Incorporated Village of Asharoken
Board of Trustees Board Meeting
Tuesday, December 3, 2019 6:30pm
At the Village Hall
Approximate Attendance (8)
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
Doug Adil, Building Inspector
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.
Trustee Jablonski made a motion to approve the Regular Board Meeting minutes for November 12, 2019 seconded by Trustee Ettinger.
Trustee Jablonski AYE
Trustee Burke Abstain
Trustee Ettinger AYE
Deputy Mayor Pierce AYE
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried.
Mayors Report:
Mayor’s Report;” National Grid has completed placement of 45,000 cubic yards of sand on the Long Island Sound beach. Unfortunately, a series of weekly nor’easters continually re-contoured the sand. This prevented the contractor from being able to keep large quantities of sand in front of many bulkheads in the placement area as has happened during the previous replenishments. The contractor is expected to return for final grading in the next week.
National Grid is looking to replace the existing gas main on Asharoken Avenue with a new plastic main. This project is planned for early next year. The Village will be meeting with National Grid to discuss this project on December 6th.
The apron of the exit ramp of the Village hall parking lot has substantial degraded and will need to be replaced. The Village received quotes for the project and Lindley Brothers was the lowest bidder. The repair, which will cost roughly $3,800, will be done early this month. As part of this repair the shoulder of Asharoken Avenue near 117-119 will also be repaired.
Deputy Mayor Pierce and I participated on a conference call today with the ACOE and Congressman Tom Suozzi to discuss the status of the seawall project. The Village is expecting a formal decision from the Corps later this month on whether or not it will resume the study for the purposes of creating a Locally Preferred Plan to restore the seawall area.
Changes in NYS law will now compel the Village to hold court sessions every two weeks instead of monthly. Unfortunately, this will increase Asharoken’s expenses due to additional staffing. I spoke to State Senator Jim Gaughran, Huntington Bay Mayor Herb Morrow and NYCOM President Robert Kennedy (the Mayor of Freeport) about the impact the law will have on the Village and I asked for their support to seek a modification of the law to make it more workable for small villages. To date I have not heard anything back. The Village will seek ways to mitigate the increased costs.
I would like to thank the Asharoken Garden Club for donating a lovely wreath to the Village. On December 15th the Village will be hosting Santa and Mrs. Claus at 3:30 PM. This is a really fun event and I encourage everyone with kids or grandkids to come down to Village hall and be part of the festivities.
Trustees:
Deputy Mayor Pierce reported that she worked with Mayor Letica on the National Grid sand placement and participated on the call with Congressman Suozzi and the ACOE. She worked with clerk Rittenhouse on the in-line check valve project for the Village Hall property. She reviewed the minutes, vouchers and residents correspondents and she wished everyone a happy holiday season.
Trustee Ettinger reported working with Officer-in-Charge Mahdesian on police matters. He noted that the police department is having a difficult time purchasing a new Durango police car due to the General Motors strike that took place; many police agencies are having the same issues. He noted that they are reaching out to other dealerships to find a vehicle other than a Durango to avoid waiting the six month period. On November 22nd he met with representatives from the NYS Court Security agency this is an annual evaluation by the agency to review the Village Hall/Police Station/Court Room facility to determine if it meets their guidelines. They were very pleased with the layout of the building and the many security features it has. They did suggest equipment such as a wand for people entering the building to detect any firearms, etc. Trustee Ettinger indicated that the department may be able to receive a grant for these items. He also noted that NYMIR the villages’ insurance carrier performed their annual audit and they suggested having all employees driving Village vehicles review a power point on Distracted Driving. He noted that he reviewed several FOILS’, resident correspondents, monthly vouchers and minutes. He wished everyone a happy holiday season and healthy New Year.
Trustee Burke reported she reviewed monthly vouchers, minutes and resident correspondences.
Trustee Jablonski reported that he reviewed monthly vouchers, minutes and resident correspondences. He noted that he participated in a conference call with Suffolk County Health Department and Cornell Cooperative Extension Center as well as Suffolk Shared Services on tick borne illness. He noted that he working with Cornell Cooperative Extension Center to have them perform samplings this summer. They are also interested in understanding the financial impact to Suffolk County for tick borne illnesses and will be working with our local hospitals.
