Board of Trustees

Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting February 2, 2021 Mayor Taylor called the regular meeting of the Village of Walden Board of Trustees to order at 6:30pm. On roll call the following were: Mayor: Susan Taylor Present: Deputy Mayor John Ramos Trustees Brian Sebring Willie Carley Cheryl Baker Lynn E. Thompson Absent: John Elliott Also Present: John Revella, Village Manager Kelly A. Kelly, Village Treasurer Dave Donovan, Village Attorney Village Manager’s Report Manager Revella: Been working on County and State funding, federal grants to try and help alleviate the cost and burden on the taxpayer. There are some more funding sources coming out, we hope. I actually wrote a letter to Senator Skoufis today to see if he can help with any State funding for sewer improvements. It's a big one for us right now. CDBG applications will be coming out soon, so we'll be filing for that. We'll come to the Board with potential projects so the board can vote on which one they prioritize for the application. Continuing follow up on Union negotiations, we believe we're finished with CSEA now. We should be able to sign that memorandum of agreement at the next Board meeting. I hope to have that to all of you this week, so you have time to review. The office has been covering pretty well with the Clerk's absence and keeping up. Dave has been helpful as well, making sure we're getting our filings in and things that have to be followed up on with reports. Engineer went through some capital projects for the audit for the Treasurer and I. Going over some capital projects for the next budget coming up with some Department Heads. Been going through evaluations, inventory and budgets with Department Heads. We should have those in the first draft and then the Treasurer start working with the Department Heads to finalize for the Board. I believe it has to be to you by March 22nd. I don't know if anybody's been over to the Scout Cabin. We did some improvements over there in the building. We'll keep going room by room over there to make some upgrades, which was in need of a lot of love. I've been going over the generators with the DPW Super and Engineer. Had to do some updates on those. We have a new gas meter coming to Village Hall. There were some issues with the pressure. Also had another water main break since the last meeting on Sadlier that thankfully wasn't the major issue, but was handled pretty well. The Rec Department's been going over the Scout Cabin. They've been doing property maintenance for snow removal. Building Department has been working on CO's, municipal reports, building permits, scheduling fire and safety and working on the budget with the Treasurer. They are going through citations for snow removal and working on some property maintenance violations and some concerns from residents regarding a couple of areas that we're hoping to focus on and get resolved quickly. Either through the Village Board or the court, whichever is going to be first because they've been lingering. The Treasurer has been working on the draft budgets with Department Heads. She and I worked on some issues with IWS with our billing to make sure the audit with that is going well and with the engineer for the audit for the state and federal grants, it's a separate audit. Rehab loans and union calculations, you should have gotten 1 the status on rehab loans in your packet. Public Works have been going through issues with the sewer plant, as you know, we're trying to get some funding for some updates that are required there. They're working on meters, vehicle maintenance, road maintenance, salting and plowing during the storms, flushing and jetting sewers and inventory, evaluations and the budget. Those are all in from the department as well. Police Department finished evaluations and inventory. Finishing up the budget now. Been working on policies for the Police Reform. Library, no real change from last time. Justice court, no change from last time. The attorney is just waiting for 1 more union to get back to us on the pandemic policies that was drafted and sent out. 1 union to responded, the other didn't. Once the other 1 has responded, Dave and I will work through that with you and hopefully finalize it for the Board. Trustee Thompson: Did you submit anything else for Climate Smart? Manager Revella: The last 1, yes. About the heat smart, that was submitted. Trustee Thompson: I've looked at that website, I don't see us scored for anything. Manager Revella: I don't know what the delay is between submission and scoring, but it's submitted. Trustee Thompson: Do you have a contact person for that? Manager Revella: We have somebody. Trustee Thompson: We've worked so hard to get our initial submissions in. I don't want anything to fall by the wayside. I want to get us get us on the map. Manager Revella: They should score points for the Town, too. I don't know if the Town started out application. Trustee Thompson: I looked on both and I saw nothing for either 1 of us. I just want to make sure we stay on top of that and if there's anything you need from me, please don't hesitate to ask me. Manager Revella: Just as you get the minutes from the CAC, any projects that come through them, just send them over so we can upload them. Action Items Police Reform Manager Revella: Just to update the public and the Board due to the storm, we postponed last night's meeting. It was just a few of those policies and procedures to review. We're going to have those again for the next meeting on March 1st at 6 p.m. 3rd floor. Any comments from the public or from the Board, submit them by writing, email or come to the meeting. Mayor Taylor: What's the time frame for us to get that into the state? Attorney Donovan: April 1st it needs to be adopted. I did pass this along to the Manager today. There has been a request by certain members of the public to extend that deadline to November. They come to the position that this is not being carried out in a proper way and on a state level, so they want the deadline extended and they want it handled differently. I don't know where that will go, but that was communication sent by a local attorney that I forwarded to the Mayor today. I happened to go to through the Police Association. I was copied by the Village of Goshen Chief. 