Incorporated Village of Asharoken
Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
Held on Tuesday
March 4th, 2014 7:30 P.M
At the Northport Power Plant
Approximate Attendance (29)
DRAFT
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
Bruce Migatz, Village Attorney
Emily Hayes, Treasurer
Ray Mahdesian, Officer- in- Charge
Doug Adil, Superintendent of Buildings
Barry Bradley, Sanitation Operator
Bill Raisch, Emergency Manager
Marty Cohen, Conservation of the Environment
Joe Affrunti, Harbormaster
Jean Bonawandt, Duck Island Dredging Committee Chair
The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Proof of publication was made.
Trustee Ettinger made a motion to approve the regular board minutes for February 4th, 2014, seconded by Trustee Jablonski.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Trustee Jablonski made a motion to approve the board of assessment review minutes for February 18thst, 2014, seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica Abstain
Motioned Carried.
Mayor Letica, noted that the public hearing that was originally scheduled for this evening was not properly published by the Observer and will be re-scheduled for April 1st, 2014.
Mayors Report:
Mayor Letica reported, “The village was awarded a $27,000 grant from the Justice Court Assistance Program. This grant will be applied to the new village hall. Village Clerk Nancy Rittenhouse was instrumental in guiding this grant process from application to award and I would like to thank her for her efforts. The village is waiting to hear back on two other grant applications for village hall.
The village received a perfect score of 0.0% and No Designation in the New York State Comptrollers fiscal stress test. Over 80 villages were examined and Asharoken was only one out of eleven other Long Island villages to receive a perfect score. This confirms what our auditor told us earlier in the year that the village is on sound financial footing. The snowy winter has so far seen the village use about 2/3rds of its snow removal budget. In addition, like other communities the road has taken a beating and many of the pot holes have recently been filled by Town of Huntington highway and Northport Highway departments. We will be getting several estimates to fix a portion of the roadway north of Bevin Road that is need of repair. There is nothing new to report on the feasibility study this month. On February 26th, Congressman Steve Israel met with Colonel Owens of the USACE and discussed the beach restoration project with him. Village hall continues moving forward on both the FEMA reimbursement side and on completing the bid package. We are hopeful to have an answer from FEMA soon. This is a frustrating bureaucratic process and a great deal of patience is required. Mayor Letica thanked Paul and Nancy Rittenhouse for fixing several pot holes that needed repair.
Trustees:
Deputy Mayor Pierce reported that during the month of February she reviewed the minutes, reviewed meeting policies, attended a two hour meeting with Suffolk County Code Red in Yaphank to discuss mass notification systems and capabilities. The County is asking that all municipalities participate and provide a link for registration on their websites in order for residents to sign up. She attended the Board of Assessment Review meeting and participated in a call with Mayor Letica and Mark Snyder from Congressman Israel’s office regarding the feasibility study update. She reviewed the draft village budget for fiscal year 6/1/14 and reviewed the vouchers.
Trustee Ettinger reported that he had discussions with Officer-in-Charge Mahdesian on the police budget and police related matters. He noted that the department picked up one of the new police cars and the second new police car will be picked up very soon. He noted that the back- up portable tri-fuel generator has been purchased and is ready for use. He had several discussions with the Mayor Letica and Village Clerk Nancy Rittenhouse regarding the village hall project. He reviewed the Inter-municipality agreement and attended the Board of Assessment review on February 18th. He attended the February 20th court session and reviewed the vouchers.
Trustee Burke reported that she attended the Board of Assessment Review meeting. She reviewed the draft village budget for fiscal year 6/1/14, the minutes, the monthly vouchers and the revised special accessory use permit.
Trustee Jablonski reported that he continues to work with the Suffolk County Water Authority regarding the relocation of water line at the corner of Bevin Road. He noted that he is the process of setting up meetings with several engineers. He reviewed the revised budget for fiscal year 6/1/14 and reviewed the vouchers for the month. He also attended the Board of Assessment review meeting.
Village Attorney: Village Attorney Bruce Migatz noted that the Zoning Board met on February 10th on two cases. One was for Robert & Cynthia Hoey at 497 Asharoken Avenue for a special use accessory renewal. The second case was for George Murn at 317 Asharoken Avenue for a front yard set-back variance for a second story porch, both were granted. A second article 78 was filed in the matter of Holmes vs. the ZBA & Wurzel, on behalf of the village he made a motion to dismiss. The motion is returnable by March 14th it may be adjourned. The village attorney noted that he will keep the board posted.
Treasurer: Treasurer Emily Hayes reported that the total vouchers for the month of February were $28,003.71. A separate resolution to approve the vouchers and related budget transfers will be made.
Mayor Greg Letica noted that the police department received two letters from residents commending the officers for their assistance.
Officer-In- Charge: Officer-In-Charge Ray Mahdesian reported that the village received the 2013 Operation Shield grant in the amount of $2128.64. He noted that the grant has been reduced to approximately $650.00 for 2014.
