Board of Trustees
Village of Tarrytown
Regular Meeting No. 24
February 4, 2008 8:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Mayor Fixell presiding; Trustees Basher, Butler, Hoyt, McGee, McGovern, and Zollo; Village Administrator McCabe; Village Treasurer Hart; Village Engineer McGarvey; Recreation Supervisor Arduino; Village Attorney Shumejda; and Village Clerk Booth
The meeting began with the Pledge to the Flag.
REPORTS
Mayor Fixell reminded the public that tomorrow is “Primary Day” and he encourages everyone to go out and vote. The Polling places are the same as the general election with one new change. Election District #3 has been permanently changed from the old Washington Engine Firehouse on Kaldenberg Place to the Main Street Firehouse at 50 Main Street.
Trustee Basher reported on a complimentary letter received by our Police Department by a resident who was walking along Main Street and a leashed dog nipped her leg. Her doctor said unless the dog can be identified, she would have to get a series of rabies injections. She contacted Chief of Police Scott Brown and Sergeant Kevin Barbelet, Police Officers Chris Caoili and David Kapica who made some inquiries and located the owner of the dog. She was able to avoid the rabies shots and thanked our Police Department for going above the call of duty. Trustee Basher commended the Police Department for a job well done.
PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE REQUEST OF “EF EDUCATION FIRST,” PURCHASER OF THE FORDHAM/MARYMOUNT CAMPUS, FOR A COMPATIBLE USE PERMIT
Trustee McGovern moved, seconded by Trustee Basher and unanimously carried that the public hearing be opened.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Tarrytown will hold a public hearing on the 4th day of February, 2008, at 8 PM, in the Municipal Building, 21 Wildey Street, Tarrytown, New York 10591, to hear, discuss and to act upon a proposed compatible use permit for EF Education – a private educational organization – for its proposed programs on the Marymount Campus in the Village of Tarrytown.
All interested parties are invited to attend and be heard. Access to the meeting room is available to the elderly and the handicapped. Signing is available for the hearing-impaired; a request must be made to the Village Clerk at least five days in advance of the meeting.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
OF THE VILLAGE OF TARRYTOWN
Attorney Shumejda reviewed the proposed Draft Compatible Use permit with the Board of Trustees.
John Kirkpatrick, Attorney for EF, stated that EF is very pleased to be in Tarrytown and believes this will be a tremendous benefit to both EF and to the Community. He has some concern on the subject of drainage improvements. He has read the studies and they propose specific provisions for Wilson Park that might not necessarily be applicable to this site. Nevertheless, EF is looking forward to cooperating and to doing what’s necessary to improve drainage. This is a developed site and there will be a certain amount of room. In the draft resolution there was a blank of years. Because we are a private institution, we go out for funding; we cannot have a limitation on the permit because that would make it essentially impossible to borrow against this asset. We are bringing an
asset onto the tax rolls of the Village assessed at $20 million. He asked if the Board of Trustees would grant a negative declaration on a compatible use permit in accordance with the resolution subject to not adding any number of years. EF would very much appreciate it.
Mayor Fixell stated that the Board will be getting advice from Counsel and will look at the terms of the financing and match that up to the terms of the compatible use permit. We have not made a decision yet but this is one of the items we will be discussing. Similarly, we are going to have our water drainage consultants look at the site and give us some rough estimates as to what type of work they might recommend that would be appropriate for the campus. We look at this very favorably in general and we welcome this use. We want to make it possible to go forward but want to make sure we are doing the right thing.
Tina Bellino, 46 Highland Avenue, stated that as a neighbor, she is thrilled that EF may be purchasing the Fordham/Marymount campus. Most of the EF student body is foot traffic. This will be great for Tarrytown not only to maintain the Marymount facility, but there will be no more traffic and parking issues and to have it on the tax rolls would also be huge. She hopes the Board will be able to make this work.
Cindy Weniger, Grove Street, stated that she has taught at EF and she thinks this would be a wonderful asset to the community. The possibility for the community to take classes in the evenings is a wonderful opportunity.
Trustee Basher moved, seconded by Trustee Hoyt, and unanimously carried to continue the public hearing.
