Board of Trustees

. Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting October 1, 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 John Ramos Brian Sebring Dan Svarczkopf Lynn E. Thompson Absent: Larry Kraus Also Present: John Revella, Village Manager Kelly A. Kelly, Village Trustee Gina Somma, Deputy Village Clerk Dave Donovan, Village Attorney Village Manager’s Report  There were a couple of small attorney-client matters that came in. We'll discuss those later in executive session.  We haven't had much luck with CSEA or PBA, yet, but we'll update during executive session as well.  The Ulster Avenue Project is moving along. We had a small hiccup with DOT with their ridiculous bureaucracy. Having another pre-construction meeting next week.  Had a great meeting with Trustee Ramos, Chief and the school district regarding traffic around the school, pick-ups and drop off. They're trying to formulate a plan to help with the pick-up and drop off at the school.  Had a Comp Plan meeting and another one just before this meeting with a public hearing to discuss things. There will be more on that coming from the Planner. The attorney suggests we do an open comment period for up to 30 days and then the board have their final meeting for adoption.  Also met with Trustee Thompson and Trustee Sebring and the Town DPW to look through the Rail Trail. We walked the Rail Trail and looked at certain conditions. There were some issues there that we hope they address. Don't know if they will, it's been 2 years of complaints with no recourse yet. Trustee Thompson sent an e-mail to them all yesterday.  The Scofield Street has been repaved and striped. The corners were all done for ADA compliance, so that we can use it for CHIP funding reimbursement.  Harvest Fest went well. All the prep that went into it was great. Everything went smoothly. The weather held out which was awesome.  I did attend the OCATAV events with Deputy Mayor Moore, Trustee Ramos and Trustee Thompson. We heard the County Exec’s budget. Emphasis on tourism and recreation, trying October 1, 2019 1  . to make sure that our cultural assets are being utilized.  Had a couple meetings with the auditors and the Treasurer regarding the auditors.  Met with a resident about a complaint. Follow up on that later, as well.  Went through the capital projects. We have updates on a couple. The roof quotes for the flat roof to get down should be in soon.  Police car was ordered.  The sidewalks on Oakland will likely start next week. Trying to get a firm date so I can send letters out to all the residents. Deputy Mayor Moore: We had talked about having fabs to get into the building after hours, is that something still being considered? Manager Revella: We have two quotes on it so far. We also got a vendor in yesterday to look at the front door for those kinds of safety protocols. There are a couple things we're looking at to try and help out. Approval of September 17, 2019 Deputy Mayor Moore made a motion to approve the September 17, 2019 Minutes. Seconded by Trustee Ramos. All ayes. Motion carried. Trustee’s Committee Reports Village Offices Liaison – Trustee Svarczkopf Trustee Svarczkopf: We have the audit underway. Working on getting Edmunds for the Building Dept. Have a quote for that. Water/Sewer bills have can be paid online. It's significantly easier for us as well to get them applied to their accounts. We should push for that. It's on the water/sewer bills. Mayor Rumbold: Is it on the Village Website? Manager Revella: It is. There's a blurb on the website and the Facebook page. Mayor Rumbold: Is it something that we could print and put it in the library, so when people come in they can see it on the counter? Manager Revella: We have a format that we can use. Trustee Thompson: Maybe it would be a good idea to put it on the board outside. Trustee Svarczkopf: There was a blurb on the bills. Treasurer Kelly: We can do another Facebook blast. Town of Montgomery & Library Board Liaison – Trustee Kraus Absent Planning and Zoning Boards as well as the Building Department Liaison – Trustee Thompson Trustee Thompson: It took some doing, but I got people from the Town to agree to meet us on the Rail Trail. Pointed out a lot of things. I sent an e-mail to Supervisor Winchell, forwarded it to all he council people and to Mr. Page and I got a reply from Mr. Page. He has already begun pricing October 1, 2019 2  . replacement benches. He is already reaching out to find out if some contractors would take a look to see the heat sealing cracks and resealing the pavement. One of the gentlemen seem to think it's too far gone and needs to be ripped off and completely replaced. The other thought that it was salvageable. I got John's approval for the petition circulating with Brian to repair the Hill Street Bridge. Supervisor Winchell signed it. Some other people from the Town signed and