Board of Trustees

Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting July 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 (late) Trustees Lynn Thompson Patricia Maher Becky Pearson Brian Sebring John Elliott (late) Absent: Also Present: John Revella, Village Manager Marisa Kraus, Village Clerk Kelly A. Kelly, Village Treasurer Village Manager’s Report Manager Revella: I was away for some time since last meeting. Police Department had 346 blotters. 8 arrests, 4 MVAs. 7 traffic summonses issued and 1 parking summons issued. They have focused on traffic initiatives, including South Montgomery Street, but obviously their caseload takes priority and they try their best. Building Department, the Code Enforcement Officer finalized 15 building permits, 2 certificates of compliance, 3 CO reports. He did a fire safety inspection for residential and commercial, wrote 11 landlord registry violations and 24 lawn violations. The Building Inspector had some time off as well, but he did issue 2 building permits, 3 certificates of compliance, 1 CO report and 20 violations for landlord registry, failure to file the form. Parks Department has been continuing their maintenance. Updates at Community Center, following up with the contractor down there and make sure everything is in place. Flag football registration is open. They've had two concerts in the Grove so far. Another one coming up tomorrow. So far, there are 293 kids registered for summer camp. DPW has been doing as much as they can with what they have. They've been very busy working on catch basins, following up on contractors from inspections, helping out with the bond projects, including Oak Street and the community center and working on pump stations. Water Department replaced five meters, two end points and five mark outs, two inspections and two closings. The office has been really busy since last meeting. It was the end of the June, which is the busiest month. All the bills are due. So, it was pretty hectic, especially being down positions. Clerk has been working on follow ups with the special counsel's and our attorney on FOILs and 207c. The Treasurer and the Clerk both reported, and I did receive as well, a resignation from the Deputy Treasurer, we posted for the job opening. The clerk is doing as much as she can with the Finance Department. Retirement packets, new hire packets. The Treasurer has also been trying to do more follow up and catch up from the time that we didn't have a Treasurer. Also found out today that there were some issues with the lost time wages that had to be corrected. Retirement issues. Numerous employees had the wrong retirement reported, so she has to go back and fix the retirement reports for September, December and March. Did close on three BAN renewals, which was really important for us. Questions on tax bills. Went over different funds with Department Heads and myself. Helping me with a grievance with the CSEA as well. Balancing accounts. And we're waiting for the attorneys to finalize issues with a bank transfer that we're doing. 1 Trustee Thompson: Did we get that report? I know it wasn't in the packet because you weren't here, but I didn't see it in an email either. Manager Revella: No. Trustee Thompson: Do you have any information on the painter who was supposed to begin work in here? Do we have any bids out? Manager Revella: Dean did get a hold of one guy that did give us numbers. We're just trying to get another number in. It should be under the threshold for public bidding, but we still need to have the written quotes. Trustee Thompson: A Village resident mentioned to me about the baseball fields that they're needing a little bit of work. I honestly need you to refresh my memory. I thought we approved that field groomer in the budget. Manager Revella: Incorrect. Did not approve. You just approved the mower, not the groomer. Trustee Thompson: Okay. And did we not have discussion about DPW and parks? There was something they were going to do in conjunction to groom the fields? Was there a piece of equipment they were going to rent or something? Manager Revella: They're going to see if they can retrofit or rent something from Bobcat. That might work. But I'm not sure if they were able to find it or not. Trustee Thompson: Just curious, because a resident made a comment about that, is there anything we can reevaluate there? Manager Revella: Eventually. I wouldn't say we will do that anytime soon. We still have a lot to go through. Trustee Pearson: Why were there only two reports in the packet? We didn't get the building report, the police report. Manager Revella: You never do. You get a report from me that has that information. I didn't fly in until midnight last night, so I didn't have time to write it. Trustee Pearson: But you told me that no matter how far you are away, you have a cell phone and things can get done. Manager Revella: I gave you all the info. You got it today. I gave you the full report just now. Yes, my phone was on the whole time as well. Trustee Pearson: How about the ARPA money? How are we with that? Manager Revella: We haven't got anything on the second round yet. Trustee Thompson: Stairs painting out back? Manager Revella: That's what Trustee Thompson asked. Trustee Thompson: I was talking about the inside with the office work. 2 Manager Revella: Oh, no. I was talking about the backstairs. Trustee