Mayor & Village Board of Trustees

VILLAGE OF PELHAM BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING MINUTES TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2025, 8:02 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. Presentation on the Draft Natural Resources Inventory Report 9. Resolution Authorizing Change Order #1 for Contract # 2025-01 for Highbrook Avenue Watershed Borings 10. Resolution Authorizing the Termination of an Employee Pursuant to New York State Civil Service Law Section 71 11. Resolution Authorizing the Appointment of a School Crossing Guard (Part-Time) 12. Other Business - Resolution to Reschedule the November 11, 2025 Board of Trustees Meeting; Stormwater Engineering Projects – Verbal Update Recurring Items 13. Authorizing Accounts Payable 14. Authorizing Minutes of: September 25, 2025 Work Session and Regular Meeting 15. Adjournment Next Regularly Scheduled BOT Meetings: Tuesday, October 28, 2025 Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 14, 2025 Item # 1 - Meeting Called to Order: Mayor Mullen called the meeting to order at 8:02 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 ☒ ☐ ☐ 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 – Amazing job by the Fire Department on their Chili Cookoff! Village Trustee Mohan – Congratulations to the Fire Department personnel who received awards on Friday night, recognizing their service dating back to 2021. In the month of September, the Fire Department responded to 83 calls including 41 EMS calls, 18 alarms, 7 investigations, 4 motor vehicle accidents, 5 hazards, and 3 responses on the Hutchinson River Parkway. Mutual aid was provided to Pelham Manor and Mount Vernon. October is Fire Prevention Month, and the Fire Department will visit schools to educate students on fire safety, with this year’s theme focusing on the dangers of lithium-ion batteries in the home. Finally, the NRI (Natural Resources Inventory) has been finalized and will be presented this evening, with the final draft already shared and set to be published on the website. Village Trustee Otondi – A reminder that Fall Leaf Collection began on October 15 and will continue until December 15. During this time, all other organics must be bagged and leaves must be placed in the area between the sidewalk and curb, NOT in the street. Village Trustee Solomon – Residents are encouraged to bring any concerns or questions directly to Village Hall rather than relying solely on social media platforms like Facebook. While social media is useful for community discussion, issues are better addressed through official channels such as public comment sessions, emails, or phone calls. Deputy Mayor Carpenter – nothing to report. Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 14, 2025 Item # 5 - Village Administrator’s Report: Please see other business. Item # 6 - Mayor’s Report Mayor Mullen shared several community highlights and updates. The Fire Department’s chili cook-off was a heartwarming event that brought the community together. Thank you to both the firefighters and PBA members for organizing and participating. It was a joyful atmosphere (especially the dunk tank), which exemplified the community spirit of Pelham. Mayor Mullen expressed gratitude to Chief Benkwitt for organizing the Fire Department Awards Ceremony held over the weekend. One of the most notable recognitions highlighted the heroic actions of firefighter Camardella during a fire that occurred at 17 Fifth Avenue a couple of years ago. Camardella, operating alone, drove the ladder truck to the scene, set up the ladder by himself, climbed it, and successfully rescued a person who was trapped in an upper-floor window. He carried the individual down the ladder to safety, ultimately saving their life. Mayor Mullen emphasized the extraordinary nature of this act, noting that while it might seem unimaginable for most people, it reflects the high level of training and bravery firefighters bring to their work every day. Second, the announcement of winners for the Downtown Improvement Grants, a partnership with the Pelham Chamber of Commerce and Westchester County, was discussed. The $250,000 grant funded both public improvements such as new lighting, smart meters, restored holiday decorations, and upgrades at Wolfs Lane and Sparks Avenue, as well as a $100,000 small business grant program to support storefront upgrades. The speaker acknowledged the strong response from local businesses and praised Administrator Scelza, assistant to the Administrator Julia Davis, the Building Department, ARB Chair, and Chamber of Commerce President Jim Lofgren for their work that made the program a success. Lastly, Mayor Mullen attended a housing conference hosted by Pattern for Progress, where Pelham’s approach to public-private redevelopment partnerships was held up as a model for other municipalities. Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 14, 2025 Item # 7 - Public Comments Rookaya Bawa, 305 Sixth Ave - Rookaya Bawa addressed three key concerns during her remarks. First, she spoke on behalf of those who have been displaced due to the loss of two lots, noting that many are now situated far from reasonable locations. She acknowledged that there have been promises of future accommodation within new development plans, but requested an update on the progress of the project and a timeline for when a resolution might be expected. Second, she emphasized the importance of civic participation and expressed frustration with the difficulty of finding meeting dates on the village website, pointing out that while minutes are easily accessible, the meeting schedule is not. She urged greater transparency and accessibility to encourage public engagement. Lastly, she raised concerns about the lack of responsiveness when calling the Village's main phone number, describing a frustrating automated system that often leads callers in circles without reaching a human