Board of Trustees

Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting January 21, 2025 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 Chris Batson Trustees Becky Pearson Bill Taylor Kristie Hal Absent: Liz Kyle Ralph Garrison, Jr Also Present: John Revella, Village Manager Marisa Kraus, Village Clerk Dave Donovan, Village Attorney Sgt Montanaro introduced 2 new full time members to the Police Department, Katherine Rodriguez and Victor Medina. Public Hearing – Introductory to Local Law 1 of 2025 – Accessory Structures Trustee Pearson made a motion to open the public hearing for Introductory to Local Law 1 of 2025 – Accessory Structures. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. Trustee Pearson made a motion close public hearing for Introductory to Local Law 1 of 2025 – Accessory Structures. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. Village Manager’s Report  Took the new Deputy Treasurer and toured the village. Just to get them familiarized with everything. Introduction to the different departments as well, and staff  Had a meeting with the Village Treasurer and RBT to go over the revised agreement and to talk about a plan of action to move things forward. They did agree to the village's terms and did start working yesterday  Went over vehicles with the DPW. There's some concerns he has that I'll bring up to the board once we get an evaluation and cost estimates  Been working with civil service on staffing and updating staff, particularly the Chiefs position. Hopefully they get back to me tomorrow  Went over Internet updates with the IT contractor. Those should be in place now  Went over the MOA from last exec with the PBA president and asked them if they had a date for potential negotiations to start. We should talk about our initial offer as well, so I'm going to talk to our rep about that  Did discuss the sewer projects with the Village Engineer. Just so everyone else knows, I did mention those to Trustee Pearson as well. Capital improvements and just a status on a couple of things  Covered for time off for other department heads  Went over some payroll concerns with the Treasurer to make sure those were addressed with Edmunds  Was able to go to the Leadership Day Ceremony. Well attended. Great program as usual 1   Had Orange County Transportation Council meeting, went over projects for the municipalities in the county. I did bring up 2 new potential projects for the future in the Town of Montgomery, so we'll see how those go  Did have an interview and hired another part time dispatcher for downstairs  Went over park use applications  Attended a 250th committee meeting in Westchester with the reps to see kind of what's going on in that area and what they're doing in Hudson Valley. Also with the Orange County historian  Updates on 207C with the Clerk  Rec Department's been running along with basketball and indoor pickleball and programming for the Anita Vandermark Community Center and Wooster as well  Building Department issued 10 new permits and 31 violations, 2 stop work orders and been updating on projects  Clerk’s been updating Facebook and website, personnel matters, OSHA report, FOILs, the Leadership Day and dig permits  Finance Department, working on payroll updates, Edmunds, journal entries, working with RBT as well  Public Works, as I said, working on the vehicle list, all the inventories are done now for them, working on evaluations. Sewers been pressing sludge and checking stations. Water Department did 2 mark outs, replaced 12 meters, 6 end points, 1 closing, 1 inspection. They did salt and plow a couple times. The third floor is now all done being painted. They did take down holiday decorations. Putting back up the veteran’s banners. He’s continued to work on the lead and copper report  You should have the police reports in the back as well. Didn't get the normal report for this week, but the blotters are in the back so you can check those out and the arrest as well Trustee Taylor: Is there a reason we didn't get the normal report? Manager Revella: They did not get it done in time. I asked, I'm not sure what their hold up was. Trustee Taylor: They didn't provide a response to that question. Manager Revella: No, Sir. Trustee Pearson: Who's in charge of that report? Manager Revella: I'm not going to say publicly which person individually. It’s a personal matter, but I can tell you in exec. Trustee Pearson: The painting up here. Love the color. Who picked the color upstairs? Did you pick? Manager Revella: The Court Clerk picked the colors with me because I'm not very good at it. Trustee Pearson: Very, very nice. Softer, much nicer than that hallway down the stairs. I wanted to thank the Building Inspector for this report. What our progresses are at the bottom of your report. I appreciate that. Thank you. Trustee Hall: I know I missed last week, I tried watch it, but if I repeat myself, I apologize and just let me know. The kitchen, did that get started? Manager Revella: Yes. 2 Trustee Hall: Okay. Do we have a list of open? Were we going to get a list of those open projects? That the village has going on. Didn’t we talk about that at one point? Manager Revella: Open capital projects? Trustee Hall: Yeah. Manager Revella: I can get you a list of open capital projects. Trustee Hall: I was coming home from work today and I usually go down Pine and then go down and then go up Maple because I'm nosy and I just drive around and I noticed that the parking spaces for the Millspaugh Park are not shoveled or plowed. Whose responsibility is that? Manager Revella: I will find out where the responsibility is. So usually if there's people parked there, which we allow people to park in all of our parks and parking lots during snow storms, it usually is done tomorrow, they clear those spaces, they're posted and then cleaned. Trustee Hall: You could tell the car pulled in after the snow. Deputy Mayor Batson: In your notes, it says follow up with all departments report regarding budgeting concerns. Are those current budget concerns for this fiscal year? Manager Revella: No, for next fiscal year. Deputy Mayor Batson: You said you met with RBT and they agreed to our terms. They also give any timeframes which would be a kind of precursor to price on it? Manager Revella: They said they'll use reasonable efforts to get it done as quickly as possible, and we did put in the February 15th date in that agreement. Deputy Mayor Batson: That’s fantastic. Just for the folks playing along at home, that was the bank reconciliation piece that we'd spoken about in a couple of meetings. February 15th is rather quickly. That’s outstanding. Thank you. Mayor Ramos: Just a note on that, they were working yesterday. Had a nice quiet office to work in and they're spinning up and getting it done. Manager Revella: Just so you know why, it is because no one can be on the system when they're doing that because they have to go to prior year, so they have to shut down the system and reload a prior year to fix the reconciliations. Approval of Minutes December 17, 2024 Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve the December 17, 2024 minutes. Seconded by Trustee Hall. All ayes. Motion carried. January 7, 2025 Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve January 7, 2025 minutes. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Batson. 4 ayes. 1 abstention (Trustee Hall). Motion carried. 3 Public Comment Mary Ellen Matise: Can I just ask, John, if maybe you could let me know about OCTC, if that included any of the trails? Manager Revella: Yes. Mary Ellen Matise: Could you elaborate on it? You didn't say much in the report. Manager Revella: I didn't give a report on OCTC in particular. I have those reports in my office. 1 was talking about the Heritage Trail extension. Mary Ellen Matise: That doesn't really affect us. And on the 250th of Revolutionary War, 250th, maybe you could send me some information and let me know what went on. Manager Revella: Yes. Joanna has the copies as well. Mary Ellen Matise: Okay. We haven't had a commission meeting in a long time. Just wanted to comment on if you're going to talk about Pine St parking. Every time I've gone past the teacher's lot, it's full, down by Millspaugh Park. I don't know what Liz was talking about last time, but I think before you eliminate more on street parking or if you're just going to restrict it during certain hours. Maybe that's the answer, but I think you need to really inventory everything first. Thank you. Park Use Request- Alcohol Waiver - Vadala Trustee Hall made a motion to approve park use request – alcohol waiver – Vadala. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. Local Law 1 of 2025 – Accessory Structures Deputy Mayor Batson made a motion to adopt negative declaration in regards to SEQR. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. Trustee Hall: I don't know if I want to do anything right now, but if we're only going back to the townhouse zone. We're not worried about anybody else, even though like lot size might be smaller. I know before that Becky had mentioned, her lot size is 50. What's the difference if she puts a shed? Then someone else puts a shed. Attorney Donovan: We had that conversation. We had a larger conversation. We had a narrower conversation. While over the course of a couple meetings we've had different communications or discussions on this issue. I've had a number outside of the meeting with the Building Inspector and it ended up with a recommendation from the Building Inspectors office with respect to the specific issue that was presented to the board to address accessory structures in the TH zone. That's where this ended up. If you think you want to widen the scope, you could certainly do that. Trustee Hall: You don't need to stir the pot for everybody. Just want to kind of leave it. Trustee Pearson: We could probably also look at a whole other 1 instead. You could do this one for that zone and do another one for another zone if you felt it’s important. Doesn’t have to be done under one umbrella unless you find it easier to do it under one umbrella. Attorney Donovan: Absolutely. Deputy Mayor Batson: If we have nothing further to discuss on this and we think this is the direction to move forward and it sounds like we don't have any other further discussion because the 4 other issue we want to address separately, there's no reason for us not to move on this. Check it off, call it done and then start to tackle the next issue. Deputy Mayor Batson made a motion to adopt Local Law 1 of 2025 – Accessory Structures. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. Introductory to Local Law – False Alarms Attorney Donovan: I made a couple modifications at the direction of the board to include Orange County 911 dispatchers in the definition of law enforcement and also modified the penalties. As discussed for no penalty for the first and second false alarm, then 250 and 500 running each calendar year. So, if the board is satisfied enough to go to public, you can schedule public hearing. If you're not, you don't have to. Trustee Pearson: Are a lot of communities doing this? Is that something that's been happening? Manager Revella: A few have in our county. I'm not sure in Ulster, Sullivan. Attorney Donovan: The Village of Goshen, I did. I have no idea if it's enforced. The penalties are much lighter than I had remembered that to be. That's why I never sent that to you. I'm aware of that. I'm not aware of any place else. Trustee Taylor: John, I think you indicated when we first discussed this that we have a lot of false alarms. Manager Revella: Yes. I'm sure Trustee Hall can speak to it as well. Over the years we've had numerous at specific locations over and over again. Businesses, apartment complexes, commercial facilities. Trustee Pearson: My concern was, not the enforcement, but who's going to be managing? And you were going to put something together for us for a meeting. But I haven't seen that yet. A policy. We discussed last meeting to have that before us. So maybe I'd like to see the policy to see how it's going to work before I make any decisions. That’s just my thoughts. Trustee Taylor: We weren't sure who was going to be the record keeper of those false alarms. Trustee Pearson: I know Deputy Mayor Batson was talking about having something for this meeting to read, but I didn’t see anything come through. Manager Revella: This one and noise ordinance. I can speak to both of those issues later. Mayor Ramos: Are we going to wait until we have that data? Trustee Taylor: Yeah, I think we need to have that delineated prior to us putting this policy into effect, because right now we're not sure who was going to keep track. Manager Revella: The law would be in your hands, if you want to pass a law or not. The policy and implementation is under me and I'd make sure that happens. If you want to see that prior to passing the law, that's fine. There’s a couple steps that have to be taken to do that. Trustee Pearson: I think that's what we asked for last meeting. Trustee Taylor: I’d like to see that. 5 Mayor Ramos: Are we going to see that February 4th? Manager Revella: I would hope so. Deputy Mayor Batson: Can we schedule the public hearing for it? The public hearing shouldn't have any bearing on the policy since the code and the policy are separate. The code is locked in. The policy, it may