Board of Trustees

. Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting May 21, 2019 Mayor Rumbold called the regular meeting of the Village of Walden Board of Trustees to order at 6:30pm. On roll call the following were: Present: Mayor Sue Rumbold Trustees Faith Moore Brian Sebring Larry Kraus John Ramos Dan Svarczkopf Lynn E. Thompson Absent: Also Present: John Revella, Village Manager Marisa Kraus, Village Clerk Kelly A. Kelly, Village Treasurer Dave Donovan, Village Attorney Village Manager’s Report  Attended the NYCOM conference with both the Treasurer and Clerk. We went to various seminars. One was about the cannabis laws and they continue to recommend not to take any action until the state does. Another course dealt with problem employees, which we have from time to time, civil service or out on injury, comp, 207c, and those kinds of issues.  Went over the upcoming capital projects with the Engineer, Rec Coordinator and the DPW Super, to make sure we have our contracts ready to get the projects started.  Went over the OC Transit Plan. Transportation Council Subcommittee. Worked on the comprehensive economy wide transportation plan to coordinate the ability to go from one side of the county with bus service to another, including train transport. This app will actually help a person, put in the address that they're at to where they need to go. Show them different routes to take and where to switch buses if they need to. Also coordinate train schedules.  I went over some question with OC Emergency Services. The commissioner will be here at our June 18th meeting to discuss dispatching.  Reviewed the CSEA agreement with Trustee Thompson and Trustee Sebring. Hopefully, we can get that resolved shortly. May 21, 2019 1  .  The good thing that happened today was the Transportation Improvement plan included the stop light in front of the high school, which was approved for funding through DOT. Deputy Mayor Moore: The software issue with the Building Dept., has that been scheduled? Manager Revella: It's scheduled. Deputy Mayor Moore: Any response regarding the emergency repairs for the storms that came during this time last year? Manager Revella: No, we haven't had any response from FEMA yet. Deputy Mayor Moore: The billing for the fire and safety inspections for areas 2 and 3, do we have an idea of when that is going out? Manager Revella: Reviewing the letter now, so it can go out at the end of this month. Deputy Mayor Moore: Do we have an idea the number of summer camp staff that we are looking to hire? Manager Revella: I would say around 40. Deputy Mayor Moore: The June 18 presentation from Emergency Services is that just a presentation or will there be an opportunity for the public to ask questions? Manager Revella: I am not sure, but I do know that the board will have an opportunity. I don't know if it would be open to the public. Trustee Svarczkopf: Do you have any idea on Ulster Avenue? Manager Revella: The contractor for Ulster Avenue wanted to start yesterday, which would have happened if the DOT approved our permits when they were supposed to, 2 months ago, but they didn't. Today I had a meeting regarding DOT projects and they found out that the person, who had our permit, lost the paperwork. So, they had to resubmit everything. Hopefully, we get it soon. Approval of May 7, 2019 Minutes Mayor Rumbold made a motion to approve the May 7, 2019 Minutes. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. 6 ayes. 1 abstention (Trustee Ramos). Motion carried. Trustee’s Committee Reports Village Offices Liaison – Trustee Svarczkopf Trustee Svarczkopf: Clerk, Treasurer and Manager went to the NYCOM Conference. They have been dealing with Edmunds a lot. The rest is business as usual. Town of Montgomery & Library Board liaison – Trustee Kraus Trustee Kraus: Talked to Ginny, she said that everything is going well with the library. She's waiting for June, the children from elementary school is going to be touring the library, so they can check it out and hopefully they get library cards and be able to go there during the summer. May 21, 2019 2  . Planning and Zoning Boards as well as the Building Department Liaison – Trustee Thompson Trustee Thompson: I was not able to attend the last Montgomery meeting. Brian was there as was Sue, so there'll be a report on that. The only thing with the Building Department, I knew that they had their meeting set up with the software person, I think it's for June 19th or 20th, I'll double check. Darlene has just about everything ready for the fire and safety mailings to go out. She's just going to coordinate that with Kelly. Treasurer Kelly: She gave me everything that needs to be billed and we're setting it up with Edmunds, because they're here with us on site. Trustee Thompson: Dean has just been very busy with multiple code enforcement complaints. Deputy Mayor Moore: I see that they have included a complete action summary, which is great. I like the fact that it shows the address, when the violation was cited. My question is just looking at the very first 1, there was a violation, action date was May 2nd, and then it says there is an inspection on May 8th and the results; failed. But it says that it was mowed by the village on May 7th. So, my question is, if we can just check it, maybe it's a software thing, it might be the way something being entered. I'm okay with getting a copy of these complaints, but I think that we should just make sure that the information is correct. Manager Revella: Will have to check that. Deputy Mayor Moore: I also noticed in his report, he made a second request for the board to have a conversation regarding how we would like the Building Department to proceed with garbage cans. I wasn't sure because he referenced that it was in his last report. Mayor Rumbold: Attended the Town of Montgomery Work Session with Trustee Sebring. The DPW Supervisor is retiring as of the end of May. They did go into executive session to discuss that issue and I believe they set another meeting to talk about the DPW position. Basically, they went over water issues with Mr. Aiello. I know that they've hired an engineering firm. I don't know why Mr. Aiello addresses issues that might be better addressed by the engineering firm that they retain. He couldn't answer a lot of questions. So we didn't get a lot of information from that part of the meeting. Trustee Sebring: The Town is going to put out an RFP for a planner for a comp plan and then they're going to put it in the paper for residents to serve on the committee. Discussed the water code, because they have people stealing water from the fire hydrants. So, they have to set up a fine structure form if they get caught. They discussed the bathrooms at Berea Field and how much that would cost and that's going to go out for bid. There's an inflow infiltration on Neely Town Rd that they're concerned about. That's between the truck stops and expo trucking. Then they talked about the Lake View Park project. Talked about their resolution to rehab the Beaver Dam Well and put in a maintenance program that they have never had with very poor maintenance. So, they're going to set up a scheduled maintenance program for the well system to be cleaned and rehabbed. Mayor Rumbold: They never identify in these meetings when they talk about expenditures, which fund anything is coming out of. You can't speak at the work sessions. So, I'm just wondering if the board would be interested in having the manager make a query to the town and ask. They got a second opinion because they didn't seem to be happy with the assessment and the condition of the buildings. I don't know what fund paid for the original assessment or what fund is paying for the May 21, 2019 3  . second assessment or any of these projects are going to come out of. I don't know what our responsibility is as a village, but I think you should ask and see what fund is paying for all this stuff. Manager Revella: Just so you know under the code, buildings is usually under the A fund. Mayor Rumbold: They keep talking about these projects, they never say where the money's coming from. Police Department and Justice Department Liaison – Deputy Mayor Moore Deputy Mayor Moore: In addition to regular review of mileage and fuel usage, very happy to announced that it is official that our Village of Walden Police Department is set up to accept people needing assistance through the Hope Not Handcuffs Program. So, remember this is not a program that somebody can choose in lieu of an arrest or a consequence, but an opportunity for someone struggling and have a safe place to walk into and say that they need help. Doors are open, you can walk in and say you need help and they will call an Angel, from the Hope Not Handcuff program to sit down and talk to them and find them treatment. Recreation & Parks Department and Valley