JULY 27, 2020
The fourteenth regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lakewood, N.Y., was held Monday, July 27, 2020, 6:30 pm, with Mayor Randall G. Holcomb presiding. Trustees present were Ellen E. Barnes, R. Richard Fischer and Douglas L. Schutte. Trustee Edward J. McCague and Fire Chief Kurt Hallberg who participated through Zoom.us. Also present were Village Clerk Mary B. Currie, Village Treasurer Apryl L. Troutman. Absent were DPW Supervisor Thomas R. Pilling, Chief John R. Bentley, Village Attorney John I. LaMancuso and Building Inspector Jeffrey A. Swanson.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by Trustee Barnes, seconded by Trustee Fischer, to approve the minutes of the last regular meeting of the Board of Trustees held July 13, 2020.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Fischer, McCague, Schutte)
AUDIT OF CLAIMS
Motion by Trustee Schutte, seconded by Trustee Barnes, that the claims as audited by the Auditing Committee of the abstracts dated July 13, 2020, be approved and that the Clerk shall execute said abstracts (#5 & #7) and direct payment by the Treasurer. Trust & Agency Fund: $ 46,057.12, (Checks #5078 and #5079), General Fund: $ 30,717.39, (Checks #16953 through #16957).
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Fischer, McCague, Schutte)
Motion by Trustee Fischer, seconded by Trustee McCague, that the claims as audited by the Auditing Committee of the abstracts dated July 27, 2020, be approved and that the Clerk shall execute said abstracts (#9 & #9) and direct payment by the Treasurer. Trust & Agency Fund: $ 45.133.13, (Checks #5086 and #5087), General Fund: $ 67,147.05, (Checks #17008 through #17048).
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Fischer, McCague, Schutte)
REPORTS
Mayor Randall Holcomb began his report by saying he attended the on-line session of the Chautauqua Lake Water Quality Panel on July 18th, adding it was a great presentation and was very informative. He then thanked the Jefferson Project, Fredonia State University and Bowling Green State University for their presentation.
Mayor Holcomb thanked the History Museum and Historian Susan Lane as well as Trustee Richard Fischer for having the Veterans’ memorial plaque refurbished and indicated it will soon be placed back on the base of the flagpole at Veterans’ Park.
Mayor Holcomb thanked DPW Supervisor Thomas Pilling for painting the base of the flag pole and planting a garden around it as well.
Mayor Holcomb congratulated Town of Busti Clerk Darlene Nygren on recently being awarded the Chautauqua County Municipal Clerks highest award as Clerk of the Year for 2020-2021.
Mayor Holcomb also wished Village Clerk Mary B. Currie a happy birthday.
Department of Public Works Supervisor Thomas R. Pilling reported all DPW operations are proceeding as scheduled.
Police Chief John R. Bentley submitted the Lakewood-Busti Police Department’s Incident Analysis Report saying they had three hundred seventy-one incidents for the period of July 13, 2020 to July 27, 2020.
Fire Chief Kurt Hallberg submitted his report for the Lakewood Fire Department stating there has been four hundred eighty-six alarms year to date.
Chief Hallberg said the Lakewood Fire Department would like to thank Mr. Bill Uhl, owner of SERVPRO of Jamestown-Olean, for disinfecting both the Fire Department ambulances, from top to bottom, as a donation for the safety of their members and all the residents the Fire Department serves.
Chief Hallberg said he would also like to thank DPW Supervisor Thomas Pilling for his work he did on the NYSERDA grant. He indicated they have finished installing the new boiler system which replaces the thirteen year old hot water tank. The new boiler will heat water for the heaters in the entry way, EMS supply room and maintenance room. He noted that the NYSERDA grant also funded the purchase of new compressors in two drinking fountains, which needed replacement.
Chief Hallberg then thanked the Board of Trustees for their continued support of the Lakewood Fire Department.
Village Treasurer Apryl L. Troutman reported the village has received a check from National Grid in the amount of $ 22,745.00 for a street light incentive and a check from the Chautauqua Lake Partnership in the amount of $ 17,221.63 for the 2020 herbicide program.
