MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
THE VILLAGE OF CHESTNUT RIDGE
NOVEMBER 20, 2014
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Chestnut Ridge convened in regular session
November 20, 2014 at 8:00 P.M. at the Village Hall, located at 277 Old Nyack
Turnpike, Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977.
PRESENT:
ROSARIO PRESTI, JR.
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MAYOR
JOAN BROCK
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DEPUTY MAYOR
HOWARD COHEN
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TRUSTEE
MARISA STEWART
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TRUSTEE
GRANT VALENTINE
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TRUSTEE
WALTER R. SEVASTIAN
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ATTORNEY
FLORENCE A. MANDEL
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RECORDING SECRETARY
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1. Pledge of Allegiance.
2. Chief Peter Brower from the Town of Ramapo visited us.
• Stated he liked to come around to the different villages.
▪ Stated it has been quiet with no crime in the area.
• Spoke about speeding school buses.
• Had his communications officer go to each school district in late August or early
September. Officer gave a presentation and told them what they shouldn’t do.
a. No speeding, using cell phone or texting while driving or putting out bus stop
sign to stop traffic prematurely.
▪ Drivers spoke of problems they are having with cars passing buses when bus stop
sign is out
• Chief Brower stated he did not have too much success with the religious schools
buses.
▪ He met with Rabbi Horowitz who is a central figure in the Ramapo schools.
• Rabbi promised Chief that he will have an opportunity to talk to the bus drivers of
the religious schools.
• Chief Brower stated he is very happy with his police department.
• Stated he hopes they come around and if there is anything they can do; large or
small or questions they can help us with just to let them know.
▪ Stated the police department passes the speeding sign around to the different
villages.
▪ Stated any help they can give us or questions they can answer in any way; large or
small just let to them know.
▪ Chief Brower wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving, holiday season and Happy
New Year and stated it was a pleasure to serve us.
• Chief said sometimes things get lost in the shuffle. The dispatches may be busy
with other issues and may not realize who we are. Stated there is always a Sergeant
or Lieutenant on Board. If the dispatcher can’t respond to you, they know how to go
up the ladder.
▪ If an emergency occurs, ask to speak to the Sergeant or the Lieutenant.
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• Stated we can always reach the Captain or himself after hours.
• Mayor thanked Chief Brower and stated he appreciated all the police department
does for the Village. He knows that the officers stop in and that our inquiries and
concerns are always addressed efficiently and effectively.
▪ Mayor stated he feels that it is our own police department.
3. Mayor’s Report.
▪ Mayor had his monthly Sunday meeting on September 2, 2014.
• Stated he was able to speak with a few residents of the Village.
▪ States is was a very productive couple of hours as it usually is.
• Had an opportunity to speak to a BOCES class on November 10, 2014.
▪ Mayor stated he was asked to speak to correlate what it’s like to be an elected
official as Mayor and a practicing attorney.
• Stated nice that BOCES recognized the Village of Chestnut Ridge and they asked
him to come over.
• Mayor stated he got a very nice thank you and was well received by the class.
4. OPEN FLOOR DISCUSSION ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY
No one from the public wishes to speak.
CLOSE THE OPEN FLOOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON AGENDA ITEMS.
MOTION: Trustee Cohen
SECOND: Deputy Mayor Brock
The Board was polled and voted 5-0 to Close the Open Floor Public Discussion.
5. Resolution No. 2014-89
Resolution to approve the renewal of an Agreement with Pro-Cut Lawns and
Landscaping for landscaping and snow removal from Village Property for the 2014 -2015
season at a cost of $10,850.00 (correcting Resolution 2014-84).
WHEREAS, the Village Clerk has sought proposals for professional services
regarding landscaping and snow removal from municipal property, and
WHEREAS, the Village of Chestnut Ridge is desirous renewing the contract with
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Pro-cut Lawns and Landscaping for landscaping and snow removal from Chestnut Ridge
municipal property, and to amend and correct Resolution 2014-84 to insert the price of
the contract renewal.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor is authorized to execute a
contract with Pro-cut Lawns and Landscaping for landscaping and snow removal from
Village property at a cost of $10,850.00.
MOTION: Trustee Cohen
SECOND: Trustee Valentine
The Board was polled and voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. 2014-89.
6. Resolution No. 2014-90
Resolution accepting the annual Justice Court Audit for fiscal year June 1, 2013 through
May 31, 2014 and authorizing the Village Clerk to submit the report to the New York
State Office of Court Administration.
WHEREAS, State law requires the Village of Chestnut Ridge to conduct an annual audit
of its Justice Court’s operation; and
WHEREAS, the Village’s financial consultant, Marvin Nyman, has completed the audit
for fiscal year June 1, 2013 through May 31, 2014, and issued his report,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Village Board of Trustees has reviewed
the report prepared by its financial consultant, and hereby accepts the same; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Village Clerk is directed to submit the report to the
New York State Office of Court Administration, Attention: Dennis Donnelly, Director of
Internal Audit, 98 River Street, Cohoes, NY 12047.
