[ TOWN OF GREENBURGH OFFICE OF THE TOWN BOARD 177 Hillside Avenue, Greenburgh, NY 10607 Tel: 914-989-1525 Fax: 914-993-1541 Email: JDudek@Greenburghny.com https://ny-greenburgh.civicplus.com/485/Watch-Live-Board-Meetings]
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HI, UH, WELCOME TARA TOWN BOARD, UM, WORK SESSION.TODAY IS NOVEMBER 19TH, AND IT'S, UH, FIVE 40.
UM, AND, UH, THE FIRST ITEM IS, UM, A FOLLOW UP DISCUSSION ON LEAFBLOWER LAWS.
I KEEP GETTING, UH, EMAILS FROM PEOPLE, UH, LIKE EVERY WEEK OR SO AND CALLS SAYING THE NOISE IS HORRIBLE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE BOARD PEOPLE BASICALLY WANT US TO DO, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW, 30, 40 YEARS.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST SORT OF WONDERING IF THERE'S A DESIRE BY THE BOARD, UM, TO MODIFY OUR, OUR LAWS, EVEN HAVING SOME COMPROMISE IDEAS, JUST SO WE GET SOMETHING DONE.
WELL, IS SOMETHING, DO YOU WANNA WAIT? YOU KNOW, WE, WHEN LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT, I'M SORRY, I THOUGHT YOU STOPPED.
NO, BUT, SO I JUST, SO JUST, THEY'RE WAITING FOR FRANCIS.
JUST, I, JUST, JUST REALLY QUICKLY, UM, SO COUNCILMAN SHEEN IS APPEARING, UH, VIA ZOOM.
AND SO I'M NOT SURE IF YOU HEARD THE QUESTION THAT WAS POSED TODAY.
UH, FRAN, UH, SUPERVISOR HAD SOME CONCERN WITH, UH, THE LEAFBLOWER LAW.
UM, HE SAID HE'S BEEN RECEIVING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS, AND SO HE WANTS TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION AS TO WHAT TO DO GOING FORWARD.
SO JUST THE ONE TO BRING YOU UP TO SPEED.
SO WHAT I WAS, CAN YOU HEAR, CAN YOU, FRANCIS, CAN WE JUST TOUCH YOUR TEST? YEP.
NO, WHAT I WAS GOING, WE DID, WE DID MAKE A MODIFICATION, YOU KNOW, WE CALLED IT JOE'S LAW, UH, OUR TOWN ATTORNEY'S LAW, WHICH LIMITED THE NUMBER OF LEAF BLOWERS THAT YOU COULD HAVE ON, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE PROPERTY.
WE NEVER TOLD ANYBODY ABOUT IT.
AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T ENFORCE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
THAT'S A VERY GOOD ADDITION TO ANY LEAF BLOWER LAW.
UM, PERSONALLY, I THINK THAT EACH, FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, EACH MUNICIPALITY HAS SOME VARIATION OF LEAFBLOWER LAW, AND I THINK SOME WORK BETTER THAN OTHERS.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD REALLY, AND I'LL, I'LL TAKE THIS ON COMPARE.
UM, 'CAUSE I THINK OURS IS SORT OF JUST ARBITRARY.
UM, IT HAS TO BE BASED ON SEASONALITY.
IT HAS TO BE, UH, IT HAS TO BE BASED ON WHAT IS GOOD, NOT GOING TO HARM THE WORKERS, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, AND, AND THEIR, UM, WELL, WE DID THAT.
I JUST DON'T WANNA TAKE AWAY FROM AND UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU'RE JUST, YOU'RE, YOU'RE JUST COMING TO THE BOARD NOW.
UM, BUT WE DID A LOT OF EXTENSIVE WORK ON THAT LEAFBLOWER LAW, LOOKING AT WHAT YOU'RE JUST ADDRESSING RIGHT NOW.
SO IT DOESN'T SEEM TO FOLLOW THAT BECAUSE LIKE SAYING TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS OR LIKE, THERE DIDN'T SEEM ANY RHYME TO RHYME OR REASON TO ME IS BECAUSE THERE'S NO, ANYTHING THAT WE PUT UP IN PLACE IS NOT GONNA BE HAPPY.
LIKE, IT'S HARD TO MAKE THAT COMPROMISE.
SO WE TRY TO PUT SOMETHING IN PLACE.
SO TO SEE, YOU KNOW, TO ENFORCE WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT OUT THE LAW THAT WAS NOT ADVERTISED AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS OUT THERE.
BUT WE, WE WORKED EXTENSIVELY FOR YEARS.
AS WE KNOW, WARS DON'T MAKE HAPPY.
BUT IN ADDITION, JUST SO YOU TO OKAY, THANKS.
UM, WE WENT THROUGH SO MANY ITERATIONS OF IT BECAUSE IT IS SO CONTROVERSIAL THAT EVERY TIME SOMEONE CAME UP WITH AN IDEA MM-HMM.
SO WE WERE, EVERY TIME WE WERE READY TO VOTE.
SO THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS AN IDEA OR OBJECTION, I JUST DON'T WANNA DISCOUNT THE HARM WORK THAT WE DO.
SO, UM, WHEN LOOKING THROUGH THE LEAF BLOWER LAWS AND, AND COMING UP WITH THE ONE THAT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS TOWN MM-HMM.
UM, AS WELL AS ADDING SOMETHING THAT FRANCIS MENTIONED BEFORE WAS THAT YOU CANNOT HAVE MORE THAN FOUR BLOWERS ON ANY PROPERTY AT ANY TIME.
UM, SO I THINK EVEN FOR, FOR SOME PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A REALLY BIG PROPERTY THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT, BUT IF YOU HAVE A SMALLER PROPERTY AND THEY BRING IN FOUR, THAT'S, THAT'S ONE.
I THINK THERE'S A MISUNDERSTANDING THERE.
IT IS UP TO FOUR ON LARGER PROPERTIES.
I SEE YOU HAVE FOUR SMALLER PROPERTIES.
YOU HAVE ONE, UH, THEN A LITTLE BIT LARGER PROPERTY, YOU HAVE TWO, THEN A LITTLE BIT LARGER.
SO IT'S, IT'S APPROPRIATE TO THE, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY AS IS.
SO YOU NEED PEOPLE TO CALL IN COMPLAINTS IN ORDER TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO GO OUT AND ADDRESS THE DBA MM-HMM.
AND FOR MOST OF THE EMAILS THAT I'VE
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READ, IT SEEMS LIKE THE, THE START TIME IS TOO EARLY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MAYBE COULD BE ADJUSTED.
ALSO, WE HAVE IT AS HAPPENING ON THE WEEKENDS, WHICH THAT'S THE TIME WHEN MOST PEOPLE ARE HOME.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS IT MORE ON THE WORK, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD REVISIT IT.
THOSE WERE DEFINITELY ITERATIONS AND, AND UNDERSTANDINGLY, I JUST, I JUST, I I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF YOU WERE TO GO BACK AND LISTEN TO ALL OF THE WORK SESSIONS AND STUFF THAT WE SPENT ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF TIME ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN THINK WILL PROBABLY BE HOPEFULLY A COMPROMISE THAT WILL WORK FOR ALL MM-HMM.
UM, BUT WE, BUT AGAIN, WE PUT OUR BEST FOOT FORWARD TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN.
SO I THINK, AGAIN, GOING BACK TO WHAT COUNCILMAN SHEAN MENTIONED, THAT WE ENFORCE WHAT WE HAVE MAY, LET ME TAKE THAT BACK.
THAT WE ADVERTISE THE LAW THAT WE HAVE SO EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT, UM, WHAT LAW IS IN PLACE.
BECAUSE, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE IT OUT THERE.
PAUL, I'M SORRY, IF YOU COULD JUST SEND IT OUT AGAIN MM-HMM.
'CAUSE MAYBE THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF THAT LAW AS WELL.
AND THEN WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE TOO, TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS AWARE OF WHAT THE LAW IS.
SO IF YOU COULD JUST SEND THAT OUT AGAIN, YOU KNOW, TO THE ONES THAT I, AGAIN, I DON'T THINK IT'S EVER BEEN SENT OUT.
NO, IT WAS, WELL, THAT'S A ASKING TO SEND IT NOW.
IT WAS PICKED UP BY THE LOCAL, UH, YOU KNOW, PUBLICATIONS WHEN WE ADOPTED IT.
BUT, UM, TIME TO CIRCLE BACK AROUND AGAIN, THE NOISE RESTRICTIONS.
PLUS WE HAVE THE NOISE RESTRICTIONS, SO THAT, THAT IS HELPFUL.
BUT WE HAVE THE HEAD OF THE CAC C HERE.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDER, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE FACT THAT THERE'S LIMITATIONS ON THE NUMBER OF LEAF BLOWERS ANYBODY COULD HAVE AT ANY TIME.
AND I'M SORT OF WONDERING MAYBE LIKE YOU SAID, IF WE ADJUST THE TIMES, UM, UH, WE CAN LOOK AT IT BECAUSE MAYBE WE COULD HAVE FEWER HOURS, UH, WHERE IT WOULD BE EVEN FEWER HOURS WHERE IT WOULD BE ALLOWED.
UM, ESPECIALLY ON WEEKENDS AND RIGHT.
SO I DON'T THINK, I THINK, I'M SORRY.
NO, I'M JUST SAYING, I'M SAYING MAYBE WE COULD ASK PEOPLE, UM, YOU KNOW, TO COMMENT ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY'VE SEEN MORE THAN ONE LEAF BLOWER IN A, WE GET SOME OF THOSE EMAILS.
NO, BUT I'M SAYING NOBODY'S FOC AS FRANCIS SAID, IF WE FOC, IF WE LET PEOPLE KNOW WE HAVE A LAW, YOU COULD HAVE ONLY A CERTAIN NUMBER OF LEAF BLOWERS.
