Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES April 14, 2025 PRESENT: Mayor Monachino Lapey Trustee Bennett Trustee McLaughlin Attorney Cornachio Manager Luft ABSENT: Trustee Owen-Michaane Trustee Case 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 public schools are closed for a spring break and said that Trustee Owen-Michaane and Trustee Case are on vacation. She wished a Happy Passover and Easter to those who celebrate. The Mayor said that Julian Kalehoff and Matthew (Hew) Johnson were celebrated at their Eagle Scout Court of Honor earlier this month. She said that she was honored to attend the ceremony. The Board of Trustees honored Julian last year and will honor Hew at the next Board meeting. Julian helped to restore the restrooms at Shore Park and Hew made enormous improvements at the New Rochelle Y. The Mayor said that it has been very busy around Town. Trustee Bennett said that on April Fifth she and the Mayor attended the Little League Parade and marched with the 4-Stars. She said with five hundred children marching up Fifth Avenue the energy was amazing. She said that Richie Bell, a founding member of Pelham Little League in 1954, was remembered for his contributions. She credited John Nesi, President of Pelham Little League, with putting together a successful event. Trustee McLaughlin spoke about the Easter Egg Hunt that the Town Recreation Department and the Chamber of Commerce held on Sunday. It was originally scheduled for Saturday, but the weather forecast caused the festivities to be moved to Sunday. He said that it was a very successful event. Mayor Monachino Lapey said that thirty-seven municipalities have joined the Rate Case against Con Edison. Trustee McLaughlin said that the Mayor and Board are supplementing having joined the Rate Case by sending a letter to the Public Service Commission (PSC) with factual information and is fighting for Con Edison to take a step back from the rate increase. ---------- 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 RESOLVED, that the minutes from the Regular meeting on March 24, 2025 and the Annual Meeting on April 7, 2025 be and hereby are approved. ---------- 1 REPORTS Police Commissioner Bennett said that the Village will be remembering Police Officer Charles Schuta who died in the line of duty twenty-nine years ago tomorrow. There are four wreaths that have been put out in front of Village Hall. One will remain at Village Hall, one will go to Prospect Hill School, one to Shore Park and one to Saint Mary’s in Yonkers where he is buried. She said that we remember Detective Schuta, his family and especially his mother. Police Commissioner Bennett said that there are crime prevention tips on the Village’s website. She said that February was busier than January. Chief Sancho wanted to say a few words about Chuck Schuta. He said that he lost his life when he was struck on I-95. He was assisting New York State Police. The Chief said that we will never forget him. The Chief said that there were three hundred sixty incidents for the month. One person was duped into purchasing a stolen vehicle. He said if the vehicle is far below the market value, and the seller is pressuring the buyer for a quick sale and offering enhancements, the buyer should be suspicious. The Chief said that a local business owner was threatened with a weapon. The suspect was apprehended in one hour. Chief Sancho thanked Julia Martin from Prospect Hill School for inviting Sergeant Ryan and Officer Vogel to be part of the Read Across America program. Police Commissioner Bennett said that the children love to see Police Officers. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. Manager Luft said that there was no DPW report this evening. Manager Luft said that the Village Clerk’s report will now be presented quarterly. Manager Luft said that there were four Foil requests provided, forty-two vital statistics records issued, fourteen business licenses processed, fifty-two dog licenses provided and forty-one invoices sent for sewer services for Bronx properties outside Pelham Manor. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Police and Village Clerk reports be and hereby are approved. ---------- RESOLUTION FOR THE 2025-2026 BUDGET AND TAX LEVY Mayor Monachino Lapey said that although Trustee Case and Trustee Owen-Michaane are not here because of school vacations, they are well versed in this budget. She said that she felt confident in taking action on the budget this evening. WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees has met at the time and place specified in the notice of public hearing on the tentative budget and heard all persons desiring to be heard thereon; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the tentative budget as hereinafter set forth is hereby adopted and that the several amounts stated in the column titled “Adopted” in Schedule 1 be and they hereby are appropriated for the objects and purposes specified and the salaries and wages stated in Schedule 5 of such budget shall be and hereby are fixed at the amounts shown therein, effective June 1, 2025, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Manager be and he hereby is authorized to complete the assessment roll by extending the taxes against properties on said roll in conformity with the budget figure as adopted, and be it further 2  RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees set the 2024 adjusted base proportions for the year 2025 Village taxes at 80.28% Homestead and 19.72% Non-Homestead and be it further RESOLVED, That the tax rate of $ 5.7738 for each $1,000 of assessed valuation of property be levied and collected upon all of the Homestead properties appearing on the completed assessment roll of 2024 and $8.4007 for each $1,000 of assessed valuation of property be levied and collected upon all of the Non-Homestead properties appearing on the completed assessment roll of 2024 and that the Mayor and the Village Manager be authorized to sign the warrant attached to said roll; that the assessment roll, together with such warrant on or before the 15th day of May 2025, that all taxes on said roll become liens on the various properties against which same are assessed at 12 o’clock Noon on the first day of June 2025. - - - - - -- - - - RESOLUTION ATHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE TAX WARRANT This resolution will authorize