[ TOWN OF GREENBURGH OFFICE OF THE TOWN BOARD 177 Hillside Avenue, Greenburgh, NY 10607 Tel: 914-989-1500 Fax: 914-993-1541 Email: JDudek@Greenburghny.com https://ny-greenburgh.civicplus.com/485/Watch-Live-Board-Meetings]
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HEY, WELCOME, UH, TARA GREENBERG, UH, TOWN, UH, BOARD MEETING.
UM, UH, TODAY IS JANUARY 11TH AT, UM, 4 48, UM, PM SORRY FOR, UH, THE DELAY.
SOME OF US ARE PARTICIPATING REMOTELY, OTHERS ARE, UH, PARTICIPATING, UM, YOU KNOW, LIVE.
AND, UM, I GUESS, UH, COULD YOU PULL UP, YOU KNOW, THE, THE WORK SESSION AGENDA? YES.
UH, SO IT'S A SELF-CLOSING FIRE DOOR REGULATIONS, OUR FIRST, AND I SEE OUR, UH, BUILDING INSPECTORS HERE.
UM, AND WE DID MENTION IT AS JANUARY 11TH, AND IT'S ABOUT, UH, 4 45.
BOB, YOU WANNA TAKE THIS SEAT OVER HERE AND JUST MOVE IT OVER THERE.
HERE, BOB, JUST MOVE THE CHAIR HERE.
UM, SO, UH, UH, BY THE TOWN EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED IN THE FRONT, AND THEY WANT TO KNOW, UM, IS THE TOWN, THE TOWN RESIDENCE OF THE APARTMENTS PROTECTED? AND IS THERE ANY ACTION STEPS THAT THE TOWN COULD TAKE, UH, THAT WE, UM, UH, HAVE NOT TAKEN IN THE PAST THAT COULD REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF TRAGEDY HAPPENING AND IN REVER? PULL IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
WELL, THE RESIDENTS ARE PROTECTED USUALLY ON THE DOORS, ON THE, ON THE APARTMENTS.
THIS WAS THE, UH, THE UNFORTUNATE PART IN THE, IN THE FIRE IN THE CITY THAT ALLOWED THE, THE SMOKE DIRECTOR FOR THE WHOLE BUILDING TO GO UP.
WE HAVE THAT WHAT, UH, ON EVERYONE.
BUT WHAT WE WERE, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IS, UH, GETTING IN CONTACT WITH EACH RESIDENT SO THEY CAN LET US KNOW IF THEIR DOOR IS A SELF CLOSER, IS IT WORKING OR NOT? AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY MORE OF THE QUESTION THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO WORK.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND OUT IF THEY DO.
AND ARE THESE ALL RESIDENTS OR JUST RESIDENTS OF CERTAIN HIGH RISES ON THE APARTMENTS? THIS IS WOULD BE YOUR MULTIFAMILY APARTMENTS, YOU KNOW, EAST DALE, UH, YOU OVER HERE ON, UH, MANHATTAN.
AND IS THERE ANY PRIVATE RESIDENCES? PRIVATE RESIDENCES AS WELL AS HOUSING AUTHORITY RESIDENCES? THERE ARE ALL ONES THAT ARE MULTI-FAMILY.
THAT COULD BE CLASS A MULTI-FAMILY.
THAT WOULD BE THE SAME, UH, RULE WOULD, UH, GO IN EFFECT ON THAT COURSE.
NOT IN RESIDE, UH, REGULAR RESIDENTIAL.
SO, SO YOU'RE GONNA REACH OUT TO, UH, UH, DWELLERS AND, AND WE COULD AND HAVE INSPECTIONS AND COULD WE REACH OUT, UM, IMMEDIATELY TO SAY THE PROPERTY MANAGERS MAYBE EVEN HAVE A MEETING WITH THE PROPERTY MANAGERS.
AND, UH, AND I WAS SORT OF THINKING EARLIER TODAY, WONDERING IF WE SHOULD REACH OUT TO, UH, THE FIRE, THE THREE FIRE CHIEFS AND ASK, UH, THE FIRE CHIEFS TO ASSIST IN, YOU KNOW, IN MAKING SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE PROTECTED.
DEFINITELY COULD BECAUSE, UH, A LOT OF 'EM, LIKE, LIKE IN HARTSDALE, EAST HARTSDALE, EVERYTHING, WHO DOES THE YEARLY FIRE INSPECTIONS IS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BUT LEMME REVEAL ALSO THAT EVEN ON THESE APARTMENT, UH, THERE'S A SELF-CLOSING, UH, ON THE STAIRWELLS.
AND OF COURSE, AND THAT'S A FIRE RATED, UH, ASSEMBLY THERE, YOU KNOW, ON THAT'S BY STATE LAW, RIGHT? BY STATE LAW.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE BUY AND ENFORCE ALL STATE LAW ON THE FIRE CODE AND THAT, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FORTUNATE BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF SPRINKLER IN THE TOWN WHERE A LOT OF AREAS DON'T, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE RESIDENTIAL, WHICH MOST OF THE STATE DOES NOT HAVE.
AND EVEN ON THE COMMERCIAL, I MEAN, WE REQUIRED THAT WHEN THE STATE WAS ONLY, UH, SAYING IT WAS THREE FLOORS OR ABOVE.
SO I, WE WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF, UH, QUITE PROTECTED THAT WAY.
AND WE DO INSPECTIONS AND WE DO FLOW TESTS ON IT TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S WORKING PROPERLY.
DOES, DOES NEW YORK CITY, UH, HAVE ANYTHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE, UM, COULD WE BEEF UP BY OUR LAWS TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION? UM, WELL ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IN NEW YORK CITY ALRIGHT, IS THEY HAVE WHAT'S KNOWN AS SELF-INSPECTION ON A LOT OF THINGS.
AND IN MY OPINION, I THINK THAT CREATES A LOT OF PROBLEMS. WHERE WITH US, YOU, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A, A CERTIFIED BUILDING INSPECTOR
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OR A FIRE INSPECTOR DO THE INSPECTION.IT ISN'T THAT WE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, UH, WE TRUST SOMEBODY TO DO THE INSPECTION.
WE DON'T IN NEW YORK CITY, THEY DON'T.
AND THAT'S WHY IT CREATES A LOT OF PROBLEMS. WHAT'S SELF-INSPECTION? SELF-INSPECTION IS THAT YOU ARE SAYING, WELL, I'M GONNA SELF-INSPECT MY OWN WORK AND SAY THAT IT'S DONE BY THE CODE.
AT LEAVES A LOT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF LEEWAY THERE FOR, UH, FOR PEOPLE NOT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, TO BE QUITE HONEST.
WHAT ARE THE THINGS, IF SOMEBODY LIVES IN AN APARTMENT, THEY'RE NERVOUS AND THEY HAVEN'T HEARD FROM, SAY YOUR DEPARTMENT, WHERE THEY'RE, UH, SUPER OR SOMEBODY FROM THE BUILDING, UM, DEPARTMENT, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE COULD LOOK AT THEMSELVES, UM, THAT COULD REPAIR THEM? THE EASIEST THING, LIKE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, THE, THE DOORS NOW.
ALRIGHT, SO THE DOOR ON THE FRONT DOOR ON YOUR APARTMENT, WHEN YOU OPEN IT, LET IT GO.