BECAUSE IF IT'S ONLY, I DON'T THINK THE AVERAGE PERSON'S GONNA REALLY CARE IF IT'S LIKE ONE PERSON SWEEPING THEIR CAR.
WELL, I'M SAYING THAT WE, THERE ARE EMAILS WE'VE RECEIVED WHERE IT HAS BEEN STATED THAT THERE'S FOUR LEAF BLOWERS ON THE PROPERTY NEXT TO ME, MR. FINER OR WHATEVER.
AND THEN YOU CAN REFER, SO THEN WE CAN POINT TO THIS POINT IN THE LAW THAT SAYS, WELL, THAT'S ACTUALLY NOT ALLOWED.
SO YOU NEED TO MAKE A COMPLAINT.
THAT KIND OF THING IS WHAT I MEAN.
SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S REALLY BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS MADE, AT LEAST TO, TO MY KNOWLEDGE FORMAL COMPLAINT.
AND, AND AS FAR AS THE TIMES ARE CONCERNED, WE'VE, WE CHANGED THE TIMES AND THE DAYS NUMEROUS TIMES.
SO WE, WE, I HAVE EVERY, UM, FAITH THAT WE CAN CIRCLE BACK AROUND.
BUT WE JUST HAVE TO LOCK IT DOWN AND, AND JUST GO FOR IT.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT WE WERE PUTTING INTO IT WAS A SUNSET LOSS AS A TRIAL.
SO THAT SOMETHING THAT WE COULD IMPLEMENT AGAIN.
AND WE CAN ALWAYS MAKE THE CHANGE.
WE PUT AN, WE PUT A SENSE SUNSET CLAUSE INTO ONE OF THE ITERATIONS.
SO LET'S TRY THAT AND THEN LET'S PULL THAT OUT.
WE ALSO REMEMBER IT CAME ALSO CAME UP TO REMEMBER THE LIVELIHOOD.
SO REMEMBER WE ALSO HAVE, UM, LANDSCAPERS YEAH.
THAT'S PART, THE SUPPLIERS THAT ARE PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
SO REMEMBER WE ALSO, WHEN WE, UM, LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THEY CAN WORK, THAT ALSO LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF LIVELIHOOD THEY HAVE.
SO I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT THE NOISES IS, IS, IS, UH, AN INCONVENIENCE.
UM, I LIVE IN A PLACE WHERE I HA I PROMISE YOU, I DON'T KNOW WHO MY NEIGHBOR RUNS IT CONSISTENTLY.
IT'S, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A LOT TO ADD, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.
THERE WAS A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE CONSIDERED WHEN WE PUT THE LAW THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.
SO I JUST, SO I THINK FOR THIS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE THAT LAW PUT OUT, MAKE SURE IT'S ON THE, UM, THE, UH, WEBPAGE, OUR, OUR WEBPAGE.
SO EVERYONE TO SEE THAT LAW AGAIN.
AND WE CAN BLAST IT OUT AGAIN.
IF YOU COULD BLAST IT OUT AGAIN.
AND THEN WE COULD JUST MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ON OUR PAGE FOR, UM, PARK SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT EXACTLY WHAT THE LAWS AND ADHERE.
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NEED TO RE REINFORCE WITH OUR RESIDENTS.THEY NEED TO MAKE THE FORMAL COMPLAINT IF SOMETHING IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.
'CAUSE THEY'LL COMPLAIN TO US, BUT THEY WON'T NECESSARILY COMPLAIN.
COMPLAIN TO THE POLICE, OR, RIGHT.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE.
THAT'S WHERE AMANDA, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO LIKE, DRAFT SOMETHING THAT, SO THIS WAY EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD COULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT.
AND THEN MAYBE WE COULD ALSO ASK PEOPLE FOR THEIR THOUGHTS ON, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW THE LAW, YOU KNOW, IS WORKING OR IF IT'S NOT WORKING, WHY, YOU KNOW, AND WE COULD MAYBE HIGHLIGHT, I THINK THAT FRANCIS' POINT WHERE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE NUMBER OF, UH, LEAF BLOWERS THAT ARE ALLOWED.
I THOUGHT THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING BECAUSE, UM, BECAUSE THE THING IS IF IT'S ONLY ONE MM-HMM.
I THINK I, I THINK THAT WOULD SO USE SHOWN FOR A NOTICE.
LIKE, KIND OF MAKE IT LIKE VERY EASY PLAYING THE LANGUAGE OF THE LOCAL LAW TO ADDRESS YOUR, TO ADDRESS YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR CONCERNS OF THE, OR YOUR COMPLAINTS OF THE NOISE.
YOU KNOW, HERE IS THE LAW THAT WE HAVE HAD.
UM, I, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT SO THEY CAN SEE THAT IT HAS BEEN ON, THE OTHER THING THE VILLAGE OF SCARSDALE HAS DONE IS THEY USE THE DIGITAL BOARDS IN SCARSDALE, UH, TO BASICALLY HIGHLIGHT WHAT THE LURE IS.
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY VERY EFFECTIVE BECAUSE, UM, IF WE SAID, UH, ONLY, YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY THE BOARD SAY IN FRONT OF THE TOWN HALL, SO LEAF BLOWER LAW, UM, ONLY ONE LEAF BLOWER ALLOWED.
NO, BUT I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
CAN'T SEE ALL THAT THEN AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S EASY FOR EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY TO UNDERSTAND.
AND THEN THERE'S LEAF BLOWER LAW IN EFFECT.
HOW ABOUT THAT? NO, BUT THE LEAF BLOWER KNOWS WHAT THE LEAF BLOWER PROBLEM FIVE.
IF YOU RECALL, UM, THE CHIEF WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT TOO PUTTING TOO MUCH LANGUAGE ON THOSE BOARDS BECAUSE THEN PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION READING THAT AND CAN GET, AND CAN GET INTO AN ACCIDENT.
THAT'S WHY WE SCALED BACK ON THAT LAST TIME.
I'M JUST, I'M JUST SAYING IF WE BASICALLY SAY ONLY ONE LEAF BLOWER, UM, BUT THAT'S NOT OUR LAW LAW.
BUT IF IT'S TOO MUCH LANGUAGE, THAT'S, SO I THINK IF WE PUT THE POSTER LAW UP, MAKE SURE THAT'S ON OUR WEBSITE, MAKE SURE THAT WE SEND IN OUR GB LIST.
UM, I KNOW THAT YOU DO SEND OUT LETTERS, SO MAYBE YOU SEND IT OUT AMONGST YOUR LETTERS AND, AND ATTACH THE LAW WITH THAT.
IF YOU COULD WRITE SOMETHING UP AND THEN WE WILL, WE'LL APPROVE IT AND THEN WE COULD USE THAT WORDING.
MAYBE THE, MAYBE THE SIGN COULD SAY GO TO WEBSITE FOR LEAF BLOWER LAW, SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, LEAF BLOWER LAW ON WEBSITE SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW TO LOOK, IF YOU WANT TO HIGHLIGHT IT THAT WAY, I'M SAYING FINE WITH MINIMAL LANGUAGE.
SO UNLESS YOU'RE ALER, IF WHO'S NOW, I GUESS HE IS RETIRED, YOU KNOW, HE RETIRED THEN HE WASN'T RETIRED, UH, JUDGE AND HE WAS A COUNCILMAN.
WHEN, WHEN WAS HE A COUNCILMAN? IN THE NINETIES? UH, YEAH, AROUND, UM, YEAH.
AND SO WHEN HE WAS NO LONGER A COUNCIL MEMBER AND WENT OVER TO BE A JUDGE, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE MENTIONED IN HIS SPEECH WAS THAT HE WOULD NOT MISS AS BEING ON THE TOWN BOARD IS DISCUSSING LEAF BLOWERS.
AND, AND THAT HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE 2006.
NOW, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, JOY, YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, SATURDAYS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE WERE STRICT AMONG SATURDAYS, BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO NOW HAVE LANDSCAPERS AND THEY WANT TO DO THEIR OWN YARD, MAYBE THEY CAN'T AFFORD A LANDSCAPER OR THEY JUST ENJOY DOING THEIR OWN, THEIR OWN LANDSCAPING.
BUT WE COULD HAVE TIME RESTRICTIONS FOR THAT.
AND ALSO COULD ALSO NOT BE GAS POWERED.
THOSE COULD BE ELECTRIC POWERED.
WELL, YOU GET INTO, YOU GOTTA REALLY LISTEN, YOU SHOULD REALLY LISTEN TO ALL OF THE, THE, THE MEMO, THE STUFF THAT YOU, THAT WE WENT THROUGH.
I THINK YOU REALLY SHOULD LISTEN TO ALL OF THE TY TAR RAKE
AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE STUCK WITH, WE CAN'T SAY NO GAS BLOWERS, JUST DO ELECTRIC BECAUSE THE CAC OPPOSES THOSE AS WELL.
HOW ABOUT RAKES? WE GO BACK TO RAKES.
WHEN WE TERRY PLEASE COME TO THE TABLE.
YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE TABLE AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF IF YOU WOULD.
THERESA TORI, CHAIR OF THE CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL.
ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IS WE RESEARCH THE NOISE LEVELS ON THE ELECTRIC BLOWERS.
AND IF YOU ARE USING THEM AT A POWER FORCE THAT CAN LIKE TO BLOW LEAVES IN THE FALL, THEY'RE NOISY.
SO YOU'RE NOT SOLVING THE NOISE PROBLEM NO.
BUT, BUT BY GOING TO THAT, IT PUTS A TREMENDOUS BURDEN ON THE LANDSCAPERS.
