Incorporated Village of Asharoken
Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
Public Hearings
Tuesday, April 5th, 2016 7:30pm
At the Village Hall
Approximate Attendance (30)
Officers Present:
Greg Letica, Mayor
Pam Pierce, Deputy Mayor
Melvin Ettinger, Trustee
Laura Burke, Trustee
Ian Jablonski, Trustee
Officials & Appointees Present:
Nancy Rittenhouse, Village Clerk
Emily Hayes, Treasurer
Bruce Migatz, Village Attorney
Doug Adil, Superintendent of Buildings
Raymond Mahdesian, Officer-in-Charge
Marty Cohen, Chairman for the Conservation Board
The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Mayor Letica requested, proof of publication, Village Clerk confirmed.
Trustee Jablonski made a motion to approve the regular board minutes for March 1st, 2016, seconded by Trustee Burke.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Deputy Mayor Pierce made a motion to approve the Special Meeting minutes for March 15th, 2016, seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Mayor Letica reported, “There is nothing to report on the ASDRP. The Village is waiting for a response from the ACOE after it reviews the public comments that were submitted. The Village received its final payment from FEMA in the amount of $59,317 for the construction of Village Hall. As of today Asharoken has had to only expend approximately $4400 of taxpayer money to complete this building. Thanks again to everyone who contributed to make this project such a great success. The Village is considering an amendment to the Village Code to require cleaning up after your dog. A resolution is on the agenda to set a public hearing next month on this matter.
The Village is working on finalizing plans to repave the section of Asharoken Avenue from 156 –218 Asharoken Avenue. I expect that this project will be completed by the end of June.
Deputy Mayor Pierce and I met with a group of Sound side residents to discuss the proposed ASDRP. It was a very productive and interesting meeting and I would like to thank Nadine Dumser for her assistance in setting the meeting up.
The Village has collected all of its tax revenues for the fiscal year 2015-16. Only 1 parcel was sold at the tax sale.
The Village is looking into the groin located in front of 138 Asharoken Avenue that is starting to show its age. I would like to thank Mike DeLuca for bringing this situation to the Village’s attention.
The Village will be holding an Arbor Day event, organized by conservation Board Chairperson Marty Cohen, on April 30th at 2PM as part of the $1000 grant Asharoken has been approved for. Details of the event will be sent out as they are finalized.
Finally our residents continue to do great things to help others out. Joe Barry, a high school student, has been collecting magazines to give to the veterans at the VA hospital. I would like to thank him for such a considerate thing to do to help out Americans who sacrificed so much to make our lives what they are today.
Also thanks to Andy Giffin who ran the Soles for Souls program. This organization collects used shoes and distributes them to needy people around the world. Just imagine what life would be like on a day like yesterday if you did not have proper footwear. Collectively, Asharoken, Northport and East Northport residents donated 20,000 pairs of shoes. Asharoken contributed 500 pairs of which 300 were collected by Emma Turner who also a high school student. Thanks to everyone who took the time look through their closets to find shoes they could share with others. We should be very proud as a community that teenage residents are doing so much to help others. Great job by Joe, Emma and by Andy.
Trustees:
Deputy Mayor Pierce reported that she attended the work session on the budget on March 15th; she attended the meeting with the sound side owners and an ASDRP meeting. She noted that she worked with Village Clerk, Nancy Rittenhouse, to get landscape plant estimates. She reviewed the budget, minutes for both the regular meeting and work session, vouchers and reviewed the amendment to Chapter 57 on “dog waste”.
Trustee Ettinger, reported that he spent time working with Officer-in-Charge Ray Mahdesian, on next year’s fiscal budget. He noted that he reviewed the police budget with the mayor and officer-in-charge Ray Mahdesian. He noted that the budget that the board is presenting has a zero percent tax increase and stays below the NYS tax cap. He noted that we feel proud that we achieved this. He also spent some time on some repairs to the new building. He attended the wake for Ed Yule, on March 8th he attended the Garden Club luncheon where they presented the $1,000 donation to the Village Hall. On March 9th he attended a landscaping plan meeting, on March 9th attended the court session, on March 10th he met with a sub-contractor for the front door, on March 15th he attended the special meeting, on April 1st he met with one of the sub-contractors that fixed several tiles. He noted that he reviewed last month’s minutes and special meeting minutes and the BAR minutes, this month’s vouchers and correspondence.
Trustee Burke reported that she attended the special meeting, reviewed the minutes, vouchers and is working on the next edition of the Newsletter.
Trustee Jablonski, reported that he attended the Special meeting, and reviewed the budget, vouchers and correspondence.