the Mayor or sign the Tax Warrant. TAX WARRANT TO Catherine Mazzaro Receiver of Taxes YOU ARE COMMANDED to receive and collect from the several persons named in the tax roll hereunto annexed, the several sums stated in the last column hereof opposite their respective names, being a total of $ 15,064,352. YOU ARE FURTHER COMMANDED to receive and collect such sums without additional charge between the first day of June and the first day of July 2025 both inclusive and thereafter to collect with such of the sums as have not been heretofore collected, an additional charge of two per centum for the month of July and an additional one per centum for each month and fraction thereof until paid. YOU ARE FUTHER COMMANDED to return the tax roll and warrant to the Village Clerk on or before the first day of February 2026 and to deliver to the Board of Trustees at the same time an account of the taxes remaining due and unpaid; describing each parcel of real property upon which taxes are unpaid, showing the person or persons to whom the parcel is assessed and showing as to each parcel the amount of tax unpaid. ------------- PROCLAMATION HONORING HILTRUD A. SCOTT ON HER 100TH BIRTHDAY The Mayor said that the Village has a history of honoring centenarians and she mentioned Vito “Ace” Pisano. She said that Mrs. Scott’s family has been very involved in Pelham Manor. Her daughter Solveigh Marcks was a member of the Zoning Board for many years and her son in law Jeff Marcks was involved with the United Way. The Mayor asked Trustee McLaughlin, who knows Mrs. Scott, to say a few words. Trustee McLaughin said that Frau Scott will be one hundred years old on April 20th. He recounted the time he and her grandson went skiing in Germany and surprised her. He said that she has experienced many things in her lifetime such as living through World War II. He said that she has strong family ties and is a role model. He said that he was happy and pleased to be able to wish her a Happy 100th birthday. Jeff Marcks, Mrs. Scott’s son-in-law, said that he was delighted that Trustee McLaughlin was able to introduce the presentation. He said that this is very exciting for us as a family. He thanked the Mayor and Board and said that this proclamation will be presented to her on Saturday at a party at the Pelham Country Club. 3  PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, Hiltrud A. Scott will celebrate her One Hundredth Birthday on April 20, 2025, and WHEREAS, Hiltrud A. Scott was born in Plauen, Germany and served as a medical technician in Hematology in Germany, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Manhattan and Nyack Hospital in Nyack, N.Y., and WHEREAS, Hiltrud A. Scott came to The United States in Nineteen Hundred Fifty-Three and married John E. Scott in Nineteen Hundred Fifty-Five and they lived in Pearl River, New York and Montvale, New Jersey, and WHEREAS, Hiltrud A. Scott is a resident of the Village of Pelham Manor and has lived in Witherbee Court since Two Thousand Eleven, and WHEREAS, Hiltrud A. Scott is the mother of Solveigh K. Marcks and mother-in- law of Jeffrey A. Marcks, and WHEREAS, Hiltrud A. Scott is the grandmother of Christian (Adele) who lives in Pelham Manor, Grant (Carly) who lives in Alexandria, Virginia and Erich who lives in New York City, and WHEREAS, Hiltrud A. Scott is the great grandmother of Henry, Piper and Charlotte, and WHEREAS, Hiltrud A. Scott has enjoyed her lift which included the hobbies of skiing, needlepoint, painting, ceramics, gardening and travel and especially spending tie with her family including her three grandsons, her great-grandson and great-granddaughters NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham Manor hereby recognizes Hiltrud A. Scott on the celebration of her One Hundredth Birthday. RESOLVED, that a copy of this Proclamation be presented to Hiltrud A. Scott. ---------- SHORE PARK REQUESTS Chris Baldassano, 108 Iden Avenue, requested the Use of Shore Park for two separate groups on two different dates. He requested the use of Shore Park on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 from four o’clock in the afternoon until six-thirty in the evening for the Annual End of Year Pack meeting for Siwanoy Pack 4 Cub Scouts. There is no rain date for this event. He requested the use of Shore Park on Thursday, June 12, 2025 from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven-thirty in the evening for the Siwanoy Dads’ Club annual BBQ. The rain date is Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at the same time. Approximately one hundred fifty to two hundred Siwanoy students and their parents are expected to attend. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that Chris Baldassano be and hereby is approved to use Shore Park on behalf of the Siwanoy Pack 4 Cub Scouts on June 11, 2025 and is approved to use Shore Park on June 12, 2025 for the Siwanoy Dads’ Club BBQ with a rain date of June 18, 2025. ----------- 4 STREET CLOSING REQUEST Cristina Chianese, 535 Stellar Avenue, requested permission to close Stellar Avenue for a Block Party on Saturday, June 7, 2025 from one-thirty in the afternoon until nine o’clock in the evening. A rain date of Sunday, June 8, 2025, with the same hours, has also been requested. The Mayor said that the neighbors on the block had been contacted and had signed a petition to allow the street to be closed. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that Cristina Chianese be and hereby is granted permission to have Stellar Avenue closed for a Block Party on Saturday, June 7, 2025 with a rain date of Sunday, June 8, 2025. ---------- RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHERS NUMBERS 33445-33503 After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that Vouchers Numbers 33445-33503 be and hereby are approved. --------- PUBLIC COMMENT The Mayor asked if there was any public comment. David Montilla, Communications Director from Senator Fernandez’s office, gave some updates from the Senator’s office. He spoke about the need to finalize the state budget, concern over the freeze on federal funding for mental health services, free mammograms at Castle Hill in the Bronx on May twenty-ninth and HEAP assistance opening tomorrow. He also spoke about partnering with the American Red Cross and free smoke alarm installation. ---------- 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 5