Board of Trustees

Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting December 20, 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 Becky Pearson Patricia Maher John Elliott Absent: Brian Sebring Also Present: John Revella, Village Manager Marisa Kraus, Village Clerk Kelly A Kelly, Village Treasurer Dave Donovan, Village Attorney Orange County Transit Allison Fausner: Here to give you an update on our efforts to connect to sewer and water to the village system. If you recall, I discussed in the last meeting the DOT had recently indicated that he was inclined to deny our recent occupancy permit. The reason that they gave for that potential denial was the length of the line and its nature. So in an effort to respond to those concerns in the past month we've had our engineer work with the OCT to evaluate how we can shorten the line in the right of way. We have drawn up sketch plans that would bring about 250 feet of the sewer force main onto OCT property. We also looked at the Dollar General property adjacent to ours that our engineers familiar with the site but it did flag that there are high concentration of surface and subsurface improvements, storm water infrastructure, landscaping, paved areas that need to be moved or relocated, making the framing of that portion of the property *inaudible* feasible. Which could add months if not years to this process to get the approvals and agreement to bring onto their property. With respect to the private nature of the line, we have been engaging and has been working with village staff to draft up and look into certain terms and conditions that we can make so that the village can take ownership at a date, certain in the future to take over. So those are kind of the major issues that we've been dealing with. We will go back to the DOT in the New Year with the revised plan sets and ultimately get those permits issued. That will allow us to commence, weather permitting, the infrastructure work for the sewer and water lines. Trustee Pearson: Who's paying the village staff and the attorney to review all that? Where is that money coming from? Attorney Donovan: As far as I'm concerned, it's covered under my retainer with the village. Trustee Pearson: I understand that. Usually this is before the Planning Board, they have a retainer to pay for those services. They went through the planning process and all of that. I'm just questioning refunding fees and how that works and can we recoup money for that? Attorney Donovan: As far as I'm concerned, you're not paying me any different than you normally 1 pay me if I wasn't involved in the situation. Manager Revella: Our engineer will still be getting paid from escrow for any review of the plans for sewer. Trustee Pearson: Does your retainer cover everything that is discussed throughout the whole year or it is only certain amount of hours? Attorney Donovan: Except for litigation. That has never been my agreement with the village. Manager Revella: I will get you a copy of the retainer. I don't think you've seen that. Sorry. Trustee Pearson: They want us to own the pipes. That's basically what they're saying. Manager Revella: They want the Village to take ownership of the forced main while they maintain the responsibility for the cost of maintenance. I'm not sure how that would worked out. Attorney Donovan: An issue has been identified. We talked about that at the last meeting. We had a conversation with the DOT who basically said they're not going to allow this line to be private because it's Tuesday at 3:00. I think that's an embellishment. But there was no statutory rule regulations cited for that position. So, when the annexation occurred, having village water and sewer and the revenue for village water and sewer was identified as a benefit for the annexation. I have been engaged with the Council for OCT to see if there can be some sort of solution that could be recommended, that I could recommend to the Village Board. Ultimately the Village Board decides whether it's a good idea or bad idea and what direction to take. I've just been engaged in trying to find something that I would think would be legally feasible for the village to engage in to accomplish the objective. Ultimately, that's not my goal, I'm not an elected official, it's my suggestion as a result of the discussions. You would make that determination. You as the Village Board. Trustee Thompson: Any idea how this is going to delay? Just one roadblock and another as far as the water and sewer go. Allison Fausner: It certainly has been a lot of roadblocks. As far as the delay goes, hopefully the end of January or February, we can reconvene with the DOT put some sort of agreement on the length and private ownership, speak to them, fast track that through the approval process. I know the highway work permit is the only thing holding it up. So, I think once we meet the expectations of the DOT *inaudible*. And once the weather is permitting, we already have our contractor lined up, start installing. Mayor Ramos: You're doing your due diligence. Thank you for your time. Manager Revella: Just wanted to make sure that the board saw that there was an invitation from them to go to the site. Public Hearing – Local Law 4 of 2022 – Zoning Edmunds Lane Trustee Thompson made a motion to open public hearing 4 of 2022. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Jerry Jacobowitz: This is a public hearing to correct a misreading of the maps when the 2014 comprehensive plan and rezoning was done. It was believed that this strip of land that is about an acre and quarter and 135 feet frontage was part of one property and it wasn't. It was part of another 2 property. So the idea about making sure zoning district lines went along property was never really accomplished because the district line ended up going through the property instead of being separated. It was zoned industrial for 50 years before that happened. It's been zoned R3 as a result of 2014 and the action that we're asking is for you just to restore it the way it was before. Now the question is, what are the merits in not just to correct the mistake. This is part of zone OLI. It's 12.4 acres. This would be part of it. To leave this as residential, you reduce the frontage of 135 feet plus another 50 feet because it adjoins the resident al zone. The result is you're shrinking this property's frontage down to a point where getting access in and having your storm water system be able to be efficient is very difficult. Why have it OLI? Well, it's not going to be a problem for the residential owners on Coldenham Road because the second piece of this track is going to be developed into 6 single family residential residences that will back up kind up to the homes Coldenham Road. So nobody on Coldenham Road is going to be joining the OLI. They're going to be joining single family detached homes, similar to what they have on Coldenham Road. That's going to be a physical buffer. It's about 450 feet long. The 6 lots are along that street and that street is going to be part of the buffer between those homes and the Coldenham Road homes and the OLI district. What's around here? If you go down the street, you'll see a, I don't know what they do there, now, it's a small commercial building on the left. Originally, it was for a printing company. Go down the road a little bit further, you come to the circus track of land, which is a factory. Spence is diagonally across from this and the back of this property adjoins the interstate bag company property. So, yes, there are some homes spotted in here, but basically this is an industrial area and this use is going to be non-nuisance industry. No electronic electromagnetic disturbances, odors, fumes, particulates or any type of that result can go off outside the property. Any of that has to stay within the bounds of the property. There'll be no trouble accomplishing that here because the use of this is going to be non-nuisance. Financially, I think it's a good deal for the village. It's going to bring employment and it has an attraction. It's just a short distance off the county highway, which is important because trucks come and go. Coldenham Road is a major highway. There are a number of site issues that you may all be concerned about. We must go to the Planning Board. If you approve this, the next stop on the train is the Planning Board and there we're going to have to provide them with the data, the information, the back up to show there'll be no significant adverse impacts from this project. There'll be a traffic study, there will be drainage study, cultural resources study, the whole thing that the Planning Board can ask for as part of the process. And we're more than willing and anxious to be able to satisfy what they need to see in order to get approval for the ultimate building on this property. Trustee Thompson: My only concern was what some of the residents over in that area brought up was very concerned about the truck traffic that would start to move down some of the residential streets. That's a big concern for the neighbors in that area. I understand you have to do a traffic flow study with the Planning Board, but that is concerning to me. Jerry Jacobowitz: As I understood your comment that was made is that the people on East Avenue are concerned about truck traffic coming on their street to get to Route 52 and to the property. That can be handled by signage and an adoption of local law. You can pass a local law that will prohibit trucks in excess of a certain size unless it's a local delivery from coming on Edmund's lane from the North End and leaving that way. Everything would have to go out to Coldenham Road. Which is a short distance from the boundary of this property. So, that can be accomplished by a condition of approval that the Planning Board can impose on the approval. Trustee Thompson: Apparently there's already