[00:00:02]
RECORDING IN PROGRESS, UH, SORRY THAT WE'RE STARTING A LITTLE LATE.
UM, TODAY IS APRIL 26TH, AND IT'S, UM, 7:45 PM AND
[ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
WE'RE GONNA START WITH A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, A PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE.SO ALL AND, UM, WE HAVE PLEASE, PLEASE REMAIN STANDED, THE MOMENT
[ MOMENT OF SILENCE In memory of Pasquale Baviello, In memory of the people in Ukraine killed during Russia's invasion and relentless intentional targeted bombing of civilians in apartment buildings, hospitals, train stations, schools and children centers, deliberating targeting utilities used by civilians to leave them without electricity and heat through the brutal winter weather, with mass graves being found after invaded areas have been retaken, all in Russia's effort to destroy Ukraine and its people, who are forced to fight for their land, their freedom, and general democratic principles. May they rest in peace and peace be restored to Ukraine]
OF SILENCE AND MEMORY OF PAT ELLO.PATELLO WAS A EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC SERVANT AND A HIGHWAY FOREMAN.
HE WAS DEDICATED, HARDWORKING, WELLLIKE BY, UM, FORMER EMPLOYEES.
PAT ELLO LIVED IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR MANY YEARS, AND HE PASSED AWAY, UM, IN EARLY APRIL.
HE WAS A GENERAL FOREMAN FOR THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT.
AFTER EACH SNOW, PEOPLE WOULD MARVEL AT HOW CLEAN OUR ROADS WERE, UM, WHEN DRAINS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED.
THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT QUICKLY, UH, RESPONDED.
DURING PAT'S TENURE AS HIGHWAY FOREMAN WAS OUTSTANDING AND OUR STREETS WERE SWEPT AND KEPT CLEAN.
PAT WAS A ROLE MODEL FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS, SOMEONE WHO CARED ABOUT OUR TOWN AND WHO IS PROUD OF HIS WORK.
YOU ALL FEEL VERY HORRIBLY ABOUT HIS PASSING AND WILL ALWAYS APPRECIATE WHAT HE DID TO MAKE GREENBURG A NICE PLACE TO LIVE.
AND AT OUR LAST TOWN BOARD MEETING, UM, WE BEGAN OUR MEETING WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN THE MEMORY OF PAT ELLO, BUT I ALSO WANTED TO DO SO.
UM, TODAY HE REALLY WAS, UH, SO EXCEPTIONAL AND, UM, MEMORY ALSO OF THE PEOPLE IN UKRAINE WHO WERE KILLED DURING RUSSIA'S INVASION AND RELENTLESS, INTENTIONAL TARGETED BOMBING OF CIVILIANS AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS, HOSPITALS, TRAIN STATION SCHOOLS AND CHILDREN'S CENTERS DELIBERATING TARGETING UTILITIES USED BY CIVILIANS TO LEAVE THEM WITHOUT ELECTRICITY AND HEAT THROUGH THE BRUTAL WINTER WEATHER THROUGH MASS GRAVES BEING FOUND AFTER INVADED AREAS HAVE BEEN RETAKEN, ALL IN RUSSIA'S EFFORT, UM, TO DESTROY UKRAINIAN'S PEOPLE OR A FORCED TO FIGHT FOR THEIR LAND, THEIR FREEDOM AND GENERAL DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.
MAY THEY REST IN PEACE, AND PEACE BE RESTORED TO UKRAINE.
AND WE ALSO AND WILL HONOR OUR NEXT, NEXT MEETING.
UH, WE LEARNED OF MARIE ZERLOWE, WHO WAS A LONG TIME MEMBER OF OUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT, UH, WHO PASSED AWAY, UH, VERY RECENTLY.
AND WE'LL HAVE HER RUN FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
ALSO AN EXCEPTIONALLY, UH, FANTASTIC, UH, FANTASTIC HUMAN BEING.
[ ROLL CALL: Town Clerk]
OKAY, WE WILL CALL JUDITH, SUPERVISOR PAUL ER HERE, TOWN ATTORNEY JOE DANKO.PRESENT COUNCILWOMAN ELLEN HENDRICKS.
PRESENT COUNCILWOMAN GINA JACKSON.
PRESENT AND COUNCILMAN FRANCIS SHEEN PRESENT.
[ PRESENTATIONS South Presbyterian Church 200th Anniversary - Margery Rossi, Minister]
UM, NEXT, UM, WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE, UM, SOUTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN, UH, IN DOBBS FERRY, UM, ON THEIR, UH, 200TH AND ANNIVERSARY, UM, THIS, UM, CHURCH AND MAR MARJORIE, UH, ROSIE IS AN, A MINISTER, IS REALLY AN EXCEPTIONAL, UM, CONGREGATION.A SMALL GROUP OF CONGREGANTS MET IN A BARN IN DOS FERRY, UM, AND SIX MEMBERS BOUGHT A ONE ACRE PARCEL FOR, UH, 35, UH, UH, DOLLARS.
AND THEY BUILT A SMALL CHURCH.
THE LITTLE WHITE, UH, CHURCH AT STORM STREET IN ASHFORD ROAD SERVED AS THE NEED, SERVED THE NEEDS OF THE CONGREGATION FOR 40 YEARS.
AND AS THE VILLAGE AND CONGREGATION GREW, A NEW BUILDING WAS PROPOSED CLOSER TO THE CENTER OF TOWN.
UM, IN 1864, THE NEW CHURCH WOULD HAVE THE MODERN CONVENIENCES OF THE DAY AND INCLUDING, UH, GAS LIGHTS.
UM, FROM THE BEGINNING WHEN A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE DECIDED TO BEGIN THIS CHURCH, THEY NEVER WERE AFRAID OF CONTROVERSY,
[00:05:01]
HARD WORK OR, UM, OR SOCIAL, UH, JUSTICE FROM, FROM VAN BREW LIVINGSTON STANCE ON NO LIQUOR, UH, UH, NO MEDIC MEDICINAL MEDICINE USE WAS ACCEPTED TO MONEY TO HELP CIVIL WAR RECONSTRUCTION IN THE SOUTH.AND FOR THE FREEDMEN UP TO THE PRESENT ON THE STREET OF NEW YORK WITH A HOMELESS POOR TO NICARAGUA AND MALAWI TO THEIR COMMITMENTS TO SEXUAL JUSTICE, THE CHURCH'S HISTORICAL ROOTS CONTINUE TO GUIDE THEIR MISSION.
UH, THIS CHURCH WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MIDNIGHT, UH, RUN, UM, AND WHERE THEY HAVE A LOT OF, UM, SYNAGOGUES, CHURCHES, UM, UH, INDIVIDUALS WHO ADVOCATE FOR, UM, FOR THE POOR AND HUNGRY.
AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, THEY GO AND THEY SERVE, UH, THEY SERVE THE PEOPLE.
REVEREND GILMORE, UM, WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED TO PUBLIC OFFICE, HE WAS THE, THE PASTOR, AND HE STARTED IT.
UM, THEY HAVE DONE LIKE SO MUCH, IT'S A CHURCH THAT NOT ONLY WHERE PEOPLE PRAY, BUT THEY EVERY SINGLE DAY LIVE BY, UM, WHAT THEY PRAY.
THEY, THEY PRACTICE RELIGION, NOT ONLY, UM, PRAY.
UH, SO I, I FEEL THAT IT'S ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING AND EXCEPTIONAL CONGREGATIONS, UM, THAT I'VE EVER, UH, UM, OBSERVED ANYWHERE.
AND I'D LIKE TO, UH, SO EXCEPTIONAL.
YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY COME TO THE FRONT OF THE ROOM.
WE SHOULD HAVE MOVED THE TABLE.
IT, YOU KNOW, I WAS ALSO GONNA SAY, IF, UH, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY, UH, YOU WANNA LIVE IN GREENBURG, UM, YOU KNOW, SOME COMMUNITIES, IT'S THE SCENERY, BUT IN GREENBURG IT'S THE PEOPLE.
AND, UH, THE PEOPLE AT SOUTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HIGHLIGHT, UH, THE BEST OF THE BEST OF THE BEST.
YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY, UH, ARE ROLE MODELS FOR, UM, FOR PEOPLE ALL OVER, UH, ALL OVER, UM, ANYWHERE.
SO I WANT TO GIVE YOU THIS, UH, CONFIRMATION.
AND, UM, DID YOU COME INTO THE PICTURE WITH US, PAUL? IT'S, IT'S, IT'S PAUL PUT ON A TIE.
SEE, I WAS LIKE, WE DON'T HAVE A SEAL.
MAYBE PAUL, TAKE A STEP FORWARD.
WERE YOU READING MY MIND? DENTURES? SO, DO YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING WHILE WE'RE FOR, UH, COUNCIL? THANK YOU, MINISTER.
IF, IF WE COULD JUST HAVE YOU COME SO WE CAN HEAR IT'S GOING.
ALICE, YOU COULD JUST COME TO THE MIC FOR US.
PASTOR, PLEASE SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE.
IF YOU COULD JUST GO TO THE MIC FOR US, PLEASE.
YOU COULD, YOU COULD PICK IT UP TOO, IF YOU'D LIKE.
MOST IMPORTANT, WE DEFINITELY WANT IT TO LOOK ALL OFFICIAL.
UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, SUPERVISOR FINER.
UH, IT IS OUR HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE TODAY.
IT IS MY PARTICULAR HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE AS THE MINISTER OF SOUTH CHURCH.
I FEEL LIKE I AM, UH, STANDING ON THE SHOULDERS OF SOME PRETTY INCREDIBLE HUMAN BEINGS, UH, WHO HAVE, UH, DONE SOME INCREDIBLE MINISTRY THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF SOUTH CHURCH.
IT'S 200 YEARS AS A LONG TIME.
AND, UH, WHAT DREW ME TO THIS CONGREGATION WAS EXACTLY WHAT YOU POINTED OUT, WHICH IS THE WILLINGNESS TO STAND UP
[00:10:01]
FOR THE CONVICTIONS, UH, THAT, THAT, UH, HOLDS THIS, THAT THIS CHURCH HOLDS DEAR.AND TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT.
AND THAT IS, UM, UNFORTUNATELY NOT AS COMMON AS WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE.
UH, FOR FAITH COMMUNITIES TO REALLY, TRULY STAND UP FOR THEIR BELIEFS AND TO DO SO VERY PUBLICLY AND TO DO SO AT RISK, UH, TO THEMSELVES.
AND SO, I APPLAUD THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN OUR, UH, ANCESTORS AND FAITH AT SOUTH CHURCH.
AND I APPLAUD, UH, OUR CONGREGATION FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING NOW.
WE HAD A HUNDRED PEOPLE TODAY COME THROUGH OUR FRONT YARD FOR THE FOOD PANTRY, UH, THAT OPERATES OUT OF SOUTH CHURCH.
AND, UH, AND WE'RE, WE'RE DOING, UH, LOTS OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF MINISTRY WORKING WITH YOUTH, WORKING WITH, UH, FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, WE'VE GOT A SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE THAT, UH, THAT, UH, OFFERS FOLKS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GARDEN AND LEARN ABOUT GARDENING ON THEIR OWN LANDS.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE DOING OUR PART TO, UH, TO, TO MAKE JOBS FERRY AND GREENBURG A, UH, BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.
ONE OF THE THINGS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I, THAT, THAT I DIDN'T KNOW ALREADY ABOUT, ABOUT THE CHURCH, UH, IS, UH, THE LARGE AND POPULAR ROBUST FOOD PANTRY THAT YOU OPERATE.
UM, PLEASE TELL THE PUBLIC THE HOURS OF THE FOOD PANTRY SO THAT PEOPLE WILL KNOW WHERE TO COME AND WHEN.
UH, IT'S EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM 10 30 TO NOON, UH, AND THEN ALSO ON THE, ON THE, UH, LAST WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH, THERE IS AN EVENING PANTRY FROM FIVE 30 TO SEVEN, UH, FOR EVENING HOURS.
AND WE WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF OUR PARTNERS.
WE CERTAINLY DON'T DO IT ALONE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT IS REALLY, IS
AND SO IF YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN, WHAT THE MOOD OF THE COUNTRY IS GONNA BE IN 30 YEARS, YOU HAVE TO GO TO ONE OF YOUR, UH, YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO ONE OF YOUR SERMONS.
UH, AND, UM, AND, UM, BUT, BUT IT IS, IT'S REALLY SO AMAZING BECAUSE I REMEMBER SPEAKING OF THE MICROPHONE CALL WHEN I FIRST GOT ELECTED, AND, UM, AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I ADMIRED REVEREND GILMORE WHEN HE SET UP THE, UH, MIDNIGHT RUNS.
AND, UM, AND THEN AFTER HE SET IT UP, AND IT WAS REALLY CONTROVERSIAL WHEN HE DID IT.
YOU KNOW, HE STOOD UP SPEAKING FOR THE HOMELESS, SPEAKING FOR THE HUNGARY BEFORE I WAS POPULAR.
AND NOW YOU HAVE SYNAGOGUES, CHURCHES, BOY SCOUTS, GIRL SCOUTS, ALL OVER DOING THE SAME THING.
AND WITHOUT THE EFFORT OF SOUTH PARIAN CHURCH, IT NEVER WOULD'VE HAPPENED.
UM, SO I JUST REALLY ADMIRE WHAT, WHAT YOU'VE, UM, WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND YOUR, WHAT YOUR CONGREGATION STANDS FOR.
AND I WANNA SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR REALLY BEING ROLE MODELS, AND I WISH WE COULD CLONE EVERYBODY IN YOUR CONGREGATION.
I ALSO BEEN ON MIDNIGHT RUN, AND IF YOU, IF YOU RECALL.
NEXT, WE, UH, HAVE, UM, PUBLIC HEARINGS, UM, 2018,
[ To consider rate increases for the Consolidated Water District #1]
THE FIRST HEARING IS, UM, TO CONSIDER, UH, A RATE, UM, INCREASE FOR THE CONSOLIDATED WATER DISTRICT.AND WE HAVE A PRESENTATION, OH, LET'S SEE.
BRIAN IS HERE AND RICH IS HERE.
BRIAN'S A LOT FASTER THAN RICH.
YOU DIDN'T HEAR THAT, DID YOU? RICH? NO, I DIDN'T HEAR IT.
UH, COUNCILMAN, COULD YOU LOOK FOR, UH, PHIL, A AONE FROM ELLIS? SURE.
SO, UH, GOOD EVENING, MEMBERS OF THE TOWN BOARD, TOWN ATTORNEY JOE DANKO, CLERK BEVILLE, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
[00:15:01]
UH, TONIGHT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS IS PROPOSING A WATER RATE INCREASE.WE'D LIKE TO, UH, THANK, UM, PHIL PON WITH RATIS.
THEY'VE BEEN OUR CONSULTANT FOR MANY YEARS.
ANDY DONNELLY AND STEVEN HOUSE WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT, THE WATER ADVISORY BOARD, AND ALL THEIR, UH, INPUT AND, AND HELP ON THIS.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, UH, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS, BRIAN SIMMONS.
I'M GONNA STEP AWAY NOW AND LET BRIAN TAKE THE LEAD.
AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION INTO THIS MATTER.
UM, SO PHIL, I WILL LET YOU START, AND THEN PHIL WILL TURN IT OVER TO ME.
PHIL, IF YOU'RE DRIVING THE SCREEN, COULD YOU ACTUALLY DO IT AS A SLIDE SHOW? OH, YEAH, SURE.
SO, UH, MY NAME IS PHILIP PON.
UH, OUR OFFICE IS LOCATED JUST A COUPLE HOURS NORTH OF YOU ALL IN ALBANY, NEW YORK.
AND, UH, I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT A PROPOSED WATER RATE INCREASE FOR 2023 AND AN UPDATE TO OUR ONGOING FIVE-YEAR, UH, RATE PROJECTIONS AND RATE PLAN.
AND JUST TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF, UM, BACKGROUND FOR EVERYBODY.
SO I PRESENTED A, UH, RIGHT, YOU KNOW, I PROVIDED A, A SIMILAR PRESENTATION BACK IN DECEMBER, 2022 TO THE TOWN BOARD, WHICH WAS, UH, WHICH REFLECTED THE TOWN'S, UH, PLAN FOR, UH, A WATER RATE INCREASE IN 2023.
AND I BELIEVE THAT, UH, THE WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE ALSO, UM, PRESENTED ITS RECOMMENDATION TO THE TOWN BOARD, UM, SUBSEQUENT TO THAT, AND WE WERE DIRECTED TO GO BACK, UM, AND THE, THE, THE TOWN BOARD DIRECTED US TO GO BACK AND, UM, COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON, UM, A PROPOSED INCREASE BETWEEN THE TOWN AND THE WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR A PROPOSED INCREASE OF 2023, UH, WATER RATES.
SO THAT'S JUST A BRIEF HISTORY HERE BEFORE I GET STARTED.
AND, UM, JUST WANTED TO START OUT BY SHOWING, UM, THE, THE PROPOSED INCREASE FOR 2023, WHICH IS 5%.
AND THEN WE HAVE PLANNING LEVEL INCREASES, WHICH JUST MEANS THEIR PROJECTIONS AT THIS POINT, UH, NOTHING'S BEEN FINALIZED.
WE'LL REVISIT THE NEED TO INCREASE WATER RATES IF NECESSARY IN THE FUTURE, BUT AS OF NOW, WE'RE PROJECTING PLANNING LEVEL INCREASES OF 6% PER YEAR, UH, THEREAFTER.
AND, BUT THE PERCENTAGE INCREASES, JUST TO BE CLEAR.
SO THE TOWN HAS A SCHEDULE OF WATER RATES.
THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE HERE REPRESENTS THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE WE'RE PROPOSING TO, UH, ADJUST EACH OF THE DIFFERENT WATER RATE COMPONENTS TO GET TO THE REVENUE THAT, UH, THAT WE NEED.
AND, UM, THE INCREASE YEAR FOR 2023 WOULD BE EFFECTIVE FOR THE SECOND HALF OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS ALSO FOR THE TOWN ON A CALENDAR YEAR.
AND EACH CUSTOMER, UM, FOR INSTANCE, THE RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER WHO, WHO WE BILL, WHO MIGHT BE BILLED QUARTERLY, UM, THEY WILL, THEY WILL BE, UM, SUBJECT TO THE, TO THE ADJUSTED RATES FOR A SIX MONTH PERIOD, UH, REGARDLESS OF HOW THEIR, HOW THEIR BILLING CYCLE FALLS.
SO NOBODY WILL BE, UM, THE RATES WON'T, THE RATES WILL NOT BE APPLICABLE.
THE UPDATED RATES WILL NOT BE APPLICABLE TO, UH, ANY CUSTOMER FOR A LONGER PERIOD THAN ANY OTHER CUSTOMER.
