Incorporated Village of Asharoken
Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
Held on Tuesday
January 6th, 2015 7:30 P.M
At the Northport Power Plant
Approximate Attendance (35)
Officers Present:
Pam Pierce, Deputy Mayor
Melvin Ettinger, Trustee
Laura Burke, Trustee
Ian Jablonski, Trustee
Officials & Appointees Present:
Bruce Migatz, Village Attorney
Emily Hayes, Treasurer
Barry Bradley, Sanitation Operator
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.
Trustee Ettinger made a motion to approve the regular board minutes for December 2nd, 2014 seconded by Trustee Burke.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Motioned Carried.
Mayors Report:
Mayor Letica was not present; Deputy Mayor Pierce read Mayor Greg Letica’s report.
I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. 2015 is the 90th anniversary of the incorporation of the Village of Asharoken. This year promises to be a milestone in the history of the village with the expected completion of our new village hall.
Matt Chlebus from the DEC wrote the following on January 5th updating the ASDRP “Not much to report on given the Holidays. The Corps is preparing a response to the Public Access Plan that was submitted by the Village, and we are awaiting their response. The Corps is also continuing their modeling efforts, and has told me that the State can expect an updated draft plan in the next month or so. I will forward it over to you following our review."
On December 12th Deputy Mayor Pierce and I met with Congressman Steve Israel to discuss the Asharoken Storm Damage Reduction Project. The goal of the meeting was to explain to Congressman Israel why the village needs the sand, explain that the overwhelming public benefit of the project is to protect Asharoken Avenue and to explain that many residents feel that the requirement of public access is an excessive burden for the village to bear considering that the project will provide critical protection for the residents of Eaton's Neck.
As I am sure all of you are aware the village has commenced the construction of the new village hall. On December 12th I signed the contract with Ravco Inc. and on the 18th demolition of the old village hall began. The project is moving along smoothly to date and I will allow Trustee Ettinger to provide more details. I would like to thank Trustee Ettinger and Clerk Rittenhouse for their hard work and detailed planning to allow the repositioning of the two trailers to occur in one day. This was a very complicated project as the trailers needed to be emptied, disconnected from electric, cable, phone and alarm; once repositioned this process had to be reversed.
The reconstruction and extension of the road shoulder along Asharoken Avenue by Bevin Road was completed this month. I would like to thank Trustee Ian Jablonski for overseeing this important infrastructure project. The cost of the project was $77,327 which includes surveying, engineering and construction. The village expects to be reimbursed by the NYS Department of Transportation for the cost of the project. Just as this repair was completed a van hit the retaining wall on the side of the road going up the hill on Asharoken Avenue toward Eaton's Neck. This retaining wall was damaged and will need to be repaired.
Trustees:
Deputy Mayor Pierce reported that she attended the meeting with Mayor Letica and Congressman Israel regarding Asharoken Storm Damage Project and reviewed the minutes and vouchers and the outstanding balances on the assessment role.
Trustee Ettinger noted that December was a very busy month in our village. During the month we began demolishing the old village hall. On December 3rd and 4th the village had two storage trailers delivered. The village hall was emptied out to allow for the demo work, which began on December 18th. Ravco Construction’s electrical contractor installed the temporary electrical H-frame. On December 29th we moved both the village hall office and police department trailers at the south end of the property. The contractor will be clearing the site and in the next few weeks and the retaining wall will be worked on. He reported that he reviewed the minutes and vouchers for the month of December 2014, and certified the outstanding taxes to the assessment role.
Trustee Burke reported that she reviewed the vouchers and minutes for the month of December 2014. She reported on the single stream recycling system that the Town of Huntington will be adopting January 1st. The benefit to going single stream is to increase the amount of recycling and the return is higher due to an increase in quality of recyclables. She continues to work on a sanitation back–up diver.
Trustee Jablonski reported that he reviewed the vouchers and minutes for the month of December 2014. He noted the completion of the construction of the shoulder and is currently working on getting the retaining block wall repaired.
Village Attorney: Bruce Migatz reported that the Zoning Board met on December 15th, two matters on the calendar, an application by Thompson 165 Asharoken Avenue for a renewal of the special use accessory permit that was granted, and the second case was the matter of Wurzel, it has been continued for several hearings. The hearing was closed and the decision was reserved. The Planning Board did not meet.
Treasurer: Treasurer Emily Hayes reported that the total amount of vouchers for the month of December was $30,252.99. A separate resolution to approve the vouchers and related budget transfers will be made.
