Incorporated Village of Asharoken
Board of Trustees
Held on Monday
March 5th, 2012 7:30 P.M
At Village Hall
Approximate Attendance (21)
Officers Present:
Patricia Irving, Mayor
Joseph Tilleli, Deputy Mayor
Joseph Affrunti, Trustee
Joseph Catanzano, Trustee
Pam Pierce, Trustee
Officials & Appointees Present:
Nancy Rittenhouse, Village Clerk
Emily Hayes, Village Treasurer
Ken Savin, Village Attorney
Ray Mahdesian, Officer- in- Charge
Doug Adil, Superintendent of Buildings
Anna Pollaci, Zoning Board of Appeals Chairperson
Barry Bradley, Sanitation Operator
The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Mayor Irving called the Public Hearing/Board meeting to order.
Proof of Publication was noted.
Approval of the Regular Board Meeting minutes for 2/7/2012, Trustee Pierce made a motion to accept the minutes, seconded by Trustee Catanzano.
Trustee Catanzano AYE
Trustee Pierce AYE
Deputy Mayor Tilleli AYE
Mayor Irving AYE
Motioned Carried.
Approval of the Special Meeting minutes for 2/21/2012, Trustee Pierce made a motion to accept the minutes, seconded by Deputy Mayor Tilleli.
Trustee Catanzano AYE
Trustee Pierce AYE
Deputy Mayor Tilleli AYE
Mayor Irving AYE
Motioned Carried.
Mayor’s Report
Sea wall Repairs and Sand on the Beach: Mayor Irving reported that on February 9th she had a Video Conference Call with the USACE and Congressman Steve Israel from Washington DC and Congressman Steve Israel’s Legislative Director Tricia Russell. Located in the Hauppauge District Office was Mayor Pat Irving, Village Attorney Ken Savin; USACE, Chief of Operations NY District, Tom Creamer; and Israel’s Deputy Chief of Staff Tracie Holmberg. She noted that they discussed the damage at the seawall and why it happened so soon after completion and that the repairs were limited to what previously existed, warranties, existing conditions and alternative solutions. Mayor Irving noted that Tom Creamer was given suggested solutions and he noted that he would work on them. The Mayor expects a response by the end of the month.
Verizon Repairs: Mayor Irving noted that Verizon has been repairing the fibro-optic cables opposite the sea wall within the Village right of way. She noted that this is not a Village project but a utility project. Verizon requested to place their equipment on private property, the private property owners worked with Verizon.
Road Repairs: Mayor Irving noted that various pot holes and emergency patches were completed this month.
Emergency Management: Mayor Irving reported that the Village’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan has been revised and a draft copy from resident volunteer Bill Raisch is in Village Hall. The Board has reviewed the latest changes.
Newsletter: Mayor Irving thanked many residents who have responded to help save our Village more money on future printing and mailing costs by providing their email addresses for future distributions. It was noted to send in your Name, Street Address and e-mail address to our Village Clerk, Nancy Rittenhouse, at Rittenhousevc@gmail.com.
Budget: Mayor Irving noted that a tremendous amount of time was devoted to the Village’s proposed Budget for year end 5/31/2013, this past month.
Trustee Reports:
Trustee Pierce reported on several meetings that she attended with FEMA on tropical storm Irene.
She noted that Village Clerk Nancy Rittenhouse did a great job on obtaining all the reimbursements due our Village from the storm. She attended several court sessions this month. She inspected the Verizon project. She reviewed the draft Emergency Management Plan and attended and sat on the Board of Assessment Review held on February 21st. She assisted the staff with a budget mailing. She reviewed the storm water 2011 plan and the budget for fiscal year 5/31/2013. She also noted that Mel Ettinger was a great help during the week of February 19th, assisting the staff.
Deputy Mayor Tilleli reported that he worked with the Mayor and other trustees on the budget for fiscal year 5/31/2013. He reviewed the Verizon project. He organized the removal of a fallen tree and he reviewed work that was done on a sink hole and areas patched on our Village road way.
Trustee Catanzano reported on his review of the Verizon project. He reviewed the budget for fiscal year 5/31/2013. He participated with the budget mailing. He attended and sat on the Board of Assessment Review held on February 21st.
Trustee Affrunti arrived at 7:36.
Village Attorney: Ken Savin reported that he joined Mayor Irving with the conference call with the USACE and Congressman Israel. He noted that Verizon is removing the three plastic boxes and relocated the fiber optic connection to a new location at the south end. He inspected the snow fencing and noted that it will be removed by April 1st, before the piping plover season. A meeting is scheduled for the ZBA board on March 20th, 2012. He reviewed code issues and police issues. He has had conversations with NYCOM and reviewed FOIL requests. He noted that most of the grievance applications that were submitted were incomplete. Nothing new in court or litigation.
Treasurers Report: Vouchers for the month of February2012: Treasurer, Emily Hayes requested approval for vouchers in the amount of $31,011.01 and related budget transfers.
Motion was made by Trustee Catanzano to approve the Treasurers Report and February 2012 vouchers of $31,011.01 and related budget transfers, seconded by Trustee Pierce.
Trustee Catanzano AYE
Trustee Affrunti AYE
Trustee Pierce AYE
Deputy Mayor Tilleli AYE
Mayor Irving AYE
Motioned Carried.
Officer-in-Charge: Ray Mahdesian reported that we had a safe month. He reported that the department has in-service training in February provided by Suffolk County Police Academy involved safety procedures during police pursuits. He noted that the NY State Justice Court Assistance Program awarded $2924.18 for computer hardware and other items. He noted that he and Officer Bank attended a two-day seminar on Legal Issues for Law Enforcement given by New York State Department of Criminal Justice at the Nassau County Police Academy on February 22nd and 23rd.