I took it to Harvest Fest. We have close to 100 signatures so far between Brian and I. If anyone would like to sign it, feel free to track us down. I'm trying to get the Town to be accountable to the things that they do that effect our Village. I did go to the meeting. A lot of discussion. Town of Montgomery Ambulance Corp is a hot topic. They presented their case to the Town and there was a lot of chit chat on Facebook about the facts and figures that the Ambulance Corp presented to the Town. We'll see what happens next. They're upgrading their computer systems. Discussion about the Humane Society. I have not met with Dean as he was not here all last week and I couldn't get to him yesterday or today, so I'm hoping to meet with him later this week to go over how things are going in his Department. Mayor Rumbold: Just to expand on the Town of Montgomery Ambulance, I want to say, I refer to Mary Ellen because they used to get funding from the Town. Then there was an issue with Medicare. Mary Ellen Matise: Mike Hayes didn't want to let them bill. He wasn't going to give them the new ambulance. It was a mess. Then part of what they talked about at the last Town Board Meeting was because they were only basic life support. They were contracting with Mobile Life for advanced life support as backup. But they don't really do that anymore. That was a cost to the Ambulance Corp that they had to lay out. Evidently the reimbursements that they get from the insurance companies really don't cover their operating. A large percentage of the calls are seniors. Mobile Life really doesn't service us anymore in the Town of Montgomery because they don't have a contract with us. They have contracts with other municipalities. From what I heard from somebody who's worked for Mobile Life, they are having issues themselves in responding to calls at this point. So, if we're left without an ambulance service, we're in trouble. Becky Pearson: My father was having a stroke in the Walden Ambulance came, but any time you have a heart condition, they would not transport him. So, he had to wait for the other ambulance and both ambulances drove from my dad's house to the hospital. And because the 1 started with him and then Mobile Life took him because of the heart condition. We got bills from both of them. If we can support one ambulance, crew and keep it here, it would be really wise. Mobile Life isn't local. Mary Ellen Matise: They're also not obligated to come here anymore because they don't have a contract with the Town. Trustee Thompson: Brian, didn't they say they're still paying the Town of Montgomery some sort of rent? Trustee Sebring: Yes. I think that was $600 a month a year for the use of the building. Mayor Rumbold: They store ambulances at the food pantry. Trustee Sebring: And the food pantry is paying money to the Town for the year of the contract. But the quote was asking for $300k from the town rather than go strictly insurance claims. Then they would be forbidden to do certain regulations that they couldn't do, so they're asking for $300k to keep them going that way. October 1, 2019 3  . Trustee Thompson: It's a complicated issue. It ties into the fire districts with overlapping EMS. That's another sore spot. I don't know how we're going to find a solution anytime soon. Then there's recruitment and retention. A massive amount of training hours. People can't get paid time off from work to do the training. It's sad. Trustee Sebring: They have so many paid people and then they have the volunteers. The paid ones are there for 12 hours a day, Monday through Friday. Trustee Thompson: And then they pay a large amount of money to a billing service. They don't even go after people in collection anymore. It's a more expensive process to try and get more money from them. They eat a lot of the calls. Trustee Sebring: They say they only make about $200 per bill, if advanced life support sends in the bill and then it gives them a portion of that bill. Police Department and Justice Department Liaison – Deputy Mayor Moore Deputy Mayor Moore: Police Awards night is going to be November 6 at 7 p.m. at Angry Orchard. We did receive a $2,551 grant for a bulletproof vest partnership. We have some officers that will be attending the women in law enforcement conference in November. We do have a volunteer contingent to go to the services for the NYPD Officer that we lost on Friday. If anybody is interested in going, please reach out to Officer Reynolds. As usual, I reviewed the secondary employment, mileage, gas usage. Recreation & Parks Department and Valley Central School Board Liaison – Trustee Ramos Trustee Ramos: We have another successful Harvest Fest. It was a great day. Kudos to the staff, Mr. Bliss and the Walden Community Council for spear heading and executing the wonderful event. Everybody had a blast. Vendors did very well. Food trailers