Mayor & Village Board of Trustees

VILLAGE OF PELHAM BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025, 8:12 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 Award of Insurance Coverage through FOA and Son Insurance Corp. for Property and Casualty Insurance Coverage (Property including Crime, General and Law Enforcement Liability, Public Officials and Employment Practices Liability, Automobile Liability and Physical Damage) for the Period of June 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026 9. Resolution Authorizing an Inter-Municipal Agreement between the County of Westchester and the Village of Pelham for the Employee Assistance Program 10. Resolution Authorizing an Inter-Municipal Agreement between the County of Westchester and the Village of Pelham for Access to the Westchester County Repository for Integrated Criminalistic Information (RICI) 11. Other Business Recurring Items 12. Authorizing Accounts Payable 13. Authorizing Minutes of: April 8, 2025 Regular Meeting, April 22, 2025 Regular Meeting and April 29, 2025 Special Meeting 14. Adjournment Next Regularly Scheduled BOT Meetings: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 Tuesday, June 10, 2025 Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Item # 1 - Meeting Called to Order: Mayor Mullen called the meeting to order at 8:12 PM. Item # 2 - Pledge of Allegiance: Mayor Mullen led the pledge at 8:12 PM. Item # 3 - Roll Call: Attendee Name Present Absent Late Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ Deputy Mayor Carpenter ☒ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee Eldahry (Virtual) ☒ ☐ ☐ 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 Arts Council is considering changing the date of the Juneteenth celebration, which is currently set to take place on June 14 th, there will be more information to come. As we are approaching landscaping season, please make sure to call 811 before performing any digging work to mitigate any potential hazards or injuries. Village Trustee Mohan – In regards to the Natural Resources Inventory work, Biohabitats has had one field visit to the Village and are expected to submit a draft report to us by mid-June. They will be returning to the Village and Trustee Mohan is actively trying to schedule a meeting with them as well as other conservation and sustainability groups. The Fire Department had 59 total calls in February and 71 in March. As the warm weather progresses, they will be working on fire hydrants and contacting Veolia if there are any issues. If you notice any brown water, please contact Village Hall. Village Trustee Otondi – The DPW has picked up all loose leaves and swept the entire Village. Organics Pick Up has begun and it will take place every Wednesday from now until October 8 th. The DPW is also currently prepping for the Village’s annual Memorial Day Parade, and there will be more projects to come. Village Trustee Solomon – Thank you to our County Executive, Ken Jenkins, in his announcements in the budget. The County is doing a 50/50 fund for complete street projects. Now, the discussions regarding Pedestrian Safety Initiatives and possible help from the County can begin. Thank you to Westchester County Legislator Terry Clements for all of her help in this process! Village Trustee Solomon will be joining NYCOM as he was assigned to the Employee Relations and Safety Committee. Congratulations to Village Trustee Mohan who was assigned to the Energy Environment and Technology Committee. Deputy Mayor Carpenter – nothing to report. Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Item # 5 - Village Administrator’s Report: The Lincoln Avenue Paving Project will take place on Wednesday, May 21st and Thursday, May 22nd, 7:00 PM to 5:00 AM. They will begin with the Northbound and Southbound side, with milling and paving. Pelham Police Officers will be assigned to assist with traffic control. Item # 6 - Mayor’s Report Our Memorial Day Parade is taking place on Monday, May 26 th at 11:00 AM. It begins in Pelham Manor and comes up Fifth Avenue, by the park, and then Town Hall. Thank you to the Rotary Club who held their last meeting at Village Hall, as well Fire Chief Benkwitt and Police Chief Green for the tours of the Fire and Police stations. A thank you to Ryan Feldman and the Boy Scouts who painted near all of our catch basins along Highbrook Avenue last weekend. The painted signs were to advise against dumping litter in catch basins, as it eventually travels into the pipes and can end up in the Hutchinson River. There have been many efforts to try to clean the river in recent years, so we ask that everyone refrain from throwing trash into the catch basins. Item # 7 - Public Comments No public comment noted. Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Non-Recurring Items Item # 8 – Resolution Authorizing the Award of Insurance Coverage through FOA and Son Insurance Corp. for Property and Casualty Insurance Coverage (Property including Crime, General and Law Enforcement Liability, Public Officials and Employment Practices Liability, Automobile Liability and Physical Damage, Excess Liability and Workers Compensation) for the Period of June 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026 Whereas, the Village of Pelham is renewing Property and Casualty Insurance to provide coverage for the Village of Pelham. Property and Casualty Insurance covers: Property Including Crime; General and Law Enforcement Liability; Public Officials and Employment Practices Liability; Automobile Liability and Physical Damage; and Whereas, the Village’s Insurance Broker reached out to several other insurers to quote the Village’s renewal, however they were all either unable to issue a competitive quote, or declined to quote; and Whereas, the Village Administrator recommends renewing the Property and Casualty Insurance package to Travelers Insurance Company. Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Village authorizes retention of Insurance through FOA and Son Insurance Corp., with Property and Casualty through Travelers Insurance Company at a total cost of Five Hundred Four Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety-Six dollars ($504,796.00), not including applicable taxes, as detailed in the proposal received May 2, 2025; and Be it further resolved, that the Village Administrator is authorized to take the necessary and appropriate actions to retain coverage for the Property and Casualty Insurance to be effective June 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026. Vote Record - Item # 8 – Resolution Authorizing the Award of Insurance Coverage through FOA and Son Insurance Corp. for Property and Casualty Insurance Coverage (Property including Crime, General and Law Enforcement Liability, Public Officials and Employment Practices Liability, Automobile Liability and Physical Damage, Excess Liability and Workers Compensation) for the Period of June 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026 – 8:26 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, May 13, 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, May 13, 2025 Item # 9 – Resolution Authorizing an Inter-Municipal Agreement between the County of Westchester and the Village of Pelham for the Employee Assistance Program Whereas, Westchester County (“County”) administers an Employee Assistance Program (“EAP”) and permits municipalities to participate in said program; and Whereas, the County EAP provides the Village of Pelham with administrative, managerial and referral services for the benefit of all Village employees; and Whereas, the County EAP professional counselors assist employees with psychological and emotional issues, alcohol and substance abuse, legal, credit, housing and other concerns of daily life; and Whereas, the Village has participated in the County EAP for approximately seventeen (17) consecutive years through a series of Inter-Municipal Agreements (“IMA”); and Whereas, the current IMA expired on December 31, 2024, and the County is proposing a successor IMA with a term of five (5) years; and Whereas, the proposed IMA maintains the same cost as the expiring IMA for the term of the agreement, which is $45 per employee per year. 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 for the provision of an Employee Assistance Program for a period of five (5) years commencing retroactively to January 1, 2025 and ending December 31, 2029. Vote Record - Item # 9 – Resolution Authorizing an Inter-Municipal Agreement between the County of Westchester and the Village of Pelham for the Employee Assistance Program – 8:28 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, May 13, 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, May 13, 2025 Item # 10 - Resolution Authorizing an Inter-Municipal Agreement between the County of Westchester and the Village of Pelham for Access to the Westchester County Repository for Integrated Criminalistic Information (RICI) Whereas, the County of Westchester (“County”) has implemented a system called the Westchester County Repository for Criminalistic Information (“RICI System”) to allow for the electronic transmission and storage of criminal record and police blotter information; and Whereas, the type of information that is transmitted and stored on the system includes, but is not limited to, information related to a subject’s arrest, booking, detention or incarceration including name, address, social security number, physical description, telephone number, fingerprints, palm- prints, photographs and related data; and Whereas, the information is stored chronologically on a central computer maintained by the County and is shared by multiple law enforcement agencies having access to the system; and Whereas, the Village of Pelham Police Department currently has access to the system through an Inter-Municipal Agreement with the County that has been effective since August 1, 2020 and expires on July 31, 2025; and Whereas, the Village of Pelham Police Department desires to have continued access to the RICI System and in order to do so must renew the Inter-Municipal Agreement with the County; and Whereas, the attached renewal agreement is valid for a five-year period from August 1, 2025 through July 31, 2029, with all other terms and conditions unchanged. 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 for access to the County’s Repository for Information and Criminalistic Information for period of five (5) years on August 1, 2025 and ending July 31, 2029. Vote Record - Item # 10 – Resolution Authorizing an Inter-Municipal Agreement between the County of Westchester and the Village of Pelham for Access to the Westchester County Repository for Integrated Criminalistic Information (RICI) – 8:30 PM Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, May 13, 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, May 13, 2025 Item # 11 – Other Business No other business noted. Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Recurring Items Item # 12 - Authorizing Accounts Payable Mayor Mullen 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) $ 176,026.68 Capital Projects Fund (H) $ 210,412.20 Trust & Agency (T) $ 0.00 Private Purpose Trust Fund (TE) $ 0.00 Grand Total $ 377,438.88 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 – 8:29 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, May 13, 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, May 13, 2025 Item # 13 - Authorizing Minutes of: March 25, 2025 Regular Meeting Vote Record - Item # 13 – Resolution Authorizing the Minutes of April 8, 2025 Regular Meeting – 8:31 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, May 13, 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 ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Vote Record - Item # 13 – Resolution Authorizing the Minutes of April 22, 2025 Regular Meeting – 8:31 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, May 13, 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 ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Vote Record - Item # 13 – Resolution Authorizing the Minutes of April 29, 2025 Special Meeting – 8:32 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, May 13, 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 ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Item # 14 - Adjournment A motion was made by Village Trustee Solomon, seconded by Village Trustee Mohan, voted unanimously at 8:33 PM to adjourn for the evening. Respectfully submitted, Adriana Rugova, Village Clerk