February 14, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
REGULAR MEETING – VILLAGE OF NORTHVILLE
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
The Village Board met Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at 7:00 PM.
Present: Sue Eckert, Mayor
John Markiewicz, Trustee
Sue Sedon, Trustee
Kathleen Terwilliger, Trustee
Wendy Reu, Clerk, Recording Secretary
Nathan Matthews, Treasurer
Absent: Janet Rudd, Trustee
Dan Reidell, DPW Superintendent
Public Attendance – Mike Warner, Ken Adamczyk, Jane Ferguson
Mayor Eckert called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion to approve the minutes of the January 17, 2023, Regular Meeting was made by Trustee Terwilliger, seconded by Trustee Markiewicz, and passed by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
PUBLIC ACCESS: Ken Adamczyk, representing CRG discussed the opportunity for the Village to apply for a mini DRI this year. He stated that the Governor has included money in the proposed State budget to do another round of Restore NY funding. He stated that there are no details yet but CRG is looking to get a committee together to explore projects. Mayor Eckert asked if they were matching fund grants and Ken indicated that they were and that there would need to be public and private components to the grants. He stated that the Village already has their LWRP in place which identifies public projects. Mayor Eckert asked when the timeline would be for funds to be awarded and Ken indicated in December. Ken said he would keep the Board posted on details as they become available.
Jane Ferguson addressed the Board. She stated she would like to do a walking project in the Village, called Donnie’s Walk, in memory of her husband. She stated that wooden cutouts would be constructed and painted and placed around the Village. She indicated they could be used as photo ops for visitors. She stated that it would create a walking tour around the community and increase tourism. She is reaching out to various places around the community that would be willing to have one of the cutouts displayed for the summer. She asked for one to be placed on the Village Green and the Waterfront Park and was looking for support for the project. Trustee Terwilliger made a motion to approve the concept of the Donnie’s Walk as proposed by Mrs. Ferguson. The motion was seconded by Trustee Markiewicz and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
REPORT OF COMMITTEES:
Police – Mayor Eckert stated that we had no Police report. She stated it has been very tough getting reports as we don’t have our own full-time department. She stated that since the Town and Village began discussing a shared full-time police department well over a year ago, we are finally close to making that a reality. Mayor Eckert stated she and Supervisor Groff have been talking to people that would be interested in joining the PD to help move us in the direction of a full-time department. She explained that to have a full time department, it must be an accredited, which is an extensive process. She stated one of the individuals she and Supervisor Groff have been in discussion with has experience in PD accreditation and the process involved. Mayor Eckert stated they were confident in the skills and experience this individual brings to the table. She stated that paperwork has been submitted to FC Personnel office to establish a Chief’s position in the Village, which would be a civil service position. She reported we are waiting for the creation of the position before moving forward with filling the position. Mayor Eckert reported that it would benefit the Village to have the ability for an officer to lateral into the Village from another agency and that in order for that to happen, we need to make some changes to our Personnel Policy. Treasurer Matthews stated the proposed changes added a new section to the policy that discussed lateral hires and benefits. He explained that 50% of a lateral employee’s time would be credited toward retirement benefits. Treasurer Matthews also explained that updates were proposed to the Health Insurance Policy for Retirees. He indicated that an employee must have completed 10 or more consecutive years of full time service, based upon each employee’s date of hire, to be eligible for retirement benefits. Treasurer Matthews stated proposed changes to the retirement coverage reflected the creation of a range of options of consecutive years of service and the percentage covered by the municipality for each range; starting at 10-12 years of service with full individual coverage and 25% of premium difference if family coverage was elected to 20 years or greater with full individual or family coverage at 100%. After reviewing the changes proposed by Treasurer Matthews, Trustee Sedon made a motion to approve the Policy verbiage detailing Lateral Hires as presented. The motion was seconded by Trustee Markiewicz and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to approve the updates to the Employee Policy that dealt with Health Insurance Policy for Retirees as presented by Treasurer Matthews. The motion was seconded by Trustee Sedon and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
Mayor Eckert reported to the Board that once we have the official paperwork back from the County designating the position, we can move forward with hiring to fill the position. She stated that Treasurer Matthews has also drafted an Intermunicipal Agreement between the Village and Town for sharing the services of the PD and that is being reviewed by the municipal attorneys.
Streets – The DPW report was read and is on file at the Clerk’s office.
