VILLAGE of GREENWOOD LAKE

BOARD MEETING

MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 2022

 

VILLAGE OF GREENWOOD LAKE

PO BOX 7, 18 CHURCH STREET

GREENWOOD LAKE, NY 10925

 

 

 

Call to Order:  Mayor Jesse Dwyer called to order the Village Board Meeting at 7:41pm on August 29, 2022, for the Village of Greenwood Lake located at 18 Church Street in Greenwood Lake, NY, and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Roll Call:

The following persons were present:

  • Mayor Jesse Dwyer
  • Deputy Mayor Kelli Kelm
  • Trustee Thomas Howley
  • Trustee Chad Sellier
  • Trustee Nancy Clifford
  • Village Attorney John Buckheit

 

 

Visiting Officials’ Reports:  Warwick Town Councilman Floyd DeAngelo had nothing to report.

 

 

Correspondence: 

  • Letter from Nancy Brenner-DeAngelo regarding water bill situation that has occurred, that has been addressed by the Village board.
  • Letter from Joseph & Nicola Saffren regarding a mailing snafu. They received a bill, address issue the Village board discussed it, reviewed it and are willing to accommodate request in letter dated 8/22/22.  We will have a resolution later addressing the issue.

 

COMMISSION REPORTS:

No reports. The Summer meeting the board has decided to forgo reports of boards and department heads with the exception of our Water Operator Phil Landru.

 

Attorney Buckheit – Successful with litigation with Mr. Klastow with a conference scheduled on September 26th, Attorney Buckheit explained not attorney of record but was granted permission to participate in the conference.  Mayor Dwyer and Attorney Buckheit explained background on situation for Trustee Clifford.

 

Water Department, Phil Landru to go over a letter received from Department of Health

 

CLERK REPORT – Water bills will be going out next month.  If taxes are not paid for by September 1, 2022 another fee will be added.

 

OLD BUSINESS

There is no old business.

 

NEW BUSINESS            

Resident Tax Bill Fee: Discussed and resolution to follow.

School District IMA: Tuition agreement with Village of Greenwood Lake personnel similar to how school district tuition in children of school personnel, with one caveat that the Village will provide at no additional cost police services for up to 10 events. Village board discussed at length and will move into a resolution at end of this meeting. The village attorney has no legal objection to entering into this quid pro quo agreement.

Village of Florida IMA: Working on a solution for a couple of years, ever since the increased in cost from IWS for leaf and brush pickup. At that point cancelled with IWS and had our DPW do pickup at no cost. Created many challenges for the Village including pulling away staff a few times a week from other jobs that they could be doing.  Also caused injuries due to raising leaf bags over their heads to mason dump truck. Highly inefficient process while we sought a longer-term solution. Working with Mayor Harter to have Village of Florida garbage truck serve the needs in Greenwood Lake by providing weekly pickup in Greenwood Lake with one Warwick DPW employee along with a Village of Florida garbage truck driver.  Cost is $3,000.00 a month compared to the $15,000.00 that IWS was going to charge. Resolution to follow. Good example of governments working together to serve the needs of our community.

 

Planning Board Appointment-Charles Pekarek:  Charles Pekarek approached Mayor Dwyer and asked if he could be useful as he just retired for Local 3 electricians union and would like to give back to his community.  Mayor Dwyer suggested that either the Planning or Zoning board might be a good fit.  He submitted a letter and asked to be an alternate member to the planning board. The Village Board is in support and a resolution to follow.

Water Violation: Received a letter from Department of Health in regards to a water violation that we exceeded a TOC substance trihalomethane there will be a letter going out to all village residents detailing the situation and what we plan to do to correct. Mayor Dwyer wanted to put on record that our water operator Phil Landru has been doing everything above board and beyond what we can expect from a water operator and has nothing to do with him.  This is simply having to do with a result with a well that produces phenomenal amounts of water, but the water coming out of it is a little bit trickier to treat. When it comes in contact with chlorine is creating a bi-product trihalomethane. In letter from Department of Health is says and I quote “you do not need to use an alternative (e.g., bottled) water supply. However, if you have specific health concerns, consult your doctor.” Goes on further to state “this is not an emergency.  If it has been you would have been notified immediately. However, some people who drink water containing Trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their liver, kidneys, or central nervous systems, an may have an increase risk of getting cancer.” Mayor Dwyer state just about any chemical known to man will have this same disclaimer as trihalomethane. We are going to send out a letter to all Village residents and the solution is that we are going to blend the water with other well sites and reduce the amount of water that is coming out of well G. We have begun the process to make sure the infrastructure is in place to that effectively. This is a good example of why the Village Board and I supported and fought to secure a 3 million dollar grant to upgrade our water infrastructure because we know how difficult and costly it is to treat well water.  The letter will be going out to all village residents explaining what the violation is, detailing what it is and what we intend to do to correct it.

 

Per Mayor Dwyer, this was an expedited village board meeting.  Normally we would cancel our August Summer meeting but we had a lot of business to conduct.  The IMA’s are contractual in nature and could be done in executive session which would be closed.  We did however do it in public and discussed it thoroughly during our workshop.

