MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
held on April 10, 2019
PRESENT:
Mayor Lawrence A. Ceriello
Deputy Mayor Jennifer Noone
Trustee Antonio D’Angelo
Trustee Anthony M. Sabino
Trustee Joseph Williams
Paul Pepper, Morici & Morici, LLP
The reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, said by all.
A motion to open the meeting was made by Trustee Noone, seconded by Trustee Sabino and approved by all. Mayor Ceriello called the meeting to order at 7:36pm.
ADMISTRATION OF OATH OF OFFICE
Village Justice John Turano administered the Oath of Office to Lawrence A. Ceriello, Antonio D’Angelo and Joseph Williams.
ANNUAL MEETING
Mayor Ceriello moves into the annual meeting by reading the following appointments and resolutions:
The Mayor reports that the Oath of Office had been taken by following, elected in the Village’s annual election on March 19, 2019:
Mayor: Lawrence Ceriello 2 Years
Trustee: AntonioD’Angelo 2 Years
Joseph Williams 2 Years
The following Resolution is proposed:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and the Board of Trustees serve without compensation for the current fiscal year, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to §4-400 of the Village Law of the State of New York, The Board of Trustees approves the following appointments by the Mayor:
MAUREEN MCLEAN, be re-appointed DEPUTY CLERK for a term of one (1) year, expiring on the first Monday of April 2020;
ANTHONY DiPROPERZIO, be re-appointed BUILDING INSPECTOR, for a term of one (1) year, expiring on the first Monday of April 2020;
PATRICIA MILLER, be re-appointed ACTING VILLAGE JUSTICE, for a term of one (1) year, expiring on the first Monday of April 2020;
ROBERT MORICI, Morici & Morici, LLP, be re-appointed VILLAGE ATTORNEY for a term of one (1) year, expiring on the first Monday of April 2020;
LAURA DILIMETIN, be re-appointed VILLAGE PROSECUTOR for a term of one (1) year, expiring on the first Monday of April 2020;
AMY URBAN, AIA, be re-appointed VILLAGE Architect for a term of one (1) year, expiring the first Monday of April 2020;
JAMES ANTONELLI, be re-appointed VILLAGE ENGINEER for a term of one (1) year, expiring the first Monday of April 2020;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that pursuant to the provisions of § 7-712 of the Village Law of the State of New York, Dr. Richard Susi is appointed to the Board of Zoning and Appeals for a term of five (5) years;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the firm of SATTY, LEVINE & CIACCO, CPA’s, be re-appointed to provide accounting services and the Village’s annual audit, for a term of one (1) year, expiring on the first Monday of April 2020;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the MANHASSET PRESS, a newspaper published in Manhasset, Town of North Hempstead, New York, be and hereby is designated as OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER of the Incorporated Village of Munsey Park for the official year ending on the first Monday of April 2020, pursuant to §4-412 of the Village Law of the State of New York; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Investment Policy is updated to reflect that the First National Bank of Long Island will remain the Village’s Official Bank;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the First National Bank of Long Island is hereby designated as the OFFICIAL DEPOSITORY for the current official year and that the Clerk/Treasurer be authorized to deposit funds as outlined in the Investment Policy adopted by the Board of Trustees on January 14, 1987 and amended June 12, 1996; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Accounting Policy that all bills are reviewed by Trustee Antonio D’Angelo and all accounting entries are reviewed by Robert Kordic, of ALBRECHT, VIGGIANO, ZURECK & CO., P.C., Certified Public Accountants, for any adjustments and reconciliation;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all meetings of the Village Board of Trustees shall begin at 7:30p.m.; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Meeting dates for the forthcoming Official Year are as follows:
April 10, 2019
May 8, 2019
June 12, 2019
July 10, 2019
August – No Meeting
September 11, 2019
October 9, 2019
November 13, 2019
December 11, 2019
January 8, 2020
February 12, 2020
March 11, 2020
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Zoning & Appeals (BZA) meetings shall be held as needed on the Third Monday of the month and begin at 7:00p.m.;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees has determined that attendance by certain municipal officers and employees at one or more meetings during the coming official year will benefit the municipality and the Clerk/Treasurer or Deputy Clerk/Court Clerk be, and hereby is authorized to attend the regular meetings of their respective State, county and local associations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Mayor and the Board of Trustees are authorized to attend any training schools as required or deemed appropriate;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Village Justice and Acting Village Justice are authorized to attend State or County continuing Judicial Education Programs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Building Inspector is authorized to attend the annual State Building Officials Conference; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees shall approve reimbursement to such officers or employees for actual expenses and/or for mileage at the rate per mile set by the Internal Revenue Service for travel in their personal automobiles to these meetings, schools and conferences;
The Mayor made the following assignments to the Trustees for various responsibilities of Village government for the 20019/2020 official year.
