This site requires that JavaScript be enabled, but either your browser does not support JavaScript or it is disabled.
To access this site, please upgrade your browser, or turn on JavaScript.

[MESSAGE JSNF-285-09]

APPROVED Minutes of the December 2, 2014 Meeting of the Asharoken Board of Trustees

 Incorporated Village of Asharoken

Board of Trustees Regular Meeting

Held on Tuesday

December 2nd, 2014 7:30 P.M

At the Northport Power Plant

Approximate Attendance (29)

                                                                               

                                                                                               

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

Marty Cohen, Conservation of the Environment

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was said.

Proof of publication was made and public hearing notice was read out loud.

 

Trustee Ettinger made a motion to approve the regular board minutes for November 3rd, 2014 seconded by Trustee Jablonski.

 

Trustee Jablonski                                            AYE

Trustee Burke                                                  AYE

Trustee Ettinger                                              AYE

Deputy Mayor Pierce                                    AYE

Mayor Letica                                                     AYE

Motioned Carried.

 

Trustee Burke made a motion to approve the regular board minutes for November 18th, 2014 seconded by Trustee Ettinger.

 

Trustee Jablonski                                            AYE

Trustee Burke                                                  AYE

Trustee Ettinger                                              AYE

Deputy Mayor Pierce                                    AYE

Mayor Letica                                                     AYE

Motioned Carried.

 

Mayors Report:

Mayor Letica reported that “on November 18th the village submitted an updated draft public access plan to the NYSDEC.  As of today the village has not received any comments from either the NYSDEC or the USACOE.

 

On November 24th I spoke to Matt Chelbus from the NYSDEC and got an update on the status of the USACOE progress on the ASDRP:

 

(1)  E Dune modeling is done and is used to determine beach profile, dune location, sand amount and other features of the sand placement

 

(2)  Genesis modeling is close to being done.  This modeling is used to determine need for structures such as groins, jetties and breakwaters. They are doing one more run prior to completion.

 

(3)  Economic modeling is underway to determine if there is a cost benefit to complete the project.  They are looking at every possible benefit including the economical value of keeping the road open for the residents of Eaton’s Neck.  Our draft public access plan is part of this.  The plan was sent over to the USACOE yesterday for their evaluation.

 

The end of March is the time frame for presenting the tentatively selected plan for the ASDRP. Hopefully, the plan will be out for public comment by the end of May.

 

On November 19th village Clerk, Nancy Rittenhouse, attended the kickoff meeting to make the village eligible to apply for reimbursement for our local cost share from Superstorm Sandy.  This program is through the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery.  The village will be requesting our local share for the cleanup after Sandy and for village hall damages.  The village could receive a reimbursement of approximately $64,000 if all its requests are approved.  The village is waiting for an onsite visit as the next step.

 

The village met with Ravco Inc. 21st to review the village hall construction project. I anticipate that the construction should start soon”.

 

Mayor Letica gave the sanitation report.

 

Trustees:

Deputy Mayor Pierce reported that she attended the work session held on November 18th, reviewed the shoulder project, the public access plan, the flexible spending plan for employees, gun permit, comments on the garbage and recycling and reviewed the vouchers for the month.

 

Trustee Ettinger thanked all the people who expressed their appreciation for the presentation on the new Village Hall.  He noted that an important donation from the Rickman Family was made, which included the A/C, heating system and hot water system for the Village Hall. This donation is a tremendous savings for the village and he extended his gratitude.  He reported that he attended the work session on November 18th, a pre-site meeting on November 21st, on November 23rd attended a brunch hosted by Congressman Steve Israel, on November 26th reviewed all insurance documents by Ravco Construction and attended the monthly court session.  He noted that the Village Hall project will begin very soon; and indicated that on December 3rd two storage trailers will be delivered as well as a dumpster.  In the next several weeks the plan is to demo the old village hall and then move the existing trailers on the site where the old building was.  He reported that he reviewed the minutes, correspondence from residents and reviewed the vouchers.  He extended his best wishes for everyone for a happy holiday and happy New Year.

 

Trustee Burke reported that she attended the work session held on November 18th; she reviewed the vouchers and correspondence from residents about the beach restoration.  She reported that she had a discussion with the board about a candidate for the back-up driver position for Barry Bradley in emergency situations.

