A meeting of the Village Board of Trustees was held on September 19, 2012 at the Historic Watts dePeyster Hall. Mayor Cranna called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.
Present: Mayor Cranna, Deputy Mayor Leedy, Trustees Ezrati, Bruno and Griffith, Attorney Christine Chale and PANDA film representative Fred Cartier.
Public: David Cleaveland, Karen Cleaveland, Tina Wright, Dana Weidman, Jeff Scales and Radley Glasser.
The Mayor asked all present to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
On a motion by Trustee Griffith, seconded by Deputy Mayor Leedy, the meeting was opened to public comments for agenda items only. The Mayor listed the agenda items for the public. There were no public comments. On a motion by Trustee Ezrati, seconded by Trustee Bruno, the regular meeting resumed.
The Mayor thanked Trustee Ezrati and the Zoning Review Committee and Attorney Chale and Planner Greig for their work on Local Law 3-2012.
Trustee Ezrati introduced Planner Michele Greig of Greenplan who spoke about the proposed Local Law 3-2012, a local law amending Chapter 231 of the Village Code to provide supplementary regulations for development in the RB district, to amend the list of permitted and specially permitted uses and to make other changes. Planner Greig discussed the SEQR review process and the Village of Tivoli Planning Board’s review of the LWRP to determine consistency.
On a motion by Trustee Ezrati, seconded by Trustee Bruno, the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Consistency Determination (LWRP) was approved. A roll call vote was taken. Leedy: aye, Ezrati: aye, Bruno: aye, Griffith: aye, Cranna: aye.
On a motion by Trustee Ezrati, seconded by Deputy Mayor Leedy, the State Environmental Quality Review Negative Declaration (Notice of Non-Significance) was approved. A roll call vote was taken. Leedy: aye, Ezrati: aye, Bruno: aye, Griffith: aye, Cranna: aye.
On a motion by Trustee Ezrati, seconded by Trustee Griffith, Resolution 21-2012, dated September 19, 2012, Authorizing Adoption by the Village Board of Trustees of the Village of Tivoli of Local Law No. 3 (Proposed) of 2012 was approved. A roll call vote was taken. Leedy: aye, Ezrati: aye, Bruno: aye, Griffith: aye, Cranna: aye.
Captain Watterson of the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Department spoke about police presence in the village and the recent home invasion that occurred in Tivoli. He stated that there are regular patrols in the village. Captain Watterson opened the floor for questions. Questions centered on Thursdays nights in the village including the presence of drunken students in the area of the Black Swan and the Bard Shuttle. Captain Watterson assured the meeting attendees that his officers would be familiar with the village’s noise ordinance. Foot patrols and preventative measures for noise complaints were suggested.
Mayor Cranna presented the minutes of the August 15, 2012 Proposed Extension of Terms Public Hearing, the August 15, 2012 Proposed Local Law 3-21012 Public Hearing, August 15, 2012 regular Board Meeting, and the September 12, 2012 Board of Trustees Workshop minutes for EFC Finance and CDBG 2013. A motion was made by Deputy Mayor Leedy, and seconded by Trustee Bruno to approve the minutes. After a brief discussion, the minutes were approved, all in favor.
Mayor Cranna presented the Treasurer’s Report for Abstract 4, dated September 19, 2012 in the amount of $143,616.80. On a motion by Trustee Griffith, seconded by Trustee Bruno, the Treasurer’s Report was approved, all in favor. Mayor Cranna asked for a motion to pay the current Village bills. Deputy Mayor Leedy moved that the bills be paid as presented and Trustee Griffith seconded the motion, all in favor. Trustee Ezrati reviewed the Planning/Zoning Report stating there were two building permits with fees of $300 collected and two noise complaints were reported.
Mayor Cranna spoke about the an agreement reached between the Village of Tivoli Trustees and Bard College’s Administration to change the shuttle’s last run from 3:30am to 12:10 am. All parties felt it was in the best interest of the village to stop the shuttle at 12:10 am. There were concerns about students drinking and driving. The Mayor apologized to the residents in the business district for not taking action sooner. The Mayor and Trustee Griffith have met with Zoning Officer Cole to discuss absentee landlords and renters who are violators of zoning codes.