some concern about the traffic and the truck traffic that's already happened. So there's concern with additional. I understand what you're saying. Jerry Jacobowitz: The additional truck traffic could be coming from Spence or it could be from the Big Apple Circus property. They would be subject to the same limitation. And if there's a 3 problem there now, that's how you can solve it by imposing a local law, restricting truck traffic coming on that portion of the street. Trustee Thompson: I believe we already have a local law. Manager Revella: We do. That's correct. Deputy Mayor Carley: I don't think there was a mistake, in drafting the comp plan. It is what it is with the demarcation lines. So, it wasn't a mistake. It was just lines being drawn and space has been allocated and we're here today to move those lines so we can accommodate or not. Jerry Jacobowitz: Just for the record of the Orange County Planning Department, did the 239 review and did not oppose the project so that you don't need to be a major majority to carry legislation vote. Also, your own Planning Board provided you with a report and recommendation in favor of making the zoning change. Mary Ellen Matise: Just to follow up on this thing about the trucks. We might have something in our code, but also, if you approve this and then you send it to the Planning Board, I think you could probably send it to the Planning Board with the comments that part of their site plan you can control the access and egress for trucks. We did that. The town did it at Cranesvilles block, which is on the corner of 52 and Stone Castle Road. Part of their site plan approval was that not exit out onto 52 unless it's for local delivery. That stays with that project forever because it was part of the approval process. The Planning Board can do the same thing so that not only do they have control of weight limits, but you're controlling what happens with trucks using that property. I don't know how it would affect other properties that are already there and have facilities on them. But you can certainly work that into a new proposal. Manager Revella: Just for a point of clarification, the board, when they are satisfied, can close the public hearing and thereafter in the meeting vote on whether they will pass the local law or not. It's already been reviewed by the Planning Board. Attorney Donovan: Just for clarity on the process. Before tonight, the Planning Board has issued their report on the introduction local law as has the OC Planning Department. Your position after the public comment, to close public hearing and take action as you see fit. You're under no time schedule. If the board is inclined, you can adopt this tonight. If you're not inclined, you don't need to adopt it tonight. It's up to you. But if it was going to the Planning Board, so if you approve it, you grant the zone change, site specific project, it would go to the Planning Board. The Planning Board would review and approve it. Deputy Mayor Carley made a motion to close public hearing. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. Village Manager’s Report Manager Revella: Just wanted to make sure that the board is aware that I had some meetings with Montgomery IDA. There's potentially a project at 29 Grant St. They are assisting with a project in the south side of the village at the Borden Milk Factory. It's going to be called The Milk Factory. The same owner that did City Winery is doing the project there and they want to make sure that Walden is involved. I'll keep you posted as I get updates. Few CSEA matters. Had 1 arbitration that we won. We have another arbitration, waiting on that. I do want to mention that negotiations will be happening this spring for new contracts. Think about who you want as delegates for the negotiating committee. Went over some PBA matters with special counsel. Went over coverage with the DPW Super. They have a lot of issues going because of snow with salting. They've been really busy. I had 4 a meeting with Planning Board Chair, Planning Board Attorney, Engineer, Clerk, and Building Department Secretary to go over workflow for that department while they're transitioning after the Building Inspector retired. The former Building Inspector will be coming back to work part time starting in January, to try to help the workflow. Will still need to try and fill the seat going forward after that. Had a conference with DEC and Village Engineer about our SPDS permit. Trying to get our flows increased. Christmas in the square and tree went very well. Well attended. The weather was great. Went over capital projects with the engineer. Also discussed a few things with the Treasurer, making sure we're on task. Did have to go to a couple County meetings. 