At 6 PM on Monday August 3rd, 2020 Mayor Meg Grenier read the following statement: this is the Village of Menands Board of Trustees, semi-monthly meeting. I am Mayor Meg Grenier and as it is 6 o’clock, I will call this meeting to order. For anyone outside the village staff who is attending this video conference, I would ask if you would please identify yourselves; Mike & Susan Mackay, Renee Lequire, Frank Lacosse, Megan Pontin, Natalie Saviolc, Rebekah Ten Hgon, Wes Porter. The Mayor asked them to mute their microphones.
Mayor Grenier then did a roll call of Village staff; Deputy Mayor Aileen Nicoll, present, Trustee Seth Harris, present, Trustee Brian Marsh, present, Trustee Diane Foley, present, Clerk Don Handerhan, present, Village Attorney Steve Rehfuss, present, Paul Reuss, MS-4 Officer, present. On behalf of the Village Board I would ask all residents that we please keep our First Responders, all essential workers and those affected by this pandemic in our thoughts and prayers.
Pursuant to Governor Cuomo’s executive order number 202.1 issued on March 13th, 2020: Suspending article 7 of the public officers law, to the extent necessary to permit any Public body to meet, and take such actions authorized by law that allowed the public to not be physically present at the meeting, but allow the public to listen to or view such meetings via teleconference call or video conference, while recording and later transcribing of the meeting. Village of Menands Board of Trustees semi-monthly meeting is being held via Google Meets video conference to protect Public Safety and Welfare during this COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to conduct this meeting effectively we asked those in attendance to please mute your microphone during the meeting. As we are conducting only essential business during tonight’s meeting, there will be no public comment. Any comments previously submitted to Clerk Handerhan prior to the meeting and deemed essential will be read into the record.
A motion was made by Trustee Foley to accept the minutes of the July 20th, 2020 Board Meeting, second by Trustee Harris.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
A motion was made by Trustee Nicoll to approve payment for the following, seconded by Trustee Marsh.
WARRANT # 5:
GENERAL totaling $ 87,716.30
WATER totaling $ 8,128.83
SEWER totaling $ 8,915.99
TOTALS $104,761.12
PARK IMPROVEMENT: totaling $ 862.50
PAYROLL # 5: totaling $108,409.60
(07/17/20-07/30/20)
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
There was a discussion regarding errors with faulty water meter/records and the resulting meter readings and the ensuing water/sewer bills for the period November 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020.
Trustee Marsh offered the following resolutions:
WHEREAS, Water and Sewer Acct #510001002 for 12 Wolfert Avenue in the amount of $780.00 was based on a wrong meter head installed
NOW THEREFORE, be it
RESOLVED, that a total of $332.83 be deducted from the original water roll total for the period November 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020.
RESOLVED, that a total of $149.76 be deducted from the original sewer roll total for the period November 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
WHEREAS, Water and Sewer Acct #5100001010 21 Wolfert Avenue in the amount of $1,459.72 was based upon an input error for the November 2019 reading.
NOW THEREFORE, be it
RESOLVED, that a total of $801.26 be deducted from the original water roll total for the period November 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020,
NOW THEREFORE, be it
RESOLVED, that a total of $360.55 be deducted from the original sewer roll total for the period November 1, 2019 to April 30, 2020.
The above resolutions were seconded by Trustee Nicoll.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting ABSTAINED
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
MS-4 Officer Reuss led a discussion regarding the annual dues to the Stormwater Coalition of Albany County. A discussion followed.
Trustee Marsh made a motion to approve a resolution paying the Village of Menands Annual Dues to the Stormwater Coalition of Albany, County in the amount of $9,500.00, seconded by Trustee Nicoll.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Clerk advised the Board that Chief Steurer requests to purchase 3 sets of Turnout Gear that was budgeted for, as part of the annual replacement policy. The cost would be $10,095.21 under state contract.
Trustee Marsh made a motion to purchase 3 sets of Turnout Gear for the Fire Department from MES at a cost of $10,095.21 under state contract, seconded by Trustee Harris.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Chief Lacosse led a discussion regarding the appointment of Michael Case from Part Time to Full Time Police Officer due to resignation of a Full Time Officer.
Trustee Harris made a motion approving the appointment of Michael Case from part time to full time Police Officer, seconded by Trustee Foley.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Chief Lacosse Led a discussion regarding the Governor’s Executive Order 302 that requires a revamp of all Policies and Procedures for the Police Department. 203 requires additional training a discussion followed.
Governor’s Executive Order 302 needs to be completed by April 2021 if not completed and approved the Village will not receive and NYS Grants.
Trustee Marsh led a discussion regarding the Next Amp Solar Program that will allow the Village of Menands to purchase solar electric that will lower the Village’s electric bills. A discussion followed.
Trustee Marsh made a motion to enter into an agreement with Next Amp Solar Program that will lower the Village electric bills by 10%, seconded by Trustee Nicoll.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Marsh asked the Clerk for an update on the Bike Connector.
The Clerk advised that the tunnel has been installed, they are working on the path and will repave the ramps. They are scheduled to be completed by the first week in September.
Trustees Harris and Marsh introduced the interns who have been working on research for the Village. Each intern gave a report regarding what they have been researching. A discussion followed.
The Mayor read a memo to the Village Board from Bill Garvey
I like to thank our DPW crew for getting the following done:
- Removal of brush, weeds & plants from wooden guide rails. Inside, outside & around both dugout in Ganser-Smith Park.
- Removal of plants, weeds & bush from most red fire hydrants so far.
- As always, our DPW crew do an excellent job in performing their duties the best they can.
- I glad to see that the majority of private home owners mow their lawns although there are a few private home owners fail to mow their lawns.
- I request that our Village Board enact & enforce a Village Law requiring all private property owners now their laws every 7 or 8 days just like it is done in the Village of Scotia.
A motion was made by Trustee Marsh to adjourn, seconded by Trustee Nicoll.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
The meeting was duly adjourned at 6:35 P.M.
____________________________
Donald Handerhan
Village Clerk