Thompson: So, no bids on the interior? Manager Revella: No, not interior. We don't have money yet. Trustee Thompson: Okay, but the backstairs. Yes. Trustee Pearson: Bid on the Millspaugh Park come back? Manager Revella: Yes. They did come back before I left. Very high. I don't have the report from the engineer yet. He was out last week as well. I think he's back tomorrow. Trustee Pearson: I'm going to mention the boat launch again that's down at Olley. The family does want it on the river as opposed to Olley. So, I don't know what you want to do about that. They paid for that and they put it down there for a reason. So, you may want to talk to them. Community Center. How much longer we have for that? Manager Revella: The inside is done. They just need the partitions for the bathrooms. Then they have to work on the outside. According to NYSEG when they do the gas line, it's really on their schedule now. Trustee Pearson: There was a report from the Treasurer about an update on Ulster Ave reimbursement. Can somebody explain to me about that, the reimbursement for what? Manager Revella: From the Ulster Ave Sidewalk Project. The state pays us back as we pay out. Trustee Pearson: So, we got that money back. Manager Revella: The final one, we just got. Kelly submitted for that when she got here. Trustee Pearson: Can you also explain "reviews funds left on some rehab loans"? Manager Revella: To see what's remaining for contractors. Because sometimes they have more than one contractor on the house. Say you're doing your porch and your roof. You did the porch. Well, how much is left to do the roof? That's what she was talking about. Trustee Pearson: You've got emails and phone calls with Bernard from Town on Montgomery about Code Red. Did we get a new price or any news or is that what you were looking for? Manager Revella: Updated price because we had agreed on a price the prior year and it changed this year and we were we asked them why. I don't know if he responded to her yet. I reached out to the Supervisor as well for response. Trustee Pearson: And it says calculated cost for the Village to provide a school resource. Will we be talking about that tonight? Manager Revella: I don't think so. I don't have information on it yet and the Chief's not here to talk about it. Trustee Pearson: But this is in the Treasurer's report. She calculated that. So we can ask her later 3 about how much it would be that what she was calculating, how much it would cost for a resource officer. Manager Revella: I'm not sure what he had her calculate. I wasn't here. Approval of June 21, 2022, Minutes Trustee Thompson made a motion to approve the June 21, 2022 minutes. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Public Comment None Local Law 2 of 2022 – Landlord Registry Manager Revella: There were supposed to be comments from the Trustees sent over to Dave and I. I don't know what he received. He was away last week and he's obviously not able to be here for personal reasons today. I'm not sure what was sent, but I'm not sure the board is prepared to discuss any further today or if they want to table. Mayor Ramos: Everybody send their comments to the lawyer? Trustee Thompson: I did not. I was away. But I have them ready to go. My only thing here was that it still says that they will go out April 1st of each year and the landlord registry and the fire and safety would be sent out at the same time. This says filed annually, but I believe we all agreed it would be every two years with a 30 day window for a reply. It says it again in section B annual filing, which I believe Dave did explain that to us, that that would be corrected when he got the final comments. I didn't have anything about SEQR. Serve-ability was fine. My only question that I went over with Dean, he still would like to see the $25 one-time fee for the single family renters, owner occupied or not, and the fire and safety going along with those and again at bi-annual. That's what I was going to ask Dave about, but I believe it's pretty much what we had already basically agreed on before everything was drafted. Manager Revella: That sounds exactly correct to me. Trustee Pearson: Just a question to Lynn. You said you spoke to Dean. I know at one time this board was talking about per single family, $25 every inspection or just a one-time initial fee, and that would be it and then the inspection until it changed hands? Trustee Thompson: That was the one-time fee for the landlord registry and then it would be the same fees that every other inspection would get. Trustee Pearson: Because at one time this board at the last minute was talking about $25 every time the inspection for single family. I'm fine with the $25 one-time fee and then once it changes hands, if somebody buys the home and changes, then there's another fee for the next owner for rental. Everything else is pretty much the same as what we have discussed before. Trustee Sebring: The owner occupied, does that count if they own a duplex house and they rent the other side out? Manager Revella: Yes. There'll be two units. Trustee Sebring: The $25 would be just for him, not the other side? 4 Manager Revella: $25 would be for the house and then per unit is $10. For a duplex will be 45 initially. Trustee Pearson: Dave did say something about a law about that specifically rentals with owner occupied, I believe, is