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MM-HMM.AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE RUN INTO IS SOME OF THE BIGGEST OFFENDERS ARE PEOPLE WHO DO THEIR OWN PROPERTIES, AS YOU SAID.
WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO IT IS A RIGHT.
AND THEY LOVE USING THAT BLOWER.
AND IF, ONE OF THE THINGS FROM THE CAC C'S POINT OF VIEW, SINCE WE HAVE SOME NEW MEMBERS ON THE TOWN BOARD, IS THAT THERE ARE THREE BASIC AREAS THAT ARE OF CONCERN.
ONE IS WHAT YOU BLOW UP FROM THE GROUND.
AND IT'S PARTICULARLY BAD FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE ASTHMA AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THE OTHER ONE IS YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY DESTROYING THE SOIL, KILLING THE SMALL, UH, ORGANISMS THAT THE BIGGER INSECTS EAT, WHICH THEN THE BIRDS EAT THE INSECTS.
SO IT'S VERY BAD ENVIRONMENTALLY FOR THE SOIL.
AND THIRDLY, THERE IS THE ANNOYANCE OF THE NOISE OF THE THREE, THOUGH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BOTHERED BY THE NOISE IS THE LEAST ACTUALLY ENVIRONMENTALLY IMPORTANT ONE.
WHICH IS HARD TO MAKE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.
BUT I THINK WHEN WE LOOK, BUT THERE'S ALSO THE GAS POLLUTION FROM THE LEAF BLOWERS.
BUT, BUT THE PROBLEM WE RUN INTO WITH THAT IS WE DON'T HAVE A TECHNOLOGY NOW.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LEAVES WE HAVE IN THE FALL MM-HMM.
AND JUST TO SHARE WITH YOU, THE CA'S POSITION WAS TO TRY AND BAN THEM FROM MID JULY, MID-JUNE THROUGH MID-SEPTEMBER, WHEN THERE ISN'T REALLY THIS STRONG NEED.
SO WHEN YOU GET TO SEE THE BACK MATERIALS LOOKING FOR A COMPROMISE PLACE, BECAUSE WHEN WE REACH THIS TIME OF YEAR, IN FAIRNESS TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PROFESSIONAL GARDENERS, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT THE OFFENDERS.
THEY WANNA GET IN AND GET OUT.
THEY WANNA GET OFF THAT TRUCK, GET THE LEAVES IN A PILE AND LEAVE.
SO I THINK LOTS OF TIMES THE ANNOYANCE IS ACTUALLY HOMEOWNERS.
AND THAT'S THEN YOU, WE ARE ASKING SOMEONE TO RAT OUT THEIR NEIGHBOR.
SO I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A SOLUTION.
AND AS FRANCIS SAID, THIS HAS BEEN KICKING AROUND SINCE THE NINETIES AND I HAVE THIS HORRIBLE FEELING IT'LL BE KICKING AROUND 20 YEARS FROM NOW.
SO I THINK THAT THAT WAS ALL I WANTED TO ADD.
'CAUSE I DIDN'T WANT THAT CONCEPT THAT SOMEHOW IF WE GO TO ELECTRIC, WE SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
NO, I, I DON'T I APPRECIATE THAT.
SO THAT WAS MY ONLY CONCERN THAT WE NOT HAVE THAT DELUSION UNFORTUNATELY.
WE APPRECIATE YOU AS ALWAYS, TONY.
SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON FROM THIS ISSUE.
SO WE'LL, WE'LL WILL, UH, RECEIVE YOUR, UH, RECORD YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS AND THEN WE WILL UH, WE WILL AGREE ON THE LANGUAGE THAT WE COULD USE.
WHY WOULD DO THAT NOW? SO I THINK, I THINK, UM, WE HAVE TO CARRY HERE NOW THE ORDER IS WHAT I MEANT.
SO JUST WONDERING WHY WE'RE DOING THE AGENDA REVIEW BEFORE THE OTHER ITEMS USUALLY.
'CAUSE IT'S MONDAY WE HAVE THAT WE HAVE BEFORE THE OTHER ITEMS ON THIS AGENDA.
'CAUSE BECAUSE WE HAVE THE TIMING.
PERRY, WE COULD PERRY DO PERRY FIRST.
WELL, WE WAS GOING BY THE CA WE WILL GO ON BY THE SCHEDULE.
SO THAT'S, I DIDN'T EVEN SEE TIP PERRY, SO, OKAY.
WE COULD, WE COULD DO PERRY NOW.
I'M JUST SAYING IN THIS AGENDA WE USUALLY DO IT LAST SO THAT YEAH.
IS PERRY PARTICIPATING IN PERSON? YEAH, I JUST, I'M WALKING.
SHE SAID SHE, YEAH, THAT'S OKAY.
WE CAN JUST GO AHEAD AND DO THE AGENDA.
WHATEVER YOU WHERE DID? OH, HE WON.
SO WHAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT AT, UM, SO OUR BUILDING INSPECTOR FRANK MOTO, HAS DONE A TREMENDOUS WORK ON HARTSDALE AVENUE.
I KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE, UM, RESIDENTS ARE VERY PLEASED.
SO I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HIGHLIGHT HIM THE NEXT MEETING.
'CAUSE ALL THE STUFF THAT HE HAS DONE, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, UNDER OUR PRESENTATION, A QUICK PRESENTATION JUST TO HIGHLIGHT ALL THE HARD WORK THAT HE HAS DONE AND EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS PUT IN PLACE.
AND ALL THE CREWS WHO, THE CREWS COUNCIL PEOPLE AND ALL, EVERYBODY WHO WAS INVOLVED AND MAKING SURE THAT WE GET, YOU KNOW, THAT ALL THIS GOT TAKEN CARE OF.
UM, 'CAUSE IT WAS THANK YOU, FRANK.
HE, HE DEFINITELY, UM, CAME UP WITH A PLAN, EXECUTED HIS PLAN, AND, AND, AND THIS IS WHAT WE TRULY APPRECIATE ABOUT HIM.
SO I THINK HE SHOULD REALLY BE RECOGNIZED.
SO, UM, AND HE WORKED THROUGH THE WEEKEND.
I KIND OF YELLED AT HIM ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS THE REASON, BUT NO, THAT'S, NO, NO, NO.
BUT, BUT WE REALLY SAW IF WHETHER, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ORDER YOU WANNA PUT HIM IN, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD, WE CAN PUT HIM IN.
WHAT'D YOU SAY? NO, YOU, YOU YELLED AT HIM.
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WE COULD MAYBE, HOWEVER, WHATEVER ORDER YOU WANNA PUT HIM IN, UM, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD JUST WANT TO ADD HIM A RECOGNITION FOR HIM PLEASE, FOR HER UPFRONT.PERHAPS UNDER ANNOUNCEMENTS, NO PRESENTATIONS.
UM, REGARDING PRESENTATIONS IN GENERAL, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW WHAT THE PRESENTATION IS GOING TO BECOME COMPRISED OF.
UM, LIKE WHETHER IT'S GONNA HAVE A VIDEO OR WHAT IT'S GONNA BE.
UM, SO IF YOU COULD SHARE THAT SUPERVISOR AHEAD OF TIME, IF YOU KNOW THERE'S A PRESENTATION ON, OR ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE COMPRISED OF, WE SHOULD HAVE HAVE A LITTLE MORE DETAIL SO WE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS.
WELL THIS, YOU KNOW, UH, THE PRESENTATIONS BY THE TWO, UH, UH, FUTURE LEADERS, THE 6-YEAR-OLD AND 4-YEAR-OLD, OH, THAT'S ONLY GONNA TAKE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.
SO IS THAT A PRESENTATION? ARE THEY GONNA SING DANCE? THEY JUST WANNA SAY THAT, UH, THEY LIKE TREES AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH IT.
UM, AND THE 2025 BUDGET, BLESS YOU.
THAT COULD BE LIKE FIVE MINUTES OR LESS PRESENTED.
IS THAT A PRESENTATION? POWERPOINT, SOMETHING WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR? SO IT'S JUST A SPEECH.
AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER WHEN, UH, IS SHE COMING? DID YOU CONFIRM HER? YEAH, I DON'T REALLY, UH, REMEMBER WHEN I ASKED JOAN TO PUT THAT ON? I'LL, I'LL HAVE TO, LET'S RECONFIRM THAT ONE.
SO WE JUST PUT, NEED TO CONFIRM.
LET ME LOOK AND SEE ON TB TWO.
DID WE COME TO AN AGREEMENT ON THAT? I'M NOT SURE I RECALL.
UH, RIGHT, SO THERE WAS A LIMITED AMBIGUITY IN THE CONTRACT IN THAT THERE WAS ONE DOC.
WELL, AMANDA CAN SPEAK TO THAT.
SO, UM, THE ONE OF THESE SCHEDULES THAT WAS ATTACHED HAD SOME SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO THE PRIOR VERSION.
AND SO THE ATTORNEYS ARE, UM, LOOKING AT THOSE CHANGES TO GET IT INTO A FINAL FORM.
SO SHOULD WE HAVE IT ON HERE OR WE HAVE IT IN TIME TO, UM, FOR US TO VOTE ON IT? JOE HAS, HAS INDICATED THERE THAT THEY'VE DISCUSSED IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'LL BE IN FINAL FORM FOR THE MEETING.
UM, SO WE CAN HOLD IT OVER IF IT'S, YOU CAN.
SO IF IT'S NOT, THEN WE CAN, IF IT'S NOT, THEN YOU CAN HOLD IT OVER IF IT'S NOT RIGHT.
AND THEN TB ONE, WE'RE ALL SET? NOPE.
WE GOT, UH, A REVISED PROPOSAL TODAY.