Sanitation: Sanitation Operator, Barry Bradley reported on Big Blue which is running well. Trash pick-up was 19.32 tons, Co-mingle was 1.85 tons and News and Cardboard was 2.32 tons, totaling 23.49 tons.
Emergency Manager: Emergency Manger, Bill Rasich noted that he continues to work on the annual table top exercise to review a mass emergency, possibly a wide scale nautical or aviation emergency in Northport Bay. He noted that he will go through the changes to the Emergency Management Plan made by the Board.
Superintendent of Buildings: Doug Adil noted that he reviewed proposed alterations to an existing home. He reviewed plans for an above ground propane tank location. He also reviewed buried propane tanks with a builder and attended two meetings with the village hall expansion committee. He reviewed locations and plans for drywells on Bevin Road East and performed 10 inspections this month.
Conservation Board: Marty Cohen noted nothing to report this month.
Planning Board: No report this month.
Harbormaster: Joe Affrunti noted that he is getting the police boat prepared for the upcoming season.
Duck Island Dredging Committee: Jean Bonawandt reported that the committee has met monthly to discuss dredging information. They met with the County and town officials expressing the need to restore Duck Island Harbor to its natural beauty as well as pointing out the need for sand on the Asharoken sound side beach. They have discussed issues with the Town of Huntington’s maritime services, director Ed Carr and County Legislator Dr. William Spencer. Dr. Spencer has worked on raising awareness of Asharokens’ issues with the County. The committee has been investigating the requirements needed for this project and have requested a company for an estimate for a bathymetric survey and will be working on getting core samples. They have calculated the amount of material in Duck Island Harbor to be 277,000 cubic yards per foot of depth and are discussing locations for the sediment cap as well as the sand. The committee has made the County aware that any clean sand must be placed on Asharoken Beach. The Town of Huntington has met with Suffolk County, Department of Public Works and has made a list of locations for dredging in the township and Duck Island Harbor is number four on the list. The County is working on getting the proper permits and paperwork in order. The committee has been invited to attend a meeting that will be held in March and will update the board.
Resolutions:
Resolution (2014-22) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby approve the vouchers for the month of February 2014 in the amount of $28,003.71.
Deputy Mayor Pierce made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2014-23) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board approves the budget transfers for the month of February 2014.
Trustee Jablonski made a motion to approve, seconded by Deputy Mayor Pierce.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2014-24) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby ratify the denial of (10) ten 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.
Deputy Mayor Pierce made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2014-25) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby authorize to amend the assessment and grant in part the relief requested on one (1) grievance application.
Deputy Mayor Pierce made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Jablonski.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2014-26) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does approve the transfer of the following reserve balances; wedding donation reserve fund for $325.05 and garden reserve fund for $2190.49 account #5059 to the Money Market account #5018 to offset the cost of the new generator.
Deputy Mayor Pierce made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2014-27) Be It Resolved that the Village Board does hereby approve the scheduling of a public hearing on Tuesday, April 1st, 2014 to discuss the proposed Inter-municipal Agreement between Northport Village, Asharoken Village and the Town of Huntington.
Mayor Letica made a motion to approve, seconded by Deputy Mayor Pierce.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2014-28) WHEREAS, the Village Clerk of the Village of Asharoken delivered to this Board of Trustees the following account of all taxes remaining due and unpaid for the year 2013 & 2014, together with a description of the lands on which said taxes are unpaid:
|
Name of Owner 2013/2014 Real Prop. Taxes |
Dist/Section/Block/Lot |
Taxes |
Penalty |
Pub. Fee |
Total |
|
Duck Pond Cove, LLC |
0401-003-02-010-004 |
$538.61 |
$70.02 |
$7.00 |
$616.13 |
|
LaRosa |
0401-003-01-015-000 |
$42.52 |
$5.53 |
$7.50 |
$55.55 |
|
Estate of Leroy Block |
0401-003-01-018-000 |
$113.39 |
$14.74 |
$7.50 |
$135.63 |
|
Press |
0401-003-02-090-000 |
$3600.16 |
$468.02 |
$7.50 |
$4,075.68 |
|
Blower |
0401-003-02-091-000 |
$3075.73 |
$399.84 |
$7.50 |
$3,483.07 |
|
Thelma Hansen |
0401-008-02-008-000 |
$3968.69 |
$515.93 |
$7.50 |
$4,492.12 |
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Board has examined said account, and compared it with the original tax rolls, and hereby certifies it to be correct.