what he said. We have to consider something, but I didn't write it down, so I know he mentioned it last time. Manager Revella: He did. Mayor Ramos: It was a legal issue. I have one or two comments. I've been researching all the landlord registry from the time it was produced to the Village Board. I believe it was 2014. Am I correct to saying that? And if I remember correctly, reading through the minutes that the Village Board approved a landlord registry and approved the fees, but they mentioned that that was it. That we weren't going to increase it or just so that we were able to get all the landlords on board what we were trying to do in the Village of Walden. I see that $25 for two years isn't a lot, but the landlords here in the Village of Walden in the pass two and a half years took in some serious issues with trying to recoup their losses. I don't know how many cases that came before the court for evictions. The landlords took a lot on from their renters and they were really patient about receiving their funding’s. I'm not for increasing the landlord registry fee for $25. I believe fire and safety inspections should stay the same. It's a public health issue. If the landlord changes hands, obviously there will be a fee going toward going to the Village. That's how I stand on that. Are we going to wait for Dave to come? Manager Revella: Yes. I did find the thing that Trustee Pearson was discussing, though. It's New York State Executive Law, Section 381. That single families are exempt from fire inspections by state law fire. Trustee Thompson: Mayor? I'm confused to what you're saying. You're not talking about fire inspections. You're talking about landlord registry and the $25 is what you're saying? Mayor Ramos: Correct. Manager Revella: He doesn't want them to pay every time. Just the initial. Correct? Mayor Ramos: Correct. Trustee Pearson: That's what that's what we just said. Didn't we just say that, because there was talk about every year or every two years they'd have to pay $25. Lynn just said it was just the initial at $25. Mayor Ramos: No, it's a fee bi-annually. Trustee Thompson: Every two years. Trustee Pearson: Okay, so you just want the initial fee of $25 and no more as long as they own and rent the home. Mayor Ramos: Correct. Trustee Pearson: That's what you're saying. You're talking about every two years, $25. Trustee Thompson: I'm talking about what we've been asked to review in section 221-4. 5 Manager Revella: Initially, it would be $25 plus $10 per unit. Any time after that would just be the $25, no per unit until it changes ownership. That's what was proposed. Trustee Thompson: But that can be amended at any time via the Village Board. Those numbers can be adjusted at any time. Trustee Pearson: No, board binds another board. So if we feel that if it's necessary, like I think Dave Donovan said the last time that things change and incomes change and things happen in the Village and funding has to happen and we need more workers, we need more employees and that takes money to do that. And Mayor, I also went back to look for that. Where did you find that written? Mayor Ramos: 2014 Village Board. Trustee Pearson: Because I looked for it as well. I couldn't find it when Cheryl mentioned it, I went back to see it. Trustee Maher: Just on your comments, I had the same initial feelings. As far as landlords and all that they've been through and not wanting to ask them to pay more when essentially some of them might not be able to. But I think the problem is in the cost of the fees. The more I dug into that, I do understand how this is becoming an additional burden. So for me, I personally feel like the problem isn't in us increasing the fees for the landlord. The problem is in the process. I think that we do have to make changes to the process. But until we do that, until we fix that core problem, it does make sense to raise the fees. I was teetering and tottering for a while, but I think the root of the problem is the process. So until we fix that, I don't really see another way around it other than taking the deficit for the cost of the fees for the paperwork. Trustee Sebring: I was talking to one landlord that has maybe, I think 4 to 6 apartments, and they lost from one tenant $32,000, because once the COVID would come in and told them they didn't have to pay rent, they rode it out until they were going to have to pay and then they just moved out and left him hanging for $32,000. It's a big hit on this one particular one, but it's still a hit on a lot of other landlords that have the same situation. With that being said, maybe there should be if they have an existential problem with money like that, that maybe something could be done for them. But that's going to have to be done by just the manager. But that's one person. It told me they lost that amount of money. Trustee Pearson: I have a question for Trish. You mean process, not necessarily mailing things out, but doing that electronically. Is that what you're talking about by the process? Trustee Maher: Yes. It says here, just so everyone's aware and I think this is in the minutes, a few meetings ago, the charge of the $25 annual fee is to cover the costs of building department staff, to prepare the information, the paper, the envelopes, the postage to complete the requirement. And that there's many times when the notices and violations