Board of Trustees

Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting April 5, 2022 Mayor Ramos called the regular meeting of the Village of Walden Board of Trustees to order at 6:30pm. On roll call the following were: Mayor: John Ramos Present: Deputy Mayor Willie Carley Trustees Lynn Thompson Patricia Maher Becky Pearson Brian Sebring Absent: John Elliott Also Present: John Revella, Village Manager Marisa Kraus, Village Clerk Dave Donovan, Village Attorney Manager’s Report Manager Revella: Had several meetings down at Olley Park, reviewed the updates at Community Center, discussed locations of things and kind of updating notes on how we wanted things to look as it gets completed on the exterior as well as interior. Went over the salt barn potential location next year. As we're likely going to file a grant for that down at DPW, also discussed some landscaping and the stair project down there. Met with the Chief to go over coverage. Met with Workers Comp Rep and the village clerk to review our current caseload. Had a conference with Scenic Hudson on watershed protection. Obviously, I told them that our Village is on board with watershed protection as we've been working on that through a couple of different organizations. I met with Trustee-Elect Pearson at the time to go over some Village matters and take a tour through our Village facilities. I met with the Building Inspector to go over updates of Department and Planning Board matters, including some issues that have been taking place recently, with one matter in particular, which I'll go over in a minute. I met with a resident and I advised the board about trout reintroduction to the Tin Brook. Had a conference with the Mayor to go over some Town matters, including Ambulance District, the Wellhead Protection Plan, Hill Street Bridge and the CEA, all going to be on the Town Board agenda on April 25th at 5:30 p.m. and everyone's encouraged to attend. I covered for DPW Super during his time off. Had a good meeting with County Human Resources. Went over some tests that we needed in the Village and the updated Police Officer list, which we got and actually sent out canvas letters today. Had a conference with Special Counsel and the Clerk to go over 207c and workers comp and responses for those. Rec and Parks have been going over the Community Center as well, working on preparations at the Bradley Park for Montgomery Little League, who's playing baseball there again. Arbor Day was set for April 28th. There are several tree locations picked out. Online programs are up and running. Summer camp, flag football, tennis registrations. Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for April 9th as well. The Building Inspector issued 13 permits, 6 Certificates of Compliance and 6 CO Reports since last meeting. He also issued a Stop Work Order at the Overlooked Kidd Farm Townhouse project since they cleared trees from the lot without authorization. We went over some issues with our attorney as well. Code Enforcement Officer has been assisting with permits and inspections, issued 8 permits, 11 Certificates of Compliance and conducted 2 Fire and Safety inspections, as well as done the onsite inspections for Falcon’s Rest project on North Montgomery Street. Clerk has been updating Facebook/website, 207c, comp matters, worked on FOILs and the bi-monthly calendar. Finance 1 Office worked on month end. Distributed the draft budget. Worked on the year end audit, NYSHIP and had some one-on-one training in Edmunds and also reviewed the new escrow module, which they're requesting in the upcoming budget. DPW has been working to maintain vehicles, roads, facilities, continue working on meters, they were able to replace 1 meter, 1 endpoint, did 24 mark outs and 1 closing since last meeting. They have been working on some things at Bradley Park for beautification and safety. There are some issues on a slope on the back of one of the fields with some trees that were dangerous, but they'll do some replanting there, so it'll look nice. Also, a sewer main issue on Main Street with facilities dumping grease and clogging the main. That's the one where we got a grant for smoke testing and lining, so hopefully that helps find the culprits as well. Police have been working on staffing issues due to officers on a leave. We did interview some part time dispatch candidates, so hopefully fill those spots. They've been working on tickets through special details and saturation. Since the last meeting they issued 16 traffic tickets, 22 parking summonses, 3 MVAs, 1 arrest and responded to 342 blotters. Trustee Pearson: What is the stair project you're talking about? Manager Revella: The board approved stairs to go inside the DPW facility last budget for the second floor. Trustee Pearson: You attending Assemblyman Candidate Brian Maher's party is part of your position? Manager Revella: The event I attended as the Manager; it was in the evening. I try to keep you abreast of things that I attend in the community. Trustee Pearson: When you met with Ray Cummings on the Tin Brook, was there an outcome? Manager Revella: Yes. I thought you were on the email. I emailed everyone that we will be reintroducing trout to the stream tomorrow. The DEC issued a permit for that as well, so everything's good. Trustee Pearson: Wellhead protection, can we possibly set up a special meeting for the 25th of April in the Town of Montgomery, that maybe if enough board members want to go, that you won't feel like you can't go and say something, which I think that might be a wise thing to do for the 25th meeting. So, if you have more than 3 people there, you don't feel like we're going to be in trouble for speaking. Deputy Mayor Carley: Because we go and speak at the Town that's still considered part of the board, if there's more than 3? Attorney Donovan: So, this came up before. There was a public hearing on the Ambulance District. The Manager contacted me and he said more than a quorum of the board wants to go. In an abundance of caution, because obviously you can all go to the movies, all sit in a movie theater or watch the movie, you could all go to a Christmas party. It doesn't have to be advertised. My concern in an abundance of caution was you were there as a board, a quorum of the board discussing Town business. If it wasn't advertised, you could be criticized for conducting a meeting. Deputy Mayor Carley: I was thinking that it's not our board meeting. We're taking something for the Town. Attorney Donovan: If you all sat in the audience, didn't say anything that would be fine. It's when you start interacting and discussing Village business that it could be construed to be a meeting. 2 Trustee Thompson: But if everybody does attend and they think they cannot run into trouble, it doesn't mean that people can't get up and speak. Manager Revella: I think you you're better off just setting it as a special meeting and being done with it. It doesn’t hurt you to do it. Deputy Mayor Carley: Do we have to have a quorum in a special meeting? Attorney Donovan: No, you don't have to, actually, because then there's no meeting. If there are only 3 of the board members show up, it's not a meeting of the Village board. My concern was if there were more than 4 people, you all got up and you discussed what was essentially Village business. It could be construed as being a Village board meeting. Trustee Pearson: Safer than sorry. Attorney Donovan: Yes. Let the record reflect that's the second time that Trustee Pearson and I have agreed this evening. Trustee Pearson: Are they just doing spring cleanup at the parks? You're talking about park maintenance, is it just kind of spring cleanup? Manager Revella: Yes. It's like preparing the playgrounds. They put up a canopy at Bradley Park that's not there in the winter. They put the nets up at the tennis courts. They fill in mulch if there are gaps, that kind of stuff. Trustee Pearson: Are you going to talk about the stop work order? Manager Revella: I don't know how far I can talk about it. Attorney Donovan: You could say that a stop work order has been issued. Trustee Pearson: As of when? Manager Revella: I don't remember what day it was, the 31st maybe. Trustee Pearson: Falcon's Rest, when do park land fees get paid? Manager Revella: They paid half upfront. They pay the other half when their building permits issued, I believe. Something like that. There's something in the beginning, something at the end. They paid the first half. They paid $69,000 and they pay another $69,000, I don't remember the date. Trustee Pearson: Worked on Bradley Park slope for safety, what slope are we talking about? Manager Revella: The slope behind the minor field where the trees got removed, the ones that were hanging over the dugouts. Trustee Pearson: Can you explain a blotter to me? Manager Revella: Whenever the police have contact, could be anything, it could be, they went to the park and checked to see if there's anybody there after hours. That's a blotter. 