THEN THAT, THAT, IN OTHER WORDS, THERE'S NO RETROACTIVE RATE INCREASE.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S FOR THE FUTURE, RIGHT? CORRECT.
AND, UM, THE 6% INCREASES, THOSE ASSUME THAT THEY WOULD BE EFFECTIVE AS THE, THE, THE FIRST OF THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.
SO JANUARY 1ST, STARTING IN 2024, AND GOING FORWARD, THIS SLIDE'S NEW, UM, I BELIEVE THE TOWN BOARD RECEIVED A LETTER, UH, OR, OR A MEMO FROM THE WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE TALKING ABOUT RATE SMOOTHING.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE TOWN FEELS IS IMPORTANT.
AND THEN THE WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGREES WITH, AND ALSO FEELS IS IMPORTANT.
SO WITH THIS GRAPH IS SHOWING IS TWO THINGS.
SO YOU SEE THE BLUE BARS, THOSE ARE THE INCREASES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING FOR 2023 AND THEREAFTER, THAT'S REPRESENTED BY THE BARS HERE.
THE, THE LINE REPRESENTS THE ACTUAL UNOO WATER RATE INCREASES THAT WOULD BE NEEDED.
[00:20:01]
IT WOULD ONLY BE 2.7%.BUT AS YOU GO INTO THE FUTURE, AND WE HAVE SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE GONNA BE OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THOSE LATER.
YOU CAN SEE THE INCREASE GOES ALL THE WAY UP TO 9.4%.
AND WHAT WE AGREED IS THAT IT'S BETTER TO KEEP THE PROJECTED RATE INCREASES, UH, AT A MORE LEVEL RATE.
WE'RE, WE'RE PROJECTING THE INCREASES BETWEEN FIVE AND 6%.
SO WE DON'T HAVE FLUCTUATIONS IN THE INCREASES, UM, IN THE FUTURE.
IN THAT WAY, WATER RATES ARE MORE PREDICTABLE TO CUSTOMERS.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT'S CLEAR TO ANYBODY, OR THAT'S CLEAR TO EVERYBODY.
AND I'LL JUST PAUSE FOR A SECOND IF, UH, IF ANYBODY WANTS TO ASK A QUESTION ON THIS, BECAUSE I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, THAT IS CLEAR TO EVERYBODY.
SO I'M JUST COMPARING THE UPDATED FIVE-YEAR RATE PLAN THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING HERE TONIGHT WITH THE FIVE-YEAR RATE PLAN THAT, UM, THAT WE BROUGHT TO THE TOWN BOARD IN DECEMBER OF 2021 WHEN WE WERE, UM, ADOPTING IT INCREASED THE WATER RATES FOR 2022.
SO, UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT THESE ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU KNOW, THESE WERE ALSO SMOOTH RATES, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE RATES SMOOTHING THAT WE'VE DONE HERE TO KEEP THEM AT A KIND OF A MORE UNIFORM ANNUAL INCREASE IS, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DONE THAT TO A GREATER EXTENT WITH, UH, WITH THE UPDATED PLAN.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SHOW ON THIS SLIDE HERE.
AND THEN JUST ONE NOTE ABOUT THIS SLIDE HERE, I JUST WANTED TO FLIP BACK TO IT.
THESE TWO SCENARIOS, THE, THE ACTUAL ADJUSTED TIME INCREASES AND THEN THE SMOOTH RATE PLAN, THEY GET TO THE SAME POINT IN THE END.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HOW YOU GET THERE.
THESE ARE THE QUARTERLY BILL IMPACTS.
UM, I'M JUST GONNA FOCUS ON 2023.
SO WE HAVE THREE, THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF, UM, RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS HERE.
WE JUST ARE AN EXAMPLE OF USERS.
AND SO WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A CUSTOMER WHO WOULD USE 9,000, 9,000 GALLONS, UH, PER QUARTER.
AND THAT CUSTOMER WOULD SEE AN INCREASE OF $3 AND 34 CENTS PER QUARTER.
AND THAT'S BASED ON THE PROPOSED INCREASE OF 5% FOR 2023.
UH, SOMEBODY USING 15,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER QUARTER, OR 5,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER MONTH, THEY WOULD SEE A QUARTERLY INCREASE TO THEIR WATER BILL OF $5 AND 85 CENTS.
AND SOMEBODY THAT'S USING 26,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER QUARTER.
SO A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN, I GUESS EIGHT AND A HALF THOUSAND GALLONS PER MONTH, THEY'D SEE A QUARTERLY INCREASE TO THEIR BILL OF $10 AND 96 CENTS.
SO ALL I'M DOING HERE, AND I'M JUST PUTTING THE PERCENTAGE THAT WE SHOWED IN THE FIRST SLIDE OF, OF A 5% INCREASE, JUST PUTTING THAT IN DOLLAR TERMS FOR, UH, FOR SOME EXAMPLE, RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS.
THIS IS A, THIS IS A, A RATE SURVEY THAT WE DO.
AND THE POINT OF DOING THIS IS JUST TO PUT THE TOWN OF GREENBERG'S RATES, THE TOWN OF GIBER, THE, THE WATERS RATES INTO CONTEXT, AS IN WHAT IS EVERYBODY ELSE CHARGING, UM, FOR WATER RATES AND HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO WHAT THE TOWN IS CURRENTLY CHARGING? THIS SLIDE IS NOT JUSTIFICATION TO INCREASE THE WATER RATES.
IT'S NOT JUSTIFICATION TO NOT INCREASE THE WATER RATES.
IT'S JUST, IT JUST PROVIDES CONTEXT TO THE, UM, TO THE WATER DISTRICT'S, UH, WATER RATES.
AND CERTAINLY THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS THAT GO INTO HOW MUCH WATER COSTS IN A GIVEN COMMUNITY.
BUT YOU CAN SEE HERE WE PICKED COMPARISON UTILITIES THAT ARE, THAT ARE LOCAL TO THE LOCAL TO THE AREA.
UM, SO THESE NAMES SHOULD BE VERY, YOU KNOW, THESE COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE VERY FAMILIAR TO YOU.
S ARE ARE PART OF THE WESTCHESTER JOINT WATERWORKS, UM, SUEZ WATER THAT'S A INVESTOR OWNED OR PRIVATE UTILITY.
THEY'RE OFTENTIMES, UM, THE COST OF WATER OR THE COST FOR SERVICE IS MORE EXPENSIVE, UM, AT INVESTOR-OWNED UTILITIES.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT SURPRISED TO SEE THEM UP AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.
BUT THE TOWN COMPARES AND AS WE'VE SEEN THEM, AS WE'VE SEEN THE TOWN COMPARE IN THE PAST, COMPARES PRETTY WELL.
SO IT'S, IT'S COST FOR WATER SERVICE IS PRETTY COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER UTILITIES IN THE LOCAL REGION.
AND I WOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT MANY OF THESE UTILITIES, UM, ALSO ALSO PURCHASED WATER FROM THE NEW YORK CITY WATER SYSTEM SIMILAR TO THE TOWN, PHILIP.
SO THIS ASSUMES ABOUT PHILIP, GO BACK TO THE, IF YOU'RE DONE, WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH THIS SLIDE, COULD YOU GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS ONE? SURE.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE, UH, MAKE IT CLEAR OR FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE PROPOSING A DIFFERENCE.
WHEN WE SEE, UH, $10 AND 96 CENTS, UM, FOR THE DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT
[00:25:01]
USERS UP TO 9,000 GALLONS, EVERYONE PAYS THE, THE LOWEST RATE.THEN ANYTHING OVER 9,000, UH, TO 15,000, THEY PAY THAT SECOND RATE.
AND THEN IT'S ANYTHING OVER THE 15,000, UM, YOU PAY THE 26? OR IS IT, ARE YOU SAYING THAT IF YOU SPEND T IF YOU'RE DOING 26,000 GALLONS, YOU'RE PAYING $13 AND, UH, $10 AND 96 UH, CENTS FOR EVERY GALLON, EVEN STARTING WITH THE FIRST GALLON.
UH, SO ALL I'M SHOWING HERE IS WHAT, WHAT I DID IS I CALCULATED INDIVIDUAL BILLS, RIGHT? AND SO I'M SAYING BASED ON THE BILLS THAT I CALCULATED USING THE EXISTING THE POUNDS, EXISTING WATER RATES, THEN I RECALCULATED THOSE BILLS USING THE PROPOSED WATER RATES, WHICH ARE GONNA BE 5% MORE, UH, THAN WHAT THE EXISTING RATES ARE.
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TONIGHT.
WHAT I FOUND IS THAT IF YOU INCREASE THE BILL FOR A CUSTOMER THAT'S USING 9,000 GALLONS CURRENTLY, IF YOU INCREASE IT BY 5%, IT'S GONNA GO UP BY $3 AND 34 CENTS PER QUARTER.
SO THESE ARE JUST THE INCREASE IN THE QUARTERLY BILL.
THEY'RE NOT THE, UM, THEY'RE NOT THE UNIT RATES PER GALLON.
BUT IS, IS IT CORRECT THAT EVERYONE, WHEN WHEN YOU'RE, WHEN YOU'RE USING UP TO $9,000, WHEN YOU GET TO THE UNIT RATES, THEY PAY THE SAME AMOUNT, IT'S IF YOU GO OVER 26,000 GALLONS, YOU'RE NOT PAYING THE HIGHER RATE EVEN FOR THE FIRST 5,000 GALLONS OF WATER, CORRECT? YEAH.
SO WHAT I, YEAH, I THINK YOU'RE REFERRING TO THE, TO THE TIER RATES.
SO THE IN-DISTRICT QUARTERLY RATES, SO UP TO 12,000 YOU PAY THE LOWEST RATE, AND THEN BETWEEN 12,050 1000, YOU PAY 9030 CENTS CURRENTLY, AND THEN GREATER THAN 51,000 PER QUARTER, YOU PAY THE 11, THE $11 AND 6 CENTS PER THOUSAND.
AND THAT'S STAYING, THAT TIER IS STILL STAYING IN HOW IT'S CALCULATED, CORRECT? YEAH.
WE'RE NOT CHANGING ANY OF THE TIERS, RIGHT? CORRECT.
I'M GLAD WE COULD CLARIFY THAT.
AND SO THIS WAS, AND, AND THAT ACTUALLY GOES PERFECTLY WELL THAT I WAS GONNA TALK ABOUT IN THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO THIS IS FIVE, THIS IS A CALCULATED BILL BASED ON 5,000 GALLONS PER MONTH.
WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, UM, THE, THE TIERED RATES FOR THE, FOR THE TOWN.
SO WE WANTED TO SEE, AS YOU MOVE UP THROUGH THOSE TIERS, OR IF YOU'RE A HIGHER VOLUME USER, HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE BILL? SO EVEN WHEN WE ASSUME A CUSTOMER USING 10,000 GALLONS OF WATER PER MONTH, WE SEE THE TOWN AS WE WORK THROUGH THOSE TIERS.
THE TOWN IS STILL, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE RESULTING WATER BILLS IS STILL VERY COMPETITIVE WITH THE OTHER, UM, WITH THE RATES OF OTHER MUNICIPAL WATER PROVIDERS IN THE REGION.
SO JUST TALKING ABOUT THE FORECAST, UM, THESE ARE SOME KEY ASSUMPTIONS WE MAKE.
SO WHEN WE DO THE RATE FORECAST, WE HAVE A, UH, A MICROSOFT WORKBOOK.
IT'S A, UH, A FINANCIAL FORECAST AND RATE MODELING TEMPLATE THAT I USE THAT, UH, REF TELLIS AS A COMPANY USES FOR, UH, ALL THE WATER UTILITIES THAT IT WORKS WITH ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SO WE FEED IN EXPENSES, UH, WE USE THE TOWN'S ADOPTED, UH, FISCAL YEAR 20 20, 23 REVENUES AND EXPENSES.
SO WE FEED IN THE BUDGET AND WE PROJECT FORWARD IN FUTURE YEARS BASED ON THE 2023 BUDGET AND SOME ASSUMED ESCALATION FACTORS BY THE DIFFERENT EXPENSE TYPES.
NOW, ONE CHANGE THAT WE DID MAKE, UH, AS COMPARED TO THE FORECAST WE MADE IN DECEMBER WAS, UH, THE TOWN GOT SOME CLARITY ON SOME UN SO ON THE COST OF SOME UNEXPECTED MAIN BREAKS AND REPAIRS.
SO WE ADDED 690,000 IN, UM, AS A CONTINGENCY FOR WATER MAIN BREAK, WATER MAIN BREAKS AND REPAIR EXPENSES.
AND THEN WE BUMPED UP THAT CONTINGENCY TO BE $150,000 PER YEAR THEREAFTER.
AND I BELIEVE BRIAN'S GONNA TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT, UM, AS WE GET INTO THE CAPITAL PLAN SECTION, PURCHASE WATER COSTS FROM NEW YORK CITY, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT.
UM, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE FOR THE WATER DISTRICT, AND WE LOOKED AT HISTORICAL CHANGES TO PURCHASE WATER COSTS.
WE LOOKED AT THE NEW YORK CITY UPSTATE RATE REPORT THAT PROVIDES A LITTLE PREVIEW OF, UM, HOW THE NEW YORK CITY SYSTEM EXPECTS TO CHANGE OR INCREASE THEIR RATES TO UPSTATE CUSTOMERS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS.
AND WE FELT THAT A REASONABLE EXPECTATION WAS TO PROJECT THIS COST TO INCREASE BY THREE TO 5% PER YEAR GOING FORWARD.
UM, OTHER O AND M EXPENSES, THAT'S YOUR SALARIES, WAGES, BENEFITS,
[00:30:01]
SUPPLIES, MATERIALS, OTHER REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE, ELECTRIC CHEMICALS, ALL THAT KIND OF THING.UM, WE PROTECTED THOSE WHO GO UP BY ABOUT THREE TO 4% PER YEAR.
IT'S ABOUT PRETTY TYPICAL WHAT WE SEE IN THE INDUSTRY AND THE CAPITAL SPEND, IT'S SIGNIFICANT FOR A, FOR A WATER SYSTEM OF THIS SIZE, IT'S 42 MILLION AND IT RANGES.
SO IT'S WHAT WE CALL LUMPY FROM YEAR TO YEAR, AND IT'S 22 MILLION, UM, THAT WE'RE, THAT I THINK IS, I THINK IT'S IN 2025 OR 2026.
IT'S THE PUMP STATION REPLACEMENT PROJECT.
UM, THAT'S KIND OF THE, THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE, UH, OF THE FUTURE CAPITAL PLAN.
BUT WE, WE, WE INPUTTED THE CAPITAL, THE CAPITAL PLAN, AND THEN WE ASSIGNED FUNDING TO THE DIFFERENT CAPITAL PROJECTS.
SO THAT ALL AUTOMATICALLY FLOWS THROUGH THE MODEL, AND IT'S CONSIDERED BY THE MODEL WHEN IT CALCULATES, UM, THE NECESSARY RATE INCREASES, LIKE I SAID, WE MAKE, WE FUNDED WITH A MIX OF CASH, EXISTING BOND PROCEEDS AND YOU DEBT.
AND BRIAN, I THINK I WAS GONNA PAUSE HERE AND LET YOU SPEAK TO THESE NEXT FEW SLIDES.
UH, AGAIN, MY NAME IS BRIAN SIMMONS, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS.
UH, FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE PUBLIC, I'D LIKE TO JUST START AND WE CAN GIVE A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE EXISTING WATER SYSTEM.
UH, SO THE TOWN CONSOLIDATED WATER DISTRICT WAS CREATED IN 1954.
IT SERVES APPROXIMATELY 40,000 PEOPLE THROUGH, UH, 10,500 SERVICE CONNECTIONS.
THE CONSOLIDATED WATER DISTRICT RECEIVES ALL OF ITS WATER FROM THE NEW YORK CITY, CATSKILL AND DELAWARE AQUEDUCT.
THE WATER PUMPED FROM THE CATSKILL AND DELAWARE AQUEDUCT IS TREATED AND THEN DISTRIBUTED TO THE CUSTOMERS THROUGH APPROX APPROXIMATELY 190 MILES OF WATER DISTRIBUTION MAINS, RANGING FROM TWO INCHES TO 24 INCHES IN DIAMETER.
IN TOTAL, THE SYSTEM CONSISTS OF OVER 190 MILES OF WATER MAINS, APPROXIMATELY 1,700 FIRE HYDRANTS, OVER 3000 VALVES, TWO PUMPING STATIONS, AND SIX WATER STORAGE TANKS.
THE WATER STORAGE TANKS YOU CAN SEE FROM THERE ARE THE GLENVILLE ELEVATED WATER STORAGE TANK, WHICH WAS BUILT IN 1995, THE NORWOOD ELEVATED WATER STORAGE TANK BUILT IN 1928, THE EAST IRVINGTON ELEVATED WATER STORAGE TANK BUILT IN 1977, HARTSDALE ELEVATED WATER TANK BUILT IN 1950, FAIRVIEW ELEVATED WATER TANK BUILT IN 1925, AND THE GREENVILLE ELEVATED WATER TANK BUILT IN 1977.
THE DAILY AVERAGE, UH, WATER PUMPED AND TREATED INTO THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN THE YEAR 2021 WAS 7.1 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY.
BILL, IF YOU COULD PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO, JUST A, A LITTLE OVERVIEW.
UH, THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES OF A WATER SYSTEM ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST TO PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH PLENTIFUL SUPPLY OF HIGH QUALITY WATER.
UH, THE KEY WORD THERE, HIGH QUALITY, UH, SATISFY THE PEAK DEMANDS AND MAINTAIN THE ADEQUATE PRESSURE IN THE WATER SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE, UM, TO SATISFY THE FIRE FLOWS.
NOW, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE PROPOSED CAPITAL PROJECTS, I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF THE RECENT CAPITAL INVESTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE INTO THE GREENBERG WATER SYSTEM.
THE FIRST IS THE COMPLETION OF THE BROOK AND NORWOOD PUMP STATION INTERCONNECTION PROJECT.
THE PROJECT WAS AWARDED IN MARCH OF 2020, AND WAS COMPLETED IN THE BEGINNING OF 2021.
THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT UPGRADES, THE GREENBURG WATER SYSTEM, BECAUSE IT PROVIDED REDUNDANCY WITHIN THAT SYSTEM TO PERFORM REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT BOTH PUMP STATIONS AND TO ACCOMMODATE OTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SYSTEM.
IS THAT, UM, THE NOA PUMP STATION, THAT'S WHERE THE WORK IS, UM, CURRENTLY OCCURRING NEAR THE OLD PARK, RIGHT? NO, THAT'S THIS NEXT PROJECT THAT I'M GONNA SPEAK ABOUT.