did not like where they were situated at the top, but we have a big tent for people to eat and the patrons were grateful. The school board, they went back to the drawing board and their new bond. I asked Mr. Xanthis and his staff to kind of rethink giving equitable funding to each one of the schools. This enhances our compensation at Walden Elementary School with all the players that were there. DPW Liaison– Trustee Sebring Trustee Sebring: I didn't get to talk to Fred today because they had a water main break. His report says that they sent out cards for new water meters on Walnut and Westwood. DPW and the Water Department helped out on the traffic control for Scofield Street. They've been doing a DEC maintenance program. Flushing. Paved Scofield Street. They've been doing sweeping, catch basin repairs. Blacktop millings from Maybrook. Send out couple of guys to pick up the litter up in the parking lots, entrance to the Village and the bus stop. The mechanic is busy servicing the DPW trucks as they were up for service and he's been removing rust and whatnot from one of the smaller trucks, so they could spot paint the rust spots. Also, I was at the Planning Board for the Town of Montgomery. They've got a project at 17K and Bracken road. They say that the entrance will be off of Bracken Road. There will be a berm on 17K with trees to alleviate the noise from Bracken Road. And then there's battery energy storage on 17K and Brown's Road. That borders the Tin Brook. There's no waste water that will happen from the batteries that would enter the Tin Brook. They're looking for an RFP for the battery type to be installed in the trailers for containers for the electric storage. They will have lights on the property only when they're working there. The Felizzis on Ridge Rd were there, requesting a meeting for October 28th because there's so much going on October 1, 2019 4  . October 15th. That's going to be a 3 overhead garage for the cable TV. On 208, that's the recycling for autos and selling steel, copper, brass and all that stuff. They had the River Keepers sign and the Fire Department sign off on the application for their inspection. They closed the public hearing on that. Red Burch Inc., that's the 3 lot subdivision on Harming Lane and 17K. That will be self- storage. It will be 3 buildings. 1 self-storage. The 2nd building will be climate controlled. The 3rd will be non-climate control with 1 entrance and a 2 bay door. The other one was a 9 lot subdivision on Channel Lane, which I didn't stay for. The building's industry is what we're concerned about. Mayor Rumbold read the community events into the minutes. Public Comment on Business of the Board Action Items Introductory to Local Law 8 of 2019 – Sign Regulations Attorney Donovan: Was directed to prepare a local law that would prohibit all signs in 2 Village owned parks, McKinley and Fireman's Triangle. The next step will be to schedule the public hearing. Trustee Svarczkopf: Is there a copy of it? Mayor Rumbold: It's in the packet. Manager Revella: It was emailed. Attorney Donovan: It's in my packet. In terms of local laws, this is straightforward. No signs in McKinley or the Fireman's Triangle. No signs at all. Trustee Svarczkopf: I'm totally ok with what was said, I just haven't read it. Attorney Donovan: We're not adopting the law, we're just scheduling the public hearing. Deputy Mayor Moore made a motion to schedule a Public Hearing for Local Law 8 of 2019 for October 15, 2019 at 6:30pm or soon thereafter. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. 5 ayes. 1 abs (Trustee Svarczkopf). Motion carried. Discussion – New Annexation Petition Rt 52 Manager Revella: We did receive an annexation petition for a certain real property on Rt 52. It's basically across from the Amthor Property. A very small portion of the property in general is in the Village and the rest is in the Town and they'd like to be in the Village. Attorney Donovan: Like with the annexation we're going through now, there's really 2 aspects, 1 is procedural, 1 is substantive. Procedural aspect would be you coordinate with the Town of Montgomery for a joint public hearing. Then you have a period of 90 days from the close of the public hearing to adopt findings. Either to find that the annexation is in the overall public interest and approve it or determine that it's not and both boards would have to find that it's in the overall public interest. Determination of whether it's in the overall public interest is the substantive aspect of considering whether or not to proceed with annexation. *Referenced a recent case from about 2015* October 1, 2019 5  . Mayor Rumbold: How many acres? Attorney Donovan: I think it's 34 or 35, give or take, of vacant residentially zoned land. Just like with the Amthor Property, you have to designate the zoning classification for the property as if and when you