City Council

Village of South Blooming Grove Regular meeting Monday January 13, 2020 7:00 P.M. ➢ Call to order o Mayor LoFranco called to order the Village Board Meeting at 7:07 p.m. on January 13, 2020, at the South Blooming Grove Village Hall located at 811 State Route 208, within the Village of South Blooming Grove, and having a mailing address of Monroe, New York. ➢ Roll call The following persons were present: o James LoFranco- Mayor o John L. Ross – Deputy Mayor o James Mullany - Trustee o Sue Anne Vogelsberg – Trustee o Johnny Belfort - Trustee ➢ Correspondence: o January 9, 2020 letter from Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna LLP ➢ Public Comments o John Hickey Merriewold Lane South advised that he doesn’t feel a change in the voting hours is a good idea or that it would serve a purpose. o Joel Stern asserted that he is the representative of the United Jewish Community Board, representing all Jewish families in South Blooming Grove and Blooming Grove, who submitted the petition in question through the firm Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna LLP. Mr. Stern claims that although the petition only has 20 signatures, he purportedly speaks on behalf of hundreds of Jewish voters and notes that their right to vote should not be suppressed. Mr. Stern stated that Governor Cuomo issued sweeping voting reforms regarding voting times, and Mr. Stern indicates that at the very least, the Village voting hours should be open from 6 AM to 9 PM. The current Village Code says that polls should remain open from at least 12 PM to 9 PM, but Mr. Stern’s Organization is asking for an additional six hours, opening the polls at 6 AM. Mr. Stern pointed out that many new residents are Jewish voters work outside of the Village, leaving the area for work well before 12 PM and return very late at night. Mr. Stern suggested that the United Jewish Community Board would be willing to donate an amount of money necessary to open the polls for the additional six hours so that every voter in the Village can exercise their legal and constitutional voting right. If the cost is the main issue, Mr. Stern continued, the United Jewish Community Board will fully consider funding the extra amount needed to keep the polls open from 6 AM to 9 PM. Mr. Stern reiterates his claim that he is speaking on behalf of the entire Jewish Community and the petition in question is very important to the community members. o Issac Ekstein stated in his view that if you fill out an absentee ballot and are in the area it could be considered voter fraud. 1  Village of South Blooming Grove Regular meeting Monday January 13, 2020 7:00 P.M. o Barbara Hanley Lakeshore Drive asked if there is a date set for the next Public Hearing regarding Clovewood. o Susan Bleakney inquired if Clovewood was still open for comment. o Bonnie Rum inquired about absentee ballots. o Jabokowski Duelk Avenue asked about the status of the water project. The Mayor advised that we received additional grant monies and the project is out to bid. ➢ Mayor and Trustee Comments o Mayor LoFranco advised that the bus litigation continues to be successful. 1 Roanoke continues in Supreme Court. 1233 Route 208 is still in litigation and the parties are hoping to resolve without further litigation. 467 incident reports were recorded in 2019, there were 273 Violations, 100 Building Permits, 9 Stop Work Orders, 26 Court Actions and 3 Supreme Court Actions. Additionally, the Mayor advised that there will be a Police Office assigned directly to the voting polls. o Deputy Mayor Ross asked that all member of the community go out and vote. The Mayor’s hard work is commendable and that is an understatement. The Mayor puts in many hours in support of the village and all residents. He advised that it is his pleasure to work alongside the mayor. o Trustee Mullany wanted to make everybody aware that the Village has excess sewer and we are one of the few municipalities in Southern Orange County that do. The sewer district paid for it. o Trustee Vogelsberg announced the 16 and 17 year old persons may preregister to vote. She is still working on obtaining transportation to the polls for senior citizens. Encourage your neighbors to not only register to vote but to come out and vote. o Trustee Belfort – Happy New Year. He explained that a public hearing is a forum for the public to speak and present their opinion. The board will take all that is said into consideration and always do what is best for the Village. He is compassionate regarding the water and has the same issues. It is a process that the board is trying to move along as quickly as possible. Although the Mayor’s job is supposed to be a “part-time” position there is so much more involved on a daily basis. Trustee Belfort also emphasized the importance of voting. ➢ Abstract o Motion to adopt the Abstract by Deputy Mayor Ross, seconded by Trustee Mullany, 5 Ayes, Mayor LoFranco, Deputy Mayor Ross, Trustee Vogelsberg, Trustee Mullany and Trustee Belfort. ➢ Business o Resolution No. (1) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove establishing the polling location and hours of voting for Village elections. Motion to accept by Trustee Vogelsburg, seconded by Trustee Mullany. Resolution passed. 5 ayes, Mayor LoFranco, Deputy Mayor Ross, Trustee Vogelsburg, Trustee Mullany, Trustee Belfort. o Resolution No. (2) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove setting the dates of the Village holiday schedule for 2020. Motion to accept by Trustee Vogelsburg, seconded by Trustee Mullany. Resolution passed. 5 ayes, Mayor LoFranco, Deputy Mayor Ross, Trustee Vogelsburg, Trustee Mullany, Trustee Belfort. 2  Village of South Blooming Grove Regular meeting Monday January 13, 2020 7:00 P.M. ➢ Adjournment o Motion to close the meeting at 7:28 p.m. by Trustee Vogelsburg, seconded by Deputy Mayor Ross. 5 Ayes, Mayor LoFranco, Deputy Mayor Ross, Trustee Vogelsberg, Trustee Mullany and Trustee Belfort. Minutes respectfully submitted by Kerry Dougherty, Village Clerk 3