3 Trustee Pearson: Are we still working on payroll funding and bank reconciliations from January and February? Manager Revella: Bank recs are done all the time. Trustee Pearson: But from a long time ago. There's another one from January that they're still working on. Is there an issue with something? Manager Revella: Depends on which account. Certain accounts are done quicker than others, depending on how voluminous it is and if there are things that are, if there's a check missing, they have to go back and find out why the check is missing. It could be someone didn't cash it. Not sure. So, they have to reconcile that too and they may go back and do journal entry to move something. Trustee Thompson: Building Department, no code violations at all. Manager Revella: That's correct. He said as they do code violations, they will report them in the reports. I did not receive any of the report, so I didn't report any to you. Trustee Thompson: Under DPW, the issues with the sewer main on Main Street, dumping the grease and clogging the main, I feel like that comes up frequently. What are we trying to do about that? What can we do about that? Manager Revella: We're inspecting grease traps to try and find who exactly. We can't tell. We suspect who it is, but we don't know for sure who it is. Trustee Thompson: There's no way to ascertain who's doing that? Manager Revella: That's why we'll try more frequently check the grease traps to see who's overflowing and not maintaining. Trustee Thompson: I just feel like this is an ongoing issue. How often do they have to stay on top of this? Manager Revella: Someone is using it, like a restaurant, pretty frequent. We hope that the smoke testing and lining will alleviate some problems because there's still infiltration going on in that line. Trustee Thompson: If and when you decide who the perpetrator is, what is the recourse with that? Are we allowed to talk about that? Attorney Donovan: There's a fine. Bring them to court. You have to prove that they've done something inappropriate subject to a summons and then the court could impose a fine. Trustee Thompson: But at some point, the expectation is they correct the problem or they keep going to court if they don't? Attorney Donovan: The expectations they correct the problem. Generally, when an institution or a business that's got a discharge grease into the system is going to have a grease trap on their premises, so it doesn't get into the Village system. Exactly what's happened here? I don't know. That business would be responsible for maintaining their own grease trap as opposed to the Village taxpayers. 4 Trustee Thompson: Hopefully the smoke testing will finally put an end to all of this. Manager Revella: That's part of the problem. We'll try and trace as well while we're doing that. Trustee Thompson: Police. Working on special details and tickets through saturation patrols. What are special details? Manager Revella: If they have stop DWI Special Detail or Crosswalk Detail, but now we've been doing some special details, which is really a saturation patrol. So, we have a complaint on South Montgomery Street about speeding. They'll do a detail where he'll ask all the officers for 2 hours of their shift, they have to do this and that'll be special detail. Those 2 hours they have to do speed patrol at this certain location. Trustee Thompson: So, that's not for special events. Manager Revella: No, not for special events. Trustee Pearson: Have we done that detail since that letter? Manager Revella: I didn't ask the Chief since then. He does know about it. He was directly on the email and I messaged him as well. I don't know if they've had time to do it, but I'll ask him when I go downstairs. Trustee Thompson: Since the COVID restrictions have lifted, is there any possibility that these plastic walls can come down and the board, the entire board can be back on the dais? Manager Revella: It's up to you guys. Mayor Ramos: We can do it next month. If the numbers don't become surge. Trustee Thompson: Thanks very much. Deputy Mayor Carley: Lexipol. We did the policies, what's the next step? Manager Revella: They just have to acknowledge that the board has reviewed everything. Then upload, all the officers have to make sure that they've reviewed as well in the system. When they acknowledged them all, they upload that and then we'll see what's next. What's next right now is to make sure the officers have acknowledged, receipt and review of all those things that we reviewed. Trustee Thompson: We had the Town of Montgomery present to us about their planned triathlon event, which I think it was pretty unanimous that everybody felt like that was a decent event. The more I thought about that, though, I know this is very preliminary, but I started wondering about the police patrol and the costs. I would hate to see this turn into something like how national night out did, and we just couldn't maintain the cost. Mayor Ramos: The planning is still in its infancy right now. We're going to obviously Chief Hanks and Chief Herlihy will gather their operation plan for the event and bring it back to us to say yes or no. If it's financially feasible, then we do it. If it's not, then we're going to have to punt with that. Trustee Thompson: I just was asking because I know that the date that they had asked us to make a final decision by is creeping up. 5 Approval of March 22, 2022 Minutes Deputy Mayor Carley made a motion to approve the March 22, 2022 Minutes. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. 5ayes. 1 abstention (Trustee Pearson). Motion carried. Public Comment Susan Taylor: 80 East Ave. Tax cap. Please do your best to stay under the tax cap. Everybody knows what the financial situation is now, so it really would be wonderful if you thought about the taxpayers during the budget process and did your best to stay under that tax cap. If you are going to invest in a business, especially one that had financial issues. I think one of the first things you would do is vet it. You'd look at financial statements, audits, you'd audit whatever equipment was on hand to make sure how long it's going to last. What is it worth? You'd audit personnel costs, insurance costs, everything else that goes along with it. I don't think anybody would argue that the Town of Montgomery and the 3 Villages within the Town need a great and cost-effective ambulance service to serve them. Trustee Sebring and the Manager will bear me out since we used to attend Town Board meetings during their budget sessions and I can remember the Director of our library, Ginny Neidermeir, going every year are asking the Town for money for the library because our library not only serves Village residents, but Town residents within the 12586 zip code. She would bring with her and would answer thorough questions from that board, which is their right to ask when they're investing town taxpayer dollars. She'd bring demographic reports. She would be able to tell you how many people that library served. She would be able to tell you what equipment was purchased, what movies were rented, what books they were purchasing for the library, for all the users of the library to enjoy. I was on this board for 12 years, might have missed 1 or 2 of those budget meetings, but never during any of those budget meetings did I ever hear a presentation from the Town of Montgomery Ambulance. I know they received taxpayer funds to do what they needed to do. I just want to tell the board that I appreciate as a former Mayor and as a taxpayer, your due diligence and asking these questions. The fact that somehow these reports, audits, whatever missing, never done, not presented, I think we need to do our due diligence and figure out what is most beneficial for our Town and what is going to be most cost effective for the taxpayers. Especially if you're talking about making ambulance employees Town employees. We know what that costs. You're not just talking about salaries. You're talking about health insurance. You're talking about retirement. So, I appreciate you doing your due diligence in fully vetting. I know it's been said that we need to because of the need of such a service to sometimes have a leap of faith. If those of you sitting on the dais and down here want to take a leap of faith, do it with your money, not taxpayer money. Ultimately you are the custodians of the taxpayer dollars and it's your responsibility to make sure that whatever you do with them is done in a fiscally responsible manner. Thank you. Mary Ellen Matise: In the packet this proposed code update is about the landlord registry. Do they notify us that April 1st is a deadline to register? They have our email addresses. Manager Revella: They're supposed to send a letter out. Mary Ellen Matise: I don't think I got one. Every now and then, when I'm talking to the Building Department a staff person will say to me you need to. Well, there are a million things on your mind not just in taking care of that property, but just in general, life is busy, busy, busy. They have our email addresses. Why don't they just do a big robo email telling all the landlords that April 1st and attach the form? Why even have to pay for mail? I don't think I got any kind of notice. I'm going to talk about the Ambulance Corps. I never, ever