Board of Trustees

Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting February 4, 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 Ralph Garrison, Jr Kristie Hall Absent: Liz Kyle Also Present: John Revella, Village Manager Marisa Kraus, Village Clerk Dave Donovan, Village Attorney Village Treasurer Jean Degon introduced Kaitlyn Laux as the new Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Village Manager’s Report  Finance Office got out the W2s, 1099s. Things are moving around with the assistance of RBT  Went over park use and programs with the Rec Coordinator  Went over capital projects with DPW and the engineer  Went over the Police Chief position with Civil Service  Went over payroll, journal entries  Had a meeting with PBA Union Rep for personnel matter and the negotiations coming up  Went to the Association and Towns meeting in Cornwall where they discussed the future of sales tax  Had a comprehensive plan meeting. Reviewed a lot of potential updates  Went over some potential equipment upgrades at court office  Went over some drafts of local laws, contracts with the Village Attorney  Went over 207c matters with special council and Clerk  Spoke to Office of Mental Health about a complaint that was happening with a resident  Rec Department still hosting 4 days a week with pickle ball. Programming at community center still going well. Basketball has 132 participants. Very well attended.  Building Department issued 40 permits, 30 violations, 3 stop work orders, 3 CO reports, attended to court proceedings, continuing with property maintenance and Planning and Zoning Board matters as well  Clerk’s been updating Facebook and website, 207c, FOILs, handicaps, finished the new bi- monthly calendar, worked on minutes and dig permits  Finance office working on Edmunds with RBT, make sure bank reqs are done, updating accounts and working on budget transfers as well, 1099s, W2s and vouchers  DPW had a few incidents with snow and ice. They’ve been working hard. At the same time maintaining all the systems, sewer and water, flushing, jetting, helping people with frozen pipes, cleaning catch basins. Water Department did 4 mark outs, replaced 18 meters, 1 end point, closings and daily inspections 1   PD had 281 blotters, 4 arrests, 43 traffic stops, 16 summonses issued, 7 mvas and 18 parking summonses issued Trustee Pearson: The parkland fees, how much was collected from Overlook Farm? Manager Revella: 20k. Just so the board’s aware and the public, anytime they're asking for a permit, they pay half the parkland fees up front and before the CO is issued, they have to pay the other half. Trustee Taylor: What is the meeting with the IT vendor, what computer? Manager Revella: For the finance office, there are 2 that need to be replaced. They're on their last leg, they’re slow, they’re dragging. Updating those would be helpful. They also went through some things with our internet for the library on the second floor. Deputy Mayor Batson: The meeting that you had with Towns, Villages in Cornwall where you discussed taxes, was there a proposal there for some sort of potential planner discussion to raise sales tax locally? Manager Revella: No, the potential that they would not share them with everybody. Right now, there is a share agreement with all municipalities from the county. There was a potential that they would not renew that. Deputy Mayor Batson: What would be the financial impact? Manager Revella: Over a million dollars a year. Deputy Mayor Batson: Over a million dollars a year, which is roughly 10%, 8%.... Manager Revella: 10%, really 1.2-1.3 million. Deputy Mayor Batson: To whom do we influence that we need to get our money? Manager Revella: County Legislators, County Exec. Deputy Mayor Batson: That's kind of significant. Any more progress with RBT and the reconciliations? Manager Revella: Yes, they were here a few days. Making a lot of progress. Jean and went through a couple of the processes today to make sure we were on the same page as well. Which has been helpful. I think doing some more of that is going to help both of us streamline things going forward. Deputy Mayor Batson: Will they be able to resolve the issue below our price cap? Manager Revella: I don’t know. I hope so. Deputy Mayor Batson: On the Building Department report it says 51 Capron St. neighbors’ disputes complaints were likely to ask court for zoning violations. Is the gentleman that came up and talked about the neighbors with the cars, excess cars on the street? Manager Revella: Yes. It's been escalating, unfortunately. 2 Mayor Ramos: Just to let everybody know, the County Executive is actively pursuing and working on the sales tax issue. He had a plan. He's going to continue to execute it until he's signed down by the legislature, but now that the new districts are being aligned, we have to contact the legislature itself. Deputy Mayor Batson: I'm sorry, really quick. Just based off that. With this decision you made prior to us creating next year's physical budget. Manager Revella: We don't know. Their budget’s not due to the end of the year, so, right now, our Rep is Mike Anagnasakis, but he put his letter of resignation for January 31st. He hasn't officially stepped down yet, so he is our contact for now. Until someone else is named. Trustee Pearson: When is that time frame? Manager Revella: He has until the end of the year. It's his term. Trustee Pearson: The new one. I know you said there's something happening in February. Manager Revella: That's for next year's position. That's for the new districts. The Convention for the party lines are coming up and then that vote is in November for 2026 legislative session. Trustee Pearson: We might not have anybody. Manager Revella: Once it's vacated, the town boards that comprise the district now, which would be Town of Newburgh and Town of Montgomery, to appoint the next person. And just so you know, like the mayor said, the County Executive is in favor of leaving the status quo for sales tax. There was some buzz of legislature about not to renew it. Approval of Minutes – January 21, 2025 Trustee Hall made a motion to approve the January 21, 2025 minutes seconded by Trustee Taylor. Trustee Taylor: John, last meeting, brought up that there was an issue relevant to not gaining entry to this building on the day that was so cold out there and you indicated that you were going to find out what was wrong with that buzzer, why it didn’t work. What’s the answer to that? Manager Revella: There was nothing wrong with the buzzer. Trustee Taylor: It didn't work just because I pressed it and the other guy was there, pressed it? Manager Revella: It was working. Whoever was on the other end didn't hear it or wasn't listening. Trustee Taylor: Well, that’s kind of like not working. Manager Revella: The buzzer worked. The person listening didn't work apparently. Trustee Taylor: So, the system didn't work. Manager Revella: The process didn’t work. Trustee Taylor: None of which would have been good if somebody was out there in dire need of gaining entry. 