1 for voting on funding the Rte. 17 updates that are happening. They’re going to happen in sections. Turning it into Interstate 86. There's also going to be paving on 84. Went over some letters received from Town of Montgomery with the attorney and board members. Parks, Basketball registration going on now. Teen Center and after school are doing well. Building Department, since last meeting, they issued 5 permits, 3 certificates of compliance, 13 fire safety inspections. There were 21 landlord registry violations issued. Clerk has been doing well with the workers comp and 207c and keeping up with those and the Police Officers. FOILs - couple big ones going on. Was on the phone for a while helping someone out the other day with a FOIL. Permits, dig permits, bingo. The Treasurer has been doing a lot trying to get our finances ready for audits, AUDs. Didn't get a response from the part time position. Working on bank recs, entries and year end, working with the auditors, Edmunds, revenue reports and other reports and rehab loan issues. DPW Super was out sick, so we didn't get the full report in time, but the water department did replace 19 meters, 44 end points, 2 inspections, 1 closing, 8 mark outs. Doing catch basins repairs as they can. Clean up, maintenance on the vehicles. They were out salting and plowing the other day. Police department, they're looking for part time applicants to fill some spots. They did issue 31 traffic tickets, 48 summonses. 42 were from snow parking and 17 vehicles were towed. 5 mvas, 3 arrests, 20 vehicles stops and there were 357 blotters. Trustee Pearson: The meeting with the Town Senior group. Manager Revella: The Walden Fire House. They had their senior luncheon and Christmas lunch. Trustee Pearson: Years ago board members used to be invited to that. Are they not invited to that? Manager Revella: I don't know. The senior group does the invitations. Trustee Pearson: The board used to be invited, I didn't know if that was something that has changed. We pay for the luncheon as a village, if you can get there for a luncheon, it would be nice. I don't know if we did, John? Were there any invites for that? Mayor Ramos: I was invited. Trustee Pearson: Just the Mayor? Okay. Thank you. Meeting with Chief Herlihy. How's the heat going? Manager Revella: We have another contractor coming tomorrow to evaluate and give us another estimate. We only had one so far, so can't really progress without it. Trustee Pearson: Conference with the IMA Ambulance District, where are we with that? Attorney Donovan: I've had conversations with the town attorney. There's been drafts of the IMA that have been passed back and forth. He has advised me as of today, that the Town of Montgomery approved the IMA subject to his final discussions with me and the village. My proposal, I spoke to John today that you're going to see, you'll get copies later. The red line version, obviously not the 5 final form. You will be looking to vote on that perhaps at your next meeting. This is still a work in progress, we can talk in attorney client session. But it's not, in my view, since you haven't seen it, it's not in the format to be voted on. Trustee Pearson: I watched the town meeting and they're really just going into a contract. They didn't even deal with the RFP. They're just doing a three year contract now as opposed to what was being all stated about before. So, things change over there like people change their underwear. Attorney Donovan: There was some provisions that I knew would be unacceptable so there was an attempt to negotiate those. Trustee Pearson: Christmas in the Square was great. Thank you. Everyone who prepared it and did it and worked on it. It was very nicely done. Manager Revella: I just want to make sure that the public is aware, we are having some issues with the lights out here. Electrician is looking at them and hopefully we can get resolved. Our plan is to start replacing them. Trustee Pearson: There's a bunch of Christmas lights out. But I see that they're lit tonight. Snow removal is done by the Parks or by DPW? Manager Revella: Snow removal for sidewalks is Parks. Trustee Pearson: Well, it was under the Parks Department. I want to ask about the parking summons that people got for snow removal, I don't understand it. But we have one towing company. How do we decide what towing company? Do we bid out for that every year? Manager Revella: They apply for it and it's on rotation once they apply. Trustee Pearson: There's more than one company that will apply every season? Manager Revella: We've had four or five before. It just depends. Trustee Maher: I just follow up on the East Ave issue. I know we talked last meeting about looking into additional signage. Manager Revella: We did. The attorney that we reached out to has been ill. Just waiting to hear back from him about how they got signage that they got. So we can do that here. Trustee Maher: The senior center, are we still waiting? Manager Revella: No. It's ready. Dedication is next. Figure out when to do that. The Department Head is reaching out to the people involved to see how soon they can get it done. I know time is an