would annex into the Village. Procedurally the next will be to coordinate with the Town of Montgomery to schedule a joint public hearing. Trustee Svarczkopf: There's nothing built on this land? Manager Revella: It's vacant. It's farmland. Trustee Svarczkopf: Is there plans for it? Attorney Donovan: There's nothing in the application. Manager Revella: I think they've presented to the Town so, my understanding, but I'm not sure. Attorney Donovan: As a matter of point of information for the board, the applicant is a corporation. The principal of which is a homebuilder that's been building homes in Orange County as long as I've been practicing law. Manager Revella: And from the preliminary meeting with the applicant, their intention is to build residential homes there. I'm not sure which type. We haven't gone through that and that's something they should talk to the board about when they come. Trustee Svarczkopf: This is the one that borders Walden Estates Rd? Manager Revella: Yes. Mayor Rumbold: I thought a lot of that was swamp. Manager Revella: Not where this property is. It goes from 52 to the Tin Brook. It's pretty level land actually. Deputy Mayor Moore: We can hold a joint public hearing, hear comments and then we can come up with a plan. Going forward with the public hearing, we're not committing. Attorney Donovan: You are absolutely not. As a practical point of view, you probably should have someone reach out to the Town to coordinate some dates. Deputy Mayor Moore: Can you email me a copy of that case? Manager Revella: Just for the public there's a caption. Attorney Donovan: In the matter of the City of Gloversville vs. Town of Johnstown, from 2015. Trustee Svarczkopf: Did someone reach out to Dollar General and see if they would put in an application? October 1, 2019 6  . Manager Revella: They definitely did not say no, when they were here last time to get water service. They were open to discussion. Mayor Rumbold: You really want to solicit somebody to want to annex? Is that proper? Trustee Svarczkopf: We've got 7 properties in that area that are annexing in that area and they're in the middle of it. Mayor Rumbold: Isn't that up to the person that owns the property? Trustee Svarczkopf: Absolutely. That's why I want to ask them if they would like to do it. Mayor Rumbold: If that's what you want to do. Manager Revella: It is within our purview to approach the property owner, if that's what we'd like to do. We are allowed to do that. Mayor Rumbold: If that's what you think is proper. So, where do you stop? How far are we going to march up and down 52 to solicit? Trustee Svarczkopf: We're taking the property across the street from it, on the other side of it. Mayor Rumbold: And they're well aware that other people are asking for annexation. I would think if they were interested they would approach us. If you feel like you want to solicit to make the map look nice, then let's do it. Trustee Svarczkopf: If they're not interested they can say no. Deputy Mayor Moore: I would feel more comfortable, if we're going to do that, not be in a solicitation manner. Maybe in a manner of information. I'm not necessarily comfortable with asking and I feel like then it could come back at us as bullying them to do so. I appreciate and respect what you're saying. Trustee Thompson: I don't think Dan intended it as solicitation. Maybe I misinterpreted it. Mayor Rumbold: I would assume that if you own a property you're a halfway intelligent human being that you understand what's going on. They came to us and approached us for Village services. I just find it amusing that now we're going to start knocking on doors. Deputy Mayor Moore: Also, neither one of these annexations have been approved. I'm also a little conscientious about doing so at this point. Like I said, I respect what you're saying, just also want to use caution, because what we're doing here is for the betterment of our entire community. Mayor Rumbold: You can always call the board and see if the majority wants to solicit. Public Comment Mary Ellen Matise: Dan, the big problem with that is at what point does that look to the Town as encroachment? Who cares if there's a gap? If they want to be part of the Village, then they'll say they want to be part of the Village. About the garbage. I sent you a picture today. Garbage cans left all over the street. I was watching the guy, he moves the can, puts it behind the thing, either he October 1, 2019 7  . attaches it or he just dumps it and then he just throws it. Garbage cans are lining both sides of Clinton Street. You can't drive or park. Then he left half of my neighbor's garbage. It defeats the purpose of having established garbage pickup and the initial reason for establishing garbage pickup is because people weren't taking their garbage someplace else and leaving it in their back yard. Mayor Rumbold: Does the foreman