influence it, but they are separate so. In order to keep things moving, can we schedule the public hearing? Trustee Pearson: We just asked for it last meeting too, so I thought we would be reading at this meeting and then we'd be able to schedule the public hearing. I know there was some concerns where and who and I get that it's our Police Department basically, wasn’t it going to come to the Police Department? Where's it going to happen? And you're talking about collecting funds and how that whole funding is going to work? I would like to see it all in one thing. Manager Revella: I talked about last time the Police Department will be keeping the records. The Building Department will be issuing the violation. Introductory Local Law – Noise Ordinance Attorney Donovan: Last time we met, we kind of had beaten up the noise ordinance pretty well, but the remaining outstanding issue was the variance procedure. The board had discussed having it go to the Village Manager in the first instance and then the ability to appeal the Village Manager’s determination. So, I've taken my best shot at with that appeal process would look like. There is a notice of the hearing. That if someone does appeal because you want to have agreed parties or potentially agreed parties, neighbors that may want to get notice of it. I did have a question. You’ll see some question marks and subdivision D, F about certified mail. Those of you been around for a while, you remember that we actually changed that because the ZBA and Planning Board notices. Because it's ridiculously expensive now. But that's what the existing code had. They had certified mail. You may want to change that because it's like 10 bucks to send a certified letter back anymore. Just regular first-class mail could be something that you could do. So, I tried to mirror, by the way, while I'm at it, I want to give kudos to Marisa, because it was very helpful to me that I had the minutes of that meeting to review the discussion of how the board wanted it to read and again you are under no time constraints relative to this issue. I think it's what you laid out. Now you see it in writing. You may change your mind. You may want to have more discussion. However you want to handle that. I'd like some feedback on the certified mail. I'd recommend first-class mail just because it's less onerous, less expensive, and then however you feel about the process. If you're happy with it, it can go to public hearing. If you're want some more time to think about it and talk about it, then you get to do that. Trustee Pearson: My circle is around the certified mail. I know that the Zoning Board kind of took it away because of time frame and expense and they're doing it through the Building Department. The building department does that now. Manager Revella: They do the mailing for the distance and bill the applicant. Attorney Donovan: Yes, so long the applicant pays. That's the expense that was one of the concerns that the ZBA had. Mayor Ramos: Isn't the certified mail judicially recognized? 6 Attorney Donovan: Is it required? No. Remember, this is our process. This is not a state law; this is the Village of Walden. I think what you need to keep in mind is potentially grieve parties need to have reasonable notice that there's an appeal. Something going on relative to noise in close proximity to them. Trustee Pearson: Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but we had talked about the Village Manager being the first person that people go to and do. The only way the Village Board would get in if somebody wants to do a petition that they're not happy with the manager says. Am I reading that somewhere here that I'm not understanding it because I have things underlined and there's a couple sentences. The Village Manager shall conduct a public hearing, but I'm talking about before the public hearing. If we go back to 181-9 letter C, that's the Village Manager. We took out the Village Board, passing the petition. That’s fine. But then if somebody wants to challenge that petition, what the manager says, that's what we're doing over in the hearing, in letter E. Am I correct? Attorney Donovan: So, no, actually. Because there was a real lengthy process that was kind of out of order. I tried to put it back in order. So, various request goes to the Village Manager. D, E, F, are Village Manager procedures in the first instance. Starting with G, H, are the appeal provisions. Trustee Pearson: Okay, because I was reading the manager shall conduct a public hearing. But he can't conduct a public hearing, that's a board. Attorney Donovan: No, that does have a conduct the public hearing. Unless you don't want him to conduct the public hearing. In my mind, in my thought, there's going to be a request that comes in your degree party, cause you’re a neighbor, so you're not going to know about it unless there's some sort of notice and a hearing conducted by the manager. Otherwise, how would you ever know? Trustee Pearson: But the manager can make the decision for the noise to be what they want it to be. Then the person that's on the other side of my neighbor is mad because they don't like the noise. Then they have to petition the board or they petition the manager? Attorney Donovan: They could challenge the manager's decision, but they're not going to know about it until after the event happened. Trustee Pearson: That’s true. Unless there's a big sign up saying there's going to be something going on in their neighborhood. Attorney Donovan: But if there's not, let's say I'm going to have some event. I go to the manager; he says no problem. Next thing you know the police are called 142 times. If you don't like the process, this is your process, not mine. Trustee Pearson: I want to understand; the manager shall conduct a public hearing. Is it like a regular public hearing that we have here? Attorney Donovan: No, he could have it in his office, but anytime it's convenient for him. Trustee Pearson: He's just listening to the people who are complaining. That's what you're meaning by public hearing. Attorney Donovan: Correct. I could take the word public out, just have a hearing. Trustee Pearson: I'm going to say maybe because it's not always the public. Well, it is a public. 