SO IN THIS, IN 2022, THE NEW CHEMICAL FEED STATION AND CONTACT TANK PROJECT WAS AWARDED FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT OF $16.9 MILLION, AND THAT IS THE CONSTRUCTION THAT BEGAN IN THE FALL OF 2022.
AND AS SUPERVISOR FINER JUST MENTIONED, THAT'S THE PROJECT THAT'S TAKING PLACE ON STADIUM ROAD DIRECTLY ACROSS SOMEWHERE.
THE CURRENT, UM, PUMP STATION IS AT, AT NUMBER 180 1 NORWOOD ROAD.
UM, COULD YOU JUST, UH, UH, GIVE LIKE A, A LITTLE MORE DETAIL JUST ABOUT THAT CURRENT PROJECT, BECAUSE I'M GETTING A LOT OF PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS JUST ABOUT THAT AND, YOU KNOW, UH, WHY IT'S SO NECESSARY AND WHAT THE PLANS ARE, UM, IN TERMS OF THE, ALL, ALL THE CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY, HOW LONG IT'S GONNA TAKE.
SO THIS PROJECT WAS, UH, OR THE, THE CHEMICAL FEED STATION AND THE CONTACT TANK WAS NEEDED IN ORDER TO REMAIN COMPLIANT WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL WATER DISINFECTION REGULATIONS.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY, NEW YORK CITY,
[00:35:01]
UH, D E P CEASED CHLORINATION, AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, WE HAD TO INSTALL THIS CONTACT TANK.THE CONTACT TANK IS FOR THE PURPOSES OF DISINFECTING THE WATER THAT IS PUMPED FROM THOSE AQUEDUCTS BEFORE IT THEN ENTERS INTO OUR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
SO THIS PROJECT IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
UH, THE ANTICIPATED, UH, COMPLETION DATE IS, UH, LATER THIS SPRING, EARLY SUMMER.
SO FAR, THAT PROJECT IS PROGRESSING VERY WELL.
UM, AND, UH, THE CONTRACTOR THAT IS OUT THERE IS, IS DOING A FANTASTIC JOB SO FAR.
UM, ANOTHER PROJECT THAT, UH, IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY IS THE REHABILITATION OF THE NORWOOD ELEVATED WATER TANK.
UH, THIS CYLINDRICAL TANK, UH, WAS BUILT IN 1928 OF RIVETED STEEL MATERIAL AND HAS THE CAPACITY OF APPROXIMATELY 500,000 GALLONS OF WATER.
THE TANK IS IN NEED OF REPAIR, RENOVATION, AND PAINTING.
PHASE ONE OF THIS PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED LATER THIS SPRING, AND THEN PHASE TWO WILL BEGIN IN THE FALL OF 2023 AND BE COMPLETE BY THE SPRING OF 2024.
THIS IS THE, THE TANK THAT'S LOCATED AT THE VERY END OF CHELSEA ROAD OVER IN THE NORWOOD, UH, MAYFAIR ACRES AREA.
UM, AND THIS PROJECT HAS TO BE DONE IN PHASES TO COORDINATE THE WORK WITH THE PEAK DEMAND SEASONS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT COME IN THE SUMMER MONTHS.
UM, SO, UH, WITH THAT, UH, BEFORE YOU NOW IS THE PROPOSED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS OF THE CONSOLIDATED WATER DISTRICT.
UM, AS YOU CAN SEE IN 2023, THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES INCLUDE $3,783,500 IN WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT.
THIS WORK WILL TAKE PLACE ON VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE 190 MILES OF WATER MAINS, VALVES, AND FIRE HYDRANTS, MANY OF WHICH ARE MORE THAN 70 TO 90 YEARS OLD AND ARE IN NEED OF UPGRADE.
UH, SPECIFICALLY THE HIGH POINT ROAD AND HIGH POINT LANE AREAS ARE SOME OF THOSE WATER MAINS WITHIN THE SYSTEM THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED FOR REPLACEMENT TO BOTH INCREASE THE PERFORMANCE AND MITIGATE, UH, ANY FUTURE WATER MAIN BREAKS.
IN 2024, A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT WILL BE MADE INTO THE, THE FAIRVIEW WATER TANK, WHICH IS ALSO A CYLINDRICAL TANK MADE OF RIVETED STEEL THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1925 AND HAS A CAPACITY OF APPROXIMATELY 400,000 GALLONS.
THIS ELEVATED WATER STORAGE TANK IS IN NEED OF RENOVATION AND PAINTING, AND THE APPROXIMATE COST FOR THIS PROJECT IS $8 MILLION.
IN 2025, THE PROPOSED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE NO WOOD PUMP STATION, WHICH IS THE CONSOLIDATED WATER DISTRICT'S PRIMARY SOURCE OF WATER.
THE STATION WAS BUILT IN 1955 AND THEN UPGRADED IN THE MID 1960S.
IT HAS NINE PUMPS THAT RANGE IN CAPACITY, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE IS, IS VERY MUCH AGING, AND THAT RESULTS IN REDUCED PUMP EFFICIENCY, WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT AND COSTLY TO MAKE REPAIRS AND TO MAINTAIN THESE, THESE, UM, PUMPS AND SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN PLACE.
SO THE TOTAL COST OF, UH, THIS PROJECT IS $22 MILLION IN 2026.
UH, THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURES INCLUDE 3,000,500, DO $500,000 IN ADDITIONAL WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT, FOLLOWED BY AN ADDITIONAL $3,000,500, $500,000 IN 2027 FOR ADDITIONAL WORK.
UH, AT THAT TIME, DEPENDING ON THE NEEDS OF THE, UH, WATER DISTRICT, UH, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE OUTLINED IN THIS FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PLAN ARE NECESSARY TO MEET BOTH OUR SHORT TERM AND THE LONG TERM NEEDS OF THE WATER DISTRICT AND TO ENSURE THAT, UH, WE CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY DRINKING WATER TO THE RESIDENTS AND CUSTOMERS OF THE WATER DISTRICT.
AND SO WITH THAT, UM, PHIL, I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO YOU AND YOU CAN SPEAK ON THE, UH, PROJECTED DEBT SERVICE COSTS.
SO BRIAN WAS TALKING ABOUT CAPITAL PROJECTS.
TYPICALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE, THERE CAN BE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES, UM, FOR THE, FOR THE, UM, INVESTMENTS THAT THE TOWN MAY UNDERTAKE FOR THE WATER SYSTEM.
BUT, UM, ONE WAY TO FUND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS IS WITH, IS WITH DEBT SERVICE.
AND CURRENTLY THE TOWN IS PLANNING TO PAY FOR THE PUMP STATION REPLACEMENT PROJECT, UM, BY BORROWING MONEY THROUGH A GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND ISSUE.
SO WE INCLUDED THAT INTO, UH, INTO OUR FORECAST AND INTO OUR PROJECTIONS.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT WHAT THAT DOES IN THE FUTURE,
[00:40:02]
SO FOR THE YEARS WITHIN THE, UM, RED BOX IS IT BUMPS UP THE AMOUNT OF DEBT SERVICE THAT THE, THAT THE WATER DISTRICT HAS TO PAY FOR THE MONEY THAT IT'S BORROWED.AND YOU CAN SEE DEBT SERVICES PROJECTED TO INCREASE BY OVER 77% FROM 2022 TO 2027.
AND, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO THE BEGINNING, THE FIRST SLIDE I SHOWED WHEN I, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE PROPOSED INCREASES, AND A NATURAL QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, WHY, WHY ARE THE WATER RATES INCREASING? AND, YOU KNOW, A REALLY SIMPLE ANSWER, BUT I THINK A GOOD ANSWER FOR THAT IS, WELL, YOU HAVE OPERATIONAL COSTS THAT WE'RE PROJECTING TO IN THAT WE'RE PROJECTING TO INCREASE BY ABOUT THREE TO 4% PER YEAR, PRETTY TYPICAL, AND THERE'S SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT THE TOWN NEEDS TO UNDERTAKE.
AND, UM, ONE OF THEM IS A $22 MILLION PROJECT THAT THE TOWN PLANS TO BORROW MONEY FOR.
SO, UM, THE COSTS OR THE, THE EXPENSES THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO, TO REPAY PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST ON BORROWED FUNDS, ON BORROWED MONIES, THAT'S GONNA GO UP QUITE A BIT.
SO THOSE ARE THE TWO BIGGEST DRIVERS, UH, OF THE PROJECTED INCREASES THAT WE'RE SEEING FOR WATER RATES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
OKAY, AND THIS IS THE LAST SLIDE I HAVE HERE.
IT'S KIND OF TO, TO SUM EVERYTHING UP AND, UM, KIND OF LOOK AT A, A HIGH LEVEL VIEW OF THINGS.
SO OVERALL FOR THE, THE WATER DISTRICT, WE'RE PROJECTING MODERATE INCREASES, UM, OR, YOU KNOW, A MODERATE INCREASE OF 5% IN 2023, AND STILL PRETTY, PRETTY MODERATE INCREASES THROUGH 2024 THROUGH 2027 OF 6%.
I WAS TAKING PART IN A, UH, IN A WEBINAR THIS MORNING, I, FOR AMWA, WHICH IS A, IT'S A WATER INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.
AND, AND RALPH TELLIS HAD WORKED WITH THEM TO PRODUCE THEIR KIND OF, THEIR, I GUESS THEIR BIANNUAL SURVEY OF THINGS RELATED TO WATER, WATER RATES AND WATER FINANCE.
AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE ASKED, THE UTILITIES THAT RESPONDED, AND THERE'S ABOUT 200 OF THEM, WERE HOW MUCH DO YOU EXPECT TO INCREASE YOUR WATER RATES PER YEAR OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? AND THE AVERAGE ANSWER THAT WE GOT WAS ABOUT 5% FROM ALL THE UTILITIES THAT RESPONDED.
SO THAT'S KIND OF A GOOD BAROMETER OF WHAT ARE UTILITIES WITHIN THE INDUSTRY EXPECTING TO DO WITH THEIR WATER RATES OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
SO YOU CAN SEE EVEN WITH A SIGNIFICANT, UH, CAPITAL PLAN THAT THAT, THAT THE TOWN HAS, THESE ARE STILL PRETTY MODERATE INCREASES.
AND I, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS THAT GO INTO THAT, BUT I THINK ONE OF 'EM IS THE TOWN, UM, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH RAPHAEL IS TO SAY, WHAT'S THE, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO, TO PAY FOR THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS? HOW CAN WE DO THIS IN, IN A WAY THAT MINIMIZES THE RATE IMPACT ON CUSTOMERS? AND I, AND I KNOW THE TOWN RECENTLY COMPLETED AN AN ACCOUNTING OF SOME, UM, PREVIOUSLY ISSUED BONDS AND THE REMAINING PROCEEDS FROM THOSE BONDS, AND HAS BEEN REALLY GOOD ABOUT USING THE REMAINING AMOUNTS TO FUND CAPITAL PROJECTS AS IT'S, UH, FOR THE WATER SYSTEM AS IT'S BEEN ABLE TO.
AND THAT'S CERTAINLY HELPED A LOT.
AND THEN IT'S ALSO, UM, BEEN REALLY GOOD THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER AND LOOK AT, UM, SOME PROJECTIONS FOR THE CASH POSITION OF THE WATER DISTRICT, AND WHEN WE FEEL WE GET, FEEL LIKE WE HAVE EXCESS FUNDS AS FAR AS CASH, UM, YOU KNOW, BEING SMART ABOUT SPENDING THOSE DOWN BEFORE WE, BEFORE, BEFORE THE TOWN MOVES AHEAD WITH BORROWING MONEY.
SO THERE'S CERTAINLY NO REASON TO BORROW WHEN YOU HAVE THE, THE CASH IN THE, IN THE BANK.
THIS NEXT ONE HERE IS JUST THE ANNUAL RESIDENTIAL COST AS A PERCENTAGE OF LOWEST INCOME QUINTILE.
I KNOW IT'S A MOUTHFUL, BUT IT'S JUST AN AFFORDABILITY METRIC.
AND AFFORDABILITY IS, IS A REALLY COMPLEX TOPIC, AND THIS IS JUST A VERY SIMPLE, UM, MEASURE, BUT WHAT IT SHOWS IS THAT WATER SERVICE IS STILL VERY AFFORDABLE IN THE TOWN OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG INCOME.
QUINTILES ARE JUST, WE'RE SPLITTING UP THE, THE INCOME SEGMENTS INTO FIVE SEPARATE SEGMENTS, AND WE TAKE THE AVERAGE INCOME WITHIN THE LOWEST 20%.
WE COMPARE THAT TO THE COST OF WATER SERVICE COMES OUT BETWEEN 1.6 TO 1.8% OF THE, UM, AVERAGE INCOME OF HOUSEHOLDS WITHIN THAT BOTTOM 20%.
SO THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD, THIS IS A PRETTY GOOD METRIC.
UM, AS FAR AS, AS FAR AS OTHERS, UM, THAT I'VE SEEN, AND THE LAST TWO HERE DAYS, CASH ON HAND AND DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE, THOSE ARE COMMON FINANCIAL METRICS THAT WATER UTILITIES LOOK AT.
WE SET A TARGET OF 90 DAYS FOR CASH RESERVES.
THAT JUST MEANS WE WANNA HAVE AT LEAST ONE FOURTH OF THE ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE WATER DISTRICT AS CASH IN THE BANK, JUST IN CASE.
AND YOU CAN SEE WITH THE INCREASES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING ABOVE, UM, WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.
WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP IT ABOVE 90 DAYS.
SO IT'S, I THINK IT RANGES BETWEEN 90 TO 105 DAYS.
[00:45:01]
COVERAGE, WE WANNA KEEP THAT ABOVE A HUNDRED PERCENT.IT JUST, IT'S JUST A WAY OF SAYING, ARE YOU GENERATING SUFFICIENT FUNDS FROM YOUR WATER RATES TO PAY BACK THE MONEY THAT YOU'VE, THAT YOU'VE BORROWED? IF IT GOES BELOW A HUNDRED PERCENT, IT JUST MEANS THAT YOU'RE DIPPING INTO YOUR RESERVES TO PAY BACK MONEY.
YOU BORROWED NOT A BIG DEAL FOR ONE YEAR.
AND YOU SEE THAT IN 2023, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT A TREND.
UM, AND WITH THE PROPOSED PLANNING LEVEL, I SHOULD SAY NOT PROPOSED, BUT PLANNING LEVEL INCREASES IN 2024 THROUGH 2027, UM, WE'RE GENERATING SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PROJECTED TO GENERATE SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO PAY BACK MONEY THAT WE BORROWED.
WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYBODY HAS.
I JUST WANTED TO, UH, MENTION THAT A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, UM, UH, INCREASE, UM, PROPOSED AND THE WATER DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH IS MADE UP OF, UM, UH, RESIDENTS, UM, SOME WHO, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY HAVE, UH, IN THE PAST HAD CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISMS. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT WE NOT APPROVE THE RATE HIKE, UH, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
BUT, UM, THEY, UM, UH, HAVE SPENT A FEW MONTHS REVIEWING, UM, THE PROPOSAL AND, UH, NOW THEIR SUPPORTIVE OF THE RATE HIKE, UH, YOU KNOW, REQUESTS, UM, IF WE DON'T, UH, ADDRESS THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS AND IF WE DON'T HAVE, UH, WATER, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE A DISASTER FOR THE TOWN.
SO WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION AS A TOWN GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPLY, UM, OUR RESIDENTS WITH SAFE, CLEAN, UM, HEALTHY, UM, AND GOOD TASTING WATER.
AND I THINK THE WATER DEPARTMENT DOES A GOOD, UH, GOOD JOB.
AND THE WATER, UH, DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD MADE UP OF NEIGHBOR, YOUR NEIGHBORS, PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE TOWN, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING VERY, VERY HARD IN TERMS OF MONITORING, UM, UH, THE WATER ISSUES AND THE NEED TO ADDRESS INFRASTRUCTURE.
JUST, UM, THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE RECENTLY, UM, YOU KNOW, COMPLETED, UH, CONNECTING BROOK WITH NORWOOD, UM, THAT WAS A VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE, UM, INITIATIVE.
BUT IF WE HADN'T DONE THAT AND ONE OF THE PUMP STATIONS, UH, UH, WENT OUT OF COMMISSION, THERE WOULD'VE BEEN, THERE WAS NO BACKUP.
SO, YOU KNOW, THINK HOW AGGRAVATED YOU ARE WHEN YOU HAVE A BLACKOUT FROM CONED.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND YOU MAY BE OUT FOR, YOU KNOW, A DAY, A WEEK OR TWO WEEKS OR WHATEVER, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD OUTAGES.
OUR JOB AS THE HEAD OF THE, AS, UM, COMMISSIONERS OF THE CONSOLIDATED WATER DISTRICT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALWAYS HAVE WATER, EVEN IF THERE'S GLOBAL WARMING AND, AND A PROBLEM.
IF I COULD, IF I COULD JUST MAKE TWO POINTS, I THINK THERE WAS ALWAYS A MEANING OF THE MINDS AS TO HOW MUCH NEEDED TO BE, UH, RAISED OVER THE COMING YEARS.
THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION BETWEEN THE WATER ADVISORY BOARD AND STAFF AS TO HOW TO SMOOTH THAT CURVE.
AND SO NOW THERE'S A MEETING OF MINDS OF HOW TO SMOOTH THE CURVE.
IN OTHER WORDS, NOT HAVE A SPIKE OF 9% IN ONE YEAR.
UM, AND, UH, YOUR LAST POINT WAS, WHAT, WHAT'S THAT? HE WAS TALKING ABOUT RUM TANK.
AND, UH, THE, THE INTERIOR CONNECTION, IT'S NOT JUST THAT YOU WOULD BE OUT OF WATER, IT'S THAT THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT LEAK IN THE PUMP STATION THAT WAS THERE WHEN I STARTED ON THE BOARD IN, IN 2006, AND THEY COULDN'T SHUT OFF THE VALVE TO FIX IT, BECAUSE THE VALVE IS SO OLD YOU DON'T KNOW.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN ANY TIME YOU DO ANY KIND OF PLUMBING, UH, BY THE WAY GET A LICENSED PLUMBER.
BUT WHENEVER YOU DO ANY KIND OF PLUMBING, THAT LEADS TO ANOTHER JOB, TO ANOTHER JOB, TO ANOTHER JOB.
UM, AND WE WILL NOW BE ABLE TO SHUT OFF ONE PUMP STATION WHILE WE'RE RUNNING THE WATER FROM ONE PUMP STATION TO BOTH LOCATIONS, WHERE BEFORE WE COULDN'T DO THAT.
SO THIS IS WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT THAT THE TOWN HAS, HAS HAD SINCE THEY PUT IN THE, UH, THE WATER SYSTEM IN THE FIR IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, UH, THE REASON FOR SOME OF THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES HERE IS BECAUSE OF AN UNFUNDED MANDATE.
