https://sleepyhollow.localarchives.org/files/original/659b32f8fe3f3a0c9df8e420bc4d5c6c.pdf bdc53ccd54691afc53b76419679560b4 PDF Text Text The Board of Trustees of the Village of Sleepy Hollow held a meeting on Tuesday, December 30, 2008, in Village Hall, 28 Beekman Avenue, Sleepy Hollow, New York. Present: Mayor Philip E. Zegarelli Kay Brown Grala Thomas Capossela Maria Rose DeMilia-Powers Kenneth Wray, Trustees Absent: David Schroedel Karin Wompa, Trustees Also Present: Anthony P. Giaccio, Administrator Mayor Zegarelli called the meeting to order with a prayer and pledge to the flag. Mayor Zegarelli called for a moment of silence for all of those in the Sleepy Hollow family that have passed this last year. Agenda Amendments The Board agreed to pull the following items from the agenda. Item 3 - Approval of Warrants Item 4 - Mayor Announcements Resolution 3 - Budget Transfers Approval of Minutes Trustee DeMilia-Powers moved, seconded by Trustee Wray, to approve the minutes of November 18, 2008, as submitted, subject to minor typographical errors and/or non-material changes. Carried 5-0. Trustee Grala moved, seconded by Trustee Capossela, to approve the minutes of December 2, 2008, as submitted, subject to minor typographical errors and/or non-material changes. Carried 5-0. Trustee Grala moved, seconded by Trustee Wray, to approve the minutes of December 9, 2008, as submitted, subject to minor typographical errors and/or non-material changes. Carried 5-0. Trustee Capossela moved, seconded by Trustee Wray, to approve the minutes of December 16, 2008 as submitted, subject to minor typographical errors and/or non-material changes. Carried 5-0. l �Public Comment Don Caetano of 43 Lawrence Avenue objected to the hiring of two new police officers. The Mayor explained that hiring the two officers was necessary because there is a shortage of manpower in the Department, which has resulted in an additional over-time expense. The two new police officers will fill vacancies in the Department. Both officers will have to attend the police academy, so they will not be able to start on the force for several months. Jennifer Lobato-Church from the Webber Park Neighborhood Association commented on traffic- related safety issues. Ms. Lobato-Church submitted a memo to the Board from the residents of Webber Park (attached). The Mayor informed Ms. Lobato-Church that the Board will be setting a public hearing to reduce the speed limit on New Broadway. James Farley, President of the 100 College Arms Tenants Association requested that a meeting be set to help resolve issues related to 100 College Arms. Mr. Farley asked that some of the Village Board members attend the meeting along with County Legislator Lois Bronz, Administrator Giaccio and members of the Tenants Association. The Mayor asked that Trustee Grala and Trustee DeMilia-Powers attend as representatives from the Board. Mr. Giaccio will set up the meeting in mid-January. Roseanna Martinez of 100 College Arms echoed the concerns of Mr. Farley and requested copies of the minutes from the April 8, 2008 Board Meeting. Frank Rey, Captain of the Sleepy Hollow Auxiliary Police Department commented that he felt that the Auxiliary Police were not getting the proper respect and support from the Police Chief. He also said that he thought it was appropriate for auxiliary police officers be allowed to carry a weapon if they are trained and licensed. The Mayor strongly disagreed with this. Mr. Rey announced that the auxiliary police will be "standing down" until there is an in-house review of the direction of the auxiliary police. Don Caetano of 43 Lawrence Avenue commented in support of the auxiliary police. Trustee Reports Trustee Capossela read the Department of Public Works report (see attached) Trustee DeMilia-Powers reported that bids for the senior center have come in and appear to be lower than expected. Trustee Wray reported that the Public Safety Subcommittee completed interviews with the police officer candidates and will begin interviewing for the vacant Lieutenants position. Administrator's Report - The Administrator reported that the process of creating an employee handbook will begin within the next two weeks. 