still ride around the Village? Manager Revella: Yes. He was there today. He answered about 10 or 12 different requests today from the office. Mary Ellen Matise: It was just bagged garbage. It wasn't like it was bulk garbage or anything else. Why didn't they take it? What if it had food in it? I left it there and it's 80 degrees today. When my neighbor came home, he put it in the big garbage can, but I don't know if they came back to take it or not. Might still be sitting there until next week and now he's got a half full garbage can starting off next week. Manager Revella: What's the address on the corner? Mary Ellen Matise: 56. The reason for doing garbage pickup was so that people weren't just leaving it in their backyard. When is the new contract? Manager Revella: June 1st. Mary Ellen Matise: The Town of Montgomery budget, which is in process right now. People keep saying stuff about Landmaster Lawsuit. Came out to be over a million dollars. Somebody said to me it went back into the A fund. The thing is, you go there and they put all this stuff in the B fund, because you're watching them and during the year, what happens? Budget transfers and switches. It really has to be monitored. Their audit amounts for the month are over a million dollars in expenses. And of course they're saying they're not going to raise the budget. Not going to raise the taxes. Well, they don't have to they had all that money in reserve. It shouldn't be coming on the backs of the Villages either. Becky Pearson: Annexation. You can just say that you're not going to even entertain it. You don't even have to talk to the Town unless that's something you feel that you want to do. You don't have to set the public hearing. This person may be a builder, but that doesn't mean he's not going to sell the property. Doesn't mean there isn't going to be a warehouse. Doesn't mean it's going to be affordable housing. My question is for when you annex, why would you not know what the project would be before you? Manager Revella: You do. Becky Pearson: You know what the project is going to be? Manager Revella: We're not annexing yet. Mayor Rumbold: Don't we set the zone? Manager Revella: Yes. Mayor Rumbold: The board sets the zone, if the property is annexed. October 1, 2019 8  . Becky Pearson: I'm excited to hear that conversation, but if you don't feel like you want then you don't have to entertain it. I know everybody says your revenue will be better, but then you have to worry about more police cars, policeman, DPW, more water, more sewer. Who is going to fix it? You still have all of that to deal with. The initial is good because you're getting that up front, but then for a long term, you're going to spend more. It would be who the board to possibly have a report for the manager and the engineer or the board talk about what you want your borders to be now before more annexations come in. You should have these discussion now before more annexations. Sounds like they want because they get more density. If you're going to have more density than building in the Village than you will in the Town. They're going to make more money off of you. The Town is 2 acre lots. The Village can be whatever zoning. I think those discussions should happened now. It shouldn't wait until you get the application. We should know in a plan where you’re heading. Payment of the Audited Bills Deputy Mayor Moore made a motion to pay the Audited Bills. Seconded by Trustee Ramos. All ayes. Motion carried. Correspondence Trustee Svarczkopf: Received an email from Mr. Jacobowitz about trying to get on the agenda tonight. Trustee Thompson: I received the same email. Mayor Rumbold: I received the same correspondence as everyone else. Wasn't on the agenda because there was no request put it on from board members. This isn't the only correspondence we had about this issue. I think everybody on this board is pretty good with reading comprehension. I don't think it warrants, unless I hear from a majority of board members that they're interested in entertaining this. I don't see any reason to continue any kind of dialogue about it or put it on the agenda. Been pretty straightforward of what beneficial aspects to amending the zoning. They've given us really the same report the last 3 times they approached the board to change the zoning for this piece of property. So, nothing really changes. It's the same letter. That's why it's not on the agenda. Manager Revella: Just 1 minor point of interest. The Wallkill Valley Times had an article that said that the Village was against political signs, I just want to clarify that the Village was not against political signs. The subject came up because of some signs that happen to be political, but as the discussion was heard today, the ban in those parks are for all signs regardless of what type. For the record. Miscellaneous Comments from the Board