Village Board Meeting Minutes - November 20, 2006

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village/Town of Mt. Kisco held on Monday, November 20, 2006 at 9:35 pm in the Frank J. DiMicco Board Room, Village Hall, 104 Main Street, Mount Kisco, New York.

Present: Mayor J. Michael Cindrich

Trustee Peter DiChiara

Trustee George L. Griffin, Jr.

Trustee Peter Grunthal

Trustee Anthony Markus

Also Present: James Palmer, Village Manager/Clerk

Whitney Singleton, Village Attorney

Mayor Cindrich opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and asked everyone to please reflect on why we are here and asked for guidance in the decisions that we make this evening will benefit all the people of Mount Kisco. Mayor Cindrich also asked that we remember Sergeant Kyu Chay who lost his life in the Middle East. Mayor Cindrich asked that everyone stop by the New Castle Cleaners and let the family know that we are appreciative of the service that his son made to our country.

PUBLIC HEARING

VERIZON CABLE FRANCHISE PROPOSAL

Minutes of the Public Hearing were done by a stenographer and will be provided to the Village of Mount Kisco by Verizon.

1) Communications:

A. Letter from Rabbi Velvl Butman re: Menorah placement request.

Mayor Cindrich read the letter from Rabbi Velvl Butman received on November 14, 2006. Mayor Cindrich stated that we have some time and there is an open issue on this matter.

Trustee DiChiara suggested that the Board table this issue until the Board has a policy drafted. He stated that Trustee Markus and he had been discussing a policy on where to put the Menorah's and Cr�che. The Village has already approved the placement of the Mount Kisco Hebrew Congregation Menorah at the Police Station. It was in his judgment that we should put religious symbols in front of Village Hall, especially because of the vandalism last year.

Motion made by Trustee DiChiara and seconded by Trustee Markus tabling this item until the Board has an opportunity to draft a policy.

Motion Adopted

Mayor Cindrich Aye

Trustee DiChiara Aye

Trustee Griffin, Jr. Aye

Trustee Grunthal Abstain

Trustee Markus Aye

2) Petitions: None

3) Board, Committee and Commission Reports: None

4) Village Manager's Reports -

A. Letter of Byram Lake

Village Manager James Palmer advised that the level of Byram Lake was at 101.5% capacity this afternoon.

B. GIS Outfall Mapping Project.

Village Manager James Palmer updated that Board regarding a GIS Outfall Mapping project that we are currently undertaking. This was something that the Board had authorized quite some time ago. Mr. Palmer wanted to advise the Board of Trustee and residents that we do have members of the company with GPS units mapping the locations of the outfalls in the Village. This was a grant that the Village pursued in conjunction with some 16 other municipalities through the Environmental Protection Agency Fund. This is all part of our effort of developing the Village's Storm Water Management Plan.

C. Fire House Vehicle Exhaust System Grant.

Village Manager James Palmer advised that we are moving a head with the installation of a vehicle exhaust system for all the Fire Houses. Air Technology Solutions, Inc. will be installing the AirMation System in all four fire houses. This project will cost approximately $69,000 and is fully funded through a grant from the Division of Home Land Security - Office of Fire Administration. The Board of Fire Commissioner's have also endorsed the installation of the Airmation System because of the tight space.

D. Resurfacing Schedule.

Village Manager James Palmer announced that it was the Village's intention to have the resurfacing project begin on Smith Avenue next week. He has been working with the Village Engineer, the Consulting Engineer, and the Police Department to ensure that all the businesses are notified of the paving schedule. He stated that as part of that resurfacing contract we are going to be resurfacing Smith Avenue, Carpenter Avenue as well as portions of Leonard Park.

Trustee Griffin, Jr. also suggested that the Village Manager also contact Con Edison to ensure that they had no plans to do work on those streets during the schedule paving time.

E. Request for an Executive Session to discuss pending litigation, personnel and real estate matters.

Motion made by Trustee DiChiara and seconded by Trustee Griffin, Jr. scheduling an Executive Session following the close of the Regular Meeting to discuss pending litigation, personnel and real estate matters, all in favor.

Motion Adopted

Mayor Cindrich Aye

Trustee DiChiara Aye

Trustee Griffin, Jr. Aye

Trustee Grunthal Aye

Trustee Markus Aye

5) Board Reports:

Trustee Grunthal reported that he met together with Treasurer Thomas Warren and Deputy Treasurer Patrice Hogan along with David Kuritzky representing the Independent Fire Department along with the investment management company for the Fire Department's Long Service Award Program. We reviewed the investments and overall they are progressing satisfactory. As of the date of the meeting the yield since inception of the plan was just a tab over 6% with the money invested with Morgan Stanley and just a tad under 6% over the last 12 months.

Trustee Markus had no report at this time.

Trustee Griffin, Jr. reported that he missed the last Building and Grounds Committee Meeting, however, Village Manager Palmer did attend and he will give the Board a brief synopsis of what occurred.