2 �Resolutions - See attached. Public Comment Don Caetano of 43 Lawrence Avenue complained about the hiring of two new police officers. At 7:55 p.m., Trustee Wray moved to adjourn the meeting; Trustee Grala seconded; carried: 5-0. Respectfully submitted, W^ /Jj&ecs& Anthony *G1accio Village Administrator 3 �DPW REPORT FOR December 30, 2008 ALL LOOSE BRUSH MUST BE BAGGED, LOOSE LEAVES WILL NOT BE PICKED UP. SALT BARRELS HAVE BEEN PLACED ON STREET CORNERS IN EVENT THE VILLAGE DECLARES A SNOW EMERGENCY ALL VEHICLES MUST BE MOVED. VEHICLES WILL BE TOWED AFTER THE PD MAKES AN ATTEMPT TO NOTIFY THE OWNER. POT HOLES ARE BEING FILLED THROUGH OUT THE VILLAGE �To: Philip E. Zegarelli Tom Capossella Maria R. DeMilia-Powers Kay Brown Grala Sean E. McCarthy David Schroedel Jimmy Warren Karin Wompa Kenneth Wray From: The Residents of Webber Park via Jennifer Lobato-Church Re: Traffic-Related Safety Issues in the Webber Park Neighborhood 30 Date: December 2 £ 2008 ^ 0 Introduction Traffic-related safety issues have been a long-time concern of the residents in the Webber Park residential neighborhood. On December 9, 2008, several Webber Park residents ("Residents") addressed Mayor Philip E. Zegarelli (the "Mayor") and Board of Trustees (Tom Capossella, Kay Brown Grala, David Schroedel, Karin Wompa, Kenneth Wray, Maria R. DeMilia-Powers) (the "Board") at the local Board of Trustees meeting. At that time, the Mayor, Board and Residents agreed that the Residents' concerns and recommendations for corrective action will be presented to the Board in this memorandum at the December 23~2p08, Board of Trustees meeting. This memorandum was prepared using a variety of sources, including: Residents' comments, visual inspection of New Broadway, observation of the traffic on New Broadway and visual inspection of the New Broadway and Route 9 intersection. During the course of the December 9, 2008, Board Meeting, several individuals discussed a 1998 report ("Report) that was prepared by several Residents in conjunction with the Department in Transportation, addressing these very same issues. Despite repeated attempts, the author of this memorandum could not obtain a copy of the Report. Background: New Broadway Vehicular access to Webber Park may be obtained several ways.1 Entry via New Broadway, however, is the subject of this review. New Broadway is the main entrance to Webber Park from North-bound traffic on Route 9. The intersection at Route 9 is reasonably confusing, since traffic approaches Webber Park on Route 9 from a straight direction, having to softly bear left to continue downhill on Route 9. To remain in a Traffic may enter Webber Park via: 1) New Broadway at the intersection of Route 9, 2) by turning off Bedford Road onto Pine Street and following Pine Street to Pine CI. And onto New Broadway, and 3) from two entrances to Gordon Avenue, both intersecting Route 9. �forward/straight direction at this intersection places a driver on New Broadway and within Webber Park. Compounding this confusion is a hard right slightly before the intersection, which is Bedford Road and a steep uphill. Traffic moving West down Bedford Road must bear a soft right onto Route 9, but a hard right places the driver on New Broadway. For directional clarity, there is a white sign with a black border and a black "9" hanging above the entrance on New Broadway, displaying a black arrow pointing left. On the corner of the sidewalk, at the intersection of New Broadway and Route 9, there are two standing signs: another black and white "9" sign and a larger green sign with a white boarder, "9" and arrow pointing downward left. New Broadway allows for two-way flow of traffic. Houses line both sides of the street. The following streets allow for entry to/exit from New Broadway, in order from South to North: Left Side of Road Right Side of Road Mahoney PL Pine CI. (a one way West) Rice Ave. Maple Street Van Ripper Ave. Spruce Street Crane Ave. Gory Brook Rd. Tappan Ave. Douglas Park, which is a recreational park, is located at the end of New Broadway and is gated off from traffic. Tappan Avenue, therefore, is the last opportunity to turn off of New Broadway before reaching Douglas Park. New Broadway does not have any stop signs, speed limit signs or any signs indicating that Webber Park is residential with children at play posted along the route. Most of the side streets have a stop sign on each respective corner at New Broadway. Many pedestrians use New Broadway for access to: Webber Park, Douglas Park, the residences and the Old Croton Aqueduct via Gory Brook Road. These pedestrians range in age from very young children to senior adults, and they often have dogs on leashes walking with them. Traffic-Related Safety Issues The sources of vehicular traffic on New Broadway are generally created by the residents, guests of residents and individuals who enter Webber Park by accident