7 Manager Revella: It should be open to the public. Trustee Pearson: It is at a meeting then. It’s in your office. Attorney Donovan: It's his. He could do it in a timely, convenient way. Trustee Pearson: All right, I just needed to understand that wording because it wasn't really making sense. Trustee Taylor: How's the public notified that you're going to conduct that hearing? Attorney Donovan: There's going to be a notice that's going to be mailed, I'm suggesting by first- class mail but it's a short time period. Right now, for a public hearing, it's supposed to be posted on the website, posted on the bulletin board that no one ever looks at and published in your official newspaper. That’s what’s supposed to happen now. Legally, depending on either municipal home rule or general village law, you can do 3 days or 5 days as your minimum. I have it at 5 days here. Trustee Pearson: I'm just commenting on that public hearing part of it because I'm just thinking, is it necessary? People are going to come and they're going to complain anyway. Basically, they're gonna come before the board to complain. They can go to the manager anyway. Does it have to be written that it has to be that? Attorney Donovan: Where I'm coming from is I want to be fair. I want it to be fair to the applicant and I want it to be fair to the neighbors who are potentially aggrieved by noise. That's where I'm coming from. I made a bunch of changes. If you say, “I want to think about this some more”, that’s absolutely fine. Trustee Pearson: I would like to reread it and just go over it again because that whole hearing thing, I was struggling till you just explained it. So, for me, I know we're dragging it out. But I feel more comfortable reading it again and just before we do a public hearing and then have to change the public hearing because I have more questions. Deputy Mayor Batson: Very minor, probably typo, 181-9, the variance is where we just were G. Sorry, it just you've got no later than 3, but it doesn't reference 3 what. It's just an omission of the word days. I apologize. Attorney Donovan: Thank you. Trustee Pearson: If we really think 5 days is not long enough, why are we putting 5 days in? Because you're thinking things have to be done quickly. But if people don't know what's happening anyway, then what's the 5 days? If people don't know, there's going to be a concert next to their house and they're going to come complain afterwards. They're not going to complain usually before is what we're talking about, correct? Attorney Donovan: I thought that the board was concerned that there be some form beforehand for people to come to the manager and then someone could make an appeal and you'd be able to hear that appeal. That's what I thought you were, as opposed to after the fact. Trustee Taylor: Again, they're not going to know about it ahead of time. Attorney Donovan: If there's an application and the manager gives notice, then they would. 8 Trustee Taylor: How's that working? Attorney Donovan: That's a good point. I would recommend, what you do for the ZBA, I don't know what the distance is, 300 feet, 500 feet, 100 feet, whatever the property line. Trustee Pearson: I think that should be in there. Attorney Donovan: It’s a good point. Absolutely. Mayor Ramos: Dave, is this 5 calendar days? Attorney Donovan: 5 calendar days. Mayor Ramos: Can you insert that? Attorney Donovan: Sure. Trustee Pearson: You're putting in for the distance for the notice. Attorney Donovan: But I want to make it consistent the code, so I'm going to look and see what the ZBA and Planning Board do. Manager Revella: Just so the boards aware, also have a policy draft for this that's being reviewed. I’ll talk to you about why as well in exec. Pine Street Parking Mayor Ramos: I know Trustee Kyle was passionate about this. Trustee Hall: As I was watching the meeting last week and I had my head in my hands with that whole thing. Why? You have street parking down on Main Street, if you need to. You have a municipal lot down there and over there. You have parking on Walnut. Why are you going to take more parking away from these people? Is it that hard? I don't drive a school bus, I don’t know. Trustee Pearson: You drive a firetruck. Same thing. It's actually bigger than a school bus. Trustee Hall: Yes. Not at that time. Manager Revella: Do a test run. Drive it through Pine St during school pick up. Deputy Mayor Batson: This issue is largely driven by Trustee Kyle. Is it possible that we just push this along until she's here? Mayor Ramos: Agreed. February 4th. Resolution 7-24-25 – Designating Polling Place and Time of Annual Elections Trustee Hall made a motion to adopt Resolution 7-24-25 – Designating Polling Place and Time of Annual Elections. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Batson. All ayes. Motion carried. Public Comment Mary Ellen Matise: My question to all of you guys, the same question I asked to the BOE at the last meeting that we went to. Did anybody listen to the last Board of Education meeting? So, we were sitting at the BOE meeting. First off, I told them they should be listening to our meetings 9 because the public is bringing up comments that the meetings here and they just all went, all right. Be that as it may. Then they gave a presentation about capital projects that they're considering for this year's budget. The admin for business got up and said well, you know because we don't know If something might happen, might not happen with Walden Elementary. We're just not going to do anything. So, Becky, Lynn and I fell off the bench because we were flabbergasted that they would even think that. Now you're a board, he says something and you say, wait, John, what about that? You ask him questions, you change things that he brings up. You don't accept everything he tells you or offers or suggests that you do. Not one person on that board said anything. Just oh okay. The admin wants to do that. Fine with us. Becky got up and said, well, you have a facilities report in 2021 that listed all these things you're supposed to do. How many have gotten done? When you have another facilities report coming up in 2026. Shouldn't you be working on them? He said, you know, we had this 5-year facilities plan, so I sent it. John, you can please send it to everybody. It was done last year 2024. This whole list of stuff for Walden. I gave you the feasibility report before, that I've FOIL’d from them, which is what they're supposed to be contemplating or discussing for the future of Walden Elementary. That's the feasibility report. The facilities report, goes through a review of all the buildings in the district and then Walden Elementary. It evaluates all of them and of course, Walden Elementary comes up as unsatisfactory. So, did Montgomery Elementary, because of a couple of different things in the building that had to be worked on so it could not get an overall satisfactory reading. Then this facilities plan has all the different things, year 1, year 2, 3, 5. For Walden Elementary they put in $166,000 in year 1. I think was the doors because that’s one of the things they said had to be done. Year 2, goose