Regular Village Board Meeting Page 1 of 4
June 4, 2007
The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands held on June 4th, 2007 and called to order by Mayor Thomas G. Coates at 7:02 P.M.
PRESENT: Thomas G. Coates, Mayor
Megan Grenier, Trustee
Timothy A. Lane, Trustee
Mark Lansing, Trustee
Ronald H. Miller, Trustee
William T. Smith, Jr., Clerk-Treasurer
Stephen Rehfuss, Village Attorney
Paul Reuss, Exec Assist to Mayor
Also attending: Bill Garvey, Paul Cooney, Esther Nolan, Mary C. Brown, John M. Burkett, Angel Quinones, Bill Roylance, David Shaughnessy, Eve Shaughnessy, Lynda Long, Al Wright, J. Rutherford, D. MacFarland and V. Prezedpezski.
The Mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Lynda Long led a discussion as to the planting of trees on lower Menand Road. Frank Esposito of the Hardware has quoted a price for eleven trees, the planting and mulch and a one year guarantee of $3,025.00. After which it was suggested to include another eight trees for Brookside Avenue and to replace seven trees on the RR Bridge that are dead. The Board asked Lynda to get prices for all the trees. Lynda also discussed purchasing two new four foot benches to replace the old ones at the island in front of the hardware store the estimated price is $792.00. It was suggested to have someone look at the benches to see if they are safe and/or repairable before we purchase new ones. There was a discussion about the purchase of seven new garbage
cans for the park. The Clerk stated he has sent out requests for proposals from the same group that provided the proposals last year. He expects to have the proposals for next meeting.
Bill Roylance and several other residents from Glenwood Road complained about the lack of service they feel Polk Switzer Park is receiving from the DPW. The grass is approximately one foot tall and has been mowed only once this year. Also there is a dead tree that fell down last year and it still is in the park. It was also mentioned that some of the benches were broken and that when the grass is cut after being so high it plugs up the drains in the field. It was requested it be put on a weekly schedule. The Board expressed their displeasure with the situations and Trustee Lansing said he would speak to DPW Foreman Boyd.
Paul Cooney advised the Board that the BID opening for the demolition of 35 Broadway was to take place tomorrow and that they hope to have the building down by the end of June.
A motion was made by Trustee Lansing, seconded by Trustee Lane, to accept the minutes of the May 21, 2007 Public Hearing on the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Annual Report.
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
Mayor Coates voting AYE
A motion was made by Trustee Lansing seconded, by Trustee Lane, to accept the minutes of the May 21st, 2007 meeting as corrected.
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
Mayor Coates voting AYE
A motion was made by Trustee Lane seconded, by Trustee Grenier, to approve payment for the following:
WARRANT # 25 ENC
GENERAL totaling $ 29,297.23
WATER totaling 206,708.71
SEWER totaling 1,175.05
$237,180.99
WARRANT #1
GENERAL totaling $210,067.95
WATER totaling 21,418.00 $231,485.95
PAYROLL # 26 totaling $84,687.50
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
Mayor Coates voting AYE
A discussion followed regarding Boswell Engineering’s Preliminary Site Plan review application for their project at 35 Broadway.
Trustee Lansing offered, seconded by Trustee Lane, the following resolution and moved its adoption:
WHEREAS, Boswell Engineering hereinafter “the applicant”, filed an application for Preliminary Site Plan approval on April 9th, 2007 for a project in the Village of Menands, also known as 35 Broadway, and
WHERAS, as part of its application, the applicant has filed an Environmental Assessment Form as required by NYCRR part 617 which was completed and concluded that the project will present “no adverse environmental impacts” and,
WHEREAS, the Village Board of Trustees retained the engineering firm of J. Kenneth Fraser & Associates to review and advised the Board on environmental and technical aspects of the application, and
WHEREAS, said J. Kenneth Fraser & Associates has reviewed the application and such environmental filing and has recommended that the Village Board conclude that the project will not present any significant adverse environment impacts to the surrounding area by letter dated May 18th, 2007 and,
WHEREAS, after due deliberation, it is
RESOLVED, that the project herein will not present any significant adverse environmental impact to the Village of Menands,
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
Mayor Coates voting AYE
Trustee Lansing offered seconded, by Trustee Lane a resolution granting Preliminary Site Plan approval to Boswell Engineering for the project at 35 Broadway. Final approval may be requested after addressing the comments from Fraser and Associates to the satisfaction of the Board.
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
Mayor Coates voting AYE
The Clerk led a discussion concerning the repairs to the Fire Department Ladder Truck. After which Trustee Lansing moved seconded, by Trustee Miller a resolution instructing the Clerk to send a letter to Arsenal City Emergency Services giving them until the end of the month to get the parts and do the repairs or we will move on to the next lowest bidder.
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
Mayor Coates voting AYE
The Clerk was also requested to get updated quotes on repairs to the generator on the ladder truck.
Paul Reuss and Al Wright led a discussion concerning the changes to the State Law with respect to Fire Inspections. The Board was informed that any fire inspections in the past were done on a volunteer basis by Earl Jones, Ed Scott, Al Wright and other firemen. The changes to the law and the loss of volunteers have created a problem for the Village in that we either have to hire a part time Fire Inspector or request the Town of Colonie to take over the function, which would probably result in a fee to the Village. After a discussion Paul and Al were requested to get more information for the Board including estimates for a part time Inspector, fee schedules, and rules for inspections, training and qualifications for an inspector.
The Clerk discussed the preliminary local law concerning the water system he gave each member. After which it was decided that each member review it and send comments to Steve via email so he can incorporate them and/or discuss any changes with the Board members it was agreed to have the law ready for enactment by September 15th.
There was a discussion concerning the Time Warner Contract. Attorney Rehfuss advised the Board that a list of the changes in this contract is being sent to the Village to allow for easier review. Trustee Lansing will contact Bob Jakeway at the Town of Colonie Library to discuss the contract the Town negotiated.
The Clerk discussed the proposal the Village received from General Code concerning the updates to the Village Code and electronic versions of the code. After which Trustee Lansing moved seconded, by Trustee Lane a resolution accepting the proposal from General Code to update the code in the amount of $9,720.00.
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
Mayor Coates voting AYE
Trustee Lane discussed several issues he would like action on including the area on the Bridge and several properties that need to have letters sent to about property maintenance, some have already been addressed.
Trustee Miller discussed several items the Parks Committee would like to see done this year, another survey of the south end residents concerning a park, the following improvements to Ganser Smith Park, a new concession stand, six new garbage cans, fix the volleyball court, construct handicap parking near the pavilion, and do a lighting plan for the park.
Trustee Miller also requested that everyone get the changes to the Trails Grant RFQ to him so it can be addressed next meeting.
The Clerk reminded the Board that the Annual NYCOM Meeting is June 11 – 13 at the Gidean Putnam in Saratoga.
Mayor Coates thanked Paul and Bill for their work on the business breakfast, it was well received.
A motion was made by Trustee Grenier seconded, by Trustee Lane to adjourn.
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
Mayor Coates voting AYE
The meeting was duly adjourned at 9:40 P.M.
_____________________
William T. Smith, Jr.
Clerk-Treasurer
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