nextstep Meeting Minutes After Executive Session The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands was held on Monday, November 20 th , 2023, and was called to order by Mayor Marsh at 6:00 PM. PRESENT: Brian Marsh, Mayor Molly Harbour, Trustee Seth H. Harris, Trustee Nicholas Kalogridis, Trustee Timothy Lane, Trustee Donald Handerhan, Village Clerk Stephen Rehfuss, Village Attorney Chief Ryan St. Gelais, Menands Police Lt. Kevin Schwebke, Menands Police David Ognan, Fire Chief Also attending: Bill Garvey, Michael & Susan Mackay, Katelyn Kelley, Nathan Girard, Ben Girard, Cindy & Chuck Price, Steve Boulet, Lisa Newman, Courtney Jaskula, Bill Nevins, Brendon Davis, Laura Harbour. Virtual attending: Beth Harbour, Kathy Mosca, M Grard, Peg Holland, Jen Canavo, Joe Jenkins. The Mayor advised the meeting is being recorded and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Public Hearing Mayor Marsh opened the Public Hearing for the purpose of a Special Use Permit for a Cannabis Dispensary at 442 Broadway at 6:00 PM. The Clerk read to following: Public Hearings will be held on Monday, November 20, 2023, at 6:00 P.M. in the Village Municipal Building at 250 Broadway for the purpose of a Special Use Permit for a Cannabis Dispensary at 442 Broadway. Such public hearings are open to the public and accessible to people with disabilities. All are encouraged to attend and comment at or to present comments in writing to Clerk Handerhan before noon on November 20, 2023, at email hidden; JavaScript is required. You may attend the Public Hearing in person in the Village Hall second floor of 250 Broadway or via the Google Meets link: meet.google.com/mre-txbp-btk or join by phone (US) +1 401-646-0768 PIN: 541 841 494# A copy of the permit application is available to view at the Village Office. The regular Board meeting to follow. Nate, and Ben Girard gave a presentation of their proposed Cannabis Dispensary at 442 Broadway. The Girard Bothers answered the following questions: Mike Mackay who will be managing the dispensary? In the beginning one of the brothers will be onsite. What about security? They never had a police incident at the dispensary in Pittsfield. There are forty-two cameras inside and outside the building. Where does your product come from? Nate Girard must be from New York State. Cindy Price, what will be your hours of operation? By law we can only be open 70 hours a week, we will follow whatever the Village agrees to. Can another dispensary come into the Village? No because of state mandated separations and restrictions. Bill Garvey how many employees? 30 to 40 employees. Laura Harbour how far does your cameras show? There is 100% coverage out to the street. Hearing no further comments Mayor Marsh closed the Public Hearing at 6.42 PM. Resolution Number 240102 Trustee Harris made a motion to accept the minutes of the November 6 th , 2023, Board Meeting, seconded by Trustee Lane. ADOPTED: Trustee Harbour voting AYE Trustee Harris voting AYE Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE Trustee Lane voting AYE Mayor Marsh voting AYE Resolution Number 240103 Trustee Harbour made a motion to approve payment for the following, seconded by Trustee Harris. WARRANT # 12: GENERAL totaling $ 85,419.53 WATER totaling $ 7,347.31 SEWER totaling $ .00 TOTALS $ 92,766.84 PAYROLL # 12: totaling $116,778.48 (10/20/23-11/03/23) PAYROLL # 13: totaling $130,180.43 (11/04/20-11/16/23) TOTALS $246,958.91 ADOPTED: Trustee Harbour voting AYE Trustee Harris voting AYE Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE Trustee Lane voting AYE Mayor Marsh voting AYE Mayor Marsh advised the Board LaBella is still working with 50-56A Clifford Road, it should be ready for December 4th , 2023. Hello Mayor and Trustees, I am writing to once again request the Board publicly express their opinions around the project at 50-56 Clifford Ave. This project affects the community and during multiple months of public hearings and board meetings, there has been only one resident who voiced support of this apartment complex addition on this over crowed street. While multiple residents, on multiple occasions have voiced their opposition. Neither the zoning board, nor LaBella approve projects in the Village. The elected officials who are supposed to conduct business in public at public meetings approve or deny building projects. Where are the discussions around how the Board feels about the project? The only discussion that has taken place in public has been the placement of the dumpster. The community’s right to witness and observe the decision making process has not happened with this project. It can only be assumed that emails, phone calls and texts about how each member of the Board feels has taken place. Although the public will never know as the Board does not release communications that happen behind closed doors. How can you continue with a project if the majority of the people who are affected are against it? The community has not heard why the Board is continuing with preliminary site approval. The community does not want an expanded apartment complex from owners who do not currently take care of property. The owners are looking to have LaBella waive items in approval process. That cannot be the direction the Board wants to move in. How does approving this project this align with the vision of the Village? I am asking that each Board member to express their opinion in open meeting, so the community knows how the comprehensive plan and vision of the community are being addressed. Thank you, William Nevins, Wolfert Ave. Community Member Mayor Marsh explained the Site Plan Process. That if a property is in the proper zone the Village does not have the right to deny the Site Plan, It is against the law. Just because a resident disapproves of what is going on at a property it is not grounds to deny the Site Plan. There was a discussion regarding the dispensary at 442 Broadway. Trustee Harbour asked what nonprofits does Bloom Brothers work with? Nate Girard gave examples of who they work with in Pittsfield. Trustee Harbour asked about recruitment for employees. Nate said they collaborate with an agent to recruit, and the employees are trained in house to get their license. A discussion followed. Mayor Marsh led a discussion regarding Health Insurance for the Village Employees. Discussion followed. Resolution Number 240104 After the discussion