Regular Village Board Meeting January 5, 2009
The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands, held on January 5, 2009 was called to order by Deputy Mayor Timothy A Lane at 7:00 P.M.
PRESENT: Megan Grenier, Trustee
Timothy A. Lane, Trustee
Mark Lansing, Trustee
Ronald H. Miller, Trustee
William T. Smith, Jr., Clerk-Treasurer
Jennifer Carlson, Village Attorney
ABSENT: Thomas G. Coates, Mayor
Paul Reuss, Exec Assist to Mayor
Also attending: Bill Garvey, Gert Kutz, Aileen Nicoll, Paul Cooney, Michael Testo, and John Stangle,
The Deputy Mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance.
On behalf of Mayor Coates, Trustee Grenier offered seconded by Trustee Miller, the following resolution and moved its adoption:
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE GRATITUDE OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND THE PEOPLE OF THE VILLAGE OF MENANDS TO, RECOGNIZING, MRS. GERT KUTZ AS, TOWN OF COLONIE OUTSTANDING SENIOR, IN 2008
WHEREAS, Mrs. Kutz has been a resident of the Village of Menands for over 50 years, and
WHEREAS, she has been an active volunteer serving many of the organizations of the Village with countless hours and demonstrated dedication to the development and well being of the Village, and
WHEREAS, since the 1970’s Mrs. Kutz has served as an active member of the Menands Senior Citizens Club, including being its President for the last eight years, and,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Gert Kutz was recognized by the Town Board of Colonie at its December 4, 2008 meeting, as the outstanding Senior Citizen in Menands in 2008,
WHEREAS, Mrs. Gert Kutz has been, and continues to be held in high esteem and affection by the Village Trustees and residents of this Village, and who have benefited from her continuing friendship and tireless service to the community,
NOW, THEREFORE, be it
RESOLVED, that we, the members of this Board, personally and on behalf of the citizens of this Village, extend our most sincere thanks and grateful appreciation to our friend Mrs. Gert Kutz, for her sound judgment, personal commitment and tireless service to the residents of the Village of Menands and we do, further, unreservedly extend to her our heartfelt gratitude, congratulations on and our own designation as the Outstanding Senior, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Clerk-Treasurer be, and he hereby is, directed to cause this resolution to be published in the Menands Activities and to transmit a certified copy hereof to Mrs. Gert Kutz, and to express, personally, to Mrs. Kutz, our heartfelt appreciation of the many services so generously rendered to this Village.
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
John Stangle expressed concern about the salting of the streets in the middle of the Village as they were a sheet of ice at 7:00 A.M. today. The Clerk advised him that the salters were out since 2:00 or 2:30 A.M. this morning but he would mention this to the DPW Foreman. John also mentioned the stairs at the fire house and how ice was forming again.
Paul Cooney updated the Board as to the DPW Study and stated he thought a preliminary report would be available by the end of March.
A motion was made by Trustee Grenier seconded by Trustee Miller to accept the minutes of the December 15th, 2008 meeting.
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
A motion was made by Trustee Grenier seconded by Trustee Miller to approve payment for the following:
WARRANT # 15
GENERAL totaling $ 86,461.34
WATER totaling 1,814.04
SEWER totaling 22,410.80
TOTAL $110,686.18
PAYROLL # 15 totaling $ 75,028.95
(12/5/08 – 12/18/08)
PAYROLL # 16 totaling $ 68,939.84
(12/19/08 – 01/01/09)
TOTAL $143,968.79
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE Trustee Miller voting AYE
Trustee Miller moved seconded by Trustee Grenier a Resolution to transfer $19,500.00 from Sewer Unappropriated to G-8120.0430 for replacement of sewer lines at the Firehouse.
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
Trustee Grenier offered seconded by Trustee Miller the following Resolution and moved its adoption pursuant to Election Law § 15-104 1b “The General Election for the Village of Menands will be held on Wednesday, March 18th, 2009 at which time two trustees and the Village Justice are to be elected for a four year term to commence pursuant to law upon their qualifications and no earlier than April 6, 2009.”
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
Trustee Lansing offered seconded, by Trustee Grenier, the following resolution and moved its adoption:
RESOLVED, that the register of those qualified to vote in the forthcoming Village Election in the Village of Menands to be held at the Municipal Firehouse in the Village between the hours of 12:00 noon and 9:00 p.m. in the afternoon on March 18, 2009 shall be prepared by the duly appointed inspectors of the Election of this Village on Registration Day, March 7, 2009 and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Inspectors of Election shall meet for this purpose between the hours of 12:00 noon and 5:00 p.m. in the afternoon in the Firehouse adjoining this Municipal Building in this Village on said date, at which time and place all persons qualified to vote at such forthcoming Village Election and are not otherwise registered, may attend and register their names for such Election.
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
The Clerk said, that the Annual Winter meeting of the Mohawk-Hudson Association of Village Officials is scheduled for Sunday, January 25th in the Village of Ravena, reservations no later than Tuesday, January 20th, let the Clerk know if you are attending.
It was noted that the next Village Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 20th due to the observance of Martin Luther King's Birthday on January 19th.
A discussion was held concerning the request by the Albany County Executive and the Albany County Sheriff that the Village of Menands participate in a study relative to possible consolidation of Albany County PSAPS (Public Safety Answering Points). After which Trustee Lansing offered the following Resolution of support, which was seconded by Trustee Grenier.
WHEREAS, Albany County would like to study the feasibility of consolidating the County’s eleven Public Safety Answering Points to further enhance the emergency communications system in the County, and
WHEREAS, the Village of Menands has served as one of the eleven PSAPs of the County since the County’s 911 system was established, and while it seemed logical at that time, for local employees to provide the dispatch services for their area; it now appears to be the time for the County to do a study, (as advanced technology, improved training and more integrated emergency response plans offer the possibility) for consolidation, and
WHEREAS, other areas in New York State have consolidated their PSAP’s and have realized benefits from the consolidation, not the least of which is providing better emergency services for their constituents,
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Village Board, in its capacity as governing body of the Village of Menands, does hereby support and will participate in the Albany County study to determine the feasibility of consolidating the County’s PSAPs.
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
Trustee Grenier seconded by Trustee Lansing a motion authorizing Deputy Mayor to sign agreement with Albany County for the Annual Stop-DWI Program Funds.
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
The Clerk advised the Board that Bill Wallens of Roemer, Wallens & Mineaux LLC had agreed to represent the Village in contract negotiations with Teamsters Local 294 for the same fee and conditions as was agreed to for the just completed negotiations with the PBA. Hearing no objections the Clerk will contact Mr. Wallens.
Trustee Lansing moved seconded by Trustee Grenier a motion to hire Bill Wallens of Roemer, Wallens & Mineaux to represent the Village in contract negotiations with employees of the Department of Public Works.
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
The Clerk reminded the Board of an Infrastructure Workshop scheduled for 6:00 P.M. Thursday the 8th.
Trustee Miller advised the Board that he was the President of the Menands Rotary for this year and thanked everyone for their support with the Salvation Army Bell ringing this past holiday season. Trustee Miller also will be investigating a possible grant for the purchase of some software for the Building Department.
Trustee Grenier advised the Board that despite the bad weather the Youth Christmas Party and Caroling was successful, and thanked Brianna and her staff.
A motion was made by Trustee Grenier seconded by Trustee Miller to adjourn.
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
The meeting was duly adjourned at 7:45 P.M.
_____________________
William T. Smith, Jr.
Clerk – Treasurer