Incorporated Village of Asharoken
Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
Held on Tuesday
September 2nd, 2014 7:30 P.M
At the Northport Power Plant
Approximate Attendance (46)
Officers Present:
Greg Letica, Mayor
Pam Pierce, Deputy Mayor
Melvin Ettinger, Trustee
Laura Burke, Trustee
Officials & Appointees Present:
Nancy Rittenhouse, Village Clerk
Bruce Migatz, Village Attorney
Emily Hayes, Treasurer
Ray Mahdesian, Officer- in- Charge
Barry Bradley, Sanitation Operator
Doug Adil, Superintendent of Buildings
Marty Cohen, Conservation of the Environment
Joe Affrunti, Harbormaster
The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Proof of publication was made.
Trustee Ettinger made a motion to approve the regular board minutes for August 5, 2014, seconded by Deputy Mayor Pierce.
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Mayors Report:
Mayor Letica reported, “I would like to update you on the Asharoken Storm Damage Reduction Project. The village is waiting for answers from the NYSDEC and the USACOE on questions that have been raised regarding public access (waiting 1 month), insurance liability issues (waiting 2 months) and whether or not the beach would be required to conform to NYS Health Department Bathing Beach requirements (waiting 2 months). The long wait for answers may well be the result of the complexity and uniqueness of the ASRP. The village is ready to write its draft public access plan when we receive guidance on these issues. In an effort to get answers I have written and spoken to the NYSDEC multiple times.
In August, I wrote a letter to our federal and state elected officials expressing the sentiment that the ASRP may be placing too much responsibility on the village for the purpose of protecting a federal highway and the residents of Eaton’s Neck. I had the opportunity to explain this to Congressman Israel personally and he seemed sympathetic to situation. Congressman Israel and Assemblyman Raia have both been very helpful by supporting our request to discuss the public access component of the project with the DEC and ACOE. I would like to thank them for their support.
I have been in contact with the Town of Huntington seeking their support to for a compromise solution to allow the restoration to go forward. Previously the TOH passed a resolution supporting the project. TOH seemed very receptive to this request because they have many town residents on Eaton’s Neck who will benefit from protecting the road. I plan to reach out to the Eaton’s Neck Fire Department and Northport Fire Departments for their support.
We need to arrive at a compromise plan that works for the Village and will be acceptable to all of our Long Island Sound beach owners. To that end I would like to thank the residents who have written to me with their opinions and concerns. They have raised many critical issues which are presently being addressed. Without their input, opinions and ideas we will never be able to reach a mutually agreeable compromise solution.
The Village Hall bid package has been re-worked and will be re-advertised; all bids will be due back October 8, 2014.
Trustees:
Deputy Mayor Pierce reported on her work gathering car count totals and photography taken for our beach access plan. She reviewed the audited financial statements and management letter. She also noted that she met with Trustee Burke, regarding the possible fence ordinance.
Trustee Ettinger reported that during the month he participated in a number of village related activities. On August 8th he reported that the police department replaced a video camera. On August 13th he participated via conference call with a Village Hall Committee meeting. In August Officer-in-Charge Mahdesian was informed by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office that the village received a license plate camera system at no cost to the village. On August 20th he and Officer-in-charge Mahdesian met with the Center Island Police Department and reviewed the license plate camera system they currently have in place. On August 20th he attended a Village Hall Expansion committee and discussed several items on the alternate list, such as a portion of the retaining wall. On August 22nd he had a conference call with the company that produces the license plate camera system. He reviewed the audited the financial statements, last month’s minutes and vouchers.
Trustee Burke reported that she reviewed the last month’s minutes, the August vouchers and the audited financial statements. She noted that she met with Deputy Mayor Pierce regarding a possible fence ordinance. She noted that she continues to work on an emergency sanitation plan and attending a fundraiser for Steve Israel.
Village Attorney: Bruce Migatz reported that the Planning Board and the Zoning Board did not meet in August. The next Zoning Board meeting is scheduled for September 15th, 2014 and the next Planning Board meeting has not been scheduled.
