City Council

Village of South Blooming Grove PUBLIC HEARING AND Regular Meeting Monday March 11, 2024 8:00pm  Roll call The following persons were present: o George Kalaj - Mayor o Abraham Weiss – Deputy Mayor* o Yitzchok Feldman – Trustee* o Asher Guttman- Trustee o Zalmon Rosner - Trustee 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 – Joel Stern – Confidential Assistant to the Mayor PUBLIC HEARING -LOCAL IMPROVEMENT TO EXPAND SANITATION SERVICES  Call to order Mayor Kalaj opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and called to order the Public Hearing at 8:04 pm on March 11, 2024, inviting public comments pursuant to Village Law 2-2200(1) to address the proposed lands to be benefited by the Village’s local improvement to expand sanitation, 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 o Mayor Kalaj announced that there was an error that needs to be corrected. Rolling Hills residents will not be charged for 2nd pick-up of garbage. Isaac Ekstein since the last meeting there were many comments that came in from Rolling Hills residents that they were having a second pick-up before the Village added a second pick-up. They went back and forth with the HOA and with the garbage company and it was cleared up. The Rolling Hills Community are not supposed to be charged for the 2nd pick up as they already had that agreement in place before. Residents from Rolling Hills that already paid will be reimbursed by the village. If there are any questions please come in to village hall or call the clerk. o Mr. Ekstein continued with a synopsis – back in 2022 the village reached out to the town supervisor and stated that the garbage in the village was overflowing, lots of garbage cans all over the village overflowing. IWS was only one pick up in the contract and only what was in the can if they can close the can, whatever was overflowing stayed on the ground, so there was a lot of garbage on the streets. The village reached out to the town supervisor regarding the upcoming bid for garbage and asked that they have twice a week pick up for the village. The town supervisor did add it to the bid 1  Village of South Blooming Grove PUBLIC HEARING AND Regular Meeting Monday March 11, 2024 8:00pm request in 2022 but unfortunately, he did not approve the second pick-up in the contract. It was only once a week pick-up just like before. The company that was awarded the bid is Marangi, they proposed approximately $60 per household for a second pick-up, which makes no sense and is overpriced. We sat down with Marangi who was awarded the town bid and negotiated the price from $60 to approximately $20-$25 per household monthly. We reached out again to the Town Supervisor and notified him that we reached an agreement with Marangi and asked that he amend his budget and include a second pick up as well so there shouldn’t be a separate bill, like there is right now, it should all come from the Town as at the time they were responsible for town wide refuse. The Town Supervisor refused to amend the budget and include that, so having no choice after that we consulted with our attorneys and we proceeded with a public hearing back in November 2023 with a resolution unanimously passed by the board, authorizing the Mayor to go into contract with Marangi piggy-backing off the Town’s Bid. We went ahead and signed a contract with Marangi. As you all understand a village wide service has to be taken by all residents alike, same as everyone is paying a school tax bill no matter if they have children or not and the same as everyone is paying for their weekly pick up even if they don’t have any garbage at all. It is a village wide service and it goes for the entire village. We are here tonight to hear comments from the public on establishing the village wide district for the purpose of being able to levy the sanitation bill if someone is not paying the bill, just like with water or sewer. Tonight is a public hearing which means the public has a change to voice their comments and concerns to the board. Each person has a 3 minute time limit and the board will not go back and forth, they will take note of all questions and if possible and there is time at the end we may be able. Tonight at the regular meeting there will be no public comment.  Correspondence o Maderia March 5, 2024 letter with petition. o Various written comments.  