Trustee Griffith stated that according to the Bard Free Press, online edition, Jeff Smith of Bard transportation estimates that between 400-500 students are brought into the Village of Tivoli on some nights. Trustee Griffith also spoke about reducing the hours of the Bard shuttle also creates a new situation and challenges for both Tivoli and Bard students – how are they going to get home safely? Trustee Griffith advised students to plan ahead, designate a driver, stay over, stay where they are, and stay safe.
On a motion by Trustee Griffith, seconded by Deputy Mayor Leedy, Resolution 22-2012, dated September 19, 2012, a Resolution authorizing the Execution of a Memorandum of Understanding Between Hudson River Valley Greenway Communities Council and the Village of Tivoli Regarding Planning and Design for Waterfront Access Walkway and Montgomery Street Pedestrian Improvements was approved. A roll call vote was taken. Leedy: aye, Ezrati: aye, Bruno: aye, Griffith: aye, Cranna: aye.
On a motion by Trustee Griffith, seconded by Trustee Ezrati, Resolution 23-2012, dated September 19, 2013, The Submission of the Justice Court Assistance Program Grant Application in an amount not to exceed $30,000 and funding will go towards computer software and tower, chairs for the gallery and bench, and two (2) air conditioners. A roll call vote was taken. Leedy: aye, Ezrati: aye, Bruno: aye, Griffith: aye, Cranna: aye.
On a motion by Trustee Ezrati, seconded by Deputy Mayor Leedy, Resolution 20-2012, dated September 19, 2012, a Resolution for (proposed) Budget Modifications for FEMA Funds received and Department of State Funds designated for the Waterfront and Hudson Valley Sprawl was approved, all in favor.
Mayor Cranna spoke about the DPW and Fire Department’s work with the recent rain and wind storm that resulted in the loss of power for the village and surrounding area. The Fire Department also helped the Town of Red Hook during the power outage.
The next Regular Meeting will take place October 17, 2012 at 7:00pm at the Historic Watts dePeyster Hall. The workshop will be held at 6:00pm before the meeting. There will be a workshop October 10, 2012 at Village Hall at 6:00pm.
Trustee Reports:
Deputy Mayor Leedy:
- Water Report
o Water main breaks outside of Village Hall and at the McKnight well
o RFP for sidewalk grant upcoming
Trustee Ezrati:
- Street Painting Festival
o September 29 – Rain Date is October 6
o Map with square numbers this year
o Sponges, apples, wipes and water
o Self-sustaining financially
o Library seminar on street painting
o Open Space, Tivoli Farm Market, carving, t-shirts, etc.
- Hardscrabble Day in Red Hook is September 22
o Puppet Parade
- Town of Red Hook has preserved approximately 1000 acres of farmland
Trustee Bruno:
- Memorial Park
o Construction has begun
o Pavilion posts have been replaced
o Plumber has begun work on bathroom
o Basketball court re-surfaced
o Eagle Scout Jeremy Taylor painted some of playground equipment
- The benches for the monument have been ordered and will be in place for Veteran’s Day
- The Tivoli Library continues to have various programs available to the community
- Teen band Halloween party in October 26 from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at the Masonic Lodge
- Kid’s Halloween costume contest on October 27 also at the Masonic Lodge
Trustee Griffith:
- Court Report – net fees collected in the amount of $1367
- Thanked Court Clerk Barbara Melinsky for working on Justice Grant
- Waterfront
o Mowing and Cleaning completed
o Two old boats and other items were removed
o Tunnel feasibility study contracts are ready – will be paid for by private donor
- Bus stop
o Physical structure is in Poughkeepsie and will be placed in Tivoli on Pine Street.
o Donated by Dutchess County
Public Comments included Dana Weidman of PANDA, who presented the Board of Trustees with PANDA’s proposed budget and an invitation to the PANDA annual meeting on October 24 at the PANDA station located at 6 Montgomery Street. She noted that there is a new station manager and increased programming. Their web page includes Village of Tivoli Board Meetings. Karen Cleaveland also commented that the meeting was positive.
On a motion by Deputy Mayor Leedy and seconded by Trustee Griffith, the meeting was adjourned at 8:33 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda Gonnella
Village Clerk &Treasurer