At 6:00 PM on Monday, December20th, 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, Eric Johnson, Renee Lequire, Bill Nevins, Isabel Smrstik, Sal Rajput, Dave Ingalls, Mike Weaver, Barb St. Gelais, Susan Harris, Amy Velez, CGI. The mayor asked them to mute their microphones.
Mayor Grenier then did a roll call of Village staff: Deputy Mayor Seth Harris, present, Trustee Foley, absent, Trustee Brian Marsh, present, Trustee Timothy Lane, present, Clerk Don Handerhan, present, Village Attorney Steve Rehfuss, present, Code Enforcement Officer Lyle Darmetko, present, Lt Ryan St Gelais, Intern Anika Fisher, 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.
On September 2nd, 2021 Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation (S.50001/A.40001) extending virtual access to public meetings under New York State’s Open Meetings Law, which allows New Yorkers to virtually participate in local government meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation which was initially implemented by Executive Order during last year’s State of Emergency, allows state and local government meetings that are normally held in person to be held remotely instead, as long as the public has the ability to view or listen to the meeting and as long as the meeting is recorded and later transcribed. This statutory change will reduce the need for congregation at public meetings while the Delta variant is prevalent, while ensuring public business can continue.
Public Hearing for Special Use Permit 5 Elmwood Apartments
There will be a Public Hearing regarding a Special Use Permit for 5 Elmwood Apartments set for Monday, December 20, 2021 at 6:00 P.M. Such public hearings are open to the public and you can attend via Google Meets.
Mayor Grenier opened the Public Hearing regarding a Special Use Permit for 5 Elmwood Apartments.
Bill Nevins is not in favor of the 5 Elmwood Apartments Project for the following reasons:
1) Misrepresented information
2) Adding more apartments will not entice more businesses to open in the Village
3) Not enough funding
4) Wants the Board to not approve the Special Use Permit
Hearing all comments Mayor Grenier closed the hear at 6:05 PM
A motion was made by Trustee Harris to accept the minutes of the December 6th, 2021 Board Meeting, seconded by Trustee Lane.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley ABSENT
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
A motion was made by Trustee Marsh to approve payment for the following, seconded by Trustee Harris.
WARRANT # 14:
GENERAL totaling $ 99,568.49
WATER totaling $ 13,186.86
SEWER totaling $ .00
TOTALS $112,755.35
PAYROLL # 15: totaling $ 95,270.97
(12/803/21 – 12/16/21)
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley ABSENT
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
A motion was made by Trustee Lane, seconded by Trustee Marsh, 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.3120.0208
Description Contingent Police – Misc. Equip
Amount: $16,000.00 $3,000.00
From Acct: ” To Acct: A.6989.0100
Description ” Econ Opp – Personal Serv.
Amount: ” $2,000.00
From Acct: ” To Acct: A.6989.0400
Description ” Econ Dev – Contractual
Amount: ” $1,000.00
From Acct: ” To Acct: A.9089.0800
Description ” Compensated Absences
Amount: ” $10,000.00
From Acct: A.3410.0401 To Acct: A.3410.0404
Description Fire – Supplies Fire – Miscellaneous
Amount: $500.00 $500.00
From Acct: A.3410.0405 To Acct: A.3410.0417
Description Fire – Insurance Fire – Gas & Oil
Amount: $4,000.00 $2,000.00
From Acct: ” To Acct: A.3410.0419
Description ” Fire – Vehicle Mtce
Amount: ” $2,000.00
From Acct: A.3410.0461 To Acct: A.3410.0419
Description Fire Recuit & Retention Fire – Vehicle Mtce
Amount: $2,000 $2,000.00
From Acct: A.5110.0441 Acct: A.5110.0442
Description Street – Equip Rental Street – Replace and Remove Trees
Amount: $500 $500.00
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley ABSENT
Trustee Harris Voted – aye
Trustee Lane Voted – aye
Trustee Marsh Voted – aye
Mayor Grenier Voted – aye
Resolution Number 210082:
The Treasurer requested a resolution authorizing him to transfer $35,000 from the Fire Equipment Savings Account to A.3410.0208 Fire Department – Equipment/Miscellaneous to cover the cost of the new Chief’s Car that was approved by Resolution #210042 on 9/13/2021. After a discussion Trustee Marsh moved and was seconded by Trustee Harris, a resolution authorizing the Treasurer to transfer $35,000 from Fire Equipment Saving to A.3410.0208 Fire Department Equipment/Miscellaneous to cover the cost of the new Chief’s car approved by resolution #210042.
