Mayor & Village Board of Trustees

VILLAGE OF PELHAM BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2023, 8:00 PM VILLAGE HALL - 195 SPARKS AVENUE, PELHAM, NY 10803 Join by Zoom Video: https://zoom.us/j/98917409392?pwd=U09KN2MxTnJHWEU2Nm9ndWxQSEgwZz09 Join by Telephone: (929) 205-6099 Meeting ID: 989 1740 9392 Passcode: 030699 AGENDA ITEMS 1. Call to Order 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Roll Call 4. Village Trustees’ Reports 5. Village Administrator’s Report 6. Mayor’s Report 7. Public Comments Non-Recurring Items 8. Resolution Calling for a Public Hearing on the Site Plan Approval of the Applicant: 48 Pelham Property LLC 9. Resolution Authorizing Special Event Request from Pelham Market 10. Resolution Authorizing the Renewal of an Inter-Municipal Agreement between the County of Westchester and the Village of Pelham for Enhanced 911 Service 11. Other Business – Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of Downtown Improvement Grant Pilot Program from Westchester County, New York and Confirming the Municipality’s Commitment to Cooperate with the Program Recurring Items 12. Authorizing Budget Amendments and Transfers for Fiscal Year 2022-23 13. Authorizing Accounts Payable 14. Authorizing Minutes of: February 28, 2023, Work Session, and Regular Meeting 15. Adjournment Next Regularly Scheduled BOT Meetings: Tuesday, April 11, 2023 (Note: Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Tentative Budget) Tuesday, April 25, 2023 (Note: Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget Adoption) Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Item # 1 - Meeting Called to Order: Mayor Mullen called the meeting to order at 8:03 PM. Item # 2 - Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Mullen led the Pledge at 8:03 PM. Item # 3 - Roll Call: Attendee Name Present Absent Late Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ Deputy Mayor Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee Hill-Ries ☒ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee McGreal ☐ ☒ ☐ Village Trustee Otondi ☒ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee Solomon ☒ ☐ ☐ Village Administrator Scelza ☒ ☐ ☐ Asst. to the Village Administrator Zia ☒ ☐ ☐ (Virtual) Item # 4 - Village Trustees’ Report: Village Trustee Hill-Ries – Grant opportunity with the County that we will be partnering with the Chamber of Commerce that will be discussed in other business later on in the meeting. Congratulations to the Colonial girls basketball team on their championship win for Pelham Rec Basketball! Village Trustee Kamal Eldahry – Nothing to report. Village Trustee McGreal – Absent. Village Trustee Otondi – Nothing to report. Village Trustee Solomon – participated in a meeting with the Pelham PCAC President and parents regarding Pedestrian Safety around the Village with Chief Benkwitt and Chief Green. More to come regarding ideas on how to keep our kids safe around the Village. Deputy Mayor Carpenter – Nothing to report. Item # 5 - Village Administrator’s Report: Spring Leaf Collection starts March 15th – April 30th. Loose leaves only curbside. All other organic waste must be bagged. Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Item # 6 - Mayor’s Report Thank you to the Colonial PTA for the invitation to talk to the First Graders, it was a lot of fun with a lot of great questions. The Mayor, as part of the Westchester Municipal Officials Association Housing Committee, also met with the Westchester Delegation to discuss the Governor’s housing proposal and the response letter. The meeting was to walk the Delegation through the letter and why they are expressing the concerns they had. Next steps are to be determined at this time. Sunday, March 19th, The Sound Shore St. Patrick’s Day Parade is happening from Port Chester to Pelham; all are welcome to attend. Chris, Bobby, Sean, Jeremy, Jerry, Joe, Juan, and Juan, Sarah, Muneeb have done an extraordinary job with the launch of the in-house sanitation program. Item # 7 - Public Comments Dan Bollin, 44 Clifford Ave Are the new trucks here and are we supposed to be using the new toters? The Mayor responded that we are live, still doing rear – yard pick up for garbage with a team from the Village of Pelham. Cindy Courtien, 1044 Clay Ave, Pelham Manor A member of the CNC, the Citizens Nominating Committee for the Board of Education Candidate search. The CNC is reaching out to the community for help in identifying excellent candidates to run for the Board of Education. There are currently two seats that are open for election. The CNC recruits, interviews and nominates highly qualified candidates for the Board of Education. A Pelham CNC recommendation is not an endorsement, it is an assessment that the candidate possesses the qualifications set forth by NY State, as well as the qualifications set forth specific to Pelham as set forth by the CNC. These qualifications as well as the BOE candidate application form for the CNC nomination can be found on the website at PelhamCNC.com. Applications have been extended to Friday, March 17th. Any questions can be directed to the CNC at the before mentioned website. The Mayor responded Thank You and thank you for all the hard work. Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Non-Recurring Items Item # 8 – Resolution Calling for a Public Hearing on the Site Plan Approval of the Applicant: 48 Pelham Property LLC Whereas, on May 2, 2022, the applicant: 48 Pelham Property LLC submitted a Site Plan Application to the Building Inspector; and Whereas, on May 10, 2022, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham discussed the 48 First Street Site Plan Application and referred the applicant to the Planning Board and Architecture Review Board; and Whereas, on June 21, 2022, the applicant was before the Village of Pelham Planning Board; and Whereas, on June 15, 2022, August 17, 2022 and November 16, 2022, the applicant was before the Village of Pelham Architectural Review Board. Now therefore be it resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham hereby calls for a Public Hearing on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. to consider the Site Plan Application of Applicant: 48 Pelham Property LLC for 48 First Street. Be it further resolved, that the Village Clerk is hereby directed to publish notice of said public hearing pursuant to Village Law. Vote Record - Item # 8 – Resolution Calling for a Public Hearing on the Site Plan Approval of the Applicant: 48 Pelham Property LLC – 8:18 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☒Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Deputy Mayor Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Village Trustee Hill-Ries 2nd ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Village Trustee Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Village Trustee McGreal ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐Discussed Village Trustee Otondi ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee Solomon Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Item # 9 – Resolution Authorizing Special Event Request from Pelham Market Whereas, on February 9, 2023, Pelham Market submitted a special event and street closure request for the section of Harmon Avenue known as Michael Schwerner Way on certain hours on Sundays between May 14 and November 19, 2023; and Whereas, Pelham Market shall reimburse the Village for all costs incurred by the Village as a result of the event, including but not limited to Police Department and Department of Public Works overtime, and provide a certificate of liability insurance naming the Village as an additional insured in a form and amount satisfactory to the Village. Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham herein authorizes the appropriate Village officials and staff to take the necessary and appropriate actions to allow this event to take place. Vote Record - Item # 9 – Resolution Authorizing Special Event Request from Pelham Market – 8:19PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☒Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Deputy Mayor Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Village Trustee Hill-Ries Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Village Trustee Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Village Trustee McGreal ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐Discussed Village Trustee Otondi ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee Solomon 2nd ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Item # 10 – Resolution Authorizing the Renewal of an Inter-Municipal Agreement between the County of Westchester and the Village of Pelham for Enhanced 911 Service Whereas, the Village of Pelham (“Village”) has been using the Westchester County Enhanced – E- 911 telephone system since its inception in 1993; and Whereas, this E-911 system enables emergency dispatchers to quickly identify the origin of a call for assistance and which public safety agency to dispatch; and Whereas, the current Inter-Municipal Agreement for E-911 service between the County of Westchester (“County”) and the Village recently expired; and Whereas, the County recently submitted a successor agreement to the Village that would renew the agreement for an additional five (5) year period, commencing retroactively to October 1, 2022 and ending September 30, 2027; and Whereas, the cost of operation for the E-911 system including equipment, line charges and exchange services is absorbed through a monthly service surcharge on all telephone customers in Westchester County; and Whereas, the Public Safety Departments for the Village have found the E-911 service to be a valuable asset in protection of life and property for Pelham residents and businesses and recommend the continuation of the current agreement. Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham herein authorizes the Village Administrator to execute the attached Inter-Municipal Agreement between the County of Westchester and the Village of Pelham to provide for E-911 service for a period of five (5) years commencing retroactively to October 1, 2022 and ending September 30, 2027. Vote Record - Item # 10 – Resolution Authorizing the Renewal of an Inter-Municipal Agreement between the County of Westchester and the Village of Pelham for Enhanced 911 Service – 8:20 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☒Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Deputy Mayor Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Village Trustee Hill-Ries ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Village Trustee Eldahry 2nd ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Village Trustee McGreal ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐Discussed Village Trustee Otondi ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee Solomon Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Item # 11 – Other Business The Village of Pelham is planning, working along with the Chamber of Commerce, on applying for a grant from the County, for potentially up to $250,000 in implementation money. Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of Downtown Improvement Grant Pilot Program from Westchester County, New York and Confirming the Municipality’s Commitment to Cooperate with the Program Whereas, the County of Westchester, NY through the office of the County Executive operates economic development programs that provide funding and technical support for economic development programs to benefit small business throughout the County; and Whereas, the County of Westchester, NY is currently offering a program known as the “Downtown Improvement Grant” pilot program, to provide up to one year of economic revitalization assistance to four municipalities with commercial corridors within the County at no cost to those municipalities; and Whereas, that pilot program shall provide a comprehensive market analysis of the municipality based upon syndicated data on current market conditions; in-depth interviews of stakeholders, merchants and commercial property owners; custom consumer surveys to identify economic growth opportunities; a strategic plan with detailed action steps to help grow consumer foot-traffic, retain existing businesses, recruit targeted-new businesses, and market the municipality; and finally provide implementation assistance with one-on-one in-person and phone/email support and training to enable ongoing maintenance of the program. Whereas, such a program would be beneficial and important to the economic health of our municipality as it will provide our municipality with the data and techniques to allow us to better proactively manage our local economy, enhance the quality of our business mix, minimize business vacancies, and obtain a more vibrant commercial district that will inure to the benefit of our residents, our visitors, and to the greater good of Westchester County. Wherefore, we hereby declare our interest to apply and compete to become one of the four municipalities to be selected for this program, and confirm our commitment, if selected, to actively participate in and cooperate with the Downtown Improvement Grant pilot program. Vote Record - Item # 11 – Authorizing Acceptance of Downtown Improvement Grant Pilot Program from Westchester County, New York and Confirming the Municipality’s Commitment to Cooperate with the Program – 8:23PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☒Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Deputy Mayor Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Village Trustee Hill-Ries 2nd ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Village Trustee Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Village Trustee McGreal ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐Discussed Village Trustee Otondi ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee Solomon Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Recurring Items Item # 12 - Authorizing Budget Amendments and Transfers for Fiscal Year 2022-23 Whereas, pursuant to the provisions of § 5-520 of the New York State Village Law, the Village 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 Village Administrator/ Treasurer to modify the 2022-23 Budget by making the following budget amendments and transfers (items attached hereto and made part hereof). Vote Record - Item # 12 – Authorizing Budget Amendments and Transfers for Fiscal Year 2022-23 Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☐Approved Mayor Mullen ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Deputy Mayor Carpenter ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Village Trustee Hill-Ries ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒Tabled Village Trustee Eldahry ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Village Trustee McGreal ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Village Trustee Otondi ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee Solomon ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Item # 13 - Authorizing Accounts Payable Trustee Otondi is auditing 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 Deputy Village Treasurer: Fund Name: Amount General Fund (A) $294,740.72 Capital Projects Fund (H) $ 14,697.06 Trust & Agency (T) $ 30,065.00 Grand Total $ 339,502.78 Be it further resolved, that the Village Board of Trustees hereby approves payment of the above- mentioned claims and authorizes payment thereof. Vote Record - Item # 13 - Resolution Authorizing the Accounts Payable – 8:26 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☒Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Deputy Mayor Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Village Trustee Hill-Ries 2nd ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Village Trustee Eldahry Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Village Trustee McGreal ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐Discussed Village Trustee Otondi ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee Solomon ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Item # 14 - Authorizing Minutes of: February 28, 2023 Work Session, and Regular Meeting Vote Record - Item # 14 – February 28, 2023, Work Session, and Regular Meeting – 8:27 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 14, 2023 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☒Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Deputy Mayor Carpenter 2nd ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Village Trustee Hill-Ries Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Village Trustee Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Village Trustee McGreal ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐Discussed Village Trustee Otondi ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee Solomon ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ Item # 15 - Adjournment A motion was made by Deputy Mayor Carpenter and seconded by Village Trustee Solomon and voted unanimously by all to adjourn the meeting at 8:28 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Sarah LoPuzzo Village Clerk