DOES IT SELF CLOSE? 'CAUSE JOEY, THERE'S A, THERE'S A SPRING IN THERE THAT MAKES IT SELF CLOSE, YOU KNOW, SO THAT IF A FIRE DOES HAPPEN WITHIN THAT APARTMENT, IT DOESN'T SPREAD RAPIDLY TO THE, TO THE OTHER ONES.
SO THEY COULD CHECK JUST BY OPENING THE DOOR RIGHT NOW, IF IT DOESN'T, THEY COULD CONTACT US.
WE COULD CONTACT THE, UH, THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING OR THE MAINTENANCE PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS, UH, IT IS FIXED.
I JUST WANTED TO MENTION ONE OF THE BIG CONCERNS I'VE HEARD OVER THE YEARS, PARTICULARLY IN WEATHER LIKE THIS, IS MANY PEOPLE IN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES HAVE ATTICS AND THEY FINISHED OFF THOSE ATTICS AND PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY LIVING AND SLEEPING UP THERE AND THEY HAVE HEATERS.
AND SOME OF THE OLDER HOMES ARE NOT SPRINKLED.
I THINK THEY'RE REQUIRED TO BE SPRINKLED NOW.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD REALLY BE CONCERNED ABOUT WITH THESE HEATERS, PARTICULARLY IN ATTICS.
AND IF THERE'S A FIRE, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT'S A LOT OF TIMES THE PLACES WHERE THE FATALITIES OCCUR.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING PAUL, I THINK PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE WEATHER'S LIKE THIS, THE HEATERS THAT THEY'RE USING AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE PROTECTION IN GENERAL.
THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE ILLEGAL APARTMENTS 'CAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN INSPECTED.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN NEW YORK CITY WHEN THEY, THE PEOPLE WHEN THE, THE FLOODING, WHEN THE WATER CAME IN, RIGHT, THERE WAS ONLY ONE WAY OUT.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE WINDOWS THAT HAVE, WE, WE REQUIRE EGRESS WINDOWS IN A BASEMENT RIGHT THERE.
UM, IN GENERAL, WHEN YOU DO THINGS WITHOUT PERMITS, YOU'RE GOING TO RUN YOURSELF INTO POTENTIALLY A LIFE LIFE THREATENING SITUATION.
AND, AND ATTICS, OF COURSE, IS ONE OF THEM.
BASEMENTS ARE ANOTHER FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
UM, THE, UH, NEW YORK CITY HAS AN EXTREMELY STRICT FIRE CODE AND THEY GET TO SET WHATEVER THEY WANT.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY.
IF WE WANT TO CHANGE OUR CODE, WE HAVE TO ASK THE STATE FOR PERMISSION.
WE FOLLOW THE STATE CODE, UH, IN WESTCHESTER AND OTHER COUNTIES, I ASSUME.
NEW YORK CITY IS AN ENTITY UNTO ITSELF.
FOR EXAMPLE, ANY APARTMENT THAT HAS THREE OR MORE, ANY BUILDING THAT HAS THREE OR MORE APARTMENTS HAS TO HAVE CELL FIRE, UH, SELF-CLOSING FIRE DOORS.
UH, THAT'S A, THAT'S A, THAT'S A STRICT STANDARD.
UM, UH, WHAT BOB WAS TALKING ABOUT IS HAVING THE FIRE DOORS ON EACH OF THE STAIRWAY DOORS.
UH, NO FIRE SHOULD GET TO ANOTHER DOOR, ANOTHER FLOOR AS QUICKLY AS IT DID IN, IN NEW YORK CITY.
THAT JUST MEANS IT'S A FAILURE EVEN OF THE STAIRWAY DOORS.
AND SO, UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF, LOT OF ISSUES, NOT JUST THE HEATER BEING USED INSIDE THE APARTMENT, UH, BUT THEN THE SELF CLOSER.
WHAT THE RESIDENTS SHOULD LOOK FOR IS ONE IS, YOU KNOW, DO YOU HAVE A FIRE RATED DOOR ON YOUR APARTMENT? RIGHT? THAT, THAT DOOR SHOULD REALLY PROTECT YOU FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR, PREFERABLY TWO UH, HOURS IN A FIRE SO THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE TIME TO GET TO YOU.
UH, SO CHECK TO SEE IF IT'S A FIRE RATED DOOR.
DID YOU HAVE A FIRE RATED DOOR AND YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE, THE WAY IT LOOKED, AND YOU PUT A DIFFERENT DOOR ON THERE THAT'S NOT FIRE RATED.
IT MAY LOOK GOOD, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA PROTECT YOU.
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU COULD DO IS LOOK AT THE JAM SIDE OF A OF THE DOOR AND SEE WHETHER OR NOT IT HAS A TAG ON IT.
IT'S PROBABLY GONNA TELL YOU HOW LONG IT'S FIRE RATED FOR.
UH, IF IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE, IT'S PROBABLY PAINTED OVER, BUT, SO FEEL FOR A BUMP AND YOU WON'T KNOW HOW, HOW GOOD OF A FIRE RATING IT IS, BUT AT LEAST YOU'LL KNOW THAT THERE WAS A TAG THERE AT SOME POINT.
AND THERE'S PROBABLY A FIRE RATED DOOR.
UH, GET A HERSELF CLOSER TO CLOSE THE DOOR YOURSELF.
I WAS SPEAKING TO SOMEBODY ON EAST HEART SALE AVENUE THIS AFTERNOON, AND, UH,
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SHE SAID THAT SHE GOT LOCKED OUT WITH HERSELF CLOSER, BUT GETTING LOCKED OUT, AS SHE SAID.UH, AND HAVING TO CALL THE SUPER IS A LOT BETTER THAN DYING.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WORK.
AND AS, AS WE WERE EMAILING BACK AND FORTH TODAY AMONG THE BOARD, UH, I THINK WE SHOULD GET INTO A HABIT OF WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR BATTERIES AT DAYLIGHT STAVING TIME, CHANGING THE CLOCKS FORWARD OR BACK.
UM, ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SELF CLOSER AND CERTAINLY DON'T PAINT THE SELF-CLOSING DEVICE BECAUSE THAT'S GONNA DEFEAT ITS EFFECTIVENESS.
THE QUESTION THAT, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER, UH, SUGGESTION I HAD WAS MAYBE, UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT'S, DOOR DEPARTMENT'S COULD JOINTLY SPONSOR A ZOOM INFORMATION, UH, MEETING AND WE COULD NOTIFY, UM, UH, TENANTS WHO LIVE IN VARIOUS, UM, APARTMENTS.
AND WE COULD JUST GIVE PEOPLE TIPS, TELL 'EM WHAT THEY COULD DO, WHAT THEY SHOULD REACH OUT TO THEIR, UH, UH, MAINTENANCE PEOPLE AND SUPERS TO DO.
UM, AND THEN WE COULD ALSO EXPLAIN WHAT BOTH THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND THE TOWN ARE DOING.
SO THIS WAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO IS EVERYBODY HAS TO DO THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW, PARK.
AND PEOPLE HAVE TO HAVE, MAKE SURE THAT THESE, UH, UH, SELF, UH, SELF-CLOSING DOORS WORK.
UM, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY, THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS COULD HELP WITH INSPECTIONS, BUT IF PEOPLE KNOW THAT THE PROGRAM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR OR WHATEVER, WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, THEN THEY SHOULD, YOU KNOW, REPORTING QUICKLY.
