Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES April 24, 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. She said that Caleb Owen- Michaane is attending this meeting which is a requirement for First Class Scout. She wished a Happy Passover to those who celebrate the holiday. She said Earth Day was celebrated on April Twenty Second. Trustees Bennett and Case and Manager Luft were at Shore Park. She asked Trustee Bennett to speak about this event. Trustee Bennett said that four DPW employees were also at Shore Park. She said that EcoPel was there speaking with us. She said they spoke about identifying invasive species and how to get rid of them. She thanked EcoPel and said the Department of Public Works will work on eliminating them. She said that Shore Park is a jewel in the Village. She spoke about the Army Band and the concert they performed in the Middle School on Sunday. She said that it’s been ten years since they were last here. She and Trustee Owen-Michaane were there to see them perform. She said that they were so talented and it was well worth it to see their performance. Trustee McLaughlin said that the Village Treasurer attended a finance conference in upstate New York. The Manager mentioned that the New York State Thruway Authority’s paving project for I-95 will start the bidding process in 2024. The work will probably take place in 2025. She said that an update to the Village’s Vehicle and Traffic Code is being finalized. Mayor Monachino Lapey spoke about key locations and said that the Board is considering reducing speed around schools. Trustee Owen-Michaane said that this review has taken some time. Manager Luft said that this has been a thorough and comprehensive review. Trustee Case spoke about the Town of Pelham’s delivery of Emergency Medical Services. He congratulated the Town of Pelham and our Police and Fire Departments for collaborating so well. The Mayor said that the Town handles EMS service delivery both Villages. She said that we work collaboratively with them. The Mayor moved up two proclamations on the agenda. - -- - - - - - - - PROCLAMATION FOR MARYALICE BARNETT HONORING 20 YEARS OF SERVICE 1 The Mayor said that it was a wonderful evening and an opportunity to recognize an employee who has served the Village for twenty years. She said that her mother was Deputy Clerk for the Village. She said that the proclamation speaks for itself. Trustee Bennett said that it’s been a pleasure to have worked with Maryalice and congratulated her on twenty years of service. Trustee Owen-Michaane said that she helped him from the first day he came to the Village. He said that she’s here to help everyone. Trustee McLaughlin said that he is new to the Board but said that she is a neighbor and knows a lot. He congratulated her on her service. Trustee Case said that as a resident she made him feel welcome which is a good feeling. PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, MARYALICE BARNETT has served the Village of Pelham Manor since 2004 as Deputy Village Clerk while simultaneously performing the duties of Personnel Manager, and WHEREAS, she has delivered an exceptional level of service to the residents of the Village, and WHEREAS, she has, in addition to providing the office with a foundational presence, participated in countless hours of seminars to ensure high quality service delivery, interfaced with local, state, and federal agencies to obtain resources for the Village, bestowed an immense resource for Village employees relating to benefit administration, and WHEREAS, she has supported numerous Village Board meetings through preparation of agendas, documents, legal notices, and minutes, and WHEREAS, she served the Village alongside her colleagues with grace, percipience, wisdom and humbleness, and WHEREAS, her kindness, experience, sense of humor, hospitality and depth of community knowledge is cherished by the Village, its residents, officials and employees NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that on the occasion of her twentieth-year anniversary as Deputy Village Clerk, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham Manor for themselves and for the residents, officials and employees of the Village, hereby publicly acknowledges and records its commendation of MARYALICE BARNETT, and its deep appreciation for her twenty years of dedication, care, sincerity, and continuous service to the Village and its residents, and be it FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Proclamation be presented to MARYALICE BARNETT as a token of appreciation, recognition, and honor. All in attendance congratulated Maryalice Barnett. John T. Pierpont, 1006 Prospect Avenue, retired Village Manager, spoke about their years of service together. He said that she grew up in Pelham Manor and still lives here. He thanked her as a resident. ---------- PROCLAMATION FOR THE PELHAM EDUCATION FOUNDATION Mayor Monachino Lapey spoke about the Pelham Education Foundation and how it meets the needs of children. She said that a Blue Ribbon Day celebration will be held on May Fourth and she said that it was a pleasure and honor to highlight that tonight. PROCLAMATION 2 WHEREAS, the Pelham Education Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of education provided by the Pelham School District, and WHEREAS, the Pelham Education Foundation was founded in 1995 as a tax-exempt charitable foundation to receive tax deductible contributions and has awarded over three million dollars in grants to support the educational needs of Pelham’s students, and WHEREAS, the Pelham Education Foundation with the help of parents, students, educators, alumni, businesses and foundations is able to provide educational programs that are outside the annual school budget and awards grants that fund the purchase of equipment, promote innovative programs, support additional faculty training and enrich the curriculum NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham Manor hereby recognize the Pelham Education Foundation and commend it for its service and be it further RESOLVED, that a copy of this Proclamation be presented to the Pelham Education Foundation. ------------- MINUTES Mayor Monachino Lapey asked if there were any comments or questions on the minutes from the Annual Meeting on April 1, 2024, the Public Hearing on April 8, 2024 and the Regular Meeting on April 8, 2024. There were no comments or questions. