At 6 PM on Monday September 8th, 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 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; Katie Healey, Mike Mackay, Eric Johnson, Renee Lequire, Bill Nevins, Erica Bove, Steve Boulet, Rhodina Lee, Harold Mendonice, Natalie Saviola, Esta Bigly, Wes Porter, Megan Pontine, Rebekah Ten Hagen. 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, 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 October 4, 2020.
A motion was made by Trustee Nicoll to accept the minutes of the August 17, 2020 Board Meeting, 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
A motion was made by Trustee Marsh to approve payment for the following, seconded by Trustee Nicoll.
WARRANT # 7:
GENERAL totaling $107,901.64
WATER totaling $ 2,216.44
SEWER totaling $ 2,881.18
TOTALS $112,999.26
PAYROLL # 7: totaling $102,508.57
(08/14/20-08/27/20)
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 Foley, seconded by Trustee Harris, 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.1110.0404 To Acct: A.1110.0200
Description Court Misc Court Equuip.
Amount: $700.00 $700.00
From Acct: A.1990.0400 To Acct: A.1325.0408
Description Contingent Acct Clk Consultant/Nego
Amount: $28,715.00 $3,715.00
From Acct: ” ” ” To Acct: A.1420.0400
Description ” ” ” Law – Contractual Exp
Amount: ” ” ” $15,000.00
From Acct: ” ” ” To Acct: A.9089.0800
Description ” ” ” Compensated Absences
Amount: ” ” ” $5,000.00
From Acct: ” ” ” To Acct: A.3120.0208
Description ” ” ” Police Equip Misc
Amount: ” ” ” $5,000.00
From Acct: A.1620.0200 To Acct: A.1620.0405
Description Bldgs – Equip Insurance
Amount: $434.00 $434.00
From Acct: A.3410.0404 To Acct: A.1910.0400
Description Fire – Misc Communication Repairs
Amount: $400.00 $400.00
.
From Acct: A.7110.0404 To Acct: A.7110.0405
Description Parks Misc Parks Ins.
Amount: $88.00 $88.00
From Acct: F.1990.0400 To Acct: F.8310.0208
Description Contingent Acct Equip/Misc
Amount: $500.00 $500
From Acct: F.8340.0457 To Acct: F8340.0458
Description Chlorine & CO2 Chemicals for Testing
Amount: $250.00 $250
Nothing Follows Nothing Follows
Approved:
Trustee Foley – Aye
Trustee Harris – Aye
Trustee Marsh – Aye
Trustee Nicoll – Aye
Mayor Grenier – Aye
Water adjustments:
Bill Nevins the owner of 12 Wolfert Avenue was given an adjustment for the November to May water bill due to a wrong size meter installed. Mr. Nevins is requesting an adjustment for the prior period when the meter was installed. 12 Wolfert Avenue should have been only charged the minimum of $297.91 but was charged $1,185.66 refund of $795.70
Trustee Marsh made a motion to refund Bill Nevins $795.70 to adjust his water bill the correct amount, 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
64 Amsterdam Ave due to faulty meter reading, the meter was replaced and it was discovered the outside recorder was also bad and was replaced. The resident paid $1,020.18, should have paid $297.91 is due a refund of $702.27.
Trustee Harris made a motion to refund 64 Amsterdam Ave. $702.27 to adjust his water bill the correct amount, 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 Treasurer requests a resolution to transfer $38,000 from the Equipment Savings to pay for the new pickup that was approved at the March 16th, 2020 Board Meeting.
Trustee Nicoll moved the following; a resolution authorizing the Treasurer to transfer from the Equipment Savings account $38,000 to Account A.0000.0200 General Fund cash to pay for a new pickup that was approved at the March 16th, 2020 Board Meeting, the resolution was 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
The Treasurer requested resolutions to correct the wording of two budget transfers approved at the July 20, 2020 Board meeting and a budget transfer at the August 17, 2020 Board Meeting
Correct the resolution to transfer $22,000 from the Sewer fund unappropriated to G.8120.0400; to read transfer from Sewer Saving to G.0000.0200 Sewer Cash.
Correct the resolution to transfer $220,450 from Equipment Savings Account to A.5110.0208 Street Equipment/Misc.; to read transfer from Equipment Savings to Account A.0000.0200 General Fund Cash.