Officer-In- Charge: Officer-In-Charge Ray Mahdesian reported that no burglaries reported in the village of the month of December. He reported that a car drove onto the beach and into the water. He reported that a car struck the block wall on December 22nd, 2014. On the 5th of December several mailboxes become uprooted. He also noted that the department devoted time to the preparations for the construction of the new village hall.
Sanitation: Sanitation Operator Barry Bradley reported on Big Blue which is running well. Trash pick-up was 29.50 tons, Co-mingle was 3.41tons and News and Cardboard was 3.98 tons, totaling 38.70 tons. Yard waste eight families participated.
Superintendent of Buildings: Doug Adil reported on 13 reviews and inspections for the month of December. He met with a builder to install silt fence and hay bales for a construction on Duck Island. He discussed requirements for a homeowner who installed a bulkhead. He reviewed the first payment requisition for the village Hall project.
Conservation of the Environment: Marty Cohen noted nothing to report.
Resident Joan Ettinger presented the Village Hall donations. She noted that she received 19 donations within the last two weeks of December. The numbers of families who have contributed are 200 families so far.
Resolutions:
Resolution (2015-01) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board, does hereby approve the scheduling of a public hearing on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015 for a proposed local law authorizing a property tax levy in excess of the limit established in General Municipal Law}3-c for the fiscal year commencing 6/1/2015.
Trustee Ettinger made a motion to approve, seconded by Trustee Jablonski.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2015-02) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby approve the vouchers for the month of December 2014 in the amount of $30,252.99.
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
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2015-03) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board approves the budget transfers for the month of December 2014.
Trustee Jablonski made a motion to approve, seconded by Deputy Mayor Pierce.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2014-04) 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 2015 Annual Village Election in the Village of Asharoken shall be held on June 16th, 2015, and be it further resolved that the offices to be filled at said election and the terms thereof are as follows:
Trustee, two (2) years
Trustee, two (2) years
Be It resolved that the polling place will be held at the Eaton’s Neck Fire House, 55 Eaton’s Neck Road, Northport, NY 11768 during the hours of 12 noon to 9:00 pm, subject to change.
Trustee Ettinger made a motion to approve, seconded by Deputy Mayor Pierce.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2015-05) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board, does hereby accept the donation from the “Asharoken Building Fundraising Committee” in the amount of $9,645.00 for the new village hall project.
Trustee Jablonski made a motion to approve, seconded by Deputy Mayor Pierce.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Motioned Carried.
Resolution (2015-06) 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.
Trustee Ettinger made a motion to approve, seconded by Deputy Mayor Pierce.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Motioned Carried.
Deputy Mayor Pierce opened up the meeting for public session.
During public session, 24 questions and comments were presented.
1. Question on resolution (2015-01).
2. Question on the recyclable revenue.
3. Question on the number of new police cars.
4. Question on which trustees are up for re-election.
5. Question on hiring independent experts for the beach replenishment.
6. Question on the responsibility of trash and or littering.
7. Comment on the drop by the edge of the road near 167 Asharoken Avenue.
8. Comment on the orange pole that is near the utility box.
9. Inquiry on the meeting with Congressman Israel. Deputy Mayor Pierce noted that the meeting was to bring Congressman Israel up to date and he indicated that his staff would look into other options regarding public access.
10. Comment on the beach restoration project, and a drafted letter to be distributed.
11. Question on the contract amount for the village hall project.
12. Question on certified payroll reports.
13. Question on working on Saturdays, and will it cost more money. Trustee Ettinger noted that we have a fixed price contract.
14. Comment on the sea wall breach.
15. Comment on the Coast Guard dredged sand.
16. Question to the board about their opinion on public access.
17. Comment on the timing of the beach restoration project.
18. Comment on the level of confidence with the Village Hall transition.
19. Question on the parking at village hall.
20. Question on the postal mailbox.
21. Question on meeting notices.
22. Question on the other sources for funding for the beach restoration.
23. Question about a possible study showing the worst case scenario.
24. Comment about a water quality lecture at the Northport Yacht Club.
Trustee Ettinger made a motion to close the public session, seconded by Trustee Jablonski.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Motioned Carried.
Trustee Ettinger made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Trustee Jablonski.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke AYE
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Motioned Carried.
The January 6th, 2015 Board meeting of the Board of Trustees was adjourned at approximately 8:30 pm.
Signed: _____________________________________________
Nancy Rittenhouse, Village Clerk