Board of Trustees

Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Mayor: Becky Pearson Present Trustees: Lynn Thompson Present Gerald Mishk Present Cheryl Baker Present Kristie Hall Present Jerred Sanusi Absent Village Attorney: John Cappello Present Clerk: Anisetta Valdez Present Mayor Pearson - Called the Village Board of Trustees meeting to order at 6:30pm with the Pledge of Allegiance. 1. Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance 2. Roll Call Mayor Pearson: [Trustee Sanusi] is out on vacation. We have one vacancy after Mr. Garrison [resigned]. And Kristen [O’Donnell] is not here yet. 3. Public Hearing a. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – Public Hearing Mayor P: Kristen, is here. We put in for this every year. We try to get money from the county to beautify the area. There may be more areas due to the census so that worked out great for us. Kristen O’Donnell: The application and purpose tonight is to pick a project. Projects needs to be between $75-275k but not above $350k. It’s for public works. We have used these for sewer lines in three different areas and sidewalk improvement. And needs to be wrapped up in a year. Last year we didn’t get awarded but, it was for sidewalk improvements on Walnut Street from Rifton all the way down. It’s supposed to take you as far as you can. Your options are that you can have an active sidewalk improvement in capital improvement budget, there’s an elevator project that’s possibly eligible, and the sewer lining reduces I and I and it helps with treatment plants as you know. Any ideas can be discussed. Areas for sewer are Pleasant Ave, Bergen and Capron. So that’s the northern portion of the village almost in the area of the wastewater treatment plant. In 2025 HUD got around to updating the census numbers. We got around to updating the census numbers and from the river to Rte 208 – is eligible because we exhausted some areas in the central village and there aren’t many residents there. Trustee Thompson: What were the three? Kristen O’Donnell: Pleasant, Capron and Bergen. We do a smoke test for the sewer liners. Mayor Pearson: So we could do 275 for Gladstone, is that sidewalks or roads? May 19, 2026 Page 1  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Kristen O’Donnell: it’s intended for ADA compliance. So sidewalks. Curbs, if the sidewalk has lifts from tree roots, etc. You could do the roads too, but it couldn’t be CDBG money. Trustee Hall: This has to be tonight? Kristen O’Donnell: Yes. This is due June 12. I prepared a resolution for tonight, you don’t have to have the details, we can just pick a direction so we need adoption of those two resolutions. Mayor Pearson: Let’s hear from the public. Ideas. William Lopez: I think it should be a block grant. Who has training on this? Any grants we need training. Like I posted today, I want to start another page for repairs. At the end of the day we should be applying for all grants. This reduces our taxes. Trustee Mishk: No one will argue with you. William Lopez: I want to see someone held accountable. Who’s trained? Mayor Pearson: This is for the project. William Lopez: We are here because people need training on what to do so that if you’re brought before the judge you should know what you’re talking about. They are going to say that you should have known. So, if you have to sit before an arbitrator, they have to make a decision. That’s what happening with Revella. They aren’t going to care that you don’t know. Mayor Pearson: Do you have any comments about what projects to use these funds on? William Lopez: That’s what this is about. The DA announced there’s an investigation. Mayor Pearson: Do you have any comments about this. William Lopez: Any grant is what we’re talking about. Mayor Pearson: Thank you. May 19, 2026 Page 2  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Wenda Heaney: 14 Ridge Ave I walk on Gladstone so I would appreciate however, through a block grant if they are made a priority because right now there are barricades and you can’t walk. That will hopefully get done. I also had a concern because you were saying to take half of the sidewalk down to Scofield when I’m walking with my dog, there’s another dog on the other side that likes to bark and go crazy so it’s kind of scary to think [the sidewalk is] going to be taken away. Michael McNamee: I would like to echo Ms. Heaney’s comment about removing sidewalks. I don’t think at any time it’s appropriate to be removing sidewalks so if accessibility is important, let’s try to keep sidewalks on both sides of the street and extend it to Clinton on that shorter side. Mayor Pearson: Anyone else? Motion to close the public hearing made by Member Hall. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. b. Local Law Residence – Public Hearing Motion to open the public hearing made by Trustee Thompson. Seconded by Trustee Mishk. All Ayes. Motion carried. Mayor Pearson: We talked about this last meeting – widening the net to include non- village. William Lopez: My thing is that this should be the best person qualified and civil service so that the person cannot be fired without cause. The last village manager was filed with cause. But you can’t pick and choose who we want and wherever it is, it should be who’s est qualified not someone we like. Let’s interview the top 3 of civil service list. What we are about to endeavor is what needs to be done, not Walden politics. Let’s do the top 3 candidates. And the specifics of village manager what they need and what they need to have not favors. This is what people are looking at. The board can do whoever they want and they can be unqualified. I can comment on everything. I run one of the sites, Walden Uncensored, so for you guys every decision should be the right way. If we’re going to do it, it needs to be the right way. I see a lot of you stomping in my grounds and you know. There’s a lot the public doesn’t know but I do so you guys should do the right thing, not what you’ve been doing. The sergeant that was here, he should’ve been demoted, but he retired. He could have sued. He didn’t, he chose to leave. So this needs to be done right and you have an attorney and that’s great so at the end of the day, if something is wrong it’s going to be on you. Every decision, it’s very simple. Everything you want me to break down, I’ll break down. Just like the new wastewater we should have a grant. I think I posted today. I May 19, 2026 Page 3  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 reposted to Montgomery, Maybrook and Walden. If people aren’t trained, our taxes are going up, we should be spending 20%. Let’s continue. Mayor Pearson: Anyone else? Michael McNamee: 86 Ulster avenue. I want to ask you to hold this meeting over because the local law that we’re here to discuss still isn’t posted on the website. I contacted the clerk’s office yesterday to get a copy and she said it was the goal to get it on before the meeting and yet you expect people to comment on the law that we can’t see or review. There are plenty of people to find within the village. If you’re going to hire outside the village, they should be required to move to the village in 6mos to a year. There’s plenty of housing in the village when you’re paying someone to walk-in the door at $100,000 a year to find a small house or an apartment. They didn’t do that with the last manager before John [Revella] and I think it was night and day. I would like you to look back at why you made that decision years ago [to hire] and ask yourself why you’re doing it today. Thank you. Mayor Pearson: Anyone else from the public? Trustee Hall: If it wasn’t posted it should be held open. Mayor Pearson: [Clerk] Was it posted? Village Clerk: The local law for residency, I can’t say that I posted it, I’ve received a lot of help from the deputy clerk. I know we have the local law language on the board on the third floor. Mayor Pearson: [Attorney Cappello]? Attorney Cappello: Notices, public hearings and local laws should be posted. William Lopez: The residency requirement can be on the civil service. Attorney Cappello: Your code only says posting for three days prior [in the newspaper of record]. Best practice is to post it [on the website]. Trustee Baker: I think it’s best to hold it over for those that use the internet. May 19, 2026 Page 4  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Motion to hold the public hearing open until June 2 made by Trustee Baker. Seconded by Trustee Hall. All ayes. The motion is carried. 4. Minutes – 4/29/2026, 5/5/2026 Motion to accept the minutes from 4/29 made by Trustee Mishk. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. Trustee Hall: I did have one question on the 4/29 minutes, I thought that we were doing verbatim – it said resident 1, 2, or 3, did they not say names? Mayor Pearson: [Clerk]? Village Clerk: Those aren’t my minutes. Mayor Pearson: We want verbatim minutes from now on. Motion to accept the minutes from 5/5 made by Trustee Thompson. Seconded by Trustee Baker. All ayes. Motion carried. Trustee Hall: For those minutes [Trustee Garrison]’s letter wasn’t in there – do we want that in there? Mayor Pearson: The clerk keeps the record of it, the letter. Village Clerk: That’s correct. Trustee Hall: There was some conversation that was not in there about cancelling the PO sheet. Village Clerk: [Trustee Hall] Can you please pull the microphone closer – I can’t hear you very well. Trustee Hall: The conversation about cancelling the PO sheet so I don’t know if that needs to be corrected. Business of the board – was there no one to talk about the business of the board? Village Clerk: Did you mean like the format of it? Trustee Hall: It’s ok and I know it was your first one, there was just a lot of commentary missing, so if we can work on that moving forward. May 19, 2026 Page 5  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 5. Payment of Audited Bills Motion to pay the bills made by Trustee Mishk. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. 6. Public Comment on the Business of the Board 7. Business of the Board of Trustees a. Park Use Request – Joli Spafford Motion to approve the park use request from Joli Spafford made by Trustee Hall. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. b. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – Public Hearing Mayor Pearson: We are going to move that up. Since Kristen [O’Donnell] is here. So the board needs to discuss possible projects. There’s sewer liners, and sidewalks. Trustee Hall: What’ most needed? Mayor Pearson: Both are needed and part of a sidewalk I don’t know if that’s beneficial we did put some money into the budget for part of Gladstone. Trustee Hall: Can we use that and the money from the budget to do the roads and the sidewalk? Mayor Pearson: If we have enough. Kristen, we’d be putting in 275k… Trustee Thompson: We also had part of the capital projects, to go to the sidewalks. Is it true if that if the sidewalk is going somewhere there’s a better chance to get approved? Kristen O’Donnell: It’s not always like that, Goshen had a park to school that wasn’t approved. It can be political. I’m trying to be honest. We’ve done sidewalks in the past. I don’t think we’ve been more successful either way, we’ve done a lot of sidewalk projects. Mayor Pearson: We did the flow testing and the sewer liners--that’s always necessary and logical. You recommended which areas? Kristen O’Donnell: Pleasant, Bergen and Capron were recommended by John [Queenan]. May 19, 2026 Page 6  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Trustee Thompson: Due to the aging infrastructure, we have to consider that strongly. That’s the recommendation from the department heads and the previous manager. Mayor Pearson: Yes, that’s always consideration and the money would probably go further. Trustee Baker: With Gladstone, how many feet would be there? Kristen O’Donnell: Depends on construction cost. Last year, two blocks and a couple different crosswalks and ADA corners was enough to exhaust the funds. Mayor Pearson: And that’s just the sidewalks. [Trustee Mishk]? Trustee Mishk: Tough decision. Sewer in that area is a concern. There’s a housing project there so how much is going to get dug up? Kristen O’Donnell: None – it’s all underground so inside. Trustee Mishk: I’d have to say I’m more in favor of the sewer linings. Trustee Thompson: Can we do both? Kristen O’Donnell: No, one or the other. Trustee Thompson: I misunderstood – I thought we could do both. The sewers are concerning but the sidewalk on Gladstone is a mess. Trustee Baker: We only have 50k leftover. Trustee Thompson: That’s were I think the idea came that we might have to remove those sidewalks on one side because there wasn’t enough money to repair everything on both sides. Trustee Hall: Can the sewers wait one more year? I don’t know how bad it was. Mayor Pearson: We weren’t awarded last year. May 19, 2026 Page 7  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Trustee Hall: I’ve been pretty vocal about Gladstone but if it impedes something that must be done I want to see that happen. We did 3 years ago, and there’s barricades. I would love a no parking sign on the corner. Mayor Pearson: But the money wasn’t going to get us that far anyway so it’s really for ADA accessibility. Sometimes it’s senseless to do the sidewalk without the road. And whether we have funding for the road we do not unless we have more grant money Trustee Hall: But the sewers, then they are going to end up ripping? Mayor Pearson: No, there’s no ripping the smoke goes in and it’s camera’d and they see where there’s smoke and they put a liner… Trustee Hall: As much as I want to say Gladstone, I hate for something to happen over there. Mayor Pearson: I say I’m in favor of the sewer liners. Trustee Hall: Can we put it in our heads that if we get it next year it goes to Gladstone, no ques--I know. Mayor Pearson: We already did public comments, you’ll have another opportunity at the end. Trustee Mishk: Which project do think we’ll have the best chance of getting? Kristen O’Donnell: I think it’s based on need and the sewers need that but the points are awarded on demonstrated need. Trustee Mishk: Not the answer I was looking for, so let me put it back on you, what do you think has the best shot? Kristen O’Donnell: I think sewer lines. [John] Queenan did also suggest Gladstone because of what’s gone on. Trustee Hall: I’m going to go with Gladstone. Mayor Pearson: And we’ll see how far we get. First we have to get it and number 2 see how much we get and how far it takes us but we do have some capital in there that we can use. May 19, 2026 Page 8  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Trustee Mishk: I was going to suggest that we use the extra in the capital to do the major repairs, even if it’s piece