Correct the wording of a budget transfer approved at the August 17, 2020 board meeting as follows:
Correct the resolution to transfer $21,400 from Equipment Savings account A.0000.0231 to A.3410.0208 Fire Department Equipment/Misc.; to read transfer from Equipment Saving account to A.0000.0200 General Fund Cash.
Trustee Marsh made a motion to approve the treasurer’s corrections, seconded by Trustee Nicol.
ADOPTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
The treasurer requests a resolution to amend the budget as follows: Increase the Account A.3410.0208 Fire Misc. Equip by $21,400 to account for the mobile radios approved last year.
Increase the Account A.5110.0208 Street Equip by $258,450 to account for the new garbage truck and new pickup truck that were approved last year.
And increase Account G.8120.0400 Contractual Expense by $22,000 to account for the work done at 21 Louis Avenue.
Trustee Nicoll moved the following; a resolution authorizing the treasurer to amend the budget as stated above, the resolution was 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 Clerk requested the Board declare the 2004 GMC (VIN # 1GTHK23U94F235183) as surplus so the Village can advertise for its sale.
Trustee Harris offered a motion to declare the 2004 GMC as surplus, 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
Trustee Foley presented the following resolution regarding the Standard Work Day and Reporting Resolution for Elected and Appointed Officials.
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Village of Menands #40123 hereby established the following standard work days for these titles and will report the officials to the New York State and Local Retirement based on their record of activities:
Mary Grenier Mayor
Diane Foley Trustee
Aileen Nicoll Trustee
Robert Becher Associate Justice
Stephen Rehfuss Village Attorney
Lyle Darmetko Code Enforcement Officer
Brian Marsh Trustee
Christopher Flint Justice
The above resolution was 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
At the September 1st, 2020 business meeting of the Menands Fire Company #1 the following individual was elected to active membership in the Company: Nicholas Kalogridis.
Trustee Nicoll made a motion to approve active membership status for Nicholas Kalogridis, seconded by Trustee Marsh.
ADOTED:
Trustee Foley voting AYE
Trustee Harris voting AYE
Trustee Marsh voting AYE
Trustee Nicoll voting AYE
Mayor Grenier voting AYE
POLICE REFORM RESOLUTION FOR 2020
A regular meeting of the Village Board of the Village of Menands was held via Google Meets video conference per Executive Order 202.1 on the 8th day of September, 2020 at 6:00 PM.
PRESENT: Mayor Megan Grenier
Deputy Mayor Aileen Nicoll
Trustee Diane Foley
Trustee Seth Harris
Trustee Brian Marsh
Mayor Grenier offered the following resolution and moved its adoption:
Resolution creating the Village of Menands Comprehensive Police Practices
Review Committee pursuant to Executive Order No. 203 and appointing the members thereto.
WHEREAS, each local government has a responsibility to ensure that all of its citizens are treated equally, fairly, and justly before the law; and
WHEREAS, Executive Order 203 requires each local government entity which has a police agency operating with police officers as defined under 1.20 of the criminal procedure law must perform a comprehensive review of current police force deployments, strategies, policies, procedures, and practices, and develop a plan to improve such deployments, strategies, policies, procedures, and practices, for the purposes of addressing the particular needs of the communities served by such police agency and promote community engagement to foster trust, fairness, and legitimacy, and to address any racial bias and disproportionate policing of communities of color; and
WHEREAS, Executive Order 203 requires each chief executive of such local government to convene the head of the local police agency, and stakeholders in the community to develop such plan, which shall consider evidence-based policing strategies, including but not limited to, use of force policies, procedural justice; any studies addressing systemic racial bias or racial justice in policing; implicit bias awareness training; de-escalation training and practices; law enforcement assisted diversion programs; restorative justice practices; community-based outreach and conflict resolution; problem-oriented policing; hot spots policing; focused deterrence; crime prevention through environmental design; violence prevention and reduction interventions; model policies and guidelines promulgated by the New York State Municipal Police Training Council; and standards promulgated by the New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Program;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that there be and hereby is created in the Village of Menands the COMPREHENSIVE POLICE PRACTICES REVIEW COMMITTEE, whose duty shall be to comply with each and every term and condition of Executive Order 203 for 2020; and
BE IT RESOLVED, that the following individuals be and hereby are appointed to said
committee:
Mayor Megan Grenier, Co-Chair
Menands Police Chief Frank Lacosse — Co-Chair
Aileen Nicoll – Deputy Mayor, Albany County DCYF
Ryan St. Gelais – Lieutenant Menands Police, Former PBA
Michael Maggulli – Resident/TOC Attorney
Melissa Jeffers – Resident/TOC Board Member/Former Immigration Staff
Lisa Buoniconto — Resident/Founder Empower Ethiopia
Stephen Herrick — Albany County Public Defender’s Office
David Soares – Albany County DA
Renee Merges – Albany County DA’s Officer
Dr. Maureen Long – Superintendent Menands School
Jennifer Cannavo – Principal Menands School
Shawn Gomes – Resident /Former Village Employee
Ray Perez-Pearson – Resident/Former Military Police
Madalyn Royal – Resident/PTA President
Peter Kelsey – Program Director Fr. Peter Young Housing
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Village Attorney, Stephen Rehfuss, be and
hereby is, appointed as counsel to said committee.