issue. Sooner than later. Trustee Elliott: I know you had bid it out, the window. Manager Revella: The bid is out. Hoping to get it back now, but the engineer is sick. We should have it shortly. He did get a couple contractors to pick up the specs. Trustee Pearson: Isn't the engineer in a firm? Don't they back each other up if somebody's sick? 6 Manager Revella: They could. But they all have their different people that they work for. If there's 10 engineers, for example, not saying that there are, they may represent 20 different municipalities. They may have 2, this guy has 2, this guy has 2. If there was an emergency, sure and I've had some come as an emergency when John Q was out on vacation. For bids, I'm not sure if they went back to him directly, to his secretary or who they got to. Trustee Elliott: Can we have him prioritize that when he's feeling better? Manager Revella: He knows. Trustee Thompson: Is there any update on getting the parts for some of the fire hydrants that we've been waiting for? Manager Revella: We're good for the hydrants. Depends on whether and when he can get that done. And just a follow up to Trustee Elliott, the springs are ordered for the new door for the one side and the fobs ordered that were necessary for everybody, not just here. Trustee Thompson: It keeps coming up on the Parks report, working on the boardwalk project. Is there any update on that? Manager Revella: That's one of the things I wanted to talk about tonight. We need to improve funding because we have a bill from some work that we actually got to do on drainage. We have to pay a bill before we get reimbursed for the grant. So we have to make sure we allocate that. Trustee Thompson: Have we heard anything on the additional grant funding that we applied for, for that? Manager Revella: Yes. I don't think it's at the end of December, I'm not sure. I can ask. Trustee Thompson: The letters that we received from the town regarding our summer camp program. Was there any further communication on that or resolution? Manager Revella: I had some discussion I was going to have, I was talking to our attorney about a response. There is going to be a response in writing about this. Approval of December 6, 2022 Minutes Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve the December 6, 2022 minutes. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. 4 ayes. 2 abstentions (Trustee Elliott & Deputy Mayor Carley). Motion carried. Public Comment None Local Law 4 of 2022 – Zoning Edmunds Lane Trustee Elliott made a motion to adopt Negative Declaration. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Carley. 5 ayes. 1 nay (Trustee Pearson). Motion carried. Trustee Elliott made a motion to adopt Local Law 4 of 2022 - Zoning Amendment Edmunds Lane. Seconded by Trustee Maher. 5 ayes. 1 nay (Trustee Pearson). Motion carried. Resolution 18-22-23 – Budget Transfers 2020-2021 Trustee Elliott made a motion to adopt Resolution 18-22-23 Budget Transfers 2020-2021. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. 7 Resolution 19-22-23 – Budget Transfers 2022-2023 Trustee Thompson made a motion to adopt Resolution 19-22-23 Budget Transfers 2022-2023. Seconded by Trustee Pearson. All ayes. Motion carried. Intro to Local Law 5 of 2022 – Short Term Rentals Manager Revella: We have this rough draft. Looking for comments from board members. After last meeting, Trustee Pearson shared a lot of other drafts from other municipalities. I'm not sure what you want to incorporate. If you want things incorporated, please say that now so we can update the draft for next meeting. Attorney Donovan: It doesn't necessarily have to be like now. All I did in the last meeting, I gave you a copy of Goshen's, turned this into Walden's. Put it into subdivision. I know that there was some commentary whether you needed additional definition, whatever that may be. I'm open to whatever the board wishes to do. From administrator point of view, whatever comments you may have, run them to John and him to me. This is just another step down the road to try fix an issue. Trustee Thompson: There's a lot of material to read. I'm still reading and I'm starting to put together a list of things that I would like to get more information on. I need a little more time, but I'm happy to share my questions when I get finished reading everything. Trustee Maher: Same as Lynn. Trustee Pearson: Do you want comments tonight or you want everybody to read more? Attorney Donovan: It's more efficient if I get it in writing so I can incorporate them into a future draft. Manager Revella: Email them to me or drop them off. Trustee Pearson: I think there's a lot I'd like to see done. There's a lot more in definitions that has to happen. I'd like more of a statement and purpose. Protect residents against. There's so much that I would like to see in here. I don't about the board, but I have like 6 different other definitions to add. Parking plan. I don't know whether