Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES October 9, 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. The Mayor had some positive news. Maddie Scott, who is in kindergarten, built a Leggo tower which spanned the length of her room. She said that it is probably the tallest tower in the Town and she declared it to be the tallest in the Village of Pelham Manor. The Mayor wished a happy Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day if you celebrate the day. She mentioned the recent hostilities in Israel and the involvement of civilians. She asked Trustee Owen-Michaane to say a few words. Trustee Owen-Michaane said that he was at the Pelham Jewish Center earlier tonight to reflect as a community. He mentioned the death of women and children and said that we should unite in compassion and strive for love and peace in the world. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that we have been having very wet weather. She said that we have had seven inches of rain with six inches coming at one time. The Village broke a record. The Village Manager said that the DPW, Police, and Fire worked together. All hands were on deck. She said that this is a hands-on group and a competent group. She said that the soil was already wet and the infrastructure held well. She said that there was a team response from every employee. The Manager spoke about the “as us where is “contract and how that helps the Village lock in costs for damage. Trustee Owen-Michaane thanked the Village staff and said that the First Responders, the Fire, Police and DPW were outstanding. The Manager also recognized the office staff for their assistance. ----------- MINUTES Mayor Monachino Lapey asked if there were any comments or questions on the minutes from the Regular Meeting on September 26, 2023 or the Public Hearing on September 26, 2023. There were no comments or questions. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the minutes from the Regular Meeting on September 26, 2023 and the 1  minutes from the Public Hearing on September 26, 2023 be and hereby are approved. ----------- REPORTS Fire Commissioner Case discussed the monthly report with Chief Greco. The Commissioner said that there were a lot of calls even without the storm. The Chief spoke about Fire Prevention Week and visiting the schools. He also noted that both the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts visited the Firehouse. He said that valuable information on Fire Prevention Week is on the Fire Department web page. The Chief discussed a structure fire, a vehicle fire with six thousand dollars-worth of damage, a carbon monoxide incident, wires down, and fourteen motor vehicle accidents. The Chief said that last week during the storm there were over fifty calls. The Chief said that he staffed the phones because Westchester County 60 Control was getting overwhelmed with calls. The Village calls were prioritized and then acted upon in a triage situation. The Fire Chief expressed his thanks to the Fire Department, Police Department and DPW. Chief Greco said that Pelham Manor covered the Village of Pelham for twenty-three calls. He said the Village of Pelham is now handling our Village’s ladder calls while that truck is being repaired. He said that one hundred thirty-five hours of in-service training were completed by the department. Fire Commissioner Case congratulated him on a great job and said that residents that he had spoken with appreciated their hard work. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. The DPW Superintendent said that two hundred ninety-three tons of material were collected and forty- five percent of that material was recycled. The street sweeper was in, pothole repairs were done, and stormwater efforts continue with the City of New Rochelle. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that the cleaning efforts and regular maintenance are making a difference. Village Manager said that the deep clean of the catch basins was completed last month. Trustee Owen-Michaane spoke about Watersheds 1, 3 and 5 and asked about any particular progress. He said that the process is working. He said that efforts are being carried out. Manager Luft said that the City of New Rochelle is going through its process of due diligence. She said that she will have more information in the near future. The Village Manager reminded residents that loose leaf collection starts on October Fifteenth. The Village Clerk said that that there were four copies of records made, twenty-eight dog licenses issued, twenty-two building permits filed, three notices of violation sent, three Board of Appeals applications and four Letters in Lieu of a certificate of occupancy provided. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Fire , DPW and Village Clerk reports be and hereby are approved. ---------- PARK REQUESTS Richard Sibery, 27 Priory Lane, requested the use of Shore Park on Sunday, October 22, 2023 from eleven o’clock in the morning until twelve o’clock in the afternoon for a family gathering of approximately twenty to twenty-five people. Ali Cox, 449 Siwanoy Place, requested the use of Weihman Memorial Park on Saturday, October 21, 2023 from three o’clock in the afternoon until five o’clock in the afternoon for a gathering of Huguenot Nursery School families for a Harvest Festival. 2 After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that Richard Sibery’s request to use Shore Park and Ali Cox’s request to use Weihman Memorial Park be and hereby are granted. ----------- STREET CLOSING Kimberly McGreal, Siwanoy School, requested that Siwanoy Place and Manor Lane be closed on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 from one thirty in the afternoon until two thirty in the afternoon for the annual Halloween parade. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that Kimberly McGreal’s request to close Siwanoy Place and Manor Lane be and hereby is granted with the condition that the surrounding neighbors be notified in advance of the closure. ----------- RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 31711-31747 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 31711-31747. ------------- PUBLIC COMMENT The Mayor asked if there were any comments or questions from the public. There were no comments or questions from the public. ------------ EXECUTIVE SESSION The Mayor said that there was an issue regarding an employment matter and pending litigation. 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: Employment of a particular person and pending litigation -------------- ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. -------------- Clerk 3