Regular Village Board Meeting
February 18, 2025
The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands, held on Monday, February 18th, 2025, was called to order by Mayor Brian Marsh at 6:00 P.M.
PRESENT:
Brian Marsh, Mayor
Molly Harbour, Trustee
Seth H. Harris, Trustee Absent
Nicholas Kalogridis, Trustee
Timothy Lane, Trustee
Donald Handerhan, Village Clerk
Mary Jane Vredenburg, Village Treasurer
William T Smith, Jr., Consultant
Michael Hagmann, Supervisor DPW – Virtual
Stephen Rehfuss, Village Attorney
Ryan St. Gelais, Police Chief – Virtual
David Ognan, Fire Chief
Also attending: Bill Garvey, Mark Carnegie, Jason Carnegie, Mike & Susan MacKay, Lorretta Belmonte, Jollie Testsco, Steve Boulet, Enitea DeMars, Jon Dudley, Paul Harbour, Dianne MacFarland, Stef Kalogridis Nelis Kalogridis, Alison Walden
Virtual attendance: Taylor Belmonte, Cindy, Kathy Mosca, Corey H, Peg Holland, Lisa Neuman, Tony Lapari, Beth Harbour, Bill Nevins, Kelly Lemyre, Val Parker, Joe Richards
The Mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance and stated that this meeting was recorded.
Mayor Marsh led a discussion regarding the Village’s properties on Glenwood Road. Mayor Marsh would like to subdivide the properties into 4 sections. 2 smaller sections on the east and west sides of the property to be sold to adjacent properties, a 10-foot-wide section to allow access to Polk Switzer Park, and the last section to be sold as a building lot.
Public Comments:
Resident Bill Garvey asked if 33 Glenwood is part of the properties. He is in favor of the sale. Discussion Followed.
Resident Paul Harbour asked if the path would be ADA-compliant. Discussion Followed.
Resolution Number: 250152
Trustee Harbour motioned to accept the February 3rd, 2025, Village Board Meeting Minutes, seconded by Trustee Kalogridis.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
Resolution Number: 250153
Trustee Lane motioned to accept the February 12, 2025, Special Meeting Minutes, seconded by Trustee Harbour.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
Resolution Number: 250154
Trustee Harbour motioned to approve payment for the following, seconded by Trustee Lane.
WARRANT #18:
GENERAL totaling $128,060.95
WATER totaling $ 46,838.39
SEWER totaling $ .00
TOTALS $174,899.34
PAYROLL: totaling $ 533.32
(01/10/25-01/23/25)
PAYROLL #18: totaling $110,897.85
(02/07/25-02/20/25
TOTALS 111,431.17
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Marsh advised the Board that Judge Robert Becher has resigned from his position as Associate Justice Effective February 21, 2025. Judge Becher has been an Associate Justice for the past 13 years. He wished him well. Discussion followed.
Mayor Marsh appointed David Rowley as Associate Justice to finish Judge Becher’s term.
Resolution Number: 250155
After a discussion, Trustee Lane motioned to approve David Rowley as Associate Justice to finish Judge Becher’s term, which Trustee Harbour seconded.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Marsh advised that the Stormwater Coalition of Albany County must reappoint our Board Member to Albany MS4 Officer and Alternate every year. Mayor Marsh appointed David Ognan as MS4 Officer and Lyle Darmetko as Alternate MS4 Officer.
Resolution Number: 250156
After a discussion, Trustee Lane motioned to David Ognan as MS4 Officer and Lyle Darmetko as Alternate MS4 Officer as Board Members to the Stormwater Coalition of Albany County, second by Trustee Harbour.
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
Village Attorney Steve Rehfuss stated the Permissive Referendum and the procedure. Discussion followed.
Budget Request from Department Heads for 2025-2026 Budget:
- Mike Hagmann DPW
- Chief Ryan St Gelais Police
- Chief David Ognan Fire Department
- Don Handerhan Village
Resolution Number: 250157
After hearing Budget Requests, Trustee Kalogridis motioned to hold a Budget Workshop on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 6 PM, second by Trustee Harbour.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
Chief David Ognan discussed adding an electrical connection for the SCBA filling station. The following bids were received to complete the work:
- Berk Electric $8,048.00
- Kasselman Electric $3,225.00
- Gerci Brothers $6,485.00
Resolution Number: 250158
After a discussion, Trustee Lane motioned to approve Kasselman Electric’s installation of a new electrical connection for SCBA Filling Station for $3,225.00, second by Trustee Harbour.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
Chief David Ognan led a discussion regarding some new equipment needed.
The Tele-Crib Jr. Struts are totaled at $3,398.00. MES is the Rescue 42 dealer for this area. The only other pricing I could find is from a company based in Illinois, whose price was $3,798.00 for the same set of struts.
The Rabbit Tool and Hydra Ram priced at $3,105.76 and $2,938.00 accordingly. MES is also the Hurst dealer for this area so the Rabbit tool pricing of $3,105.76 is the only price compared to an Illinois based company of $3,750.60. The Hydra Ram has two other quotes of $3,228.59 from The Fire Store, and a price of $2,938 from another web-based company All Hands Fire.
All of these items would come from my Equipment budget line which currently has enough money to support these purchases.
Chief Ognan also included two quotes for 40 pullovers (Job Shirts) from the recruitment and retention budget line.