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the minutes from the Annual Meeting on April 1, 2024, the Public Hearing on April 8, 2024 and the Regular Meeting on April 8, 2024 be and hereby are approved. ----------- REPORTS Police Commissioner Bennett discussed the monthly report with Chief Atkins. She said that the Business District was keeping the officers busy. The Chief said that there were larcenies at ShopRite. He said that it has been somewhat better but said that the Police spend time in that location. Police Commissioner Bennett asked the Chief about some cars and he said that two cars were stolen. One car was driven into Mount Vernon and abandoned. That car was recovered two hours later. He also mentioned a fraudulent website where expensive tickets were sold. The Police Commissioner said that people can get scammed. She said that phishing can be done and said that a resident was affected by someone who took mail from a mailbox. The Police Chief recommended using a gel ink pen on checks. He said that it’s almost impossible to wash. He also said that important mail could be walked into the post office. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. The Village Treasurer’s report for March showed that the month ended with a Fund Balance of eight million five hundred forty thousand nine hundred seventy-seven dollars. The Fire Department received reimbursement from DASNY for a grant for equipment. There were significant expenditures for the Fire Department’s Tower Ladder which is an essential piece of equipment. The Village Manager, Trustee Mclaughlin and the Village Treasurer had discussions on investments. There will be further details on this next month. Trustee Owen-Michaane said that the DASNY grant was written in-house. He said that you have 3 to spend money and then wait to get reimbursed. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Police and Village Treasurer reports be and hereby are adopted. ---------- REQUESTS TO USE SHORE PARK Liselle Sakhrani, 55 Witherbee Avenue, requested Shore Park on behalf of the Girl Scouts, on Saturday, June 1, 2024 from ten o’clock in the morning until five o’clock in the afternoon, with a rain date of Sunday, June 2, 2024. Approximately one hundred fifty to two hundred people are expected to attend. Christopher Baldassano, 108 Iden Avenue, requested the use of Shore Park on Thursday, June 20, 2024 from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven-thirty in the evening for the Siwanoy Dads’ Club annual barbecue. Friday, Jume 21, 2024 would be the rain date for this event. Approximately one hundred fifty to 200 Siwanoy students and their parents are expected to attend. Matthew Murphy, 120 Reed Avenue, requested the use of Shore Park on Saturday, June 29, 2024 from twelve o’clock in the afternoon until four o’clock in the afternoon for a family gathering. He requested a rain date of Sunday, June 30, 2024. Approximately thirty-five people are expected to attend. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Shore Park requests from Liselle Sakhrani, Christopher Baldassano and Matthew Murphy be and hereby are approved. ------------ RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 32344-32386 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 32344-32386. --------- PUBLIC COMMENT The Mayor asked if there were any comments or questions from the public. Allison Frost, 4579 Boston Post Road, spoke about pedestrian safety, the scope of the Village’s traffic review and financial matters. Manager Luft spoke about stop signs, crosswalks, meeting with traffic engineers and the public hearing process. Mayor Monachino Lapey said the review does involve traffic engineers. She said that the Village’s record speaks to traffic and pedestrian safety. Trustee McLaughlin spoke about NY Class and said that the Village is considering it. The Village Manager said there is also the need to be able to manage cash so that it will be available if needed. The Mayor said that these are taxpayers’ monies and this is under review. Michelle Acosta, 126 Iden Avenue, spoke about the process regarding traffic requirements and financial matterss. 4 Sarah Yarnall, 132 Iden Avenue, spoke about traffic safety, Iden Avenue as a through street, and discussing issues with the Village Manager through mail, phone and e-mail. Manager Luft said that she is available by any of those methods. - -- - - - - - - - - EXECUTIVE SESSION The Mayor said that there are a number of items we need to adjourn into executive session to discuss. 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 employment of a particular person, proposed sale of real property, the employment of a particular corporation and pending litigation. No action was taken in Executive Session. ---------- RESUMPTION OF REGULAR MEETING Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board resumed the regular meeting. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees declare the real property located at 5 Canal Road within the Village, and which is designated on the Town Tax Roll as 166.26-1-2, as surplus property. ---------- ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING There being no fisher business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned. ---------- Clerk 5