Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES July10, 2023 PRESENT: Mayor Monachino Lapey Trustee Bennett Trustee Owen-Michaane Trustee Case Trustee McLaughlin Attorney Cornachio Manager Luft 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 there will be a final inspection this Thursday and then the elevator will be fully operational. The Mayor said that, in addition to the perimeter lateral water line at CVS that needs to be repaired, a gas line has now been compromised. They are expected to begin breaking ground this week. She said that we’ve met with business owners from Flour Power, 4 Corners Pizza and Lenny’s Bagels about the private restoration work and we are working cooperatively with the property owners. Trustee Bennett said that the first police officer started EMT training. He will be training Monday through Friday until the beginning of September. She thanked Chief Atkins and Manager Luft for making this happen so quickly. ----------- SWEARING IN OF STEVEN COSTA AS FIRE CAPTAIN The Mayor that Steven Costa was being promoted to Fire Captain. She said that he graduated from Pelham Memorial High School and worked in the construction industry. In 2007, he joined the Volunteer Fire Company and served as a volunteer until he was hired as a career firefighter in the Village of Pelham Manor Fire Department in 2009. He obtained his National Fire Officer 1 Certification and Electrical Certifications 1 and 2. He is married to Diana and they will be celebrating their third wedding anniversary later this year. Captain Costa will attend First Line Officer school in New York City in January 2024. The Mayor administered the Oath of Office to Steven Costa and all in attendance congratulated the new Fire Captain. ----------- MINUTES The Mayor asked if there were any questions, comments or corrections to the minutes from the Regular Meeting on June 26, 2023. . 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 Regular meeting on June 26, 2023 be and hereby are approved. ---------- REPORTS Police Commissioner Bennett discussed the monthly report with Chief Atkins. The Police Commissioner said that fraud was at the top of the list this month. Chief Atkins said that lines of credit are being opened in the victims’ names. The Police Commissioner reminded residents to monitor all of their accounts and check their mail. The Chief said that four buses were driven through the gates where they’re being stored. Two were successfully stolen and two were left at the gate. He said that the keys were left in the ignition. The Chief said that one car had the fob left in it and it was stolen. He said that GPS are now being removed. He said that the car was tracked to New Jersey, the GPS was removed and it couldn’t be tracked after that. The Chief said that if you see something or someone suspicious call the Police Department and we’ll check it out. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. Fire Commissioner Case discussed the Fire report with Chief Greco. The Chief said that there were forty- nine calls this month. He said that there was a multi company hazmat drill. He said that the Village purchased containers with cell block in them for e-bike fires. He said that Captain Rebholz has the ability to be a very good teacher at the academy. The Chief said that he has taken this on his own initiative. Chief Greco said that he has completed one year as Chief and it is a great honor to serve. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. The DPW Superintendent said that the DOT awarded the contract for Boston Post Road. They will start with ADA ramps. She said that it is a lengthy process and the work will take place at night. The entirety of the Boston Post Road in Pelham Manor will be paved. There were three hundred thirty- eight tons of material recycled in June. That is forty-five percent. The Village did its own paving and patching of potholes. The DPW painted the EMS quarters. The Manager’s update on Stormwater reflected that there was one point three nine inches of rain last night. It was just under ninety percent storm. Orange County and further north received rain in excess of a five-hundred-year event. That was devastating for Orange County. The Village continues its regular maintenance through street sweeping and deep cleaning of catch basins. The Village will also be submitting two grant applications through the Climate Smart Communities Grant program. She said that there are not many other communities that have proactively undertaken the comprehensive study that Pelham Manor just completed. Manager Luft spoke about Watersheds 1, 3 and 5. Watershed 1 is north of the Post Road. She met with representatives from the school district and the tidal valves appear to be in good shape. The school district is putting a plan in place and the Village has reached out to the Army Corps of Engineers for help with the Hutchinson River and is also working with FEMA. Watershed 3 is part of Pelham Bay Parks Association in the Bronx. The Manager said that it is imperative to maintain a downstream to upstream concept. The Village is working on a project on our side of Watershed 3. Watershed 5 flows into an outfall in the City of New Rochelle. New Rochelle needs to focus all their efforts on that outfall. The Manager said that the grant applications will reflect that downstream to upstream process and said that we have to navigate in a responsible manner. She said that the City of New Rochelle is working on their report and we have a good working relationship with them. 2 Trustee Owen-Michaane said that pieces are being put into place and we’re moving every lever as fast as we can. The Mayor spoke about the Interim Measures that have been accomplished by the Village and said that the next steps are with outside jurisdictions which is ongoing work. The Village Clerk reported that June was a slower month. There were four Vital Statistics records, twenty-two dog licenses, forty-three building permits, twenty-five Notices of Violation, six Letters in Lieu of a Certificate of Occupancy, one Certificate of Occupancy and twenty-nine Handicapped Parking Permits. A website re-design is being worked on and it is anticipated that it will be ready by the end of August. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Police, Fire, DPW and Manager’s update on Stormwater, and the Village Clerk reports be and hereby are approved. ------------ RESOLUTION ADOPTING NEW YORK STATE CLIMATE SMART COMMUNITIES PLEDGE Mayor Monachino Lapey said that we have been looking at this for a while and said that this dovetails with our work. She spoke about the Village’s organic composting and converting all street lights to LED’s. She said that this Board has been receptive to ideas from EcoPel, and the Scouts. Native species have been planted in the park and students have stenciled catch basins. She said that the Village is interested in geo thermal heating and cooling and currently has a grant for solar panels. Manager Luft spoke about sustainability practices that are built into the building permit process. After discussion, and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED that WHEREAS, the Village of Pelham Manor (hereinafter “local government”) believes that climate change poses a threat to our local community; and WHEREAS, the effects of climate change will endanger our infrastructure and livelihoods; reduce recreational opportunities; and WHEREAS, we believe that our response to climate change provides us with an unprecedented opportunity to enhance our livable and secure community, and guide our infrastructure investments to support resiliency; and WHEREAS, we believe that even if measures were drastically taken today, communities would still be required to adapt to the effects of climate change for decades to come, IT IS HEREBY FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Village of Pelham Manor, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate, adopts the New York State Climate Smart Communities Pledge, which comprises the following ten elements: 1) Build a climate-smart community. 2) Inventory emissions, set goals, and plan for climate action. 3) Decrease energy use. 4) Shift to clean, renewable energy. 5) Use climate-smart materials management. 6) Implement climate-smart land use. 7) Enhance community resilience to climate change. 8) Support a green innovation economy. 9) Inform and inspire the public. 10) Engage in an evolving process of climate action. ----------- 3 RESOLUTIONS AUTHORIZING THE VILLAGE MANAGER TO APPLY FOR CLIMATE SMART COMMUNITIES GRANTS There are two resolutions authorizing the Village Manager to apply for Climate Smart Communities Grants. The first is for Watershed 3, Climate Smart Phase 2 and the second is for Watershed 5, Climate Smart Phase 1. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED that WHEREAS, the Village of Pelham Manor hereby requests financial assistance from the New York State Climate Smart Communities Grant Program pursuant to Environmental Conservation Law Article 54, Title 15. WHEREAS, the Village of Pelham Manor certifies that it has identified $550,000 of match funds from the Capital Fund pursuant to the requirement of Environmental Conservation Law Article 54, Title 15. THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Village of Pelham Manor hereby authorizes Lindsey M. Luft, Village Manager, as official or employee to act on its behalf in submittal of an application through the Consolidated Funding Application for $1,100,000 to be used for Watershed 3 Climate Smart Phase 2. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED that WHEREAS, the Village of Pelham Manor hereby requests financial assistance from the New York State Climate Smart Communities Grant Program pursuant to Environmental Conservation Law Article 54, Title 15. WHEREAS, the Village of Pelham Manor certifies that it has identified $700,000 of match funds from the General Fund pursuant to the requirements of Environmental Conservation Law Article 54, Title 15. THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Village of Pelham Manor hereby authorizes Lindsey M. Luft, Village Manager, as official or employee to act on its behalf in submittal of an application through the Consolidated Funding Application for $1,400,000 to be used for Watershed 5 Climate Smart Phase 1. ----------- REQUEST TO USE SHORE PARK Charles Calhoun, 499 Carol Place requested the use of Shore Park on behalf of the Pelham Civic Association on Monday, July 17, 2023 for a barbecue luncheon for the Pelham Senior group from Noon until approximately two o’clock in the afternoon. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the request from Charles Calhoun to use Shore Park be and hereby is approved. ---------- REQUEST FOR STREET CLOSING Rachel Arbeit Robertson, 517 Manor Ridge Road, petitioned the Board to close Manor Ridge Road from Boston Post Road to Colonial Avenue on Saturday, September 9, 2023 from eleven o’clock in the morning until nine o’clock in the evening with a rain date of Sunday, September 10, 2023 for a Block Party. Mayor Monachino Lapey questioned whether others have been given permission to have block parties until nine o’clock at night. She would be in favor of granting approval on the condition that 4 other requests for block parties have received permission to continue until nine o’clock at night. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the petition from Rachel Arbeit Robertson be and hereby is granted approval on the condition that other block parties have received permission to continue until nine o’clock at night. ------------ RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 31409-31447 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 31409-31447. ------------- PUBLIC COMMENT The Mayor asked if there were any comments from the public. Allison Frost, 4579 Boston Post Road, spoke about the Stormwater report, the red light camera at Four Corners, paving on Boston Post Road, the Climate Smart Communities Pledge, a possible red light at Wolfs Lane and left turn lanes. Peter Bazeli, 8 Rockledge Drive, spoke about street signs and the possibility of the Department of Transportation rewriting its standards. He said that the Florida and Pennsylvania advocated for changes to slow down traffic Toby Marxuach-Gusciora, 901 Plymouth Street, asked about the Save the Sound and Monopole lawsuits and was told that Save The Sound is still in court and the Monopole is waiting for decisions. ------------ 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 5