July 16, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
REGULAR MEETING – VILLAGE OF NORTHVILLE
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
The Village Board met Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at 7:00 PM.
Present: Sue Eckert, Mayor
John Markiewicz, Trustee
Janet Rudd, Trustee
Sue Sedon, Trustee
Kathleen Terwilliger, Trustee
Wendy Reu, Clerk, Recording Secretary
Nathan Matthews, Treasurer
Absent:
Public Attendance –No one from public in attendance
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 June 18, 2024, Regular Meeting was made by Trustee Sedon, seconded by Trustee Markiewicz and passed by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
PUBLIC ACCESS: No members of the public present
REPORT OF COMMITTEES:
Police –The police report was filed with the Clerk and read at the meeting. Chief Richardson reported 80 calls were handled by the NPD during the month of May.
Chief Richardson reported that the department continues to use the DWI funds given by the County to have extra coverage at no cost to the Village.
Streets – The DPW report was read and is on file at the Clerk’s office.
Highway Superintendent Reidell reported that he no longer has need for several pieces of equipment. He indicated the Town of Hope has expressed an interest in the old flat bed trailer. Highway Superintendent Reidell stated he would like to sell it to them for $ 1.00. He stated he no longer has use for the 2009 dump truck, plow, and old lifeguard chair and he would like authorization to list them on Auctions International. After discussion, Trustee Sedon made a motion to deem the 2009 dump truck, plow, old lifeguard chair and old flat bed trailer non necessities to the Village, and to sell the old flat bed trailer to the Town of Hope for $ 1.00 and list the remaining items on Auctions International. The motion was seconded by Trustee Markiewicz and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
Highway Superintendent Reidell reported he had received numerous complaints about visibility at the corner of Main and Division, when pulling out from Division, due to the two trees that are planted in the terrace area. He indicated that he had passed that onto the Tree Committee and Committee Member Lanie Groff indicated that she has had trouble seeing traffic at that intersection herself. The Clerk indicated that as we have been put on notice that an issue is present, it needs to be addressed to prevent liability for the Village. After discussion, Trustee Terwilliger made a motion to remove the first tree and, at Dan’s discretion, remove the second tree if the visibility issue is still present. The motion was seconded by Trustee Markiewicz and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
Water – It was reported that usage increased from 3,202,000 gallons in June 2023 to 3,617,000 this year. Water testing and operations were normal.
Code Enforcement- The Code Officer’s report was filed. It was reported that five permits were issued in June.
Dog Control – No reported issued.
Joint Youth – Trustee Sedon reported that camp is in session and things are running smoothly with Joint Youth Director Kelly Donovan.
Park Use Requests – There were no park use requests.
Marketing – The Clerk/Marketing Director gave a report on the recent DOINS celebration. The weather held off for the entire event and it was well attended. She indicated there was front page publicity in the Leader Hearld and the Gazette featuring the parade and the event. Various Board members indicated they heard nothing but good things about the parade and commended the Clerk/Marketing Director on her organization of the event.
The Clerk/Marketing Director informed the Board of upcoming events. Fall Fest would be held on October 12th from 9-5 p.m., with Sawyer Frederick would be performing at the event. She also indicated that the Lighted Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting would be on Saturday, December 7th.
Report of Village Projects – Mayor Eckert reported that Scott Henze, Fulton County Planning Director, had drafted the SEQR paperwork for the kayak launch. After discussion, Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to identify that the installation of a kayak launch on the southern shore of the Northville Lake is an Unlisted Action under SEQR and to declare the Village of Northville, Village Board as the SEQR Lead Agency for the installation of a kayak launch on the southern shore of the Northville Lake under 6NYCRR Part 617.6(b)(4) having completed Part 1 of a Short Environmental Assessment Form to include the identification of other involved agencies (Hudson River-Black River Regulating District and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation) and having found no significant adverse environmental impacts. The motion was seconded by Trustee Sedon and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
Trustee Sedon made a motion that the Village of Northville, Village Board acting as the SEQR Lead Agency and having completed Parts 2 and 3 of the Short Environmental Assessment Form Issues a Negative Declaration for the installation of a kayak launch on the southern shore of the Northville Lake for the following reasons:
- There are no power demands as part of the project.
- There are no water or sewer demands as part of the project.