LAWRENCE CERIELLO, Mayor
• Liaison - Tree Committee
• Village Code
• Village Right-of-Way
• Parks & Grounds
• Liaison - state, county, town, municipalities and districts
• Village Hall/Personnel
JENNIFER NOONE, Deputy Mayor
• Liaison - Munsey Park Elementary School
• Liaison - Munsey Park Women's Club
• Special Events/Community Events
• Resident Communications
• Roads - including sidewalks, gutters, street lights, street markings, street signs, sewers, sweeping and parking
ANTONIO D'ANGELO, Trustee
• Liaison – Police
• Finances and Budget
• Technology
• Traffic Control and Electronic Speed Signs
ANTHONY M. SABINO, Trustee
• Utilities, Electric, Cable, Extenet
• Liaison - Board of Zoning Appeals
• Litigation
• Liaison – Press
• Emergency Management
• Grants
JOSEPH WILLIAMS
• Garbage and Leaf Removal
• Liaison - Building Advisory Committee
• Snow Removal
• Liaison - Ethics Committee
Standing Committees:
• Trees
• Ethics
• Special Events/Community Events
• Technology
• Liaison - state, county, town, municipalities and districts
Trustee Sabino made a motion to approve the resolution for the annual appointments, seconded by Deputy Mayor Noone and approved by all.
MINUTES
The minutes for the March 13, 2019 Board of Trustees meeting were approved by all.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Trustee D’Angelo reported that the budget will be considered at a public meeting on April 15, 2019 and voted on by the Board on April 29, 2019. Trustee D’Angelo gave a brief overview on the proposed budget which has a 2% increase and is within the allowed tax cap. This increase was driven by a number of factors. First, the projected decline in home sales will result in a decrease of building and permit fees for the Village. In addition, other major drivers for the increase include garbage removal and a decrease in State funding of CHIPS for our road projects. The Village is projecting to spend $500,000 on the new road improvement project which includes lower Eakins Road, Bellows Lane and Stuart Place. The road project is currently in the preliminary phases and is expected to commence this summer. Trustee D’Angelo also reported that the State Comptroller’s Office announced the results of the Village’s yearly Fiscal Stress Test. This is the third consecutive year that our Village has a “No Designation” score which indicates the Village is in excellent financial shape.
MAYOR’S REPORT
Mayor Ceriello updated the Board on several items:
• The PSEG utility upgrade project is underway which affects certain poles on Nassau Avenue, Munsey Place, Thayer Road (between Nassau and Park Avenue), Park Avenue up to Manhasset Woods Road and Manhasset Woods Road to Northern Boulevard. The Village will continue to monitor the installation of the new poles and wires, as well as the pruning to the ROW trees.
• The Mayor announced that the New York State Budget has passed and the Village received $7,500 from AIM (Aid and Incentives for Municipalities) Funding. Mayor Ceriello stated that grants are critical to all village’s finances. In fact, last year Senator Phillips was able to secure approximately $250,000 in grants for Munsey Park, which is about ten percent of our budget. Mayor Ceriello attended a mayor’s meeting with Senator Anthony D’Urso and he pledged to continue to help secure village grants. Mayor Ceriello will also be attending a meeting on April 16th with Congressman Thomas Suozzi.