Public Comment o Chris Maderia – there is a little bit of misinformation, the Town of Blooming Grove awarded the contract to IWS, IWS refused the award. You were on the email November 14, 4:30, he told you, you just lied to the public its in writing. You need to show a deficit in the current framework. The current framework allows you a second pick up by putting an RFP together, going to the town. Just because you don’t like the rules, well too bad because it is what it is, your own sign. Those are the law and that’s the rule and he’s going to fight you to the end on this, I already got attorneys, I already got plenty of support, you guys are wrong, go ahead and try, keep going, but he's not going to stop, you are not going to steal from him, he is not going to allow you to steal from me or the public and that’s what you are trying to do. You can put together a bid and give it to Rob. Did you do that in 2024, no, and he knows this because he FOILed all that stuff. You guys never went to Rob in 2024 and asked to put together another package. You lied back in 2023, you cannot piggy-back the bid cause there is a cause in the bid, because it isn’t let buy. You were told this in 5 emails, he has a nice package there for the attorney general too. We will fight you tooth and nail, he will go down, he will spend every dime he’s got because you ain’t stealing from me. He got your email Mayor and he appreciates it but you gotta show a 2  Village of South Blooming Grove PUBLIC HEARING AND Regular Meeting Monday March 11, 2024 8:00pm deficient with the current framework but you can’t. The current framework gives you a path to get the second pick-up. Just because they choose not to follow it, that’s too bad, it is what it is. o Mr. & Mrs. Lepera – they have been here many years and are fine with one pick up. Nobody she knows asked for a second pick up. We are tax paying people. The truth is we got along with one pick up, they do not need a second pick up why should they pay that, if you need it request. All of a sudden you get a bill in the mail. They are law abiding citizens and should be treated fairly. o Kathy Aldinger – She got the bill, never heard anything about it, never put out garbage on a Thursday. The streets are a mess, people aren’t putting garbage in the cans. She is one person and doesn’t even fill an entire can. She picks up garbage all the time because people aren’t putting it in the can. She is paying taxes and now expected to pay for a second pick up that she doesn’t need. o Bonnie Rum – You are using the term district when you know full well that a Village cannot create a district. Only Towns, Counties and Cities that can do that. She has certainly said that in meetings and that is just a fact. All of you that are employed by the village you have a fiduciary responsibility. Where is the proof that you needed a second garbage pick up. The DEC is having a meeting on April 3 at 6pm via Zoom to make comments about Clovewood. She suggests you call to get an appointment (518) 402-9003, get your voice heard. The water withdrawal permits are delayed because the public has spoken. o William Popper – Wholey heights in emcompassed in the second pick-up? o McInerney – People who choose to send their children to private schools pay for them so if you choose a second pick up you should pay for it. o Mr. McInerney – If Rolling Hills negotiated a 2nd pick up why didn’t the village do the same. When I was raised you paid your way. Make arrangements with Marangi for the second can. Why do we need to go through this expense of creating a district if even legal. It costs the same just to get a second pick up. Get your hand out of my wallet. o O’Hanlon – We have owned the property for many years but there were some very big Irish families that lived here and have been fine with one pick up for over 3 decades. She doesn’t understand the need for the change. People aren’t adhering to the laws. The other problem with a second pick up is no one is bringing in their cans. Merriewold is like an obstacle course. A second child was killed this year, a five year old, we are not doing enough. She know the village put the signs up, they were run over. There is not need for the garbage to change or how you justify it. o Kronkhyte – She inherited her parents house, she lives alone and creates very little garbage. Only puts out every other week. There is garbage all over. She has to pay for her water and cannot drink it, it is a carcinogen. o Kolchinski – his family is here since 1961. They changed the zoning too. The size of the homes going up. Your multi-families are going to bring you problems in the future, with services etc. You cannot impose a service on him. Don’t hide behind the cloth we are tired. You are crating a divisive situation and people are upset. You are imposing with no concern, DEC, environmental. 