Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES June 26, 2023 PRESENT: Mayor Monachino Lapey Trustee Bennett Trustee Case Trustee McLaughlin Attorney Cornachio Manager Luft ABSENT: Trustee Owen-Michaane 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 two years ago, this Board secured funds for the elevator and very shortly we will have a functioning elevator. She said that we were able to retain the beautiful and historic features of the building and also update it appropriately. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that Trustee Owen-Michaane sends his regrets. He is unable to be at tonight’s meeting because of a previous work-related commitment. She mentioned Pride month and said that the Board is proud of its record. The Mayor said that there is a host of information on the Village website and Facebook page on the history of the Stonewall uprising. She said that we not only speak about inclusion, we practice it. The Mayor spoke about Pelham High School graduation and proms. She reminded residents that kids are out and they should be mindful of that as they drive through the Village and Town. Trustee Bennett congratulated the Pelham High School Seniors as well as those graduating from middle school and kindergarten. She said that prom and gradation were very successful. She wished everyone the best in college and beyond. The Mayor spoke about the Four Corners and what happened at the site. She said that a lateral, a private line, not the Village line, broke. The Village was able to authorize stores to open safely a day or so after the pipe broke. CVS was allowed to open a few days later. They were able to open as quickly as possible. Manager Luft said that it was an unforeseen circumstance. The private water lateral ruptured and caused the land to shift. The Village had to make sure it was safe to open the stores. Safety measures are in place. A civil engineer on their team is guiding what is going on at the property. She said that the Village provided signage and hopes that the traffic flow will be improving this week. There will be full excavation. They will do initial excavation to discover what they need and they will do plans when they know what they need. They will need to do full restoration and hopefully that will take three weeks. The Village Manager said that utility work is continuing by Village Hall, and between Prospect Avenue and Boston Post Road. She said that the State is coming to pave Boston Post Road and they are encouraging Con Edison and utilities to get their work done. Work on Edgewood, Highland, Pelhamdale and Boston Post Road will be done at night, and residents will receive notification. 1 Manager Luft spoke about stormwater and Watersheds 1, 3 and 5 and the progress that is being made. She said that she will have a funding update at the next Board meeting. --------- MINUTES The Mayor asked if there were any questions, comments or corrections to the minutes. There were no questions, comments, or corrections. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the minutes from the Regular meeting on June 12, 2023 be and hereby are approved. ---------- REPORTS Police Commissioner Bennett discussed the monthly report with Chief Atkins. The Police Commissioner said that it was a relatively normal month, but there were challenges in the business district. Chief Atkins said that Home Goods experienced several larcenies. There was an uptick in larcenies. People were walking out with bedding without paying for it. The Police Commissioner spoke about fraud at banks. The Chief said that skimming devices were found at the bank and management was alerted. He said that cameras can record your keystrokes. He recommended that people cover the keypad and consider setting up a banking app on their phone to receive possible fraud alerts. They can then report the fraud and freeze the account. Police Commissioner Bennett said that if people are going away during the summer, they may want to call the police department to be placed on the “dark house” list. While you’re away, the police will check the perimeter of the house. The Chief said that larcenies from vehicles were down significantly. He said that residents are doing a better job of locking their cars. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. The Treasurer’s report was delivered by Manager Luft. She said that the Village will end Fiscal Year 2022-2023 with a positive fund balance. She said that the Village will get the second quarter sales tax payment from the County which will increase the fund balance. She said that this year the Village paved streets, purchased police vehicles and new fire apparatus and is on track to end the Fiscal Year in a strong financial position. 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. ------------ REQUESTS TO USE SHORE PARK Jessica DeFeo, 4784 Boston Post Road, requested the use of Shore Park on Friday, July14, 2023 from four o’clock in the afternoon until six o’clock in the evening, with a rain date of July 21, 2023 for a birthday party for her daughter. Melissa Berges, 622 Pelhamdale Avenue, requested the use of Shore Park on Saturday July 22, 2 2023 at ten o’clock in the morning for a civil ceremony. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the requests from Jessica DeFeo and Melissa Berges to use Shore Park be and hereby are approved. ---------- REQUEST FOR STREET CLOSING Calais and Dave Biery, 3 Circle Hill Road, petitioned the Board to close Circle Hill Road on Sunday, August 6, 2023 from Noon until four o’clock in the afternoon for a Birthday/Block party. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the petition from Calais and Dave Biery be and hereby is granted. --------- SITE PLAN APPROVAL FOR 940 WYNNEWOOD ROAD Mayor Monachino Lapey said that the Site Plan proposal for improvements for 940 Wynnewood Road, the Pelham Country Club, was referred to the Planning Board for review. The Planning Board held two meetings on this proposal and Mr. Wentworth, the Golf Course Superintendent for the Pelham Country Club, attended the meetings. Manager Luft said that the plan includes eleven additional parking spaces and thirty-eight additional trees. New lighting fixtures will be shorter and will have downward lighting. All lighting will be directed into the parking lot. The Manager said that there will be enough room for emergency vehicles in the circle. The Mayor spoke about one area with golf carts. Trustee Bennett spoke about the area where the golf carts come off the 18th hole into the parking lot. There was some concern about going behind cars that might be backing up and not see the golf carts. Jeff Wentworth, Golf Course Superintendent for the Pelham Country Club, said that the changes were to improve safety for the kids and to take the carts off the lawn where the kids are playing. Trustee Case asked about the timing for this work and was told that some work will be done in the fall depending on the schedule at the Club. He said that they will have a busy fall with the one hundredth anniversary of the PGA. The Mayor thanked the Planning Board for their thorough review. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that site plan improvements as described in the record be and hereby are approved. ----------- SET MEETING SCHEDULE FOR JULY AND AUGUST The Mayor said that during the months of July and August the Board has one meeting each month to accommodate vacation schedules. She said that Trustee Owen-Michaane would not be able to attend one of the meetings. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously 3  RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees meetings be and hereby are scheduled for July 10, 2023 and August 14, 2023. ----------- RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 31328-31408 After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Mayor be and hereby is authorized to sign Vouchers Numbers 31328-31408. ------------- PUBLIC COMMENT The Mayor asked if there were any comments from the public. There were no comments or questions from the public. ------------ EXECUTIVE SESSION 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: Pending Litigation No action was taken in Executive Session. -------------- ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. -------------- Clerk 4