Treasurer: Treasurer Emily Hayes reported that the total amount of vouchers for the month of August was $33,636.23. A separate resolution to approve the vouchers and related budget transfers will be made. The village received $11,799.00 from FEMA to reimburse the village for the expense for the trailers.
Officer-In- Charge: Officer-In-Charge Ray Mahdesian reported that 63 water ski permits were issued so far this year. No burglaries in the village for the month of August. No resolution as to the thefts that took place last month.
Sanitation: Sanitation Operator Barry Bradley reported on Big Blue which is running well. Trash pick-up was 30.04 tons, Co-mingle was 2.60tons and News and Cardboard was 3.25 tons, totaling 35.89 tons.
Superintendent of Buildings: Doug Adil reported on 8 reviews and inspections for the month of August. He met with a homeowner to review a proposed garage location; he followed up on a bulkhead that was repaired in compliance with the NYSDEC permit; he reviewed the bid package revision for the Village Hall project.
Conservation of the Environment: Marty Cohen noted nothing to report.
Harbormaster: Joseph Affrunti reported on marine repairs to the police vessel.
Resolutions:
Resolution (2014-115) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board approves the budget transfers for the month of August 2014.
Motion was made by Trustee Ettinger, seconded by Deputy Mayor Pierce.
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2014-116) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby approve the vouchers for the month of August 2014 in the amount of $33,636.23.
Motion was made by Deputy Mayor Pierce, seconded by Trustee Ettinger
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2014-117) Be It Resolved that the Mayor does hereby appoint the following uncompensated individual to the Duck Island Harbor Dredging Committee, Russell Fredricks for a one year term to end July 2015.
Motion was made by Mayor Letica, seconded by Trustee Burke
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2014-118) Be It Resolved that the Mayor does hereby appoint the following uncompensated individual Douglas Adil as Flood Plain Manager for a one year term to end July 2015.
Motion was made by Mayor Letica, seconded by Trustee Ettinger
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2014-119) Be It Resolved that the Village Board does hereby accept the audited Financial Statements for year end 5/31/2014, the Financial Statements have been filed with the Village Clerk, published and available for inspection.
Motion was made by Mayor Letica, seconded by Trustee Ettinger
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Trustee Burke discussed with the board a possible fence ordinance.
Village Attorney discussed the procedure; he noted that once the concept on a fence ordinance has been developed, a proposed local law would be drawn up and a public hearing would take place, the public would be able to comment at the hearing.
Mayor Letica opened up the meeting for public session.
During public session, 24 questions, comments and objections were presented.
1. Question on a fence ordinance and an issue on a moratorium for all fences. Per the Village Attorney a moratorium is a local law in itself, the board would have to have a public hearing.
2. Comment was made on the possible fence ordinance.
3. Comment was made on lights placed on fencing.
4. Comment on type of fencing and lighting.
5. Question on the list of alternates for the village hall bid package and on the size of the shower.
6. Comments on bumps in the road and questions on the reserve balances.
7. Question on the beach restoration project and public access.
8. Question on public access areas.
9. Comment on the Beach Restoration project.
10. Comment on the minimal use of the south end of the beach.
11. Questions on beach policy.
12. Comment on the instability of the beach.
13. Comment on public access. Mayor Letica noted when the feasibility study was started this component of public access was part of this project. It probably wasn’t communicated as well from the prior administrations, but this component of public access has been part of the beach restoration project from the beginning.
14. Question on the public access points and where they are located.
15. Question on controlling the access and if seasons passes will be required.
16. Question on articles in the newspaper.
17. Question on liability.
18. Comment on the public access plan and the two other access points.
19. Comment on opposition of the plan.
20. Comment on a sand distribution in 1964, and a comment on an eroding beach. The sand is needed to save the beach and public access is the trade-off.
21. Comment on the lack of people that will come to the beach.
22. Comment on negotiating with the ACOE and NYSDEC.
23. Question on the similarities between West Hampton Dunes and Asharoken.
24. Suggestion about a video that was taken during Sandy.
Mayor Letica made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
The September 2, 2014 Board meeting of the Board of Trustees was adjourned at approximately 9:20 pm.
Signed: _____________________________________________
Nancy Rittenhouse, Village Clerk