City Council

Village of South Blooming Grove Regular Meeting AND PUBLIC HEARINGS Monday November 13, 2023 8:00pm PUBLIC HEARING – OVERRIDE THE TAX LEVY LIMIT  Call to order Mayor Kalaj called to order the Public Hearing to override the tax levy limit at 8:09 pm on November 13, 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 George Kalaj – Mayor o Yitzchok Feldman- Trustee o Abraham Weiss – Deputy Mayor o Scott Ugell, Esq. – Village Attorney o Al Fusco – Village Engineer o Lt. Wakeham – Town of Blooming Grove Police Department o Isaac Ekstein – Legislative Aide to Mayor o Joel Stern – Confidential Assistant to the Mayor o Kerry Dougherty – Village Clerk • Absent o Asher Guttman- Trustee o Zalmon Rosner – Trustee o Isaac Ekstein – Legislative Aide to Mayor  Public Comment • None  Adjournment Motion to close the public hearing at 8:12 pm. by Mayor Kalaj, seconded by Trustee Feldman. 3 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj, Deputy Mayor Weiss, and Trustee Feldman – 2 Absent Trustee Guttman and Trustee Rosner. 1  Village of South Blooming Grove Regular Meeting AND PUBLIC HEARINGS Monday November 13, 2023 8:00pm PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING LOCAL LAW CHAPTER 222  Call to order Mayor Kalaj called to order the Public Hearing to at 8:12 pm on November 13, 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.  Discussion The board discussed parking in the village with the Village Attorney, Joel Stern and Lt. Wakham of the Town of Police Department. They will table this matter and consider the verbiage for this section of the Village Code. At this time there is no parking in the village streets until April of 2024. There is always the option of alternate side of the street parking.  Public Comment William Hewlitt – believes there needs to be signage everywhere. Coming off of Route 208 onto Duelk you have to be careful with pedestrian traffic as well and the streets are full of cars, he thinks more signage would help. Will the residents be kept in the loop as to the changes and/or updates.  Adjournment Motion to close the public hearing at 8:29 pm. by Trustee Feldman, seconded by Mayor Kalaj. 3 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj, Deputy Mayor Weiss, and Trustee Feldman – 2 Absent Trustee Guttman and Trustee Rosner. PUBLIC HEARING – PROPOSED 2024 BUDGET  Call to order Mayor Kalaj called to order the Public Hearing regarding the proposed 2024 Village Budget at 8:29 pm on November 13, 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.  Public Comment None 2  Village of South Blooming Grove Regular Meeting AND PUBLIC HEARINGS Monday November 13, 2023 8:00pm  Adjournment Motion to close the public hearing at 8:29 pm. by Trustee Feldman, seconded by Deputy Mayor Weiss. 3 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj, Deputy Mayor Weiss, and Trustee Feldman – 2 Absent Trustee Guttman and Trustee Rosner. VILLAGE BOARD MEETING  Call to order Mayor Kalaj called to order the Village Board Meeting at 8:32 pm on November 13, 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.  Mayor’s Comments • At the last planning board meeting attorney Kraushaar made statements, he does not endorse that nor approved it. He said officials of this village should not make any comment regarding foreign policies when they are on village time. We are here to conduct village business, not foreign politics. Let this be a warning to Mr. Kraushaar. • Continued problems with the sewer and asks the residents not to flush unflushables. • Safety Vests should be warn so that a driver can see them, it is very important. Joel Stern advised that in the past 2 years they have distributed over 2,000 safety vests, some people use them but there are more available and gave some to the police department. • No parking on the village streets after November 1. • Al Fusco – Engineer – discussed his correspondence, which after review of park equipment they recommended the bid for Better Health and Fitness and has a contract. That is for Stonegate Park.  Public Comment • William Hewlitt – There is a hole in the road and Pine Hill and Dallas, there is a cone there now. Mayor advised that there was a water main break. 4 Houston Avenue is running a commercial business out of that home. There is a construction rig on the side of Route 208 by the water well. Where and when will the Whorley Heights sign be replaced. When will holiday lights be up. Thank you Mayor and the police for reflectors and safety, also stop signs are being ignored. • Bonnie Rum – Postcards were sent to everybody in the Town. The only organizations identified are Coupon Orange and Preserve Blooming Grove were identified. She belongs to both organizations. Coupon Orange is absolutely not political so if anything comes about an election or politics and it says Coupon anything, if it says them it is fraud. Preserve Blooming Grove did not send those out, they did not want a no vote on prop 3. She finds it amazing so many from the village voted no because they wanted 4 year terms themslves. This was a fraudulent mailing and has been reported. If anyone has any questions ask. 3  Village of South Blooming Grove Regular Meeting AND PUBLIC HEARINGS Monday November 13, 2023 8:00pm • Tickets should be given no matter where someone is. Signage is important.  Business o Resolution No. (68) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove adopting the budget for the Village’s 2024 Fiscal Year. Motion to accept by Trustee Fedlman, seconded by Deputy Mayor Weiss. 