October 24, 2022
The twentieth regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Lakewood, N.Y., was held, Monday, October 24, 2022, 6:30 PM, with Mayor Randall G. Holcomb presiding. Trustees present were Ellen E. Barnes, R. Richard Fischer, Nancy W. Jones and Benjamin J. Troche. Also present were Village Clerk Mary B. Currie, Village Treasurer Apryl L. Troutman, Police Chief Christopher A. DePonceau, Village Attorney John I. LaMancuso, Fire Chief Kurt Hallberg and Building Inspector Jeff Swanson. Absent was DPW Supervisor Thomas R. Pilling. A work session was held with no action taken.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by Trustee Troche, seconded by Trustee Jones, to approve the minutes of the last regular meeting of the Board of Trustees held October 11, 2022.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Fischer, Jones, Troche)
AUDIT OF CLAIMS
Motion by Trustee Barnes, seconded by Trustee Jones, that the claims as audited by the Auditing Committee of the abstracts dated October 24, 2022, be approved and that the Clerk shall execute said abstracts and direct payment by the Treasurer. Abstracts (#22 & #22) Trust & Agency Fund: $ 65,655.59, (checks #6977 thru 6979), General Fund: $ 151,028.67, (checks #19232 thru #19268).
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Fischer, Jones, Troche)
REPORTS
DPW Supervisor Thomas R. Pilling submitted a written report stating the “Rake for the Lake” program for this year has been completed and the DPW will be picking up leaves throughout the village beginning Monday, October 31st. He also reported the equipment for the new playground at Hartley Park was delivered this morning and the DPW assisted on the delivery.
Mayor Holcomb thanked Dr. Rudy Mueller for putting the “Rake the Lake” program together.
Police Chief Christopher A. DePonceau reported the Lakewood-Busti Police Department has had three hundred thirty incidents from October 10, 2022 to October 24, 2022 which included eighty-seven business checks, five disorderly people, five domestic disputes, five larceny complaints, twelve vehicle accidents, fourteen property checks, twenty-four vehicle stops, eighteen shoplifting incidents, nineteen warrants were either entered or processed and noted the speed trailer has been moved to five different locations.
Chief DePonceau said he will once again be out front of the Police Department on Halloween night handing out candy and hopes the local children will stop by.
Fire Chief Kurt Hallberg reported the Lakewood Fire Department has responded to nine hundred twenty-seven alarms year to date with seventy-two of which have occurred thus far in the month of October.
Village Treasurer Apryl L. Troutman reported Chautauqua County just completed the annual audit of the village’s payroll and they said everything was in order.
Building Inspector Jeff Swanson reported he has enrolled in three training courses, all of which will cover flood elevation and energy codes and said they are being held in Dunkirk, Jamestown and Salamanca.
Mr. Swanson also said property maintenance complaints are beginning to rise once again and he is trying to follow up on each one of them, the only problem is quite a few of them are ongoing neighbor disputes.
Mayor Holcomb said he has had many complaints about the long grass at 141 Lakeview Ave.
Mr. Swanson said he has sent the owners of that property a couple of “Order to Remedy” notices already this year. He said what they do is comply one time, then they let it go again. Mr. Swanson said at this point if he sends another “Order to Remedy” notice, or sends them to court, the snow will be here, covering the yard and the judge will throw it out.
Mr. Swanson said it would be easier to get results if the village were able to hire a company to mow the lawns and then have the cost added to resident’s tax bills. He said every municipality is faced with the same thing when it comes to enforcement of property maintenance and courts. He said because of this problem he is pushing for regionalized code enforcement and regionalized housing courts.
Mayor Holcomb reported he met with Town of Busti Supervisor Jesse Robbins and Police Chief DePonceau to discuss the activities planned for the Town of Busti Bicentennial Anniversary celebration. He said it is planned to take place September 20th thru 24th, 2023 at the Busti Fireman’s Grounds. He said the celebration will kick off with a parade on the 20th, they will have a carnival at the fireman’s grounds during the week and will finish with the Annual Apple Festive on the 24th.
Trustee Jones reported that she and Trustee Barnes worked on the audit report and said the bookkeeping was in perfect order. She said Treasurer Troutman had everything they needed neatly laid out and said she does a terrific job. Trustee Jones said however there was one area of concern they have and that is the documentation of employee’s overtime, sick time and paid vacation time off. She said there needs to be a policy in place that makes more sense and an easier way of keeping track of that time off.
Mr. Ted McCague said he has two bits of very good news for the village. First, the equipment for the new playground at Hartley Park arrived today and the equipment is currently on the property at the beach. He said the contractors also arrived today and will start right away installing the apparatus, the playground pads, the two slides and one set of stairs.
Mr. McCague thanked Village Attorney LaMancuso, Village Clerk Mary Currie and Mayor Holcomb for their assistance in getting the agreement together so the contractor could be here today.
