Town Board - Regular Meeting

All rise for the pledge. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Clerk or uh let's see notation at the exits in the front and the back. Please put all electronic devices on vibrate. Kathy, can you call the role? Yes. Councilman Cypress here. Councilwoman Lewis here. Councilman Mazada here. Acting supervisor Larka here. Um I'll make a motion to come out of executive session. No action was taken. Second. All in favor? I.

Uh all right. So for the work session, the first item is HSRD Holdings LLC. Um, we got a email from their uh from the applicant this afternoon to um ask us to table this till the 19th because their submission was incomplete. So, I'll make a mo well I'll make a motion later to table that item. Um, anyone have any comments on that? No.

Uh, second item is update to the 2026 Town of Southeast fee schedule uh farmers market permit. Um Kathy had sent uh the food truck permit fee schedule. I'm not sure if you guys had a chance to take a look at that. I had uh I looked through it quickly. I had three questions or concerns I think we need to um discuss. I'm not sure if you guys are ready to do that or not. I know it's coming a little bit late and it's been busy. But um the first one was do we already have a permit for We don't have a permit. Okay.

Well, there's there's a provision in our code that establishes a permit for farmers markets. Okay. And that has the requirements for that in the code. I haven't

uh yeah, there are requirements. It's a pretty general, but it was um I think it was put into effect in 2018 and it I believe it was in response to the um to the uh development of the farmers market at the um the old Lavine's parking lot. And we don't really have any record to show whether there was an application filed or anything like that, but uh this was put into law and there was a there's a reference to a fee to be paid for the application for the permit and u it refers us to the to the u fee schedule. So

okay. Well, I haven't had a chance to look uh at the permit yet, so I think I'd like to do that. Um, I looked through these the fees that we use for the food trucks and uh, you know, I think the time frame for a farmers market may be a little bit unique compared to what we have here. Um, so maybe we could add this for discussion for the next meeting. Um, we could do a little more homework unless you guys have any thoughts. No, I agree. No. Yeah, I agree as well. Yeah, first day we had a suggestion. So, okay. But yeah, I mean, we when we were having the discussion about farmers markets a couple of meetings ago, we'll notice that,

you know, we had a law but didn't have them permit. So, I agree with fixing that, but I'm not prepared with the amounts or anything.

Okay. All right. The third discussion item is to uh the increase senior exemption income limit um amendment to chapter 126 of the town code. Um I I there was some discussion about this one. I think uh I still had some um questions about this. I believe we got uh Eric can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe we got an analysis on the senior portion of this um exemption. I think there's also a veterans portion, but we haven't gotten the analysis for that. And it sounds like there was a few more um uh uh things being discussed at a higher level than I thought. So, I would like to table the uh setting a public hearing later on the meeting until we have a little bit more of that information. Um, but I don't know if you guys have any comments.

No. No. Okay. All right. I'll make a motion to go into the regular meeting. Second. Second. All in favor? Hi. Excuse me. Uh the first item is resolution for HSRD Holdings LLC tax uh number 55-1 or 37 petition to amend zoning map referral to the planning board. I'll make a motion to table. Second. All in favor?

I. Number two, resolution update the 2026 Town of Southeast fee schedule, false alarm, false fire alarm permits, and false fire alarm fees. Now, therefore, be it resolved that Now, therefore, be it resolved that the following additions and amendments to the 2026 fee schedule, excuse me, are hereby approved. Uh, and I'm just going to read the changes here. So, fire safety, uh, second violation, current fee is 125. It's being changed to 127 or 175. Uh the third violation was 250, it is increasing to 300. Fourth violation is currently 500. It is increasing to 550. The fifth violation is 750. It is increasing to 850. And the sixth violation is 1,000. It's increasing to 1100. And thank you, Eric. There. And there will also be a late fee of $25 um 30 days after failure to file or pay. It be further resolved that this resolution shall take effect immediately.

Seconds. Oops. Sorry. So moved. Second. All in favor? I um number three. We're going to table. What's that? Nothing. Uh number three is update 2026 Town Southeast fee schedule uh farmers market. I'll make a motion to table that. Second. All in favor? I. Um, number four, motion to set public hearing for increased senior exemption income limit amendment to chapter 126 of the town code. I'll make a motion to table that. Second. All in favor? I.

