Board of Trustees

Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting August 10, 2023 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 Trustees Becky Pearson Chris Batson Patricia Maher Kristie Hall Ralph Garrison Jr Absent: Willie Carley Also Present: John Revella, Village Manager Marisa Kraus, Village Clerk David Donovan, Village Attorney Village Manager’s Report Manager Revella: I had a few meetings with the Chief regarding personnel and coverage and going through the personnel list from the county to try and get new hires. The guys have been doing some training. It's been helpful. Went over projects and updates with the DPW Superintendent and the engineer. As you can see, there's been paving going on this week. Met with the Building Department about some personal matters from time to time. Their productivity has obviously been increasing as of late with the full staff and the new Building Inspector. Went over the new hire with the Village Treasurer. They're transitioning well. Went over some issues with Interstate Waste with some complaints and coverage issues. They had some issues this week, again, with the paving. Trying to remedy that. Went over some bids from HVAC, I'm still waiting for the bids to be updated because they weren't clear enough on what they were covering. Went over events with the Rec Coordinator and the contracts for the paving. The Rec Department, teen center and after school is going well. Flag football is finished, Music in the Grove is going well. Online registration for outdoor soccer is open. Summer camp is going well. 430 kids registered. They have about 275 actually attend daily. The Building Department, Building Inspector issued permits, certificates of compliance, COs, property violations, sent out new letters for abandoned properties and follow ups on several others. Code Enforcement Officer had nine certificates of compliance, 74 violation notices for property maintenance, had 44 of them get resolved without issue and 8 inspections conducted. The Part Time Building Inspector issued a building permit, certificate of compliance, grass violations and sent out 85 letters for fire safety inspections and sent two appearance tickets for properties to go to court and has been helping the planning and zoning as well as the Building Inspector. Clerk's been updating Facebook and website, going over personnel matters, FOILs, payroll, handicap requests, minutes and resident requests. The Treasurer's been working on audits, helping with orientation for the new Deputy Treasurer, issues with Edmonds, bank reqs, resident complaints, coding, abandoned properties, new billing for utilities. That'll go out in September and going over reports and requests with myself. DPW been working on issues with the plant with pumps. It's been ongoing. We're working on another grant for the sewer plant. Hopefully that comes through the consolidated funding applications. The Water Department has done 113 mark outs since 1 the last meeting, replaced 20 meters, 13 end points, 6 inspections and 4 closings. A lot of the markets are because of NYSEG doing pole replacement. So, you'll see that around the village. Well 5 is being worked on now as we speak. There was an issue with the bearings. Went over digs, ISO did flow testing. Unfortunately it came with a price because there was a lot of brown water complaints, but they had to test to see the flow capacity of the hydrants to know what insurance rating to give the residents of the village. They're flushing and jetting as well. Police Department still looking for full time and part time people. They did issue 21 traffic tickets, 6 MVAs, 6 arrests and 41 vehicle traffic stops and was 427 blotters. Library is starting to use the second floor now that it's completed and we got some HVAC quotes in as well. Trustee Pearson: You had a conference with IWS, are there a lot of complaints? Manager Revella: Yes. Trustee Pearson: We just rehired them, are we fining them? I mean, we can fine them after so many. Manager Revella: Most of the complaints about missing a spot, sometimes they miss a spot because a car is parked in the way. Sometimes they miss a spot because the people put construction debris in the can. Sometime they miss a spot just because they missed the spot. So, we try and ferret that out as well as we can. They've been doing fairly well at getting back and picking the stuff up if they miss. Sometimes we don't know about it until it's late because some people are gone for the day. They don't get home until night and they're already gone. We try to get them back the next day to pick it up. Some people don't get the message in time, but we try our best to coordinate that with people. It is frustrating at times. Trustee Pearson: I would like to say thank you to Mike Bliss, because I called him to straighten these banners before the motorcycle show and he got it done for me. The library, are they still without a/c? And you're questioning the bids? Or the bids for up here? Manager Revella: The bids for up here. The library should be getting another bid. There's only one so far. It was over the amount allowed by public law. Trustee Pearson: Are we doing baseball games at Bradley Park? Manager Revella: The village doesn't do baseball. People do use the park for play baseball. We don't have any village sponsored programs of baseball, but people play baseball there. Trustee Pearson: It's nice to see this report from the Building Inspector and also the violations with revenue in there. I'm not sure what these pictures were for, with Tres Leches Bakery. Manager Revella: The posts are up. The remedy. Trustee Pearson: Well 5, you said it was bearings, but that's the money we just put in there to have it fixed. Manager Revella: That's correct. Trustee Pearson: What is wrong with the Osiris Well? Manager Revella: Well 7 that's off? It's called iron bacteria. There is iron bacteria in the well. It's very hard to treat. It actually causes brown water throughout the system. They have it off until they 2 can find a better remedy or an alternate site. Trustee Pearson: We can't filter that somehow when it comes out of there? Manager Revella: That's one of the options that they talked about, whether that's cost effective or not. Trustee Pearson: How much was that producing? Manager Revella: I'd only be guessing, maybe 200 gallons a minute. Trustee Pearson: Do we miss it? Manager Revella: We have sufficient capacity without it. Absolutely. Well 8 pulls from the same source, so it really doesn't affect us too much. Trustee Pearson: 3rd floor repairs, I know you mentioned HVAC, but what about repairs up here? Manager Revella: I said we're waiting for updates HVAC, we're waiting for 2 new contractors and flooring. I got the water fountain switched out and hopefully the guys that just finished the second floor, to do the walls in this room. Trustee Pearson: Waterfront Park bid, did that come back? Manager Revella: Yes. We are waiting for the other bids to bring it to the board to approve. Trustee Pearson: Don't the bids all have to be at the same time? Manager Revella: No, they don't. They can come in as they come in. It's broken out in sections. Trustee Pearson: You mean sections that you're doing within that park you're bidding out separately for each section, because part of that money is going to be done as of December. Correct? Manager Revella: Correct. Trustee Pearson: Will we have things done and use that money before December? Manager Revella: Yes. Trustee Pearson: Charging station, it's been a year and a half. Where are we at? Manager Revella: They met yesterday on site to get the trench ready. The power company and DPW. Trustee Pearson: What's our timeframe? Manager Revella: They're working on getting it marked out and the scope with the engineer to for the location. Trustee Pearson: Did we decide how it's going to work? 3 Manager Revella: This board? You had voted on how it was working. Trustee Pearson: I know Empanada Nirvana was waiting to get their code violations taken care of before they, did they get that all taken care of? Do they have their outside seating? Manager Revella: I don't think they've finished all their remedies yet. Trustee Pearson: Cameras, we're going to talk about that one of these days? Manager Revella: Yeah. Soon as the second quote comes back. They had written to us saying that they're waiting for pricing on the wiring for them to speak to each other. The interconnectivity section of the bid for the second bid. Bid one and bid three are in. Bid two is waiting for that connectivity charge. Trustee Pearson: I had asked about the bench at the bus stop here. Every morning I go past that bus stop. Manager Revella: It's going to get twice as big. He's working on it. It's scheduled. He just doesn’t have a lot of guys in right now. They were on the paving contract and they're on the well repair. And it's summer, so people are taking time off. Trustee Pearson: I just see a lot of old people standing there. One guy with a cane and another lady that's kind of older. Manager Revella: Freddie's already talked about getting the new footings in so he can expand it and redo it. Trustee Hall: Do we have an idea of how long it's going to take for the second bid? Did they say how long it's going to take to get the information on the wiring? Manager Revella: They emailed Chief and I about it. He didn't give a timeframe, but it didn't seem like it was gonna be a long period of time. It's the company that did the cameras in Maybrook. Trustee Hall: I knew that's what we were waiting for last month and I wasn't sure. The Waterfront Park. There was a dock for that. Is there still a dock? Manager Revella: The dock is at Olley Park. Trustee Garrison: How is the potential hires looking for the Village PD? Are we looking good there or are we still waiting? Manager Revella: No. Waiting for the list to come from the county. I went through one list. Now we have the next list coming. Trustee Garrison: Summer camp was great. My kids attended, so I just want to give a good shout out to Mike Bliss for putting that together. Everything was great there. Do we have a timeframe on the Well 5 work being completed? I know you said it was this week. Manager Revella: They were working today and tomorrow. Hopefully, they can resolve the issue and get the parts and come back and complete it. It's a pretty arduous task. Trustee Garrison: I can imagine. I was just curious about the time frame. 4 Mayor Ramos: Paving is going very well. They're just knocking it out pretty fast with the milling and everything. I know there were complaints about parking, but we've got to get the roads taken care of. We made it work for them and they were happy in the end. Mayor Ramos: As for IWS, I frequently see the two supervisors. Now there's a pickup truck and a small little box truck running around trying to rectify some of the issues that are going on in the village. So, I commend Marisa from IWS getting two people here in this location. OCT Anthony Mirando: I do have a good report. We were hoping that we would get a response from the DOT since the last time. We did, actually yesterday, they responded to our comments on the U&O permit, which is really more of a license. We had some back and forth and it looks like it's in good shape. The engineers are looking at it, just going over the details of the work. That's good news. Just so you know, Orange County Transit has already gotten the insurance that's required to do that over a month ago, already got the fees lined up. So, it was just getting the verbiage down on that. I'm hoping in the next few days, my hope is by next week, but we'll be able to return that to them and close that. That's the prelude to getting the highway work permit. Which is the permit that actually authorized you to do work in advance of that Orange County Transit already reached out to the contractor trying to get on a schedule, can't get on schedule until we actually have permits in hand because they work but week to week. As you see, take four or five more weeks. That's the issue. Pushing forward on that. The only question I had for my end was the sewer waiver request. Do we just wait until that gets, we'll get advised of whenever that's going to be issued? Manager Revella: When we get the reports from the Building Department. The board votes on those whenever we get those. I have not received those reports yet. Anthony Mirando: I'll just hold tight on that. Totally unrelated, but I'll pass along, work on the site, irrigation, if you recall, I had mentioned doing getting water out to the side of the site that we'll have plantings is first. They're actually supposed to start the irrigation work this week. They didn't, but I was told they're starting next week. The plan to get the plantings in right after. Manager Revella: They did reach out to public works regarding that and the water department. Anthony Mirando: Thank you. They've also received a couple of bids for lighting because they're pursuing doing the lighting pursuant to the site plan and filing the building permit application in connection with the lighting with the Building Department. Approval of July 18, 2023 Minutes Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve the July 18, 2023 minutes. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Public Comment Brenda Adams: When you're talking about the ethics, I had the question when I read it because I've been reading along as you folks are getting ready for when you're going to talk because eventually you're going to get to things that's going to affect the Zoning Board. That's why I've been coming. The ethics, my question before you even started talking is why is it only go from an employee or a member of the board or an official? It seemed to me that that cut a lot of people out. I think this was said during the conversation that some people might feel uncomfortable because everybody here works for John. Everybody has a Department Head, except for Marisa and Kelly, and they come to you. So wherever they might fall into this, there could be repercussions. During your meeting tonight, you talked about how you could go to the Attorney General. So, there is 5 another option for the public to go to. But wouldn't it be better to have it taken care of here before it goes statewide? I don't know. I'm not big on airing out dirty laundry. Perhaps it could be something that could be resolved very easily. It could be perception. If it goes to the Ethics Board with some kind of documentation, I wouldn't want to see a lot of frivolous stuff go out there. But if there's something serious or someone thinks it's serious, wouldn't it be better to bring it to the Ethics Board here? And then if they don't feel satisfied, then they could go to