Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES March 11, 2024 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 said Trustee Bennett attended a meeting of the Federated Conservationists of Westchester County. She asked her to give an overview of the presentation. Trustee Bennett spoke about climate smart actions by communities and said that school buses were mentioned because of their particulate emissions. She said that the trend is toward electric buses. She spoke about a smart charge program from Con Edison that is for those with electric vehicles that can see reduced costs for charging their cars between certain hours. Trustee Case said that he’s in the smart charge program and said that it’s a very good program. Trustee McLaughlin said that Sustainable Westchester is having a career fair featuring green energy jobs. He said that it will be held on April Third from two o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening. Trustee Case said that with daylight savings time, residents should check the batteries in their smoke alarms. Trustee Owen-Michaane said that he was a Boy Scout leader for Troop 1 and is working with some older scouts. He said that one scout’s proposed Eagle project includes building a bike rack, signage to curb dogs, and rebuilding a wooden sanitation receptable at Shore Park. He said that this will help the vibrancy of Shore Park. Trustee Owen-Michaane spoke about the Village’s stormwater assessment. He spoke about bioswales and rain gardens on the Esplanade. He said that this was part of green infrastructure that the engineers recommended. Mayor Monachino Lapey gave an update on litigation. She said that she has been parsimonious with information. She said that last week the Department of Justice issued said that they had no objection to the Save the Sound settlement. The Village is part of a consortium which includes Larchmont, the Town of Mamaroneck and the City of New Rochelle. We are part of the New Rochelle Sewer District. She said that the total settlement was for six hundred ten thousand dollars. Four hundred thirty thousand dollars was for attorneys’ fees and one hundred eight y thousand dollars was for an environmental benefit. The Village of Larchmont will pay ten percent or sixty-one thousand dollars. The Town of Mamaroneck will pay forty percent or two hundred forty-four thousand dollars. The City of New Rochelle will pay forty percent or two hundred forty-four thousand dollars. The Village of Pelham Manor will pay ten percent or sixty- one thousand dollars. The Village has moved money into escrow and there is no admission of wrongdoing. The Mayor said that the Village has to balance risks and exposure with the best interest of residents and taxpayers. She said that we are very pleased with the outcome and she and the Board wanted to release this information. Throughout this litigation, the Village of 1  Pelham Manor was responsible for six percent of the litigation costs. ---------- MINUTES Mayor Monachino Lapey asked if there were any comments or questions on the minutes from the Regular Meeting on February 26, 2024. There were no comments or questions. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was RESOLVED, that the minutes from the Regular Meeting on February 26, 2024 be and hereby are approved. Trustees Bennett abstained from voting because she did not attend this meeting. ---------- REPORTS Fire Commissioner Case discussed the monthly report with Chief Greco. Commissioner Case said that it was a slower month that normal, but this allowed for a lot of training. The Chief said that there were forty-six calls. There was one structure fire with propane on a deck. He said that that the fire was contained to the deck. There was a large transformer fire in the Bronx. People lost power. There was a mutual aid fire with Pelham. In addition, there was a rescue of a child who was locked in a bathroom. The Chief spoke about a ninety-four thousand dollar grant for the Fire Department. A water rescue system (raft) and smart boards were purchased. The funds for these purchases were received. The Chief said that Firefighters Migliarini and Senerchia have completed their second week in the Fire Academy. The Mayor and Board thanked Chief Greco for his report. The DPW Superintendent said that street lights were repaired and replaced and stop signs were added since the traffic promulgation was passed at the last meeting. The stop bars will be added weather permitting. Five tons of blacktop were used to fill potholes. Significant tree pruning was done around Four Corners. The Mayor said that the program for Four Corners is fabulous. There was collateral damage done by the DOT. The DPW Superintendent said that a good amount of damage was done by the Department of Transportation. The new plantings will all be native seasonal blooms with alternating flowers. They will all be native species that are also perennials. DPW Commissioner Owen-Michaane gave a quick update on watersheds 1,3 and 5 and a summary of a meeting from four weeks ago with the Army Corps of Engineers. Manager Luft spoke about the meeting with the Army Corps and the DEC. She said that the Hutchinson River flood study is underway. There will be bioswales on the Esplanade. She said that she should hear very soon from the Department of Conservation on the CFA grant program for Watersheds 3 and 5 and she will give an update on that. The Village Clerk reported that there were twenty-one dog licenses, thirty-one building permits and seven letters in Lieu of a Certificate of Occupancy. DPW Commissioner Owen-Michaane asked how the building permits were tracking and was told that they are tracking steady. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously 2  RESOLVED, that the Fire, DPW and Village Clerk reports be and hereby are adopted. ----------- CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL FOR SITE PLAN AMENDMENTS FOR LIDL The Mayor said that her understanding from the Planning Board is that a very robust process was done on the proposed amendments to the site plan. Manager Luft said that the presentation by Lidl was very thorough and they were prepared for the Planning Board. A Knox Box was proposed to be moved from one side of the building to the other side. She said that it was a very professional presentation. Jennifer Porter, counsel for Lidl, said that the Planning Board made one change. They approved the change and referred the site plan back to the Board of Trustees. Mayor Monachino said that she thinks it looks great. She said that an engineer and a developer sit on the Planning Board. Trustee Case said that it looks great. Trustee Bennett said that it looks wonderful. Trustee Owen-Michaane said that Lidl is a completely different concept. Jennifer Porter said that Lidl has quality items at a good price point. The store is meant to complement your shopping list. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the recommendations from the Planning Board be and hereby are adopted and that the site plan amendments for Lidle be and hereby are approved. . --------- RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 32177-32218 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 32177-32218. --------- PUBLIC COMMENT The Mayor asked if there were any comments or questions from the public. Gianni Magnani, 435 Carol Place, spoke about fees from dog licenses. Steven Shekane, 917 Washington Avenue, commented on the positive outcome of the Save the Sound lawsuit. He said that sixty-one thousand dollars will not have a material impact on the Village. He said that Save the Sound lawsuits with Harrison and Portchester were settled for thirty-six million and thirty- five million dollars respectively. He said that the Board did a great job protecting the taxpayers. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that the Board treats the community as the jewel it is. ---------- EXECUTIVE SESSION The Mayor said that there was an issue regarding the employment of a particular person. 3 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 No action was taken in Executive Session. ---------- ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. ---------- Clerk 4