work up on Gladstone. Attorney Cappello read the resolution for Gladstone sidewalk project Kristen O’Donnell: I would ask for clarification on who’s going to sign that. Because this is due 6/12 so I don’t want to do this again. Attorney Cappello: We can say Deputy Mayor or another authorized or duly appointed person. Attorney Cappello continued reading the resolution Motion to approve the resolution for the repairs to Gladstone Street made by Trustee Hall. Seconded by Trustee Baker. All ayes. Motion carried. Kristen O’Donnell: The second resolution—it’s required because this grant comes from federal funds so the village is required to adopt a fair housing resolution we draft it every year so the language is the same as it has been for ten years and the village does have all the required fair housing information on its website to so it’s already in compliance with this resolution. Attorney reads resolution for fair housing Motion to adopt the resolution made by Trustee Hall. Seconded by Trustee Baker. All ayes. Motion carried. c. Local Law Residence – Public Hearing Mayor Pearson: So we are back to what we were talking about. And I just wanted to go over what the board might be thinking, we heard from the public. Trustee Baker: As much as I want to make it so that the person lives here, I don’t think it’s fair to stipulate that they move here in six months. We’ve had both here and both have presented problems. There’s someone on Rte 208 that’s technically Ulster. They should get to be included. Attorney Cappello: My original idea was to look in the village law and it says that by local law it can be allowed within the county that the village is located. And there are 40 exemptions, an example is Goshen. May 19, 2026 Page 9  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 The police chief can live in the county or the state of New York. So, you can do it, I just need to find out how. I know you can do it in Orange county, you made need an additional authorization so I just need to see why it’s specifically called out in the state law. I don’t think it’s significant hoop but it may take time. Mayor Pearson: [Trustee Mishk]? [Trustee Thompson]? Trustee Mishk: Ok. Trustee Thompson: I don’t think you need to live in the city where you work and I think you’re just shrinking the pool of potential candidates to nothing, and we’ve all agreed we have a housing issue. And we have people who rent but they are just renting it doesn’t mean they are living there. And you can’t prove that they are living in that abode. So, we should keep it simple and if an exceptional candidate lives in the county of Orange they should be considered. Trustee Mishk: When we say they have to live in Orange county, not to apply, right? You can be outside of Orange County to apply you just have to move into Orange County. I just want to make that clear. Mayor Pearson: We could find someone who lives in Colorado. Trustee Hall: I think they should have a certain amount of time to move to the village. They care more when they have to walk their dog on our sidewalks. Mayor Pearson: I used to believe that and 20 years ago we had someone who didn’t live here, and we’ve had Chiefs and sergeants who said they lived here but maybe they didn’t. And I’m finding with the new world of it all, and I believe that I think that if the board, and it doesn’t mean this board, it could be any board I’m just talking in general they are going to make the decision for themselves. Orange county is fine for me. We’ve had lot of other people who have been allowed so if they come from Tuxedo that’s too far way. They aren’t going to hire them, that’s the job of the board. It’s the prerogative of the board. Trustee Hall: Is that discrimination? Mayor Pearson: It’s not that – but what about the board officials? Trustee Thompson: We’re elected officials. These are hired employees. Mayor Pearson: It’s not even a civil service person. May 19, 2026 Page 10  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Trustee Hall: You don’t think they care more? Mayor Pearson: Sometimes I think so but sometimes, no. I don’t. While I’m talking about that. Mr. Lopez, we hire the manager that does not require a civil service test. So, the village manager works at the pleasure of the board. It’s in the code. It’s not a new thing. This is a hire and fire job. So, the board can hire and fire if they see fit. Comments can be at the end. A lot of people think it has to be a contract, but it doesn’t. d. Discussion Local Law – Succession Mayor Pearson: This was the discussion on succession. I don’t know if you want to talk about it tonight. The succession part of it, succession is when we had the whole issue happened with the paid administrative leave, we ended up finding out that we don’t have a succession plan except for the deputy manager and if we don’t have a deputy manager, we don’t have a person in charge. It was changed a little bit. So, it was changed to