November 21, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
REGULAR MEETING – VILLAGE OF NORTHVILLE
Tuesday, November 21, 2023
The Village Board met Tuesday, November 21, 2023, 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
Dan Reidell, Highway Superintendent
Rick Richardson, Chief of Police
Public Attendance –Mike Warner, Ken Adamczyk
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 October 17, 2023, Regular Meeting was made by Trustee Sedon, seconded by Trustee Terwilliger, and passed by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
Motion to approve the minutes of the November 3, 2023, Special Meeting was made by Trustee Markiewicz, seconded by Trustee Rudd, and passed by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
PUBLIC HEARING – LOCAL LAW #3 OF 2023 – A local law to amend the Village Code to prohibit parking of a vehicle within the Village for certain purposes
Mayor Eckert opened the Public Hearing on Local Law #3 of 2023 at 7:03 p.m. on a motion by Trustee Markiewicz, 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 asked if anyone present wished to address the Board regarding Local Law #3 of 2023. Ken Adamczyk thinks it’s awesome and urged the Board to adopt it. Hearing no other comments, Mayor Eckert stated she would leave the Public Hearing open for the remainer of the meeting and continue the Regular meeting.
PUBLIC ACCESS: Ken Adamczyk, representing CRG, addressed the Board regarding a Smart Growth Grant opportunity. He presented the Board with information on the Smart Growth Grant program and discussed various ways the Village could take advantage of it. Mayor Eckert asked how often these grants come out and he said the last one was 2019. Treasurer Matthews and the Clerk informed the Board that typically these grants come out annually but took a pause during COVID for 2020 and 2021. They did have a grant cycle in 2022. Mayor Eckert stated that these types of grants are reimbursement grants and we would have to have the money up front for the project and get reimbursed at a later date. She stated we currently don’t have any shovel ready projects. She asked Mr. Adamczyk how many years would we have to complete the project if a grant was awarded. Mr. Adamczyk stated you have five to seven years to complete the project under the grant. Treasurer Matthews corrected Mr. Adamczyk and stated that the project must be completed within three years of grant award. Treasurer Matthews also discussed the financial set up for reimbursement with the Board. Trustee Markiewicz asked Treasurer Matthews if it was affordable for us to enter into a Smart Growth grant right now. Treasurer Matthews stated that if it difficult to determine as we are waiting on cost estimates for the current spillway project that we already have a grant in for. He felt it would be better to wait until the next budget cycle and budget with a potential Smart Growth application in mind. Trustee Markiewicz agreed and felt now was not the right time for us to move on this type of grant.
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 October.
Mayor Eckert stated she had received a request from an individual for a police patch or flag as a memento of his recent visit to the Village. The Clerk informed the Board that in the past, previous Boards had a policy of not giving out police patches for two reasons: cost to the municipality and the opportunity for them to be used for fraudulent purposes. Chief Richardson agreed. The Board stated they would continue that policy.
Streets – The DPW report was read and is on file at the Clerk’s office. Highway Superintendent Reidell reported that he would like to advertise the backhoe on Auctions International as he no longer has a need for it. Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to declare the backhoe as a non-necessity. 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 to advertise the backhoe for sale 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 gave an update on the work that was done for the water tap at the spillway. He indicated that PESH received a report that the Village was doing work without a trench box. He stated he is completing the required paperwork regarding that issue. Highway Superintendent Reidell said that moving forward, the Town and Village will be jointly purchasing a trench box for $ 5,700.00.
Water – It was reported that usage decreased from 2,090,000 gallons in October 2022 to 2,063,000 this year. Water testing and operations were normal.
Code Enforcement- The Code Officer’s report was filed. It was reported that 3 permits were issued in October.
Dan reported that the plans for the firehouse construction plans are currently under review by the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Dog Control – No report issued.
Joint Youth – No activity to report.
Park Use Requests – There were no park use requests.
Marketing – The Clerk gave a marketing update. She reported that the Christmas Parade and tree lighting is scheduled for December 2nd at 5 p.m. She reported that the parade was shaping up very well but she had not had any communication from the Civic Associations members that organized the tree lighting.
The Clerk gave an update on Trails Day and the 100th Anniversary of NPT celebration. She stated the NPT logo for the 100th anniversary was completed and provided a copy for the Board. She stated she continues to work with Fulton County and ADK Mountain Club representatives to organize the event that will be held in the Village May 31st through June 2nd next year.
Report of Village Projects – Mayor Eckert reported that the Village is currently in the process of applying for DOT TAP Grant for the walkway at the spillway. She reported as it is a DOT grant, it is more geared toward the project.
Tree Commission – No report.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
The monthly financial report was reviewed and bills to be paid from the General Fund in the amount of $ 210,655.72, and from the Water Fund in the amount of $ 22,940.90 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 Rudd, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
OLD BUSINESS:
Mayor Eckert reported that letters have been sent to Senator Walczyk and Assemblyman Simpson regarding drafting legislation for transfer of ownership of the HRBRRD lands at the spillway to the Village.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mayor Eckert presented Local Law #4 of 2023-To amend the Village Code in regard to snow removal in final format for the Board’s review. After discussion, Trustee Terwilliger made a motion to advance Local Law #4 to Public Hearing on December 19, 2023. 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
After discussion, Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to close the Public Hearing on Local Law #3 of 2023. 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 Markiewicz made a motion to approve Local Law # 3 of 2023. 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
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business before the Board, motion was made to adjourn by Trustee Markiewicz, seconded by Trustee Terwilliger, and passed by voice vote with no one dissenting. The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Wendy L. Reu, Clerk