Anika Fischer and Amy Velez of CGI led a discussion regarding how CGI works to create video’s that would promote the Village of Menands and would be available on the website to be viewed. The cost would be off-set by village sponsors. A discussion followed.
Resolution Number 210083:
Trustee Harris made a motion to approve entering into an agreement with CGI Communications, to create a video for the Village of Menands Website at no cost to the village the motion was seconded by Trustee Lane.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley ABSENT
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Anika Fischer, Economic Development Intern gave her last update:
Projects:
- EV Charger Grant
- Food Co-op
- Meet and Great
- Entrepreneur Boot Camp recruitment
- Junior Achievement Program
- Making Menands’ a Historic District
- Ford Truck Festival
- CDTA Bike Share Program
- Village Video
- Intern Guide
Trustee Seth Harris led a discussion regarding approving Isabel Smrstik for the Spring 2022 Economic Development Intern. It is with great pleasure that I introduce Isabel Smrstik, our economic development intern for the spring semester. Ms. Smrstik is a junior at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations in Ithaca. She is a 2019 graduate of Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park. As Isabel lives in Rexford, she will be splitting her time working in-person in Menands and remotely in Ithaca.
Ms. Smrstik brings a unique variety of work experience with her, all of which will prepare her well for her work in Menands. Most recently, she worked at Hannaford in Clifton Park, managing the “Hannaford To-Go” department and handling issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as low inventory and the resulting customer dissatisfaction. Prior to that, Isabel worked at Judith Mejia Family Dentistry, where she successfully advertised and increased the number of patients through a new website and social media profiles on a variety of platforms.
At Cornell, Isabel is vice president for special affairs of the Phi Chi Theta Professional Business Fraternity, for which she organizes networking and career skill building programs, as well as keeping alumni engaged with the fraternity. She is also an active member of the Phi Alpha Delta Professional Pre-Law Fraternity, in which she participates in debates on current legal issues.
Ms. Smrstik’s references were stellar, describing Isabel as “dedicated to finding a solution to every problem that makes everyone as satisfied as possible.” Another reference referred to Isabel as a true “people person who can connect with anyone.”
In her free time, Isabel is a rower and a triathlete and enjoys cooking and music.
I look forward to working with Ms. Smrstik this semester on a number of economic development projects, building upon the foundation and successes laid in the fall. I am confident that she is the right choice for this position.
I will move to approve her appointment at our next board meeting on Monday, December 20. Isabel will be present at that meeting and will present at each meeting during her internship, just as we have become accustomed to. She will officially begin working with us on January 3 and will work through May 20, with the option to continue through mid-August.
Resolution Number 210084:
Trustee Harris made a motion to approve Isabel Smrstik for the Spring 2022 Economic Development Intern, From January 3, 2022 through May 30, 2022, the motion was seconded by Trustee Lane.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley ABSENT
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Marsh led a discussion regarding reasons he is against the Special Use Permit for 5 Elmwood Apartments Project. A discussion followed.
During the discussion Sal Rajput and Dave Ingalls responded to the Boards comments after the discussion.
Resolution Number 210085:
Trustee Marsh made a motion to deny the Special Use Permit for 5 Elmwood Apartments Project, seconded by Trustee Lane.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley ABSENT
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Attorney Rehfuss advised the Board that the Village must advise the applicant for 5 Elmwood Road within 5 days. He asked the stenographer to send the transcription to the Clerk. The Clerk was advised to send a letter and the transcription certified mail.
Attorney Rehfuss led discussion regarding an update on the 45 Broadway Cranesville Block Building demolition. He has spoken to the Attorney for Cranesville a Demo Company has been hired and will begin work shortly. Discussion followed.
Attorney Rehfuss advised Michael Weaver of 33 Glenwood Road he has the right to be heard regarding the property at 33 Glenwood Road being condemned. Mr. Weaver expressed his concern about having to vacate the property with 2 dogs. That he has nowhere to go. A discussion followed.
Mayor Grenier led discussion regarding appointing Lt. Ryan St Gelais as the next New Police Chief. Mayor Grenier read Lt. Ryan St Gelais’s Biography .
I have 20+ years in emergency services starting with my volunteer work in the Town of Colonie as a Maplewood Volunteer Firefighter achieving the rank of Lieutenant and as an EMT with Colonie EMS.
- This was the catalyst to me starting my career as a Telecommunicator with the Albany County Sheriff’s Department. I also started working as a part-time dispatcher for the Village of Menands and did so for a couple of years.
