Town Board - Regular Meeting

TOWN OF CLARKSTOWN TOWN BOARD REGULAR MEETING Town Hall Auditorium February 25, 2025 at 7:00 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.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION ~ Michelle Mattei, Donation to Clarkstown Police Department for K9 POLICE DEPARTMENT MATTERS A member of Clarkstown Police Department Administration will report.

PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING AGENDA ITEMS AND GENERAL

PUBLIC COMMENTS Steve Levine, Congers Mr. Levine reiterated a letter that was sent recently to the Town Board. This letter is on file in the Town Clerk's Office. It is in reference to 139 Massachusetts Avenue, Congers, NY. It was noticed that this property was put up for surplus property. Mr. Levine stated that the Supervisor and some members of the Town Board may know some history of this property.

The previous owner, Mr. Goldberg had construction and demolition material on this property. It contained contaminated and toxic material. The landfill was approximately 35 feet in height, 140 ft long, and 40 feet wide. It spilled onto adjacent property, including Route 9W, Palisades Interstate Parkway, and adjacent property owner, Mr. Patrick Rocco. With a Court Order, the Town was instructed to remediate the site.

Mr. Goldberg, the owner, refused to cooperate. He placed numerous legal obstacles in the way before declaring bankruptcy. The Town did remediate the site but for some inexplicable reasons, there still remains 4 feet of debris in the rear of this property. This has not been removed. Does the Town have a purchaser for the property? Neighbors are concerned that Mr.

Goldberg may return to the property - purchasing it through a "straw purchaser," or a "front" company. The Town is required to disclose the facts. The Town should make as a condition of sale - the purchaser complete the remediation, as required by the Federal Court Order. This all happened prior to the Supervisor. We have brought our concerns to the Supervisor in the past.

There is currently a broker listing the property, and makes no mention of the "former landfill site." This opens the door for litigation and rescind the sale should the buyer want to. The Supervisor stated that the Town will comply with any information that is required with disclosures. The Town spent over one million dollars to remediate this property. The Supervisor inherited this "mess". It was remedied.

It is listed with a broker and you can be sure that the Town will comply with all disclosures that are required. The County of Rockland owns the other piece of this property that is not for sale. The County is not interested in selling it to anyone. The Supervisor is questioning whether Mr. Goldberg is alive. There were Engineering reports and work was performed.

The Supervisor instructed the Town Attorney to call Mr. Levine, open the files, and the Town will comply with the Law. We will follow up. Jackie Drechsler, Valley Cottage Ms. Drechsler is appalled that the remaining debris at 139 Massachusetts Ave was not remedied.

She sees on the agenda that there is a possibility that the Town is going to have a Serial Bond for $200,000 to redo the seating in the Town's auditorium. If it is going to be to make it ADA Compliant, she understands. Is there a way that this can be accomplished? Seats on the outside edge can be removed to make room for wheelchairs. Broken seats can be replaced.

She is afraid that the 200K bond will bloom to much more than that. She is also concerned about the positions that are being created for Groundskeepers. She wants to know if these are part time positions - temporary or permanent? She would like statistics from the Clarkstown Police Reports to be made to the public - in handwritten form. Mr.

Gianatasio, Director of Engineering and Facilities Management - spoke regarding the auditorium. The seats are over 50 years old (the original of Town Hall). Many of them do not work. We cannot get parts to fix them. We will be working to make it handicap accessible. It will all come within the allotted amount. Mr. Gianatasio stated that yes, the auditorium seats will come off a state bid.

The chairs are over 50 years old. We are trying to update our facilities. This building is getting older. We are trying to take one area at a time and address it. This is for the public. The Supervisor stated that there are trip hazards that will be remedied as part of the bid. Electrical boxes will also be upgraded. It will be ADA Compliant. Regarding the vacancies - Some of these are internal moves.

Everything is within our budget. Some people retired. We did a lot of internal moves for some Groundskeepers. We are consolidating our staff. We are training our staff - and bringing them in at a much lower rate. There is no increase in the budget. Co. Licker asked for clarification. Mr. Gianatasio answered that the Town is adding new positions but not altering the budget.

