Town Board - Regular Meeting

good evening it's wednesday september 16 2026 and welcome to the carmel town board tonight we have a double meeting we're doing a work session followed by a voting meeting i call this meeting to order everybody please rise face the flag councilman lombardi will lead us in the pledge of allegiance

adjust us for a moment of silence this past week we lost a very very valuable and important member of our community tommy courtney all those who had gone through your children probably gone through pine grove nursery school he was the owner tom was also synonymous with youth sports here in main pack msa his boys played tremendous athletes he was a great referee a great person and a longtime friend and many of those who knew him will miss him he died way too early but it's a tremendous loss for our community so just for a moment of silence

I ask our town clerk, Stella, to please do a roll call attendance.

Councilman Schano? Here. Councilman Lugo? Here. Councilman Kearns?

Here.

Councilman Lombardi? Here. Supervisor Kazari?

Here. We have a public hearing scheduled for tonight. It's for a proposal to change chapter 104 of the town code noise. CURRENTLY THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT IS EXEMPT, ALL TOWN ACTIVITIES ARE EXEMPT FROM OUR CODE, BUT THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT IS ACTUALLY WRITTEN IN AS BEING EXEMPT FROM DOING THEIR WORK. THEY START AT 7, 7.30 IN THE MORNING. RECREATION ALSO STARTS THAT EARLY AND IS DOING WORK AND IS USING MACHINES. SO WE'RE ADDING RECREATION. THAT IS THE PROPOSAL IN THIS code change. That is the only change in that. If I could get Alice to just read the notice.

notice of public hearing notices hereby given that the town board of the town of Carmel will conduct a public hearing at town hall, 60 McAlpin avenue, may pack New York one Oh five, four one on Wednesday, September 16th, 2026 at 7 00 PM or soon thereafter that evening as possible on a proposed local law amending chapter one Oh four of the code of the town of Carmel copies of the full text of the proposed local law are available in the lobby at town hall. the town clerk's office during normal business hours as well as on the town of carmel website at said public hearing all interested persons shall be heard on the subject thereof town board will make every effort to assure that the public hearing is accessible to persons with disabilities anyone requiring special assistance and or reasonable accommodations should contact the town clerk by order of the town board of the town of carmel alice daly town clerk

Thank you. If there's no objections, we'll waive the reading of the proposed law, and I'll ask for someone to open the public hearing. Second. And all in favor? Aye. So the public hearing is open. I don't think anyone wrote their name in to speak, but if anyone wants to speak about the fact that we want to add recreation to Section 104 of the code, please do so. I'm seeing that there are no, oh. So the town code states that commercial and construction, landscapers, different things are not supposed to start before 8 a.m. I believe during the week. The highway department is exempt from that. The noise, using their weed whackers, their chainsaws, and whatnot.

How does recreation get into it? Because the recreation performs work that requires noise, and there's residential homes near their parks, so we want to make sure that the code resembles the same as the highway departments, so that they can perform, because there's times where there's events in the parks early in the morning, so they need to be able to start preparing for those events before 8 a.m.,

No, it's okay. No, it's fine.

Yeah, it's fine. Thank you for asking. So if there are no further questions, can we get a motion to close it?

So, second.

And all in favor? Aye. Do we have a resolution to?

No. So what we'll do is you have 156 that you had on the 2nd. You kept the public hearing open. So on the 30th, I was going to prepare a seeker determination for that, and you could vote on it and just put this on for seeker and voting on that date. Okay, but the public hearing is closed.

All right, so I have a good idea. Why don't we do seeker at the other meeting and then vote? Yeah, good. We'll do two seekers. That's a great idea I have. Thank you. So a motion to open up this work session.

So moved.

Second.

And all in favor? Aye. First thing on the agenda is to remind the board that Alice Daly sent you the minutes to the August 11th, August 26th, and September 2nd town board meetings. Please review those. And our town comptroller, Mary Ann Maxwell, is here to talk about the PENFLEX program. and our fire districts.

Yes, good evening everyone. So the first one we have is to consider the request to accept the 2025 LOSAP for the Carmel Ambulance program, Carmel Ambulance District. This program, the contribution, to be made to the trust in 2026 is $8,811. The trust funds investment return for 2025 was 11.6%, which is good. If you look at the second page, it is a little down from 2023 and 24. And I'm not sure where it's going to be in 26 because I think the market is so fluctual this year. So that investment return may go down in 26. The funded ratio is 136% as of 12-31-25 compared to 127%. in 2024. so this program is uh the fort carmel ambulance is well funded um this is a program that is run through the state controller's office so we really don't have too much to say about this because basically the state controller's office handles this the carmel ambulance fund so that um that's that one they basically tell us what to to fund you know with that program for carmel fire protection district number one The trust fund contribution for 2027 is $946. For 2026, it was determined that we were to pay $61,216. So in the past, we have budgeted well over those amounts. We've budgeted like $200,000. So both funds for the Mayapak Falls and Mayapak Fire Departments are very well funded. So we are able to drop the budget for 2027 for both of these programs. And I think we budgeted $200,000 this year. We only need to contribute $65,000. That's what I'm going to do. It says $61,000. I've always contributed much more to keep this so well funded, but I had a meeting with someone from Penflex, and they said that don't continue to send that much more, because right now we only have to contribute basically the cost to run the program. So that's how well we are with this. The reason we always contributed more, because if the market really took a turn, which it has in the past, we were always covered with it being well funded. And you can see that on the second page, you can see where the funded ratio kind of fluctuated. So I think, like I said, I think we will, you know, for 2027, we will not have to budget as much. So that's going to help with our tax cap.

Yeah, I was actually going to make that suggestion that we can drop that. Yeah, we're going to drop it. We're going to drop it in 2027 as well.

Yeah, yeah. So both, like I said, both of these programs, the funded ratio was good. for Carmel Fire Protection District number one and number two the funder ratio is actually 149 percent for Maypack Fire Department so with both of these the 2027 budget will be much lower than the 2026. Um, with that being said, um, back last year, we did a cost estimate to bring these programs from 20, 20 years to 30 years for the volunteers. Um, I brought this to the board last year and we need, you know, if we were to go ahead with this, it would be an additional cost to, you know, to, to the program. But, um, I think if the board is okay with that, I can get another estimate from Penn flex. in 27 and possibly it would need a referendum to you know to accept this you know for the fire departments and the and the ambulance yes and the ambulance as well yeah yeah change it from 65 to 60 60 to 65 right yeah to mirror the fire department yes correct yeah yeah yeah and this is because the fire departments were saying to us that uh yeah

Volunteerism, it's hard to get them, and every little bit helps.

Exactly, because the volunteers do find this as a benefit to them. So if the board is okay with that, I will ask Penflex to do another cost estimate. I won't do it until probably March of 27, once we get those points from the fire departments where we circle them back and forth between the board and the departments. And then once we get the points in, We can send that to Penflex, and they can do the cost estimate. And then, Greg, we would have to get that all done by August, right? Well, I think by June, because it would have to get to the Board of Elections by August.

The Board of Elections has got nine days prior to the election date for all props being on the list. Right.

By by. Oh, I know. Yeah, we did. Yeah. Yeah.

And this is to go over what we were discussing about putting making them their own district and they would handle the Losat themselves. Right. And the town of Carmel would no longer be responsible. That's a whole nother. Yes. Yeah. Yes. We wouldn't include it in our budget. It would be their responsibility.

