At 6:00 PM on Tuesday, January 19th, 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, Mike & Susan Mackay, Steve Boulet, Renee Liquire, Lisa Neuman, Bill Nevins, John Stangle. 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, Treasurer Bill Smith, present, Village Attorney Steve Rehfuss, present, Fire Chief Mike Steurer, 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 January 29th, 2021.
A motion was made by Trustee Marsh to accept the minutes of the January 4th, 2021 Board Meeting, seconded by Trustee Harris.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting ABSTAINED
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
A motion was made by Trustee Harris to approve payment for the following, seconded by Trustee Nicoll.
WARRANT # 16:
The following checks were voided due to duplication:
#11549 dated 12/21/20 Zone 5 Reg Law Enf Trng -$1,925.00
#11549 dated 01/04/21 Guardian Visions Insurance -$ 167.30
Totaling -$2,092.30
GENERAL totaling $71,991.08
WATER totaling $ 7,161.37
SEWER totaling $ .00
TOTALS $79,152.45
PAYROLL # 17: totaling $ 88,906.23
(01/01/21-01/14/21)
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Treasurer Smith led a discussion regarding errors with faulty water meters/recorders and the resulting meter readings and the ensuing water/sewer bill for the period May 1, 2020 to October 31, 2020 for Morgan Linen at 145 Broadway. A discussion followed.
Trustee Marsh offered, seconded by Trustee Nicoll the following resolutions:
WHEREAS, Water and Sewer Acct. #510000096-0 for 145 Broadway in the amount of $64,747.37 was based on a faulty meter. Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that a total of $15,412.30 be deducted from the original water roll total for the period May 1, 2020 to October 31, 2020, and be it further
RESOLVED, that a total of $6,935.39 be deducted from the original sewer roll total for the period May 1, 2020 to October 31, 2020.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
The Treasurer lead a discussion regarding Online Payments and sending water bills and tax bills to Lockbox rather than excepting them at the Village Office. A discussion followed.
Village Attorney Steve Rehfuss asked Treasurer Smith to make suggestions to improve the current Water Law in regards to water meter replacement and penalties for not replacing failed water meters. A discussion followed.
Mike Mackay introduced new members of the Menands Fire Department that were elected into the membership of the Menands Fire Co. #1 the following individuals were voted in as active members: Joshua Condon, Matthew Norton, and Brian Vallincourt.
Trustee Marsh made a motion to approve the membership of Joshua Condon, Matthew Norton, and Brian Vallincourt, 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 advised the Board that a policy for the GPS Tracking System has been created and would ask for approval of the Policy.
Trustee Marsh read the following policy:
The Village of Menands has approved a GPS tracking system to be placed in every vehicle owned by the Village. This system records location and status of vehicles to create accountability and efficiencies in work. It also provides vehicle health through diagnostics for routine maintenance scheduling and feedback on mechanical issues by code for repairs. It creates records that can be used for reimbursement (FEMA, mutual aid response, etc.), maintenance, driver performance and safety. This system will impact the longevity of our vehicles by being proactive with repairs and routine maintenance while providing additional safety measures for our drivers. It also provides roadside assistance towing and service for vehicles should they become disabled on the road while tracking its location.
While the system may provide vehicle location and other information, members are not relieved of their responsibility to use required communication practices to report their location and status.
There shall not be any unauthorized modifications to the system to any village vehicles. Unauthorized modifications may result in disciplinary action, including suspension of use of vehicle by member.
If a driver notices that the device is not locked in place, they should notify their department head immediately. Each department head, or their designee, will be responsible for ensuring the system is activated and working properly, (particularly after maintenance has been done on the vehicle). The system will be set up for each department head to receive notifications (via text and/or email) from Verizon of any issues. If the notification requires action taken, (such as vehicle maintenance), the matter should be addressed immediately or as soon as practicable.
The system offers the Village and its departments useful information for the safety of the employees, efficiency of work performed and vehicle diagnostics, to mention a few. These benefits should be utilized by each department to take full advantage of the system. Geo-fencing, vehicle maintenance reports, notifications of routine maintenance (oil changes, etc.), road-side assistance (documenting every time assistance is used per vehicle to not exceed 4 times per year per vehicle as contract provides) and notifications of system performance shall be used by each department, in addition to other benefits as determined by department heads and Mayor. Available system reports should be run as necessary and as determined by department heads and Mayor.
System data may be accessed by supervisors at any time. However, access to historical data will require Dept. Head and/or Mayor approval. The Department Heads and Mayor will determine who will have access to system and system data for each department.
All data captured by the system shall be retained in accordance with the established records retention schedule.