3 Manager Revella: Or an emergency. Trustee Taylor: So what was the reason that it wasn't responded? Manager Revella: That I can’t discuss in public. It's a personnel matter. I thought I forwarded you the response from the Sergeant. Trustee Taylor: Yes, but it didn’t tell me why the buzzer didn’t work. I’d like further discussion on that then. Manager Revella: I have answers on that. 5 ayes. 1 abstention. (Trustee Garrison). Motion carried. Public Comment Susan Taylor: The budget transfers, how much are we transferring and from where to where? Manager Revella: The Finance Department was $855.41, came from, some of it is office expense, some of it is a little bit of Clerk expense, moving to dues and cell phone expense. Then there was Police Department, $30,000 came off personnel, $1,000 crossing guard uniforms. $30,000 went to police overtime and $1,000 police uniforms. From the Water Department, hydrants was reduced by $2,668.70, water fund balance was depreciated by $30,807.63 and generator repairs increased $2,668.70 and miscellaneous was increased $30,807.63 and that was for the insta-valve installation on Rt 52. Then there's a minor one for the sewer line, $12.24 office expense went down because the rental for the railroad tracks where lines go across, went up by $12.24. Ray Lustig: I have 2 matters. I've tried to make it as simple as possible and I don't expect an answer. I just want to present a situation. You can revisit maybe a couple of weeks. The first item *handed copies to the board* Actually, this is an invoice I received from the village. Which resulted from a matter that I had for Zoning Board regarding some land that I have on Walker St. After a few meetings, what it really came down to is I went for an area variance on my land, and they never adjudicated the variance. They attacked the deed of my land, saying that I don't have a proper title. I went to the Zoning Board to get a variance. I didn't go there to discuss the impact of my deed which was I very aware of. As a result of that, I withdrew my variance, because the attorney issued a letter effectively saying that, I’m not going to get it. Subsequently, the Village Attorney, well, billed the village for his time and the village turned around and billed me for his time. I, of course, dispute this. I didn't hire the lawyer. I spoke with Mr. Revella, who said that it lies in the code section 135. And I apologize that, I did a print screen, I emailed it to myself and I didn't really capture the full law here. However, reading the village code here B, it says except in the case of an area variance, fees established can be billed out. I was looking for an area variance, so of course B is not applicable. Then when it goes to the Zoning Board of Appeals and this is where I didn't copy it properly, that attorney made reference, 135-4 A, B, C. Says an area variance, there's a fee established, minimum of whatever you have to pay and also by the way, I don't think I was the applicant for the area variance. What happened was I signed off to Aleks, who's the builder and was going to buy the land from me. He was at the first meeting and then I was called in as the landowner. Course it was a deed issue. When you read the law, the last thing here, C zoning interpretation at the request of the applicant alone. I never requested anything. The attorney’s *inaudible* on exactly the interpretation of the law based on the facts of the situation and of course I can't be objective, but the way I read it, I clearly am not responsible for paying an attorney that I didn't hire and in no way shape or form contracted for. It wasn't in the application that I agreed to pay all attorney's fees. I was going to FOIL to see other applicants that might have been built for 4 attorney’s fees to see if this is standard procedure of billing out zoning rea variances. I did decide, based on the law, stands on its own. So, I didn't go there. That was item number 1. I apologize for my copy of the law here is, of course you can reference it very easily and read the law and see if it applies to my situation, which was an area variance. Which was going to be shot down, so I withdrew it to save faith in going forward. Item #2 *handed copies to the board* Attorney Donovan: My suggestion to the board. I did speak to John, today, who indicated Mr. Lustig requests, I suggested it be made in writing and the board would be given time to consider it. You can take whatever action you deem appropriate or not at a future meeting. To decide anything instantly is not something that I would suggest to you. Mr. Lustig has presented it in writing. As the Village Manager advises him to do so and so it can be considered in due course. Ray Lustig: This is just something I sat in my office this afternoon, banged it out quick, just to put it in writing as requested and it should be writing because I'm asking the village to relinquish, the last paragraph is of course the most important to me and the second to last kind of sheds a light on it and the map I do a line to highlight exactly what we're talking about. Map was from the village website. I wanted to be forthright by saying that I initially owned the property that was landlocked. What happened was, there's a fluke of nature, boom. The guy from out of town said I own this property, and I said, hey, I'm local. I'll buy it from you. He wants to get rid of it. I bought the property. I sat on it and it was right behind Tom Murray's house. I would never do anything to the property to bother anybody. Subsequently, I asked Mr. McGee if I could walk across his property to visit my property. He knew I owned it. He was a nice guy. Subsequently, they died. Before he died, I met with them. Margaret asked me if I wanted to buy the land. I said sure, boom paid her for the land that Mr. McGee had. That's what's explained in the letter. How it works. There was 1 mistake in the letter when I said this land is dictated as a building lot. No, it’s not. It was a building lot because Mr. Stickles said it was a building lot based on his knowledge. It is not ordained by the forefathers, what have you. I bought that land which actually freed up the landlocked piece of property. The reason I was unable to get the area variance effectively was because the village has an interest in the property, which was described as an interest. And interest, of course, is to build a road that was written in 1904. 125 years later, nothing has ever been done with the property. I paid taxes on it as a building lot since the time I bought it. It’s been 8-9 years now. Of course, the village would get higher taxes if there was a nice modest house. I'm not trying to upset the neighborhood or anything, but it's a valid building lot and I was put in an unfortunate position of having the clear title before I get to a variance. Which if I built the house within the parameters, I might not need a variance at all. My wife could build the house on her property, the landlocked property and use it as a right-away, which isn't desirable by any means. I'm just saying, I'm here and humbly asking the board, to consider what used to be a paper street, Third St. and relinquish any subsequent plans you may have to build a street. It's the only thing that is good for. Relinquish your interest as it was put in the property so I can assume what might be called simple absolute. Because there are no other plans on the property. I own it. I've been paying taxes on it. I've gotten the violation for not mowing it. I’ve assumed ownership. However, if I can't do something with it, put it a *inaudible* then I would end up giving it back to the village. However, I would like to say if the village wanted to buy it from me, at cost, I'll give it back to you. Trustee Pearson: You own both these pieces of property? Ray Lustig: Correct. Mayor Ramos: Thank you, Mr. Lustig. As our attorney stated, making an official document to the board, hopefully before the 18th, maybe the week of the 11th, formalize document requesting that the Village Board consider all the verbiage that you placed in the last paragraph. This has given us history of it. Am I right to say that, Mr. Donovan? 