Town Board - Regular Meeting

TOWN OF CLARKSTOWN TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING Town Hall Auditorium April 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM MINUTES

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

ABSENT: Councilman Donald Franchino Co. Franchino apologized that he has a family health issue and cannot be at the Town Board Meeting tonight. The Supervisor wishes he and his family well. Co. Franchino is expected at our next Town Board Meeting. The Supervisor George Hoehmann declared the Town Board meeting opened. Assemblage saluted the flag. The Town Clerk read the roll call. POLICE DEPARTMENT MATTERS A member of Clarkstown Police Department Administration will report.

PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS AND GENERAL

PUBLIC COMMENTS Al Osterlitz, New City Mr. Osterlitz reminded the Town Board and the Public of a presentation at the Rockland County Court House, in New City. Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 2:00 PM, there will be Yom HaShoah Observance. It is usually well attended. These are memorial events that normally take place around the country. This is also known as the Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The Supervisor stated that yes, he and other officials plan to attend the service. Jackie Drechsler, Valley Cottage, NY Ms. Drechsler asked about resolution #216 and #217 - the Purchase of Police Vehicles. She would like to know how many cars we are replacing and why so much money is being spent. Will they be electric? Are we moving forward with our Smart Climate Change Community Goals? Ms.

Drechsler is also questioning the Tuesday night's Town Board Meetings. The time and day conflict with the Rockland County Legislature meetings. She is asking the Town Board to consider changing the day of the week so everyone has an option to attend both meetings. Steve Levine, Congers, NY He would like an explanation of

agenda item #220. He also commented on his letter that he presented to the Town Board regarding the address at 139 Massachusetts Avenue, Congers. He is waiting for a written response. He realizes all the members of this Town Board were not in office when this situation took place. It was prior to our current Supervisor, who inherited this. He reminded the public and the Town Board of what took place.

He realizes that the Town spent a lot of money to clean up this site. The clean up of the site did not take place until Mr. Levine and Mr. Rocco (neighbor) went into Federal Court to make this happen. He wants to make sure that the entire Board realizes the history of what exactly happened. The Supervisor responded: The Supervisor thanked Mr. Osterlitz for his announcement regarding Yom HaShoah.

According to the Anti defamation League, the state of New York leads the entire nation in Anti Semiotic incidents. It is important that we educate all of our residents about the horrors of Anti Semitism. Yom HaShoah and the remembrance of the Holocaust is extremely important to recognize.

When the Supervisor teaches Judaism in his World Religion Adjunct Class, we realize that the world Jewish population is just about equal to what it was in 1939, before the Holocaust. It is 80 plus years later and the world Jewish population is only what it was back then. Many downplay and minimize modern tragedies and modern incidents with the Holocaust. The Holocaust stands separate and apart.

It was the greatest genocide tragedy in the history of humanity. Anti Semitism needs to be combative where and when we see it. He encourages our troops to attend the Yom HaShoah at the Courthouse if able. We have been doing this for many years. Chief Wanamaker spoke regarding the purchase of the Police Vehicles - This purchase is bonded through our insurance.

We have a certain number of cars that we rotate out of service every year. We currently need to replace six patrol vehicles and six unmarked vehicles. We looked into electric vehicles. The problem is we would have to triple our fleet to do this. Our cars run 24/7. They need to be gassed up immediately. We do not have time to charge them.

A major issue is also the batteries - once the battery gets damaged, that vehicle is totaled out. This is an expense that we cannot handle at all. We liked the hybrids, especially with their gas mileage. The problem is that we tested them out - prior to Covid, Ford, the manufacturer who we do business with, was tremendously back ordered. It is going on four years now waiting for the Police Package.

If we could go back and get hybrids, we would do it, but until Ford can produce them for us, we get the gas powered vehicles. The Supervisor added that these cars are mobile offices for the police officers. Electric vehicles that are used in other areas are generally used for ticketing. The technology is just not there yet.