 

Trustee Jablonski reported that he attended the work session held on November 18th, reviewed the flexible spending plan and correspondence from residents.  He reported that the shoulder project should commence very shortly and he reviewed the vouchers.

 

Village Attorney:  Bruce Migatz reported that the planning board did not meet last month. The Zoning Board met on November 17th and heard one case on the agenda, which was a re-hearing of the Wurzel application and it has been continued to December 15th.

 

Treasurer: Treasurer Emily Hayes reported that the total amount of vouchers for the month of November was $307,921.82. A separate resolution to approve the vouchers and related budget transfers will be made. Included in the expenditures this month were payments for the Fire Contract and the annual pension contribution to NYS.

 

Officer-In- Charge:  Officer-In-Charge Ray Mahdesian reported that no burglaries reported in the village of the month of November. He noted that the department attended an in-service class presented by SCPD Highway Patrol members on field sobriety testing. 

 

Harbormaster: Joe Affrunti reported that the police boat was moved to the Coast Guard station during the duration of the village hall construction project.

 

Superintendent of Buildings: Doug Adil reported on 12 reviews and inspections for the month of November. He reviewed plans for an alteration, he met with a homeowner to discuss potential emergency generator and reviewed a tree removal plan for a new structure.

 

Conservation of the Environment: Marty Cohen noted nothing to report.

 

Resolutions:

Resolution (2014-140) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board approves the budget transfers for the month of November 2014.

 

Trustee Ettinger made a motion to approve the regular board minutes for November 18th, 2014 seconded by Deputy Mayor Pierce.

 

Trustee Jablonski                                            AYE

Trustee Burke                                                  AYE

Trustee Ettinger                                              AYE

Deputy Mayor Pierce                                    AYE

Mayor Letica                                                     AYE

Motioned Carried.

 

Resolution (2014-141) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby approve the vouchers for the month of November 2014 in the amount of $307,950.00.

 

Deputy Mayor Pierce made a motion to approve the regular board minutes for November 18th, 2014 seconded by Trustee Ettinger.

 

Trustee Jablonski                                            AYE

Trustee Burke                                                  AYE

Trustee Ettinger                                              AYE

Deputy Mayor Pierce                                    AYE

Mayor Letica                                                     AYE

Motioned Carried.

 

 

Resolution (2014-142) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board, does hereby authorize the mayor to sign the License Agreement between National Grid and the Village of Asharoken for the use of the assembly room for Board of Trustee, Zoning Board and Planning Board meetings.

 

Mayor Letica made a motion to approve the regular board minutes for November 18th, 2014 seconded by Deputy Mayor Pierce.

 

Trustee Jablonski                                            AYE

Trustee Burke                                                  AYE

Trustee Ettinger                                              AYE

Deputy Mayor Pierce                                    AYE

Mayor Letica                                                     AYE

Motioned Carried.

 

Resolution (2014-143) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby approve the expenditure for leasing two (2) 8 x 28 storage trailer on wheels provided by Cassone Trailer and Container Co. for $75.00 per month, plus $175.00 for delivery and $175.00 for pick-up per trailer and $15.00 for one set of stairs.

 

Trustee Ettinger made a motion to approve the regular board minutes for November 18th, 2014 seconded by Trustee Jablonski.

 

Trustee Jablonski                                            AYE

Trustee Burke                                                  AYE

Trustee Ettinger                                              AYE

Deputy Mayor Pierce                                    AYE

Mayor Letica                                                     AYE

Motioned Carried.

 

Resolution (2014-144) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby approve the expenditure for one (1) bathroom hook-up inside the office trailer provided by CALLAHEAD for $419.00 per month.

 

Deputy Mayor Pierce made a motion to approve the regular board minutes for November 18th, 2014 seconded by Trustee Ettinger.

 

Trustee Jablonski                                            AYE

Trustee Burke                                                  AYE

Trustee Ettinger                                              AYE

Deputy Mayor Pierce                                    AYE

Mayor Letica                                                     AYE

Motioned Carried.

 

Resolution (2014-145) Be It Resolved that the Village Board does hereby approve the expenditure for one (1) 20 yard dumpster provided by Dependable Rollover for $495.00 for removal of debris for the Village Hall Construction project.