TOWN DIDN'T, YOU KNOW, ASK FOR A CONTACT TANK, BUT THE D E C HAS DECIDED THAT THEY'RE NOT GONNA CHLORINATE THE WATER.
AND SO NOW IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THAT, AND WE HAVE
[00:50:01]
TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CHLORINE IS IN CONTACT WITH THE WATER FOR A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF TIME.AND SO WE HAVE TO BUILD THIS CONTACT TANK, THE ONE YOU SEE ON NORWOOD ROAD, UH, IN ORDER SO THAT THERE'S CONTACT TIME BETWEEN THE WATER COMING UP FROM THE AQUEDUCT, UH, AND THE CHLORINE ITSELF.
AND SO WE DIDN'T ASK FOR IT, BUT WE'RE SPENDING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ADDRESSING IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I SHOULD AGAIN, UH, HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT OUR RATES ARE LESS EXPENSIVE THAN RATES IN SURROUNDING AREAS.
YOU KNOW, I WAS LOOKING AT THE CHART JUST BEFORE I LIVE IN THE SECTION OF TOWN, UM, THAT ARE SERVED, UM, BUT BY VIOLA, UH, FORMERLY SUEZ, AND OUR RATES ARE ACCORDING MUCH, MUCH HIGHER, MUCH HIGHER.
SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHERE I LIVE, YOU KNOW, WOULD GIVE ANYTHING TO BE PART OF THE GREENBERG, YOU KNOW, WATER, UM, BECAUSE SO MUCH, SO MUCH CHEAPER, AND OUR RATES ARE STILL GONNA GO UP.
UM, SO RICH OR BRIAN, WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT EITHER OF US SAID THAT'S INCORRECT? I, I DO WANNA ADD, UH, LAST WEEK THE NORWOOD PUMP STATION WAS SHUT DOWN, UM, AND TURNED BACK ON IN, IN, IN THE LATE EVENING ABOUT 11 O'CLOCK.
AND THE CONNECTION WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL.
UM, THIS WAS DONE TO CONNECT THE CONTACT TANK TO THE EXISTING PUMP STATION.
SO THE INTERCONNECTION PROJECT IS WORKING, IT'S ACTUALLY, UH, CHANGED THE WAY THEY LOOK AT HOW THEY PUMP THE WATER.
IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN, IT'S ACTUALLY SHOWN THAT THE OTHER PUMP STATION IS STRONGER THAN THEY THOUGHT.
UM, I WAS ON SITE FOR A BIT, I KNOW BRIAN STAYED THERE LATER THAN I DID, BUT IT WAS, IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL NIGHT.
AND, UH, ANDY DONNELLY FROM THE WATER SHOP ACTUALLY FELT THAT THEY COULD GO LATER INTO NIGHT AND STILL SUPPLY ADEQUATE, ADEQUATE WATER.
AND NO, EVERYTHING YOU SAID IS, UH, SPOT ON.
UH, I WAS GONNA ASK YOU ALSO, COULD YOU, UM, JUST FOR PEOPLE WATCHING THIS, UM, PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, UM, HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS TO, UM, REPAIR A WATER MAIN BREAK, UH, BREAK.
AND COULD YOU JUST GO OVER, UM, A LITTLE BIT THE COST OF, UM, UH, REPAIRING SOME OF THESE WATER MAIN BREAKS AND, UM, HOW OLD SOME OF THE, THE, THE UNDERGROUND PIPES ARE AND, YOU KNOW, ARE WE GETTING MORE WATER MAIN BREAKS NOW THAN WE USED TO HAVE, OR IS IT PRETTY CONSISTENT? I THINK YOU, YOU HAVE AN AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, WE JUST HAD A MAJOR REPAIR, UH, A FEW MONTHS BACK THAT WAS SUCCESSFULLY, UH, COMPLETED.
UM, IT RAN THROUGH A, A VALLEY UP THE SIDE OF A, A HILL, UM, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE MAIN IS QUITE OLD AND IT WAS QUITE EXPENSIVE TO DO IT.
EACH JOB IS DIFFERENT FROM TIME TO TIME.
WE HAVE A, A BREAK RIGHT NOW THAT'S BEEN ISOLATED ON ARDSLEY ROAD.
UH, UNFORTUNATELY OUR MAIN NOW HAS ANOTHER WATER PURVEYORS MAIN ON TOP OF IT.
UM, AND WE CAN'T DO THE WORK UNTIL THE SCHOOL IS OUT.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO KIND OF COORDIN THAT AREA OFF SO THAT IT'S NOT A PROBLEM NOW, BUT IT'S, EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT.
IT'S EVERY BREAK IS LIKE A FINGERPRINT.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA HEAD INTO, WHAT SITUATIONS YOU'RE GONNA HAVE, HOW MUCH DOES, DOES COSTING THE ROAD.
HOW MUCH, UH, WAS THE LEY ROAD, UH, WATER MAIN BREAK REPAIR? WE HAVEN'T FINISHED THAT YET, BUT HOW MUCH, WE'RE GONNA WAIT TIL THE SCHOOL'S OUT.
HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK IT'S GONNA COST? RYAN, DO WE HAVE AN ESTIMATE ON THAT ONE? SO CAN WE TAKE THE POWERPOINT OFF SO WE CAN SEE THE SPEAKERS? YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
JUST, JUST TAKE THE POWERPOINT DOWN.
I WASN'T SURE WHO WAS CONTROLLING IT.
YEAH, I'M JUST ASKING HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST.
SO, LIKE RICH MENTIONED, EACH WATER MAIN BREAK IS UNIQUE.
SO FOR THESE TWO WATER MAIN BREAKS IN PARTICULAR THAT WE HAD EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHICH WERE, UH, VERY LARGE WATER MAIN BREAKS, WE ACTUALLY HAD TO BRING IN, UM, AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR TO HELP ASSIST THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
UH, THESE WATER MAINS VARY IN SIZE AND DEPTH.
IN SOME CASES THEY COULD ONLY BE, UH, FIVE FEET DEEP, UH, AND THEN IN OTHER CASES THEY COULD BE UPWARDS OF 8, 9, 10 FEET DEEP.
AND SO FOR SOME OF THOSE DEEPER WATER MAINS, UH, NOT THAT THE, THE TOWN WATER DEPARTMENT CAN'T DO THESE THINGS, BUT IT'S EASIER, IT'S MORE EFFICIENT TO HAVE AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR COME IN BECAUSE THEY DO THIS WORK EVERY, EVERY SORT OF DAY.
THEY HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO DO THESE THINGS.
[00:55:01]
IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, LIKE THOSE WATER OR LARGER WATER MAIN BREAKS, WE WILL CONTRACT OUT SOME OF THAT WORK TO BRING IN A CONTRACTOR.AND ALSO, DEPENDING UPON WHERE THE WATER MAIN IS, LIKE COMMISSIONER F SAID, IF IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS, GETTING ACCESS TO THOSE AREAS CAN BE VERY CHALLENGING.
OR IN PARTICULAR WITH THIS LARGELY ROAD WATER MAIN, THE CHALLENGE THERE IS NOT ONLY ACCESSING IT, BUT ALSO THE TRAFFIC CONTROL AROUND THAT.
AND SO IT'S JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED ARE WORKING ON OFF HOURS, UH, WORKING WHEN SCHOOL ISN'T IN SESSION, OBVIOUSLY RJ ROAD IS VERY HEAVILY TRAVELED, ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING AND DURING THE EVENING RUSH HOURS.
AND SO THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT, THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER.
UH, WHEN TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, IT'S HARD TO GIVE IT A, AN EXACT NUMBER, UM, BECAUSE YOU DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW, LIKE THE COMMISSIONER MENTIONED, THERE'S A LOT OF UTILITIES IN ARLEY ROAD.
THERE'S OTHER WATER MAINS, THERE'S A GAS MAIN FROM CONED.
UM, THERE'S DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S THERE.
UM, SO IT CAN GET VERY COSTLY.
UM, BUT BETWEEN THOSE TWO WATER MAIN BREAKS, THAT'S WHERE WE CAME UP.
THE, WE CAME UP WITH THE ESTIMATE OF THE $690,000 BETWEEN THE ONE THAT WE HAD EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHICH WAS RIGHT ON MEADOW VIEW DRIVE, UM, AND THE ARLEY ROAD WATER MAIN.
AND I WILL TELL YOU, I GOT A TEXT FROM COUNCILMAN SHEEN, WHO'S LIVES FAR AWAY FROM THAT BREAK VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING THAT HE HAD NO WATER PRESSURE IN HIS HOUSE.
THAT'S ACTUALLY HOW WE KNEW THERE WAS A BREAK SOMEWHERE.
AND ONE OTHER THING I WANNA MENTION THAT IS, UH, I THINK GONNA BE VERY EXCITING MOVING FORWARD.
UH, WE WERE WORKING WITH, UH, PHIL AND A COLLEAGUE OF HIS AND IN THE FUTURE, WE ARE GONNA, AND WE'VE BEEN WORK, TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH THE WATER ADVISORY BOARD.
WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING TOWARDS DOING SOME BEST PRACTICES WITH THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
UM, BILL'S COLLEAGUE WORKS WITH WATER SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, AND THERE'S THINGS THAT WE COULD BE DOING TO KIND OF STAY ON PAR WITH WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
FOR INSTANCE, REPLACE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF OUR WATER MAINS EACH YEAR.
YOU KNOW, VALVING, THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO THESE SYSTEMS, AND WE ARE VERY LUCKY IN THE NORTHEAST TO HAVE ONE OF THE, UH, FRESHEST AND CLEANING, DRINKING WATER IN THE WORLD.
UM, AND I SAY IT ALL THE TIME, THE WATER DEPARTMENT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DEPARTMENT IN TOWN, NOT KNOCKING ANY OF THE DEPARTMENT, BUT IF YOU DON'T TURN ON YOUR FAUCET AND GET CLEAN, FRESH DRINKING WATER, WE GOT PROBLEMS. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.
ANYBODY FROM THE PUBLIC POLL, ANYBODY FROM, UH, THE PUBLIC WANNA SPEAK? WE DO NOT HAVE ANY REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, THEN I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE, UH, CLOSE THE HEARING AND LEAVE THE RECORD OPEN FOR SEVEN DAYS.
[ To consider a Local Law amending Chapter 380 of the Code of the Town of Greenburgh entitled "Noise," as it relates to Leaf and Garden Blowers]
NEXT.UM, HEARING, UH, LOCAL LAW AMENDING CHAPTER THREE, UM, 60 OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG ENTITLED NOISE, UH, RELATES TO, UH, THREE AND GAR, UH, GARDEN, UH, BLOWERS.
UM, YES, I, I CAN PRESENT THIS LAW SUPERVISOR.
SO THIS IS ACTUALLY SECTION THREE 80 OF THE TOWN CODE OF THE, UH, TOWN OF GREENBURG.
AND IN THE PAST WE HAVE PRESENTED TWO LAWS FOR CONSIDERATION.
ONE WHICH WAS AN AMENDMENT TWO TO NOISE ORDINANCE, WHICH ALREADY EXISTS.
AND ANOTHER WAS CREATING A NEW CHAPTER UPON FURTHER REVIEW, AND AS YOU'LL SEE ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT, UH, WE'RE NOT HAVING THAT PUBLIC HEARING OR PROPOSING ANY CHANGES, UH, TO A NEW CHAPTER OF THE CODE.
WE'RE SIMPLY NOW PROPOSING CHANGES TO THE CURRENT NOISE ORDINANCE.
UM, THANK YOU COMMISSIONER DUQUESNE FOR, UH, HELPING ME WITH THIS PRESENTATION AND PLACING THE LOCAL, UH, PROPOSED LOCAL LAW ON THE SCREEN.
SO THIS LOCAL LAW, UH, WHICH IS FOR CONSIDERATION TONIGHT, CHANGES A FEW THINGS ABOUT THE NOYCE ORDINANCE.
UH, THE NOISE ORDINANCE HAS A LONG LIST OF PROHIBITED SOUNDS THROUGHOUT THE TOWN.
THIS WOULD ONLY AFFECT SUBSECTION I, WHICH IS IN REGARDS TO LEAF BLOWERS.
THE FIRST MAJOR CHANGE IS THAT IT WOULD STRIKE, UH, THE WORD GASOLINE THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE, UH, LAW.
AND WHAT THAT INTENDS TO DO IS TO HAVE THE NOISE ORDINANCE TO APPLY NOT ONLY TO GASOLINE POWERED LAWNMOWERS, LEAF BLOWERS AND GASOLINE POWERED LAWN OR GARDEN EQUIPMENT, BUT TO ALL TYPES OF EQUIPMENT OF THAT NATURE.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE POWERED ONLY BY GASOLINE.
[01:00:01]
PROPOSED, OR I HAVE NOT PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE TIME THAT THESE ACTS ARE PROHIBITED.IT WOULD REMAIN THE SAME AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS.
UM, THE OPERATION OF POWERED LAWNMOWERS, LEAF BLOWERS, OR OTHER POWERED LAWN OR GARDEN EQUIPMENT OR CONSTRUCTION TOOLS, WOULD BE PROHIBITED BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00 PM AND 8:00 AM ANY WEEKDAY BEFORE 9:00 AM OR AFTER 6:00 PM SATURDAY OR ANY HOLIDAY OR BEFORE 11:00 AM OR AFTER 6:00 PM ANY SUNDAY.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, THOSE HOURS IN THIS UNDER THIS PROPOSAL WOULD NOT BE CHANGING THE DEFINITION.
HOWEVER, WOULD, UM, ANOTHER PROPOSED CHANGE IS THAT THIS WOULD APPLY NOT ONLY IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES, BUT COMMERCIAL ZONES AS WELL, AND THAT THE DECIBEL LEVEL CANNOT EXCEED 75 DECIBELS.
75 DECIBELS IS CURRENTLY WITHIN OUR CODE.
HOWEVER, IT'S FOR RESIDENTIAL ZONES ONLY.
THIS PROPOSED CHANGE WOULD NOW APPLY TO RESIDENTIAL ZONES AND COMMERCIAL ZONES, EVERY ZONE THROUGHOUT THE TOWN.
UM, ONE THING THAT I'VE PROPOSED, WE STRIKE FROM THE LAW IS THAT THE OPERATION OF GASOLINE POWERED LEAF AND GARDEN BLOWERS IN EXCESS OF 55 DECIBELS IS PROHIBITED MAY 1ST THROUGH OCTOBER 1ST OF EACH YEAR.
AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH, WE FOUND THE 55 DECIBEL LEVEL TO BE VERY LOW.
AND, UH, ALMOST EVERY TYPE OF GARDEN EQUIPMENT WOULD GO ABOVE THAT, AND YOU'D BE IN VIOLATION OF THE CODE.
WE THOUGHT IT WASN'T ENFORCEABLE.
SO I'M PROPOSING THAT WE STRIKE THAT SECTION, STICK TO THE 75 DECIBEL LEVEL INSTEAD.
TWO MORE CHANGES WHILE THESE WILL BE BRAND NEW ADDITIONS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED.
ONE IS THE SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION OF MORE THAN ONE LEAF BLOWER ON PROPERTY OF 10,000 SQUARE FEET OR LESS IN ANY AREA IS PROHIBITED.
UM, ONLINE THERE WAS A LITTLE CONFUSION.
WE POSTED BOTH 5,000 SQUARE FEET AND 10,000 SQUARE FEET.
FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T AWARE, 5,000 SQUARE FEET WOULD EQUATE TO ABOUT A 10TH OF AN ACRE OF A PROPERTY, WHEREAS 10,000 SQUARE FEET EQUATES TO ABOUT 0.23.
SO ALMOST A QUARTER OF AN ACRE OF A PROPERTY.
UH, THE CURRENT PROPOSAL IS MEANT TO BE FOR A 10,000 SQUARE FOOT AREA, ONLY ONE LEAF BLOWER WOULD BE ALLOWED AT A TIME.
AND THE FINAL PROPOSED ADDITION IS THE SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION OF FOUR OR MORE LEAF BLOWERS ON ANY SIZE PARCEL WOULD BE PROHIBITED.
WE'VE HEARD SOME ISSUES WITH MANY LEAF BLOWERS BEING USED AT ONE TIME, WHICH GREATLY AMPLIFIES THE DECIBEL LEVEL, WHAT WOULD NOT BE CHANGED AS WELL.
UH, COMMISSIONER, IF YOU COULD PLEASE PUT ON THE ENFORCEMENT PROVISION, WHICH IS THE OTHER P D F I'D SENT.
SO THE ENFORCEMENT SECTION, WHICH IS THREE 80.8, IT, THERE'S NOT BEING ANY PROPOSED CHANGE TO THAT.
SO THAT WOULD APPLY IF, IF THERE WERE A VIOLATION OF THREE 80 DASH SEVEN I, UM, THE ENFORCEMENT WOULD BE DONE THROUGH THIS PROVISION THAT ALREADY EXISTS WITHIN THE TOWN CODE.
AND AS DISCUSSED AT EARLIER, UH, TONIGHT'S, UH, WORK SESSION, WHICH OCCURRED EARLIER, THE TOWN POLICE ARE CHARGED WITH THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS CHAPTER.
AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE CAN DESIGNATE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OUTSIDE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND TO CLARIFY, THAT'S ON TOP OF WHO COULD ALREADY DO THE ENFORCEMENT WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UM, IF THE TOWN BOARD AGREES, AND IT ALSO INCLUDES THE PENALTIES FOR OFFENSES WITHIN THREE 80 DASH NINE.
WE'RE NOT PROPOSING ANY CHANGES.
I'VE JUST RECEIVED SOME FEEDBACK OVER THE PAST WEEK OR SO FROM PEOPLE ASKING HOW WILL THIS BE ENFORCED? WHAT WOULD THE PENALTIES BE? THE REASON IT'S NOT INCLUDED IS IT'S A SEPARATE SECTION OF OUR CODE THAT DEALS WITH THE ENTIRE NOISE ORDINANCE, NOT JUST NOISE ORDINANCE IN REGARDS TO LEAF AND GARDEN BLOWERS.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF THE BOARD HAS ANY QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GO TO THE PUBLIC.
I ALSO HAD, UM, SUGGESTED THAT, UM, WE ASK FOR LIKE AN ANNUAL REPORT, UM, FROM, UM, THE POLICE AND THE INSPECTORS, UM, UM, HIGHLIGHTING, UM, THE ENFORCEMENT, THE SUCCESSES OR FAILURES OF ENFORCEMENT.
THIS, UH, YOU KNOW, SO THIS WAY THE TOWN BOARD COULD MONITOR, RIGHT? SOMETIMES YOU HAVE THESE LAWS AND NOTHING EVER IS ENFORCED.
