Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES August 14, 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 Trustee Owen-Michaane had a pre-planned event out of Town and was unable to attend the Board meeting tonight. Trustee McLaughlin said that the Village will be taking a huge step forward with its website. It will be a lot more intuitive, have more resources, and be easier to update. There will be a new calendar with more events. The e-blast will need to change over to the new website and those subscribed to the e-blasts will get an e-mail asking them to confirm that they want to continue getting e-mail from the Village. Manager Luft said the e-mail to confirm that people want to continue getting e-blasts will be simple. It will move content from the old list to the new list with one click. Trustee Case said that the Village officially has a new elevator which makes the offices more accessible. This was done with good long-term planning and some help from grants. He thanked Structural Contracting Services, Inc. which is run by Rob Anzilotti who is a resident of Pelham Manor. He said that the company did a great job. Trustee Bennett spoke about a plaque that was put in place in a corner of Glover field in memory of Anthony Senerchia, Jr. She said that it was a great testament to him and his positive effect on children. He was a life-long resident of Pelham Manor and co-founder of the Pelham Youth Football League. He died in November 2017 after a battle with ALS. He embodied courage and hard work and was an inspiration to a generation. He never let his disease define him. He was a co-founder of the Ice Bucket Challenge and that first bucket is in the Smithsonian Institution. A beautiful plaque in his memory is now located in a corner of Glover Field. ----------- SWEARING IN OF DANIEL HIGGINS AS FIREFIGHTER The Mayor that Daniel Higgins had a very impressive background. She said that he grew up in a family of civil servants and his grandfather was a retired Fire Captain in Yonkers. His grandmother was a retired head account clerk for Sing Sing Prison and his father is a retired Yonkers detective. He served in the Army National Guard, continued his education and remained on the Dean’s list, while serving in New York City, Kuwait and Iraq. He was promoted to Sergeant and received his Bachelors degree. The Mayor administered the Oath of Office to Daniel Higgins and all in attendance congratulated 1 the new Firefighter. ----------- RECOGNITION OF WORKING FOREMAN MICHAEL DIBENEDETTO Michael DiBenedetto was promoted to the rank of working Foreman earlier this year. He joined the Village in 2016. He grew up in Pelham and graduated from Pelham High School. He is a very skilled equipment operator. He currently lives in New Rochelle with his wife and two children. All those in attendance congratulated Michael DiBenedetto on his promotion to Working Road Foreman. ----------- PROCLAMATION FOR EAGLE SCOUT CANDIDATE JULIAN KALEHOFF FOR SHORE PARK BATHROOM PROJECT The Mayor said that Julian Kalehofff was unable to attend the Board meeting this evening. He did some phenomenal work at Shore Park. He will be invited to another Board meeting. ---------- MINUTES The Mayor asked if there were any questions, comments or corrections to the minutes from the Regular Meeting on July 10, 2023. . 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 July 10, 2023 be and hereby are approved. ---------- REPORTS Police Commissioner Bennett discussed the monthly report with Chief Atkins. She asked the Chief for more details on cars that are drag racing through the Village. The Chief said that the drivers are coming up Shore Road from the Bronx. The cars are very loud and they have moved onto Boston Post Road. He said that they were dispersed. The Police Commissioner said that there are some good plans in place regarding this issue. The Chief said that they will be deterred from coming back this way. Police Commissioner Bennett spoke about an attempted car theft. The vehicle, which was a BMW, was targeted by the thieves. They were in a BMW, but targeted a higher end BMW. They tried to start the car, but couldn’t. The car was unlocked, but the key fob was not in the car or it would have been stolen. Police Commissioner Bennett reminded residents to take the keys or key fobs with them. . Chief Atkins spoke about speed enforcement on Boston Post Road and Highbrook Avenue. The Police Chief reported the sad news that Diane Neumann, a school crossing guard, fell ill and died. She worked for the Village for several years. Her last post was at Siwanoy School. He said that she will be missed by the community. Trustee Bennett said that the children will miss her. 2 The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. Fire Commissioner Case discussed the Fire report with Chief Greco. The Fire Commissioner said that it was a busy month. The Chief said that there were seventy- seven calls. There were eighteen car accidents, and three excavations, one of which was on I-95. There was a fifteen thousand dollar loss on Pelhamdale Avenue, a transformer blew out on Clay Avenue and seven mutual aid calls. He said that on July 29th there was a brief but nasty thunderstorm. A tree on James Street came down and took out the power lines. The Chief said that there were twelve to fifteen calls during that storm. He said that the Fire Department visited Pelham Recreation and ACDS at OLPH and showed them the fire engine. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. The Village Treasurer reported that the final May report for the 2022-2023 Fisal Year ended in a strong financial position. Tax collection increased from eighty per cent in June to ninety eight percent in July. Long term planning for equipment and infrastructure was discussed. The Village Manager said that some budget modifications will be discussed at the next meeting. The DPW Superintendent said there were three hundred forty-six tons of material recycled, fifty one percent of which was recycled. The DPW continued painting street signs, cleaned up the parking lot, and replaced five street lights. The Manager reported that in Watershed 1 the Pelham Public Schools created permanent access. They responded promptly and this will directly affect Watershed 1. She said that she will be meeting with the DEC to discuss the Hutchinson River. She spoke about Watershed 3 and said that there will be an in- person meeting with Pelham Bay Parks Administration, Senator Fernandez, and the Thruway Authority. In Watershed 5 New Rochelle is working on downstream challenges on how to reduce stormwater runoff. The Village will also be working with New York Power Authority on its tree planting program. The Village will be placing an order at the end of the month. The Manager said that the work on Boston Post Road should begin within the next two weeks. She said that there was a meeting with the New York Metropolitan Council about Boston Post Road and the right turn lane on Boston Post Road. The Village Clerk reported that there were seven business licenses, twenty-three dog licenses, thirty-four building permits, seven notices of violation and seven letters in lieu of a certificate of occupancy issued during the month. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Police, Fire, Village Treasurer, DPW and Manager’s update on Stormwater, and the Village Clerk reports be and hereby are approved. ------------ REQUEST FOR STREET CLOSING Linda Battaglia, 1323 Roosevelt Avenue, petitioned the Board to close Roosevelt Avenue between Pelhamdale Avenue and the Stop Sign at the top of Roosevelt and Bolton on Saturday, September 2, 2023 from eleven o’clock in the morning until ten o’clock in the evening with a rain date of Saturday, September 10, 2023 for a Block Party. Mayor Monachino Lapey questioned whether others have been given permission to have block parties until ten o’clock at night, and was told by the Manager that ten o’clock has been approved before. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the petition from Linda Battaglia be and hereby is granted approval.. 3  ------------ 2023 PELHAM HALF MARATHON AND 10K Jim Arden , Race Organizer, requested that the 2023 Pelham Half Marathon and 10 K, which goes through parts of Pelham Manor and benefits the Pelham Civic Association, be held on Saturday, November 25, 2023. The Police Chief and Lieutenant have met with Mr. Arden and he is aware of all that is required by the Village. He is also aware of the paving project on Boston Post Road and that there may be a slight chance that the course may need to be altered. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the 2023 Pelham Half Marathon and 10K be and hereby is approved. ------------ RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 31448-31558 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 31448-31558. ------------- PUBLIC COMMENT The Mayor asked if there were any comments from the public. There was no public comment. ------------ 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: The employment of a particular person No action was taken in Executive Session. -------------- ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. -------------- Clerk 4