https://sleepyhollow.localarchives.org/files/original/85285b860f9806afb98a9a1e521c3557.pdf 8507a2ba90d6f23d22dee82eee7013bc PDF Text Text y& NORTH TARRYOTWN, N.Y. January 21, 1985 PUBLIC HEARING A Hearing was held before the Board of Trustees of the Village of North Tarrytown, N.Y. on the above date. Present Philip E. Zegarelli, Mayor Vincent Buonanno Frank Mangieri William McBride Steven Salman James Timmings Robert Ponzini, Counsel Mayor Zegarelli called the meeting to order at 8:00 P.M., saying that the meeting would encompass three topics: (1). The passing of a formal resolution to back up the Urban County grants to revitalize the Village. (2). Police committee's report to reconstruct office spaces. (3). The Public Hearing. (1). Mayor Zegarelli said the Village is seeking federal funds to revitalize the Village over a 3 year period. The first application made through the Urban County grant would be for an amount of $1,045,000.00 over a 3 year period, to be used as follows: av First year - $300,000.00 Second year- $315,000.00 Third year - $435,000.00 The first application would be for rehabilitation and new construct- f :! ion costs in low income rate housing, and parking in the census tract :, t' 116, from Hudson Street down to the river - the central business district. \ » The second application of funds would be for a total of $615,000.00, ; with $520,000.00 from U.C.B.G. for the three year period. These funds li would go towards restoring sidewalks and curbs, installing an elevator |; f for the handicapped in the Municipal Building, to control flooding on Pocantico Street, and for work in Barnhart Park. The Community Opportunity Center is included in the total and would be distributed as $15,000.00 per year for a 3 year period. Mayor Zegarelli then asked for a vote by Board members if they all agreed to the resolution as so stated. Such a motion was made by Trustee Buonanno, seconded by Trustee Timmings, and was unanimously carried. (2). Mayor Zegarelli asked Mr. Buonanno to inform the Board members of the plans for reconstruction of police office spaces. Mr. Buonanno said the design by Ron Tumtfquist for a Detective Bureau room met the police department's requirements, which will redesign space downstairs at police headquarters. He said he would like the :U . �r -2police committee and the Chief of Police to review the papers, and that Mr. Buonanno will submit a final plan at next week's Board meeti on January 28, 1985. Trustee Salman asked if a Technical Service Review Board was needed. Trustee Buonanno said no, a Technical Service Review Board « not needed for internal design changes. Trustee Timmings asked if this change of the police department included the modification of the third floor, to which Mayor Zegarell replied in the negative. (3). Public Hearing The North Tarry town Board of Trustees held a public hear in on Monday, January 21, 1985, to consider the adoption of a local law establishing the position of a Village Administrator. The purpose of this position would be to provide the most economic and efficient ove all direction, coordination and control of the day-to-day activities and operations of North Tarrytown, to minimize the administrative det now handled by the Mayor and Board of Trustee, to provide centralized direction and control of Village employees, and to formalize staff an advisory functions. Mayor Zegarelli then opened the public hearing to all present, thanked all who came in the extremely cold weather. Due to the weath Mayor Zegarelli said there would be a second follow-up meeting on the public hearing, to be held the following Monday, January 28, 1985, wh the Board will meet again. Mr. John Carroll, of 140 Hunter Avenue, asked the Board if ther< are any provisions for heat control and for those who are homeless h the village ordinances, especially with the extreme cold being experienced at present. Mayor Zegarelli reminded all present that this wa a public hearing to consider adopting a law for a Village Administrat But in answering Mr. Carroll's question, Mayor Zegarelli replied that Building Inspector Margotta and the County Bureau have been following up on all needs and/or complaints re: any lack of heat. Mr. Carroll said that not too long ago, village taxes were $150. per year, and are now $600.00 per year, and that school taxes are ten times what they once were. He requested that the position for a vill administrator be put on the March ballot so that residents can decide whether this position is needed. He said the money for an administra would be better spent by increasing the present police force of 20 me to a force of 30 men. He asked why and how could an administrator wh doesn't know the village's needs be aware of the need for more police especially should the administrator be hired from outside the village He said he would prefer to pay the present village mayor an annual salary of $30-40,000.00 and have him hired on a full time basis to ke and maintain a strong local government. He would like to see Mayor Zegarelli take on the position rather than bring in someone from outs of the village. The mayor, said Mr. Carroll, would be directly respo sible to the local citizens. He said he wished he had more time to assess the