egg. Year 3, goose egg. Year 4 and 5, goose egg. There's absolutely nothing in this plan to even do basic repairs that probably still need to be done. It really begs the question. We’re homeowners. You live in your home, you're thinking well, maybe I'm going to move in 2 years. Going to put the house on the market. But the roof has a leak. Don't you fix it? You don’t just live with it just because you're going to not be using the house or going to be disposing of it or you're going to be selling it. I'm asking that we invite them to either a meeting or a comp plan meeting or get something happening with these 7 people who sit out there at the admin building and have meetings, sometimes twice a month, sometimes once a month. They’re all elected. They have a budget coming up and now is the time to get something in that budget for Walden. This is ridiculous. Sue Taylor: On December 26th of last year on Main Street. A female shop owner was setting up for her day's work. Her husband was making a coffee run and she was alone in her shop. A man entered wearing a hoodie and asked her if she was the building owner or just an employee. She asked him who he was and he told her his name was Lou. He also told her that he was going to be working on the adjoining building and wanted her to take him to the back of her shop so he could see a back view of the building that he would be working on. Being alone she declined to take him where he wanted to go and asked him if he had a building permit, to which he said yes. After her husband arrived, she agreed to take him the gentleman to the rear entrance of the building, and she asked again if he had a building permit and the answer was again, yes. He told her the scope of the work that would be done and finally admitted that he had no building permit. As the village had contracted him to do the work and he wasn't required to get one. She immediately phoned the village to find out what was going on and left several messages since the Building Department was closed. She also called her landlord, who also had no idea what was happening, as he had not been notified. To date, no one from the village has contacted her, but she did manage to call and speak with Mr. Stickles, who advised her to contact the Building Inspector. Anyone that's been on Main Street knows the walls of those buildings nearly touch one another. Demolition of 1 can be noisy and concerning. Her concern is that even if the village had no legal obligation to inform neighbors of impending work, it would have been considerate to let neighbors know the demolition work was going to be done and that there may be noise and the possibility of falling debris, etc. while work was ongoing. I happen to agree with her and hope that in the future the village will take the lead and inform neighbors that this kind of work is going to be done. I certainly hope this isn't an example of 10 successfully streamlining the Building Department. What is also of concern is that once again, a business owner or resident of the village contacted a department or an elected official and received no response. In my opinion, we have heard this far too many times of late. Lack of communication isn't good for public relations. Whether the caller be a resident or not. I'd like to give kudos to the Leadership Day Committee for once again hosting a wonderful ceremony to honor some of the best of Walden. All of the recipients were not only deserving, but an example of those who, through their selfless efforts, make the village better for us all. They don't do what they do expecting thank yous or for recognition through photo ops or press. Their acceptance speeches were humble musings from people who were sincerely honored to be recognized. Thank you to everyone involved. And my statements and inquiries about bank reconciliations were not directed at an individual employee, but rather a process that has seemed to be difficult, most likely stressful and cumbersome. If the former are indeed the case, it may have been prudent to discuss as a board an alternative method to get them done. Comments about village issues may or may not reflect employee performance, but then everything does. When people in the community come and say things, ask questions, want to know what's going on. There's employees that are attached to those departments. It's not necessarily a reflection on any employee or the discharge of their duties. It's a question from taxpayers about how our money is being spent. What's going on? And we expect you to be forthcoming without having an attitude or asking, gee, should I answer this question because it may reflect on employee performance. That wasn't why my questions were ongoing. This has been a process that's been taking 2 years. If it was that difficult, that cumbersome, I feel sorry for whoever has to put their hands on work that someone else started that wasn't completed. That's difficult in and of itself. I would think that in deference to employees, especially new employees, that you might have come up with a different way to get it accomplished so that the people of the village could be confident. In what's happening with their tax dollars and at the same time not having employees that may want to tear their hair out because they're trying to deal with something that was so difficult, cumbersome and stressful. Which I would imagine. I really didn't appreciate the fact that when I asked the question, I've been asking for a while, this is not something new. Since August of 22. That's when we started hearing about this. That's all I'm saying. When people come here and ask and say things, it's not that we're pointing fingers, it's, Why? Why is it taking so long? Not saying it's the employee. To me, it's the process and it was allowed to continue far too long and I feel sorry for whoever had to deal with it. Thank you. Megan Robinson: I reside at 81 Maple St. I'm here to talk about 75 Maple St. regarding the criminal aspect of it, I know that's downstairs. I think the cops are just as frustrated as our community is. But as far as something the village could do, have you looked at their tax rolls, in which they don't pay their water. That's carried over. They haven't paid garbage, carried over. Those taxes continue to be relevied with the town and county. Which they're not going to pay that either. Is the village working on something with the county? Or what's the legality of turning off their water if they haven't paid water? What’s the legality of them, every Monday looks like it's bulk pickup with the trash? That when the garbage trucks come, they don't put their trash in bags, they just throw it in and it flies out. I'm cleaning trash off