Board of Trustees

Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting April 1, 2025 Mayor Pearson called the regular meeting of the Village of Walden Board of Trustees to order at 6:30pm. On roll call the following were: Mayor: Becky Pearson Present: Deputy Mayor Lynn Thompson Trustees Gerald Mishk Bill Taylor Ralph Garrison, Jr Cheryl Baker Liz Kyle Absent: Also Present: John Revella, Village Manager Marisa Kraus, Village Clerk Dominic Cordisco, Village Attorney Approval of Minutes None Public Comment None Set Budget Sessions Manager Revella: It's really up to everyone's calendars. If they have evenings free, we need to get started. Trustee Kyle: Tuesdays and Wednesdays are really bad for me. Mayor Pearson: They usually go Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of one week. That’s what we used to do. Trustee Kyle: I’ll do my best. Deputy Mayor Thompson: When do you want to have this finished by, John? Manager Revella: You need to have a public hearing on the 15th. It's up to you guys. You can always have a special meeting for public hearing to continue, if you can't finish by then, which is fine. It's got to be adopted by May 1st. Trustee Garrison: Why don’t we start next week? Manager Revella: I don’t know if you want to start on the 8th, I think I might have a conflict on Monday, doctor late afternoon. Tuesday, Thursday. You guys okay with Fridays or not? 1 Trustee Garrison: We can make it work. Manager Revella: 8th, 10th and 11th. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Monday in case we need it, the 14th. Usually 6pm, if that’s okay. Trustee Kyle: I might be a little bit late. It’s just the 1 day though. Mayor Pearson: Budget sessions are open to the public. They'll be held in this room. We used to do your office. I would rather have it in this room. Trustee Garrison: Yes, I prefer it in here. Deputy Mayor Thompson: I would like us to use the TV 's for the public. Schedule Public Hearing for Budget Trustee Garrison made a motion to schedule a public hearing for Villag 2025-2026 Budget on April 15, 2025 at 6:30pm or soon thereafter. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. 76-80 West Main Update Mayor Pearson: Everybody got the email. I don't see him here this evening. Manager Revella: I don't know if you wanted the latest comment from him, if you'd like me to announce. He was going to try to coordinate with me a date for the dumpster to be set. But he didn't get back to me, he was at work. He was trying to get here in time, wasn’t sure if he was going to make it from the city. I was like, don't kill yourself getting here. The board is already aware of the situation. I don't know what you're going to say that’s going to change their mind. We appreciate the e-mail and I told him that I will give you all the e-mail. Mayor Pearson: What's his time frame, did he say? Manager Revella: No. Mayor Pearson: So, the board can put a time frame on it. Trustee Taylor: John, he anticipated in that first communication that he anticipated a contract. Any word on that? Manager Revella: No, not that I'm aware of. He didn't respond to that. Mayor Pearson: It was supposed to be down in December and it's still up. Trustee Garrison: What Mr. Taylor said was pretty much what I was going with it. Have we seen any contracts or anything regarding the sale or is this going to be one of those, I’m selling it, I'm selling it and then kind of kick the can down the road things? Which I don't think we need to have another one of those going on. I think we need to set a timetable on this. We're through all the winter months now, so there's really no excuse to why things aren't getting done. We've been, myself included, been pretty lenient with him given the circumstances that were going on. I just want to see something done. We got to do something. Deputy Mayor Thompson: I agree. I feel like the benefit of the doubt has been given. I was 2 watching from the audience, paying attention to everything. It feels like a lot of these issues in the village, we bend over backwards for these people and they just don't move. I feel like we have to set the date because they don't seem to cooperate and move the project along. They just don't. Trustee Mishk: I have been following the situation but one thing I can tell you from experience from my past time on the board and watching some of the other things on, as long as we give these people leeway, they're going to drag their feet. I think we need to set a timetable that we’re going to adhere to and push the issue. Trustee Baker: I agree on the date. Also, my concern is with the sale of the property. Is the new owner going to be aware that that building has to be demolished and is it going to get pushed back yet again, because the new owners going to need time to make arrangements to tear that building down? Regardless of the sale day, I do believe we need to set a date. Trustee Kyle: I'm going to have to go against the grain on this one. Just because I have talked to him at length and I do believe that he has tried to comply with every request we've given him and I think that he's had a lot of issues going on that he's been trying to work out that were beyond his control. I know even tonight he couldn't have his lawyer here if he did come, which was something he was concerned about. I think for some of the residents that we've dealt with or property owners that we dealt with, that didn't come to meetings, didn't ever respond, didn't take any steps whatsoever and it went on for years. I think that Mr. Concolino tried and he's been doing all the things that we've asked of him. I know the time frame is not what the board wants to see, but that's where I feel like leeway should come in to place for the people who are trying to do the right thing. Mayor Pearson: I spoke to John about this and I said to John, we should really be touching base with him to tell him that we can get him to get the dumpster, just get it done. He was having