Mayor & Village Board of Trustees

VILLAGE OF PELHAM BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 2019, 7:30 PM VILLAGE HALL – 195 SPARKS AVENUE, PELHAM, NY 10803 Minutes 1. Call to Order 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Roll Call 4. Trustees’ Reports 5. Village Administrator’s Report 6. Mayor’s Report 7. Public Comments # Agenda Items: Non-Recurring Items 8. Presentation by Adina Sasson, "If I Were Mayor" Essay Contest 9. Discussion on Complete Streets 10. Discussion on Proposed Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-20 11. Resolution Creating a Climate Smart Community Task Force and to Appoint Cara Farrell as Coordinator 12. Other Business Recurring Items 13. Authorizing Year-End Budget Amendments and Transfers for Fiscal Year 2018-19 14. Authorizing Budget Transfers for Fiscal Year 2019-20 15. Authorizing Accounts Payable 16. Authorizing the Minutes of: April 1, 2019, April 23, 2019, May 14, 2019, May 28, 2019 17. Adjournment to Executive Session Next Regularly Scheduled BOT Meetings: Tuesday, July 16, 2019 (Summer Schedule) Tuesday, August 13, 2019 (Summer Schedule) Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Item # 1 – Meeting called to order: Mayor Mullen called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM. Item # 2 – Pledge of Allegiance: Item # 3 – Roll Call: Attendee Name Present Absent Late Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ Trustee Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ Trustee Hill-Ries ☒ ☐ ☐ Trustee Kagan ☒ ☐ ☐ Trustee Kamal Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ Trustee Potocki ☒ ☐ ☐ Trustee Spira-Cohen ☒ ☐ ☐ Village Administrator Small ☒ ☐ ☐ Asst. Village Administrator Scelza ☐ ☒ ☐ Asst. to the Village Admin. Farrell ☒ ☐ ☐ Trustees’ Report: Trustee Carpenter congratulated Pelham Together for hosting a successful fundraiser in Chester Park. Trustee Hill-Ries reported the Pelham School District bought the property next door Colonial Elementary School at 314 Pelhamdale Avenue. She thanked residents for voting on the purchase. Trustee Kagan reported village staff and outside counsel for the village met with the police union today for the first round of mediation. Trustee Kamal Eldahry thanked the Police Chief and the Police Department, as well as the school superintendent, for doing an amazing job coordinating the new drop-off and pick-up zone at Hutchinson Elementary School. Trustee Potocki commended the organizing of the Hutchinson School construction to rearrange parking for the teachers. Trustee Spira-Cohen had nothing to report. Page 2 Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Village Administrator’s Report: Village Administrator Small reported he is working toward getting the scope of our expiring federal matching grants changed with the EPA, as well as requesting estimates of similar-sized municipalities who completed sanitary sewer evaluation studies. Mayor’s Report Mayor Mullen congratulated former Mayor Volpe on becoming a grandfather. He also mentioned 139 Fifth Avenue and 163 Wolfs Lane have been referred to the Village Board of Trustees and they will communicate with the developers to make sure that it is understood that a the decision will not be made until everybody has had an opportunity to weigh in on those projects. He thanked Dr. Champ for a great groundbreaking ceremony and Pelham Together for their Summer Fest. Page 3 Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Item # 7 – Public Comments Susan Mutti of Greenwich Connecticut presented two more Eagle Scout candidates who are interested in potential projects within the village. She also reported on the potential to upgrade the path from grass to full pavers thanks to a sizeable donation from Ruben Guerrero of Pelham RE Partners. Additionally, the path will be professionally staked out by Domenic Ragno, as a pro bono contribution. She also questioned the timeline for the project Roger Wines of 31 Linden Avenue mentioned his reports on the history of the Highbrook Bridge and the economic impact of a small park versus housing development. He compared and contrasted having a park in addition to residential development. Page 4 Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Non-Recurring Items Item # 8 – Presentation by Adina Sasson, "If I Were Mayor" Essay Contest Adina won second place in the “If I Were Mayor” essay contest from NYCOM. She read her essay aloud: “If I were mayor, I'll place a permanent ban on gas powered leaf blowers. People everywhere take pride in their lawns and gardens, the Westchester residents in particular hire lawn care companies who often use a tool that does more harm than good, gas powered leaf blowers. Although a useful machine for blowing the last few leaves off the lawn, gas powered leaf blowers are a nuisance to neighbors with the environment and have serious health effects. Our health and the future of the world is more important than a few perfectly manicured lawns. People come to Pelham for many reasons, including a sense of peacefulness that can't be gained from city life. Leaf blowers constantly interrupt this peacefulness. They can make it hard for children to play outside since there is a danger that a leaf blower will blow something into their eyes or the noise can hurt their ears. In fact, Leaf Blowers aren't shown to contribute to hearing loss. The noise can become a nuisance to adults as well, but the noise isn't what makes leaf blower so dangerous, it's the release of carbon monoxide. The amounts of carbon monoxide gas powered leaf blowers release in one hour is equal to the amount coming through the tailpipes of the current automobile running for over eight hours. Not only do they release eight times more pollutants than automobiles, leaf blowers deposit all the carbon monoxide in one yard instead of over a larger area. Gas powered leaf blowers also contribute to smog and acid rain. The chemicals they release don't just harm the environment, they harm people too, contributing to conditions like cancer, heart disease, stroke, asthma, and premature death. The noise can also cause hypertension, learning problems and other stress-related health conditions. One of the reasons I would ban leaf blowers is that it is a problem that is relatively simple to solve. Contrary to popular belief, there are other ways to get leaves off the lawn instead of raking, although a bit of exercise couldn't hurt people. Cordless electric leaf blowers will not completely eliminate greenhouse gases since the electricity comes from a power plant and more than 80% of our electricity comes from fossil fuels. However, they would significantly help. Power plants are equipped with scrubbers to filter out pollutants, the kind of technology that can never be attached to a handheld leaf