If a district was formed. Yes, that's correct. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, but that's a separate. That's a separate thing. That's a separate thing.

That's separate than this, yes. That's a separate thing.

No, no, a separate referendum to put on. Yeah, yeah. The referendum is just to.

I think that's a change of plan. Definitely.

It's just a change in the LOSAP plan.

Greg, would we need a resolution to get, what's his name, Penske or his associates to help?

On the LOSAP?

No.

But if you're talking about.

just like the library

so uh june through august uh budget okay revisions okay yes okay um number one in the general fund we're providing for a payout of accrued time for a retiree in the building department for 98 542. number two we're providing for payouts of accrued vacation time of 5 638 in the comptroller's office and the assessor Number three, we're providing for police equipment from a portion of the sale of the boat. That's $2,998. That's the sale of the old boat. They're using a portion of those proceeds. Number four, we're providing for civil fingerprinting and Motorola training from the 2024 discovery grant of $2,600. Number five, we're providing for police overtime at the camp this summer, totaling $13,624. And this is coming from the park and recreation fees. Number six, we're providing for contractual expenses of $10,000 in the program for the aging contractual expenses, and this is coming from self-sustaining fees. Number eight, we're providing for Swan Cove and Park District capital design costs from ARPA funds totaling $126,000. Number nine, we're providing for a transfer of sales tax funds to the capital, to the capital sales tax fund. These were authorized a couple months ago. They were tree removals for recreation, a recreation truck, and the lights in Carmel, in the Carmel lighting district. And that's totaling $175,000 from sales tax. Number 11 at the bottom of this page, we're transferring to the building maintenance personal staff line of $30,330. That's for a full-timer that was hired in that department. Number 12, the top of this page, I'm sorry, we're transferring for police training and canine overtime. $16,000 for police training and $4,000 is going into the canine overtime line. Number 13, we're transferring for the purchase of the jet ski for Lake Patrol of $15,500. And this is coming from the contingent account.

Contingent.

Yes, we are getting reimbursed half of that. Yes, correct. So $7,500. Correct. But I have to transfer the full amount to the expense. Of course, of course. Yeah. I'll go down to number 16. We're transferring for building department consulting services of $17,500, and that is coming from other lines in that department. Number 17, we're transferring for employee and retiree health insurance cost and the building maintenance benefit cost and also the code enforcement retiree health insurance cost. Number 18, we're transferring for overtime. The building staff overtime, we're increasing that by $3,000. And the park staff overtime of $8,000. And that is coming from the park maintenance contract line of $11,000. Number 19, we're transferring for playground camp temporary staff expenses of $88,625 into the temporary staff line. and $8,400 into the employee benefit line in that department. Number 20, we're just transferring within the recreation department for miscellaneous expenses. And the highway fund, we're also transferring for miscellaneous highway expenses. Carmel Fire Protection District number three, we're providing for a tax surgery settlement from the fund balance in that district. Number 23 in Lake Secor Park District, we're transferring for Lake Secor expenses. Most of that is temporary labor, which is the lifeguards in that district. On the rest of this page, it's the water districts, which we're basically transferring within the district. On page four, Carmel Water District number nine, we're we're taking 13,000 from the fund balance because there's not enough money in that fund in that district to transfer. So we do have to take 13,000 from the fund balance to cover equipment and emergency repair costs. Carmel Water District number 14. Also, we're transferring $20,000 into the emergency repair line. 15 of that is coming from the fund balance. The bottom of this page is the Kirk Lake Capital Project Fund, state aid. We were awarded a grant of $24,750. So we are putting that towards special consulting fees so that we can fund that. And on page five is the capital fund for the sales tax. It's basically showing the transfer in to cover those costs for sales tax. Any questions?

So I spoke to council about the $140,000 for the lighting. And I told him, he said, what number did the controller say? I said $10,000 would be, you know, a year would be good to come back.

Right. Okay. Perfect. Until that is paid off. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I can look and see if... Because it's basically a transfer out from that district and a transfer into the general fund. So it's not going to affect our tax levy. I can just see how much of a tax increase it is for that district and maybe do $20,000. But I'll talk to you. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I'll look at it tomorrow. And you'll let him know? Yeah, I don't want it to be too much, you know, to overwhelm that district in taxes. But, you know, $10,000.

It's 14 years if it's $10,000.

Exactly, yeah. And it would be $7,000 if it was $20,000.

Thank you. Yeah, he just pushed back and said how much did the comptroller say to do.

Yeah, I did say $10,000, but I'll look at it again tomorrow.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Next up is Highway Superintendent purchased diesel under the state contract, sir.

Good evening, board. Tonight I have two agenda items for your consideration. Number one is a request to purchase bulk diesel from a New York State OGS contract, PC70538. It has been extended for an additional two years. with the new contract period extending through August 20th of 2028 from Sprague Operating Resources, LLC. Next is the request to dispose of equipment, and we are trying to put three items, three vehicles that have outlived their useful life onto the auction site, a 2008 Ford F-150 pickup, a 2007 Chevy Silverado 1500, which is from the original recycling truck, and a 2009 International MaxForce bucket truck, which is our tree truck. Our new one just came in, and this one's going to go onto the website, so we should see a decent amount of money for it.

Yeah, so the new one, you had it all painted up white, and it looks good.

Yeah, it looks nice. It came out really good. So are there any questions on these? All right, thank you.

Thank you for coming. So on the agenda next is the building inspector. He's requesting permission to send Joe Wilkowski to Capital District Conference October 13 through 15. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY PARTICIPATED IN A TRAINING SESSION TO OBTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING CURRENT ISSUES AND REGULATIONS, NETWORK WITH OTHER MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS AND PROFESSIONALS. THE KNOWLEDGE INFORMATION GAINED FROM THIS CONFERENCE WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE TOWN OF CARMEL. I DON'T SEE A REASON WHY WE WOULDN'T SEND OUR ASSISTANT BUILDING INSPECTOR TO CONFERENCE. NEXT UP IS CHRIS PAGLIO. All right, next up, our assessor, Chris Palio. He's requesting to go to the New York State Assessor Association Annual Fall Conference, and that is September 28th through... October 1st in Windrose on the Hudson in Osseting, New York. And that conference is education. It's required education for certified assessors under the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Yeah. Yep. Right. Yeah, that's the next line, right. New York State reimburses most of the related expenses, including tuition, lodging, travel, and meals. Yes. That's the important part for Chris. Next up is recreation.

So...

I guess first up you have equipment that you want disposed of. Hello, Nina and Joe.

Hello. Good evening, Board.

Hello, Parks.

