At 6:00 PM on Monday, April 5th, 2021 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 6:00 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, Renee Lequire, Bill Nevins, John Stangle, Eric Johnson. 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 Diane Foley, present, Trustee Brian Marsh, present, Clerk Don Handerhan, 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 officer’s 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. Governor Cuomo has extended executive order number 202.1 through April 27th, 2021.
OVERRIDE 2% TAX CAP PUBLIC HEARING
Mayor Grenier opened the Public Hearing and explained the Overriding the 2% Tax Cap.
The Clerk Read the following statement: A Public Hearing for Board Members will be held by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands vis Google Meet meet.google.com/bsy-ftox-ezayjm or by phone 1 617 675-4444 PIN: 248 565 362 2453# for the Village on Monday, April 5th, 2021 at 6:00 P.M. for a purposed Local Law # 1 of 2021 Tax Cap Override authorizing a property tax levy in excess of the limit established in General Municipal Law §3-c with the regular meeting to follow. Such public hearings are open to the public to present comments.
The following made comments regarding Overriding the 2% Tax Cap:
Bill Nevins asked if the Village knows what the accrual Tax Cap amount will be for the Village?
Mayor Grenier advised The tax cap is a percentage developed by the state to calculate how much the Village is authorized to raise the tax levy without overriding. This year the amount the Tax Levy that could be raised by the Village was just over $30,000. With increases in the Retirement payments to the State of approximately $86,000 and Health insurance costs increases of just over 4% and raises for Village employees of 2% or more, we need to override the Tax Cap to maintain the level of services provided to our residents and businesses.
Hearing all comments Mayor Grenier closed the Public Hearing at 6:05 P.M.
A motion was made by Trustee Harris to approve the minutes of the March 15th, 2021 Board Meeting, 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
A motion was made by Trustee Foley to approve payment for the following, seconded by Trustee Marsh.
WARRANT # 21:
GENERAL totaling $ 93,944.51
WATER totaling $ 1,859.71
SEWER totaling $151,216.50
TOTALS $247,020.72
PAYROLL # 22: totaling $100,560.59
(03/12/21-03/25/21)
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 Marsh, seconded by Trustee Harris, to accept
the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the Treasurer be, and hereby is, authorized to make the following Budget Transfers
Account Account
From Acct: A.1990.0400 To Acct: A.3120.0201
Description Contingent Account Police Computer/Software
Amount: $3,500.00 $1,000.00
From Acct: ” To Acct: A.3120.0208
Description ” Police Equipment/Misc.
Amount: ” $2,500.00
From Acct: A.3120.0103 To Acct: A.3120.0105
Description Police – Fulltime Patrol Police Overtime
Amount: $3,000.00 $2,000.00
From Acct: ” To Acct: A.3120.0107
Description ” Police – DWI Patrol
Amount: ” $1,000.00
WATER FUND
From Acct: F. 1910.0400 To Acct: F.8320.0103
Description Contingent Account Laborers
Amount: $10,000.00 $10,000.00
Approved:
Trustee Foley Voted – Aye
Trustee Harris Voted – Aye
Trustee Marsh Voted – Aye
Trustee Nicoll Voted – Aye
Mayor Grenier Voted – Aye
Trustee Marsh made a motion to approve the Local Law # 1 of 2021 Tax Cap Override, 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
Trustee Nicoll made a motion to approve the 2020 LOSAP, 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
Trustee Marsh made a motion to renew the one-year preventative maintenance contract beginning May 1st, 2021 to April 30, 2022 for both 250 and 280 Broadway to Dwight Plumbing and Heating in the amount of $4,275.00, 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
Mayor Grenier advised the Board that the Village is applying for a Sam’s Grant for $125,000.00. Eric Johnson from Chazen Companies explained that the Sam’s Grant is almost complete. The Sam’s Grant will replace the current Basketball Court and will install a grinder pump for the lower bathrooms and to connect to the sanitary sewer. A discussion followed.
Mayor Grenier advised the Board that Trustee Marsh, Code Enforcement Officer Lyle Darmetko attended a meeting with the City of Albany regarding vacant buildings. Trustee Marsh explained the procedures that the City of Albany goes through to register vacant buildings. A discussion followed.
Trustee Harris gave an update on the Story Walk that should be ready by the end of May. A discussion followed.
The Clerk reminded the Board that on Monday, April 12th, 2021 at 6:00 P.M. will be the Budget Hearing.
A motion was made by Trustee Harris to adjourn, 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
The meeting was duly adjourned at 6:22 P.M.
____________________
Donald Handerhan
Village Clerk