EX - one Environmental Control Worker can be eliminated and we can create two Groundskeeper positions. Co. Graziano and the Supervisor appreciate Mr. Gianatasio for all of his in house movements and internal training. The Town Board always appreciates when we try and save dollars. The Supervisor stated that when he became Supervisor, the Town had one Code Enforcement Officer. We are currently up to six this year.

They are currently looking for a Spanish Speaking Code Enforcer. This necessitated some reallocation of space. This was all done internally.

RESOLUTIONS

AGENDA ITEM #1: RESOLUTION No (111-2025) - Accepting the Town Board Meeting Minutes of February 11, 2025 — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #2: RESOLUTION No (112-2025) - Amending the Budget — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #3: RESOLUTION No (113-2025) - Setting a Public Hearing on a Proposed Local Law Entitled “A Local Law Amending Chapter 290-20 (Additional Bulk Regulations) of the Town Code of the Town of Clarkstown – Agriculture & Agritourism Use Parking Requirements — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #4: RESOLUTION No (114-2025) - Authorizing the Town Attorney to Commence Proceedings in Supreme Court, Rockland County — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #5: RESOLUTION No (115-2025) - Authorizing the Town Attorney to Commence Proceedings in Supreme Court, Rockland County — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #6: RESOLUTION No (116-2025) - Authorizing the Purchase of Seating and Related Upgrades for the Auditorium at Town Hall (Total amount not to exceed: $200,000 (Serial Bonds))

AGENDA ITEM #7: RESOLUTION No (117-2025) - Authorizing Costs of Improvements to Town Hall Auditorium ($200,000 Serial Bonds)

AGENDA ITEM #8: RESOLUTION No (118-2025) - Authorizing an Additional Vendor for Bid #8-2022 – Bar Morr Hill, Jill Lane, and Mayfield Street Pump Station Improvements – Contract E – Electrical Work — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #9: RESOLUTION No (119-2025) - Advertising Bid #7-2025 -- Electrical Work for Clarkstown Warehouse at 40 First Street, New City — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #10: RESOLUTION No (120-2025) - Authorizing Expenses for Conference (PRIMA 2025) (Total cost shall not exceed: $3,500.00)

AGENDA ITEM #11: RESOLUTION No (121-2025) - Appointing Christian Catania to the Position of Senior Clerk-Typist - Highway Department, Effective and Retroactive to February 10, 2025 ($46,752/annual)

AGENDA ITEM #12: RESOLUTION No (122-2025) - Appointing Kathleen Sullivan Permanently to the Position of Principal Account Clerk - Comptroller's Office, Effective February 26, 2025 — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #13: RESOLUTION No (123-2025) - Appointing Scott Aprile to the Position of Groundskeeper I - Department of Engineering and Facilities Management, Effective February 26, 2025 (No change in salary.)

AGENDA ITEM #14: RESOLUTION No (124-2025) - Creating Three Positions of Groundsworker - Department of Engineering and Facilities Management, Effective and Retroactive to February 11, 2025 — Adopted

AGENDA ITEM #15: RESOLUTION No (125-2025) - Appointing Scott Brown to the Position of Groundsworker - Department of Engineering and Facilities Management, Effective February 26, 2025 ($76,563/annual)

AGENDA ITEM #16: RESOLUTION No (126-2025) - Appointing Nicholas Rogers to the Position of Groundsworker - Department of Engineering and Facilities Management, Effective February 26, 2025 ($46,520/annual)

AGENDA ITEM #17: RESOLUTION No (127-2025) - Appointing Hector Sandoval to the Position of Groundsworker - Department of Engineering and Facilities Management, Effective February 26, 2025 ($46,520/annual)

AGENDA ITEM #18: RESOLUTION No (128-2025) - Appointing Edward Cifuni to the Position of Maintenance Mechanic I - Department of Engineering and Facilities Management, Effective February 26, 2025 ($60,330/annual)

ADJOURNMENT At 7:43 pm, the Supervisor made a motion to close and adopt this Town Board Meeting. This was offered by Co. Graziano, seconded by Co. Axelrod. All were in favor. Respectfully Submitted, Lauren Marie Wohl, Town Clerk UPCOMING MEETING Next Town Board Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.