3  Village of South Blooming Grove PUBLIC HEARING AND Regular Meeting Monday March 11, 2024 8:00pm His mom is 91 and she lives by herself. She has no garbage, you are imposing a fee for a service that is not required or a necessity. Next meeting pick a bigger place. o Southwick – Years ago it used to be that if you had too much garbage they billed you for an extra can. You should give a box cutter because nobody breaks their boxes down. I see 4 poles for 4 electric meters, is that a 2 family house, she doesn’t think so. Water trucks every day, how are you expanding housing. Her water is brown, she has to buy her water. When they put the traffic light in why didn’t they put in a left hand signal. o Mr. McLean been here 24 years, lives alone and takes 2 weeks to fill up a can, why does he have to pay when a bigger family moves in. Why does he have to pay extra? It’s not fair. o Hanley – She lives alone, doesn’t need a second garbage pick-up. This is not an issue, our infrastructure is an issue. There is no reason for a 2nd pick-up. o Bret Gomes – The builders need to clean up their garbage o Bruce Gomes – He didn’t know about this until he received a bill. The Bill does not say what he gets. He is assuming this bill is for a year. An additional pail costs 276.00 why is he paying over $300. Hed expect it to be less not more. During this year he had excess garbage when cleaning up and he went to the dump because he didn’t know about the additional service. His neighbors are not using the service and have extra pails because they do not know about the service. There is no communication. This was not communicated. He gets boxes and he cuts them up and they easily fit in the recycle pail. Bring in the pails properly. We walked miles to pick up garbage. o Campbell - he has been here 47 years, he creates very little garbage, this bill came back door, no advance notice, no details and 12 pick ups for $309, it is unfair and he it has be acknowledged that it is unfair how this has been done. o Egan – she FOILed contract and only has one signature on it. Contract says $20 per houesold and we were billed for $25.75. She doesn’t even think it’s a legit contract as it only has one signature. People who require an extra pick up should not become a burden to others. o Pulliam – There are only 2 people in the house, why do they have to pay. o Wesley – All of this happened for need, passing the buck and making a profit. Every spring we would clean up the road and the area of the lake, we cut the grass on both sides of the street, clean up the garbage. Now there is garbage everywhere, in the lake. If you go to the lake now there is boxes, mild crates and garbage in the lake. That is passing the buck because you are not keeping your place clean. How you live reflects on you. Keep it clean by putting garbage in containers. People making a mess should be fined. Mayor send them some tickets, take that money and fix the roads. o Sosa – Agrees with what has been said, we don’t need a second pick up and if you need it you pay. Neighbors garbage cans are out in the road every day, school bus hits the garbage cans all the time, the cans are left out. She is tired of picking up. She sees a bill and knew nothing about the 2nd garbage pick up. When you work full time and have to pick up after other people it is not fun. o Bracero – We do not need a second pick up, if you need more order more cans. Boxes are blowing all over. Why should be pay twice. Let the people who need it pay for it. 4  Village of South Blooming Grove PUBLIC HEARING AND Regular Meeting Monday March 11, 2024 8:00pm o Weyant – He has been here 54 years and lives with his 94 year old father. They should not be billed arbitrarily. If you need the service, pay for it. o Campbell – The room is over occupancy. The venue here is not big enough for this crowd and should have been cancelled. o Hewlitt – at the February meeting he discussed the open space, greenery and in addition when he moved here 20 years ago there was diversity. When he sees Route 208 and there is no longer welcome to whorley heights. Why do we need another supermarket. He does not see any one on the board that looks like him. Single family homes are being taken down replaced with 2 family that looks like apartments. Now the village want to tax all residents for additional garbage pick up, Marangi does not recycle. Garbage is strewn all over the streets for days on end. Disgust he feld when it was a hardship for his neighbor that cannot afford the extra garbage pick. Comparing this to school taxes o Terwilliger – She hopes that the end goal is for us to be working together. Listening to all comments it fees like we are falling apart. We should be worried about people walking in the streets without reflectors. Parking on the corner of Duelk and Duelk, cars are parked to the corner. There is a simple resolution and she is sure the board will work together for everybody, if you want more garbage you pay for it. It’s a simple solution. Communication is very important. Her village taxes have gone up about $200, we do need to consider that water delivery, someone is paying for it and we don’t have the water to grow. She is sure the board is seeking a solution. o Kelly – There was an agreement with the Town that every additional can needed you would contact the Town and be charged by the can. The charge is minimal. I was for the people who needed it. She doesn’t know why everybody was billed for it. The Town wide garbage district, where would be hearings and a vote and they would all come in to decide to create