Flood Mitigation Update
Mayor Sharon Torres provided a synopsis of projects underway and their status (see project template HERE). A grant application to FEMA for the Tompkins Avenue Bridge was denied. The Village has appealed the decision but is also looking for other funding. A question arose about why the Tompkins Avenue Bridge was closed – did the Village close it or did NYS – with no complete answer.
Torres also asked the Board of Trustees (BOT) to authorize Interim Village Manager Chuck Strome to hire a consultant to review all of the recent flood reports plus the aquifer to provide an overview of what projects across the Village would provide the most flood relief. This wholistic study of the entire watershed system would provide priorities and also avoid increasing flooding in areas nearby the various anticipated projects. Westchester County will be approached for funding. The BOT agreed and Strome will proceed with issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP).
Crossing Guard Contract
Chief Sandra DiRuzza introduced the CEO of one of the two responders to an RFP issued by the Village to contract with a firm to provide crossing guards. In an effort to improve public safety the Village has added several locations where crossing guards will be stationed but has had difficulty attracting enough crossing guards to staff all of the required shifts. DiRuzza explained that if a crossing guard isn’t available then an officer must be taken from other duties to cover the location and/or the Village incurs overtime costs.
As described in DiRuzza’s memo (see HERE) one company was selected: Crossing Guard Services. Adam Bryan, CEO, attended the meeting to answer questions from the BOT. The company would be responsible for all aspects of managing the crossing guards including assignments, supervision, training, hiring and all administrative tasks and would relieve Village staff from handling them. The BOT approved the contract at their regular meeting.
Special Election for Village Elections in Even Years
Some members of the BOT continue to advocate changing Village elections to even years only. Currently, BOT members run in staggered two-year terms that require annual Village elections. Trustee Manny Rawlings asked the Village Attorney about the legality and cost of a special election and the status of a lawsuit that leaves a New York State law in limbo.
Attorney Spolzino explained that the lawsuit is still pending, and it will be some time before the issue is resolved. Trustee Leilani Yizar-Reid pointed out the strain of never-ending elections every year but also said she was “not for or against it.” Trustee Lou Young said “we do have a problem that needs to be addressed” but did not specify what the problem was. Young wants a healthy discussion with experts and the community on the issue. Trustee Nora Lucas pointed out that without a four-year term (a referendum last year that was soundly defeated) it would be possible that the entire BOT would change every two years. A special Town Hall meeting could be held in the future.
Young Challenges Mayor on Fire Department
During the Report from Liaisons section of the meeting, Trustee Young stated that the volunteer Fire Department was extremely upset that their efforts on behalf of the Village were unappreciated. He read from a memo he said was between Mayor Torres and Interim Village Manager Strome suggesting looking at potential cuts to the fire department budget, closing fire houses and overall reviewing expenses including a storage shed proposed by former Village Manager Jerry Barberio that was represented as costing $1 million (due to a single source provider).
Young went on to say that fire department leadership felt their request for the Village to adopt a LOSAP (Length of Service Award Program) was being “pushed off.” They also want the BOT to schedule a public vote on the topic. See previous article HERE.
Torres responded that the Village is not flush with money right now and the ask for a $1 million storage building plus the $7.5 million currently quoted for LOSAP did not reflect any reticence on the part of the BOT to entertain their requests but rather fiscal prudence. She made it clear that any LOSAP program must, by law, go to the voters for approval. Torres bristled at the accusation that the BOT wasn’t paying enough attention to the Fire Department stating that the LOSAP program was first proposed in 1986, but no prior Board had taken it up seriously until now.
Torres also debunked former Village Manager Barberio’s claim that the storage unit was only available from one vendor and stated that, as with all appropriate financial spending, it would have to go out to competitive bid. And rather than look at storage in a narrow way Torres wants to look at the overall Village’s storage needs comprehensively. The two boats in question had been stored but then moved and thus provided Barberio with justification to spend the $1 million.
The Village will do their due diligence and follow the law, Torres said. To date, additional information on LOSAP requested in June from the Fire Department has not been provided.