Uh, next is the supervisor's report. I'll just made a few notes on here. Um, just some highlights for the year. again. Uh it's been a bit of a crazy week, so I'll just go through some of these. Uh the year ended very um favorably uh more favorably than I thought it would have. Um we still do have some budget challenges for next year. So I just wanted to call out a few anomalies that led to some of the positive results this year. So um for interest in the revenue column, we exceeded by 200,000. We uh had budgeted 445. I believe we increased the budget for next year for that revenue and uh rates have been uh reduced I think two times in the last quarter and I think they're going to reduce some more. So I don't um I don't see us getting that kiss next year. Mortgage tax was up around 200,000 and there were some big property sales and uh housing market I think will be struggling a little bit and we did raise that for next year. uh planning board fees, we also raised that for next year and we did have a few projects this year, but that was another 200,000. And on the expense side, um only one thing I wanted to point out was the snow removal. So snow removal in 2025 was favorable, 136,000. Um, obviously, uh, this year is probably going to be worse and I think we budgeted that flat. So, um, hopefully we'll be good for that next year, but it was a a kiss at the end of this year. Um, any new business?

Nope. No. All right. Uh, recognition of the public, public comment. sitting in the wrong seat, too. Yeah. Well, I'm trying to mix things up. Okay.

Uh Scott Seatan Southeast, also here from the board of education. Uh I want to thank everybody for the work you've been doing. Uh as you see the progress of the school. It's a little slow with this weather, but we are still plugging ahead. Uh the students are going off the charts with all kinds of great things. Just had the annual inspection which turned out even better than expected. Uh we have kids up in Albany attending seminars. Um the track and field groups are breaking all records and you know it's things are really doing well. Um reading projects are being done in the lower level schools. Um, we just had the numbers come out on some of the reading and the math scores and they are starting to improve. We're not really sure if it's no change in the testing, so we're going to take full credit for it and um with the changes that are going ahead. Um, not much else. Well, like I said, I'm going to keep it keep it quiet tonight. Um, once again, thank you for your work. If there's anything we can do, just one small note. I know we're a little bit behind, but we're working on finalizing our resolution in support of the traffic study, which we should have out even though we all know it's been ahead, but we will have that and I think we'll be able to produce it at the next meeting. Um, then we can forward it to Kathy for distribution as you see fit to the town, DOT, however it is. And we are definitely in support of all you're doing. So, as more things go on, please keep us in mind. It just takes us a little bit longer than everybody else. Um, remind me again the construction in the back, the fieldhouse. Fieldhouse, right? What's the target date for finish?

I want to say it's summer this summer before school, but with this kind of weather has really thrown everything. And then we had it was next year or most likely I see it proceeding in. What we're trying to do is this summer is to get in to the inside space so we can have um the Rosi was supposed to be another year, but we believe we'll be able to get some changes on that and work on the the the steam and tech stuff in the school earlier. Okay. And in return, the uh the outside might slow us down, but we're trying to get into room. We had to redo all the um you know, HVAC, the the lead time on that is proving to be even worse than we thought. Okay. But I will make a note to have better uh numbers for you next time.

That's okay. All right. I was just curious. I needed kind of a target. That's it. Scott, um do you know when the next traffic safety meeting is or could you email me? I thought I thought it was next month, but I'll I'll email you the date. Okay. I don't know how those come in, but um I want to make sure I'm able to attend that. Yeah, I'll uh I'll shout it from the back once I get through it. Perfect. Thanks.

Thanks, Scott. Uh Bob Cullen, Southeast Los Also. Um so just uh three things. Um so the first is um actually not to steal Scott's thunder, but he mentioned it um last year. the sign outside that have the two judges name is falling apart. Looks horrible. It still says Judge Ver alone. I mean, he's not the judge anymore. Um, I suggested maybe a digital sign where things could be changed. Like I know Yorktown police has remember you said you saw that you're familiar with it on um

in front of the Yorktown Police Station on 202, but that would be um maybe an idea. I don't know what they cost, but I mean that signage should just go. I mean, I don't even know what the point is cuz you can't even see the judges names when you're driving by. Um, you know, signs are 20,000. We were we had Tony had bought one or was buying one for Markel, I think, right? And then Yeah. Um, cuz there was a stop sign there. I know we talked about doing one here, but somebody brought up could be unsafe. Well, so the other side of the coin is there is the possibility it could be a distraction, a distraction when people driving by and trying to see what the signs. Wonder if the school is nice cuz it's at an intersection. It's tucked in too.

I see that. I live right near there and I see it every morning and I stop at the light at Brewster Hill. I can see what's going on for 30 seconds before the light changes. But regardless of which, Vergen is not the judge anymore. So, his name needs to go. So, you know, I think that's be the right thing to do for the new judge. Okay. Um the other thing, and I haven't been at the meetings or I didn't see your presentation, Eric. I saw some of it online, but the the Garden Street School thing, your idea, I know it's just an idea and concept, but was the village of Brewster included in any of those discussions or Yeah, I had conversations with Jim about it. Um, you know, it was

we didn't want to put the cart be before the horse, but it was like, hey, you know, ultimately the town would have to, you know, fund and do everything. If that were going to happen, they would be a tenant. So I think the simple conversation was are you open to being a tenant and maybe never was talked about with the board or anything but it wasn't all it wasn't really contemplated in the um math either. So, um, I thought it would be best to get, you know, public opinion, you know, if we, you know, and who knows if it's available, right? You know, we're we're kind of waiting, right? I

