At 6:00 PM on Monday, June 21st, 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, Mike & Susan Mackay, Tim Lane, Eric Johnson, Lisa Neuman, Bill Nevins. The Mayor asked them to mute their microphones.
Mayor Grenier then did a roll call of Village staff: Deputy Mayor Aileen Nicoll, absent, Trustee Seth Harris, present, Trustee Diane Foley, present, Trustee Brian Marsh, present, Clerk Don Handerhan, present, Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Nicole Ognan, present, Village Attorney Stephen Rehfuss, absent. 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 July 5th, 2021.
A motion was made by Trustee Harris to accept the minutes of the June 7th, 2021 Board Meeting, seconded by Trustee Foley.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris 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 #26 ENC:
GENERAL totaling $13,051.06
WATER totaling $ 9,617.26
SEWER totaling $ 2,727.00
TOTALS $25,395.32
WARANT # 2:
GENERAL totaling $17,546.68
WATER totaling $ 46.94
SEWER totaling $ .00
TOTALS $17,593.62
PARK IMPROVEMENT: totaling $ 7,576.57
PAYROLL # 1: totaling $103,303.580
(05/21/21-06/03/21)
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris ` voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
The treasurer is requesting an amendment to the 2020-2021 Water Fund budget per the Village auditors of $286,024.62. as the water payment for fiscal year 2019 – 2020 was paid after the books were closed due to a late bill, therefore there are 3 water payments in the 2020 – 2021 budget year, causing the Water fund in the 2020-2021 Fiscal year budget to be overbudget by that amount. After a discussion Trustee Harris moved 2nd by Trustee Marsh a resolution to amend the 20-21 fiscal year Water Fund Budget by $286,024.62 as requested by the Treasurer and the auditors.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Chief Lacosse gave an update on the bear that has been seen within the Village, he had a meeting with ENCON. ENCON stated there is not much they can do with the bear. The patrols will be carrying pepper spray and will spray the bear if seen. A discussion followed.
Chief Lacosse led a discussion regarding the need of an ATV which will be used to patrol trails, bike path, wooded areas and will be available to DPW and Fire Department as needed. A discussion followed.
Trustee Harris made a motion to approve Chief Lacosse to spend up to $12,403.97 for an ATV and trailer, seconded by Trustee Foley.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Chief Lacosse, advised the Board of an incident that happened on the Menands Bridge approximately three weeks ago, Menands Police received a call for a possible jumper on the Menands Bridge. Sgt Aaron St. Gelais arrived to find a subject with one leg over the rail. Sgt St. Gelais got out of his car and grabbed the subject and pulled him to ground. The subject was transported to AMC.
Chief Lacosse also advised the Board he has drafted a letter of Commendation for Sgt St. Gelais, that he would like to present to Sgt St. Gelais from the Board and himself. The Board agreed.
The Clerk led discussion regard changing the time of the Annual Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 6th, 2021 to 5PM due to conflict with Concert in the Park.
A motion was made by Trustee Harris changing the time for the Annual Meeting to 5PM, seconded by Trustee Mash.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Eric Johnson from Chazen Companies gave an update on changing Village Speed Limit. There is a process that requires Legislature approval. A discussion followed.
The Clerk stated that Water & Sewer Bills will be going out July 1st, and the Annual Audit will begin the second week of July.
The Clerk advised the Board that he will be on vacation beginning July 2nd thru July 11th Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Ognan will be handling the Annual Meeting on July 6th.
Trustee Harris gave any update on the Story Walk, the panels are up. A discussion followed.
Memorandum 6/13/21
TO – All Menands Village Board Members
FROM – Bill Garvey Jr
I got some letters of importance and concern as follows:
- On 5/28/21 I went to Menands Police Station to get help to find Riverhill Apartments. So the Police Dispatcher informed me that Riverhill Apartments are on east side of Van Rensselaer Boulavard by which they are just south of Dutch Village Apartments. I like to thank the Menands Police Dispatcher for his help. I found Riverhill Apartments without no problems.