He would like to note on the record that this past month, we had our solar on our roof turned on. We now have over 120+ KW system on our roof. We are the only Town in Rockland County to have Solar on our Municipal building. We are looking to put Solar in the new warehouse that was constructed behind the Police Department and car port. We also hope to put solar on the landfill.

Regarding changing the meeting day for the Town Board Meeting so it does not conflict with the County Legislature - The Supervisor would like to think that it is the Clarkstown Town Board Meeting Night and not the County of Rockland Legislature Meeting Night. The Town Board, for as long as the Supervisor can remember has been meeting on Tuesday nights. This goes back to the 1960s.

No, he will not change the dates - there are too many other Boards and Commissions that meet during the week. He is sorry that there is a conflict. He believes all the Towns meet on Tuesday nights. Monday through Thursday's there are Town Meeting, Village Meetings, Planning, County Legislature Meetings, Library, Fire District meetings etc.

The Supervisor is sorry, but the Town Board will continue their meetings on Tuesday evenings. To Mr. Levine - regarding item number 12 - The Town has property owned by Lake Nanuet, and the Town also owns property with a former employee. The Town Attorney, Kevin Conway spoke regarding this. Historically we have had two lease properties that have been occupied by Town employees.

We have raised the leases to be more in line with the Market Rates. Mr. Conway continued - Regarding 139 Massachusetts Avenue - He has responded to Mr. Levine several times and has provided answers to all of his questions. Mr. Conway recited again - what happened to this property and how it was remediated for over one million dollars. The Town is now selling the property as a single family home.

It is in compliance regarding environmental issues. A full report was provided to the realtor, the sellers and the buyers. The Supervisor stated that the Town has taken a loss on this property. We have paid off the bonding on this so we are now able to sell it. The property will now go back on the tax roll. The Supervisor asked the Town Attorney to call Mr. Levine once again on Wednesday, April 23rd.

The Town has done its very best to clean this property up.

RESOLUTIONS

AGENDA ITEM #1: RESOLUTION No (209-2025) - Accepting the Town Board Meeting Minutes of April 8, 2025 — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #2: RESOLUTION No (210-2025) - Amending the Budget — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #3: RESOLUTION No (211-2025) - Accepting Audit of the Town of Clarkstown Justice Court — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #4: RESOLUTION No (212-2025) - Authorizing Execution and Acceptance of Stormwater Control Facility Maintenance Agreements Regarding St. Mary’s Indian Orthodox Church of Rockland Inc. Site Plan (Tax Map Designation No. 50.8-3-62.3) — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #5: RESOLUTION No (213-2025) - Authorizing Execution and Acceptance of Stormwater Control Facility Maintenance Agreements Regarding Culinary Depot, Inc. Site Plan (Tax Map Designation No. 57.15-2- 1.2) — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #6: RESOLUTION No (214-2025) - Authorizing Acceptance of Conservation Easements James Giordano Subdivision (Tax Map Designation No. 59.9-1-2.1) — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #7: RESOLUTION No (215-2025) - Granting Certificates of Registration to Perform Sewer Related Work — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #8: RESOLUTION No (216-2025) - Authorizing Police Chief to Purchase Police Vehicles (Total Shall Not Exceed: $550,000/Serial Bonds)

AGENDA ITEM #9: RESOLUTION No (217-2025) - Authorizing the Financing of the Acquisition of Police Vehicles and Equipment for the Clarkstown Police Dept. ($550,000 Serial Bonds)

AGENDA ITEM #10: RESOLUTION No (218-2025) - Authorizing Purchase and Installation of Fitness Equipment at Street, Congers, Pascack, and Central Nyack Community Centers (Total Cost Shall Not Exceed: $105,000/Serial Bonds)

AGENDA ITEM #11: RESOLUTION No (219-2025) - Authorizing the Financing of the Acquisition and Installation of Equipment at Various Community Centers ($105,000 Serial Bonds)