Village Attorney: Mayor Letica indicated that Attorney Migatz was unable to attend. Attorney Migatz had nothing to report for the month of November.
Village Treasurer: Emily Hayes reported that the vouchers for the month of November were $165,098.16. The major vouchers this month were for the NYS Pension vouchers for both Police and State employees. There will be a separate resolution to approve the vouchers and one budget transfer for the month.
Police Report: Officer Mahdesian reported that the department had a good month. The department issued 14 summonses and no arrests. He noted another crime free month.
Sanitation Operator: Barry Bradley reported that big blue is running well. Total tipping fees for the month of November were $1,981.40. Trash tonnage 23.98, paper & cardboard 3.89 tons; glass 1.1 tons, plastic and metal .86 tons.
Emergency Manager: Bill Raisch brought up climate change and the effects on our coastal areas; he offered to give a 5-10 minute briefing to the Village discussing the general science in the area of sea level rising. He informed the Board that Eaton’s Harbor Corp will be having their annual polar bear dunk on Jan. 1st at 1pm, this event has been taking place for the last 35 years and the blessing of the Fleet will be held on June 6th, 2020.
Building Inspector: Doug Adil reported that he responded to an inquiry from a homeowner regarding their contention that a neighbor adjacent to a family owned beach lot had cut down trees on their lot and was building something in the wetlands. Upon investigation (in conjunction with APD) it was found that a neighbor on the other side of their beach lot had cut some scrubby trees and brush and is scheduled to clean up the debris. No construction in the wetlands was found the inquiry turned out to be baseless. He met with a homeowner on Cove Road & Clam Shell Lane to discuss options for installing a generator. Re-reviewed plans for a deck replacement; met with a contractor to discuss permit requirements to construct a new bulkhead at a home on the bayside. Inspected a property on Eaton’s Neck Road where storm water run-off is a concern; inspected 11 projects this month.
Chairman of the Conservation Board: Marty Cohen noted that he nothing to report.
Resolution (2019-110) Be It Resolved that the Village Board approves the budget transfers for the month of November 2019.
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 (2019-111) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby approve the vouchers for the month of November 2019 in the amount of $165,098.16.
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
Mayor Letica AYE
Motioned Carried
Resolution (2019-112) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board, does hereby approve the scheduling of a public hearing on Tuesday, January 7th, 2020 at 6:30pm at Village Hall 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 6/1/2020.
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 (2019-113) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby approve the firearms permit for Doug Whitcomb located at 50 South Harbor Road, location where firearms are to be used is 50 South Harbor Road, purpose of permit for clay pigeon with a 12 gauge firearms.
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 (2019-114) Be It Resolved, that the Village Board does hereby approve the Fill Permit for the owner of 157 Asharoken Avenue; the fill permit is to allow approx. 833 cubic yards of clean fill to be placed in an area 25’ from the edge of the roadway and 300’ from the existing bulkhead which is outside of the NYSDEC jurisdictional line for the purpose of raising the existing grade in order to meet the sanitary and flood plain elevation requirements, this is subject to leveling the clean fill within a period of 10 days after fill has been deposited and providing adequate erosion control as determined by our Building Inspector
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
Old Business: Several residents have brought to the board’s attention about a trailer with advertisement signage. The owner of the trailer has covered the signage with a tarp. The concern is that our code does not address other commercial vehicles such as a pump out truck for example, from parking in driveways on a permanent basis. Deputy Mayor Pierce is looking into this. Mayor Letica indicated that Deputy Mayor Pierce will work with our Village Attorney to come up with a proposed or sample law that will address these issues. We can discuss at our next meeting then set a public hearing on this matter.
New Business: Santa and Mrs. Claus will be coming at Village Hall at 3:30pm.
Public Session:
1. A resident brought up the tick borne illnesses that were mentioned by Trustee Jablonski. He noted that many of us have fences installed; he noted that a variant of the tick borne disease is coming from the South and apparently there is no remedy for it. Any thoughts on an approach the Village might take on this situation or maybe we can take a collaborative approach.
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 wished everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year.
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 December 3, 2019 Regular board meeting/public hearing of the Board of Trustees was adjourned at approximately 6:55pm.
Signed: _____________________________________________
Nancy Rittenhouse, Village Clerk