All right, so we have a few items tonight. The first is a request to dispose of equipment. We're requesting authorization to dispose of the following Recreation and Parks Department equipment. We have a few different items that are unusable at this point. including broken benches a backpack blower another piece of equipment as well as two vehicles that we're looking to get rid of that are completely in bad shape right now um joe if you want to talk about those two vehicles um so the board knows kind of where we're coming from with that so we have two vehicles that um

A long time ago were purchased by us from the police department. We've used them for a while. They've outlived their life. They're in complete disrepair and they're also not practical for what we need them for. So we were hoping to put them on auction with the highway department along with the other vehicle that we asked for resolution a couple months ago and some of the other equipment and rundown things that we have.

around the parks so that we could use some of that money to then purchase a new pick or not a new pickup truck but a new to us pickup truck which would better suit our needs perfect any questions all right the second item that we have is a request to accept a donation of a 20-foot storage container from msa football msa would like to donate a storage container to jimmy mcdonough memorial park which will allow them to store practice equipment on site. The container has been delivered and is currently in the lower parking lot, but we are looking to move that to the side of Field 5 behind the skate park that will be moved by msa unfortunately when they were looking to come and bring that it was too wet to really put anything out there they previously have stored a lot of their practice equipment in the garage at mcdonough park we are looking to utilize our garage to hold the ventrac and some of the other equipment that we have and we really want to make sure that that garage is blocked and only utilized by the Recreation and Parks Department. So with that, there are some other areas within McDonough Park that MSA Baseball has a room. So we thought that it would only be fair that, you know, football, they're utilizing the fields there too, that they have somewhere to put their equipment. So we are requesting to accept that donation. Any questions? Nope.

Lighting.

All right. The next item is request authorization for MSA football and MSA soccer to install temporary light towers at Airport Park, Baldwin Meadows Park, and Jimmy McDonough Memorial Park for the fall season. MSA is requesting authorization to install temporary light towers and place them at the Airport Park, Baldwin Meadows Park, and Jimmy McDonough Memorial Park. This request is vital for the football and soccer programs to conduct evening practices as the days are becoming shorter in the fall. Currently, the football program utilizes field three and field four at McDonough Park, which do not have permanent lights. Similarly, the soccer program utilizes fields one, two, and three at the airport park and fields one, two, and three at Baldwin Meadows Park, which are also without permanent lighting. MSA has provided a certificate of insurance from the rental company, naming the town of Carmel as additionally insured. They will be responsible for turning the lights on and off at each location, specifically at Jimmy McDonough Memorial Park. They must be turned off by an MSA representative no later than 10 PM. While the lights at Airport Park and Baldwin Meadows should be turned off by 8.30 p.m., those times are based off of our schedules. We do allow baseball to utilize that later spot at MSA at McDonough Park for the baseball field, so we thought that it would only be fair to keep it the same for that. The light towers will be removed by MSA at the end of the fall season or at the discretion of the Recreation and Parks Department, depending on the weather conditions. If it looks like we're going to have any early snow season, we are going to close the parks. We usually do that specifically at McDonough Park as soon as snow is in the forecast. So they will have to remove those light towers prior to that. Hopefully we don't get snow until January of this year.

So the generator, I'm sorry. No, I was going to say those lights are powered by generators. Correct, yep.

So are they going to be putting the same, those same lights that are coming out of the airport, the same temporary lights? Yes, yep. Is there a long-term solution? Because actually I was at a meeting the other day, and one parking lot is really dark up there, and I would like to put some more of a permanent light fixture up there for the I know we have restrictions with the impervious space at Airport Park, but I was wondering if there's a, the soccer coach, the director of soccer had said that there's pads that you could actually put lights on and they're portable and they come back down. So I don't know what the plan is going forward, but I think that's something that we should look into is being able to provide more light in general at Airport Park, not just on the field, but in the parking lot too.

So we have looked into that in the past and we have looked at it in a lot of different ways. I can definitely pull that back up. Anything that we do at airport has to be approved by the county. So I believe that that was in the process of being done. When Jim was still here, I can look to see.

Hey, let's maybe restart it, like re-kick it.

Yeah. We weren't allowed to build the pads. We weren't allowed to build, yeah. Because the county black-topped or... And they took all the... Whatever that is. So there's... They did all the... They did all the cart paths and are way over the amount of impervious that they're allowed and they lumped the two together. So the city spanked Putnam County for that. So we have to find a way to do it off the building. Perhaps. Correct.

We did look into that, too. We looked at the building, and Shalf, the director of soccer, had said that there's not concrete pads, but there are, like, stands that they can, they're, like, portable. So when they're not being used, they can actually be taken down and put back in. And they run off LE, like, they would need electric. But... I don't know if that's something that we could start looking into.

We could definitely look into that. I think that just some other things we do have to just note, and I know that this was a big concern when they had first looked into doing this, is the houses are very close to Airport Park on that one side, so we just have to make sure whichever lights we do, we direct them in the proper way. Of course. And the light pollution up there, so...

So we would have to probably get an engineer to do a lighting plan for us. Definitely. I mean, at least let's look into it. Yeah, of course. They're really concerned. And again, the parking lot is a huge concern for me as well.

And if we want, we can put, I mean, listen, we could do a temporary solution for the time being, right? Even just to light the parking lot. The one light that is on the building should light a portion of that parking lot. Is it not?

It only does the walkway and, like, where the handicapped spots are. It doesn't really get into the actual physical parking lot. Okay. And now it's fall sports and it's getting dark early. You know, you have a lot of people coming in and out of there. I think it would be smart on our end to get some portable lights up there as soon as possible.

So, yeah, we could definitely look into that. I think that that was something, too, just, you know, to mention is – When they were doing the park, they were looking into the lighting. And I know in the fall, it's hard. It does get dark pretty early. So we'll look into that.

Yeah, you can come off of the pole, and you can come off the two poles in the building. Otherwise, we're going to get slapped. Did you look at the contract, Greg? Like I said about them doing the temporary?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Because I was concerned that if we do temporary, are we going to get even temporary? Is the city going to?

Is it the same thing?

It was funny when it was the county getting yelled at, but I don't want it to be us.

So we can look at it, and then maybe, Greg, we can talk about that as well and just see. Okay.

Yeah.

Sounds good. We'll definitely look into it.

Solutions.

Okay. And maybe we can speak with the county and see if there's any amendments that can be made on our other end.

Yeah.

Sycamore.

Perfect. All right, so then our last item is a request to purchase a replacement slide for the Sycamore Park playground. One of the playgrounds, the larger of the two at Sycamore Park, one of the large slides has a big crack in it. We have had it cautioned off since the summer, I would say mid-summer, and we are looking to replace that slide. It is going to be from a Um, play world rep. So the entire playground is, um, a play world playground. This would be a sole source purchase as, um, the rep that we utilize is the only rep within our area that supplies play world equipment. The total cost is $11,489 and 19 cents. That includes equipment and shipping. We plan to install this slide in-house. Joe was able to take earlier on in the year the certified playground inspector course, which allows for him to oversee that, which is really great, and it'll save us a good amount of money on install. We do plan on utilizing the Park Capital Improvement Line to cover the cost of this purchase.

Was that under a warranty?

I mean, that playground is about 20 years old. It's way past its lifespan, honestly, the entire playground, so I'm surprised it's lasted this long. Definitely something in the future we are looking at with that entire playground because we will see in the next few years, I feel like more and more of that playground is going to need to be replaced, but it's going to be a very hefty price to replace that entire playground. It's massive.

I'm just confused with the photos. I see a spiral slide. Yes. Then there's another random slide.

So that's just to show you the color of the slide. Yeah, because they have different colors. So we asked them to make sure that it would be the same. But in here, you see the spiral. It's the second one on that picture. But yes, that was just for the color. This is the actual slide that is being replaced. The spiral one is more gray. We're gonna make sure that it's the same color. That's why I asked them. Any other questions?

Thank you, Nina. Joe, thanks for taking that course.

You're welcome.

Thank you.