WHEREAS, the Village Clerk by the 1st day of February, 2014 did return and file an account of unpaid taxes to this board for the year 2013 & 2014, and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees met at the Northport Power Plant, 301 Waterside Avenue in Northport on the 21st day of January 2014 and did examine such account and did compare it with the original tax rolls and did therefore, certify to the effect that they found it be correct,
AND WHEREAS, from the account of unpaid taxes returned by the Clerk of the Village of Asharoken, New York, to this Board for the year 2013 & 2014, the following taxes still remain due and unpaid after diligent efforts have been made to collect same, to wit;
|
Name of Owner 2013/2014 Real Prop. Taxes |
Dist/Section/Block/Lot |
Taxes |
Penalty |
Pub. Fee |
Total |
|
Duck Pond Cove, LLC |
0401-003-02-010-004 |
$538.61 |
$70.02 |
$7.50 |
$616.13 |
|
LaRosa |
0401-003-01-015-000 |
$42.52 |
$5.53 |
$7.50 |
$55.55 |
|
Estate of Leroy Block |
0401-003-01-018-000 |
$113.39 |
$14.74 |
$7.50 |
$135.63 |
|
Press |
0401-003-02-090-000 |
$3600.16 |
$468.02 |
$7.50 |
$4,075.68 |
|
Blower |
0401-003-02-091-000 |
$3075.73 |
$399.84 |
$7.50 |
$3,483.07 |
|
Thelma Hansen |
0401-008-02-008-000 |
$3968.69 |
$515.93 |
$7.50 |
$4,492.12 |
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NOW, THEREFORE, this Board, pursuant to Article 14 of the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York, determines to collect the amount of such unpaid taxes levied or assessed for the year 2013 & 2014 by a tax lien sale in accordance with procedures authorized by the Board of Trustees in the manner and after the form and resolution, certified by the Clerk, shall be transmitted forthwith to the Treasurer of the Village with the account, affidavit, and certificate of such unpaid taxes and is authorized and directed to cause to be published in the official paper of the Village, once each week for three consecutive weeks, a list as shown in the tax roll, with the amount of the tax, penalties, and charges thereon, excepting there from such parcels of property on which the Village holds and owns one or more unredeemed certificates of tax sale; and also a notice that the said real estate will, on a day subsequent to the expiration of said three weeks to be determined by said Village Clerk and specified in said notice, be sold at a place in said Village to be designated by said Village Clerk, to discharge the tax, penalties, and charges aforesaid, which may be due thereon at the time of such sale, and that the said Village Clerk, at the time and place specified in said notice, proceed with the sale of said real estate upon which such taxes are unpaid, as set forth above, and continue the same from day to day until the sale is completed. That such real estate shall be sold subject to any unpaid assessments thereon levied by the Village of Asharoken and also subject to any unpaid tax liens purchased and held by the Village.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in all cases where no bid shall be made on a lot or parcel of
land so offered for sale for an amount sufficient to pay the said tax, penalties,
and charges, the said premises shall be deemed to have been sold to and
purchased by the Village of Asharoken, New York
The Village Clerk has advised
that the tax sale referred to in the foregoing resolution would be held on Tuesday,
March 25th, 2014, at 1pm to 3pm, at the Village Hall trailer, 1 Asharoken
Avenue, Northport, New York, and that publication of the list of properties to
be sold would commence on or about March 6th, 2014, and be it further resolved
that the Village Board reserves its right to authorize and direct the Village
Treasurer on behalf of the Village to reject any and all bids for parcels of
lands listed in the annual tax lien sale to be held as set forth herein and,
and to bid in and purchase if necessary the same for the Village.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the Village Board reserves the right to withhold any and all said tax
liens from sale and/or to cancel said tax lien sale.
Mayor Letica waived the reading, only the first and last paragraph of the resolution was read.
Mayor Letica made a motion to approve, seconded by Deputy Mayor Pierce.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Mayor Letica thanked the Duck Island Dredging committee for all their hard work on this project.
Mayor Letica made a motion to go into public session, seconded by Deputy Mayor Pierce.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Public Session:
Mayor Letica opened up the meeting to public session.
During public session ten comments were communicated to the Board.
Comments that were brought to the Board’s attention were the following:
1. Inquiry on an article on Duck Island Dredging and placement of sediment, article was discussed and clarified.
2. Inquiry on the budget transfers.
3. Inquiry on milestone dates for the feasibility study, Mayor Letica noted that copies are located at village hall.
4. Request to add to the agenda the village hall reconstruction project report, Mayor Letica noted that he includes the update in his report.
5. Inquiry on estimate of costs of the village hall project.
6. Inquiry on unsolicited flyers found within the village. Village Attorney noted that each homeowner has the right to tell the publisher that they do not want the flyer, the village cannot.
7. Suggestion was made to get a petition signed by residents and deliver to the publisher.
8. Clarification was requested on the Duck Island dredging area.
9. Inquiry on the meeting with the ACOE and the beach site where erosion took place.
10. Comment about the type of grain sand that was placed on the beach.
Mayor Letica made a motion to go into executive session, to discuss personnel matters, seconded by Trustee Jablonski.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Mayor Letica made a motion to close executive session, seconded by Trustee Jablonski.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
No action took place in executive session ended at 8:45pm
Mayor Letica made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
The March
4th, 2014 Board meeting of the Board of Trustees was adjourned at approximately
8:50 pm.
Signed: _____________________________________________
Nancy Rittenhouse, Village Clerk