Town Board - Regular Meeting

TOWN OF CLARKSTOWN TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING Town Hall Auditorium May 6, 2025 at 1:00 PM MINUTES

PRESENT: Supervisor George Hoehmann Councilman Mark Licker Councilman Michael Graziano Councilman Donald Franchino Councilman Robert Axelrod Town Clerk Lauren Wohl

ABSENT: The Supervisor George Hoehmann declared the Town Board meeting opened. Assemblage saluted the flag. The Town Clerk read the roll call.

PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS AND GENERAL

PUBLIC COMMENTS Matt Brennan, New City Mr. Brennan expressed his condolences to the Supervisor regarding the passing of his sister. Mr. Brennan stated that he recently applied for a deck with the Building Department. If this deck was over 100 square feet (10ft x 10ft), a permit would not be required. This particular shed is 14x16 feet and a permit is required.

His dealings with the Building Department has been nothing but friendly and professional. His complaint is why all Building Department applications end up in the same general pool and assigned according to the day received. Receiving a permit for a major house addition is on the same time schedule as a permit to assemble a prefabricated shed. Four to six weeks is a standard answer.

For large house additions, people expect to wait this long, and the contractor expects to wait for a permit. Small contractors depend on securing large projects. He would like smaller projects to receive a quicker permit time. Perhaps building applications can be categorized by project costs? Least expensive would receive the quickest approval. Jackie Drechsler, Valley Cottage Ms.

Drechsler was sorry to hear about the loss in the Supervisor's family. Ms. Drechsler has noticed that the Police Department and the Highway Department are spending a lot of funds on vehicles. While looking at other communities (Ulster County for example), secure grants that bring in money to help reach other goals. She would like to see more funds being allocated to environmental work. Ms.

Drechsler believes it would be wise to create a position for someone to oversee purchases for vehicles. How can we get more for less? She does understand why the police department cannot use all electric vehicles. She appreciates the resolution regarding opposition to Faith-Based Affordable Housing. Is Rockland County unified with this type of resolution? Emily King, New City Ms.

King commented on the Faith-Based Affordable Housing - she congratulated and thanked the Town Board for the opposition to the proposal. Members of the Town and County feel that this idea is completely inappropriate. In terms of our resources - how we would support these types of homes. The other problem with the agenda tonight is bonding. There are almost 2 million dollars in bonds.

If these are things that we need, why aren't they in our budget? We conveniently do not raise taxes, but we put these expenses off for five to ten years. She spoke to the Supervisor - apologizing for his loss in his family. The Supervisor responded: He asked Larry Kay, Building Inspector to speak to Mr. Brennan directly regarding his shed permit.

Maybe there is a way we can look at some smaller projects and get permits issued sooner. To Ms. Drechsler and Ms. King - you both are talking about bonding vehicles. He is asking his Highway Superintendent to speak to this. The Town has put the purchase of vehicles within the budget. Paying for the debt service is in the budget. Every year, since the Supervisor has been in office, bonding has decreased.

Prior to Supervisor Hoehmann's administration, Clarkstown had horrendous equipment. The former administration did not spend on any funds on equipment or vehicles. We now put it in the budget and we are funding equipment every year. We do this with the Police as well. We have received over 40 million dollars in State grants.

The Supervisor stated that we do not need to increase headcount and hire a grant person to his staff. The Town has received much more in grant money with his administration than anyone in the past. Our current team, our staff, and elected officials do a great job at applying and receiving grants. He would like to inform Ms. Drechsler and others about what we have done for the environment.

Electric cars, electric trucks, EV chargers all around the town, solar on the roofs etc. The funding for all of this is in our budget. No one goes in and drops $50,000 on a car. We are not going to spend a quarter of a million dollars in cash on a truck when it can be financed. The debt service can pay it off over a number of years. Mr.

Milone, Superintendent of Highways spoke: When he came into office, the highway equipment was in terrible shape. We have 56 plow routes. We would like to have 4 spare trucks at all times. Each truck should last between 13 and 15 years. We are on a 15 year plan now - on the higher end. They replace 4 trucks a year. We currently have 26 of the 60 plow trucks that are 15 years or older.

It will take 12-15 year plan to get onto that 15 year plan. The sweeper that they are replacing is 21 years old. We've been putting a lot of money in to fix them. It is no longer cost effective. Mr. Milone stated that they Clarkstown will be granted 1.7 million dollars from Rockland County to install sidewalks on Strawtown Road.

We will continue to be aggressive with application grants at the County, State and Federal level. Supervisor Milone stated that half the fleet is still 15 years or older. We are working hard to correct this situation. When he joined the department, there was one truck that was 27 years old. We are making great progress. The Town lost a grant a substantial from Elijah Milneck when Mr. Milneck lost the election. Mr.

Milone stated that there are 35 miles of sidewalks that we plow and maintain after a snowstorm. We only had three vehicles to do this. It takes a very long to complete this. Co. Graziano indicated that the funding for these small machines was pulled away from the grant, we used our own money to pay for these small machines that plow sidewalks.