- All project work will be permitted via a work permit issued by the Hudson Rover-Black River Regulating District but which has direct regulatory authority over said lands.
The motion was seconded by Trustee Rudd and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
Tree Commission – No report.
TRANSFERS
Treasurer Matthews requested the following Transfer:
$5,000
To: A8160.2 Refuse/Garbage – Equipment
From: A9089.8 Retirement Leave Pay
Re: cover cost of truck can tipper
Trustee Terwilliger made a motion to approve the transfer as presented by Treasurer Matthews. The motion was seconded by Trustee Sedon and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, 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 $ 86,983.07, from the Water Fund in the amount of $ 9,573.96, and $ 990.11 from the Joint Youth Fund were presented for payment. Motion to approve payment was made by Trustee Markiewicz, seconded by Trustee Markiewicz, and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Mayor Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTS
Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to approve the Annual Financial Report for Village for the purpose of Audit. The motion was seconded by Trustee Rudd and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
Trustee Terwilliger made a motion to approve the Annual Financial Report for Joint Youth Commission for the purpose of Audit. The motion was seconded by Trustee Sedon and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
OLD BUSINESS:
There was no old business to discuss.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mayor Eckert reported she had received a phone call from an individual who was complaining about an ultralight vehicle launching from the beach area. The caller indicated it took up most of the parking lot and was entering and exiting the water where people were swimming. Mayor Eckert reported that we currently had no posted restrictions that would prevent this type of activity from happening at the beach. She presented an amendment to the Beach Policy to address the following:
After discussion, Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to amend the Beach Policy as presented. The motion was seconded by Trustee Rudd and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
Mayor Eckert stated that there are issues at the beach constantly. She stated that next year, if we decide to keep the gates open, we need to have a plan in place for a permit system and limit it to residents only, or keep the gates closed all summer. Under a plan, it was stated that the gates would be locked at night and opened during the day, manned by a gate keeper. The Board agreed a plan would have to be developed and they would work with the Town to come up with the best option.
Mayor Eckert presented the 2025 contract renewal between the Village and Fulton County Planning Department for planning services. Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to renew the 2025 FC Planning Contract in the amount of $ 400.00. The motion was seconded by Trustee Sedon and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
Mayor Eckert opened the discussion on Short Term Rentals. She stated while we love having people coming in to the Village, there is a concern that a number of homes are being bought in the Village solely for the purpose of short term rentals. She cited that one small home in the Village recently sold for over $ 200,000.00 and it is being used solely for the purpose of temporary rental. She indicated that other communities are beginning to face a crisis where they are losing long term housing stock to landlords that only want to rent their properties for short terms because it is more lucrative for them, and she would hate to see that happen to the Village. She stated there is already declining enrollment at the school and if we lost more houses for families to buy or rent to live in the community year round, the numbers could continue to decline. The Board discussed capping the number of short term rentals in the Village. After discussion, Trustee Rudd made a motion to cap the number of short term rentals in the Village to 25. The motion was seconded by Trustee Markiewicz and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
Trustee Terwilliger stated that she felt that if you list your property as a temporary rental, you are using it as a commercial venture and you should be paying commercial water rates for the parcel. Treasurer Matthews stated that a fee could be added to the water rate table for those parcels that are temporary rentals. Mayor Eckert stated that the registration fee for temporary rentals is currently $ 25.00. She stated she felt the fee should be higher and suggested $ 500.00. Trustee Terwilliger stated that many short term rentals go for $200 to $ 300 per night and she felt the fee for registration should be $ 1000.00. After discussion, Trustee Terwilliger made a motion to establish a fee of $ 1000.00 for annual registration and a commercial water rate for temporary rentals. The motion was seconded by Trustee Markiewicz and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
The Clerk stated she would draft the changes to Chapter 86: Property Rental and send them to the Attorney for review. She indicated that they would be returned for the Board to review at the next meeting, with a public hearing to follow at an upcoming meeting to amend the law.
Mayor Eckert reported that the Public Library is planning on doing building renovations and upgrades to the building and she issued a letter of support for the project.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business before the Board, motion was made to adjourn by Trustee Sedon, seconded by Trustee Markiewicz and passed by voice vote with no one dissenting. The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Wendy L. Reu, Clerk