Trustee Lane made a motion to approve the CDPHP Gold Health Insurance Plan, seconded by Trustee Harbour. ADOPTED: Trustee Harbour voting AYE Trustee Harris voting AYE Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE Trustee Lane voting AYE Mayor Marsh voting AYE Mayor Marsh and Trustee Harbour led a discussion regarding candidates for Advisory Committee for Fusion Recovery which will be determined on December 4th , 2023. Mayors Report: The Holiday Train will arrive at 3:45 P.M. and the Show will start at 4:00 P.M. and end at 4:30 P.M. Menands Road and Tillinghast Avenue will be closed. There will be parking at Kasselman Electric at 279 Broadway. Busses will go to DOT Garage; food bank donations will be collected at that time. The Village Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony is scheduled for December 3rd at 4:00 P.M. Battle Ready Baseball is moving to the front of the building at 90 Broadway. Mailworks is moving into the Bloomberg Building from Albany and is bringing in ninety employees. Riverview Center is looking to develop 179 Broadway. Riverview Center is getting new tenants starting to fill their available empty spaces. Shipology at Riverview Center is expanding. Working with Fire Chief to update the Fire Chief Vehicle Agreement. Mayor Marsh gave the Board a copy of the letter that will be sent to the residents regarding Solar Simplified. There are campaign signs still out and the mayor is asking DPW to remove them. Mayor Marsh advised that Albany County IDA will be holding a Public Hearing on November 29th at 7:00 P.M. in the Village Hall. A discussion followed. Mayor Marsh advised that Hoffman’s will be adopting Van Rensselaer Blvd for the Adopt a Highway. A discussion followed. Trustee Report: Trustee Harbour: All food and money donations from the Holiday Train will go to Sacred Heart Food Pantry. Trustee Harris: Gave an update on the Menorah Lighting on December 11, 2023, at 5:00 P.M. Mayor Marsh and Chief St. Gelais advised the Board that Logan Alaxanian is leaving to go to the Colonie Police in December. The Mayor, Chief St. Gelais and Lt. Schwebke interviewed two people to fill the position. Cody Bell was chosen to replace Logan Alaxanian. A discussion followed. Resolution Number 240105 After a discussion Trustee Harbour made a motion to approve Cody Bell for the position of Police Officer to start at Step 3 and begin work on December 4th , 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 Fire Chief Ognan advised the Board that the Rensselaer Police are going to look at the fire chief vehicle to purchase. A discussion followed. Chief Ognan advised the Board that the fire department received a $12,000.00 grant to purchase Bail Out Systems for the Fire Department. A discussion followed. Ruben Hull and Lauren Paulson from LaBella gave an update on the High Service Reservoir. A discussion followed. Resolution Number 240106 After the discussion Trustee Harris made a motion to approve the change order for the High Service Reservoir, at $83,694.84, seconded by Trustee Lane. ADOPTED: Trustee Harbour voting AYE Trustee Harris voting AYE Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE Trustee Lane voting AYE Mayor Marsh voting AYE Ruben Hull advised the Board that LaBella is working on a new sewer contract with Colonie. A discussion followed. Ruben Hull updated the Board that they are almost ready to go out to bid for south end water and sewer replacement. A discussion followed. The Clerk advised that the 2023-2024 Delinquent Taxes have been sent to Albany County for Collection. Sgt. Stark gave an update regarding Toys for Tots donations. The Police and Fire Department will also be accepting toys on different dates. There will be donation bins at the Village Office and Lobby of the Police Department. A discussion followed. General Comments: TO: All Members Village Board Members FROM: Bill Garvey Jr. I got important Village items as follows: He was glad the PD door replacement has been completed. He is happy Donald Handerhan has been rehired for another 4 years. He supports the agreement between MP and Menands School for camera system access. He hopes MPD and Village Board will successfully work out a deal to hire a dispatcher for the midnight shift. He is concerned about the condition of 559 Broadway. He is glad that the brush, weeds, and vines have been clear from sign on E Kenmar Road. He reported a door open at 13 Menand Rd to the MPD. He is requesting DPW replace dead end and street signs because they are in poor condition. He thanked the Village Clerk regarding dog bit which he reported to Colonie Town Clerks Office. He is concerned about red sign light needing repairs on Broadway and Brookside Ave. He is concerned about the condition of properties in the south end. He feels they should be charged fines, surcharges plus 48 to 66 days of community service. He is frustrated that the Little League restrooms cannot be repaired due to NYS release grant money. He wanted to thank DPW for replacing the soap in men’s room by pavilion. He found a car/house key on Brookside Avenue property and turned it over to MPS. Steve Boulet asked when the black streetlights are going to be repaired? The Clerk advised waiting on electrician should be next week. Chuck Price still believes that a Medical Facility is not a Professional Building. Chuck asked the status of the grocery store. A discussion followed. Laura Harbour asked if there has been any discussion to replace the reservoir? A discussion followed. Courtney Jaskula advised the Board that Menands School will be holding a Public Hearing for 10% tax exemption for fire fighters. A discussion followed. At 8:12 P.M. Trustee Harris made a motion to enter Executive Session to discuss a legal contract and personnel matters, seconded by Trustee LANE. ADOPTED: Trustee Harbour voting AYE Trustee Harris voting AYE Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE Trustee Lane voting AYE Mayor Marsh voting AYE The regular meeting reconvened at 8:42 P.M. Trustee Harris made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Trustee Harbour. 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 8:42 P.M. _______________________ Donald Handerhan Village Clerk
Village Board Meeting Monday, May 6th, 2024 The Menands Village Board Meeting will be held on Monday, May 6, 2024 in the Village Municipal Building located second floor at 250 Broadway. To... READ MORE