- I eventually moved on from both positions and began work for the Health Care Association of NYS as a background investigator.
- My passion was always in the public sector and I was given an opportunity to again work for the Albany County Sheriff as a Corrections Officer. While in Corrections I was sponsored by the Village of St. Johnsville to attend the Eastern Regional Law Enforcement Academy, this was a part-time Police Academy and took 7 months to complete. After graduation I stayed as a part-time Police Officer, and additionally was offered a position with the NYS Lobby Commission as a Confidential Investigator.
- In 2008 I was able to get back to my hometown of Colonie and work as a part-time Police Officer for the Village of Menands. I worked part-time for a few short months and due to a retirement, I was offered the position as a full-time Patrolman from then Mayor Coates.
- I started work on the Mid night shift and after a couple of years saw that we were lacking in the handling of our evidence and asked Chief O’Brien if it were possible to work Thursday day to re-arrange our evidence, start an evidence system (at the time the evidence was in a closet). We applied for and were awarded a grant for the Beast System; this is a system we still use today which is housed in our evidence room with a Patrolman overseeing and working as our evidence custodian.
- While working with the evidence, I also started to work part-time with the Detective working on various cases.
- In 2014 Chief O’Brien saw a need for a third Patrol Sgt. to work the afternoon shift and with board approval I was granted that position and was provisionally promoted as the afternoon Sergeant. After a year working as the afternoon Sergeant, I moved to midnights, but continued to work days doing administrative work with the Chief. One Major undertaking was the Lexipol policy and procedure manual that took Chief O’Brien and I over a year to get into place. Also, I became the administrator of our in-car video systems and the liaison between our department and ELSAG which at the time was our plate reader company, today they are Secure Watch 24.
- We applied for and received a grant for a new fingerprinting machine, which I implemented and trained our department on, and I am still the administrator of today.
- These systems just to name a few has made Menands Police Department one of the most technologically advanced agencies in the Capital District. When Chief Lacosse took over the Department in 2018 I was promoted to Detective Sergeant and having worked with him on various cases it was an easy transition.
- I continued to work on cases and administer our systems, but also worked as the Chief’s second in command.
- Chief Lacosse saw that I was doing much more administrative work, especially when the new discovery laws went into effect. The system, I had set up a couple years prior, regarding the way we send our reports to the District Attorney’s Office became the normal for every agency in New York State.
- This prompted Chief Lacosse to go to the Mayor and Village Board and request that I be given the position of Lieutenant. This was approved by Mayor Grenier and the Village Board, and hold this position currently.
- My career with the Menands Police Department has been extremely rewarding and I take great pride in saying that I have held almost every position in the Menands Police Department.
Resolution Number 210086:
Mayor Grenier made a motion to appoint Ryan St. Gelais as Police Chief effective January 1, 2022, at a salary of $100,000.00 per year, the motion was seconded by Trustee Harris.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley ABSENT
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
A discussion was held regarding Property Maintenance Code 127. After a discussion the Board decided to table until the next meeting. Trustee Lane and Code Enforcement Officer Darmetko are going to meet to work on the code.
Mayor Grenier advised the Board that the Grant for the water meters was denied. A discussion followed.
Mayor Grenier read the following:
Memorandum 12/19/2021
TO: All Menands Village Board Members
FROM: Bill Garvey Jr.
I got some letters of importance and concern they are:
- He is glad the repaving of Wards Lane is complete. He thanked the contractors for doing a good job.
- He reported a dead bird at 250 Broadway to the Police Dispatcher, The Clerk and DPW.
- Reported the red traffic signal not working on Broadway. DOT repaired the light.
- He agrees 33 Glenwood Road should be condemned and red tagged.
- He supports any and all communities in NYS to become Climate Smart Communities to help fight climate warming.
Yours Sincerely
Bill Garvey, Jr.
At 7:38 P.M. Trustee Harris made a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss a Legal and Personnel matter, seconded by Trustee Marsh.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley ABSENT
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
The regular meeting reconvened at 7:55 P.M.
Resolution Number 210087
After Executive session Trustee Marsh made a motion to amend the Budget for Court Clerk from $37,289.00 to $40,000.00, seconded by Trustee Harris.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley ABSENT
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
A motion was made by Trustee Harris to adjourn, seconded by Trustee Marsh.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley ABSENT
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
The meeting was duly adjourned at 8:03 P.M.
___________________
Donald Handerhan
Village Clerk