because they become confused by the intersection at Route 9. The Residents are concerned about two traffic-related safety issues in particular: the number of cars, and the speed of those cars, traveling along New Broadway. These issues are important because, as stated above, many residents of Webber Park walk on New Broadway. Quite a few of these pedestrians are children, and, most importantly, it is their safety well-being that needs to be ensured. Further, several residents have sustained property damage, both to cars and �residential property, as a consequence of these circumstances. The issues related to each concern, as well as proposed corrective action,2 will be separately addressed below. Traffic Volume a) Issue Residents and drivers who miss the soft left turn downhill as they continue North on Route 9 largely comprise the volume of traffic on New Broadway. The lost drivers, which often include individuals driving large commercial trucks, have no legitimate purpose to drive North on New Broadway, and they often do not realize this until they are some distance along. Additionally, they often turn around at one of the side streets and proceed back down New Broadway (South bound) to return to the intersection at Route 9, doubling the amount of errant travel. The "9" signs at the intersection are not sufficient to notify drivers that, by continuing straight, they will enter a residential neighborhood. The signs are too small, poorly placed to allow forewarning, and are drowned by the visual noise at the intersection, which is created by rapidly moving traffic, traffic lights in the intersection and commercial construction at the corner of the New Broadway/Route 9 intersection. b) Recommendation The most desired corrective action is creating an island in the middle of New Broadway, relatively close to, and easily visible from, the intersection at Route 9. The island should support, erected in the middle of it, a sign indicating that the North bound traveler is entering a residential neighborhood. A sign is necessary in the middle of the road, as evidenced by the number of drivers who miss the three (3) posted Route 9 signs (two (2) on the sidewalk at the intersection and one (1) hanging above New Broadway) directing them downhill on Route 9. The Mayor and Board should also ensure that this island has sufficient reflection to deter drivers, particularly at night, from driving over the island and into the sign. c) The Town's Proposed Solutions The Mayor indicated at the December 9, 2008, Board of Trustees meeting that Sean E. McCarthy, Village Architect, has drawn plans for the reconfiguration of the intersection of New Broadway and Route 9, designed to more efficiently direct Route 9 North bound traffic away from the entrance of New Broadway. At the time of the drafting of this memorandum, the author was unable to obtain a copy of these plans. Further, it is unclear how many Residents have seen these plans. Nevertheless, the Residents, by majority, agree that this is a desirable solution. 2 All recommendations are made pursuant to Residents' opinions and comments. Feasibility and cost are not taken into consideration. 3 Other recommendationsfromResidents that may be considered, but are not being formally proposed in this memorandum, include: placing pillars on each side of the entrance to New Broadway; the placement of yellow lines on Route 9, beginning at the Horseman Diner, to direct drivers. Finally, at least one resident does not want any changes to New Broadway at all, stating that he does not believe that any dangerous traffic situations exist. �This solution, however, is likely to take time to complete. The Residents, therefore, continue to support the above recommendation of an island with a neighborhood announcement sign as a more immediate resolution. Another solution proposed by the Mayor at the meeting is to make New Broadway a oneway street in a South bound direction. The Residents do not favor this solution, since the one way signs will likely go unnoticed (in the same way that the Rout 9 signs go unnoticed) by unknowledgeable Route 9 drivers. This solution creates the potential for drivers errantly driving onto New Broadway from Route 9 into oncoming, one-way traffic. Speed of Cars Traveling on New Broadway a) Issue Drivers speeding on New Broadway are both those that missed the turn for Route 9 and Residents. Further, speeding vehicles may travel either North or South on New Broadway. As Residents have stated to the Mayor and the Board in past Board of Trustee meetings, speeding cars have, on several occasions, come close to causing physical harm to pedestrians and have actually caused property damage. As stated above, New Broadway does not have any stop signs, speed limit signs or signs indicating that Webber Park is residential with children at play posted along the route. Currently, according to the Mayor, the speed limit on New Broadway is 30 miles per hour, which is the same speed limit for Route 9 at that intersection. b) Recommendations In order to deter excessive vehicular speed on New Broadway, several courses of action need to be taken. 