SO IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER, UH, WE CAN REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF A TRAGEDY HAPPENING IN, YOU KNOW, IN OUR TOWN.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COULD BE REASSURED, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT INFORMATION A MEETING WOULD, WOULD BE HELPFUL.
EVEN, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO DO IF, UM, IF THERE SMOKE DETECTORS AREN'T WORKING OR IF, UH, THE SPRINKLERS AREN'T WORKING.
SO MAYBE WE COULD JUST PROVIDE SOME EDUCATION.
BOB, YOU WERE SAYING THAT WE ARE VERY STRICT ABOUT, UH, SPRINKLERS THAT, UH, IF THE SPRINKLERS GO OFF, THEY HAVE TO SET OFF THE ALARM.
THAT, THAT IS, THAT THAT'S PART OF THAT N OH 3.4 0.2 OF YOUR FIRE CODE.
SOME TOWNS DON'T ENFORCE THAT.
WE ENFORCE IT, WHICH IF THERE'S FLOW, THE FIRE ALARM MUST GET OFF TO NOTIFY PEOPLE SO THEY CAN VACATE.
BECAUSE IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THAT, LET'S SAY THE APARTMENT NEXT TO YOU CAUGHT ON FIRE, YOU WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW, YOU'D BE GOING ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS AND THIS THINKING COULD, COULD BE BURNING RIGHT THIS WAY WITH DEF FIRE ALARM, IT NOTIFIES EVERYBODY.
AND THEN OF COURSE THE, IT GOES TO A CENTRAL SERVICE TOO THAT NOTIFIES THE, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT RIGHT AWAY.
SO THAT YOU HAVE THE, THE FIRE SERVICES COME THERE TO, UH, TO ADDRESS THE FIRE IMMEDIATELY MM-HMM.
WE, YOU KNOW, WE NIP IT IN THE BUD.
HAVE, HAS THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND PAST FOUND, UM, ANY, UM, ANY PROBLEMS WITH THESE, UH, DOORS OR, YOU KNOW, HAVE WE ISSUED VIOLATIONS FOR SPRINKLERS OR, UH, SPRINKLER FOR, FOR ARE BUILDINGS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN IN COMPLIANCE? YEAH, WE HAVE, RIGHT.
BUT NOT, NOT SO MUCH THE DOORS, I GOTTA TELL YOU.
NO, NOT ON THE, ON THE DOORS, BUT WE HAVE THE SPRINKLER, WE HAVE INDEED FOR, UH, FIRE ALARMS THAT DON'T WORK.
SO WE'RE VERY MUCH ON, WE, WE REQUIRE THAT THEY HAVE TO WORK.
NOW, IF THEY DON'T, THEY, THEY HAVE TO DO IN A FILE WATCH AUTOMATICALLY.
AND A FILE WATCH ISN'T JUST THAT I PLAY WHEN HE FEELS LIKE HE GOES, LOOKS AT IT.
HE HAS A ROUTE THAT HE HAS TO DO EVERY SO OFTEN.
HE HAS TO KEEP A LOG ON THAT ALSO ON WHAT HE'S LOOKED AT.
SO THERE'S RECORDS THAT WE KNOW THAT HE'S DOING HIS JOB.
SO, AND A LOT OF TIMES IT'S EXPENSIVE FOR THEM TO DO THAT, SO IT'S MUCH EASIER TO HAVE YOUR ALARMS AND YOUR SPRINKLER WORKING.
THE NEXT ITEM IS AGENDA REVIEW.
SO TOMORROW'S MEETING'S GONNA BE HYBRID AGAIN, AND SOME PEOPLE WILL BE PARTICIPATING, UM, REMOTELY OTHERS, UH, IN PERSON.
AND WE'RE GONNA BE DOING THE SWEARING IN CEREMONIES, UM, BOTH REMOTELY AND IN PERSON.
AND IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE, UH, BY ZOOM, UH, PLEASE EMAIL PUBLIC COMMENT@GREENBERGNY.COM.
UH, THE PUBLIC WILL NOT BE PERMITTED INTO THE AUDITORIUM TOMORROW NIGHT, UH, BECAUSE
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OF THE, UH, UH, THE SIGNIFICANT RATE, TRANSMISSION RATE THAT'S GOING ON.UH, THERE'LL BE, UH, SWEARING IN CEREMONY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO OUR REGULAR MEETING.
IT'S ALL EXPLAINED ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS POSTED ONLINE.
YOU WANNA EXPLAIN THE, THE, THE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT RULES.
UM, WE'RE GONNA BASICALLY BE, UH, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SPEAK, UH, FIVE MINUTES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, AND THERE'LL BE NO SECOND ROUND AND THERE'LL BE NO SECOND ROUND.
PAUL, UM, GIVING THESE NEW, UH, CHANGES, WHAT ARE THE DIRECTIONS OR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE PUBLIC FOR SIGNING UP TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT? DO THEY, UM, USE THE PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY.
I SEE HERE WHERE IT SAYS ADVANCED SIGN UP VIA PUBLIC COMMENT.
EVERYBODY AT GREEN BOOK AND WHITE, EVERYBODY.
WELL, EVERYBODY DOESN'T USE IT.
SOME PEOPLE SEND IN A PERSONAL REQUEST TO, UH, SAY ADD ME TO PUBLIC COMMENT PLEASE.
SO, PRIOR, SO GOING FORWARD, RIGHT? IS THIS GOING TO BE THE, THE NEW STANDARD REQUIREMENT? THAT IS THE STANDARD REQUEST, BUT TO SPEAK AT DURING PUBLIC COMMENT? UM, INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO SIGN UP VIA PUBLIC COMMENT@GREENBERGANDY.COM PRIOR TO 6:00 PM OKAY.
SO WHEN MEETINGS RETURN TO, UM, THE AUDITORIUM WHERE THE PUBLIC IS ALLOWED TO COME INTO THE AUDITORIUM, WILL THEY BE ALLOWED TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK AS THEY HAVE BEEN DOING SO IN THE PAST, IS THIS NEW REQUIREMENT ONLY FOR ZOOM MEETINGS? WHAT ARE THE PROTOCOLS GOING FORWARD? IT'LL BE BASICALLY THE SAME THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COULD SPEAK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING FOR FIVE MINUTES.
SO WHAT I'M ASKING IS WHEN THEY COULD EXPLAIN IT, THEY COULD AS, AS THEY'VE DONE THE PAST.
SO, SO WHEN WE RETURN TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS, THE PUBLIC WILL STILL BE ALLOWED TO WALK IN AND SIGN A FORM SAYING I'D LIKE TO SPEAK.
SO WE HAVE A CONTINUATION OF A PUBLIC HEARING, UH, FOR MODIFYING A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED SITE PLAN APPLICATION OF AVALON GREEN THAT'S DEALING WITH THE SHUTTLE.
AND WE HAVE TODAY RECEIVED SOMETHING FROM THE COUNTY ASKING US TO NOT, UH, DO THAT AT LEAST UNTIL AFTER THEY COMPLETE A STUDY.
SO I I SERIOUSLY DOUBT WE'RE GONNA BE CLOSING THAT HEARING.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IT'S EVEN WORTH HAVING THAT HEARING IN, IN THE ABSENCE OF THE STUDY? WELL, THAT'S A BOARD DECISION.
I, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IF I ALREADY SAW AN EMAIL FROM THE APPLICANT SAYING, IS THIS GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND IT MAY MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST NOT SURE WE SHOULD EVEN DO THAT UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT THE COUNTY'S POSITION IS.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF GARRETT'S ON THE LINE, BUT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE HE SHOULD KIND OF WEIGH IN ON THAT BECAUSE I KNOW HE'S BEEN CORRESPONDING WITH NORMAN DRUMMOND FROM PLANNING.
HE'S NOT ON, HE'S PROBABLY STILL IN TRANSIT.
BUT WE SHOULD JUST IS THE COUNTY, UH, OPINION ADVISORY OR MANDATORY? WELL,
UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ASKING, THEY'RE ASKING, THEY'RE ASKING FOR US TO HOLD OFF AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OUR DECISION IS, YOU KNOW, AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL.
I MEAN, MAYBE WE SHOULD LEAVE IT TO THE APPLICANT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY PAYING ATTORNEYS TO RIGHT.
APPEAR AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE A DECISION.
YOU KNOW, WHY, WHY EVEN, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO APPEAR A SECOND TIME.
AND THEY'VE ALREADY APPEARED A COUPLE OF TIMES MM-HMM.
SO MAYBE WE CAN MAKE THAT DECISION AFTER, AFTER THE MEETING WE CONSULT WITH THEM, SHALL WE? SHALL WE? YEAH, I GUESS SO.
WE SHOULD TRY AND FIND OUT SOONER THAN LATER SO WE COULD ACTUALLY PUT HER ON THE AGENDA SO PEOPLE DON'T, UH, THAT'LL SAVE US THIS STENOGRAPHER
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AS WELL, RIGHT? HOW YOU, UH, I FORGOT THE, I READ THE COUNTY MEMO.DID THEY GIVE US LIKE AN ESTIMATED TIME? HOW LONG IT'S GONNA TAKE? UH, BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
TIME THEN, YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENTS OF EAST TON REALLY WANT THAT PARKING LOT.
I MEAN, THE, THE OTHER QUESTION IS, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WHAT WE COULD DO IS, UM, UM, MAYBE I SHOULD PUT IT IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE SHOULD ASK, UM, YOU KNOW, AVALON, IF WE DO GO ALONG WITH IT, YOU KNOW, IF THEY WOULD LET US USE THE MONEY FOR, YOU KNOW, SIDEWALKS OR FOR SOME OTHER USE.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IN EAST ARLINGTON, THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT ARE SIDEWALKS AND PARKING AT THAT, AT THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, OLD SCHOOL.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, YOUNG FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN AND THEY THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A MAJOR
SO I HAVE THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
UH, I'LL JUST READ THE, UH, THE LAST TWO PARAGRAPHS.
IT SAYS, THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING IS CURRENTLY UNDERTAKING A MOBILITY AND BUS REDESIGN STUDY, WHICH WE ANTICIPATE WILL BE COMPLETED LATER THIS YEAR.
ONE CONCEPT DISCUSSED IN THE STUDY IS THE POTENTIAL TO PARTNER WITH TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES, UBER, LYFT, VIA, UH, TO OFFER MICRO TRANSIT SERVICES THAT COULD BE SHARED ACROSS MULTIPLE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SITES AND TRANSIT STATIONS WITH A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.
A POTENTIAL OPTION COULD BE FOR AVALON TO CONTRACT WITH A TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY TO PROVIDE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF TRIPS IN A SPECIFIC PERIOD TIME PERIOD.
THE SERVICE COULD MAXIMIZE SHARED RIDES TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO BE MOST EFFICIENT.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE APPLICANT HAS NOTED THAT THEY WAIVED THE SHUTTLE, UH, FEE SERVICE FROM SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2021 TO OCTOBER 5TH, 2021.
DURING THIS ONE MONTH PROMOTION, THE SHUTTLE SERVICE RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT GROWTH.
HOWEVER, ONE MONTH MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO DETERMINE THE IMPACTS OF A FREE SERVICE.
WE RECOMMEND THE FINDINGS, THE APPLICANT BE ASKED TO CONTINUE THE FREE SERVICE TO SEE IF RIDERSHIP CONTINUES TO INCREASE PERHAPS UNTIL THE FINDINGS OF THE MOBILITY AND BUS REDESIGN STUDY ARE RELEASED.
AND DOING SO, THE TOWN WOULD BE ABLE TO ASSESS THE COUNTY'S RESEARCH BEFORE MAKING A FINAL DECISION TO ELIMINATE THE SHUTTLE SERVICE.
AND THE SHUTTLE SERVICE WOULD BE, HAVE MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW UNDER THE FAIR FREE PROGRAM.
PLEASE INFORM US OF THE TOWN'S DECISION SO WE CAN MAKE IT PART OF THE RECORD.
AND THEY NOTE THAT, UH, THEY HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF AVALON ON ANOTHER PROJECT ASKING FOR THE SAME ELIMINATION OF A SHUTTLE SERVICE.
AND THERE TOO, THEY WERE CHARGING A HUNDRED DOLLARS PER MONTH, WHICH THEY THOUGHT WAS, UH, DISINCENTIVE WHEN PARKING SPACES MAY COST AS LITTLE AS $10 PER MONTH ACCORDING TO THEIR LETTER.
WE'RE WONDERING THE VALUE OF EVEN HAVING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON AVALON TOMORROW BASED ON THE COUNTY'S LETTER.
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE DISCUSSION AND THANK YOU FOR RECITING, UH, SOME OF THAT LETTER THAT WAS RECEIVED TODAY BY THE COUNTY.
UM, ONE, ONE RECOMMENDATION THAT I WOULD MAKE IS THE APPLICANT DID, UM, MAKE SIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO REACH OUT TO RESIDENTS OF AVALON VIA, UM, POSTING, UM, NOTICES, UH, ON DOORS AND DOING A EBLAST.
SO I THINK THERE MAY BE A FEW RESIDENTS THAT MIGHT, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVE INSIGHTS AND CAN TALK FURTHER ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH THE, UH, SHUTTLE.
UM, SO, UM, IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL REMOTE, SO I, I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO BE A LONG DISCUSSION.
I CAN KEEP MY REMARKS SHORT, BUT, UM, I WOULD SAY THERE WOULD BE VALUE FROM HEARING, UH, YOU KNOW, BOTH FROM THE APPLICANT'S PERSPECTIVE, UH, AND THEIR REACTION TO THIS LETTER, AS WELL AS, UH, FROM THOSE RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, THAT MAY WANT TO GIVE THEIR INPUT.
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OKAY.ANY OTHER ITEMS FOR TOMORROW THAT NO.
ANYBODY HAS CONCERNS ABOUT? NO.
SO THE NEXT ITEM IS TO, UH, MOTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING PERSONNEL MATTERS INVOLVING SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS AND TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE ON VARIOUS MATTERS.
WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
FOR THOSE REASONS AND WILL NOT BE RETURNING TO OPEN SESSION.
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OKAY,[00:37:43]
PAUL.UH, TOWER GREENBERG, UH, TOWN, UH, BOARD MEETING.
UM, UH, TODAY IS JANUARY 11 AT, UM, 4 48, UM, PM SORRY FOR, UH, THE DELAY.