Central School Board Liaison – Trustee Ramos Trustee Ramos: Tennis is going you come to a conclusion real soon. We've had 38 wonderful participants. The Parks and Rec, Mr. Bliss and Anthony have been knee deep in interviews for the past couple of days for the summer program. Just a reminder, June 23rd is the Yankee baseball game on a Sunday. Tickets are still for sale. Again, I apologize for missing the last meeting. Was out chasing 5th graders at Greenkill, making sure that things stay straight. DPW Liaison– Trustee Sebring Trustee Sebring: The guys been busy patching in the area that they just put up with a new sander rack. They had a water main break on Bank and 208. They replaced some sidewalks in the village in 3 spots that were hazardous for people walking. Sweeping the streets. They've cleaned and repaired catch basins. They've been patching the holes in the road. Sewer jetting for DEC compliance. The water department replaced six meters and they've been trying to fix many curb boxes that don't work. Mayor Rumbold read the community events into the minutes. Public Comment on Business of the Board Mary Ellen Matise: 54 Gladstone Ave, Patricia Hannigan asked me to come and express her support for the Climate Change Resolution. She had sent me some stuff on it. She had sent a letter to Mike Hayes in 2011 from The Conservation Advisory Council. So, this goes way back. Interestingly, I had this manila folder 10 percent challenge. These things have been going back to that time period. Manager Revella: We did get funding for the 10 percent challenge. Mary Ellen Matise: So, that should give us the impotence to try and get more money by having this resolution. Under the Comp Plan, were there any revisions? Manager Revella: The ones that we voted on at the meeting. Mary Ellen Matise: In addition to the booklet that we have. May 21, 2019 4  . Manager Revella: The ones that we voted on last meeting are the only changes that were made so far. Can't make a change without a vote. Mary Ellen Matise: Under this discussion about animal waste, the property that sparked this discussion, do they just have 1 dog or numerous dogs? Deputy Mayor Moore: I don't think we can answer that. Manager Revella: It's not an individual property, it's in general. Mary Ellen Matise: This goes back to when we were talking about the piles of poop and we still don't have a definition in our code for kennels. Becky Pearson: 167 Walnut St, I was just reading about the animal waste, in the first one letter A, it says in charge of an animal, is that including a cat or any animal or all animals? What is considered an animal? I don't know if you need to clarify that. Can I be mad at people that have cats that go in my yard? Attorney Donovan: It probably would be productive if you let the board discuss this. Deputy Mayor Moore: It's on the agenda for discussion. I'm more than happy to hear what your questions are so we can make sure we answer them during our discussion. Becky Pearson: We don't know, yet whether it's going to be a discussion or whether it's going to be voted on. Also, letter D, peeing on somebody's property is going to be against the law? Or is it just the poop? Then the paragraph down below, letter B, I don't know what your definition of nuisance is on private property. So, what does that mean to that paragraph? Letter C, do we have something in writing that says how to get rid of that. I don't know if that's in the law anywhere. And then administrator enforcement is the Building Department? This is not a Police Department anymore? Action Items Comprehensive Plan Kristen O'Donnell: Your versions are not red lined, so I will kind of highlight the changes since the 2012 plan. The most important update and probably the main reason why we update a comprehensive plan every 5-10 years is census data and housing data. The county provides The Village with all of your updated census and housing demographics and all that information so that's in there as well as two new maps. These are updated with Orange County as well. Storm Water management regulations, those have been updated by the New York State DEC. We have updated your comp plan to be consistent with those regs to make sure that as part of the Planning Board's review of projects they are recommended that they are enforcing the DEC stormwater manual recommending green techniques etc. We've updated recommendations related to expanding on site plans and other items recommended that Planning Board should be going over when they go through the site plan process to get landscaping and lighting. We've updated all the business data. Businesses that have come into the Village. Those that have left the Village since the last plan. Updated all the photographs for you. Recommended zoning recommendations in Chapter 9 of your plan to try to encourage economic development in the village. Encourage uses, lots of new modern uses. Have gotten rid of some of the older outdated uses, which may no longer want, some of the heavier industrial uses that the village has moved past. We've also recommended with respect to utilities, the last round of the plan recommended lots of utility upgrades village has implemented several of those upgrades and we have updated the plan to reflect that some of these things are done. May 21, 2019 5  . And some of the some new recommendations for moving forward to always improve the village's sidewalk system, water/sewer. Trustee Ramos: I loved it, but I thought in our meeting, we had specified locations where the parks were by names and on page 53, it says Maple Street Boat Launch and it is Marcus Millspaugh Riverfront. Manager Revella: It says Orange County Water Authority, it's not something we created. Kristen O'Donnell: That's from the county. I can maybe drop an overlay over it. When you add in the Marcus Millspaugh, might start writing it over. Trustee Ramos: We did discuss that at our meeting. Manager Revella: Yes. We fixed them in the language, just the maps aren't ours. We get him from the county. They don't update very often. Kristen O'Donnell: They charge you per map. More importantly, just took them months for a map. The county did contact me and say that they're implementing a county wide program with respect to boat launches and they were very interested in the recommendation for the Maple Street Boat Launch and there may be some funding opportunities coming up through Orange County. Manager Revella: They also mentioned potentially putting for a kayak or boat launch at the lower bridge as well to continue down the river. We're working with the owner on that. Kristen O'Donnell: The next step, for me to do is tap a SEQR Conference of plans are concerned to take one action under SEQR. So, the very first step would be, our office will prepare an environmental assessment. Only part 1 and Part 2 of the long form. Generally, with local laws and comprehensive plans there's like a few checkboxes and then we move on to a narrative. So, what I propose to do, with Dave's blessing, we'll do a narrative explanation of what the highlighted recommendations are, like amendments and we'll talk about potential environmental impacts. I think in this case, we're hoping to move towards a negative declaration with respect to SEQR and that means explaining why we believe that there are no significant environmental impacts with respect to the plan. We think that the amendments that are proposed are fairly minor. There are no increases in residential densities proposed. There are several uses will need to look at. The new uses that would allow will have to talk about that. I'll have to look at the implications there but at this point I don't see any recommendations that we've made in this plan that would raise the level of a significant environmental impact. We are not increasing industrial zones, decreasing residential densities allowing things that are not anticipated by existing comprehensive plan. So, I would say get Dave's input that he would like to provide, but I believe that we could do it through a negative declaration. Attorney Donovan: I think that would be appropriate. If the board would like to review some sort of timeline. We do the EAF, there's a public hearing. Kristen O'Donnell: I would suggest, I can have an EAF ready for the next meeting and probably suggest you set a public hearing and I could have the EAF ready for that night. We can talk about the EAF and then you can open the public hearing or if you prefer to look at the EAF ahead of time and then set the hearing. It's really up to you, but I could be prepared to have the EAF ready for your next meeting if that's what you prefer. May 21, 2019 6  . Deputy Mayor Moore: June 4th is our next meeting. There's also the meeting on June 18th. Manager Revella: June 18th we have the presentation with the county. Just need to open the hearing. So, we need