I'M TALKING ABOUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, RIGHT? YES.
SO IF AFTER PUBLIC HEARINGS CLOSED, WHETHER IT BE TONIGHT OR ANOTHER TIME, AND, AND IF THE LAW IS UH, ENACTED, UH, I WILL HELP THE TOWN BOARD DRAFT THE RESOLUTION THAT SAYS THAT MY OFFICE AND THE DEPARTMENTS WHO ARE ENFORCING THIS CAN PROVIDE AN ANNUAL UPDATE TO ENSURE THAT IT IS, UH,
[01:05:01]
PROPER.AND, UH, AS YOU INDICATED, UH, THE POLICE ON THEIR OWN COULD, UM, ENFORCE IT RATHER THAN WAIT FOR A COMPLAINT.
J THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE CODE, POLICE OFFICERS BUILDING AND DEPARTMENT CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS CAN ENFORCE OUR CODE.
WE DO NOT NEED TO WAIT FOR A COMPLAINT FROM ANOTHER CITIZEN.
HOWEVER, IF ANOTHER CITIZEN EVER DOES HAVE A COMPLAINT, THEY CAN DO SO ANONYMOUSLY AS WELL.
SO IF I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYBODY THAT, UH, WHEN YOU COME UP TO SPEAK, IF YOU'VE SIGNED UP WITH THE CLERK, THAT WE HAVE A FIVE MINUTE, UH, TIME LIMIT.
WE HAVE CLOCKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROOM.
AND IF THERE, IF WE ARE NOT CLOSING THE PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT, WE WILL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL ROUND WHERE YOU COULD COME UP FOR AN ADDITIONAL FIVE MINUTES.
SO, MR. TOWN ATTORNEY, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE, WE HAVE ABOUT EIGHT INDIVIDUALS, UM, SEVEN OR UH, ACTUALLY EIGHT INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK REGARDING THE LEAF BLOWERS.
SO I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THEY ALL UNDERSTAND.
THERE WAS A, A NOTICE FOR A SECOND HEARING, CREATING A NEW CHAPTER.
HOWEVER, WE'VE DECIDED TO PUT THOSE PROVISIONS TO AMEND THE NOISE ORDINANCE.
SO THERE'S ONLY ONE HEARING TONIGHT AND ONLY ONE PROPOSED LAW FOR CONSIDERATION.
SO I THINK THAT THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF CONFUSION ABOUT THAT.
OTHER THAN JUST LIKE, LIKE ONE PER PROPERTY, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE, COULD, COULD ABLE TO, YOU JUST DO ME A HUGE FAVOR.
CAN YOU JUST DO ME A HUGE FAVOR? CAN YOU JUST GO TO THE MAP? CAN YOU JUST GO TO THE, UM, YOU MIGHT AS WELL COME UP.
SO IF YOU COULD SAY YOU'RE, SO, I'M GINA PAZ.
I'M THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE NEW YORK STATE TURBINE LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION.
WE HAVE, UH, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD HERE, BUT WE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE MIGHT BE LIKE THE PROPOSAL OF A FURTHER BAN.
YOU'RE JUST, UM, AMENDED THAT WE COULD ONLY USE ONE PER PROPERTY DEPENDING ON THE SIZE.
SO I COULD, IF I CLARIFY, IT'LL GO INTO YOUR TIME, UM, WHICH HASN'T STARTED ANYWAY, BUT IF IT'S ONE PER JUDITH, 10,000 SQUARE FOOT LOTS.
THIS IS NOT, NO, NOT, SHE WAS ASKING YOU AND, AND THREE FOR, OR EXCUSE ME, FOUR FOR ANY SIZE LOT.
AND, AND THE DATES ARE STILL THE SAME SPRING AND FOUR CLEANUPS, IT'S ALLOWED, UM, NONE OF THE OTHER DATES HAVE CHANGED THE SAME TIME, UH, ON THE SAME DAYS.
THAT NOISE ORDINANCE, THAT THAT'S NOT, NOT IN THIS PROPOSAL.
THAT WAS IN PREVIOUS PROPOSALS.
I, I SEE AT LEAST ONE GENTLEMAN WHO CAME AND SPOKE, UH, AT EARLIER, UH, HEARINGS THAT'S NOT CURRENTLY BEING PROPOSED.
SO DOES LARRY OR JOE, DOES ANYONE ELSE STILL WANT US TO GET UP AND SPEAK FOR SEC? I, I'D LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION.
OKAY, SIR, WILL YOU COME UP TO THE PODIUM PLEASE? SURE.
STATE YOUR NAME BECAUSE YOU ARE I'M LOUIS SARGENTO.
I HAVE TWO BUILDINGS IN THE TOWN.
BEEN PAYING TAXES FOR A LONG, LONG TIME OF THE TOWN PARKS DEPARTMENT.
YOU ALL, YOU, EVERYONE IS INVOLVED IN THIS NOW.
SO THIS PARKING LOT OUT HERE, 10,000 SQUARE FEET, YOU CAN ONLY USE ONE BLOWER IN THE PARKS.
OR IS IT JUST FOR US, THE 10,000 REQUIREMENT IS 10,000 SQUARE FEET OR LESS, CAN ONLY USE ONE BLOWER AT A TIME.
SO THIS, THIS LOT, IT WOULD BE LARGER THAN 10,000 SQUARE ACRES.
BUT, BUT YOU, BUT THE VILLAGE AND CHURCHES AND ALL OF THE LARGE BUILDING OFFICE BUILDINGS AND ALL THAT, THEY'RE SUBJECT TO THE SAME LAW THAT EVERYBODY IS, CORRECT.
SO FOR, YOU KNOW, BASEBALL FIELDS, GOLF COURSES, ALL OF THAT, YOU'RE ALLOWED TO USE FOUR.
FOUR LEAF BLOWERS AT ONE TIME.
UH, UH, I'M SORRY, I I SHOULD JUST CLARIFY FOUR, FOUR LEAF BLOWERS AT ONE TIME.
BUT IF, IF THAT LEAF BLOWER IS ABOVE THE 75 DECIBEL LIMIT, THE POLICE OR WHOEVER THE POLICE AND THE TOWN BOARD DESIGNATE AS AN OFFICER CAN ENFORCE THAT PART, PART OF THE CLAUSE.
WE ALSO NEED TO BE CLEAR THAT YOU'RE SAYING NOW YOU CAN USE THEM, YOU KNOW, ALL SUMMER THEY'RE, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, SOMEBODY'S GOING TO PROPOSE AN AMENDMENT THAT THERE'S STILL BE A BAN DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.
SO IF YOU HAD AN OPINION ABOUT THAT, YOU MIGHT WANNA PUT HER ON THE RECORD ANYWAY, ONE WAY OR THE OTHER RIGHT THERE.
WE, UM, UM, WE, UH, HAD DISCUSSIONS, UM, WITH, UM, PEOPLE FROM THE CONSERVATION
[01:10:01]
ADVISORY COUNCIL AND, UM, TODAY, AND THEY HAVE SUGGESTED, UM, UH, THAT, UM, WE PASS A SEPARATE LAW THAT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY, UH, THIS LAW, UH, THAT WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, NO LEAF BLOWERS, UM, FROM THE BEGINNING OF JULY TO, UH, THE MIDDLE OF, UM, AUGUST WHEN THERE'S NOT A LOT OF LEAVES.UH, AND WE WOULD TEST IT OUT FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR BASICALLY, UM, THE ONE YEAR PERIOD AND THEN SEE IF IT CREATES A LOT OF, UH, YOU KNOW, PROBLEMS OR IF IT WORKS.
BECAUSE A LOT OF, THERE'S BEEN SOME SCIENTIFIC, UH, STUDIES AND MEDIC MEDICAL STUDIES THAT INDICATE THAT THE PARTICLES FROM LEAF BLOWERS COULD CREATE, UM, HEALTH ISSUES.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT.
BUT WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING THAT'S, THAT'S RIGHT.
SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO HOLD OFF ON YOUR COMMENTS FOR WHEN, IF AND WHEN THAT EVER HAPPENS, THAT PUBLIC HEARING.
SO THAT, AND JUST TO EQUATE, I THINK THAT YOU MADE THIS POINT EARLIER WITH US, JOE, THAT CAN YOU SPEAK UP JUST A LITTLE BIT? 10,000 SQUARE FEET EQUALS ABOUT TWO TENTHS OF AN ACRE.
OH, IT'S 0.23, RIGHT? 0.23% OF, SO IT'S, IT'S REALLY, IF YOU ARE, IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, UM, MORE THAN ONE LEAF BLOWER FOR THAT SMALL SPACE, THEN IT, IT EXPONENTIALLY INCREASES THE LEVEL OF DECIBELS.
SO OVER A MUCH LARGER, UM, AREA, IT IS MITIGATED.
AND TO COUNCILMAN SHEEHAN'S POINT, IF THERE IS, UH, ANOTHER LAW TO BE DISCUSSED, IT STILL HAS TO BE DRAFTED AND PRESENTED TO THE TOWN BOARD, AND WE HAVE TO SET PUBLIC NOTICE IN ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING.
SO IT CANNOT BE ADDED TO THIS LAW THAT'S BEING DISCUSSED TONIGHT.
SHOULD THIS BE ENACTED? BECAUSE IF, BECAUSE IF WE DO THAT LAW, WE'RE GOING TO PUT A SUNSET PROVISION AND WE CAN'T PUT A SUN PROVISION IN WHAT WE'RE DISCUSSING TONIGHT BECAUSE IT'S IN ANOTHER CHA IT'S AN, AN EXISTING CHAPTER AND WE WOULD BE SUBSETTING THE ENTIRE CHAPTER.
SUNSET PROVISION MEANS IT'S ONLY IN EFFECT FOR ONE YEAR, AND THEN AFTER THE ONE YEAR ENDS THAT EXPIRES.
SO SIR, THERE WAS A, THERE'S A LIST HERE, THERE, UH, JOSEPH ELLI BEFORE YOU AND LARRY WILSON, AND THEN WAYNE STOPS.
ARE YOU JOSEPH? GOOD EVENING, ELLI.
I'M THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF NEW YORK STATE TURF AND LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION.
AND WHILE WE RECOGNIZE THE SEEMINGLY INEVITABILITY OF FUTURE TRANSITION TO BATTERY OPERATOR BLOWERS, THERE HAS TO BE SOME CONSIDERATION TO TIMING AND DEMANDS PUT UPON OUR INDUSTRY.
THESE EXTREME MANDATES AND RESTRICTIONS WILL FORCE HUGE AND UNREASONABLE INCREASES IN THE COURSE OF DOING BUSINESS FOR OUR INDUSTRY AS WELL AS PROPERTY OWNERS.
THE ALTERNATE BATTERY OPERATED EQUIPMENT HAS NO WAY COME CLOSE TO THE SPEED, EFFICIENCY AND LIMITED TIME REQUIRED DOWN ON THE SITE.
BESIDES THE SHORTAGE OF AVAILABILITY OF THE SET EQUIPMENT, THE COST OF OUR PRESENT EQUIPMENT ADD TO THE FACT THEY DOUBLE AND TRIPLE THE COST OF OUR EXISTING EQUIPMENT NOW.
SO IN OTHER WORDS, A BACKPACK BLOWER COULD COST YOU 500, NOW COST YOU 1500, 2000, 2,500 FOR THE BATTERY OPERATOR.
ONE, YOU DON'T GET NEAR THE EFFICIENCY AND THE BATTERY'S GENERALLY ONLY GOOD FOR 60 MINUTES TO AN HOUR.
HOW DO YOU RECHARGE 'EM? YOU HAVE TO KEEP SIX OR EIGHT OR 10 BATTERIES ON A TRUCK THAT ARE CHARGED.
THE COST IS PROHIBITIVE, NUMBER ONE.
THE THE EXPLOSION DANGER, THE LITHIUM ION RELEASED, IF YOU'VE DROPPED IT, YOU CRACKED YOUR CASINGS OR WHATEVER.
IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.
SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU IS TO CONSIDER JUST THE SPRING AND THE FALL CLEANUPS, WE GASOLINE OPERATED LIKE YOU'RE DOING NOW.
AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, A SUMMER BAN IS OKAY.
YOU COULD USE A LIMITED RESTRICTION WITH THE BATTERY OPERATED EQUIPMENT, BUT THAT, THAT KIND OF MAKES SENSE.
OTHER TOWNS, OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, OTHER CITIES, INCLUDING YONKERS, HAS THAT SAME THING IN EFFECT.
WE HAVE A SUMMER BAND, BUT WE HAVE THE USE OF THE OPERATION OF GAS PEDAL EQUIPMENT, SPRING ROOM FOUR CLEANUPS.
SO THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO GO ON RECORD, I'M SAYING.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
[01:15:01]
LARRY WILSON, CAN I JUST ASK ONE QUESTION? UM, UM, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, SCARSDALE HAS, YOU KNOW, THEY THEY PUT UP A LOT OF, UM, UH, DIGITAL, UH, WE HATE THEM.BECAUSE THEY, THEY, THEY'RE ALSO BANNING DAYS OF OPERATION.
I, I GOTTA SAY, I STATED TO THEM, AND WE'LL SAY TO, WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON ATTORNEYS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
'CAUSE THAT'S A RESTRICTION OF TRADE.
THEY'RE ALLOWING OTHER PEOPLE TO USE THEM AND THEY'RE BANNING DAYS OF USE OF OPERATION.
I MEAN, HOW, HOW DOES THAT FIT INTO PLACE? SO FORGIVE ME FOR BEING SO PASSIONATE ABOUT THAT, BUT THEY'RE REALLY PUTTS,
I'M JUST WONDERING IN TERMS OF ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, UH, HAVE, YOU KNOW, HOW HAS THAT IMPACTED, UM, THEY ARE GIVING SUMMONSES TO THE HOMEOWNER.
THEY'RE GIVING SUMMONSES TO THE OPERATOR AND GIVING SUMMONSES TO THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY.
SO $250 EACH, THAT'S $750 EVERY TIME THEY GET A SUMMONS.
AND AGAIN, YOU CAN'T TAKE AWAY THE, THAT PEOPLE EQUIPMENT FOR THE FALL AND THE SPRING CLEANUPS.
IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED IT.
THAT, THAT DESPERATELY, THEY, THEY FALL INTO DEAF EARS OVER THERE.
I WANNA SEND 'EM A FRUIT BASKET SOON.
AND, AND I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WE ARE NOT BANNING ANY TYPE OF LEAF BLOWER WITH THIS PROPOSED LAW FOR FUTURE.
I APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION.
I JUST WANT IT ON THE RECORD AS WELL.
LARRY WILSON, HONORABLE SUPERVISOR AND BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M A LANDSCAPER FOR 32 YEARS FROM YONKERS.
UH, I AM THE VOLUNTEER, UH, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CHAIR FOR THE NEW YORK STATE, UH, TURIN LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION.
I WAS PRESIDENT IN 97, 98 AND 99.
AND, UM, I'M ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE, UH, NEW YORK GREEN INDUSTRY COUNCIL, WHICH IS A, UH, UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION OF TRADE ASSOCIATIONS, UH, THROUGHOUT NEW YORK STATE FROM MONTAUK POINT AT THE CANADIAN BORDER.
SO, UM, UH, I'VE BEEN HERE FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
I WAS HERE THAT, UH, REALLY RAINY NIGHT WHEN NO, NOBODY CAME.
AND, UH, PERSONALLY I HAVE TO SAY THAT, UH, I, I BELIEVE THAT WE OWE YOU A DEBT OF GRATITUDE.
UH, LAST TIME I WAS HERE, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT BANNING BLOWERS ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS.
SO, UH, I'M VERY PLEASED THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I IMAGINE THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOME DELIBERATION ABOUT THAT.
AND, UH, FOR THOSE THAT, UH, THAT RECOGNIZED THAT IT WAS A BAD IDEA, I COMMEND YOU.
UM, THE SUPERVISOR WILL, UH, ATTEST THAT, UH, WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.
UH, WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS.
UH, WE HAD A DEMONSTRATION HERE, UH, SOME TIME AGO, UH, WITH, UH, GAS POWERED BLOWERS AND, UH, ELECTRIC BLOWERS AND DECIBEL METERS.
AND, UH, UH, SO WE, WE'VE BEEN, UH, WE HAVE A HISTORY OF, UH, YOU KNOW, OF, UH, COMING HERE TO, UH, GREENBURG.
OUR, UH, OUR HEADQUARTERS IS JUST AT ONE PROSPECT STREET.
SO, UM, WE'RE VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN GREENBURG AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO, UH, TO COME AND EXPLAIN, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE, UH, YOU KNOW, CLEANING UP PROPERTIES.
AND, UM, I, I, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN, UH, SOME OF THIS INFORMATION, UH, INTO CONSIDERATION.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE AGREE, UH, BASICALLY WITH THE, UH, WE CAN WORK, I THINK WITH THE, UH, DECIBEL RESTRICTIONS AND, UH, ANY, UH, FURTHERANCE OR ANY, UH, ADDITIONAL, UH, LAWS OR REGULATIONS, UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HOPE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS YOU COULD REACH OUT TO US.
UH, WE'D BE, YOU KNOW, VERY PLEASED TO COME HERE AND, UH, YOU KNOW, AND, UH, GIVE YOU OUR, OUR VIEWS.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN, AND, UH, I HOPE TO TALK TO YOU AGAIN SOON.
BEEN A LANDSCAPER FOR 30 YEARS.
HAVE PLENTY OF HOMEOWNERS THERE THAT ARE HAPPY WITH MY WORK.
LOVE THAT WE COME WITH OUR BLOWERS.
LOVE THAT WE CLEAN UP THEIR PROPERTIES, KEEP THEM GREEN, KEEP THEM SAFE, STICKS, BRANCHES, SLIPPERY CONDITIONS AT HOME.
IT'S ONLY GONNA SAVE THEM FROM HEARTACHE, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE PROPER
[01:20:01]
EQUIPMENT TO DO THE RIGHT JOB.YOU KNOW, ELECTRIC ISN'T THE WAY TO GO, AT LEAST NOT YET.
YOU KNOW, I'M JUST PLEADING THAT WE KEEP IN MIND THAT THE EQUIPMENT WE DO USE WORKS AND PEOPLE ARE HAPPY WITH MY BUSINESS AND THE WAY I DO MY JOB.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE EXTREMES WHERE YOU MIGHT HAVE TOO MANY BLOWERS ON A SITE, AND I GET WHAT YOU'RE DOING.
BUT I THINK THE POLICE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN WE ARE ON SITES THAT MAY BE A NEW HOME, OR, UH, A HOUSE THAT'S BEEN NEGLECTED NEEDS MORE THAN ONE BLOWER.
IT COULD BE, YOU KNOW, 10 FEET OF LEAVES.
