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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-04-28 - Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING ()058(),j VILLAGE OF RYE BROOK BOARD OF TRUSTEES VILLAGE OFFICES 90 SOUTH RIDGE STREET RYE BROOK, NEW YORK APRIL 28, 1995 CONVENE MEETING The Meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m. By Mayor Cresenzi in the Port Chester Middle School Auditorium and the Pledge of Allegiance followed. Present were the following members of the Board: Mayor Salvatore M. Cresenzi Trustee Michele R. Daly Trustee Joseph Pellino Trustee Randy A. Solomon Trustee Gary J. Zuckerman Also present were: Christopher J. Russo, Village Administrator Lori Ann DeMarco, Ass't to Village Administrator Rocco V. Circosta, Director of Public Works Kenneth E. Powell, Village Attorney Robert J. Santoro, Chief of Police Thomas Hroncich, Superintendent of Recreation and Parks Joseph Cortese, Village Treasurer was not in attendance at this meeting. I 1 005804 April 28, 1995 Village Administrator, Christopher J. Russo summarized the changes discussed at the last Village Board worksession. Trustee Pellino brought up the nutrition program and entered into a discussion with Director of Human Services, Lori Ann DeMarco about the Village starting a pilot project this coming year. The numbers and intake sheets were discussed as well. It was estimated that $7,500 could cover the entire year based on Port Chester's current numbers. It was agreed by the Village Board to cap the Village's contribution at $7,500 toward the Port Chester program. Also agreed was the reduction of $5,000 in this line. In discussing leaving the Assistant Building Inspector position unfunded for the 1995-1996 fiscal year, Trustee Daly voiced her opposition to eliminating the position. She further explained that the Pace Study recommended adding a position to the then (2) two positions in the Department. Mayor Cresenzi responded by explaining we expect to have two bad years and that the financial "crunch" should subside after two years. Then it may be feasible to restore a position. Consultants could do actual building inspections on a schedule, perhaps 2 or 3 afternoons per week. Trustee Daly further stated that the percentages are deceiving since our piece of the tax pie is so small, and there has been no mention from the public that we are over taxing them. Mayor Cresenzi stated that he believed taxes are the number one issue with the public. Trustee Zuckerman explained that the Board must balance many interests and that it is a very difficult task. He further stated that the average increase is about $100 for all services and the Board must spend that money as efficiently as possible. William Aughaven of Mohegan Lane spoke from the audience that the realized 7.5% of the tax the proposed tax,rate increase was due to Certiorari or items out of the boards control. He stated it would not be unreasonable to have a cost of living increase above the uncontrollable factors. He acknowledged that many things are going on in Rye Brook. Trustee Zuckerman stated that we need to carefully study the Pace recommendations but not during the pressure of having to adopt a budget. He felt that we must go forward on the budget recommendations in the meantime. It was further stated by Trustee Zuckerman that we need to layout a plan for the building department during the next fiscal year. Additional monies in the consultant line is temporary. The Board informally decided to leave the Assistant Building Inspector position unfunded. The discussion of the Police Officer and secretarial positions in the Police Department commenced with a statement made by Trustee Zuckerman in which he called for a DCJS study of the Rye Brook Police Department to determine the most efficient use of manpower. He expected many comments to come up about the number of police officers, sergeants, etc. No one on the Board is fully equipped to make those determinations. Trustee Pellino excused himself from the rest of the meeting due to an illness in his family. 2 April 28, 1995 005806 Mayor Cresenzi made some comments in response to Mr. Aughaven's previous statement concerning the Police Department and the need for the police officer position in question. Mayor Cresenzi stated that Mr. Aughaven said we made the department one of the best. As requests came in for guns, office improvements, manpower arrangements, new locker room, they were granted. One of the first things we did was create the Youth Officer position and added one position. Then when the new chief and lieutenant were first appointed a plan was put forward for a squad system, and the department was further expanded. The overall goal was 25 people, we were told it would work at 24 and might get by at 23. But the Village was adequately served, however the squad system at 25 would be ideal. The Village Board must decide what it can afford at this time. Chief Santoro made an analogy, based on the previous discussion of the Building/Highway Department. He stated that the Village can always hire a tree cutter for highway then give them back at the end of the day. You can't do that with policemen. He further stated that the squad system has brought training up and morale up. Most departments in Westchester County are either at a squad system or attempting to do so. He knows of no department that has abandoned the squad system. Chief Santoro further stated that he could maintain adequate coverage at 23 if he had to, but the priority would always be patrol first, detectives second and youth officer last. If it got to this we would have to look at the youth officer position in light of the priority which is patrol. Trustee Daly questioned whether we would still have as much overtime without the squad system? Chief Santoro replied yes. Leaving the police officer position vacant or unfunded will also, cause overtime because the "days off due" are accumulating again. The Board informally decided to leave the patrol officer and a part time secretary funded in the police budget. A brief discussion ensued amongst the Village Board members concerning Trustee Solomon's announcement that he must leave soon in order to attend/coach a softball game. Trustee Zuckerman stated that if the meeting does not continue now, as he and the audience expects, he may not be available at another time until next week. Mr. Aughaven made a statement realizing the direction of the Village Board, he noted that a 3% controllable tax rate increase above the uncontrollable is great. Trustee Zuckerman stated that we just received numbers from Port Chester on the Fire Department costs which show approximately $25,000 less than we thought, therefore it is easier to consider leaving the 24th police position in the budget. Mayor Cresenzi stated that he feels we should treat all departments equally and fairly and would recommend we reinstate the Assistant Building Inspector position. At this point Trustee Solomon left over the objections of some members of the Board. Also, at the same time the Board had the opportunities to see a letter handed to them from the PBA attorney Maureen McNamara, who was in the audience. 