the Attorney General, if they are very convicted on that this is a problem if they're sure of it. I'd like you to think about that and consider allowing the public to come forward if they see something or know something. Again, with documentation, not just hearsay. Greg Anderson: My first question to the panel is, has anyone not received the email from me? Trustee Pearson: I did not get one. Trustee Hall: I did not. Greg Anderson: Mayor, you have not? Mayor Ramos: I've received it. Greg Anderson: Who have not? Becky Pearson. Trustee Pearson: When did you send it? Greg Anderson: Through the course of recent times. Manager Revella: Within the last two weeks? Greg Anderson: Yes. I'm here for a few reasons. One in particular is my yard waste. I heard you mentioned it, Mr. Revella and you mentioned the frustrations and the reasons why it may happen. But through the course of time, as I called into the village and/or email and spoke to, Marisa, which the Mayor commended for her good work. I am a frustrated resident and John eluded to the frustrations of not having your paid service removed. I am retired, so I am around. I see it all. And I pay for it. So, when I call or e-mail, I would expect that somebody would either reach back out to me or call me back. But in those frustrations, I do not expect a paid civil servant of this village to hang up on me. Because I am frustrated, you understand? I have the right to be. That's my hard earned dollars. I am here today mainly for that reason. I want to look each and every one of you in your face personally and ask that question, have you received my email? And why haven't I received the response? That's very frustrating. Leadership, causes people to feel good. Good leadership, causes people to feel good. And I want to feel good. And when I don't feel good, I want to talk to somebody. It's just that plain and simple. I'm not a hard person to get along with, but I expect the expected. This is not going to be the last time I will be here. I'm involved. I am involved now and I will remain involved because I feel that in some form of fashion, I'm being shut out. John, I thank you for explaining those frustrations and those reasons. But it was never, ever explained to me that those are the reasons why my refuse or yard waste was not removed. Manager Revella: That may not be the reason for yours. That's what I was just saying in general. Greg Anderson: I get it. I understand. But there are reasons why it's happening. If it's not, then it's some other reason that I don't know. Manager Revella: We hope not. 6 Greg Anderson: We hope not. Right. Here's the thing, I would just hope that. In the future, communication is a little better. Now, the other point I would like to touch on is that I see Veteran Banner discussion and Veterans Day request. I'm a Veteran. And I'm going through this. Could someone help me understand why that is the case? We are proudly digging up our Veterans? Can someone explain that to me? Mayor Ramos: Digging up? Greg Anderson: Digging up. Lifting them up. Giving them their just. I'm a Veteran, why am I going through this? I don't want to ramble on. Once again, John, thank you. I've been discussing things with you for a long time, and I know you you're a gentleman and I could be a little raspy at times, but I appreciate your kindness. Thank you. Trustee Pearson: Greg, I didn't get your email. Could you tell me what the gist of it? Greg Anderson: Becky, I didn't send you one. I know who you are, I didn't send you one. Trustee Pearson: That's okay. As long as I didn't miss something. Greg Anderson: No, you didn't. I didn't send you one. Trustee Hall: I didn't get it either, so I'm not really sure what. Greg Anderson: I don't think I sent you one either. Trustee Hall: That's probably why I didn't get it. So, can you fill me in a little bit? Greg Anderson: Another time. Trustee Batson: I think you did send me an email and I think I did respond. Greg Anderson: You responded and we had conversation, and that was prior to this incident. But I responded to you again and you asked me a question and that was the last time I heard of you. Trustee Batson: Correct. Once you answered my question, you're looking for some sort of evidence. I did follow up with that with both John and Marisa. I did not respond back to you because my assumption was that they would. That is a learning experience on my part and I'll make sure that I correct that. I can assure you it was followed up on. Greg Anderson: I thank you for that explanation. That makes me feel good. Village Code – Review of 31-66 Mayor Ramos: I thought it went very well with the members of the board. We're making headway on revising and entering new verbiage in the code that has been not stale, but little old. But we'd like to bring it into the 2025 era so anybody has any questions on what they feel with how our progress is going. Trustee Pearson: I think it's fine. Trustee Maher: Think it's going good. Good discussion. 7 Trustee Batson: I think it's going well. Short Term Rentals Manager Revella: I did get an email from the Chair of the Planning Board with some questions. I responded to those questions. I don't believe the Planning Boards has met since then. They did ask for the board to give them a little more time so they can follow up with their board with those responses, if that's okay. All: Yes. Trustee Pearson: I spoke to Rob today, he had another place that he had done some research for short term rentals. Can we meet again like we did before, but with Rob this time, to go over that paperwork that he had would be great. Manager Revella: Yes. Trustee Pearson: Just the three of us or if we want, I don't know if Lynn is still involved, but just to go over that, just because he had some interesting comments in that paperwork that he gave me. Manager Revella: That would be good. Thank you. Short Term Rentals Manager Revella: I did get an email from the Chair of the Planning Board with some questions. I responded to those questions. I don't believe the Planning Boards has met since then. They did ask for the board to give them a little more time so they can follow up with their board with those responses, if that's okay. All: Yes. Trustee Pearson: I spoke to Rob today, he had another place that he had done some research for short term rentals. Can we meet again like we did before, but with Rob this time, to go over that paperwork that he had would be great. Manager Revella: Yes. Trustee Pearson: Just the three of us or if we want, I don't know if Lynn is still involved, but just to go over that, just because he had some interesting comments in that paperwork that he gave me. Manager Revella: That would be good. Thank you. Veterans Banner Discussion Trustee Maher: I've been speaking with Cheryl on the Veterans banners and she has some information regarding what we've found just by talking to different vendors and doing some research. Cheryl Baker: We have some wonderful banners on our Veterans Bridge, but they are a small spattering compared to the amount of Veterans that we have in Walden. What my dream is twofold one, to honor our Veterans by extending from the banners from the bridge down our Main Street corridor to give a higher recognition to our valued members in our community. It would also would help revitalize our Main Street corridor. I did contact several vendors to see what their ideas are