Mayor & Village Board of Trustees

VILLAGE OF PELHAM BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2025, 8:03 PM MUNICIPAL CENTER - 200 FIFTH 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 Authorizing the Appointment of a School Crossing Guard (Part-Time) 9. Resolution Calling for a Public Hearing on Local Law No. 1 of 2025 to Amend the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map of the Village of Pelham Entitled “Zoning Map” the Business – 1 Commercial Zoning District 10. Resolution Authorizing Street Closure for Pelham Little League Parade 11. Other Business Recurring Items 12. Authorizing Accounts Payable 13. Authorizing Minutes of: January 14, 2025 Work Session, Regular Meeting, January 28, 2025 Work Session and Regular Meeting 14. Adjournment Next Regularly Scheduled BOT Meetings: Tuesday, February 25, 2025 Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 11, 2025 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 Eldahry (8:09 arrival) ☐ ☐ ☒ Village Trustee Howell ☒ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee Mohan ☒ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee Otondi ☐ ☒ ☐ Village Trustee Solomon ☒ ☐ ☐ Village Administrator Scelza ☒ ☐ ☐ Item # 4 - Village Trustees’ Report: Village Trustee Eldahry – nothing to report. Village Trustee Howell – An update on the Downtown Improvement Grant which Mayor Mullen will follow up on. The next Arts Council meeting will be on Thursday, so there will be more to come on that. Finally, Village Trustee Howell and Village Trustee Mohan have been working with the Sixth Avenue residents and will have further updates and a presentation to come. Thank you to our DPW for their great work during the storm! Village Trustee Mohan – the NRI was approved by the EPA, and the data collection will be starting now through mid-March and we will receive the final report in July. The Fire Department received 76 calls in the month of January. Firefighter MacDonald has completed his 2-week orientation and will continue training in his group. A final reminder from Chief Benkwitt to check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide batteries, as well as keep fire hydrants clear of snow. Village Trustee Otondi – absent. Village Trustee Solomon – thank you to the Board of Trustees and Administrator Scelza for allowing Village Trustee Solomon to attend NYCOM. One of the important panels that he attended and felt was important for the Village was transforming the Downtown with revitalization projects presented by Amanda Smith. The second was the State revolving funding opportunities for water infrastructure, which includes up to 90% of funding for a maximum of 10 million dollars and is specific towards flood mitigation. Finally, Village Trustee Solomon had spoken to some NYCOM members regarding pedestrian safety. Deputy Mayor Carpenter – nothing to report. Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Item # 5 - Village Administrator’s Report: In observance of President’s Day, Village Hall will be closed on Monday, February 17 th. There will also be no garbage or recycling collection. The Village had a successful financing for a bond anticipation note. We issued a short-term bond anticipation note to finance 5 capital improvement projects authorized by the Village Board back in December for a little over 6.2 million dollars. Item # 6 - Mayor’s Report Thank you to Deputy Mayor Carpenter, Village Trustee Mohan, and Village Trustee Solomon for joining Mayor Mullen at NYCOM. They were able to spend some time with Assembly Member Amy Pollen and discuss the Governor’s budget which was focused on affordability. It includes the largest middle class tax cut in New York State history, as well as funding for things that are most pressing on people’s minds. In terms of parking, Mayor Mullen and Village Trustees Mohan and Howell have been gathering information. One of the requests was waiving 2-hour restrictions on 6th Avenue. Both the Police and Fire Chief were spoken to and it was decided that the restriction will not be lifted as this may make the situation more difficult. Instead, there have been 7 spots added on 6 th Avenue, not directly in front of anyone’s homes, that are allocated for Lot 9 permit holders. We are also going to follow up with Sergio’s as well as The Rail House to make sure they are not interfering with the capacity we have established, and that residents are not waiting until midnight for a spot to open up for them. As far as capacity, the Village is currently working to open up a bit more. The challenge is not that we have less capacity than before, its that some residents don’t like where they have to park and we are working on making it as convenient as possible. Another challenge is the waitlist, many residents either don’t respond to the email, respond to decline at the last moment, or are requesting a second or third spot when many residents don’t even have one. A current policy that is being instituted is that no one will get a second permit until everyone gets one. Item # 7 - Public Comments Rookaya Bawa, 305 6th Ave: Dr. Bawa thanks the Mayor and Board for responding and states it is greatly appreciated. She states that a question is still if they have a permit, why can they not park close to their homes? She also questions why in certain areas can residents park in front of their homes but others cannot? Dr. Bawa states that they are appealing for compassion from the Village, especially for those families that have no permits at all. Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Non-Recurring Items Item # 8 – Resolution Authorizing the Appointment of a School Crossing Guard (Part- Time) Whereas, there is a vacancy in the Village of Pelham Police Department for a School Crossing Guard. Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham hereby confirms the appointment by the Mayor of Alyssa Rodriguez of Pelham, NY to the position of School Crossing Guard (Part-Time) Job Class Code 0141-02, effective Thursday, January 30, 2025, with a one-year (1 Year) probationary period, at an annual salary of $11,200.00 subject to the requirements of Westchester County Civil Service; and Be it further resolved, that the Village Administrator is authorized to take the necessary and appropriate actions to affect this appointment. Vote Record - Item # 8 – Resolution Authorizing the Appointment of a School Crossing Guard (Part-Time) – 8:34 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☒Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Deputy Mayor Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Village Trustee Eldahry 2nd ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Village Trustee Howell ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Village Trustee Mohan ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Village Trustee Otondi ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Village Trustee Solomon Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Item # 9 – Resolution Calling for a Public Hearing on Local Law No. 1 of 2025 to Amend the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map of the Village of Pelham Entitled “Zoning Map” the Business – 1 Commercial Zoning District Whereas, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham has proposed a local law to amend that would amend Chapter 98-8 (D) of the Code of the Village of Pelham to extend the Business -1 District to the southwest to include 25’ by 100’; and Whereas, pursuant to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), on January 28, 2025, the Village Board of Trustees prepared a Short Environmental Assessment Form (EAF), declared itself to be lead agency and identified the proposed action as an Unlisted Action; and Whereas, notice was duly provided to the County of Westchester as required by General Municipal Law § 239-m, 239-n and 239-nn and Westchester County Administrative Code § 277.61 and 277.71; and Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham hereby calls for a Public Hearing on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. or soon thereafter on a proposed local law to amend Chapter 98 of the Pelham Village Code. This meeting will be held at 200 Fifth Avenue, Pelham, New York; and Be it further resolved, that those members of the public who want to attend/participate in the public hearing remotely, access will be available via the Zoom platform: Please click this URL to join the public hearing remotely: https://zoom.us/j/98917409392?pwd=U09KN2MxTnJHWEU2Nm9ndWxQSEgwZz09 Join by Telephone: (929) 205-6099 Meeting ID: 989 1740 9392 Passcode: 030699 Be it further resolved, that the Village Clerk is hereby directed to publish notice of said public hearing. Vote Record - Item # 9 – Resolution Calling for a Public Hearing on Local Law No. 1 of 2025 to Amend the Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map of the Village of Pelham Entitled “Zoning Map” the Business – 1 Commercial Zoning District – 8:35 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☐Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒Approved as Deputy Mayor Carpenter 2nd ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Village Trustee Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Village Trustee Howell ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Village Trustee Mohan ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Village Trustee Otondi ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Village Trustee Solomon Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Item # 10 – Resolution Authorizing Street Closure for Pelham Little League Parade Whereas, the Pelham Little League has requested permission to host the Pelham Little League Parade on Saturday, April 5, 2025 (copy attached); and Whereas, the Pelham Little League 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 closing of Fifth Avenue between Lincoln Avenue and Colonial, and Third Street from Fourth Avenue to Seventh Avenue on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for the 2025 Pelham Little League Parade; and Be it further resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham authorize the appropriate Village officials and staff to take the necessary and appropriate actions to allow this event to take place. Vote Record - Item # 10 – Resolution Authorizing Street Closure for Pelham Little League Parade – 8:36 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☒Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Deputy Mayor Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Village Trustee Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Village Trustee Howell ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Village Trustee Mohan 2nd ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Village Trustee Otondi ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Village Trustee Solomon Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Item # 11 – Other Business No other business noted. Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Recurring Items Item # 12 - Authorizing Accounts Payable Village Trustee Howell 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/Treasurer and Deputy Village Treasurer: Fund Name: Amount General Fund (A) $ 95,163.96 Capital Projects Fund (H) $ 369,548.21 Trust & Agency (T) $ 0.00 Private Purpose Trust Fund (TE) $ 0.00 Grand Total $464,712.17 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 # 12 – Resolution Authorizing Accounts Payable – 8:37 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☐Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒Approved as Deputy Mayor Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Village Trustee Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Village Trustee Howell 2nd ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Village Trustee Mohan ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Village Trustee Otondi ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Village Trustee Solomon Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Item # 13 - Authorizing Minutes of: January 14, 2025 Work Session and Regular Meeting Vote Record - Item # 13 – Resolution Authorizing the Minutes of January 14, 2025 Work Session and Regular Meeting – 8:38 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☒Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Deputy Mayor Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Village Trustee Eldahry ☐ ☐ ☒ ☐ ☐Tabled Village Trustee Howell ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Village Trustee Mohan 2nd ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Village Trustee Otondi ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Village Trustee Solomon Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Vote Record - Item # 13 – Resolution Authorizing the Minutes of January 28, 2025 Work Session and Regular Meeting – 8:38 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 11, 2025 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☒Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Deputy Mayor Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Village Trustee Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Village Trustee Howell 2nd ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Village Trustee Mohan ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Village Trustee Otondi ☐ ☐ ☐ ☒ Village Trustee Solomon Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Item # 14 - Adjournment A motion was made by Village Trustee Eldahry, seconded by Village Trustee Solomon, voted unanimously at 8:38 PM to adjourn into executive session to discuss staffing in the Police Department. Respectfully submitted, Adriana Rugova, Village Clerk