3 April 28, 1995 0 0 5 8 0 Trustee Zuckerman addressing Ms. McNamara, stated that he resented getting a letter from the PBA attorney that was threatening and injecting the PBA into Budget Policy decisions of the Village Board, which never happened before. The letter seemed political. He further quoted two sections of the letter related to her statement that the Village will have insufficient coverage and related to media/campaign activity. Trustee Zuckerman further stated that the Police are professionals and this letter does not project that. Also, the letter includes an "or else" threat that is inappropriate. His decision regarding the police budget will be made without any regard to this letter. Ms. McNamara responded that she didn't think it was political because she has no idea of Board members political affiliations. She further stated that the Village Board never told the PBA they were considering cutting a position and she feels important negotiations are necessary. Trustee Zuckerman asked if the PBA through this letter, expects to support political candidates? The Mayor called a recess at 6:05 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The Police Department was requested to find Trustee Solomon and inform him of the 9:00 p.m. reconvene time. On Motion made by Trustee Zuckerman seconded by Trustee Daly, the meeting was adjourned into recess until 9:00 p.m. TRUSTEE DALY VOTING AYE TRUSTEE PELLINO EXCUSED TRUSTEE SOLOMON ABSENT TRUSTEE ZUCKERMAN VOTING AYE MAYOR CRESENZI VOTING AYE The meeting was reconvened at 9:03 p.m. All Board members were in attendance except Trustee Pellino. Mayor Cresenzi opened the reconvened meeting with a general statement in response to comments made earlier by Mr. Aughaven in which he felt the general population were not upset by the proposed 14.6% tax increase because they hadn't come out to voice that opposition. The Mayor used the Thursday, April 27th Gannet article in which reductions to 8.62% were outlined, as evidence that the public may have not come out because they supported the proposed cuts as outlined in the article, including the 1 less budgeted police officer position. The Mayor further explained that he too wants to see the department back up to full compliance and less overtime and would like to see both officers that are currently our injured returned to work as quickly as possible. 4 April 28, 1995 00580 r� Trustee Zuckerman expressed a concern to add funds to the contingency account to help address the Pace Study recommendation at some point during the next fiscal year. Inclusive of the following list of changes the tentative Budget for 1995-1996 fiscal year was adopted: 1. Leave unfunded the Assistant Building Inspector position. Fill the Police Secretary position with a part time person. less than 20 hours per week. 2. Adjust assessed value from $52,861,000 to $53,614,000 as a result of Grievance Day settlements. 3. Reduce road resurfacing from $138,000 to $118,000. 4. Add $20,000 to consulting fees to help cover additional engineering and part-time Building Inspector services. 5. Reflect the following increases to revenue line: a. $25,000 to sales tax b. $5,000 to sale of equipment C. $10,000 to cable franchise fee d. $5,000 to Clerk's fee for alarms C. $10,000 to gross receipts tax 6. Library contribution increase changed to $10,000. 7. Youth services line reduced to $5,000. 8. Police Department Budget amended to add $550 to contractual and $230 to equipment line. 9. Debt service will reflect a BAN for 35,000 GVW dump truck and 2 ton dump truck replacement at a total estimated expenditure of$100,000. 10. The $50,000 reserved to help fund the Village Hall project until a serial Bond is issued, can be used to eliminate the proposed dept service payment on the 938 King Street BAN from the general fund, therefore reducing the budget $31,600 more. 11. Nutrition program cut $5,000. 12. Fire line cut $24,000. 13. $60,000 added to contingency account. The end result of these changes would be a tax rate increase of $9.55 per 1000 of assessed value or 10.28%. 5 April 28, 1995 ()(55808 On Motion made by Trustee Zuckerman, seconded by Trustee Solomon, the following Resolution was hereby adopted: RESOLUTION VILLAGE OF RYE BROOK 1995-1996 BUDGET WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees met on the 10th day of April, 1995 pursuant to Notice of Public Hearing, regarding the Proposed 1995-1996 Budget, and has heard all person desiring to be heard thereon; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Proposed Budget as hereinafter set forth by the Board of Trustees, is hereby adopted this 28th day of April, 1995; and be it FURTHER RESOLVED, that the amounts listed therein for payment of principal and interest on indebtedness, and that maintenance district charges be paid, and that the salaries, wages, benefits and other terms and conditions of employment for all employees, including those not represented by a bargaining unit, shall be paid such salaries as determined by the Board of Trustees. TRUSTEE DALY VOTING AYE TRUSTEE PELLINO EXCUSED TRUSTEE SOLOMON VOTING AYE TRUSTEE ZUCKERMAN VOTING AYE MAYOR CRESENZI VOTING AYE ADJOURNMENT On Motion made by Trustee Daly, seconded by Trustee Solomon, the meeting was adjourned at 9:55 p.m. TRUSTEE DALY VOTING AYE TRUSTEE PELLINO EXCUSED TRUSTEE SOLOMON VOTING AYE TRUSTEE ZUCKERMAN VOTING AYE MAYOR CRESENZI VOTING AYE Respectfully submitted, Christopher J— Russo Village Clerk 6