The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands, held on Monday, March 2nd, 2020 was called to order by Mayor Megan Grenier at 6:00 P.M.
PRESENT:
Megan Grenier, Mayor
Diane Foley, Trustee
Seth H. Harris, Trustee
Brian Marsh, Trustee
Aileen Nicoll, Trustee
Donald Handerhan, Village Clerk
William T. Smith, Jr., Village Treasurer
Stephen Rehfuss, Village Attorney
Also attending: Bill Garvey, Lyle Darmetko, Susan Mackay, John Stangle, Susan Sweeney, Bill Nevins, Dan Hershberg, Frank Lacosse, Eric Johnson.
The Mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance.
At 6:00 P.M. the Mayor opened the Public Hearing for a proposed Local Law # 1 of 2020 Tax Cap Override.
The Clerk read the Notice:
PUBLIC HEARING
A Public Hearing will be held on Monday, March 2nd, 2020 at 6:00 P.M. in the Village Municipal Building at 250 Broadway for a purposed Local Law # 1 of 2020 Tax Cap Override authorizing a property tax levy in excess of the limit established in General Municipal Law §3-c with the regular meeting to follow. Such public hearings are open to the public and are accessible to the handicapped. All are encouraged to attend or to present comments in writing.
LOCAL LAW NO. 1 OF THE YEAR 2020
TAX CAP OVERRIDE
Village of Menands, County of Albany
A local law authorizing a property tax levy in excess of the limit established in General Municipal Law §3-c.
Section 1. Legislative Intent
It is the intent of this local law to allow the Village of Menands to adopt a budget for the fiscal year commencing June 1, 2020 that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the “tax levy limit” as defined by General Municipal Law §3-c.
Section 2. Authority
This local law is adopted pursuant to subdivision 5 of General Municipal Law §3-c, which expressly authorizes a local government’s governing body to override the property tax cap for the coming fiscal year by the adoption of a local law approved by a vote of sixty percent (60%) of said governing body.
Section 3. Tax Levy Limit Override
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands, County of Albany, is hereby authorized to adopt a budget for the fiscal year commencing June 1, 2020 that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the amount otherwise prescribed in General Municipal Law §3-c.
Section 4. Severability
If a court determines that any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, or part of this local law or the application thereof to any person, firm or corporation, or circumstance is invalid or unconstitutional, the court’s order or judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder of this local law, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, or part of this local law or in its application to the person, individual, firm or corporation or circumstance, directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment or order shall be rendered.
Section 5. Effective Date
This local law shall take effect immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State
Hearing no further questions or comments the Mayor closed the Public Hearing for Local Law #1 at 6:05 P.M.
At 6:05 P.M. the Mayor opened the Public Hearing for a proposed Local Law # 2 of 2020 amending the Village Code 160-66 Section A. of the Village of Menands Vehicle and Traffic regulations.
PROPOSED LOCAL LAW #2 OF 2020
A local law # 2 of 2020 amending the Village Code 160-66 Section A. of the Village of Menands Vehicle and Traffic regulations. Be it enacted by the Village Board of the Village of Menands as follows:
§ 160-66 Parking prohibited in certain locations.
[Amended 6-7-1993 by L.L. No. 2-1993; 7-19-1993 by L.L. No. 3-1993; 11-15-1993 by L.L. No. 4-1993; 9-7-1999 by L.L. No. 1-1999; 7-2-2001 by L.L. No. 2-2001; 8-20-2001 by L.L. No. 5-2001]
It shall be unlawful and a violation of this article for an owner or operator of any vehicle to park or permit his vehicle to be parked or to abandon his vehicle:
A. On the west side of North Pearl Street from a point 168 feet south of Amsterdam Avenue to the end thereof north of Amsterdam Avenue.
Hearing no further questions or comments the Mayor closed the Public Hearing Local Law #2 at 6:10 P.M.
The regular meeting reconvened at 6:10 P.M.
Open Forum:
Resident Bill Garvey is in support of $9,000.00 Greenway Grant.
Mr. Garvey is in support of Code Enforcement Officer Lyle Darmetko enforcing the stop work without a building permit.
Mr. Garvey supports putting the putting up of Trail Makers on Sage Trails.
Bill thanked Eric Johnson of the Chazen Companies for all the hard work on the Trails Project. Bill also thanked DPW.
Resident Susan Sweeney inquired about the reports from the Department Heads and if they could be put on the website. Mrs. Sweeney asked if the Village reached out to Alison McLean Lane, Albany County Legislator to see if she would be willing to attend a Village Board Meeting.
Mayor Grenier advised she was checking her calendar she may be at the next meeting. A discussion followed.
Mrs. Sweeney asked if there was a planned Grand Opening of the Sage Trails.
Mayor Grenier said yes, we are planning something in the Spring.
Trustee Marsh made a motion to accept the minutes of the February 18th, 2020 Board Minutes, 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
Trustee Marsh made a motion to accept the minutes of the February 27, 2020 Budget Workshop, seconded by Trustee Foley.
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 Foley.