BUT I RESPONDED BACK BECAUSE WHAT I THINK SHE NEEDS TO DO IS MERGE THE SORT OF PROFORMA CONTRACT WITH HER PROPOSAL SO THAT WE HAVE ONE DOCUMENT THAT IS ABOUT OUR EVENT SPECIFICALLY LAYS OUT OUR FINANCIAL COMMITMENT, THE TIMING, ALL THAT STUFF.
SO RIGHT NOW IT'S SORT OF LIKE TWO SEPARATE DOCUMENTS AND NONE OF WHICH I THINK WOULD, WE WOULD SIGN BECAUSE THEY DON'T OUTLINE EVERYTHING.
SO I'VE ASKED JACQUELINE TO DO THAT AND OKAY.
SO, SO WE'LL HAVE IT HOPEFULLY FOR TOMORROWS WE CAN.
SO IF IT'S NOT, IF IT'S NOT, THEN WE, NO, IT'S, IT HAS TO BE.
WE NEED A NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNT.
SO WHATEVER THAT FINAL COST SHOULD BE.
THAT WAS THE ONLY THING I IS TB FIVE REALLY? UM, THE REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF A PETITION, I MEAN, THE PETITION HAS ALREADY BEEN, THE PETITION HAS BEEN FILED.
THE OBJECTIONS HAVE BEEN PUT IN.
WOULDN'T IT BE DEFENDING WHAT WOULD BE THE CONTINUED RETENTION? RIGHT.
WHAT WOULD THAT BE FOR? RIGHT.
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PAUL? PAUL, UM, THIS IS, UM, THIS IS, UH, THEY HAVE TO FILE, UM, LIKE AN ANSWER TO THE INCORPORATION PETITION.IT WASN'T THAT WHAT THIS IS FOR, I DON'T KNOW.
BUT THIS SAYS REVIEW AND EVALUATION.
UM, FRANCIS', IT'S NO LONGER REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF THE PETITION.
IT'S, IT'S NOW DEALING WITH THE, UH, APPEAL.
SO DO WE NEED TO REWORD THIS? YES.
I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE REWORDED.
YOU HAVE A SUGGESTION? YOU JUST ASKED JOE TO REWORD IT.
UH, MAYBE AMANDA HAS A SUGGESTION.
I THINK YOU CAN SIMPLY JUST CHANGE IT TO REVIEW CHANGE, CHANGE REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF THE APPEAL OF THE PETITION.
I MEAN, CAN WE JUST SAY THAT CONTINUED LEGAL SERVICES RELATING TO THE, UH, YOU KNOW, AS EDGEMONT INCORPORATION PETITION, BECAUSE HERE YOU COULD DO THAT AS WELL.
SO YOU WANNA WRITE THAT AND SEND IT TO US? UH, YOU COULD.
I'M JUST, I DON'T KNOW REALLY WHAT I MEAN, IT COULD BE JUST GENERAL.
LET'S KEEP IT WHAT WE SAID BEFORE AS APPEAL.
IT BASICALLY IS, UH, REGARDING THE APPEAL RE RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AUTHORIZING THE CONTINUED RETENTION OF COZEN O'CONNOR, UM, UH, FOR A CONTINUED REPRESENTATION OF THE RE REGARDING EDGEMONT CORPORATION, UM, LEGAL.
THAT'S GETTING A LITTLE BIT INCORPORATION.
OH, A SUGGESTION WAS MADE THAT ON, AT EACH MEETING, IF, UH, BOARD MEMBERS WANT TO, UM, HIGHLIGHT ANY OF THE LIAISON ACTIVITIES YOU MAKE, LIKE A TWO SENTENCE, THREE SENTENCE COMMENTS OR ANYTHING.
SHOULD WE PUT THAT ON EACH, UH, EACH PERMANENT AGENDA? UM, I'D LIKE TO DO THAT.
AND WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH EACH COMMITTEE.
JUST LET'S SAY HIGHLIGHT ONE THAT WE ARE A LIAISON TO.
IF, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING, THEY COULD SAY SOMETHING, SAY, I'M ON THIS BOARD, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHY WE'VE, WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING.
SO SHOULD WE, I DID MY FIRST HIGHLIGHT THIS ACT THIS EVENING.
MAYBE THAT SHOULD BE UNDER, UNDER PRESENTATIONS AND SHOULD BE A BOARD LIAISON REPORTS.
AND THEN ANYBODY HAS THE OPTION TO SAY ANYTHING OR SAY NOTHING? WELL, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD.
I, I THINK WE SHOULD BE SCHEDULED TO SAY SOMETHING.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD JUST SAY WILLIE NILLY.
SO PEOPLE CAN EXPECT, I'M GONNA GET AN, I'M GONNA GET AN UPDATE FROM PUBLIC WORKS.
I'M GONNA GET AN UPDATE FROM BUILDINGS PARKS, TDYC.
I'D HAVE LIKE A ROUND ROBIN WOULD BE THE, SO A ROUND ROBIN OF HIGHLIGHTING ONE COMMITTEE THAT WE ARE EACH LIAISON TO OR ALL OF THEM.
BECAUSE THAT'S GONNA BE A VERY, WELL THAT'LL BE A VERY LONG CONVERSATION.
A MAJOR, I MEAN, IT'S MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS.
SO JUST LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT THE INCIDENT ON HAR 11, THAT FALLS UNDER PUBLIC WORKS UHHUH.
WE COULD TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FULL ACCOUNT.
SO WE'RE TALKING STATEMENTS SO I DON'T, WE TRY IT.
AND SO WE WANNA DO IT FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
THE NEXT MEETING, RIGHT? YEAH.
OR DO WE WANNA START IT FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR? WHATEVER YOU WANT.
JUST JUST TO BE, DID YOU, OH, JUST TO BE CLEAN.
DO WE WANNA START SO WE CAN PREPARE? 'CAUSE WITH THE, I JUST, IT'S UP TO YOU.
I DON'T, I DON'T WANNA MAKE THIS.
I MEAN, I JUST THINK THAT WE WANNA JUST MAKE SURE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE READY THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.
NEW AND IMPROVED VERSION OF TOWN BOARD MEETING.
ANYTHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA? NOTHING MUCH.
SO WE JUST NEED TO ADD THAT ONE THING FOR, UM, OH, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THIS IS, I JUST, THIS IS ONLY GONNA TAKE ONE SECOND.
SAYS, ALLOWING RESIDENTS OF A HUNDRED EAST TAR STILL AVENUE TO PARK AT WHAT FIELD.
THEY'RE GONNA GIVE US THE EMAILS LIKE A, A PIECE OF PAPER TO PUT ON A DASHBOARD AND PEOPLE HAVE TO JUST APPLY, UM, AT THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
SO HE CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO MORE SPORTS.
'CAUSE THAT WAS A CONCERN THAT HE RAISED.
HE SAID THAT THERE, HE WANTED TO CONFIRM THAT THERE WAS NO ACTIVITIES HAPPENING.
SO WE CAN, WE JUST NEED TO COME, YOU JUST GO TO THE OFFICE AT, AT, AT, UM, AT ANTHONY VETERAN PARK AND YOU CAN PICK UP THE, THEY'LL SEE RACHEL.
[00:30:01]
DID I SAY? RIGHT.SHOULD PART OF PICKING UP THAT, UM, PLACARD INCLUDE INDEMNIFICATION THAT WE'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE.
YOU KNOW SOMETHING AND YOU HAPPENS.
IF YOU COULD WRITE THAT UP, MAKE SURE
YEAH, I DON'T, HE WAS, HE WALKED IN EARLIER.
HE'S WATCHING US, UM, FROM HIS OFFICE.
DO WE NEED HIM? DO YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN? WELL, OH, GOOD ON, WE'RE DOING, WE'RE DOING ANOTHER EXTENSION OF THE, UM, I KNOW IT'S GONNA BECOME AN ISSUE OF THE, UH, PRIOR AMENDED SITE.
SO COULD YOU EXPLAIN, YOU KNOW, THAT THERE'S BEEN PROGRESS MADE ON CD FOUR WITH THE, UH, AND WE'RE EXTENDING IT BECAUSE THERE'S PROGRESS BEING MADE AND WE EXPECT THAT TO, UH, ACTUALLY DEVELOPED BATTLE A PLAN TOWARDS MITIGATION OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE THERE.
I'D BE HAPPY TO GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE.
UH, FERNCLIFF WAS A SITE PLAN APPROVED BY THE TOWN BOARD ON, I BELIEVE, 2020.
AND, UM, THAT WAS FOR AN, AN EXPANSION OF, OF THEIR MAUSOLEUM.
AND IN CONNECTION WITH THAT, FERNCLIFF WAS OBLIGATED TO MAKE SOME OFFSITE, UH, STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS, UH, SHOULD NOTE THAT FERNCLIFF HAS YET TO BUILD THOSE, UH, THE, THE ACTUAL PROJECT IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, AND WHAT'S HAPPENED IN THE INTERIM IS 'CAUSE THEY HAVEN'T BEEN READY TO BUILD THE MAUSOLEUM EXPANSION, THEY'VE REQUESTED A SERIES OF EXTENSIONS, BUT WHILE THEY WERE DOING THAT, THEY'VE EXPLORED ALTERNATE, UM, OFFSITE STORMWATER IMPROVEMENTS THAT, UM, APPEARED TO BE MORE IMPACTFUL.
UM, SO AS PART OF THE LAST TOWN BOARD EXTENSION, UM, WE ALLOWED A PROCESS WHERE TOWN STAFF WOULD, WOULD, WOULD WORK ON BEHALF OF TOWN BOARD WORK WITH THE APPLICANT TO, UM, EXPLORE THE, THE, THE, THE, THE, THE BEST IMPROVEMENTS THAT COULD BE MADE POTENTIALLY.