read: Read the Local Law for the Assumption of Duties Mayor Pearson: This wasn’t what he wrote – [Attorney Cappello] do you have that? Attorney Cappello: Essentially I added department head, or any appointed officer. Trustee Hall: Does that change the form of government at that point? Attorney Cappello: No, this would just be interim until the leave was done so it doesn’t change the government it just if for whatever reason if the village manager is not available it’s going to time to find and replace a village manager and that there’s something in place to allow someone to assume those duties and sign whatever needs to be signed in the weeks months it takes to fill that. It’s what we do in a lurch. Trustee Hall: I agree we should have something in place, I just don’t think this is it. We are not qualified to do this? Mayor Pearson: You’re not qualified to appoint someone to carry that position and sign a piece of paper because department heads are running the village right now. Departments are doing a great job; they are working together. But your job as a trustee is to appoint someone. May 19, 2026 Page 11  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Trustee Hall: I don’t think that we are that person that should be appointed. I don’t know how it’s legal right now, she’s her own boss. She’s interim manager. I just don’t agree with it. Mayor Pearson: No, she isn’t, she’s not a manager, she’s assuming the duties of the manager. Read the Local Law for the Assumption of Duties Mayor Pearson: This needs to be posted to the website. Attorney Cappello: This one was published in the paper for tonight. Mayor Pearson: The next one is set for public hearing for June 2. Is everyone ok with how that was written? e. Parks Grant – Resolution Mayor Pearson: Resolution, this is for the parks to accept the Orange County Youth money for the summer camp. This for the parks for 20k and it needs to be signed by the clerk. [Reads resolution] Motion to accept funding made by Trustee Thompson. Seconded Trustee Baker. All ayes. Motion carried. f. Local Law Fire Hydrants – Discussion Mayor Pearson: I had local law fire hydrants on discussion. I want to table this [discussion]. [Trustee Mishk] and I met with George Brown. We’re going to have the attorney look over the paperwork and make sure we’re going in the right direction. So, before we go any further, we’ll table that and we’ll get this on for the second meeting in June. Trustee Hall: Is that the same thing that was sent last time? Mayor Pearson: The last one was snow removal, and George revamped it. Trustee Hall: Was this emailed last week? Does the attorney have that? George Brown: I emailed the whole board. May 19, 2026 Page 12  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Mayor Pearson: Ok, yes, we talked about. I’m putting it on the agenda for the second meeting in June. Attorney Cappello: This is what’s in my packet. We’d have to do a resolution, notice of introduction, and hearing -- We should go through the process. Mayor Pearson: I still want a discussion. We can do this on the first meeting in June if we are going into law. Trustee Hall: I see you’re here now, are you available that day? June 2? Mayor Pearson: June 2 or 16? Trustee Thompson: I thought we were doing the 16th? Mayor Pearson: I’d rather have it on the 16th so we can hear back from the attorney. Are you free the 16th? George Brown: I’d prefer the 2nd, we’ve delayed this long enough. The only changes were based the Introductory law you already produced in March. It was based off what you already head, we already had introductory law on this I replied to that introductory law in April and was ignored, last week I emailed again and got a response, now we are being pushed back to the end of June. I’m not pleased with that neither are my members. We have no issues. This is a safety hazard for my members and citizens. Mayor Pearson: You’ve added quite a bit. Trustee Hall: I say we do this as soon as possible. Especially after a big house fire. If another hydrant is – the sooner the better I think. Attorney Cappello: Do you want this for a hearing? Mayor Pearson: No, [for] discussion. Attorney Cappello: So, this would be public hearing on June 16 and set for discussion on June 2. Please email me those changes. George Brown: I can, they have it like three times. May 19, 2026 Page 13  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Trustee Mishk: I say the 2nd too. Mayor Pearson: All in favor? All: Aye Trustee Thompson: You didn’t ask me. I don’t have a problem with the second as long as it’s enough time for [the attorney] to review everything. Because I don’t want another meeting where we aren’t prepared and we have to push it off to yet another meeting. So, if he’s confident that he can get it done by the 2nd, I’m fine with that. I feel like we have too many meetings where we are prepared to act and it has to be pushed and we can’t act. We just keep going around in