Village Board Minutes

December 6, 2023 (32)

A public hearing and regular meeting of the Village Board were held December 6, 2023 at 6:00 PM in the Firehouse, 16 Saratoga Avenue.

Mayor Pasquarell called the meeting to order & led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call: Trustee Bedell, Trustee Brown, & Trustee Halliday were present.  Trustee Kelly arrived at 6:33 PM.

A public hearing having been duly advertised in The Post Star on November 25, 2023 was held at 6:00 PM to consider Local Law 3 of 2023 proposed amendments to Chapter 281: Garbage, Refuse & Recycling.

Proposed changes to the Code include requiring multi-family dwellings with 5 or more residential units to have a dumpster instead of toter pick up unless a variance has been granted.  Current multi-unit properties with toter pick up will be grandfathered until the property is transferred.  The proposed changes also include limiting the number of toters per unit to one garbage toter & one recycling toter provided by the Village with the option for the owner to purchase one additional garbage toter per unit.

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Jennifer Michelle, Locust Ridge, asked the Village to consider making the additional purchased toter garbage or recycling instead of just garbage.

With no further comment from the public, Mayor Pasquarell closed the public hearing at 6:03 PM.

Nicole M. Colson
Clerk-Treasurer

A regular meeting of the Village Board was held December 6, 2023 at 6:03 PM.

Motion by Trustee Brown, seconded by Trustee Bedell, approved minutes of November 15, 2023 regular meeting as typed.
Carried – 3 – 0

SPECIFIC REQUESTS

Jason Matt of Ti-Sales meter equipment addressed the Board and public with a presentation on how water meters and the monitoring systems work.  Mr. Matt explained that the meters hold data for 96 days and the software can show hourly consumption for those days.  Mr. Matt further explained that the meter includes a rotating disk that spins as water passes through and only shows flow as water runs through the meter.  Vibration does not affect the meter since the disk is magnetically linked.  Shining a bright light on the meter solar panel at a 45-degree angle will illuminate the read numbers which show measurement to .01 gallons.  An intermittent leak will show a blinking faucet icon on the meter, a continuous leak will show a solid faucet icon.  Trustee Halliday stated that homeowners must take steps to monitor their own usage by reading their meters and checking their plumbing.

At 6:33 PM Trustee Kelly arrived.

CORRESPONDENCE

Motion by Trustee Kelly, seconded by Trustee Brown, denied request by Don Halliday,15 Oak St, to reduce sewer usage due to an outside water leak.
Carried – 4 – 0 – 1 abstain
Trustee Bedell – aye; Trustee Brown – aye; Trustee Kelly – aye; Mayor Pasquarell – aye; Trustee Halliday – abstain

Motion by Trustee Halliday, seconded by Trustee Kelly, denied request by Einars Tupuritis, W. Greentree Lane, to reduce water/sewer bill for 3 Gobel Ave but authorized waiving late penalties and relevy fees through the end of the fiscal year.
Carried – 4 – 0

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Kelly, denied request by Adolfo Suero, Saratoga Springs, to reduce water/sewer bill for 31 Heath Street.
Carried – 4 – 0

Motion by Trustee Brown, seconded by Trustee Bedell, denied request by Rachel Jackson, 605 Palmer Ave, to reduce water/sewer bill but authorized waiving late penalties and relevy fees through the end of the fiscal year.
Carried – 4 – 0

Motion by Trustee Kelly, seconded by Trustee Brown, denied request by Russell Boggs, Old River Rd, to reduce water/sewer bill for 250 Main St but authorized waiving late penalties and relevy fees through the end of the fiscal year.
Carried – 4 – 0

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS (AGENDA ITEMS ONLY) – none

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

CLERK-TREASURER – Clerk-Treas Colson was present, report for 12/6/2024 read & filed.

