September 21, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes
REGULAR MEETING – VILLAGE OF NORTHVILLE
Tuesday September 21, 2021
The Village Board met Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at 7:00 PM
Present: Sue Eckert, Trustee/Deputy Mayor
Steve Collins, Trustee
John Markiewicz, Trustee
Sue Sedon, Trustee
Absent: John Spaeth, Mayor
Wendy Reu, Village Clerk
Nathan Matthews, Treasurer
Dan Reidell, Highway Superintendent
Public Attendance: Mike Warner, Dan Singer
Deputy 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 August 17, 2021 Regular Meeting was made by Trustee Markiewicz, seconded by Trustee Eckert, and passed by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
PUBLIC COMMENTS – No members of the public wished to address the Board.
REPORT OF COMMITTEES:
Police – No report was received. Trustee Collins reported that Mayor Spaeth requested that the PD conduct a speed survey at the spillway. Officer VanNostrand conducted the survey on September 15, 2021, between 10:55 a.m. and 12:20 p.m., and recorded 196 cars with the fastest speed being 35 mph. Officer VanNostrand calculated that the average speed was 28.55 mph. Trustee Collins stated he wanted to suggest doing another traffic survey with an unmarked vehicle and comparing the results.
Streets – The DPW report was read and is on file at the Clerk’s office. DPW Superintendent Reidell gave an update on commercial garbage and reported that Hope’s roll off truck is up and running. He stated the next step would be to draft a shared services agreement with the Town of Hope for use of their truck to haul the commercial garbage.
DPW Superintendent Reidell reported that Brad Johnson requested permission to get compost from the Village’s piles on High Rock. Dan stated we have a lot of compost and in the past, other farmers from neighboring communities have used it for their gardens as well. The Board had no issue with Mr. Johnson getting compost for his gardens.
Trustee Eckert reported that the lumber has been ordered for the doors at the bandshell and work will be starting next week.
Water – It was reported that usage decreased from 3,414,000 gallons in August 2020 to 3,460,000 this year. Water testing and operations were normal.
Trustee Sedon reported there are 6 customers left that have yet to change over to radio read meters and one of them has contacted Allen and Palmer to arrange for replacement.
Code Enforcement- Dan reported that he finished his third course. He stated there are currently 15 open permits in the Village. He reported that he is working with Code Clerk Robin Wilson and getting old permits closed up. Dan stated he continues to work with the Town Code enforcement officer to learn the process.
Dog Control – No report.
Joint Youth – No report.
Marketing – No report.
LWRP- No report.
Park Use Requests – No requests
PAYMENT OF BILLS
The monthly financial report was reviewed and bills to be paid from the General Fund in the amount of $ 123,443.46, from the Water Fund in the amount of $ 22,014.67, and from the Joint Youth Fund in the amount of $ 1808.01 were presented for payment. Motion to approve payment was made by Trustee Sedon, seconded by Trustee Markiewicz and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
OLD BUSINESS:
Trustee Collins reported that he and Trustee Eckert met with Town Supervisor Jim Groff regarding the proposed joint police force and they discussed ways to attract more officers and the needs of the department should it be expanded, such as computer in vehicle and other additional equipment. Trustee Collins stated there needs to be discussion with both Boards regarding salaries. He stated there would be another meeting the Supervisor Groff on September 27th.