on banners. This was an example that was done as a generic banner that we can have up and down our 8 main street corridor. All six branches, including the newly formed one of the Space Force. Their banners are 18x45. The cost this $175. That includes the cost of the banner as well as the hardware, including the brackets needed to attach to the poles. Currently, the amount of spots on the Main Street, we have 16 telephone poles and 16 lampposts coming from the end of the bridge towards the Village Hall. Most of your lamp posts don't start until the latter end of the Main Street. My request is that the village consider extending from the main bridge through the Main Street as well around the main square. In the main square we currently have 9 lampposts and 3 telephone poles going around our monument. I do have an application for Veterans. Right now, the banners we have on our bridge do not have photos of our Veterans. They have the emblems of the service that they were in. Similar to that *referring to picture* I would like the board to consider or to see what the consensus is. If they would like the photos of our veterans on the banners. So, there's a face to go with the name that's on it. This is what a lot of Montgomery has. Wallkill and others in our area have. Keep in mind, if you want that photo, plus the emblem of the branch that the individuals served in, that will reduce the amount of writing spot. You have 7 lines of writing, which would include the person's name, the dates of service. If you have an award, let's say a Purple Heart Veteran, if you want, that they served in World War II, Korean, Afghanistan, those can be put on there. You do have limits on that. We can do a Veteran's photo on the top and then the emblem of the service that they are on the bottom. You could do side by side, but that's probably going to make the images a little hard to see and a little too small. In doing that, you do have to consider, I know you want uniform, if you do go the route with the Veterans with the photo, it is going to be a little bit different than the ones that we already have on the bridge because they do not have the photos. They have the emblems. I can try reaching out to the families that already have the banners to see if they would like an updated one or if the board is fine with them staying the way that they are. That's also an option as well. There's a one year warranty on the workmanship, so God forbid there's fading or tear. They are replaced up to the year without charge. Several organizations have been reached out to help with the cost with the ones for the village. So, it won't be a cost to the village, provided these organizations agreed to help with the fund raising and the granting of that. Trustee Maher: For the maintenance of the banners. Trustee Batson: Can you just give me the number of banners we need to get? Trustee Maher: It would be 48 max. That includes the Main Street corridor and around the circle. Trustee Batson: And how many of them would be unique with the picture there, which, by the way, I think is just absolutely fantastic. Cheryl Baker: It depends how many Veteran, how many of the generic banners you would want. The board would have to decided, every 3 spots you want a generic banner? That would be up to you guys. How many of the generics you would want would determine. Manager Revella: I think they would start with a couple of generics and see how many people apply because you don't want to say no to someone to put their face up. Cheryl Baker: I would not want to take away from a Veteran. Of course not. Trustee Batson: I think the generic ones are great, but any time that we can tell a story of a specific individual is amazing. Cheryl Baker: Absolutely. I would love to see much more of that. If we do get a large response, which I would expect that we would, there would be a rotation out of banners that would be explained to them so they understand. Every 6 months they would be rotated out so everyone gets 9 an opportunity to have their family or their personal banner up so they could see it. Trustee Batson: The cost of these picture ones are the same as the cost? Cheryl Baker: Correct. If you have just the one image that there probably if you had both images, the emblem and the picture there. I could check to see how much. I don't think it would be much more of that. But for just the image and same thing. If you want to change the wording a little bit, there is no additional charge to that. Trustee Batson: Spectacular. Thank you. Trustee Garrison: What was the price on these? Cheryl Baker: $175, that includes the banner which is 18x45, the fiberglass poles, the medal attachments that go through the rivets and the brackets that would attach to the pole. Trustee Garrison: These are amazing. And I'm going to go one. So, if they approve this, you're going to see my face up there. Manager Revella: These color ones with the face and everything, $175 also? All the same price? Cheryl Baker: They would be $175 regardless of whether it's the picture of the person or the picture of the branch of service. The only additional cost would be if you had both photos. That's going to be an adjustment. I have to ask them what that would be. Manager Revella: But that would be in the application for that person that's applying, correct? Cheryl Baker: That's correct. Yes. I have an application that I set up in email, waldenvba@yahoo.com. If you don't have access to email, I'm happy to hand-deliver it to you or mail it into the village. That's not a problem whatsoever. I'll send them out in batches. The turnaround shouldn't be that long, depending on how many they get at one time. Trustee Hall: I think it's a great idea. I think they look great. Trustee Pearson: Are they two sided? The pictures on both sides? Cheryl Baker: Yes. Trustee Pearson: One year warranty, 48 max pictures. When this was done before, are you are you getting Veterans to fund this? Or are you having people pay for them? What is the gist? Cheryl Baker: The Veterans would pay $175 for it. I am currently reaching out to organizations to see if they will help with fundraising to help cover for those that can't afford it. But as of right now, it's $175. Trustee Pearson: That was the way it was done before to like somebody wanted to put their family up or something. Just like they buy a brick in the Veterans Park. I just have a comment on either doing all the same, I'm not sure how pretty it's going to look if they're spattered with different ones. I think it's going to look nicer if somebody picks what you want it to be, whether it's going to be pictures or that. I am coming for a decorating end of the thing. You walk down the street, you want to see kind of a more of a consistent kind of a thing maybe. Then the ones on the bridge would be a little out unless you leave those on the bridge and start from the main street with pictures, if that's 10 what everybody wants. Cheryl Baker: I agree. That's why I said, keep in mind that they're going to look different than the ones that are already existing that are on the Veterans Bridge and if they choose. Trustee Pearson: And it's on every light post or telephone pole. Cheryl Baker: That's correct. You have 16 telephone poles and 16 lampposts on the Main Street. The lampposts don't start until the further part of Main Streets, mostly telephone poles. Trustee Pearson: There are lampposts on the side. There's like 6 or 8 of them. On the west side of this light. Cheryl Baker: Are you talking on the Main Street? Trustee Pearson: You're going to do Main Street, correct? Cheryl Baker: Right. Trustee Pearson: And then down West Main Street, there are some lampposts down West Main Street. The green posts are still there. Cheryl Baker: Right. Most of them, though, are up on the further part not near the bridge. That's what I'm saying, most of them are towards the bridge up into you, there are telephone poles, not lampposts. Trustee Pearson: I'm just from in this that aesthetic part of it would be consistency would be prettier, I think, than trying to, unless somebody really and they're the same price. I would just say make a decision which one you like better and do that. Cheryl Baker: I think having the photo with the name is gives them a higher prominence. I'm happy to reach out to the people that have banners on the bridge to see if they would like, I think most probably would like the opportunity to have a photo of their loved one up on the bridge. You could, like you said, just leave the ones that are without the photo on the bridge and then do transition to the ones with the photos going forward. Trustee Pearson: But aren't there more banners than what are on the bridge? Trustee Maher: They get rotated. Manager Revella: There's a couple that have been returned to family members. I'm not sure how many extra we have anymore. Trustee Maher: We'd have to find out. Trustee Hall: The only thing that I questionnaire is that you may have family members who lost pictures in fires or moving or something like that that kind of don't want to leave out. Trustee Pearson: Maybe they don't want a picture up there. Manager Revella: The picture could be an image of anything though. It could be the branch of the military or something instead. 11 Trustee Hall: I like it with the pictures. Cheryl Baker: I understand what you're saying. Trustee Maher: I think it's a really good start. I think there are a lot of details that go into it. Then like once we figure out do we do black and white, do we do color, is it okay to have a photo with a branch? I think the further along we get, there will be more questions and more details to iron out. But good start. Mayor Ramos: This is how I envision what the quarter should look like with all the banners. Cheryl Baker: I think that would be a big improvement in helping revitalize and making our Main Street much more attractive and giving a higher visibility to our Veterans. Mayor Ramos: NYSEG poles, are we allowed to put them on? Manager Revella: We would get permission from NYSEG for that purpose. As long as there are no actual nails or anything going into the pole, they're a little more in favor of it. If you're using nails, they're frowned upon because when the guys have to climb the poles they'll get cut. Cheryl Baker: We put our holiday banners on the telephone pole. Would you need to get additional permission for that since we already have it for the holiday banners? Manager Revella: Since we're changing the scope? Yes, I would think so. It would be more permanent. I would think. I don't know. Mayor Ramos: The light poles. You're talking about the green light poles up and down. Cheryl Baker: Yes. Mayor Ramos: What are they, about 12 feet? 11 feet? We're looking at 18x45. So that's two and a half feet somewhere around there. The length. Not that I enjoy mischief, but if it's too close to the bottom. Cheryl Baker: They're on the bridge affixed to the lamp posts, I would put at the same height that they are on the lamp post. So, they're uniform going all the way down. Trustee Pearson: Is that the size that's on the on the bridge now? Cheryl Baker: The one on the bridge is 17x45. It's one inch width difference. Mayor Ramos: Are we all in favor of affixing military honored banners, going to go from the bridge, West Main Street. Cheryl Baker: To the corner where the second light is and then around the center square. Mayor Ramos: Are we going to go down East Main Street? Manager Revella: All the way down towards Dunkin Donuts. Mayor Ramos: You got 48, right? We're going to have a lot more. 12 Cheryl Baker: Up to that intersection of the main drive. I think it would be phenomenal if you wanted to continue to go down towards the Dunkin Donuts. Manager Revella: When we do the holiday banners, I think we start at Wait Street. Trustee Pearson: Will that change the banners for winter and the wreaths for winter and all of that? Manager Revella: The wreaths are on top of the light. That doesn't change the wreath. The holiday banners, I'm not sure. Trustee Pearson: What's changing when you get the flags out there? Manager Revella: Depends on what height we can get it, I'm not sure, have to check. Trustee Pearson: Holiday banners, which probably won't go up then, you're not going to keep taking them up and down. That's something if you want to think about holiday or not. Manager Revella: Do the other municipalities leave them out for the winter? Trustee Maher: I've seen them up all year long and well some of them do, some of them take them down to winterize them. But the ones that do stay up, they have the other banner on the other side. It'll be the Veteran banner and then either the holiday banner or American Flag. Manager Revella: They only use telephone poles. They don't use decorative ornamental light poles. Correct? Trustee Maher: Right. Manager Revella: I'm just not sure the wind flow if that's going to cause an issue for those poles. Have to check. The telephone poles, obviously not an issue. Trustee Pearson: Can we get a little more information first before we make a decision. I'd like to know whether that's going to be sturdy enough for them. Manager Revella: You can make the decision that you're in favor of doing the project for the telephone poles and if we can use the light poles, can add that later if you need to. Trustee Pearson: Where do the holiday banners go? Manager Revella: The telephone poles, not the light poles. Cheryl Baker: We know the lampposts can hold up banners cause that's what's on the bridge. Trustee Garrison made a motion to approve the military banners for the streets that were outlined. Seconded by Trustee Batson. All ayes. Motion carried. Manager Revella: I think public works or parks has a map of where the light poles are. We'll work on that and then we can try and work on locations so we can make sure we have everything lined up for when you get the banners. 13 Mayor Ramos: Turnaround time for how long would it start to flow in? Cheryl Baker: I would do them in batches like a series of ten. They told me it would only take a couple of weeks, provided they don't have a profound work load. Trustee Pearson: We okay'd that but have we okay'd the picture? Manager Revella: That *referred to monitor with Veteran's picture* Mayor Ramos: And if anybody does not want their picture on them, they can choose their service branch. Veterans Day Request Trustee Garrison made a motion to approve the Veteran's Day Ceremony request for Sunday, November 12, 2023 at 1 pm. Seconded by Trustee Batson. 5 ayes. 1 abstention (Trustee Pearson). Motion carried. Surplus Items Trustee Hall made a motion to surplus PD Ammo. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Historical Society Request Manager Revella: The Historical Society sent us a letter requesting use of a few pieces of slate for around their building at the Walden House. Trustee Garrison: Do we have any available for them? Manager Revella: Yes. Trustee Hall: Are you going to use it for anything? Manager Revella: The board has not decided to use it for any other purpose as of today. You could. Trustee Pearson: How many pieces you have? Manager Revella: I don't know how many full pieces there are. Maybe 30. Trustee Garrison: And they want one and a half whole pieces? Manager Revella: They want several. I don't know how many they will need to cover the space that's in the letter. If you look at the letter, there are some dimensions. That's only the first bullet point and then the back entrance. Mayor Ramos: The typical pieces are 3x4 a piece. Manager Revella: Somewhere around there. They're not uniform, but yes. Mayor Ramos: They're asking for approximately 50 feet. Manager Revella: Like 16 pieces, it looks like. 14 Mayor Ramos: And we have plenty down there. Trustee Hall: We have about 30 and how long have we had it that we've not done anything with it? Manager Revella: Three years. Trustee Pearson: We could have had more. But we didn't. Village Board could have saved it all. Manager Revella: There are some other pieces that'll be repurposed that are on Ulster Avenue that'll be utilized as well. Mayor Ramos: We can start small. Doesn't have to be what they're requesting. Trustee Pearson: Who gets it there? How do they get it? Manager Revella: They would have to transport it. I would think that the most historic building in the village would be appropriate. But that's up to the board if they want to do that or not. Trustee Hall made a motion to approve the Historical Society Request for use of slate. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Life Insurance Manager Revella: I did talk to the insurance broker that the village uses about the life insurance policies. Right now, all employees are insured for $20,000 for life insurance for full time employees. They just quoted to see what it would be for $50,000 in coverage. To cover all employees, it would be $26 more per month for that increase in coverage. Trustee Maher: Including part time? Manager Revella: No just full time employees. Trustee Pearson: Once you go there, you never go back. Manager Revella: Yes, I would think so. Trustee Pearson: Are they asking for this or we're just offering it? Manager Revella: Just offering. It's $312 more total for the whole year and split amongst the funds. Trustee Batson: So, we can double the life insurance of every full time employee, two and a half times, for less than $400 for the entire year. Manager Revella: Yes. That's library fund, sewer fund, water fund and general fund split. Trustee Batson made a motion to approve the increase in life insurance to full time employees from $20,000 to $50,000. Seconded by Trustee Hall. 5 ayes. 1 abstention (Trustee Garrison). Motion carried. Trustee Pearson: $312 a year for this year. Does it go up next year and then the year after? Manager Revella: I don't know. We didn't have an increase in several years from Hartford for the 15 $20,000. I don't know if it would increase. Trustee Pearson: And how many employees is that again? Manager Revella: I have a list of all full timers. It's library, water, sewer and general fund. CertaPro Manager Revella: I believe the board discussed this and approved it previously, but I couldn't find a motion in the minutes. I would prefer the board makes a motion on the record approving this company to paint the outside of Village Hall, all the white outside we talked about it before. I just couldn't find it in the minutes where there was a motion. Trustee Pearson: Around the top of the building. Manager Revella: All the top, yes. Trustee Pearson: When was it done last time? Do you remember? Manager Revella: Before I was employed here. I don't know when that might have been. Trustee Pearson: Same people who did the back? Manager Revella: The back stairwell, yes. Trustee Pearson: This was already budgeted for? Manager Revella: This is in the building fund, yes. You can see the pictures of all the white that's going to be done. It's extensive. Includes the columns. Trustee Pearson: Is that this year? Manager Revella: It'll be done this month, likely, if you approve this now. Trustee Batson: When this was budgeted, I remember this line item specifically in the dollar amount. Is this the entirety of what was intended for that amount on the budget? Or is this a portion and there is more painting to come which will be applied? Manager Revella: This is it. Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve Certa-Pro Painters for the painting of the Village Hall. Seconded by Trustee Garrison. All ayes. Motion carried. Fire Dept Alcohol Waiver Trustee Batson made a motion to approve alcohol waiver for Fire Department on September 16th at Olley Park from 1 to 5 pm. Seconded by Trustee Garrison. All ayes. Motion carried. Ethics Board Appointment Manager Revella: Just want to let the board know that Bill Pullar resigned from the Ethics Board and to take his place the nominee from the committee was Rebecca Scaringe of 37 Alfred Place. Trustee Pearson: Did you seek her out or did she seek the position? 16 Manager Revella: The Ethics Board told me about it. Trustee Hall made a motion to appoint Rebecca Scaringe to the Ethics Board effective August 10, 2023. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Mayor Ramos: Just for disclosure. Mrs. Scaringe is my front next door neighbor and I have all faith and confidence in her ability to sit on the Ethics Board and further the ethics position. Liquor License Notice – PBF Manager Revella: Just so the board's where the PBF Cafe applied for a liquor license, they required by law to make the board aware that they applied. There's not really anything else for us to do. Just the knowledge that they did apply. Mason’s Request Trustee Hall made a motion to approve the waiver of the Fire and Safety Inspection fee in the amount of $65 to the Masons 627 Lodge. Seconded by Trustee Garrison. 5 ayes. 1 abstention (Trustee Pearson). Motion carried. Public Comment Brenda Adams: Thank you for approving the Veterans Ceremony. We do now have one extra brick. It's 25 bricks going in this year, as well as the rededication for almost 300, I think it's 322 peoples rededicated. Also, thank you for painting this building. I'm so happy. Trustee Garrison: Ms. Brenda, I have a question for you. If I needed to update my brick, I'd just order a new one through you for next year? Brenda Adams: Yes. Greg Anderson: Regard to the banners. I think it's a beautiful thing. I go to the Town of Montgomery and I kind of get star struck watching the servicemen in flags. I think it would be a plus for the village to have. Raymond Ortiz: I wasn't here in the July meeting, so I just got a couple of things. I wanted to know where we are with the village, with the cameras. Did we get any quotes from the vendors, are we pursuing them? Manager Revella: We did get two quotes already. The third quote, they're just waiting for a connectivity charge to let us know and then the board's going to vote on that. Raymond Ortiz: The second thing, the newest thing I see now is these kids on these electric scooters and these electric bikes, these lithium batteries. We see what's going on in New York City with these