Town Board

March 3, 2020

 

CLOSED SESSION

Interviews for volunteer boards

Litigation and negotiation

 

 

REGULAR SESSION

 

1. Traffic light: Commerce & Veterans Road

Mr. Paganelli advised the board that it will take 2-3 weeks for the needed new part to arrive.  He said that continuing temporary fixes to the light while waiting for the new part to arrive weren’t cost effective because each fix lasted only a few hours and had to be continually repeated at an additional cost.  Driver caution was advised.

 

2. Building safety

Supervisor Slater announced that a study is underway to assess the safety of all town buildings. Once completed, the report will be made public.

 

3. Personnel

A new assistant building inspector and an office assistant (automated systems) were hired for the Building Department.

 

4. Courtesy of the Floor

Ethics: Susan Siegel, the person writing this summary, read a statement critical of the way the Ethics Board handled a “revolving door” complaint.  In response, Councilman Lachterman said that people had a legal right to choose whomever they wanted to represent them. Councilwoman Roker said the Town Board shouldn’t comment on Ethics Board decisions and Supervisor Slater said that the existing law had to be clarified regarding the “next steps” in the event the Ethics Board finds that there was no violation of the Ethics Law.

 

Quality of Life: Dan Strauss again spoke of the need for more code enforcement as it affects the quality of life in Yorktown.

 

5. Stop signs/public hearings

The board opened and closed the hearing for the installation of stop signs on various streets and adopted the law without any changes.  Mr. Paganelli explained that motorists making left or right turns onto major streets should always come to stop before turning and that stop signs aren’t always a solution, especially as motorists often ignore the signs.  He did however, explain that the stop signs on East Main St and Stony St were temporary in nature pending the future installation of a traffic light at the intersection.  He said he would look into the feasibility of a stop sign at Perry St and East Main Street although he thought a sign might not be feasible because of sight distance issues.

 

6. Kear Street no parking/ public hearing

The board opened and closed the hearing that would prohibit parking at the corner of Commerce St and Kear St, and voted to adopt the law. Geri Schwalb said she supported the law but noted that if there’s no enforcement, passing the law was a waste of time. Jay Kopstein suggested that the curb in the no parking area be painted red as a second reminder of the no parking ban.

 

7. Library staff salary changes

The board passed a resolution authorizing the supervisor sign an agreement with the CSEA that moves library employees to the CSEA salary schedule that covers all other town employees. The change results in an increase in salary for library employees and brings library employees into pay equity with other town employees, something library staff has been fighting for for 20 years. The agreement includes a condition that the town will not fill a vacant position in the library.

 

8. Mohegan Wall

(See Town Board 2-25-2020.) In a unanimous vote, the board decided to proceed with the strong stone replacement blocks for the wall. Councilman Diana explained that he had reservations about the substitute block but that he didn’t want to delay the project any longer.  The board passed a companion resolution that moved the $18,000 savings resulting from the substitution to the Highway Department’s drainage line to cover the cost of the drainage improvements that will be done in conjunction with rebuilding the wall.

 

9. Road paving

Mr. Paganelli advised the board that he is in the process of drawing up a five year repaving plan.

 

10. SelectedMiscellaneous resolutions

Vehicle purchases: The board authorized the Parks & Rec Department to purchase a Ford utility truck at a cost of $45,959 and the Refuse& Recycling Department to purchase a rear loading packer truck for $249,748.

 

Stormwater and Tree Permits: Without any discussion, the board tabled a vote that would have approved the permits for a proposed single family house on Madison Court.

 

 

CLOSED SESSION

Litigation