this board wants to discuss it, whether you want to do all multifamily and single family. Because there's different things for different types of use. I didn't know if you're thinking about having multifamily also be involved or is this just for single family homes that are owned by. That's where this discussion has to go. The board is the one who needs to have a discussion. It's our law. What do you want in it? What zones we want it in? There's so much to it. I don't know if we want to talk about that kind of what type of buildings you want it in so you could narrow that down to the comments or you want to just discuss it as a whole. Multifamily, apartments. What do you want? What does the board want? There's a lot to talk about. We keep putting it off. I have many comments here for you. If you want me to talk about them tonight, I'm happy to. Mayor Ramos: There's a few of us that still need to digest the tentative local law. We have all your comments. You ship them to John and by next meeting, we should have a collated documented comments and then we'll engaged ourselves in our next meeting conversation. Trustee Pearson: But shouldn't the board talk about, why should we give it to the attorney to collate? Manager Revella: There may be questions or comments that we can respond to in the comments 8 that we can bring up before the board meeting to discuss as well. Maybe something more research on. Attorney Donovan: I don't know that it would be productive for me to kind of take the comments and just turning to local law. It would be very helpful to have the comments to say, for example, there may be something that someone suggested I said that may not be appropriate legally , you can't allow Irish people to live *inaudible* you couldn't do that. Trustee Pearson: Yes. But I think the board is the one that has to have all those discussions. Attorney Donovan: I'm just saying that there may be suggestion that I may say, yes, that's not going to work legally. Trustee Pearson: I understand that. I'm asking the mayor, why are you sending to John when the board should be discussing it and talking among ourselves about what we want? This is our job. Attorney Donovan: My suggestion was sending it to the manager so he can disseminate to everybody together. So he had everyone's comments. Deputy Mayor Carley: I just need more time reading just like Trustee Thompson said. Mayor Ramos: Pass everything to John and collate a list of concerns. Manager Revella: Try to get it in by the 3rd. If you need more time, just let me know we'll try to work it out. Trustee Thompson: I do agree with Becky, though. Part of it is we're reading all of this information. I think we should have some things in our mind of where we want to go. How much do we want to accomplish with this? Because that's what keeps coming up in the information I'm reading. It really can have a significant impact on the neighborhood. I think as we read it, we just need to be cognizant of some of the questions. And one of them is what she was asking. Where do you want to see this go? What type of housing do you want to see this in? I do agree with that part. Trustee Pearson: Because there's different classes that you can go for and they all do something different. So if we're going to go for all the classes, then great, then we have to have that all- encompassing. If we're not, we can scale it down a little bit. Those are things that this board needs discussed because that's what we're supposed to be doing. Deputy Mayor Carley: I don't think no one disagrees that the board needs to have a grasp on this. I believe that we asked our attorney because he has such a vast knowledge of the different areas, he was able to put some stuff together. That's from what I remember from before. Attorney Donovan: I did this before in collaboration with other people, obviously, still this local, I don't pretend to be perfect. It also hasn't been tested. It's one of the things that is relatively new as we go through the process of trying to regulate something like this, there may be modifications as you go forward. But this is a distillation of other things. Doesn't mean certain things can't be taken out. Certain things can't be put in. Again, it's your local law and your decision. Deputy Mayor Carley: I don't think it was meant to say, we are already voted. This is a starting point. We need to read through it. Trustee Pearson: I sent you 4 different laws that John sent you from last time. They're pretty 9 inclusive. There's a couple of them that have many things that are not in this one that I like to see, because if we're going to move forward with them, I just watched the NYCOM webinar on this whole subject the other day and part of the issue is enforcement. So if we can't enforce it, then why are we discussing it? I'm going to throw that back to the board as well. Do you want to move forward? Do we have the enforcement capabilities to do that? Again, I know