fires. It's only a matter of time before it gets here. My question is this. If these kids on these scooters and these electric bikes, they're not wearing helmets, they're flying up and down the street. I'm driving my car. I get into an accident and yet that parent let their kid leave their home. Who's at fault? We got to do something about this because it's out of control. These kids are running up and down the hill, up and down to 208, up the hill on Scofield, downhill Scofield. Somebody's going to get hurt. We have we have to clamp down on it before it gets out of control. The fires, those lithium batteries are real bad. We see that every day in the news. The next thing I like to bring out is my daughter, Mercedes is having a book bag drive. Last year she was able to supply to school kids at Valley Central School District with 90 book bags with supplies. We're going to do it this year again. I have a list, if people want to donate items or if they want to do it monetarily. We have the majority of book bags that I purchased after the school last year. I bought some on my own and 17 we've been buying a little bit here and a little bit there. It's our third annual book bag drive. Last year, we gave up 90 bags and the supplies that it needed. If they want to do it, it's book bags, tissues, colored pencils, crayons, markers, glue sticks, Elmer's glue, ballpoint pens, number two pencils and pencil sharpeners, college rule loose leaf paper, wide rule loose leaf paper, three ring binders, composition notebooks, folders and rulers and dry erase markers. We are able to supply 90 kids with a book bag that didn't have it. If they don't want to get supplies, they can do a monetary donation. At CashApp $@OrtizDrive or they can do it at Venmo @OrtizDrive. Mercedes is big on this. She gave away 90 bags and I know Mayor Ramos, you was there and you saw it in action. This year, we plan to go to 120, maybe 125, maybe more. All depends on the donations. She's on Facebook. It was a real good thing last year and she's going to give out the book bag supplies September 3rd and it's going to be at the Nirvana Cafe by Stewarts, in the parking lot. I don't know the exact time, it might be 930, it might be 11 to 4, because she's off that weekend. I know for a fact September 3rd, we're going to have that book bag drive. I'll keep the board updated. Like I said, it was a real good thing we're able to send these kids off to school. We see what's going on with the migrant crisis. Everybody needs something. We could all do our share. Even if you go to dollar store, spend $10 buy a couple dictionaries, pencils, pens. Mary Ellen Matise: Guess what? We made it onto their website and it should be in the booklet. Hudson River Valley Ramble. Please save the date, September 16th, it's a Saturday. We're going to do the Walden Monument walking tour. It's child friendly, handicapped accessible. We're going to start at the Walden House with a little slide program and we're going to be lined up here so that we can incorporate the library and the municipal building into the talk and we hope that you will come. Cheryl Baker: I had mentioned, Walden has not done a Volunteer of the Year award for quite some time. We have some wonderful individuals in the community that continue to contribute and make a real difference. Are there plans or has there been a discussion to bring that back, at least as a yearly thing or every six months or quarterly or something like that? Because we really do have some really outstanding individuals that have done a phenomenal job with helping individuals in their community. It would be nice to see them recognized because we haven't done it since pre COVID. Trustee Batson: I love the idea of I'm new to the board and it wasn't for the program for can you just give me a little bit more. Manager Revella: If you look at the back of the hall here, those four posts, those are related to that day. Trustee Pearson: Are you talking about volunteering? There used to be a volunteer award, but then there was Leadership Day. That was Leadership Day. Manager Revella: Which included Volunteer of the Year as well in that program. Cheryl Baker: We have several lampposts that actually don't have lights in them. There are a lot of them that are out. There are like three in the Orchard Street parking lot and there are several along the Main Street. I think there's one around the center square just as an FYI. Manager Revella: There's going to be some more because the wiring is shorting. We had an electrician come check it out and they're trying to work on it. Cheryl Baker: When I was on the board, I had brought up the concern I had with the motorized bikes within the village and that I could foresee there was going to be a problem. You've had several individuals now come forward saying it's a problem. Perhaps it's something the board 18 should revisit again about banning those particular motorized vehicles since they are not being operated properly and pose a serious safety risk for the individual that's on it, as well as the individuals that are walking within the village limits. Maybe that's something the board should revisit again as a possible consideration. Trustee Batson: Is not having gone through the code completely yet, will we get to a section which includes some sort of motorized bike or motorcycle with that type of safety? Is that existing in the code that we will eventually review that? Manager Revella: Most of that is regulated by the VTL, by state law. Trustee Batson: Is it more of a compliance issue that we should ask our law enforcement officers to crack down on? Manager Revella: That's correct. Payment of Audited Bills Trustee Pearson made a motion approve payment of audited bills. Seconded by Trustee Hall. All ayes. Motion carried. Miscellaneous Comments from the Board of Trustees Trustee Pearson: Are we going to executive session? Manager Revella: I don't have any material for that at the moment. Trustee Pearson: Hill Street, Clinton Street? Manager Revella: I have no updates on that. Trustee Maher: I just wanted to reiterate what Trustee Garrison mentioned earlier in the beginning of the meeting with the Recreation Department in general and everything that they're doing at the camp this summer. I know next week is the last week and then they're having the community barbecue. Great job to everyone that was involved. There is a lot of additional things that happened this year that were really exciting for the kids and it was a great experience all around things. Trustee Hall: National Night Out, I don't know if anybody everybody was out there. It was a good night. I saw a lot of people, different villages. It was a good night. Trustee Garrison: National Night Out was great and I took my family. Bumped into a couple of people out there. It's good to see Walden have a presence out there with the Fire Department and the Police Department. I still would like it to come back to Walden one more time in the near future. The Rec Department crushed it this year at summer camp. I talked to a lot of parents up there during drop off and pick up and they were just super thrilled with how well the camp went this year. Hats off to Mike Bliss and his team for that. Always thank the Police Department. I've noticed more patrols and stops and it looks like things are starting to slowly get back in order. I'm sure once we fill