struggles with the Building Department and attorneys with the building next door. If we were okay of putting it on the street and just locking it up around the street and I'm thinking no longer than a week to get it down. He was quoting 2 weeks on his email to us, and I said, well, that's too long to have that blocked and the sidewalk blocked. There's not much left of that building, I don't think anyway. How much longer is it going to take to even come down. I know John reached out to him. You are going to set a date? Tell me the finalized conversation you had again. Manager Revella: Did not give a date. Was going to get me a date and he has not. Mayor Pearson: I don't know what the pleasure of the board is. Trustee Kyle: Can we give him a chance to provide that date before we make a decision on it? Trustee Garrison: We've been pretty lenient. I say we set it 30 days. He’s got 30 days and we need to see him on the 15th with an update. He said it takes 2 weeks, we're giving him 4. I think that's fair. Mayor Pearson: He needs the dumpster and the building down within that time frame. Trustee Garrison: Yes. Absolutely. That's what I'm saying. He said it would take about 2 weeks to do it. I'm saying we give him 30 days from today to have it completely done. I want him here on the 15th with an update. Trustee Kyle: The 29th of April would be 4 weeks. Trustee Taylor: Madam Mayor, that needs to be strongly relayed to this individual. 3 Mayor Pearson: I think it needs to be an attorney letter. Manager Revella: We were just talking about the way to compel compliance. He’s going to look at the file that Dave has to get up to speed to see what's necessary and then we did do some service prior notifications on the property owner. Just want to make sure that he has the right information, and give the right advice. But that's what you're looking for is compelling a response. Deputy Mayor Thompson: Looking at the dates on the emails between you and the gentleman. It looks like he got the email on the 30th expecting him to be here today. That doesn't allow someone a lot of time to make arrangements for their work. If I remember things properly, the board directed at the last board meeting, that the gentleman be spoken to. So, why was there such a delay till the 30th? Manager Revella: I had to make sure that I was allowed to speak to him. He had an attorney representing him. Dave was corresponding with the attorney. Then the attorney said no, you can talk to him and that was when I got the information and was able to speak to him individually. Deputy Mayor Thompson: That's why I think it's fair to give 30 days, but he needs to get the notification quickly. He can't wait till the 15th. Mayor Pearson: Does he have to get a permit to do that? Manager Revella: Demo permit, that is given by the Building Department. I give permission for the dumpster to be in the road. Trustee Kyle: Is he going to get that permit? Manager Revella: I don’t know. Trustee Kyle: What if he doesn't? What if the Building Department doesn't give him the permit? Manager Revella: He would only deny him if he doesn’t have proper insurance or proper contractor insurance. We can't help that. That's non-compliance. Mayor Pearson: So, we can draft something for him, between the 2 of you. That will say the dates on it, when it has to be done, what he needs to get the permit and what his process has to happen to be done by the 29th. Attorney Cordisco: Yes. And that will be that will be April 29th, just so that we're clear. Mayor Pearson: Yes and the 15th to show up and tell us what's happening and how far he's gotten. 29th to have the dumpster and the demolition done by. That's another 2 weeks after that meeting. That's where I feel you board members are talking about. You think that's lenient enough? Do you think it's strong enough? Deputy Mayor Thompson: I think it’s adequate. Trustee Garrison: I think that's exactly what we need. Trustee Taylor: I think it's adequate. I just want to say once again that the 29th of April, we should not be having this discussion. 4 Mayor Pearson: What happens if we have to have this discussion after the 29th? What recourse do we have, John? Manager Revella: We don't know, yet. He's going to look at the file to make sure and see what service is done to compel. Mayor Pearson: Will you email us? Attorney Cordisco: Yes. I am going to speak with Dave Donovan. I'll reach out to him tomorrow. I just haven't reviewed the file or anything, so I want to make sure that whatever I would be doing would be building on top. Mayor Pearson: We understand. And you won't be here on the 15th, so we'll be having someone new. Attorney Cordisco: My colleague Sarah Wilson will be here. She is confirmed for that meeting, but I'll certainly brief her beforehand and of course, this letter will go out as soon as possible once I get up to speed. Trustee Garrison made a motion to set a 30 day timeline, April 29th to have the demolition completed by and the property owner present at the April 15th Board Meeting. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Thompson. 