Mayor & Village Board of Trustees

VILLAGE OF PELHAM BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2025, 8:07 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. Site Plan Approval at 57 Young Avenue - Carport 9. Resolution Authorizing the Engagement of Duane Morris, LLP. 10. Resolution Calling for a Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Tentative Budget 11. Other Business – Outdoor Furniture for Second Floor Deck Recurring Items 12. Authorizing Accounts Payable 13. Authorizing Minutes of: February 25, 2025 Work Session and Regular Meeting 14. Adjournment Next Regularly Scheduled BOT Meetings: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 Tuesday, April 8, 2025 Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Item # 1 - Meeting Called to Order: Mayor Mullen called the meeting to order at 8:07 PM. Item # 2 - Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Mullen led the pledge at 8:07 PM. Item # 3 - Roll Call: Attendee Name Present Absent Late Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ Deputy Mayor Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ 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 – The Downtown Improvement Grant has been communicated and we are looking forward to submissions. The Pelham Arts Council are planning their Juneteenth celebration and are waiting on hearing from some of the Pelham High School students to have them be part of the Black Empowerment Club participating on planning that day. Village Trustee Mohan – The Natural Resources Inventory is moving into the next phase which is discussing. The data collections should be wrapping up and the Village should be getting a report soon. Village Trustee Otondi – Winter is now done, which means the DPW will be putting up spring banners and flags next week. Starting March 15th through the end of April, it is Spring Leaf Season and then organic pick up begins the first Wednesday in May. Village Trustee Solomon – nothing to report. Deputy Mayor Carpenter – An apology to the zoom bomb that just happened, and that the Board is actively discussing ways that they can prevent that from happening. Item # 5 - Village Administrator’s Report: Starting next week, the fiscal year 25-26 budget work session will begin with the Department of Public Works from 6 – 8 PM. After that, there is another meeting on Wednesday and everything is expected to be wrapped up by Thursday, April 3rd. Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 11, 2025 The Village submitted 2 flood mitigation assistance grant applications for North Pelham watershed, and the Highbrook Avenue watershed that were due at the end of February. Stay tuned for updates on that. Item # 6 - Mayor’s Report Congratulations to the Police Department who have moved in to the new Municipal Center! Thank you to Chief Green, Lieutenant Sheehy, Administrator Scelza and Officer Burpee who has helped with so much of our IT and security. Thank you to the public for the feedback regarding the difficult parking situation. The Village is looking into meters where you can push a button and it gives you 15 minutes, so more to follow on that. Con Edison has recently filed a petition with the Public Service Commission that would allow them to increase their delivery fees starting in January 2026, and if approved, their residential delivery fees would increase by about 25%, and for electricity and natural gas, it would be about 19%. The Village is joining a coalition of Westchester municipalities to formally oppose the requested increase. Item # 7 - Public Comments No public comment noted. Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Non-Recurring Items Item # 8 – Site Plan Approval at 57 Young Avenue – Carport Whereas, in accordance with Chapter 79 of the Code of the Village of Pelham, the Board of Trustees has found and determines it to be desirable to encourage property owners to improve property with accessory uses that take into consideration the public health, safety and general welfare and the comfort and convenience of the public and the immediate neighborhood and prescribe appropriate conditions and safeguards to preserve, complement and be compatible with the character, massing, and scale of adjacent land uses; and Whereas, the proposed action is a request to construct a 544 square foot trellis-covered carport with access from Young Avenue via an existing driveway, and construct a gate at the entrance to the property; and Whereas, the property is located within the Residence A-2 Zoning District; and Whereas, pursuant to § 79-4, the erection of any building greater than 275 square feet in any district requires approval of a Site Plan by the Village Board of Trustees; and Whereas, Fatos Dervishi represented to the Village Board of Trustees that it is the lawful owner of the property at 57 Young Avenue; and Whereas, the Applicant submitted the following documents: • Site Plan Application and Declaration of Intent to Develop, prepared by Mastrogiacomo Engineering PC, dated 2-24-2025; • A-100 - Foundation and Ground Floor Plan, Roof Framing Plan, Exterior Elevations, Plot Plan, Section & Notes for Proposed Carport & Driveway Gate, prepared by Mastrogiacomo Engineering, PC, dated 05-08-2024; • A-101 - Plot Plan, Partial Driveway Entrance Plan, Proposed Gate Elevation, and Proposed Pier Detail, prepared by Mastrogiacomo Engineering PC, dated 05-08-2024. Whereas, the Applicant has submitted the requisite documents and fees; and Whereas, the Village Board of Trustees has reviewed and considered the application dated February 4, 2025, and Whereas, pursuant to § 79-2, the Village Board of Trustees has the authority to approve said accessory use so long as it determines that the proposed carport will have a harmonious relationship with the existing or permitted use of contiguous land and the adjacent neighborhood; and Whereas, pursuant