are sent out and they're not returned on a timely basis, and then they have to send them out again. So that's where all the fees are coming in. So until we can take and fix the process that this goes out and do that electronically and have a digital registry, then we're going to keep incurring an increase in costs. Mayor Ramos: With the notices of violations. Obviously, if it's going to go before our justice system, the fines are levied by the court system itself after disposition. So if there is a violation, the court can impose certain monetary fines to that. It'll be redundant. We're charging them $25 every two years. So if there's a notice of violation and they come before the court, the court's going to fine 6 them. It's kind of redundant. With the notices of violations, this is how we recoup our administrative costs. I believe we should use the electronic method instead of mailing out. At least you have a fingerprint of a person not acknowledging that they received their documents. The mail can get lost unless it's certified and return receipt and signed by the landlord. But the landlords aren't going to be here to receive that even though they're supposed to have email and address to the management person or the caretaker of the building. The court will impose whatever fines that could be levied. I think we need to do it better. I agree with you. Review the processes on how we can make this simple instead of charging. Because if we charging the landlords, you where it's going to be going to. It's going to be going to the tenant. Trustee Thompson: When that came up, wasn't their comment made that there could be a substantial fee for keeping all these electronic records? And didn't Dean have a reason? I don't recall without the minutes in front of me, didn't he have a reason? Because he still needs to keep paper documents as well. So, I don't quite understand how we would fix the process if we still need a paper record and it's going to cost substantial funds to store everything electronically. Manager Revella: I think that's what Trustee Maher's point was, is that eventually our state will allow us to alleviate some of the paper records and go more electronic and the cost of storage electronic should be going down soon as well. So, hopefully that'll help. Trustee Maher: And other municipalities have moved to digital registries and digital records, so maybe we can partner with them and see how they're making it work still with them being in the legal process of doing things. General Board Meeting Procedures Tabled St. Baldrick’s Run Trustee Thompson made a motion to approve the St Baldrick's Run on September 17, 2022. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Outdoor Café Permit Request – Tres Leches Trustee Maher made a motion to approve Outdoor Cafe Permit - Tres Leches. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Public Comment Mary Ellen Matise: That's exciting because that was the race course that Mike laid out Rod's race. Tomorrow night at Town Hall, we're having a Historic Preservation Commission meeting about the Colden Mansion rooms. And if anybody would like to come, please come 6:00. It's a blanket invitation. We're hoping to get that so that people can visit it by the time the Revolutionary War stuff starts in 2024. The article in The Wallkill Valley Times about the bluestone. It was quite interesting. Lynn mentioned about ten to maybe six times. Which reminds me, Village Manager, there's a certain party on Church Street who's owned one or two pieces of bluestone because the Village destroyed some on his walkway a number of years ago. Maybe you would see to that. But he could use and he'd probably be pretty happy if you did it. Landlord Registry. I guess the reason why they're still doing a paper copy and a mailing is about notarization and they all do the notarization. I don't know why. You sign plenty of other things that don't have to be notarized, that have to do with your property. You sign your income tax returns and those aren't notarized and that has to do with you getting money back. I don't understand the purpose of the notarization and I think that's the big holdup with electronics. Once you can get past that, then it doesn't make any sense to be mailing. The last time we talked about just doing one mailing when you did the fire inspection and that should elicit a return because the fire inspection, of course, is at a more serious 7 level of response that they need to respond. So whether you do that or you do the whole thing electronically, because electronically you can request that they read it and that you get a reply that they have read it. That's part of the email process that you can do. It's really the same thing as sending out a certified letter. If they never send it to you, then you email them again. Until you deal with the process and how it's done, it's going to still be an issue that's in limbo at this point. I don't understand the purpose of the notarization or if that can be done online somehow. You can do electronic signatures. There's a special app. I had to do that for the insurance work at my house. It's not a notarization but it is proving that I signed it. Manager Revella: Proves that somebody signed it and they're serving you. That's the difference. Mary Ellen Matise: I know. But if the assessor's office has record of your deed and of all the deeds and they can look it up, for the most recent deed to see that you're the property owner. I don't know. There should be some checks and balances in there that don't require all the effort or the expense that we're doing now. Payment of Audited Bills Trustee Thompson made a motion to pay audited bills. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Correspondence Trustee Pearson: I received from our Clerk Marisa, one from Kelly Kelly, email and Mr. Revella with a police survey. Trustee Maher: Same. Trustee Elliott: Also the same. Trustee Thompson: Yes, I had the same correspondence and I also had an email with Mr. Aiello from the newspaper. He reached out to me. Trustee Sebring: I had the same thing as Becky and Patricia and John. Mayor Ramos: I had all the above and I had an additional one for Mr. Vermilyea on his ongoing issue. Miscellaneous Comments from the Board of Trustees Trustee Sebring: On a good side, that house that was on Bank Street across from Millspaugh Funeral. I see that that house is being renovated. New siding is going to be put on that. So that's one less headache that we have to worry about and talk about. Looks like they're going to do a good job because it's sat there quite a while vacant and then maybe the one next door will also get renovated. Trustee Thompson: I just wanted to make some comments about some of the information we've been getting lately. We had that police survey. I'm not sure where it goes from here or what type of discussions going to take place, but I certainly hope that all of the communities will have some input and some conversation regarding that. The same with the school security. I hope we hear more about that, that there's more dialog, as to how we're going to handle that between the Town, the Villages and the school board. Manager Revella: I did get a message today from the acting superintendent of schools to contact him to set up a meeting. I'll have more on that for you guys. 8 Trustee Thompson: I also hope that we have some further discussion about the security of our public buildings here in the Village. I know there was an incident and I think it bears some further discussion about how we can keep our employees safe and how we can keep our residents safe that will enter and exit these same buildings. I would also like to ask again that we continue discussion about the stone. I did find a few articles about that that I will send to everyone on the board. I was waiting to get some information about the history of those particular stones in that part of our Village. I also am hoping for the Mayor, is that date for the Ambulance Corps, is that locked in with the Town? I believe it was July 14. They will definitely be presenting that day? Mayor Ramos: Yes. Trustee Thompson: I would encourage everybody from the board, from the community to go to that and hear what they're going to present. Trustee Elliott: Questions about school safety. I don't know if anyone's going to come to us and talk about it or do we know? Manager Revella: I just had a phone call today from the superintendent of schools. Trustee Pearson: I want to talk about the police survey that was sent to us. I know there's a meeting on August 18th in the Town to go over that. But were you at a meeting before? Did you know about the survey? Mayor Ramos: No. Trustee Pearson: The Mayor's, Maybrook, Brescia, you didn't know what was happening? Mayor Ramos: This was a survey that started two and a half years ago. Trustee Pearson: I saw the date on it. John, did you know about it? Manager Revella: I knew they were doing work on it. I didn't know what was coming of it because it had been so long. But it was about three years ago, I think. Mayor Rumbold was in place at the time when it happened. Trustee Pearson: That might be interesting for people to go to, August 18th. You might want to go to that, too, just to hear what's going on with your Police Departments. Manager Revella: All the police departments in the whole Town. Mayor Ramos: Just be aware of the times, because sometimes. Trustee Pearson: On the email, there was no time. It said the meeting of August 18th. Also, this is the resolution that we didn't do last week, the last two meetings. Do we need to do this? This I don't think we did this Village Board resolution. This is the one I was talking to you about today. I don't know what it is. It's stuck in my book. We didn't do it. Manager Revella: This is part of CDBG. Trustee Pearson: Okay. I would also like to talk about the police resources. I know the paper stated that we're in favor of having an officer. I don't have a problem having an officer, but I think it should be paid for by the school. Number one. I don't think the Village should have to pay for an 9 officer to be in the school. I know the Town of Montgomery wants to pay part of it, but I think if they get rid of two administrators in the school district that they probably don't need, that's going to save about $400,000, which would pay for the services that the schools need. That's how I look at it. So people probably don't want to hear that, but it's the most logical thing to say. How many administrators do you need to have to run a school? We do have a really good presence in the Walden Elementary School. We have one of the Sergeant that has been there for 15 years and goes to the school and does D.A.R.E. and does all