Trustee Harris made a motion to approve the GPS Policy for Village Vehicles, 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
Treasurer Smith advised the Board that he has emailed the Board the current status of the Village of Menands Budget. Trustee Smith advised the Board the current Tax Cap for the next Budget increase is 1.31% or $33,000. A discussion followed.
Chief Steurer advised the Board that an Executive Order was issued to allow an additional 5 points per month per active member to LOSAP due to the COVID-19 State of Emergency.
Chief Steurer will be working with Clerk Handerhan to ensure the accuracy of the LOSAP points for 2020.
Chief Steurer advised the Board the State has increased the LOSAP amount given to members from $700.00 to $1,200.00. The increase must be approved by Referendum by a vote of the Village Residents. A discussion followed.
Chief Steurer advised the Board that the Menands Fire Department now has 22 active members.
Chief Steurer advised the Board he would like to make the following purchases, hoods, firefighting gloves and 22 pagers. A discussion followed. After the discussion Chief Steurer advised that he will be at the next meeting to get approval to purchase after he talks to Trustee Smith.
Mayor Grenier read the following comments from resident Bill Garvey.
Memorandum 01/16/21
TO: All Menands Village Board Members
FROM: Bill Garvey Jr.
I got important letters of concern and Importance they are:
- Since the former Broadway Diner has already been torn down because the owners of former Broadway Diner unfortunately had been unable to find another person to buy the former restaurant which had been abandoned for several years. It was too bad to see the former Broadway Diner demolished, however Im glad to see the former Broadway Diner is going to be turned into an parking lot including park and ride lot during early 2021. I support this project for general welfare, social, public safety and efficiency reasons. I urge the Menands Village Board to please pass a resolution requesting that N.Y.S. DOT would please kindly install 4 or 5 metal street light markers at the new park and ride lot where the former Broadway Diner was located.
- With respect of Elliot and Demis voicing for request from Menands Farmers Market for approval to demolish the old pavilion building and replace it with 1 new pavilion building with enclosed flood door. I asked Clerk D. Handerhan about the status of the proposed project. So he told me that the proposal still remains in review because of the problems sealing with flood plain at the Farmers Market area. None the less I hope that the Menands Farmers Market and our Village can work together to resolve the problem dealing with flood plain at the Farmers Market area before our Village Board decides whether or not to approve Menands Farmers Markets request for approval to demolish the old pavilion building and to replace it with 1 new pavilion building. As I said before that I support this proposed project for general welfare, social, economic, budgetary and efficient reasons.
- I would like to thank our Village Public Works Crew for doing an fantastic and great job in snow removal work of our Village owned streets and parking lots due the 12/16 and 12/17/20 major snow storm by which our Village got 24 inches of snow. Removing snow from streets, bridges and parking lots in Menands or any locality is tough and challenging work plus it can be great deal of headaches for public works crews who got to get the snow removal job done. Once again I wish to thank our DPW Crew for doing a great job in snow removal work. Well done.
- I like to thank National Grid Power Company Crew for repair of several silver metal street light markers on Broadway and Harts Lane here in our village. Im glad to see that all silver metal street light markers on both streets are being lighted up during night time not during day time. This has been one of the projects which needed to be done. Once again I thank National Grid Power Company Crew for fixing silver metal street light markers on both Broadway and Harts Lane. Good job.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Yours sincerely
Bill Garvey Jr.
Clerk Handerhan advised the Board that all the paperwork has been received to transfer the property on Canal Road to Kris’s Mid-City Tavern. Village Attorney Rehfuss advised the Board he has the paperwork and will give it to Kris’s Mid-City Taverns attorney after receiving payment.
Clerk Handerhan advised the Board that the Village has received a letter from Peak Performance owned by Eric Luper, DC asking to purchase the property behind his building on Canal Road similar to what Kris’s Mid-City Tavern has done. A discussion followed.
Village Attorney Steve Rehfuss advises that Peak Performance will have to follow the same procedure as Kris’s Mid-City Tavern. A survey of the property will need to be completed and the land will need to be appraised. After a discussion the Board approved on moving forward to allow Peak Performance to purchase the property.
Mayor Grenier advised the Board that as of February 18th Walgreens at 444 Broadway will be closing and all prescriptions will be transferred to the Watervliet Walgreens.
Clerk Handerhan advised that he has received the applications for the Community Development Block Grant for 2021 program applications are available at the Village Office. The deadline for the application is Friday, February 19, 2021 at 4:00 PM and must be sent to the Community Development Office in Colonie.
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 6:45 P.M.
________________
Donald Handerhan
Village Clerk