Village Board of Trustees
Regular Meeting
March 18, 2010
7:30 p.m.
The 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 18th of March 2010 commencing at 7:30 p.m.
Present
William J. Vescio, Mayor
David Venditti, Deputy Mayor
Lori Sullivan, Trustee
Gayle Waxenberg, Trustee
Also Present
Philip Zegarelli, Village Manager
Christine Dennett, Village Clerk
Clinton Smith, Village Counsel
Absent
Robert Mayer, Trustee
Mayor Vescio thanked Trustee Waxenberg for all her time, efforts and passions dedicated to the Village for the last five years. He stated when he was elected as Mayor the first thing he did was appoint Trustee Waxenberg to fill his unexpired term as Trustee. He stated he was thankful for all her work and asked for a motion to appoint her as Honorary Mayor for the meeting.
Upon motion by Deputy Mayor Venditti, seconded by Trustee Sullivan, the Board voted unanimously to appoint Trustee Waxenberg as Honorary Mayor for the March 18, 2010 meeting.
Board of Trustees Announcements by Honorary Mayor Waxenberg
- The Annual Egg Hunt will be on March 27th at Law Park at 10:00am.
- The Board thanked Village Staff for their work during the storm. If residents are still experiencing power outages they should contact Con Edison at 1-800-75-ConEd.
Honorary Mayor Waxenberg read aloud the following statement:
This will be my last Board of Trustees meeting as I complete five years serving as a Village Trustee. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for entrusting me to guide our Village into the future and to share with you some personal perspective of these years in office.
The Mayor and Trustees are non-paid, elected officials who unselfishly give their time to our Village. While most residents understand and appreciate this commitment and hard work, the Board of Trustees has often been criticized and even personally attacked. When I first joined the Board this was the norm. Today, I am happy to report that I have seen this diminish and I have witnessed a more unified Briarcliff. This is because results speak for themselves and, as I have always believed; our common goals are far stronger than our differences. Before I mention some key accomplishments, I want to emphasize that first and foremost, it is every leader’s responsibility to build bridges to unify the community they serve and live in.
While each Board member spearheads particular tasks and projects, everything we do is a team effort. Collaboration and respect are key and that is what has led to significant accomplishments for our Village:
- We are on our way to having our very own clean water supply eliminating our dependency on neighboring municipalities at expensive rates. And, we will be funding this through state awarded stimulus funds because we are always proactive in seeking every and any way possible to reduce the tax burden on residents.
- We have a new Library and Community Center and have developed a positive, enriching working relationship with a private fundraising group, The Friends of the Library, again, providing residents with what is needed but working with different funding sources to reduce the financial burden.
- We completed a long, overdue Comprehensive Plan; a blue print for the Village’s future and have begun to execute recommendations.
- Preserving the character and natural beauty of our Village, we developed an Open Space Policy and most recently rezoned the Scarborough Corridor to limit development and sustain infrastructure. This was a specific recommendation from our Comprehensive Plan.
- We revised discriminatory laws, like the old Bulk Zoning Law, to protect residents’ property rights and did so without it allowing for more dense development. All new laws are developed carefully with an unprecedented amount of neighborhood and public meetings to make certain we gather resident input and answer questions.
- A solution to the parking problem at Scarborough Station is in place during Metro North Construction, and, because commuters are so satisfied, it will likely solve the long-term problem without enduring the cost or visual impact of a parking structure on the Hudson River.
- Along with our state mandated committees and Boards, we have established special committees and welcome a diverse, interested and hard working group of residents to each. This is yet another way that we pride ourselves in operating an open government with resident input.
- We established a Community Coalition bringing different constituents together to combat, educate and develop programs that address the issues of substance abuse amongst our teens. We are a community that helps and takes care of each other.
- All of this was accomplished as Briarcliff continues to experience some of the lowest tax increases in the County.
I am so proud to have been part of these significant accomplishments. This Board may be your elected leaders, but this type of action takes place because together, we are a community of doers. So I not only thank you for the opportunity to serve you, but for the opportunity to work with you. That is what I mean when I often refer to a sense of “Briarcliff Pride”.
Finally, I would like to thank the Mayor and my fellow board members, including past Trustee Elsie Smith. Both as individuals and as a team, they are some of the finest people I know and working with them has truly been my pleasure. This Village is in the hands of professionals who volunteer their time and expertise with vision and a caring spirit about the place they call home. Combined with an amazing Village Manager and Village Staff, and incoming Trustee, Anthony Capasso, I complete my last term knowing Briarcliff is well positioned for the future.
Village Managers Report
- The Full Supply Water Project is moving along well.
- Trustee Mayer and Trustee-Elect Capasso were elected at the Annual Village Election held on March 16th.
- Census 2010 forms are in the mail.
- Storm debris brought to the curbside will be picked up the DPW through April. Residents are asked to make sure the debris is a manageable size.
- The tentative budget Public Hearing will be scheduled tonight.
- A grant was received to purchase new furniture for the Board Room/Court Room.
Public Comments
There were no public comments.
Authorize Village Manager to Execute an Inter-municipal Agreement with Ossining (Town and Village) for New York State Department of State Local Government Efficiency Grant 2009-2010 Program Year– High Priority Planning Grant-Consolidation and Dissolution Study to reform the governments of the Town and Village of Ossining and Village of Briarcliff Manor
Honorary Mayor Waxenberg explained the proposed resolution.