SOME OF US ARE PARTICIPATING REMOTELY, OTHERS ARE, UH, PARTICIPATING, UM, YOU KNOW, LIVE.
AND, UM, I GUESS, UH, COULD YOU PULL UP, YOU KNOW, THE, THE WORK SESSION AGENDA? YES.
UH, SO IT'S A SELF-CLOSING FIRE DOOR REGULATIONS, OUR FIRST, AND I SEE OUR, UH, BUILDING INSPECTORS HERE.
UM, AND WE DID MENTION IT AS JANUARY 11TH AND IT'S ABOUT, UH, 4 45.
BOB, YOU WANNA TAKE THIS SEAT OVER HERE AND JUST MOVE IT OVER THERE.
HERE, BOB, JUST MOVE THE CHAIR HERE.
UH, SOME, UM, BY THE TOWN EXPRESSED SOME CONCERNS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENED IN THE BRONX AND THEY WANNA KNOW, UM, IS THE TOWN A TOWN RESIDENCE WHO LIVE IN APARTMENTS PROTECTED? AND IS THERE ANY ACTION STEPS HAVE THE TOWN COULD TAKE, UH, THAT WE, UM, UM, HAVE NOT TAKEN IN THE PAST THAT COULD REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF TRAGEDY HAPPENING IN IN GREENER? PULL IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
WELL, THE RESIDENTS ARE PROTECTED USUALLY ON THE DOORS, ON THE, ON THE APARTMENTS.
THIS WAS THE, UH, THE UNFORTUNATE PART IN THE, IN THE FIRE IN THE CITY THAT ALLOWED THE, THE SMOKE AND EARTH FOR THE WHOLE BUILDING TO GO UP.
WE HAVE THAT WHAT, UH, ON EVERYONE.
BUT WHAT WE WERE, WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IS, UH, GETTING IN CONTACT WITH EACH RESIDENT SO THEY CAN LET US KNOW IF THEIR DOOR IS A SELF CLOSER, IS IT IT WORKING OR NOT? AND I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY MORE OF THE QUESTION THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIND OUT IF THEY DO.
AND THESE ARE ALL, ARE THESE ALL RESIDENTS OR JUST RESIDENTS OF CERTAIN HIGH RISES ON THE APARTMENTS? THIS IS WOULD BE YOUR MULTIFAMILY
[00:40:01]
APARTMENTS, YOU KNOW, ON EAST DALE, UH, YOU KNOW, OVER HERE ON, UH, MANHATTAN OAK STREET.AND IS THERE A PRIVATE RESIDENCES? PRIVATE RESIDENCES AS WELL AS HOUSING AUTHORITY RESIDENCES? THERE ARE ALL ONES THAT ARE MULTI-FAMILY THAT COULD BE CLASSED A MULTI-FAMILY THAT WOULD BE THE SAME, UH, RULE WOULD GO IN EFFECT ON THAT.
OF COURSE, NOT IN RES UH, REGULAR RESIDENTIAL THOUGH.
SO, SO YOU'RE GONNA REACH OUT TO, UH, ALL THE APARTMENT, UM, UH, DWELLERS AND, AND WE COULD AND HAVE INSPECTIONS AND COULD WE REACH OUT, UM, IMMEDIATELY TO SAY THE PROPERTY MANAGERS MAYBE EVEN HAVE A MEETING WITH THE PROPERTY MANAGERS.
AND UH, AND I WAS SORT OF THINKING EARLIER TODAY, WONDERING IF WE SHOULD REACH OUT TO, UH, THE FIRE, THE THREE FIRE CHIEFS AND ASK, UH, THE FIRE CHIEFS TO ASSIST IN, YOU KNOW, AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE PROTECTED.
WE DEFINITELY COULD BECAUSE A, A LOT OF THEM, LIKE, LIKE IN HARTSDALE ALONG EAST HARTSDALE AND EVERYTHING, WHO DOES THE YEARLY FIRE INSPECTIONS IS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
BUT LET ME ADD THERE ALSO THAT EVEN ON THESE APARTMENT, I THINK THERE'S A SELF-CLOSING, UH, ON THE STAIRWELLS OF COURSE.
AND THAT'S A FIRE RATED, UH, ASSEMBLY THERE, YOU KNOW, ON THE, BY STATE LAW.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE BUY AND ENFORCE ALL STATE LAW ON THE FIRE CODE AND THAT, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FORTUNATE BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF SPRINKLER IN THE TOWN WHERE A LOT OF AREAS DON'T, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE RESIDENTIAL, WHICH MOST OF THE STATE DOES NOT HAVE.
AND EVEN ON THE COMMERCIAL, I MEAN, WE REQUIRED IT WHEN THE STATE WAS ONLY, UH, SAYING IT WAS THREE FLOORS OR ABOVE.
SO I, WE WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF, UH, QUITE PROTECTED THAT WAY.
AND WE DO INSPECTIONS AND WE DO FLOW TEST ON TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S WORKING PROPERLY.
DOES, DOES NEW YORK CITY LAW HAVE ANYTHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE? UM, COULD WE BEEF UP BY OUR LAWS TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION? UM, WELL ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IN NEW YORK CITY ALRIGHT, IS THEY HAVE WHAT'S KNOWN AS SELF-INSPECTION ON A LOT OF THINGS.
AND IN MY OPINION, I THINK THAT CREATES A LOT OF PROBLEMS. WHERE WITH US, YOU, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A, A CERTIFIED BUILDING INSPECTOR OR A FIRE INSPECTOR DO THE INSPECTION.
IT ISN'T THAT WE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, WE TRUST SOMEBODY TO DO THE INSPECTION.
WE DON'T IN NEW YORK CITY, THEY DON'T.
AND THAT'S WHERE IT CREATES A LOT OF PROBLEMS. WHAT'S SELF-INSPECTION? SELF-INSPECTION IS THAT YOU ARE SAYING, WELL, I'M GONNA SELF-INSPECT MY OWN WORK.
AND SAY THAT IT'S DONE BY THE CODE.
IT LEAVES A LOT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF LEEWAY THERE FOR, UH, FOR PEOPLE NOT TO DO THE RIGHT THING, TO BE QUITE HONEST.
THERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS, IF SOMEBODY LIVES IN AN APARTMENT, THEY'RE NERVOUS AND THEY HAVEN'T HEARD FROM SAY YOUR DEPARTMENT OR THEY'RE, UH, SUPER OR SOMEBODY FROM THE BUILDING, UM, DEPARTMENT, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE COULD LOOK AT THEMSELVES, UM, THAT COULD REPAIR THEM? THE EASIEST THING, LIKE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE, THE DOORS NOW, RIGHT? SO THE DOOR ON THE FRONT DOOR ON YOUR APARTMENT, WHEN YOU OPEN IT, LET IT GO.
DOES IT SELF CLOSE? BECAUSE GENERALLY THERE'S A, THERE'S A SPRING IN THERE THAT MAKES IT ITSELF CLOSE, YOU KNOW, SO THAT IF A FIRE DOES HAPPEN WITHIN THAT APARTMENT, IT DOESN'T SPREAD RAPIDLY TO THE, TO THE OTHER ONES.
SO THEY COULD CHECK JUST BY OPENING THE DOOR RIGHT NOW, IF IT DOESN'T, THEY COULD CONTACT US.