- On 5/12/21 while cleaning up the men’s restroom on Menands Little League baseball section of Ganser-Smith Park, I found 1 soap dispenser emptied with no soap in the dispenser plus the paper towel dispenser was jammed in which I was unable to get paper out of the paper towel dispenser. So I reported both problems to Clerk D. Handerhan. Within a couple of days later our DPW Crew fixed the paper towel dispenser plus they also put in 1 gage of sap in the soap dispenser in the men’s restroom. I wish to thank our DPW Crew for getting both things done. Good job.
- In middle May of this year, I observed 1 black vehicle parking in fire lane next to wooden guide rails at Ganser-Smith Park near the pavilion building plus 1 red vehicle parking in fire lane in Village 1 Apts. between buildings G and H so I reported those problems to the Menands Police within short periods of time. So they gave tickets to the black vehicle in Ganser-Smith Park’s fire lane. Later I witnessed the Menands Police giving tickets to the red car in fire lane at Village 1 Apts. between buildings G and H. I like to thank the Menands Police for doing their job enforcing New York State Parking Rules and Regulations forbidding vehicles from parking in fire lanes. Well done.
- A few weeks ago while visiting True Value Hardware Store here in our Village I noticed there are 2 stakes with orange flags on them next to one steel high voltage tower No. 37 on it. So I asked employees at the True Value Hardware Store the reason why the 2 stakes with orange flags are posted next to steel high voltage tower No. 37. They informed me that steel high voltage tower No. 37 is going be replaced with 2 new wooden utility poles sometime soon plus they told me the concrete supports while have been holding the steel high voltage tower No. 37 still remain in poor condition will also be replaced. While I agree that steel high voltage tower No. 37 with concrete supports got to be replaced for welfare, efficiency, environment, public security and quality of life reasons. However they should be replaced with 1 steel high voltage tower plus concrete supports not 2 wooden utility poles. Steel high voltage towers work more efficient and work far better plus they last far longer than wooden utility poles do.
- Im delighted to hear that my new hero in Menands Brian Marsh has just introduced to our Village Board the prospect of acquiring solar energy for local usage in our Village plus Im glad to hear that our Village Board adopted in November of 2020 the idea to buy all municipal electric power from New York based solar energy farm thus saving our Village 10% off rates of National Grid Power. I fully agree that solar energy to power our Village public buildings will give Menands welfare, economic, environment, public safety, budgetary and the quality-of-life benefits. I support this solar energy program by purchasing renewable energy for our Village public buildings for health, welfare, economic, environment, public safety, budgetary, scientific and the quality-of-life reasons. I thank my new hero Brian Marsh for dealing with this important renewal energy program benefit. Well done.
- Im unhappy to hear that our Village passed the Village Budget for 2021-2022 year which will be fare above the 2% State Tax Cap. This is unacceptable, unjust, unreasonable, outrageous and plain wrong. Going above the 2% Tax Cap will result in our Village residents to not be eligible to receive the New York State Property Tax Rebate. Our Village Budget should stick to the 2% Tax Cap and live by it. Menands Village residents deserve to get New York State Property Tax Relief.
Thank you for your time and considerations.
Yours sincerely
Bill Garvey Jr
In response to Bill’s comment about the tax cap there is no longer a rebate associated with the tax cap.
To encourage local governments to stay at or below the now permanent state-mandated property tax cap, in 2016 Governor Cuomo created a rebate for property tax relief for homeowners whose communities stayed within the tax cap. (This was in addition to the STAR rebate). This three-year plan has EXPIRED, and rebate checks are no longer available to homeowners regardless of whether local governments stay at or below the tax cap.
It is unfortunate that this misrepresentation of the facts was put out there, while pointing a finger at this board, who worked hard to adopt a budget with as little impact on the taxpayers, while maintaining our wonderful services, and accusing us of withholding benefits that do not exist.
I can say with 100% certainty, and as taxpayers ourselves, that we all take this job very seriously and have the best interest of the residents of Menands as our priority.
Mayor Grenier thanked Deputy Mayor Aileen Nicoll for her ten years of service.
At 6:52 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 voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
The regular meeting reconvened at 7:09 P.M.
Trustee Harris made a motion to give Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Nicole Ognan a $1,000.00 stipend for taking care of social media and Everbridge Notices for the Village, seconded by Trustee Marsh.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
A motion was made by Trustee Marsh to adjourn, seconded by Trustee Foley.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
The meeting was duly adjourned at 7:11 P.M.
__________________
Donald Handerhan
Village Clerk