VILLAGE of GREENWOOD LAKE

BOARD MEETING

WORKSHOP

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2022

 

VILLAGE OF GREENWOOD LAKE

PO BOX 7, 18 CHURCH STREET

GREENWOOD LAKE, NY 10925

 

Mayor Jesse Dwyer called to order the Village Board Workshop Meeting at 6:35pm on October 17, 2022, for the Village of Greenwood Lake located at 18 Church Street in Greenwood Lake, NY.

 

The following persons were present:

  • Mayor Jesse Dwyer
  • Deputy Mayor Kelli Kelm
  • Trustee Thomas Howley
  • Trustee Chad Sellier
  • Trustee Nancy Clifford
  • Village Attorney John Buckheit

 

CORRESPONDENCE: 

  • Letter from resident at account # 31518 requesting partial relief from water bill due to a leak.

All board members have reviewed the letter from the resident, bill from plumber who repaired the leak, and the water usage history and had no further questions.

  • Letter from Township of West Milford – Ordinance 2022-36
  • Letter from Township of West Milford – Ordinance 2022-42
  • Letter from Township of West Milford – Ordinance 2022-44
  • Letter from Township of West Milford – Ordinance 2022-47

Mayor Dwyer stated that the Township of West Milford, NJ, has seen a lot of interest in the new marijuana laws regarding dispensaries.  He also mentioned that there is a new supermarket opening in West Milford in the old A&P location and they are hosting a job fair.

 

OLD BUSINESS

The Centennial Planning Committee: The first meeting on October 26, 2022.  Trustees are encouraged to attend.  The next meeting will be on November 14, 2022.  Mary Collura, who ran the Warwick sesquicentennial celebration in Warwick, will be in attendance at that meeting to offer guidance.  The Village of Greenwood Lake will celebrate its centennial in 2024.

17A Sidewalk Project: Concrete has been poured in order to meet grant deadlines. The following obstacles have been encountered and overcome thus far: the location of the catch basin was changed mid-project due to an existing water line; an old gas line was uncovered, tested, and removed; the Greenwood Lake Garden Center had to amend their plans for their entrance and exit in order to accommodate the new sidewalk; traffic has increased in an already busy area.

Water Quality: Testing has occurred every month since the village received the violation for excessive trihalomethanes, and levels are consistently declining without remediation. Levels are now at the “passing” level.

DEC MS4: The village’s report was filed but the DEC did not have it on file.  Matter is now resolved.

Audio-Visual Equipment PEG Grant: The village had received a $10,000 grant from Optimum-Altice to update audio-visual equipment in the courthouse.  New equipment should be installed in the next month or two in order to broadcast meetings to constituents.

Independent Water Quality Analysis: On September 28, 2022, a scientist from Delaware Engineering performed sampling and samples were sent to labs all over the country. Samples included sediment from the lake bottom and all various levels of the water column.  These tests are being performed in order to determine the overall health and quality of the lake currently and as compared to samples taken over the last ten years, including the effect of herbicides.  The mayor also commented that the analysis will also help determine if lake water would be a viable drinking water source and what would be required to make it potable.  There is no financial implication to the village taxpayers for this analysis, as the Lake Commission is paying the entirety of the cost with grant monies that it has secured from Orange County. The Lake Commission also paid for the weed harvesting that was performed over the summer.  As soon as the study is complete, it will be provided to the Village Board as well as the Lake Commission.

Leaf and Brush Pick-up:  The Village of Florida has started weekly leaf and brush pick up on Thursdays using their garbage truck.  They were able to complete the entire route in two and half hours on their very first week, as compared to our DPW working for three days in a mason dump previously.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Residential Leaf Drop-Off: The leaf and brush drop-off site behind DPW is open every Saturday from 8am to 12pm for residents.

Lake Commission Appointment: Mayor Dwyer proposed that Matthew Veth be appointed to replace John Graham.  The Village Board agreed with the mayor’s proposal.

Energy Costs: As energy costs have been relatively low for the past ten years, costs are 100% greater than they were a year ago with no change in sight.  The village is currently out for bid for an energy provider in order to be cost effective.  All three of the bids we have received are more expensive than Orange & Rockland’s costs.   The mayor suggested with guidance that we stay with Orange & Rockland until April but lock into a six-month contract now with another provider which will not take effect until April of 2023, for a rate of 9 cents per kilowatt hour.  The Village Board agreed.

Village Logo:  The Board would like to update and tighten up the proposed village logo.  Each member contributed various comments and opinions.

 

RESOLUTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:

#21 of 2022/2023 – Authorizes the Village Clerk to:

1A) Create a budget line item to receive the DASNY grant in the amount of $70,000.00 to line item A3120.418.

1B) Budget transfer from A3120.100 to A3120.418

 

Mayor Dwyer explained that the village needs to demonstrate that the village had funds available and budgeted to purchase body cameras and equipment, which will be reimbursed by New York State.

#18 of 2022/2023 – Authorizes the clerk to make the reduction to half the water charge on water bill 310518.

No discussion.

#19 of 2022/2023 – Authorizes the Halloween Curfew for October 30th and 31st, 2022 at 8 pm for anyone under the age of 18. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

No discussion.

#20 of 2022/2023 – Authorizes the Village Clerk to renew that following ban at the current rate. $63,600 – for the two 2020 Ford Explorer police cars.

 

No discussion.

 

Village Board Workshop adjourned at 7:18pm.