Mayor Eckert reported that Highway Superintendent Reidell had received a letter from a young student who loved the skating rink in the park and had a few questions about it. She indicated that Dan had written a letter back to the individual.
Water – It was reported that usage increased from 1,747,000 gallons in January 2022 to 2,522,000 this year. Water testing and operations were normal.
It was reported that there was still one meter left in the Village that had not yet been converted to a radio read meter.
Code Enforcement- The Code Officer’s report was filed. It was reported that two permits were issued in January.
Dog Control – The dog control officer report was filed. It was reported there were five calls during January/February. There were four barking dog calls and one dog bit reported.
Joint Youth – Trustee Sedon reported that the JY Commission would be having a meeting in March to begin the hiring process for summer camp.
Park Use Requests – SVAN submitted a park use request, along with a funding request in the amount of $ 850.00 for the 2023 season. They requested July 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29, along with August 5, 12, 19, and 26 for their concert dates. As there were no conflicts for the dates requested, Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to approve the park use request for SVAN as presented and the $ 850.00 in funding. The motion was seconded by Trustee Terwilliger and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
Marketing – The Clerk reported she is actively organizing Garage Sale Weekend, the Memorial Day parade and the DOINS. She continues to utilize 44 Lakes.com website and Edinburg newsletter to get the information out about events in the Village.
Tree Commission – Nothing to report.
TRANSFERS
Treasurer Matthews requested the following Transfer:
$4,400
From: A1990.4 Contingent
To: A3310.2 TRAFFIC CONTROL- EQUIPMENT
Reason – Radar Sign
Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to approve the transfer presented by Treasurer Matthews in the amount of $4,400.00. The motion was seconded by Trustee Sedon and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
PAYMENT OF BILLS
The monthly financial report was reviewed and bills to be paid from the General Fund in the amount of $ 72,130.37, from the Water Fund in the amount of $ 11,368.60 and from the Joint Youth Fund in the amount of $ 250.00 were presented for payment. Motion to approve payment was made by Trustee Markiewicz, seconded by Trustee Sedon and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
OLD BUSINESS:
Mayor Eckert reported that the previous offer of $ 55,000.00 for the Third Street property had been retracted by the individual and he reduced his offer back to $ 40,000.00. After discussion, the Board rejected the offer and countered back with $ 75,000.00. The Clerk was instructed to let the real estate agent know the Board’s decision.
Mayor Eckert informed the Board that the listing contract for the Third Street property would be expiring on February 28th and she asked if the Board wanted to renew or look at other options. After discussion, Trustee Terwilliger made a motion to not renew the listing contract when it expired and to explore other options. The motion was seconded by Trustee Sedon and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
The Clerk was instructed to let the listing agent know the Board’s decision.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mayor Eckert presented proposed Local Law #2 of 2023 Authorizing overriding the Tax Cap, for the Board’s consideration. Treasurer Matthews explained that municipalities are required to stay within a tax cap established by the Board. He stated that if a municipality is going to be creating a total levy of taxes that exceeds the tax cap, a Local Law must be established and a Public Hearing must be held. He stated that in working on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, the creation of the full time police department is going to cost more than what has been previously budgeted for the department and by virtue of that, it will be necessary to override the tax cap this year. He stated we are looking at increasing our normal police operating budget by approximately $ 30,000.00 this year. After discussion, Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to schedule a Public Hearing for the March 21st meeting to present Local Law #2 of 2023 to override the tax cap. The motion was seconded by Trustee Terwilliger and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
PUBLIC COMMENTS: No comments were offered by the public.
At 7:53 p.m., Mayor Eckert requested to go into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation and employment history of an individual. She asked the Clerk and Treasurer to attend as well. Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to enter into Executive Session to discuss pending litigation and employment history of an individual. The motion was seconded by Trustee Sedon and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
The meeting resumed in Regular Session at 8:39 p.m. on a motion from Trustee Markiewicz, seconded by Trustee Sedon, and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
It was reported that no action was taken during Executive Session.
Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to approve Mayor Eckert and Trustee Terwilliger to move forward with interviewing/hiring process for the individual considered for leading the police department. The motion was seconded by Trustee Sedon and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business before the Board, motion was made to adjourn by Trustee Terwilliger, seconded by Trustee Sedon and passed by voice vote with no one dissenting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:43 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Wendy L. Reu, Clerk