AND WHAT WAS GENERATED FROM THAT IS, IS FERN CLIFF AND OUR ENGINEERS DID GENERATE, UM, A, A REPORT THAT IDENTIFIES THE UPSIZING OF SOME STORMWATER CONVEYANCE PIPES.
AND, UM, THAT'S BEEN REVIEWED BY ENGINEERING, UM, DPW OUR DEPARTMENT.
AND, UM, THERE, THERE DO APPEAR THERE, THERE, THERE DOES APPEAR TO BE SOME SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS THAT, UM, FIRM CLIFF'S WILLING TO MAKE, UH, THAT REPORT NEEDS TO BE REFINED.
UM, THEY, SO THEY ARE FOR THE TOWN BOARD TO REQUEST AN ADDITIONAL EXTENSION.
AND, UM, SO I'VE PUT UP CD FOUR FOR YOUR, YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND WE'VE UPDATED THAT RESOLUTION TO KIND OF IDENTIFY THE REAL TIME STATUS OF THESE OFFSITE IMPROVEMENTS.
UM, SO THERE NEEDS TO BE A BIT MORE, UH, RESEARCH DONE WITH THE, WITH THE REPORT AND SOME FINE TUNING OF THE COST.
UM, BUT WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU, UM, HOPEFULLY FIRST QUARTER NEXT YEAR WITH AN UPDATE OF, UM, SOME REAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT FE FERNCLIFFE CAN MAKE THAT WILL BENEFIT NOT ONLY, UM, ITS SITE, BUT IT WILL BENEFIT BENEFITS OF IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORS.
AND THEN, UM, BENEFITS AND FLOODING THAT OCCURS ON THE GENE LANE, UH, AREA.
SO, UM, STAFF WERE SATISFIED WITH THE WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.
THERE'S STILL MORE WORK TO DO.
UM, THAT'S THE UPDATE AND CD, CD TWO AND CCP THREE YOU HELD OVER FROM THE LAST MEETING BECAUSE YOU NEEDED MORE WORK ON THEM.
UM, I ACTUALLY WAS, WAS, WAS GONNA ASK THE BOARD IF, UH, IF, IF YOU WOULD ALLOW ME, UM, SEE THREE TO FIVE MINUTES TO, TO SHARE SOME GRAPHICS AND I KNOW THE BOARD'S AWARE OF ALL THESE IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENTS THAT, UM, COINCIDE WITH THE ELMWOOD PROJECT IN THE SPRINGBROOK PARKWAY.
UM, BUT I COULD REFRESH YOU AND THEN IT WOULD ALSO POTENTIALLY BE A BENEFIT FOR RESIDENTS IN THE AREA.
BUT AS FAR AS THE RESOLUTIONS THEMSELVES, THEY'RE READY TO GO.
UM, UH, THE, THE, THE RESOLUTIONS ARE READY TO GO.
UM, THERE'S A CONTRACT THAT, THAT I WAS, IT, IT, IT IT'S AT THE 99% MARK.
UH, FINAL COMMENTS ARE COMING FROM, FROM RIDGEWOOD AND, UH, LEGAL'S FULLY REVIEWED THAT.
SO WE, WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT FINALIZED TO A HUNDRED PERCENT PERHAPS BY THURSDAY WHILE IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING TO POST IT.
SO THAT WOULD, I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY GOOD IF YOU WERE TO JUST SOME GRAPHICS BEFORE WE VOTE ON THESE THINGS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS ROADWAY BURY ROAD BY THIS BRAIN, A LOT OF PEOPLE USE IT AND I'M SURE THEY'D BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE GONNA BE.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND I AGREE.
OH, DO YOU WANT TO, WE DO IT NOW.
OH, I THOUGHT SHE WAS DOING IT FOR TOMORROW.
I MEAN, OH, SO IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE ME TO, UM, DO
[00:35:01]
A FIVE MINUTE PRESENTATION AT THE CHILD BOARD MEETING, I'D BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO.YEAH, I THINK THAT WOULD BE BETTER BECAUSE I THINK THERE'LL BE MORE PEOPLE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE TOWN BOARD MEETING.
TOOK IT OUTTA MY MOUTH, FRANCIS.
UH, GARRETT, I'M WONDERING IF YOU COULD JUST STAY ON, UH, BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA BE HAVING A PRESENTATION FROM PERRY OCHER OR, UH, LOBBYISTS AND, UM, MAYBE THERE'S SOME, UH, INITIATIVES THAT I KNOW THAT YOU'RE WORKING ON THAT WE COULD USE THIS HELP ON, BECAUSE WE'RE JUST GONNA CUT.
SO NEXT, UM, PERRY, SORRY I WAS KEPT YOU WAITING.
I WAS ACTUALLY, ACTUALLY RIGHT ON TIME.
HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING? WONDERFUL.
HAPPY TO REPORT, UH, PROGRESS OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
IF WE COULD JUST ASK YOU TO MOVE YOUR MIC JUST A LITTLE CLOSER, PLEASE.
UM, DOES EVERYBODY HAVE THE HANDOUT? YES.
SO I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THE MM-HMM.
SO MY FIRM WAS RETAINED STARTING, I GUESS AROUND APRIL, WHICH KIND OF LATE IN SESSION, OBVIOUSLY SESSION RECESSED IN JUNE.
BUT, UM, WE CAN STILL POINT TO A NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
SEVERAL PRIORITY BILLS PASSED THAT, UH, THE TOWN WAS WORKING ON WHEN I CAME ON BOARD.
UM, THE, UH, RED LIGHT CAMERA BILL, UH, SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR AND, UH, MODIFYING YOUR DEFINITION OF TENNIS FACILITIES TO ALLOW PICKLEBALL, UH, SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.
UM, AND THEN SOME MINOR BILLS THAT, UH, WERE PRIORITIES OF SOME OF THE LOCAL VILLAGES THAT WE WERE LESS DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN, BUT WE WERE TRACKING AND ALSO SIGNED, UH, BY THE GOVERNOR.
THEN ON THE MEMO, UH, THAT I'VE HANDED OUT OF ONE REGARDING, UH, USE OF TAXES COLLECTED BY EXEMPT FIREFIGHTERS, TOWN OF HAS IN THE VILLAGE OF HASTINGS.
UH, ANOTHER REGARDING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT BORROWING PRACTICES.
AND, UH, THE THIRD RELATING TO THE GREENBERG NORTH CASTLE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
UM, ONE BILL THAT WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IS THE ALLEGED, SORRY, WHAT WAS, SORRY, COULD YOU JUST GIVE THE DETAIL ON THAT ONE? ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT? WHAT WAS THE ON THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE? YEAH, YEAH.
YEAH, THAT WAS SIX, UH, UH, 98 29 MM-HMM.
UH, THAT BILL ALLOWS THE GREENBERG NORTH CASTLE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO CONTINUE PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL SERVICES WHILE IT ESTABLISHES AFFILIATIONS WITH THE NEW RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER.
UH, GREENBERG, NORTH CASTLE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A SPECIAL ACT SCHOOL DISTRICT CREATED BY CHAPTER 1 1 8 LAWS 1969, UM, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO THE STUDENTS WHO RESIDE IN THE ST.
CHRISTOPHER'S CHILDCARE INSTITUTION.
CHRISTOPHER'S FILED FOR CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY ON APRIL 29TH, 2004.
THIS BILL WOULD ENSURE GREENBURG NORTH CASTLE UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN CONTINUE TO OPERATE IN THE EVENT ST.
CHRISTOPHER'S DISSOLVES OR TRANSFERS OWNERSHIP OF ITS PROPERTY.
INTO LAW ON, UH, ON JULY ONE, UM, THE BILL THAT'S OUTSTANDING, THAT'S PRIORITY OF THE, OF THE TOWN IS THE LEGISLATION THAT, UH, ALLOWS FOR LOCAL, UH, ADJUSTMENTS TO REAL PROPERTY ASSESSMENT BASED ON, UM, WEATHER AND OTHER, UM, EMERGENCIES.
UH, THAT BILL HAS NOT BEEN TRANSMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR YET.
I DO HAVE A MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF FINALLY ON, UH, FRIDAY, THIS FRIDAY AT THREE 30.
SO, UM, WE HAVE SUBMITTED A SUPPORT LETTER.
UM, I DO NOT KNOW THE GOVERNOR'S POSITION, BUT THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING.
I KNOW THERE'S BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT GETTING, UM, SOME, UH, INPUT AND ACTIVITY AND SUPPORT FROM, FROM TOWN RESIDENTS AND, UM, I THINK WE'LL BE BETTER SERVED WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYS.
SHE MAY SAY WE'RE INCLINED TO SIGN THIS, OR SHE MAY SAY, YOU KNOW, WE ABSOLUTELY VETOING IT, BUT I'LL HAVE A BETTER SENSE.
AFTER FRIDAY, I DID CHECK IN WITH THE THREE ASSOCIATIONS REPRESENTING ALL THE TOWNS OF MUNICIPALITIES IN NEW YORK, NIKKO NYAC, THE ASSOCIATION OF TOWNS, AND, UM, NONE
[00:40:01]
OF THEM HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT.THEY'RE ALL TAKING A NO POSITION STANCE.
IS THAT, IS THAT, UH, S 9 67 A? NO, THAT'S THE FIRST ONE.
THAT'S, IT'S REALLY THE LAST PRIORITY BILL THAT'S OUTSTANDING THAT THE GOVERNOR HASN'T, UM, HASN'T, HASN'T TAKEN ACTION ON.
UM, IT ALLOWS YOUR TOWN ASSESSOR TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS IN THE PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT FOR HOMES THAT WERE SUBSTANTIALLY, UM, DESTROYED EITHER DESTROYED OR SUBSTANTIAL INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGES DUE TO, UM, EMERGENCIES OR, UH, OR CLIMATE.
