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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019_05_08 Town Board Minutes May 8, 2019 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING AND WORK SESSION OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF MAMARONECK HELD MAY 8, 2019, BEGINNING AT 5:00PM IN CONFERENCE ROOM C AND CONTINUING AT 8:00 PM IN CONFERENCE ROOM D OF THE TOWN CENTER, 740 W. BOSTON POST ROAD, MAMARONECK, NEW YORK PRESENT: Supervisor Nancy Seligson Councilwoman Abby Katz Councilwoman Jaine Elkind Eney Councilwoman Sabrina Fiddelman Councilman Jeffery L. King ALSO PRESENT: Stephen V. Altieri, Town Administrator Connie Green O’Donnell, Deputy Town Administrator William Maker, Jr., Town Attorney Allison May, on behalf of the Town Clerk Additionally Present: Lindsay Luft Administrative Assistant CALL TO ORDER - WORK SESSION On motion of Councilwoman Elkind Eney, seconded by Councilwoman Katz, the Worksession was unanimously opened at 5:00 pm. Mamaroneck High School Civics Class - Original Civics Research and Action (OCRA) Present Flow of Information Survey Findings Students Calle Harwin, Halle Myers, Kate Coughlin, Samantha Murabito and Sydney Grodin presented the findings of their OCRA community survey with over 1,000 responses. All are sophomores who started in the OCRA program during their freshman year by attending a class at 7:00am twice a week before school. Then sophomore year, participation in the OCRA program becomes a regular class. Each OCRA group chooses a topic in the community and this group chose flow of information from their municipalities to the community as their issue. They handed out post cards for people to scan and answer a survey. They received about 1200 responses. The OCRA group presented their findings from the survey, including that fifty-seven percent of residents want more information from the Town of Mamaroneck. Eight percent of the population is very satisfied. The students presented an opportunity for a government communication app, noting that most residents wanted a simple way to get up to date information about the goings on in Town. The survey results indicated Town of Mamaroneck constituents think their local officials are receptive to feedback from residents, but that increased engagement from more residents would benefit all. The survey also indicated that some residents have difficulty navigating our website to find certain information. Most respondents wanted additional information from the Town of Mamaroneck, with 57.3% wanting an informative app and less than 10% saying they did not want an app. Many want more information on road closure and business openings and events. Councilmembers suggested the Chamber of Commerce would also be a great place for them to offer the app, in order to address business opening and events. The OCRA group is enthusiastic about a future app possibly rolling out to our community. Some other communities are already using an app to communicate with their constituents, while other communities use apps for trash and parking. The OCRA Group agreed to share additional feedback and send additional information and key dates to Supervisor Seligson. Update - Property Assessment Program 2019 Additionally present: Pamela Valenza, Town Assessor The Town Board reviewed a report prepared by the Town Assessor, outlining the STAR Changes for 2019 - Basic and the STAR Changes – Enhanced. Ms. Valenza stated that additional information will be available from the NYS Department of Taxation and the NYS Office of Real Property Tax Services. Additionally, more details and information on these changes 1 May 8, 2019 may be presented at the Assessors Association meeting next Tuesday. Ms. Valenza stated that for the Town of Mamaroneck it will be fairly seamless. Ms. Valenza continued with an update of the 2019 Assessment. GAR Associates once again assisted the Assessor’s Office with the Assessment update. The Town Board reviewed a chart prepared by the Assessor showing the analysis by neighborhood, with the neighborhoods highlighted in yellow requiring adjustment in order to maintain equity throughout the Town. Regardless of whether or not there is a change in the assessment, all notices will go out by June 1. Grievance Day will be June 18. Discussion – Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) The Town Board continued their discussion from the April 24 Town Board Meeting, and again reviewed a memo from Mr. Altieri dated May 3, 2019, outlining the Town’s participation in the program and potential projects for grant consideration. Attached to Mr. Altieri’s memo was a map detailing the census area were low/moderate income blocks are eligible for funding under the CDBG Program. Four potential projects were discussed: Renovations to the Senior Center and the surrounding parking lot. Streetscape/Infrastructure Improvements – Fifth Avenue Streetscape improvements on the Boston Post Road near the New Rochelle Border. Small scale housing projects The next step will be to meet with the County to determine which are feasible and competitive. Once projects are targeted, the Town must hold a public hearing on the application. Each Community can submit up to four grants each up to $250,000. The Board agreed