The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands was held on Monday, December 5th, 2022, and was called to order by Mayor Megan Grenier at 6:00 P.M.
PRESENT:
Megan Grenier, Mayor
Diane Foley, Trustee
Seth H. Harris, Trustee – Attended Virtually
Timothy Lane, Trustee
Brian Marsh, Trustee
Nicole Ognan, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer
Stephen Rehfuss, Village Attorney – Attended virtually
Chief Ryan St. Gelais, Police Dept
Chief David Ognan, Fire Dept
Jen Nechamen, Labella
Also attending: Bill Garvey, Kevin Schwebke (attended virtually), Michael MacKay (attended virtually), Steve Boulet (attended virtually), and Jhason Clark (attended virtually)
ABSENT:
Donald Handerhan, Village Clerk
The mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance
Open Forum:
Resident Bill Garvey made the following comment:
- Reported the door to the concession stand was broken, fixed by the DPW. Bill thanks the DPW.
- Advised the Board one of the bleachers is still broken – Mayor advised the bleachers belong to the Little League.
- Bill reported to the Police that there was a car parked illegally in a Fire Lane, and the Police handled it. Bill thanks the Police.
- Bill is glad that the Menands Public Library got a new heating and cooling system.
- Bill reported to the Police there was a vehicle parking in front of a fire hydrant twice – Bill thanked the Police for handling it.
- Bill is delighted by the dugout replacement and new fencing; however, he suggested both dugouts be sandblasted, primed, and repainted before the new season begins.
- Bill supports switching to Solar Energy Simplified.
- Bill reports a dead-end sign on Elmwood Road is leaning and would like the DPW to fix it.
- Bill supports hiring the new Village Gardener, Kelly Grimaldi, and wishes her well.
- Bill supports the change of Village Zoning Laws.
Resident Steve Boulet wrote the following comment in the virtual meeting chat, Trustee Seth Harris read it: Steve Boulet: “I am having trouble with my camera and mic today. I wanted to ask about parking enforcement. Many days, numerous people are parked on both sides of Menands Road. Yesterday my wife tried to drive down the road and there was a car with flashers parked on the wrong side and another car double parked with flashers, both seemed to refuse to move to allow her down the street. Since no one seems to have consideration for others please start ticketing to help enforce the law. Maybe fines will help people learn to be considerate of others around them. Thanks”
Resolution Number: 230099
A motion was made by Trustee Marsh to accept the minutes of the November 21st, 2022, Board Meeting, seconded by Trustee Foley.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Resolution Number: 230100
A motion was made by Trustee Marsh to accept the minutes of the November 28th, 2022, Zoning Law Workshop, seconded by Trustee Harris.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Resolution Number: 230101
A motion was made by Trustee Marsh to approve payment for the following, seconded by Trustee Foley.
WARRANT # 13:
GENERAL totaling $534,424.26
WATER totaling $ 83,534.72
SEWER totaling $ 70,861.28
TOTALS $688,820.26
WARRANT # 12x:
GENERAL totaling $ 100.00 12/4/22 Santa Tree Lighting
PAYROLL # 13: totaling $156,091.91
(11/18/22-12/01/22)
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Resolution Number 230102
A motion was made by Trustee Lane, seconded by Trustee Marsh, to accept
the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Treasurer be, and hereby is, authorized to make the following Budget Transfers
Account Account
From Acct: A.3120.0108 To Acct: A.3120.0419
Description Police – Lt Police Vehicle Maintenance
$20,000.00 $5,000.00
Dodges are a problem
” To Acct: A.3120.0105
” Police Overtime
” $15,000.00
From Acct: A.1110.0154 To Acct: A.1110.0152
Description Court – Clerk of Court Court – P/T or O/T
Amount: $4,000.00 $2,500.00
No help
” To Acct: A.1110.0404
” Court – Misc Exp
” $1,500.00
Help wanted ads
From Acct: A.3410.0208 To Acct: A.3410.0404
Description Fire – Equip/Misc Fire – Miscellaneous
Amount: $9,000 $9,000.00
Grant writer
From Acct: A.8160.0445 To Acct: A.8160.0419
Description Refuse – Landfill charges Refuse – Vehicle Maintenance
Amount: $2,000.00 $2,000.00
Repairs to trucks
Trustee Foley Voted – Aye
Trustee Harris Voted – Aye
Trustee Lane Voted – Aye
Trustee Marsh Voted – Aye
Mayor Grenier Voted – Aye
Resolution Number: 230103
Mayor Grenier led a discussion regarding the subdivision of 431 Broadway. The applicant requests that the Village accept an offer of $3,000.00 in lieu of the cession of useable land. Trustee Lane suggests a counteroffer. Trustee Marsh suggests a counteroffer of $5,000.00. Village Attorney, Stephen Rehfuss explained the appropriate method for who takes care of the counteroffer, and it is anyone the Mayor designates.