UM, IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF DESCENT WITH SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, MUNICIPALITIES IN WESTCHESTER WHO FELT LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, IF WE DO THIS, OBVIOUSLY THAT AFFECTS THE ASSESSMENT FOR OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE NOT GETTING THIS RELIEF.
SO IT DIDN'T SEEM LIKE THERE WAS UNANIMOUS SUPPORT AMONG OTHER WESTCHESTER MUNICIPALITIES, BUT FOR THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT REPRESENT THEM IN ALBANY, UM, NONE OF THEM ARE REGISTERING OPPOSITION, UH, TO THE BILL.
AND, UH, THE THREE ORGANIZATIONS FEEL IT'S LOCAL OPTION.
SO IT'S REALLY UP TO AN INDIVIDUAL MUNICIPALITY TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANNA PARTICIPATE.
SO THE BILL IS CERTAINLY A GOOD IDEA.
I KNOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT HELP THE TOWN IS, IS, IS, IS VERY INTERESTED IN, I'LL KNOW MORE AFTER FRIDAY, AND THEN WE COULD DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, HOW MUCH PRIORITY AND ACTION YOU WANNA TAKE ON IT BASED ON THE FEEDBACK I GET FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THE MUNICIPALITIES THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED BY FLOODING ARE GONNA BE MOST IN FAVOR OF THIS, AND THE ONES WHO ARE NOT, ARE NOT, THIS IS TOTALLY A LOCAL OPTION, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAVE THE ABILITY OF DOING AS MUCH OR AS LITTLE AS THEY WANT.
UM, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO, WE COULD MAKE IT MORE RESTRICTIVE IF WE WANT, UH, NOT ANYBODY OR WE CAN MAKE IT, UH, MORE GENEROUS TO PEOPLE.
IT GIVES US THE LATITUDE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
SO I GUESS AFTER FRIDAY, YOU KNOW, I'LL REPORT BACK AND THEN YOU COULD DECIDE BASED ON, UH, HOW MUCH OF A PRIORITY THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
IF I SAY TO YOU, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT COME TO A FIRM DECISION, THEN ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT FROM MUNICIPALITIES AND LOCAL HOMEOWNERS COULD HELP.
UH, IF SHE SAYS, YOU KNOW, SAVE YOUR TIME, I'M SIGNING THIS, THEN, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO WASTE OUR ENERGY ON IT.
BUT, AND DIDN'T, DID THE STATE LEGISLATURE PASS A LAW THIS YEAR THAT, UH, PROVIDES MORE FINANCIAL HELP FOR VICTIMS OF THE FLOOD FOR HURRICANE IDA? I'M NOT SURE SPECIFIC TO IDA.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO THIS IS JUST ONE ADDITIONAL INITIATIVE THAT THE STATE'S DOING, UM, TO HELP VICTIMS OF HURRICANES.
WELL, THE LAST I CHECKED, NOBODY HAD ACTUALLY FILED ANY OPPOSITION MEMOS TO IT.
UH, CHECK WITH THE ASSEMBLY MINSKY'S OFFICE.
AND THE THREE ASSOCIATIONS THAT HAVE SOME POWER IN ALBANY THAT REALLY COULD HAVE REGISTERED OPPOSITION, THAT COULD HAVE STOPPED IT HAVEN'T, WHICH IS GOOD.
UM, SO WE'LL SEE WHAT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYS.
THEY MAY SAY SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF WHAT SOME OF THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES SAYING IS, WELL, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE TAX ASSESSMENT ON THE HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE NOT BENEFITING FROM, YOU KNOW, GETTING A RELIEF.
UH, IT SHOULD ALSO BE POINTED OUT THAT SOME OF THE FAMILIES THAT, UM, WOULD BENEFIT FROM THIS ARE STILL HOMELESS FROM HURRICANE IDA AND A COUPLE YEARS ALREADY.
AND THEY SUFFERED INORDINATELY.
UM, ON THE GRANT SIDE, YOU KNOW, I'M, I I I DID NOT INCLUDE HERE ANY GRANTS THAT YOU ALREADY HAD IN PROGRESS WHEN I FIRST STARTED FEDERAL GRANTS YOU WERE ALREADY WORKING ON, YOU DID RECEIVE, UM, YOU KNOW, I'D SAY PRETTY SIGNIFICANT, UH, FEDERAL GRANT MONIES THAT CAME IN OVER 2024.
I JUST FOCUSED ON REALLY THE STUFF THAT I FOCUSED ON SINCE JOINING, UH, WHICH IS LATE IN SESSION, LIKE I SAID, BUT WE STILL WERE ABLE TO SECURE, UM, ABOUT $270,000 IN GRANT MONEY FROM THE LEGISLATURE, 250,000 FROM ASSEMBLYWOMAN SHAMSKY FOR FLOOD LITIGATION.
AND I KNOW THAT, UM, THAT, UH, YOU'VE SUBMITTED YOUR PRELIMINARY APPLICATION FOR THAT.
AS WE ALL KNOW, THOSE WERE REIMBURSEMENT GRANTS.
YOU GET REIMBURSED AS YOU SPEND THE MONEY.
AND THEN TWO SMALLER GRANTS, UH, THAT WERE AWARDED FROM THE STATE LEGISLATURE, UH, FROM THE STATE SENATE, UM, FOR THE CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AND FOR THE GREENBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND WHAT WERE THOSE GRANTS? I'M SORRY? WHAT WERE THOSE GRANTS? WHAT WERE THEY? MM-HMM.
YOU KNOW, I'D HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THE DETAILS.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT, DOES GARRETT KNOW WHAT 20, WHAT THOSE WERE, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE ACTUAL REQUEST WAS AT THE TIME? I COULD FIND OUT.
NO, WHEN IT'S THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH INVOLVEMENT.
WAS THAT PART OF THE BOND ACT THAT THEY PASSED A MATCH GRANT OR SOMETHING? NO, NO, NO, NO.
THIS WAS, THIS WAS JUST DISCRETIONARY MONEY THAT THE, UH,
[00:45:01]
STATE LEGISLATURE HAS THAT THEY DECIDED AT THE END OF SESSION IN TERMS OF, UH, DISPERSING TO MUNICIPALITIES AND, YOU KNOW, NOT-FOR-PROFITS AND, AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.IN TERMS OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS, I COULD SAY THAT IT'S NOT INSIGNIFICANT.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO GET TWO BILLS PASSED.
I'VE WORKED ON SEVERAL WHERE YOU THINK IT WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE AND IT TAKES TIME TO GET IT DONE.
UH, AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO, UH, TWO BILLS THAT, UH, WERE PRIORITIES OF THE, UM, OF THE TOWN.
ONE BEING THE RED LIGHT CAMERA BILL.
I'VE SEEN RED LIGHT CAMERA BILLS GET SLOWED DOWN.
UM, THAT TAKE CONSIDERABLY LONGER THAN YOU WOULD THINK.
WE WERE ABLE TO GET THAT DONE LAST YEAR.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS THAT BILL WAS IN THE HOPPER, IF THAT WAS THE FIRST YEAR.
BUT, UM, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THAT WAS, UH, KIND OF PIGGYBACKED ON THE COUNTY BILL, SO IT MADE IT A LITTLE EASIER.
YOU, UH, YEAH, NO, YOU KNOW, I WORKED ON THE COUNTY BILL AS WELL, AND IT'S TRUE.
YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF CREATED A PRECEDENT, BUT IT'S ALSO AN UNUSUAL SITUATION BECAUSE WESTCHESTER IS THE ONLY MUNICIPALITY, UH, WHERE A COUNTY FIRST GOT AUTHORIZATION AND THEN, YOU KNOW, TOWN OR, OR RATHER WHERE MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE AUTH, THE COUNTY GOT AUTHORIZATION AND THEN THE COUNTY CAME IN.
FOR EXAMPLE, SUFFOLK AND NASSAU, THE COUNTIES GOT IT FIRST.
IN THIS CASE, YONKERS AND WHITE PLAIN AND WHATEVER.
SO, SO IT, IT ACTUALLY WAS CAUSE FOR FOLKS IN ALBANY TO SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, UH, WITH THE COUNTY GETTING IT? SO IT DID SLOW THINGS UP.
AND THE COUNTY, IT TOOK FIVE YEARS FOR THE COUNTY TO GET ITS AUTHORIZATION.
SO, UM, SO WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT.
UM, AND HOW DID, HOW LONG DID IT TAKE FOR THE OTHER COUNTIES TO GET THE, THE OTHERS, I COULDN'T SAY I WORKED ON WESTCHESTER.
AND IT WAS FOR THAT VERY REASON BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE WAS SAYING, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? BECAUSE YOU ALREADY HAVE MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE COUNTY WHO HAVE RED LIGHT CAMERA.
NOW THE COUNTY WANTS RED LIGHT CAMERA.
THEY'RE USED TO GIVING AUTHORIZATION TO COUNTIES AND THEN MAYBE A MUNICIPALITY AFTER THE FACT COMING IN.
SO IT WAS A LITTLE BIT, UH, OUT OF ORDER.
BUT MY POINT IS, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOTHING IN ALBANY IS SIMPLE.
UM, PERRY, AND WOULD YOU BE KIND ENOUGH JUST TO GIVE A QUICK SUMMARY OF WHAT A BILL HAS TO GO THROUGH? CAN YOU DO THAT QUICKLY? SURE.
JUST SO THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHEN YOU REFER TO WATCH BILL THAT IT TAKES WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG.
AND I ALSO WANT TO JUST MENTION, YOU KNOW, THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I'LL TALK ABOUT BRIEFLY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE PROCESS IS THERE'S A LOT OF HOOPS IN ALBANY TO GET LEGISLATION PASSED.