want to ride in it, but I have used it. I've used it for family members and they've always been there for me. I'm asking in the discussion you're going to have late in this meeting, are you going to update us on any meetings that you've had since the last Village board meeting and who you had meetings with? Any proposals that you might have received regarding ambulance service from an ambulance service? Our plans for 2023 because last 6 night, I looked through the budget and I found the garbage contract, money in money out, but see anything where we're designating or allocating for ambulance service for next year. And even if it's just for half a year, you got to put some line there. There's got to be something that's going to cover us. Where is that? Are you planning to put it in, Mr. Manager? It's still your proposed budget. Manager Revella: I wasn't asked to put a line in for ambulance service. I don't have a line in for any other kind of service either like that. We don't contract for that. Mary Ellen Matise: I know we've never contracted for it. If we're going to, if we're going to have to, where is it going to go? What provision are we making to cover ourselves for next year so that if you decide either to get into some type of municipal agreement with the Town, but even then, you're going to have to fork over money that's going to have to come out of the budget. The direct tax you're going to do is going to be in our budget. How's this going to happen? What's the deadline for the budget? But then if it doesn't happen soon, what do we do for ambulance service? Especially with the things that are going on, rising gas prices, maintaining vehicles, everything that is associated with this type of service is not going to go down in cost, it's going to go up. How are we going to deal with that? I also want to know what's the status of this 3-person committee? Are we establishing it as a committee of the board? Then it could be open to the public and it could be open to public participation. Maybe that's what we need to do at this point. Maybe that would help move forward because we're at a stalemate right now. We're at a dead standstill as far as the public can tell. Mayor Ramos: Right now, we contribute about $401,000 to the general fund for the Town of Montgomery. That would be an assist with us if we eventually have to get into shared services with the Town of Montgomery and providing ambulance service. I wasn't going to get into it until we get on to our comments, but we had a meeting on the 25th, I believe, with members of the Ambulance Corps. It was ended abruptly by me. Second, we had a meeting with the consultant, Mr. Chris and Mr. Peter Barry from the consultant company. We had a sit-down talk with them myself, Trustee Thompson and we gave him the ground groundwork for them. We wanted to talk to them and get their feelings on where they're going to go. They have their plan. Hopefully, they're going to go to the surrounding areas to talk with Ambulance Corps, Town of Montgomery, Pine Bush, all the other areas. They're really hitting the pavement pretty hard. We have another briefing on the 15th of April. If they need that and we're going to meet at the end of April to see what progress they have made. We are still in dialog between myself, Trustee Thompson and former Trustee Baker. We are still in dialog. We are still gathering our information and as former Mayor Taylor would say, we are doing what we can to ensure that we're doing everything for the Village of Walden. I hope that and once we get the briefing from the consultants in April, I'd be happy to invite whoever would like to come and discuss it further in an open forum. Trustee Maher: What is the date on that meeting? Mayor Ramos: The 25th of April. Trustee Thompson: I thought we changed that to later that week because I won't be here. Mayor Ramos: That's correct. It will be the day after your book. I have to look at my notes. What day are you coming back? Trustee Thompson: I will be back April 30th. I can be here the very next day, otherwise any day that week. Mayor Ramos: Okay, we can do that. 7 Sylvie Rainaldi: I am a Trustee with the Town of Montgomery Ambulance Corps. I saw since you had Ambulance on the agenda tonight, I would just take the opportunity to share with you, we have monthly executive board meetings at the Ambulance Corps. We invite the liaisons and the Trustees to attend for at least a minimum of 30 minutes where we go over our financials and data every month. I just wanted to take the opportunity since Q1 just closed to give those everyone here an example of what we go over and highlight some of the things for Q1. We meet the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 7pm. We meet in person at the Ambulance Bay here in the Village of Walden. But we also have a Zoom call in set up. We primarily talk about 3 things in those meetings the 1st being our statistics. The 2nd being our finances and the 3rd any initiatives that we're working on. *referenced handout given to whole board* If it's something you're interested in or want to talk to us about. By all means, call in or attend our monthly meeting. We also had a chance to meet with the consultant in March. They had also done additional requests for data, statistics, financials, policies and procedures. We sent that all to the consultant as well, and we're looking forward to working with the two of them and their recommendations. I have just 1 question for you. Mayor Ramos: This is just comment. You did a phenomenal job and we'll get into it when we get to discussion, you can ask your question there. Parkland Funds Manager Revella: We talked about parkland funds a little bit last time and a little bit last night. I talked about it with the Attorney as well and with the Recreation Coordinator. We would like to designate some of the parkland funds. We have $63,000 in the account right now. We're likely going to get a lot more over the next year towards 1 of those capital projects. I'm not sure what the board's preference is, but it could go towards either the Community Center, kitchen upgrades and outfitting or towards the Scout Cabin updates or something like that. But it has to go toward something of that nature. I don't know if you want to ask Dave those kinds of questions, but that's what our conclusion was. Attorney Donovan: I'll give you the general rules because we talked last time about certain equipment and my indication at the time or my inclination at the time was that wasn't allowed. I've confirmed that. The field groomer are more operation and maintenance, they're not permissible. The statutory language, but there's also interpretations by the New York State Comptroller *read interpretation* In my view, the things that the Manager has outlined would be permissible. Things like a mower or a groomer would not be. Manager Revella: If the board was inclined to use some of those funds, what's the process to utilize them? Attorney Donovan: I don't know what process you've used in the past, but if you want to bring something specific to the board, then the board could vote to say yes, we authorize the expenditure of X dollars from the Parkland Trust and Agency fund for this purpose. But I think you should you should articulate the specific purpose. Trustee Pearson: $63,000, do you want to use the whole thing? Manager Revella: I'm not sure what the board wants to use, but those are the projects on the list that are potentials. I would request that you'd use some or a majority towards one of those projects, at least. So, we don't have to capitalize it in a bond. It would either be towards the Scout Cabin Rehab or the Community Center kitchen and outfitting, if you're so inclined. Trustee Thompson: Didn't I see on that list was also the Waterfront Park? 8 Manager Revella: Yes, we have a $150,000 grant for that. I don't know if we need that. We don't have the bids yet, it's an option. Mayor Ramos: Is there a priority list? Manager Revella: The Community Center would be 1. Depending on the bids for the Riverfront Park would be 2. If the bids are fine, then we wouldn't. But otherwise, yes. And then the Scout Cabin would be 3 on that list. Trustee Pearson: We were talking about the Scout Cabin last night and it was only 50 something thousand dollars. Why don't we cover that and be done with it and be finished with that project, except for fixing the outside of the building. Instead of chopping it all up and why don't we finish 1 project and move on to the next. Manager Revella: The other idea was the Community Center was we would want to get it done. So, it's more operable. The Scout Cabin may be able to wait up to a year until we get additional funds in from the projects that are online. Trustee Pearson: You have $170,000 in the budget for that s$63,000 is not even half of it. Where is the rest of it going to come from? Manager Revella: You'd bond. Mayor Ramos: They gave priority list on what needs to be done. Trustee Thompson: It sounds like the Waterfront Park; I don't think that needs to be a priority because there's a decent amount being in place for that already. I agree that the