Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES March 24, 2025 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 wished a happy twenty-fifth birthday to her son Paul Lapey in California. Trustee McLaughlin said that there is one more week to take the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC) survey. The survey link will be on the Village’s website and Facebook page for one more week. Trustee Case said that Angela Ludington, known as Gay, died this week. She was one hundred one years old and was a resident of Pelham Manor for ninety-seven years. She graduated from the Ursuline School and Manhattanville College. She was a member of the Junior League, Eucharistic minister at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, and a founding member of the Pelham Larks. Trustee Owen-Michaane spoke about the leaf collection schedule for the Spring Leaf Collection. He said that from March Fifteenth through April Fifteenth leaves may be put at the curb unbagged. Gas powered blowers may be used during the clean up on certain days and times. They may not be used on Sundays or Mondays. They may be used on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from eight o’clock in the morning until five-thirty in the afternoon. They may not be used on a legal holiday. Gas powered blowers may also be used on Saturdays from Noon until four o’clock in the afternoon. Trustee Bennett said that Kieran Colleran is being promoted to Sergeant tonight. She said that the Village is proud to be able to promote from within the ranks of the department. ---------- MAYOR TO SWEAR IN KIERAN COLLERAN AS POLICE SERGEANT The Mayor said that Detective Kieran Colleran was being promoted to the position of Detective Sergeant. Sergeant is a Civil Service title that requires a test and Detective is an appointed title. She said that he is thirty-four years old and lives with his wife and five-year old son in Montrose, New York. He graduated from Pace University in Two Thousand Thirteen with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and earned a Masters degree in Criminal Justice from Iona University in Two Thousand Eighteen. He was assigned to the Detective division in Two Thousand Eighteen and appointed to Detective in Two Thousand Twenty-Two. As a detective, Kieran was instrumental in the successful prosecution of multiple criminal investigations. Mayor Monachino Lapey swore in Kieran Colleran as a Police Sergeant. All those in attendance congratulated the new Detective Sergeant. --------- 1 MEETING MINUTES The Mayor asked if there were any comments or questions. 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 Regular meeting on March 10, 2025 and the Public Hearing on March 10, 2025 be and hereby are approved. ---------- The Mayor announced that the switch for input was not firing on all cylinders and the volume for the broadcast was not working for a short time. She said that it was her understanding that the technical issue has been corrected and is now working. -------- REPORTS Police Commissioner Bennett said that the Business District keeps the Police Department busy. Police Chief Sancho said that there were only seven shoplifting incidents with two arrests made. He said that the numbers were way down. He said that there was a vehicle stolen on Iden Avenue. The vehicle was unlocked with the keys inside. The Police Commissioner said that there was a lot of training done and asked the Chief to also speak about the library. Chief Sancho said that there was training done on domestic violence. There was a risk assessment form that connects a victim with an advocate. He said that on February Eighteenth there was a Library sleep over. He said that Sergeant Ryan and Officer Suspiro worked with the attendees to help find a lost racoon. He thanked Library Director Augusta Turner for all her help and said that there is a cute You Tube video about this adventure. Police Commissioner Bennett said that this was a wonderful event and a good way for our police to interact with our youngest residents. She said this was a good month. The Village Treasurer’s report said that the month ended with approximately eleven and one half million dollars. The Village received three hundred seventy-six thousand two hundred eighty-eight dollars from Westchester County for the fourth sales tax payment. Village also received gross receipts tax. It was reported that the revenues and expenditures are tracking on par for the year and the Village continues to be in a strong fiscal position. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Police and Village Treasurer reports be and hereby are approved. ---------- INTRODUCTION AND REVEW OF 2025-2026 TENTATIVE BUDGET Mayor Monachino Lapey said that the 2025/2026 Budget is well-crafted. She said that the introductory graphs were helpful. Manager Luft said that this is an all-year process with planning, preparation and execution to produce a structurally balanced budget. A two point five six percent increase on the real estate levy is being proposed, which is the lowest since Fiscal Year 2020-2021. The Village is in compliance with the New York State Tax Cap. 2 Manager Luft spoke about Homestead and Non- Homestead increases and said that the Village is at one hundred per cent valuation. She said that revenues are projected to be up eleven per cent. - - - - - - -- - - - RESOLUTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING ON APRIL 14, 2025 AT 8:15 P.M. FOR THE 2025- 2026 VILLAGE BUDGET The Mayor said that a Public Hearing on the budget needs to scheduled. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously resolved that The Public Hearing for the 2025-2026 Village Budget be and hereby is set for April 14, 2025 at eight fifteen in the evening. ------------- MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM (MS4) ANNUAL REPORT AND REVIEW The MS4 annual report and review is typically an annual agenda item. In 2024 there were some shifts and changes to the program so there was no report last year. Manager Luft said that the Village uses best management practices and makes sure that the public is aware of this report and that they can comment on it. ---------- CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION TO PARTICIPATE IN JOINT REPRESENTATION IN CON EDISON RATE CASE This is an opportunity to pool resources and have equal representation with other municipalities in Westchester County. The Village is currently working with Assemblywoman Paulin’s office and this is another way to express our thoughts on the proposed rate increases. Manager Luft said that this resolution would be to engage an attorney for the administrative rate case if you want to be involved with the settlement. She said that more than twenty municipalities have signed onto to participate in joint representation in the Con Edison rate case. Trustee McLaughlin said that the proposed rate increases are enormous. He said that New Jersey’s bills are half of what New York pays. He thought that it was a good idea to be at the table. He said that the Governor appoints the members of the Public Service Commission. The Mayor said that the members are confirmed by the Senate. There would be a fixed rate for this representation. It would not cost more than five thousand dollars. Since more than twenty municipalities have agreed to this joint representation, the Village would most likely pay less than that amount. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Village participate in joint representation in the Con Edison Rate Case at a cost not to exceed five thousand dollars. ----------- CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A SITE PLAN AMENDMENT FOR 4784 BOSTON POST ROAD The Mayor asked the Village Manager for an overview of this project. Manager Luft sad that the Planning Board reviewed the site plan amendment for this project at length. 3 4784 Boston Post Road is in the multi-family district. The project is for an ADA access from the front of the building. She said that they will also have to obtain permits from the state. The Manager said that this is a Type II SEQR action and thought that it was a good improvement. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that approval of a site plan amendment for 4784 Boston Post Road be and hereby is approved. ---------- RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 33375-33444 After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that Vouchers Numbers 33375-33444 be and hereby are approved. --------- PUBLIC COMMENT Salvatore Focella, 472 Murray Street, noted that it was the last night that his neighbor Gianni Magnani would attend Board meetings because he is moving out of state. He said that he has attended Board meetings for the last twenty-two years and thought he should be commended. Mayor Monachino Lapey spoke about Mr. Magnani and other dedicated individuals such as Tony Marrella and Jim Apicella who came before him. Trustee Bennett told Mr. Magnani that he and his wife Bernadette were going to be missed. Trustee Owen-Michaane said that Gianni Magnani and Bernadette have been good citizens and neighbors in Pelham Manor. Robert Condon, 501 Manor Lane, gave an update on the Siwanoy School proposals. He said that the school district wants to add a bond proposal to the school budget in May. He said that he feels the process has been rushed. He would like to see a smaller scope that does not impinge on the community. He also spoke about the tax impact and possible assessed value decrease. He asked for the Board of Trustees support in enforcing local rules and regulations. Gianni Magnani, 435 Carol Place, said the time has come to move closer to children and grandchildren. He said that there is sadness in leaving the community he and his wife have lived in for forty-nine years. He has come to board meetings for twenty-two years and said that it is a pleasure to see how the Village is administered. He thanked everyone on the Board and the administration. He said that it has been great living in Pelham Manor. He thanked the Board and administration and wished them the best. ---------- EXECUTIVE SESSION After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was 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