2 Mayor Taylor: Is this locally or state? Attorney Donovan: It's a local attorney who is requesting that the state deadline for the implementation of the executive order of April 1 to be extended to November 1. Manager Revella: He also requested that there was some more oversight from the state, including regional overseers. Attorney Donovan: As far as we're concerned, our deadline remains. Discussion – 15 Walden Estates Road Easement Manager Revella: There was a request from the resident there to put a fence on the easement property. There's already easement there and there's already a fence on the property. We were looking at the prior easement to see if there was already an approval from the Board for the fence. It's not in the same exact place as it was previously. So, Dave believes it needs a new approval from the Board. Attorney Donovan: Dean had given me a sketch which indicated that this fence was in a different location. It's an easement in favor of the Village, so you need to consent to it. Apparently, the property owner emailed John today indicating it was just a replacement, it was in the same location. I know John reached out to Dean. I don't know how that resolved itself. If it's the same fence in the same location, it's already allowed. If it's a different location, it needs to be approved by the Board. I had asked the question before whether we've identified any adverse impact on the *inaudible* as a result of the fence. Manager Revella: The only thing would be that if we need to remove the fence to work on the easement that should not be at our cost for removal or replacement. Is that something we can work into the document? Attorney Donovan: Absolutely. Mayor Taylor: I can't remember why and if I was on the Board when this easement was granted. Manager Revella: Not initially. Attorney Donovan: It's a drainage easement. So, probably when the neighborhood was created. Mayor Taylor: I seem to remember discussing this property back in the day and I don't know if it was a drainage issue or what the issue was, but I remember discussing this property in length. I don't know what you want us to do if we don't have clarification of where she wants this easement. Manager Revella: We do have clarification on where, it's just a matter of the cost. That's my concern for the Village, is if we have to do work there, the cost for removal and replacement should be on the homeowner, not on us. Mayor Taylor: Do you want to prepare something for us for the next meeting? Is it in the same place that it is now? Is it stipulated in the easement that any cost to remove it and replace it should we need to get in that area is the responsibility of the property owner? Manager Revella: That's what we want in the approval. Attorney Donovan: My only involvement with this property, there was a wall that was 3 constructed. This goes back a few years and there is an agreement there that the property owner is responsible. This is my first knowledge that there's a fence there and I don't know, John, since we're going to resolve this next month. We should clarify, I believe the woman's email indicated, it's in the same location. The diagram that Dean sent me indicates a different location. I think that should be clarified. Mayor Taylor: Can you get that clarification and we'll put it back on the agenda for the next meeting? Manager Revella: Yes and she said she's available if we need her for any questions at the next meeting as well. Mayor Taylor: Everybody in agreement with that? All: Yes. Resolution 15-20-21 – Budget Transfers Manager Revella: This is the year end clean up from last year to make sure that the audit numbers match. Trustee Sebring made a motion to adopt Resolution 15-20-21 – Budget Transfers. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. Resolution 16-20-21 – Budget Transfers Deputy Mayor Ramos made a motion to adopt Resolution 16-20-21 – Budget Transfers. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Payment of Audited Bills Deputy Mayor Ramos made a motion to approve Payment of Audited Bills. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. Correspondence Trustee Thompson: I had an email from Mary Ellen Matise and an email from Rebecca Pearson. Deputy Mayor Ramos: I received the same 2 emails. Trustee Sebring: I received the same. Trustee Carley: I received the same. Trustee Baker: Same 2 emails. Miscellaneous Comments from the Board of Trustees Trustee Thompson: I wanted to thank the Treasurer for providing us with some information about our rehab loan program. I think it's a great program and I did meet briefly with Dean. Now that we have our Code Officer in place again, I just really would like for the Board to encourage that the Building Department lets our community know that these loans are available and that we encourage people that when they get citations or if they just have property improvement issues, that there is a special fund. I would like to know how we can actually publicize it more. 9 people applied for the loans and 7 were granted. I think we can do better. I would like to know how the Board feels if anyone has any ideas of how we can make sure that our residents know that this is available