Board of Trustees

Village Board of Trustees 06-24-2014 P a g e | 211 THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED EIGHTH REGULAR MEETING Rutherford Hall Village Hall June 24, 2014 A regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Scarsdale was held in Rutherford Hall in Village Hall on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at 8:00 P.M. Present were Mayor Steves, Trustees Brodsky, Lee, Mark, Pekarek, and Samwick. Also present were Village Manager Gatta, Village Attorney Esannason, Deputy Village Attorney D’Andrea, Village Treasurer McClure, Village Clerk Conkling, and Assistant to the Village Manager Goodwin and Schnabel. ******** The minutes of the Board of Trustees Regular Meeting of June 10, 2014 were approved on a motion entered by Trustee Brodsky, seconded by Trustee Lee, and carried unanimously. ******** Bills & Payroll Trustee Brodsky reported that she had audited the Abstract of Claims dated June 24, 2014 in the amount of $1,525,504.77 which includes $50,275.70 in Library Claims previously audited by a Trustee of the Library Board which were found to be in order and she moved that such payment be ratified. Upon motion duly made by Trustee Brodsky and seconded by Trustee Lee, the following resolution was adopted unanimously: RESOLVED, that the Abstract of Claims dated June 24, 2014 in the amount of $1,525,504.77 is hereby approved. ******** Mayors Comments Mayor Steves stated that he would like to wish the residents of the Village a very happy Fourth of July, urging them to celebrate this great Country. The Village will hold its traditional fireworks display on the evening of July 3rd at 9:00 P.M. at the Scarsdale Pool; all are invited. There is a small charge for non-pool members. Village Board of Trustees 06-24-2014 P a g e | 212 ******** Managers Comments None. ******** Public Comment Robert Harrison, 65 Fox Meadow Road, spoke regarding the Scarsdale Youth Tennis League, noting that it is their 30th anniversary year. The New York Junior Tennis and Learning Scarsdale Chapter has been working with the Recreation Department. The League will begin on Monday, July 14th and is for ages 6 to 18 years. He urged parents and youth to register; the registration fee is $40.00 per player and children of grade 6 or higher do have a 2014 Junior Tennis Permit from the Recreation Department. They will have special 30th anniversary t-shirts, participation trophies, and will conclude with a pizza and ice cream party at the Scarsdale Middle School. He thanked Anthony DiDomenico and Jason Marra of the Recreation Department again for their help with this program. Mr. Harrison further stated that he had sent an email to the Mayor and the Board of Trustees. Because it does not appear under Written Communications on the agenda, he stated that he would like to read it at this time. “I would like to commend you, Mayor Steves for being the fairest of all Scarsdale Mayors as you Chaired the Committee of the Whole meeting on the Reval methods used by Tyler Technologies last Thursday night (he noted that this goes back a couple of weeks ago) with about 45 residents representing about 35 homes attending. After taking written comments from the audience, you allowed any resident to come up to the microphone, not only to ask questions but to actually have a discussion at the mike with Tyler people until the resident’s concerns were answered. In fact you allowed a number of residents to come back to the microphone 3 and 4 times to ask follow up questions. The openness and respect you gave to each resident over 3 ½ hours was outstanding as the Village moves forward with the first total Reval of all properties since 1969 . No one could leave the meeting without having had their voice and concerns heard by you and the Village Board of Trustees. Thanks for your efforts on behalf of all the residents of Scarsdale.” Mr. Harrison questioned how many grievances have been filed with the Village by the June 17th deadline. Village Board of Trustees 06-24-2014 P a g e | 213 Village Manager Gatta responded that as of this morning at 9:00 a.m., there were approximately 650 grievances filed. He noted that in the past, without revaluation, the Village has had as many as 750 grievances filed at one time. As there were no further comments, Mayor Steves closed the public comments portion of the meeting. ******** Municipal Services Committee Upon motion entered by Trustee Pekarek, and seconded by Trustee Lee, the following resolution regarding an Intermunicipal Agreement with the City of New Rochelle for Shared Cable Television Services was referred to a joint meeting of the Municipal Services and Personnel Committees (tentatively scheduled for August 12th at 6:30 p.m.) by a unanimous vote: WHEREAS, the Scarsdale Cable Television Office operates and manages the Government and Public Access channels provided on the Cablevision and Verizon Cable television systems; and WHEREAS, in calendar year 2013, roughly 90 cable programs were recorded or produced by the Cable Office including Village Board and Committee meetings and other miscellaneous public access shows such as the Scarsdale Forum, League of Women Voters, Scarsdale Bowl Award Reception, etc. and the Office also previews and airs programs produced and recorded from outside organizations in accordance with the applicable Village Administrative policy; and WHEREAS, in addition to managing Public Access channels, the Cable Office assists with resident inquiries, operates and manages the cable control room including all equipment, recommends annual cable access equipment purchases, provides in house technical support in conjunction with Cablevision and Verizon technicians and catalogues and files all videotapes produced; and WHEREAS, in the last 20 years, cable operations have transformed from pen, paper, VHS recording devices and large bulky cameras to more modern, sophisticated computers, tiny computer chips and recording devices as well as expensive lighting and televising fixtures, and the equipment is constantly updated and upgraded based on an annual Capital Budget appropriation using dedicated Public, Education and Government (PEG) channel access funds provided for in the Cablevision and Verizon franchise agreements; and Village Board of Trustees 06-24-2014 P a g e | 214 WHEREAS, the Cable Office is currently staffed by two industry professionals through independent contractual agreements at