Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES September 10, 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 the Deputy Mayor has been incredibly busy and asked her to speak about some of the things that she has been doing. Trustee Bennett said that another Eagle Scout candidate Julian Matteoni, who saw a need at Shore Park, provided two beautiful bicycle racks. She said that they coordinate with Paul McLaughlin’s service project where he constructed waste baskets for the park. She said that the project also included signs reminding people to clean up after their dogs. She said that these signs will remind people to properly dispose of pet waste. She said that the Board is also looking at refurbishing the bathrooms at Shore Park. She said that the Police Department is bringing back bicycle registration. It is scheduled for September 12, 2024 from three o’clock until five o’clock. It will be held in Veterans’ Park located at the intersection of Esplanade and Boston Post Road. When you register your bicycle, the Police will review the rules of the road. If you register your bicycle, and it gets turned into the Police Department, they will be able to contact you and return it. Trustee McLaughlin spoke about Secor Lane improvements. He said that the DPW, Police and Girls Scouts were involved with cleaning up, painting and planting in this area. He said that it was great to see all those people there to clean up and beautify the area. The Mayor said that it was great that he and Trustee Bennett were able to be there. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that there has been an uptick in vehicle thefts. She said that we share what we can and also need to maintain privacy for those affected. Trustee Bennett said that this is a regional issue. She gave an update on what the Police are doing. There has been an increase in patrols and they are working collaboratively with other municipalities. Trustee Owen-Michaane spoke about a stormwater mailer that went out to all residents. The Village Manager said that the next project in the queue is on Highbrook Avenue. The Mayor said that the updates are accessible on the Village’s website and media outlets. Mayor Monachino Lapey gave an update on the petition that was received regarding the Village election. The Village Clerk found it to be defective and the Petitioners filed an Article 78 to challenge that decision. The Trial Court issued a decision and order that the referendum be placed on the ballot at the November Fifth, Two Thousand Twenty-Four Election. She said that the Village now has an Appellate decision which upheld the Trial Court’s decision. The Mayor provided background information on the Village Election. 1  Trustee Case mentioned that September 11th is tomorrow and the Town of Pelham and American Legion Post 50 have coordinated the annual ceremony which will be held at eight-thirty in the morning at Harmon Avenue. He said that it is approximately fifteen to twenty minutes and is very meaningful. ---------- MINUTES Mayor Monachino Lapey asked if there were any comments or questions on the minutes from August 12, 2024 Regular Meeting and the August 12, 2024 Public Hearing. 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 August 12, 2024 Regular Meeting and the August 12, 2024 Public Hearing be and hereby are adopted. Trustee Case abstained from voting because he was not present at this meeting. ----------- REPORTS Fire Commissioner Case discussed the fire report with Chief Greco. Chief Greco said that there were forty-three pump outs, five water rescues, eleven calls for fire service, one mutual aid call to Pelham and twenty-four hazardous conditions calls. He recommended that residents have their chimneys swept and clean lint from their dryers. He said that next month is Fire Prevention month. The department completed one hundred thirty hours of training. The Chief said that it was a busy month. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. The DPW Superintendent said that tipping fees with the County are going up and it is cheaper to recycle than throw out trash. She spoke about the Stormwater project on Pelhamdale Avenue, Reed Avenue and Manor Lane. She said that the next project will be on Highbrook and part of Witherbee Avenue. The Village had the street sweeper in, street lights were replaced, a lot of signs were installed and trees were pruned. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Fire and DPW reports be and hereby are approved. ---------- PARK REQUESTS Christine Nokta, 590 Monterey Avenue, requested the use of Shore Park for a birthday party on Sunday, September 29, 2024 from eleven o’clock in the morning until one o’clock in the afternoon. No rain date was requested. Amy Hand, 979 Pelhamdale Avenue, requested the use of Weihman Park on behalf of the Huguenot Nursery School Parents’ Committee to have a Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 19, 2024 from two o’clock in the afternoon until six o’clock in the evening with a rain date of Sunday October 20, 2024. The request from Glen Fiiedman, 224 Townsend Avenue, to use Shore Park for a birthday party on Sunday, September 22, 2024 was withdrawn by Mr. Friendman. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously 2  RESOLVED, that the Shore Park request from Christine Nokta and the Weihman Park request from Amy Hand be and hereby are approved. ----------- STREET CLOSURE REQUEST John Royce and Stephanie Courtien Royce, 1016 Clay Avenue, requested that Clay Avenue be closed from Hudson Street and Oak Lane for a Birthday/Block party on Saturday, September 21, 2024 from eleven o’clock in the morning until seven o’clock in the evening with a rain date of Saturday, September 28, 2024. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the request from John Royce and Stephanie Courtien Royce be and hereby is approved. --------- RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 32739-32820 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 32739-32820. --------- PUBLIC COMMENT The Mayor asked if there were any comments or questions from the public. Jon Kasper, 10 Elm Tree Lane, thanked Police Commissioner Bennett and the Police Department for their proactive service ahead of a weekend that often stirs up youthful mischievous behavior. There were no issues of property damage or trespassing on property. He also thanked the Village Manager for everything that she does. Gianni Magnani, 435 Carol Place, asked if there was any progress on the blockage at Glover Field. The Mayor said that while the School District operates Glover Field, this area receives sewage from the Village of Pelham, the Village of Pelham Manor and the City of New Rochelle. We are working with our neighbors and Westchester County. Manager Luft said that this is very layered. There are a lot of players in the mix. She said that this is close to County trunk line and the County pump station. In addition, it is a designated FEMA Flood Zone. The Mayor said that the Village doesn’t own the property that the pipe is under. Christine Metjahic, 55 Windsor Place, said that she hopes the Village elections are not moved to November. She said that we cannot afford this division. Alexy Scholl, 1076 Grant Avenue, spoke about Pelham Bay Park and stormwater. The Village Manager said that the New York City Parks Department has done an assessment that they do not plan to release at this time. She said that they are aware that the Village wants to move ahead with our project. They have done their assessment and plan on implementing improvements at the bridal path, but there is no time frame for these improvements. She mentioned that the City considers their property to be a wetland and maintain it accordingly. The Mayor said that there is going to be a meeting with Senator Fernandez’s office next week. She said that there is a commitment, but no time frame. She said that we’ll report on this after the meeting with the Senator’s office. Alexy Scholl spoke about an ordinance for lateral connections. 3 The Village Manager spoke about smoke testing, and education on what a sanitary sewer lateral is. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that this educational information is on the website. Scott Wolfgang, 12 Sherwood Avenue, said that he has lived in the Village for thirteen years. He believes that this referendum will be the most consequential vote in the time he has lived in Pelham Manor. He said that since the Village of Pelham moved to the November election cycle, there have been no contested elections in the Village of Pelham and their debt has increased annually. They had three million dollars in debt and now they have six million. He said that he thinks people should vote what they think not by party. Steve Shekane, 907 Washington Avenue, said that he would like to keep the Village elections in March. He thinks this will keep things local and you should vote for the best person. When the Village has contested elections there is robust turnout. He said that a Town Supervisors organization, which is mostly democratic, has said that local issues get lost in November. He said that he believes that we should focus on local issues. --------- 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. 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