blower. Electric or battery leaf blowers would also considerably help reduce the damaging health effects of air pollutants. If I were mayor, I would permanently ban gas powered leaf blowers from Pelham. For too long, people have taken advantage of little luxuries, paying attention only to convenience and not looking at the bigger picture. It's time to realize that seemingly little actions can affect the world in a big way. Banning leaf blowers is one small step to solving some of our largest problems.” Page 5 Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Item # 9 - Discussion on Complete Streets Trustee Spria-Cohen provided background on Climate Smart Communities and the creation of a task force. She said the agenda contains a draft mission statement for the committee itself with some goals and activities identified, as well as the beginnings of a Complete Streets resolution that would establish the task force, as well as outline. She thanked Assistant to the Village Administrator Farrell for her work on this policy and resolution. Page 6 Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Item # 10 – Discussion on Proposed Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-20 Mayor Mullen went over a list that Village Administrator Small has been working to create with the each of our department heads. These are capital projects we're going to focus on in the next 12 to 18 months. Deputy Mayor Kagan suggested we look on Municibid for surplus equipment. The details of the capital projects will be included in July 16, 2019 minutes. Page 7 Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Item # 11 – Resolution Creating a Climate Smart Community Task Force and to Appoint Cara Farrell as Coordinator Resolution Appointing a Climate Smart Communities Task Force Coordinator and Appointing a Climate Smart Communities Task Force Whereas, the Village of Pelham (hereinafter “the Village”) believes that climate change poses a real and increasing threat to our local and global communities and that the effects of climate change will endanger our infrastructure, economy, and livelihoods, harm ecological communities, reduce drinking water supplies and recreational opportunities, and pose health threats to our citizens; and Whereas, it is incumbent upon the Village to do what it can to address these threats, reduce carbon emissions, and mitigate the effects of climate change; and Whereas, to this end, the Village adopted the New York State Climate Smart Communities Pledge by Resolution on February 12, 2019; and Whereas, the Village wishes to obtain certification under the Climate Smart Communities Program and is desirous of mitigating the effects of climate change on the Village and of taking further steps toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and making Pelham more sustainable; Whereas, forming a Climate Smart Communities Task Force is a mandatory action required for participation in and certification by the Climate Smart Communities program, and such a task force can provide the Village with information about establishing and implementing climate smart initiatives, propose new ideas, and identify funding sources for projects. Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham officially designates the Village of Pelham Sustainability Advisory Board (SAB), Village of Pelham Trustee Hanan Kamal-Eldahry, and Assistant to the Village Administrator Cara Farrell, along with the individuals named below, each serving a one-year term commencing June 25, 2019, as the Climate Smart Communities Task Force for the Village of Pelham. Membership in the Task Force shall be approved by the Mayor and Chair(s) of the SAB. Marc Burgess Lindsay Preftakes Kate Doebler Anna Riehl Melissa Eustace Gabrielle Sasson Kevin Fleming William Springer Nadine LeeSang Heather Valade Debbie Winstead Page 8 Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Be it further resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham herein repeals the resolution passed on June 11, 2019, entitled “Resolution Creating a Climate Smart Community Task Force and to Appoint Cara Farrell as Coordinator” and hereby appoints Cara Farrell as the Climate Smart Communities Coordinator, and appoints the Co-Chairs of the SAB to act as Co-Chairs of the Climate Smart Communities Task Force. Vote Record - Item #11 – Resolution Appointing a Climate Smart Communities Task Force Coordinator and Appointing a Climate Smart Communities Task Force Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☒Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Trustee Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Trustee Hill-Ries ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Trustee Kagan ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Trustee Kamal Eldahry Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Trustee Potocki ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Trustee Spira-Cohen Second ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Item # 12 – Other Business Deputy Mayor Kagan requested the July Board of Trustees meeting be moved to the 16 th. This is approved. Page 9 Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Recurring Items Item #13 - Authorizing Year-End Budget Amendments and Transfers for Fiscal Year 2018-19 Resolution Authorizing Budget Amendments and Transfers for Fiscal Year 2018-19 Whereas, pursuant to the provisions of §5-520 of the New York State Village Law, the Board of Trustees, by resolution, may increase existing appropriations by transferring funds from the unexpended balance of another appropriation, from the contingent account, from available cash surplus or unanticipated revenues within a fund, or by borrowing; and Whereas, in all cases, there are sufficient unexpended balances in other appropriation accounts, excess revenues or fund balances available to cover the amendments and transfers. Now, therefore, be it resolved, that pursuant to New York State Village Law § 5-520, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham hereby authorizes and directs the Assistant Village Administrator/Village Treasurer to modify the 2018-19 Budget by making the following budget amendments and transfers (attached hereto and made part hereof). Vote Record - Item #13 – Resolution Authorizing Year-End Budget Amendments and Transfers for Fiscal Year 2018-19 Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☒Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Trustee Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Trustee Hill-Ries Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Trustee Kagan ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Trustee Kamal Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Trustee Potocki ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Trustee Spira-Cohen