IT'S LIKE, I TRY AND DESCRIBE IT AS IT'S LIKE A LINK CHAIN.
AND IF ANY OF THOSE CHAINS BREAK MM-HMM,
AND THERE'S ANY NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES ALONG THE WAY FOR THOSE, FOR THOSE LINKS TO BREAK.
SO EVEN SOMETHING SEEMINGLY UNCOMPLICATED OR UNCONTROVERSIAL, YOU STILL GOTTA CHECK OFF AND MAKE SURE ALL THOSE LINKS ARE MADE.
AND THAT REALLY IS THE SPONSORS AND THEIR STAFF.
AND I WILL SAY THAT WE'VE GOT NOT ONLY, YOU KNOW, VERY GOOD LEGISLATORS REPRESENTING THE COUNTY, BUT THEIR STAFF IS GREAT AND WORKING WITH THEM, VERY RESPONSIVE PEOPLE.
AND, UH, IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THIS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE DEDICATION OF THE STAFF.
SO, JUST A REAL QUICK PRIMER ON THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IN ALBANY, AS YOU KNOW, THE LEGISLATURE IS ACTUALLY, IT'S A PART-TIME LEGISLATURE, EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE REALLY DEDICATE THEMSELVES FULL-TIME TO IT.
BUT THE LEGISLATURE ITSELF IS, IS IS ONLY IN SESSION FROM JANUARY TO JUNE, AND WITHIN THAT JANUARY TO JUNE TIMEFRAME, THEY'RE ACTUALLY ONLY IN ALBANY, UM, TWO TO THREE DAYS A WEEK AT MOST.
SO WHEN YOU ADD UP THE LEGISLATIVE DAYS IN THE CALENDAR YEAR, THERE'S MAYBE 40, 45 DAYS OUT OF 365 DAYS WHEN THE LEGISLATURE'S IN SESSION AND ACTUALLY AVAILABLE AND PRESENT TO ENACT LEGISLATION.
SO ONE THING YOU'RE DOING IS YOU'RE FIGHTING THE CALENDAR, UM, AND THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS ITSELF IN ALBANY, UM, OBVIOUSLY, AND THIS IS SIMILAR TO ANY LEGISLATURE, NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, IT'S A COMMITTEE BASED SYSTEM.
IT'S A BIPARTISAN, OR NOT BIPARTISAN.
IT'S, UH, A TWO HOUSE LEGISLATURE.
SO YOU HAVE A SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY LEGISLATURE HAS TO BE INTRODUCED IN IDENTICAL FORM IN BOTH HOUSES, AND THEN IT HAS TO MAKE ITS WAY THROUGH THE COMMITTEE PROCESS.
UM, THE COMMITTEE PROCESS COULD BE A MULTI-STEP PROCESS.
FOR EXAMPLE, I BELIEVE THE RED LIGHT CAMERA BILL WAS REFERRED NOT JUST TO ONE COMMITTEE, IT WAS REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE, THEN IT WAS REFERRED TO THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE, THEN IT GOES TO THE RULES COMMITTEE IF IT'S LATE IN SESSION.
SO THERE'S VARIOUS HOOPS THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH IN ALBANY.
AND EACH ONE OF THOSE HOOPS, THERE'S NOT ONLY DIFFERENT LEGISLATORS ON THE COMMITTEES, BUT THERE'S DIFFERENT STAFF.
SO SOMETHING AS SEEMINGLY UNCONTROVERSIAL AS THE RED LIGHT CAMERA BILL, BECAUSE A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES HAVE IT IS NOT SO UNCON UH, NON-CONTROVERSIAL BECAUSE
[00:50:01]
YOU STILL HAVE TO EXPLAIN THE JUSTIFICATION TO THE STAFF ON THE VARIOUS LEVELS.SO YOU GET IT DONE IN THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
WELL, THAT'S GREAT, BUT THEN IT'S GOING TO WAYS AND MEANS, AND YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN IT TO THE STAFF THERE.
AND IN DIFFERENT CONSIDERATIONS EACH YEAH, THERE'S DIFFERENT CONSIDERATIONS AND PEOPLE ARE BUSY.
AND REALLY THE CHALLENGE IN ALBANY SOMETIMES IS NOT HOW CONTROVERSIAL AN ACT IS, BUT YOU JUST RUN THE CLOCK.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS YOU RUN THE CLOCK IS, IN ADDITION TO IT BEING A PART-TIME LEGISLATURE, NEW YORK PROBABLY HAS, IF I THINK ONLY SECOND TO CALIFORNIA IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF BILLS INTRODUCED.
UM, BUT NEW YORK, IF YOU DON'T COUNT, CALIFORNIA HAS MORE BILLS INTRODUCED THAN I THINK THE REST OF THE STATES COMBINED.
SO JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, IT'S NOVEMBER OF 2024.
SO WE'RE AT THE END OF THE 20 23, 20 24 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
THERE'LL BE A NEW SESSION STARTING IN JANUARY.
THERE'S OVER 20,000 BILLS IN THE HOPPER.
I MEAN, THE CONGRESS HAS LIKE 15,000.
AND TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA, OTHER STATES, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON IN A TWO YEAR PERIOD, EVEN SOME LARGER STATES, YOU KNOW, 750, A THOUSAND, 2000, 3000, 20,000 BILLS IS A CRAZY NUMBER.
AND IT'S GONE UP AND UP AND UP OVER THE YEARS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I COULD OFFER AN OPINION AS TO WHY I THINK THAT'S HAPPENED, BUT THERE'S JUST A LOT OF STUFF UP THERE.
SO IF YOU ARE NOT WORKING AN ISSUE, YOU'RE GONNA GET BURIED IN THE PAPER AND YOU'RE JUST GONNA FALL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PILE.
AND THAT'S WHY MOST OF WHAT I DO IS JUST MAKING SURE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING AN ISSUE CONTINUE TO WORK THE ISSUE.
BECAUSE YOU'RE PEOPLE ARE OVERWHELMED IN ALBANY.
THERE'S TOO MANY BILLS FLOATING THROUGH THE PROCESS.
THIS YEAR, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED ABOUT 700 OF THEM, OR PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY, UH, WILL SIGN PROBABLY ABOUT 700 INTO LAW.
SO, UH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ANYWHERE FROM FIVE TO 10% ACTUALLY MAKE IT INTO LAW.
IT'S NOT LIKE ONCE A BILL IS INTRODUCED, YOU SIT BACK AND YOU JUST WATCH AS IT MOVE THROUGH THROUGH THE PROCESS.
IF YOU'RE NOT PROACTIVE, YOU HAVE TO SHEPHERD IT THROUGH.
SO THAT'S REALLY THE CHALLENGE.
AND THEN OF COURSE, EVEN WHEN YOU PASS IT THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, THEN THE NEXT HURDLE IS THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.
AND SHE HAS THE ABILITY, UM, TO, AND WE ALL KNOW THIS VERY WELL, HAVING GONE THROUGH IT TO EITHER VETO, UH, APPROVE OR ADOPT CHAPTER AMENDMENTS.
SO THERE'S, UM, DIFFERENT STEPS IN THE PROCESS.
WHAT THE OTHER THING THAT MAKES ALBANY A BIT MORE CHALLENGING IS, UNLIKE OTHER LEGISLATURES, THE CONGRESS, NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL, THERE'S NO REQUIREMENT THAT BILLS HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, THERE'S NO LIMITATION ON THE NUMBER OF BILLS A LEGISLATOR CAN INTRODUCE.
SOME STATES ACTUALLY HAVE LIMITATIONS ON THE NUMBER OF BILLS THAT A LEGISLATOR CAN INTRODUCE.
THE REASON IS THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF BILLS WHERE IT BECOMES AN UNMANAGEABLE PROCESS.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S A BASIC PRIMER.
UM, THAT'S ABOUT HOW THE BILLS THANK YOU.
YOU KNOW, THE WORKS IN ALBANY.
AND AT ANY POINT DURING THAT PROCESS, ONE PERSON REALLY, AND WHEN I SAY KILL IT, IT IT, IT'S NOTHING SO DRAMATIC TO KILL IT.
IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING, WE'RE NOT GONNA, WE'VE GOT A LOT ON OUR PLATE, SO WE'RE GONNA TAKE YOUR RED LIGHT CAMERA BILL, WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU.
BUT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SOME OTHER PRIORITIES RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S A LOT OF PRIORITIES UP THERE.
AND THE PROBLEM IS THEN YOU RUN THE CLOCK OUT.
SO UNLESS YOU'RE CONSTANTLY MOVING THINGS, THAT'S REALLY THE BIG, THE BIGGER DANGER IS YOU JUST, YOU RUN THE CLOCK AND YOU HAVE TO CONTINUALLY BE SHEPHERDING THINGS THROUGH THE PROCESS.
OTHERWISE YOU JUST, YOU JUST FALL BY FALL.
BY THE WAY, I JUST WANNA MAKE ONE CODA, ONE REMARK FOR PEOPLE TO DON'T THINK THAT THE, THE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE MEMBERS DON'T WORK FROM, FROM JUNE UNTIL JANUARY.
THAT THEY, THEY DO, THEY'RE IN DISTRICT, UM, WORKING, UH, CONSTITUENTS AND, AND ISSUES.
SO COMPLETELY, BUT THE, BUT THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY PASS LEGISLATION.
IT'S SORT OF A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE VOLUME OF BILLS THAT ARE PROPOSED AND THE SHORT CALENDAR.
AND I, AND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT AMENDING THE STATE CONSTITUTION.
