At 6:00 PM on Monday, December 7th, 2020 Mayor Meg Grenier read the following statement: this is the Village of Menands Board of Trustees, semi-monthly meeting. I am Mayor Meg Grenier and as it is 6:00 o’clock, I will call this meeting to order. For anyone outside the village staff who is attending this video conference, I would ask if you would please identify yourselves, Eric Johnson, Renee Lequire, Bill Nevins, Mike and Susan Mackay. The Mayor asked them to mute their microphones.
Mayor Grenier then did a roll call of Village staff: Deputy Mayor Aileen Nicoll, present, Trustee Seth Harris, present, Trustee Brian Marsh, present, Trustee Diane Foley, present, Clerk Don Handerhan, present, Village Attorney Steve Rehfuss, present. On behalf of the Village Board, I would ask all residents that we please keep our First Responders, all essential workers and those affected by this pandemic in our thoughts and prayers.
Pursuant to Governor Cuomo’s executive order number 202.1 issued on March 13th, 2020: Suspending article 7 of the public officer’s law, to the extent necessary to permit any Public body to meet, and take such actions authorized by law that allowed the public to not be physically present at the meeting, but allow the public to listen to or view such meetings via teleconference call or video conference, while recording and later transcribing of the meeting. Village of Menands Board of Trustees semi-monthly meeting is being held via Google Meets video conference to protect Public Safety and Welfare during this COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to conduct this meeting effectively we asked those in attendance to please mute your microphone during the meeting. As we are conducting only business during tonight’s meeting, there will be no public comment. Any comments previously submitted to Clerk Handerhan prior to the meeting and deemed essential will be read into the record. Governor Cuomo has extended executive order number 202.1 through January 1st, 2021.
A motion was made by Trustee Harris to accept the minutes of the November 16th, 2020 Board Meeting, seconded by Trustee Foley.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
A motion was made by Trustee Nicoll to approve payment for the following, seconded by Trustee Harris.
WARRANT # 13:
GENERAL totaling $317,386.91
WATER totaling $ 48,626.73
SEWER totaling $ 44,902.30
TOTALS $410,915.94
PARK IMPROVEMENT: totaling $ 2,007.70
PAYROLL # 13: totaling $104,099.29
(11/06/20-11/19/20)
PAYROLL # 14: totaling $137,646.68
(11/20/20-12/03/20
TOTALS $241,745.97
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Eric Johnson, from the Chazen Companies advised the Board that the Quiet Zone is now in effect as of December 7th, 2020. The Quiet Zone will be a partial Quiet Zone between the hours of 10 PM and & 7AM.
The Clerk advised the Board that the new plow trucks were delivered on Friday, December 4th. And due to the cost of repairs needed for the old plow trucks they will be surplused at the next meeting.
The Fire Department is requesting permission to use a fire truck for a funeral detail for Schuyler Heights Past Chief Gary Adkins who passed away of the weekend.
A motion was made by Trustee Marsh to approve the use of the Fire Trucks for the funeral detail with Schuyler Heights, seconded by Trustee Nicoll.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
The Clerk advised the Board that on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve the Village Office and Court will be closing at 2:00 PM.
MEMORANDUM 12/69/20
TO: All Menands Village Board Members
FROM: Bill Garvey Jr.
On 11/14/20 while driving on Broadway within our Village, I was and observed 2 yellow marker sticks being connected to utility pole no 9 being covered by several branches of one broad leaf tree in which this located next to one of the 2 water filtration buildings near the north entrance to Schuyler Inn. I reported this problem to Clerk D Handerhan so I hope that our DPW Crew will remove the board leaf tree entirely when able to get the job done. Please remember that utility poles, markers, traffic security signs, metal street light markers fire hydrants, metal high voltage towers and buildings being covered by trees, weeds, vines and brush are health, welfare, public security fire and environment hazards. So we got to remove trees, weeds, vines and brush which may cause the quality of life in localities to decline.
In the last few weeks while driving on Broadway with Menands I saw 2 silver metal street light markers number 66 and 70 on west side of Broadway near Route 378 over pass bridge over Broadway have already been damaged as the result of vehicle accidents that hit both silver metal street light markers. It is going to be likely to take several months before the damaged 2 silver metal street light markers no 66 and 70 will be replaced with 2 new ones. One of the areas National Grid Power Company needs to understand is that street lighting is one of the most critical and essential public services. So we got to have street light service every single night of the year. The earlier National Grid Power Company replaces the 2- silver metal silver street markers no. 66 and 70 with two new ones, the better this is going to be for everyone concern. Anyone who got hurt in those vehicle accidents I hope they will recover from their injuries.
I glade to see that the Broadway repair and repaving job between Oakwood Avenue and Wolfert Avenue here in our Village finally got done. This has been one of the projects that needed to be done. I like to thank State DOT and contractors for doing a good job in the repair and repaving Broadway they all deserve praise.
I like to thank you for your time and consideration
Yours sincerely
Bill Garvey Jr.
Resident Bill Nevins Comments:
I would like to thank the Menands Police and Fire Department for partnering together with Toys for Tots. This weekend collection was a great success for the program.
Mayor Grenier Advised that 7 boxes were picked up today and there is still a box in the lobby of the Police Department. On December 19th the Fire Department will be having their annual Santa Detail and will be collecting toys along the way.
Is there any information from the State or County on supporting local government in educating our local public on getting vaccine for COVID? A grant program like the Census could be run in the Village to get everyone vaccinated and lead our part of Albany County in education and safety.
Mayor Grenier advised that she has passed this idea along to the County. The Village has been in contact with the County regarding different types of vaccine distribution called PODS, but no decision has been made yet.
Has there been any communication from the State on AIM Related payments in funding for 2021?
Mayor Grenier advised she has not heard anything but will check with Treasurer Smith.
Steve Boulet Comments:
Can anything be done with the manhole covers along Broadway were they just paved?
Mayor Grenier asked Clerk Handerhan to call DOT and ask if anything can be done.
Trustee Marsh advised the Board that 50-year resident of Menands, Jack Foley passed away. Mayor Grenier advised the Board that Don Bucher passed away he was 100 years old and the Past Village Attorney Ken MacAffer passed away.
A motion was made by Trustee Harris to adjourn, seconded by Trustee Marsh.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
The meeting was duly adjourned at 6:12 P.M.
___________________
Donald Handerhan
Village Clerk