situation before tonight's hearing, as he had just found < about tonight's hearing. Mayor Zegarelli said a public notice had b< published in the newspaper before tonight's hearing for the position! r �rr ^ •, • • • . ' • - . • r -3a Village administrator. This had been worked on over a long period of time, this was not a sudden action by the Board. He said many of Mr. Carroll's points had been taken into consideration and handled as such in the draft of the local law that has been drawn up. Mayor Zegarelli explained that the many facets of the village government has required many hours of extra work on both his part and that of all Board members. A village administrator would help to pull all things together on a day-to-day basis of the municipality. Papers were handed (Exhibit A) out to all present showing other villages administrators or managers of Westchester's 21 villages have and how North Tarry town was compared to them. Many of these villages have a village administrator said Mayor Zegarelli, and the salaries they received. Mayor Zegarelli said that last year's budget was drawn up with an allocation of $40,000.00 for an administrator should the position be created. A select committee of non-partisan people will help to screen and interview applicants for the Mayor to appoint and the Board of Trustees to confirm, said Mayor Zegarelli. He said he wants all citizens to understand that the initial selection process will not be by the Board of Trustees and the Mayor but on a professional and nonpartisan basis. In regard to Mr. Carroll's doubts and questions regarding where the administrator would live, Mayor Zegarelli read Section 2-6 (Exhibit B) of the proposed law to establish the position of village administrator. This section pertains to eligibility, and states that the administrator "shall beome a resident of the village within six months after appointment and qualification, and so remain during tenure. This residency requirement, however, may be waived by a majority of the Board of Trustees. ti {•'«, l f But, said Mr. Carroll, do we need this position? Spending is not . I to be increased unless the village has to. He would like the taxpayers * to decide. t Mayor Zegarelli noted that 60 days are needed at a minimum to put , it on the ballot, and that would be too late for elections this March. This position for an administrator would be a benefit for all residents. „ He reminded Mr. Carroll that all Board members were elected with the people's trust. Mayor Zegarelli stated that he has offered to cut his ' , salary in half as a sign of good faith. He noted a retirement by a ; ^ village employee was coming up, and that his salary would go to partH ially offset this new position of village administrator. hi Again, Mr. Carroll asked "do we need an administrator"? He asked flf that North Tarry town not "jump on the bandwagon and get an administrator,} like Mayor the rest of Westchester's villages havesomeone done". who can search out *|j Zegarelli said the village needs ft and find grant money; to allocate time and effort and to help file applications to get grant money. He said he has learned a lot about grantsmanship but not enough about filing for all grants, and that an administrator., could help get the village the funds it might be missing out on. �r Trustee Boonanno rrminded Mr. Carroll that he has many a time asked the Board of Trustees to plan for the village's future. The Board is planning, said Tnastee Buonanno, as they want North Tarryto1 to have an administrator fox continuity when any position (s) change It would make for better negotiating of salaries with the public employees and their unioms, as it would provide professional guidanc which in turn would get more for the village with its money. Mr. Carroll asked how wrald an administrator get such clout? Mayor Zegarelli said the Board of Trustees must and will back and support him or her. Mr. Fonzini told all present that should th village not like the law, the Board of Trustees can repeal the law. Mr. Raymond DeLade, of 18 Crane Avenue in North Tarry town addre ed the Board as a Trustee for four terms. He said he would like the village to be prudent with its funds, as General Motors is looking f tax cuts. He said he agreed with Mr. Carroll, why does the village need an administrator? An administrator, along with a secretary and furniture could reach am extra 90-100 thousand dollars per year! Mr DeLade then addressed Mr. Beonanno, saying that Mr. Buonanno sets policy for public safety, and the village has John Biros and James Margotta to help and execute the policy, as does Trustee Galgano wit sports and Pat Lofaxo* and finance is handled by Trustee Timmings along with Filomena Faliacaro and Irene Amato, who all do just fine, and do not need an administrator. Mr. DeLade said he felt this idea should be put on the back burner until the village knows where Genet Motor is going. Mayor Zegarelli noted that General Motors is not moving out of the village. And, he said, no new car or office will be needed for administrator's position. Mayor Zegarelli noted that state and fede) agencies are in existence today and demand a great deal of time that wasn't needed twenty years ago. He said eleven years ago when he