Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES October 28, 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 there were several announcements. The Mayor announced that twelve Girl Scouts earned Silver Awards. The Girl Scout Silver Award is the second highest award by the Girl Scouts and the highest award that a Girl Scout Cadette, in the sixth through eighth grades, can earn. Approximately ten percent of Girl Scouts nationwide earn the Silver Award. They will be formally recognized by the Girl Scout Council Heart of the Hudson at the Annual Silver Award Ceremony on June 7, 2025. Trustee Bennett congratulated all of the recipients for seeing all their work come to fruition. Trustee Owen-Michaane congratulated them on their achievement and also congratulated their parents for their support. All in attendance congratulated the scouts who earned the Silver Award. The Mayor also mentioned the passing of two long- time residents. Harold “Chip” Barnett was a financial journalist and highly regarded in his profession. He was an accomplished individual and the brother of deputy clerk Maryalice Barnett. Frank Taubner was a life- long resident who was very active in the community. He served on the Planning Board and was active in the New York Athletic Club. She extended her sympathies to both families. Trustee Bennett attended a Pelham Together meeting. It was about building resilience in and out of school and mental health of children. She said that she was happy to attend this meeting with Police Officer Vogel. Trustee McLaughlin spoke about the Town’s annual Ragamuffin Parade. He said that it was great for kids to meet each other and said that there was a concert by Zev. The Town of Pelham’s Recreation Department sponsored this event. Trustee Case spoke about the Dr. John Marshall award. He said that Dr. Marshall was an accomplished orthopedic surgeon and this prestigious award was established in his memory. He was a long time Pelham resident who was active in the community. The award is given annually to a community member who made an impact on Pelham Recreation or its programs. This year Deputy Mayor Bennett is being given the award. She was on the Pelham Recreation Commission for fourteen years and expanded Recreation basketball. She will be honored on Tuesday, November Twelfth at the Daronco Town House at seven o’clock. The award ceremony is open to the public. The Mayor said that the Board received outside counsel before commenting on the Village’s referendum. Village Attorney Cornachio thanked all the residents for their feedback on this issue. He spoke about First Amendment rights and checked again that a Board member can express an opinion. He said that there are no restrictions on speaking from the bench or anywhere else. 1  The Mayor thanked the Village Attorney for obtaining outside counsel. ---------- MINUTES Mayor Monachino Lapey asked if there were any comments or questions on the minutes from October 15, 2024. There were no comments or questions on the minutes. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the minutes from the October 15, 2024 Public Hearing and the October 15, 2024 Regular meeting be and hereby are approved. ----------- REPORTS Police Commissioner Bennett discussed the monthly report with Chief Atkins. The Commissioner said that fraud was a big topic for the month of September. She asked the Police Chief to offer some tips to residents on this subject. Police Chief Atkins said that if your get a phone call, you should never give personal information over the phone. You should hang up. Accounts can be accessed unbeknownst to the victim. He said that you should set up alerts that you can receive via text or email. Police Commissioner Bennett said that residents need to stay vigilant. She said that the Business District was relatively quiet. The Police Chief said that there was much less activity especially concerning ShopRite. The Police Commissioner spoke about gas leaf blowers and the Police Chief gave the dates and times they may be used. He also said that they cannot be used on Sundays, Mondays and Federal holidays. Police Commissioner Bennett asked the Chief about Halloween. Chief Atkins said that the department has doubled its manpower and the Village is completely covered for Halloween. He said that we do our best to keep it safe. He also commented that only one car was stolen in the month of September. He thought that this was due to increased patrols and redistributed resources. The Police Commissioner reminded people to lock their houses, cars and doors. She congratulated the Police Department on receiving a traffic safety award from Triple A Northeast. The Police Chief reminded people to stay safe on Halloween. He said to cross at corners and crosswalks. Drivers should drive below the speed limit and children under twelve should not be out alone. He reminded parents and guardians to inspect treats before children consume them. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. The Village Treasurer’s report showed that the fund balance for the month of September was sixteen million dollars. Revenue from building permits was thirty- three thousand six hundred thirty-nine dollars and revenue received from State Revenue Sharing was fifty-four thousand three hundred fifty- nine dollars. The collection rate for real property taxes was ninety-nine percent. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Police and Village Treasurer’s reports be and hereby are approved. ---------- 2 CONSDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO ADOPT LOCAL LAW 4 OF 2024 The Public Hearing on Local Law of 2024 was held earlier this evening. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that Local Law 4 of 2024 be and hereby is adopted. -------- CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION REGARDING SALE OF REAL PROPERTY The Village received 5 Canal Road as a donation from the Rusciano family several years ago. Since that time the Village has had several renters. The first defaulted. The Village had a quality tenant for several years, but they no longer needed the space and moved out. The Village declared the property surplus in April 2024. The Mayor said that this move was done with counsel. Manager Luft worked with a licensed broker and the Village received three responses to its inquiries. The brokerage group will receive a two and a half percent commission. The sale price is two point six million dollars minus the closing costs. The following resolution was unanimously adopted by a roll call vote. Resolution Regarding Sale of Real Property Whereas, at the September 26, 2016 meeting of the Board of Trustees (Board) for the Village of Pelham Manor (Village), the Board resolved that the Village accept without paying monetary consideration or agreeing to any restrictions or conditions the donation of a parcel of real property located at 5 Canal Road within the Village, and which is designated on the Village Tax Roll as 166.26-1-2 (5 Canal), and Whereas, after investigating the possible uses to which 5 Canal could be put, the Village Manager determined that the Village has no need for 5 Canal, and Whereas, continuing ownership of 5 Canal may result in liability for the Village if for example, a person sustains a personal injury on site, and Whereas, at the April 24, 2024 meeting of the Board of Trustees the Board declared 5 Canal to be surplus property, and Whereas, the Village Manager issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to select a licensed Real Estate Broker to facilitate the sale of 5 Canal, and Whereas, the RFP produced three proposals for real estate broker services and on May 7, 2024, the Village entered into a brokerage agreement with Rakow Commercial Realty Group, Inc. (Rakow CRG) for the sale of 5 Canal and agreed to pay a commission equal to two and one-half percent of the purchase price if Rakow CRG produced a ready, willing and able purchaser for 5 Canal who actually closed title with the Village, and Whereas, since entering into the brokerage agreement, Rakow CRG has marketed the property and presented the Village with prospective buyers, and Whereas, the Village entered into a contract with KSR Capital, 1385 Broadway, New York, NY 10018, for the sale of 5 Canal for the price of $2,600,000 with a closing date of on or about November 7, 2024. Now, on the motion of Trustee _McLaughlin_, seconded by Trustee ___Case______ Be It Resolved that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham Manor confirms the actions of the Village Manager and hereby authorizes the sale of 5 Canal Road which is designated on the Village Tax Roll as 166.26-1-2 to KSR Capital for the amount of $2,600,000, and Be It Further Resolved that the Village Manager be and hereby is authorized and directed to do such things and execute such documents, as are approved as to form by Legal Counsel for the Village, as are necessary to convey title to KSR Capital or its assignee in exchange for payment of the 3 purchase price of $2,600,000 (plus or minus closing adjustments) and to take such other steps as may be necessary to consummate this transaction. The foregoing resolution was put to a vote with the Trustees and the Mayor voting as follows: Trustee Daniel W. McLaughlin Aye Trustee Timothy M. Case Aye Trustee Maurice Owen-Michaane Aye Trustee Bridget A. Bennett Aye Mayor Jennifer Monachino Lapey Aye --------- RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHERS 32937- 32977 After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that Vouchers 32937-32977 be and hereby are approved. ---------- PUBLIC COMMENT The Mayor asked if there were any comments or questions from the public. Steve Shekane, 917 Washington Avenue, spoke about a rumor that law enforcement was approaching residents regarding the Village’s March 2024 election He was told that this work was done by Westchester County and not by the Village’s Police Department. He was told that New York State will be looking into it. ------------- 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 and the employment of a particular person (s). 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  BOARD OF TRUSTEES PUBLIC HEARING October 28, 2024 PRESENT: Mayor Monachino Lapey Trustee Bennett Trustee Owen-Michaane Trustee Case Trustee McLaughlin Attorney Cornachio Manager Luft PUBLIC HEARING ON LOCAL LAW 4 OF 2024 – PELHAM MANOR CODE CHAPTER 202- VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC Mayor Monachino Lapey opened the Public Hearing on proposed Local Law 4 of 2024. She said Local Law 1 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 Laws 2 and 3 and this proposed Local Law 4. The Mayor said that this proposed Local Law is a tweak to the Vehicle and Traffic portion of the Code. Manager Luft said that this is an ongoing process. This proposed legislation will bring back two stop signs on Grant Avenue that were there and add one new stop sign by Hudson and Plymouth Streets near Prospect Hill School. --------- PUBLIC COMMENT The Mayor asked if there were any comments or questions on the proposed Local Law 4. There were no comments or questions on Local Law 4. ----------- 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 4 of 2024 be and hereby is closed. ----------- Clerk 5