5 Attorney Donovan: I think relative to your request; this is your request that you put in writing. So, relative to this matter, if the board needs anything else, unless you have time to consider, come up with other questions. Ray Lustig: Take your time. Kick it around. It’s a decision you have to make. I appreciate your consideration on both matters. Deputy Mayor Batson: I just want to make sure that I completely understand this. The vertical lot is, I'm sure it has value, but you can’t build there because I assume it has no access to parking or anything. So, the purchase of the horizontal lot that gives you access to that. Can I just clarify who in this village has interest in this? Collectively us, I’ve been here 2 years, first time I ever heard of this. Attorney Donovan: This has a very extensive history in front of the Zoning Board. Deputy Mayor Batson: Hypothetically, we're holding this for a potential road. Who owns the property above 55 on here? 55 and it looks like there is a small lot above property 55. Who owns that? Ray Lustig: That was referenced in the letter. Dennis Murray. That was a 2-family house property on 55. And what happened was Bucky Walker back in the old days, did exactly the same thing that Mr. McGee did. But he did it 10 years prior. If, not more. And the way it works is if the village basically had this property sitting there. They didn’t own it, they had an interest so no one did anything with it. It just sat there. The adjacent owner, Mr. Murray, wanted a parking lot for his 2- family house. You got survey, deeded the property to himself and with no one arguing. He's on the tax rolls now. So, where’s the beef? Started paying taxes on it. He developed it into a parking lot, go up Center St. and you’ll see his tenants park there and it stops, and you’ll see there was a village matter that I looked at it and it says not a building lot. Because it's the stubby little lot next to his house. My property, on the other hand, extended from Walker all the way over to that property which is 170 long and 50 feet wide, which is totally sufficient for a building lot. Trustee Pearson: Your house is, did you say 50 by 175? Ray Lustig: Something to that effect. 178, something like that. That’s the nature of the beast. With the new owner of Mr. Murray’s, if the village came and said I want their property. Who cares? He never paid a nickel for it. You assume ownership, you pay taxes. Also, there’s some legalese out there. After 20 years with no arguments, you assume no ownership. There's a lot of different things that you need a lawyer to kind of present it. But there are a lot of different, eminent domain and adverse possession law. Again, it’s legalese. Deputy Mayor Batson: Just to make sure I completely understand, do we or do we not own the lot? Manager Revella: This discussion would be something to have with the attorney later. 76-80 West Main Anthony Meluso: We appeared before your board in October, November or December. Maybe the first week of January and we had hoped proceeding in good faith, and we would have had the building down on the ground and in a dumpster and gone already. But there's an adverse possession issue. The neighbor at one point #74, owns the big brick building on the corner. He offered to buy the building on 2 previous occasions and seeing that creating an obstacle to Andrew removing his building through the rear yard. He seized that opportunity and erected a fence. Now he's denying 6 Andrew access to the rear. So, Andrew has hired an attorney. He met with them today. We're going to address it. This is a copy of the survey I gave to Mr. Wallner a while ago and it shows the right of way, and it refers to another *inaudible* that I'm going to have to pull out in the county files. From day one someone has been trying to wrestle this property away from Andrew. There are contracts that offer to do that on file. And we need to just be aware of that. Then grant sufficient amount of time to resolve this access matter. I've written to Mr. Wallner, kind of asked to be the go between and see if he can smooth this over. I asked him not to issue any permits to erect any more fences, but that had already been done. Stop work order was not issued and the fence is continuing. I drove by tonight and I have to tell you, no one talked to the Fire Chief about that fence. The opening he left and if a truck could make that swing into that parking lot to gain access to the other houses. That’s got to be looked at. We just need a little more time. Just so you know, we're seeking to resolve the matter. It might take longer than expected. If we had access, it would be gone already. Trustee Pearson: The person next door to you is saying you have no easement in the backyard? Andrew Concolino: He told the contractor, maybe 2 weeks ago, that we were looking where we would stage everything that we wouldn't have access to put any dumpsters or machinery or anything to get the job done. I just went with that because he was like inside doing his building and yelling out through the window. Trustee Pearson: The easement is just a pass through to the back of all this. Andrew Concolino: Yes. Trustee Pearson: So, you don't have any parking there. You have an agreement with him? Andrew Concolino: Yeah, I had a scaffolding a few weeks prior and I just figured we were on a mutual agreement. Trustee Pearson: Did you approach him to ask if you could put things there? Andrew Concolino: We were just getting ready to stage and go over everything. So, we were hoping to have that conversation when the time happened and he interjected before we could even have a chance to have that conversation. Trustee Hall: This was after you declined his offer. Andrew Concolino: I declined his offer back in July. Manager Revella: The fence is permitted. The only thing that the board needs to consider is whether they want Mr. Concolino to return next meeting for progress or what would your preference be? Trustee Hall: How can he make progress? He can’t get in there? Manager Revella: That’s not your decision to make. That’s up to him. If you want him to come back, that’s up to you. Trustee Taylor: I think once before when you first came, there were some safety issues relevant to this building. Have those issues been resolved? Because you indicated back then I believe, the condition of the building as it sat could be detrimental to public safety. Is that still a correct statement? 7 Andrew Concolino: Correct. Trustee Taylor: We can't get to the building to correct those safety issues. Andrew Concolino: I’ve been working in the building department the last 3 weeks. I have receipts for garbage that I've been taking out. I have a small truck, so I'm by myself sometimes. I have my father come and help and we're just getting a little bit of work done. I can't get like whole dumpsters worth of garbage out in one shot when I just have a small truck. Trustee Taylor: Have you been working with the Building Department relevant to those safety issues? Andrew Concolino: We're just slowly taking the building down and hopefully that relieves the issues. Doors locked and the building is boarded up. So, there's no access to the property other than may have indicated. Trustee Pearson: The issue is you can't get to this easement spot. Andrew Concolino: Yes, that's where I wanted to put the dumpster. I made room on my little alley there. Now that I can actually get a truck to back in there and put it on my property to relieve that issue but that would be a matter of getting rid of all the obstacles in the way of that little opening between the 2 buildings. Because there's like a scaffold fence post and like a bunch of supplies kind of in the way. Trustee Pearson: There’s no way in from the other side, from the parking lot on the other side. Andrew Concolino: No, because