circles so if we can’t be ready by the 2 nd we should wait till the 16th. Attorney Cappello: I don’t see it adding – Trustee Thompson: As long as he’s confident. Mayor Pearson: Ok so we’ll put it on for the 2nd [of June] Village Clerk: I’m sorry – who were the first and second? Mayor Pearson: There wasn’t – it’s just going on the agenda. g. Estimate for Fire Cleanup at 15 Riverview – Discussion Mayor Pearson: We have [Building Inspector], you’re going to come up for the estimate on the fire. Is the attorney speaking? Oh, it’s going to the [the Clerk]? Village Clerk: I don’t have that paperwork. [Building Inspector] does. Trustee Thompson: Is this an executive session discussion first? Building Inspector: It may be. Attorney Cappello: I’m not sure - [Sidebar with Building Inspector and Village Attorney] May 19, 2026 Page 14  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Attorney Cappello: I’d say we could go in as potential proposed pending litigation… Mayor Pearson: Let’s do that after. h. Amendment to Bond Resolution Mayor Pearson: So, at the end of the day yesterday we got an email from our engineering firm about an amendment to our wastewater treatment plant resolution we need to deal with tonight. We have a grant we did not get from the wastewater treatment plan and we were told by our former manager to apply for a 0% loan from EFC and part of the regulation is that we have to have a firm that is working on the waste water treatment plant project which is thousands of dollars so our bonding isn’t high enough. So, when the project came through it was at one amount so now the DEC is putting more regulations on things so it’s making it more so we need to be able to bond for more money. I sent the regulation and it must be done by May 29th and it’s to bond for up to $21,625,000; we have to put a tunnel in underneath the road for the sewer plant from the pump station and that’s been going on for years this is not new so we are getting to the point where it’s the final plans. So, if we are going to move forward and get a 0% loan we have to make the bond happen. Trustee Thompson: And there’s grant funding involved in this but it’s not going to cover the whole thing, yes? Mayor Pearson: Yes. Trustee Hall: Are we at a point where it isn’t going to go up again? Mayor Pearson: We just this was December 9, it was at $9k plus the $5k--$9 million, plus the $5 million before that. Now with the project coming close to completion an engineering firm was hired to do the final plan and that’s costing more money with cost overrides for equipment and inflation and it’s more for the DEC because there are demands on what the project details. We have to have five ayes or it doesn’t pass. Any discussion? Trustee Thompson: No, we don’t have any more options so this must be taken care of. This has been going on for years. Mayor Pearson: It doesn’t mean that we won’t have opportunities for more wastewater granting but this is where we need to go. May 19, 2026 Page 15  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Trustee Hall: So as grants become available to we can apply for those and put those towards this and it wouldn’t be the whole amount. Trustee Thompson: We might not need all of it but we have to be prepared that we might. Mayor Pearson: And there’s a buffer and if we don’t use it all we don’t need to use it all. This is the second time it’s been amended. Depending on what Lamont finds at the end of the term and what the DEC is regulating in six months from now. This was just December and here we are in May, five months later. [Trustee Baker]? [Trustee Mishk?] Truste Baker: We really don’t have a choice. Trustee Mishk: Just pointing out that we have to have this passed and submitted by May 29th. Mayor Pearson: That’s why it was today because I emailed the engineer to see we needed to do anything further. We contacted the bond counsel this morning they sent it over and the dates were wrong so at 5 to 5 they rewrote it and did another date. So I checked and we are good. It’s December 9 th. Anything else? Motion to accept resolution and proceed with bond made by Trustee Mishk. Seconded by Trustee Thompson. All ayes. Motion carried. 8. Public Comment Resident: I would just like to know if anyone has the qualification to be Village Manager here? Mayor Pearson: We do not. Resident: Then how can you make decisions? You have to be qualified don’t you? So, if you all did it together but I don’t see how one person can make all these decisions that someone else is qualified to do. Village Clerk: I’m so sorry, sir, I missed your name. Resident: I didn’t give you my name. Are you going to track me? May 19, 2026 Page 16  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Village Clerk: I have to have it for the minutes – Jim Hall? Thank you sir. On Gladstone, thank you. Mayor Pearson: Mr. Lopez? William Lopez: More training with grant funding. And there’s one due for and we are going to miss