Thank you, guys. Thank you.

Okay, the last four items are our town engineer. First is garbage.

Good evening, everyone. How are you? How's it going, Rich? I don't know. I see that Councilman Kearns and Lugo are laughing at me for some ungodly reason. I'm just happy to see you. Happy to see you, buddy. Is that what it is? Maybe it's a Band-Aid on your head. Right? I know. It's a biopsy form, so just so you know.

No, it's just smiles of joy. They're not laughing at you at all. Yeah.

Mike cries when he sees you. I do.

So my first item is dumpster refuse collection and miscellaneous sites in town. We had entered into a two-year agreement with AAA Carding to collect dumpster refuse from locations Town Hall, Carmel Sewer District 2 at two locations, Carmel Sewer District 4, Carmel Water District 2, Sycamore Park, May, September, and October, and April, Lake Cassie and Lake Secor Park districts, along with the highway garage. The original agreement was for 25 and 26. AAA has agreed to keep the 2027 prices the same as those in 2026. They are outlined in the memo provided. AAA has, Carding has adequately provided this service for the town since 2013. We recommend that the contract be extended for one year. These costs have been included in the upcoming 2027 budget.

Did they say anything about raising the cost now that they're doing Woodland Trail with pails?

No, they were always doing garbage collection at Woodland Trails.

But now they're providing $100 pails or more.

They were always supposed to require pails.

So I'm confused. How did that happen? Because I thought they didn't have the contract for the multifamily developments.

Condominiums, yeah.

So how is that happening?

I think that's been that way since the outset of the contract in 2015.

Is there a fiscal contract for that, or are we just saying you're taking care of it?

Oh, everything's listed. Every parcel is in there.

And now AAA is providing cans for each unit. I know there was an issue. I had received a call from somebody that condominiums were just thrown in their garbage on the side of the road.

Well, so there's a lot going on there, so they were getting the smaller truck that had a back press to it, and they had smaller garbage pails that people would- New York City sanitation style, right? Yes, a small truck though versus the larger truck that the sanitation would use, right, in the city. In this case, on garbage collection days, people either had very small cans and or garbage left out on the street, and the garbage truck driver would dump it into the truck, press it back in. There were issues with garbage juices coming out of that truck. We've talked to AAA about fixing the truck, but in essence, what the ultimate solution was is, They were supposed to provide pails, the green and blue pails that everyone has in town, to this condo development. I don't know why it was never done. I can't speak to why it was never done.

I was told that the condo development did not want.

I'm going to speak on behalf, I know it's awkward and it's rough, but I am going to speak on behalf of World of the Trail.

Okay.

Yeah. Perfect. We'll have you up at the end. Thank you. So from what we were told was that the condo development didn't want the pails in Woodland Trails. So I don't know if that was rectified. Well, we worked.

So the engineering department along with AAA worked with the homeowners association representative and with their management company. And that was the agreed upon procedure to move forward with the pails.

And AAA provided the pails.

They have provided the pails.

Every single one has a pail.

That is my understanding, yes.

Good.

Sorry to sidetrack you. Go on. No, that's okay. Emergency repairs.

So on July 17th, 16th, sorry, B&J, the operators of Carmel Water District 8, advised the engineering department that the 25-horsepower main turbine pump for the plant had seized and no longer functioned. B&A used the spare pump that we had on site to fix the failed pump. Uh, it was removed and put back into service. Uh, we recommended at that time and councilman currents came to, uh, the water district date that we have a standby 25 horsepower pump, uh, and that We were directed that we can order it, and we did order it, so we have the backup, and it's a $36,000 pump. Still hasn't been delivered yet, so it's still in the process because it's a long lead time for that.

It was like six months last time.

Yeah, yeah. So this is a unique piece of equipment. It is distributed over the course of the four water districts serviced by the water treatment plant, Water Districts 1, 8, 10, and 13. On September 2nd, inframarketing operators of Super 4 advised the stainless steel wire and mesh screening for the sand filters needed to be replaced. This was deemed an emergency as the filters are losing sand and thus will not function correctly. There's a call from TAMS to make this repair. It should be noted that 50% of that cost will be reimbursed to the Town of Carmel under the terms of the contract with us and the New York City DEP. there are sufficient funds in the CMF operating budget to have that transfer and to make that purchase.

And I guess demo.

So the next one is, this is for contract 315. We request permission to put the project out to bid. This is for the demolition of the Marin building up in Water District 2. It includes the asbestos abatement and the removal of the building. We've talked with, you know, we've had the county, maybe they want to do it, but right now we have to put it out to bid and see what the numbers are. And if the county can, you know, help us out with that and do it and make the demo, that's one thing. If not, we're going to move forward and make sure the building is demolished. We'll have the design done after the pilot is complete, and we'll be able to start putting that out to bid probably early next year.

Could you make sure that you put fencing in there?

Fencing for?

Fencing, security fencing around that foundation and that property once the building.

Well, they're going to backfill it. It's going to be a completely flat piece. There will not be any hole in the ground. The building will be demolished. It will be backfilled with select fill.

Immediately?

Yeah, I mean, that's part of the process, yes.

I know, but sometimes they demo build and then the backfill doesn't happen necessarily.

Yeah. I mean, I don't have the bid specs in front of me, but we can make sure they'll have whatever safety features.

Yeah, I don't want to hear that we don't have a fence around a foundation and then change order.

Yeah.

So I would just put something with specs that says temporary fence needs to be provided.

Yep, I'm making a note of that right now to make sure that that's in there.

All right, have it there during the whole construction process, demolition process. Have the fence put up during the demolition process.

Correct.

Thank you.

Thanks. Okay, good job.

That's a good idea.

He's got to lay Cassie.

So this is a proposal for additional engineering services. It's really a contract amendment. We solicited proposals from qualified engineering firms. We had for Lake Cassie up at Teakettle and Teakettle Lake Dam rehabilitations. We had authorized Western and Sampson to perform this work. Western and Sampson provided a revised supplemental EA in 2020 engineering assessment, sorry, in September of 23 at that time. They considered design earthquake parameters, which found the existing fill soils potentially liquefiable during design earthquakes, correspondingly estimated to about four inches of settlement. At that time, they recommended a mitigation concept. They moved forward with the design plans. However, as the design is being finalized and updated seismic prediction model, for the United States was adopted so basically a change in regulations that has impacted this and they have to identify that it would settle in one foot versus four inches so the design had to be redone and that's what they're asking for the additional money to redo the design or move the design forward with the updated earthquake seismic numbers. The code changed. They also gave us estimates just for Cassie, anywhere ranging from $3.6 to $4.5 million, depending on what design is chosen, to repair Cassie. So I'm just giving you the heads up on that as we move forward, but that would bring that dam up to dam safety codes per New York State. We don't have an estimate on the tea kettles yet, but they're not going to be cheap neither. Okay. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

So motion to close the work session?

So moved. Second.

All in favor? Aye. Motion to open up the voting meeting.

So moved.

Second. Second.

All in favor?

We get a roll call already.

We don't need a roll call. We're all still here.

The first resolution is adopting the 2025 length of service award for Carmel Ambulance District number one. Councilman Chau, could you read that?

Resolved to the town board of the town of Carmel, acting as commissioners of Carmel Ambulance District number one. Hereby accepts the 2025 length of service award program annual report for Carmel Ambulance District number one. As prepared by Penflex Incorporated, a copy of which is on file in the office of the town supervisor. I offer this resolution as read.