AND WE SHOULD BE MEETING AGREED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND IT'S, IT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE THAT WE HAVE THE WORST OF BOTH WORLDS.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE ACTIVITY OF A FULL-TIME LEGISLATURE, BUT WE HAVE THE LOGISTICS OF A PART-TIME LEGISLATURE.
AND IT IS REALLY CHALLENGING BECAUSE THERE'S JUST SO MANY THINGS, SO MANY BILLS IN, IN THE, IN THE HOP.
UM, SO ALSO, CAN WE LOBBY FOR THAT? YEAH.
I MEAN, THERE WAS THAT INITIATIVE ON THE BALLOT TO INCREASE, YOU KNOW, COUNTY LEGISLATIVE SEATS FROM TWO TO FOUR YEARS.
PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO REALIZE, YOU KNOW, GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO BE REFORMED, THERE NEEDS TO BE CHANGES AND UPDATES AND TIMES HAVE CHANGED, AND COMMUNICATIONS HAVE CHANGED THE GAME AND SMARTPHONES, AND WE JUST NEED TO BE STEPPING
[00:55:01]
UP.THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM TOO, IS EVERYONE HAS A SMARTPHONE NOW.
EVERYBODY, NOT EVERYBODY, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WEIGHING IN FURTHER CONFUSION, FURTHER DELAY, FURTHER REASONS FOR LEGISLATORS NOT TO, YOU KNOW, ACT ON AN ISSUE.
SO, UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT COULD BE CHALLENGING.
CAN WE DISCUSS A COUPLE OF THE INITIATIVES THAT YOU WERE INTERESTED IN PURSUING GOING FORWARD FOR NEXT YEAR? UH, SURE.
SO WE WANNA, THESE ARE THE THOUGHTS PART OF OUR CONVERSATION.
YOU WANNA DISCUSS THAT? THAT'S GONNA BE OUR PART OF OUR OTHER CONVERSATION.
MAYBE THAT'S, THAT'S BETTER FOR THE NEXT PIECE OF IT.
THAT'S SOME REALLY EXCITING THINGS, BUT FINE.
UH, AND THEN JUST ON THE ELECTIONS, THE ENTIRE WESTCHESTER DELEGATION WAS REELECTED.
UH, BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING AND WHAT'S RELEVANT IS REALLY NOTHING THAT'S HAPPENED ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL, EVEN THOUGH THAT HAS CHANGED, THE POLITICAL DYNAMIC HAS HAPPENED IN NEW YORK.
SO THE POLITICAL EQUATION IN NEW YORK IS REALLY THE SAME, EVEN THOUGH, UH, THE SENATE IS NO LONGER A VETO PROOF, UH, MAJORITY, THEY LOST ONE SEAT.
THE POLITICAL DYNAMIC IN, IN NEW YORK IS THE SAME.
DEMOCRATS ARE IN CHARGE OF BOTH HOUSES, THE GOVERNOR.
UH, SO THE, YOU KNOW, METHOD OF OPERATION IN TERMS OF HOW WE APPROACH THE LEGISLATURE HASN'T BEEN AFFECTED BY THE, BY THE, BY THE, UH, NATIONAL, UH, ELECTIONS.
ACTUALLY EVEN BETTER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD.
UM, WHICH, YOU KNOW, SO NEW YORK IS STILL A LITTLE EXTRA PROTECTION.
AND I'LL JUST CLOSE ALSO SAYING WITH A NEW SESSION NEXT YEAR, UM, NEW MEMBERS ARE BEING SEATED.
THERE'VE BEEN A NUMBER OF RETIREMENTS, CHAIRS OF SOME OF THE MAJOR COMMITTEES WILL CHANGE.
AND THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE WAYS AND MEANS.
COMMITTEE CHAIR, HELENE WEINSTEIN CHAIR FOR A VERY LONG PERIOD OF TIME RETIRED.
SO, UH, THERE'LL BE A NEW CHAIR THERE.
YOU KNOW, OUR GOOD FRIEND GARY RELOW, RIGHT.
UH, HAS EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN THAT SEAT.
HE'S PROBABLY THE THIRD MOST SENIOR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE NOW.
SO BASED ON SENIORITY ALONE, HE'S A CONTENDER.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY GOOD FOR WESTCHESTER IF HE BECOMES CHAIR OF THE, OF THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.
AND AT THAT POINT, THERE'D BE A REAL SIGNIFICANT POWER CENTER IN WESTCHESTER.
YOU'D HAVE CENTER STEWART COUSINS.
AND IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN, YOU KNOW, GARY KRETLOW, CHAIR OF WAYS AND MEANS, THERE'S A LOT OF, THERE'S A LOT OF POLITICAL POWER IN WESTCHESTER.
AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF STRONG PEOPLE IN THE ASSEMBLY AND HE HEADS UP THAT YEAH.
AND WE'VE GOT A GR WE HAVE A GREAT DELEGATION.
WE HAVE REALLY INTELLIGENT, CARING PEOPLE WHO ARE, ARE HARD WORKING, SO DEVOTED AND DEDICATED.
IT'S A, IT'S, IT'S, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR QUITE A WHILE.
WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD GROUP RIGHT NOW.
IT'S, IT'S REALLY GREAT WORKING WITH THEM.
I JUST HAD A QUESTION FOR AMANDA IN TERMS OF JUST THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW, BECAUSE, UM, I'M SORT OF WONDERING IF PEOPLE ARE GONNA COMPLAIN IF, YOU KNOW, WE WANNA TALK ABOUT LEGISLATIVE OBJECTIVES AND IF IT'S NOT LITIGATION OR THINGS THAT ARE AUTHORIZED BY, IN THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW WHEN WE HAVE TO DISCUSS THIS IN OPEN MEETING, IN THE OPEN SESSION.
SO I'M NOT GONNA HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU ON THE SPOT FOR THAT, BUT I CAN LOOK INTO IT IF YOU WANNA HOLD THINGS OVER, THAT'S YOUR CONCERN.
UM, I JUST DON'T, I JUST SORT OF, I BELIEVE JOE LOOKED INTO ALL OF THIS WHEN SETTING UP THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
SO IF YOU WOULD HAVE A JUSTIFICATION FOR THAT, WHICH I CAN GIVE TO YOU.
UM, BUT THAT DOESN'T PRECLUDE US HAVING AGREEMENT ON WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS AND THEN BRINGING IT FORWARD IN OPEN SESSION.
IT'S JUST RIGHT NOW, WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY DISCUSSION AMONGST ALL THE BOARD MEMBERS ABOUT ANY OF THE THOUGHTS AND IDEAS.
SO TO, TO START TALKING ABOUT THEM GIVE, MIGHT GIVE A FALSE SENSE OF THINGS HAPPENING OR PURSUE THAT FOR OTHER REASONS.
THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE FIND OUT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ARE NOT, ARE PRECLUDED LEGALLY.
SO JUST LEGAL, LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS, WHY WE MAY OR MAY NOT.
SO BETTER TO HASH IT OUT FIRST AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST YEAH.
WHY THE REASON FOR THE EXECUTIVE SE THE REASON FOR THE EXECUTIVE SESSION IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE PAY A LOBBYIST FOR A REASON AND HE HAS INFORMATION AS TO WHERE SOME POTS OF MONEY MAY BE.
IF WE'RE KELLY IN THE WORLD WHERE THOSE POTS OF MONEY MAY BE, WE NOW HAVE COMPETITION FOR THOSE POTS OF MONEY, UH, OVER OUR LOBBYIST
I JUST, SO LET'S FIND OUT, LET'S FIND OUT WHAT IT IS AND IF IT IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DISCLOSED, WE'LL DISCLOSE IT.
BUT WE DON'T WANT TO, WE DON'T WANT TO, UM, LOSE A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OVER SOME LEGISLATION THAT WE MIGHT BE FINE TO IMPOSE.
[01:00:01]
THANK YOU, FRANCIS.I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE CLOSE THE, CAN WE THANK PERRY FIRST BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT? SHE JUST DID.
I MEAN, THANK YOU PERRY FROM ALL OF US.
ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOU'RE SO INFORMATIVE AND YOU REALLY GIVE US BACK SO MUCH.
IT REALLY PARTICIPATE IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW VALUABLE YOU ARE.
AND SO YOUR EXPLANATION WAS VERY HELPFUL.
AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE A REALLY GOOD TEAM.
YOU MET ANNA, SHE WAS WITH ME LAST TIME.
AND THERE'S SEVERAL OTHER FOLKS ON THE TEAM.
A NEW PERSON WHO'S COMING IN WHO YOU'LL MEET STARTING IN DECEMBER.
UM, SO IT'S, IT IS A REALLY GOOD TEAM THAT I HAVE.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY DESERVE AS MUCH CREDIT AS, AS I DO.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE THANK YOU.
I'D LIKE TO, I COULD ADD TO THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAD AN EXPERIENCE WITH, UH, ANOTHER LOBBYIST.
AND, UH, PERRY, YOU KNOW, REALLY SHOWED US WHAT A LOBBYIST, UH, SHOULD AND CAN DO.
AND HE KEEPS US INFORMED ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW, GIVING US UPDATES AS TO WHERE BILLS ARE IN THE PROCESS, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT BILLS THAT, UH, WE'RE SPONSORING.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THE TOWN.
AND, YOU KNOW, FOR HIM, THIS REALLY IS A FULL-TIME JOB.
AND, UM, I COULDN'T BE MORE THRILLED THAT, UH, HE'S, HE'S WORKING FOR THE TOWN.
I WANTED TO GIVE YOU SOME MUSIC JUST TO CLOSE YOU OUT.
SO I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR THE PURPOSES OF DISCUSSING PERSONNEL MATTERS INVOLVING SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS ON TO SEEK LEGAL ADVICE ON VARIOUS MATTERS.