VILLAGE of GREENWOOD LAKE

BOARD MEETING

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

 

VILLAGE OF GREENWOOD LAKE

PO BOX 7, 18 CHURCH STREET

GREENWOOD LAKE, NY 10925

 

Mayor Matthew Buckley called to order the Village Board Meeting at 7:36 pm on September 25, 2023, for the Village of Greenwood Lake located at 18 Church Street in Greenwood Lake, NY.

The following persons were present:

  • Mayor Mathew Buckley
  • Trustee Nancy Clifford
  • Trustee Chad Sellier
  • Attorney John Buckheit

The following persons were absent:

  • Trustee Thomas Howley
  • Deputy Mayor Kelli Kelm

 

MAYOR’S REPORT/ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • The village received a grant of $3,333 from Orange County Legislator Barry Cheney.

CORRESPONDENCE

  • New York State Unified Court System, requesting copies of court records and dockets be sent to the village’s auditing board.
  • Law Office of Alyse D. Terhune, ESQ., sent an engagement letter and fee schedule to the Village Board in regards to reviewing and possibly remedying Village Code.
  • Catholic Daughters of the Americas sent a letter thanking Mayor Buckley for declaring October 15, 2023, “Catholic Daughters’ Day” in the Village of Greenwood Lake.
  • Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton, sent a letter asking for 2024 Budget Requests.
  • Holy Rosary Church sent a letter requesting that the Village patches potholes in the Holy Rosary Parking Lot.
  • Township of West Milford – Ordinance 2023-021, regarding Cannabis Transfer User Tax
  • Township of West Milford – Ordinance 2023-024, regarding Zoning Code area and yard requirements.
  • Township of West Milford – Ordinance 2023-025, regarding adding a new section “Structures” to Zoning Code.
  • Township of West Milford – Ordinance 2023-026, regarding walk-up windows for cannabis retailers.
  • Township of West Milford – Ordinance 2023-027, regarding Zoning Code now allowing certain exotic animals and regarding accessory buildings with respect to requirements for poultry and livestock shelters.

 

VISITING OFFICIAL REPORTS: 

Floyd DeAngelo had no report.

 

REPORTS OF BOARDS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS

 

MAYOR’S OFFICE: Mayor Buckley and Clerk Holder attended NYCOM; some changes in procedure will be implemented as per NYCOM rules and recommendations.   

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT: Chief Eirand reported the following for August 2023:

COMPLAINTS: 1120

ARRESTS: 11

TRAFFIC SUMMONSES: 173

PARKING SUMMONSES: 2

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS: 3

Chief Eirand thanked Greenwood Lake Ambulance for their donation Tough Books that they are no longer using.

 

DPW:  (report read by Clerk Holder)

 

WORK PERFORMED LOCATION REASON FOR WORK
CATCH BASINS Village wide Clean out basins before storm
DRAINAGE Wah Ta Wah Clean drainage swale – Second Rd.
BRUSH PICK UP Village wide Pick up leaf bags
MOWING Village wide Mow roadsides
POT HOLES Village wide Fill with hot mix
VEHICLE MAINT. Village wide As needed
EMERG. REPAIRS Village wide As needed
ROAD SIGNS Village wide Replace as needed
WATER DEPT. Poplar St. Replace curb box with Water Dept.
17A Repair service line with Water Dept.

 

 

PARKS DEPT: (report read by Clerk Holder) The Parks Department has been busy performing regular maintenance including mowing and trimming all fields and village owned properties, garbage removal, moved beach, picnic tables up to gravel area for winter storage, left 2 below, fertilized Lions and Francis Fields, spread 2000 pounds of lime on soccer fields with the help of Ben Astorino and DPW, put down 600 lbs. of fertilizer on soccer field and 150 1bs of grass seed. Fertilizer, lime, and grass seed were supplied by the Town of Warwick for the fields. Prepped infield clay for weekend ball games and watered village plants three days a week.

WATER DEPARTMENT:  Operator Phil Landru was not present.

COMMISSION REPORTS

Trustee Clifford: Colleen Reilly has replaced Donna Garley as the Senior Director upon Donna’s retirement.  The chamber is hosting a fall mixer October 3, 2023, at the Waterstone Inn. The Elks is hosting a Ladies Paint Night on September 29, 2023, at 6 pm. The Centennial Committee is currently working on a 24-stop walking trail throughout the village highlighting events in the village’s history and formation. The Centennial kick off fundraiser will be their cocktail party on the beach on Sunday, October 8, 2023, from 4-7pm.  