6 ayes. 1 abstention (Trustee Kyle). Motion carried. Orange County Transit Update John Mensch read email into minutes Trustee Taylor: You got it scheduled when school is out, right? John Mensch: Just the pit. Because the pit goes in the middle of the driveway. Trustee Taylor: Will there be any impact on the other traffic that transits Route 52? John Mensch: The pit is not on 52. All the construction on 52 is done. The pit actually is on my property of the driveway. We do have a second driveway if we need it for mechanics or office staff, but the actual buses will not be running that week. Mayor Pearson: The only thing might be the DOT that's doing the culvert. John Mensch: Which I don't know when that will start. Trustee Kyle: Are you going to be halting your construction project when the state is working on the Tin Brook? Is there a conflict there? John Mensch: No. Trustee Garrison: I like that we have dates. Actual physical set dates. Thank you for that. Honestly, I think I speak for most of the board here, the people that were on the board previous to me and me, we just want this done. John Mensch: Me too. Working with DOT of New York State is a chore. Trustee Garrison: I'm sure it is. But thank you for having some concrete dates for us to see. 5 John Mensch: All the underground work of going under, the torpedoing of the pipes under 52 is all done. Everything is now on my side of the property, in the right of way, so we don't even have to deal with 52. Mayor Pearson: And that's for sewer? John Mensch: The water lines have to be connected on this side, but all the water lines and sewer lines are across 52, there is no more shutting down 52 or diverting traffic or anything. It's just digging up my side now. Deputy Mayor Thompson: Thank you for finally having a detailed, positive report. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Mayor Pearson: The main lines that were ruptured, are those lines that the village had to pay for? John Mensch: Yes. Mayor Pearson: So, we're pretty much done. Pretty much everything will be done, most likely by the end of June, is what I'm reading. John Mensch: Yes, hopefully all the infrastructure of inside the property will be done by June, as well. Once I get sewer and water connected to the pit, then I have to go inside the property and connect to all the buildings and the bathrooms and the waters. By the end of June. Mayor Pearson: Everything by the end of June. Who inspects that? Our Building Inspector or engineers? Manager Revella: Our Building Inspector. Sometimes if he needs assistance, he’ll call the engineer for assistance. Otherwise, the Building Inspector. Mayor Pearson: Is our DPW involved in any of that? Looking at it and checking things? Manager Revella: DPW checks the tie-ins and any of the underground. Mayor Pearson: They've been doing that as it's been going? Manager Revella: Yes. Mayor Pearson: Thank you for the report and for coming. We’re holding you to the end of June. Grant for Well Head Protection Mayor Pearson: John, you have an update on that? Manager Revella: There's 2 things. 1 is we have a wellhead protection plan that the village already paid for. That we sent to the town previously for them to adopt and they declined. The grant that's out would be to develop that plan, which we really just would update dates. There's not much else to update on it. We had the engineer look today. The CAC got a grant for the town wells to develop a wellhead protection plan for those wells, within the last year. We are hopeful that the town will adopt their plan and our plan when they do the wellhead protection law, that would be great. Mayor Pearson: What about this program? We're not going to put it in for the grant money? 6 Manager Revella: We don't need it because we already have the plan. It's already done. Mayor Pearson: Who's updating it? Manager Revella: The engineer. He’s just updating the dates. There's nothing else. Mayor Pearson: So, you're planning on putting that into the town? Manager Revella: Again. Hopefully, they adopt it this time. We've done it before, we presented to the Town Board before to adopt and they declined. Mayor Pearson: Do you know when they're going to be doing their thing at the town? Manager Revella: This is supposed to be done, really, this week. That's what Jim Farr was telling me. By April 4th, so hopefully the next Town Board meeting, we can get them to review it. Mayor Pearson: We will have ours updated by then and go to the town? Manager Revella: Yes. I told the engineer to make sure it's updated. Mayor Pearson: When's the next Town Board meeting? Deputy Mayor Thompson: Wednesday, I believe. Manager Revella: It's this Wednesday, but the next one after that would be the 16th. Mayor Pearson: So, we're going to move forward with that instead of going for the grant. Manager Revella: Correct. Public Comment Brenda Adams: First, I'll say congratulations to the new board. You have a big job ahead of you. Good luck. Secondly, I listened last meeting, to the auditors presentation. I have to say she was very diplomatic. She was not accusational at all or condemning. She was working very hard to finesse her words, to tell you you're in a mess and I really hope you have addressed her seriously. If I heard correctly, the several years behind, you have 1 year that the audit is done, but you don't have an audit report. You have 1 year that they're still reconciling. You have another year that is still in outer space, hasn't been touched, and then this year is coming to a close and you're trying to do a budget for another year. I don't know how you're functioning. I've got a lot of years of accounting under my belt and I can't imagine this being the right way to go. I spoke previously, going back a while, to a trustee and I can say Chris Baston, I spoke to him because I was concerned about things that I was hearing while I was watching you all online. I heard questions being asked, but we never seem to have answers for them. Not that you always answer in public, but it seemed like when the same question kept coming around, that there was no answer. So, I think as a result he suggested that you hire an auditor to do some reconciliations to bring it up to date to work your way through it. Now, from what I gather, that you may still be reconciling because she made the comment that 1 account was down to $4500 off. That sounds like you're still in the process of reconciling. And I don't know if you've stopped or if she's run out of the allotted money to continue to come, but it sounds like you're bordering a forensic audit. I don't know that for sure because of course I'm not in the books, but listening to it from the outside, it sounds like you've got a serious problem. I think you have to bite the bullet and in this budget, you've got to come up with enough money to bring 7 the books