PRESENTATION OF THE REFINED SCHEMATIC DESIGN OF SCENIC HUDSON RIVERWALK PARK BY RGR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Mayor Fixell stated that this presentation is on the new Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park, which runs along the river front. This is a preliminary design, which was worked on with the public. We have funding in place for the first major phase of this project. The plan is to have the design completed in late spring and begin construction in the summer and be done by the end of next summer. Mayor Fixell recognized Rita Shaheen from the Scenic Hudson organization in the audience who has been a great part of this process. Scenic Hudson has been a big part of the funding process for this park. A donation and grant of $2 million will go to the cost of constructing it.
Geoffrey Roesh of RGR Landscape, stated that this is a very exciting project and he thanks the Board to have been chosen to do it. RGR Landscape came on board in December 2007 to design the Scenic Hudson River Walk Park and has worked with the RiverWalk Park Design Citizen’s Committee. Mr. Roesh presented the conceptual design of the Scenic Hudson RiverWalk Park – Phase I project.
Public comments were made by the following residents:
Stanley Friedlander, Chairman of the Planning Board; Linda Viertel, Chairperson of the Waterfront Advisory Committee; and Claudia Mausner, member of TEAC.
Administrator McCabe summarized the following action items:
1 – Expand RGR’s scope of services to design prominent park entrances at the points identified.
2 – To be sure that the viewing hill doesn’t block views from the aquatic center and to be sure in general that views are not blocked by a row of trees or anything else.
3 – A standing or fishing area be established where the fisherman congregate now.
OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE BOARD: SPEAKERS HAVE 5 MINUTES BEFORE YIELDING TO THE NEXT PERSON: THEN 3 MINUTES FOR ADDITONAL COMMENTS
Mayor Fixell questioned whether anyone wished to address the Board on any matter. No one appeared.
RESOLUTION REGARDING THE RE-APPOINTMENT OF A VILLAGE EMPLOYEE TO A NEW CIVIL SERVICE TITLE
Trustee Basher moved, seconded by Trustee McGee, and unanimously carried that the following be approved: Approved: 7-0
BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Tarrytown hereby approves the re-appointment of Lois Porcello as a full-time Senior Account Clerk - Typist, Step 6 at an annual salary of $49,379 effective February 5, 2008. Said appointment is subject to a probationary period and is subject to all applicable civil service rules and regulations.
RESOLUTION TO CHANGE THE DATE OF THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Trustee Butler moved, seconded by Trustee Hoyt, and unanimously carried that the following be approved: Approved: 7-0
BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Tarrytown hereby approves to change the date of the next Regular Board of Trustees Meeting from
Monday, February 18, 2008 to Tuesday, February 19, 2008 due to the observance of Presidents’ Day.
RESOLUTION – FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL CHANGES
Trustee Hoyt moved, seconded by Trustee Zollo, and unanimously carried that the following be approved: Approved: 7-0
BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Tarrytown approves the following Fire Department personnel changes recommended at the January 15, 2008 Board of Fire Wardens meeting: Membership: Jose Samppaio was approved to Active membership of Riverside Hose Company. New Drivers: Ryan Nyarady approved as driver for TL78 for Washington Engine Co. and Ray Defiori approved as driver for Utility Truck.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES HELD ON JANUARY 22, 2008
Trustee McGee moved, seconded by Trustee Zollo, and unanimously carried that the following be approved: Approved: 7-0
BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of the Village of Tarrytown hereby approves the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees held on January 22, 2008 as submitted by the Village Clerk.
APPROVAL OF AUDITED VOUCHERS #14
Trustee McGovern moved, seconded by Trustee Zollo, and unanimously carried that the following resolution be approved:
RESOLVED: The following Abstract bearing No. 14, dated February 4, 2008 containing Vouchers No. 002825 through No. 003009is hereby ordered paid in the
following amounts as presented:
General $114,353.06
Water 96,649.67
Capital 632,456.13
Library 2,898.27
Trust & Agency 31,585.18
Total $877,942.31
The Board was polled all voting “aye” with the exception of Trustee McGee who abstained from Voucher Numbers 002946, 002866 and 002999 and Trustee Hoyt who abstained from Voucher Numbers 002934, 002949 and 002969. Motion carried 7-0.
ADJOURNMENT
Trustee Basher moved, seconded by Trustee Hoyt and unanimously carried, that the meeting be adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Carol A. Booth
Village Clerk
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