of Trustees Trustee Svarczkopf: I talked to John about a Tech Conference on October 28-29th. Talks about building a cloud and how we store data. I can't make it, but I thought maybe John or someone from the Village can go. The garbage, it seems like while they're dumping it, if garbage comes out of the garbage can, they don't pick it up. It's not just garbage cans that litter my road at the end of the day. It's garbage I have to pick up from my yard. Manager Revella: Anytime you have an issue with garbage being left out please call the office so we can tell the supervisor. October 1, 2019 9  . Trustee Svarczkopf: As far as Edmunds Lane, I wasn't on those boards during the presentations. I want to hear what he's saying. I'm not for or against at this point. But I wouldn't mind having it on an agenda to have him talk about. Mayor Rumbold: I have no interest. I got the correspondence. I think everybody is capable of reading what he writes. What his aspect is. I think some of the things he says are inaccurate. Unless there's 4 members of this board that even want to entertain changing the zoning. I thought you met with him. Trustee Svarczkopf: I did meet with him. Mayor Rumbold: What would he possibly say at the meeting that would be any different than what he said to you in private? Trustee Svarczkopf: It was the updated plan that we did not see with the last correspondence. I think it's worth looking at things and we don't have to approve them. That's what we get paid for. Mayor Rumbold: What's the updated plan? Trustee Svarczkopf: He has a plan through the Planning Board process or at least has been submitted to the Planning Board again. Based on that report he's updated the plan. Mayor Rumbold: No, he just updated his application to reflect what the Planning Board said. He didn't change the plan other than to update the acreage that was originally put in the original application. It's not a different plan, just a different amount of acreage. Trustee Thompson: I was at the Planning Board meeting. He definitely altered his original plan. I'm not talking about the acreage, I'm talking about what he proposed to build there. In defense of the applicant, he did listen to what the people on the Planning Board were saying to him. He did go back to the drawing board and he did come back and present changes. That went back and forth for a couple of meetings. Mayor Rumbold: What were the changes? Manager Revella: He went from having multiple apartment buildings to having one building with numerous single family lots around it instead. That was the change that I saw from the Planning Board results. Deputy Mayor Moore: If it's a new plan, I would be interested in at least hearing it. I'm not going to comment on how I may or may not vote, I feel just the same as anybody else that would put a plan in and that they deserve fair share to be heard. Mayor Rumbold: I vote no. He's been heard numerous times. It's the same thing. Unless you're willing to change the zoning in that area, then the point is moot. Deputy Mayor Moore: I'm not voting on whether or not to change the zoning. Trustee Ramos: I think the Planning Board should be reporting to us on the changes. Having Mr. Jacobowitz come before us with changes that I don't know if the Planning Board has approved or anything. I think the process is, get to the Planning Board, if they approve that, then they bring it to October 1, 2019 10  . us. So, we have to rely on the Planning Board's justification in their due diligence. I'm going to say that I'm waiting for them. Deputy Mayor Moore: Good point. I don't remember if the report from the Planning Board came after his suggested changes. I don't believe that I saw anything, but I also didn't get the last correspondence. So, maybe complaining about stuff getting sent to my office, now I'm not getting anything. Do we have to decide tonight whether or not we have him on the agenda? Manager Revella: No. Friday before the meeting. Deputy Mayor Moore: I would like to take a look at the Planning Board's report again and then read this correspondence. Mayor Rumbold: Can you give us a week's notice? Because I do have many members of the community that live in that area that want to know the second it goes on. If it does go on, I would like to be able to reference the Trustees that asked for it to be put on the agenda. So, the community knows that it wasn't me or the manager that put it on the agenda. I'd like them to know exactly who asked for it to be on the agenda. Trustee Svarczkopf: Is that normal lobbying procedure? Mayor Rumbold: Yes. The community needs to know which of their representatives. Trustee Svarczkopf: It's in the minutes. Manager Revella: I'll make sure that the report from the Planning Board is recirculated, just in case. Attorney Donovan: Not to beat the dead horse here, but just be a little bit careful, because there's