at least 30 days anyway before taking action. Could leave it open the entire time. Attorney Donovan: The other alternative is to set the public hearing. Get the EAF first; set the public hearing in for July. So, you're not jamming yourself with time. I'm not looking to lengthen the process, but I don't want to scrunch it. I think that would give sufficient time for county comments, any public comments. Just my suggestion to the board. Deputy Mayor Moore: The EAF could be to us to review at the next meeting? Kristen O'Donnell: June 4th? Absolutely. Deputy Mayor Moore: Then we can set the public hearing on June 4th for the July meeting. We'll have the document on the 4th for us to review and can discuss and ask any questions before the public hearing is set. Mayor Rumbold: I'm still on page 52 and 53 with the discrepancy on the county map. So, if we apply for grants obviously we call it, Marcus Millspaugh Riverfront Park and Boat Launch, but that county has it listed as Maple Street Boat Launch. Manager Revella: Can do FKA, Formerly Known As. Mayor Rumbold: Okay, I just want to make sure we do that so they know we're referencing the same thing. Kristen O'Donnell: On page 55, it does refer to it correctly. Mayor Rumbold: I'm just concerned if where we're applying for a grant to the county; we have to reference that Maple Street Boat Launch, because that's what's on their map. They don't have Marcus Millspaugh. Kristen O'Donnell: We can make additional notes when we submit for any type of grant. Set Tri-Board Meeting Mayor Rumbold: We used to do it at 6 o'clock before the board meeting. Deputy Mayor Moore: Becky, do you have preference? Becky Pearson: Tuesdays are good. Manager Revella: 6 o'clock before which meeting? Deputy Mayor Moore I think that June 4th meeting is too soon to give the other boards notice, so we would looking at the earliest June 18th. July we only have 1 meeting. Manager Revella: If you want to give more time, can do the July meeting. May 21, 2019 7  . Mayor Rumbold: I'd say July. Trustee Thompson: I'm okay with that. I just hope we don't lose people like going on vacations we start going into July. I'm just concerned if we push it into July, are we going to start losing people attending because of summer vacations and things like that starting. Maybe it's better to try and get it finished in June. Just a thought. Mayor Rumbold: If we can at least get one member from each board, you hope for more. Deputy Mayor Moore: Everyone in consensus for July 16th, 6pm? All: Yes. Discussion – Section 214 Animal Waste Attorney Donovan: Last meeting we discussed coming up with a resolution to a problem. As indicated, I gave kind of 2 suggestions. 1 is kind of a generic, if you will, pooper scooper law, that I called curbing of animals instead of just dogs. The second is a modification to the existing property maintenance code, Section 214, just adding in animal waste to other items that are prohibited or other behaviors that are prohibited. I forwarded both of these to the Building Inspector and had a conversation with him. Dean's feeling and suggestion was because this is an enforcement of the Building Department, that the modifications to property maintenance code 214, would better accomplish the objective. Although he did ask for a definition of animal waste. I'll have to struggle to come up with that. You have kind of the standard Pooper Scooper law. Which in reading it again, would need some modifications, because this kind of does speak to defecation on the public property or someone else's property not on your own property. Where the modifications to the property maintenance would include revenues. So, it's on your property, you gotta clean it up. Trustee Svarczkopf: The way I read it, one was putting the onus on me and the other one was putting it on whoever owns the property that it defecates on. I'm not okay with getting fined if my neighbor's dog poops in my yard. I'm not okay if my neighbor's dog poops in my yard, I am certainly not okay with me getting fined for it. And then the other one just seeing not enforceable. The Building Department would have to actually see it happen. Attorney Donovan: One of the low points of my legal career, I actually tried a case and introduced it to evidence, pictures of the dog in the act and got a guilty verdict. But all kidding aside, you're right. Who can tell whether it came from Lassie or Fido? Trustee Svarczkopf: And even if I did videotape this person's dog defecating on my lawn and the person walking away, all they have to say is they're going to get a bag. So, one is not enforceable and the other one doesn't put the onus on the person that it should be on. Manager Revella: The problem is to make sure you really clean up the yard so it's not a public health concern. Right now, if I went to your yard and littered in your yard and no one caught me, the litter is still in your yard and you'd be fined. Trustee Svarczkopf: And I'd still pick it up. They poop in my yard and I pick it up, but I'm not okay with me being fined for that. May 21, 2019 8  . Mayor Rumbold: I don't think its 1 pile. I guess the issue is you can go by yards, there are dogs that are tied to a tree and they go in the same spot in the owner's yard and it's never cleaned up. I don't think we're talking about a dog that runs and makes a deposit in your yard and takes off that you would be fined for 1 little pile of dog poop. Trustee Svarczkopf: Which brings me to my other point, which is the selective enforcement. I feel like the way the law is written, I can be, right? There's one pile of dog poo and because someone doesn't like me they can come and write that ticket and get whether that's appropriate, you're being fined versus a number and then you've got to go on the people's properly to count how many and we're not allowed on most people's property to do an investigation so that's not enforceable either. I just don't see either one of these as enforceable. Attorney Donovan: Well, both of them are difficult to enforce. There's no question about it. You need an eye witness. Let me just back up a little bit. In terms of Section 214 though, if there was a collection animal waste, could be from your neighbor or in your yard, you would be responsible. I understand that's objectionable. I don't know quite how else to address that was the problem. Trustee Svarczkopf: I agree about the problem being a problem, too. That's not my issue. By the way I read both of those laws, I don't like either one of those solutions and I don't have another. Attorney Donovan: The purpose tonight was to have a discussion. You have to find that that third way and I have to bring something back to you. Whatever the board wants. Deputy Mayor Moore: In the first one, where it said, "Control of an animal that is permitted to be harbored by law". I specifically like that because then it's not just dogs. It could be cats. Then it is one they were permitted to have. So, I did specifically like that and I think I agree that I don't really like either one of these 100 percent either. Attorney Donovan: We get back to this issue, I think we talked about a couple months ago, we're regulating conduct that ordinary, decent people wouldn't do. So, you're trying to deal with somebody who's not a decent neighbor or decent citizen. You really shouldn't have to adopt a regulation that says clean up after your animal. Trustee Svarczkopf: People do come by and shove soda cans in my bushes when they're done with them, because we don't have public refuse. That does happen and we do have to clean it up. But if you came by and fined me for it after that, I would be furious. I don't think that's a way to do that, especially if I prove that I don't have a dog and you're writing me a ticket for animal feces in my yard. Mayor Rumbold: I don't think the Building Department or Code Enforcement Officer has the time or the wherewithal to go around and look for errant piles of dog droppings in somebody's yard. You're talking about somebody that has multiple dogs and doesn't clean the yard. The neighbors now have to smell. I don't think we're certainly talking about one pile of dog poo left in your yard by a dog that happened to come by while you were at work. I think that would be ridiculous and I'm sure a judge would think it was ridiculous for anybody to get written for that. People throw papers on my yard going by. I just pick them up. I've never gotten a summons for it. I think that would be a bit ridiculous. But we do have an issue in the village with people that have and we don't have the kind of law, who have 3, 4 or 5 dogs that are out in the same spot every day, doing their business in the same place and these people do not clean it up. If it needs to be reworded to address that specific problem, so that no one has to worry about being ticketed for one little pile of stuff on their lawn. If May 21, 2019 9  . that's your concern. Then so be it. It is sad that we have to have a law and a regulation to tell the normal people that they really need, especially when they have small children that are running in the yard. I kind of question why you would have to tell someone that but evidently it is an issue. Deputy Mayor Moore: If anybody would like to work with our attorney on something better? Trustee Ramos: Yes. Mayor Rumbold: Did I express the spirit of what this is about? Maybe it can be modified to meet that criteria. Introductory to Local Law 6 of 2019 – Handicap Space Manager Revella: This is to create a space right on the corner of Pine St near the Orchard intersection. Pretty much close to the entrance to the Temple there. One spot. Attorney Donovan: All the handicapped spots in the village called out by a local law. So, if the board is inclined, we would just need to schedule a public hearing. Trustee Svarczkopf made a motion to set the Public Hearing for Local Law 6 of 2019 – Handicap Space for Tuesday, June 4th at 6:30pm or soon thereafter. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. Resolution 31-18-19 – Climate Smart Community Manager Revella: So, this is a pledge to become a more globally friendly community in our emissions. We've done pretty well on converting most of our facilities to natural gas. Changed most of our light bulbs to energy efficient. So, we're on the right track to making this work. It does have a lot of criteria that need to be followed even after the implementation of this resolution. Dave has looked into it as well and made some comments in addition, but there's the 10 points on a moderate resolution that we must follow through on after adoption. Attorney Donovan: I just printed it off the DEC website. There's like seven different steps of what comes next. Just for information purposes. I didn't give you all seven. Trustee Thompson: I just thought the timing for this for our village might be right now. Especially since we have taken the necessary steps to join the Wallkill Rivershed Alliance. We're going to be involved in Tin Brook. I would very much like to see us get this enacted and start moving forward to the Energy Smart Community. It just seems like if we're going to start going down the environmental path, that this all fits together and now is a good time to do this. There aren't that many communities that are on the Climate Smart. Maybrook is and I know the county is. There really weren't that many. I was approached by several different people asking about this so I did present it to John. Once we looked and saw all the different steps that are involved. I was told that the Citizens Advisory Committee for the town would be willing to help us get started on this. It was given to Mr. Donovan. I'm assuming you've not found any downside to us participating in this. Attorney Donovan: You know my job is to tell you what you can and can't do, not what you should or shouldn't do, so you can certainly do this. My point of view is just making sure you go in with eyes wide open and these are the things that follow next. The policy is a decision of the board. Oftentimes, I have very strong views about things, but I’m not entitled to have strong view on policy as the Village Attorney. You absolutely do get to do this. I just want you to know what would come next if you did do it. May 21, 2019 10  . Deputy Mayor Moore: Based on this model resolution and the 10 things that we must do, should be decided to do this, do we have a clear definition of where that level of completion would be? How do you know when you reach that level? Decrease energy use, is i based on kilowatt. And do we have the answers to those question? I would like to know if that is going to be graded on before we sign a resolution? If we're ready to do this, what's our goal? Trustee Svarczkopf: Is there money behind this? Manager Revella: There's a potential for grant funding that comes out every year. Green initiatives. Trustee Thompson: The better you do with some of these programs, it enhances your score. You have better opportunities for obtaining certain grant funding. Trustee Svarczkopf: I would love to see solar out there. Would love to see solar on the DPW building. But being tied to it is my concern. Signing something like this if we have to reduce 30 to 35 percent energy usage, is there a fine if we don't? How does that work? Deputy Mayor Moore: I'm totally in favor of getting more information about this and being able to answer those questions. Attorney Donovan: The information is actually fairly easily out there. If you go to the DEC website and search Climate Smart Communities, you're going to find all these different steps. Just what I've given you, what's in the packet, they seem to be more like objectives. For example, every Climate Smart Community should follow the following steps. Then it talks about Emission Reduction goals and targets. For long term goals, some communities set incremental targets such as a percent reduction by a target year. So, there doesn't seem to be, at least what I see so far, you certainly have to reach 10 percent by this year, 20 percent by that year. It tends to be more general. But if you go to DEC website, it's easy to find. You'll see all those different steps that come next and I think it's pretty self-explanatory. Trustee Thompson: I have given everyone a packet that had more information on it, too. But there's a ton of information at the website. Deputy Mayor Moore: I was specifically talking about these 10 things on the model resolution. Trustee Thompson: I don't think anything happens if you don't meet the full criteria. What happens is if you do well, meeting all of the criteria, you become a certified Smart Community. I didn't see a downside. Mayor Rumbold: I see a downside when anybody is telling me New York State, especially, that this pledge must be adopted verbatim by the highest body of elected officials. Must include a signature from Municipal Clerk verifying authenticity. Give me a break. I agree that we need to be climate smart and we need to try to implement green whenever we can. But don't give me something that's modeled and on the DEC website verbatim. That's just my opinion. I'll do what I can to make my community climate smart and go green when I can. Deputy Mayor Moore: What's the pleasure of the board? To continue conversation about this? May 21, 2019 11  . Trustee Svarczkopf: I agree with Sue. Tying ourselves to something scares me. But I think need we'd have conversations about all of these things and come up with a plan for ourselves that we can hold ourselves to. Someone else holding us to it, seems odd to me. The verbiage there seems extraordinarily odd for them something that doesn't have any repercussions. If it doesn't have any repercussions, then why can't it be changed? Trustee Thompson: Because they want you to meet that criteria to be eligible for grant money. Trustee Svarczkopf: But if we can meet that criteria without it, we'll be eligible for grant money. Like if we just go out and can show that in the last three years, we put solar on half of our buildings, we've decreased our energy use and we start checking them ourselves. I don't see why they would make us sign this piece of paper. Deputy Mayor Moore: Well, there are some certain grants that we would not be eligible for if we're not a Climate Smart Community. Basically, what they're saying is in order to be recognized as a Climate Smart Community, we must verbatim follow their rules. And again I'm not saying I'm opposed to it, I just want some answers to be able to understand. So, is there somebody that can come and talk to us from the DEC or the Climate Smart Community? I want to understand what they mean by a decrease energy use. Is it on a number? Mayor Rumbold: By saying verbatim, we have to manipulate our community to meet their criteria. They're not even offering for us to modify this in any way shape or form to fit our particular community. Not everybody is going to fit in that round hole or that square hole. So there is no leverage. There is no leeway. And I don't like someone telling me how I have to modify my community to fit their idea of what a Climate Smart Community is. I think they tend to throw out that carrot, you're going to get grant money if you sign on to this and you agree verbatim that this is what you're going to do. You will have a highly elected official sign this thing. Trustee Thompson: But we don't have to participate in it. It's totally if we want to participate. Mayor Rumbold: I agree with Dan. We can have a discussion about how to make our community more climate smart without pricking my finger with a needle and signing in blood on this thing. Deputy Mayor Moore: Can I suggest that for tonight, we table this discussion and if somebody