Incorporated Village of Asharoken
Board of Trustees Meeting
Tuesday, September 5th, 2017 7:30pm
At the Village Hall
Approximate Attendance (21)
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
Barry Bradley, Sanitation Operator
Raymond Mahdesian, Officer-in-Charge
Marty Cohen, Chairman of the Board of Conservation
The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Publication of meeting was confirmed.
Deputy Mayor Pierce made a motion to approve the regular board minutes for August 1, 2017 seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Laura Burke Abstain
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Mayor Letica reported, “On Friday, August 25th the Village hosted a meeting with the US Army Corps of Engineers, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and elected officials from all levels of government to begin the process of fixing the failing sea wall. Deputy Mayor Pam Pierce and I were joined by Congressman Tom Suozzi, NYS Assemblyman Andy Raia, Town of Huntington Deputy Supervisor Pat Delcol, TOH Assemblywoman Tracey Edwards, TOH Assemblyman Mark Cuthbertson, ACOE NY District Commander Col. Tom Asbery and NYS DEC head of Coastal Management Sue McCormick. I would like to thank them for coming to the site for the inspection. The meeting was very productive and an excellent first step toward resolution of the seawall issues. The consensus was that the sink hole needs an emergency repair to stop it from enlarging and that in the long term the sea wall needs to be re-built. The Village is partnering closely with the ACOE and the Town of Huntington to formulate and implement the short-term solution to the sink hole. I have to commend the ACOE for working in such an extremely cooperative way with the Village. Colonel Asbery brings a new approach to this problem. This Friday, September 8th, the Village will be hosting an emergency meeting to discuss options and responses should Asharoken Avenue become breached in a storm. RSVPS so far include reps from ENFD, TOH Highway Department, Homeland Security, NYS Department of Transportation, Suffolk County FRES as well as multiple Village officials. A similar meeting was held in August of 2012 for Hurricane preparedness and was organized by Bill Raisch as Emergency Manager. The planning led to the Village having Asharoken Avenue open for traffic at noon the day after Superstorm Sandy. As a comparison, a major nor’easter in 1992 had the road closed for almost four days. We are hoping that by having this first meeting is will enable the Village, Township and other agencies to come together and rapidly restore the road. I would like to thank Village Emergency Manager Bill Raisch for organizing this meeting and providing his usual invaluable input.
In 2016 the Village applied for a highway improvement grant through Senator Marcellino’s Office. The Village received confirmation that Asharoken has been awarded a DASNY grant of $50,000 through New York State. The Village also received confirmation of its portion of the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding for 2017-2018. Both the grant and CHIPS funding will be used to repave a portion of Asharoken Avenue; the fourth phase of our highway improvement project. Our plan is to do the project either this fall or next spring. I would like to thank New York State Senator Carl Marcellino for all his assistance with the DASNY grant for Asharoken.
Over the last five years the Village has received approximately $1,400,000 in Federal, State and other aid allowing Asharoken to dramatically improve its infrastructure while keeping tax increases at very low levels.
I am saddened to report the passing of former Asharoken Police Department Officer-in-Charge Henry Brooks. Henry served with distinction as an Officer in the department for many years prior to his promotion to OIC. He was instrumental in helping make the APD such a fine police force and his mentorship of the Village’s present OIC, Ray Mahdesian, made for a seamless transition at the time of Henry’s retirement. Thank you, Henry, for your dedication to the residents of Asharoken. On behalf of the Village I send my condolences out to the Brook’s family.
Trustees:
Deputy Mayor Pierce reported that during the month she attended three Suffolk County Shared Service meetings and the meeting held on August 5th with Congressman Suozzi. Deputy Mayor Pierce reviewed the minutes, monthly vouchers and the information on the Eaton’s Neck Bluff restoration application.
Trustee Ettinger reported that during the month he spent time with Officer Mahdesian reviewing police related matters. He reviewed police correspondences. He also indicated that he reviewed correspondences from the ACOE. He reviewed the proposed draft of the local law for Chapter 46 as well as the neighboring village’s local law on unsafe Buildings and property maintenance. He reviewed the monthly vouchers, minutes and FOIL’s.
Trustee Burke reported that she reviewed correspondences from the Conservation Board, reviewed the proposed draft local law and the framework for the police contract. She noted that she attended the Erika golf outing and is working on the next newsletter.
Trustee Jablonski noted that he reviewed the minutes, monthly vouchers, and a letter from the Conservation Board and amendments made to Chapter 46. He noted that he inspected the sink hole at the seawall several times throughout the month.
Mayor Letica noted that the Fore Erika Golf Outing was a wonderful event.
Village Attorney: Bruce Migatz reported that the zoning board, planning board and ERB board did not meet this month. The ERB is scheduled to meet on September 25th to resume their meeting on two dock applications. He reported on the Article 78 Browne vs. Planning Board, Duck Island Corp. and Jon Small and noted that the original return date had been adjourned to September 7th. Last week he served the Villages’ responsive papers on behalf of the Planning Board and the attorney for Duck Island Corp. served their responsive papers. The return date is being further adjourned to September 29th to afford the attorney for the Browne’s to respond to our papers.
