At 6 PM on Monday August 17th, 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; Renee Lequire, Bill Nevins, Susan and Michael Mackay, Eric Johnson, Nancy Many, Rebekah Ten Hage, Megan Potine. 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, Chief Frank Lacosse, present Det/Sgt St. Gelais, 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.
Trustee Harris made a motion to accept the minutes of the August 3rd, 2020 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 Marsh to approve payment for the following, seconded by Trustee Nicoll.
WARRANT # 6:
GENERAL totaling $127,916.53
WATER totaling $ 12,435.19
SEWER totaling $ 3,019.50
TOTALS $143,371.22
PARK IMPROVEMENT: totaling $ 1,344.00
PAYROLL # 6: totaling $ 94,096.95
(07/31/20-08/13/20)
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
The Treasurer requests permission to transfer $21,400 from Equipment Savings account A.000.0231 to A.3410.0208 Fire Department Equipment Miscellaneous to pay for the Mobile Radios that were part of the Bond issued last year, we have just received the invoice.
Trustee Marsh moved to authorize the Treasurer to transfer $21,400 from Equipment Savings to A.3410.0208 as requested, 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 Harris, RESOLVED, The Village of Menands will follow the Retention and Disposition Schedule for New York Local Government Records (LGS-1), issued pursuant to Article 57-A of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law, and containing legal minimum retention periods for local government records, is hereby adopted for use by all officers in legally disposing of valueless records listed therein.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that in accordance with Article 57-A:
(a) Only those records will be disposed of that are described in Retention and Disposition Schedule for New York Local Government Records (LGS-1), after they have met the minimum retention periods describe therein;
(b) Only those records will be disposed of that do not have sufficient administrative, fiscal, legal, or historical value to merit retention beyond established legal minimum periods.
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
Mayor Grenier introduced a policy regarding Travel by Employees during COVID-19.
VILLAGE OF MENANDS TRAVEL POLICY DURING COVID-19
On June 24, 2020, in response to increased rates of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission in certain states within the United States, and to protect New York’s successful containment of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), New York State has issued a travel advisory for anyone returning from travel to states that have a significant degree of community-wide spread of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2). Per an Executive Order issued by Governor Andrew Cuomo, the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health issued “Interim Guidance for Quarantine Restrictions on Travelers Arriving in New York State Following Out of State Travel”.
Following NYS DOH Travel Advisory Guidelines, to avoid unnecessary exposure to and spread of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) by employees traveling to states with significant community spread and then returning to the workplace, The Village of Menands adopts the following protocols:
If an employee has traveled from within one of the designated states with significant community spread, as defined by the New York State Department of Health, they must quarantine when entering New York for 14 days from the last travel day within such designated state.
The affected employee will be required to use personal time for the 14-day quarantine period, per Executive Order 202.45, stating, “Any New York State resident who voluntarily travels to a designated state for travel that was not taken as part of the person’s employment or at the direction of the person’s employer, will not be eligible for benefits under New York’s COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) paid sick leave law.”
If an employee becomes symptomatic with COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) during their 14-day quarantine, CDC and DOH guidelines will prevail on treatment and testing protocols. (Interim Guidance for Public and Private Employees Returning to Work Following COVID-19 Infection or Exposure). If the employee is unable to return to work due to illness unrelated to COVID-19 at the end of the mandatory quarantine period, their regular sick leave protocols will apply.
Due to the nature of some positions in the Village, the possibility may exist that an employee in quarantine due to travel, may be recalled to return to work before the 14-day quarantine is completed. If such an employee is deemed critical for the operation or safety of the Village, upon a documented determination by their supervisor and in consultation with appropriate state and local health authorities, the exposed, asymptomatic employee may return to work so long as the employee adheres to the DOH guidance for Quarantine Restrictions on Traveler Arriving in NYS following Out of State Travel.