there's a building there and then the other fence is there too. Deputy Mayor Batson: Without this demolition issue, being able to be resolved between you and the neighbor of the buildings, what would be the plan? Let's hypothetically say that you slowly get this demo the very hard way. If this neighbor then blocks you for the demo, isn't there a chance he would also be blocking you for the reconstruction? Andrew Concolino: Yes. Trustee Pearson: Maybe it would be best to have a person that's working with you both together. A middle man. Andrew Concolino: I retained council for that issue. Deputy Mayor Batson: Are we under any sort of legal timelines with this particular property? These timelines we've imposed or subjected that are under our control? Attorney Donovan: My recollection, I don’t have the resolution in front of me, but I think the board resolved to have the building demolished. Mr. Concolino came in here and said he was going to do it, so you gave him time to do it. I believe the request this evening is to grant additional time. That’s the request. If you deny that request and you proceed to, I think under our code, you go out to solicit bids to undertake the demolition. Although, I don't know, that resolves the alleged problem to me. Mayor Ramos: Nobody is mediating in between. 8 Attorney Donovan: Just to be clear, Mr. Meluso suggested that the Building Inspector mediate. The Building Inspector can’t mediate. Building Inspector is on the village’s side. Mayor Ramos: You hired an attorney, so that's going to make it adversarial for the other property. No mediator, no nothing, no go between. Not the village, but the somebody to talk to him. Anthony Meluso: It's not that he put up a fence, he's parking his cars in such a way that if Andrew's building were on fire, they wouldn’t be able to get to it. Andrew Concolino: There is an obstacle course behind my building and some of the stuff is on my property and I’m not making a big deal about it, but there's like ladders and fences and there's stuff and spilling onto my property. If I wanted to drive my truck in there, I’d run over his stuff. Mayor Ramos: Did you talk to him face to face? Andrew Concolino: I haven't talked to him since the meeting he had the argument with the contractor. I just kind of avoided it because I don't want to get in a yelling match or any kind of hostility. I just keep my distance. Mayor Ramos: You're asking for an extension. Andrew Concolino: Yes. Trustee Pearson: So, you can't drive on his property to get to your property? Andrew Concolino: Right now, the way he parks all the trucks and his vans there is no way to drive through it. Trustee Pearson: But legally you can get to your easement. Andrew Concolino: Assuming because of the survey and everything, yes. How else would you get to the building? Trustee Pearson: I don’t know. Looks like it’s landlocked to me. Doesn’t look like there’s an easement on that piece of paper that I saw. Andrew Concolino: It just says it says right of way. Trustee Pearson: Right of way around the back of the building with nothing coming in from the street to get to it. Anthony Meluso: That's a paper street. Mr. Revella, isn’t that a continuation of that paper street that goes down the hill? Manager Revella: Canal St. was just past the next building, behind 17 Oak. The alleyway that you're talking about is likely the old coal road. Anthony Meluso: The other option is to dismantle it from the front. Which is a more expensive route and it’s going to upset the whole town for days. Andrew Concolino: The hand work I've been doing, I've been pulling it out and bringing it through the front. I just parked the truck out front and make a little pile the night before and load up. 9 Mayor Ramos: We do have North Montgomery St. doing the same exact thing. Andrew Concolino: I actually contacted them the other day because they're almost finished and they're coming tomorrow at 10 to discuss with me. They did a great job. Deputy Mayor Batson made a motion to grant extension to March 4, 2025. Seconded by Trustee Garrison. Trustee Taylor: I don’t have a problem with the extension, but again, I'm going to defer do we have an issue that needs to be addressed? Manager Revella: We don't get involved in a civil dispute. That’s the whole problem. It’s a civil dispute right now. Trustee Taylor: Talking about safety issues. Are they resolved? Anthony Meluso: The other side of that safety issue is, you’re giving him permits to make the obstruction legal. The village is giving him, the owner of the adjacent property, permits to erect fences, when maybe he should ask for a survey and a title report before he goes ahead and starts putting up fences. Trustee Taylor: I don't have a problem with the extension. I think it's warranted with the cumbersome issue that you're dealing with, but I'm always going to divert towards the safety of the residents of this village. So, with that, I’ll get with you Rob, have you walk me down there and show me what the exact thing we're talking about. The extension, I’m fine with. All ayes. Motion carried. Introductory Local Law – False Alarms Attorney Donovan: When last you were here, board wanted some time to consider both the proposed false alarm local law and determine if you were ready to go to public hearing or not. It was also policies, too. That would not be part of the local law. Trustee Taylor: Under definitions, alarm system. I have an alarm system in my home. I have contracted with a vendor and unfortunately, shame on me, toaster oven smoked up a little bit. Alarm company called me, I picked up the phone, obviously expecting the phone call to give them a code, told them, hey, no big deal. There was no answer on the other end of the phone. Unfortunately, the Fire Department was dispatched. Police was dispatched. In essence, it was a false alarm. This kind of reads like that would fall into this category on the definition. Attorney Donovan: It probably would, you get 2 free bites of the apple. Trustee Garrison: That wouldn’t be a false alarm because there was an actual potential emergency. A false alarm is when an alarm is going off for no reason. Trustee Pearson: The policy part. The Village Police Department shall keep records of all false alarms as determined by village code. Department shall within 24 hours notify the Building Department of the receiving... are they sending them something? Is it in paper? Is going to be an e- mail? Manager Revella: Either way, sufficient for me, just have to do it within 24 hours. E-mail or paper. They will have a record. 