WE COULD CONTACT THE, UH, THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING OR THE MAINTENANCE PEOPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS, UH, IT IS FIXED.
I JUST WANTED TO MENTION ONE OF THE BIG CONCERNS I'VE HEARD OVER THE YEARS, PARTICULARLY IN WEATHER LIKE THIS, IS MANY PEOPLE IN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES HAVE ATTICS AND THEY FINISHED OFF THOSE ATTICS AND PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIVING IN SLEEPING UP THERE AND THEY HAVE HEATERS AND SOME OF THE OLDER HOMES ARE NOT SPRINKLED.
I THINK THEY'RE REQUIRED TO BE SPRINKLED NOW.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE SHOULD REALLY BE CONCERNED ABOUT WITH THESE HEATERS, PARTICULARLY IN ATTICS.
AND IF THERE'S A FIRE, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT'S A LOT OF TIMES THE PLACES WHERE THE FATALITIES OCCUR.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING PAUL, I THINK PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE WEATHER'S LIKE THIS, THE HEATERS THAT THEY'RE USING AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE PROTECTION IN GENERAL.
THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE ILLEGAL APARTMENTS 'CAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN INSPECTED.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN NEW YORK CITY WHEN THEY, THE PEOPLE WHEN THE, THE FLOODING, WHEN THE WATER CAME IN RIGHT, THERE WAS ONLY ONE WAY OUT.
[00:45:01]
HAVE, WE, WE REQUIRE EGRESS WINDOWS IN A BASEMENT.UM, IN GENERAL, WHEN YOU DO THINGS WITHOUT PERMITS, YOU'RE GOING TO RUN YOURSELF INTO POTENTIALLY A LIFE LIFE THREATENING SITUATION.
AND, AND ATTICS OF COURSE, IS ONE OF THEM.
BASEMENTS ARE ANOTHER FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.
UM, THE, UH, NEW YORK CITY HAS AN EXTREMELY STRICT FIRE CODE AND THEY GET TO SET WHATEVER THEY WANT.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE THAT LUXURY.
IF WE WANT TO CHANGE OUR CODE, WE HAVE TO ASK THE STATE FOR PERMISSION.
WE FOLLOW THE STATE CODE, UH, IN WESTCHESTER AND OTHER COUNTIES, I ASSUME.
NEW YORK CITY IS AN ENTITY UNTO ITSELF.
FOR EXAMPLE, ANY APARTMENT THAT HAS THREE OR MORE, ANY BUILDING THAT HAS THREE OR MORE APARTMENTS HAS TO HAVE CELL FIRE, UH, SELF-CLOSING FIRE DOORS.
UH, THAT'S A, THAT'S A, THAT'S A STRICT STANDARD.
UM, UH, WHAT BOB WAS TALKING ABOUT IS HAVING THE FIRE DOORS ON EACH OF THE STAIRWAY DOORS.
UH, NO FIRE SHOULD GET TO ANOTHER DOOR, ANOTHER FLOOR AS QUICKLY AS IT DID IN, IN NEW YORK CITY.
THAT JUST MEANS IT'S A FAILURE EVEN OF THE STAIRWAY DOORS.
AND SO THERE ARE A LOT OF, LOT OF ISSUES, NOT JUST THE HEATER BEING USED INSIDE THE APARTMENT, UH, BUT THEN THE SELF CLOSERS.
WHAT THE RESIDENTS SHOULD LOOK FOR IS ONE IS, YOU KNOW, DO YOU HAVE A FIRE RATED DOOR ON YOUR APARTMENT? RIGHT? THAT, THAT DOOR SHOULD REALLY PROTECT YOU FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR, PREFERABLY TWO UH, HOURS IN A FIRE SO THAT THE FIREFIGHTERS HAVE TIME TO GET TO YOU.
UH, SO CHECK TO SEE IF IT'S A FIRE RATED DOOR.
DID YOU HAVE A FIRE RATED DOOR AND YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE, THE WAY IT LOOKED AND YOU PUT A DIFFERENT DOOR ON THERE THAT'S NOT FIRE RATED.
MAY LOOK GOOD, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA PROTECT YOU.
ONE OF THE THINGS YOU COULD DO IS LOOK AT THE JAM SIDE OF A OF THE DOOR AND SEE WHETHER OR NOT IT HAS A TAG ON IT.
IT'S PROBABLY GONNA TELL YOU HOW LONG IT'S FIRE RATED FOR.
UH, IF IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE, IT'S PROBABLY PAINTED OVER, BUT, SO FEEL FOR A BUMP AND YOU WON'T KNOW HOW, HOW GOOD OF A FIRE RATING IT IS, BUT AT LEAST YOU'LL KNOW THAT THERE WAS A TAG THERE AT SOME POINT.
AND THERE'S PROBABLY A FIRE RATED DOOR.
UH, GET A SELF CLOSER TO CLOSE THE DOOR YOURSELF.
I WAS SPEAKING TO SOMEBODY ON EAST HEART SALE AVENUE THIS AFTERNOON, AND, UH, SHE SAID THAT SHE GOT LOCKED OUT WITH HERSELF CLOSER, BUT GETTING LOCKED OUT AS SHE SAID.
UH, AND HAVING TO CALL THE SUPER IS A LOT BETTER THAN DYING.
AND SO YOU, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY WORK.
AND AS, AS WE WERE EMAILING BACK AND FORTH TODAY AMONG THE BOARD, UH, I THINK WE SHOULD GET INTO A HABIT OF WHEN YOU CHANGE YOUR BATTERIES AT DAYLIGHT STAVING TIME, CHANGING THE CLOCKS FORWARD OR BACK.
UM, ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR SELF CLOSER AND CERTAINLY DON'T PAINT THE SELF-CLOSING DEVICE BECAUSE THAT'S GONNA DEFEAT ITS EFFECTIVENESS.
THE OTHER QUESTION THAT, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER, UH, SUGGESTION I HAVE WAS MAYBE, UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND BUILDING DEPARTMENTS COULD JOINTLY SPONSOR A ZOOM INFORMATION, UH, MEETING AND WE COULD NOTIFY, UM, UH, TENANTS WHO LIVE IN VARIOUS, UM, APARTMENTS AND WE COULD JUST GIVE PEOPLE TIPS, TELL 'EM WHAT THEY COULD DO, WHAT THEY SHOULD REACH OUT TO THEIR, UH, UH, MAINTENANCE PEOPLE AND SUPERS TO DO.
UM, AND THEN WE COULD ALSO EXPLAIN WHAT BOTH THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND THE TOWN ARE DOING.
SO THIS WAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO DO IS EVERYBODY HAS TO DO THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW, PARK.
AND PEOPLE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE ARE, UH, SELF, UH, SELF-CLOSING DOORS WORK.
UM, UH, YOU KNOW, THEY, THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS COULD HELP WITH INSPECTIONS, BUT IF PEOPLE KNOW THE PROGRAM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR OR WHATEVER, WHEN WE DON'T HAVE THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT, THEN THEY SHOULD, YOU KNOW, REPORT QUICKLY.
SO IF WE'VE ALL WORKED TOGETHER, UH, WE COULD REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF A TRAGEDY HAPPENING IN, YOU KNOW, IN OUR TOWN.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COULD BE REASSURED, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT INFORMATION ON MEETING WOULD, WOULD BE HELPFUL.