Motion by Trustee Brown, seconded by Trustee Kelly, approved payment of abstract #13 in the amount of: Payroll  $41,831.48 (#0521-0523); General $235,784.87 (#0524-0577; 0591-0599); Water $22,304.89 (#0567-0568; 0576-0582; 0592-0593); Sewer $29,960.74 (#0567-0577; 0581-0590; 0592-0593); and HUD Housing $60,312.60 (#1427 – 1428). 
Carried – 4 – 0

Resolution #36 approved, budget transfers.

The Board agreed to waive the Firehouse Community Room rental fee for a Ladies Auxiliary member’s rental.

The Board discussed a change in language on the Firehouse Community Room rental application regarding waiving rental fees.

At 7:28 PM Chief Kelley was excused.

Motion by Trustee Kelly, seconded by Trustee Halliday, approved changing the Firehouse Rental application to allow the Clerk-Treasurer to waive rental fees for current and former Village employees in addition to non-profits.
Carried – 4 – 0

FIRE DEPARTMENT – Chief Kelley was excused, report for November 2023 filed.

DPW/WATER/WWTP – Supt Lozier was present, report for November 2023 read & filed.

The Board instructed Supt Lozier to wait until spring to install traffic control devices at Main St & Eggleston St intersection as it is too cold to allow for road painting.

Resolution #37 approved, declaration of 2015 Prinoth Sidewalk plow and attachments as surplus equipment.

BUILDING INSPECTOR – Insp Hepner was present, report for 12/6/2023 read & filed.

Insp Hepner indicated he is working on condemning a vacant property on Pine St.

OLD BUSINESS – none

NEW BUSINESS

The Board discussed proposed changes to the Garbage & Recycling Code.  Trustee Bedell proposed a change in the text to allow for purchase of one additional toter per unit either garbage or recyclable tote.  The Board concurred.

Resolution #38 approved, negative declaration of environmental impact relating to Local Law 3 of 2023 changes to Chapter 281: Garbage, Refuse & Recycling.

Resolution #39 approved, enacting Local Law 3 of 2023 amending Chapter 281: Garbage, Refuse & Recycling.

Mayor Pasquarell informed the public of a change to the regular meeting schedule.  The first Wednesday of the month the Board will meet at 6:00 PM in the Firehouse as usual, the second Wednesday of the month the Board will meet at 4:30 PM at the Village Hall for a meeting that does not include public comment.  The public remains welcome at both meetings.

Motion by Trustee Brown, seconded by Trustee Bedell, approved proposal by Joshua Loeffler to provide CDL Training for two Village DPW employees for $3,500.
Carried – 4 – 0

Motion by Trustee Bedell, seconded by Trustee Kelly, approved contract addendum to Laberge Group contract to provide engineering services related to Infrastructure Evaluation for the Water & Sewer Planning Project at the cost of $49,900.         
Carried – 4 – 0

PUBLIC COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

John Tangora, Wall Street, asked if the Fire Protection Contract had been signed.  Mayor Pasquarell stated there should be a consensus soon.

Louise Kirkpatrick, Dunn Ave, detailed issues at a property on Center Street involving police activity, Insp Hepner & Mayor Pasquarell will look into the matter.  Ms. Kirkpatrick asked the Board to consider requiring Certificate of Occupancy renewals for apartment buildings.  Ms. Kirkpatrick stated Albany requires renewals every two years & it helps catch Code violations.

BOARD COMMENTS, QUESTIONS & CONCERNS

Board members expressed their reluctance in denying water/sewer reductions as requested, but the current Code prevents them from reducing the charges.

Trustee Kelly thanked the Board members for their participation in Hometown Christmas events and thanked the DPW for the beautiful lights at the Beach.  Over150 children had the opportunity to visit with Santa.  Mayor Pasquarell thanked Trustee Kelly for coordinating the Hometown Christmas celebration on behalf of the Village.

ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Trustee Brown, seconded by Trustee Kelly, that Board adjourn, 7:47 PM.
Carried – 4 – 0

Nicole M. Colson
Clerk-Treasurer