 

Trustee Ettinger made a motion to approve the regular board minutes for November 18th, 2014 seconded by Deputy Mayor Pierce.

 

Trustee Jablonski                                            AYE

Trustee Burke                                                  AYE

Trustee Ettinger                                              AYE

Deputy Mayor Pierce                                    AYE

Mayor Letica                                                     AYE

Motioned Carried.

 

Resolution (2014-146) Be It Resolved that the Village Board does hereby approve the expenditure for College Hunks Moving to provide moving services in the amount of $600.00 for the Village Hall Construction project.

 

Trustee Ettinger made a motion to approve the regular board minutes for November 18th, 2014 seconded by Deputy Mayor Pierce.

 

Trustee Jablonski                                            AYE

Trustee Burke                                                  AYE

Trustee Ettinger                                              AYE

Deputy Mayor Pierce                                    AYE

Mayor Letica                                                     AYE

Motioned Carried.

 

Resolution (2014-147) Be It Resolved that the Village Board does hereby approve the services of Parker Landscaping for preparing the area for storage trailers in the amount of $300.00 for the Village Hall project.

 

Trustee Ettinger made a motion to approve the regular board minutes for November 18th, 2014 seconded by Trustee Jablonski.

 

Trustee Jablonski                                            AYE

Trustee Burke                                                  AYE

Trustee Ettinger                                              AYE

Deputy Mayor Pierce                                    AYE

Mayor Letica                                                     AYE

Motioned Carried.

 

Resolution (2014-148) Be It Resolved that the Village Board does hereby approve the two (2) amendment items to resolution (2014-128), removing the Gabion Reno Mattress material from the shoulder project and reduce the contract price with Landtek Group to $65,377.00.

 

Mayor Letica made a motion to approve the regular board minutes for November 18th, 2014 seconded by Trustee Jablonski.

 

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, 20 questions and comments were presented.

1.       Question on the wind turbine.

2.       Comment about moving the trailers into the Asharoken Beach Parking lot.

3.       Question on the shoulder project and a description of the project.

4.       Question on the width of the shoulder.

5.       Comment on the drainage by the shoulder and the seawall area.

6.       Question of the three million dollar cost share and how it will be used.

7.       Comment was made that once the beach comes back the area near Bevin Road should be solved.  Comment was made that the board has made a tremendous effort to get grants for the village hall

8.       Comment was made about tailgating along Asharoken Avenue north of Bevin Road.

9.       Requested information on the license plate readers.

10.   Comment on the erosion issue, at the local and county level.

11.   Question on liability from the beach restoration project. Mayor Letica noted that we haven’t received a clear answer on this issue as of now.  Bruce Migatz noted that presently someone could be trespassing on your beach and can sue you, the exposure is already there and your insurance policy would most likely cover you.  When it’s open to the public you still have that liability however there is a statute that may afford you protection if it is deemed open to the public. It is drafted to apply to certain activities, it’s not specific to walking on the beach, or does walking on the beach mean hiking, it is not clear cut. Mayor Letica noted that we are working on this very actively.

12.   Question on the consensus of the village about the beach restoration project.

13.   Comment was made that after the beach restoration project, the village is not running the beach, no lifeguards, no bathrooms only access.

14.   Question was what if no one signs the easements.

15.   Comment was made about the trade-off of the project and disclosure of the end game. Mayor Letica noted that the village has an opportunity to purchase easements. Mayor Letica noted that as soon as the information comes in it will be communicated to all the property owners.

16.   Comment was made about the case being made to the property owners why this restoration plan is so important.

17.   Question on the tax lot number for the access points.

18.   Question on sand accretion and federally funded sand placement.

19.   Question on an update about Sandpiper Farm agriculture issue and the National Grid tax lawsuit.

20.   Question on definition of public access.

 

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.

 

Trustee Ettinger made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Trustee Burke.

Trustee Jablonski                                            AYE

Trustee Burke                                                  AYE

Trustee Ettinger                                              AYE

Deputy Mayor Pierce                                    AYE

Mayor Letica                                                     AYE

Motioned Carried.

 

                The December 2, 2014 Board meeting of the Board of Trustees was adjourned at approximately 9:30 pm.               

Signed: _____________________________________________

                Nancy Rittenhouse, Village Clerk