up to date and I don't mean 1 year. I mean bring them up to date. I hear a lot about Edmunds being a bad program. I know other people use it. I'm not familiar with it at all. But I know that it is a usable product in a lot of places, so apparently we've got to spend money on training and bring the skill level up to date. The sad part about that, that's going to be a lot of money and it's intangible. It's something none of us taxpayers can see this. It's not something when you send the DPW guys out and they're working, you can see what they're doing. You send Parks and Recreation, cutting grass. You see what they're doing. This is money that nobody can see and anybody like me, in my opinion it's necessary money, but it's wasted money because it should have been done all along. You've got a compounded problem, year after year. I can't imagine how this could happen. But I think that the village has been complacent too long. You need to move differently on this. And I feel it's important for the solvency of the village. If you don't know your money, if your counts aren't reconciled, how do you know how to run? In most companies, accounts receivable is the most important thing because that's your revenue. You got to know where your money's at and how much you can spend. I know there's been a lot of focus on why it happened. How it came about and just a lot of talk about this happened, that happened, the other thing happened. I think that you need to forget what happened and make a plan to correct it. Don't worry about what happened and why you got to this place. Just know you're in this place and you got to dig yourselves out. If not, history is going to repeat itself, and next year you're going to be yet another year behind. That's my thoughts on finances. Second thing that I wanted to make the board aware of. I'm very glad to see the police patrols out. They're very visible and it's great to see them. I know that it's frustrating for our police to develop certain cases, but I want to tell you about a situation that's in my neighborhood. Taconic Innovations they own 2 4-family homes on William Street. I think, 2 private residences. The rest of them are all on either end on Valley Avenue or facing Ulster and there's 1 single family that's a rental. On the Taconic Innovations website, they say it's comprehensive healthcare dedicated to supporting individuals with developmental disabilities to enhance their quality of life and promote independence. I'm wondering about our quality of life. They are partnering with MHA and the people are in these apartments. So, what is the quality of life in our neighborhood? Because there's certain people in these apartments that are doing bad things. For instance, just the other day, I was on a phone call. I walked to my front door and here's the bicycle guy riding in. I should back up. There's a woman who's been gone since November, I believe it was. She came back last week. She's already selling drugs out of her house. She set up business in 24 hours and the bicycle guy went right down the street into her back driveway and back out the door. I don't know if he was delivering or he was running. It's a drug house. Sergeant Warner has been working on this over the years, so he knows all the players. If we had to go there. But here it is another summer with these kind of people walking in our neighborhood and some of them are connected to the other houses in Walden that you're having problems with. I just want you to be aware of it. Plus, thing is, both of these houses came off the tax rolls because of their type of operation they are. Manager Revella worked his butt off trying to stop it. He couldn't. Him and I have a lot of conversations. You can't stop it. The state sends money down. I feel bad for people who need help. I don't have a problem with that. But when they're selling drugs, they're bringing crap into the neighborhood, bottom-line. They're not contributing to the village. They're only taking services. They're using police time and it's going to get worse now that summer's coming. I just really want you to be aware of this situation. As residents, we're subsidizing because once it came off the tax rolls, all of us paid another whatever, maybe $5 each to cover those costs. They're also living on subsidized services through the government in various ways. So, we're supporting all these people and yet they can't just be good neighbors. I just wanted to tell you that over the last couple of years and I've been getting more and more discouraged and saddened by our village and the direction it's going, but this person, when I saw the guy with the bicycle go in the other day, it was sort of a last straw. I just I don't know what's to come. And you all know that I've worked very hard. I think everybody here knows me. But I've worked very hard for the village doing different things. So, it's not that I'm anti-village. I've been a Trustee. I've been in your seats. I've been on the Zoning Board and Community Council and Main Street Grant and 8 Veterans Park and National Night Out with the Police Department. It's discouraging to someone like me to see us just crumbling, so that's all I got to say. Thank you. Mary Ellen Matise: Last week, because your meeting got moved to the 25th, I was the lone voice at the Board of Ed meeting. I shared this with a couple of people and John, I sent it to you, the comments that I made to them at the Board of Ed meeting and John can send it to the rest of you. I just did a little run down and I'm hoping that we continue our concern and our interest in wanting to keep the school here in Walden and really more specifically right here on Orchard Street. I would encourage you go to the Valley Central YouTube and listen to last week 's meeting because the board members gave their how they're going to vote or what their position is about Walden Elementary. Pretty much it seems to me they're all following the recommendation that