our boundaries that receive our water. The Village Manager said that Alex Betke, the Village’s representative in Albany, set up a meeting with Assembly member Fernandez, Bronx Parks Commissioner Aponte and Pelham Bay Park Administrator Marianne Anderson. We walked the bridle path in Pelham Bay Park. We saw some receiving streams were obstructed by large logs and debris. The Parks staff agreed that there is maintenance to be done, and they want to do more maintenance where the drainage channel is overgrown. The Village Manager said that it was a very productive meeting. He said that there is high level support for this and he is very hopeful that this will improve drainage. A zoom meeting was held with Amtrak. He said that they are coordinating with the Thruway Authority. The Manager said that televising storm drains is progressing nicely. The system is old but in relatively good shape. There were some tree roots and sediment in the line that were removed. . ---------- MINUTES FROM THE OCTOBER 10, 2022 REGULAR MEETING The Mayor asked if there were any questions, comments or corrections to the minutes. The Manager said that there was one edit to the third paragraph on page one. He said that the sentence should read that the Board has been advocating at the state level for this work for several 1 years. Trustee Bennett said that on the fifth paragraph on page one after “it would be pleasing to the eye” the words “as well as environmentally beneficial” should be added. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was RESOLVED, that the minutes from the October 10, 2022 Regular Meeting be and hereby are approved as amended. ----------- REPORTS Police Commissioner Bennett reviewed the monthly report for September with Chief Atkins. Police Commissioner Bennett said that larcenies were way down in September. She said that people are following through on taking keys and fobs out of cars and locking their cars. She reminded residents to watch their bags and wallets in stores and in shopping carts. The Police Chief said that people should never leave their bags unattended. He said that a wallet may be lifted from the bag and he said the bag should be kept zipped. The Police Commissioner asked the Chief about tips for Halloween. Chief Atkins said that the Village increases its manpower on Halloween Eve and Halloween itself. He spoke about safety during daylight hours and that the Trick or Treaters should never go alone. Younger children should walk with an adult and older children should be in groups. He said you should never go into anyone’s house or car. Drivers should drive below the posted speed limit. Drivers should not pass or use a cell phone. The Chief said that Detective Carrol and Police Officer Vogel will review with children the tips and the children will receive a glow in the dark bracelet and reflective Trick or Treat bag. He reminded parents to examine the packaging before letting their children eat the candy. Some of the packages that look similar to well-known brands have THC in them. Police Commissioner Bennett said the goal is to be mindful of things that are happening. Police Chief Atkins also said that with the holiday season approaching, residents should be careful about their packages. They should see if the packages can be left at the back door or patio so that they are not visible from the street. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. The Village Treasurer discussed the monthly report for September. He spoke about the opening and closing balances, revenues, rental property and expenditures. He said that we keep close track of revenues and expenditures. He said that he didn’t see anything to date or on the horizon that would throw the Village off. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Police and Village Treasurer reports be and hereby are approved. ----------- RESOLUTION AWARDING CONTRACT FOR LIFT FOR VILLAGE HALL The Village received a grant for one hundred fifty thousand dollars which we thought would cover the cost. This project went out to bid on August 5, 2022 and no bids were received by the August 20th deadline. The project was re-bid and the Village received one bid for two hundred sixty-eight thousand seven hundred fifteen dollars. This project has been in progress for over five years and there have been inflation and supply chain increases. The company that bid is reputable. They 2 were asked if they could do value engineering. They looked at the plans and said that the design was as efficient as possible. The design engineer also recommended that the bid be awarded. Trustee Cataldi DeLillo said that handicapped people would be able to get to this level. The Manager said that the Village has been making accommodations, but this will allow people to get to any public service on this level. The Mayor said that this was another method of outreach and she thought that it was very important. Trustee Bennett said that the company, Structural Contracting, has an excellent reputation. The Manager was asked about the funds and said that Capital funds will be able to cover the difference. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that the Village will be able to achieve the objective of accessibility and preserve the character of the building. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Vertical Lift Installation Project Contract VM #2022-03 be and hereby is awarded to Structural Contracting Services, Inc., Mount Vernon, New York, in the amount of two hundred sixty- eight thousand seven hundred fifteen dollars. ----------- RESOLUTION AWARDING WORK FOR TREE PRUNING AND REMOVAL Manor Tree was the only company that bid on the annual tree pruning and removal work for the Village. The Village Manager said that we reach out to a lot of companies that do tree work, but we don’t get other bidders. Manor Tree bid seven thousand four hundred fifty dollars this year. The bid last year was markedly higher. It was post covid and there was more work to be done. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that Manor Tree Company be and hereby is awarded the work for tree pruning and removal at a cost of seven thousand four hundred fifty dollars. ----------- REQUEST FROM KIM MCGREAL, ON BEHALF OF SIWANOY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, TO USE THE STREETS SURROUNDING SIWANOY SCHOOL FOR THEIR ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PARADE Kim McGreal requested the use of the streets surrounding Siwanoy Elementary School on October 31, 2022 from twelve-thirty in the afternoon until one-thirty in the afternoon for their annual Halloween parade. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that Kim McGreal, on behalf of Siwanoy Elementary School, be and hereby is granted permission to use the streets surrounding the school from twelve-thirty in the afternoon until one-thirty in the afternoon for their annual Halloween parade. ------------ RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 30505-30549 After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded it was unanimously 3  RESOLVED, that the Mayor be and hereby is authorized to sign Abstract of Vouchers Numbers 30505- 30549. -------------- PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Monachino Lapey opened the public comment period and asked if there were any comments or questions. Allison Frost, 4579 Boston Post Road, thanked the Board for working on the lift and asked about he status of the red light camera. The Village Manager said that a permit application has been submitted to the Department of Transportation. Sensys Gatso has hired Verde Electric to do work on this project. The DOT’s accident history for the area is not high, but they said that they would look at the accident history. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that pedestrian and traffic safety are this board’s highest priorities. Allison Frost asked about lowering the speed limit to twenty-five miles per hour. She asked about the Village’s contracts with the Fire and Police Departments and asked when the contracts expired. She expressed concern for the First Responders. The Fire Department contract expired May 31, 2019 and the Police contract expired May 31, 2020. The Mayor said that this is a balancing act. The Village remains tax compliant and provides the highest services. She said that we look at what’s reasonable, and we’re working on it. The Mayor said that a contract with the Department of Public Works was settled in two meetings. Toby Marxuach Gusciora, 901 Plymouth Street, asked about the status of Save the Sound and the Monopole. Attorney Cornachio said that the Village is trying to reach a reasonable negotiation with Save the Sound. It not, the Village will have to go back to court. He said that we are doing the best we can. The Monopole is status quo. There is an appeal and that takes a really long time. Toby Marxuach-Gusciora asked about the municipal parking lot and the number of parking spaces She was told that it was re-paved and there are the same number of employee spaces that were there before the paving. Some spaces were made a little larger for the Police Department’s vehicles. The Village also added handicapped spaces, but the number of employee spaces is the same as before the re-paving. --------------- 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. -------------- 4 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. -------------- Clerk 5