Trustee Marsh made a motion to approve Resolution creating the Village Of Menands Comprehensive Police Practices Review Committee pursuant to Executive Order No. 203 and appointing the members thereto, 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
The following quotes were received to replace the chlorine pump at the Main Pump Station:
JEM $6,736.04
Clean Waters, Inc. $7,484.00
MJR Construction Services $7,860.93
Trustee Harris made a motion to accept the quote for a new chlorine pump at the Main Pump Station from JEM in the amount of $6,736.04, 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 Fire Department requests the use of apparatus on Friday and Saturday to attend Ron Baker’s wake and funeral. The Clerk advised the Board that Ron Baker was Deputy Chief of Colonie EMS, life member of Colonie Village Fire Department, state fire instructor and past teacher.
Trustee Harris made a motion to approve the Fire Department to send apparatus to Ron Baker’s wake and funeral, seconded by Trustee Foley.
Mayor Grenier expressed condolences to the Village of Colonie and Ron Baker’s family.
The Clerk informed the Board that the 2020 Town of Colonie Community Development Five-Year Consolidate Plan Block Grant is on file in the Village Office.
Bill Nevins attempted to give an update on the Census Awareness Program but was having technical problems. The Clerk gave the report to the Board. Lawn signs have been placed throughout the Village and the Apartment Complexes’, banners have been put up on Broadway, Van Rensslear Blvd, and on the Firehouse.
Signs have been placed on each building of Village One. There has been one mailing to each house and apartment within the Village. A follow up post card will be mailed at the end of this week or next week.
Mayor Grenier advised that the PTA had received a grant through Albany County to help with the Census.
Mayor Grenier read the following comments that were submitted to Clerk Handerhan from Bill Nevins prior to the Board Meeting:
I would like to thank the Village DPW. They are always willing to help. They are hardworking and keep the Village looking nice. Their hard work is evident in the new “Honors” flags hung up and down the Broadway corridor. They look great.
Additionally, I would like to thank the Menands Police Department. Their help with a family emergency a few weeks ago shows their dedication to the police profession. I was met with calm, professional, knowledgeable officers who helped with the crisis. It is clear that this level of professionalism comes from the top down and I want to personally thank Chief Lacosse for his leadership of Menands Police Department.
Thank you, Bill Nevins
The Interns from Cornell presented their final report to the Board on the study completed over the summer.
Rebekah Ten Hagen presented her findings and recommendations of the Operational and Financial efficiency of the Village of Menands. The report will be on file in the Village Office.
Megan Pontin presented her findings and recommendations regarding Economic and Community Development for the Village of Menands. Megan’s report will be on file in the Village Office.
Wes Porter and Natalie Saviola presented their findings regarding Financial Reporting and Modeling. A copy of their report will be on fine in the Village Office.
The Village Board thanked the interns for their hard work and wished them well this school year. Mayor Grenier thanked Trustee Harris for bringing this project to the Village and thanked both Trustee Harris and Trustee Marsh for their efforts.
At 7:38 P.M. Trustee Marsh made a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter, 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 regular meeting reconvened at 7:45 P.M.
Mayor Grenier advised the Board that Uri Kauffman’s attorney has contacted the Village Attorney Stephen Rehfuss regarding him purchasing the Crainsville Block building and converting it to a self-storage facility. After a discussion it was decided that the building is in the BBD zoning area and would not be zoned for self-storage.
A motion was made by Trustee Marsh to adjourned, 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
The meeting was duly adjourned at 7:50 P.M.
_____________________
Donald Handerhan
Village Clerk