Board of Trustees

Village Board of Trustees 12/22/2015 503 THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FORTY-SIXTH LIMITED AGENDA MEETING Trustees’ Room Village Hall December 22, 2015 A Limited Agenda Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Scarsdale was held in the Trustees’ Room in Village Hall on Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at 8:30 A.M Present were Mayor Mark, Trustees Callaghan, Finger, Lee, Pekarek (via teleconference), and Stern. Also present were Village Manager Pappalardo, Deputy Village Manager Cole, Village Attorney Esannason, Village Clerk Conkling, Village Treasurer McClure, and Assistant to the Village Manager Ringel. ******** The minutes of the Board of Trustees Regular Meeting of Tuesday, December 8, 2015 were approved on a motion entered by Trustee Lee, seconded by Trustee Pekarek, and carried unanimously. ******** Bills & Payroll Trustee Stern reported that he had audited the Abstract of Claims dated December 22, 2015 in the amount of $1,365,630.39 which includes $58,683.92 in Library Claims previously audited by a Trustee of the Library Board which were found to be in order and he moved that such payment be ratified. Upon motion duly made by Trustee Stern and seconded by Trustee Lee, the following resolution was adopted unanimously: RESOLVED, that the Abstract of Claims dated December 22, 2015 in the amount of $1,365,630.39 is hereby approved. ******** Finance Committee Mayor Mark reported on the statements of expense and revenue for the various funds of the Village for the first six months of fiscal year 2015-2016. Village Board of Trustees 12/22/2015 504 General fund appropriations were 42.97% spent as of November 2015, which is a 1.49% increase from the 41.48% in 2014-2015. General Fund Revenues other than property taxes are $8,888,007 through November 2015 compared to $8,541,381 through November 2014, an increase of $346,626. Building Permit revenue (included in License and Permit revenue) is $140,800 less than last year’s record pace. Please note that the 2014-2015 first quarter License and Permit revenue included a single permit fee of $91,000. Tax penalties and delinquent tax collections are down $45,400 as the balance of taxes and liens declined from last year. Public Utility Tax, Sales Tax, Department Fees, Licenses and Permits and Mortgage Tax are down an aggregate of $183,400. Parking Permit and Meter income, Recreation fees, Rental Income, Sale of Equipment and Insurance Recoveries, State Aid and Court Fines increased a total of $548,400. The change in investment income is negligible and the change in Inter-fund Revenues is due to a timing difference. The actual collection of Village taxes through November 30, 2015 is at 98.96%. The change from last year’s collection percentage is negligible. ******** Upon motion entered by Trustee Lee, and seconded by Trustee Pekarek, the following resolution regarding Acceptance of a Gift to the Scarsdale Public Library was approved by a unanimous vote: WHEREAS, pursuant to Policy #106: “Gifts to the Village of Scarsdale” of the Village of Scarsdale Administrative Policies & Procedures Manual, acceptance of all gifts valued at $500 or greater must be approved by the Village Board of Trustees; and WHEREAS, the Gellin Zalaznick Foundation, Inc. wishes to donate $750 donation to the Scarsdale Public Library; now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Village Board hereby accepts the gift of $750 to be used toward Scarsdale Public Library general operating expenses; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Village Treasurer take the necessary steps to accept this financial gift of $750 and deposit in the Scarsdale Public Library Budget Account TE-91-.22 – “Miscellaneous Gifts”; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees hereby extends their heartfelt thanks and great appreciation to the Gellin Zalaznick Foundation for their generosity and commitment to the Scarsdale Public Library. Village Board of Trustees 12/22/2015 505 ******** Upon motion entered by Trustee Lee, and seconded by Trustee Stern, the following resolution regarding Transfer of Principal from Library Children’s Room Endowment to Library Capital Campaign Account was approved by a unanimous vote: WHEREAS, the Library has a non-expendable trust account entitled, “Children’s Room Endowment,” TN-96-.10, with a current principal of $500,000; and WHEREAS, the purpose of the endowment is to continue the development of children’s interest in reading and learning through books, audio-visual materials, and informational technology, thus promoting early reading and an early love for reading, factors that contribute to successful childhood education; and WHEREAS, the memorandum of agreement for the Children’s Room Endowment (attached) states that “Up to 10% of the principal may be used annually, as authorized by the Library Board of Trustees, to enhance resources and services to the children”; and WHEREAS the Library Board, in a special meeting on December 1, 2015, approved a transfer before the end of 2015 from the Children’s Room Endowment to the Library’s Capital Campaign account of $50,000, and a similar transfer, in January 2016, of $45,000, all to be expended in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Endowment (attached); now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Village Board of Trustees concurs with the Library Board’s transfer of $50,000 from the Children’s Room Endowment to the Library Capital Campaign Account in a separate, restricted-use Children’s Room Endowment Proceeds Sub-Account, by December 31, 2015, said funds to be expended in accordance with the terms and conditions of the endowment; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Village Board of Trustees further concurs with the future transfer of $45,000 from the Children’s Room Endowment to the Library Capital Campaign Account in the separate, restricted-use Children’s Room Endowment Proceeds Sub-Account in January 2016, with said proceeds to be expended in accordance with the terms and conditions of the endowment. ******** Village Board of Trustees 12/22/2015 506 Mayors Comments Mayor Mark noted that he attended and was one of the speakers at a vigil for victims of gun violence on the grounds of the Scarsdale Congregational Church on Sunday, December 20th. Mayor Mark also noted that the Village has received a grant from New York State for just over $1 million to further work on the Sheldrake water basin. Although there were numerous grants given, Scarsdale received the largest one. He stated that Village Staff should be complimented for their hard work in obtaining this grant. Mayor Mark also noted that the Federal Railroad Administration has developed three alternatives for rail transportation improvements along the Northeast Corridor with one of the plans including a high-speed train line that would run either in a tunnel underneath Scarsdale or on an aerial structure above the Village. The Village has had an opportunity to comment on an Environmental Impact Statement for the alternatives and Mayor Mark wrote a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration noting that the tunnel or aerial structure would have a significant adverse impact on the Village’s residents, homes, property values, quality of life and character of the Village. He also noted in his letter that it would be better to use the projected $155 billion in funding to address the existing needs of the Nation’s aging and outdated passenger rail and public transit infrastructure. He stated that he emailed copies of this letter to the Scarsdale Inquirer, Scarsdale10583, Scarsdale HamletHub, SNAP, and the President of the Scarsdale Forum. Concerning Monte Nido, Mayor Mark stated that an attorney from the New York State Mental Health office has been in contact with the Village in regard to holding a hearing after the holidays concerning the Village’s objection to Monte Nido’s proposal. SNAP, the Scarsdale Inquirer and a number of residents have been made aware of this. ******** Other Committee Reports Trustee Stern reported that there will be a meeting of Sustainability Committee on January 26, 2016 at which time the Ad-Hoc LED Committee will give a status report on the LED street lighting. Trustee Pekarek reported that there will be a meeting of the Land Use Committee on January 12, 2016, at which time the Conservation Advisory Council will present a Landscape Guidance Document for Village Land Use Boards. ******** Village Board of Trustees 12/22/2015 507 Liaison Reports Trustee Callaghan reported that the Scarsdale Concours has donated the $24,000 they raised during their October 2015 event as follows: $8,000 to the Scarsdale Foundation, $8,000 to the Scarsdale/Edgemont Family Counseling Services, and $8,000 for the purchase of a motorized wheelchair for a military service veteran. ******** Future Meetings Mayor Mark announced the following future meeting schedule: • Tuesday, January 12, 2016 – Agenda Meeting – 7:30 P.M. – Trustees’ Room • Tuesday, January 12, 2016 – Board of Trustees – 8:00 P.M. – Rutherford Hall • Tuesday, January 26, 2015 – Municipal Services Committee – 6:00 P.M. – Third Floor Meeting Room • Tuesday, January 26, 2015 – Sustainability Committee (Immediately Following Municipal Services Committee) – Third Floor Meeting Room • Tuesday, January 26, 2016 – Agenda Meeting – 7:30 P.M. – Trustees’ Room • Tuesday, January 26, 2016 – Village Board Meeting – 8:00 P.M. – Rutherford Hall FY 2016/17 Budget Discussions Finance Committee – Trustees Room • Thursday, January 14, 2016 – 6:30 P.M. • Wednesday, February 3, 2016 – 10:30 A.M. • Thursday, February 4, 2016 – 6:00 P.M. • Wednesday, February 10, 2016 – 6:00 P.M. • Tuesday, March 8, 2016 – 6:30 P.M. Public Briefing Sessions – 3rd Floor Meeting Room • Wednesday, February 24, 2016 – 7:00 P.M. – Operating Budget • Wednesday, March 2, 2016 – 7:00 P.M. – Capital Budget ******** Village Hall Schedule • Thursday, December 24, 2015 – Christmas Eve – Village Hall Closed at 12:30 P.M. • Friday, December 25, 2015 – Christmas Day – Village Hall Closed Village Board of Trustees 12/22/2015 508 • Thursday, December 31, 2015 – New Year’s Eve – Village Hall Closed at 12:30 P.M. • Friday, January 1, 2015 – New Year’s Day – Village Hall Closed ******** There being no further business to come before the Board, Mayor Mark moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:08 A.M. and convene in Executive Session to discuss Personnel matters, seconded by Trustee Pekarek and carried by a unanimous vote. Donna M. Conkling Village Clerk