my yard, under my deck. I am concerned that something is going on. There are residents of this village that are going to do something to protect their properties. Miss Hall, I believe you were on that Facebook. I invite all of you to follow that as well. It’s not me. Half the block has a trespass order. Because a certain individual that on Sunday was arrested in the morning, was out an hour later. My husband thought he saw her trying to get in the back of the school later that night. Was at another house in the backyard. Trustee Hall: That's what a lot of people don't understand. The cops are trying. They can get arrested and back out. Megan Robinson: It’s almost like it’s a waste of time. Or the dogs get out. I've been chased and pinned against my own house by the dogs getting out. Police Officers came and said they couldn't 11 do anything because they didn't see with their own eyes. I have it on my video cameras. They didn't do anything. Is it going to take someone to get bit or extremely hurt or someone to break into my house? I just wanted to be on record with just really a complaint and anything you can do regarding. I go back to 2021. Lynn Thompson: I came on Monday afternoon for the presentation from the Walden Women's Club to the young people in our community for their service. It was very, very nice and I have to tell you, it was such a treat to see our beautiful technology being used. Miss Matise did a very nice type of a slide show presentation. I would really like to ask the board to consider asking the Village Manager to put a policy in place that when people are doing presentations to this village, especially board presentations, they utilize our technology. That that is a requirement for doing a presentation here. I missed the last Zoning Board meeting, but I was told again that there was a presentation that nobody could see. So, it just made such a nice difference in that awards ceremony to be able to see all the pictures and all the names of the previous winners. It was awesome. We need to use. We used taxpayer money to pay for it. It just makes everything so much easier and so much nicer. I wish you guys would think about that. I know it's an ongoing issue on Maple St. I spoke to the Village Manager, myself last week about a situation. Being someone who's married to an ex-Police Officer, I know sometimes things are happening. That the public is not privy to. Building a case, getting enough evidence, making it solid. So, when it finally does go to court, it stands up. I get it. But the community doesn't know that and they don't see that. They see what they see every single solitary day. I've been following that thread by accident on Facebook. I just don't want to see something unfortunate happen because very frustrated people act in a manner that they shouldn't because they feel like they're not getting support from the authorities in our community. I just hope that the board is aware that our agencies in the village are aware and somebody acts because it's been going on for quite some time. Payment of Audited Bills Deputy Mayor Batson made a motion to approve payment of audited bills. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. Miscellaneous Comments from the Board of Trustees Trustee Pearson: Sorry, Mary Ellen, I can never make your things on holidays or Saturdays, so I appreciate you doing that. I heard it was great. Leadership night. Thank you, Marisa for being the leader of the pack for us, appreciate that. It was a nice night. We did get a nice thank you from Lynn, who was one of the recipients. We appreciate that Lynn, not just for the committee, but for the village as well, because they helped put that on. We appreciate that thank you note. I saw some ice fishing on the river the other day. I said, what's going on? Do we post down there or do should we post, because they're coming off of the village? I don't want to stop you from doing stuff, but right down here, off of Maple St. they were on the middle of that river. I know it was cold out, but that's a flowing river. I grew up on that river and you never trusted it ever. We ice skated on it, but it wasn't as deep as what is up here. It was on the low end. Maybe something, the board needs something, I don't want to take something away from people, but I actually saw them and then I drove down the street and I said what's going on that river? Attorney Donovan: I don't believe we regulate that. It calls to my mind, I'm sorry to interrupt, but about 5 years ago. There were people who decided, 40-year-old men, decided to snowmobile on the Goshen Reservoir and 1 went through the ice and was killed. Trustee Pearson: I know we can’t do that. Make people aware that maybe the people are down there, to watch out. We had an executive order to lower flags and I don't think that had happened until basically said something. How does that work when that executive order comes down? Does it go to the Police Department? Does it go to you? Who does it go to? 12 Manager Revella: I’ve never gotten one before. They usually go through the Police Department. Trustee Pearson: I went to the Police Department because I knew our flag at the Veterans Park was up and I said, maybe somebody can lower for me because the key is down in the Police Department. That did get lowered. But I would like to know that when something like that comes down from the state, that somebody in our Police Department will take care of that issue. That's all I'm saying. Manager Revella: Then they were ordered back up for inauguration again and then back down. I think they got them back. Trustee Pearson: Cameras. I keep hearing that we don't have them all up and running. Why are we not pushing NYSEG or what we’re doing for those poles to get finished? Tired of hearing. It's been months. Manager Revella: We are. We’re not paying either though. Can’t force them. Trustee Pearson: We have cameras up there that aren't working, right? Manager Revella: The ones that are up are working. We have ones that aren't up because the poles aren't up. Trustee Pearson: Have we paid the person who's put them all up? Manager Revella: The ones that are up, yes. Trustee Pearson: I know we paid a bill in this section. Can you talk to me about rehab loans? When there's a rehab loan, I saw this one in the packet because there was an attorney fee attached to something. Who pays the attorney fee? Manager Revella: The applicant pays it out of their loan. Trustee Pearson: We have to pay it originally to the attorney? Manager Revella: No, it's paid out of that fund from the loan. Trustee Pearson: Are there ever interest rates? Who decides what interest rate it's going to be at? Manager Revella: The policy is depending on their income level, goes from 3%, 2%, 1% or 0, and then all commercial ones are 3% no matter what. Trustee Pearson: So, they have to be at a certain level. If they make more money, they have to pay 3%. If they make less money, they pay 1%. Manager Revella: Percentage of median income for Orange County regulates the interest rate. Trustee Pearson: You said that there is a revised agreement for RBT. That something that we voted on the other day? Manager Revella: Correct. 