EVEN, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE, MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO DO IF, UM, IF THERE IS SMOKE DETECTORS AREN'T WORKING OR IF BOB SPRINKLERS AREN'T WORKING.
SO MAYBE WE COULD JUST PROVIDE SOME EDUCATION.
BOB, YOU WERE SAYING THAT WE'RE VERY STRICT ABOUT OUR SPRINKLERS, THAT UH,
[00:50:01]
IF THE SPRINKLERS GO OFF, THEY HAVE TO SET OFF THE ALARM.THAT, THAT IS, THAT THAT'S PART IS THAT 9 0 3 0.4 0.2 OF YOUR FIRE CODE.
SOME TOWNS DON'T ENFORCE THAT.
WE ENFORCE IT, WHICH IF THERE'S FLOW, THE FIRE ALARM MUST GET OFF THE NOTIFY PEOPLE SO THEY CAN VACATE.
BECAUSE IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THAT, LET'S SAY THE APARTMENT NEXT TO YOU CAUGHT ON FIRE, YOU WOULDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
YOU KNOW, YOU'D BE GOING ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS AND THIS THINGING COULD, COULD BE BURNING RIGHT THIS WAY HERE WITH THE FIRE ALARM.
AND THEN OF COURSE THE, IT GOES TO A CENTRAL SERVICE TOO THAT NOTIFIES THE, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENT RIGHT AWAY.
SO THAT YOU HAVE THE, THE FIRE SERVICES COME THERE TO, UH, TO ADDRESS THE FIRE IMMEDIATELY MM-HMM.
WE, YOU KNOW, WE NIP IT IN THE BUD SO IT, SO IT DOESN'T SPREAD.
HAVE, HAS THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT AND PS FOUND, UM, ANY, UM, ANY PROBLEMS WITH THESE, UH, DOORS OR, YOU KNOW, HAVE WEIS ISSUED VIOLATIONS FOR SPRINKLERS OR, UH, SPRINKLER FOR, FOR BUILDINGS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN IN COMPLIANCE? YEAH, WE HAVE, RIGHT? BUT NOT, NOT SO MUCH THE DOORS, I GOTTA TELL YOU.
NO, NOT ON THE, ON THE DOORS, BUT WE HAVE FOR SPRINKLER, WE HAVE INDEED FOR, UH, FIRE ALARMS THAT DON'T WORK, RIGHT? SO WE'RE VERY MUCH UP.
WE, WE REQUIRE THAT THEY HAVE TO WORK.
NOW, IF THEY DON'T, THEY, THEY HAVE TO DO IN A FIRE WATCH AUTOMATICALLY.
AND A FIRE WATCH ISN'T JUST THAT A PLAY WHEN HE FEELS LIKE HE GOES, LOOKS AT IT.
HE HAS A ROUTE THAT HE HAS TO DO EVERY SO OFTEN.
HE HAS TO KEEP A LOG ON THAT ALSO ON WHAT HE'S LOOKED AT.
SO WE KNOW THAT HE'S DOING HIS JOB.
SO, AND A LOT OF TIMES IT'S EXPENSIVE FOR THEM TO DO THAT, SO IT'S MUCH EASIER TO HAVE YOUR ALARMS AND YOUR SPRINKLER WORKING.
THANK YOU, MR. BEEN VERY HELPFUL.
THE NEXT ITEM IS AGENDA REVIEW.
SO TOMORROW'S MEETING'S GONNA BE HYBRID AGAIN.
SOME, SOME PEOPLE WILL BE PARTICIPATING, UM, REMOTELY.
THERE'S, UH, IN PERSON AND WE'RE GONNA BE DOING THE SWEARING CEREMONIES, UM, BOTH REMOTELY AND IN PERSON.
AND IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE, UH, BY ZOOM, UH, PLEASE EMAIL PUBLIC COMMENT@GREENBERGNY.COM.
UH, THE PUBLIC WILL NOT BE PERMITTED INTO THE AUDITORIUM TOMORROW NIGHT, UH, BECAUSE OF THE, UH, UH, THE SIGNIFICANT RATE, TRANSMISSION RATE THAT'S GOING ON.
UH, THERE'LL BE, UH, A SWEARING IN CEREMONY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO OUR REGULAR MEETING.
IT'S ALL EXPLAINED ON THE AGENDA, WHICH IS POSTED ONLINE.
YOU WANNA EXPLAIN THE, THE, THE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT RULES.
UM, WE'RE GONNA BASICALLY BE, UH, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO SPEAK, UH, FIVE MINUTES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, AND THERE'LL BE NO SECOND ROUND AND THERE'LL BE NO SECOND ROUND.
PAUL, UM, GIVING THESE NEW, UH, CHANGES, WHAT ARE THE DIRECTIONS OR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE PUBLIC FOR SIGNING UP TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT? DO THEY, UM, USE THE PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY.
I SEE HERE WHERE IT SAYS ADVANCED SIGN UP VIA PUBLIC COMMENT.
EVERYBODY AT GREEN BROOK AND WHITE, EVERYBODY.
WELL, EVERYBODY DOESN'T USE IT.
SOME PEOPLE SEND IN A PERSONAL REQUEST TO, UH, SAY ADD ME TO PUBLIC COMMENT PLEASE.
SO, PRIOR, SO GOING FORWARD, IS THIS GOING TO BE THE, THE NEW STANDARD REQUIREMENT THAT IS THE STANDARD REQUEST TO SPEAK AT DURING PUBLIC COMMENT? UM, INDIVIDUALS HAVE TO SIGN UP VIA PUBLIC COMMENT@GREENBERGANDY.COM PRIOR TO 6:00 PM OKAY.
SO WHEN MEETINGS RETURN TO, UM, THE AUDITORIUM WHERE THE PUBLIC IS ALLOWED TO COME INTO THE AUDITORIUM, WILL THEY BE ALLOWED TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK AS THEY HAVE BEEN DOING SO IN THE PAST, IS THIS NEW REQUIREMENT ONLY FOR ZOOM MEETINGS? WHAT ARE THE PROTOCOLS
[00:55:01]
GOING FORWARD? IT'LL BE BASICALLY THE SAME THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COULD SPEAK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING FOR FIVE MINUTES.SO WHAT I'M ASKING IS WHEN THEY COULD EXPLAIN IT, THEY COULD AS, AS THEY'VE DONE.
SO, SO WHEN WE RETURN TO IN-PERSON MEETINGS, THE PUBLIC WILL STILL BE ALLOWED TO WALK IN AND SIGN A FORM SAYING I'D LIKE TO SPEAK.
SO WE HAVE A CONTINUATION OF A PUBLIC HEARING, UH, FOR MODIFYING A PREVIOUSLY APPROVED SITE PLAN APPLICATION OF AVALON GREEN THAT'S DEALING WITH THE SHUTTLE.
AND WE HAVE TODAY RECEIVED SOMETHING FROM THE COUNTY ASKING US TO NOT, UH, DO THAT AT LEAST UNTIL AFTER THEY COMPLETE A STUDY.
SO I I SERIOUSLY DOUBT WE'RE GONNA BE CLOSING THAT HEARING.