Village Attorney: Bruce Migatz noted that there is nothing to report.
Treasurer: Emily Hayes reported on the vouchers for the month of March which were $30,831.29.
Officer-In- Charge: Officer-In-Charge Ray Mahdesian reported that the Village had 34 summonses and 2 arrests this month and no burglaries.
Sanitation: Mayor Letica reported for Barry Bradley; He noted that Big Blue is running well, trash total was 17.34 tons, single stream 8.7 tons for a total of 26.04 tons and a monthly cost of $1,387.20.
Superintendent of Building: Doug Adil reported that he performed eleven inspections. He responded to a residents concern regarding a pipe leading from the property next door, this is in the process of getting resolved. He reviewed construction drawings and due to inadequate side yard the plans were rejected. He reviewed plans for a second story addition, and discussed pool requirements with a homeowner. He inspected a property line for a masonry wall under construction. He discussed road requirements with SCWA, responded to a residents concerns regarding a potentially unsafe conditions at South Harbor Road and responded to another property on South Harbor, and attended a 3-day Building Code Seminar. He performed a series of inspections this month. He also addressed several issues that came up during last month’s meeting. He pointed at the Village Hall is a mix use building. Regarding egress it requires a path or aisle way that is 36” wide and a 36” door clearance. You need the minimum of one 32” door that provides safety egress. The building code requires one action to get out, such like a lever to open the door and exit the building. Regarding the outside stairs, the minimum tread is 11”for this type of building by State Code, 12” is provided and the maximum riser is 7” and we have 6”. Emergency lighting is adequate for egress during an emergency.
Conservation Board: Marty Cohen reported that the Village will hold its Arbor Day Event on April 30th at 2:00pm.
ASDRP: Nothing to Report.
Duck Island Harbor Revitalization: Nothing to Report.
Mayor Letica asked Village Clerk, Nancy Rittenhouse to read the Public Hearing notice on the Village Budget for 5/31/17. The notice was read.
Mayor Letica made several comments on the tentative budget which calls for a zero percent tax increase and falls under the NYS tax cap. This is the lowest tax increase since 2005-2006. By remaining below the Tax Cap eligible residents will receive a rebate from NYS next year.
The Tentative Budget maintains all of the services that the Village provides for its residents and reserves money for future needs.
The largest expense increase is the 3% police contractual salary raise, but this is mostly offset by a reduction in Police and Fire retirement costs because the stock market went up. Other large line item increases include Social Security, Fire Protection, Marine Repairs and Police Uniforms. Balancing these increases were budgeted reductions in Tax Grievance, Insurance, Sanitation Landfill costs due to single stream recycling and Police & Sanitation fuel costs.
The Tentative Budget reflects a 2% salary increase for Ray Mahdesian (Officer-in-Charge), Barry Bradley (Sanitation Operator), Doug Adil (Building Inspector) and Emily Hayes (Treasurer) and a 4% salary increase for Nancy Rittenhouse (Village Clerk).
We did put money aside for professional assistance for the ASDRP project if required. It also funds our reserve accounts for Police, Sanitation, Marine Equipment, Highway Maintenance and Unpaid Benefits (Police Retirement Costs).
It also includes an increase in Suffolk County Public Safety revenues and court fines.
Long term, the Village is in excellent financial shape. Our reserve accounts are properly funded and will allow the Village to make necessary infrastructure improvements, update our police fleet, maintain our Village Hall and properly fund police retirement costs with little to no impact on the following year’s tax rate.
Our Community donations, State grants, rebates and FEMA reimbursements made it possible for us to build Village Hall; a balance of $4,400 from reserve funds was needed to close out the final project and again I would like to thank the people who supported it.
I would like to thank Clerk Nancy Rittenhouse and Treasurer Emily Hayes for their hard work to get the budget to where it is today. Over the last eight years they have become knowledgeable working on the budget and I am sure that will continue.
The Mayor Letica opened the meeting for open comment, you can also submit written comments, we will be voting on the budget at our Special Meeting on April 20th, 2016.
A comment was made on an erosion issue, not on the budget, Mayor Letica pointed that all comments should be on the budget.
Mayor Letica noted that if there are no comments, we will close the public hearing on the tentative budget for 5/31/2017.
Trustee Ettinger made a motion to close the public hearing, seconded by Trustee Jablonski.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Mayor Letica noted that the second public hearing is on the adoption of local law #2 – 2016. Nancy Rittenhouse, Village Clerk read the public notice.
