VILLAGE OF TIVOLI BOARD OF TRUSTEES
REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES
February 15, 2023
A meeting of the Village Board of Trustees was held on February 15, 2023 at the Historic Watts DePeyster Hall, Tivoli, NY. Mayor Griffith opened the regular meeting at 7:01 PM.
Present: Mayor Griffith, Deputy Mayor Majer, Trustee Baldino, Trustee Mangieri and Trustee Shilling
Public Present: Jeanette Canaday, Kathy O’Connor, Masha Zabara and Hayden Sartoris
Others Present: Christine Chale, Village Attorney
Media: PANDA
The Mayor asked all present at the meeting to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Griffith announced that the Village Office will be closed on Monday, 2/20 in observance of President’s Day. He also announced that there will be a second public forum for the wastewater treatment plant replacement project on Wednesday, March 1 at 6:30PM at Village Hall. The meeting will cover information covered in the first meeting and detail the collection system.
The Clerk’s report:
There was no Clerk’s Report.
On a motion by Trustee Mangieri, seconded by Trustee Shilling, the January 18, 2023 Regular Meeting Minutes and the February 8, 2023 Workshop minutes were approved, all in favor.
On a motion by Trustee Baldino and seconded by Deputy Mayor Majer, the Treasurer’s Report for Abstract #9 totaling $59,621.89 was approved. Deputy Mayor Majer moved that the bills be paid for the abstract as presented, Trustee Mangieri seconded the motion, all in favor.
Zoning Report:
Trustee Shilling read the zoning reports provided by Gary Beck of Z3 Consultants for February.
Regular Business:
The Mayor asked for public comment on the agenda items. There was none.
The first agenda item was the Supplemental Bond Resolution to amend the Bond Resolution dated July 25, 2018 and amended March 10, 2021 to authorize an increase of $6,430,328 in the maximum estimated cost of the wastewater system improvements.
On a motion by Trustee Mangieri and seconded by Trustee Baldino, the Board approved the Resolution authorizing the Sewer Project Bond Supplement. A roll call vote was conducted; all in favor.
The Resolution to submit an application for exclusion of certain sewer indebtedness was discussed. Mayor Griffith explained that there is a limit that the village is allowed to borrow. Water projects are excluded from that limit, but sewer projects are not automatically excluded. The Village is submitting an application to exclude the sewer costs from the computation for indebtedness.
On a motion by Deputy Mayor Majer and seconded by Trustee Shilling, the Board approved the Resolution authorizing the Resolution for the Submission of Application for Exclusion of Certain Sewer Indebtedness. A roll call vote was conducted; all in favor.
The use of funds from the American Rescue Act were discussed. There is a filing requirement to declare the category under which the funds will be used. On a motion by Trustee Mangieri and seconded by Deputy Mayor Majer, the board approved the declaration of the revenue category for the American Rescue Act funds.
The Resolution to authorize the solicitation of public bids for the Broadway Sidewalks Project was discussed. On a motion by Trustee Baldino and seconded by Turstee Mangieri the resolution was approved pending county approval. A roll call vote was conducted, all in favor.
Mayor Griffith announced the next Village Board Meeting on March 15, 2023 with a Workshop at 6pm and a Workshop on March 8 at 6pm. There will be two public hearings at the Workshop on March 8th, one for the proposed zoning law and one for reducing the village-wide speed limit.
Trustee Reports:
Trustee Shilling
Court Report: Trustee Shilling read the contents of the report. $2,122.00 was remitted to the Office of the State Comptroller. Trustee Shilling also met with Susan Ezrati and reviewed projects she was involved with.
Trustee Baldino
Trustee Baldino read the contents of the Police Report for January.
Trustee Mangieri
Trustee Mangieri gave an update about the arrival of a duck playground toy and an upcoming announcement of the date for the Egg Hunt in the Playground.
Deputy Mayor Majer
Deputy Mayor Majer announced an author talk on zoom hosted by Historic Red Hook on the 22nd about the creation of public schools in NY. She promoted programs at the Tivoli Library including q-tip pointillism, and she shared a history lesson about Benedict Arnold and the Battle of Saratoga that was commemorated with a sculpture in the Saratoga National Historical Park donated by DePeyster.
Mayor Griffith
Mayor Griffith spoke about lowering the village-wide speed limit to 25 m.p.h. There will be a public hearing on the matter on March 8th at 7pm. There will be a second public hearing regarding a change to the zoning law.
Mayor Griffith reminded residents that the Winter Parking Ordinance is still in effect. There is no overnight street parking because despite the warm weather spring storms are still possible. Permits are available for overnight parking in the municipal lots at Village Hall.
If residents want to report a Central Hudson street light that is out, note the 6 digit pole number and report it to the mayor.
There will be another public information forum for the Tivoli Wastewater Treatment Plant Replacement Project on Wednesday March 1, 2023 at 6:30 pm. Originally the plant was to be repaired but it has been determined that a full replacement is required. The meeting will cover information covered in the first meeting and detail the collection system.
The annual Village Election with be on March 21st from 12pm – 9 pm at the Firehouse. The mayor’s office and two trustee positions are on the ballot.
Public Comment
There was a discussion about ways to reduce speeding.
Kathy O’Connor discussed a state law that requires pedestrians to walk facing traffic along roadways.
Jeanette Canaday asked about the status of the Waterfront Park. Mayor Griffith responded that the shoreline stabilization was completed two years ago and future progress will wait until the most recent plan for gating and fencing at-grade crossings is presented by Amtrack. It will be beneficial to see how other communities with at-grade crossings are affected. The area is currently roped off to prevent damage to the grass that was planted as a part of the shoreline stabilization.
Masha Zabara asked about the use of the American Rescue Act funds. The board will discuss their use and may split the funds between uses.
The use of the former St. Sylvia’s was discussed but deemed a private matter.
On a motion by Deputy Majer and seconded by Trustee Baldino, the meeting was adjourned at 7:38 PM, all in favor.
Submitted by,
Laura Gail Tyler
Village Deputy Clerk