Board of Trustees

BOARD OF TRUSTEES July 21, 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. The Mayor congratulated Will Case, son of Trustee Case, on his marriage to Erin Foxx. She said that they were two local people who were Pelham High School sweethearts. The Mayor congratulated them on their marriage. Trustee Bennett said that Geoffrey FioRito will have to share the billing tonight. She said that it was wonderful to see Doc FioRito here tonight. She said that she worked with him many years on Recreation. She spoke about his dedication to the fields and especially his meticulous work on lighting. Trustee Bennett also mentioned that if residents are going to be away, they might want to consider having their house added to the dark house list. The police will go every night you’re away and check the perimeter of the house. She said that if you would like to be on the list, you should call the police at 914 738-1000. Trustee Case spoke about some safety tips for grilling. He said that the grill should be kept clean and free from grease. He said that the grill should not be too close to the house. He said that there is more information about this on the Village’s website. Trustee McLaughlin said that the website has been updated to pelhammanor.gov. He thanked the Village Manager for helping to make this a smooth transition. ------------- SWEARING IN OF GEOFFREY FIORITO AS FIRE CAPTAIN Mayor Monachino Lapey said that she has known Geoffrey FioRito for many years. She said that he has an accomplished bio. He graduated from Pelham High School and graduated from the University of Bridgeport. He worked for three years for the City of Geneva’s Fire Department. He joined the Pelham Manor Volunteer Fire Company in 1998 and became a career firefighter in Pelham Manor in 2004. Geoffrey is married to Naomi and they have three daughters Paige, Hailey and Sabrina. Mayor Monachino Lapey swore in Geoffrey FioRito as a Fire Captain. All in attendance congratulated the new Captain. Fire Commissioner Case commented on the turnout at this meeting and said that it was great to see the room full. ------------ 1 MEETING MINUTES The Mayor asked if there were any comments or questions on the minutes from the Regular meeting on June 23, 2025. 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 June 23, 2025 be and hereby are approved. Trustee Bennett and Trustee Owen-Michaane abstained because they were not present for this meeting. ---------- REPORTS Police Commissioner Bennett said that a resident experienced a fraud incident and she reminded people to be watchful of their credit cards. Chief Sancho said that people should monitor all transactions and inspect card readers for tampering. The Chief said that overall it was a quiet month. He said that there was a larceny from an unlocked vehicle and he reminded people to keep valuables out of sight. He said that on June Sixth, Sergeant Ryan and Officer Vogel were involved with the bicycle registration program. Police Commissioner Bennett asked if the program was ongoing and was told that it was and people can come to the front desk in the Police Department and have their bicycles registered. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. Fire Commissioner Case discussed the monthly report with Chief Greco. He congratulated him on developing talent in the department. He said that it was a busy month with seventy-four calls. Chief Greco said that there were two calls to Greenville, which is in Greenburgh, five automatic aid calls to Pelham and ten motor vehicle accidents most of which were on I-95. The Chief said that there was a rescue at Shore Park, thirteen fire safety inspections and thirty-three training sessions. Fire Commissioner Case asked about the number of calls with the torrential rains last week and was told that there were very few calls. The Mayor and Board thanked the Chief for his report. The Village Treasurer’s report reflected a twenty million dollar fund balance in June. Tax collection was just under twelve million dollars. There were no major expenditures. The Manager reported that the Village Hall solar panel project is scheduled for early August. The solar panels will be installed on the flat portion of the roof above the Fire Department. The solar panels will help circulate energy and offset costs. Manager Luft spoke about the Climate Smart Communities program and the Watershed III stormwater project for Monroe Street. The Village Manager also spoke about some internal emergency preparedness tabletop exercises that were conducted during the month. The Village Clerk’s quarterly report was for April through June. There were seven copies of records in April and May and three copies provided in June. There were five copies of vital statistic records in April, thirty-five in May and ten in June. There were five business licenses issued in April, ten in May and eleven in June. There were thirty- three dog licenses issued in April, thirty-one in May and twenty-three in June. There were eleven Handicapped Parking Permits processed in April, nine in May and six in June. 2 The Department of Public Works report included annual catch basin cleaning which, along with monthly street sweeping, is part of the Village’s stormwater management plan. Three street lights were repaired, nine sidewalk slabs were replaced and three Stop signs were replaced. The Shore Park bathroom renovation is complete, and an additional layer of gravel has been put on the walking path. She said that the Highbrook Avenue project had already been discussed. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Police, Fire, Village Treasurer, Village Manager/Village Clerk and DPW reports be and hereby are approved. ---------- RESOLUTION TO APPROVE SITE PLAN AMENDMENT 4767-4787 BOSTON POST RD Resolution On the motion of Trustee_Owen-Michaane_ seconded by Trustee Bennett___ The Board of Trustees (Board) finds: Whereas, Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc. doing business under the name of Regency Centers (Applicant) is the owner of the premises known by the postal address of 4767-4787 Boston Post Road, Pelham, New York 10803 and designated on the Tax Assessment Map of the Town of Pelham as section 164.77, block 1, lot 15 (Premises), and Whereas, the Premises is a fully developed shopping center of approximately 25,000 square feet of rentable space known as the District Shops of Pelham Manor that is located in the Village’s R- Retail zoning district, and Whereas, the Applicant has proposed an amendment to that site plan (Application) that if approved, would renovate the existing facade of the building, remove approximately 870 square feet of improved space from the rear of the building, regrade sections of the parking area, make the sidewalks and the parking areas of the Premises compliant with current standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act, improve drainage of storm water, alter vehicular circulation within the Premises by converting the current one-way movement to a two-way traffic flow along the sides and in the rear of the Premises, provide valet parking during peak times (Fridays and Saturdays between the hours of 4:00 pm and 10:00 pm [prevailing time]) and improve pedestrian access to the shops within the Premises, and Whereas, pursuant to section 210-25 B (5) of the Code of the Village of Pelham Manor (Code), the Building Inspector determined that the proposed amendment to the existing site plan for the Premises, if approved, would comply with the Code, and 3  Whereas, on January 27, 2025, the Board, acting pursuant to section 210-26 B. (6) of the Code, referred the Application to the Village Planning Board for a detailed review and recommendation, and Whereas, the Village Planning Board conducted such review at a series of meetings at which all persons interested in the Application were allowed to speak, and Whereas, the Village Planning Board has given its recommendation to the Board which included a recommendation that the number of on-site parking spaces be reduced from 100 to 94 on condition that the Applicant provide valet service during peak times of operation, and Whereas, the Westchester County Planning Board provided comments regarding the Application to the Board by letter dated April 7, 2025. Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that the Board makes the following findings and draws the following conclusions: A. The Application calls for the maintenance or repair of existing improvements which do not involve any substantial changes to existing conditions and therefore is a Type II action within the meaning of section 617.5 (c) (1) of the regulations promulgated pursuant to article 8 of the New York Environmental Conservation Law (see Chapter VI of Part 617 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulation [NYCRRR]) which will have no significant impact upon the environment. B. The Application, as approved with the conditions listed below, will not adversely affect the public health, safety and welfare or the comfort and convenience of the public in general or of the immediate area in that: (i) Pedestrian and vehicular access and safety and traffic circulation The current vehicular circulation is in one direction, making it difficult for motorists to maneuver within the Premises and requiring motorists, at times, to exit the Premises only to reenter through the other driveway in order to access certain parking spaces. The proposed vehicular circulation will have two-way drive aisles on both sides of the building and through the rear of the Premises. Currently, there are 100 on-site parking spaces on the Premises. The Application proposes to reduce that number to 94 but to compensate for the reduction 4  by providing valets who will utilize 24 parking spaces for valet parking on Fridays and Saturdays when the volume of traffic is at its highest. The parking study done by JMC Planning Engineering Landscape Architecture & Land Surveying, PLLC (JMC) indicates that the reduction of 6 on-site parking spaces and the introduction of 24 valet parking spaces at peak times will provide adequate on-site parking for the Premises. The proposed revised site plan will add entrances to