Village Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting
May 3, 2007
7:30 p.m.
A Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Briarcliff Manor, New York was held in the Village of Briarcliff Manor Village Hall, at 1111 Pleasantville Road, Briarcliff Manor, New York of the 3rd of May commencing at 7:30 p.m.
Present
William J. Vescio, Mayor
David Venditti, Deputy Mayor
Robert Mayer, Trustee
Elsie Smith, Trustee
Gayle Waxenberg, Trustee
Also Present
Michael Blau, Village Manager
Ingrid Richards, Assistant Village Manager
Clinton Smith, Village Attorney
Christine Dennett, Village Clerk
Continuation of Public Hearing: Special Use Permit, Sleepy Hollow Country Club
Upon motion by Trustee Waxenberg, seconded by Deputy Mayor Venditti, the Board voted unanimously to reopen the public hearing.
Mr. Jeff Bronauer stated his family had been members at the Club for many years and he wanted to educate the Board of a previous decision made 36 years ago relating to the noise ordinance. He stated in 1965 the Club sold some land on Holly Place and the trap range was moved so it wouldn’t affect the new homes. He further stated in 1970 as a result of a number of complaints they voluntarily restricted their hours under a gentlemen’s agreement from 10:00am to 2:00pm and they have complied for 36 years. He stated he understood skeet and trap shooting were noisy sports but the Club has done their best to comply.
Mr. Clay Tiffany of Hall Road stated he didn’t realize the club had shooting ranges and a current Club member told him they have a quota on minority membership. He stated he didn’t think they paid the same rate of taxes as homeowners. He asked why shooting was allowed at all.
Mrs. Margo Berger of 2 Elizabeth Court asked if any additional comments were received relating to the shooting at the Club.
Mayor Vescio stated no comments were received.
Mrs. Berger asked if any Board members went to the Club on a weekend to witness the skeet shooting.
Deputy Mayor Venditti stated his property abutted the Club and he never heard it.
Trustee Waxenberg stated she heard a faint noise in Rosecliff but she didn’t find it disturbing.
Deputy Mayor Venditti stated the Club was subjecting themselves to a Special Use Permit and it would be a benefit to the Village.
Mr. Tom Vincent of Hunter Lane stated when he lived on Ingham Road he could hear the shooting from the Campfire Club and maybe this was the tempest in the teapot.
Mayor Vescio asked Village Counsel if there was any reason to not close the public hearing.
Village Attorney Smith read the following documents into the record:
§ Application Letter of October 20, 2006 with attachments
§ A letter dated December 7, 2006
§ Letter to the Planning Board dated December 22, 2006
§ Letter to the Planning Board dated February 7, 2007
§ Letter to Michael Blau date April 3, 2007
§ The Planning Board report dated March 20, 2007
§ The statements of the public hearing
Village Manager Blau stated the documents were available for public review.
Deputy Mayor Venditti requested the documents be circulated to the Board.
Upon motion by Trustee Waxenberg, seconded by Deputy Mayor Venditti, the Board voted to close the public hearing with two abstentions from Trustee Smith and Trustee Mayer.
Board of Trustees Announcements
§ “Walk in the Woods” on May 23rd from 10am-11am in Pocantico Park
§ Cultural Events Committee was being formed. A letter of interest may be submitted to Village Manager Blau.
§ “Once on this Island” a summer theater production. Students are encouraged to audition. For more information contact the Recreation Department.
§ Stash the Trash was this past Saturday. The weather was good and the Board thanked everyone for volunteering.
Village Managers Report
§ April 30th the budget was approved for Fiscal Year 2007-2008. The tax increases are 3.4% for Ossining and -.8% for Mt. Pleasant. The Ossining increase had to do with Elant at Brandywine going off the tax roll.
§ Potassium Iodide was available in the event of Indian Point radiation exposure. The new pills are age specific and could be picked up at Village Hall.
§ A letter was received from the Westchester County Planning Board stating the Special Use Permit for Sleepy Hollow Country Club was a matter for local jurisdiction.
§ The traffic light at the intersection of Route 100 and Chappaqua Road would be installed soon.
Public Comments
Mr. Mort Berger of 2 Elizabeth Court invited the Board to go on walk with him in Pocantico Park. He stated he walked there often and it was quite beautiful. He stated the park was pristine and all residents should become acquainted with it.
Mrs. Margo Berger asked if the entire Elant property went off the rolls and if the plans for the other home on the property were known. She asked that somebody find out the reasoning of how the property became exempt.
Village Manager Blau stated he would get the information.
Mr. Clay Tiffany of Hall Road stated he was going to have a demonstration in the park on Memorial Day and his statement should suffice as notice. He further stated he left messages for Chief Campion and hadn’t received a response. He asked that his February 14th show be taped. He asked that Officer Tartaglione be examined by a psychiatrist and that the Board help him in having a hearing to take away Officer Tartaglione’s gun.