Village Manager Palmer reported that Assistant Village Manager Jeff Econom provided the Building and Grounds Committee with an update on several current projects underway. Most of them have to do with Village Hall, specifically we have received an estimate of approximately $20,000 to restore the cupola. We also have received an estimate for a roof replacement approximately $36,500, which is something we can pursue after the cupola has been repaired. We also have an estimate to replace the gutter around Village Hall and that estimate was approximately $136,000. We have budgeted $225,000 of capital reserves. The first item we would like to give attention to in the spring is the cupola. We are also in the process of receiving estimates for the Village Hall front area portico.

Trustee DiChiara had no report at this time.

Mayor Cindrich had a few requests for the Village Manager. He requested that another letter be sent to DOT regarding the signalization of the intersection at 133 and the Saw Mill. The timing and length of the walk cycle at the light at North Moger/South Moger/Main Street intersection. Also the Maple Avenue/Kisco Avenue intersections just to make sure those timings signals are accurate. He request that a letter be sent to the County of Westchester expressing the Board's displeasure with the movement on the Lexington Avenue bridge project. There seems to be workers there, but nothing is being accomplished. It is a dangerous situation that is going to become more of an issue as winter sets in.

Mayor Cindrich reported that the Village Board has had a couple of weeks of healthy debate regarding traffic concerns on the Hillside Avenue area. We meet with the residents again this evening and we came to a preliminary resolve and I hope this will move forward in a productive manner.

Mayor Cindrich thanked the members of the American Legion for an outstanding job along with other governments the Town's of Bedford, New Castle many military organizations, the Korea American Organizations that honored the Special Staff Sergeant Kyu Chay whom met his demise in Afghanistan was a resident on the boarders of Mount Kisco, but again identifies again with our Village. He added that every where he goes the comments about this American Legion Post and the membership of this American Legion Post is just something that every member of this Village can be extremely proud of. With 500 to 600 people attending this memorial in conjunction with the Mount Kisco Police Department, the New Castle Police Department, the Westchester County Sheriffs Department this Village did an outstanding job, but it's all because of the volunteerism and the dedication to country and service that our American Legion members have.

6) Old Business None.

7) New Business

A. Authorization to contract with Penflex for Actuarial Administrative Services

Motion made by Trustee Grunthal and seconded by Trustee Griffin, Jr. hereby authorizing the Village Manager to sign the contract with Penflex for Actuarial Administrative Services. The cost of services for 2007 is approximately $4,200, which consists of $2,500 for the base fee (standard administrative services), plus $11 per member ($1,540), plus $150 for financial statement disclosure computations. This is a modest fee increase of $340 from the current year. Moneys were set aside in the FY 06/07 budget for this contract. Approximately half is chargeable to Bedford and New Castle, all in favor.

Motion Adopted

Mayor Cindrich Aye

Trustee DiChiara Aye

Trustee Griffin, Jr. Aye

Trustee Grunthal Aye

Trustee Markus Aye

8) Bills -

The following motion was offered by Trustee DiChiara and seconded by Trustee Markus to pay the bills, all in favor.

Invoices Paid Prior to Board Audit $1,998.00

General Fund 548.00

Trust Fund 1,450.00

General Fund $176,156.91

General Fund Claims $159,502.75

Water Fund Claims 11,560.97

Sewer Fund Claims 3,640.20

Library Fund Claims 1,452.99

Senior Nutrition Fund 11,018.44

Water and Sewer Fund 90,152.86

Library Fund 5,433.52

Capital Projects Fund 31,533.06

Trust and Agency Fund 24,439.54

TOTAL $ 340,732.33

Motion Adopted

Mayor Cindrich Aye

Trustee DiChiara Aye

Trustee Griffin, Jr. Aye

Trustee Grunthal Aye

Trustee Markus Aye

9) Approval of Minutes -

Motion made by Trustee Markus and seconded by Trustee Grunthal approving the following minutes:

Regular Meeting of November 6, 2006

Motion Adopted

Mayor Cindrich Aye

Trustee DiChiara Aye

Trustee Griffin, Jr. Aye

Trustee Grunthal Aye

Trustee Markus Aye

10) Non-Local Business - None

11) Public Comment - None

Mr. Martin Heikel, 2 Birch Drive, Mount Kisco asked what the process was for getting some review for the citizens that pay double the water rates in that section of town. He would like to bring a resolution to the situation of double charging on both sides of the fence and to see if we could level the playing field.

Mayor Cindrich stated that it is a problem for the people that live outside of our municipality. The structure of the billing process was cast many years ago. We are currently in negotiations with New Castle on other issues. Mayor Cindrich suggested that Mr. Heikel meet with the Village Manager to review the water mapping system.

Mr. Heikel stated that he would meet with the Village Manager and then perhaps bring back a proposal to the Village Board which would address this issue.

There being no further business to come before the Board a motion to close the meeting was made by Trustee Griffin, Jr. and seconded by Trustee Markus, all in favor.

9:50 pm

__________________________

James M. Palmer

Village Manager and Clerk

Regular Meeting November 20, 2006 1.

Created by pmaiorano. Last modified 2006-12-05 10:43:09.