Regular Village Board Meeting April 20, 2009
The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands, held on April 20, 2009 was called to order by Mayor Thomas G. Coates at 7:00 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 C. Reuss, Exec. Assist to the Mayor
Also attending: Bill Garvey, Jim Long, Paul Cooney, Chuck Price, Margaret Griffel, Janet O’Brien-Aram, Maurice Griffel, Lauren Porter, John Stangle, Michael Graney, George Gravrogkas, AL Baltch.
The Mayor led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Resident Chuck Price inquired as to the digging of test holes on his property and if the Village is going to restore the areas. The Mayor stated we have not received a report for the engineer yet, but the Village will restore the areas.
Several residents from the Sage Hill Area (The Gravrogkas, Griffel’s, Ms. Janet O’Brien-Aram, and Michael Graney) discussed an issue with a neighbor’s lot and the condition it is in. Trustee Miller will investigate and make sure the Villages right away is clear. After the discussion Mr. Graney stated he would approach the neighbor to see if he will clean up the down trees and limbs.
Resident Jim Long expressed his displeasure with the tree that was moved on Menand Road and the blacktop that was put down instead of grass. He also inquired as to the surveying being done now when the Village would not do it when he was having issues with storm water. The Clerk stated the survey was to identify easements.
At this point the Mayo4r closed the open forum.
A motion was made by Trustee Lansing seconded by Trustee Lane to accept the minutes of the April 6th, 2009 meeting.
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 April 15th, 2009 - 2010 Preliminary Budget Hearing.
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 Lansing to approve payment for the following:
WARRANT # 22
GENERAL totaling $40,565.91
WATER totaling 5,288.55
SEWER totaling 13,137.29 TOTAL $58,991.75
PAYROLL # 23 totaling $58,661.94
(3/27/09 – 4/09/09)
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
Mayor Coates voting AYE
The Clerk advised the Board that he was getting prices for a new Workers’ Compensation carrier as the current one has advised the Village its rates are to be approximately $40,000 higher than last year.
The Clerk also advised the board that he had an inquiry to hold a 5K Walk/Run for Cancer from an employee of Verizon and he is waiting for further information. He also advised them that he received addition signs warning about the possibility of ticks for the parks, and that he put a supply of information pamphlets in the lobby.
The Clerk led a discussion concerning repairs to the heating system after which Trustee Miller moved seconded by Trustee Grenier to have Dwight Plumbing perform the needed repairs.
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
Mayor Coates voting AYE
Trustee Grenier moved seconded by Trustee Lansing a motion to restore the Historian line item in the Budget after a discussion the motion did not pass.
The vote was: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting NAY
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting ABSTAINED
Mayor Coates voting NAY
Trustee Lansing moved to remove a total of $75,000 from the Engineering Appropriations in the General, Water and Sewer Funds motion seconded by Trustee Grenier.
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting NAY
Mayor Coates voting NAY
Motion passed three (3) – two (2).
Trustee Miller moved seconded by Trustee Grenier a motion to approve the 2009 – 2010 Preliminary Budget less the $75,000 removed from the Engineering lines.
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 missing street lights on Broadway after which he was asked to check with National Grid about the cost increases if they are fed overhead.
Trustee Miller discussed a Green Grant being offered with a 90 – 10 split between the Feds and Locals. Trustee Miller is working on prices for replacing the motors on the pumps at the Ward’s Pump Station and possible leak detection equipment he will report back at the next meeting.
At 9:00 P.M. a motion was made by Trustee Lansing seconded by Trustee Grenier to enter into Executive Session.
ADOPTED: Trustee Grenier voting AYE
Trustee Lane voting AYE
Trustee Lansing voting AYE
Trustee Miller voting AYE
Mayor Coates voting AYE
The regular meeting reconvened at 10:33 P.M.
A motion was made by Trustee Lansing 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 10:35 P.M.
___________________________________
William T. Smith, Jr.
Clerk - Treasurer