The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands was held on Monday, March 18th, 2024, and called to order by Mayor Brian Marsh at 6:00 P.M.

PRESENT:
Brian Marsh, Mayor
Molley Harbour, Trustee
Seth H. Harris, Trustee
Nicholas Kalogridis, Trustee
Timothy Lane, Trustee
Donald Handerhan, Village Clerk
William T Smith, Jr., Village Treasurer
Stephen Rehfuss, Village Attorney
Lt. Kevin Schwebke, Menands Police

ABSENT:

Chief David Ognan, Menands Fire Dept.

Also attending: Bill Garvey, Matt Rogers, LaBella Assoc., Mike & Susan Mackay, Mark Carnegie, Susan Sweeney, Courtney Jaskula.

Attending Virtually: Kathy Mosca, Catherine Sheridan, Carol Darmetko, Val Parker, Beth Harbour, Susan Clemente.

The Mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance and advised that this meeting is being recorded.

Resolution Number: 240184

Trustee Harbour made a motion to accept the minutes of the March 4th, 2024, Board Meeting, seconded by Trustee Kalogridis.

ADOPTED:

Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE

Resolution Number: 240185

Trustee Harbour made a motion to accept the minutes of the March 6th, 2024, Budget Workshop Minutes, seconded by Trustee Kalogridis.

ADOPTED:

Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE

Resolution Number: 240186

Trustee Lane made a motion to approve payment for the following, seconded by Trustee Harbour.

WARRANT # 20:

GENERAL totaling $65,276.85
WATER totaling $ 9,206.47
SEWER totaling $            .00
TOTALS $74,483.32

VOID CHECK # 24209              -$2,171.78   DUPLICATE PAYMENT

PAYROLL #21: totaling $ 96,741.05
(02/23/24-03/07-24)

ADOPTED:

Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE

The Clerk advised the Board that Mayor has presented Preliminary Budget. Copies of the Preliminary Budget will be available in the Village Office Tomorrow and will be on the Website in the morning.

Treasurer Smith advised the Board there can be no changes to Budget until after the Public Hearing. After that, any changes must be by resolution.

The Mayor advised changes to the Budget and that the tax increase is 2.51%.

Matt Rodgers from LaBella led a discussion regarding Albany Rural Cemetery zoning change. Discussion followed.

Resolution Number: 240187

At a meeting of the Village Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands (“Village Board”), held.
at 250 Broadway on the 18th day of March 2024, at 6:00 p.m., Trustee Lane entered.
seconded by Harbour, moved the following resolution, to introduce the following.
proposed local law, to be known as “Proposed Local Law 2 of 2024, of the Village of Menands,
Amending the Village of Menands Zoning Map, Chapter 169 of the Village Code, by Rezoning
Tax Map Parcels 44.14-1-1 and 44.14-2-1.”
BE IT ENACTED by the Village Board of the Village of Menands, the Village of Menands Zoning
Map, Chapter 169 of the Village Code is amended as follows:
Section 1. Zoning Map Amendment as indicated on Exhibit 1 and described below:
Tax Map Parcel: 44.14-1-1. To be rezoned from Single-Family Residential (R1) to Cemetery (C).
The parcel is currently owned by the Albany County Rural Cemetery with the current land use.
being a cemetery as part of the surrounding Albany County Rural Cemetery. No residential uses
exist on the subject parcel. The intent of the proposed rezoning is to bring the parcel’s zoning in
in line with the current land use.
Tax Map Parcel 44.14-2-1. To be rezoned from Single Family Residential (R1) to Broadway
Business District (BBD). The parcel is currently owned by Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation
and currently used for electric transmission purposes. No residential uses exist for the subject.
parcel. The intent of the proposed rezoning is to bring the parcel’s zoning in line with the
current land use.
Section 2. If any section of this local law shall be held unconstitutional, invalid, or ineffective, in
whole or in part, such determination shall not be deemed to affect, impair, or invalidate the
remainder of this local law.
Section 3. This local law shall take effect ten (10) days following publication and posting in
accordance with Chapter 169, Article 17, “Amendments” of the Menands Village Code and
Village Law § 7-708 and filing of the local law with the secretary of State in accordance with
Article 3 of the Municipal Home Rule Law.
WHEREAS, on March 18, 2024, Mayor Marsh has introduced this local law for the Village of
Menands, to be known as “Proposed Local Law of the Village of Menands, Amending the Village
of Menands Zoning Map, Chapter 169 of the Village Code, by Rezoning Tax Map Parcels 44.14-
1-1 and 44.14-2-1.”
WHEREAS, pursuant to General Municipal Law § 239-m, Village Law § 7-706, and Chapter 169,
Article 17, “Amendments” of the Menands Village Code, the matter must be referred to the
Albany County Planning Board and to the Town of Colonie.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York, it will be.
necessary to hold a public hearing upon this law.
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved, by the members of the Menands Village Board, as follows:
(1) That a public hearing be held in relation to the proposed local law at which hearing
parties of interest and citizens shall have the opportunity to be heard, to be held at 250
Broadway, in the Village of Menands, New York, on April 15th, 2024, and a notice of
said hearing shall be published in the official newspaper of general circulation in the
Village of Menands, by the Village Clerk, at least ten (10) days before such a hearing.
(2) The Local Law and public hearing notice shall be referred to the Albany County Planning
Board and Town of Colonie Town Clerk.

