Minutes for the Village Board Meeting on Tuesday, February 6th, 2024
The regular meeting of the Village of Galway Board was held on February 6, 2024 at 5212 South Street. Present were: AM Best, Trustees DiLeva and Hyde, Clerk-Treasurer Ruman and Attorney John Sutton. AM Best called themeeting to order at 6:37 PM. Minutes were read and a motion to approve as read was made by Trustee DiLeva and seconded by Trustee Hyde. Carried.
Treasurer’s Report
- Receipts-$3,579.26,
- Disbursements-$1,559.24,
- Checking-$78,870.77,
- Savings-$48,553.66 (with $7.34 of interest added),
- Grand Total-S127,424.43.
Motion to accept Treasurer’s Report made by AM Best and seconded by Trustee DiLeva. Carried.
Correspondence
- Budget request from Galway Seniors.
- Letter from Selective Insurance regarding changes in coverage for 2024-2025.
Code Enforcement
- No estimate yet regarding the computer software for Enforcement Officer Concilla. Clerk-Treasurer Ruman will talk to Code Enforcement Officer Concilla about the digitalization of the village zoning laws.
OLD BUSINESS
- AM Best spoke with Acting Town Supervisor JDArnold about the state of the comprehensive plan and he said it should be completed soon. The input is all in.
- More input is being collected regarding the purchase of Christmas decorations for the village street light poles. The decorations would need hangers.
- Attorney Sutton gave a report and recommendation regarding 5254 North Street. HUD responded that they would reach out to their asset manager to add the home to the Registry of Vacant properties and requested the name of the person that should be contacted to schedule an inspection. AM Best’s name was provided. NYS’s response was that the mortgage company is conforming to the law regarding the property. The government owns the mortgage lien although the recorded owner is a trust which holds many mortgages in behalf of private investors and the paperwork has not been done to move with foreclosure. Attorney Sutton is recommending that the village start preparing for a proceeding under RPAPL Section 19 which is a special proceeding allowing a Village, Town or City to claim the title to an abandoned residence. Preparation for the proceeding would take the shape of more “notices” to interested parties after we make a determination that the real property is “abandoned” as defined by the statute. RPAPL S 19-(b)states that the vacant dwelling has to be sealed or continuously guarded. It has to be revenue neutral which makes an inspection extremely important. The next step would be to put pressure on the bank. Village could take over property. Jay Fitzgerald would like to see the condition of the property AM Best stated. Would he be able to accompany the owner’s rep as well if he signed a waiver? Code Enforcement Concilla would go to inspect as well. Attorney Sutton is suggesting an hourly rate of $125 if the board decides to move forward on this.
- AM Best gave an update on the Traffic Light/Battery Back Up System situation. AM Best met with the Town of Milton and saw their light system. They are using generators with adaptors which are running about $1,000. Village could buy one for our light. Checking with Galway Fire on this. The Back-up Battery System which requires an engineering plan with estimated cost of$12-15,000 is currently not being used in our area. AM Best is still gathering more info.
- The storm drain issue is hard to address in this weather and AM Best will call the companies to take a look when the weather improves. AM Best urged Board members to attend the next Town of Galway meeting on February 13 to keep up the relationship that has been established recently.
NEW BUSINESS
- AM Best met with other local officials at the Kesselring Site to discuss the re-opening of a shooting range to train the new soldiers (numbering a couple thousand) coming in. They are reaching out to the areas around the site to make them aware of the shootingactivity that will be occurring. They have prepared a lot of info that will be going out into the communities.
- On January 22 AM Best attended a meeting with Saratoga County about the hazardous mitigation/emergency preparedness plan. They have a survey that needs to be completed by February 23.
- Clerk-Treasurer Ruman spoke with Court Clerk Marlene Neahr regarding the additional information that the Court system is requesting for our Justice Court Audit to be considered complete.
- Clerk-Treasurer Ruman presented the Galway Public Library as the location for the March 9 Voter Registration Day and March 19 Election. The name of Rebecca Mitchel was presented for an election inspector. One more inspector is needed. AM Best made a motion to hold the Village Registration Day, March 9, 2024 from 12:00 Noon -5:00 PM and the Election, March 19, 2024 from 12:00 Noon-9:00 PM at the Galway Public Library and to appoint Rebecca Mitchel as an election inspector. Trustee DiLeva seconded the motion. Carried.
- Clerk-Treasurer Ruman reminded board members that the preliminary 2024-2025 Budget will be discussed at the March meeting.
- Clerk-Treasurer Ruman asked that the regrading of the village park be paid from ARPA funds. AM Best made a motion that the cost of regrading thevillage park be paid from the ARPA funding the village has received. Trustee DiLeva seconded the motion. Carried.
Abstract No. 9 totaling $5,560.45 was presented for approval and payment.
No further business, AM Best adjourned the meeting at 7:48 PM.
The next meeting will be held on March 5, 2024 at 6:30 PM.