Incorporated Village of Asharoken
Board of Trustees Board Meeting/Public Hearing
Tuesday, January 7, 2019 6:30pm
At the Village Hall
Approximate Attendance (14)
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
Barry Bradley, Sanitation Operator
Marty Cohen, Chairman of the Conservation Board
Bill Raisch, Emergency Manager
Raymond Mahdesian, Officer-in-Charge
The Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Publication of meeting was confirmed.
Mayor Letica introduced Ed Moltzen Director of Suffolk County Shared Services; Ed explained the Shared Services program he noted that he has worked with Deputy Mayor Pierce; and Trustee Jablonski on several programs. He mentioned that the County has in place the approved 2020 Shared Service plan and will be applying for matching funds with the State. The State has allocated monies to match dollar for dollar savings. Mayor Letica pointed out that the Village has utilized the Shared Service program; by partnering with the Village of Northport purchasing fuel for its police fleet and sanitation vehicle as well as utilizing Northport’s resources for cleaning Asharoken’s catch basins.
Trustee Ettinger made a motion to approve the Regular Board Meeting minutes for December 3, 2019 seconded by Trustee Burke.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Mayors Report:
Mayor’s Report;” The Village has changed its court schedule in order to conform to the new criminal justice laws of NYS. Court will now be held every two weeks instead of once a month. This change was primarily made to accommodate the new rules requiring arraignments within 20 days of the issuance of the summons. I would like to thank Police Officers Ray Mahdesian and Brian O’Connor, Police Commissioner Mel Ettinger and Village Justice Mark Kleczka for implementing this new schedule and figuring out how to do it without incurring additional costs to the Village. They really did a super job.
The Village has sent out Requests for Proposal (RFP) for the new check valve that needs to be installed by Village hall. The RFPs were sent to four contractors and the return date is January 17th. The new check valve is needed to prevent back flooding of Asharoken Avenue by Northport Bay during astronomically high tides and storms.
The Village is putting together the bid for a new police car to replace the one that was totaled in an accident last year. The cost of the new car will be fully covered by the Village’s insurance carrier.
I have been working with NYS Senator Jim Gaughran to finalize the $70,000 grant request by the Village to augment the dunes in the beach lot area. Senator Gaughran has made it clear that he is doing all he can to expedite the process. The NYS DEC permit that the Village has does not allow Asharoken to work on this project between April 1 and August 31 so we are striving to get it done before the end of March.
Deputy Mayor Pam Pierce and I met with National Grid to discuss the replacement of the old natural gas line between Village hall and Duck Island. Once it is replaced, National Grid will connect all of the existing users of natural gas to the new main. This project will require multiple street openings and as part of the project. National Grid will then cover the cost of milling, repaving and striping this section of roadway. The project is expected to commence at the end of March and more updates will follow as information becomes available.
Santa and Mrs. Claus’s visit to the Village was a terrific success. There were more kids than ever before and they all had so much fun visiting with Santa. Thanks to Beefy and Jeanne Varese, Peter Nolan for donating oranges for the kids and Clerk Nancy Rittenhouse for beautifully setting up the room. It could not have been more magical.
Sadly, I have to announce the passing of Mary Greenlees. Mary was a long-time resident of the Village. I send my condolences out to the entire Greenlees family.
Trustees:
Deputy Mayor Pierce reported that she worked with Mayor Letica on the National Grid new gas main. She attended the Santa visit which was very nice; she worked on the draft commercial parking proposal; attended the Town of Huntington Inaugural ceremony; reviewed the minutes, monthly vouchers and police report.
Trustee Ettinger reported that he worked with Officer-in-Charge Mahdesian on police matters. He noted that a notice for bid for a new Durango police car was sent out. The bids are due back on January 17th. He worked with Officer Mahdesian on the new schedule and staffing for court sessions. He pointed out that Court sessions will be held twice a month; 4 hours for each session. He noted that he attended the annual Santa visit, he reviewed correspondences; draft proposal for commercial parking, IMA with the Town of Huntington, Foils, minutes, and monthly vouchers.
Trustee Burke reported she reviewed monthly vouchers, minutes, police report, and resident correspondences and worked on proposed commercial parking amendment.
Trustee Jablonski reported that he reviewed the minutes, monthly vouchers, correspondents and reviewed the commercial parking amendment.
Village Attorney: Attorney Mitgatz had nothing to report for the month of December.
Village Treasurer: Emily Hayes reported that the vouchers for the month of December were $36,816.53. There will be a separate resolution to approve the vouchers and budget transfer for the month.
Police Report: Officer Mahdesian reported that the department had a good month. The department has been spending a good amount of time with the new criminal justice system and how arrests will be handled. The arrest process has become onerous where the police department has 15 days to process and the police are obligated under discovery laws to provide information. It affects small and large departments. The Village went through a whole year without a burglary in the Village, eight traffic accidents this year. The department issued 26 traffic summons and no arrests this month.
Sanitation Operator: Barry Bradley reported that big blue is running well. Total tipping fees for the month of December were $2056.00. Trash tonnage 25.7, paper & cardboard 5.85 tons; glass .74 tons, plastic and metal 1.46 tons.
Emergency Manager: Bill Raisch reported that he attended a briefing; he noted that a large concern is on cyber attacks. The concern is regarding cyber attacks on Power companies, communications systems and financial institutions regarding their vulnerability when it comes to a cyber attack.
