June 26, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes
REGULAR MEETING – VILLAGE OF NORTHVILLE
Monday, June 26, 2023
The Village Board met Monday, June 26, 2023, at 5:00 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, DPW Superintendent
Rick Richardson, Chief of Police
Public Attendance – Dennie Poulin, Mike Warner
Mayor Eckert called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motion to approve the minutes of the May 30, 2023 Regular Meeting was made by Trustee Rudd, 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: Dennie Poulin asked what the split was on the PD budget. Mayor Eckert stated it was a 50/50 split with the Town of Northampton. Mr. Poulin stated he did not feel that was fair because the Town is a larger territory than the Village, he felt the Town should be paying more. Mayor Eckert stated that it was a Village of Northville PD and we would not have even been able to afford the PD we have, if it were not for the joint participation with the Town. She stated all the payroll, equipment, vehicle, gas, etc. are all split 50/50 with the Town.
Mr. Poulin asked why the fire trucks were not put out for sale when the fire district was formed. Treasurer Matthews stated that the transfer of the equipment to the fire district was handled in such a way to assist with offsetting the large tax burden residents of newly created fire district would face if the district had to buy new equipment. He stated the State Comptroller advised the transfer of equipment and the process was also reviewed by all the municipal attorneys and NYCOM as well.
Mike Warner voiced his concern about the salary for the Chief of Police. He asked what happens when he gets overtime. He stated that he should not have started at such a high salary. He stated the individual should prove himself and earn a higher salary over time. Mr. Warner stated that since the taxpayers already pay for state troopers and county police officers through our taxes, we are already paying for police protection. Mayor Eckert stated that when you say “someone has to prove himself”, the Board chose someone who has been through the accreditation process and knows what it takes to run a department. She stated the Board chose a qualified individual for the Chief’s position.
Mr. Warner asked who the owner of Village’s Third Street lot is. Mayor Eckert stated it was in the process of being deeded over to the Town. Mr. Warner stated he didn’t like these land swap deals. He stated he knows Groff has plans for that property. Mr. Warner stated that he felt like strangling Jim. Mayor Eckert stated that the Village and Town work very well together.
Mr. Warner stated he felt the new firehouse was too expensive. He stated that all the firehouse needs to do is store equipment and the one they are proposing building is too much. Trustee Markiewicz stated that the District is it’s own entity now and the Village has nothing to do with the District. He suggested that Mr. Warner voice his concerns to the Fire Commissioners. Trustee Sedon stated the people chose to vote or not vote on the referendum for the new firehouse. She stated the district had many meetings on the subject and they were widely publicized. Trustee Sedon stated you can’t make people go to meetings or vote.
At 5:26 p.m., Mayor Eckert closed public comment and resumed regular meeting.
REPORT OF COMMITTEES:
Police –The police report was filed with the Clerk and read at the meeting. Chief Richardson reported he was looking to utilizing the Lexapol system, which is an electronic policy system of State and Federal laws. He stated the system would be beneficial when generating police policies needed for accreditation. He stated it is a huge liability saver for the municipality as the system is backed by their attorneys.
Chief Richardson reported that Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department recently upgraded their dispatch center and they have over $ 1,000.00 worth of equipment they no longer utilize that they would donate to the Village.
Streets – The DPW report was read and is on file at the Clerk’s office. A thank you card was received from the Presbyterian Church for the flower planter the crew placed near the church.
Water – It was reported that usage decreased from 3,201,000 gallons in May 2022 to 2,787,000 this year. Water testing and operations were normal.
Code Enforcement- The Code Officer’s report was filed. It was reported that 12 permits were issued in May.
Dog Control – DCO report on file. Reported three barking dog calls.
Joint Youth – Trustee Sedon reported they had a recent meeting. She stated at the time of the meeting, they didn’t have any lifeguards that were 18 years of age or older and they needed to have a senior guard who was over 18 to work with the other guards. She reported there was an individual interested in the position of head guard but her certification had expired. Trustee Sedon stated that the Commission agreed to pay $ 225.00 for the recertification of this individual with the stipulation she stay for the entire season.
Trustee Sedon reported the beach would be open seven days a week. Mayor Eckert stated that when the beach is closed, the gate would be closed.
Trustee Sedon reported that the Commission discussed use of the inflatables. She stated it was determined there were insurance issues with the equipment and for the time being, the inflatables could only be used by Joint Youth and that they would be monitored by Joint Youth workers or partners while in use.
Park Use Requests – There were no park use requests.
Marketing – The Clerk gave a marketing update. She reported all the focus was on the DOINS celebration that was occurring this weekend.