representative. She stressed that if the Village values meaningful feedback and wants to avoid issues being aired on social media, it must ensure its communication channels are responsive and accessible. Mayor Mullen responded to community concerns by clarifying several key points. First, he noted that Village Board meeting dates are clearly posted on the Pelhamny.gov website and typically occur on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, though changes can occasionally be made with advance notice. Addressing parking issues, he reminded attendees that following earlier feedback, the Village conducted a comprehensive review, adjusted pricing to reduce waitlists, limited new permits, and implemented new software to streamline the process. A working group, led by Deputy Mayor Carpenter, is now evaluating the software's rollout to ensure smooth operation. Regarding construction, Mayor Mullen shared that significant delays have pushed the timeline on the northern site to approximately 18 months. The completed project will include 220 parking spaces, about 160 for building tenants and 60 for public allocation, including overnight and merchant parking. He emphasized that parking conditions have already begun improving and will continue to do so incrementally as construction zones clear, eventually restoring many parking spaces throughout the downtown area. David Serraro, 446 Second Ave - David Serraro voiced strong concerns about parking, enforcement, senior housing and ongoing traffic issues near Lincoln Avenue and the Hutchinson River Parkway, particularly near the high school and Sparks Avenue. He explained that drivers frequently block the intersection when exiting the Hutch, causing major congestion. His suggestion is to reconfigure the traffic lanes so that drivers turning right at the high school intersection are required to stay in the right lane, while those going straight remain in the left lane, since most drivers are heading to Target, not continuing straight. He believes this simple change would significantly improve traffic flow. Additionally, he criticized the design of the new Sparks Avenue layout, arguing it wasn’t made wide enough to accommodate right turns after exiting the parkway, which he sees as a major planning oversight. Mayor Mullen responded in agreement to concerns about traffic flow near the new bridge, stating that the Village had previously advocated for changes during the bridge redesign. Specifically, they proposed making a section of the road one-way northbound to improve traffic movement—allowing vehicles exiting the ramp to turn right, but preventing right turns from Lincoln onto First Avenue. Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 14, 2025 However, that proposal was rejected during the planning process by New York State's Department of Transportation. Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 14, 2025 Non-Recurring Items Item # 8 – Presentation on the Draft National Resources Inventory Report The Board received a presentation from Kevin Dahms and Sara Powell on the recently completed Natural Resources Inventory (NRI), which provides a comprehensive overview of the region’s environmental features and resources. The report identified and mapped key natural assets including waterways, wetlands, soils, forests, habitat areas, and open space corridors, offering a detailed baseline for future land use, conservation, and development planning. Kevin and Sara outlined major findings and recommendations, emphasizing the importance of protecting critical environmental areas, encouraging low-impact development, and integrating green infrastructure into planning and capital projects. Village Trustees discussed the potential use of the NRI in guiding zoning updates, comprehensive planning, and grant applications, and in improving coordination with regional partners. Overall, the Board expressed appreciation for the clarity and depth of the report and agreed that the NRI will serve as a valuable tool for data-informed decision-making. Next steps include publishing the inventory for public access and incorporating its findings into ongoing planning and sustainability initiatives. Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 14, 2025 Item # 9 – Resolution Authorizing Change Order #1 for Contract # 2025-01 for Highbrook Avenue Watershed Borings Whereas, the Village Board of Trustees at their meeting on April 8, 2025, adopted a Resolution awarding Contract # 2025-01 “Highbrook Avenue Watershed Borings” to Soil Testing Inc., at a total cost of $107,500.00; and Whereas, the Village’s Geotech Engineers requested four additional borings at Young Avenue and Harmon Avenue be completed. Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham hereby authorizes the Village Administrator to execute the attached Change Order # 1 totaling $7,460.00 for four additional borings, which will bring the total cost of the project to $114,960.00; and Vote Record - Item # 9 – Resolution Authorizing Change Order #1 for Contract # 2025-01 for Highbrook Avenue Watershed Borings – 9:16 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 14, 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, October 14, 2025 Item # 10 – Resolution Authorizing the Termination of an Employee Pursuant to New York State Civil Service Law Section 71 Whereas, Ann Marie Carretta, who is employed by the Village of Pelham as a School Crossing Guard, has been absent from work in excess of one (1) year due to an injury as defined in the New York State Workers’ Compensation Law; and Whereas, by letter dated August 28, 2025, in accordance with Section 71 of the New York State Civil Service Law, and in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Village and the Civil Service Employees Association, the Village Administrator advised Ms. Carretta that a Resolution would be presented for final determination regarding her termination pursuant to Section 71 of the New