been multiple emails with multiple iterations from multiple sources. I tried to search tonight. They come from different email addresses. Just make sure it's filtered down where we are. Because I'm frankly not sure what's being asked for anymore. Mayor Rumbold: This is probably the 3rd or 4th time that the board has entertained thing about this piece of property. The plan has changed numerous times. It changes as the board changes. We've received a lot of correspondence. Certain board members have met privately with the owner of the property to discuss the matter. So, in the interest of transparency, I think we need to set everything, so we know exactly what's going on and who is involved. Deputy Mayor Moore: Can you put the latest and greatest back in our hands? Manager Revella: Yes. Trustee Svarczkopf: Whether I agree with him or not, he's trying to do something and we continue to say what we don't like about it, of course he's going to come back with a new plan because we asked him to. So, different iterations of he came back with this one because the Planning Board said what they don't like. We would probably approve it if this happens. We can't get mad at him for doing what we asked him to do. October 1, 2019 11  . Mayor Rumbold: I don't think anyone's angry with him. I think what the issue is, at least that I've come to the understanding, that there's a certain project that he wants to put forward on that property. That is not currently allowed in the zoning. I think ultimately the board needs to decide if they are interested in changing the zoning in that area. I think if you look at the circumstances, I understand that not everyone understands the circumstances, but if you look beyond what that is and look at the current situation versus what's going to happen in the near future in that area. I don't know if you have to hear a plan. What you have to decide is, do you want more density there? There's been statements made that Edmunds Lane is not well traveled. Untrue. Over 1700 cars go up and down Edmunds Lane in a week's time. That's the average. People that come off of 208, down Coldenham Road, use Edmunds Lane and East Ave as a conduit to 52. East Ave has over 2000 cars per week. Plus they have Olley Park traffic. Plus they have traffic from the Buddhist Temple, where on some weekends there is an excess of 5000 people that are there. And across Edmunds Lane, you're soon going to have over 400 units of Townhouses. Let's figure at least two cars per unit. That gives you another 800 cars. For anybody to suggest they're going to go down 208 and on to 17K to get to 52, is ridiculous. Trustee Thompson: Sue, what was the volume on Coldenham Road? Mayor Rumbold: 30,000 a week. Manager Revella: It's a few thousand a day. Mayor Rumbold: Unless you live in that area, unless you know what those streets are like, what the traffic is there now. The people on Edmunds Lane and in that area, have had it. They don't want any more traffic there. They don't want any more density there. It's zoned for commercial or industrial for a reason, to balance the traffic and the kind of traffic and what goes on there. This reared its head a few years ago. They were here in mass at a meeting. I still have their contact information and I let them know that it's rearing its head again and they are just as unhappy. Trustee Svarczkopf: I hear everything that you just said. If the property owner wants us to listen, I feel like it's our job to do that. Mayor Rumbold: I have no problem with that. If the majority board wants to listen to it again. Then we'll sit here and entertain and listen to it again. Trustee Thompson: Don't forget he's coming before us again, because the Planning Board sent him. Mayor Rumbold: We do not have to act. The Planning Board merely gives us their feeling about it. If the board feels that the zoning and the Comprehensive Plan Committee did their due diligence, felt that the zoning should stay the way it is because of various reasons that I just mentioned and things that they discussed in their meetings. Then I think it's unfair to give someone the idea that a board may change their mind, if they tweak and retweak and change the plan. We're either interested in having more housing on that street or we're not. Regardless of what the plan is. Whether there's a little Village in the middle and nice of residential houses around it or whether it's apartments. You either want to entertain it or you don't. Attorney Donovan: At the risk of having my head handed to me, if I may, I think that a discussion as to whether or not you want this matter placed on the agenda or not is entirely in order. A substantive discussion, in my view, is problematic in that the applicant was told that the matter was October 1, 2019 12  . not going to be on the agenda. So, I would suggest that maybe you don't want to talk about the substance