became a Trustee, he too, was against an administrator but has alter his opinion. Trustee Timminigs said an administrator is needed to oversee tt preparing of contracts, and of all the data to protect the taxpayer from paying anymore than is needed. He said he has not met with otl villages to see how their negotiations are handled, but an administrator could get more information and details that North Tarrytown could benefit from. In regard to General Motors, taxes can't go up. And a lot of Borth Tarrytown's construction is non-taxable, and the village is reaching its limits for income. If the village loses a great deal of IIK-OBBP doe to General Motors, or the tax exempt Rockefeller property, a great deal of time will be needed for the villas finances, making the need for an administrator even greater. Mr. Carroll said the decision as to whether or not General Mot( decides to stay will be made in Detroit, not by an administrator. 1 then asked the village to give consideration for police shift work i to please get the village more police protection with the money in-l stead of an administrator. I Mr. Thomas Cavalieri, of 153 Webber Avenue, said he "saw the H �¥&o r -5writing on the wall" that John Biros would retire with the possibility of a village administrator. He said he felt the village has all the individuals it needs to head each department without an administrator. Mr. Cavalieri said that he would also like to have this administrator position put on a ballot so that the people can choose. Mr. DeLade reminded all that North Tarrytown is bounded by the river, the Rockefeller property, and by Tarrytown; the village of North Tarrytown has no place to expand for more income, let alone pay an administrator. Mayor Zegarelli said there would be no change in the clerk's or treasurer's roles. The administrator would be outside of the office seeing what is being done or not done, checking up on things to see that the most gets done. He asked all present to not close their minds and say "no", or even worse, "never". Mr. DeLade again asked that the issue be put on the back burner for now. Mayor Zegarelli stated that General Motors has filed two certioraris already, and may file again. The village must be ready to deal with this very important matter. Mr. DeLade asked if present employees wont't be upset to have someone "peeking down their backs"? Mayor Zegarelli said the choice of person would be vital. The new administrator will have to set guidelines, which won't be easy, but the Board will help. Mr. Carroll addressed the Board asking for a vote to change the village name to that of Sleepy Hollow on the Hudson. Mayor Zegarelli replied, reminding Mr. Carroll that tonight was a public hearing solely regarding a possible village administrator. Mr. Mario Belanich, of 152 North Washington Street asked if Mr. Biros is to be replaced or not? Mayor Zegarelli answered in the negative. Mr. Belanich said that he was then in favor of a village administrator, but he too wants the people to decide by voting. That way he noted, people won't feel anything was done behind their backs. Trustee Salman noted that any good organization has a person at the top to answer questions and make decisions. With an administrator, these issues could be handled while Board members might be away. Mr. Timmings said North Tarrytown spends close to four million dollars a year. Yet over the years only a handful of people have shown to protest the budget; yet a village administrator's salary would be for 30-40 thousand a year. He asked the people to please trust the Board. Trustee Mangieri also noted that a professional administrator would be able to coordinate the many different angles of local govenrnment, and would be a great help to the village. �r -6Mayor Zegarelli noted that should the need arise, an administrai can be replaced very easily by a vote of the Mayor and Board of Trust since the Administrator does not have a contract but serves at the pleasure of the Board. At the beginning, said Mayor Zegarelli, Board members may have different outlooks, but they all drew the same conclusion: the vill needs an administrator. This same conclusion was reached by Board members who have served for many years or only a few months. Trustee Buonanno said an organizer who can oversee and regulate for the village on a daily basis will help the Board of Trustees do even better job in the future. John Carroll proposed a four year term for the mayor. Mayor Zegarelli said that wasn't an issue for tonight's hearing. Mayor Zegarelli then asked if there were any other comments. Trustee Salman said this was a 100% bi-partisanship agreement arrived at enthusiastically. "When was that last seen in North Tarr town"? There being no further business, a motion to adjourn tonight's hearing at 9:30 P.M. was made by Trustee Buonanno; seconded by Trust Salman and was unanimously passed. Respectfully submitted, Linda Fukuchi Acting clerk � 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-1985 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_1985-01-21 Subject The topic of the resource Board of Trustees Minutes-1985 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1985 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