the committee gave them. The committee, to me, was a big issue and I think that the school Superintendent's not too happy with me for going back to that, but they set up an ad hoc committee of the board. The ad hoc committee didn't have to have any public input because it was ad hoc, it did not have to meet open meetings law. To me, that's the big failure in this whole plan now that they've spent so much money on that. They don't even really even have a plan going forward yet. But the tours, the survey, the last thing they spent a whole bunch of money on was for CS Arch to answer questions for them and I don't know the fellow's name, but he got up and said here's the lay of the land, but it's based on the old catchment areas and of course the board has been talking and banting around the idea of new catchment areas and reducing the school populations and opening up Maybrook again. So to have the firm spend a whole week, which it might have taken somebody's time to do a report of all the buildings with schematics and then plans and showing physical characteristics of the buildings and what could be done and projections. Based on all catchment areas, what a waste of our money. Pure and simple. What a waste of our money. And the board, I think agrees with that. But they're the ones who asked the question and let the architectural firm go ahead and spend the time on it. For what? The answers that they got? How useful are those answers going to be? Maybrook school back in play. They don't really know what they can do with it, but of course we know from the tours that was a sore spot because we brought up Maybrook school, taking a neighborhood school out of the neighborhood, sending the kids, busing them. It's what they did. Bus the kids to all the other schools and they have no neighborhood school left in Maybrook. Do we want that to happen here? They know from the tours that we don't want that to happen here because people did express that during the tours. I've been saying to them and giving them information about our comp plan. What's the vision in our comp plan? To have a neighborhood school. I keep bringing it up to them and I've expressed this to the comp plan committee. I would like to invite them, have them come to a comp plan meeting and let's talk to them face to face. Because some of the things that when you talk to some individual members privately, they go, I never knew that. Here's our comp plan, read it. We've given it to you. We've shown it to you. Told you what we want. The building tours, it goes back to the capital plan and not putting any money in it. The letter that you got back, Yvette Abela, saying you're not right. We have put money. Okay, show us the money. The last point I brought up with them is selling the plan because at that last meeting that we went to when the Superintendent got up and said, I'm going to ask you guys to approve 50k dollars so I can go out and sell the plan to get the district voters to vote for it. Because they're afraid people won't, because it's for Walden. Dirty word in Valley Central School District. That would be another 50k on top of money they've already spent and they have no plan. The person who had the most ideas and spoke the most was the President Joe Bond. He had some good points to bring up. They all said, we've talked about this so much. But they didn't talk about it. The ad hoc committee talked about it and we don't know what the ad hoc committee talked about. No notes, no accountability, no transparency. But they'd like to use the word transparency because certain people's hired hands have been hired for that trademark. I guess there'll be another board meeting maybe next week. Next Monday. They're probably ready to vote on it and put it before the voters. I'm going to say it here and I said it to them, demolition by neglect. That's a dirty word in planning and that's what's been going on. 9 Mayor Pearson: I did hear they're supposed to meet on the 7th from someone outside of the board, but we'll wait to see what the agenda says on Friday because they don't really post it until then. Board meeting will be on the 7th most likely. Mary Ellen Matise: They told us, though, that the future of Walden education is a fixed item on the agenda right now and it should be again. But I don't know what it means. Payment of Audited Bills Trustee Baker made a motion to approve the payment of audited bills. Seconded by Trustee Kyle. Trustee Taylor: Several months ago, I had asked the question when I was just getting involved in the payment of bills and we were getting a ton of emails from the individual that was responsible for paying bills, pleading to get Trustees to come down and sign for the bills. I asked John. I asked the Treasurer, what is the policy that we have in place for the payment of bills? The answer to that question was we don't have one. That's just the way we've always done it. That being said, I got together with the individual that was responsible for the payment of bills. I also got with Dave Donovan, who had previously put together a policy for another municipality. Then we were able to determine that there was a way that we could provide an electronic print out as well as maintain the hard copies of the bills that were to be paid. When we wrote the process, I made a point of telling the individual I was working with that was currently in the Finance Department, look, I don't want to get into your minutiae by saying, okay, it should be done on this day. The intent was that that electronic print out was to be provided prior to the board meeting. Not the day of. Prior to. For the second time, that print out did not get distributed until 11:37 this morning. That is the day of. I don't understand what the issue is that we cannot comply with the policy that we discussed on this board. We spent a great deal of time to make sure that the availability of the hard copy bills were there. If in fact you had a question when you were