RESOLUTION #117-2020 – OBTAIN AN OPINION OF VALUE OF VILLAGE OWNED PROPERTIES
Motion by Trustee Schutte, seconded by Trustee Barnes, to obtain an opinion of value for the 50 ft. portion on Midcrest Ave., that was a request to purchase by Ms. Elizabeth Snow and the paper street, Gorden Ave., which was a request to purchase 25 ft. by Mr. Bruce Moran and Mr. Michael Moran and to purchase 25 ft. by Mr. Jim Bogdan.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Fischer, McCague, Schutte)
RESOLUTION #118-2020 – AUTHORIZE BUDGET TRANSFER
Motion by Trustee Barnes, seconded by Trustee Fischer, that the Board of Trustees authorize Village Treasurer Apryl L. Troutman to make a $4,862.00 budget transfer from A-9060.80 {Hospital & Medical Insurance} to A-9060.81 {Insurance Buy-Outs} to account for Police Officer Matthew Lundsten’s medical insurance buy-out per Article X, Section 4 of the current labor agreement between the Village of Lakewood and the CSEA, AFL-CIO.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Fischer, McCague, Schutte)
RESOLUTION #119-2020 AUTHORIZE FUND TRANSFER
Motion by Trustee Fischer, seconded by Trustee Barnes, to authorize Village Treasurer Apryl L. Troutman to transfer, $ 31.71 from Trust & Agency Account T1093.15 {Farmers’ Market Fund} to General Fund A8510.40 {Community Beautification – Contractual} to pay Farmers’ Market expenditures.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Fischer, McCague, Schutte)
DISCUSSION ON THE ABANDONMENT OF PAPER STREETS
The Lakewood Fire Company submitted a request asking the Board of Trustees to abandon the paper Streets Harlem Ave. and Glenwood Ave. from East Summit St. south to the railroad tracks that presently runs through the Fire Company’s property.
Trustee Ted McCague indicated this request had been brought up years ago and thought it had been turned down but couldn’t remember the reason why.
Chief Hallberg said he did not recall that but would look into it.
Trustee Barnes asked Chief Hallberg if he knows what the purpose of requesting the property would be.
Chief Hallberg indicated the paper streets they are requesting go right though the property the Fire Company owns, there is no use for the property to anyone other than the Fire Company.
Trustee McCague asked Chief Hallberg if there have ever been any problems arise because of the village owning those paper streets.
Trustee Schutte asked if there are any utilities on either of the paper streets.
Chief Hallberg said he does not recall any problems and believes there are no utilities.
Trustee McCague asked Chief Hallberg if by saying “abandon” does that mean the Fire Company wants the village to give the streets to them.
Chief Hallberg said he thought that is what has been done in the past, but if he feels they should purchase them then the village would have to set a price. He said the Fire Company just donated over a million dollar ladder truck to the village for village use and indicated the property is useless to the village. Chief Hallberg said the Village and Fire Company need to work together.
RESOLUTION #120-2020 – TABLE REQUEST TO ABANDON PAPER STREETS
Motion by Trustee McCague, seconded by Trustee Barnes, to table any action on the request from the Lakewood Fire Company to abandon paper streets, Harlem Ave. and Glenwood Ave. from East Summit St. south to the railroad tracks until further information is obtained by the Village Attorney.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Fischer, McCague, Schutte)
RESOLUTION #121-2020 – SET TIME & DATE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING
Motion by Trustee Barnes, seconded by Trustee Fischer, to set 6:45 PM, Monday, August 10, 2020, as the time and date for the Board of Trustees to conduct a public hearing to approve a Special Use permit as submitted by Mr. Jimmy La, requesting the approval to serve wine and beer at Luxe Spa, 279 E. Fairmount Ave.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Fischer, McCague, Schutte)
RESOLUTION #122-2020 – SET TIME & DATE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING
Motion by Trustee Barnes, seconded by Trustee Schutte, to set 6:50 PM, Monday, August 10, 2020, as the time and date for the Board of Trustees to conduct a public hearing to consider Site Plan Review as submitted by Ms. Lori Thierfeldt, Madmar Development Corp. to approve the construction of a professional office building at 341-343 E. Fairmount Ave.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Fischer, McCague, Schutte)
ANYONE TO BE HEARD
Ms. Susan Lane, Village Historian, said since the pandemic the History Museum has not had many visitors. She said instead of opening the museum every Saturday in August she would like to open on August 8th and August 22nd from 10 AM – 12 PM. If the museum is busy on August 22nd she would then open the museum on the Saturday over Labor Day weekend.
Ms. Lane said she would like to have the dates and times posted on the village web-site as well as in the briefly section of the Post Journal.
Mr. Michael Looker asked to be updated on the merging of the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Planning Board.
Mayor Holcomb indicated he has been in contact with all but two of the members of both boards and he is continuing to pursue the idea.
RECESS
Motion by Trustee Fischer, seconded by Trustee Barnes, to recess the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees at 7:02 PM, so as to enter into executive session to discuss Police Contract Negotiations.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Present at the executive session were Mayor Randall G. Holcomb, Trustee Ellen E. Barnes, Trustee Edward J. McCague. Trustee Douglas L. Schutte, Trustee R. Richard Fischer, Village Clerk Mary B. Currie and Village Treasurer Apryl L. Troutman.
EXECUTIVE SESSION (Adjournment)
Motion by Trustee Barnes, seconded by Trustee Schutte and unanimously carried to adjourn the executive session and regular Board of Trustees meeting at 7:38 PM.
___________________________
Mary B. Currie
Village Clerk