it. Michael McNamee: Ulster Avenue I’ve been up here a few times talking about open meetings violations so while we did catch up there are a lot of the minutes that haven’t been posted. I received them by FOIL so I actually have minutes that aren’t posted. I’m not sure why they haven’t been posted. The special meeting in April, where the deputy mayor was given the manager duties without the title. I asked the Mayor and those present specifically what the motion was for the suspension of the Village Manager and all four of you agreed there were no specific terms just a suspension. So it surprised me a few weeks later when Trustee Hall asked a question about it, she referred to Mr. [Inaudible] Mr. Cappello was here and he said no the motion was for full administrative suspension, so therefore he could not do any of those duties. So it very much surprised me when I got the FOIL’d minutes and no vote was on record or the minutes that were accepted. There was no vote to place the manager on administrative leave. Mayor Pearson: There was. There was four people -- I was there and so was Bill Taylor. Michael McNamee: Yes, but it’s not there. It says Trustee Mishk made a motion to enter into executive session, [Trustee] Baker made motion to leave executive session and end the meeting. So, three of the motions were stated yet none of the motions to make these very controversial decisions. New York state open meetings law is very specific that if you’re going to hide in executive session you can’t vote without a rollcall. Everyone has to see how you vote. Attorney Cappello: There was a resolution that was included and recorded. Mayor Pearson: We voted. There were four people and there were four yeses. [Village Clerk] we may need to amend those minutes – What’s the date? Michael McNamee: Will the minutes be amended, and re-voted on? I’d like to re-FOIL Attorney Cappello: The minutes were prepared and I think approved-- Michael McNamee: I got these just last week. This was March 31st. Mayor Pearson: We’ll look into that. May 19, 2026 Page 17  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Mr. Ortiz: Good evening. Last time I was here I spoke on the camera on Scofield street. Is that still going one direction? Trustee Baker: It’s a stationary camera. Mr. Ortiz: So, there would be no record of any accidents? Trustee Baker: That’s correct. Mr. Ortiz: What about Main street? Those things. If the camera is going in all directions we can catch everything. The next thing I want to talk about is the e-bikes and scooters. Are the PD stopping these kids and ticketing them? So they need to be wearing reflective equipment. The regulations, I have here. [Reads regulation] I know you’re familiar with it. Mayor Pearson: We can address it with the PD. Mr. Ortiz: They are overworked and these kids are running amok. Next question, these kids on the scooter, is anyone watching on the monitors? Mayor Pearson: I don’t know. I can’t say. Mr. Ortiz: Those things are important and it’s going to be hot summer so we just need to tighten things up. Mary Ellen Matise: There was a comment on FB about the dam, and my comment back was how much – but the last time it was done was the army corps of engineers. Anyway, I don’t know who the dam belongs to. The upper dam is the village, the lower is unknown. Trustee Baker: John [Revella] said it was privately owned. I asked last year. Mary Ellen Matise: Of course, this person said they should do it but we can’t bring a crane. So I don’t know if we can ask the army again. Trustee Baker: We have to get permission from the property owner. May 19, 2026 Page 18  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Mary Ellen Matise: I don’t know how it worked last time. Trustee Baker: I saw it. Mary Ellen Matise: #2 this Friday night is a wine and cheese at the Shafer house to view some never- seen-before artifacts. 9. Correspondence Trustee Thompson: I received an email from a village resident, I don’t know if that person would like their name shared, but they had a multitude of complaints which I will address complaint by complaint, I just haven’t been able to email them back. 10. Miscellaneous Comments from the Board of Trustees Trustee Hall: John [Revella] used to read off the manager reports, it was more for us but I know a lot of residents liked to know what the manager was doing, what the clerk was doing, and when he met with various departments. So is that something you can do for us? Village Clerk: I can prepare something for next time – Trustee Hall: I didn’t know if [Trustee Thompson] would be doing it? Trustee Thompson: I’m not the Village Manager. Trustee Hall: You’re doing the duties – so you would be in contact with the departments? Trustee Thompson: Reports are in our packet. I’m not the Village Manager, if you want me to I can put something together. Trustee Hall: I was just asking. Someone asked me, so it was easier to ask. Trustee Thompson: I can put something