RESOLUTIONS

AGENDA ITEM #1: RESOLUTION No (238-2025) - Accepting the Town Board Meeting Minutes of April 22, 2025 — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #2: RESOLUTION No (239-2025) - Amending the Budget — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #3: RESOLUTION No (240-2025) - Setting a Public Hearing on a Proposed Local Law Entitled: “A Local Law Amending Chapter 262 of the Town Code of the Town of Clarkstown Concerning Prorated Exemptions and Expansion of Exemptions to Certain Military Veterans”Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #4: RESOLUTION No (241-2025) - Awarding Bid #7-2025 -- Electrical Work for Clarkstown Warehouse at 40 First Street, New City (Total cost: $98,500.00 plus a 18% contingency (Serial Bonds))

AGENDA ITEM #5: RESOLUTION No (242-2025) - Authorizing the Financing of the Costs of Electrical Improvements to the Clarkstown Warehouse ($116,230 Serial Bonds)

AGENDA ITEM #6: RESOLUTION No (243-2025) - Awarding Bid #9-2025 -- Mechanical and Plumbing Work for Clarkstown Warehouse at 40 First Street, New City, NY (Total cost: $172,900.00 plus a 18% contingency (Serial Bonds))

AGENDA ITEM #7: RESOLUTION No (244-2025) - Authorizing the Financing of the Costs of Mechanical and Plumbing Improvements to the Clarkstown Warehouse ($204,025 Serial Bonds)

AGENDA ITEM #8: RESOLUTION No (245-2025) - Authorizing the Purchase of Equipment for the Clarkstown Highway Department (Amount Not to Exceed: $1,600,000/Serial Bonds)

AGENDA ITEM #9: RESOLUTION No (246-2025) - Authorizing the Financing of the Costs of Acquisition of Equipment and Trucks for the Town Highway Department ($1,600,000 Serial Bonds)

AGENDA ITEM #10: RESOLUTION No (247-2025) - Advertising Bid #10-2025 -- Playground Park Shade Structure at West Nyack Hamlet Green Including Associated Sitework, Sidewalks, and Paving of Walkways — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #11: RESOLUTION No (248-2025) - Advertising Bid #11-2025 -- Storage Shed Structure for Germonds Park Sports Complex — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #12: RESOLUTION No (249-2025) - Advertise Bid #12-2025 - Purchase of Vehicles for the Clarkstown Highway Department — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #13: RESOLUTION No (250-2025) - Authorizing Expenses for Conference (National Informational Officers Association Training Conference) (Total Not to Exceed: $2,500.00)

AGENDA ITEM #14: RESOLUTION No (251-2025) - Memorializing Town of Clarkstown’s Opposition to Proposed New York State “Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act”Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #15: RESOLUTION No (252-2025) - Authorizing an Agreement for the Exemption of Real Property Taxes on a Village Owned Parcel at 230 E. Route 59, West Nyack (Tax Map #65.5-2-1) — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #16: RESOLUTION No (253-2025) - Granting Permission to the Rockland Community Farm Network to Dispense Alcoholic Beverages at Cropsey Community Farm, New City, New York — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #17: RESOLUTION No (254-2025) - Accepting the Resignation (by Retirement) of Eileen O'Connell - Senior Clerk Typist, Building Department, Accepted and Retroactive to April 26, 2025 — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #18: RESOLUTION No (255-2025) - Appointing Brittany Taddeo, Provisionally to the Position of Senior Clerk-Typist - Building Department, Effective May 7, 2025 ($64,092/annual)

AGENDA ITEM #19: RESOLUTION No (256-2025) - Appointing Louis Rodopoulos Provisionally to the Position of Engineer II - Department of Engineering and Facilities Management, Effective May 27, 2025 ($82,144/annual)

AGENDA ITEM #20: RESOLUTION No (257-2025) - Appointing Michael August (Permanent) (NY Helps Program) to the Position of Maintenance Supervisor (Sewage Systems) - Department of Engineering and Facilities Management, Effective and Retroactive to April 22, 2025 (No increase in salary.)

AGENDA ITEM #21: RESOLUTION No (258-2025) - Appointing Stephen Brancatelli to the (Permanent) Position of Police Officer - Town of Clarkstown Police Department, Effective May 7, 2025 ($70,232/annual)

AGENDA ITEM #22: RESOLUTION No (259-2025) - Appointing Salvatore Cannella to the (Permanent) Position of Police Officer - Town of Clarkstown, Effective May 12, 2025 ($70,232/annual)

ADJOURNMENT The Supervisor thanked everyone for moving the Town Board Meeting start time to 1:00 PM. At 1:27 PM, the Supervisor made a motion to close and adjourn this Town Board Meeting. He wished everyone a Happy Mother's Day. This was offered by Co. Licker, seconded by Co. Graziano. All were in favor. Respectfully Submitted, Lauren Marie Wohl UPCOMING MEETING Next Town Board Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, 2025.