The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands, held on Monday, February 4th, 2019 was called to order by Mayor Megan Grenier at 6:00 P.M.
PRESENT:
Megan Grenier, Mayor
Steve Boulet, Trustee
Diane Foley, Trustee
Seth H. Harris, Trustee
Donald Handerhan, Village Clerk
Stephen Rehfuss, Village Attorney
ABSENT:
Aileen Nicoll, Trustee
Also attending: Bill Garvey, Brian Marsh, Bob Dignum, Michael Steurer, Bill Nevins, Angelo Primo, Susan Sweeney, John Stangle, Paul Cooney, Frank Lacosse.
The Mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Open Forum:
Resident Bill Garvey stated he is happy with the pending Quiet Zone Improvements.
Mr. Garvey stated he is willing to help clean up after the Sweet Heart Breakfast and asked who he should contact? Mayor Grenier said Kerry Wroblewski is in charge.
Bill stated he agreed with Brian Marsh that DPW does a great job for the Village.
Mr. Garvey has a complaint about dog owners that don’t cleanup after their dogs while walking them. He asked if there was anything that could be done to people who are caught doing this?
Mayor Grenier stated they could be fined.
Resident Paul Cooney asked if a Handicap Rail could be installed on the ramp at the Village Office?
Mayor Grenier stated that the Village would look into it.
Resident Brian Marsh shared there was a power outage over the weekend and today. Brian spoke to National Grid the more people who complain about the power outages to National Grid that’s when they will address the problem.
Resident Marsh stated he is starting a campaign to advise the residents to contact National Grid every time there is an outage.
Resident Bill Nevins wanted to thank DPW for the great job they do. Mr. Nevins thanked the Board for making the adjustments to the water bill for 12 Wolfert Avenue.
Mr. Nevins thanked the Board for their support of the CYO Basketball trip to U- Albany. It was a great trip the kids had a great time.
Resident Susan Sweeney thanked Don Handerhan for meeting with her and going over the Risk Management Plans for the Village.
Susan asked about the Comprehensive Plan progress.
Resident Sweeney stated after her meeting with Don Handerhan she believes we need to expand the coverage of the Emergency Notification System.
Mayor Grenier replied that she agreed it would be helpful if more people signed up. The Village has it posted on the website, she puts it in her Mayor’s Message and the Village sets-up a table during Village Events like the Village Picnic to try to get more people to sign up.
A motion was made by Trustee Boulet to accept the minutes of the January 23rd, 2019 Board Meeting, seconded by Trustee Harris.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Boulet voting AYE
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
A motion was made by Trustee Harris to approve payment for the following, seconded by Trustee Foley.
WARRANT # 17:
GENERAL totaling $ 42,082.73
WATER totaling $ 65,149.91
SEWER totaling $ 12,483.04
TOTALS $119,715.68
PAYROLL # 18: totaling $ 92,656.73
(01/18/19 – 01/31/19)
ADOPTED:
Trustee Boulet voting AYE
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Bob Dignum from Dignum & Bame Insurance explained the Fire Fighter Cancer Insurance coverage, a discussion followed.
Trustee Boulet made a motion to approve the PenFlex Service Award Program posting for 30 days, seconded by Trustee Harris.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Boulet voting AYE
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Chief Mike Steurer requested that the 2006 Dodge Durango (VIN # 1D4HB48N16F114747) be surplus due to the purchase of new Chief’s car. Trustee Harris made a motion to surplus the 2006 Dodge Durango, seconded by Trustee Foley.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Boulet voting AYE
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Chief Steurer requested the Fire Department to use one fire truck and one chief’s vehicle in the Albany St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 16th, the Watervliet and Maplewood Memorial Day Parades, and the Hudson Valley Convention.
After which Trustee Boulet moved a resolution authorizing the Fire Department the use of one fire truck and one chief’s vehicle in the Albany St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 16th, the Watervliet and Maplewood Memorial Day Parades, and the Hudson Valley Convention, seconded by Trustee Foley.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Boulet voting AYE
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Boulet presented the following resolution authorizing a property tax levy in excess of the limit established in General Municipal Law;
LOCAL LAW # 1 OF THE YEAR 2019
Village of Menands, County of Albany
A local law authorizing a property tax levy in excess of the limit established in General Municipal Law §3-c.
Section 1. Legislative Intent
It is the intent of this local law to allow the Village of Menands to adopt a budget for the fiscal year commencing June 1, 2019 that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the “tax levy limit” as defined by General Municipal Law §3-c.
Section 2. Authority
This local law is adopted pursuant to subdivision 5 of General Municipal Law §3-c, which expressly authorizes a local government’s governing body to override the property tax cap for the coming fiscal year by the adoption of a local law approved by a vote of sixty percent (60%) of said governing body.
Section 3. Tax Levy Limit Override
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands, County of Albany, is hereby authorized to adopt a budget for the fiscal year commencing June 1, 2019 that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the amount otherwise prescribed in General Municipal Law §3-c.
Section 4. Severability
If a court determines that any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, or part of this local law or the application thereof to any person, firm or corporation, or circumstance is invalid or unconstitutional, the court’s order or judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of this local law, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, or part of this local law or in its application to the person, individual, firm or corporation or circumstance, directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment or order shall be rendered.
Section 5. Effective Date
This local law shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State.
The resolution was seconded by Trustee Foley.
A Public Hearing to be scheduled for Monday, February 25th, 2019 at 6:00 P.M.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Boulet voting AYE
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting ABSTAINED
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Chief Frank Lacosse updated the Board on his idea for creating a new position within the Police Department along with Menands School. The new position would be a School Resource Officer.
Chief Lacosse explained the duties this officer would have and the cost involved. A discussion followed.
Mayor Grenier thanked all the Department Heads on how well they work together. The Mayor Grenier advised the Board that she had setup a group text with all the Department Heads.
Mayor Grenier read a letter for Hudson Mohawk Marathon to be held in October.
Mayor Grenier advised the Board that she signed an agreement with Computel Consultants that has gotten a reimbursement from National Grid for $11,038.41 for over payments on street lighting.
The Clerk read the Election Notice:
That two Trustee and the Village Mayor of the Village of Menands are to be elected on Tuesday, June 18th, 2019 for a term of four years each, to commence pursuant to law upon their qualifications and no earlier than Monday, July 1st, 2019.
The Clerk advised the Board that the Town of Colonie Zoning Board will be holding a public hearing at 347 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham on Thursday, February 7th, 2019 at 7:00 P.M. to hear the application for a cell tower for Verizon at 11 Elks Lane, Latham.
A reminder that at the next meeting the Department Heads will be presenting their Budget request.
The Clerk reminded the Board that the next meeting will be Monday, February 25th due to Presidents’ Day Holiday on Monday, February 18th, 2019 and Court on Tuesday, February 19th, 2019.
At 7:08 P.M. Trustee Harris made a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter, seconded by Trustee Foley.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Boulet voting AYE
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
The regular meeting reconvened at 7:40 P.M.
A motion was made by Trustee Harris to adjourn, seconded by Trustee Foley.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Boulet voting AYE
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
The meeting was duly adjourned at 7:40 P.M.
________________
Donald Handerhan
Village Clerk