wants to try to get some answers to some of these concerns that have been voiced tonight. Trustee Thompson: I would be happy to check into this further. Would anyone be opposed to contact with someone in Maybrook, to see how they went down this path? Deputy Mayor Moore: I would not be opposed to gathering information. Trustee Thompson: They are our most local neighbor and another small community with limited resources. So, I'd be very curious to talk to, probably their Deputy Mayor and see how they jumped through the hoops to get on the list. Mayor Rumbold: Is this relatively new? Trustee Thompson: Not really. Manager Revella: Since 2014. May 21, 2019 12  . Mayor Rumbold: This part of the DEC? Deputy Mayor Moore: It did come after the 10 percent challenge and that was like 2011-12. Mayor Rumbold: Is there any documentation about how much money has been awarded via this program? Are there specific grants only for Climate Smart Communities? If you don't sign this then you're not eligible? Manager Revella: They give points. So, you're getting a boost above anybody else. Attorney Donovan: If you're a certified green community, you're eligible for grants. If you're not certified, you're not eligible. Deputy Mayor Moore: Lynn will gather the information and let the Mayor and Manager know when ready to put back on the agenda. Liaisonships Manager Revella: We had a meeting prior to the meeting. Myself, Deputy Mayor Moore and Trustee Thompson and we went through some general categories to see if Liaisonships should continue and maybe we can look at them and they can be molded into these categories. Touching on different things like economic growth, community services, human resources, environmental, emergency services, different board relationships, library, Town of Montgomery and housing task force and grants. Those kind of items. How each thing is pushing each one of those categories was what we were debating and wondering how everyone else felt about it. Deputy Mayor Moore: We've talked about this at couple of meetings prior. We talked about the interest, the possibility of revamping the Liaisonships to move away from direct contact with the Department Heads and having them continue to report it to the Village Manager and have their report out to become part of the manager's report, which would grow substantially. We had spent some time looking at how we can revamp that. There has also been some discussion about whether or not it is important to even continue to the Liaisonships. If we are going to move away from the liaisons having direct contact with the Department Heads, in doing that we did break things up into 7 major categories, but it has also been brought to my attention that 1, not everybody may want to continue doing something and we broke it up. The way we broke it up, it looks like it could be a lot. My thought process was that when I say one of these and are talking about what we categorize things as was not necessarily, for example one category was economic growth and development and in that category we had grouped together village businesses, the Orange County Chamber and the Town of Montgomery Chamber and that's to have a person to have contact with those organizations and being able to offer assistance and bringing information back to the board as to if there's anything that we can retain. That's not necessarily going to ever see one in our meetings. There is another one that we call board relations, which would be Town of Montgomery Board, School Board, Zoning Board, Planning Board. Again not that you would be expected to go to every single meeting, but to be able to identify if there is something major going on in the school board. So, we did break it down in 7 categories which I think we would all be willing to share, but I think the first question is, do we want to continue with Liaisonships? Or do we want to just get rid of the liaisons completely? All of this is open for discussion. Even though we broke things down into 7 categories. First thing is deciding if you want to keep liaisons and then if you decide you do want to keep them and want to revamp, then you can talk about that. May 21, 2019 13  . Trustee Svarczkopf: To answer your first question, yes. Keep them, but not in the form that they're in. Trustee Kraus: I agree. Keep them, but don't get involved with the government from running the village in between the Department Heads and Manager. Been saying that for a while. Do community events like the Community Council, Ladies Club, The Rotary Club? Get involved with that. That's fine to let the people know what's going on in the community. Trustee Thompson: I think we should keep some form of liaison. I'm very much in favor of tweaking it a little bit. I think it's an opportunity if we rethink it, like we've been talking about, to be more connected to what's going on in our community. Actually hear what the people in the community would like to see happening in the village. Hopefully, by doing that and having a better relationship maybe with our community, maybe we would be able to get more residents involved in things going on in the village. Deputy Mayor Moore: I want to say I have been bringing this up to tweak them a little bit. I will say I am open to how it is that we tweak them, how we want to do it, some questions have come up in our conversations, not only by how we group them together, but then also length of service, how long will somebody be committed to this liaison. How will we choose which group we want to do. Those are all questions that I feel that we would be open to discussing together. Mayor Rumbold: It's kind of a mixed bag. What you're talking about is people attending meetings, events. It's sad to say, I think everybody knows exactly how many people attend things now in the village. I don't know if it's going to make a difference by assigning someone to go to these things. I have no problem opening communication more between the board and the community, but those of us that are actually out in the community hear what people have to say all the time. I don't think you can force anyone to go and attend Community Council meetings or Harvest Fest or go to any of the concerts or anything else. So, I don't know if it's going to change anything by assigning someone a certain category. If we're not happy with the Liaisonships the way they are then get rid of them. Maybe they've served their purpose. You cannot dictate to anyone on this board, as been pointed out to me numerous times. I assign liaisons according to the way it was done at their inception and I basically got told, I don't really care what you do, I'm not attending and I'm not participating. You can't dictate. If everyone's not happy with the Liaisonships and you feel that they've outlived their usefulness. They get rid of them. Trustee Ramos: I've been pretty vocal about the Liaisonships since we started discussing this and I'm going to stay steadfast on that. They provide an intricate portion of communication to the various departments. I enjoy my support that I give to the Parks and Recreation. I also enjoy my support to the school district. I've built five years of communication flow between those 2 areas and I firmly believe that they trust the person that sits across from them every time we talk. Without that trust, obviously information flow is not going to get to the pertinent people or their responses to so the pertinent people. Mayor knew when we sat at the diner and you asked me to come on this board, I was elated that we were those you assigned me to the Parks and Rec and the school district and that was the foundation of my decision to accept and again run a couple of times, because I have that unique contribution to my community and to the members that a department that I serve. If I'm doing a horrible job on those 2, by all means, let's shake up the hat put the names in and just draw straws and I will do a 100 percent job to whatever area that I'm assigned to. I still think the Liaisonships are a critical component of government interaction it helps the Village Manager. I'm not here to boss Mr. Bliss or Mr. Xanthis or any member of the school board. I'm here as a communication flow to everybody in front of me and to the residents of the village. May 21, 2019 14  . Trustee Sebring: I believe in the Liaisonships, but it does give us trustee’s information that we should know what's going on in the departments. Some board members may not want to do that, but I personally want to. I personally am interested in the Town of Montgomery, because I've lived here all my life. If there's other areas that you would like to add another committee to I'm more than willing to go to it. But as far as this village I want to be involved as much as I can. I've made suggestions to Fred and I've gotten shot down. But at least I do voice my opinion