Second.

Second by Lombardi.

Can we have a roll call, please?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Aye.

Yes. The second one is the same thing, but for Carmel Fire Protection District Number 1. Councilman Lombardi, could you read that?

Resolved the Town Board of Town of Carmel, acting as commissioners of the Carmel Fire Protection District Number 1, hereby accepts the 2025 Length of Services Award Program Annual Report for Carmel Fire Protection District Number 1 as prepared by Penflex, a copy of which is on file in the Office of the Town Supervisor. I offer this resolution as read.

Second. Roll call again, please.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Number three is the same thing for Carmel Fire Protection District number two. Councilman Kearns, could you please read that?

Result of the Town Board of the Town of Carmel, acting as commissioners of Carmel Fire Protection District Number 2, hereby accepts the 2025 Length of Service Award Program Annual Report for Carmel Fire Protection District Number 2, as prepared by Penflex Incorporated, a copy of which is on file in the office of the Town Supervisor. I offer this resolution as read. Second.

Should these all be 26?

Kevin just mentioned to me. Yeah. Okay, good. Number four is authorizing Chris Palio to go to his seminar. Could you read that, Councilman Lugo?

Resolved that the Town Board of the Town of Carmel hereby authorizes Town of Carmel Town Assessor Chris Palio to attend the New York State Assessor Association Annual Fall Conference being held on September 28th through October 1st, 2026 in Ossining, New York. And be it further resolved that the Town Board of the Town of Carmel authorize this payment of reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in connection therewith upon audit. I offer this resolution as read. Second.

Can we have a roll call, please?

Councilman Chana? Yes. Councilman Lugo? Yes. Councilman Kearns? Yes. Councilman Lombardi? Aye. Supervisor Kazeri?

Yes. Next up is authorizing Westcott Road as a private road.

Councilman Chana, could you read that? Result of the Town Board of Town of Carmel, upon the recommendation and consent of Superintendent of Highways Michael Stern, hereby acknowledges that Westcott Road, located within the Town of Carmel and within the Hamlet of Maypack, is a private traveled way slash road effective immediately, and be it further resolved that such acknowledgement shall be deemed to include waiver of any and all rights, claims, causes of action, et cetera, in favor of the town of Carmel relating to Westcott Road, including but not limited to the rights under New York State Highway Law and New York real property actions and proceedings law. I vote for this resolution as read.

Second. Another roll call, please.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Next is accepting proposal for the downtown Mayapak improvement phase one, the surcharge. Councilman Labarde, could you read that?

Resolved the Town Board of Town of Carmel upon the recommendation of Town Engineer Richard J. Frenzetti, PE, hereby accepts the proposal of Woodburn and Kern Engineering and Geological Services, PA, PC, for professional engineering bid assistance services to be rendered for the above project that it costs not to exceed $13,800, and in accordance with the proposal dated July 20, 2026, and unfiling the Office of the Town Supervisor. And be it further resolved, Town Supervisor Michael Cazares is hereby authorized to execute any and all documentation necessary to effect this authorization on the terms stated herein. I offer this resolution as read.

Second.

Do you want to mention when this is going out?

Yeah, so Rich, so September 23rd, we'll be meeting with, I guess you could just go ahead and you came up to the table, you can give us a rundown. We're talking about the bid assistance, the CA services.

Once this is voted on, we have the legal notice ready to go out. It'll be advertised in the paper next Wednesday, the bid specifications and drawings for phase one of this aspect of Swan Coal. will be out, it'll be out through the end of October. Correct. It's a five week bid period that we'll have.

And that's just for the first phase, which is the, sorry, I'm screaming into this thing. It's the surcharge program.

It's basically a compression of the soils underneath. The soils that are in the ground there are peaty, if you want to call it as such. And because of that, this compression will get rid of the water, and then they'll be able to use that dirt there to build the park area and the parking area.

So with that being said, while this is, the work is being performed for phase one, phase two would start immediately following the completion of phase one. The phase two design is complete. We'll work, after we get this thing out to bid, phase one, we'll work together with Wood and Curran to get phase two so it rolls simultaneously from phase one to phase two. I know this has been a very long, OVERDUE PROJECT. WE'RE TALKING TEN YEARS. SO THE BOARD IS VERY EXCITED TO GET THIS THING MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO OUR RESPONSIBILITIES FINANCIALLY. WE DON'T WANT TO OVERSPEND ON THIS PROPERTY, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AN ASSET TO THE COMMUNITY. IT IS LAKEFRONT PROPERTY. and we're going to do everything we can to make sure that any everybody can utilize it and can use it while making sure we're very cautious on the cost so we're really excited and i want to thank the entire board because it wasn't just myself it was everyone up here meeting with woodland current and you know behind closed doors we this last year we all came together and we worked really hard to get this thing out so i'm proud of everybody up here and i want to thank you too rich because without your help we couldn't have done it either so thank you

Yeah, so phase two, like six, seven months later.

I was going to say, give them a timeline of what you think the completion would be from start to finish.

Yeah, so go ahead, Rich. Just to follow up on Councilman Kern's, the compaction that we're talking about or surcharge could be anywhere from four to six months, depending on what the soils look like. They're going to have geotech probes out there and do all that. The drawings for the second phase are at 70% only because we're waiting for some, uh, permits yet. So it's not that the design isn't there just to follow up with councilman currents. It said, so again, that'll be finalized before the six month period for phase one, the board will give us a, you know, us authority to put that back out to bid. Right. Cause I, unless we already have it. Right. So, and then that'll go out to bid and we'll start the process again and start that next phase. SHOULD BE PHASED TO THE PARKING LOT AND THE PARK ITSELF. SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT YOU OFF THERE. YES.

SO, RICH, FOR THE FIRST PART, THE SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS, WHILE THIS IS BEING COMPACTED, THAT'S GOING TO BE OFF LIMITS FOR USE, CORRECT? YES. FOR THE ENTIRE PROJECT.

CORRECT. JUST FOR SWAN COVE. I THINK THEORETICALLY CHAMBER PARK WOULD STILL BE USABLE, CORRECT?

It might be hard. I don't think you'll be able to park in there, but they'll still be able to... Access Chamber Park. Access by foot, pedestrian traffic, right? It would be able to go that way. And then there'll be that 60-foot swath away from the bank that there'll be nothing done. The bank would still have access for their drive-through and from the other side and be able to go out. It'll be a one-way... You know, right now it's a two-way intersection going in and out of the Swan Cove. It would be one way. You'd be able to go into the parking area through the driveway next to the gas station behind the bank and be able to come back out through the existing light that's there now.

And there'll be ample parking for the customers for Maypack Bank during this?

I don't think so. There'll be parking, but ample is a relative word. I don't believe there'll be ample. If they have 1,000 people go there, it's not going to happen, right? I'm not being a jerk. I'm sorry. But I think they'll have enough parking for their employees to be there.

Thank you. That's subjective. Thank you. Can we get a roll call?

Councilman Shannon? Yes. Councilman Lugo? Yes. Councilman Kearns? Yes. Councilman Labarde? Aye. Supervisor Casari? Aye.

Yes. And then finally, authorized advertising for bids for the demolition of the old Marin property, 1760 Route 6. Councilman Kearns, could you read that?