WARRANT #19:
GENERAL totaling $41,503.20
WATER totaling $ 2,422.55
SEWER totaling $ .00
TOTALS $43,925.75
PARK IMPROVEMENT: totaling $ 2,603.00
PAYROLL # 20: totaling $97,661.80
(02/14/20-02/27/20)
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
DATE: 03-02-2020
A motion was made by Trustee Harris, seconded by Trustee Nicoll, 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.1410.0104
Description
Contingent Account
Clerk O/T
Amount:
$6,500.00
$500.00
From Acct:
” ” ”
To Acct:
A.1420.0400
Description
” ” ”
Law – Contractual
Amount:
” ” ”
$1,000.00
From Acct:
” ” ”
To Acct:
A.8160.0419
Description
” ” ”
Refuse – Vehicle Mtce
Amount:
” ” ”
$5,000.00
From Acct:
A.3120.0213
To Acct:
A.3120.0153
Description
Police – Radio System
Telecommunicator O/T
Amount:
$4,000.00
$1,000.00
From Acct:
” ” ”
To Acct:
A.3120.0208
Description
” ” ”
Equipment/Misc
Amount:
” ” ”
$2,000.00
From Acct:
” ” ”
To Acct:
A.3120.0421
Description
” ” ”
Police Training
Amount:
” ” ”
$1,000.00
From Acct:
A.5132.0412
To Acct:
A.5132.0415
Description
Garage -Elec, Gas
Bldg Mtce
Amount:
$750.00
$750.00
From Acct:
F.1990.0400
To Acct:
F.8310.0415
Description
Water Contingent Acct
Bldg Mtce
Amount:
$6,000.00
$5,000.00
From Acct:
” ” ”
To Acct:
F.8340.0457
Description
” ” ”
Chlorine
Amount:
” ” ”
$1,000.00
From Acct:
To Acct:
Description
Amount:
Approved:
Trustee Foley Aye
Trustee Harris Aye
Trustee Marsh Aye
Trustee Nicoll Aye
Mayor Grenier Aye
Chief Frank Lacosse advised the Board about two letters of commendation he has given to his officers.
The first letter was given to Det/Sgt Ryan St. Gelais on February 18th , during the night a woman from Albany was missing. She called 911 and her phone was pinged to Cemetery Avenue. Menands Police, Colonie Police, Albany County Sheriff were searching the area. Det/Sgt St. Gelais found the woman under deep brush. The woman was hypothermic and carried up to EMS. She is doing better now.
The second letter was to Det Kevin Schwebke, he was working a case were Electronic Equipment was ordered under a false name. During the investigation Det Schwebke recovered half of the Electronic Equipment, but also discovered another $49,000.00 worth of computers that were purchased under a false name defrauding an elder woman from Texas. She was able to get back her $49,000 of the $100,000 she was defrauded.
Chief Lacosse invited the Board to the Law & Order Breakfast March 15th at Colonie Elks.
Lyle Darmetko advised the Board at last meeting he was asked to check with other municipalities regarding Stop Work Penalties. Lyle stated after speaking with Attorney Rehfuss the Village already has penalties in place. He can issue a Stop Work Order, and give an appearance ticket. They would have to go to Court where they could be fined up to $200.00 a day. No further action is required.
Trustee Marsh made a motion to approve the Local Law # 1 of 2020 Tax Cap Override, 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 Marsh made a motion to approve Local Law # 2 of 2020 Amending the Village Code 160-66 Section A of the Village of Menands Vehicle and Traffic Regulations, 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
Daniel Hershberg of Hershberg & Hershberg discussed with the Board a Pre-Application Site Plan for 30 Broadway which will be a Self-Storage Facility. Mr. Hershberg answered the Boards questions. A discussion followed.
Mr. Hershberg discussed with the Board his clients desire to subdivide 1 Broadway so that a separate building could be used as storage for the residents of 1 Broadway. Mr. Hershberg answered the Boards questions. A discussion followed.
The Clerk advised the Board he has received two (2) quotes for GPS to be added to DPW and Fire Department the Police already use GPS.
Verizon $30.23 one-time fee upfront per unit
$18.95 per month
Carmalink $49.00 one-time fee upfront per unit
$22.00 per month
Verizon is on State Contract a discussion followed.
The Clerk advised the Board that on Sunday, March 1st there was a hazmat incident at the Main Pump Station. Approximately 40 gals of chlorine spilled on the furnace, generator, ductwork and hot water heater. The furnace, duct work and hot water heater will need to be replaced.
The Clerk placed a claim with the insurance company. A discussion followed.
After the discussion Trustee Marsh made a motion authorizing the Clerk to get bids to replace the furnace, ductwork and hot water heater and authorized the Clerk to spend up to $11,500.00 on repairs, 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 Clerk advised the Board that a copy of last year’s delinquent taxes is on file in the Village Office.
Mayor Grenier advised the Board that the Park is now open for reservations. She reminded the Board that it was talked about adding a $50.00 fee to the park reservation for maintenance. A discussion followed.
After the discussion Trustee Marsh made a motion to increase the Park Reservation Permit to $150.00 with $100.00 refundable, seconded by Trustee Harris.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Mayor Grenier advised he Board she received the annual letter advising the Village of the Hudson-Mohawk Road Runner Club Marathon on Sunday, October 11th, 2020 at 8: A.M.
Trustee Harris asked Eric Johnson if he had any update on the trail markers. Eric stated not at this time.
Trustee Marsh advised the Board he is looking into a Solar Electric Project that could possibly save the Village 10% on electrical cost. He will report back to the Board when he has more information.
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 7:20 P.M.
__________________
Donald Handerhan
Village Clerk