and he tells me what his version is. Ok, you're the boss. So, I think it works both ways. We should be involved. Because that's what we're up here for and if there's any problems in the village, most of the time they'll either call the village office or they'll get a hold of a trustee that they see. I'm quite sure everybody here has had a complaint from a resident of one thing or another and you pass it on. So, I'm in favor of the Liaisonships. If you want to start more committees for other things, I'm all for it. Deputy Mayor Moore: Apparently, we don't agree on whether or not we want to keep them the same or if we want to change them. I would suggest then that we just think about it and actually take a vote at the next meeting that you keep it the same or get rid of them. Trustee Svarczkopf: No one is saying to get rid of them. Deputy Mayor Moore: Whatever you guys want to do. I'm open to whatever. I do personally feel very strongly that we are doing a very important specific role that is assigned to a village employee that we've hired to handle. So, we pay the Village Manager to have that communication with our Department Heads. I don't disagree with the relationships that we built. I thoroughly enjoy my time with Chief. We have some great conversations and we debate some things and I enjoyed my time with him. I just strongly feel that the way they are now is we're taking away a responsibility that our Village Manager has. I agree with you, John, that it does open up communication and my thought process of tweaking and defining so that the Department Head are only answering to the Village Manager, did not change the fact that Mike can't come to you. You're still a member of the board. Or Dean can still come to you with something and ask you to bring it the board, because John's not listening to him. But that was my feeling and change in it. I'm willing to do whatever the rest of the board feels. I agree with John, that when we were elected to these positions we were assigned a job and we took them and making the most of those jobs and made them very serious and we put our heart and soul into them. So, I'm open to what everybody wants to do. Trustee Svarczkopf: If Kelly needs something, she goes to John. When I go in and talk to her, I ask if I can get them anything, no. Why? Because I couldn't get it for her anyway. If she said she needs a new computer. I would say I got it. So, in the end, I can't do anything there. Me giving a speech up here or something about the report and you know more of what's going on there anyway. What I think you're suggesting is not getting rid of Liaisonships, I think we're trying to make them more people. Make them something that we can change. Now another board comes to us and says, hey we're trying to do this over here in Montgomery or we want you guys to get behind this. We now have open communication there. Because we're legislators, we can come and say, yes we want to get behind them. That's something I can change. Something I can do right now. I feel our Liaisonships are motions to a certain extent. In the beginning, I went in all the time, but after being told, no, 40 times. In response to with that change, if we go to things, yes. I think if I found those jobs meaningful. Something that I could change, that I can effect. I'm sure of those things way more often. Deputy Mayor Moore: Read the groups. That was kind of how we looked at it. Questions came, 1, is it too much that we're grouping into things? Not saying going to every single meetings and May 21, 2019 15  . events. We should all be going to these as trustees. But then a question came, a length of service. John has been doing this for 5 years and been able to form such a great relationship, because you've been doing it. But if we switch it, do we want to put a length of service on each one? Have to make sure that there is long enough to form relationships with them. That was how we talked about the possibility of keeping them. The question is, do we want to continue talking. There's no rush. It's not like we even have to make a decision tonight. I don't want to keep putting it on the agenda and having the same conversation. Manager Revella: I think if you type this up as we discussed today it would be helpful to the board to review and give comment. Trustee Svarczkopf: I just want to make a point that any employee in this village can come to any of us. I think they know that. Even if we go down this road, if Fred wants to talk to any of us, we want him to. And frankly, he would probably go to Brian because you have that relationship. I don't think that ends. I don't think that we have to go through the motions of it. If any of them come to us with an issue, we're the boss of his boss. We can fix issues. But I don't know if we need to get into the nitty gritty of water things put in or how many water bills were paid. . Trustee Sebring: The reason I put that in there is to show that the DPW and the Water Department is productive. Then I've heard comments about why is the mechanic out with the DPW. Fred and I talked about this today. There's times when he may be slow. And he has agreed to help out if his hands are needed and he is slow. Rather than him sit down there in the garage and do nothing. Trustee Svarczkopf: I apologize if I came across as me attacking. Trustee Sebring: I understand. Clerk Duties Manager Revella: We've got a list, kind of goes through the main duties of the Clerk. Obviously, things pop up that we may not have thought of. It is the main items from the last few years of going over the Clerk/Admin Assistant duties. The clerk, herself, has also gone through and made comments to make sure we weren't missing certain things and a couple of things were removed. We believe this is encompassing for the Clerk's position. Deputy Mayor Moore: For the most part, the list was typed up off of the existing forms that the board has looked at when we were hiring the clerk. I do think that the conversation of this is important at looking at the duties of the clerk is to make sure that everybody on the board is aware of the duties and to prioritize them in what's important to make sure that it's being done by those duties. Trustee Sebring: My feeling is that she's been here long enough to know what her duties are and some days she has to stop what she was doing prior and get on to something that's just come up, that has to be attended to and then go back and finish her other reports or whatever. I've looked this over and there is nothing here that I would change. I mean she knows what's got to be done and yes, some things may come up that is not on the list, but if you can get through them in between 20 different things. She knows what she can do and what she can't do with the amount of time that she's allotted every day, 5 days a week or whenever. So, I'm happy with this list. May 21, 2019 16  . Trustee Svarczkopf: I see this as micromanaging more than just the job description. The only thing that I really took a second look at was the administrative assistant. Wondering if that would be better placed with Gina or Jessica. Manager Revella: Traditionally, it's been in the Clerk's list of duties. Trustee Svarczkopf Just was wondering if that should change. Manager Revella: We were transitioning the duties from the current Clerk to the Deputy Treasurers. Other finance duties. Clerk doesn't usually do finance work. Trustee Svarczkopf: And that was on here. That was my concern, I felt like this list if it's a job description for the next Clerk. It may change, right? We have a Clerk now that's been doing these duties. Deputy Mayor Moore: These duties came directly off of the list of what the old clerk was doing. I just consolidated them into one list. It's the same exact duties from the Administrative Aide to the Village Manager and the basic instructions of Clerk duties. Trustee Svarczkopf: What about the finance things? Manager Revella: They would still cover the front desk at times. Trustee Svarczkopf: The water and sewer. Deputy Mayor Moore: That is a task specific to this one person. Manager Revella: That's the only bullet. Trustee Svarczkopf: You guys do a great job up there. I don't want to micromanage. Frankly, I'm not sure why we have to a list to begin with. Those 2 things stuck out to me. If you guys are saying that's the way it should be, I could care less. Deputy Mayor Moore: The Clerk is our employee. So, it's important that we as a board are aware of what the Clerk is doing and that we agree that those are the duties that we want our Clerk to be doing. Mayor Rumbold: I don't think there's any question with that. She's our employee. I would say that our issues should be a priority. Our minutes. Anything that she needs to do for the board. People were complaining they weren't getting e-mails. RSVP's might not have been getting done