kinds of things in this elementary school. I can't wait to hear any proposals that they're talking about and where the funding will be coming from. I'm not against it at all. I just want to know where funding is coming from. The last thing is about the First Amendment Auditing that was taking place in the Village Hall this week that was happening and it's happening all over the area. It's people coming in videotaping in the public spaces, which they can do. I did print out a few things which were pretty interesting, the First Amendment Auditing. I just spoke to Ginny. I know that there are some buttons that we have on certain desks and things that are available and some of them are not working. Ginny has a remote that she uses at her desk, so we don't have to have it hard wired. It is through American Alarm as well. Maybe those can be sought after and given to the people at their desks to feel more comfortable. We don't have to pay lots of money for it. I do not believe, I didn't ask Ginny the costs of them, but it is a remote and it can hang. I took a picture of it. I can send it to all of you. It hangs on a rope can go around your neck if you want it to, but it can hang in your office or by your desk so that you're prepared if something does happen. Because I know the one place that it is, is not conducive to if there is an issue happening in this office. I don't know if all they'll do all of our offices have some type of anything like that. Manager Revella: They used to, there's several that are not functional at the moment. I don't want to say which ones. Trustee Pearson: These go right to the Police Department. So, it's the same thing. It's just a remote thing. It takes a battery. I'm sure that that's not going to cost a lot of money to research. And maybe we can research that and maybe we should research that to make people feel a little more comfortable. I get that people are allowed to videotape in the building because it is public space. But there are some examples that I found. I can have John make copies and put them in your mailboxes if you'd like, because there are things that can be done. It says best practices prior to cameras is know that this may be happening. And a lot of the people in the area did not know this was going to be happening. So that was part of the problem. But it also says, Mark restricted areas such as garages, hallways, cubicles, offices and workspace with signs that define access. Authorized personnel only, employees only, no admittance without official business. So some of that we can work on as well. I believe that would help a little bit in the areas that may need it. I think all new hires now that this has happened, should be aware of what can happen with that. And they're comfortable with it because sometimes maybe they'll be alone or answering to these it talks about two types of public areas. There's a public area and non-public area, what the differences are. To give you an idea of public areas speech, expression, assembly, like this room is a public area, debate has some examples include public streets, parks, sidewalks, public areas also includes places like government has designated as accessible for public speech or expression, municipal auditorium, a library, meeting room. But then there are other places that are not. That's maybe where those signs can go if we choose to do that. Manager Revella: A lot of universities have put free speech zones in place. People aren't just speaking anywhere, just in these zones. I’m not sure if the Supreme Court ruled on that or not. Trustee Pearson: The library also has a policy on videotaping because children are not being allowed to videotaped and things like that. Maybe we need to come up with some type of policy as well that's going to be, not that it's going to stop people from coming in and I understand that and I 10 understand the stress that people felt, I get it, I understand it completely, but you're in a public building and lots of times we can't do a lot of things. I watched the video on it with them going into the Town of Montgomery. The guy walked right by the sign in and walked past the place that you have to go through to for guns and things like that. He just walked by that and was allowed in and I'm going, well, I have to go in and I have to sign in. Why is that? Why is he not being made to sign in? Why is he not going through the metal detector? So then he just walked around all he pleased wanted to do. Manager Revella: You can't require someone to sign in. Trustee Pearson: Then why are they there? Manager Revella: It's voluntary. Trustee Pearson: So, I don't have to sign in. Manager Revella: Can't force you. Trustee Pearson: I don't have to go through the metal detector either. Manager Revella: To go to court. That's different rules. Trustee Pearson: So, you can't make people go through that at all? Manager Revella: If they make everyone go through it, they can. Just like at the county government building. They can. It has to be for everyone, though. Trustee Pearson: We really have one access besides the library, correct? Manager Revella: Yes. Trustee Pearson: So, why can't we talk to the library and not be able to go through that lobby to the library, out or in? Trustee Thompson: But that's the handicapped access to the library. Trustee Pearson: I'm just saying, we have really one way in because the other