that there will be a need to simultaneously move forward with green infrastructure grant applications along with these CDBG. Discussion – Request for Proposals – Comprehensive Plan The Town Board reviewed the newest draft of the RFP, and made some additional changes. Supervisor Seligson will prepare a final document with the changes discussed and send it out for proposals. The deadline to receive proposals will be the end of June, with outreach this summer. Discussion – Right-of-Way Policy The Town Board discussed the need for developing a right of way policy, using the recent examples of the Coady and Povemba properties. With respect to the Coady property, the area must be surveyed to identify the property owner parcel and Town owned land before the Town can proceed with any further discussion. Additionally, a right of return would need to be required as well. The Town Board agreed that Town policy should not allow building on the Town right-of- way, while it may allow small shrubbery, there will be no planting of trees. With respect to site lines, the Town Code states visibility for 100 feet. Where there are issues, and it has been brought to the Town’s attention, the Town will address it. Discussion – BLD Diner Site Supervisor Seligson has contacted Norma Drummond the Deputy Commissioner of Planning for st Westchester County, and she will come speak with the Town Board at the May 21 Town Board Meeting. In general the Town Board is concerned with the proposed building’s height being 30 feet from Boston Post Road. The proposal is for a seven story building, and the Town Board wondered whether it could be set back further, have a lesser number of floors, or possibly be terraced. The Town Board discussed the need to rezone that entire area, including the Staples plaza, adding that consideration for how the entire area will look and feel is important. CALL TO ORDER - REGULAR MEETING The Regular Meeting of the Town Board was called to order by Supervisor Seligson at 8:10 PM, she then pointed out the location of the exits. Supervisor Seligson noted that the Town Board met for a worksession beginning at 5:00 o’clock this evening, adding this is an open meeting that all residents are welcome to attend. 2 May 8, 2019 SUPERVISOR’S SUMMARY REPORT I’m proud to report that as a New York State designated Clean Energy Community, the Town of Mamaroneck was chosen as one of nine municipalities across the state, and the only one in Westchester County, to be featured in a video by NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Agency) for its clean energy actions. Steve Altieri and I spent half of a day filming with a crew to talk about the Community Choice Aggregation program, our LED street lights, electric vehicles, Energy Performance Contract and limited meeting nights at the Town Center. The video will be released on YouTube with a marketing plan for the Town and NYSERDA. This past weekend we had several community events including the commissioning for the Larchmont Yacht Club and the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla. We had a compost giveback day on th Saturday and will hold another this Friday, May 10 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm and Saturday, May th 11 from 8:00 am to 11:30 am. This is an opportunity for residents of the Town of Mamaroneck and Village of Larchmont to come to Maxwell Avenue Recycling Center get up to 70 gallons of free compost to celebrate the success of the Food Waste Recycling program. I was happy to attend the LGCA KEnducky Derby, the cutest event in Town and Ice Breaker hockey tournament. I joined a cleanup at Otter Creek Preserve in the Village of Mamaroneck. This is a beautiful coastal spot managed by Westchester Land Trust. Senator Shelley Mayor partnered with them for the cleanup. I encourage residents to check out this natural spot with ospreys and bald eagles. Last Friday, I attended a workshop on State grant funding for Green Infrastructure and learned that the Town has some great opportunities to apply for grants to green some of our streetscapes. The th grants are due July 26. We talked about CDBG funding this evening in our work session and we think we can combine these two grant opportunities to really improve a few areas in the Town. Even the Town now has to consider the issue of measles since we have over 650 kids in camps and programs over the summer. We want to protect them as best we can and protect everyone’s rights. We are working with the County Health Department for recommendations and suggestions. We held another joint meeting with the Village of Larchmont Trustees to discuss sanitation services. Sanitation Administrator Steve Altieri provided us with more information and scenarios to consider. Both boards will review the information and decide next steps. There were many other community events including an Arbor Day tee planning honoring departed members of the Police PBA. We held an Employee Recognition Event to recognize those employees who have served the Town for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 years. It is so nice to take the time to recognize the dedicated staff of the Town. Congressman Eliot Engel held a government information th meeting in our courtroom on Sunday, April 28 to