3 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj Deputy Mayor Weiss and Trustee Feldman. 2 Absent Trustee Rosner and Trustee Guttman. o Resolution No. (69) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove adopting Local Law of 2023 to override the tax levy limit established in General Municipal Law § 3- c. Motion to accept by Mayor Kalaj, seconded by Deputy Mayor Weiss. 3 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj Deputy Mayor Weiss and Trustee Feldman. 2 Absent Trustee Rosner and Trustee Guttman. o Resolution No. (70) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove adopting a local law amending local law Chapter 222 – Vehicles and Traffic subject to final approval of Village Board and Village Attorney. Motion to accept by Trustee Felman, seconded by Deputy Mayor Weiss. 3 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj Deputy Mayor Weiss and Trustee Feldman. 2 Absent Trustee Rosner and Trustee Guttman. o Resolution No. (71) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove declaring the Village Board as Lead Agency and Negative Declaration for the transfer of water taking permits from the Town of Blooming Grove Water District to the Village of South Blooming Water District with no changes to the water taking. Motion to accept by Trustee Feldman, seconded by Deputy Mayor Weiss. 3 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj Deputy Mayor Weiss and Trustee Feldman. 2 Absent Trustee Rosner and Trustee Guttman. o Resolution No. (72) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove awarding the Stonegate Playground Bid to Better Health. Motion to accept by Deputy Mayor Weiss, seconded by Mayor Kalaj. 3 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj Deputy Mayor Weiss and Trustee Feldman. 2 Absent Trustee Rosner and Trustee Guttman. o Resolution – Due to publication timelines the public hearing regarding local improvement to expand sanitation services for residential properties within the Village, providing for an additional garbage and/or recycling collection pickup day per week will be rescheduled to November 27, 2023. o Resolution No. (73) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove authorizing the mayor to contract with lowest bidder to provide electric utility services to the village. Motion to accept by Deputy Mayor Weiss, seconded by Mayor Kalaj. 3 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj Deputy Mayor Weiss and Trustee Feldman. 2 Absent Trustee Rosner and Trustee Guttman. o Resolution No. (74) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove Grove hiring the law firm of Blustein, Shapiro, Frank & Barone, LLP to advise and represent the Village in connection with certain eminent domain proceedings. Motion to accept by Mayor Kalaj, seconded by Trustee Feldman. 3 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj Deputy Mayor Weiss and Trustee Feldman. 2 Absent Trustee Rosner and Trustee Guttman. o Resolution No. (75) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove setting a public hearing on December 4, 2023, to consider increase and improvement of Water 4  Village of South Blooming Grove Regular Meeting AND PUBLIC HEARINGS Monday November 13, 2023 8:00pm District. Motion to accept by Deputy Mayor Weiss, seconded by Mayor Kalaj. 3 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj Deputy Mayor Weiss and Trustee Feldman. 2 Absent Trustee Rosner and Trustee Guttman. o Resolution No. (76) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove authorizes Consorti Brothers Inc to perform the paving for FEMA recovery projects. Motion to accept by Mayor Kalaj, seconded by Deputy Mayor Weiss. 3 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj Deputy Mayor Weiss and Trustee Feldman. 2 Absent Trustee Rosner and Trustee Guttman. o Resolution No. (77) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove acting as the Board of Fire Commissioners appoints Joel Goldstein as Fire Chief, Mr. Uri Deutch as Fire Assistant Chief and Mr. Lazer Weiss as 2nd Assistant Chief of the Village of South Blooming Grove Fire Department. Motion to accept by Deputy Mayor Weiss, seconded by Mayor Kalaj. 3 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj Deputy Mayor Weiss and Trustee Feldman. 2 Absent Trustee Rosner and Trustee Guttman. o Resolution No. (78) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove authorizing the Village Engineer to prepare and Village to go out to bid for Public Works Contractor. Motion to accept by Trustee Feldman, seconded by Mayor Kalaj. 3 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj Deputy Mayor Weiss and Trustee Feldman. 2 Absent Trustee Rosner and Trustee Guttman. o Resolution No. (79) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove authorizing the change order for the Stonegate Park Project. Motion to accept by Trustee Feldman, seconded by Deputy Mayor Weiss. 3 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj Deputy Mayor Weiss and Trustee Feldman. 2 Absent Trustee Rosner and Trustee Guttman. • Adjournment Motion to close the meeting at 9:18 pm. by Trustee Feldman, seconded by Deputy Mayor Weiss. 3 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj, Deputy Mayor Weiss and Trustee Feldman. 2 Absent - Trustee Rosner and Trustee Guttman. Minutes respectfully submitted by Kerry Dougherty, Village Clerk 5