Trustee Sellier: This report is for the month of August. The building department took in $10,400 in month of August highlighted by buildings permits and short-term rental registrations/inspections. The Planning Board met in August and in the beginning of September.  The highlight of the Planning Board and ZBA meetings has been Benjamin’s Steakhouse; variances for rear yard and height were granted.  They are still in front of the Planning Board, awaiting comment from various state agencies.

Attorney Report – John Buckheit confidential written report submitted.  The village is currently considering eliminating the Planning Board and creating a new and larger Zoning Board of Appeals with seven members ad alternates.   

Clerk’s Report- Katheleen Holder: We are continuing to collect taxes and water payments. New water bills will be going out in September. The Clerk’s office will be implementing an appointment system for notary services in the near future.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

Lake Management: Senator Skoufis will be helping the village purchase our own weed harvester as well as a side scan for the police department with grant money.

Golf Carts:  Mayor Buckley and Chief Eirand have been working together on new ideas and plans to allow golf carts allowed on village streets.  State and county roads would be excluded.  All golf carts would have to be inspected and registered through Greenwood Lake Police Department.

17A Sidewalk: This project is still ongoing; we are waiting on the DOT and hope to wrap up soon.

Waterstone Sidewalk: As we are not connecting to NYS DOT stormwater drainage for this project, the mayor is hoping that this project will move quicker than the 17A sidewalk project.  This will hopefully be completed in the spring.

Water Plant: The engineers have proposed that the new filtration system be disconnected from the Lakelands extension section of the village and be connected to the Lakelands section in order to alleviate a water loss at the filtration site in an emergency state.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Invasive Species Grant:  The Village will be looking to secure a grant to help rid the lake of invasive species.  The arms of the lake have increased sediment and our treatment company is encouraging us to continue dredging certain parts of the lake but to also add a bacterium to the lake that would feed on the excess sediment and then die off, with no harmful side effects.

Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals:  The village will be moving forward in combining Planning Boars and ZBA into one board.

Review of Zoning Code:  This process is ongoing by our attorney and Building Department. 

Centennial Memorial Park:  A park will be created near the lake in commemoration of the village’s centennial. 

Community Center Rental:  A local daycare would like to rent the community center from the village as a location for their daycare.  The village is investigating what fees would be charged and also if any other businesses would be interested in a long-term rental of the Community Center.

Youth Council:  A local Greenwood Lake youth has approached the mayor and would like to form a Village Youth Council. Carmine Scotto met with the mayor; the board would like to move forward.

Comprehensive Plan:  The village will be forming a committee to update our comprehensive plan.  It has not been updated since 2016.

Emergency Response Plan:  The Police Department has been working on this plane for over a year.  It is a document that will be adopted by the village stating what specifically would be done in various emergency scenarios.

EVENTS:       

  • Community Center:   2-5th grade Tuesdays 4-6pm; 6-8th graders Tuesdays 6-8pm
  • Farmers’ Market: Saturday mornings
  • Planning Board Meeting: 10/5/23 at 7:30pm at Village Hall
  • Centennial Cocktail Party: 10/8/23 from 4-7pm at Morahan Park
  • Octoberfest: Saturday and Sunday, 10/14-15/23 at Elks Drive
  • ZBA Meeting: 10/19/23 at 7:30pm at the Senior Center
  • Halloween Festival: Sunday, 10/21/23, events all day

PRIVILIGE OF THE FLOOR

Nancy Marisco, 47 Sterling Road, stated that the property of the proposed Benjamin’s Steakhouse is in need of mowing and weeding.

Jim Clifford, 27 Main Drive, asked if the Cub Scouts could keep a locked closet in the Community Center to store meeting supplies.

Jeff Sarine, 6 Laurel Ave., thanked Jeff Hart and Dan Colaianni of Coli Construction for the donation of      135 baseballs to Greenwood Lake Little League.         .