The Board had general discussion regarding the proposed resolution and stated while they realized the various options needed to be included in the application they would not endorse the hamlet concept but would endorse becoming a coterminous government. They further stated the study did not bind the Village to any decision.
The Board made minor amendments to the resolution.
Upon motion by Deputy Mayor Venditti, seconded by Trustee Sullivan, the Board voted unanimously to approve the following resolution:
WHEREAS, the Village of Briarcliff Manor and the Town and Village of Ossining have agreed to enter into an Intermunicipal Agreement to submit a co-application for the New York State Department of State Local Government Efficiency Grant 2009-2010 Program Year, said application shall be entitled Town and Village of Ossining and Briarcliff Manor-High Priority Planning Grant-Consolidation and Dissolution Study to reform the governments of the Village of Briarcliff Manor and the Town and Village of Ossining; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of said application is to investigate possible costs savings, efficiencies and opportunities that can be achieved through the consolidation and dissolution of any of these governmental entities;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Briarcliff Manor hereby authorizes Village Manager Philip Zegarelli to submit on behalf of the Village of Briarcliff Manor, a co-application to the Local Government Efficiency grant program, High Priority Planning Grant for the 2009-2010 program year, said grant application includes the Village of Briarcliff Manor and the Town and Village of Ossining; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that Village Manager Philip Zegarelli is designated Lead Applicant Contact on behalf of the Village of Briarcliff Manor, and is authorized to execute all financial and administrative processes which relate to said grant; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the maximum amount of grant requested for all three co-applicants is $50,000, the Village of Briarcliff Manor share of the local required match shall be $1,667.00.
Scheduling of Special Meeting and Public Hearing
Upon motion by Trustee Sullivan, seconded by Deputy Mayor Venditti, the Board voted unanimously to approve the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Annual Organizational Meeting of the Board of Trustees is hereby scheduled for Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the regular meeting scheduled for April 1, 2010 is rescheduled to April 7, 2010 at 7:30p.m.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a Public Hearing for the 2010-2011 Tentative Budget is hereby scheduled for April 7, 2010 at 7:30 p.m.
Budget Amendment
Senior Bus CDBG Grant
Upon motion by Deputy Mayor Venditti, seconded by Trustee Sullivan, the Board voted unanimously to approve the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that the budget for fiscal year 2009-2010 is hereby amended to accept a Community Development Block Grant from Westchester County towards the purchase of the Senior Bus as follows:
Increase Capital Budget Code (H7610.201.097000) by $40,000.
Department of Justice Technology Grant
Upon motion by Trustee Sullivan, seconded by Deputy Mayor Venditti, the Board voted unanimously to approve the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that the budget for fiscal year 2009-2010 is hereby amended to accept a COPS Technology Grant from the Department of Justice towards the purchase of Police Department technology as follows:
Increase Appropriation – Police Equipment (A3120.201.4389) by $25,000.
Increase Revenue – U.S. Department of Justice (A0103.4389) by $25,000.
Justice Court Grant
Upon motion by Deputy Mayor Venditti, seconded by Trustee Sullivan, the Board voted unanimously to approve the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED that the budget for fiscal year 2009-2010 is hereby amended to accept a JCAP Grant from the Office of Court Administration towards the purchase of Court Room Furniture as follows:
Increase Appropriation – Court Room Furniture (A1010.204.2772) by $8,935.50
Increase Revenue – Misc. Revenue State (A0101.2772) by $8,935.50
Tax Certiorari - Verizon
Mayor Vescio requested Village Manager Zegarelli reach out to the Assessors in Ossining and Mount Pleasant to reopen the lines of communication.
Upon motion by Trustee Sullivan, seconded by Deputy Mayor Venditti, the Board voted unanimously to approve the following resolution:
WHEREAS, Verizon New York, Inc. instituted tax certiorari proceedings pursuant to Article 7 of the Real Property Tax Law of the State of New York;
WHEREAS, the tax certiorari filings were for Town of Ossining assessment years 2006, 2007 and 2008 for two parcels (5.02-056 and 5.02-057); and
WHEREAS, the tax certiorari filings relate to Village of Briarcliff Manor fiscal years 2007-2008, 2008-2009 and 2009-2010; and
WHEREAS, an Order and Judgment of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of Westchester, was entered on February 5, 2010;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees does hereby authorize the payment of tax refunds for Fiscal Years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 from budget code A1964.423 totaling $2026.39 and Fiscal Year 2009-2010 from budget code A0102.1001 totaling $1,255.42 based upon assessment values reduced in accordance with the Consent Judgment.
Fire Department Membership - Hunt
Upon motion by Deputy Mayor Venditti, seconded by Trustee Sullivan, the Board voted unanimously to approve the following resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Briarcliff Manor hereby approves the under 18 membership of Lars Hunt to the Briarcliff Manor Hook & Ladder Company.
Minutes
The minutes were tabled to the next meeting.
Adjournment
Upon motion by Deputy Mayor Venditti, seconded by Trustee Sullivan, the Board voted unanimously to close the regular meeting at 8:25pm.
Respectfully Submitted By,
Christine Dennett
Village Clerk
| 