10 Trustee Pearson: Then down below that, for each false alarms the Police Department shall notify the property owner the receipt of the false alarm. How are they notifying them? Manager Revella: That should be Building Department. Trustee Hall: In writing? Manager Revella: Yes. Trustee Pearson: We should put that in there, in writing. Deputy Mayor Batson: Could we be slightly more specific, instead of in writing? Could we include the language as they would with any other violation? In essence, it's what is turning it into. However else they notify by violations. Trustee Pearson: Then if the property owners do not pay the fine in the time allowed, what is the time allowed? Don't have a time allowed set. What do we want for time allowed? Attorney Donovan: If there's a fine, have to go to court and the court is going to give a certain period of time. The time allowed, if you want to say by the court because there needs to be a proceeding or process in justice court to impose a fine. Trustee Pearson: If they're getting a fine from the Building Department, can't they pay the Building Department? Attorney Donovan: Building Department can’t just issue a violation. Trustee Pearson: They have to go to court to pay the fine. I'm not following. I think that if you got a fine why isn’t it coming to the village? Instead of court. Manager Revella: You can’t really compare it to the snow violation or lawn violation because in those we were performing work and we’re being reimbursed for that work. It’s not really a fine. This is you just being fined for the violation. Trustee Pearson: We’re going to the false alarm, so that’s work. Our Police Department is involved in that. Car, money, gas, time. Attorney Donovan: Like every other charge, you get the notice of violation and an opportunity to be heard. What if you say it's not my house? What if you say you guys made a mistake? That's why Rob spends a good part of his career in this room. He issues building code violations and then it has to go in front of the judge and then if they're found guilty, then he fines them. Gives them a period of time to pay. I don't view this any differently than that. Trustee Pearson: Okay. I thought the fine was going to be paid to the village, like snow removal or cleaning up the yard. That kind of stuff. Attorney Donovan: What we need to do is marry that with the lower part of the policy so as Mr. Revella is directly pointing out to me, there will be a fine that the Building Department would send to the resident if they met the third time through. The resident doesn't pay, then it goes to court. 11 Trustee Pearson: Are we going to put that in there somehow, when the time allowed for? What's the time allowed? Deputy Mayor Batson: Isn’t that more of a code than a policy? Attorney Donovan: I think Trustee Pearson spoke about the code, you’re talking about the law, right? Trustee Pearson: This is the bottom page of the policy. The bottom sentence of the policy that I’m reading. Attorney Donovan: Then make is 10 days. Manager Revella: Make it whatever the board thinks is reasonable. Do you want 10 days? Trustee Pearson: What do you have for fines now? 30 days? Deputy Mayor Batson: I'm sorry. I just want to distinguish the difference in that case between the code and the policy. Shouldn't the time frames for that be in the code rather than the policy? The policy is that we're just going to notify them. Right? That’s the end of the policy. The policy is that they have been notified regardless of the time frame. The process is more of the code rather than policy. The policy just stops that we notify them, from there the code takes precedence. Trustee Pearson: So, you're going to put the 30 days in policy. Attorney Donovan: The code. Trustee Taylor: 'Yes, because you're not going to court with a policy. Trustee Pearson: You want to put that under penalties? Attorney Donovan: 134-3, yes. Mayor Ramos: Dave, shouldn't be the purpose and intent when folks learn policy, it says prohibition set forth in the code, shouldn’t we outline the code number section 134? It’s not 134, I’m just making a suggestion that you insert set forth in the code the number or... Attorney Donovan: Or can be, set forth in this chapter if you want. Mayor Ramos: And everywhere it says village code, it should outline what code we’re applying this to. Attorney Donovan: It's gonna be 134-3, that fine must be paid in 30 days. Trustee Pearson: And you're adding the Building Department to the policy *inaudible*. Attorney Donovan: Yes. Manager Revella: The policy we can manipulate, the other part has to go to a public hearing so we have to make sure it's correct. Attorney Donovan: Policy is an internal document. You can change that as you deem appropriate. 12 Deputy Mayor Batson made a motion to schedule a public hearing for Introductory to Local Law 2 of 2025 – False Alarms for February 18th at 6:30pm or soon thereafter. Seconded by Trustee Garrison. All ayes. Motion carried. Introductory Local Law – Noise Ordinance Attorney Donovan: We had a lengthy discussion pretty much about the variance portion. The board wanted more time. There’s a proposed policy as well. Trustee Pearson: 181-7, B2, it says Saturday, Sunday and holidays during the hours of 10am to 5pm and on the other page we have 9am to sundown for the weekdays. Why don't we just make them all the same? Manager Revella: Those are different activities. One is construction activities and the other is personal. Trustee Pearson: Why don’t we make them the same? Manager Revella: The discussion of the board, I don't know if you changed it or not, was that people that want to work on their own properties should have more time to do so because it's outside of their working hours. Whatever time they can, to fix their own home. Give them more time than a general contractor who can do it anytime. It just happens to be during the weekend as well. Trustee Pearson: Okay, that's fine. The other one was 181-9 B no variation, said Village Board unless it finds that all those things underneath it is what you're talking about in that section? Manager Revella: Yes. Trustee Pearson: Then letter D3, granting the variance is necessary, granted by the Village Board. I thought you were just doing it by the manager. Attorney Donovan: Dang, I missed one. Thank you. Trustee Pearson: On the next page, 181-9 G, it says determined by Village Manager to request the variance from no more than 3 something. I know that Deputy Mayor Batson asked what 3 means. Attorney Donovan: Yeah, we're going to put days in there. I have a bunch of comments here, but then I think the board wanted to wrap their head around the concept of going to the manager first, then the appeal here so I didn't incorporate any of those things because I got the impression that maybe perhaps you weren't sold on the whole process. Trustee Pearson: Just above that, the notice of hearing. I know we talked about how many feet. 300, 500 hundred feet. You're going to let us know what the Planning Board has. Manager Revella: Rob, do you remember how many feet it was for zoning variance for how far that you have for radius 300 feet, 400 feet, 500 feet? We’ll confirm and make it consistent. Trustee Pearson: I have a couple things on the policy. It says the Police Department shall ensure all officers who are required to use the noise meter, why are we not having them all required? 13 Manager Revella: There are some SRO's that only do SRO. I don't know if you want to pay for training for those people. That’s the only thing I can think of. Trustee Taylor: Are we talking formal training to utilize a piece of sound equipment? Manager Revella: Yes. Trustee Taylor: It's not a very complicated piece of equipment. Manager Revella: I don't think so either. Trustee Taylor: Manufacturers instructions clearly delineate how that meter should be used, especially if it bought and it meets ANSI requirements. Manager Revella: We can say all officers are required. Trustee Hall: If something comes across and it's not used properly and you want to fight that, they can. If they don't have the proper training. Manager Revella: Just because it says all those who are required, we can require all of them to do it regardless what this says. Just so you know. I don't know if you want to say it in this policy itself. Trustee Pearson: The last sentence, the permitee shall have the option to appeal the denial of the board and the resident who is aggrieved by this determination may appeal the Village Board. What if it's not permitee? If somebody wants to aggrieve it. Like a neighbor. Who they go to? Manager Revella: I think that instead of saying permitee, I don't know, who else would have standing? It could be permittee or somebody that’s in the radius. Attorney Donovan: It should say aggrieved