Community Center is a building that we've needed for use for quite a long time. It's a beautiful brand-new facility to be able to get into it and utilize it. It makes sense to spend some money on that, however. That Girl Scout Cabin project, I feel like that is dragging on into an eternity. If we don't stay on top of that and get that complete, I feel like we're going to go backwards and we're going to have to repair and replace a lot of the things that we've already been working on. And if we don't get the exterior of that building taken care of, I'm not a carpenter or contractor, but it was always my understanding, you do your foundation, your roof and your exterior first and then you go inside. We've spent a lot of time and a lot of money on the inside. I feel like the outside is deserving of our attention as well. I just feel like maybe some of the money could go toward the Girl Scout Cabin and the majority of the money perhaps go to the Community Center. I do agree with Becky, to have all of the projects incomplete, I don't know if that's a great idea. I feel like we should finish one. We have the money pretty much set aside for the last 1 on the list. I don't know. I feel like the other 2 should take top priority. Trustee Pearson: Is the Girl Scout Cabin in a historic marker, does it have a historic presence right now? Manager Revella: No, it does not. Not right now. Trustee Pearson: We probably won't, because we won't have somebody that'll do it. That would be good because you can also get extra funding through grants for that as well. I'm torn. I understand you can't rent the other building out without a kitchen. You have it for camp but when summer camp is over, you need kitchens and you need other people to be in there. I still would probably rather see the building without being more deterioration in the Girl Scout Cabin and be taken care 9 of and get that done. Maybe get a historic marker for it. Get that finished. I think if we let it deteriorate anymore, you're not going to have it. It's going to fall apart. It was a beautiful tribute to the Walden community. It's a unique building. It's something that should be treasured here. Lots of times we let things go and deteriorate and we can never replace them and the value that they have for the community. You told me last night that's used all the time. I would probably push for the Cabin. If you're going to bond for the other 1. Trustee Maher: Are we picking 1? Can we spread it over or prioritizing? Manager Revella: I would like you guys to prioritize, because we're going to get more Parkland funds in and as they come in, we can start to try and allocate towards projects. Trustee Maher: I would say finish the Scout Cabin and then Olley Park would be my 2nd priority. Trustee Sebring: Olley Park being number 1 and I would say the Scout Cabin and then the Waterfront Park. That can that can wait because nothing is been done yet. So, you have time on that. Deputy Mayor Carley: I would go with the Scout Cabin 1st. This is primarily because our conversation last night and we talked about our community, making sure all our residents are taking care of. Our young people utilize the scout camp and evidently a lot. We need to make sure that that's sufficient. The other project after that, Olley and then Waterfront. Mayor Ramos: I'm going to have to go with the Deputy Mayor. It definitely needs the work and we do use it 6 days a week and we've been there for a couple cupcake contests and I think it would be beneficial for them to thrive in a new and fixed environment so that we would prioritize Scout Cabin 1st, Olley 2nd and then Waterfront. Manager Revella: Does that need to be in the form of a motion? Attorney Donovan: There's no specific allocation. It doesn't say $10,000 for the Scout Cabin and $10,000 for the Olley Park. Trustee Pearson made a motion to allocate $50,000 towards the Scout Cabin. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. Discussion – Ambulance District Trustee Thompson: I think you pretty much covered everything when you allowed Ms. Matise to speak and you clarified. I think that we are still trying to sort it out, we're getting closer. It's just a shame that we didn't start with the consultant. I feel like we've gone backwards. We got to keep moving forwards. It's just unfortunate because the 2 gentlemen that we met with were just a wealth of knowledge and I feel like they're going into this with a very open mind. They're collecting all kinds of information from all parties involved. I know they met with the ambulance. They had discussion with Mayor Leahy, with us. I believe they told us their next stop was the Village of Montgomery. Again, forming the district, joining the district may be the absolute ideal situation for our Village. But the 2 gentlemen even agreed. There's a multitude of models out there that may work for our community. I just feel like we have to see it through. We've been doing what we have to do. We've talked to so many Ambulance Corps, Town Supervisors, fire personnel. I'm looking forward to talking with our Ambulance Corps. Our meeting didn't quite go as planned, but I didn't get the opportunity to speak with you guys, which I would very much like to do. I think that we have to continue to just sit tight and let these 2 consultants do their business, present to us their findings so we can make the right choice for our Village. I don't want anybody to think that these 10 are closed meetings. They certainly are not. Mr. Carley had to step out. Everyone agreed that Cheryl Baker should see it through. Once everything is presented and we have a clear picture of where we're going, we most certainly can invite members of the community to join us. Trustee Pearson: You said you had a meeting with the Ambulance Corps or with who? Mayor Ramos: Ambulance Corps. Trustee Pearson: You shut it down? You didn't want to hear what they had to say or was there an issue? What was happening? Mayor Ramos: There was an issue. Trustee Pearson: Personalities? Or is it just something you didn't want to hear? I'm not following. Mayor Ramos: Somebody accused me of criminal issues and I thought maybe there wouldn't be a good discussion. Trustee Pearson: Okay, thank you. I think Mary Ellen brought up a very good point about the budget line item for this because it's not in the budget. Where are we going to put it? I think we'd need to plan ahead for that because if it's taking this long already and we do not have a service, what are we going to pay for it and how are we going to pay for it? I would like to possibly talk about that. Manager Revella: I would just let you know that the potential for the district wouldn't be financed until another year in our budget. We should be okay with our budget for 1 year. We would seriously have to consider on our next budget if that's what comes to pass. If there wasn't a Town wide, including the Village district, with us contributing, we'd have to consider that. Trustee Pearson: Their year is to January. Manager Revella: No, their tax district wouldn't start yet. I don't think they'll have it by January 1st, Dave, is that correct? Attorney Donovan: I don't know where everything stood in terms of the adoption before taxable status of March 1. I don't know where they stood. That was the issue before for the Villages to make sure that they opted in at a specific time so the permissive referendum could lapse so the district would be ready to be effective taxable status date March 1 to be on the Town's budget for 2023. I don't know where that stands. Trustee Pearson: That's next year, so that starts in January. You have January to June when our budgets up, so that's 6 months of no money. Where are we putting that money in our budget? That's 2023. That's our budget. Manager Revella: What would you be paying for? Trustee Pearson: I don't know. I get it, but it's still have some funds somewhere, something that you're going to think about for ambulance or put it in another line or I don't know where you want to put it. Mayor Ramos: We can easily ask the Town of Montgomery to foot at least half of it when the time comes. They're getting a $401,000 from us. That was just last year's numbers. This year is going to 11 be a little bit more. We're still in discussion. Obviously, they sped at this. Got it too fast without any calculations and we are doing our best to see this through and see it right. Trustee Thompson: Becky, they are formally presenting their findings to the Town of Montgomery at the very latest, the beginning of June. We should know by the end of May, beginning of June what their recommendation is. Trustee Pearson: Our new budget starts on June 1st. Trustee Thompson: Correct. But we're already contributing to the A fund. So, if we continue to contribute to the A fund, what I think John is saying is that maybe the amount of money that we would be able to use to continue service until we officially opt in. Correct? Mayor Ramos: Correct. Trustee Pearson: That's a maybe. What do they use the money for when they collect our taxes? It's 1% of all of the residents of the Village of Walden. They can't be using that