together but it would just be highlights from the reports. Trustee Hall: Marisa used to do the events, I know [the Village Clerk] is just getting that information. We would get a list of events to let us know what was going on for the next two weeks. Village Clerk: I was given the calendar and village newsletter, but this is new. May 19, 2026 Page 19  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Trustee Thompson: We haven’t had that in a long time. Village Clerk: I did post to the website about the holiday schedule for IWS. So is that what you’re looking for? Trustee Hall: The library would do stuff for the kids. Village Clerk: The library does their own calendar – Trustee Baker: It’s just like Flag Day, Memorial day parade, etc. Trustee Hall: I’ll dig one up and show you. I know I mentioned about a fence? Mayor Pearson: [Trustee Thompson] was working on that. Trustee Thompson: I didn’t know I was supposed to working on that. Trustee Mishk: That was me, I said the DPW – what I was told all the lumber was there but there’s a personnel change. I saw pictures and I can relay it to DPW. Trustee Hall: Did the agenda need to be posted in a certain amount of time, the city counsel regulations said that it should be posted 24hrs in advance. I did want to address the way things happened at the last meeting. I thought it was tacky. I wasn’t here last year, I just have a problem firing someone on live stream. There will be a parade for memorial day on Monday, lineup is at 9:30am at the bridge with a ceremony in the square after, and then heading to Bradley Field for the dedication of Logan Hickey’s Eagle Scout project. Mayor Pearson: I’ll be away the next meeting so [Trustee Thompson] will be running that. On May 30, Jody Nicoli has her 4th annual honor of loved ones from 1-3pm. There will be event a food truck festival from 12-4pm on May 31st and St Andrew’s church Reverend Nicole is leaving. She’s heading to another church So I want to thank our department heads and making it so we work together. And I was invited to the Silver Jubilee at the Buddhist temple and I was able to award them a certificate of appreciation for all the good work they do in the village. May 19, 2026 Page 20  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 Trustee Mishk: I have some comments. I want to point out – and thank the voters who voted for us and put faith in us to make the right decision. And many villages do not have a manager they are run by the board. And I was on this board from 2013-2017 and at the time that’s who this village was run by. And that changed and I was in civil service, I took many exams it’s not that hard to figure out. I for one would like to see us move away from the village manger and I’d like to put t up for referendum to move on from that. You’re a small group here and I appreciate you coming here and I take notes especially when you’re right and I’m wrong and we need the best people. And we don’t need people being critical on Facebook. Last thing, if we want verbatim minutes, we have to use our microphones and speak one at a time, this is our verbatim minutes. And if we can’t hear, the clerk can’t hear. That’s all I got to say. Trustee Thompson: I want to address the gentleman about the grants, I get emails every day and I send them out all the time. Mike Bliss in the parks department is always looking. The fire department is applying and our grant writer in Montgomery, she is writing for us, Ana. We’re getting bombarded and there are people in the community who have offered. A lot of them we hear about them a week before they are due. And many times, they require a lot of paperwork. So, if you would like to participate, we would love to have you. People are insinuating that we do these back deals and I think this board works together very well. We work with the department heads, and NYCOM, and it’s group effort. Motion to enter executive session for potential litigation and financial matters and potential appointment and for a matter related to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or entity made by Trustee Mishk. Seconded by Trustee Baker. All ayes. Motion carried. 11. Executive Session – Personal History of a Particular Employee Mayor Pearson: At this moment I’d like to go into executive session to… Attorney Cappello: I would say, for a matter related to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation. Motion to enter executive session made by Trustee Thompson for a matter related to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or entity. Seconded by Trustee Mishk. All ayes. Motion carried. Trustee Thompson: They know we’re going to reconvene, right? Mayor Pearson: Yes. May 19, 2026 Page 21  Village of Walden Village Board of Trustees Meeting May 19, 2026 No action was taken. The meeting reconvened at 7:25 pm. 12. Adjournment Motion to adjourn was made by ______. Seconded by _______________. All ayes. Motion carried. May 19, 2026 Page 22