Village Board Minutes

September 19, 2012 (22)

A regular meeting and public hearing of the Village Board was held September 19, 2012 at 6:00 PM in the firehouse, 16 Saratoga Avenue.

Mayor Morreale called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call: Trustee Denno, Trustee Halliday, and Trustee Saunders were present.  Trustee Enekes was excused.

A public hearing having been duly advertised in the Post Star on September 11, 2012 was held September 19, 2012 at 6:00 PM, re: proposed amendment to Chapter 119 “Streets & Sidewalks” to add a new section pertaining to allowing permitted use of streets and sidewalks in front of businesses.  Mayor Morreale read the advertisement as published and opened the public hearing.

Atty Bitter stated that Saratoga County Planning had reviewed and approved the proposed law.

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Ed Byrnes asked for and received clarification of the permitting process.

Atty Bitter read the SEQR short form negative declaration.

With no further comments from the public, Mayor Morreale closed the public hearing, 6:03 PM.

Nicole M. Colson
Clerk/Treasurer

A regular meeting of the Village Board was held September 19, 2012 at 6:00 PM in the firehouse, 16 Saratoga Ave.

DECISION ON LOCAL LAW 2-2012

Motion by Trustee Denno, seconded by Trustee Saunders, to accept short form SEQR negative declaration as read by Atty Bitter.
Carried – 3 – 0

Resolution #21 approved, adoption of Local Law 2 of 2012, amendment to Chapter 119 “Streets & Sidewalks”.

Motion by Trustee Saunders, seconded by Trustee Halliday, approved minutes of regular meeting Sept 5, 2012 as typed.
Carried – 3 – 0

SPECIFIC REQUESTS

Jason Denno, Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), appeared before the Board to update them on the hardship status granted to the Village for funding of the water filtration project.  Mr. Denno explained that the original hardship determination was granted based upon the initial project price of $5.9 million, the project has since been updated with the new projected end cost of $7.2 million.  The updated project has a change in filtration method, the potential to replace more distribution lines, and the possibility of installing water meters.  The Board has not made any decisions regarding how much of the project will be in the final plan.  Mr. Denno explained to the Board that the initial financing offer from EFC was for interest free financing of up to $5.9 for 20 years, the increase in project cost would possibly lead to extending the financing terms to 30 years, or could entail a grant component.  Once the engineering report has been approved by the Department of Health, the Village Board would then need to make a commitment to which parts of the entire project would be put out to bid and committed to under EFC financing.  The village is currently sufficiently progressing with the project under the EFC guidelines.

CORRESPONDENCE

The Board has received a letter from Laberge Group regarding the resealing of the water tower.  Laberge recommends postponing the work until next summer to take advantage of warmer temperatures to save the village money.

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS (AGENDA ITEMS)

Jim Murray requested that the Board consider lowering the speed limit on Oak St from Eggleston St to Palmer Ave to 20 miles per hour, and Center St from Walnut St to Mechanic St to 20 miles per hour.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

 

CLERK/TREASURER – Clerk/Treas Colson was present, report for 9/19/12 read & filed.

Resolution #22 approved, adjustment to water/sewer rolls.

Motion by Trustee Denno, seconded by Trustee Saunders, approved payment of abstract #7: Payroll $28,359.39; General $41,618.82; Water $7,363.97; Sewer $9,314.13; and Community Development $6,350.
Carried – 3 – 0

Resolution #23 approved, budget transfers.

Clerk/Treas Colson informed the Board that the Village’s Medicare application for the ambulance service billing has been approved.

FIRE DEPARTMENT – Chief Kelley was present.

Fire Department divers assisted J.A. Bayly at the dam remediation project.  The new dive van should be fully in service in the next six weeks.

DPW/WATER/WWTP – Supt Lozier was present.

Parts for the primary settling tank at the WWTP have been ordered and the trickling filter will be inspected. 

Supt Lozier has been monitoring the dam remediation project and is pleased with the quality of work being done by J.A. Bayly and the oversight of Laberge Group.

BUILDING INSPECTOR – Insp Jacon was present, report for 9/19/12 read and filed.

OLD BUSINESS

Discussion on lowering speed limits was tabled.

Revisions to the complaint handling procedures have been distributed and will be discussed at the next meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

Trustee Denno suggested the Village consult an arborist and review design options before removing the trees on Main Street.  Mayor Morreale asked Supt Lozier and Trustee Denno to get input from Pauline Densmore from the former tree committee and Ed Byrnes from the Downtown Merchants Association and report back to the Board.

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Stan Hoffman questioned progress on property maintenance issues and requested the Board pass a maintenance law similar to what was recently passed by Lake George.  Mr. Hoffman also spoke against installing water meters.

Andy Raymond commented that the community was fortunate to have Jason Denno at the EFC assist the Village with the water filtration project.  Mr. Raymond also thanked the Board for addressing his recent property maintenance complaint.

BOARD COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Trustee Denno submitted a copy of the 2001 Comprehensive Master Plan for copying to Board members and asked them to review.  Trustee Denno also requested a list of HOME grant recipients and projects still on the waiting list as well as copies of the property maintenance laws in Lake George and Hudson Falls.

Mayor Morreale informed the Board he has met with School Supt Dan Starr and the crossing guards to discuss some issues arising from the changes to school dismissal times.  The Sheriff’s Department is also monitoring school zones during the new dismissal.  Mayor Morreale pointed out that crossing guards do not have the authority to direct traffic, but they do have the authority to stop traffic to allow the passage of the school busses.

Mayor Morreale also thanked Trustee Denno and Trustee Halliday for meeting with him to discuss property maintenance solutions and indicated that he and Trustee Halliday recently toured the Village with Atty Buettner and discussed different options for enforcing code violations.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Trustee Denno, seconded by Trustee Halliday that Board adjourn; 7:47 PM.
Carried – 3 – 0

Nicole M. Colson
Clerk/Treasurer