that Dave just said of his community that it was hard because you had issues going on there. So then if you create the law and you're not going to do anything about it. Then what's the point of paying attorney to write the law? That's where I have a problem. If there's a lot happening in this village that we need to do that, then it's really to move forward with it. John, you can probably tell me how many people are already doing it. Manager Revella: I know there's a handful. I don't know all inclusive. Trustee Pearson: And is that an issue? Are people complaining in neighborhoods? Is it something that's happening? Manager Revella: It's not that it's an issue, it’s the inspection. Right now, I don't know of any in R3. That's the biggest single family you have. I don't think it makes much sense to put them there. If you're going to have mixed use, detached dwellings, that kind makes more sense. Trustee Pearson: Accessory units. Who has accessory units here? We don't even have that here. But some of them said that so that was a question I was going to ask the board, do you want it in an accessory unit if allowed or not or are we taking that out? Those are all those questions we need to talk about and go forward. Hopefully we'll have this discussion. Thank you. Village Policy Trustee Elliott made a motion to approve the typo change on page 22. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. Allocation of Funds Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve the allocation of funds for the waterfront project. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Public Comment Mary Ellen Matise: Furniture on Main Street today. Hopefully it will be gone tomorrow. Crosswalks, left the signs but didn't repaint the road. Manager Revella: They have to repaint the road. Mary Ellen Matise: I'm just hoping that they didn't decide that they're too close to each other and that that's why they can't repaint it. The Milk Factory. The Town Planning Board is going to open the public hearing on January 30th at their meeting. Before that, I'll accept any comments you might have about the historically what it's going to look like. SHPO did have some comments. They didn't like the roof line. But I just had a conversation with Noah, who represents the owner and their rationale for the roof line is that those are solar panels and to reach a net zero energy efficiency for the building, they need that much of an array and they don't put them on the ground. But accept any comments. It's on the town website. You can look at the plans. You can send comments to the Historic Preservation Commission. The Planning Board would like to know how people feel before they open. Manager Revella: We believe they're preserving as much as they can at this time. 10 Mary Ellen Matise: I asked him to send me the rationale. SHPO had one thing to say and they think they have something else to say, they can have their day in court too. But certainly if you want to send comments as individual members or as the board, please do. They are going to have this trying to look into Shawangunk. Manager Revella: It's Wallkill Central School District as well. Mary Ellen Matise: They'll get the school taxes. But the Town of Montgomery is going to get the property taxes and the sales tax. But their historical society's part of the whole process and maybe some of their former members will also be part of the process. Mayor Ramos: What time? Mary Ellen Matise: Usually the Planning Board is 7:30, I think. 7 or 7:30. Payment of Audited Bills Trustee Thompson made a motion to approve payment of audited bills. Seconded by Trustee Pearson. All ayes. Motion carried. Miscellaneous Comments from the Board of Trustees Trustee Thompson: Community Council, we did the contest for the residential holiday decorations. It was actually very nice to see so many homes in the village participating. We had everything from religious to traditional to whimsical. It was very nice. It was very difficult to pick the winners. But the people that participated did a really, really nice job. Trustee Maher: I love the holiday window contest. I thought that was great. Do we do one also for the businesses? Trustee Thompson: Yes. Trustee Maher: I was wondering if it's possible now that we are green light with the senior center. If we could open up a suggestions from our seniors where they could have a way to give their input on what type of activities they would like to put in there. Manager Revella: Millie is the president of the group and they dialog with Mike often about activities. Trustee Pearson: We've been a Tree City for over 13 years and the sign still says 10. Manager Revella: I know, I didn't get a new one yet. We applied for this year. Hopefully they'll give us a new one. I got an award on the 5th anniversary and the 10th. It's on my desk. Trustee Pearson: Mary Ellen sent a letter to us about security things in this village in this building. I didn't know if we need to address it. Manager Revella: Yes. There is a plan and there was a discussion as I have discussed those incidents with the Police Department and the library. Resolved that part. We have other updates in the building as well. All the things that we discussed prior have been ordered or been waiting for bid. Trustee Pearson: The Building Department is closed between the New Years and Christmas? 