Exceptions to the travel advisory are permitted for essential workers (those workers included in the Empire State Development Essential Business Listing). Essential workers who have traveled to restricted states should seek diagnostic testing for COVID-19 as soon as possible upon arrival to New York State to ensure they are not positive. The employee will remain out of work until negative test results have been received and documented, using personal time while awaiting test results per Executive Order 202.45. Upon return to work, the essential worker shall take all safety precautions, including having temperature taken each morning prior to entering the workplace, wearing a mask at all times throughout the work day, social distance where possible and clean and disinfecting workspaces.
The designated states with significant community spread will be conspicuously posted on the DOH website and will be updated weekly. Please check the site frequently as the information will change as often as daily, as rates of COVID-19 transmission increase or decrease. Village of Menands employees are encouraged to avoid travel to these designated states. Following NYS and DOH guidelines this protocol is subject to change.
A motion was made by Trustee Marsh to approve Village of Menands Travel during COVID-19 Policy, 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
Mayor Grenier read a letter of support for 35 Broadway Solider On Project:
August 17, 2020
RuthAnne Visnauskas
Commissioner and CEO
NYS Homes and Community Renewal
641 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10022
RE: Veterans Housing Project- 35 Broadway, Village of Menands, Albany County
Dear Commissioner Visnauskas:
I am writing on behalf of the Village of Menands Board of Trustees in support of the upcoming application to your agency for capital funding for the proposed veterans housing project in the Village of Menands, Albany County. The proposed project will provide a valuable service to Veterans in the Village and surrounding region and, as designed, will complement the Village’s built environment.
As proposed, the project supports the Village’s long-range vision for the Broadway Corridor as outlined in the recently adopted Comprehensive Plan. Extensive public input on the Comprehensive Planning process indicated wide support for infill development and a desire for a diversity of housing in this portion of the Village. The proposed project will also leverage and support ridership on a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route in the Village, which in turn will promote additional transportation choices for Village residents.
The project has secured local zoning approvals (pending technical review of the Site Plan drawings by municipal engineers) and has completed SEQRA procedures. Beacon Communities, the project developer and manager, have proven to be a responsive and informative applicant and have thus far complied with local zoning and design criteria. Based on the applicant’s amenable conduct throughout the approvals process, it is anticipated that the final Site Plan Review process will be straightforward.
Beacon Communities, has provided numerous other high-quality developments in the region and their partner Soldier On has been providing supportive services to veterans in Albany County for several years, including support and transitional services to veterans incarcerated in the Albany County Jail in partnership with Sherriff Craig Apple.
Please give this funding request consideration.
Sincerely,
Mayor Megan Grenier
Trustee Marsh made a motion to approve the Letter of Support the 35 Broadway Project and to authorize Mayor Grenier to sign the Letter of Support, 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 Clerk reminded the Board that the next Village Board Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8th, 2020 due to the Labor Day Holiday on Monday. The meeting will be held in the Village Hall due to conflict with Court on the same date and time.
The Clerk advised the Board he will be on Vacation Thursday, August 20th to Sunday, August 23rd.
Trustee Marsh inquired about the status of the Quiet Zone. Eric Johnson advised the Board that the paving is complete, stripping is complete and signs are up but there are some corrections to be completed.
After everyone agrees that the railroad crossing is correct the Federal Railroad Administration will inspect. A discussion followed.
Trustee Harris introduced two of the interns Rebekah Ten Hage and Megan Potine. The interns gave an update on what they have been working on. The interns are scheduled to give their final report at the Board Meeting on Tuesday, September 8th.
Mayor Grenier congratulated Officer John Murphy for his 25 Years of Service to the Village of Menands as a Police Officer.
At 6:19 P.M. Trustee Harris made a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss a Personnel issue, 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 regular meeting reconvened at 6:38 P.M.
After Executive Session Mayor Grenier appointed Det/Sgt Ryan St. Gelais to the position of Lieutenant for the Menands Police Department. The appointment is contingent on approval by Albany County Civil Service. His position will be effective as of August 28, 2020.
Trustee Nicoll made a motion to approve the appointment of Ryan St. Gelais to the position of Lieutenant, 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 Harris to adjourn, seconded by Trustee Marsh.
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 6:43 P.M.
_________________
Donald Handerhan
Village Clerk