At 6:08 PM on Monday, October19th, 2020 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 6:08 P.M., 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; Steve Boulet, Bill Nevins, Eric Johnson. 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 Brian Marsh, present, Trustee Diane Foley, present, Clerk Don Handerhan, absent, Treasurer Bill Smith, present and Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Nicole Ognan, present, Village Attorney Steve Rehfuss, 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 officers 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 November 3rd, 2020.
A motion was made by Trustee Nicoll to accept the minutes of the October 5th, 2020 Board Meeting, 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
A motion was made by Trustee Nicoll to approve payment for the following, seconded by Trustee Marsh.
WARRANT # 10:
GENERAL totaling $190,586.21
WATER totaling $ 4,010.45
SEWER totaling $ 4,274.89
TOTALS $198,871.55
PAYROLL # 10: totaling $ 88,424.41
(09/25/20-10/08/20)
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
DATE: 10-19-2020
A motion was made by Trustee Marsh, 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.8160.0419
To Acct:
A.8160.0405
Description
Refuse – Veh Mtce
Refuse – Insurance
Amount:
$300.00
$300.00
From Acct:
A.1990.0400
To Acct:
A.1325.0404
Description
Contingent Acct
Clerk – Miscellaneous
Amount:
$5,500.00
$5,500.00
From Acct:
NOTHING FOLLOWS
To Acct:
NOTHING FOLLOWS
Description
Amount:
Approved:
Trustee Foley – Aye
Trustee Harris – Aye
Trustee Marsh – Aye
Trustee Nicoll – Aye
Mayor Grenier – Aye
Mayor Grenier led a discussion of naming the Mohawk Hudson Bike Trail Connector at exit 6 of I-787 after former Trustee Ronald H. Miller. She then presented the following resolution:
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF NAMING THE MOHAWK-HUDSON BIKE TRAIL CONNECTOR AFTER RONALD H. MILLER
WHEREAS, the Village of Menands, which borders the Hudson River on the east, lost bike/pedestrian access to the river through the development of I-787; and
WHEREAS, regaining access to the Hudson River, has been an ongoing process for several years to benefit the residents of the Village of Menands and surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, Ronald H. Miller, a longtime resident of Menands, served on the Village of Menands Board of Trustees from April 7, 2003 through April 4, 2011; and
WHEREAS, as an economist, Ronald H. Miller, devoted his professional life to environmentalism, with an agenda to provide Menands access to the natural beauty of the shores of the Hudson River: and
WHEREAS, Ronald H. Miller, was instrumental in restoring bike/pedestrian access between the north end of Menands and South Troy, at the Troy-Menands Bridge to the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail, however, leaving a gap for central access in Menands to the river, which became next on Ron’s agenda; and
WHEREAS, Ronald H. Millers efforts to restore access, continues with the recent work performed by New York State Department of Transportation, to add a connector on the Exit 6 if I-787 northbound ramp in Menands to the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail; and
WHEREAS, Ronald H. Miller passed away prior to seeing his vision become a reality, and the Village of Menands, Board of Trustees, supports recognizing Ron’s efforts in naming the connector for Ronald H. Miller.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF MENANDS THAT WE FULLY SUPPORT THAT THE CONNECTOR TO THE MOHAWK-HUDSON-BIKE-HIKE TRAIL BE NAMED FOR
RONALD H. MILLER
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES THIS 19TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2020
VILLAGE OF MENANDS
Megan Grenier, Mayor
Trustee Nicoll moved the approval of the resolution, seconded Trustee Marsh.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
Eric Johnson led a discussion siting the need to do additional work on Canal Road South, to correct drainage issues and to expand a parking area to alleviate turning issues.
After which Trustee Marsh offered a motion to approve the additional work, 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 Treasurer advised the Board that a resolution is needed to approve PenFlex, Inc to administer the Service Award Program for the Menands Fire Department for the 2020 year.
Trustee Foley offered a resolution authorizing PenFlex as the administer for the 2020 Service Award Program for the Menands Fire Company, 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
Eric Johnson of Chazen Engineering discussed the Quiet Zone Project, depending on the acceptance of the stripping per Federal Code. Eric is hopeful that we will have a Quiet Zone by Thanksgiving.
The Treasurer advised the Board that we have received the Community Development Consolidated Performance and Evaluation Report for the period 7/1/19 – 6/30/20 from the Town of Colonie and it is on file in the Office.
Resident Bill Nevins updated the Board on the Census Project. The Village’s rate for the count is over 99%, the county coordinator believes that ever house hold is already counted including apartments. Bill thanked the Village for helping make it all happened and for grant money for signs and postage.
The Mayor updated the Board on the CDTA Transit Project, which they hope to have the new route running by November 8th, 2020.
Trustee Marsh discussed the road the parcel of property the Water Department Main Pump Station is on and the Lukoil Gas Station to the north. The Clerk will update the Board when he returns.
Memorandum 10/18/20
TO: All members of Menands Village Board
FROM: Bill Garvey Jr
Here are my thank you letters of importance as follows:
- On 10/6/20 while I was driving on Clifford Road + I saw + observed 3 brown leaf + grass bags standing next to 1 fire hydrant which it is on 21 Clifford strawberry red house property. So I reported this problem to the Menands Police right away + they told me that they will inform the owner of 21 Clifford Road property that he or she cannot put nothing next to any fire hydrant. So the next day while driving on Clifford Road, I was that all 3 brown leaf + grass bags were removed from next to fire hydrant. I like to thank the Menands Police for doing their job to enforce state fire safety rules + regulations dealing with fire hydrants.
- I wish to thank Clerk Don Handerhan for answering my questions concerning people playing basketball at the basketball court in Ganser-Smith Park, concern about update on road at north entrance to Schuyler Inn, 5 Elmwood Road Project in converting former Olympic Lanes into apartments, planting new trees in our village parks + 2 new quiet Zone Railway Signs on 11 Brookside Avenue property still being blocked by trees the best he could.
- I like to thank the National Grid Utility crews, related contractors +_ all public works workers including our own Village Public Works crew for doing excellent work in clearing debris, fixing or replacing powerlines after the 10/7/20 short but very strong thunder storms which caused 200,000 customers to lose electric power. I also wish to thank all utility crews, contractors + public works crew for spending tough + long hours in cleanup work details for removing debris and replacing broken utility poles thus restoring electric power to everyone as soon as possible under tough conditions. You are all hero’s.
Thank you for your time + consideration.
Yours Sincerely
Bill Garvey, Jr.
Memorandum 10/18/2020
TO: All Village Board Members
FROM: Bill Garvey, Jr.
TOPIC: My support for resolution to name the bike connector for Ron Miller.
I like to give my full support of resolution to name bike connector for Ron Miller because Ron Miller had done a great job as Village Board Member fairly, honestly, effectively and efficiently the best to his ability. Therefore I urge our Village Board to please pass a resolution to name the bike connector for Ron Miller. He deserves his honor. Thank you for time + consideration.
Yours Sincerely
Bill Garvey Jr.
The Treasurer advised the Board that water meter readings will begin on October 28th.
Mayor Grenier advised that the next meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 2nd at 6:00 and will be held via Google Meet.
Trustee Harris led a discussion on the request from Cornell to possibly host additional interns for the Spring semester. Thought will be given to potential projects.
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 6:40 P.M.
_________________
William T. Smith, Jr.
Village Treasurer