NEW BUSINESS:
The Clerk reported there were requests from the Knights of Columbus and Search Team 5 to conduct their annual coin drop. She stated she had discussed with Mayor Spaeth the five groups that annually conduct coin drops in the village and that sometimes, these groups fail to obtain Board approval yet still have the event. She provided a list of the groups, along with the dates/event times that they historically conducted their coin drops for the Board’s review. She asked if the Board would consider blanket approval for the groups that conduct coin drops on an annual basis in the Village and only require them to obtain Board approval if they alter from the dates/events they historically conduct them on. After discussion, the Board was in favor of a blanket approval for the five groups that conduct coin drops annually in the Village. Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to approve the coin drops for established groups with a blanket approval pending there were no changes to the dates/events the coin drops were historically associated with. The motion was seconded by Trustee Collins and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
A request was received from Linda and George Wright, the owners of 131 S. Main Street, to temporarily remove the fence along the municipal parking lot adjacent to their property, so their contractors can perform work their building. Trustee Eckert reported that the Wright’s were asking that the Village crew remove the fence for the work, rather than their contractor. After discussion, Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to allow the contractors to take the fence down to perform the work needed and replace it in the same condition in which it was found. The motion was seconded by Trustee Sedon and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
Trustee Sedon reported that she and Trustee Markiewicz had a meeting with Treasurer Matthews last week to discuss water rates. She reported that rates are evaluated every three years. Trustee Sedon stated that the group reviewed the plans in place for the system to run properly to continue to keep our water supply and our infrastructure safe. Treasurer Matthews provided the Board with a table of current water rate information and proposed base and water rates. Treasurer Matthews stated that the average bill would increase approximately $ 20.00 to $ 25.00 per billing cycle under the proposed changes. He pointed out that over the years, there was one entity where the base rate hadn’t been altered as it should have and the increase under the proposed rate change is significant for that customer. He reported that the entity in question was Northville Central School. He advised the Board that when they adopt the new rate cycle, that a letter needed to go to the school explaining the phased in rate cycle increase for them. Trustee Sedon noted that there is increased usage of water across the board and as usage increases, it does put a burden on the system which requires more chemicals. Trustee Sedon stated that during the summer, Darryl goes up every 12 hours to adjust the chlorine because of the excess use. Trustee Sedon stated that despite having the ready availability of water, conservation should also be practiced. Trustee Markiewicz stated that the school hadn’t been increased in several years, but Treasurer Matthews corrected him and stated that the schools rate per gallon has increased but their base rate had not. Trustee Sedon stated there are several infrastructure projects that need to be done in the Village, citing valves and pipes that needed replacing. After discussion, Trustee Sedon made a motion to adopt the Proposed Water Rates, including base rates and water rate per gallon, as presented by Treasurer Matthews. The motion was seconded by Trustee Collins and carried by voice vote as follows:
Aye: Trustee Collins, Trustee Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Sedon
Nay: 0
Abstain: 0
PUBLIC COMMENTS: There was no further comment from the Public.
Prior to adjournment of the meeting, Trustee Markiewicz stated that he has heard several things in the public about the Village allowing the selling of marijuana and being able to smoke in the Village if the Village does not opt out. He stated that he didn’t know about the marijuana legislation when he voted to stay in. He stated the discussion was only about the revenue that the Village would be able to get by staying in. The Clerk indicated that all the Board members were emailed packets prior to the April 2021 meeting and that the documents were in their files on the day of the meeting which detailed the legislation adopted by Governor Cuomo at the end of March 2021. She stated that the Board, on three separate occasions, during consecutive monthly meetings all expressed their desire to not opt out. Trustee Sedon agreed and stated that the Board did not only discuss revenue from it but discussed agricultural and business opportunities as well for those interested in pursuing that if the Village stayed in. Trustee Markiewicz stated he was not wanting us to have that kind of image. He stated he didn’t remember reading any literature and didn’t know what it was about when he voted on it. Trustee Eckert stated we had lengthy discussions at each Board meeting since the topic was introduced in April 2021, specifically about the agricultural aspect and how people could grow a certain number of plants in their own home. She also stated that whether we stay in or not, it does not change the fact that people can now legally smoke marijuana anywhere in this Village and NYS that is not in an area subject to the Clean Air Act. Trustee Markiewicz stated that he would have voted no if he knew about it. He stated he didn’t know, didn’t have the information, and didn’t remember the discussion. Trustee Collins stated, and Trustee Eckert and Trustee Sedon agreed, that they all had obtained the MRTA legislation information both electronically prior to the April 2021 meeting and the documents were in their packet for that meeting as well. Trustee Sedon stated it is up to people to inform themselves with the correct information and urged the public to come to Board meetings and be part of the discussion with the facts that are presented at the meetings.
ADJOURNMENT:
There being no further business before the Board, motion was made to adjourn by Trustee Sedon, seconded by Trustee Eckert and passed by voice vote with no one dissenting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Wendy L. Reu, Clerk