Building Inspector: Doug Adil was absent; his report was submitted for review.
Chairman of the Conservation Board: Marty Cohen reported that the Board approved two tree removal applications last month.
Public Hearing on the proposed local law 1-2020; Clerk Rittenhouse read the legal notice.
Mayor Letica noted; the local law allows the Board of Trustees to override the NY State 2% tax cap. This is the first step in the budget process that the Village has used for the last six years. Fortunately it has never been needed. This legislation provides the village with the financial flexibility to do what is right for Asharoken without the constraints of an arbitrary tax limit imposed by NY State. Passage of this law gives Asharoken a safety net should unexpected expenses arise or revenue shortfalls occur prior to finalizing the budget. Examples could include extreme snow removal cost, police overtime should we have a significant storm or other unanticipated fiscal events.
The village is in the very earliest phases of determining the 2020-2021 budget. I would like to stress that adoption of the override law should not be interpreted or assumed to mean that the village intends to have a tax increase above the 2% threshold. Just as the village has to finalize the assessment roll, determine expense budgets and revenue streams, the proposed law is part of the Village’s due diligence to prepare a realistic budget for the next fiscal year. It is in the best interest of the Village to adopt the law with the hope and expectation that it will not be needed.
Should a tax increase be required, the Board of Trustees will do it’s best to minimize it. This is even more of a priority now with the cap on the deductibility of State and Local taxes on your federal income tax return. Asharoken has a long history of fiscal conservatism. During the last eight years as Mayor the average tax increase has been 1.08% and there has been no increase for the last 4 years. The Board and I will be striving for similar results for the new budget.
Mayor Letica opened up the Public Hearing.
No public comments were made.
Mayor Letica made a motion to close the public hearing; seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried
Resolution (2020-01) Be It Resolved that the Village Board approves the budget transfers for the month of December 2019.
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 (2020-02) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby approve the vouchers for the month of December 2019 in the amount of $36,816.53.
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 (2020-03) Be it Resolved that the Village Board, does hereby approve in accordance with the provisions of the Election Law of the State of New York, the 2020 Annual Village Election in the Village of Asharoken shall be held on June 16th, 2020, and be it further resolved that the offices to be filled at said election and the terms thereof are as follows:
Mayor, two (2) years
Trustee, two (2) years
Trustee, two (2) years
Be it resolved that the polling place will be held at the Village Hall, 1 Asharoken Avenue, Northport, NY 11768 during the hours of 12 noon to 9:00 pm, subject to change.
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 (2020-04) Be It Resolved that the Village Board does hereby authorize the mayor to sign the engagement letter from Skinnon & Faber CPA for the village audit in the amount of $9,700 and court audit in the amount of $700 for year end 5/31/2020. (Prior year cost was $9,500.00)
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 (2020-05) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby approve the firearms permit for Barbara Harris located at 391 Asharoken Avenue, location where firearms are to be used is beach lot across from their home, purpose of permit for clay pigeon with a 12 gauge firearms.
Mayor Letica 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 (2020-06) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby approve the Street Work Permit application submitted by Keyspan Gas East Corporation d/b/a National Grid to excavate in the paved portion of the street for the purpose of installing a new replacement gas line; the number of street openings will be 117 (3 gas pits, 14 drill openings, 100 test holes) from Village Hall to the original Duck Island Lane.
Mayor Letica 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 (2020-07) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby authorize the Mayor to sign the Inter-municipal Agreement between the Town of Huntington and Incorporated Village of Asharoken for the Town to provide animal control services within the jurisdictional limits of the Village at no cost to the Village for a term of (5) years and shall commence upon the date of execution, approved as to form by Attorney Migatz.
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 (2020-08) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board of the Village of Asharoken, does hereby approve the local law 1-2020 authorizing a property tax levy in excess of the limit established in General Municipal Law §3-c for the fiscal year commencing 6/1/2020.
Trustee Jablonski made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
ROLL CALL:
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Return of Unpaid Taxes for 2019/2020:
The Village Clerk delivered a certified list of unpaid taxes, tax warrant and a true copy of the 2019 tax roll to the Board of Trustees. The clerk presented the board with an account of unpaid taxes and a statement that the taxes listed remain unpaid and that every effort has been made to collect such taxes.
The Board of Trustees then compared the list of unpaid taxes to the original tax role. A certificate was executed by each member of the Board of Trustees.
Mayor Letica presented a certificate to Officer Josephson and noted that he has done a fantastic job for the Village. A certificate from the New York Conference of Mayors was given to Officer Josephson honoring his 35 years of service to the Village.
Public Session:
1. A resident had a question on the condition of the beach after the sand deposit by National Grid. Mayor Letica pointed out that we had several Nor’easters while they were trying to place the sand on the beach; the material could have been lighter, it was all upland sand and not distributed fast enough; he noted that the village and National Grid will discuss possibly placing the sand in the Spring instead of the Fall.
2. A resident noted that the sand that was deposited by National Grid has washed out in front of our houses; is it possible to move the sand that has been placed off shore onto the beach.
3. A resident noted that the spikes are now exposed; and is there any plan to remove them.
Mayor Letica made a motion to come out of 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 January 7, 2020 Regular board meeting/public hearing of the Board of Trustees was adjourned at approximately 7:15pm.
Signed: _____________________________________________
Nancy Rittenhouse, Village Clerk