WELL, DO YOU THINK IT'S EVEN WORTH HAVING THAT HEARING IN, IN THE ABSENCE OF THE STUDY? WELL, THAT'S A BOARD DECISION.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IF I ALREADY SAW AN EMAIL FROM THE APPLICANT SAYING, IS THIS GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND IT MAY MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST NOT SURE WE SHOULD EVEN DO THAT UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT THE COUNTY'S POSITION IS.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF GARRETT'S ON THE LINE, BUT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE HE SHOULD KIND OF WEIGH IN ON THAT BECAUSE I KNOW HE'S BEEN CORRESPONDING WITH NORMAN DRUMMOND FROM PLANNING.
HE'S NOT ON, HE'S PROBABLY STILL IN TRANSIT.
BUT WE SHOULD JUST IS THE COUNTY, UH, OPINION ADVISORY OR MANDATORY? WELL,
UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE ASKING, THEY'RE ASKING, THEY'RE ASKING FOR US TO HOLD OFF AND THEY WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT OUR DECISION IS, YOU KNOW, AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL.
I MEAN MAYBE WE SHOULD LEAVE IT TO THE APPLICANT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY PAYING ATTORNEYS TO RIGHT.
APPEAR AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE NOT GONNA MAKE A DECISION.
YOU KNOW, WHY, WHY EVEN, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO APPEAR A SECOND TIME.
AND THEY'VE ALREADY APPEARED A COUPLE OF TIMES MM-HMM.
SO MAYBE WE CAN MAKE THAT DECISION AFTER, AFTER THE MEETING WE CONSULT WITH THEM, SHALL WE? SHALL WE? YEAH, I GUESS SO.
WE SHOULD TRY AND FIND OUT SOONER THAN LATER SO WE COULD ACTUALLY PUT HER ON THE AGENDA SO PEOPLE DON'T, UH, THAT'LL SAVE US THIS STENOGRAPHER AS WELL.
NOW, DO YOU, UH, I FORGOT THE, I READ THE COUNTY MEMO.
DID THEY GIVE US LIKE AN ESTIMATED TIME HOW LONG IT'S GONNA TAKE? YOU COULD, UH,
AND, YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENTS OF EAST TON REALLY WANT THAT PARKING LOT.
I MEAN, THE OTHER QUESTION IS, UM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WHAT WE COULD DO IS, UM, UM, MAYBE I SHOULD PUT IT IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE SHOULD ASK, UM, YOU KNOW, AVALON, IF WE DO GO ALONG WITH IT, YOU KNOW, IF THEY WOULD LET US USE THE MONEY FOR, YOU KNOW, SIDEWALKS OR FOR SOME OTHER USE BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IN EAST ARLINGTON, THE, YOU KNOW, WHAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT ARE SIDEWALKS AND PARKING AT THAT, AT THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, OLD SCHOOL AND THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, YOUNG FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHILDREN AND THEY THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A MAJOR QUALITY LIFE.
SO I HAVE THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
UH, I'LL JUST READ THE, UH, THE LAST TWO PARAGRAPHS.
IT SAYS THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING IS CURRENTLY UNDERTAKING A MOBILITY AND BUS REDESIGN STUDY, WHICH WE ANTICIPATE WILL BE COMPLETED LATER THIS YEAR.
ONE CONCEPT DISCUSSED IN THE STUDY IS THE POTENTIAL TO PARTNER WITH TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES, UBER, LYFT, VIA, UH, TO OFFER MICRO TRANSIT SERVICES THAT COULD BE SHARED ACROSS MULTIPLE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SITES AND TRANSIT STATIONS WITHIN A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA.
A POTENTIAL OPTION COULD BE FOR AVALON TO CONTRACT WITH A TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY TO PROVIDE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF TRIPS IN A SPECIFIC PERIOD TIME PERIOD.
THE SERVICE COULD MAXIMIZE SHARED RIDES TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO BE MOST EFFICIENT.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE APPLICANT HAS NOTED THAT THEY WAIVED THE SHUTTLE,
[01:00:01]
UH, FEE SERVICE FROM SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2021 TO OCTOBER 5TH, 2021.DURING THIS ONE MONTH PROMOTION, THE SHUTTLE SERVICE RECEIVED SIGNIFICANT GROWTH.
HOWEVER, ONE MONTH MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT TO DETERMINE THE IMPACTS OF A FREE SERVICE.
WE RECOMMEND THE FINDINGS, THE APPLICANT BE ASKED TO CONTINUE THE FREE SERVICE TO SEE IF RIDERSHIP CONTINUES TO INCREASE PERHAPS UNTIL THE FINDINGS OF THE MOBILITY AND BUS REDESIGN STUDY ARE RELEASED.
AND DOING SO, THE TOWN WOULD BE ABLE TO ASSESS THE COUNTY'S RESEARCH BEFORE MAKING A FINAL DECISION TO ELIMINATE THE SHUTTLE SERVICE.
AND THE SHUTTLE SERVICE WOULD BE, HAVE MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW UNDER THE FAIR FREE PROGRAM.
PLEASE INFORM US OF THE TOWN'S DECISION SO WE CAN MAKE IT PART OF THE RECORD.
AND THEY NOTE THAT, UH, THEY HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF AVALON ON ANOTHER PROJECT ASKING FOR THE SAME ELIMINATION OF A SHUTTLE SERVICE.
AND THERE TOO, THEY WERE CHARGING A HUNDRED DOLLARS PER MONTH, WHICH THEY THOUGHT WAS, UH, DISINCENTIVE WHEN PARKING SPACES MAY COST AS LITTLE AS $10 PER MONTH ACCORDING TO THEIR LETTER.
WE'RE WONDERING THE VALUE OF EVEN HAVING THE PUBLIC HEARING ON AVALON TOMORROW BASED ON THE COUNTY LETTER.
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE DISCUSSION AND THANK YOU FOR RECITING, UH, SOME OF THAT LETTER THAT WAS RECEIVED TODAY BY THE COUNTY.
UM, ONE, ONE RECOMMENDATION THAT I WOULD MAKE IS THE APPLICANT DID, UM, MAKE SIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANT EFFORT TO REACH OUT TO RESIDENTS OF AVALON VIA, UM, POSTING, UM, NOTICES ON, ON DOORS AND DOING AN E-BLAST.
SO I THINK THERE MAY BE A FEW RESIDENTS THAT MIGHT, UH, YOU KNOW, HAVE INSIGHTS AND CAN TALK FURTHER ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH THE, UH, SHUTTLE.
UM, SO, UM, IT, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL REMOTE, SO I, I DON'T THINK IT HAS TO BE A LONG DISCUSSION.
I CAN KEEP MY REMARKS SHORT, BUT, UM, I WOULD SAY THERE WOULD BE VALUE FROM HEARING, UH, YOU KNOW, BOTH FROM THE APPLICANT'S PERSPECTIVE, UH, AND THEIR REACTION TO THIS LETTER, AS WELL AS SINCE OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, THAT MAY WANT TO GIVE THEIR INPUT.
ANY OTHER ITEMS FOR TOMORROW THAT NO.
ANYBODY HAS CONCERNS ABOUT? NO.
SO THE NEXT ITEM IS TO, UH, MOTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING PERSONNEL MATTERS INVOLVING SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS AND TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE ON VARIOUS MATTERS.
WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE GO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
FOR THOSE REASONS AND WILL NOT BE RETURNING TO OPEN SESSION.