party. That’s the language that I use for the zoning board. Trustee Taylor: Clarification under demolition. Should they be seeking a variance? Under definitions in the very beginning. Any dismantling, intentional destruction or removal of structures, utilities, public or private right-a-way surfaces or similar property. Manager Revella: They need a permit also for demo. Attorney Donovan: Understand this wasn't changed. This is just a definition of demolition. I don't know what it says. I think for the purpose of this, chapter 181, it's noise, if there's a prohibition or limitation on noise during demolition. Demolition is defined as any dismantling or potential destruction etc. Trustee Taylor: I'm looking under noise level. Exception, no person in industrial zone shall emit noise beyond boundary of his or her premises exceeding the level stated herein and applicable to adjacent residential, business or industrial zone. If you're out there, jackhammer and ripping stuff down and there's a business next door, should they need a variance? Attorney Donovan: I don't know the answer to this. Does it spell it out a level? Because they would only need a variance if they're going to exceed a limitation. Trustee Taylor: It gives industrial business and day and decibel levels. 14 Attorney Donovan: So, then if the noise for the demolition is going to exceed that, then they would need to request a variance. That's the way it reads now. Mr. Mayor, if the board wants to see, because I did not make those changes, if they want to incorporate the changes. There's a lot of changes, so maybe you want to see it next meeting. Trustee Hall: Yes, please. Trustee Garrison: Absolutely, thank you. Pine Street Parking Tabled Resolution – Budget Transfers Trustee Garrison made a motion to adopt Resolution 8-24-25 – Budget Transfers. Seconded by Trustee Pearson. All ayes. Motion carried. March 18th Meeting Deputy Mayor Batson made a motion to reschedule the March 18, 2025 Village Board meeting to March 25, 2025. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. Public Comment Susan Taylor: Did the board ever send a letter of support to Senator Skoufis for his stance on the MTA tax? Mayor Ramos: I just heard about it. Susan Taylor: No, I've spoken about this before. He's really going after it. That we really shouldn't be paying because we have no service. I think it would be nice if the board, he’s not our representative, but he is representing everybody in Orange County because we do not have service and we're paying for the MTA tax. Manager Revella: We pay the same rate as Dutchess and Putnam County who also has great service, so it's definitely not fair. Susan Taylor: So, if we could send something that just says go get him, that would be nice. Who's setting the agenda for our meetings? Mayor Ramos: The 3 of us. Susan Taylor: Seems like there should be more to talk about and looking at these agendas and it just seems like there's a lot of stuff going on that we should be talking about. I’m looking at these agendas, just seems like there’s a lot of stuff going on that we should be talking about. If issues get tabled, its responsibility of the mayor and the manager to get those items back on the agenda. They shouldn't be sitting there like deadwood for extended periods of time. As a reminder, if 2 trustees request that items be placed on the agenda, they can be placed there. So, if you're feeling like there's things that need to be discussed, by all means. All it takes is 2 of you to request that they go on the agenda and they can be there and talked about. We were focused on our codes a while ago and trying to get that work completed by the board. I asked about that and I was told soon. Evidently, the definition as soon is ambiguous. Maybe it was the confusion of what we were working on. The board doesn't work on zoning laws. It works on codes and until that work is finished, we're still operating on old village codes, as they’re referred to. Those codes are critical in order for the 15 Building Department and specifically, a Code Enforcement Officer to be able to properly assess violations. What exactly are we waiting for before we discuss these kind of issues in the village? I want to point out that municipalities get big grants because they're willing to do the work involved in securing them. Did the Village of Walden endeavor to secure grants the Village of Montgomery was awarded? Did we put an application in or do any of the work to try to get that grant? Obtaining grants are sort of like winning the lottery. You got to have a ticket to win. We can't complain about other municipalities getting these grants that we're not willing to put the work in to get them. In fact, very few grant opportunities are rarely discussed from the dais other than CDBG. So, if we're really interested in getting these grants, we need to talk about them and figure out how we apply for them. Board Members being good listeners means that you interact with village residents. That doesn't just mean attending events and having photos taken. It also means returning phone calls and/or emails from residents. I hear it over and over from people, I call and leave a message. Nobody calls me back. I send an email; I don't even get a response that I sent it. I realize it's not fun listening difficult issues, complaints. But that's part of the job. Even if you may not be able to answer a question, a response at least acknowledging receiving correspondence or a phone message, is the responsible and courteous thing to do. From what I understand, not one capital project is scheduled for Walden Elementary School this coming year. We heard for months the hand ringing about that building and its condition and how it impacts the students who attend there, and there's not one thing the School Board can think of that can be done there. So, however long our students are going to continue to be in that building. They're not worthy of any capital projects. SOS. That's what's been going on for years in Walden Elementary School and evidently now that they've decided that they really don't want to do much with that building that's going to be the same old thing and Walden residents get to continue to pay school taxes. Does anyone intend to speak on behalf of this community and defend our students and at least ask why there's no plans to do anything at Walden Elementary? Trustee Pearson: I did speak. I went to the board meeting. That’s when I stood up and said, everybody else has capital project. Where’s ours? Susan Taylor: Well, wouldn't it be nice if someone on the board suggested we just sign that letter, asking the school board why Walden Elementary School is going to be ignored in this next budget? Not one thing they can't of to do in that school building. We’re finally coming to the completion of the Anita Vandermark Community Center with the addition of the kitchen. It's been a long road and one that Anita Vandemark championed for, for years. The establishment of this community center began when Mayor Brian Maher in conjunction with Parks and Rec Departments with Mike Bliss, decided that was a nice idea. We have the largest village; we should have a community center. Mayor Maher coordinated funding with the late Senator Larkin and Senator Skoufis. Through the years, many boards gave input into the process while the village endeavored with the project. Gratefully, the village was able to dedicate this new center, which was named for Anita Vandermark, despite an effort to name it otherwise. The current mayor and the current and past board members and of course Anita Vandermark attended. This community center was a culmination of the work and dreams