discuss his recent trip to Central America and immigration. We held the annual spring cleanup at Hommocks Conservation Area and 30 volunteers collected almost a full dump truck of trash and recyclables consisting of 10 bags of material to be recycled th and another 9 bags of trash. That same day, Saturday, April 27, the tri-municipal Healthy Yard program kicked off. The Town’s Sustainability Collaborative, working with members of the Village environmental committees, launched a new initiative to help residents enjoy safe, appealing and sustainable lawns and gardens without the use of pesticides or herbicides. Recommendations and examples are shared through a new webpage, www.LMHealthyyards.org. Residents can take a healthy yard pledge online and display this healthy yard sign on their property. You can pick up the signs at the Town Center from Sue Odierna in my office on the second floor. CITIZEN’S COMMENTS Supervisor Seligson asked if anyone in the audience would like to address the Board, and there was not. BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS The Meeting was called to order by Commissioner Seligson, and then on motion of Commissioner Elkind Eney, seconded by Commissioner King, the Board of Fire Commissioners was unanimously declared open. 3 May 8, 2019 Present were the following Members of the Commission: Commissioner: Nancy Seligson Commissioner: Abby Katz Commissioner: Jaine Elkind Eney Commissioner: Sabrina Fiddelman Commissioner: Jeffery L. King 1. Fire Department Business Commissioner Elkind Eney read the Fire Report for the Month of April as submitted by Chief Russo as follows: April 2019 ALARM TYPE NUMBER Generals 24 Minors 24 Stills 3 Out of Town (Mutual Aid) 3 EMS 36 Drills 4 TOTAL 94 Total number of personnel responding: 735 Total time working: 43 hours and 34 minutes There being no further business to come before the Commission, on motion of Commissioner Elkind Eney, seconded by Commissioner Katz, the Commission unanimously adjourned and the Town Board reconvened. AFFAIRS OF THE TOWN 1. Authorization – Senior Citizen Program and Senior Services Contracts Mr. Altieri presented the Town’s Senior Citizen Programs and Senior Citizen Contracts currently up for renewal. On motion of Councilwoman Elkind Eney, seconded by Councilman King, it was RESOLVED, that the Mamaroneck Town Board does hereby approve the following Contracts: III C 1 Nutrition Site Funding: III C 2 Home Delivered Meals Funding: III B Transportation Services: and BE IT, FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Administrator is hereby authorized to execute said agreement on behalf of the Town. The above resolution was put to a roll call vote: King Aye Fiddelman Aye Elkind Eney Aye Katz Aye Seligson Aye 4 May 8, 2019 2. Salary Authorization – Building Department On motion of Councilwoman Elkind Eney, seconded by Councilwoman Fiddelman, it was RESOLVED, that Joseph Russo be appointed to the position of Assistant Building Inspector, at an annual salary of $91,502, effective May 9, 2019. The above authorization was put to a roll call vote: King Aye Fiddelman Aye Elkind Eney Aye Katz Aye Seligson Aye 3. Consideration of Certiorari On motion of Councilwoman Fiddelman, seconded by Councilwoman Katz, it was RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes the settlement of the following tax certiorari on the following terms: Palmer Avenue Realty, LLC 2135 and 2141 Palmer Avenue Section/Block/Lot: 6-1-44 and 6-1-486.2 Town of Mamaroneck/Village of Larchmont Section 6, Block 1, Lot 444 Year Current Assessment Reduction Resulting Assessment 2013 $2,930,000 $385,400 $2,534,600 2014 $2,930,000 $574,000 $2,356,000 2015 $2,930,000 $574,000 $2,356,000 2016 $3,946,000 $ 57,800 $3,888,200 2017 $4,200,000 $ 30,000 $4,170,000 2018 $4,200,000 $ 30,000 $4,170,000 Section 6, Block 1, Lot 486.2 Year Current Assessment Reduction Resulting Assessment 2013 $2,850,000 $384,600 $2,465,400 2014 $2,850,000 $558,000 $2,292,000 2015 $2,850,000 $558,000 $2,292,000 2016 $2,850,000 $ 41,200 $2,808,800 2017 $2,850,000 $ 20,000 $2,830,000 2018 $2,850,000 $ 20,000 $2,830,000 The above resolution was put to a roll call vote: King Aye Fiddelman Aye Elkind Eney Aye Katz Aye Seligson Aye 5 May 8, 2019 On motion of Councilwoman Katz, seconded by Councilman King, it was RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes the settlement of the following tax certiorari on the following terms: Howell Associates LLC 128-144 Chatsworth Avenue Section/Block/Lot: 6-2-834 Town of Mamaroneck/Village of Larchmont Year Current Assessment Reduction Resulting Assessment 2013 $2,830,000 $ 50,000 $2,780,000 2014 $2,830,000 $ -0- $2,830,000 2015 $2,830,000 $ -0- $2,830,000 2016 $2,830,000 $ -0- $2,830,000 2017 $4,100,000 $1,000,000 $3,100,000 2018 $4,100,000 $ 850,000 $3,250,000 The above resolution was put to a roll call vote: King Aye Fiddelman Aye Elkind Eney Aye Katz Aye Seligson Aye REPORT OF COUNCIL The Town Board Members reported on their various activities and meetings since the last Town Board Meeting. ADJOURNMENT On motion of Commissioner Katz, seconded by Commissioner Fiddelman the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 9:10 PM ________________________________ Submitted by Christina Battalia, Town Clerk 6