reviewing the electronic print out that was provided. You could come down and you could physically look at the bill. So, here we are again. The second time. When we first implemented that process, it worked without issue. Never a problem. That print out was sent out and we had it in our mailbox by Friday. We had this discussion once before when it happened and here we are again. It did not get distributed until today at 11:37, it hit my mailbox. I didn't have the opportunity to go through it. I just don't understand what the problem is complying with a process and a procedure that we put together for this process to be conducted. So, I'm taking the position this evening, I am not prepared to sign and approve any bills based on the fact that we did not comply with the policy that we put into place. That's all I got at this time on that issue. Deputy Mayor Thompson: I heard about the policy but being new on the board, I haven't received anything. I didn't see anything, so either I abstain or I say no. I'm going to say no. Trustee Garrison: I'm a yes, because I don't want to get penalized for paying bills late. That's my only stance on it. But I want these prior to the day of, just like Trustee Taylor said. There was a process in place. Why is it not being done right? Mayor Pearson: I'm going to tell you they didn't even know they had to do the bills until I asked why there's no bills. They weren't going to be late because they weren't going to be done anyway. Then they did them yesterday. Then you got them today. So, they weren't going to be done unless I said something. I asked why there's no bills for this meeting and that's what happened. You can vote however you’d like after that conversation. Trustee Garrison: That's a problem that we need to discuss, probably in exec. Trustee Kyle: Is that because there was a meeting last week and then one this week? It doesn't 10 really matter. I agree that we should have them before, but I'm on the same boat as you, where we have to pay the bills. We can't not pay them. They're our bills and we owe them money. Mayor Pearson: We wouldn't be paying them until next meeting anyway, hadn't I said something. That's my point. They wouldn't have been ready anyway. Trustee Garrison: I'm going to vote no. Trustee Taylor: I’m a no. Deputy Mayor Thompson: I’m a no. Trustee Baker: I reviewed them. Trustee Kyle: I'm good. Mayor Pearson: Jerry is abstaining. I'm the last vote. I'm voting, no, because I think they need to follow the policy. Unless I said anything, it still wouldn't be done. 2 ayes. 4 nos. 1 abstention (Trustee Mishk). Motion failed. Miscellaneous Comments from the Board of Trustees Mayor Pearson: I'm seeing a lot of cell phone use that's not supposed to be done. I'm going to send you these, maybe we can discuss it later. That's our cell phone policy. Also, monthly check-ins. Trustee Batson had set this up for us, which was great. I think Marisa put in your mailbox. For the new people on the board, every month we meet with either the Clerk or the Treasurer. 2 people get together, pick a day, morning, afternoon whenever you can meet with them, make sure that the time is good for the person you're meeting with, and after you meet with them, you'll put a little synopsis together and what I used to do is if I was writing it, I would send it to the person I met with, see if they had any other comments on what I was writing. If they need to add something, take something away. They made a little synopsis together and then we would send it to all the board members so we knew what everybody was talking about, what things were happening in each department. They would go over. On the back, it's just kind of like a monthly check in things to talk about, how they're doing, if there's issues, if things need to be addressed. Also, every year which we have never done, I don't think, we should be really reviewing the Clerk and the Treasurer like a regular evaluation. I know the Manager does it, but they are our employees as well. I'm going to hand you this, there’s one for a Clerk and Treasurer. They're the same evaluation. Just filling out 2 different ones. Maybe we can have those done for the next meeting. You should have been emailed. The new people should be emailed John's evaluation as well. If we can have that done for the next meeting as well. I'll compile all of that and then we can either have a special meeting or we can review it at the next meeting after that and finalize things. Deputy Mayor Thompson: You want these all 3 of them done by the 15th? Mayor Pearson: All 3 by the 15th. Yes, please. Thank you. Trustee Garrison: Are you sending an e-mail? I know we had spoken you were sending out a different 1 you wanted done. Mayor Pearson: I was going to, but I reread it. I just kept the original 1. Deputy Mayor Thompson: Should the people that are new, like me, just do the best we can on 11 these evaluations? Mayor Pearson: Some of them, it's just generic. You're going to do what you normally do when you’re new on the board because you've been there before and you sometimes have to pick and choose the questions you're going to answer and I understand that. Just to talk about some boundaries for Trustees, we got rid of the liaisons because people were getting too in-depth in departments and it wasn't a good thing. The Manager is in charge of that. It's okay to talk to the employees because they are still our employees, but really, I don't want to be too strong because I don't want people to ignore people, but I want them to understand that things and it's okay to listen to people because they may have concerns that they're not getting anywhere with the Manager, but then bring them back to myself and the Manager just don't be relaying things. Really we don't have a liaison, but if people need to talk to you, they’re still our employees. It's really just being conscious of the depth that you get into things with the people. That is John's responsibility, and