of many over the course of numerous years and should not be claimed by one person. But of all who live in the village without the support of an entire community, this project would never have been started, let alone finished. I read the meeting minutes for the last meeting tonight when I got here. You called for an executive session after the last meeting for employment history and collective bargaining. There was no mention of a possible vote to be taken after executive session. The board reconvened and I noticed that there was a vote for an RBT contract for $20,000. The Deputy Mayor asked about RBT during the meeting, but there was no public discussion that I read, about the expenditure for their services, why they're using them, et cetera. I would hope that this item wasn't discussed in executive session as this was an expenditure of taxpayer funds. We all want to know that the Sunshine Laws and the parameters of 16 executive session material are narrow. Who owns the building that the gentleman was talking about that now won't allow access. Do we know? Whatever building is blocking his access. Manager Revella: 74 West Main. That property owns the parking lot. I don't know if there's a blocking issue. Susan Taylor: Who owns that building? Manager Revella: LP Builders II, LLC Susan Taylor: I've noticed in the past, it happened when I was on this dais, as well. I would hope that anyone on the dais that has any issues or any relationship with anybody who comes to this board, would recuse themselves. I know that the gentleman that owns that building is involved in many real estate issues in the village. If anyone or attorney, is involved with this person. Anyone who has a spouse that's an attorney that's involved with this person, would see fit to recuse themselves from any decisions being made on this dais. People could think that there was a conflict of interest for some reason. We've had many property owners that have come before this board. And people wonder just exactly what the connections are. So I would hope that anybody that does have any kind of relationship with anyone when you have issues like this, you recuse yourselves and stay out of it, because I really hope that the village would never be accused of any kind of compromise, putting themselves in a compromising situation. Thank you. Payment of Audited Bills None Miscellaneous Comments from the Board of Trustees Trustee Pearson: Then there's one other, the front door downstairs. *inaudible* is a mess downstairs. What can we do about that? Anything? Manager Revella: Yes. The locksmith was here this week checking on the locks to see what the issue is. Trustee Pearson: It’s bent on the inside. That's why it doesn't lock on top, so they pull it open, that part of it inside. Can you look at that again too, please? Thank you. Trustee Taylor: The bills. We have a policy that this board approved for the payment of audited bills. That policy clearly indicates that all the bills are to be processed prior to Village Board meeting. Not the day of. Prior to. Is there a reason that's not happening? Manager Revella: Yes. The Treasurer said she mentioned that the retirement payment wasn't processed because she was still reconciling to make sure it was correct, so she did the retirement payment, which was due to the state. Trustee Taylor: Aren’t they paid automatically in accordance with policy? Manager Revella: No. They're allowed to be paid according to policy. That's why being late that one shouldn't be an issue. She had to reconcile, that's why you didn’t have it until today. Otherwise, she would have had it Friday. I don't know what the other ones were added to the sheet. Trustee Hall: There were other ones. I did a quick glance. 17 Trustee Taylor: When we approve bills at this dais this evening, this was for the bills that we were sent 1/22, 1/28 and 1/31, correct? Manager Revella: It should be. Not sure what you approved. Trustee Taylor: The last one that we got today was for 2/4. I did not have an opportunity to review the ones that were sent today and we need to make sure that if we're going to live to the policy that we delineated extensively, I believe, that it needs to be followed because prior to that policy, we had no policy. Subsequently we had no process. My second issue is and I have brought this up a meeting or so ago and I speak for myself here, not my fellow trustees. My question, I'm going to be directing towards the manager and the mayor. I've had the opportunity in the last few and sat on this dais, to attend some functions that were celebratory for people in the village that were celebrated for their accomplishments and unfortunately, most of those that I got to attend were by a word of mouth. My question to you, John and the mayor, seeing as you probably get the most correspondence from residents by a telephone, text, e-mail, whatever. Is that information being distributed to the rest of the board? Manager Revella: I give invitations that are open for the board to the board. I don't get invitations that are for the board usually. They usually go directly to the board or through the mayor. Trustee Taylor: I haven't gotten any notification in the year that I've been here from anybody that there was an event or a celebratory recognition or anything of that nature. The reason I ask is because, ironically, finding out on Facebook that an event took place after the fact is unacceptable. It does not afford us the opportunity to pay our respects and congratulations to those that are being honored or whatever the event happens to be. I haven't gotten anything from either the mayor or yourself saying, hey, it would be nice if some of you folks were able to attend this function. Because we don't know about it. And unfortunately, the way you find out who did get to go, is when you see the photos pop up on Facebook. I had to ask myself, how come I didn't know that? Manager Revella: I haven’t had any invitations that I wouldn’t share. Trustee Taylor: Mr. Mayor, have you? Mayor Ramos: I have and the invitations are directed to me, especially the most recent one, where that was a family request for since I served on the Eagle Scout celebration. That was a personal invitation to me. I'm pretty sure all the invitations that should say the Board of Trustees also, but that particular invitation that you're mentioning was directed toward me. Trustee Taylor: The point being, when somebody on this dais, trustee, etc, receives some type of notification, it would just be good business for everybody to be able to have the opportunity if they're scheduled permits and show these people and the residents in this village that we do care and we would like to acknowledge not getting that information is just not acceptable and it's not good business. We either are going to share the information, which I asked the last time when I brought this up, if I become aware of something, I most certainly will. But out there ringing doorbells in the last several months, when you hear some folks say, geez, would’ve love to see you. Said, would have loved to have been there, but I didn't know. And I don't want to continue to have to provide that discussion. I would ask and this is myself speaking, it's got nothing to do with my fellow trustees here. There are 7 trustees on this board and I think we should share the information if it's all possible, so we can represent to this village that we do care, we do want to congratulate, we do want to honor. We don’t want to find out about it after the fact. Trustee Pearson: Sorry, John, do we have a fund balance policy? 