Resolved that Richard J. Franzetti, P.E., Town of Carmel, Town Engineer, is hereby authorized to advertise for bids for the services of building demolition at 1760 Route 6, Carmel, New York, and be it further resolved that upon finalization and completion of bid specifications, the Town Engineer is to furnish detailed specifications for the above to Town Clerk Alice Daly, which are to be used in conjunction with the Town's general bid conditions and specifications. I offer this resolution as read. Second.

All in favor? Aye. All right. Yeah, and then Ms. Alex. Public comment? Public comment. You wanted to talk about... Just speak into the microphone. And if you just tell us your name, and obviously you're from Woodland Trail.

I'm from Woodland Trail. I'm Julie Warbrick. I'm a resident of Woodland Trail. For those of you who are not familiar, we have 85 units in our community with a core section of residents. We've endured some years now. of substandard sanitation services from AAA, which we have brought to the attention of our town engineer. Mr. President, I just want to explain what, We're upset about, and I'm just a regular resident. I'm not on the board, but I've been actively involved in seeing the issues, which none of you would want in your own home area. We have, I'm not sure Mr. Franzetti indicated that we agreed to these topials, but let me give a little history. We've had a history of collection of pickup trash and recycle where the trucks leak. both slime, sludge, disgusting liquids, as well as glass mixed into these pieces. It's just been everywhere where they pack the stuff in as they collect. So the trucks have a leakage problem. And my understanding is that AAA has indicated they are not fixing these trucks, these old trucks. So we have endured this. We keep showing the problems we've had, not only in their putting our health at risk with this stuff throughout our community, but also they've had missed pickups. So if we had a recycle day Wednesday and they didn't come to pick up, they picked up on Thursday. Look, we know what happens to recycle for the most part, but this has happened frequently. So these are offenses from our service provider, and here we are. So because we have indicated the conditions in our community and people are not happy for it, for those of you who have never driven through Woodland Trail, it's smallish because we were built in 75, 76. So we have a bunch of circles and We were strong-armed into getting these pails that you call, I call them totes, whatever you want to call them. There are these oversized things. We have also in our bylaws not to leave our acceptable route because we want to have the community appear nicely. Again, reflecting on the value of our homes. So, We've been strong-armed into having these things. We have small narrow roads. We have a lack of storage for these and they are now blocking our sidewalks. We have people who are seniors, We have disabled people, we have many, I don't know what percentage I would speculate, but a percentage of residents in this community are single occupant residents. So here we have these things. So we've been very upset about the progression and being strong-armed into this situation. I'm here to ask how we can find relief and remedy going forward. I have specifically through emails and communication with both the engineering office and uh... my board president as well as the property manager i have indicated that i myself would offer to be the point person to find be a part of the remedy and we've tried to uh... and mrs bing will speak ask for small size totes because we're in a situation where They just wanted to get rid of the operator. So yeah, you've got one less guy on payroll, and now you've got an automated machine coming through. We were told to put the stuff out this week, and we've had two pickups Monday and Wednesday today. They manually, I did not witness it, but they manually were putting it into the regular collection. So they haven't used the new vehicle. I called and let your office know, Mr. Franzetti, that this has happened. Again, it's just such a nightmare. I'm looking to find ways to get remedy, relief, because we are tied with them and now even more tied because they provided these things that nobody's really happy with. Some people outrightly put them We get a dumpster for twice a year for bulk pickup. They literally put them there. It was like, it was a sign of protest. Anyway, so that's my, I wanna shed a light. I know Mrs. Behan is gonna speak as well on it. I am here to say I will do work to get this thing settled down. But in terms, and now, I wasn't even thinking, another resident was talking to me today about the snow coming. We have had a reliable, years-long snow removal company, and now they're going to have these complications, because if you're familiar with our units, it's, here are the units, you walk out your front door, for the most part, And there's gonna be such mayhem, because now the pails go further out, which brings them into the roadways. There's small little cul-de-sac circles. I sent Mr. Brandetti, like, the number of buildings that have small circles, it exceeds more than 50% of our community. We have 22 buildings. So it's just like such a nightmare. I see short-term relief as being, and this is where I offered to be a point person, I must be crazy. go and find out how many people would gladly exchange for smaller totals because we have no remedy, we're tied contractually. So we've been asking and not getting answers on that. We know that they exist. That would be only a short-term relief, but the long-term relief would be to find a provider, a sanitation service provider, that could match our community's needs. Because we are trying to keep the values, appearance, and living standards up to snuff. If anybody has any questions, otherwise I'm turning it over to Mrs. BM.

What did you do before the town took over the garbage?

I am a resident here, a new resident.

Oh, Mrs. Behan will know that. I'll ask Mrs. Behan. Yeah, she was here from the beginning. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other questions?

I just told Julie she stole some of my speech. I'm Diana Drake-Behan. I've been a resident of Woodland Trail for about 45 years, so I know the history behind this. I served as board president for many years. The first thing I'd like to do is thank Mr. , who has been nothing but courteous and kind and listened to our concerns. And as your employee, I would like to thank him for that service. And the time that he spent trying to work this out, beginning talking to my son and then following up is nothing but wonderful. Unfortunately, that had not been our experience with AAA. A man named Patrick is rude, impolite, just when even you start talking, he's the most nasty person I've ever had to speak to. He doesn't listen. And as your contractor, I think that should be addressed. That nobody should speak to the way this gentleman has spoken to residents and to our board president. It's been unacceptable. Julie addressed the problem, but as you can see, I am 4 feet 10 inches tall. I am elderly, old, and I can't handle the cans that they sent. I can't get them up and down the curb. The trash can comes up to my neck, and the recycling can comes up to my chest. Today I watched as two men, really strong, muscular men, struggled to pick up the pails and dump them into the truck. I'm neither strong nor muscular. So I'm really concerned. I've done some research. There are smaller pails available that say that they can be picked up by these trucks. I don't object to the truck with the handles. I don't object to that, but as Julie also mentioned, I'm also disabled. The size of them for many of our residents is just impossible to maneuver them. And I don't quite know what the answer is to that. But just seeing if the town has some way of negotiating with AAA. God bless you if you have to deal with Patrick. But just get us so that particularly the elderly, there are a lot. As I said, I've been there. so how was the garbage before they did this with the town the history is we had a private garbage company until the town took over and it was curb pickup when uh triple a we were under the understanding that the town had done a survey of the whole town and that the whole town was truck accessible but when it came to woodland trail we are not it's not that big large truck acceptable it just doesn't fit so at that point we We had pickup at the curbs of our house.

You never had dumpsters in your condominiums?

No, and we don't really, we have the same problem with dumpsters is people have to walk to them and dump their stuff in it. I'm going to speak to you about one other problem, but we border Michaels Brook. Yeah, I know. So there's a lot of little critters that are running around, and so dumpsters would really be unacceptable for the residents of our community. I know AAA would like that as an answer, but it just doesn't work for us the way we're built. and spread out if any of you have ever driven through. Again, it was built in the late 60s and opened in the 70s. So it's been around for a long time.

Yeah, they wouldn't have you with the dumpsters. The dumpsters, would it be with Interstate? Interstate, yeah. Is the new company.

Is that what? It's a different company.

Different company does the condominiums in town.

complexes, they all have a different contract with interstate and they have dumpsters.