 

Move into the next components of our agenda.  For the record Mayor Dwyer stated that it may not seem that our village board has many questions now, but all agenda items were discussed at great length during our public workshop which happens 6:30 pm prior to our village board meeting at 7:30 pm.  This took place at Village Hall. We had engaging discussions on each one of these items that we worked through diligently.  Trustee Sellier asked if Phil Landru was going to give a report.  Mayor Dwyer stated that he did not have to that most was covered and that his report would be attached to the minutes.  Phil has been diligently working hard and had to mark out over 700 water valves for paving in Lakelands.  This put him in overdrive and then with the violation.  Phil takes all this stuff personally as does the village board. Phil is dealing with some tough stuff and that the village board supports him and is there for him if needed.

 

EVENTS:

Lakeside Farmers Market– Saturdays at the Beach 8am-12pm

Concerts:  9/3 Ladies of the 80’s & 9/10 Band 105   

September 10, 2022 – Post 1443 Greenwood Lake American Legion Red White and Blue Celebration 2- 8 pm

September 11, 2022 – Elks 300 Club BBQ 2 pm

September 11, 2022 – Greenwood Lake Fire House 9/11 Ceremony 7 pm                                                                  :

 

All events are listed on the village website which can now also be accessed by typing “gwlny.org”.  Concert cards are available at Village Hall and various businesses throughout the village.

 

PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR: No public comment

 

APPROVAL TO PAY ALL AUDITED BILLS:

Motion made by Trustee Sellier and seconded by Trustee Kelm. 5 Ayes- Mayor Dwyer, Trustee Kelm, Trustee Howley, Trustee Sellier and Trustee Clifford.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to approve minutes from the July 25, 2022, Board Meeting motion made by Trustee Howley and seconded by Trustee Clifford. 5 Ayes- Mayor Dwyer, Trustee Kelm, Trustee Howley, Trustee Sellier and Trustee Clifford.

 

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 10 of 2022/2023 – The Village of Greenwood Lake Board of Trustees acknowledges that the required examination of the Justice Court records for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2022, was completed and a copy will be sent to the New York State Unified Court System. Motion made by Trustee Sellier and seconded by Trustee Howley. 5 Ayes- Mayor Dwyer, Trustee Kelm, Trustee Howley, Trustee Sellier and Trustee Clifford.

 

Resolution No. 11 of 2022/2023 – Authorizes the waiver of late fees and penalties for Village taxes on property 310-4-19 with exception of the bounced check fee motioned by Trustee Kelm and seconded by Trustee Howley.  5 Ayes- Mayor Dwyer, Trustee Kelm, Trustee Howley, Trustee Sellier and Trustee Clifford.

 

Resolution No. 12 of 2022/2023 – Authorizes the Mayor to sign Inter-Municipal Agreement (IMA) with the Greenwood Lake Unified School District in regards to Village employee’s student tuition with the school district motioned by Trustee Sellier and seconded by Trustee Howley. 3 Ayes- Trustee Howley, Trustee Sellier and Trustee Clifford.  1 Noes – Trustee Kelm, 1 Abstain Mayor Dwyer

 

Resolution No. 13 of 2022/2023 – Authorizes the Mayor to sign the Inter-Municipal Agreement (IMA) with the Village of Florida in regards to leaf pick up at a rate of $ 3,000.00 per month motioned by Trustee Howley and seconded by Trustee Kelm. 5 Ayes- Mayor Dwyer, Trustee Kelm, Trustee Howley, Trustee Sellier and Trustee Clifford.

 

Resolution No. 14 of 2022/2023 – Authorizes the appointment of Charles Pekarek to the Planning Board as an alternate motioned by Trustee Howley and seconded by Trustee Kelm. 5 Ayes- Mayor Dwyer, Trustee Kelm, Trustee Howley, Trustee Sellier and Trustee Clifford.

 

Resolution No. 15 of 2022/2023 – Authorizes the Village to apply for a DASNY grant with the support of Senator James Skoufis, for the purpose of purchasing body worn cameras and a UTV. The grant is $50,000.00 and the Village of Greenwood Lake will cover the remaining share not to exceed $20,000.00 motioned by Trustee Howley and seconded by Trustee Kelm. Discussion brought on by Trustee Sellier on grant funding and the Mayor along with board discussed rising prices since covid on pricing of UTV. Mayor Dwyer discussed that we have sold and are looking to sell other government vehicles which would amount to over $20,000 and that this should not impact our budget. 5 Ayes- Mayor Dwyer, Trustee Kelm, Trustee Howley, Trustee Sellier and Trustee Clifford.

 

 

BUDGET AMENDMENTS AND TRANSFERS

None.

 

ADJOURNMENT

Motion to close the meeting at 7:57 p.m. motioned by Trustee Howley and seconded by Trustee Kelm. 5 Ayes- Mayor Dwyer, Trustee Kelm, Trustee Howley, Trustee Sellier and Trustee Clifford.

 

 

Minutes respectfully submitted by

 

 

Katheleen Holder

Village Clerk/Treasurer