the shops along the rear of the shopping center, thereby improving access thereto for persons who park in the rear parking area. (ii) Landscaping and screening The proposed revised site plan calls for the planting of ground cover, shrubs and trees in a number and at locations that are suitable for a shopping center of this nature. Moreover, the proposal will reduce the impervious surface of the Premises by roughly 2,000 square feet and replace it with the landscaping shown on the revised site plan. (iii) Drainage and utilities Under the proposed revised site plan, a new 10-foot diameter drywell will be constructed in the rear of the Premises and pipes will connect the existing dry wells to this proposed drywell. This improvement and interconnection of the drywells will increase storage and infiltration capacity. Moreover, the outflow of these three interconnected drywells will allow for better retention of stormwater runoff. A new underground detention system will be installed in the front of the Premises. It will slow down the movement of storm water and improve overall hydrology. (iv) Character and appearance The existing improvements on the Premises will not be expanded. Indeed, the plans call for the removal of about 870 square feet of the building. The façade of the building will be modernized. New lighting will be installed to illuminate the Premises in a way that will direct lighting away from adjacent properties. Overall, the proposal will 5  give the Premises a fresh appearance while continuing to keep its appearance in general harmony with the character and appearance of the surrounding area and the Village as a whole. C. The Board based its conclusions set forth in paragraph (B) (i)-(iv) on the recommendation of the Village Planning Board, the comments made by the Westchester County Planning Board, the site plans prepared for the Applicant by JMC dated January 24, 2025 as revised on May 22, 2025, the site surveys prepared for the Applicant by JMC dated June 27, 2024, the architectural plans prepared for the Applicant by Studio Architecture D.P.C dated January 23, 2025 as revised April 25, 2025, the parking study prepared for the Applicant by JMC dated May 22, 2025, the stormwater management report prepared for the Applicant by JMC dated May 22, 2025, the comments made by the Village’s professional staff and the points made at the public meetings, and Be It Further Resolved, that the Application be and the same hereby is GRANTED subject to the following conditions or modifications: 1. Except for field changes that the Building Inspector may consider necessary or appropriate, this amendment is ONLY for the construction shown on the plans submitted to the Board or on the plans to be modified either pursuant to the direction of the Board or as agreed to by the Applicant or the Applicant’s representative. 2. If the plans submitted to the Board must be modified, such modified plans shall be reviewed and approved by the Building Inspector before a building permit is granted. 3. If the Village Manager determines that the plan for valet parking approved by this resolution fails to handle on-site parking on the Premises adequately, the Village Manager shall so notify the Applicant in writing and provide the Applicant with the reasons why the valet parking is not adequately handling on-site parking at the Premises. Within sixty (60) days after such notice is sent, the Applicant shall submit an application for a revised site plan amendment to the Building Inspector, who after determining that the proposed amendment, if approved, would comply with the Code, shall present it to 6  the Board for site plan review. The procedures contained in section 210-26 of the Code for site plan approval shall be followed in assessing such revised site plan amendment. The Village Manager shall have the same right to determine the adequacy of on-site parking implemented pursuant to any revised site plan approved by the Board and the same procedure outlined herein shall be followed if the Village Manager determines that a revised plan is inadequate. 4. The cost of implementing and paying for the valet parking service approved by this, or any subsequent, resolution shall be borne solely by the Applicant. 5. All loading and unloading of vehicles of items of any kind that are delivered to or removed from the Premises must occur EXCLUSIVELY at the rear of the Premises. 6. All poles erected on the Premises shall be black in color. 7. All lighting that will illuminate the Premises shall be installed in a way that prevents direct rays of light from shining upon adjoining properties and minimizes the number of reflected rays of light shining upon adjoining properties. 8. Prior to the issuance of a building permit, the Applicant shall produce copies of all permits and approvals required for any work done in the right of way belonging to the State of New York. The Building Inspector shall be responsible for determining whether all such permits and approvals have been obtained by the Applicant. 9. Prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy or a certificate of compliance, the Applicant shall submit a final as-built survey to the Building Department. 10. The approval hereby granted shall expire automatically, without a requirement that notice in advance of the expiration date be given to the Applicant by a representative of the Village of Pelham Manor, unless the Applicant obtains a building permit for the construction authorized by this resolution within three hundred sixty-five (365) days of the day on which this resolution is filed in the office of the Village Clerk. and Be It Further Resolved, that the term “Applicant” includes not only Urstadt Biddle Properties, Inc. and its subsidiaries and related companies but also any subsequent owner of the Premises or any tenant of 7 the entire Premises or the land upon which the Premises has been erected. The above resolution was put to a roll call vote where the members of the Board voted as follows Daniel W. McLaughlin Aye Timothy M. Case Aye Maurice Owen-Michaane Aye Bridget A. Bennett Aye Jennifer Monachino Lapey Aye ------------- RESOLUTION TO AMEND REFUSE COLLECTION Resolution Modifying Refuse Collection On the motion of Trustee_Bennett_________________, seconded by Trustee _McLaughlin_________________ The Board of Trustees (Board) finds: Whereas, the Village of Pelham Manor (Village) Department of Public Works provides refuse and recycling collection services, and Whereas, based on the habits and vocabulary of contemporary life, the Village Manager is recommending the Board consider modifications to the regulations providing for the collection of refuse, and Whereas, pursuant to Section 179-1 of the Code of the Village of Pelham Manor, these modifications are effectuated upon approval by resolution of the Board. Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Refuse Collection Regulations are hereby as follows: 1. Collection Service — Residential (a) Collection of containerized garbage will be from the rear of all residential buildings per schedule. Completely dried-out paint cans may be disposed with garbage. (b) Household discards will be collected from the roadside per schedule. The Village reserves the right to limit service to 2 cubic yards in any one week. (c) Garden refuse shall be in containers, paper bags or bundles and placed beside the road on the first day (Mon. or Tues.) of your sanitation collection days. Bundles must be less than 6 feet in length and weigh not more than 30lbs. Tree branches and brush shall be placed beside the road in securely tied bundles not exceeding 6 feet in length or 30 lbs. in weight. (d) Recyclables will be collected from the roadside per schedule. Recyclables shall be placed in containers as specified below, loose and uncompacted, without string, bags or other extraneous materials. Paper and commingled recyclables shall be separated. (e) Appliances having no refrigerant gases will be collected from the roadside per schedule. (f) Garden refuse, household discards, recyclables and appliances shall be placed beside the road no earlier than 7:00 p.m. on the day before the scheduled collection. (g) Leaves may be placed beside the road for collection and need not be in bags between March 15 and April 15 and between October 15 and December 15. At all other times, leaves to be collected shall be bagged and placed beside the road. (h) Tree trunks, stumps or logs, automotive batteries, tires, waste oil, hazardous wastes including liquid paint and construction or renovation wastes will not be collected. 2. Collection Service — Retail and Industrial (a) Collection of containerized refuse from Retail establishments will be from the curb per schedule and will be limited to 2 containers not exceeding 30 gallons or 2 bundles securely tied not over 6 feet in length or in excess of 30 lbs. each from each establishment on any 8  scheduled collection day. (b) No collections of refuse will be made from Industrial establishments. 3. Containers (a) No container shall exceed 30 gallons capacity. All containers shall be provided with properly fitted lids, shall be covered therewith when outside the house and shall be fire resistant. 4. Definitions (a) Appliances - Washing machines, clothes dryers, refrigerators with gas and doors removed, stoves, air conditioners with gas removed, water heaters and similar objects, including all metal objects. (b) Garbage - Small articles or pieces of solid waste material accumulating or resulting from the use or occupancy of buildings; such as coated paper, rags, clothes, plastic utensils, completely dried-out paint cans, bagged pet waste, alkaline batteries, ashes from furnaces, stoves, or fireplaces, but not including paper or comingled recyclables. (c) Garden refuse - Grass clippings, weeds, flowers, leaves and annual growth from hedges, bushes and shrubs. (d) Household discards - Old furniture, toys and items too large for containers but not including construction debris or appliances. Mattresses must be wrapped in plastic. (e) Paper Recyclables - Newspaper, junk mail, paper bags, folders, boxes. (f) Comingled Recyclables - Corrugated cardboard and rinsed mixed glass containers, waxy