Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES August 12, 2024 PRESENT: Mayor Monachino Lapey Trustee Bennett Trustee Owen-Michaane Trustee McLaughlin Manager Luft ABSENT: Trustee Case Attorney Cornachio 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. Trustee McLaughlin spoke about Kate Douglass and the Olympic team and their awe- inspiring performances. Kate Douglass won an individual gold medal and the team won multiple medals in four events. They performed in four events and won a medal in each. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that the fire to perform at this level has to come from within. Trustee Bennett spoke about some complementary words for tor the paramedic, ambulance and police. They got a patient transported and that person is doing well. She said that the police are there to support the ambulance. She thanked the Village Manager and the principals from Siwanoy and Prospect Hill for working on having a bicycle safety day. She also thanked the leadership of the Police Department for having this safety program during the second week of school. Trustee Owen-Michaane said that there was about seven inches of rain. He said that the Village continues to upgrade and improve capacity. He also spoke about a five hundred fifty thousand dollar grant the Village received that will be used to upside the pipes in Watershed 3. He said that the State will reimburse fifty percent. The Village just started work on Watershed 1 on Pelhamdale Avenue, Reed Avenue and Iden Avenue. ---------- MINUTES Mayor Monachino Lapey asked if there were any comments or questions on the minutes from July 22, 2024. There were no comments or questions on the minutes. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was RESOLVED, that the minutes from the July 22, 2024 Regular Meeting be and hereby are adopted. Trustee Bennett abstained from voting because she was not at this meeting. ----------- 1 REPORTS Police Commissioner Bennett discussed the monthly report with Pollice Chief Atkins. The Police Commissioner noted that it was another busy month. She said that some cars were taken. The keys or fobs were left in the cars. She asked the Chief to speak about a case involving fraud. Police Chief Atkins said that the victim was asked to send gift cards. He said that no legitimate business will do that. Police Commissioner Bennett said that people should be mindful of e-mails. She said that you shouldn’t open them if they don’t look familiar. The Chief also spoke about the “dark house” list. Residents can call the Polie Department and let them know that when they’re away they would like the Police to check the perimeter of the house. He also said that gas powered leaf blowers cannot be used until October Fifteenth. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. The Mayor discussed the fire report with Fire Captain Rebholz in the absence of Chief Greco. Mayor Monachino Lapey spoke about calls related to unintentional cooking and wires down. She said that it appeared to be a routine month. Captain Rebholz said that Firefighters Senerchia and Migliarini are doing well and Firefighter Strati is now on shift. He said that the Fire Department visited the Tiny Tot program at Prospect Hill and also said that the volunteers completed a three-hour training session and twenty-eight hours of in- service training were completed. The Mayor and Board thanked Captain Rebholz for his report. The DPW Superintendent spoke about work done during the month that included catch basin cleaning, street sweeping, installing signage related to Local Law 1, cleaning the parks and recycling. She said that the Village received notification of an award from Climate Smart Communities for a stormwater improvement project. The Village will be reimbursed for half of the one point one million dollars of work to be done. The Village Treasurer’s report showed that the month ended with a fiscal balance of fourteen million seven hundred sixty-eight dollars. The significant revenue received for real property taxes was almost eleven million dollars. It was reported that the Village ended the fiscal year in a strong position. The Village Clerk reported that fifteen vital statistics records, fourteen business licenses, seventeen handicapped permits and sixty-five dog licenses issued during the month. The Building Department issued ninety building permits, eighty notices of violation, and thirteen letters in lieu of a certificate of occupancy. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Police, Fire, DPW, Village Treasurer, Village Clerk and Building Department reports be and hereby are approved. ---------- RESOLUTION TO ADOPT LOCAL LAW 3 OF 2024 The Mayor said that she was ready to vote on this proposed Local Law and the Board concurred. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that Local Law 3 of 2024 be and hereby is adopted. 2  ----------- RESOLUTION TO AWARD CONTRACT FOR SANITARY SEWER CLEANING AND TELEVISION INSPECTION This contract is for sanitary sewer cleaning and television inspection. The bids were reviewed by AI Engineering. The low bidder, Fred A. Cook, was recommended. Manager Luft said the that the Village received four bids on August 9, 2024. The results are listed below. Fred A Cook, Inc. $ 89,000 Instituform Technologies $210,625 Arnold Construction Co. $233,500 National Water Main Cleaning Co. $318,890 After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the lowest responsible bidder, Fred A. Cook, Inc., be and hereby is awarded the contract. ----------- PROPOSED BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-2204 The Village Treasurer has proposed budget amendments for last fiscal year. Manger Luft said that this is routine. It cleans everything up from the previous fiscal year. She said that the Treasurer has reported that there will be a zero net change for the budget. She said that this information is on the Village’s website. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that the Village has outside auditors and the budget is also submitted to New York State. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the proposed budget amendments for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 be and hereby are approved. ----------- SHORE PARK REQUESTS Toby Marxuach-Gusciora, 901 Plymouth Street, requested the use of Shore Park for a pot luck picnic for the Pelham New York Democratic Club on Sunday, September 15, 2024 from one o’clock in the afternoon until five o’clock in the afternoon with a rain date of Sunday, September 22, 2024. Rabbi Benjamin Resnick, 804 Wolfs Lane and Janathan Kasper, 10 Elm Tree Lane, requested the use of Shore Park for a Rosh Hashanah service on Thursday, October 3, 2024 from four-thirty in the afternoon until five thirty in the afternoon. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Shore Park requests from Toby Marxuach-Gusciora, Rabbi Resnick and Jonathan Kasper be and hereby are approved. ----------- STREET CLOSURE REQUEST David Sparano, 555 Manor Lane, requested permission to close a portion of Manor Lane for a Block Party on Monday, September 2, 2024 from twelve o’clock in the afternoon until four o’clock in the afternoon. 3  RESOLVED, that the request from David Sparano be and hereby is approved. --------- RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 32689-32738 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 32689-32738. --------- PUBLIC COMMENT The Mayor asked if there were any comments or questions from the public. Jonathan Nehring, 15 Monroe Street, spoke about the number of times his basement has flooded, and that he lost a car when his home flooded. The Mayor said that there are some things we can’t control regarding the weather such as the rain and topography. She said that the Village can control its infrastructure and said that the Board is committed to doing that. Trustee Owen-Michaane said that the grant that the Village just received will work to upgrade pipes. The Village Manager said that while it seems like it’s taking forever, paperwork is important. She said that when you open a street you don’t know what you’re going to find. She also suggested moving the car to the highest part of the street when a severe storm is predicted. Jonathan Nehring said that his first car went to the municipal lot, but when he walked back to get the second car, he couldn’t get it out. He said that it flooded that quickly. The Mayor spoke about this acute storm and said that there was about seven inches of rain, and four to five inches of that rain came down very quickly and that would overwhelm any system. She said that in what we control, we are doing everything we can. Jonathan Nehring suggested warning outreach to move cars and said that he has seen the Village’s efforts in the past year. Michael Teitelbaum, 1076 Grant Avenue, spoke about a private lateral ordinance. Manager Luft said that the Village is taking an educational approach. She explained that information on sanitary sewer laterals and reasons that grease shouldn’t be poured down the sink are on the website. Michael Teitelbaum spoke about enforcement, smoke testing, the budget lines for legal expense and equipment repair for the fire department and being in favor of moving the Village Election to November. Andy Scott, 1009 Esplanade, asked about the cost of the lawsuit and was told that the Board cannot comment on that without counsel present. Kate Pringle, 26 Suburban Avenue, spoke about choice and the referendum to move the election to November. Toby Marxuach- Gusciora, 901 Plymouth Street, said that she thought the voters should decide when the Village elections should be held. --------- 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 pending litigation. 4 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 5  BOARD OF TRUSTEES PUBLIC HEARING August 12, 2024 PRESENT: Mayor Monachino Lapey Trustee Bennett Trustee Owen-Michaane Trustee McLaughlin Manager Luft ABSENT: Trustee Case Attorney Cornachio PUBLIC HEARING ON LOCAL LAW 3 OF 2024 – PELHAM MANOR CODE CHAPTER 202- VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC Mayor Monachino Lapey opened the Public Hearing on proposed Local Law 3 of 2024. She said Local Law 1, which was adopted recently, was a comprehensive review of the Village’s Vehicle and Traffic Code. As a result of that review, the Village has fine-tuned the initial law with Local Law 2 and this proposed Local Law 3. This Local Law defines School Days and Amendments to Section 202-44 Schedule F. The law intends to clarify that certain parking regulations are applicable during School Days during specified times. The definition of School Days will be added to Chapter 202-18 of the Village Code between the definition of “Holidays” and the definition of “School Hours.” ---------- PUBLIC COMMENT The Mayor asked if there were any comments or questions on the proposed Local Law 3. Kara McLaughlin, 511 Manor Lane, thanked the Board for the reduced speed and Stop signs. David Glick, 1065 Hunter Avenue, thanked the Board for the additional Stop signs. Marissa Mora, 39 Edgemere Street, asked about an arborist on the Village staff, preventive measures and the possibility of the Village providing free consultations on trees. The Mayor said that the Village has a program. She said that she can call the office or the police. Manager Luft said that the Village keeps lists. An arborist evaluates the trees. The arborist looks at trees that are too large for the Village to handle. The Mayor thanked Mrs. Mora for her suggestions. ----------- CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Public Hearing on proposed Local Law 3 of 2024 be and hereby is closed. ----------- Clerk 1