ADOPTED:

Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE

Mayor Marsh led a discussion regarding the Village’s Social Media Policy. Discussion followed.

The Mayor informed the Board that the Menands Village Court has been awarded $25,000 from the J-Cap Grant.

The work to be done at the Court: To refurbish the Ladies Room

The Clerk advised that Electronic Record Keeping has begone. Discussion followed.

The Clerk advised that the Railroad Crossing Striping will be completed by the beginning of April.

Mayor’s Report:

• Update on 37 Simmons Lane, 236 Broadway, 431 Broadway, 45 Broadway
• Hutton Street Park
• Treasurer’s Position
• Solar Simplified update
• The Youth Easter Parade will be on Sunday, March 24th, 2024, from 1:30 P.M. to 3:30 P.M. and will be held in the Village Hall at 250 Broadway.
• Ganser Smith Park Bathroom renovations update.
• The black streetlights along Broadway are waiting on parts.

Trustee’s Report:

Harbour: School Play Friday and Saturday

Lane: Earth Day 4/20/24. – Little River Project meeting Wednesday, 3/20/24 at the office.

General Comments:

Steve Boulet:

I know some of these items were discussed in the 3/4/2024 meeting but we need more information on the improvement plans:

1.  Timeline for when the Village will smell better than a dump or a sewer. The nice weather is coming, and it would be nice to be able to open windows or sit outside the homes we pay taxes on without potentially gagging.
2. What is the Village doing or what can the residents do to force the owner of 444 Broadway to make his parcel presentable? We have laws on the books for residents to maintain their properties and the Businesses should also comply. The Village not only smells like a dump, but it also looks like one as well.
3. Update the alternate parking plans to ensure all the streets are treated equally. Again, as we move into the nicer weather, kids and families will be out and about more. Our current lack of consistency with alternate parking makes navigating some streets a danger. Besides the danger to pedestrians, there is no way our Emergency response Vehicles and Buses can safely navigate all our roads.
4. I know one of the things our current Major ran on when he became a Trustee was to eliminate waste and not raise taxes. With all the initiatives that have been put in place over the last 4 years can we be provided with an update on how they have impacted or reduced the tax burden for the residents?

Thanks
Steve Boulet

Chuck Price the Village should investigate the possibility of putting filters on social media.

Mike Mackay asked if the Budget can be downloaded? The Clerk advised yes; it is a PDF.

Cindy Price stated she saw two golf carts being removed from 434 Broadway.

Susan Sweeney will there be invites going out for Earth Day. Trustee Lane stated it will be in the Activities, Website and Facebook.

Scott Hobson was happy that the Village is looking into putting playground equipment on Hutton Street Park. A discussion followed.

TO: All Menands Village Board Members
FROM: Bill Garvey Jr

To:  All Menands Village Board Members
FROM: Bill Garvey Jr.

I got several important Village items as follows:

1. I support most budget requests from all departments.
2. He supports the housing project at 35 Broadway for Veterans.
3. He supports reducing the speed limit from 30 to 25 MPH on most Village Streets.
4. He thanked Chery Lyon for notarizing papers for his mom’s estate.
5. He favors the Nuisance Law, proposes fines, surcharges, & community service for all violations.
6. He found a key on No Lyons Ave which he turned over to the police.
7. He continues to oppose Village Overriding the 2% Tax Cap.
8. He observed several street markers on Broadway & Harts Ln lighted up during the day.
9. He moved a dress back on Clifford Rd to prevent accidents.
10. He made 2 proposals at Menands Library (a) repair the parking lot, (b) hire additional staff so the library can stay open longer.
11. Red marker lights at firehouse to connect es essential Village Public Services.
12. He wrote to Transport Minister of Canada with proposal for Quiet Zones in localities along railway in Canada.
13. Remove tree at water plant blocking markers connected to utility pole #9.
14. Reluctantly supports approval of site plan for the Menands Humane Society, supports decision to repair north & south parts of Oakland Ave.

Trustee Harbour made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Trustee Harris.

ADOPTED:

Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE

The meeting was duly adjourned at 6:35 P.M.

_________________
Donald Handerhan
Village Clerk

 

 

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