doors are locked. So why couldn't we put something there like we have the metal detector for the police department when they do court. There are things that we can talk about and really do something. I will have John make copies of these so you guys can read or if you want to do more research, but I was just trying to look quickly and see if there's something that we can do, maybe come up with a policy and where things can be videotaped or not and put signs up that may help some. Trustee Thompson: I had a question about that as well. We reconfigured the third floor office and part of the reason for that was confidential records, HIPPA, whatever. If they're videotaping that office and there are documents that are out there that are not for the general public to view, how do you go around that? Is that a reason where you can say, you're not allowed to videotape in this area because there are sensitive documents here. Manager Revella: Yes. Trustee Thompson: The other thing I agree with the right to, it's a public space, you're a citizen, 11 you have certain rights. But I also after watching that, I don't know, as I would say, the individual was threatening, but to me, it was a form of harassment. They were definitely poking the bear, hoping for some type of response. And I think our employees should not feel threatened and unsafe in the workplace. I wish the attorney was here tonight so we could get some legal feedback on where you draw that line. Trustee Pearson: There is also another in one of these I've read that talked really about the harassment part of it, but also that they, sorry went out of my head, whatever happened to the safety glass, the glass that we were going to put in there for guns and that. That got poo-poo'd. So, why did that get poo-poo'd and why are we not even discussing that? Mayor Ramos: Very costly. The tempered glass is just specifically for the glass. Now, each side, left and right side is vulnerable. If you see a tempered glass that's two and a half inches thick and it's going to be sitting right there in the corner. This is tempered glass and it's not bullet proof, bullet resistant, maybe. So what happens to the left side and the right side? What happens to the doorway where if in the event that becomes an active shooter issue, we would have to Kevlar every square inch from door to door and then the glass itself. Trustee Pearson: I would be saying let's start with the glass, because I think that's important and I think it's an issue. There's so much happening in this world today. Just look at this weekend, Chicago. 70 shootings and then the other six people. You don't even know what these people are capable of. Maybe they want to come in a videotape and then shoot you. I understand it's public and we can't be too crazy about it. But I think there are things that we can do to protect our employees a little bit better than what we're doing right now. I think that we really need to look at it. If we need to spend those dollars on that, we can take away from somewhere else that we did may be not need to spend. I think it's important. I think we should talk about and put it on the agenda about what we want to do. Maybe you want to read some of the stuff and maybe the next meeting put it on the agenda. That's up to the Mayor and the Manager, because I don't set the agenda. Manager Revella: During the budget sessions, the board did agree to put a large allocation of ARPA funds into this building. So we have the allocation there once the ARPA funds come. We can start to get the plan ready. So when it's here, we can just go ahead. Trustee Pearson: I'd like to also look in to see how much it's going to cost for those remotes that they can do. Manager Revella: They're very minimal. Trustee Pearson: Now. I think we really need to make that discussion happen and not that we're going to go lock the doors and put in bars and do the whole thing. But there is a responsibility that we need to look at it. Manager Revella: We discussed key fobs for the doors as well to help alleviate issues with the door to be able to keep them locked. So, we're not worried about someone leaving unlocked. It's always locked. You have to fob in. Trustee Maher: And John, do you all have a safety plan for each building that's updated? I think before we spend some money and do some updates, but that should be ASAP. Manager Revella: Yes, my room's the bunker room right now. Trustee Elliott: I don't think the glass, so to speak, has to be that big. If you close the wall in and 12 make a smaller partition, people can't see and they're only going to basically see your face. Manager Revella: Just has to be big enough to put paper in and out of that slot. That's about it. Regular window. Trustee Thompson: Other institutions come up with solutions, so I think we can certainly come up with a solution that will be cost effective and protect our employees and us and our residents. Everybody can be at risk. These are crazy times we're living in. Trustee Elliott: What was the cost of the one that you looked into? Manager Revella: I don't remember the ballistic glass. Trustee Thompson: I remember it was several thousand dollars. Manager Revella: It was. Mayor Ramos: More than several thousand. Ballistically we can't figure out which one. Does it take a 308? Does it take it 223? Caliber? I agree that we should minimize the exposure