- Emergency Threads quote of $2,528.00
- Wicked Smart Quote of $4,026.00
Resolution Number: 250159
Trustee Kalogridis motioned to approve the purchase of Rabbit Tool for $3,105.76 and Hydra Ram for $2,938.00, from MES, second by Trustee Lane.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
Resolution Number: 250160
Trustee Harbour motioned to approve the purchase of Tele-Crib Jr. Struts for $3,398.00 from MES, second by Trustee Kalogridis.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
Resolution Number: 250161
Trustee Harbour made a motion to approve the purchase of 40 pullovers (Job Shirts) that will come out of the recruitment and retention budget line from Emergency Threads, second by Trustee Kalogridis.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
Chief Ognan advised the Board that the LOSAP Points had been posted for 30 days and asked them to approve them. Discussion followed.
Resolution Number: 250162
Trustee Kalogridis motioned to approve the 2024 LOSAP points as posted and to approve the Mayor to sign the LOSAP form, second by Trustee Harbour.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
Mayor’s Report:
- Attended a meeting with Albany County Alliance, is pleased to announce that the NSH Group, Simmons Tools has been granted $98,000.00 a SAGE Grant which stands for Sustainable Technology and Green Energy towards their expansion.
- The Village has applied for Community Block Grant for $20,000.00 to help cover the Engineer costs for ADA Compliance Study of 250 Broadway.
- The ADA Study of Village Sidewalks is complete and will be placed on the Website in the morning for Public Comments. There will be a copy in the Village Office also. The comment period is 30 days.
- The South End Project is going out to bid. Discussion followed.
Trustee’s Report:
Lane: The date of Public Hearing for the Little River Project will need to be changed to March 17, 2025.
Kalogridis: The Fire Department Fish Fries will be on March 7, 21, 28, and April 4, 28; the price will be $14.00.
Harbour:
Trustee Harbour made a motion to rescind the vote that was placed regarding the Closing of the Menands Village Court; there was not a second.
Clerk’s Report:
1. The Activities will now be called the Menands Monthly. All submissions must be received by the 13th of the previous month. All submissions will still go to Sheila Hyatt.
2. Advised that he will change the procedure in which notifications are sent out over Everbridge.
a. Emergency Notifications: (Phone, Text, Email)
i. Village Wide Emergencies
ii. Watermain Breaks
iii. Other Emergencies
b. Notifications: (Text & Email)
i. Events and Changes to Events
ii. All Village Meetings
iii. Other Non-Emergency Items
3. The Town of Colonie will be holding a public hearing, at which all interested parties may be heard, shall be held on February 27, 2025, by the Colonie Town Board in Memorial Town Hall (534 New Loudon Road, Latham New York 12110) at 6:00 p.m. on a proposed amendment to the Code regarding Medical Facilities.
General Comments:
From resident Bill Garvey, Jr.
- He was opposed to the apt project on Clifford Rd, but he likes the green paint.
- He received the wrong change from the Library for copies, he returned the change.
- He is happy the street marker # 8 has been repaired and lighted at night.
- He would like to recommend oil base or synthetic rubber base paints for trim at 250 Broadway.
- He would like the DPW guys to post stop signs on the East & West sides of Kenmar Rd.
- He is requesting a DEADEND sign on Kenmar Road.
- He is proposing colored pipeline codes for all Village public buildings.
- He would like to rename the pocket park on Irving Pl & Canal St Jct. for Andrew Staples
- His idea for bringing a supermarket, bank, clothing store + photocopy shop is to offer tax credits & other incentives for 6-7 years provided they create new jobs + use biogas or biofuel oil to heat + cool their businesses.
- He is requesting that the hemlock tree at the main pump station be removed because the area has too many trees.
- He would like to request that a hemlock tree be planted at Ganser Smith Park next to the balsam tree.
- He would like to recommend replacement of roof of concession stand be replaced using recycled shingle materials for repair or replacement.
- He wants to know when the old black streets lights with be replaced to aluminum streetlights
- He congratulates Mike Hagmann on his promotion, he supports the truck garage needing repair work costing $368,366.58.
- He would like to see one amendment to Local Law #1- requiring National Grid to correct
- poor condition of 12 towers on Broadway and Canal Street or replace them.
From Bill Nevins:
I am out of town but wanted to get my thoughts and questions in prior to cut off for Tuesday’s meeting. I have been informed that the information presented to the public as well as the Village Trustees regarding the dissolution of the Village Court was inaccurate. The information presented at the special meeting earlier this week to everyone including trustees and confirmed, or at least an assurance of validity by counsel, said 90 days and around 90 signatures, for referendum vote. That is why immediate action was taken. As it turns out, from what I have read, it is 30 days and over 600 signatures. With the people in attendance at the special meeting voicing concern over the fast pace and lack of time to digest the information, I would suggest the board rescind or reconsider their vote. At the very least, with inaccurate information being provided to public and Trustees on a rushed vote, I would consider the above the only option. Please discuss this important matter in Tuesday’s public meeting, so everyone is working with the same information.
Thank you,
Bill Nevins
Resident Alison Mclean Lane expressed her views on the closing of the Village Court. She also thanked the 100th Year Centennial Committee for the excellent job they did.
Resident Paul Harbour expressed his concerns regarding the closing of Village Court.
Resident Stef Kalogridis expressed his feelings regarding the closing of the court.
Resident Diane McFarland asked questions regarding the South End Project. Discussion followed.
Trustee Harbour made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Trustee Lane.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Harbour voting AYE
Trustee Kalogridis voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Mayor Marsh voting AYE
The meeting was duly adjourned at 6:56 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 February 18, 2025.
_____________________
Donald Handerhan
Village Clerk
YEAR TO DATE FINANCIAL REPORT
Menands February 2025 Financials