York State Civil Service Law, after one (1) year of absence. Now, therefore, be it resolved, in accordance with and subject to Section 71 of the New York State Civil Service Law, and in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Village and the Civil Service Employees Association, Ms. Carretta’s employment with the Village shall be and hereby is terminated effective as of the date of the adoption of this Resolution; and Be it further resolved, that a copy of this Resolution shall be delivered to Ann Marie Carretta, at her last address on file with the Village of Pelham. Vote Record - Item # 10 – Resolution Authorizing the Termination of an Employee Pursuant to New York State Civil Service Law Section 71 – 9:17 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 14, 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, October 14, 2025 Item # 11 - Resolution Authorizing the Appointment of a School Crossing Guard (Part- Time) Whereas, of Brenda Di Capua, by letter dated October 3, 2025, and effective October 3, 2025, submitted her letter of resignation as School Crossing Guard for the Village of Pelham. Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham hereby confirms the appointment by the Mayor of Richard Peluso of Pelham, NY to the position of School Crossing Guard (Part-Time) Job Class Code 0141-02, effective Monday, October 6, 2025, with a one-year (1 Year) probationary period, at an annual salary of $11,424.00 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 # 10 – Resolution Authorizing the Termination of an Employee Pursuant to New York State Civil Service Law Section 71 – 9:18 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 14, 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, October 14, 2025 Item # 12 - Other Business Resolution to Reschedule the November 11, 2025 Board of Trustees Meeting WHEREAS, the Village of Pelham Board of Trustees had previously scheduled a regular meeting for Tuesday, November 11, 2025; and WHEREAS, it has been determined that rescheduling the meeting is necessary and in the best interest of the Board and the public; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the regular meeting of the Village of Pelham Board of Trustees originally scheduled for Tuesday, November 11, 2025, is hereby rescheduled to Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 8:00 PM to be held at Village Hall; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that notice of this change shall be provided to the public in accordance with applicable law and Village procedures. Vote Record – Resolution to Reschedule the November 11, 2025 Board of Trustees Meeting – 9:19 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, September 9, 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, October 14, 2025 Stormwater Engineering Projects – Verbal Update The engineers are currently integrating detailed underground utility maps and survey data with the preliminary layout plans to identify any utility conflicts — specifically water, gas, and sewer. Geotechnical borings are complete, and while some isolated rock was encountered, no major concerns were found. We’ve kicked off coordination with H2M and our architectural team for the pump station design, and we're finalizing alternate hydraulic and hydrologic models. These include testing HDPE pipe alternatives for efficiency and simulating storm scenarios with an integrated pump station design. Field checks are underway at the Colonial/Sanford Blvd outfall to verify clearance conditions. Next Steps: This Fall, the engineers will refine pipe alignments and profiles, forward draft plans to Con Edison and Veolia for feedback on potential utility relocations, and coordinate those efforts. Once utility interferences and the pump station layout are confirmed, we’ll submit to the Westchester County Stormwater Committee and move toward 60% design plans. We’ll also initiate downstream hydraulic analysis of the Hutchinson River and begin permit submissions. Looking ahead to winter, we plan to finalize models and advance to 90% design, begin utility relocation coordination, and prepare bid documents for a spring 2026 release. We’ll continue to keep the Board updated as key milestones are met. Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 14, 2025 Recurring Items Item # 13 - Authorizing Accounts Payable Village Trustee Mohan 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) $ 465,485.10 Capital Projects Fund (H) $ 701,692.92 Trust & Agency (T) $ 3,982.38 Private Purpose Trust Fund (TE) $ 0.00 Grand Total $ 1,171,160.40 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 Accounts Payable – 9:27 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 14, 2025 Yes/Aye No/Nay Abstain Absent ☒Approved Mayor Mullen ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Approved as Deputy Mayor Carpenter Motion ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Amended Village Trustee Eldahry ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Tabled Village Trustee Howell ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Withdrawn Village Trustee Mohan ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐Discussed Village Trustee Otondi ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Trustee Solomon 2nd ☒ ☐ ☐ ☐ Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 14, 2025 Item # 15 - Authorizing Minutes of: September 9, 2025 Work Session and Regular Meeting Vote Record - Item # 15 – Resolution Authorizing the Minutes of: September 9, 2025 Work Session and Regular Meeting – 9:29 PM Village of Pelham Board of Trustees Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 14, 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 # 16 – Adjournment A motion was made by Village Trustee Solomon, seconded by Village Trustee Eldahry, voted unanimously at 9:30 PM to adjourn into executive session to discuss pending litigation. Respectfully submitted, Adriana Rugova, Village Clerk