Mr. McCague indicated this project will be divided into two phases. The first phase will be the installation of the play pads and the playground equipment with the hope of getting those done before winter hits. Phase two will occur as soon as winter breaks and that will be installing the landscaping as well as any amenities that go along with the whole area, including the handicap access walkway up to the pads and down to the restrooms.
Ms. Julie Toennis, 25 Cherry Lane, said as a parent, she finds this a very exciting project and thinks it is going to be amazing for the children, adding she also thinks this playground will attract many families for the surrounding areas.
Mr. McCague said the committee had a number of parents of children go through many catalogues of playground equipment and also went to a variety of playgrounds to see what kids like. He said he thinks they have selected apparatus that children will really like.
Mr. McCague said the second thing he wanted to inform the Board of Trustees about is that the New York State Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation Office application which was submitted in regards to the historic preservation of this building has been reviewed and approved. He said that means the Anthony C. Caprino Municipal Building is now officially eligible for historic preservation and eligible for nomination as a registered historic building for state and national government. Mr. McCague asked the Board of Trustees if they would like him to speak with Clinton Brown, Inc. about providing the village with a proposal taking this to the next step.
Mayor Holcomb and the Board of Trustees said they would appreciate it if Mr. McCague would talk with Clinton Brown, Inc. and thanked him for all the work he has done on both of these projects.
RESOLUTION #179-2022 – APPROVE EMPLOYEE HEALTHCARE PLAN FOR 2023
Motion by Trustee Troche, seconded by Trustee Barnes, for the Board of Trustees to approve the Univera Healthcare Plan – Access Gold 2, as the healthcare plan which seems to be the most comparable to the current plan, for eligible Village of Lakewood employees for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2023.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Fischer, Jones, Troche)
RESOLUTION #180-2022 – SET TIME & DATE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED LL #3-2022
Motion by Trustee Fischer, seconded by Trustee Jones, to set 6:30 PM, Monday, November 14, 2022, as the time and date for the Board of Trustees to conduct a public hearing on Proposed Local Law #3-2022, Providing Administration and Enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Fischer, Jones, Troche)
RESOLUTION #181 -2022 – AUTHORIZE FUND TRANSFER
Motion by Trustee Barnes, seconded by Trustee Jones, to authorize Village Treasurer Apryl L. Troutman to make the following fund transfer to pay for the July 4th 2022 firework display expense; $ 7,375.00 from T1093.40 {July 4th Celebration} to A7550.40 {Celebrations-July 4th/Summerfest}.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Fischer, Jones, Troche)
Treasurer Troutman said there is money in the General Fund budget that the Lakewood Community Development Corporation (LCDC) raise for the fireworks, this transfer will cover the remaining payment due for this year’s fireworks and there will still be money left to cover the deposit for next year’s fireworks.
RESOLUTION #182-2022 – AUTHORIZE MID-YEAR BUDGET TRANSFER
Motion by Trustee Jones, seconded by Trustee Troche, to authorize Village Treasurer Apryl L. Troutman to make the following mid-year budget transfer for a budget shortfalls: $ 625.00 from A-5110.40 {Street Maintenance – Contractual} to A-5110.46 {Street Maintenance – Tree Service}.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Fischer, Jones, Troche)
ANYONE TO BE HEARD
Mrs. Kathleen Anderson, 22 Waldemere Way, said her husband recently tripped and fell on the extra step/curb on Chautauqua Ave., between Summit St. and Third St., and wondered if there will be any markings to show the difference in height of the steps.
Trustee Barnes said there has been several other incidents of this happening and agrees it is an issue. She said maybe it’s time for some reflective paint or tape to be placed along the step.
Mayor Holcomb said he was hoping the handrails on the planters would help but they don’t seem to be.
Motion by Trustee Troche, seconded by Trustee Fischer, to recess the regular meeting at 7:08 PM, so as to enter into executive session to discuss a potential litigation matter.
Adopted: 4 ayes, no nays (Barnes, Fischer, Jones, Troche)
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Present at the executive session, were Mayor Randall G. Holcomb, Trustee Ellen E. Barnes, Trustee R. Richard Fischer, Trustee Nancy W. Jones, Trustee Benjamin J. Troche, Village Attorney John I. LaMancuso, Building Inspector Jeff Swanson, Village Clerk Mary B. Currie and Village Treasurer Apryl L. Troutman.
EXECUTIVE SESSION (Adjournment)
Motion by Mayor Holcomb, seconded by Trustee Barnes, and unanimously carried to adjourn the executive session and re-open the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees at 7:54 PM.
Motion by Trustee Barnes, seconded by Trustee Fischer and unanimously carried the Board adjourned at 7:54 PM.
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Mary B. Currie
Village Clerk