MOTION: Deputy Mayor Brock
SECOND: Trustee Stewart
The Board was polled and voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. 2014-90.
7. Resolution No. 2014-91:
RESOLVED that the contract with the town of Ramapo for Highway services for the
period of January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015 at a cost not to exceed
$508,332.00 is hereby approved, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Mayor is hereby authorized to execute said contract and take all
actions necessary to implement this resolution.
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MOTION: Trustee Valentine
SECOND: Trustee Cohen
The Board was polled and voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. 2014-91.
8. Resolution No. 2014-92
Resolution to authorize a tax certiorari settlement in the amount of $114.73.
RESOLVED, that pursuant to Court Order in a tax certiorari proceeding, the sum of
$114.73 is hereby authorized to be refunded to “Iron Mountain Inc.”, the owners of
Ramapo tax lot 63.5-1-11.
MOTION: Deputy Mayor Brock
SECOND: Trustee Stewart
The Board was polled and voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. 2014-92.
9. Resolution No. 2014-93
Resolution to authorize a tax certiorari settlement in the amount of $2,764.66.
RESOLVED, that pursuant to Court Order in a tax certiorari proceeding, the sum of
$2,764.66 is hereby authorized to be refunded to “Y Not U LLC”, the owners of Ramapo
tax lot 68.9-2-17 (correcting Resolution 2014-85 by increasing the refund amount due the
property owner by $813.15).
MOTION: Trustee Stewart
SECOND: Trustee Grant
The Board was polled and voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. 2014-93.
10. Resolution No. 2014-94
Resolution providing that 2015 Village Election will be held on Wednesday March 18,
2015, designating the Village Meeting Room as the polling place for the Village Election,
and providing that the polls shall be opened from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on March 18,
2015.
WHEREAS, Section 15-104 (3) of the Election Law of the State of New York requires
the adoption of a Resolution providing that the March 2015 Village Election shall be held
on Wednesday March 18, 2015 to accommodate St. Patrick’s Day, and
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WHEREAS, Section 15-104 (3) of the Election Law of the State of New York provides
that a Village must adopt a Resolution stating the polling place and hours which the polls
shall be open,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:
1. That the March 2015 Village Election shall be held on Wednesday March 18, 2015 to
accommodate St. Patrick’s Day.
2. The place of holding the General Village Election in the Village of Chestnut Ridge,
County of Rockland, State of New York, shall be at the Chestnut Ridge Village Meeting
Room, 275-277 Old Nyack Turnpike, Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977.
3. That the hours of opening and closing the polls shall be from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in
the evening on Wednesday the 18th of March, 2015.
MOTION: Trustee Cohen
SECOND: Deputy Mayor Brock
The Board was polled and voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. 2014-94:
11. Resolution No. 2014-95:
a. Mayor appoints Michael J. Scharff as member of Architectural Review Board for
a term to expire April, 2017.
b. RESOLVED, that the Mayor’s appointment of as member of Architectural
Review Board for a term to expire April, 2017.
▪ Mayor stated Michael J. Scharff has been active with many activities in the Village.
▪ Mayor stated he believed Michael Scharff would be a true asset to the Village and
wished to seek the Board’s confirmation to the ARB.
MOTION: Deputy Mayor Brock
SECOND: Trustee Cohen
The Board was polled and voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. 2014-95.
12. Resolution No. 2014-96 approving Abstract of Audited Claims.
RESOLVED, that General Fund Claims set forth on pages 1 through 3 in the aggregate
amount of $234,746.60 as set forth on Abstract No. 2014-11 dated November 20, 2014
as submitted by the Village Treasurer, are hereby approved.
MOTION: Trustee Valentine
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SECOND: Trustee Stewart
The Board was polled and voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution No. 2014-96.
OPEN FLOOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION:
No one from the public wished to speak.
CLOSE THE OPEN FLOOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION
MOTION: Trustee Cohen
SECOND: Trustee Stewart
The Board was polled and voted 5-0 to Close the Public Discussion.
MEETING ADJOURNED: 8:12 P.M.
MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR MATTERS OF
LITIGATION
MOTION: Deputy Mayor Brock
SECOND: Trustee Cohen
The Board was polled and voted 5-0 to go into litigation.
MOTION TO GO BACK INTO PUBLIC SESSION TO APPROVE THE
MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 14, 2014.
MOTION: Deputy Mayor Brock
SECOND: Trustee Cohen
The Board was polled and voted 5-0 to go approve the Minutes of October 14, 2014.
13. MOTION TO APPROVE THE MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 14, 2014.
MOTION: Deputy Mayor Brock
SECOND: Trustee Cohen
The Board was polled 5-0 and approved the Meeting Minutes of October 14, 2014.
MOTION TO GO BACK INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR LITIGATION:
MOTION: Deputy Mayor Brock
SECOND: Trustee Cohen
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The Board was polled and voted 5-0 to go back into litigation.
EXECUTIVE SESSION ADJOURNED: 8:43 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Florence A. Mandel
Village Clerk
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