Sanitation Report: Barry Bradley reported that Big Blue was running well. Trash pick-up was 24.65 tons. Big Blue’s front seat was repaired.
Superintendent of Buildings Report: Doug Adil reported on 8 construction inspections and responded to a homeowner request on a sanitation system, reviewed a demo application for a garage as well as a new detached garage. He noted that he discussed zoning /variance issues for a garage expansion on Bevin Road West.
Mayor Irving made a motion to open the Public Hearing, seconded by Deputy Mayor Tilleli.
Trustee Catanzano AYE
Trustee Affrunti AYE
Trustee Pierce AYE
Deputy Mayor Tilleli AYE
Mayor Irving AYE
Motioned Carried.
Village Clerk, Nancy Rittenhouse read the legal notice for the public hearing on the budget.
A resident asked when the budget was available for review. Village Clerk, Nancy Rittenhouse noted that the publication was issued on February 14th, 2012 and Mayor Irving noted that the proposed budget was available for viewing and on February 20th, 2012 copies were available.
Treasurer, Emily Hayes and Village Clerk, Nancy Rittenhouse presented the proposed Village budget for fiscal year 5/31/2013.
A resident inquired about the responsibility of the roadways believing that they were maintained by the Town of Huntington, Mayor Irving responded and noted that the Village is responsible to maintain and service the roadways.
A resident inquired about attorney fees.
A resident commented about all the hard work that went into the budget.
A resident inquired about the funds reserved in the prior year for the Village dock. Village Clerk, Nancy Rittenhouse noted that the monies reserved last year were posted to the Marine Reserve Account.
Mayor Irving made a motion to close the public hearing, seconded by Deputy Mayor Tilleli.
Trustee Catanzano AYE
Trustee Affrunti AYE
Trustee Pierce AYE
Deputy Mayor Tilleli AYE
Mayor Irving AYE
Motioned Carried.
Mayor Irving returned to the public session.
Resolutions:
Resolution (2012-08) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board of the Village of Asharoken, NY in regular session duly convened does hereby authorize the Mayor to sign the 2012 agreement between the Village of Asharoken and Landscaper Pat Parker to service the grounds for the Village of Asharoken. The total cost of services will be $4000.00 from April 2012 to November 2012 for fiscal year 5/31/2013.
Trustee Affrunti made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Catanzano.
Trustee Catanzano AYE
Trustee Affrunti AYE
Trustee Pierce AYE
Deputy Mayor Tilleli AYE
Mayor Irving AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2012-09) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board of the Village of Asharoken, NY in regular session duly convened does hereby authorize the Village of Asharoken to retain, and not offer for sale at this time, subject to further action of the Village Board, the outstanding tax liens for the tax years beginning June 1st, 2010 & June 1st, 2011.
Trustee Catanzano made a motion to approve, seconded by Deputy Mayor Tilleli.
Trustee Catanzano AYE
Trustee Affrunti AYE
Trustee Pierce AYE
Deputy Mayor Tilleli AYE
Mayor Irving AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2012-10) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board of the Village of Asharoken, NY in regular session duly convened, does hereby ratify the denial of (13) thirteen of the Grievance applications submitted for revision of assessed valuation, and directs the Village Assessor to advise the property owners of their statutory right to commence small claims tax certiorari proceedings to challenge the Village’s assessment of their properties.
Trustee Pierce made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Catanzano.
Trustee Catanzano AYE
Trustee Affrunti AYE
Trustee Pierce AYE
Deputy Mayor Tilleli AYE
Mayor Irving AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2012-11) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board of the Village of Asharoken, NY in regular session duly convened, does hereby rescind resolution (2012-05) authorizing the Mayor to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Coast Guard of Eaton’s Neck as same will no longer be necessary.
Trustee Affrunti made a motion to approve, seconded by Deputy Mayor Tilleli.
Trustee Catanzano AYE
Trustee Affrunti AYE
Trustee Pierce AYE
Deputy Mayor Tilleli AYE
Mayor Irving AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2012-12) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board of the Village of Asharoken, NY in regular session duly convened, does hereby approve the proposal from A. Ciesinski to remove 1,500 feet of existing snow fence by April 1st, 2012 in the amount of $1875.00 and to be stored at Village Hall.
Deputy Mayor Tilleli made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Catanzano.
Trustee Catanzano AYE
Trustee Affrunti AYE
Trustee Pierce AYE
Deputy Mayor Tilleli AYE
Mayor Irving AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2012-13) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board of the Village of Asharoken, NY in regular session duly convened, does hereby authorize the Mayor to sign the Fireworks Display agreement between the Village of Asharoken and Pyro Engineering, Inc. for $16,000 and approve the deposit of $8000.00, subject to Village Attorney’s review.
Trustee Catanzano made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Pierce.
Trustee Catanzano AYE
Trustee Affrunti AYE
Trustee Pierce AYE
Deputy Mayor Tilleli AYE
Mayor Irving AYE
Motioned Carried.
Public Session:
A resident inquired about the snow fence and whether it has to be removed if it was installed privately.
A resident inquired about the cost of the snow fence project.
A resident commented about the style of the meeting.
A resident inquired about why the budget is not on the website.
A resident inquired about the website, and asked if it was an official website, Mayor Irving noted that the website is not a Village’s website.
Mayor Irving made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Trustee Affrunti.
Trustee Catanzano AYE
Trustee Affrunti AYE
Trustee Pierce AYE
Deputy Mayor Tilleli AYE
Mayor Irving AYE
Motioned Carried.
The March 5th, 2012 meeting of the Board of Trustees was adjourned at approximately 9:30 pm.
Signed: _____________________________________________
Nancy Rittenhouse, Village Clerk