YOU KNOW, ONE BLOWER'S NOT GONNA DO IT IN A 10,000 SQUARE FOOT OR WHATEVER YOU'RE SAYING.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF, YOU GOTTA THINK ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHAT YOU'RE GIVING US A A FINE FOR.
UM, I THINK IT HAS TO BE THOUGHT THROUGH.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE THE NEIGHBOR SITTING HOME WATCHING TV IS UPSET BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HEARING THAT NOISE.
AND I GET IT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIKE THE BLOWERS JUST AS MUCH AS ANYBODY ELSE WHEN YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING ELSE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE HOME DURING COVID, YOU KNOW, THAT'S CHANGED.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GETTING BACK OUT THERE.
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA THAT THERE'S BLOWER LAWS.
THEY HEAR US COME, THEY MOVE INTO THE OTHER ROOM.
THEY KNOW THAT THEY'RE GONNA STEP OUT TO A LEAF FREE CLEAN PROPERTY.
AND IT JUST REALLY DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
ALL THIS LAWS GOING ON AND ON ABOUT THE BLOWERS.
I THINK IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH COVID.
I THINK IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH PEOPLE NOT REALLY KNOWING.
AND NOW IT'S, OH, LET'S GET THESE, UH, ELECTRIC BLOWERS IN AND, AND THAT'LL FIX THE PLANET.
THAT'LL FIX WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, THE, THE NOISE.
AND IT'S JUST, IT'S NOT THE FACTS.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL RUNNING MOWERS, AND I JUST TRULY BELIEVE THAT IT'S JUST THIS TREND THAT'S GOING NOWHERE.
AND I THINK YOU'RE GONNA PASS OUT FINES, AND IT'S JUST GONNA MAKE PEOPLE ANGRIER OUT THERE.
I BLOW PROPERTIES, I BLOW FIVE LEAVES ON A PROPERTY.
YOU GOT PEOPLE YELLING AT ME, RUNNING AFTER ME, GET BACK OVER HERE, GET MY LEADS CLEANED UP.
NOW I'M GONNA BE GETTING FINES.
AND IT JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST LET US WORK.
I MEAN, WE'RE BEING DEMONIZED FOR SOMETHING THAT NO ONE ELSE WANTS TO DO.
LET US USE THE EQUIPMENT THAT GETS US IN AND GETS US OUT.
I, UM, I AGREE WITH, LARRY SAYS, I'M A BOARD MEMBER OF NEW YORK STATE TERRA LANDSCAPE AS WELL.
THAT WAS LIKE THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS.
PATSY, PLEASE, UM, REPEAT YOUR LAST NAME AND SPELL IT FOR THE SANOFI.
SANOFI, PLEASE SPELL IT FOR THE STENOGRAPHER SO SHE CAN.
UM, WE'VE BEEN WORKING IN GREENBURG SINCE I WAS A KID WITH MY FATHER.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, LIKE THEY SAID, I MEAN, THE ELECTRIC, UH, IS NOT WORKING.
IT'S, UM, IT'S CAUSING US HARM TOO.
I MEAN, WE'RE TRYING TO CHECK WITH THESE METERS AND EVERYTHING.
THE RADIATION THAT THESE THINGS ARE GIVING OFF, I MEAN, IS GOING TO, IS GONNA HURT ALL OF US.
AND, UM, SPEAKING TO MY CUSTOMERS AND EXPLAINING THEM THE SITUATION, I MEAN, KIND, EVERYBODY CAME UP WITH THE, UM, WITH THE NOTION THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S MY PROPERTY.
IT SHOULD BE MY CHOICE IF I WANT ELECTRIC OR I WANT GAS, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
SO, I MEAN, IT'S A, YOU KNOW, EVERY, IF YOU WANT ELECTRIC ON YOUR PROPERTY, LEAD BY EXAMPLE, HAVE YOU PAY YOUR GUARD OR PAY YOUR LANDSCAPER, PAY THEM, LET THEM USE ELECTRIC.
IF YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? YOU WANT TO SPEND LESS, THEN LET THEM USE THE, UM, THE BLOWERS LIKE WE'VE BEEN USING FOR YEARS.
SANOFI, SANOFI LANDSCAPE CONTRACTING CORP.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR LEAVING THE LEAF BLOWERS IN BECAUSE I GOT A LOT OF CLIENTS HERE IN GREENBURG.
I'VE BEEN SERVICING THEM SINCE I WAS 12.
THEY KNOW THE DAY I'M GOING, THEY LEAVE THEIR GARAGE DOOR OPEN SO I CAN CLEAN OUT THEIR GARAGE.
LET'S FACE IT, A LOT OF MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE HERE.
I KNOW YOU SAID ABOUT SCARSDALE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S GONNA BE IN SCARSDALE.
I MEAN, THEY'RE PAYING A LOT MORE MONEY FOR THE SAME JOB.
[01:25:01]
I THINK WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS RIGHT.WHY SHOULD THEY HAVE TO PAY A PERSON, PAY MORE MONEY FOR A, A, A PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THAT YOU CAN DO THIS WORK IN FIVE MINUTES? WHY SHOULD IT TAKE US 15 MINUTES NOW? UH, JOE SAID ABOUT THE BATTERIES, YOU GOTTA KEEP 6, 7, 8 BATTERIES.
I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY EIGHT BATTERIES.
SO WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO? I HAVE TO KEEP A GENERATOR IN THE BACK OF MY TRUCK, SO AIN'T I PRINTING OUT THE SAME EMISSIONS? AND FOR EVERYBODY THAT LOVES ABOUT THIS, UH, UH, THE ELECTRIC STUFF, THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD ARTICLE FROM TWO KIDS FROM RYE ABOUT HOW IT'S HARMING OUR ENVIRONMENT.
AND IF YOU GUYS NEED A COPY OF IT, I KNOW GINA CAN GET IT FOR YOU, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY ALARMING.
WELL, WHAT'S THE GIST OF IT? WHY IS IT THE WAY THEY'RE MAKING THE BATTERIES, HOW IT'S REALLY HURTING? AND ALL THE TESTS THAT THEY DID IN CALIFORNIA WERE DONE YEARS AGO.
AND I MEAN, IF YOU GO THROUGH IT, YOU COULD READ, READ.
AND I MEAN, IT'S, IT'S A SHAME THAT NOBODY ELSE IS TRYING TO HELP US IN THESE OTHER TOWNS.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE THINKING IS.
MAYBE ONE DAY IF IT WAS SO GOOD, WE WOULD WANT TO, WE WOULD WANNA USE IT.
I DON'T WANNA, BUT I'LL TELL YOU ANOTHER STORY.
I'VE BEEN TELLING, DOING THIS SINCE 12 YEARS OLD.
I'VE OPERATED MORE AND I DO THE WORK.
I DON'T HAVE, NO, YEARS AGO, I USED TO SERVICE COUNCILMAN HERE WHO TOLD ME, OH YEAH, WE, AND THIS WAS LIKE IN THE, IN THE LATE EIGHTIES, HE TOLD ME, OH, WE'RE PUTTING IN THIS, UH, BECAUSE I'M HELPING YOU OUT BECAUSE YOUR BACK IS GONNA GO OUT.
YOU KNOW WHAT? I, I'M STILL TO THIS DAY, COULD BEND DOWN, HAVE NO ASTHMA, HAVE NO ISSUES, NO HEARING PROBLEMS. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU THAT YOU GUYS ARE LEAVING IT, YOU'RE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION BECAUSE YOU NEED TO, IF YOU GUYS DO IMPLEMENT IT, YOU NEED TO EDUCATE THE HOMEOWNER AND TELL 'EM, SAY, LISTEN, YOU'RE GONNA BE PAYING MORE.
AND TO REALLY GIVE THE BIG GIST OF IT, BECAUSE OTHER TOWNS HAVE JUST IMPLEMENTED IT WITHOUT HUSH HUSH.
AND I MEAN, 90% OF MY OTHER TOWNS THAT HAVE IMPLEMENTED THE CUSTOMERS WERE NOT AWARE.
AND YOU GUYS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING THE TAXPAYERS NOT HURTING THE TAXPAYERS.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? SO THANK YOU.
AND I HOPE YOU GUYS KEEP IT THAT WAY.
I HAVE A QUESTION, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
WELL, THAT'S, THAT, THAT'S THE OTHER THING.
A LOT OF, A LOT OF THESE MUNICIPALITIES ARE GOING TO LET YOU KNOW HOW MANY OTHER CALLS I GOT.
AND BECAUSE I DO THE WORK, I DON'T JUST SEND MY GUYS OUT SO THEY KNOW ME.
I TOOK CARE OF ALL MY CLIENTS THAT ARE EXISTING.
I COULD NOT PICK UP ANY NEW CLIENTS.
NOR DID I, DID I TELL YOU THE TRUTH? I, I WANT TO, I WANNA SERVICE THE ONES THAT I HAVE, KEEP 'EM HAPPY.
BUT IT'S A TOUGH SITUATION BECAUSE MOST OF THE FRIENDS OF MINE ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, LET'S GET OUT OF THAT TIME.
I'M NOT ASKING ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS.
ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU DON'T OWN ANY BATTERY OPERATING EQUIPMENT? NO, I DO.
BUT DO I DO? BUT IT'S, IT'S, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT RIGHT.
AND I MEAN, OTHER TOWNS ARE KIND OF JUMPING ON BOARD.
I THINK YOU GUYS ARE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION BECAUSE IT, IT, IT'S NOT THE WAY TO GO.
WE'RE JUST COMING OFF A PANDEMIC.
PEOPLE ARE, I'VE NOTICED THIS YEAR THAT PEOPLE THAT WERE HOME LAST YEAR ARE NOT HOME THIS YEAR.
AND I HAVEN'T GOT ANY COMPLAINTS, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? AND ALL THAT.
THE LABOR, LABOR OR WHERE'S THE WORKERS? NOBODY WANTS TO WORK ANYMORE.
SO IF, IF THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, IF I COULD DO IT IN 10 MINUTES, WHY WOULD I HAVE TO DO IT IN 30 MINUTES THAT THEY MAKE US DO IT? AND MOST OF THESE TOWNS ARE HYPOCRITES, LIKE SCARSDALE, THEY'RE A HYPOCRITE.
YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE THEY CAN DO THEIR BALL FIELDS AND THEIR SCHOOLS AND ALL THAT WITH THE GAS POWERED EQUIPMENT.
AND I GOT VIDEO OF THEM DOING IT IN THE SPRINGTIME, AND WE CAN'T DO IT.
I THINK THAT THERE'S, THERE'S SOME TYPE OF LAW OUT THERE THAT SAYS THAT THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
I MEAN, IT'S, YOU KNOW, SO I WANT TO THANK YOU.
I HAVE BEEN A, WELL, WE'VE HEARD, OH, ROBERT SCHILLER.
WE'VE HEARD FROM THE GARDENERS AND PROFESSIONALS.
IS THAT WHEN YOU CAN HEAR THE, YOU CAN PICK IT UP.
NO, YOU CAN ACTUALLY PICK IT UP.
I HAVE BEEN A GREENBERG RESIDENT SINCE 19 95, 28 YEARS IN
[01:30:01]
THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF GREENBERG.AND I COULD SEE THAT THE GARDENERS ALL SPOKE THERE, REPRESENTATION LANDSCAPERS.
UM, BUT I'M SURPRISED NOT TO SEE MORE HOMEOWNERS HERE.
UM, MY BIGGEST GRIPE IS NOISE.
ALL THE TALK ABOUT BATTERY LEAF BLOWERS.
UM, I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT THE NEED FOR, YOU KNOW, LEAF BLOWERS IN CERTAIN TIMES, LIKE THE SPRING CLEANUP OR THE FALL CLEANUP.
BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED WITH THEIR PROPERTIES AND THEY CAN'T STAND TO HAVE ANY LEAVES AT ALL.
SO THEY COME IN EVERY WEEK, SOMETIMES TWICE A WEEK WITH THE LEAF BLOWERS.
I THINK THAT IS, UM, REALLY EXTREME.
ALSO, THE OTHER DAY HAD A PERSON, AND I WANT TO KNOW FROM YOU, IS THIS ALSO GONNA APPLY TO SAY CHAINSAWS? THIS PERSON HAD AN INDUSTRIAL, UH, SIZE, UH, WOOD CHIPPER, UM, MADE HUGE AMOUNTS OF NOISE.
EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, UM, 50 YARDS FROM MY BEDROOM.
I TEND TO WORK LATE, AND I DON'T NECESSARILY GET UP AT SIX OR SEVEN IN THE MORNING.
I LIKE TO SOMETIMES SLEEP TILL NINE IN THE MORNING.
UM, MY SUGGESTION AND REQUEST WOULD BE TO START AT NINE.
WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE EIGHT? I DON'T KNOW IF THE LANDSCAPERS WOULD OBJECT TO THAT, BUT, AND THEN ON WEEKENDS, WHY NOT 10 INSTEAD OF NINE? UM, I DO APPLAUD THE ONE LEAF BLOWER BECAUSE THEY COME IN WITH MULTIPLE LEAF BLOWERS.
UM, AND AGAIN, THE WOOD CHIPPER WAS REALLY LOUD.
UM, AND I DO LIKE THE IDEA OF BANNING IT, UM, DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS.
UM, BUT LIKE I SAID, I THINK, THINK IT'S, IT'S THE, THE AMOUNT THAT THEY USE, THE LEAF BLOWERS, I DON'T MIND HERE, THERE ONCE, YOU KNOW, ONCE THE SPRING CLEANUP HAPPENS, BUT THEY'RE OUT THERE EVERY WEEK, SOMETIMES TWICE A WEEK, AND THEY COME IN WITH MULTIPLE, AND THEY'RE INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH.
THEY'RE NOT LIKE THE HOMEOWNER TYPE OF LEAF BLOWERS.
UM, NOW QUESTION THE ENFORCEMENT.
HOW IS THIS GOING TO GET ENFORCED? I PUT A CALL INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TODAY, AND I ASKED THEM, DO OFFICERS TRAVEL AROUND WITH DP METERS? THE OFFICER ANSWERED THE PHONE, DIDN'T EVEN KNOW SO MANY TIMES THEY'RE GONNA BE GONE IN A HALF AN HOUR.
BY THE TIME SOMEBODY CALLS AND COMPLAINS, BY THE TIME THE POLICE GET THERE, IT'S, THEY'RE GONNA BE GONE.
IS VIDEOTAPING LOUD FOR EVIDENCE QUESTION TO ANYBODY? NO.
IT WOULD HAVE TO BE MEASURED BY DECIBEL RAIDER BY A POLICE OFFICER.
BUT IF A PERSON COMES IN AND THEY HAVE TWO, THREE LEAF BLOWERS, CAN A, CAN A VIDEO BE TAKEN OF THAT AND THEN BE USED AS ENFORCEMENT? I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
I WOULDN'T BE THE ENFORCING OFFICER.
IT WOULD JUST BE THE DRAFTER OF THE LAW.
THAT'D BE A QUESTION FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SPECIFICALLY.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO BE THERE IN PERSON THEMSELVES TO HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROSECUTE.
SO MY, MY PROBLEM IS, IT'S, IT'S NICE TO MAKE LAWS, BUT HOW IS THIS EVER GONNA GET ENFORCED? I DON'T SEE HOW WELL, THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ASKING, UH, FOR, UM, AN ANNUAL REPORT IN TERMS OF, UM, ENFORCEMENT, BECAUSE MY FEELING IS THAT THIS IS SORT OF A WORK IN, IN PROGRESS RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, A FINAL, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, INITIATIVE.
AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO SORT OF LEARN WHILE WORK AND WHAT'S DOESN'T WORK, WHAT'S PRACTICAL AND WHAT'S NOT PRACTICAL.
ALSO, UM, UH, THE LAW DOES NOT, UH, REQUIRE SOMEBODY TO FILE A COMPLAINT.
SO IF YOU HAVE POLICE ON PATROL AND THEY SIT AND THEY HAVE DECIBEL, YOU KNOW, UH, THE, THE, THE READERS, UH, THEN THEY COULD ENFORCE THE LAW ON THEIR OWN.
OF COURSE, THEY'D HAVE TO BE TRAVELING AROUND WITH THESE MEETINGS.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD, UM, ASK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO, UH, YOU KNOW, TO DO.
AND I DON'T THINK, FRANKLY, WHEN, IF I CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY'RE NOT GONNA TREAT IT AS A PRIORITY.
SO WHAT IS YOUR, WHAT IS YOUR SUGGESTION FOR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY, I DON'T HAVE ONE, BUT IT IS SOMETHING TO BE CONSIDERED.
SO THIS IS THE BEST WE CAN DO AT THE MOMENT.
I I, BUT IF YOU HAVE A SUGGESTION, WE'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE IT.
BUT THAT'S TRUE FOR ANY REGULATION THAT WE PUT INTO.
I ALSO THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WOULD WANT TO DO IS WE'D USE LIKE DIGITAL SIGN BOARDS, UM, TO ADVERTISE WHAT THE LAW IS.
UM, YOU KNOW, THE DIGITAL SIGN BOARDS COULD TELL PE YOU KNOW, I'M TALKING ABOUT THOSE ARE THE, THE MONITORS, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU SEE, YOU KNOW, AROUND, AND I WOULD SAY, UH, GREENBERG NOISE ORDINANCE, YOU
[01:35:01]
KNOW, AND IT WOULD, WE HAVE AN EDUCATION PROCESS THAT WE WOULD'VE TO GO THROUGH.LAWS ARE NOT MADE TO BE BROKEN, ALTHOUGH THAT OFTEN IS THE ATTITUDE LAWS ARE HOPEFULLY RESPECTED AND FOLLOWED.
SO THERE IS A HOME, THERE IS ONUS ON THE HOMEOWNER AND THE USERS TO BE RESPECTFUL OF THE LAW, BECAUSE WE CAN'T HIRE, WE CAN'T BE A POLICE STATE TO ENFORCE EVERY LAW ALL THE TIME THAT IS ON THE BOOKS.
UM, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO APPROACH THE FACT THAT WE SHOULD BE RESPECTING THE LAWS.
WELL, THAT'S WHY I RATHER THAN BREAKING VIDEOTAPE IF, IF THEY HAVE THREE LEAF BLOWERS OUT THERE.
WELL, RATHER THAN BE PUNITIVE THOUGH, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HOPE THAT IF A LAW'S IN PLACE, PEOPLE WOULD RESPECT THE LAW.
AND WAS THERE TALK ABOUT RAISING IT TO, TO 9:00 AM INSTEAD OF 8:00 AM HAVE I EVER THERE? THERE WAS NOT ANY DISCUSSION OF THAT.
AND RESPECTFULLY THAT YOU'RE FIVE MINUTES ARE UP.
AND I, I'D LIKE TO ASK, I WANNA GET THAT ON THE RECORD.
IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS ON THE SUBJECT, NONE.
CLERK, ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? I HAVE NO FURTHER SPEAKERS, THEN I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE CLOSE THE HEARING AND LEAVE THE RECORD OPEN FOR SEVEN DAYS.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.
CAN YOU SEND ME THAT ARTICLE? YES.
AND, UM, THE POSITION, I'LL, IT'LL BE PART OF THE RECORD.
SO JOE, WE SHOULD OPEN UP THE NEXT ONE AND THEN PUT ON THE RECORD THAT IT'S, IT'S NO LONGER GOING TO BE APPLICABLE.
[ To consider a Local Law creating a new Chapter 374 in the Code of the Town of Greenburgh entitled "Leaf Blowers; Regulation of Yard and Leaf Blowers" (Note: No Chapter 374 Local Law wording is posted because relevant issues are addressed in the proposed Local Law amending Chapter 380, above. Comments are welcome regarding the merger.) ]
I'D LIKE TO MOVE OPEN TO MOVE THAT WE OPEN UP, UH, THE SECOND HERRING AND IT'S NO LONGER APPLICABLE TO CONSIDER A LOCAL LAW CREATING A, A NEW CHAPTER 3 74 IN THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF GREENBERG ENTITLED LEAF BLOWERS REGULATION OF YARD AND LEAK BLOWERS.UM, SO WHAT IS THAT? IF IT'S NO LONGER APPLICABLE, WE JUST PUT IT ON HOLD OR TABLE OR WHATEVER.
I THINK WE JUST CLOSE THE RECORD.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE HOW WE CLOSE THE RECORD.
AND FINALLY, CONSIDER A LOCAL LAW AMENDING CHAPTER A HUNDRED OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF GREENBERG ENTITLED BUILDING FIVE.
I'M SORRY, PAUL, BUT COULD YOU INSERT RIGHT BEFORE WE VOTED? UH, THE REASON THIS ON THE AGENDA, IT SAYS CAN'T HEAR, CAN'T HEAR YOU.
COULD YOU, COULD YOU INSERT THE FOLLOWING PRIOR TO AS AFTER WE CLOSE IT? UH, NO.
CHAPTER 3 74, LOCAL, UH, LAW WORDING, UH, HAS BEEN POSTED OR IS UNDER CONSIDERATION BECAUSE RELEVANT ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED IN THE PROPOSED LOCAL LAW.
AMENDING CHAPTER THREE 80 ABOVE OR JUST THREE 80.
SO PUT THAT IN BEFORE YOU VOTE.
[ To consider a Local Law amending Chapter 100 of the Code of the Town of Greenburgh entitled "Building, Fire and Plumbing," as it relates to Fire Alarm Systems and Fuel Piping Systems]
OKAY.OPENING UP A, THE THIRD AND FINAL HEARING, UH, TO CONSIDER A LOCAL LAW AMENDING CHAPTER A HUNDRED OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG ENTITLED BUILDING FIRE AND PLUMBING AS IT, UH, RELATES TO FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS AND FUEL PIPING SYSTEMS. I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE OPEN UP THAT HEARING.
JOE, ARE YOU DOING THAT ONE? I AM.
I HAVE A VERY BRIEF
I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE'S HERE TO SPEAK ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 100, BUT BUILDING INSPECTOR MODO AND DEPUTY BUILDING INSPECTOR GARRITY HAVE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE DEFINITION OF SMOKE ALARM HAS BEEN MISSING FROM OUR CODE.
AND IT'S NECESSARY TO INCLUDE THAT DEFINITION.
AND THAT ALSO THERE SHOULD BE AN AMENDMENT TO THE TYPE OF, UH, PIPING THAT IS ALLOWED.
AND THE, THE CONS, THE, UM, CHANGE WOULD BE THAT ALL SUCH PIPING SHALL BE A MINIMUM THICKNESS OF THREADED, FLANGED, BRAISED, OR WELDED SCHEDULE, 40 OR GREATER.
VERY TECHNICAL TERMS THAT AN ATTORNEY DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT
BUT I HAVE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY OUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT THAT THESE ARE ESSENTIAL, AND THEY'VE ASKED THAT WE DRAFT THIS AND ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO SPEAK ON IT, SHOULD THERE BE ANY CONCERNS WITH THOSE PROPOSED CHANGES.
AND THOSE TECHNICAL CHANGES ARE UP ON THE WEBSITE? THAT IS CORRECT.
SO IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ANYONE AT ALL ON THIS
[01:40:02]
YOU CAN SEE EVERYBODY'S LINING UP.NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS HEARING.
CLOSE THE HEARING AND LEAVE THE RECORD OPEN FOR SEVEN DAYS.
[ PUBLIC COMMENT Advance signup is required. A continuous five minute limit per speaker will be strictly enforced. The clock will start when a speaker begins speaking and will not be stopped for any reason until the speaker is finished or five minutes has elapsed, whichever occurs first. Interruptions by Town Board members, the Town Clerk or the public will not be permitted. If a speaker insists on an immediate answer, should an answer be provided, it shall be part of the speaker's five minute allocation and not be interrupted. There will not be a second five minute round. Any written comments sent to PublicComment@GreenburghNY.com by 6 PM the day of the hearing will be forwarded to all Town Board members in advance of the meeting for their consideration. Written comments will not be read at the meeting unless the original author is present to do so.]
NOW WE GO TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AND, UM, WE HAVE A TRADITION THAT ONLY PEOPLE ON THIS SIDE COULD SPEAK JUST TODAY,SO, UM, FOR THE RECORD, THERE'S NO ONE SITTING ON THE SIDE.
ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK TODAY? YES.
MY WORDS WON'T BE RECORDED BY YOU,
MY NAME IS MARY BETH SULLIVAN, AND I LIVE IN WHITE PLAINS.
THIS IS MY FIRST TIME BEFORE YOU.
I'M PART OF A GROUP OF CITIZENS FROM ALL OVER NEW YORK STATE WHO HAVE OBTAINED THE NEW YORK STATE VOTER REGISTRATION ROLE.
WE HAVE THAT STATE ROLE ON A SERVER, WHICH ENABLES US TO SEARCH IT IN ANY WAY WE WANT.
THE NEW YORK STATE VOTER REGISTRATION RULE IS LIKE A GIANT EXCEL SPREADSHEET GIANT.
WE FIRST OBTAINED THE ROLE FROM THE STATE ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO.
THROUGH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LAW, WE HAVE CONTINUED TO REQUEST ADDITIONAL FULL COPIES OF IT AT DIFFERENT TIME INTERVALS.
SO WE HAVE DIFFERENT BUT RECENT VERSIONS OF IT ON OUR SERVER.
THERE ARE 21 MILLION VOTER REGISTRATION ENTRIES IN THE NEW YORK STATE VOTER ROLL.
ACCORDING TO THE US CENSUS, THERE ARE 13.7 MILLION VOTING AGE RESIDENTS IN NEW YORK STATE.
13.7 MILLION IS ALMOST A PERFECT TWO THIRDS OF 21 MILLION VOTER REC VOTER REGISTRATIONS WE RECEIVED FROM NEW YORK STATE.
ACCORDING TO NEW YORK STATE LAW, THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS ONLY THE BASKET INTO WHICH ALL OF THE COUNTY VOTER ROLLS ARE HELD.
AND AGAIN, ACCORDING TO NEW YORK STATE LAW, ALL VOTER REGISTRATION MAINTENANCE IS DONE AT THE COUNTY LEVEL.
NEW YORK STATE CANNOT HAVE INDEPENDENT LISTS, NOR CAN THEY ADJUST A VOTER RECORD IN ANY WAY.
THE NEW YORK STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS ONLY THE BASKET AND THE COUNTY VOTER ROLLS ARE THE FRUIT AND THE FRUIT MUST REMAIN FRESH.
THERE WERE 2000 OF US FROM ALL OVER NEW YORK STATE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT OUR COUNTY AND STATE VOTER REGISTRATION ROLES.
WE ARE FARMERS OFFICE WORKERS, TEACHERS STAY-AT-HOME MOMS, DADS AND RETIREES.
WE ARE FROM MONTAUK, BUFFALO AND LAKE PLACID.
SOME OF US ARE PROGRAMMERS WHO SEARCH THE DATABASE.
SOME ANALYZE THOSE SEARCH RESULTS STILL OTHERS KNOCK ON DOORS AND ASK THE PERSON ANSWERING THE DOOR, IF SO AND SO VOTER LIVES AT THIS ADDRESS.
WE WE CANVAS THE PHYSICAL LOCATION OF THE RESIDENCE LISTED TO LEARN IF A VOTER RECORD IS ACCURATE.
AS THE TOWN OF GREENBERG OFFERS ME THIS WINDOW TO PRESENT OUR FINDINGS, I'LL BE PRESENTING WHAT WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT THE ENTIRE VOTER REGISTRATION ENVIRONMENT.
I'LL GIVE YOU NUMBERS WE FOUND OF PURGED VOTERS.
VOTER REGISTRATIONS WITH BLANK RESIDENCE ADDRESSES VOTER ENTRIES WHICH VOTE, WHO ARE OLDER THAN THE OLDEST PERSON KNOWN ALIVE.
I'LL BE PRESENTING THE DATA WE HAVE FOUND ABOUT VARIOUS FIELDS WHICH ARE PART OF AN INDIVIDUAL VOTER'S REGISTRATION.
AN EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE REGISTRATION DATE FIELD, AS WELL AS LAST VOTED DATE.
THE VOTER ROLE IS CALLED NICE VOTER N Y SS VOTER.
THE DATABASE IS THE OFFICIAL VOTER ROLE FOR THE STATE OF NEW YORK UNDER FEDERAL LAW.
FOR THE RESEARCH WE USED THE DATA OBTAINED THROUGH THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LAW FROM NEW YORK STATE DIRECTLY.
WE DIDN'T DOWNLOAD SPREADSHEETS FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE.
THIS IS MY INTRODUCTION TO YOU.
[01:45:02]
GOD WILLING, I WILL RETURN TO YOUR MEETINGS IN FUTURE WEEKS TO DELIVER THE INFORMATION I'VE DESCRIBED IN THE PAST FEW MOMENTS.IF YOU HAVE ANY EARLY QUESTIONS, I'LL DO MY BEST TO ANSWER.
IT'S, AND IS, IS THERE, UM, IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE ASKING THE TOWN TO DO, OR YOU'RE JUST DOING THIS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES? IN ORDER FOR THE NEW YORK ASSEMBLY TO CONSIDER AUDITING THE VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESS, THEY HAVE TO RECEIVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RESOLUTIONS FROM MUNICIPALITIES.
AND SO, THROUGH THE PROCESS OF EDUCATING WITH THIS DATA THAT I'M DESCRIBING, I HOPE TO ENCOURAGE YOU, YOUR TOWN BOARD, TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THAT PROCESS.
COULD YOU MAYBE EMAIL US SORT OF A SUMMARY OF YOUR FINDINGS? BECAUSE THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO DIGEST EVERYTHING IF YOU'D LIKE ME TO I SURE WILL, BUT I THINK IT'S, I HAVE ALL YOUR EMAIL ADDRESSES.
BUT I, BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT YOU COME BACK AND PRESENT IT VERBALLY SO THAT OTHERS CAN SEE IT, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE WHO READ OUR EMAILS, WHICH IS US.
SO YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO EMAIL YOU MY NEXT PRESENTATION.
AND THEN, AND THEN I CAN FOLLOW UP AND PUT IT IN THE RECORD AND THEN YOU CAN COME, YOU CAN COME TO IT, BUT THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO GET A CERTAIN NUMBER OF, UH, YOU KNOW, RESOLUTIONS.
I THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE LEGISLATURE ON THEIR OWN, IF, IF YOU'RE PROVIDING THEM WITH FACTS AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE NEED AN AUDIT, UM, AND, AND YOU REACH OUT TO THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, UM, AND HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, WHY AN AUDIT YOU FEEL AND WHAT YOU FEEL IS, YOU KNOW, APPROPRIATE.
UM, IF THE FACTS SPEAK FOR ITSELF, THE LEGISLATURE MAY, UM, MAY, YOU KNOW, WANT TO, WANT TO DO IT.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTS TO HAVE HONEST AND FEAR, YOU KNOW, ELECTIONS.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT, DO YOU AGREE? I'M SURE THAT THE, THE, UM, STATE LEGISLATORS RECEIVE A LOT OF REQUESTS.
SO IF THE POWER OF, UM, RESOLUTION WILL CERTAINLY SUPPORT WHAT THE INTENT IS, AND IT CAN, IT WILL BE MUCH MORE BENEFICIAL TO HAVE FOR HONEST AND FAIR ELECTIONS THERE OF, THERE ARE PARTS OF OUR VOLUNTEER GROUP, WE'RE AN ALL VOLUNTEER GROUP, AND THERE ARE PARTS OF OUR GROUP THAT ARE DOING THIS ALL OVER NEW YORK STATE.
BUT I I, I WAS IN SUPPORT OF THANK YOU RESOLUTIONS RATHER THAN JUST HAVING SOMETHING RISES TO THE TOP JUST BECAUSE IT'S EVIDENT.
BUT I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
IF YOU GET A CERTAIN NUMBER, THEY HAVE TO DO IT.
IS THAT CORRECT? I DON'T HAVE EXPERTISE IN THAT, AND I HAVEN'T LOOKED INTO THAT SPECIFICALLY.
BUT OUR GROUPS, UH, HAVE ORGANIZED THIS STRUCTURE TO INFORM AND EDUCATE AND HOPE TO GET THE RESOLUTION PROCESS UP TO THE STATE ASSEMBLY.
AND I BELIEVE, AND I DON'T KNOW THIS MYSELF, BUT I BELIEVE THAT AT SOME POINT IF THEY, IF THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE, THE ASSEMBLY, UH, RECEIVES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RESOLUTIONS FROM VARIOUS MUNICIPAL ENTITIES SUCH AS YOURSELF, THEN THEY HAVE TO PUT IT ON THEIR AGENDA TO AT LEAST CONSIDER AND HEAR ARGUMENTS.
WELL, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW, BECAUSE YEAH, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
I'LL GET THAT INFORMATION FOR MY NEXT VISIT.
CAN I MAKE A SUGGESTION? SURE.
THERE'S A WESTCHESTER MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION, AND THAT INCLUDES MEMBERS, REPRESENTATIVES OF ALL THE MUNICIPALITIES.
MY FAILING IS, YOU MIGHT WANT HER, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO WRITE TO THEM, ASK THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO MEET WITH THE MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS.
MAYBE YOU COULD HIGHLIGHT, YOU KNOW, IN, YOU KNOW, IN WRITING WHY YOU THINK AN AUDIT IS NECESSARY.
THEN WE COULD HEAR FROM THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, AND THEN THEY COULD HIGHLIGHT, UM, WHY, YOU KNOW, ARE THEY AUDITING? WHAT, WHAT TYPE OF CONTROLS ARE THEY DOING? AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND MY FEELING IS THAT THAT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, IN OTHER WAY BECAUSE WE COULD GET THE COMMISSIONERS OF ELECTION DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AT THE SAME TIME, REVIEW, YOU KNOW, THE, THE INFORMATION THAT YOU GIVE AND THEN FOLLOW UP ON IT.
UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORTIVE, UH, UH, COMMENTS.
AND I'LL CONSIDER THAT, UM, WHAT WE'VE LEARNED, AND I, I KNOW I'M OVER, BUT WHAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT THERE ARE THINGS GOING ON AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT THE COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE NO IDEA IS GOING ON.
SO WE KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE'VE STUDIED THIS, WE KIND OF KNOW MORE THAN THEY DO IF YOU PUT THIS IN WRITING SINCE YOU ARE BEYOND YOUR FIVE.
[01:50:01]
DO WANT TO ASK, WHAT IS, WHAT WILL YOU DO AT THE ULTIMATE LIST? IS THAT GOING TO BE MADE OF? WHAT WILL I DO? I'M SORRY.THE ULTIMATE LIST THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER, IS THAT GOING TO BE GIVEN OUT TO THE MUNICIPALITIES? TAKE A LOOK AT OR THE ULTIMATE LIST? I DIDN'T HEAR THE YOUR WORDS.
YOU'RE GOING TO COMPILE ALL THE DATA THAT YOU GET.
WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT LIST? IS THAT GONNA BE SOLD? IS THAT GONNA BE GIVEN OUT? IS IT PUBLICLY AVAILABLE? WELL, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE ARE, WE'RE STARTING OUR STATEWIDE EDUCATION PROCESS AND THERE'S, UH, THERE'S RES RESOLUTIONS AND PETITIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE.
AND THERE ARE OTHER MEMBERS WHO ARE PART OF MY GROUPS WHO ARE GOING TO SUPERMARKET PARKING LOTS AND THEY HAVE A TABLE SIGN MY PETITION, THAT KIND OF THING.
AND IF, IF WHEN YOU SEND US INFORMATION, PLEASE INCLUDE THE FORMAT OF THE RESOLUTION AS YOU ARE ENVISIONING IT, RIGHT? SURE.
SHE IS A WOMAN WHO LIVES IN TARRYTOWN, ALLE DANGLER, WHO WAS A FORMER VILLAGE TRUSTEE AND, UH, DUFFS FERRY.
AND SHE BASICALLY HAS HAD CONCERNS, UM, OVER THE YEARS ABOUT THE, UH, THE MACHINES THAT THEY USE.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, AND YOU MAY WANNA SPEAK TO HER ALSO.
WHAT WAS THAT NAME? DIFFERENT GUE.
IT'S A DIFFERENT, THAT'S A DIFFERENT, NO, THAT'S APPLES AND ORANGES.
SHE, SHE MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS ISSUE ALSO.
COULD YOU PLEASE COME OVER? I'D LIKE YOUR EMAIL.
YOU WANNA CALL NEXT PERSON UP? I'M THE COUNTER IN THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW WHERE THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE UPDATED INFORMATION.
WHAT'S YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS? WHO, WHO'S NEXT? YEAH, COME ON UP.
WHY DON'T YOU COME ON? WHY DON'T, DON'T COME UP.
IT'S JUST BASICALLY A LITTLE COMPLAINT THAT MAYBE YOU GUYS CAN DO.
UM, I'VE BEEN COMING TO A BOARD MEETINGS BEFORE AND NOW STARTED COMING BACK AND THESE SEATS ARE TERRIBLE.
UM, I GOT A LOT OF CUSHION BACK HERE,
AND THESE ARE THE SAME CHAIRS THAT WERE HERE WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
SO THESE CHAIRS NEED TO BE CHANGED OR Y'ALL NEED TO DO SOME MORE CUSHION OR DO SOMETHING.
THAT'S MY, THAT'S ALL MY SUGGESTION.
BECAUSE YOU SIT HERE FOR A WHILE.