those vacancies, things will really start to crack down, which hopefully will help with the e- bikes and all that other stuff that's going on. Trustee Batson: I would like to request a copy of the budget from last year. I mentioned that before. I would love to review that so we can look at the final snapshot of it to look at the top items that were over. I would love to talk to Department Heads to make sure the items that we were completely out of line on that we're not going to experience the same pitfalls for this particular 19 season. Then I would also formally like to request to make a motion that we review this budget quarterly rather than mid-year to just make sure that that is on track. Manager Revella: You can do anything you want. Trustee Batson: I would like to make a motion that we review the budget quarterly and then I would just like to humbly request a copy of the budget and if there's something in there worthwhile, then I'll make a future motion to discuss that. Manager Revella: I want to make sure you all should have a copy of the budget. Should be yellow on the outside. Trustee Batson: May have I have an additional copy. Not the one we voted on. I would like to see the final close of the 2022 so I can understand Manager Revella: Last year's, not this year's. Trustee Batson: Last year's. Trustee Batson: I would like to see where we closed our fiscal year. Trustee Batson made a motion to review the budget quarterly and request the 2022-2023 Final Village Budget. Seconded by Trustee Pearson. Manager Revella: Just so you know, 21-22 has not been finalized in audit. 22-23 hasn't even started for audit yet. Just so you're aware. Trustee Batson: No problem. They're preliminary, not final. Manager Revella: These budgets are final. They're subject to change based on the audit, on the results. Trustee Pearson: Are you looking for just a report on where departments are versus from the beginning of the year to every quarter? What do you what are you specifically looking for? Trustee Batson: I think the motion that I would like to make is that we review the budget quarterly instead of mid-year. My understanding is there is mid-year review. I don't think looking at a budget twice a year is as fiscally responsible as I'd like to be. I'd like to increase the frequency of that. That would be my motion. Then independent of that, I would like to look at the budget from the previous years so I can understand it. And if there's anything in there that looks outrageous, then I would make a further motion at a different time for us to perhaps review that as business of the board. Trustee Pearson: That's the motion you made anyway, because I was just asking for clarification of what you were really asking for. Trustee Batson: I would love to do my homework on it first, to see if it's discussion worthy rather than putting it out here and nothing. Trustee Maher: I know we've talked about this before and John said you could just print a report from each department. But do you also want the Department Heads at a quarterly review meeting? Trustee Batson: I don't think so. 20 Trustee Maher: Just for us to analyze the financials. Trustee Garrison: I think if we have enough questions, we can perhaps bring them in later on. Trustee Maher: Okay, sounds good. All ayes. Motion carried. Trustee Pearson: John, you were going to get us a written report on the smoke testing. And also the report on the insurance changes. Manager Revella: Our engineer is back on Monday. We have a preliminary smoke report. I'm not sure if that's the one I'm supposed to share or not. I just had to ask them. Waiting for him to respond. I think I'm allowed to give you guys that one. *read events into minutes* Mayor Ramos: If anybody has gone to the library. This is amazing, this is what you call our RCLS Road Trip. Started June 26th and goes until September 8th. Visit all the libraries within the RCLS. There's 48 of them. If anybody wants to partake in this, go downstairs to the library. It's a good chance to see some of the older libraries and the newer libraries and what services they provide for their communities. Rockland, Orange and Ulster. It's a feat and a half. I just started, I only have two and that's today. If anybody wants to join, It's an awesome gathering. I have to reiterate on everybody's mentioning the camp. Summer camp has done phenomenally. We've had a lot of kids and they've all gone home tired and had a good time. We had a successful DMV Van, came on the 27th. They had 38 customers. We expect them to come back on 9/14, but have not been committed yet. It's a very good service that the county is providing to us. I'd like to be the first to congratulate Michael Bliss on the Valley Central School District has given us the okay to announce that Mr. Bliss has been inducted into the Hall of Fame at Valley Central Athletics. If you see him, congratulate him. This is a big thing for Valley Central Athletics. October 6th is the dedication. The first football game at home. I think that's what it was. It's a feat well earned and highly respected man in the football and athletics arena. Meeting adjourned 21  Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting August 10, 2023 Motions & Resolutions Approval of July 18, 2023 Minutes Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve the July 18, 2023 minutes. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Veterans Banner Discussion Trustee Garrison made a motion to approve the military banners for the streets that were outlined. Seconded by Trustee Batson. All ayes. Motion carried. Veterans Day Request Trustee Garrison made a motion to approve the Veteran's Day Ceremony request for Sunday, November 12, 2023 at 1 pm. Seconded by Trustee Batson. 5 ayes. 1 abstention (Trustee Pearson). Motion carried. Surplus Items Trustee Hall made a motion to surplus PD Ammo. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Historical Society Request Trustee Hall made a motion to approve the Historical Society Request for use of slate. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Life Insurance Trustee Batson made a motion to approve the increase in life insurance to full time employees from $20,000 to $50,000. Seconded by Trustee Hall. 5 ayes. 1 abstention (Trustee Garrison). Motion carried. CertaPro Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve Certa-Pro Painters for the painting of the Village Hall. Seconded by Trustee Garrison. All ayes. Motion carried. Fire Dept Alcohol Waiver Trustee Batson made a motion to approve alcohol waiver for Fire Department on September 16th at Olley Park from 1 to 5 pm. Seconded by Trustee Garrison. All ayes. Motion carried. Ethics Board Appointment Trustee Hall made a motion to appoint Rebecca Scaringe to the Ethics Board effective August 10, 2023. Seconded by Trustee Maher. All ayes. Motion carried. Mason’s Request Trustee Hall made a motion to approve the waiver of the Fire and Safety Inspection fee in the amount of $65 to the Masons 627 Lodge. Seconded by Trustee Garrison. 5 ayes. 1 abstention (Trustee Pearson). Motion carried. Payment of Audited Bills Trustee Pearson made a motion approve payment of audited bills. Seconded by Trustee Hall. All ayes. Motion carried. 22 Trustee Batson made a motion to review the budget quarterly and request the 2022-2023 Final Village Budget. Seconded by Trustee Pearson. All ayes. Motion carried. 23