But what what the ask was is here's a concept we need. I'm not going to say the number, but it would probably be, you know, five to six figures to do a feasibility study and then sit down and have, you know, a real discussion of this is what it's going to cost. do we even want to have a discussion about it or right I get I know I was just curious because there was no mention in any of the articles that I saw about their

their viewpoint and so I heard through the grapevine that even though it's a horrible looking building at least they're kind of happy with it now because at least the village taxes and if it becomes a town facility then they lose that as a taxable building but you know the county makes them hole with the water and the and I guess it makes the town hole too. So we didn't you know but yeah I think I mentioned this in the comments and you know hey full you know this is all transparent um it would probably hurt the village you know a lot more than it would hurt the town. I mean the the amount of town tax that they pay is

you know in the grand scheme of things is minimal and the village has their own taxing their own assessment taxes so you you pull off 1.5 million or whatever it is. Um but you know the town and village portions are so small from the town perspective if you know you were to colllocate there and you sell off these other buildings you know it's a wash right these commod tax I'm supportive of something happening there and I think that's not a bad idea it's a shame that it got to this point you know but um don't get me started

I know I know I know we're on the same page with that but um and then just the um elephant in the room I'm just wondering if the town board decided what what the plan is or going forward with replacing our town supervisor yet or any discussions yet or uh you know just kind of let it go for a while. I mean you're able to Yeah, I think we'll what I'll say is you know Nick is still supervisor until tomorrow. Okay. Um you know we people you know uh can submit interests and you know we'll have a executive session at some point to discuss that. Um and then uh you know when we're comfortable to move forward we'll do that at a meeting I guess.

So I mean you could also just leave it blank or leave it unfilled and then um leave it unfilled I guess and then just let the voters decide in November could do that but uh I can't personally do right yeah I I you know if it it would be my intention to fill it uh you know all of us have pretty demanding full-time jobs. Um, no, it's a big I Yeah, it wouldn't be fair to the town quite frankly, right? You know, so we're all chipping in as much as we can and we plan to do so. Yeah, I know. It was a Yeah, surprise. I mean, something else down the line maybe a consider. I mean,

you know, the supervisor salary is kind of low um compared to other towns. Mhm. Um, so that kind of I think the caliber of person that may be interested in the job may not really be interested in it for that salary. Um, I don't know. I mean, maybe that's something considered. I mean, all the sal and I get it as a, you know, people pay taxes, they don't want high salaries, but you know, we have had a lot of people leave town of southeast government because the salaries were low and they went to other municipalities because um, they were made more money. You know, I know some people from the courts and I think someone from the building department and we could we could it just maybe should be, you know, maybe through the association of towns you can like find out like

Yeah. And you you know this probably more, you know, better than anybody that there's the salary and then there's, you know, the budget sip, right? Which is an additional 20 grand. But I think when you combine them, I want to say it's like 110. I think that we've been noticing the full amount in the paper. Um, but yeah, we could look at it. I mean, something we could discuss during the budget next year. Yeah, I'm just thinking, you know, because, you know, you want to get somebody that would, you know, I, some people told me, you know, that, oh, I would maybe do it, but, you know, that's kind of low or whatever. You know, I can't afford to live on that, you know, whatever if they have I wouldn't do it if it paid a million dollars.

Well, it's Yeah. No, I get it. That's that's the thing. But, okay. I was just curious. But I mean um so so you will come out with the public public and decide right what you're going to do because then you could also appoint someone maybe that doesn't want to be supervisor but we'll just do it until the election like Putnham County did when um Vidyel was arrested and I I believe we can appoint uh anybody right that's what I'm saying as long as they're 18 years old and yeah um live in town and not a felon so again you know I'll say this publicly I I do think we need a full time person to run this town, right? U and you know in the interim until the special elections,

right? And then another option is down the line. I mean I think Will would know maybe it would take a voter referendum, but you know some towns in Westchester the supervisor is like part-time and they have a full-time like town administrator who is a professional non-political person that just does the dayto-day stuff. I think Newcastle, Marin. Um I'm sure there's more places too, but I'm just But that would be a longterm goal, you know, but just something to think about. We got to crawl first. Yeah. No, no, I know. I know. I'm just I'm just throwing stuff out there. That's all. All right. Thank you. Thanks,

Anybody else from the public? Not the right letter.