4 1. Rumble strips should be placed at the entrance to New Broadway, either before or concurrent with the island and neighborhood sign. The rumble strips will force vehicles that may be speeding on Route 9 to slow before entering the neighborhood. 2. "Stop" or "Bump" signs and speed humps need to be placed on New Broadway. There is a need for both signs and humps since "Stop" signs are often ignored in the neighborhood, as evidenced by the people who do not stop at the sign on the comer of Pine CI. and New Broadway, resulting in several accidents over the past few years. Further, in fairness and safety to drivers, a speed hump should have a sign to indicate its presence. The "Stop" sign and speed hump together should be placed on New Broadway for Northbound traffic at the corner of Pine CI.;4 a "Bump" sign and speed hump together should be placed on New Broadway for North-bound traffic just before Gory Brook Road and on New Broadway for South-bound traffic after Crane but before Gory Brook Road. Deterrence is most necessary at this intersection due to the blind spot experienced by drivers exiting Pine CI. and evidenced by the number of accidents that have occurred there. �3. The speed limit should be reduced to 25 miles per hour, and this limit should be prominently displayed on signs along New Broadway in both directions. A reduced speed limit and stop signs are not effective methods of deterrence without enforcement. Until residents become compliant with new speed restrictions, the police should randomly patrol the neighborhood. Excessive police presence, however, is not desirable or necessary. Excessive patrol on New Broadway simply increases the number of cars traveling on New Broadway. Additionally, it removes police resources from other areas of town that may warrant the additional attention. The Residents believe that the speed humps and rumble strips are good deterrence, as they are physical methods that require a driver to slow down or risk damage to the car. Further, visible speed limit signs are a good reminder to drivers to keep speed at a minimum. The Residents are not, however, stating that no police presence is needed and request some additional patrol to ensure speed limit compliance with the new restrictions. Contact Any questions regarding this document should be directed to Jennifer Lobato-Church at i lobato@optonline.net or 914-631-2786. �Meeting Date: Resolution #: 12/30/08 12/231/08 BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees hereby confirms the Mayor's appointment of Stephen B. Dougherty of 6 Agnew Farm Road B4, Armonk, New York to the position of Police Officer from Civil Service Eligible List #67-782 effective January 5, 2009 at an annual salary of $39,754.00. Said conditional appointment is subject to Civil Service rules, a probationary period of eighteen months and the completion of training term and specified courses, if required. Moved: Trustee Grala Seconded: Trustee Wray Vote: 5-0 �Meeting Date: Resolution #: 12/30/08 12/232/08 BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees hereby confirms the Mayor's appointment of Craig M. Kelly of 16 Skylark Drive, Cortlandt Manor New York to the position of Police Officer from Civil Service Eligible List #67-782 effective January 5, 2009 at an annual salary of $39,754.00. Said conditional appointment is subject to Civil Service rules, a probationary period of eighteen months and the completion of training term and specified courses, if required. Moved: Trustee Grala Seconded: Trustee Wray Vote: 5-0 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes & Resolutions-2008 Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource MINS_TRUST_2008-12-30 Subject The topic of the resource Board of Trustees Minutes-2008 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2008 Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Village of Sleepy Hollow All Rights Reserved. Type The nature or genre of the resource Text