that's why we evaluate him. I did hand out the evaluations. There is an ethics form in your book as well that has to be signed for employees. That has to be back to the Clerk within 30 days of this meeting. I want to thank you all for being here. It's going to be maybe a harder year than we expect, but we're going to make it happen and roll through it all, see where we get. I appreciate the diligence and work you're going to do. We may not always agree, but we can work. That’s what it’s about. I don't expect everybody to agree with what I say. I don't expect everybody to agree with what you say. The discussion is what's the important part and we can maybe change each other's minds to come up with a better plan for the Village of Walden. That's how I like the meeting to be. I want a discussion. I want people to do research. I want you to come forward with what you have concerns with. That's why we're here. You hear things from the public, and you need to bring it before the board, bring it. It's what we're here for. It is a little different government here. I know people think that 1 person can make things happen. There's a leader. Yes, there is. But 1 person can't fire somebody. 1 person can't change anything without everybody else agreeing to that process. I know there's been rumors out there that there's somebody's gonna get fired and this is going to happen. That's not the case. Lots of times you think people have certain powers and they don't. Everyone here is 1 vote. Everyone has a say and everyone has a voice and we hope to make that happen this year. We're going to be comfortable with each other and be able to say what we need to say. I appreciate you all. Trustee Baker: We have a lot of work ahead of us, some challenging task, unfortunately, some things long left neglected. I'm looking forward to working for this board and resolving some of the issues facing it. Trustee Mishk: I want to thank you Becky for having enough confidence to appoint me to fill this position and I hope that I can live up to those standards. I believe I can and I believe I will. And do the best I can for the people of the village. Mayor Pearson: I'm going to say one more thing. Bill is dropping out, he's got some things he's got to take care of, for PBA, so we need as a board, the Mayor was on the PBA negotiations, I was and Bill was. We need 2 people. 3 total, to join for PBA. If someone has time to do that, is willing to do that. Bill will no longer be doing that. Trustee Kyle: Time commitments, what are they for that? Mayor Pearson: We've been meeting on Thursdays during the day. I know Lynn's been on it before. Jerry was a Police Officer. Cheryl, you had interest. I don't know how you all want to decide who wants to do this position. Trustee Kyle: I was a cop in the army. I don’t know if that matters. It's the Tuesdays and 12 Wednesdays that are hard, but during the day, I'm not sure that I could make it every time. Mayor Pearson: How many are interested in doing that position? John, how often is that? I know we just got information today, but I didn't hear of a meeting. Manager Revella: We're meeting probably next week, hopefully next Thursday, if everybody has the time. We'll see how the calendar works because they have to be able to be available too and have their people. Mayor Pearson: Do we draw of a hat or 3 people want it? Does anybody really want to do it? Trustee Baker: I would like to do it, but every other Thursday I have transfusions. Trustee Mishk: I'd be happy to do it. I've had a lot of contract experience from my employment as a Police Officer for many years, negotiating contracts and I was on it for 2 years. Deputy Mayor Thompson: Can I get back to you on that? Mayor Pearson: Yes. We can't have 2. It's going to be 1 or the other. I don’t know when the meeting is going to be. Trustee Baker: Does it have to be on Thursdays? Manager Revella: For the Mayor to go. Mayor Pearson: I don't have to go. If Lynn and Cheryl want to do it with Jerry, I'm fine with stepping down as well. Deputy Mayor Thompson: I worked with CSEA before and I participated with union at the hospital when I was working. I have a lot of different things that I'm doing for the village. I'll have to see. I'll think about if I can do it. Mayor Pearson: Jerry, yes. Me, yes. Cheryl or Lynn, why don't you guys talk it over and see who can do what. Not that you're going to split it, but somebody's gonna make a decision. Is that okay with the board? Do we need to make a decision tonight to appoint that? Manager Revella: No. Mayor Pearson: It's just a board consensus. We're not going to have a meeting till next week anyway. I'll reach out to both of you and see what you come up with and then I'll email the board and make sure things okay. Deputy Mayor Thompson: Thank you to the community for coming out and voting for me. I worked hard before. I'll work hard again. Hopefully, maybe we can make some wonderful things happen in the village. A lot of potential, a lot of work to do, but I'm up for the challenge. Trustee Garrison: I like to see the DPW in the Police Department out there and working and everything. The weather is getting nice. When you're driving through the town, be weary of your speed and that there's going to be a lot of people out walking. Kids on their bikes. Just be careful, do the speed limit. Be safe. Looking forward to the next 2 years. Thank you again to the community for voting for me. I just want to reiterate what was already said tonight. The new board has a lot of challenges that they have to overcome this year. Just be patient with us as we go through this 13 process and I just look forward to working with everybody. Trustee Taylor: Congratulations to the newly elected members of the board, the reelected members of the board. For me personally, I look forward to finally having some direction, some communication, some decorum. All of which were marginal at best the last 12 months under the previous