the district. People had a say in it. She came to Village Hall multiple times, she asked how much will be billed and how will it be billed, no one knew at the village hall. They should have some sort of information. The information flyer, why didn’t they provide that to the village residents for 2nd garbage pick- up. o Anes - She doesn’t need another garbage pick-up Why do we have to pay. She doesn’t think it is fair. Who is going to pay for her damaged plumbing from brown water damage. There are boxes all over her yard, she cuts them and cleans them up. o Aponte -There are a lot of elderly people here. Elderly people on a fixed income and this is a shame that you can’t look at these people and see their struggle and to undermine their intelligence by going through the backdoor to get something you want is appalling. If there is something you want, then pay for it. The pot-holes and the elderly driving over them, trees falling down, stop signs in the wrong direction. There are more important things in this town that are needed. If you want extra garbage, you should pay for that. o Berberich – No need for an extra pick and has been here 34 years. It should be a choice. o Chambers – We don’t need to pay for a 2nd garbage pick-up. He sees a house and it has 4 meters, not 2 meters this is not a 2 family house. Having 4 meters? You are going through the back door and building a 4 family house. The road is in bad condition. Garbage is everywhere, keep the place clean. 5  Village of South Blooming Grove PUBLIC HEARING AND Regular Meeting Monday March 11, 2024 8:00pm o Flemming – she has been here 60 years, the lawn is covered with garbage, cand wrappers, boxes and other miscellaneous garbage. The buses are speeding, there is a speed limit and on Dallas Drive by Austin Court nobody is stopping. Last year a little boy got hit by a car. Cans are left out and all over the road. If you want extra pick up, pay for it. o Lake Shore Drive – Nobody brings in cans, the second garbage pick up isn’t helping keep it clean. He agrees with all that the second garbage doesn’t make sense. o Szalai – Need better communication, the water is disgusting, why should she pay for a filter, we live in America and she has the right to clean water. It’s a lot of garbage, don’t put it on us. We have been pushed out. Raise our taxes. They constantly come and knock on my door, its not for sale and she is not going, but she might have to but doesn’t want to. Stop cutting the trees. Pay extra if you want to have a second pick-up.  Adjournment o Motion to close the public hearing at 9:16pm leaving it open for 10 days for written comment. by Mayor Kalaj, seconded by Trustee Guttman. 5 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj, Deputy Mayor Weiss, Trustee Guttman, Trustee Rosner and Trustee Feldman. VILLAGE BOARD MEETING  Call to order Mayor Kalaj called to order the Village Board Meeting at 9:23pm on March 11, 2024, 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.  Correspondence o None  Discussion o Mayor Kalaj advised that there was a water main break about 2 weeks ago and 45-50 feet of pipe needed to be replaced. o Safety vests should be worn by all residents when walking for safety reasons, they can save lives.  Business o Resolution No. (19) – Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove authorizing the Mayor to execute/renew contract with Fusco Engineering and Land Surveying for Engineering and Planning services. Motion to accept by Trustee Guttman, seconded by Trustee Rosner. 5 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj, Deputy Mayor Weiss, Trustee Guttman, Trustee Rosner, Trustee Feldman. o Resolution No. (20) Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove scheduling a village board meeting for April 15, 2024 at 8:00pm. Motion to accept by Trustee 6  Village of South Blooming Grove PUBLIC HEARING AND Regular Meeting Monday March 11, 2024 8:00pm Rosner, seconded by Trustee Guttman. 5 Ayes Mayor Kalaj, Deputy Mayor Weiss, Trustee Guttman, Trustee Rosner, Trustee Feldman. o Resolution No. (21) - Resolution of the Village Board of the Village of South Blooming Grove authorizing the Mayor to execute and submit all documents necessary to renew the Village’s Municipal certificate of need (muni-con) with the New York State Department of Health. Motion to accept by Trustee Rosner, seconded by Trustee Guttman. 5 Ayes Mayor Kalaj, Deputy Mayor Weiss, Trustee Guttman, Trustee Rosner, Trustee Feldman  Abstract Motion to accept the Abstract by Mayor Kalaj, seconded by Trustee Guttman, 5 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj, Deputy Mayor Weiss, Trustee Guttman, Trustee Rosner, Trustee Feldman.  Adjournment o Motion to close the meeting at 9:28pm. by Mayor Kalaj, seconded by Trustee Guttman. 5 Ayes, Mayor Kalaj, Deputy Mayor Weiss, Trustee Guttman, Trustee Rosner, Trustee Feldman. Minutes respectfully submitted by Kerry Dougherty, Village Clerk 7