Village Treasurer: Emily Hayes Treasurer reported that the total vouchers for the month of August were $29,442.47, nothing unusual to report. There is a separate resolution to approve vouchers and budget transfers.
Officer-In-Charge: Officer-In-Charge Ray Mahdesian reported that department received a thank you note to help retrieve a dog. He noted that former Chief Henry Brooks passed away in Florida last month. Henry served the village with distinction from September 1964 to January 1992. He reported that the department had 32 summons and 3 arrests also noted that an accident involving two cyclists occurred this month as well as another MVA involving a deer. The Asharoken police department will be assisting Northport Village with the Wounded Warrior race as well as the Cow Harbor race.
Sanitation Operator: Barry Bradley reported that Big Blue is running well. The total trash tons was 28 tons, single stream 10.20 tons for total tonnage for the month being 39.88 tons.
Conservation Board Chairman: Marty Cohen noted that the board issued one tree permit and made a recommendation to the Board of Trustees for an excavation permit for Eaton’s Neck LLC.
Mayor Letica invited Carole Casamassima to discuss the Asharoken Holiday Party. Carole Casamassima also noted that Deputy Mayor Pam Pierce received the “Women of Distinction” award from Assemblyman Raia’s office. Carole presented Pam with flowers and shared with the board all her accomplishments.
Resolutions:
Resolution (2017-93) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board approves the budget transfers for the month of August 2017.
Trustee Ettinger 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 (2017-94) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby approve the vouchers for the month of August 2017 in the amount of $29,442.47.
Trustee Jablonski 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 (2017-95) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby approve the transfer from the Building Fund Reserve account #5059 for $1600.00 for two attic fans to the Money Market Account #5018.
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 (2017-96) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby approve the transfer from the Infrastructure Fund Reserve account #5059 for $9,800.00 for the in-line check valve to the Money Market Account #5018.
Deputy Mayor Pierce 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 (2017-97) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby approve the Village Clerk and/or Court Clerk to prepare an application to the 2017-2018 Justice Court Assistance Program (JCAP) grant for funding of court furnishings and equipment, not to exceed $30,000.00.
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 (2017-98) Be It Resolved that the Village Board does hereby approve the scheduling of a public hearing on Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017 to amend Chapter 46 (Buildings, Unsafe).
Mayor Letica 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 (2017-99) Be It Resolved that the Village Board does hereby authorize the Mayor to sign the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) grant disbursement agreement for a $50,000 grant for Improvements to Asharoken Avenue.
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 (2017-100) – Whereas, Eaton’s Neck LLC filed an application with the Board of Trustees pursuant to Chapter 64 of the Code of the Village of Asharoken for an excavation permit in order to install 600 linear feet of stone armor to stabilize the bluff at 1 Lighthouse Road in accordance with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation permit number 1-4726-0245700001 (the “Proposed Work”), and; Whereas said permit application was referred to the Board for Conservation of the Environment for review and recommendation to the Board of Trustees, and; Whereas, the Board for Conservation of the Environment reviewed said application and found that the Proposed Work or the results thereof is not likely to have any of the effects set forth in Section 64-6 of the Code of the Village of Asharoken and recommended granting the permit, on the condition that any material excavated to install the stone armor is completely used to cover the stone armor, and; Whereas, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation classified the Proposed Work as an unlisted action in accordance with the SEQRA and issued a Negative Declaration; Now, Therefore Be it Resolved that the Board of Trustees adopts the Negative Declaration issued by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and grants the permit application, on the condition that any material excavated to install the stone armor is completely used to cover the stone armor.
Deputy Mayor Pierce 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 (2017-101) Be It Resolved that the Village Board does hereby approve a tent permit for the Lopes Family located at 182 Asharoken Avenue for September 15th thru September 18th, 2017.
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 (2017-102) Be it Resolved that the Village Board does hereby approve a tent permit for Keith Kebe located at 94 Cove Road for the time period of September 10, 2017 thru January 31, 2018, tent size is approximately 6’ x 6’.
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, three comments were made.
1. A comment was made about a telephone pole that was leaning over at the corner of Bevin Road and Bevin Road East.
2. A comment was made by a resident on the ERB meeting. The resident’s concern was whether additional submittals will be accepted by the ERB from the public or from the applicants. Bruce Migatz indicated that the resident had counsel and it is inappropriate for him to respond. Mr. Migatz indicated that he communicated through email to the resident’s counsel and the resident was copied on the email.
3. A comment was made on a long term solution on rebuilding the seawall. The resident noted that sand placement and repairing the beach along with repairing the seawall is important. Mayor Letica pointed out that the area in front of the seawall needs to be restored as well and sand placement has to be part of this project.
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 September 5, 2017 Regular board meeting of the Board of Trustees was adjourned at approximately 7:50pm.
Signed: _____________________________________________
Nancy Rittenhouse, Village Clerk