administration. I look forward to that. Mayor Pearson: I also would like to thank the citizens and the voters for putting me in the seat. I will do my best. I always do. I'll be honest and open with everything. People really kind of know me anyway, a straight shooter. Some people don't like that. Have my role and that's who I am. Sometimes it gets me in trouble because people don't want to hear the truth sometimes, and usually that's what happens. It's really who I am and I thank everyone who voted for me. I appreciate that very much. I would also like to say thank you to a previous mayor for sitting in the seat and hopefully he, maybe he'll run for the town. We'll talk to you soon and thank you all for coming tonight. We appreciate the company out here that shows up once in a while. Trustee Kyle: I hate to go back on this and obviously we're all happy that the Orange County Transit thing is getting resolved, but I would just like to say that that entire situation has been going on way longer than Mr. Concolino's building problems or issues have been going on and we just got dates of construction work that's going to be done in the future, so I'm not trying to take anything away from Orange County Transit. I'm just trying to say why I think that it's important to show leniency when there's a company that's working with you or they're running into issues, but they're still trying to do the right thing. Orange County Transit is a large organization with much more resources. I just think that it would be nice to show some leniency there. I am sad I missed last week. I didn't get to be at the last meeting with Chris and Kristie and John. I would like to say about Chris and Kristie, just serving as a Trustee with both of them has been an honor. Kristie definitely was dedicated and with everything that she did and her presence here really made a difference. She wasn't ever afraid to go against the grain or speak up when needed. Chris, wow, what can I even say about Chris? As Deputy Mayor he was incredibly thoughtful, reliable, deeply committed to the village. I learned a lot from him. I really wish he had rerun for election. He showed awesome leadership, clarity, problem solving skills. He cut through the nonsense and he just tried to get solutions and answers. I really liked that he always seemed to have the right words at the right time, and he's going to be missed. It's hard not having him up here. I just wanted to thank both of them for everything they've done for Walden and same for the mayor. I know he put a lot of time and effort into the village, showing up to village events and leading with integrity and patience and care. Just wanted him to know that it hasn't gone unnoticed or unappreciated and also thank him for everything he's done for Walden. And then also wanted to take a moment to officially welcome Cheryl to the board, though it honestly feels like she's already been part of the team for quite some time now. We ran at the same time last year, and while things didn't work out for her then, she had never stopped showing up. She showed up to board meetings. She's still volunteers. She set up the Walden Business Council. She didn't let losing an election stop her from caring about the village and being involved, and I think that it's amazing that she's here now and I really look forward to working with you. Same with Lynn. There are certain people that show up to the meetings that stay on top of village issues and they know what's going on. They have input, they ask questions, they hold the board accountable and it's not many and you're one of those people that always shows up and even without being on the board, I think, obviously you know you're the right people for the job. I look forward to working with you both. I don't know much about you, Jerry, but I do look forward to getting to know you and working with you as well. And Becky, I want to say that 1 of my favorite things about you is that you ask questions and you ask the hard questions and you want answers. It's like things that a lot of other people are thinking and probably don't think to ask. I think it's really important. That's how you keep things running smoothly. I've always leaned on you for advice and guidance and I'm very excited. I think that we can do great things and 14 congratulations on making mayor. Ralph, congratulations. I know we were working together. You got reelected too. I knew you were going to get reelected. Executive Session - Employment History of Particular Person, Collective Bargaining Negotiations for PBA, Attorney-Client Trustee Garrison made a motion employment history of particular person, collective bargaining negotiations for PBA, Attorney-Client. Seconded by Trustee Baker. All ayes. Motion carried. Reconvene Trustee Garrison made a motion to reconvene the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. 15  Village of Walden Board of Trustees Regular Meeting April 1, 2025 Motions & Resolutions Schedule Public Hearing for Budget Trustee Garrison made a motion to schedule a public hearing for Villag 2025-2026 Budget on April 15, 2025 at 6:30pm or soon thereafter. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. 76-80 West Main Update Trustee Garrison made a motion to set a 30 day timeline, April 29th to have the demolition completed by and the property owner present at the April 15th Board Meeting. Seconded by Deputy Mayor Thompson. 6 ayes. 1 abstention (Trustee Kyle). Motion carried. Payment of Audited Bills Tabled Executive Session - Employment History of Particular Person, Collective Bargaining Negotiations for PBA, Attorney-Client Trustee Garrison made a motion employment history of particular person, collective bargaining negotiations for PBA, Attorney-Client. Seconded by Trustee Baker. All ayes. Motion carried. Reconvene Trustee Garrison made a motion to reconvene the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Seconded by Trustee Taylor. All ayes. Motion carried. 16