AGENDA ITEM #12: RESOLUTION No (220-2025) - Authorizing the Supervisor to Execute New Lease for Town Owned Property with Regard to 27 Lake Nanuet Drive, Nanuet — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #13: RESOLUTION No (221-2025) - Granting Permission to West Nyack Fire Engine Co. #1 Inc. to have a Licensed Fireworks Display at Germonds Park, West Nyack, NY — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #14: RESOLUTION No (222-2025) - NYSRS - Standard Work Day and Reporting — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #15: RESOLUTION No (223-2025) - Accepting the Resignation (by Retirement) of Stephen Ungerleider - Chief Fire Safety Inspector - Building Department, Accepted and Retroactive to April 20, 2025 — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #16: RESOLUTION No (224-2025) - Appointing Harold Straut (Provisionally) to the Position of Chief Fire Safety Inspector - Building Department, Effective and Retroactive to April 21, 2025 ($137,263/annual)

AGENDA ITEM #17: RESOLUTION No (225-2025) - Accept Resignation - Christopher Dillon - Police Radio Dispatcher Effective May 11, 2025 — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #18: RESOLUTION No (226-2025) - Appoint Christopher Dillon (Permanent) - Assistant Fire Safety Inspector Effective May 12, 2025 ($79,269/annual)

AGENDA ITEM #19: RESOLUTION No (227-2025) - Accepting the Resignation (by Retirement) of Michael Benzinger - Police Officer - Police Department, Accepted, Effective and Retroactive to April 15, 2025 — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #20: RESOLUTION No (228-2025) - Appoint Robert Stapleton (Permanent) - Police Sergeant Effective April 25, 2025 ($182,638/annual)

AGENDA ITEM #21: RESOLUTION No (229-2025) - Appointing Jeffrey Gillies (Permanent) to the Position of Public Information Specialist - Parks and Recreation Department, Effective and Retroactive to April 7, 2025 (No increase in salary.)

AGENDA ITEM #22: RESOLUTION No (230-2025) - Appointing Alexandra Artuso (Permanent) (NY Helps Program) to the Position of Engineering Technician - Department of Engineering and Facilities Management, Effective and Retroactive to April 7, 2025 (No increase in salary.)

AGENDA ITEM #23: RESOLUTION No (231-2025) - Appointing Lisa Diaz (Permanent) (NY Helps Program) to the Position of Principal Purchasing Clerk Typist - Purchasing Department, Effective and Retroactive to April 7, 2025 (No increase in salary.)

AGENDA ITEM #24: RESOLUTION No (232-2025) - Appointing John Ryan Jr. (Permanent) (NY Helps Program) to the Position of Code Enforcement Officer I - Building Department, Effective and Retroactive to April 7, 2025 (No increase in salary.)

AGENDA ITEM #25: RESOLUTION No (233-2025) - Appointing Heather Wohl (Permanent) (NY Helps Program) to the Position of Dispatcher I - Municipal Transportation, Effective and Retroactive to April 7, 2025 (No increase in salary.)

AGENDA ITEM #26: RESOLUTION No (234-2025) - Appointing José González Hernández to the Position of Custodial Worker - Department of Engineering and Facilities Management, Effective and Retroactive to April 21, 2025 ($42,704/annual)

AGENDA ITEM #27: RESOLUTION No (235-2025) - Appoint Sara Shea to the Position of Clerk - Part Time - Parks and Recreation Department, Effective May 3, 2025 ($20.00/hourly)

AGENDA ITEM #28: RESOLUTION No (236-2025) - Appointing Charles Verga to the Position of Crossing Guard (Substitute) - Police Department, Effective April 22, 2025 ($21.48/crossing)

AGENDA ITEM #29: RESOLUTION No (237-2025) - Granting Leave to Stacey Lakis, Effective and Retroactive to April 17, 2025 — Adopted

ADJOURNMENT At 7:39 PM the Supervisor made a motion to close and adjourn this Public Hearing. 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 6, 2025.