13 Trustee Pearson: When are we going to be discussing the DPW concerns that you have? Is it a budget issue? Manager Revella: It’s a budget issue. Trustee Taylor: I know Monday was a holiday. Process is that the building is locked up on holidays and on Sundays. At 12:30, it was about 11° outside. I knew that they were having a ceremony up here on the third floor. Door was locked. Thought it might have been frozen, wasn't. Rang the buzzer. No response. Another gentleman came. He wanted access. He had something that he needed to discuss. He also rang the buzzer, got no response. Finally, an officer in his vehicle had come around the corner and asked us if we need access. Finally, an officer in his vehicle had come around the corner and asked us, did we need access? Said yeah, they're having a ceremony on the third floor today at 1. He said, let me go around back and open it up. Which he did. When he opened it up, I regurgitated. I said, we're having a ceremony on the third floor. He said we were not aware of that. Issue #1. Why was that not communicated to the PD? That we may be having several folks show up at 12:30, quarter of 1, etc. and the doors were locked. It seems like we dropped the ball there. The other question associated with that, I know that being a weekend or a holiday, this is a warming center, correct? Manager Revella: Yes. Trustee Taylor: Ringing that buzzer did nothing. That gentleman and myself stood outside for probably 10 minutes. I was helping Miss Matise bring some stuff in, she went to park her car. Was holding whatever she needed help with and for about 10 minutes, no response. Couple of things. 1, either nobody was there to respond or 2, the buzzer doesn't work its intended function. Had I been somebody that their heat went out and they were coming to get warm. Manager Revella: Or an emergency. That’s what the buzzer is for. What if they need the PD? Trustee Taylor: Well, it didn't work. It didn't work in the sense that nobody responded to it, and had it not been for that officer, we'd probably still be standing out there. Now ultimately it did get open, that’s not my issue. My issue was, you couldn't get anybody to open it had he not come around the corner. And he hit the buzzer. So did I. No response. Manager Revella: I'm not sure. I'll find out why. I know the dispatcher was there. I called and talked to them. Trustee Taylor: We need to find out what's not working. Manager Revella: Understood. Should have a front door key also. Trustee Taylor: I'd like to revisit the issue that came up this evening on 60 Main St. That individual that works and has that business there contacted me on the phone. I went down there today. The conversation that took place on the podium here was regurgitated to me as well. A couple of things. The contractor, do they have to have a permit to do what they're doing there? Manager Revella: I'm not sure. That's the Building Inspector and defer to him. Do they need a building permit for 60 Main for the demo work? Building Inspector Wallner: I would believe so. Trustee Taylor: His response was he did not need one because the village hired him. 14 Manager Revella: Did he get one? Building Inspector Wallner: No. Manager Revella: The comment about them not knowing, I find that hard because I don't know how many times the board discussed the issue at that location. Noticed about that location. But I understand. Trustee Taylor: The not knowing part, okay. Somebody walks in a business, whether it's a male or female in there alone, doesn't identify themselves who they are, who they're working for, exactly what they're going to do. Poor business. Communications. The owner of the adjacent building was not made aware of it because the person that runs that business contacted the owner and he had no idea that this demo was taking place and it could cause some disruption, not only to that individual’s clientele. But once again, communications, it’s a common courtesy. The other aspect of that I went down, I took some pictures today by removing the building or the structure that needed to be removed which was deemed unsafe by the Building Department. No issue there. It's created a situation now where there's openings by the rafters. Uncovered. That might have been there before and you couldn't see because of the structure that had to be removed, but now they're there. I guess, Rob, you went down there today and the contractor, Lou is going to correct that situation. Building Inspector Wallner: He will be working on it tomorrow. Trustee Pearson: What about the foundation that we talked about last week? Building Inspector Wallner: He said that he took those out last week. Trustee Pearson: I haven't looked since then, but I had pictures of it. I’ll look tomorrow. Trustee Taylor: In a situation like that, John, who provides the oversight? Yes, we did discuss it. Yes, we deemed it needed to come down. Yes, we all had discussions on that and who made the contact of this person to do this job? Manager Revella: I'm not sure if it was Building Department or the engineer. Don't recall on that one. Do you remember, Rob? Building Inspector Wallner: Lanc & Tully. Trustee Taylor: Was the work delineated... okay, this is what we're going to do. This is what's involved. Rob, have you seen anything like that? Building Inspector Wallner: Yes. I have not seen the scope of work, but I know that it exists. Trustee Taylor: But would it not be good work practice to communicate to the surrounding businesses that this process is about to begin and notify adjacent owners of buildings that hey, we may be disrupting your tenant and we may be doing some issues that could affect your building. Manager Revella: It’s neighborly to do, but it's not required. If you're doing work at your house, you don't have to tell your neighbors you’re doing work at your house, even if you're abutted as a townhouse. 