City Council

Village of South Blooming Grove Regular Meeting Monday JANUARY 23, 2023 8:00pm  Call to order Deputy Mayor Weiss called to order the Village Board Meeting at 8:19pm on January 23, 2023, for the Village of South Blooming Grove 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 Abraham Weiss – Deputy Mayor o Yitzchok Feldman- Trustee o Zalmon Rosner – Trustee o Joel Stern – Confidential Assistant to the Mayor o Isaac Ekstein- Legislative Aide to Mayor o Scott Ugell Esq.- Village Attorney o Al Fusco- Village Engineer o Kerry Dougherty – Village Clerk o Absent - George Kalaj – Mayor o Absent – Asher Guttman - Trustee  Correspondence • None  Comments • Joel Stern discussed the second garbage pick-up stating that many residents have requested to have multiple pick-ups weekly. With regard to the 2nd pick up, the ratios of complaints vs thank you for the 2nd pick up is 10:1.  Public Comment • Sue Anne Vogelsberg –. Stuff isn’t being told to all of us. You have to tell residents about the 2nd garbage pickup, she advised that she does not need a second pick up. A second pick up would be negative environmentally due to gas and fumes. Even if there were to be two pick ups residents still leave their garbage out, garbage is a service, people could get an extra can and individually pay for that extra service. November was the last time we saw the Mayor, we pay him a salary and he is not presiding over the village. What is the status of the South Blooming Grove Business Park? All the trees were cut and there is nothing there it looks disgusting Joel Stern advised that the trees were rushed due to the November deadline and the property was sold which delayed the project. • Barbara Hanley expressed that a second garbage pick up is not needed and paying extra monies as well. There are options with private schools, why not with garbage. 1  Village of South Blooming Grove Regular Meeting Monday JANUARY 23, 2023 8:00pm • Patricia Morrice – You drive around and see how things are put in garbage pails. If something goes out for garbage you have to tell them breakdown the boxes and put them in the garbage pails. • Asher Ekstein – Why wasn’t there a referendum before the change with the garbage. Joel Stern stated usually the village doesn’t have to do it they might consider doing the referendum which legally is not required by law. Attorney Ugell states not only is it not legally required it would be very unusual for us to do something like that. The time and expense involving referendum is enormous unless it’s something that’s required by law it’s almost never done that way. The village has the ability by due process to approve resolutions of that kind but you also heard Joel say that is still subject to a political referendum. We are getting emails from the clerk about emails coming in and we are getting verbal feedback or feedback on other social media platforms. I can firmly say and Isaac will back me up on that the ratio of complaints versus thank you’s that we have received in the past two weeks is not even 10 to 1.  Business o Resolution No. (8) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove Declaring intent to be lead agent with regard to the Village of South Blooming Grove Water System Rehabilitation. Motion to accept by Trustee Feldman, seconded by Deputy Mayor Weiss. 3 Ayes Deputy Mayor Weiss, Trustee Feldman and Trustee Rosner 2 Absent Mayor Kalaj and Trustee Guttman. o Resolution No. (9) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove Awarding the contract for the water system rehabilitation plan design and construction inspection to Fusco Engineering and Land Surveying. Motion to accept by Deputy Mayor Weiss, seconded by Trustee Feldman. 3 Ayes Deputy Mayor Weiss, Trustee Feldman and Trustee Rosner 2 Absent Mayor Kalaj and Trustee Guttman o Resolution No. (9A) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove Accepting the bid for up to 3 buses subject to contract which will include a detailed description of units, VIN identification. The contract will be approved by Village Attorney. Motion to accept by Trustee Feldman, seconded by Deputy Mayor Weiss. 3 Ayes Deputy Mayor Weiss, Trustee Feldman and Trustee Rosner, 2 Absent Mayor Kalaj and Trustee Guttman. o Resolution No. (9B) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove Setting a Public Hearing for February 13, 2023. Motion to accept by Trustee Feldman, seconded by Trustee Rosner. 3 Ayes Deputy Mayor Weiss, Trustee Feldman and Trustee Rosner, 2 Absent Mayor Kalaj and Trustee Guttman.  Discussion Kerry Dougherty – There was a bid opening today for the buses and I received a letter late in the day. Al Fusco – We reviewed the bid of today January 23, 2023 for 3 buses. After review we recommended award to the sole qualifying bid of Auto Leasing and Sales in Brooklyn in the amount of $485,000.00 each. The trustees have the decision to make whether they want 1, 2 or 3 buses. You should discuss it. Joel Stern – We will publicize a schedule with stops. Mr. Ekstein suggests that 2  Village of South Blooming Grove Regular Meeting Monday JANUARY 23, 2023 8:00pm we put in 3 buses so we should be able to have 2 buses contingency and 1 spare bus. I reached out to this company when this bid was closed and asked them what their lead times were, they have in stock 2 buses and can order a 3rd one. Sue Anne Vogelsberg – So these are brand new buses. Where do we get the money for this? Mr. Ekstein – The goal is right now to work with either bond or finance companies. We are working right now to get the bond and some finance to be able to get the buses right away and the goal is to get grants from the federal government and the state government to help us out with transit. There are a lot of grants out there for transit. Orange County transit in general they reimburse for a lot of the expenses when it comes to transit, and we are looking into federal and state government as well. The bond is not to be paid now. Joel Stern – I think Mr. Fusco is happy with the package. Abstract Motion to accept the Abstract by Trustee Rosner, seconded by Trustee Feldman, 3 Ayes Deputy Mayor Weiss, Trustee Feldman and Trustee Rosner, 2 Absent Mayor Kalaj and Trustee Guttman  Adjournment o Motion to close the meeting at 8:50pm. by Trustee Rosner, seconded by Trustee Feldman. 3Ayes Deputy Mayor Weiss, Trustee Feldman and Trustee Rosner 2 Absent Mayor Kalaj and Trustee Guttman Minutes respectfully submitted by Kerry Dougherty, Village Clerk 3