18 Manager Revella: Yes. Trustee Pearson: Can you show that to me? Manager Revella: Yes. Trustee Pearson: Do we also have a multi-year finance plan? Not the capital plan, but a finance plan. Manager Revella: Not aware of one. Trustee Pearson: Like where you think you're going. Years ago, we say every other year we get a new police car. A plan may not have happened but that was our plan. Manager Revella: That’s the capital plan. Vehicles. Trustee Pearson: Not all of that, but other things like that we may need to do within the next 5 or 6 years so. Do you have that? Or should we work on that? Manager Revella: We can work on that. Trustee Hall: I was not able to make it to the Honor Flight breakfast. I was working but I heard it was a great turnout. Good job to everybody there. My issue really is the communication too. It just sucks. There's no way to put it. If maybe we can work on that and get that a little bit better, that would be nice. I see a lot on social media people are stepping on the PD and I don't think a lot of people realize that they can only do what they can do. They can only do what they're allowed to do. You know, Bill can get arrested this and he's going to be out by 11. I just really think before people start to bash them that they really should maybe look into things a little bit or realize what's going on behind the scenes. Trustee Garrison: I had a nice discussion with Mr. Bliss, over at Parks and Rec. He's got really good plans this year for camp. It's looking like it's going to be another very, very good year. It was nice to sit and talk with him about what he plans to have going on this year. So, just letting the residents know that there will be a summer camp this year. You should definitely look to put your kids into it. Because it is probably the best program in the Town of Montgomery and I am saying that with all bias, because I think the camps are wonderful. To follow up on what Trustee Hall said, the PD and DPW, they're doing very well right now with the situations they're given and what they're stepping into. If you see them out and about, just say thank you. You don't have to, but you know those DPW guys are out there leaving their families all hours of the night to make sure roads are clear for you to get to work and for you to do that. Also, don't park on the roads if you know it's going to snow. You're going to get ticketed and towed. There’s going to be issues. Be weary of the fire hydrants. Shouldn't park in front of those either. That is against the law and you will get ticketed and probably towed. Or if there's a call there, somebody's going to smash your windows out to put a hose through it. I've seen it. It's going to happen. So don't park in front of fire hydrants. Don't park when the snow comes in and just say thank you to the PD and the DPW. The last thing I have is I want to send my condolences to the Montanaro family. They lost a very pivotal member of their family, a really wonderful guy, so I just want to let them know that my prayers are with them. Deputy Mayor Batson: Just a brief discussion on village credit cards. I don't want to open this up to tremendous amount of liability, but who in the village has village credit cards? 19 Manager Revella: Me, Treasurer, Head of DPW, Head of Rec, Police Chief, the office is supposed to have one. We're working on that and the Librarian is supposed to have one. Deputy Mayor Batson: The office is supposed to have one as to which the clerk could use. Manager Revella: Correct. Mayor Ramos: I, too extend my prayers and thoughts to the Montanaro family and also the Shorette family. Also lost one of our seniors here Mrs. Ryan. Had a good chance to talk with her for about 2 years in the Senior Club. Hopes and prayers for her family. *Read events into minutes* Attorney Donovan: I do want to go back and address the RBT issue because at this point of the meeting, the board relies upon me to properly frame the motion for executive session. In executive session, you rely upon me to tell you what needs to be done in the public. I did not do that. I didn't do my job. It's not any of your fault. You guys did what you thought was best to protect the village taxpayers, but I didn't frame the motion properly and we got stuck in the weeds a little bit to do a little thing. I did not tell you that you need to come back out to vote. You need to figure out what goes in that agreement. I need to tell you proper procedure. I did not do that. Point was properly made. Fault lies with me, not with the board. I just want to make that clear. Executive Session - Discuss the Employment History of Particular Person, Collective Bargaining Negotiations with PBA, Discuss Contract of New Chief of Police Trustee Garrison made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss the employment history of particular person, collective bargaining negotiations with PBA, discuss contract of new Chief of Police. Seconded by Trustee Hall. All ayes. Motion carried. Reconvene Trustee Garrison made a motion to reconvene the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Batson. All ayes. Motion carried. Police Chief Contract Trustee Hall made a motion to approve Police Chief contract. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. Roll Call: Mayor Ramos: Yes Deputy Mayor Batson: No, does not believe restrict secondary employment at all Trustee Hall: Yes Trustee Garrison: Yes Trustee Taylor: Yes Trustee Pearson: No Trustee Pearson reached out later after reflecting on the matter to express if there was a revote that she would vote yes. 20  Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting February 4, 2025 Motions & Resolutions Approval of Minutes – January 21, 2025 Trustee Hall made a motion to approve the January 21, 2025 minutes seconded by Trustee Taylor. 5 ayes. 1 abstention. (Trustee Garrison). Motion carried. 76-80 West Main Deputy Mayor Batson made a motion to grant extension to March 4, 2025. Seconded by Trustee Garrison. All ayes. Motion carried. Introductory Local Law – False Alarms Deputy Mayor Batson made a motion to schedule a public hearing for Introductory to Local Law 2 of 2025 – False Alarms for February 18th at 6:30pm or soon thereafter. Seconded by Trustee Garrison. All ayes. Motion carried. Resolution – Budget Transfers Trustee Garrison made a motion to adopt Resolution 8-24-25 – Budget Transfers. Seconded by Trustee Pearson. All ayes. Motion carried. March 18th Meeting Deputy Mayor Batson made a motion to reschedule the March 18, 2025 Village Board meeting to March 25, 2025. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. Letter to Senator Skoufis Trustee Pearson made a motion to send a letter to Senator Skoufis in regards to the MTA Tax. Seconded by Trustee Hall. All ayes. Motion carried. Executive Session - Discuss the Employment History of Particular Person, Collective Bargaining Negotiations with PBA, Discuss Contract of New Chief of Police Trustee Garrison made a motion to enter into executive session to discuss the employment history of particular person, collective bargaining negotiations with PBA, discuss contract of new Chief of Police. Seconded by Trustee Hall. All ayes. Motion carried. Reconvene Trustee Garrison made a motion to reconvene the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Batson. All ayes. Motion carried. Police Chief Contract Trustee Hall made a motion to approve Police Chief contract. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. Roll Call: Mayor Ramos: Yes Deputy Mayor Batson: No, does not believe restrict secondary employment at all Trustee Hall: Yes Trustee Garrison: Yes Trustee Taylor: Yes Trustee Pearson: No 21 Trustee Pearson reached out later after reflecting on the matter to express if there was a revote that she would vote yes. 22