Report of Village Projects – Mayor Eckert reported that we are continuing to move forward with applying for CFA for construction funding for the pedestrian walkway at the spillway. She indicated that the next Project Advisory Committee meeting would be July 11th.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
The monthly financial report was reviewed and bills to be paid from the General Fund in the amount of $ 77,492.05, from the Water Fund in the amount of $ 16,035.61 and from the Joint Youth Fund in the amount of $ 2,781.37 were presented for payment. Motion to approve payment was made by Trustee Markiewicz, seconded by Trustee Rudd, and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
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 Terwilliger 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 approve the Annual Financial Report for Joint Youth Commission 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
OLD BUSINESS:
Mayor Eckert opened the previously tabled Rotary request for police coverage, porta johns, barricades, cones, and garbage cans for the Woodworking and Fine Arts Weekend July 14th – 16th. After review, Trustee Rudd made a motion to provide the requested services to Rotary for the weekend event. 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
Mayor Eckert reported that the sign in the Waterfront Park that was constructed as an Eagle Scout project last June has broken. Mayor Eckert asked what the Board’s thoughts were on repairing or getting rid of it. Trustee Sedon questioned whose responsibility it was to repair it. Mayor Eckert stated that after one year, it becomes the responsibility of the municipality. Trustee Sedon stated she thought SVAN said they would assume responsibility for it. The Clerk reported that the sign is not being actively maintained, as it only had one flyer in it from a September 2022 SVAN event. She also stated that when the project was put in, the scout was supposed to confer with the Village regarding location and he did not. She stated that the sign takes up space that vendors use when events are hosted in the park, such as the DOINS and farmers market. After discussion, it was requested that we reach out to SVAN and see if they would fix the sign and to report back at the next meeting.
Trustee Sedon asked when the archway sign would be fixed. She stated she thought Bill Coffey was supposed to be addressing the issues with it. Mayor Eckert stated she would check with Highway Superintendent Reidell.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mayor Eckert presented Resolution #8 of 2023 for the Board’s consideration as follows:
RESOLUTION #8 OF 2023
Permissive Referendum re Use of Reserve Funds for
Purchase of Police Computer Equipment
June 26, 2023
WHEREAS it is the intention of the Governing Body of the Village of Northville to utilize funds that have been accumulated in a reserve fund the purpose of which is to support the purchase of police equipment, which fund is designated A0230.5 Capital Reserve for Police Equipment, under General Municipal Law 6-c, and
WHEREAS the amount that will be utilized from the reserve fund should not exceed $10,000, and
WHEREAS the Village Law of the State of New York requires a permissive referendum in the event of taking such action,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Clerk of the village of Northville be directed to take appropriate steps with respect to holding a permissive referendum on the issue of whether to purchase police computer equipment, and utilize funds not to exceed $10,000 from the reserve fund; toward that purpose; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in the event that a sufficient number of valid petitions by registered voters is not received within 30 days of passage of this resolution, the resolution will take full force and effect.
Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to approve Resolution #8 of 2023 as presented. The motion was seconded by Trustee Terwilliger and carried by voice vote as follows:
AYE: Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Sedon, Trustee Terwilliger
NAY: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
The Clerk reported she would post the Permissive Referendum on Resolution #8 of 2023.
Mayor Eckert reported that Treasurer Matthews requested the following Policy changes:
Current
7.11 COMPENSATORY LEAVE
(C) Compensatory time shall be utilized within the same payroll period compensatory time was accrued. In the even that it is unreasonable to utilize compensatory time in same payroll period compensatory time should be utilized within the following payroll period.
(D) Any unused compensatory time after the second payroll period is closed will be paid with that payroll period.
Proposed
(C) Compensatory time must be utilized within 90 (ninety) days following the payroll period it was earned.
(D) Any unused compensatory time remaining after the 90 (ninety) day period will be paid with the following payroll.
After review, Trustee Sedon made a motion to approve the Policy changes as presented. 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
Mayor Eckert reported she received concerned calls about the recent graduation parade. She stated individuals, including herself, witnessed unsafe behaviors that needed to be addressed. Trustee Terwilliger stated she saw a lot of students that were being unsafe during the parade. Trustee Sedon stated she witnessed students standing up in cars and felt it was an unsafe practice. Mayor Eckert stated she witnessed burnouts in the street and commented that she has never seen such an unsafe parade. Mayor Eckert stated after discussing the parade with Chief Richardsen, a plan was formed for him to contact the school with the concerns voiced and inform them that next year, the PD will video the parade and tickets will be issued for individuals violating vehicle and traffic laws. Mayor Eckert stated they are very lucky that no one got killed in that parade and that practice of unsafe behavior can’t be repeated.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: No comments were offered by the public.
It was reported that the July meeting would be held on Tuesday, July 18th at 7 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business before the Board, motion was made to adjourn by Trustee Rudd, seconded by Trustee Sedon, and passed by voice vote with no one dissenting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Wendy L. Reu, Clerk