money for ambulance. What are they using it for? So, there's extra money there. I'm just concerned on our end. We're not going to fix what's going on in the Town of Montgomery. I think that we need to be as a board prepared for what's going to happen or not happen. If we need to put something a little extra somewhere, so we have it just in case. If we don't, then we don't use it, but we are prepared. Trustee Maher: With the no closed meetings. I just wanted to make everyone aware that it's great. I love the fact that they were not closed meetings, but they also were not open to board members. If you're going to have an open meeting, you just have to let everyone on the board know about it. Trustee Thompson: But we can't have a quorum, so we can't have everyone from the board there. Trustee Maher: By not closed meetings? Deputy Mayor Carley: They're just open to the public. Mayor Ramos: If 4 of us show up, 1 of us has to leave. Trustee Pearson: You have an extra seat open. Cheryl isn't a board member. Why don't you invite Trish to be on your committee? I mean, she's looking at it from an opposite side. I think it's a good thing. Trustee Maher: I think even just an invitation or putting it out there that you are meeting on this date, on this topic and then reciprocation of the education that you're finding. Just so we're all aware because I've heard a few things here and there that you've met with this consultant and that you're meeting with this Town and I still haven't received any communication on how those meetings went or what you found out about. I think just more communication in general would be much appreciated. This is obviously a topic, no matter what side you're on, it's definitely something that everyone is heavily invested in. I think that would just be my last statement that I wanted to make is just because you might have an opposing view as someone just keep in mind, everyone is up here fighting for taxpayers and there are many taxpayers who do want ambulance service and do want to be opting into the tax district. I'm fielding and up here voicing their opinions as well. There are always 2 sides and we just have to make sure we're looking at both sides and sharing communication to the public as much as possible. Again, I don't know if we're going to be doing that through the Facebook forum or public notices, but there needs to be some way of channeling that communication to the public, even in the preliminary stages that we're in. 12 Trustee Sebring: I believe at the present time with the committee working with the consultants and the Ambulance Corps, that when the report that they make up will tell the whole story. At this present time, I don't believe that we should be letting in any information out other than what's given here, because there are particulars that right now only the committee should know. They have to write the report. They discuss with the Ambulance Corps or they discuss with the Supervisor for the Town. There are things that we should not know, but we will know when the report is given and given to the residents. Deputy Mayor Carley: I want to say thank you for the committee from the Village talking with the consultant because now I hear what you're saying, because you said once the consultant gives us different views, the different models, then we can pick and choose. Now that tells the public, we're waiting on the consultant to give us an overview of the different models that are out there and objective view so when the committee sits down and we all sit down and look at and see what will work for our Village and then we can say 1, 2 or 3 and then make an educated decision. To me, that's what I was saying last time. And you answered it tonight. I want to say thank you because now I see that you want to wait for the consultant, then they give us the models, then we pick and choose, and then we have a discussion and then we move forward. Concerning funding regarding the should we start putting money together for it right now? To me, I think it's difficult and I agree with the Manager is saying that we just don't say here's $100,000, here's $500,000 and here's whatever. I think the key is that we do contribute to the A fund and if something comes up, we're going to start, then we have that to at least get us started, whatever that is. Then later, when we start moving into a more of another budget, we find out exactly what we're going to do and to move forward. I do appreciate that comment about what the committee has done and where we're going now. That gives the community a clear vision that come June 1st ish. Sylvie Rainaldi: So, I understand, right now, Village of Walden, property owners pay into the A fund for the Town. The Town uses a portion of that A fund to pay to subsidize the ambulance services or emergency medical services for all residents, including the Villages and the Town. Starting in 2023, the Town is carving out that money and they've created a process they're going to RFP for ambulance services and they're going to pay for those services through a tax district and the Village of Walden residents will not be paying into that tax district. Therefore, the Town, since they have decided their ambulance funding is coming from the tax district, I haven't heard anything from the Town about continuing to also use funding from the A fund for ambulance services. My question is if the Village of Walden is not planning on paying for emergency services through the Town tax district or through the Village budget and I've been up here before saying that going forward, starting in 2023, the Town of Montgomery Ambulance Corps will be moving forward with a contract service, there will be costs for municipalities tied to that contract, then who will be providing your ambulance services in 2023? Mayor Ramos: The town has not discussed with us any type of contract that is going through right now. We're eager to discuss with them if that's the case. Village Hall Floor Bid Tabled Tax Cap Deputy Mayor Carley made a motion to set public hearing for April 19, 2022 Override Tax Levy Limit at 6:30pm or soon thereafter. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Updated Village Policies Manager Revella: This is the Village policy packet should have gotten an email, it's very large. 13 Was only minor change of the leave time for elections was changed. So, we had to update our policies to reflect that. That's what we did. We just need the Village board to say, that's okay. Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve the updated policy packet. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Discussion – Article 18 Attorney Donovan: The Village current code, Chapter 38 Subdivision 6 provides that the Clerk of the Village shall cause a copy of Article 18 of the GML and the Code of Ethics adopted by the Village, which is Chapter 38 to be distributed to every officer and employee of the Village prior to their entry upon duties of their office. They're supposed to sign off on that and then annually it's to be redistributed to every incumbent elected official and every appointed officer, and they need to sign off on it again. So that's what the law is. I guess there is a disclosure form that needs to be done as well. I think that's just being brought to the attention. Manager Revella: I just want to make sure the board's aware of the current practice, since I've been here, was a disclosure form that's given out by the Ethics board, which is a couple of pages, your law does not say that. Your law says this Article 18 conflict of interest section, which is several pages. I'm just not sure if the board wants to continue both. One. Trustee Pearson: I would continue both. Manager Revella: It's up to you guys. We have not done the 2nd one since I've been here, I've never had anyone bring it up. Trustee Pearson: When I was Mayor that's the 1 I had to sign, the ethics and it had everything in it because why wouldn't you want the people that work here to be going through that? I mean, there's businesses that are conflicted, there's things that are conflicts. Manager Revella: Those are on the disclosure form as well. Trustee Pearson: I like the one we already have. I think it's important. Manager Revella: The one disclosure form has your personal information, business positions, investments, real estate, interests and contract and sign and attestation. That's the form that the ethics board reviews periodically. The other one that we're talking about, which Dave said was in our code which Trustee Pearson brought up is this Article 18 section, which is huge, but I don't know if you want to fill out this one, which has a little bit more or the original disclosure form and just have the Article 18 attached. I'm not sure how you guys want to do that. Or do you want the Ethics board to review and make a recommendation? Up to you guys. Trustee Maher: For the ethics as well as the disclosure? Manager Revella: So, the Ethics Board for the Village reviews the disclosure form, which is the three-page form. I haven't seen them request or review the second section, which is Article 18. I don't know if the board