in a timely manner. Manager Revella: The email issues were internet issues. Mayor Rumbold: Then the Administrative duties for the manager would come second and if you have time then you jump in and help the Treasurer with what she needs to have help with. But those duties really need to be taken care of first as priorities. Trustee Svarczkopf: There are jobs historically Clerk jobs. I feel like they should come before even us. FOILS, death certificates, notices. May 21, 2019 17  . Mayor Rumbold: There's a time frame for those. I'm not saying don't do someone's death certificate because you're typing our minutes. Trustee Sebring: I agree that each one of those girls there should know, because everybody takes vacations and some people do get sick for amount of time. So, you just can't stop her work, because she's out. Somebody's got to do it. When she's there then that's her responsibility to do her job. Trustee Thompson: If the DPW now has a secretary, why does the Clerk still have to handle dig permits? Manager Revella: Because we also have to review in the office the insurance and I have to sign off as well and the money comes here as well. Deputy Mayor Moore: I asked that question too. Trustee Thompson: It looks like a very long list of duties. I agree with Sue that certain duties should come first, because that's what the Clerk is there to do. Deputy Mayor Moore: I also feel very strongly that it's important to have a very clear list of duties, so when you're evaluating employees performance. So that the Clerk understands what is expected of her. We understand what we are expecting from her. I think that's very important to have it on one list. Manager Revella: Just remember we're talking about the position, not the person. Whoever the Clerk may be. Trustee Svarczkopf: I think more of a reason why we take a look at a couple of those bullet points then. Helping the Treasurer with water/sewer billing. That's not a duty of her's. Why does she need Spectrum and Verizon bills? Manager Revella: Not bills. Contracts. Trustee Svarczkopf: That's a paper document going through. Deputy Mayor Moore: That's calling up saying that we need a new phone line here or there. Trustee Svarczkopf: Why wouldn't that be finance? Mayor Rumbold: If it's contracts. That would be the Clerk. Finance Department pays the bills. Deputy Mayor Moore: Basically, the Clerk is in charge of a contract. Best way to explain it is the point of contact. Trustee Thompson: John can you tell me again what you said about the dig permits? Manager Revella: There's 2 parts to the Dig or Street Opening Permit. 1 is taking in the actual permit. Making sure they have proper insurances. The other part is reviewing the plan, which both the Superintendent and I have to do. And then take in the funds, which is a Surety Bond or a Cash Bond and then the actual fee. May 21, 2019 18  . Trustee Thompson: And Fred's secretary can't do that, because why? Manager Revella: She can do everything except take in a Surety Bond or Bond payment and the fee. And she can't make me sign it unless it comes up here. Trustee Thompson: So, the Clerk does not have to do that duty. Manager Revella: No. Trustee Thompson: The Building Department secretary does duties that the Clerk can do. But there an assistant over there to do the duties, right? Manager Revella: There is. Trustee Thompson: I just find that’s not a Clerk duty, if we have a secretary in the other department. That's my opinion. Deputy Mayor Moore: If everybody would take a look this and review it and if there is any other questions, comments, concerns, we can bring it up again, now that's it's all on one clear document. Resolution 32-18-19 – Tax Warrant Trustee Ramos made a motion to approve Resolution 32-18-19 – Tax Warrant. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Moore. All ayes. Motion carried. Resolution 33-18-19 – Budget Transfer Manager Revella: This is the year end transfers to make sure we balance out the year end. We stayed within fund for most things. You'll notice there are a couple of things that are out of fund, because that item really doesn't have a fund. The police stayed with the police. DPW stayed with DPW, etc. Mayor Rumbold made a motion to approve Resolution 33-18-19 – Budget Transfers. Seconded by Trustee Ramos. All ayes. Motion carried. Public Comment Mary Ellen Matise: I want to address the Comp Plan. Thank you to everybody who has ever worked on it. This is the 2nd revision since 2005. Prepared by Alan Sorenson 2005. Manager Revella: He did the revision in 2010-11 as well. Mary Ellen Matise: When you go to other communities and you mention that we have this great document and that we keep bringing up to date. They're amazed. Having sat on the first committee and a member of the last 2. You really can't do or accomplish anything without a plan. I wanted to really thank everybody who's ever worked on it. Something that happened last night really illustrates the importance of having the plan and it this kind of ties in to it, as I'm hearing this idea of the housing task force brought up finally. Went to the Planning Board meeting last night. We have a document here that has all of the up to date information in it. And somebody is standing there telling us that we aren't as good as the Village of Montgomery or Village of Maybrook. Number 1, we're better. We have all the information to go on that we need to make a decision for our village. Don't say it your target is single mothers in 1 bedroom apartments. How does that May 21, 2019 19  . work? Who sleeps on the couch? It's a target for seniors, too. And young people who might work in the city or Westchester or somewhere else, but need a nice apartment to live in. Well, those are three different target groups. When we look at our demographics and you look at our zoning. We know what's going to work. So, I thought last night was not pleasant. Cathleen Muller: 61 Highland Ave, I'm here to see if you have talked about the campfires. Attorney Donovan: I did take a look at the code as we talked about it last week. This is probably a mystery to you, but there is a provision in the fire prevention code and the fire prevention Code Section 144-11 prohibits unlawful burning. Unlawful for a person or persons to burn trash, lumber, paper or other combustible material from the Village of Walden, New York. And there are penalties for violation reports in the New York State penal law, enforcement is by the Building Department. Cathleen Muller: I can't find anything about chimineas or if you have a fire and cooking hot dogs and marshmallows. Attorney Donovan: It's not trash, lumber. I mean I wouldn't view it as prohibited. Cathleen Muller: On May 10th, I had to call the police, because my house was filled with smoke again. I talked to Officer Fries and said they were cooking hot dogs. She says no they're going to cook hot dogs. Also in the code, you guys have stopped outside furnaces, because of the smoke, the soot, the fumes, the odors, the air pollution that is detrimental to citizen’s health and other depriving their neighbors and residents of the enjoyment of their property. Tell me what I'm supposed to do. Who I'm supposed to call. I mean the weather is beautiful and I have to seal up my house. The smoke is so bad. And I have dog poop surrounding me when I'm in my backyard. I can smell it. It's been years that I would call the police. And I know I called you last year and I just don't know what to do anymore. Mayor Rumbold: Give me your definition of lumber. Manager Revella: Lumber would be like treated wood from the lumber yard. Mayor Rumbold: That's what I'm thinking, not logs. I have a neighbor in back of me that has a fireplace and I can't open my windows in the winter. They use it for heat. It starts in September. Is it inconvenient? Yes. Can I smell it through my windows? Yes. Sometimes it bothers my eyes because it comes right in my TV room and I'm living in the house 18 years, 19 years that I can't open my windows from September until they stop, probably in April. So, I understand what you're saying, but it's their source of heat. Cathleen Muller: But that's in the code, that's legal. What I'm complaining now, is not legal. Mayor Rumbold: It is legal, it's not lumber. Cathleen Muller: It's a combustionable material. Trustee Svarczkopf: So is natural gas that the grills run on. Cathleen Muller: Well, that's not listed. May 21, 2019 20  . Attorney Donovan: This issue is not going to start to be resolved at this level. By that, I mean it's not a Village Board issue, I mean unless you choose to modify the code. But there is a code provision, the Building Department enforces that. If you feel there's some sort of need to call the police you can do that. But typically what happens when there is a zoning ordinance or code ordinance Building Department is called, they do an