of the application. Mayor Rumbold: It's whether the board wants it on the agenda or not. I will certainly acquiesce to a majority of the board if they want to entertain. Trustee Svarczkopf: It's not majority, it 2 members. Mayor Rumbold: If 2 board members want to put something on the agenda it can be put on the agenda. Trustee Svarczkopf: I'm one and that's the end of my miscellaneous comments Trustee Thompson: John, I was just curious if we have heard anything back from the ECG group? Manager Revella: No. Not since he said that they were reviewing our materials and looking to see what they could do for us. Those last four spontaneously. Trustee Thompson: Could you reach out to him? Manager Revella: He said it would be quite a while. Deputy Mayor Moore: I just want to send out a thank you to all of the Village Employees for the hard work and dedication they do for our Village every day. Sometimes it's hard dealing with the community. Sometimes it's hard dealing with garbage. Even just listening to this conversation and John saying there 10-12 complaints just today about the garbage. So, when those complaints, not only are there 10-12 residents that had to email the Village, that staff have to do something with that. DPW staff. Parks and Rec staff. I don't want to leave anyone out. Thank you to all of the Village Employees for your hard work. Trustee Ramos: I'm reiterating what the Mayor said earlier. I want to thank the Comp Board, colleagues that worked and diligent with their time and their reading of every line and paragraph. A lot of work went into that. I think everybody outside the team doesn't understand the Comprehensive Plan is a living document. I want to thank everybody for their hard work. A lot of evenings that we left our families. Trustee Sebring: I'd like to thank the Harvest Fest Committee and the Parks and Recs for putting on the Harvest Fest. It was amazing. On another note, I had a resident from Walnut Street and Westwood Drive complain about a tree on the corner of Westwood Drive and Walnut that isn't good sight distance. People coming up Walnut Street. Will check that out and make a determination. Mayor Rumbold: Great Harvest Fest. Lots of people out. Beautiful day. Everyone seems to have a great time. On Monday afternoon Ginny Neidermeir, Historian Diane Revior, went down into the safe in the basement, we found some amazing things. There actually were 2 books from the health official. For the Village of Walden. It actually listed diseases. When people were quarantined. How long they were quarantined and whether they lived or died from the disease. A lot of smallpox back in the day. Measles, mumps. I thought it was quite interesting and I don't know how they made sure that those people that were quarantined stayed there because I know we didn't have a lot of police officers back then. We also found canvas drawings of the streets. I think it was 1832. These drawings were done and it shows the elevation. I think they were planning the streets and showing October 1, 2019 13  . the grade of the area. A lot of the streets were spelled correctly when it said the street and then misspelled down below, but they were all hand done by a gentleman I think he was from Newburgh. We retrieved those. Ginny is going to call and see how we can save them. There was some damage on 1 or 2 of them. Some of them were in color. Executive Session-PBA, CSEA and Personal history of a particular employee Deputy Mayor Moore made a motion to enter executive session to discuss PBA, CSEA negotiations and for the personal history of a particular employee. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Reconvene Deputy Mayor Moore made a motion to reconvene the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. October 1, 2019 14  . Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting October 1, 2019 Motions & Resolutions Approval of September 17, 2019 Deputy Mayor Moore made a motion to approve the September 17, 2019 Minutes. Seconded by Trustee Ramos. All ayes. Motion carried. Introductory to Local Law 8 of 2019 – Sign Regulations Deputy Mayor Moore made a motion to schedule a Public Hearing for Local Law 8 of 2019 for October 15, 2019 at 6:30pm or soon thereafter. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. 5 ayes. 1 abs (Trustee Svarczkopf). Motion carried. Payment of the Audited Bills Deputy Mayor Moore made a motion to pay the Audited Bills. Seconded by Trustee Ramos. All ayes. Motion carried. Executive Session-PBA, CSEA and Personal history of a particular employee Deputy Mayor Moore made a motion to enter executive session to discuss PBA, CSEA negotiations and for the personal history of a particular employee. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Reconvene Deputy Mayor Moore made a motion to reconvene the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. October 1, 2019 15