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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021_01_19 Town Board Minutes January 19, 2021 MINUTES OF THE WORKSESSION MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF MAMARONECK HELD JANUARY 19, 2021 BEGINNING AT 6:00 PM. PURSUANT TO THE GOVERNOR’S EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 202.1, SUSPENSION OF LAW ALLOWING THE ATTENDANCE OF MEETINGS TELEPHONICALLY OR OTHER SIMILAR SERVICE: Article 7 of the Public Officers Law, to the extent necessary to permit any public body to meet and take such actions authorized by the law without permitting in public in-person access to meetings and authorizing such meetings to be held remotely by conference call or similar service, provided that the public has the ability to view or listen to such proceeding and that such meetings are recorded and later transcribed; PRESENT: Supervisor Nancy Seligson Councilwoman Abby Katz Councilwoman Jaine Elkind Eney Councilwoman Sabrina Fiddelman Councilman Jeffery L. King ALSO PRESENT: Christina Battalia, Town Clerk Stephen V. Altieri, Town Administrator Connie Green O’Donnell, Deputy Town Administrator William Maker, Jr., Town Attorney CALL TO ORDER - WORK SESSION Additionally Present: Lindsey Luft Assistant to the Town Administrator On motion of Councilwoman Katz, seconded by Councilwoman Elkind Eney, the Work Session was unanimously opened at 5:00 p.m. Report- Sustainability Collaborative Presenters: Mitch Green Chair of the Sustainability Collaborative and June Wallach Member of the Sustainability Collaborative. Mr. Green and Ms. Wallach gave an update on the 2020 initiatives and the 2021 priorities and goals in the following three categories: 1) minimize waste, fight hunger 2) strengthen community health 3) provide cleaner more reliable energy. Mr. Green addressed the PACE financing which will be discussed by the Town Board later in the meeting, stating that a new member of the Sustainability Collaborative, Nick Zubba, has been in PACE financing for a number of years, and could be a great resource. Supervisor Seligson asked Mr. Green if the Collaborative could help the Town with its energy analysis. Discussion – PACE Financing PACE Financing is also referred to as Sustainable Energy Loan Program. Mr. Altieri explained that when this program was first introduced to the Town of Mamaroneck several years ago, “there was a requirement that the municipality would be liable to the financing agent for the unpaid installments by the property owner.” The program has since changed and this requirement has been removed. The Town Board was provided a draft local law needed in order to participate in the program. A number of Town Board members, although in favor of such a program, felt the Town had other pressing priorities, and would not be comfortable with allocating the Town Administrator and the Town Attorney’s time to purse participation. Mr. Altieri suggested he speak with the New Rochelle City Manager about the workload involved. Supervisor Seligson stated that it would be prudent for the Town Board to discuss priorities at the next worksession. ADDED ITEM 1 January 19, 2021 Set Date - Additional Town Board Worksession th The Town Board will set an additional worksession for January 27 to discuss Sanitation as well as Town priorities moving forward. On motion of Councilwoman Elkind Eney, seconded by Councilwoman Fiddelman, it was unanimously RESOLVED, that the Mamaroneck Town Board does hereby set a worksession for January 27, 2020 at 6:00 p.m., virtually from the Town Center. Review – Solid Waste Law The Town Board reviewed the draft legislation and the exemptions. The exemptions will be established as a policy. The Town Board thought the exemption policy was clear and was ready to move that forward. The Town Board had no additional comments with respect to the local law set for the public hearing tomorrow evening. Update - Police Reform/Reinvention Councilman King stated that, thank you to Steve for getting the postcards mailed, the Town has now received 436 responses to the survey, adding this is a tremendous response! Tabulation of the survey results are currently taking place and the Task Force is still on target to have recommendations to the Town Board by the end of the month. Update – Community Solar Project Mr. Altieri reported that substantial progress has been made to the project, and outlined the key developments per his memo dated January 15, 2021. The project is set to begin in February, with the solar panels activated by July. There is a full staff and engineering meeting taking place next week. The priority customers will be residents of the Hommocks Park Apartments, then offered to residents in Town apartments, and lastly to all other residents. Additionally, there is good news in that the requirement for usage to be invoiced in two separate bills has been overturned by New York State Power Authority (NYPA). The Town Board will review press releases and flyer verbiage. Supervisor Seligson noted that this is the first project of its kind in Westchester County to target low and moderate income residents. Update – Town Administrator Recruitment Supervisor Seligson reported that Joellen Cademartori of GovHR USA, the consulting firm engaged by the Town, is already underway meeting with stakeholders and Department Heads. These meetings will help formulate the concept of the Town and the position of Town Administrator. It is anticipated that by the end of March the Town will begin interviewing candidates. Westchester County Community Solar Partnership Mr. Altieri stated that “some time ago, the New York State Power Authority (NYPA) initiated a program in partnership with Westchester County to identify possible sites for community solar projects similar to our current project at the Hommocks Ice Rink.” The Town Center and Commuter Lot A seemed compelling sites. Mr. Altieri further detailed the project in his memorandum. The County is seeking a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the entities across the County who have shown interest. The Town Board wanted assurance that signing a memorandum of understanding did not lock the Town into a specific location for the panels or other specific agreements, and Mr. Altieri reassured the Town Board that the MOU is an expression of interest, and is not binding. New Business Supervisor Seligson stated that the recent article in the New York Times about the Village of Larchmont had substantial inaccuracies and is causing quite a stir in the community. 2 January 19, 2021 EXECUTIVE SESSION On motion of Councilwoman Katz, seconded by Councilwoman Fiddelman, the Board unanimously agreed to enter into an Executive Session to discuss the sale of land and a proposed lease agreement. On motion of Councilwoman Katz, seconded by Councilwoman Fiddelman, the Board unanimously agreed to resume the Worksession. ADJOURNMENT On motion of Councilwoman Katz, seconded by Councilwoman Elkind Eney, the meeting was unanimously adjourned. ________________________________ Submitted by Christina Battalia, Town Clerk 3