Trustee Marsh made a motion to counteroffer $5,000.00 for the open space at the subdivision of 431 Broadway, seconded by Trustee Lane.
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Mayor Grenier updates the Board on the Zoning Law: a workshop was held last week; notice was sent out in the activities, Everbridge, the website, and the Village Facebook page. Meeting minutes were sent to missing members of the workshop via email. Trustee Marsh and Mayor Grenier had a meeting with an inquiring party that had some concerns, Trustee Marsh updated the rest of the Board on that meeting. The Village is accepting comments until December 16. Comments can be provided through the Village Website or via email to the Project Manager, Matthew Rogers at mrogers@labellapc.com.
Mayor Grenier led a discussion regarding MS-4. The current MS4, Paul Reuss is leaving at the end of December. Mayor Grenier appoints Nicole Ognan as MS4 officer.
Resolution Number: 23104
Trustee Marsh made a motion to appoint Nicole Ognan as MS4 officer, seconded by Trustee Foley.
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane and the Board thank Paul Reuss for all his time and years with the Village.
Mayor Grenier updated the Board that last night was the Festival of Trees ceremony in the Ganser-Smith Memorial Park. There were 30 trees purchased this year compared to 18 last year; It was a great event. The Mayor thanks Clerk, Don Handerhan, Deputy Clerk-Treasurer, Nicole Ognan, Trustees Tim Lane and Brian Marsh, MPD, DPW, and MFD Chief, David Ognan for all of their help, and recommends all stop by the park and take a look at all of the trees.
Mayor Grenier notifies the Board she received a notice from Albany County as part of our Shared Services Agreement, we are getting a check for $7,011.77.
Mayor Grenier notifies the Board they were invited by the Menands School Yearbook Club to take an ad out in the Menands School yearbook. The Board members agree to a half page as they have previously done.
Mayor Grenier notifies the Board she received a letter from Beacon Communities submitting another application for funding for their veteran housing.
Mayor Grenier updates the Board that St. Peters and CDPHP have reached an agreement, so the concerns from Village staff have been alleviated.
Trustee Harris asks Jen Nechamen, from Labella, if she has an update on the High Service Reservoir repairs. Jen explains they are coordinating with Labella’s survey group, but the project is still moving along.
Chief David Ognan updates the Board on where the funding will come from for the grant writer and formerly invites the Village Board of Trustees to the Fire Company Christmas Party.
Resolution Number: 230105
Mayor Grenier updates the Board that she spoke with Treasurer, Bill Smith regarding the purchase of the Fire Truck and Bill suggests using the ARPA funds as a one-time purchase.
Trustee Marsh makes a motion to approve the purchase of the Fire Truck using the ARPA funds, at a cost of $130,000 seconded by Trustee Foley.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
At 6:21 P.M. Trustee Marsh made a motion to enter Executive Session to discuss a Legal matter, seconded by Trustee Harris.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
The regular meeting reconvened at 6:32 P.M.
Trustee Harris informs just before our next Village Board meeting, there will be a Menorah Lighting at Ganser-Smith Memorial Park at 5 PM on December 19, 2022, all are invited.
A motion was made by Trustee Marsh to adjourn, seconded by Trustee Foley.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
The meeting was duly adjourned at 6:34 P.M.
___________________________________
Nicole Ognan
Deputy Clerk-Treasurer