Mayor & Village Board of Trustees

VILLAGE OF PELHAM BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, June 23, 2009– 7:30 PM VILLAGE HALL – 195 SPARKS AVENUE, PELHAM, NY Minutes 1. Call To Order 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Mayor’s Report 4. Trustees’ Reports 5. Village Administrator’s Report 6. Public Comment Approximate Starting Time # Agenda Items: of Discussion Non-Recurring Items 7:45 p.m. 7. Chamber of Commerce- Various Issues Discussed 8. Shared Services Update Discussed Grants, Projects & Other Business 8:15 p.m. 9. Building Department Summary Report Discussed 10. Projects- Status Report Discussed 11. Grants- Status Report Discussed 12. Other Business Discussed Recurring Items 8:45pm 13. Authorizing the Accounts Payable Approved 14. Authorizing Minutes of: March 24, 2009, April 14, 2009, April 28, 2009, Approved May 5, 2009 15. Adjournment to Executive Session Approved 9:00pm Next Regular Board of Trustee Meetings are: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 Tuesday, August 11, 2009 All meetings start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. *Agenda is subject to change. Board Of Trustees Meeting Tuesday, June 23, 2009 Page 2 Item #1 – Meeting called to order: The meeting of the Board of Trustees was called to order by Mayor Ed Hotchkiss at 7:35 p.m. The following members of the Board of Trustees were present: Mayor Edward Hotchkiss, Trustees Breskin, Bullock, Homan, Lewis, Morris, and Potocki. Village staff in attendance: Administrator/Treasurer Robert Yamuder, Terri Rouke Village Clerk. Item #2 – Pledge of Allegiance: The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Hotchkiss . Item #3 – Mayors Report Mayor Hotchkiss Report- Nothing to report Item #4 – Trustees Reports Trustee Breskin-reported that there would be a meeting of the Boston Westchester Committee on the next night Wednesday the 24th of June and he would have a report after that. Trustee Homan- said that the Farmer’s Market was up and running. There were new vendors at the market and the Town was working on getting some events to take place there such as a storyteller and other similar events. She suggested that maybe the Village of Pelham could help financially with some of the events. Trustee Lewis-reported on the progress of the zoning committee and said that hopefully the meeting next week would be the last meeting and then it would be handed over to the people who create the zoning code language. He also mentioned the Verizon negotiations had been restarted with John Butler, a representative of the Public Service Commission, John Figliozzi. Administrator Yamuder and himself. There has been no change in the terms of the negotiations. He said that Verizon’s reputation with the state was not fabulous. John Cassone of 312 Seventh Avenue asked if there would be any follow up discussions with Verizon. Trustee Lewis said that the matter would be discussed in executive session. Trustee Morris-said that there had been a CPR in house training and that seven volunteers and one career man had attended. Board Of Trustees Meeting Tuesday, June 23, 2009 Page 3 Trustee Potocki- met with Chief Benefico, Colonial School and Board of Ed representatives to discuss changes that were to take place during the construction of the two additional classrooms. There was an update given to the neighbors on an overview of the project. It is possible that the start date for the demolition will take place in August. Highbrook Avenue is to be closed every day between 11:45 am and 1:15 pm to be used as a playground. The project is expected to take about a year to complete. Twelve of the staff that now parks on Highbrook would now be moved to Irving, six on the Pelhamdale/Highbrook side and six on the opposite side between Cliff and Highbrook. The recommendation is for as many children as possible to go home for lunch during the construction period. He reported that New Rochelle has continued opening the pipe at Glenwood Lake. As a result there has been no interior flooding in the homes just some street flooding. Mike Shriman has worked out an arrangement with New Rochelle and Trustee Potocki makes checks also. He appreciates how much this has helped Pelham especially on Seventh Avenue. He hopes that the flooding remediation will start soon. Trustee Bullock-nothing to report Item #5 – Village Administrator’s Report Administrator Yamuder will be attending the NYCOM conference from June 29, 2009 to June 30, 2009. Item #6 Public Comments: Olivia Dembowski of 130 Sixth Avenue said that she was told that there would be a resolution about the basketball hoop that is on the street. She said that the hoop is still there. Trustee Potocki told her that he told her husband to call the police. Mrs. Dembowski asked if there was a law that prohibits this. Trustee Potocki said that there is no specific law. Mayor Hotchkiss said that there should be a follow up that the hoop should not be on the street. Mrs. Dembowski said that the homeowner mentioned that she would be going out of town for the summer and that the hoop would be removed and put back in September. Mayor Hotchkiss said that he wanted it resolved with the police. Item # 7- Chamber of Commerce- Various Issues Three members of the Chamber introduced themselves, John DeCicco, President of the Chamber, David Katz, Vice President and Chris Montgomery, Treasurer. They explained that this year the Chamber has radically changed. Membership has increased four or five times. Most of the stores are occupied and only a few stores are empty. They discussed the parking issues for the merchant and to allow room for customers they are asking for the merchants to stop parking on the street. The Chamber representatives were told to have the merchants call Village Hall to purchase spots that are available in the lots. Trustee Potocki said that if the merchants see any areas that are being under utilized on the street to let him know and more parking for merchants would be considered. Mr. DeCicco asked if the Board would ever consider purchasing muni meters. Mayor Hotchkiss said that the Village has investigated Board Of Trustees Meeting Tuesday, June 23, 2009 Page 4 muni meters. The next topic of the discussion was the request to streamline the Architectural Review Board process. They asked if the ARB could clearly identify what is needed for a new submission with bullet points to try to uncomplicate the procedure. Trustee Homan suggested that they view the slide show that was prepared by ARB member, Barbara Bartlett, showing the downtown old versus the