The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands was held on Monday, December 2nd, 2024, and called to order by Mayor Brian Marsh at 6:00 P.M.
PRESENT:
Brian Marsh, Mayor
Molly Harbour, Trustee
Seth H. Harris, Trustee
Nicholas Kalogridis, Trustee
Stephen Rehfuss, Village Attorney – Virtual
Donald Handerhan, Village Clerk
ABSENT:
Timothy Lane, Trustee
Mary Jane Vredenburg, Village Treasurer
Ryan St. Gelais, Chief Menands Police
Kevin Schwebke, Lt Menands Police
David Ognan, Fire Chief
Also attending: Bill Garvey, Michael & Susan Mackay, Mark Carnegie, Jason Carnegie, L Neuman
Also, virtual attending: Kathy Mosca, Catherine Daydent, Sara, Beth Harbour
The Mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance and advised this meeting will be recorded.
Resolution Number 250100
Trustee Harris made a motion to accept the minutes of the November18th, 2024, Board Meeting, seconded by Trustee Kalogridis.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
Resolution Number 250101
Trustee Harris made a motion to approve payment for the following, seconded by Trustee Kalogridis.
WARRANT #13:
GENERAL totaling $ 59,033.14
WATER totaling $265,053.73
SEWER totaling $ .00
TOTALS $324,086.87
PAYROLL # 13: totaling $182,036.93
(11/15/24-11/28/24)
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Marsh led a discussion regarding purchasing the Waterworth Counseling software to assist with financial forecasting of Water, Sewer, and General Ledger accounts. Discussion followed.
Item Description Unit Price Cumulative
Price
1st Service Area Software Access for General Fund Unlimited support and Advising for General Fund
$6,000
$6,000
2nd Service Area Software Access for Water Unlimited support and Advising for Water
$4,000
$4,000
3rd Service Area Software Access for Wastewater Unlimited support and Advising for Wastewater
$2,000
$2,000
AFTER DISCUSSION BOARD DECIDED TO TABLE UNTIL 12/16/24.
The Clerk led s discussion regarding the need to approve the policies:
- Accident Policy
- Best Value Policy
Resolution Number 250102
Trustee Harbour made a motion to approve the following policies Accident Policy, and Best Value Policy, seconded by Trustee Kalogridis.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Marsh and the Clerk advised the Board when the PBA contract was approved in the contract there is section to provide Section 384-e of the NYS PFRS Retirement to members of the PBA. Discussion followed.
Resolution Number 250103
After a discussion Trustee Harris entered the following resolution:
Be it resolved the Village of Menands Board of Trustee’s does hereby elect to provide the pension benefit of Section 384-e(b) of the Retirement and Social Security Law for any member of its Police Department covered by Sections 384-d and 384-e of the Retirement and Social Security Law, as presently or hereafter amended. Be it further resolved the effective date of such shall be 3rd day of December 2024, second by Trustee Harbour.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
Mayor’s Report:
- Starting in early 2025 the Activities will be coming out monthly and will be printed by Mailworks as a courtesy. Menands only needs to pay for postage.
- Hoffman Car Wash adopted Van Rensselaer Blvd as Adopt-a-Highway
- We received a reply regarding modification of the Municipal Sewer contract with Colonie Water and are working with them on a mutual agreement that our boards can vote on.
- The Village Court expects to have online payments operating by January 2025.
- Village One apartments sold for $30.5million. We are working with the new owners to get their water meters replaced as they are very old and not functioning properly.
- I will have a local law for consideration in January 2025 for introduction of a vacant building registry and adding it into our code. CM is helping organize. This will be followed by proposed updates to our Peddlers Permit law and some updates to our Village Sign Law.
- An energy audit was completed to evaluate the energy consumption at 250 Broadway as part of our building improvements program. That report is in the BOT folder and will be posted online.
- One of the suggested improvements is to insulate the building better – our grant request of $75,000 was approved and the funding request to use the $75,000 towards the building was approved – meaning the funds will be ours to use.
- I met with a roofing company after respectfully disagreeing with a very large estimate from a different vendor about the roof needs at 250 Broadway. After that meeting it was confirmed that a very large part of our roof can be fixed and maintained annually instead of being completely replaced. Included in the new proposal will be an annual plan to inspect and spot repair the roof sections to increase their life.
- Quarterly professional thorough cleaning of 250 Broadway will start this month.
- Pruning of Brookside trees will happen any day now. Don will confirm.
- Water bills will be going out the end of December for the period 6/1/24 – 11/1/24.
- With a new Albany County District Attorney being sworn in – Lee Kindlon, I’m hopeful for some strengthened relationship with that office. Chief Ryan will be meeting with him to talk about common goals and partnerships we can work on in the coming weeks.
Trustee Reports:
Trustee Lane: Absent
Trustee Kalogridis:
- Asked when damaged guardrails at the entrance to Exit 6 will be repaired? A discussion followed.
Trustee Harris:
- Holiday train was a success and he thanked everyone for their hard work organizing it.
- Tree lighting will be Sunday, December 8th at 4:00 PM.
- Gave and update on Menorah lighting.
Trustee Harbour:
- On Thursday December 12th the Menands School Spaghetti Dinner cost $30.00 for Family.
Clerk’s Report:
- The camera system at 280 Broadway is fully operational.
- The Fire Alarm System at 250 Broadway is fully operational.
- Leaf pickup ends December 13th.
- Craft Fair at Menands Market
General comments:
Mike Mackay asked if Waterworth Program only does water/sewer? Mayor Marsh advised it can be used for all accounts. A discussion followed.
TO: All Menands Village Board Members
FROM: Bill Garvey Jr
I got my own report dealing with important Village Items as follows:
- He found Men’s Room at Little Leage Field unlocked so he locked it, The Ladies Room door was locked.
- He reported the train blowing it whistle between Brookside Ave and Menand Rd at 2:30 AM
- He donated 62 pencils to the Village Office.
- He is delighted that the fire hydrant at 21 Clifford Rd has been cleared of brush and weeds.
- It was nice of Regeneron to donate playground equipment to Schuyler Inn for homeless people.
- When he does his volunteer work for the Village, he always has his own equipment and supplies saving the taxpayers money.
- He finds dead animals laying in any part of Menands distressful.
- He commented on Clifford Rd being in poor condition plus cluttered with litter.
- Street signs on Harts Ln, E Macdonald Cir & Brookside Ave are cracked and pealing need to be replaced.
- A year has passed since 33 Glenwood Rd has been vacant. He would like to know when rehabilitation repair will be done and who will own it.
- He supports the Boards decision to buy regular and recycling containers for Ganser Smith Park.
- He supports most events held at the Farmers Market except live music.
- He observed street light marker #8 on Broadway is not being lit at night.
- He received a letter from Fisheries + Oceans Minister of Canada regarding fish farms.
- He is glad the paper towels that were struck in the dispense in Men’s Room at Ganser Smith Park has been removed.
- He swept up leaves and acorns plus remove cobwebs from Men’s Room at Ganser Smith Park.
At 6:33 P.M. Trustee Harris made a motion to enter Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter, seconded by Trustee Harbour.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
The regular meeting was reconvened at 6:42 P.M.
Trustee Harbour made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Trustee Harris.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
The meeting was duly adjourned at 6:42 P.M.
I, Donald Handerhan, Village Clerk for the Village of Menands, Do Hereby Certify that the foregoing is a true and correct report of all motions, resolutions and ordinances passed or enacted, and all other procedures had and taken by the Village of Menands Board of Trustees at the regular meeting held on November 4, 2024.
____________________
Donald Handerhan
Village Clerk