I know that King's Grant has places for them. We don't have any land like that. All the land that we own is... got a condo on it. We just don't have any big space that would... Again, when it was built, I wasn't around to plan how it was going to be built. Just moved into it because we liked to and we wanted to live in a small town coming from the Bronx.

All right. We'll do what we can.

Do you guys have any photos of any sort of the leakage from...

Can you give them to us?

Rich, can you send them over to me, please?

Rich, have you contacted AAA, and what has their response been?

So to answer the first question, yes, we have pictures of both how the garbage is stored on collection days prior to these pails and also with the leakage as provided by some of the residents there. Have we contacted AAA? Of course. They have a 24-hour remedy. So if garbage doesn't get picked up one day, they have 24 hours, 24 to 48, whichever in our contract, to get that garbage. And they have been responsive to that. With regards to the leakages, they have not cleaned them, only because we went with this option now to go with the armed truck. Once that was fully established, they were going to go and clean all the roads in the area.

So going forward, is there anything in the contract that the town of Carmel can penalize them financially if they... Exactly. There is, right?

In fact, that was something I...

negotiated in in that right i thought there was yeah so with that going forward it would be the leakage right now that's about the only thing they have to pick up what's the response to the leaking trucks They have to clean it, but they get penalized.

I'm saying are the trucks broken? That's why they're leaking?

Or they just leak? They just leak. When the garbage is compressed in the back of the truck, liquids come out. It's on a hill. Frank, you have that going on. It's on a hill. I mean, that makes a difference, too. You have AAA also where you are. You're a townhome or a condo development at Maple Hill? I forget. Townhomes. So townhome. I don't know how this condominium development skirted the fact that there was, now skirted is not the right word, but weren't allowed to put in these containerized areas. I understand why, but it is a solution. The other solution that has been talked about with the homeowners association and the management company is having a small case. So not everybody would get the pails. Their pails would be stored in an area. They have to walk their garbage to that area or have somebody do it for them. but they'd have to dedicate areas to it there is land on the development there that it could be there are solutions but every time we try to do something it's no we're not going to do this the homeowners association you know so who's saying no aaa or the homeowners association Homeowners Association, AAA, they should have provided pails 15 years ago.

Now, are there smaller size pails?

No, they have the two size pails, 95 and 65. Green for refuse and 65 blue for recycle.

Just if I can give you from my example. What we have, not every home in my development has a garbage can, but we have a location near, I guess, some of the garages, like roughly nine or 10 cans in an enclosure. with one of those Rubbermaid enclosures that you could just, and each section has one of those. So that might be, I mean, I've been in your development many, many times.

I think the problem in our development is the number of disabled and elderly people that carry and bought in that condo because they knew that their garbage would be picked up. And most of them have been around before your contract with AAA. So it feels like we're being penalized. Because we chose to live in a community that welcomed elderly and disabled people and cared about them. And again, Rich has been great in answering and been quite concerned. Can I make a recommendation? And I was present on the board. I am not on the board now, so I can't speak to how they responded to the issue. I'm a little upset because I asked people to come and Only one that's here. People like to complain, but then you've got to show your face.

Mrs. Behan, Robert sent an email. You came. We don't need 20 people to tell us. We hear you, and we're going to address it.

You've heard me a lot. Can I make a recommendation?

We knew your husband very well as well.

I'd like to add something. Okay. Okay.

Can you just speak into the microphone?

My understanding, we have, besides the property manager, we have the board. So in close communication with the board president, my understanding is, I don't know, Mr. Franzetti, I apologize, I don't know who agreed to the totes. However, I have information that they will not repair THEY ARE LEAKING TRUCKS AND THEY REFUSE TO SEND NEW OR NON-LEAKING TRUCKS.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT INFORMATION CAME FROM, BUT WHAT I'M GOING TO RECOMMEND IS THAT MYSELF AND OUR TOWN ENGINEER TOMORROW, WE WILL GIVE AAA A CALL. WE WILL DISCUSS THIS ISSUE WITH THEM AND MAYBE WE CAN SET UP A MEETING WITH AAA AND I'M ASSUMING ARE YOU THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOA?

SHE'S PAST PRESIDENT. I'M THE PAST PRESIDENT. I HAVE THE CONTACT FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOA.

Okay, so what we'll do is we'll reach out to the president of the HOA, and we will have a conversation with AAA and the president of the HOA, and we will come up with a solution that works for everybody. Thank you.

As I said, nothing but courtesy and politeness from the company.

I don't think anybody should be treated the way the people at AAA. I agree. I agree. We 100% agree.

I CAN'T EVEN GET THE CAN OVER THE CURB. WE'LL FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION.

OF COURSE. THANK YOU. GOOD LUCK.

This is not your problem, it is not the town's problem. As I said, I've lived in Woodland Trail for almost 45 years. I live adjacent to Michaels Brook. Since 1989, we've had an erosion problem. The board at that time, when I was president, we installed big, huge boulders in the bank to stop the erosion. That worked for a while. But beginning in 2000, because we're on Michael's Brook, the state said that they were going to repair the erosion problem. And every year since 2000, they have promised us that this would begin in September. Meanwhile, trees have gone over. My oil tank is now sliding off its pedestal because of the slant as the erosion gets worse. Trees are hanging by their roots. And a man named Kevin Fitzgerald has been representing the state. And every year since 2020, we've been promised that the work would begin in September. Here we are in 2026, and nothing's been done. I don't know what the count can do to try to force this.

Well, it's the East Hudson Watershed, and we're part of it. And yeah, we have the same problem with them. The funding isn't there yet. There's a whole bunch of things. And I know that they met with Senator Harcum. Representatives from your board met with Senator Harcum. Yeah, so...

It's just going... I mean, I don't want my house to go into the room thing. I know. He has secured the funding. He has had it secured. He has not been able to have an approved easement with the title company.

That's since 2020.

Yeah, well, he claims that it's your board that doesn't give him the easement, so... Aha. I would have the board... tell him that they will do, call him up and tell him that the board will sign whatever it is and give him the insurance, whatever it is that he needs. Yeah, it's just a delaying tactic because.

But it's one of these, because he's already changed title companies and he's saying they're just waiting on the meets and bounds, which as an engineer, that's like give them the meets and bounds. He has wrestled with providing the verbiage for the easement approval. And my understanding is that was his way to begin the work. That was his responsibility. Yes.

Anybody who's invited to come and look at it, I'm unit 31. The only person, including members, I hate to say, of my board that has really come and looked at it was Kevin Byrd.

Yeah.

I know he's running for election, so it's, you know.

Yes.

Hey, take it in. All right, thank you.

That was funny.

Mr. Taylor, would you like to speak? Oh, okay. Did you want to speak?

That was funny. Hello. Anita Olivia, I'm AIPAC.

Long time no see.

Excuse me?

I said long time no see.

I know, right? It used to be like a permanent fixture here. Permanent. But now I'm back because I'm aggravated.

Welcome back.

Yeah, thank you. I was here to discuss something about Jimmy McDonough Park. But now listening to about the garbage, I want to know about that too because I'm in a house with my mother and both of us really can't move those garbage cans. So the only time they get moved is when someone comes and visits us, or my person that helps clean my house does it. But otherwise, they stay there. And then when it gets picked up, it stays by my mailbox, because I'm not bringing it back up. So is there a remedy for elderly or disabled in this town? to help with garbage that you can't bring up and down to your mailbox? Like, what's the deal? What can I do?