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APPROVAL TO PAY ALL AUDITED BILLS:

Motion made by Trustee Sellier and seconded by Trustee Clifford. 3 Ayes- Mayor Buckley, Trustee Sellier, Trustee Clifford; Absent: Trustee Kelm and Trustee Howley.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Motion to approve minutes from the August 14, 2023, Board Meeting made by Trustee Clifford and seconded by Trustee Sellier. 3 Ayes- Mayor Buckley, Trustee Sellier, Trustee Clifford; Absent: Trustee Kelm and Trustee Howley.

RESOLUTIONS:

Resolution #15 Acknowledging that the required examination of the Justice Court records for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2023, was completed and a copy will be sent to the New York State Unified Court System.

Motioned by Trustee Sellier and seconded by Trustee Clifford. 3 Ayes- Mayor Buckley, Trustee Sellier, Trustee Clifford; Absent: Trustee Kelm and Trustee Howley.

Resolution #16: Authorizing the hiring of Brendon Kolesar as a full-time employee in our Parks Department at the rate of $34.62 per hour. Motioned by Trustee Sellier and seconded by Trustee Clifford. 3 Ayes- Mayor Buckley, Trustee Sellier, Trustee Clifford; Absent: Trustee Kelm and Trustee Howley.

Resolution #17: Authorizing the adoption of meeting procedures as of September 25, 2023.

Motioned by Trustee Clifford and seconded by Trustee Sellier. 3 Ayes- Mayor Buckley, Trustee Sellier, Trustee Clifford; Absent: Trustee Kelm and Trustee Howley.

Resolution #18: Authorizing the mayor to sign the IMA with the Town of Warwick for the Greenwood Lake Skate Park. Motioned by Trustee Clifford and seconded by Trustee Sellier. 3 Ayes- Mayor Buckley, Trustee Sellier, Trustee Clifford; Absent: Trustee Kelm and Trustee Howley.

Resolution #19: Declaring Sunday, October 15th as Catholic Daughters’ Day in the Village of Greenwood Lake. Motioned by Trustee Clifford and seconded by Trustee Sellier. 3 Ayes- Mayor Buckley, Trustee Sellier, Trustee Clifford; Absent: Trustee Kelm and Trustee Howley.

Resolution #20: Authorizing the rental of Community Center with fees to be determined by the Village Board. Motioned by Trustee Sellier and seconded by Trustee Clifford. 3 Ayes- Mayor Buckley, Trustee Sellier, Trustee Clifford; Absent: Trustee Kelm and Trustee Howley.

Resolution #21: Authorizing the adoption of the following fines with regards to long term residential rental.

Fines:

(a)        Operating without registering a long-term residential rental, fine of up to $500.00 per day.

(b)        Failure to have any required inspections up to $250.00 per day

Motioned by Trustee Sellier and seconded by Trustee Clifford. 3 Ayes- Mayor Buckley, Trustee Sellier, Trustee Clifford; Absent: Trustee Kelm and Trustee Howley.

Resolution #22: Authorizing the adoption of the Village of Greenwood Lake Emergency Response Plan dated September 25, 2023.  Motioned by Trustee Sellier and seconded by Trustee Clifford. 3 Ayes- Mayor Buckley, Trustee Sellier, Trustee Clifford; Absent: Trustee Kelm and Trustee Howley.

Resolution #23: Authorizing the Centennial Planning Committee to proceed with necessary planning and coordinating to execute the next phase.  Motioned by Trustee Clifford and seconded by Trustee Sellier. 3 Ayes- Mayor Buckley, Trustee Sellier, Trustee Clifford; Absent: Trustee Kelm and Trustee Howley.

Resolution #24: Authorizing the inception of Youth Council. Motioned by Trustee Clifford and seconded by Trustee Sellier. 3 Ayes- Mayor Buckley, Trustee Sellier, Trustee Clifford; Absent: Trustee Kelm and Trustee Howley.

ADJOURNMENT

Motioned to adjourn Village Board Meeting by Trustee Sellier at 8:24 pm and seconded by Trustee Clifford. 3 Ayes- Mayor Buckley, Trustee Sellier, Trustee Clifford; Absent: Trustee Kelm and Trustee Howley.

 

Minutes respectfully submitted by

Katheleen Holder

Village Clerk/Treasurer

 

The next meeting will be October 16, 2023 6:30 pm Workshop followed by a 7:30 pm Village Board Meeting preceded by Public Hearings at 5:30 pm, 5:40 pm, 6:00 pm & 6:15 pm at the Courthouse on Waterstone Road, Greenwood Lake, NY 10925