Minutes for the Village Board Meeting on Tuesday, April 4th, 2024
The Budget Hearing and Regular Meeting of the Village of Galway Board was held on April 4, 2024 at 5212 South Street. Present were: Mayor Best, Trustees DiLeva and Hyde, Clerk
Treasurer Ruman, Special Counsel Sutton and village resident Catherine Hunt. Mayor Best
called the Budget Hearing to order at 6: 17 PM.
Proposed Budget 2024-2025
The Proposed 2024-2025 Budget was presented for review. Resident asked why there is no village tax collected. All taxes are collected by the Town of Galway. Possible areas of
consideration for budget: charging station in the village, speed monitor for North and South
Streets. There was a discussion with the Town of Galway about the village court and possibly having all tickets, etc. be handled by the town. We will discuss this going forward.
Changes in the expenditures include:
- Administrative Leases was increased by $300.00,
- Zoning Admin was increased by $560.00,
- Legal was increased by $1500.00,
- Insurance was decreased by $1,850.00,
- NYS & Local Retirement was decreased by $600 and
- Fire was increased by $250.00.
Changes in Revenues include:
- Sales Tax increase of $2,500.00,
- Utilities increase of $200.00,
- Use of Money increase of$700.00,
- Permits increase of $100.00, and
- Fines and Forfeitures decrease of $750.00.
Mayor Best closed the Budget Hearing at 6:31 PM.
Mayor Best called the regular meeting to order at 6:31 PM. Village business owner Jay
Fitzgerald was present for the regular meeting. 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-$4,037.85,
- Disbursements-$3,973.52,
- Checking-$79,323.24,
- Savings-$48,553.24
- Grand Total-$127,876.90.
Motion to accept Treasurer’s Report made by Mayor Best and Seconded by Trustee DiLeva. Carried.
Correspondence
Announcement of Yellow Ribbon Day Donation Drive by Office of the Saratoga County Clerk. Will post on village website.
Code Enforcement
Request for building permit to put a new roof on residence located at 2067 East Street, Lot #17. Will meet on Friday to discuss zoning laws.
OLD BUSINESS
- Special Counsel Sutton reported on progress regarding 5254 North Street. He has reconsidered starting lawsuit to gain entrance. An alternate proposal would be a letter from Attorney Sutton declaring the property abandoned and that we believe that the conditions of the property threaten the safety ofresidents of the area and provide an attractive nuisance to the neighborhood. If we believe it is an emergency we can access the building according to NYStatute 1308-(8)(a). We can request a report from the company about the condition of the property to gain entrance. The village needs to have a good idea of what they are getting into before we move forward. It has been estimated that demolition of the building could be around $40,000. Code Enforcement Officer Concilla sent photos to Attorney Sutton. Mayor Best asked what the time frame should be for this action. Attorney Sutton said a reasonable amount of time from the village’s stand point. April 30 was decided upon as a reasonable amount of time. Only the language “reasonable time” will be used in the letter. Ms. Hunt asked for some background on the situation at 5254 North Street. Mayor Best explained that the resident passed in 2011. No family action was taken and the mortgage lien holder has done nothing to try to sell the property. Mayor Best made a motion that the Village Board has determined that the condition of the premises threatens the safety of the neighbors in the area as well as the general public and immediate repairs are necessary to provide protection and that the information set forth in Attorney Sutton’s letter is approved to be sent to U.S. Bank National Association as Trustee for the RMAC Trust. Trustee DiLeva seconded the motion. Carried. Attorney Sutton asked that Village Attorney De Vall and Code Enforcement Officer Concilla be contacted. Attorney De Vall has been contacted.
- Comprehensive Plan Update-Information will be available at the Galway Firehouse during their steak sandwich dinner fund raiser on April 26th and there will be a public meeting at the Galway Town Hall on April 30th from 6:30-8:30. The draft plan will be submitted on May 21st and meetings will follow to adopt the final plan. The results of the Village survey will go on the village website. Mayor Best will write up the summary.
- The Saratoga County Hazard Mitigation Meeting was cancelled. The committee will contact people with the info and Mayor Best will give an update at the next meeting.
- Cost of purchasing house numbers is $1.50 for each number. We can go door to door to see if residents want them. There are only a few houses without them.
- Mayor Best gave an update on the cost and number of brackets that will be needed for the banners that are nnder discussion. The Cost is $80.00 for the 2 brackets needed for each pole. There are 20 poles.
- Jacque Godbout (Kenyon Brothers Landscaping) will be starting on the gazebo roof as soon as the weather permits.
- Lori Graaf was happy to move the Booster Club coin drop to Labor Day weekend.
NEW BUSINESS
- Trustee DiLeva will contact Dan Nagle to get information on the flags and brackets he will need this year for the poles.
- Mayor Best met with Town of Galway Supervisor JD Arnold to discuss village concerns including the removal of the signs that say “Welcome to the Town of Galway” at the village limits on Route 147 and County Route 45. He will take care of the removal of the signs.
- There was also discussion pertaining to the Village Justice Court’s future.
- Two electronic waste recycling events are happening in April and have been posted on the Village’s Facebook page. Dates are April 13th (accepting TVs) and April 27th (not accepting TVs).
- Mayor Best is getting the details on putting an ornamental signpost up that identifies East, West, North and South Streets at the South-West comer of the Village Park. ARPA funds could be used.
- Ms. Hunt asked if the minutes could be posted soon after each meeting in draft form to inform residents of what is going on in a more timely manner.
- Trustee Hyde made a motion to adopt the Proposed 2024-2025 Budget with the increase in the Zoning Admin line to $1,640.00. Trustee DiLeva seconded the motion. Carried.
Abstract No. 11 totaling $2,857.70 was submitted for approval and payment. No further business. Mayor Best adjourned the meeting at 7:50 PM.