to Article IV 98-10 B. (1) the proposed carport is an accessory use and shall not be for more than two cars; and Whereas, the proposed application was referred to the Planning Board for review; and Whereas, at the February 24, 2025, meeting of the Planning Board, the Planning Board reviewed the plans and recommended that the proposed addition be approved with the condition that permeable pavers be used for the surface of the driveway to control stormwater runoff; and Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Whereas, pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 617 the Village Board of Trustees determined that because the proposed action is less than 4,000 square feet it is a Type II action and not subject to further SEQRA review. Now, therefore, be it resolved, that after considering the documents submitted by the applicant, as recited above, and the recommendation from the Planning Board, the Village Board of Trustees finds and determines as follows: A. The proposed carport, driveway and gate satisfies the requirements for consideration under the Village Code; and B. Site Plan approval is granted pursuant to this Resolution subject to the following conditions: 1. Parking within the carport shall be limited to two cars; 2. Permeable pavers shall be used on the surface of the driveway to mitigate stormwater runoff. The specifications and the details of the permeable pavers shall be provided to the Building Inspector prior to the issuance of a Building Permit. 3. The proposed gate will not open into the public right-of-way. Be it further resolved, that in accordance with Village Code § 79-7, this Site Plan approval for an accessory structure shall be null and void if the applicant fails to obtain a Building Permit within 120 days of this Resolution unless the Village Board of Trustees extends, by Resolution, the time within which to do so; and Be it further resolved, that this approval of an accessory use shall be null and void if the Applicant does not commence construction within six (6) months of the date of the issuance of a Building Permit, unless the Village Board of Trustees extends, by Resolution, the time within which to do so. Vote Record - Item # 8 – Site Plan Approval at 57 Young Avenue – Carport – 8:26 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 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, March 11, 2025 Item # 9 – Resolution Authorizing the Engagement of Duane Morris, LLP. Be it resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham hereby authorizes the Mayor to execute the attached Agreement for Legal Services and Fee Proposal dated February 14, 2025, from Duane Morris, LLP. Vote Record - Item # 9 – Resolution Calling for a Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Tentative Budget – 8:27 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 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 ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Village Trustee Otondi 2nd ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee Solomon Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Item # 10 – Resolution Calling for a Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Tentative Budget Whereas, pursuant to New York State Village Law § 5-508 (3), a Public Hearing must be held on the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Tentative Budget on or before the fifteenth day of April, with notice of such Public Hearing published in the official newspaper. Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham herein schedules a public hearing for Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 8:00 PM or shortly thereafter to receive comments on the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Tentative Budget filed on March 20, 2025. This meeting will be held at the Municipal Center and virtually on Zoom and members of the public wishing to present comments may do so online during the public comment phase of the hearing by accessing the meeting at: 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 # 10 – Resolution Calling for a Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Tentative Budget – 8:28 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 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, March 11, 2025 Item # 11 – Other Business Outdoor Furniture for Second Floor Deck: Mayor Mullen confirms with Administrator Scelza that he has everything he needs to put in the final request for the outdoor furniture. Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 11, 2025 Recurring Items Item # 12 - Authorizing Accounts Payable Village 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/Treasurer and Deputy Village Treasurer: Fund Name: Amount General Fund (A) $ 76,581.93 Capital Projects Fund (H) $ 72,368.71 Trust & Agency (T) $ 0.00 Private Purpose Trust Fund (TE) $ 0.00 Grand Total $ 148,950.64 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 – 8:30 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 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, March 11, 2025 Item # 13 - Authorizing Minutes of: February 11, 2025 Work Session and Regular Meeting Vote Record - Item # 13 – Resolution Authorizing the Minutes of February 25, 2025 Work Session and Regular Meeting – 8:30 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 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 ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Village Trustee Otondi 2nd ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee Solomon Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Item # 14 - Adjournment A motion was made by Village Trustee Solomon, seconded by Village Trustee Eldahry, voted unanimously at 8:31 PM to adjourn into executive session to discuss the status of collective bargaining with the Fire Department. Respectfully submitted, Adriana Rugova, Village Clerk