wants to do both or have the Ethics Board review and make a recommendation, or you guys can make that decision. Attorney Donovan: If you want to change it, you need a local law to change it. Trustee Maher: I'm fine with keeping it. 14 Trustee Sebring: I'm fine with keeping it. Trustee Thompson: I'm fine with keeping it as well. Deputy Mayor Carley: I'm confused. Manager Revella: I'm going to need this back from everybody like immediately as well. Article 18 as well. Trustee Pearson: I signed mine already. I didn't know about the first 1. I just knew I had to sign something when you become a Trustee and you only have a certain number of days to sign it. Deputy Mayor Carley: This is not a form. This is a docket. And so, if you're asking us, do we rather fill this out or fill this out? Is that what you're asking? Manager Revella: Yes, that's up to the board. Trustee Pearson: Filling it out is one thing, reading what's in it is another thing? Deputy Mayor Carley: I get it. My question is this form is what is being reviewed by the Ethics Committee currently. Manager Revella: I have not seen them review it since I've been here. I'm not sure what they did prior to that. We haven't had that distributed. Deputy Mayor Carley: That's what I was going to say. I've never seen this. Now my question is, why would we do this if we can only have to do this? This is only for a reference. Trustee Pearson: I'll tell you why Willie, it's in our code book. Deputy Mayor Carley: I know where it's at. My point is, I was confused. When you said form, I'm looking for a form. But this is not a form. This is like signing a whole document in different sections versus just this. For me, I think the disclosure form is quicker and easier versus going through a whole document and then you have to keep up with everything, even though I think we should still read it. Manager Revella: Information should be attached. Deputy Mayor Carley: Exactly. That's what I was going to recommend. This is what should be circulated. But however, it should be acknowledged that you receive Article 18 conflict of interest so that everyone knows that you do have the document. I rather acknowledge that I received this versus going but it's quite a few times you have at least 6 pages I just saw really quick that I have to fill out information on. Trustee Pearson: Only if you need to fill that information out. If you don't have those issues, you don't fill it out. If you don't own multiple businesses and you don't own this and that you don't have to fill anything out. Deputy Mayor Carley: My point is if the committee reviews this and I just keep this in my little file, then that should be fine in my opinion, unless there's an issue with pulling out just a form by itself. 15 Manager Revella: It's up to you guys. Deputy Mayor Carley: I just voted for it. Keep this and then use the docket the packet for a reference. And then if we have to go through, the process to do that and I'm good with that too. Mayor Ramos: I agree with agree with Deputy Mayor that we just keep the disclosure form and Article 18 as a reference point. Trustee Pearson: So, you want to change the local law so you don't have to sign for article 18? Attorney Donovan: All our code says that you have to acknowledge that you've received and read Article 18. Basically, a statement that I will work with the Clerk with that says I acknowledge that I have received and read Article 18 and maybe we could work some other language in that you don't have to fill out the information because you submitted a separate financial disclosure form. How does that work? Deputy Mayor Carley: That works for me. Attorney Donovan: Right and you filled out your other ethics disclosure form so you don't have to fill out Article 18. Is that okay? Trustee Pearson: I'm fine with the way is. If people have special interests and things going on here, there's financials that need to be filled out for political running. Manager Revella: I just want to make sure you're aware, what we do right now is not what you're asking for. What we do right now is just the form. Trustee Pearson: I know it. Manager Revella: All right. So, you're saying you want to keep doing what we do right now? Trustee Pearson: I want to do both of them. I said that in the beginning, I think that you should have the disclosure form in the front. This is the law; I don't think we need to change the law has been there for years. It's important. It's about how people are being ethical in their money, their employment, their businesses, and you're representing the Village residents and that is all in this form. It talks about it and you read it and then you sign it. You don't have to fill out certain things if it doesn't pertain to you. I think we should keep it. Why are we paying the attorney to change the law? If you can't take 5 minutes to read it and sign the paperwork, I don't understand that. Deputy Mayor Carley: I'm not saying that it's wrong just to sign this. All I'm saying if the ethics committee reviews this versus all of this and what I mean by all of this, whatever that's in there that you put or whoever puts, it's easier for them to go through this. Trustee Pearson: Well, let them have this form. Manager Revella: We'll comply with the code as it currently is. Thanks, Dave. Set Public Hearing – Budget Trustee Maher made a motion to set Public Hearing for 2022-2023 Village Budget for April 19, 2022 at 6:30pm or soon thereafter. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Outdoor Café – Franco 16 Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve Franco’s Outdoor Café Request. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Memorial Day Parade Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve Memorial Day Parade Request. Seconded by Trustee Maher. 5 ayes. 1 abstention (Mayor Ramos) Motion carried. Special Meeting at Town Hall April 25th Attorney Donovan: It would be notice of special meaning to be convened at the Town of Montgomery Town Hall of the Village Board of Trustees of the Village of Walden at April 25th at 5:30 p.m. Then you should since it's a meeting, you are required to take some, and really Marisa will struggle to do those meeting minutes, you just need to know what time you were there, who was present and any action was taken. Manager Revella: Are they allowed to utilize the Town Clerk's minutes? Attorney Donovan: I would advise against that because that's the actions of the Town board, not the actions of the Village board, even though your minutes could be limited to Mayor Ramos said X, Y and Z or Mayor Ramos, Trustee Thompson spoke to the board about issues relative to whatever. Mayor Ramos: While we're there, can we use a recording device? Obviously, there is going to be a lot said. There are a couple of important topics and I don't want us to be timid about talking. Attorney Donovan: The open meetings law allows anyone sitting in the audience could videotape the meeting. They could record the meeting. They just can't do it in a way that kind of interferes with the meeting. Any member of the public could stand in the back and hold up their iPhone and take a video of the meeting. Mayor Ramos: Meeting notes, a recording or some form of synopsis. Attorney Donovan: Just meeting minutes would be all that you would need and they can be brief. Deputy Mayor Carley: We would have to submit that to Marisa? Attorney Donovan: Correct. You don't have to summarize, you could just say, "Deputy Mayor Carley spoke." Trustee Pearson: And that's only if there are 4 people there. Deputy Mayor Carley: I would assume we want more than Deputy Mayor Carly spoke. Attorney Donovan: I'm telling you; you don't even have to say that. Really, all that's required in the minutes is time the meeting started, who was present, any action that was taken and the time the meeting closed. Deputy Mayor Carley: Action on our part or their part? Manager Revella: The Village of Walden's part. Attorney Donovan: It's a little form over substance. If it's a quorum of the board there, I don't want you to be criticized that you had a meeting inappropriately. Follow the letter of the law. 17 Deputy Mayor Carley: I agree with you. I just need it for clarity. Trustee Pearson made a motion to set special meeting at the Town of Montgomery Town Hall, Bracken Road, Montgomery, NY. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Carley. All ayes Motion carried. Public Comment Susan Taylor: I think it was the meeting that I attended before, maybe it was online. The Deputy Mayor made a good point about facelift for Main Street, but we recently had an open house on my street for a home that was being sold. Cars lined on both sides of the street. I find it odd that if we have 2 employees in the Building Department who are out within the Village on a daily basis 5 days a week, I don't know if we change the code. But I see a lot of vehicles parked off street, on the lawn, on sidewalks. There's been one on my street now, 5 months. I don't think it's moved. Truck with a sofa and other paraphernalia on the back of it. It's an open back truck. We've had a lot of real estate action in our Village. There's a lot of people coming in looking to buy homes. Main Street needs a facelift, but when they're going down our streets looking at prospective places to buy and you see this is what your neighbor looks like, they're going to keep driving. I can't even fathom when you tell me that there's no violations. Manager Revella: I didn't say there was no violations, I said they didn't write any. Mayor Ramos: 2 of those vehicles are unregistered or not inspected. Susan Taylor: Then why are they still there? If people are noticing them, they're there. Maybe they just don't like riding down my street. Throughout the Village you go, here's another vehicle parked on a lawn. I know off street parking is an issue. I get it. Mary Ellen Matise: Parkland funds. What does that mean? It means absolutely nothing to me. Then here's the public packet, and there's absolutely nothing in here about parkland funds and I sure would have voted for the Girl Scout Cabin. Becky for a Pomeroy Grant, it will not qualify because the cutoff date is 1922 right now. They only do certain periods of time. Right now, it's 1740 to 1922. Anything in that time frame, you can apply for a grant. I don't think we want to pay $1100 for a sign. Which is why Pomeroy has been wonderful and really wonderful to the Village of Walden and to the Town of Montgomery. I think we hold the state record for getting the most at any 1 time. Mel is going to be the new Historian. I have everything about the Girl Scout Cabin because the Woman's Club took care of it, financed it. I have the whole history of it and he could contact me and he could write it up because Mickey and I wanted to get to it and we just haven't gotten to it. Tell him to contact me. I'll just bug you one more time to just set a date for Joel Cook yet? Mayor Ramos: We are still looking for the proclamation. I sent an email to Linda Cook and haven’t received a response. Mary Ellen Matise: She might have it because she did give me all those other pictures with Katherine St. George and everything. On the CEA, I sent you all the questions which Patricia sent, they presented all of that to the Town board and she has received back no questions from anybody, either the Planning Board or the Town Board about what is the CEA. It's on the CAC website under the Town. The proposal, she gave them. They have all that. They've read all that, hopefully. I would request that you make a resolution that you bring to the meeting on the 25th and give it to them. That's stronger than each of you or some of you getting up and saying something. It's much stronger to have a resolution from this board saying you support the CEA. You would like the Town board to pass it. Much stronger. You could do that at your next meeting and then bring it to that meeting and then it's less notes you have to take Willie. 18 Trustee Thompson: Someone sent a comment that they were concerned, how the CEA would impact future planning for the Town of Montgomery. I do know that a list of questions was submitted. Mary Ellen Matise: And there was no comment from either board. In fact, she was told she's good to go with it. She's good to have the public hearing. It was an issue of the timing for the public hearing, but she didn't understand it and they kind of did. Trustee Thompson: But did all of you get the documentation because I thought she was sending it. If you need anything please ask me, I'm happy to share all of it with you. Mary Ellen Matise: It ties right into the wellhead protection and getting them to pass that would be significant. It's not as strong as doing an aquifer overlay district which would be much stronger. But at least it's a step in the right direction and it makes people aware. Along with that, there's those 11 acres. You want to address something along with the wellhead protection. Those 11 acres that Dickie has is his sign up across from our wells on Route 52 and that is still zoned industrial because there used to be like a cement plant back there or something years and years ago. Everything that was along that rail line that goes up to St. Elmo was zoned industrial. Getting the Town to make sure that they change that in the new zoning would be extremely important to us and our wells because it's right there at the Twin Ponds on Route 52 and if they ever sell it to somebody who does an industrial use, that would be a detriment to our wells. We're in real trouble because that's our big producer. We don't want to jeopardize well 6 ever. That would be an important thing to bring up on the 25th when you're talking about wellhead protection and keep putting that in front of them. It's 11 acres. I'm asking for a resolution. On Clinton St. John, I think we have a couple of springs that are going to wind up destroying the pavement right next to Helen's house. Come look at the street one day. There's just water gushing up out of the asphalt. Manager Revella: It could be a water break, let's check that. Mary Ellen Matise: Not necessarily because I think hers goes out the front. Manager Revella: There are a lot of little lines that go near that driveway. Mary Ellen Matise: It's not in the driveway, it's right on the street and it's going to wind up destroying the pavement. Can I just ask about the EO203 Committee? What's going on with that? Manager Revella: We had a meeting scheduled but it changed due to a snowstorm. We have a new date proposed, so it's going to be put on the website shortly. Mary Ellen Matise: I think aside from that at last night's budget, you talked about recreation and that 50% of the participants are outside the Village and it seems like the contribution we get from the Town on that is really a pittance. What's going on with that and can we maybe get them to bring that up in their next year's budget? Keep that in mind. Payment of Audited Bills Trustee Sebring made a motion to approve payment of audited bills. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Carley. 5 ayes. 1 abs (Trustee Pearson). Motion carried. Correspondence Trustee Pearson: I received an email about those speeders on South Montgomery. Would like to see something done about that. Are we're going to move forward with that or are we just going to 19 wait for the Chief to do something? Can we just direct the Manager to say we need something done? I'd be happy to direct the Manager with a motion to get on that and maybe do a detail there. Manager Revella: Just so you're aware we have details there on a consistent basis. Trustee Pearson: How do I see that? Manager Revella: I can get a report from the Police Department if you want. Trustee Pearson: We used to get reports years ago from the Police Department on what activities they did, so we don't get those any longer? Manager Revella: You get a synopsis in my report. If you want details, I can get you anything you need. There was also a speed sign. Trustee Pearson: Police Department used to do a whole report on what they did, like they did x number of tickets and the revenue coming in. Manager Revella: They don't bring revenue. The court does. Mayor Ramos: They sit at the firehouse, running radar, checking seatbelts. Trustee Pearson: This is the second letter this gentleman wrote. I'm just thinking, is there a way to make it happen. Manager Revella: We can increase staffing, but we just don't have the funds for it right now. We're covering so much overtime for people being out. We try to get details when we can. As calls come in, they have to move from the detail to answer calls. But they do sit there as often as they can. We do have complaints on East Avenue about speeding. We have complaints on Albany and we have complaints on a lot of streets, so we have to rotate it. We can't be there every day, but we try to rotate it to those problem areas. Wait St is another big part of complaints. Trustee Pearson: I know that you wrote about the speed sign that got stolen. That was like 10 years ago. We've never received a replacement value for that. We didn't go through insurance to get something? Manager Revella: Our deductible was more than what it would cost. Trustee Pearson: There's no other way. The Police Department doesn't get grants for that type of thing? Manager Revella: We got it through a grant last time. There hasn't been one available that I know of since, but there may be some coming up. Trustee Pearson: Do you get to see those police grants or is that through the Police Department? Manager Revella: I get copies. Usually, that all comes through my office. I can inquire with them as well. Trustee Maher: I received the email from Mary Ellen Matise. Also, the email from Bill Kiernan about Memorial Day, the same one Becky spoke about from Thomas Gonzalez on South Montgomery Street regarding the speeding and I received the email regarding the grand opening for 20 Junk Babes for May 7th. Trustee Sebring: Same one for South Montgomery Street and one from Mary Ellen Matise. Trustee Thompson: I, too, received the email from the gentleman on South Montgomery Street. I also received the email from Mary Ellen Matise. The letter from Mr. Kiernan about the parade and I've had some back-and-forth correspondence with