11 Manager Revella: Monday, Tuesday, all offices are closed. The whole village. We will only be open Wednesday, Thursday, half day Friday. One of the people is off. The other person is not feeling well, so I'm not sure when they will be back. Likely it will be closed for the week. If there's any issues, Lanc & Tully is aware that they will be on call for anything that's an emergency. Trustee Pearson: You said that there's going to be one more spot filled in the Building Department after Dean comes back part time. You're going to have 4 people over there. Manager Revella: That's the goal. Trustee Pearson: What are they again? Building Inspector, we're waiting for a test. Manager Revella: We asked for the list again to see if there's any updates on it. But then we have a full time Code Enforcement Officer, part time person there as well. We need a full time Building Inspector. Trustee Pearson: And you're going to have a part time Code Enforcement. Manager Revella: Building Inspector. Dean actually qualifies for both roles, which is great for us. Trustee Pearson: Are we putting out an ad for that position? Manager Revella: I'm not sure yet, but I talked to the Treasurer about finances for that department to see the budget. If we can't afford it, we're not until we go to next year's budget. Mayor Ramos: Christmas in the Square was fantastic. Sitting on Santa's lap was awesome. I also was introduced to the new Valley Central Superintendent. She'll be taking the reins January 3rd. Wishing her luck. Breakfast with Santa at VFW was nicely attended by everyone. Executive Session – Personal History of a Particular Employee, attorney client IMA ambulance Trustee Thompson made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss the employee history of a particular person, attorney client session to discuss legal issues raised by the IMA and Orange County Transit. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Carley. All ayes. Motion carried. Reconvene Trustee Pearson made a motion to reconvene the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Seconded by Trustee Elliott. All ayes. Motion carried. 12  Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting December 20, 2022 Motions & Resolutions Public Hearing – Local Law 4 of 2022 – Zoning Edmunds Lane Trustee Thompson made a motion to open public hearing 4 of 2022. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Deputy Mayor Carley made a motion to close public hearing. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. Approval of December 6, 2022 Minutes Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve the December 6, 2022 minutes. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. 4 ayes. 2 abstentions (Trustee Elliott & Deputy Mayor Carley). Motion carried. Local Law 4 of 2022 – Zoning Edmunds Lane Trustee Elliott made a motion to adopt Negative Declaration. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Carley. 5 ayes. 1 nay (Trustee Pearson). Motion carried. Trustee Elliott made a motion to adopt Local Law 4 of 2022 - Zoning Amendment Edmunds Lane. Seconded by Trustee Maher. 5 ayes. 1 nay (Trustee Pearson). Motion carried. Resolution 18-22-23 – Budget Transfers 2020-2021 Trustee Elliott made a motion to adopt Resolution 18-22-23 Budget Transfers 2020-2021. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Resolution 19-22-23 – Budget Transfers 2022-2023 Trustee Thompson made a motion to adopt Resolution 19-22-23 Budget Transfers 2022-2023. Seconded by Trustee Pearson. All ayes. Motion carried. Village Policy Trustee Elliott made a motion to approve the typo change on page 22. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. Allocation of Funds Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve the allocation of funds for the waterfront project. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Payment of Audited Bills Trustee Thompson made a motion to approve payment of audited bills. Seconded by Trustee Pearson. All ayes. Motion carried. Executive Session – Personal History of a Particular Employee, attorney client IMA ambulance Trustee Thompson made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss the employee history of a particular person, attorney client session to discuss legal issues raised by the IMA and Orange County Transit. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Carley. All ayes. Motion carried. Reconvene Trustee Pearson made a motion to reconvene the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Seconded by Trustee Elliott. All ayes. Motion carried. 13