I don't know if this is the right forum, but Olena Trescuit with the town of Southeast Cultural Arts Coalition. I have three questions. Can we do a lease amendment before tomorrow? Can the lot lines, where are we with that? and the one-day liquor permits. So, in the lot lines, uh we talked about the liquor permit and the uh lease. So, Will will can give an update on those, too, if you don't mind, Will. But um the lot line adjustment I I did reply, but I got a lot of bouncebacks that the email wasn't right, but I didn't get one from the to CAC one. So, did you get my reply? Yeah, I think you said let's go with the green. Was that it?

Yeah. Yeah. Was there another thing beyond that? No. So, and I think Lily from Terry Bergenorf Collins uh replied to that said they had already dropped the plans off at the village, but they were going to send me a copy of the changed one and then when I go to the zoning board meeting, I'll just show them, hey, we changed this line. Uh I guess they they need it and it's part of their process just to have the actual paper map to look at so they get an understanding. So when we go to the meeting, we can say, "Hey, just this is where it's going to be and submit that as the signed one." Okay.

So that's uh as far as I know, unless and you tell me now because we're coming up on time. As far as I know, everything on that is um up to date, up to speed. We're going to go I'm going to go to the zoning board meeting and work on the subject. And you're going with the green line. Going with the green line. Okay. Yeah, that sounds good. Okay. Um and you guys are more than welcome to come to that meeting. It's public all the I think every zoning board meeting is public meeting for every municipality. I think when is it? I think it's the 17th I want to say. I have to go look at my email. I think it's the 17th. Okay.

And uh um I've asked Ashley Lie uh to come um and she agreed to. So she's a town planner. Okay. Because I don't really know what I'm doing with that. So she'll be the expert for us. Okay. And I guess there's no lease amendment for tomorrow. Well, we have a problem. Uh, and we've discussed this before. What you're asking the town to do would basically be giving uh full and unfettered control of that property to CAC for 30 years. Well, for 40 years,

you you you've indicated to us that you you cannot we cannot have an escape clause. The rest of the lease provides an escape clause. I mean, basically, if you want to sell it, you got you you can sell it. It says we sell it. We sell it. We generally unless there's something in there that allows the lease to be terminated. It does. It says that to a lease. It's It does say that in the lease. You said that that can't be in there to for you to be No. Yes, you have. Not not the part about selling. The only part that doesn't that would need to come out is that if you need it for administrative needs. Well, that's what that clause was there for.

But then later on in the lease, it says if you plan to sell the building, then all there aren't any referencing it was referencing a specific contract which is no longer in effect. It's in the regular lease. You said everything it was referencing the I believe the I park transaction. There is no nothing about the I park transaction in the lease amendment. Now in the original lease is what I'm saying

in the original lease there's nothing about I park. My analysis of this, Elena, is that is that um is that what you're asking us to do would basically hold the town to a lease with CAC on very favorable terms that could not be that could not be um uh terminated.

I I respectfully disagree because in the lease body itself, it says that if you're going to sell the building, that's fine. It's it's I don't know paragraph I don't know which paragraph it is but I can I can point it point to it. It it doesn't prevent you from selling the building and then we only have 30 days. But I guess we'd have to look at it together. And if and then you could also kick us out for cause. I mean if we didn't pay our rent or any if we violated any other parts of the lease. That's that's that's general in any lease, right? Right. So,

if you're in default and you don't clear your default, we can evict you. But we're not in in a situation right now that the town would like to subdivide this property and hopefully convey it to uh a a willing purchaser, meaning uh CAC. I think the lease amendment allows for that, but um well, we we both interpret it differently. Okay. Okay. And for the one-day permit, we have a uh the town has a a public buildings uh um uh protocol that doesn't allow

I heard you wave it last week for a particular business or two weeks ago. And that was for a license and not for not for the single day permits. I wasn't sure if the single day permits apply. I think that was a waving for the 30-day period for a business. for a business for what? Under the liquor law. Under the liquor law, when somebody applies for a liquor license in the town,

the town has to be given notice, and they have to give it notice 30 days before they file their application. What they did was ask that we wave that 30-day notice period. It's got nothing to do with uh consuming alcohol in a town building. Okay. So, um Okay. So, what do we need to do to try to get Is it allowed to even sell at all? No. I mean, if you were going to be selling alcohol, you you'd have to have a state liquor authority permit.

Well, that's what we're doing. We're we're applying for the one-day permits per the state liquor authority. The town has a has a policy that doesn't allow alcohol to be consumed or sold on town property. Okay. Okay. Okay. And I don't think we've ever waved that or amended it. It's been in effect for quite some time.

Okay. And it's in the regular regulations. It's in I believe the town board um probably when they renovated uh Lake View Manor, they adopted a facilities use uh policy and I'm sure that the town clerk can find it in the records and it was was specific that that no alcoholic beverages could be um could be consumed or u provided on the premises. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Anybody else from the public?

Any comments from the town board? Nope. No. All right. I'll make a motion to close the meeting. Second. All in favor? I I Thanks.