Northville Admin Comments are off Village Board Meeting Minutes

SPECIAL MEETING – VILLAGE OF NORTHVILLE

Friday, November 3, 2023

 

The Village Board met Friday, November 3, 2023, at 10:00 AM.

 

Present:              Sue Eckert, Mayor

John Markiewicz, Trustee

                                  Janet Rudd, Trustee    

 Kathleen Terwilliger, Trustee

            

Wendy Reu, Clerk, Recording Secretary

                                              Nathan Matthews, Treasurer

 

         Absent:               Sue Sedon, Trustee

           

          

Public Attendance –Mike Warner

 

Mayor Eckert called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

NEW BUSINESS:

Mayor Eckert reported to the Board that she had a Zoom meeting with our grant writer, along with representatives from EDR and GPI, who are currently working on the spillway pedestrian grant.  She was advised that there is a Department of Transportation -Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant that the Village is eligible to apply for and the grant is geared specifically to the type of project we are trying to construct at the spillway.  Our grant writer strongly suggested we apply for this grant.  It was reported that there was a very short window to get the grant submitted, hence the need for a special meeting.  The Clerk and the Treasurer gave an overview of the TAP Grant and the opportunity it presents to the Village. The Treasurer indicated it is a 20% match if awarded.  He also indicated he sat in on a mandatory webinar for the grant on November 2^nd.   The Clerk reported there are only 15 engineering companies in our region that are eligible to apply to assist the Village with the grant application.  The Clerk stated she had to request Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from all 15 companies and gave them a deadline of November 2^nd for them to respond.  She stated that out of the 15 companies solicited, two responded that they were not able to assist us with the grant writing due to scheduling.  The Clerk informed the Board that  GPI, who has been previously working with the Village on the spillway project through the recent CFA application, submitted a proposal to assist the Village with the TAP application.  The Clerk stated that because GPI is so familiar with the project and has many of the files already in their system due to the CFA application, we are able to use that to our advantage and meet the January deadline for the TAP grant application.

Mayor Eckert presented Resolution # 14 of 2023 as follows:

 

RESOLUTION BY THE VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF NORTHVILLE TO ENTER INTO AN AGREMENT WITH GREENMAN-PEDERSON, INC., ALBANY, NY FOR NYSDOT TAP-CMAQ-CRP GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS

WHEREAS, the NYSDOT is soliciting candidate projects for funding under the TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES PROGRAM (TAP), CONGESTION MITIGATION AND AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (CMAQ) PROGRAM, CARBON REDUCTION PROGRAM (CRP), and

WHEREAS, the Village of Northville has a desire to submit a project for consideration under the TAP-CMAQ-CRP program to design and construct the Hunter Creek Dam Multi-Use Trail Project.  NYSDOT will provide up to 80% of the total eligible project costs with a 20% match provided by the Village, and

WHEREAS, the Village of Northville has solicited Expressions of Interest (EOI) from consulting engineering firms to prepare a TAP application from the current Region 2 LDSA List, and if funding is received for the project, the selected firm may be utilized to perform the preliminary design, detailed design, right of way, construction support and inspection services after a detailed scope and negotiated fee is submitted and approved by the Village of Northville and NYSDOT, and

WHEREAS, the Village received one proposal, and the preferred consultant has been selected based on our review of the EOI’s received, and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Village of Northville approves the selection of Greenman-Pedersen, Inc. (GPI) as the consultant chosen to assist the Village with the NYS DOT TAP-CMAQ-CRP grant, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mayor is herby authorized to enter into a contractual agreement with GPI if grant funding is secured for the associated preliminary design, detailed design, right of way, construction support and inspection services work necessary to implement this project.

After discussion, Trustee Terwilliger made a motion to approve Resolution # 14 of 2023 as presented.  The motion was seconded by Trustee Markiewicz and carried by voice vote as follows:

AYE:              Mayor Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Terwilliger

NAY:                   0

ABSTAIN:           0

 

Mayor Eckert presented Local Law #3 of 2023- to amend the Village Code to prohibit parking of a vehicle within the village for certain purposes, in final format for the Board’s consideration.  She indicated the Board approved advancing this proposed law at their previous meeting.  After discussion, Trustee Terwilliger made a motion to schedule a Public Hearing on November 21, 2023, to advance Local Law #3 as presented.  The motion was seconded by Trustee Rudd and carried by voice vote as follows:

AYE:             Mayor Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Terwilliger

NAY:                   0

ABSTAIN:           0

 

Mayor Eckert reported that two members of the ZBA have requested to step down.  She stated that NYCOM strongly urges that municipalities combine their Planning and Zoning Boards.  She stated NYCOM stresses many reasons for doing this.  She indicated it streamlines processes for complex applications that have to go before both zoning and planning boards for projects.  She also indicated that it is becoming more and more difficult to find people who want to volunteer to sit on these Boards.  Mayor Eckert stated that we are required to have a ZBA but not a Planning Board, and we can assign the tasks of the Planning Board to the ZBA.  The Clerk indicated that it is a process to combine the Boards as the Village Code would have to be amended but the first step is making that official decision.  After discussion, Trustee Markiewicz made a motion to combine the Zoning and Planning Boards into one Board.  The motion was seconded by Trustee Rudd and carried by voice vote as follows:

AYE:              Mayor Eckert, Trustee Markiewicz, Trustee Rudd, Trustee Terwilliger

NAY:                   0

ABSTAIN:           0

 

Trustee Terwilliger asked about the crosswalks on Bridge and Main Street.  She stated that drivers seem confused because there are so many crosswalks at the intersection.  Mayor Eckert stated she thought we were required to have those crosswalks at the intersections and stated she would discuss it with Highway Superintendent Reidell.  Discussion ensued and it was asked if there could be some type of flashing signage at the sidewalk area for the crosswalk.  Trustee Terwilliger also asked if Chief Richardson could keep an eye on the crosswalks for a short time.  Mayor Eckert stated she would discuss it with PD and we can follow up at our regular meeting.

 

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 10:51 a.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Wendy L. Reu, Clerk