new. Mayor Hotchkiss said that procedures for the ARB are being reviewed. Mr. DeCicco said that he felt that some of the decisions made by the ARB were arbitrary. Mr. DeCicco asked if the Board to consider putting a merchant that lived in the Village on the ARB. Administrator Yamuder said the he was checking with Beeline on the request by the Chamber to try to get two bus stops moved. He also reminded them about the Main Street Grant and that there is still money available for the downtown merchants and landlords. Item # 8- Shared Services Update Administrator Yamuder gave a report on his meeting with Pelham Manor Manager John Pierpont regarding shared services. He said that he and Manager Pierpont have similar agendas. He said that it might be possible to coordinate the efforts of the two Villages on projects like paving, street sweeping, salting and catch basin cleaning to save money. Administrator Yamuder discussed the GIS Grant for $44,000.00 that the Village has applied for. He said that the Town already has the GIS software and that if the Village received the grant the software would allow the Village to plot everything in the Village such as trees, streets, homes by using the software in handheld computers. The Village is coordinating with the Town to buy trees. The Town is participating in a New York Power Authority program that gives you a free tree if you purchase a tree. The Village has purchased sixteen trees and will receive 16 free trees through the program. Item # 9- Building Department Summary Report Administrator Yamuder gave a report on the breakdown of last years building permits. The total fees collected by the Building Inspector for the fiscal year June 1, 2008 through May 31, 2009 is $97,115.00. Item # 10- Projects- Status Report- Administrator Yamuder gave an update on the progress of major building projects in the village. In a report that he received from Len Russo, Building Inspector, it says that the foundation is completed for the Lordae rebuild. The special footings are in place and are ready to be poured. It is expected that the steel structure of the building is to be assembled in the next two weeks. He also reported on the Pelham Medical Building. The anchor bolts were being delivered in the next week. As soon as they were in place Building Inspector Russo would advise Carlin Simpson that they would be ready for testing. The project at 33 Lincoln is on hold while the owner waits for the insurance claim to be resolved. The owner has cleaned up, fenced the site and painted the building façade. The site plan for 404 Fifth Avenue has been approved and the building permit has been issued. The owners will be Board Of Trustees Meeting Tuesday, June 23, 2009 Page 5 clearing the building of tenants and take care of tank removal, utilities disconnection and get an environmental sign off before demo and construction. Administrator Yamuder gave an update to the long term projects in the village. He said that Chief Taylor received his 211 Waiver. Martha Conforti, Village Attorney and Len Russo have been working on a draft of changes to the zoning code. Administrator Yamuder and Trustee Bullock have gotten samples of Human Resource Manuals from other municipalities to help with the drafting of one for the Village of Pelham. There have been issues of the transmissions of the tapes on Channel 75. Cablevision has cleaned the equipment and hopefully in the future the Village would be able to get a camera to record digitally to discs. Item # 11- Grants - Status Report- FTA: Administrator Yamuder reported that he would be attending an FTA grant workshop in Brooklyn on July 23 to regarding the document submittals and payment procedures. He will put out the bids for construction ready plans for the Lot 7/DPW Yard construction. NY Main Street: The Village of Pelham has been given administrative responsibility of the entire $400,000. 00 grant package. Half of the money is for the Pelham Picture House. Administrator Yamuder met with representatives of the Pelham Picture House for an update. The applicants for the grant that have submitted applications for reimbursement will have to fill out SHPO paperwork to give a clearance saying that they are not historical buildings. Administrator Yamuder is checking to make sure that the $50,000.00 for the Wolfs Lane Park is a non-matching grant. CDBG: The village has $22,000.00 in additional CBDG funds to spend on sidewalks. The $10,000.00 for the Police Lockers has been received. The Firehouse Generator has been signed and the generator has been ordered. A SHPO has to be submitted to get clearance to confirm that the building is not a historical building. Item # 12- Other Business-the statement of expenditures and revenues was tabled for discussion for a future meeting. Item # 13- Authorizing Accounts Payable A motion was made by Trustee Morris, with a second by Trustee Lewis to adopt the resolution. The motion was approved by vote of seven in favor, none opposed. Trustee Morris is auditing the Accounts Payable. RESOLUTION WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5-524 of the New York State Village Law, the Board of Trustees shall audit all claims against the Village. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees after audit of the following claims, authorizes payment for services rendered and materials received, for the Board Of Trustees Meeting Tuesday, June 23, 2009 Page 6 following items that have been submitted to the Treasurer's Office for payment and authorized by the Village Administrator: Fund Name: Amount General Fund $ 161,892.02 Water Fund $ 480.88 Capital Projects Fund $123,858.20 Trust and Agency Fund $ 0.00 TE Fund $16.50 H3 Fund $ 0.00 Grand Total $ 286,247.60 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this Board hereby approves payment of the above-mentioned claims and authorizes payment thereof. Item # 14- Authorizing Minutes of: March 24, 2009, April 14, 2009, April 28, 2009, May 5, 2009 A motion was made by Trustee Lewis, with a second by Trustee Bullock to adopt the minutes of March 24, 2009, April 14, 2009, April 28, 2009 with changes and May 5, 2009. The motion was approved by vote of seven in favor, none opposed. Item # 15- Adjournment to Executive Session A motion was made by Trustee Homan, with a second by Trustee Breskin to adjourn the public portion of the board meeting at 9:00 p.m., and go into Executive Session to discuss matters of contract, legal and personnel, after which the Board would adjourn for the evening. The motion was approved by vote of seven in favor, none opposed.