area. We did have a window at one time or another that we took out. That was perfect. That size would work perfect. Trustee Thompson: We also have structural constraints in this building as well, correct? Manager Revella: Yes. But if we modify that opening, we're not touching the walls. Trustee Thompson: I know it's a multifaceted problem. And we have to come up with a creative, cost effective solution. Deputy Mayor Carley: We got to start somewhere. You always start with the least intrusion as much as possible. I apologize for being late, I had other obligations at this time. Even that area where the window is open up, we can designate that as a no public zone, where it's official that you have to be invited in. Then if they pass that line then you can literally hit the button and now they're legally responsible for whatever actions that they've taken. That's a quick mitigated way of working that issue in, like you said, the little fobs and the little remote devices and not going to say they're pennies, but they're really not that expensive. Just to get that, as a start. It's not going to make everybody feel warm and fuzzy, but it's a start. Then as things grow, we can add to it, come with a policy and let the citizens know that, hey, effective, whatever, whatever. This is how the Village office will be ran and it's okay. Manager Revella: I just want consensus of the board to start getting the alarm buttons and the other fobs, please. Thanks. Trustee Thompson: Do we currently do any type of safety drills with the Police Department? Maybe that's something we should consider. Manager Revella: Haven't done one in a while. Trustee Thompson: Well, maybe that should be back on the table as well. Manager Revella: One of the Sergeants does those. I'm sure he would be happy to do it for us. 13 Trustee Pearson: Sometimes people thinks it's silly, but it's really not. All of a sudden you go blank or you go, what am I doing? The more you can remember where you're going, just like fire drills in elementary school and we have them, where you going, where do you have to go? When we were kids, it was kind of beat into your head and you're going to be a little safer that way. What you should do and what you shouldn't do. It's just and I think that should happen maybe every six months so that people are just maybe those are the policies we need as a board to say this needs to happen and put it together and say the manager has to get it to happen and every six months. I think it's important enough that, especially in today's society and where we're at today with what's happening in the world. Trustee Thompson: Something like that is very basic and it's very cost effective. That's a small thing we can do again to get this to get this process started. Trustee Sebring: My feeling is that with the way they come up here filming it and them going around to all the other municipalities around us, what is the real intent? My feeling could be way off the wall, is that they're reconning every Village office to see where you have security and where you don't. But you don't know what's in the minds of those people that were here and what are they doing with the filming. Are they really for filming or are they just holding a camera up here to make it look like it. Trustee Thompson: They were filming. Manager Revella: Well, this situation they were. But he's saying it could have been something else. We don't know. Trustee Pearson: Right and that's what I'm saying. You don't know, I mean, this one was. But it means others can come in with the same thought process and do something completely different. Trustee Sebring: But in this day and age of what's really going on in this world today you don't take nothing for granted. You got to try to cover your backside all the time now. *Read Community events into minutes* Mayor Ramos: I attended the moving up ceremony, Walden Elementary School, where we graduated 80 students plus and they are in the process of entering the sixth grade. What a great event. Last Saturday, there was a movie night. The Goonies was shown at the Empanada Nirvana parking lot. Well attended by everyone. Trustee Thompson: I through correspondence. I also received a letter from the Village of Montgomery about General Montgomery Day. Manager Revella: Everyone should get that correspondence for the parade participation, just in case you didn't let me know. So I can let them know. Adjourn Trustee Sebring made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Trustee Elliott. All ayes. Motion carried. 14  Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting July 5, 2021 Motions & Resolutions Approval of June 21, 2022, Minutes Trustee Thompson made a motion to approve the June 21, 2022 minutes. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. St. Baldrick’s Run Trustee Thompson made a motion to approve the St Baldrick's Run on September 17, 2022. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Outdoor Café Permit Request – Tres Leches Trustee Maher made a motion to approve Outdoor Cafe Permit - Tres Leches. Seconded by Trustee Sebring. All ayes. Motion carried. Payment of Audited Bills Trustee Thompson made a motion to pay audited bills. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Adjourn Trustee Sebring made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Trustee Elliott. All ayes. Motion carried. 15