to them. 4 Mayor Taylor: Can it be focused on the website? Manager Revella: Yes, it's on the website. There are 2 other applications that are outstanding. We're just clarifying the credit on 2 more applications from the past fiscal year. We have 2 more that are coming in. And 1 more inquiry came in today as well. We'll keep posting and pushing. We did put in the paper one time, not sure if you want to spend that kind of money, we can keep posting on Facebook and website. Trustee Thompson: Dean says that when he does have a problem property, he does give the homeowner or the property owner information about the program. Of course, we can't force them to participate. I just think it's a great program and I would like to see our residents utilize it if they are eligible. I also would like to ask that perhaps the Board gets a very brief synopsis, just like this one that Kelly put together. Just knowing how many loans are outstanding, what kind of a balance do we have, how many people are applying, how many people get approved, who gets denied? I think it's something we should all participate in so we can support this program. I don't know how everybody else feels about that. I would like to see a report at least once or twice a year to let us know what's going on with this program. Mayor Taylor: I think that's a good idea, so we know where it is. Unfortunately, with everything still being shut down. Things could be put in the library, so when parents bring kids in or people are utilizing the computers, it's there for them to pick up and have. It's hard with covid to even think of places that you could put it to people are going that they can pick it up. Traffic is very low in the Village Hall, right? Manager Revella: That's correct. Mayor Taylor: I know it's online, could there be something on the front page when you open the web page? Manager Revella: We have them available outside the office and Dean's office, too. Front page of the web page would work. Deputy Mayor Ramos: I think by handing them to the Code Enforcement Officer and Dean, they have firsthand knowledge of the issues that are going around. You're right, the library. I know Ms. Neidermeir will be happy to post it on their website and it should be given optimal exposure everywhere. Trustee Carley: Do we know if the Code Enforcement Officer is passing it out? Trustee Thompson: I know the Building Inspector does. Manager Revella: The new guy just started, I'm sure he will, too. We'll make sure. Deputy Mayor Ramos: I just want to pat on the back to the Rec Department for the Scout Cabin. The work out there is tremendous and I know it's going to be a utilized building. The guys out there plowing since Sunday, phenomenal job. I'm glad I'm not out there plowing in the trucks anymore, but they did a phenomenal job and I'd like to thank them. Trustee Carley: I haven't received any information concerning the Town regarding the ambulance. I don't know if John received anything. I know the Town Supervisor was supposed to send some information and dates for meetings and so forth. Did you hear anything? 5 Manager Revella: I haven't gotten anything about dates for meetings. Not since the first correspondence that we received. Trustee Sebring: I would like to thank the DPW and the Water Department for all the work that they did under extreme conditions during the snowstorm. The DPW for the snowplowing that they did with the conditions that they were working in also. Mayor Taylor: I did send Fred a message asking him to thank his crew and I thanked him for the hard work that they did. What are the chances? Major snowstorm and a water main break. And as usual, there were some complaints that you're going to have to deal with. 1 of the major complaints during this storm and every storm seem to be that people are annoyed that they've shoveled their driveways and their sidewalks and the plows come by again and now the driveways filled in and the sidewalk has snow on it again. I tried to explain, obviously not effectively, about the curb to curb so that cars parking on the streets can get as close to the curb as possible and they're not drifting out into the street, causing an issue with traffic flow. I thought maybe if you could have Fred Perna, address it the next meeting, maybe explaining how the procedure is done, why they plow a certain way, why they wait till after the storm is done to do the curb to curb. Maybe people can get a better understanding of how they do things and why the timing is what it is. Executive Session – Personnel and Attorney Client Deputy Mayor Ramos made a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss personnel and attorney client. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Reconvene Deputy Mayor Ramos made a motion to reconvene the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. 6  Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting February 2, 2021 Motions & Resolutions Resolution 15-20-21 – Budget Transfers Trustee Sebring made a motion to adopt Resolution 15-20-21 – Budget Transfers. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. Resolution 16-20-21 – Budget Transfers Deputy Mayor Ramos made a motion to adopt Resolution 16-20-21 – Budget Transfers. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Payment of Audited Bills Deputy Mayor Ramos made a motion to approve Payment of Audited Bills. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. Executive Session – Personnel and Attorney Client Deputy Mayor Ramos made a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss personnel and attorney client. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Reconvene Deputy Mayor Ramos made a motion to reconvene the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. 7