Second ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Page 10 Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Item #14 - Authorizing Budget Transfers for Fiscal Year 2019-20 Resolution Authorizing Budget Transfers for Fiscal Year 2019-20 Whereas, pursuant to the provisions of §5-520 of the New York State Village Law, the Board of Trustees, by resolution, may increase existing appropriations by transferring funds from the unexpended balance of another appropriation, from the contingent account, from available cash surplus or unanticipated revenues within a fund, or by borrowing; and Whereas, in all cases, there are sufficient unexpended balances in other appropriation accounts, excess revenues or fund balances available to cover the amendments and transfers. Now, therefore, be it resolved, that pursuant to New York State Village Law § 5-520, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham hereby authorizes and directs the Assistant Village Administrator/Village Treasurer to modify the 2019-20 Budget by making the following budget transfers (attached hereto and made part hereof). Vote Record - Item #14 – Resolution Authorizing Budget Transfers for Fiscal Year 2019-20 Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☒Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Trustee Carpenter Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Trustee Hill-Ries Second ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Trustee Kagan ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Trustee Kamal Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Trustee Potocki ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Trustee Spira-Cohen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Page 11 Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Item # 15 - Authorizing the Accounts Payable Trustee Hill-Ries is auditing the Accounts Payable. Resolution Authorizing the Accounts Payable Whereas, pursuant to §5-524 of the New York State Village Law, the Board of Trustees shall audit all claims against the Village. Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham after audit of the following vouchers, authorizes payment for services rendered and materials received, for the following items that have been submitted to the Treasurer's Office for payment and authorized by the Village Administrator and Village Treasurer: Fund Name: Amount General Fund $310,865.27 Capital Projects Fund $5,339.23 Trust and Agency Fund $35,599.00 TE Private Purpose Trust Fund $718.75 Grand Total $352,522.25 Be it further resolved, that this Board hereby approves payment of the above mentioned claims and authorizes payment thereof. Vote Record - Item # 15 – Resolution Authorizing the Accounts Payable Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☒Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Trustee Carpenter Second ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Trustee Hill-Ries Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled ☐Withdrawn Trustee Kagan ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Trustee Kamal Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Trustee Potocki ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Trustee Spira-Cohen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Page 12 Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Item # 16 – Authorizing the Minutes of: Vote Record - Item # 16 – Authorizing the Minutes of April 1, 2019 Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☒Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Trustee Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Trustee Hill-Ries Second ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Trustee Kagan Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Trustee Kamal Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Trustee Potocki ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Trustee Spira-Cohen ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ Vote Record - Item # 16 – Authorizing the Minutes of April 23, 2019 Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☐Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒Approved as Trustee Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Trustee Hill-Ries Second ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Trustee Kagan Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Trustee Kamal Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Trustee Potocki ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Trustee Spira-Cohen ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ Vote Record - Item # 16 – Authorizing the Minutes of May 14, 2019 Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☐Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒Approved as Trustee Carpenter Second ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Trustee Hill-Ries ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Trustee Kagan Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Trustee Kamal Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Trustee Potocki ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ Trustee Spira-Cohen ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ Vote Record - Item # 16 – Authorizing the Minutes of May 28, 2019 Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☐Approved Mayor Mullen ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Trustee Carpenter ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Trustee Hill-Ries ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒Tabled Trustee Kagan ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Trustee Kamal Eldahry ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Trustee Potocki ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Trustee Spira-Cohen ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Page 13 Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Item # 17 – Adjournment to Executive Session The public portion of the Board meeting was adjourned and the board entered into Executive Session to discuss a particular personnel matter and collective negotiations with a bargaining unit, after which time the Board would adjourn for the evening. Vote Record - Item # 21 – Adjournment to Executive Session Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, June 25, 2019 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☒Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Trustee Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Trustee Hill-Ries ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Trustee Kagan ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Trustee Kamal Eldahry Second ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Trustee Potocki ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Trustee Spira-Cohen Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Page 14