I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 7 30, 7 O'CLOCK.
OOH, I AND I NEED TO GET UP AND WALK AROUND, SO, THANK YOU.
TRY THESE OUT BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE REGULARS OR USED TO BE REGULARS, THEY WOULD SIT IN THESE TYPES OF SEATS INSTEAD OF THOSE.
BUT, BUT, BUT YOUR, YOUR POINT IS TAKEN.
ELSE UP TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
ARE YOU SPEAKING? ANDREA, ARE YOU SPEAKING FOR PUBLIC COMMENT? JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE NOBODY'S RAISED THEIR HAND ON THIS.
NO ONE HAS COME TO SIGN WITH TOWN CLERK TO SPEAK SEATS.
OKAY, SO NEXT WE HAVE, UM, THE RESOLUTIONS, UH, TB ONE, UM, AUTHORIZING THE RETENTION OF C G R TO ANALYZE POTENTIAL IMPACT.
WE'RE GOING BE HOLDING THAT OVER.
[ BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Re-appointment of John Paul Sunkavalli to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, for a term to expire December 31, 2023]
THE REAPPOINTMENT OF JOHN PAUL REAPPOINTMENT OF JOHN PAUL SANKA VALLEY TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE DECEMBER 31ST, 2023.I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.
RETENTION RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TO CONTINUE.
PAUL, WOULD YOU GO TO THE DECISION SECTION? DECISION OF AT THE BEGINNING? YEAH, THE BEGINNING.
IT'S TO CONSIDER IT'S, NO, IT'S THE SECOND ONE.
[ To consider an agreement between the Town of Greenburgh and the Village of Elmsford to provide Fire Protection Services to residents of the North Elmsford Fire Protection District, for the year 2023, for an amount not to exceed $837,414.13]
OH.TO CONSIDER AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF GREENBERG AND THE VILLAGE OF ELMER TO PROVIDE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES TO RESIDENTS OF THE NORTH ELMER FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT FOR THE YEAR 2023 FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO, UH, EXCEED 600 830 $7,414 AND 13 CENTS.
AND THEN THE NEXT ONE'S TB THREE.
[ To consider an agreement between the Town of Greenburgh and the Village of Elmsford to provide Fire Protection Services to residents of the West Elmsford Fire Protection District, for the year 2023, for an amount not to exceed $272,324.96]
UH, THREE TO CONSIDER AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AND THE VILLAGE OF ELMSFORD TO PROVIDE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES TO RESIDENTS OF THE WEST ELMSFORD FIRE PROTECTION, UH, DISTRICT FOR THE YEAR 2023 FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 272,324.I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR.
THEY JUST, THEY GET CARRIED OVER TO THE OTHER PAGE.
THE, UH, TOWN CLERK'S AGENDA DOES NOT HAVE A TB THREE.
SO IF YOU GO TO DECISIONS, SO IS THERE, IF YOU GO TO DECISION IS TB THREE ON YOUR AGENDA GO TO DECISIONS?
[01:55:01]
I'M LOOKING AT DECISIONS RIGHT HERE.SO TOWN SUPERVISOR FINER, YOU JUST APPROVED TB THREE.
YOU MOVED AND WHO SECOND? I'M SORRY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT LABELED.
TB TWO AND I SECONDED TB THREE.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TECH ARI.
WE ARE, WE IS A T ONE BEING A T ONE IS STILL ON FOR TONIGHT, RIGHT? YEAH, WHY NOT? YEAH, NO I, I THINK WE WERE PASSING, I THINK WE WERE HOLDING OVER TB ONE TB, CORRECT? TB ONE WE HELD OVER A T ONE IS STILL ON RESOLUTION
[ AT 1 - 04/26/2023 Resolution authorizing the continued retention of Lewis & Greer P.C. as special counsel for tax certiorari matters for additional $25,000, $100,000 total]
AUTHORIZING CONTINUED RETENTION OF LEWIS AND GREER, UH, AS SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR TAX CARY MATTERS FOR ADDITIONAL 25,000 A HUNDRED THOUSAND TOTAL.I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.
[ AT 2 - 4/26/2023 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner JB Realty Enterprises LLC for property located at 21 North Central Avenue. The Town’s share of the refund is $280±; the County’s share is $1,968±; the Saw Mill Valley Sewer District’s share is $338±; the Tarrytown Union Free School District’s share is $13,933±. Refunds from all sources total $16,519±.]
CARY SETTLEMENT PETITIONER JB REALTY ENTERPRISES FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 21 NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE TOTAL SOURCE, UH, REFUNDS FROM WALL SOURCES 16,519.I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.
[ AT 3 - 4/26/2023 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Lake Street Construction for property located at 68 Lake Avenue. The Town’s share of the refund is $664±; the County’s share is $5,169±; the Saw Mill Valley Sewer District’s share is $740±; the Tarrytown Union Free School District’s share is $32,191±. Refunds from all sources total $38,764±.]
AUTHORIZING TAX, ARY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER LAKE STREET CONSTRUCTION FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 68 LAKE AVENUE REFUNDS FROM WALL SOURCES TOTAL 38,764.[ AT 4 - 4/26/2023 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Terence Lennox for property located at 19 Mechanics Avenue. The Town’s share of the refund is $121±; the County’s share is $901±; the Saw Mill Valley Sewer District’s share is $128±; the Tarrytown Union Free School District’s share is $5,723±. Refunds from all sources total $6,873±.]
AUTHORIZING TAX TERTIARY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER TERRANCE LENNOX FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 19 MECHANICS AVENUE, UH, RE, UH, REFUNDS FROM ALL SOURCES 6,873.[ AT 5 - 4/26/2023 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Gerardo Colonna and Mark Colonna for property located at 13 Baylis Court. The Town’s share of the refund is $473±; the County’s share is $3,496±; the Saw Mill Valley Sewer District’s share is $512±; the Tarrytown Union Free School District’s share is $22,479±. Refunds from all sources total $26,960±. ]
AUTHORIZING TECH TERTIARY, UM, SETTLEMENT, UM, WITH, UM, PETITIONER GERARDO KELOWNA AND MARK KELOWNA, UH, REFUNDS FROM WALLER, UH, SOURCES TOTAL 26 9 60.I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND ON FAVOR, AYE AYE.
[ AT 6 - 4/26/2023 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner E.M. Coco for property located at 39-51 North Broadway. The Town’s share of the refund is $2,855±; the County’s share is $20,390±; the Saw Mill Valley Sewer District’s share is $3,204±; the Tarrytown Union Free School District’s share is $139,524±. Refunds from all sources total $165,973±.]
AUTHORIZING TECH TERTIARY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER EM COCO FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 39 51 NORTH BROADWAY REFUNDS FROM WALL SOURCES.UM, TOTAL 1 65 9 7 3 I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR.
[ AT 7 - 4/26/2023 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Spirit Properties, LLC for property located at 55 South Broadway. The Town’s share of the refund is $494±; the County’s share is $3,589±; the Saw Mill Valley Sewer District’s share is $549±; the Tarrytown Union Free School District’s share is $23,745±. Refunds from all sources total $28,378±.]
AUTHORIZING TAX TERTIARY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER SPIRIT PROPERTIES, UM, REFUNDS FROM WALL SOURCES TOTAL 28,378.[ CL 1 - 4/26/2023 Resolution scheduling a public hearing for Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 7:30 pm, to consider an application by the Town Building Inspector for an order from the Town Board to remove unsafe structures located at 22 Tomahawk Drive at the property owner’s expense]
SCHEDULING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR WEDNESDAY MAY 10TH AT 7:30 PM TO CONSIDER AN APPLICATION BY THE TOWN BUILDING INSPECTOR FOR AN ORDER FROM THE TOWN BOARD TO REMOVE UNSAFE STRUCTURES LOCATED AT 22 TOMAHAWK.UM, DRIVE FROM, UM, PROPERTY OWNER'S EXPENSE AT THE PROPERTY OWNER AT THE PROPERTY.
THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU SAID SECOND.
SO AT THE PROPERTY? YEAH, I THOUGHT I SAID YOU DIDN'T SAY IT AT FAVOR.
YEAH, WELL NO ONE, YOU HAVE TO MOVE IT.
DID SOMEONE SECOND? I'D LIKE TO MOVE IT A SECOND.
RESOLUTION AMENDING PRIOR CONDITION OF APPROVAL RELATED TO A REQUEST BY THE WILDWOOD CONDOMINIUM.
ARE WE HOLDING THAT OVER? OKAY.
[ CD 2 - 4/26/2023 Resolution proclaiming April 28, 2023 as Arbor Day in the Town of Greenburgh]
RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL 28TH AS ARBOR DAY IN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.
[ CD 3 - 4/26/2023 Resolution of the Town Board of the Town of Greenburgh (1) declaring intent to be Lead Agency for the purposes of SEQRA review for the amended site plan and related actions of Bocada Jeep Dealership located at 380 Saw Mill River Road (P.O. Elmsford, NY); and (2) referring the amended site plan application to the Planning Board for review and recommendation]
BOARD OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG DECLARING INTEND TO BE LEAD AGENCY FOR THE PURPOSES OF SEEKER REVIEW FOR AN AMENDED SITE PLAN AND RELATED ACTIONS.UH, BOADA JEEP DEALERSHIP LOCATED AT THREE 80, UM, SOMIL RIVER ROAD, UH, AND REFERRING THE AMENDED SITE PLAN APPLICATION TO THE PLANNING BOARD, UH, FOR REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION.
[ CD 4 - 4/26/2023 Resolution authorizing an additional committee member, Joseph,Gojka, to be appointed to the Sustainability and Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee]
UH, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER JOSEPH SCOT TO BE APPOINTED TO THE SUSTAINABILITY AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.
[ CO 1 - 4/26/2023 Resolution authorizing fiscal year 2023 budget transfer]
AYE.RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FISCAL YEAR 2023.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.
[ CO 2 - 4/26/2023 Resolution approving a budget amendment to the Risk Retention Fund for fiscal year 2023 ]
A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE RISK RETENTION FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023.[ PR 1 - 4/26/2023 Resolution authorizing award to lowest responsible bidder to provide bus transportation for 2023 Summer Camps, including Camps Rainbow, Kidco, Good Times, Star, Victory and TDYCC, at a cost not to exceed $379,969]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AWARD TO LOIS RESPONSIBLE LITTER TO PROVIDE BUS TRANSPORTATION FOR 2023, UH, SUMMER CAMPS, INCLUDING CAMP RAINBOW KITCO, GOOD TIMES STAR VICTORY AND T D Y C C AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED 3 79 9 69.I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.
[ PW 1 - 4/26/2023 Resolution authorizing a professional services agreement with McKim & Creed, Inc., to perform a comprehensive system-wide water leak detection survey for the Greenburgh Consolidated Water District No. 1 for an amount not to exceed $40,000.00]
AUTHORIZING PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH MCKIMM AND CREED TO PERFORM A COMPREHENSIVE, UM, SYSTEM-WIDE WATER LEAK DETENTION SURVEY FOR THE GREENBERG CONSOLIDATED WATER[02:00:01]
DISTRICT.NUMBER ONE FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $40,000.
[ PW 2 - 4/26/2023 Resolution awarding quotation for self-leveling sewer camera head and cable to Alliance Technology, L.L.C., the lowest quotation, for an amount not to exceed $8,297 ]
RESOLUTION AWARDING QUOTATION FOR SELF-LEVELING SEWER CAMERA, HEAD AND CABLE TO ALLIANCE TECHNOLOGY.THE LOWEST, UH, QUOTATION FOR AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 8,297.
BEFORE YOU WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.
JUST BEFORE YOU CLOSE, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE MY VOTE GETS ON THE RECORD FOR THE REAPPOINTMENT OF JOHN ELLI TO PARKS OR RECREATION FOR THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR A TERM NOT TO THAT TO EXPIRE.
WHAT IS THAT VOTE I SAID THAT I'M VOTING FOR? TO APPOINT HIM? YEAH.
WELL IT'LL BE SO I DON'T THINK PW TWO GOT A SECOND.
YEAH, THE VERY LAST THING WE DID.
I DON'T THINK IT GOT A MOTION.
I THINK I'M GONNA, AS A RESULT OF YOUR VERY CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTION ABOUT THE CHAIRS, I'M GONNA POST SOME THINGS ON LIKE, UM, FACEBOOK AND NEXT DOOR.
UH, SOMETIMES THERE'S LIKE OFFICES THAT ARE GOING, UH, OUT AND THEY HAVE FURNITURE.
AND I'M GONNA MENTION THAT, UH, THE LACK OF COMFORTABLE CHAIRS IS A RE HAS CAUSED HALF OF THE AUDIENCE NOT TO BE HERE.
MAYBE IF WE HAD MORE LOOK AT THAT.
THIS IS, THIS HIGHLIGHTS WHAT THE, WHAT YOU SAID.
SO I'M GONNA SEE IF I COULD FIND SOME COMFORTABLE CHAIRS.
BEFORE YOU CLOSE PAUL, CAN WE GO BACK TO PR ONE AND AMEND THIS TO INCLUDE THE GREENBERG TOWN HALL SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM SO THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TO GO OUT TO PRIVATE CONTRACTORS FOR TRANSPORTATION FOR THE STUDENTS WHO ARE HERE AND WHO GO TO VISIT VARIOUS, UM, SITES IN GREENBURG? YEAH, WE'D HAVE, WE'D HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE MONEY IS AND WE'D HAVE TO CHANGE THE CONTRACT AS WELL AND, AND JANE'S THE CONTRACT.
SO, SO HOW, HOW WOULD THIS BE WORDED IN ORDER TO INCLUDE THE INTERNS WHO ARE HERE AT GREENBURG TOWN HALL? WE HAVE HOW MANY INTERNS DO WE HAVE SO FAR? WE HAVE A LOT.
THIS IS LIKE EVEN MORE THAN LAST YEAR, I THINK.
WELL, UH, I'M JUST, I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THE TRANSPORTATION ISSUE AT THIS POINT.
SO HOW CAN THAT BE ADDRESSED? UM, TO ADD THEM TO PR ONE? WELL, THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
SO WE COULD TALK ABOUT PUTTING IT ON FOR ANOTHER MEETING.
SO THEN WE, SO WE NEED TO KNOW THE, SHOULD WE HOLD OVER THAT? UH, AND THEN WE COULD, WE VOTED FOR IT.
WE'RE ABOUT TO CLOSE THE MEETING.
CAN IT BE AMENDED? WE GOTTA GET THE COSTS.
YOU GOTTA GET THE COSTS AND EVERYTHING.
SO COULD WE, COULD WE WE THAT I'M JUST, I'M JUST SORT OF WONDERING THERE.
I I JUST, I JUST WANT, YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WHEN WE, WHEN WE HAD A BUS TRANSPORTATION ISSUE AND WE HAD TO GO OUTSIDE AND CONTRACT WITH AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR TO GET TRANSPORTATION FOR THE STUDENTS WHO WERE IN THE PROGRAM, UM, UH, THAT WAS HEAVILY CRITICIZED, UH, IN THE COURT.
SO, SO IT'S, IT'S, THE POINT IS NOT ABOUT WHAT IT COSTS.
THIS IS A COST HERE NOT TO EXCEED 379,000, ALMOST $380,000.
SO IT IT'S NOT ABOUT THE DOLLAR FIGURE.
OKAY, WELL YOU'VE APPROVED $380,000 AND WE DID NOT INCLUDE THE STUDENTS FROM THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
AND I'M ONLY ASKING HOW CAN THEY BE INCLUDED AND I BELIEVE IT WENT OUT TO BID ALREADY.
YEAH, IT ALREADY WENT OUT TO BID.
SO THEN SO IS THERE A WAY, 'CAUSE THIS IS, THIS IS TO AWARD TO, TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER MM-HMM.
SO THAT, THAT WOULD HAVE NORMALLY HAVE BEEN INCLUDED.
SO WE'D HAVE TO START THE BIDDING PROCESS ALL OVER.
AND THEN LET ME ASK, MAKE A NEW CONTRACT ESSENTIALLY IS POSSIBILITY OF AMENDING THE CONTRACT.
BID IS FOR, DOES THE BID KAY ASK YOU A QUESTION ABOUT THAT CONTRACT? UH, DOES THAT CONTRACT INCLUDE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF, OF, OF, UH, TRANSPORTATION? UH, OR DOES IT JUST SAY YES.
AND AND IT SPECIFICALLY SAYS WHICH CAMPS ARE TO BE INCLUDED.
HOW MANY MILES ROUND TRIP, HOW MANY DAYS ARE IT TO BE USED? IT IT DOES SPECIFY THE BUSES IN DETAIL.
SO IF WE, IF WE NEED INFORMATION ABOUT THE ONE OR TWO, WE HAVE, I'M AVERAGING ABOUT THREE OR FOUR.
YOU KNOW YOU, SO YOU SHOULD JUST MAKE SURE RUN ANOTHER RP.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS TIME IT ONLY APPLIES TO GREENBERG RESIDENTS, RIGHT.
THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE CONTROLS OVER THIS AND WE CAN'T DO IT AS WE ARE FINISHED THE AGENDA AND WE'RE ABOUT TO CLOSE THE MEETING.
THIS, THIS RESOLUTION WAS UP ON THE AGENDA AND TO RAISE IT.
[02:05:01]
TO RAISE IT AS WE'RE CLOSING THE MEETING IS, YOU KNOW, UNTIMELY AT THAT.WELL THERE'S STILL TIME, SO WE'LL, WE'LL DISCUSS IT AT THE NEXT WORK SESSION.
JOE, CAN WE REVISIT THIS COMPANY AND WE'LL DISCUSS IT? GO BACK TO THEM? YEAH.
I ASK THAT WE THANK, THANK YOU TOO.
TALKED TO COMMISSIONER BYRNE AS WELL, WHO IS IN CHARGE OF LIKE, SETTING THIS UP.
YOU'D HAVE MORE INFORMATION THAN I HAVE YOU.
MAYBE WHAT I COULD DO IS I'LL, I'LL SPEAK MUCH TO THE BUS COMPANY AND SEE IF THEY'LL WORK WITH US.
YEAH, I, I SUGGEST THAT YOU PULL TOGETHER THE INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE NEEDED.
FIRST OF ALL, UM, HOW MANY KIDS, WHERE WOULD THE TRIP BE BECAUSE THAT'S WHATEVER THE METRIC IS FOR THE PROPOSAL.
SO THAT IF YOU HAVE THAT, THEN YOU CAN, THEN WE, AT THE NEXT MEETING WE CAN DISCUSS IT.
I'M VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHAT GOES INTO A PROPOSAL.
I'M ALSO VERY CLEAR ABOUT THE NUMBER OF TRIPS THAT WE PLAN TO TAKE.
DID WE VOTE THE CLOSE OR I WILL WORK WITH YOU.