investigation and they make a determination whether to prosecute them. Cathleen Muller: So, the next time there's a fire and my house fills with smoke, I call the Building Department. Attorney Donovan: I can't give you advice and tell you what to do, but if you think that there is a violation of the village code going on and this has to do with burning, you should call the Building Department. Cathleen Muller: Of course, he's not going to answer at 9:30 at night when the fire starts to see it. Trustee Sebring: He can still go back to the homeowner during his work hours and see what's going on and check to see what they were burning. Attorney Donovan: Or you could call the PD and the PD can make a blotter entry. The prosecution according to the village code is with the Building Department. Cathleen Muller: It's terrible to have your house smell like a campfire. Anita Vandermark: How much was in the budget transfer? Also in regards to the Liaisonships, I think it's a good idea, but I wish you people would stop dragging your feet. This has been going on for a long time. Make a decision as to what you're going to do. Either do it or move on. It's disturbing. Also, you guys missed a wonderful program. Chief Holmes did an outstanding thing for the Historical society. We really learned a lot about the old and the new. Manager Revella: The A fund was about $103k. F fund was $11,899.66. The G fund was $11,752.00. Becky Pearson: Just on the Liaisonships. It started a while ago and when I was on the board, they really were just to be there to hear if there was anything of a concern. They weren't as involved as Brian made them. Brian made them more defined into being a part of going and talking to them. I really believe that you pay the manager to do that job and that's what he's responsible for. I don't think it needs to be as involved as some of the people make it. I think that it's a good thing to ask how things are going, if there's anything to help with. But I thought it really gotten a little involved where people were spending maybe a lot of time with Department Heads, that might have been taking over the manager's job position. I see it both ways, but I don't think it needs to be as in-depth as some make it. And I think it got very territorial. I think people said don't talk to that person because I'm in charge of that person. That's not what it's about. It's about being there to help them if they need something. So, sometimes they may not feel comfortable with the person that is their liaison, even though they're appointed there. Payment of the Audited Bills Trustee Svarczkopf made a motion to pay the Audited Bills. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. May 21, 2019 21  . Correspondence None Miscellaneous Comments from the Board of Trustees Trustee Sebring: June 5th, they're going to have a special meeting in the Town of Montgomery about the Highway Superintendent. Deputy Mayor Moore: I just wanted to remind people that there is a vote taking place Valley Central High School in the gymnasium for another 35 minutes. If you have not already voted for the school budget and the three open seats. Please go and do so now. I want to publicly thank everybody that worked on the Comp Plan Committee and every committee that is in place to make that happen. Trustee Thompson: There was a meeting down at the Grove for the Tin Brook Watershed. Which is like a little subdivision on the Wallkill River. In one of the back rooms there, that nobody really passes through. There are 2 very large framed wonderful histories of the Tin Brook. I believe they were hung there with the intent that that would be a public viewing area, but it's not, so Mary Ellen suggested that perhaps we bring them here or to the library, where they can be put on display for everyone to be able to read them and learn about the water and the history and all kinds of wonderful things. Manager Revella: I don't know if we're allowed to move them, because of the funding we got for the Welcome Center. I don't know if that's part of it or not. Trustee Thompson: I looked at them and they really are lovely and there's a lot of really interesting information on them and it seems a shame that they're in a location where really no one can look at them. Number 2, I forgot to mention that I went to New Paltz to the Wallkill River Watershed Alliance Summit. Very, very informative. It was a very good presentation put on by the DEC. Walden was mentioned. I think it's wonderful that we're going to join that organization. A resident asked me to please mention that a bunch of our street lights are out again. Trustee Svarczkopf: I'm thinking about the animal feces. Is there a way that we can write a law about being humane to animals? Manager Revella: There is a law. Trustee Svarczkopf: Can you try to look at the law from that view point and say if you're surrounded by your own feces constantly, that would target what we're trying to target and not leave it open to a dog pooped in my yard. Deputy Mayor Moore: I'm thinking what about like a good neighbor. I don't know, I'm just kind of brainstorming here. I have 3 dogs. I don't have an issue with that. I am conscientious to make sure that my yard is picked up so that townhouses behind me are not smelling it on a hot summer day. I am also conscientious if I am cooking hamburgers on my grill to make sure that my smoke every night is not going into a neighbor's yard. Mayor Rumbold: John, the complaint action summary from the Building Department, where it says inspection, there's a date next to it and it's says type, I see electrical. The nature of the complaint was failed to maintain and cut yard areas and clean debris from all yard areas. How is that an electrical inspection? Page 7 of 13. May 21, 2019 22  . Manager Revella: If you look at the top, 19-084. That has to do with 38 Linden Drive with the electrical. Then 19-085, 2 Brook Rd. That's another electrical one. Mayor Rumbold: Well, it says complaint type; high grass, weeds and then it says inspection type; electrical. The above violation. Nature of complaint; grass. Then it says type of inspection; electrical. So, I don't know if it's a typographical error. Manager Revella: They probably did the first one and went and did the second, third forth then fifth and didn't change that field. Mayor Rumbold: If you go back to page 6. Same thing. I don't know if we ever had to do anything with court, because this is not consistent with what we do the nature of the complaint is, the type of inspection that was put in there. Just wanted to point it out, because these are legal documents and I don't know why it's listed as that kind of inspection. Executive Session – Discussing Real Estate Negotiations Mayor Rumbold made a motion to enter into Executive Session – Discussing Real Estate Negotiations. Seconded by Trustee Ramos. All ayes. Motion carried. Reconvene Trustee Svarczkopf made a motion to reconvene the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. May 21, 2019 23  . Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting May 21, 2019 Motions & Resolutions Approval of May 7, 2019 Minutes Mayor Rumbold made a motion to approve the May 7, 2019 Minutes. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. 6 ayes. 1 abstention (Trustee Ramos). Motion carried. Introductory to Local Law 6 of 2019 – Handicap Space Trustee Svarczkopf made a motion to set the Public Hearing for Local Law 6 of 2019 – Handicap Space for Tuesday, June 4th at 6:30pm or soon thereafter. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. Resolution 32-18-19 – Tax Warrant Trustee Ramos made a motion to approve Resolution 32-18-19 – Tax Warrant. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Moore. All ayes. Motion carried. Resolution 33-18-19 – Budget Transfer Mayor Rumbold made a motion to approve Resolution 33-18-19 – Budget Transfers. Seconded by Trustee Ramos. All ayes. Motion carried. Payment of the Audited Bills Trustee Svarczkopf made a motion to pay the Audited Bills. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Executive Session – Discussing Real Estate Negotiations Mayor Rumbold made a motion to enter into Executive Session – Discussing Real Estate Negotiations. Seconded by Trustee Ramos. All ayes. Motion carried. Reconvene Trustee Svarczkopf made a motion to reconvene the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Executive Session – Personnel Trustee Svarczkopf made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss personnel history of particular person. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Reconvene Deputy Mayor Moore made a motion to reconvene regular meeting. Seconded by Trustee Ramos. All ayes. Motion carried. Trustee Svarczkopf made a motion to approve contract of up to $3600 for well exploration. Seconded by Trustee Ramos. All ayes. Motion carried. May 21, 2019 24