milk and juice containers, tin cans, aluminum cans, plastic #1 through #7. (g) Refuse - All items as defined in subdivisions (a) through (f) above. (h) Residential building - Any building used or occupied exclusively for residential purposes including multi-family buildings, churches, and schools. (i) Retail establishments - A store or establishment for the sale, at retail, of food, clothing, drink or other bodily needs and comforts or an establishment for rendering or furnishing of a personal service, including a club or restaurant. (j) Industrial establishments - A building or structure used for manufacturing, fabrication, storage or for the conduct of any business not included in the definition of a "Retail Establishment." and Be It Further Resolved, that the Refuse Collection Schedule is hereby as follows: A. Items shall be placed beside the road no earlier than 7:00 p.m. on the night before collection. B. Regular Rear Yard and Road Side Collection of refuse other than recyclables takes place on weekly basis. The portion of the Village north of Boston Post Road is on Monday and Thursday, and the portion of the Village south of Boston Post Road is on Tuesday and Friday. C. Comingled Recyclables are collected on a weekly basis as a separate collection that takes place after regular collection. The portion of the Village north of Boston Post Road is on Thursday and the portion of the Village south of Boston Post Road is on Friday. D. Paper Recyclables are collected on a weekly basis Village-wide on Wednesday. E. Garden Refuse is collected on a weekly basis as a separate collection that takes place after regular collection. The portion of the Village north of Boston Post Road is on Monday and the portion of the Village south of Boston Post Road is on Tuesday. F. Appliance collection is the first Wednesday of each month and takes place Village-wide. and 9 Be It Further Resolved, that there will be no collection on holidays, and no paper recycling collection during holiday weeks. Holidays that fall on a Saturday are observed the preceding Friday and holidays that fall on a Sunday are observed the following Monday. Refuse collections that fall on a holiday will be made up on the preceding or following day. and Be It Further Resolved, that the Refuse Collection Schedule observes the following holidays: i. New Year’s Day ii. Martin Luther King Jr. Day iii. Presidents Day iv. Good Friday v. Memorial Day vi. Juneteenth vii. Independence Day viii. Labor Day ix. Columbus Day x. Veterans Day xi. Thanksgiving Day xii. Christmas Day The above resolution was put to a roll call vote where the members of the Board voted as follows Daniel W. McLaughlin Aye Timothy M. Case Aye Maurice Owen-Michaane Aye Bridget A. Bennett Aye Jennifer Monachino Lapey Aye ----------- DECLARATION OF SURPLUS FIRE DEPARTMENT EQUIPMENT Over several years the Fire Department has upgraded equipment and as a result some equipment is no longer needed for the department and can be considered surplus. The Fire Chief would like to sell or donate the following equipment. 600 feet of 3 inch fire hose 700 feet of 1 ¾ inch fire hose 9 full sets of firefighting gear Holmatro Pump Holmatro Spreader Holmatro Cutter Holmatro Ram Holmatro Reels The Board declared that the equipment listed above be considered surplus and it may be sold or donated. ----------- 10 SHORE PARK REQUEST Jon Kasper, 10 Elm Tree Lane, requested the use of Shore Park on Saturday, August 23, 2025 from ten o’clock in the morning until two o’clock in the afternoon for wedding pictures and a lunch for approximately twenty people. There is no rain date. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the request from Jon Kasper to use Shore Park on Saturday, August 23, 2025 be and hereby is approved. ----------- STREET CLOSING REQUEST FOR MANOR RIDGE ROAD BLOCK PARTY Rachel Arbeit Robertson, 517 Manor Ridge Road, requested that Manor Ridge Road, from Boston Post to Colonial Avenue, be closed for their annual Block Party on Saturday, September 6, 2025 from eleven o’clock in the morning until ten o’clock in the evening with a rain date of Sunday, September 7, 2025. After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the request from Rachel Arbeit Robertson to close Manor Ridge Road on Saturday, September 6, 2025, with a rain date of Sunday, September 7, 2025 be and hereby is approved. - - - -- - - - - - - RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN ABSTRACT OF VOUCHER NUMBERS 33728-33768 After discussion and upon motion duly made and seconded, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that Voucher Numbers 33728-33768 be and hereby are approved. --------- PUBLIC COMMENT The Mayor asked if there was any public comment. Tai Montanarella, 464 Esplanade, spoke about a notice of violation, property maintenance and the possibility of updating the Village Code on that issue, cultivating native species, and improving food scrap recycling. The Mayor thanked her for her advocacy. ---------- 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. 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 11