A Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands, held on Monday, May 11, 2026, was called to order by Mayor Brian Marsh at 6:00 P.M.
PRESENT:
Brian Marsh, Mayor
Molly Harbour, Trustee
Nicholas Kalogridis, Trustee – Virtual
Timothy Lane, Trustee
Lisa Neuman, Trustee – Absent
Donald Handerhan, Village Clerk
Mary Jane Vredenburg, Village Treasurer
Stephen Rehfuss, Village Attorney – Virtual
Also attending: Bill Garvey, Mark Carnegie, Jason Carnegie, Debbie & Dave Teisch, Courtney Jaskula, Jessica & Gavin Klami, Charles Ansert, Barbara Lane, Diane Leonard, Jean Parker, Chuck Price, Christy Johnston, Steve Boulet, Jery Rupper, Kerry Frankin, Diane MacFarland
Virtual attendance: Kathy Mosca, Debra DiBiase, PBA-3 Peg Holland, Dave Ognan, Mike Steurer, Beth Harbour, Mike & Susan MacKay, Rob Jewett, PBA-82, Alison Waldon, Tony Lapari, Paul Harbour, Jon Dudley
The Mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance and stated that this meeting is recorded.
Mayor Marsh gave the following presentation:
It is MY and the board members’ fiduciary responsibility to CONSTANTLY review ways to make the Village of Menands more fiscally responsible. This vote tonight is simply giving our board an option on controlling long-term costs within the police department. This would not be possible without their partnership.
I would like to state a timeline of events regarding the retirement bill #15499-1-6, which we have asked the 2 NYS legislative branches to consider on our behalf.
For the last several months, throughout our 3 budget workshops, and prior to passing our recent 26/27 budget and several other discussions at regular board meetings about the Village of Menands finances, we have both publicly and within our internal discussions of office staff, including police management, been weighing the option to rework our police staffing expenses and job roles. We’ve had several Executive Session discussions about this Tier 2 bill as a possibility over that period.
The next step was to have the bill properly drafted, with Assemblyman Steck’s office carrying the bill in conjunction with Senator Ashby, and once that was done, to submit it to the NYLSRS process, requesting a cost estimate to implement such a possible change (called a fiscal note). That actuarial process took nearly 2 months. They don’t move fast.
I’ve shared with the board the progress on the wording of the bill several times over that period, as well as our options to address different scenarios for our staff members who might benefit from the possible retirement change(s). This also occurred over the last 2-3 months.
On Monday, May 4th• at 10:25am, one week ago, we received the actuarial statement showing what Menands would need to contribute to achieve this retirement change for 2 of our Tier 2 police members. The numbers for the other Tier 2 members also became known, and due to the size of that required contribution, the bill was withdrawn.
That Monday evening. during executive session after our regular board meeting, I shared this information with the board, and we discussed our next possible steps in considering it. The TO DO for our Treasurer and me was to gather information to show if it makes financial sense as the bill continues through its legislative process. Mary Jane and I started to look at that information the next day, Tuesday. We discussed this with our financial consultants and our modeling consultant, Waterworth, at 1 pm on Tuesday, the 5th, and the modeling showed that implementing this plan would yield results over the next 2 fiscal years.
Additionally, that Tuesday morning, Assemblyman Steck’s office notified us that the board would need to authorize the submission of this “Home Rule” legislation before it will be introduced. That is why I immediately discussed holding a special meeting to consider this authorization to submit the bill with the Board members, our attorney, and the Village Clerk. After some discussion among the board members, we agreed that tonight would be the only night when 4 of 5 of us could meet. Counsel, the clerk and I discussed the appropriate wording for this meeting. The meeting notice was posted by the clerk as required by law.
Here we are.
The NYS legislative session ends the week of June 4th.
The purpose of today’s meeting is simply to allow the legislation to be submitted on our behalf.
The bill may not be considered in time before the session ends. The bill may not be passed. The governor may veto the bill. We need to have the opportunity to have this considered as a potential financial option. Time is critical.
I will now read the bill’s exact wording as well as the fiscal note.
Public Comments:
Resident Chuck Price:
Dear Members of the Board of Trustees and Village Clerk Handerhan,
I am writing to express my concerns regarding the Special Meeting scheduled for Monday, May 11th, and the proposed ‘Home Rule’ legislation (Assembly Bill A11279).
First, I am troubled by the lack of transparency in the public notice. Framing the purpose of the meeting as a ‘NYSLRS change for 2 Menands Police Department members’ using technical ‘Home Rule’ jargon effectively buries the lead. Most residents would not realize from this description that the Board is considering a one-time expenditure of $260,000. For a village of our size, a quarter-million-dollar hit to the budget deserves clear, plain-English disclosure.
Second, regarding the legislation itself: while I fully support our police officers receiving the compensation and benefits, they have earned, the financial burden of this specific ‘buy-back’ or service credit change should not fall solely on Menands taxpayers. These officers earned that service time while on the County payroll.
Unless this was an explicitly agreed-upon perk promised by the Village at the time of their hiring, I fail to see why the Village—and not the County—is on the hook for the $260,000 past service cost. I request that the Board reconsider its support of this bill unless the language is amended to shift the financial obligation to the County, where the service was actually performed.
I look forward to hearing the Board’s justification for this expenditure and seeing the cost-benefit analysis at Monday’s meeting.
Sincerely,
Chuck Price
Resident Gene Connors is against doing any early retirement. Should be offered to all employees.
All the residents voiced there concern and disapproval of moving forward. Discussion followed.
After the discussion the Board decided not to take any action.
A motion was made by Trustee Lane to adjourn, seconded by Trustee Harbour.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Neuman voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
The meeting was duly adjourned at 7:32 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 and resolutions and or enacted, and all other procedures had and taken by the Village of Menands Board of Trustees at the regular meeting held on May 11, 2026.
____________________
Donald Handerhan
Village Clerk