Minimum Training Requirements for Members of the Village of Briarcliff Manor Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals
Mr. Tiffany asked who would be providing the training.
Mayor Vescio stated the training would be done by an outside source.
Upon motion by Deputy Mayor Venditti, seconded by Trustee Smith, the Board voted unanimously to approve the following resolution:
WHEREAS, in 2006 the New York State Legislature amended the General Municipal Law and Village Law requiring training for municipal planning and zoning board members, which law became effective on January 1, 2007; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees for the Village of Briarcliff Manor wants to establish minimum training requirements for members of the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals in compliance with the amendments to the General Municipal Law and Village Law.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees establishes the following minimum training requirements for Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals members:
· Each member shall complete at least four hours of training each year.
· Training received by a member in excess of four hours in any one year may be carried over by the member into succeeding years.
· Training may be provided in a variety of formats, including, but not limited to, electronic media, video, distance learning and traditional classroom training.
· Approved training for members may include:
o Attendance at instruction or training provided by Village Staff or invited guest speaker.
o Attendance at any planning or zoning related training, course, seminar, conference or other similar event sponsored by a recognized planning organization such as the National or local chapter of the American Planning Association, New York State Planning Federation, Westchester Municipal Planning Federation or Pace University Land Use Law Center.
o Completion of professional continuing education courses or requirements (such as those required for New York State engineers or attorney), where such course or requirements are related to planning and zoning matters.
o Completion of tutorials offered by New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal’s online zoning school (see: http://www.nymir.org/).
Completion of every two tutorials shall satisfy on hour of training.
o Complete viewing or reading of training material specific to the operation of the Planning Board or Zoning Board of Appeals and made available by Village Staff.
o Any other training approved by the Village of Briarcliff Board of Trustees.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that members shall submit a signed statement each year indicating that they have complied with the training outlined in this resolution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, members not completing the required training shall not be eligible for reappointment.
Authorize Village Manager to Execute an Agreement with the New York State Department of State for Visioning and Feasibility for Scarborough Park Recreational Amenities
Trustee Waxenberg stated at a recent Community Coalition meeting the importance of the park was discussed and Chris Soi of the Recreation Department would be starting kayaking lessons at the park.
Trustee Smith stated the Cultural Events Committee would hopefully utilize the park.
Mr. Tiffany suggested not tampering with the park and asked that the park not be accessible to motorboats or jet skis. He stated he’d like to see benches in the park.
Upon motion by Trustee Smith, seconded by Trustee Mayer, the Board voted unanimously to approve the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that the Village Manager is hereby authorized and directed to execute a grant agreement with the New York State Department of State for “Visioning and Feasibility for Scarborough Park Recreational Amenities”.
Sergeant Promotion
Upon motion by Trustee Mayer, seconded by Trustee Waxenberg, the Board voted unanimously to approve the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, that Scott Granan, 32 Ahles Circle, Hyde Park, New York is hereby promoted to the position of Sergeant at an annual salary of $84,887 effective at 12:01 a.m. on May 7, 2007.
Schedule a Public Hearing, Chapter 195 Taxation, Article II, Senior Citizen Exemptions and Article VI, Exemption for Persons with Disabilities and Limited Incomes
Upon motion by Trustee Waxenberg, seconded by Deputy Mayor Venditti, the Board voted unanimously to approve the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that a Public Hearing is hereby scheduled for the May 17, 2007 Board of Trustees meeting to amend Chapter 195, Taxation, Article II, Senior Citizens Exemption and Article VI, Exemption for Persons with Disabilities and Limited Incomes by increasing the exemption income levels.
Board Appointments
Upon motion by Deputy Mayor Venditti, seconded by Trustee Mayer, the Board voted unanimously to approve the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Briarcliff Manor hereby makes the following appointment:
Richard Maltz to the position of Ethics Board Chairperson for a term of one year to expire on April 1, 2008.
Upon motion by Trustee Mayer, seconded by Trustee Waxenberg, with one abstention by Trustee Smith, the Board voted to approve the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Briarcliff Manor hereby makes the following appointment:
Taylor Smith to the position of Recreation Committee Student Member for Briarcliff Manor School District for a term of one year to expire on April 1, 2008.
Trustee Mayer stated Mr. Maltz has worked very hard and the Board was pleased that he was serving another year as Chairman.
Minutes
Upon motion by Trustee Smith, seconded by Trustee Mayer, the Board voted unanimously to approve this minutes of April 19, 2007 as amended.
Upon motion by Trustee Mayer, seconded by Trustee Waxenberg, the Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes of April 30, 2007 as amended.
Adjournment
Upon motion by Deputy Mayor Venditti, seconded by Trustee Smith, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 8:45pm.
Respectfully submitted by,
Christine Dennett
| 