Kristin Brown regarding the wellhead protection. Deputy Mayor Carley: I received the same correspondence as everyone else. Mayor Ramos: I have too and I did speak to Mr. Sweeten, the President of the Orange County Association Towns and Villages. We are setting up a meet with the Board of Directors to talk about the Ambulance District and bring it to the County Executive and along with Mr. Brendan Casey, who's the EMS Commissioner. We're working it. We've we spend a lot of hours on this. **Read Community Event into minutes** Miscellaneous Comments from the Board of Trustees Trustee Thompson: Everybody's been talking about grants tonight. I'm just curious if the Village of Walden signed yet with the Town of Montgomery? Manager Revella: No. Attorney Donovan: I spoke a while ago, to the attorney for the Town of Montgomery for the need for Inter Municipal Agreement and he agreed. But then everyone else is going on and made a motion to join. I think legally, you need an IMA. But I also suggested to the Manager that perhaps the Village of Walden ought to just jump in because right now there's the Town of Montgomery, there is the Village of Montgomery and there's a Village of Maybrook and we waited to do things correctly, but we're still waiting. My last communication with the Town Attorney was probably a week ago. He said it hasn't been done yet, but he will get back to me. He's generally pretty good about doing that, but I think you ought to jump in and make it subject to or with the proviso that there will be an IMA, because right now it's coming out of the A fund. There should be an IMA. There some protocols established. Who's going to apply for what. You don't want to be in a position where you're competing for the same grant and the money that you want goes to somebody else that came out of your pocket. The taxpayers’ pocket for the Village of Walden. I think there just ought to be some protocols. But waiting to do things the correct way seems the train has kind of left the station and suggesting to the Manager and I'm suggesting that you may want to jump on. Trustee Pearson: It kind of says that in here that you can't compete. Attorney Donovan: But what if we want to go for the same grant? Manager Revella: Like if Montgomery and Walden both need help with the sewer plant. Trustee Pearson: We're not taking advantage of any of it for 6 months already, we only have 6 months left. Do we send the IMA or does it have to come from the Town? Why can't we just send it to them? Attorney Donovan: It has to be agreed upon by all 3 Villages and the Town. Trustee Pearson: Direct the manager to sign it. 21 Manager Revella: We have for a CFA, immediately. We would like to go for the salt barn. It's not open until June. But it's up to the board if they want that or something else. Do you want it to go towards the sewer plant upgrade? Do you want to go for road improvements, different projects, beautification? We tell them what we want to apply for. Trustee Thompson: Who controls who's watching out so you're not conflicting for the grants? Trustee Pearson: You can probably find out from the Town of Montgomery who's already applied. John can call the other Mayors and see who they're applying to and take one that they're not applying to. Manager Revella: We all have to apply to CFA for almost the majority of the funds. Most of the grants come out in June. Trustee Thompson: This is very disturbing to me because I feel like here we go again with the Town of Montgomery. It's just not being handled properly, and I'm really starting to have problems with this. You guys want the grant writer. I want the grant writer. But as our lawyer is telling us, there's a way to do this. And once again, it's not being done properly. Should we get our own grant writer? We're already paying for something, so nobody wants to do that. But this is craziness and it needs to be addressed. Why is it always being done incorrectly? Once again, we're left out in the cold. I know for a fact John Revella has been asking and asking. Mr. Donovan has been asking. I had a conversation with the Supervisor. I asked about something to do with the Climate Smart Program if I could speak to the grant writer. I was told I can't, even though I had nothing to do with the Village of Walden, because the Village of Walden hadn't signed on with the grant writer yet. It's just very frustrating to me, and I hope all of you think that this is very annoying because there's a protocol and a policy and a legal way to do things and it's not happening. Trustee Pearson: With this, why don't we send a letter from the board to the Town stating what that motion was that we would like to have in IMA before December with them? So, we are covered with what we need to do and that's what we were just talking about. Trustee Thompson: I'm not opposed to that, but I know that there's been correspondence. I know there's been verbal dialog. Whatever else it takes. Trustee Pearson: I think it should come from the Mayor because and include that the board made this decision and would like to move forward, but we want it to be legal. Mayor Ramos: That letter will be included in the motion. Trustee Pearson: Wellhead protection again. I think before the special meeting, I know John, I sent you information on that I had received. Please get it to the board so you have the information before you what the Town already has from the wellhead protection. It's important if you're going to go and maybe read that and look at. Fee schedules, will we have them in the packet before the next meeting. Manager Revella: Yes. Trustee Pearson: I hope that with the pick that you did with the Historian and that things will actually get done this year. I understand that, we've been dealing 3 years and nothing really has happened. I think there's like they cleaned a sign and a few other things. But I really think that it benefits our Village and I know I got an email from Mary Ellen Matise about filling out what needs 22 to get done by the state. Has that been done? Manager Revella: Not yet. He just got appointed today. Trustee Pearson: That needs to get done. This Historian that the Manager has selected needs to fill out that paperwork. So, we still have that accreditation with the state. And if we lose that, what happens, I don't know. I can ask Mary Ellen, but we really need to work on that and it should have been done last year. I don't think it was done even last year, so those need to be done yearly. Hopefully, we can get the new Historian to do that. Trustee Pearson made a motion to direct Manager Revella work toward an IMA for the grant writer before December and a letter by the Mayor. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Adjourn Trustee Thompson made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting of the Village of Walden Board of Trustees Meeting. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. 23  Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting April 5, 2022 Motions & Resolutions Approval of March 22, 2022 Minutes Deputy Mayor Carley made a motion to approve the March 22, 2022 Minutes. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. 5ayes. 1 abstention (Trustee Pearson). Motion carried. Parkland Funds Trustee Pearson made a motion to allocate $50,000 towards the Scout Cabin. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. Tax Cap Deputy Mayor Carley made a motion to set public hearing for April 19, 2022 Override Tax Levy Limit at 6:30pm or soon thereafter. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Updated Village Policies Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve the updated policy packet. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Set Public Hearing – Budget Trustee Maher made a motion to set Public Hearing for 2022-2023 Village Budget for April 19, 2022 at 6:30pm or soon thereafter. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Outdoor Café – Franco Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve Franco’s Outdoor Café Request. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Memorial Day Parade Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve Memorial Day Parade Request. Seconded by Trustee Maher. 5 ayes. 1 abstention (Mayor Ramos) Motion carried. Special Meeting at Town Hall April 25th Trustee Pearson made a motion to set special meeting at the Town of Montgomery Town Hall, Bracken Road, Montgomery, NY. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Carley. All ayes Motion carried. Payment of Audited Bills Trustee Sebring made a motion to approve payment of audited bills. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Carley. 5 ayes. 1 abs (Trustee Pearson). Motion carried. Town Shared Services - Grant Writer Trustee Pearson made a motion to direct Manager Revella work toward an IMA for the grant writer with the Town of Montgomery before December and a letter by the Mayor. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Adjourn Trustee Thompson made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting of the Village of Walden Board of Trustees Meeting. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. 24