fixed monthly costs, with assistance from a handful of camera personnel paid on an hourly basis as needed when programs are filmed; and WHEREAS, the primary professional currently managing the Cable Office for the Village is a program production expert while the other consultant, John Micewicz, provides the audio/video technical support for the Village’s cable operations in addition to managing and operating all aspects of the City of New Rochelle’s cable television operations as a contractor for the City; and WHEREAS, based on the aforementioned operational transition and overall needs of both municipal cable offices, and in an effort to satisfy the increasing demands at the State and local government levels to consolidate services to enhance operational and financial efficiencies, the City of New Rochelle and Village of Scarsdale are desirous of entering into an intermunicipal agreement (IMA) in substantially the same form as attached hereto, to share equally the services of John Micewicz as Cable Television Coordinator; and WHEREAS, in accordance with the IMA, which has a one year term renewable annually, the City of New Rochelle would hire Mr. Micewicz as a full time employee to perform the cable television coordinator services identified, and the Village of Scarsdale would reimburse the City for 50% of his salary plus benefits paid in two equal bi-annual installments currently estimated at $20,625; now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Village Manager, in recognition of the existing State and local government initiatives for consolidation and/or sharing municipal services, is herein authorized to execute an IMA with the City of New Rochelle, in substantially the same form as attached hereto, for the sharing of cable television coordinator services in conjunction with the Village’s continued operation of its cable television office, including local access programming, administrative and technical support, and be it further RESOLVED, that the cost of this IMA be charged to the Village Manager’s General Fund Operating Budget Account # A-1230-CABLE- ADMIN-400 499; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Village Manager shall undertake all administrative acts associated with this IMA. ******** Village Board of Trustees 06-24-2014 P a g e | 215 Finance Committee Upon motion entered by Trustee Lee, and seconded by Trustee Pekarek, the following resolution regarding a Revision to the April 22., 2014 Resolution in Regard to Arbitration Related to the Popham Road Bridge was approved by the vote indicated below: WHEREAS, the Village Board by resolution of April 22, 2014 approved the settlement agreement with ELQ Industries, Inc., 567 Fifth Avenue, New Rochelle, New York in the amount and manner of payment specified in the April 22, 2014 resolution (Resolution and Settlement Agreement incorporated herein); and WHEREAS, the original manner of funding included the component of a $1.7 million bond authorization and in order for the Village of Scarsdale to remain eligible and qualified under certain Federal Internal Revenue Service provisions for a slightly more favorable interest rate or so-called “bank qualified” borrowing, no more than $10 million in debt may be issued in any given calendar year; and WHEREAS, because of prior Village authorized and issued debt in calendar year 2014 involving the Reeves Newsome Pumping Station, $4.8 million, and Fire Station #1, $3.5 million, both issues included a premium of $101,338.20, in order to remain “bank qualified” and to benefit from a lower interest rate, a balance of $1,595,000 may be issued for the remainder of the 2014 calendar year, and WHEREAS, as only $1,595,000 can be issued for the remainder of the calendar year, instead of the $1.7 million previously authorized, it is prudent and advisable that the lower amount be issued and the difference in the balance due ELQ Industries, Inc., of New Rochelle, NY be appropriated from the available General Fund, Fund Balance in the amount of $49,275 to the Capital Projects Fund for payment of the settlement; now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the April 22, 2014 resolution is, herein, revised to reflect the following sources of funding for the ELQ settlement: Capital Fund Projects – No Change $505,725 Bond Authorization – From $1.7m To - $1,595,000 General Fund Balance Appropriation $49,275 and be it further Village Board of Trustees 06-24-2014 P a g e | 216 RESOLVED, that upon reimbursement to the Village by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the receipt of proceeds from the issuance of the debt that: (1) $406,000 from the NYSDOT be placed in the Capital Fund to restore the funding for existing projects and (2) that any additional funds received in payment of the $2,150,000 settlement amount, should further reimbursement from NYSDOT be approved, be placed in the Capital Fund for future consideration by the Village Board for future capital projects. AYES NAYS ABSENT Trustee Brodsky None Trustee Martin Trustee Lee Trustee Stern Trustee Pekarek Trustee Samwick Mayor Steves ******** Other Committee Reports None. ******** Liaison Reports None. ******** Written Communications Village Clerk Conkling reported that two (2) communications were received after preparation of the agenda:  An email from Robert Harrison, 65 Fox Meadow Road, expressing his appreciation to Mayor Steves and the Village Board regarding the public meeting held concerning the Revaluation methods used by Tyler Technologies. Village Board of Trustees 06-24-2014 P a g e | 217  An email from Lena Crandall, 227 Fox Meadow Road regarding the many rewards that residents can reap by mulching their leaves in the fall. ******** Future Meeting Schedule Mr. Steves announced the following future meeting schedule:  Tuesday, July 8, 2014 – Sustainability Committee – 6:30 P.M. – 3rd Floor Meeting ` Room  Tuesday, July 8, 2014 – Agenda Meeting – 7:30 P.M. – Trustees’ Room  Tuesday, July 8, 2014 – Board of Trustees – 8:00 P.M. – Rutherford Hall ******** Village Hall Schedule  Thursday, July 3, 2014 - Village Fireworks – 9:00 P.M. – Scarsdale Municipal Pool Complex  Friday, July 4, 2014 – Independence Day – Village Hall Closed ******** There being no further business to come before the Board, Mayor Steves moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Trustee Lee and carried by a unanimous vote at 8:16 P.M. Donna M. Conkling Village Clerk