15 Trustee Taylor: If the potential for me to damage my neighbor's house, I think we would have some communications. Manager Revella: I would think so as well. Agreed. Trustee Taylor: Well, this didn't happen apparently. Who do we deal with? Lanc & Tully? The contractor? Who? Deputy Mayor Batson: I can't answer your question specifically, but if I may, this issue has also come up with things like when we pave roads and stuff like that. I think what you're bringing up is probably just a smaller part of the larger problem. Earlier on in my tenure in this, we discussed what, we talked about reviewing code, but I think that probably putting policies in place for the village in which we have it locked in stone, that when X project happens. We should communicate. Is perhaps the solution to the problem, because it has come up. Trustee Taylor: I think communication is a big part. And once again, we might not even be having this discussion if the contractor had introduced himself, hey, I’m here to do this. I may be disrupting your business here, wanted to let you know. If you're not the owner of the building, can you contact the owner of the building and let them know? Because now there's an issue that needs to come back and get corrected. And it was cold down there today. Inside her business as well, because of the openings that are now there, by removing that structure. I just think it's poor communication. Poor craftsmanship. And I don't think we should be having to address these issues like Deputy Mayor just said on more than one occasion. Communications is often times marginal at best. I think we need collectively to all do a better job. You're going to get back to why that buzzer didn't work and nobody could get in? Manager Revella: Yes, I have to ask. I wasn't aware that was an issue. I know that people had asked about the dispatcher being there or not, but I didn't hear about the buzzer. Trustee Taylor: I have no idea who was there. Door got open. I was cold, didn't want Mary Ellen's goodies to get frostbite. I was talking about the pretzels. That’s significant with it being a warming center, there could have been somebody standing out there that was cold. They had no heat. They came down here at our direction. I'd like to find out the answer to that. Trustee Hall: I just want to apologize for missing Leadership Day and the Woman’s Youth, I had some work so I couldn't be here. DPW did a great job the other night. I had to go out in the middle of it to go to a call. I live on the worst possible hill in the village and I was able to get out of my driveway and up without a problem. Actually, followed a plow basically down Gladstone to the firehouse. Thank you. The next morning, the roads in the village were better than going to my job. They were clear. They were great. Going out 17k to work was absolutely horrible. I was very happy with the job they did. There is an Honor Flight breakfast at Sweeney's. I believe it’s February 1st. I haven't seen anything really on Facebook, but they had it posted down at Sweeney's. I will be at work. So, hopefully you guys can go down and support that. Manager Revella: There is one comment on Facebook from the Walden PBA. They would just like to remind the public and the board to review the NYS Bail Reform laws that have been impacted. Public Safety Law Enforcement ability to rein defendants and the courts ability to remand defendants. It’s been an ongoing issue and they just want to make sure everyone's aware that they're not trying to make excuses, they're doing their arrests and paperwork as they can. But the court kind of ties their hand with what the law says now. 16 Mayor Ramos: I too attended Leadership Awards. Phenomenal Day. Congratulations again, Miss Thompson, for your prestigious award. The Woman's Club Miss Matise. You did a phenomenal job, especially with your internet and your graphics. Nice job for those members who've received their awards for volunteerism. The DMV van was here locally on the 7th of January. They served 37 customers. Was good, even though it was freezing outside. Executive Session – Employment History of a Particular Person, Collective Bargaining Negotiations with PBA Trustee Pearson made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss employment history of particular person and collective bargaining negotiation with PBA. Seconded by Trustee Hall. All ayes. Motion carried. Reconvene Trustee Pearson made a motion to reconvene the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. RBT Contract Trustee Hall made a motion to approve the RBT contract for up to $20,000 before reevaluation. Seconded by Trustee Pearson. All ayes. Motion carried. 17  Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting January 21, 2025 Motions & Resolutions Public Hearing – Introductory to Local Law 1 of 2025 – Accessory Structures Trustee Pearson made a motion to open the public hearing for Introductory to Local Law 1 of 2025 – Accessory Structures. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. Trustee Pearson made a motion close public hearing for Introductory to Local Law 1 of 2025 – Accessory Structures. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. Deputy Mayor Batson made a motion to adopt negative declaration in regards to SEQR. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. Deputy Mayor Batson made a motion to adopt Local Law 1 of 2025 – Accessory Structures. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. Approval of Minutes December 17, 2024 Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve the December 17, 2024 minutes. Seconded by Trustee Hall. All ayes. Motion carried. January 7, 2025 Trustee Pearson made a motion to approve January 7, 2025 minutes. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Batson. 4 ayes. 1 abstention (Trustee Hall). Motion carried. Park Use Request- Alcohol Waiver - Vadala Trustee Hall made a motion to approve park use request – alcohol waiver – Vadala. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. Resolution 7-24-25 – Designating Polling Place and Time of Annual Elections Trustee Hall made a motion to adopt Resolution 7-24-25 – Designating Polling Place and Time of Annual Elections. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Batson. All ayes. Motion carried. Payment of Audited Bills Deputy Mayor Batson made a motion to approve payment of audited bills. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. Executive Session – Employment History of a Particular Person, Collective Bargaining Negotiations with PBA Trustee Pearson made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss employment history of particular person and collective bargaining negotiation with PBA. Seconded by Trustee Hall. All ayes. Motion carried. Reconvene Trustee Pearson made a motion to reconvene the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. RBT Contract Trustee Hall made a motion to approve the RBT contract for up to $20,000 before reevaluation. Seconded by Trustee Pearson. All ayes. Motion carried. 18