Mayor Letica noted that previously the board voted on Local Law 1-2016 authorizing the override of the tax cap, we no longer need that therefore we are repealing local law 1-2016, now all eligible taxpayers will receive tax rebates.
Mayor Letica opened up the public hearing for comments. No comments were made.
Trustee Ettinger made a motion to close the public hearing on local law 2-2016, seconded by Trustee Jablonski.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried
Resolutions:
Resolution (2016-39) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby approve the vouchers for the month of March 2016 in the amount of $30,831.29.
Deputy Mayor Pierce made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2016-40) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board approves the budget transfers for the month of March 2016.
Deputy Mayor Pierce made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Jablonski.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2016-41) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board, does hereby accept the donation from the “Asharoken Building Fundraising Committee” in the amount of $1,119.00 for Village Hall.
Trustee Ettinger made a motion to approve, seconded by Mayor Letica.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2016-42) Be It Resolved that the Village Board does hereby approve the scheduling of a public hearing on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2016 on the MS4 Stormwater Annual Report for year-end March 9th, 2016.
Deputy Mayor Pierce made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2016-43) Be It Resolved that the Village Board does hereby approve the local law (#2-2016) repealing of local law (#1- 2016), authorizing a property tax levy in excess of the limit established in General Municipal Law }3-c.
Mayor Letica made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
ROLL CALL was made.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2016-44) Be It Resolved that the Village Board authorizes the mayor to sign the 2015 Operation Shield Contract agreement between the County of Suffolk and the Village of Asharoken for the term of May 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017 and the grant award in the amount not to exceed $2128.00, village attorney approved as to form.
Trustee Ettinger made a motion to approve, seconded by Deputy Mayor Pierce.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2016-45) Be It Resolved that the Village Board does hereby appoint Joseph Affrunti as the Fireworks Safety Officer for the 2016 fireworks display.
Mayor Letica made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2016-46) Be It Resolved that the Village Board does hereby approve the services of Patrick Parker Landscaping to purchase, plant and guarantee the landscape materials, landscape design provided by the Asharoken Garden Club, the cost of the services will be $2118.00.
Nancy Rittenhouse, Village Clerk noted that the village sent out three request for proposals, only two were received, one from Parker Landscaping and one from Decker Nursery. Parker Landscaping was the lowest proposal and $1,162.00 less than Decker.
Trustee Ettinger made a motion to approve, seconded by Deputy Mayor Pierce.
Mayor Letica thanked Deputy Mayor Pierce and Carol Basche with the Asharoken Garden Club for all their work on the landscape plan, which was trimmed back a little, but will be beautiful.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2016-47) Be It Resolved that the Village Board does hereby appoint the following election inspectors; Denise DeAcetis as Chairperson, Marian Milliken, and Hillary Candelora for the June 21st, 2016 Village Election.
Deputy Mayor Pierce made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2016-48) Be It Resolved that the Village Board does hereby approve the scheduling of a public hearing on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2016 on amending local law chapter 57 (Dogs and Other Animals).
Mayor Letica made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2016-49) Be it Resolved that the Village Board does hereby approve the expenditures for the Arbor Day Event; the cost of two trees, labor & materials, banner, seedlings and educational material, cost not to exceed $1000.00.
Nancy Rittenhouse, Village Clerk pointed out that the expenditures for the Arbor Day Event will be submitted to NYSDEC for reimbursement, up to $1000.00.
Mayor Letica made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Mayor Letica opened up the meeting for Public Session.
During public session, one question and/or comment was presented.
1. Question was on the authorization on May 1 regarding the completion of the Feasibility Study; Deputy Mayor Pierce noted that the NYSDEC told us this in writing. He made a comment that they want a written representation in June.
Mayor Letica noted that we are not certain what they will come back to us with by May 1st. When we get a full response from them, we will be able to consider a letter of support. We don’t know what will happen in the future. He brought up the example with Long Beach and noted that after Sandy, they were able to restore their beach after the damages from Sandy, but only because they had a completed Feasibility Study.
We want to get the Feasibility Study finished, because we may need it in the future, also the village will have to pay for its local share of the study that former Mayor Kelly agreed to.
2. A comment was made on the agenda format, placing the public session prior to the resolutions.
Mayor Letica pointed out that we send the agenda out the day before the board meetings so residents can view the agenda and ask questions they have on any of the resolutions.
Mayor Letica made a motion to close the public session, seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Mayor Letica made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
The April 5th, 2016 Regular board meeting of the Board of Trustees was adjourned at approximately 8:15pm.
Signed: _____________________________________________
Nancy Rittenhouse, Village Clerk