If I remember correctly, in the con...

It is. Single-family home.

There's driveway service in the contract.

I called you down a while ago about that.

I'm not saying it's right or wrong. I'm just saying that that's an available remedy for those who can't bring the can up and down.

Okay, so I got to call triple I. Yeah. Okay.

I believe there's so many feet in it also in the driveway service, the one I remember. It's been a while.

All right. Then, okay, the park. What is going on with that park? I mean, I was told to talk to recreation. I talked to them a while ago at seniors. Then I contacted, I left a message for your secretary. Then I contacted, I wrote an email to all of you and cc'd Maypack News. I didn't even get a standard draft like, yeah, thanks, I got your letter on my vacation. Nothing. And when I used to be here, I mean, I was on top of you guys constantly, you know that. I mean, I would walk around and people would be like, oh, I heard you talking about Farfetch.

What was the email in regards to? Sorry. Yeah, in regards to what specifically?

Okay, I'm asking.

I want to hear it from her, yeah.

You guys are doing with it. I've heard about this master plan since my kids were in high school. Now they're 30. So, like, at first, he did a dugout. He did an Eagle Scout project, my son. And he was only doing the 90-foot dugouts. And then what happened was Gilchrist asked him to do the 62. So he took that on and then there was like all water problems. So he fixed all that but now I'm hearing that you guys like want to redo or turn the fields around so they're not like facing the Sun like

Well, it's not, we're not just doing, we're not just turning the fields around because they're not, not to face the sun. We're doing, like you said, a complete master plan, an overhaul of the park, a project that you said, yeah, started a long time ago. We're pushing it forward to see it come to fruition. So it's a complete revamp of McDonough park because it's much needed and outdated. So it's not just the baseball field, it'd also be the skate park. There'll be updated parking. There would be a new softball field dedicated just for the girls. ADA compliance is also a driving factor for this project. A gazebo, a park. We're trying to make the park more accessible to more individuals. So yes, with that being said, that means the baseball fields will be updated and renovated, which would be new dugouts and new configuration of both fields, the 60 and the 90. And we're talking about putting a little league field down below as well.

Oh, okay, good. Now I got my answer. So now you're going to destroy projects nowadays. Okay, good. Also, what else was the other thing? I got the... Oh, aggravating that, yeah. Neither one of, and no one could like write me back. That would have been so much easier if one of you could just say, this is what's going on. Because like I said, this master plan has been, and Gilchrist was the one that asked for the project to be done. So it's a little.

Yeah, I'm sorry. I can't, I wasn't here when that happened. So I'm sympathetic of, you know, I understand there's probably sentimental value with that project with it being your son.

Well, you guys are going to have to pay for bricks and all that. So good luck. Because he got, my son got all that stuff donated.

And that's amazing. Again, like you said, it's been an outdated plan. Before we were here on the board, we were looking at all outdated plans, and we wanted to bring them to the finish line. And one of those plans was McDonough Park. So that is why we are pushing this project forward. We want to make sure that it is an asset to our community. And again, I'm sorry that... And how are you going to pay for this?

Are you going to have to put out something for the public to...

So we are discussing that right now. We haven't, nothing is finalized.

Yeah, there's nothing set in stone in regards to that park. We were just bringing up the idea that was brought up, what, 2016, right, 17? We're just revisiting and having the conversation again just to see what we can do with the park. There's nothing set in stone.

But our plan is to move it forward and to finish it. And the thought is to put it on a referendum and put it out to the public and it would be voted on and we would let the public decide if it is a project that they feel is worth going forward.

And how are we going to find out about this? Because every time I try to go online, so.

Because it's still in the preliminary stages. This is, we're talking, we re-engaged with BBS, which is the design firm that was hired to do the master plan back in, like you said, 2018, which is a. 2008. 2008, I'm sorry, 2008, which is a very long, I was still in high school when that happened. So we are now reengaging with BBS, and obviously now the needs of that park has changed from 2008. So we are discussing that with them. Once we come up with a plan that we feel is suitable to present to the public, we will present it to the public. If we want to move forward with that project, that is a project that we have discussed putting up as a referendum, which we would bond for that project.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So tonight I'm here to talk about the registered letter that we sent. The board of trustees sent the town board a registered return receipt letter which was signed for August 31st about the unaddressed hazard of the building behind us with the shingles falling. Has the board discussed or have any remedy for what's gonna happen other than the building department is gonna keep calling the landlord?

Yeah, so that has been referred to our building department, and as we are being advised, that we cannot speak about enforcement actions in a public meeting. Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So you want to talk after, right? Sorry.

You want to talk after, Bob?

Okay. Can I get a motion to close the meeting? Oh, wait, a motion to go to executive session for contractual.

SO MOVE. SECOND. ANYONE ELSE HAS ANY MORE PUBLIC COMMENTS?

UPDATES, ANNOUNCEMENTS?

COME ON. THERE'S A COUPLE BIG ONES. YOU HAVE BACK THE BLUE THIS WEEKEND. GO AHEAD, BOB. YOU STARTED OFF.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE. AS WE JUST REMEMBERED OUR First responders, 25 years after 9-11, we are having our seventh annual Back to Blue Prayer Walk, it's a prayer walk that's been alive here in our town for the last seven years, and every year it gets bigger and bigger. This is a first responder community. It's built of all those people, heroes, people who really go above and beyond to help each other and to help people they never met or they don't know. So this Sunday we'll be having our seventh annual prayer work. It'll be at Kamada Park, and this year we're going to honor Steven Driscoll, Stephen Driscoll was a Navy veteran who also became a police officer, and he died in the aftermath of 9-11 rescuing others. Our FOP lodge here, 704, is named after him, and this year we're going to honor him and his family. And we welcome all the public, all our residents and friends and family to join us. It'll be on this Sunday from 1230. We'll be signing, and at 1.15, there'll be a walk. There'll be some late snacks and some raffles there also, and it'll take time for us to all gather together and thank one another and remember our first responders, and especially Stephen Driscoll and his family. So hopefully you can get out there. Thank you.

TODAY WE HAD THE LUXURY OF HAVING BOTH THE VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM AS WELL AS THE CARMEL RAMS VARSITY FOOTBALL TEAM. THIS YEAR WE STARTED A FRIENDLY BET BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS. WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE TWO SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITHIN OUR DISTRICTS, TWO REALLY GOOD FOOTBALL PROGRAMS. AND WE ADDED A LITTLE TWIST TO THE COVETED HIGGINS TROPHY GAME WITH THAT BEING THAT THE WINNING TEAM'S FLAG WILL BE flown at Town Hall for the remainder of the football season. Today we had both teams, their captains from both teams come, their superintendents, the principals, the athletic directors. It was really cool. We got outside and the Carmel Rams, I mean, sorry, the Carmel Rams handed over their flag to the Mayapac Wolfpack and and they raised the flag out here. So right now their flag is flying underneath the American flag and will be flying for the remainder of the football season. So that was pretty cool to be a part of, and we're looking forward to building on that tradition and just bringing that football game, making that football game an even bigger part of our community. So that's all I have.

Anything? No?

Greg said he had an announcement.

ALL RIGHT. HOW ABOUT NOW A MOTION TO GO TO EXEC FOR CONTRACTUAL. SO MOVED. ALL IN FAVOR?

AYE.