• The Mayor would like all members of all boards in the Village to receive NYCOM webinar training on open meetings laws and ethics. Further information to follow.
• The Mayor reported that the Manhasset Lakeville Fire Department is holding its annual awards night on May 2, 2019. The Mayor publicly thanked the firefighters for their continued service to the Village.
PUBLIC SAFETY REPORT
• JUSTICE REPORT: The Monthly Justice Report for March 2019 was presented by Trustee Sabino with total fines assessed in the amount of $13,347.00.
• POLICE REPORT: The Police Report for March 2019 was presented by Trustee Sabino, stating 7 Auto Accidents, no Burglary-Residence, no Burglary-Business, no Robberies, no Larceny-Auto incident, four Larceny (other than auto) incidents, no Criminal Mischief incidents and a total of 51 summonses (46 movers, 5 Parkers).
• BUILDING REPORT: The Building Report was presented by Trustee Sabino, stating that between June 1, 2018 and April 4, 2019, a total of 137 permits have been issued totaling $134,297.48 in Building Permit Fees.
5 BARNARD PLACE
The residents of 5 Barnard Place came before the Board to address certain items that were identified in a March 29, 2019 letter sent by our building inspector listing “items constructed that were not in accordance to approved plans”. The open items discussed are as follows:
1. Front portico
2. Window above portico
3. Exterior light fixtures
4. Stone water table
5. Grill pattern of first floor windows
6. Shutters
7. Triple casement window
Mayor Ceriello asked the homeowners to allow the Board to consider the project in its entirety and come back to them with one answer that will resolve all the open items. The Mayor also agreed to an extension to allow the residents to continue work on their home and remedy the on-going open items.
VILLAGE ROAD /PARKS REPORT
Mayor Ceriello announced that all lamp posts are currently being painted. In addition, all street signs are either being replaced or painted. The Tree Replacement Program continues and the Mayor encouraged all residents interested in a ROW (Right of Way) tree to call Village Hall.
PROCLAMATION
Mayor Ceriello read a Proclamation in honor of P.O. Scott Ferrara, who served Munsey Park for many years, on the occasion of his retirement.
EXTENET
Representatives from ExteNet Systems Incorporated, associated engineers, contractors and an expert witness gave an extensive presentation to the Board and the general public. The presentation was based on their formal application for the placement of a small cell installation for communication purposes within the Village of Munsey Park. At the suggestion of the Village Board, this small node tower will not be placed in front of any home in the Village. It will be located on the triangle of the northwest intersection of Manhasset Woods Road and Park Avenue. The tower will be in the form of a flagpole standing at 50 feet. The majority of the presentation focused on radio frequency emissions. The Board has researched this issue thoroughly and the placement of these cell towers is strictly a matter of Federal Law. There is little to nothing that local Villages can do to oppose or question the site of these facilities. Federal law does, however, mandate that cell tower contractors (ExteNet) comply with Federal law on the radio frequency emissions. This small cell installation will have a radio frequency emission of less than one percent of the federally allowed limit which is significantly under the safety margin. The entire Extenet slide show presentation is available at Village Hall. In addition, the Board prepared a FAQs packet and all of the materials submitted by ExteNet are available at Village Hall for public inspection. The FAQs are also posted on the Munsey Park Website. Trustee Sabino and the entire Board will continue to communicate with the residents of Munsey Park on this matter.
A Motion to close the meeting and go into *executive session to discuss litigation was made by Trustee Sabino, Seconded by Trustee Noone and unanimously approved. The meeting was adjourned at 9:36 pm.
*See addendum reflecting minutes of executive session taken by Paul Pepper, Morici &Morici.
Questions and comments were received from the following Flower Hill residents:
Arthur Behal
Kate Hirsch
______________________________ ______________________________
Lawrence A. Ceriello Tara Gibbons
Mayor Treasurer/Clerk