The start of the meeting was delayed for 35 minutes while the trustees and mayor were in executive session discussing personnel matters and potential litigation.
Several residents took the opportunity to speak-out in support of the Architectural Review Board (ARB) during the Public Hearing on Village Code Changes. The village has been operating without an ARB since June, 2010 when the board was dissolved in response to resident complaints.
Mark Fry asked the board to restructure, rather than eliminate the ARB. "The ARB is a great way of continuing and preserving our sense of heritage which is a critical part of our downtown revitalization," he said.
Dan Scott said he would like to hear a public discussion on why the ARB should be eliminated instead of tweaked. "It is as if we are using a meat cleaver and a butcher where a surgeon is needed," said Scott.
Cynthia Sandler pointed out the proposed elimination of the ARB coincides with the redevelopment of the GM site. "The ARB provides a system of checks and balances. Citizens should have a say in the GM development. We need more eyes, not fewer," she said.
Sean Roach added that the ARB is important and should be maintained.
The village code revisions are on-going and additional public hearings will be held before the board approves final changes. The current code and proposed changes are on-line at www.sleepyhollowny.gov.
The board approved bill payments totaling $470,455, including two large payments for power and health insurance.
Mayor's Announcements
Mayor Ken Wray announced that Dec. 10 is the 15th anniversary of the village name change from North Tarrytown to Sleepy Hollow.
"Some folks celebrate this. Some mourn," said Wray.
To mark the name change and the 136th anniversary of the incorporation of the village, a bell ringing will take place on Dec. 10 at 8:15 p.m. at the , followed by a reception at Village Hall.
Six current members of the Police Advisory Committee were officially appointed to two-year terms.
Public Comments
A resident who lives at 148 New Broadway, next to , said parts of the park had become a wild forest. "That part of the park used to be maintained. Now it is filled with dead wood and weeds. It is a fire hazard," she said.
"The part of the park closest to houses on New Broadway hasn't been cleaned up in years," agreed Deputy Mayor Tommy Capossela.
Later in the meeting Mayor Wray said he wanted to make sure that park clean-up wouldn't change the nature of the park. "I don't want us going in there and clear-cutting. Douglas Park is a forest. We just put in a new playground to fit-in with the park's unique environment."
The Mayor's comments led to an unpleasant exchange between he and Trustee Capossela.
"Come on Kenny. It's dead wood," said Capossela. "Clean the park up. Make a decision for once."
Trustee Reports
Trustee David Schroedel said the Public Safety Committee is interviewing new Ambulance Corps volunteers. The Police Advisory Committee is considering increasing the time allotment at parking meters from one hour to two hours to allow people more time to go to dinner or the hair dresser, etc.
Trustee Bruce Campbell said the Community Relations Committee expects to receive the first $30,000 PEG access grant from Cablevision soon and the same amount from Verizon.
The Tree Commission is expected to deliver its recommendations regarding its function soon.
Next week's Board of Trustee work session will take place Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at the at the Philipse Manor Train Station.
Trustee Capossela said leaf pick-up is on-going and asked residents to bag their leaves if they only have a small amount.
Trustee Evelyn Stupel said 10 cases were on the docket for the next Housing Court and the total amount of fines levied by the court now stands at $181,850. Stupel also said notices have been sent to Beekman Ave. property owners about litter and garbage in front of their buildings. Tickets will be issued for noncompliance with litter regulations.
Mayor Wray took the opportunity to publicly acknowledge the great job done by the Department of Public Works during the . "They had to get out during the storm to clear the roads and also clear fallen branches and trees during the busiest weekend of the year," he said.
New Business
The Board passed a resolution to hire a new auditing firm to conduct the required internal audit for the year 2010-2011 at cost of $29,600. The Board was unhappy with how long it took the previous auditing firm to conduct the 2009-2010 audit, the results of which were only presented last month.
Administrator's Report
The village will once again host a Feed the Hungry event on New Year's Day. Residents are encouraged to volunteer and/or attend as guests.
A Health Day is planned for Jan. 21. More details to come.
The village received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the amount of $37,500 for the development of an emergency response plan, which will cost an estimated $50,000. The village will contribute the balance of the funds.
Sleepy Hollow held Confined Space Training two weeks ago. Another session will take place on Dec. 19 so that everyone in the Sleepy Hollow Department of Public Works will have confined space training.
Playground is complete.
The Trustees voted to bag parking meters for the Holiday season beginning Dec. 15 - Jan. 2.
mortgage Payments, Real Estate Taxes,Insurance,etc? THEY DON'T! THERE FOR THEY SHOULD HAVE NO RIGHT TO CONTROL YOUR CHECK BOOK.
Over the last ten years the Village has installed approx 10 antenna s in full view of our windows. Not to mention all the Electrical housing units on the rear roof which are in full view of our Residential tenants apartments. Frankly it looks like a Con Ed substation. So it is what it is! Does it lower the value of my building? Did the Village have the right to erect such antennas? Who benefited ? O and yes my retirement is tied into this investment. So I experienced first hand your feelings. O BTW the ARB at the time did nothing to protect property owners. Not that I was expecting them too. I guess its who you know on these ARB boards? Or who's getting paid off.
moved here 5 years ago.
As to the issue of life-long residents, I agree that their input and judgment when it comes to our Village and the standards imposed by the ARB is crucial, and that input in judgment should be taken into careful consideration in drafting the guidelines and standards that the ARB is charged with upholding. The ARB itself should be made up of honest, qualified residents who can then apply those guidelines and standards in a rational and fair way (how long those residents have lived here is irrelevant). I also do think it is important to embrace the opinions of newer residents who perhaps were not fortunate enough to be born here but nevertheless found their way and have fallen in love with our Village. Their voice is equally as important and should also be taken into consideration when setting standards and guidelines. What we DO NOT want, is for our Village to fall victim to residents who are not committed to maintaining the beauty and quality of the Village - whether it be slum lords or profiteers looking to do "cheap and dirty" renovations to buildings in order to turn a quick proft. A proper functioning ARB is what can protect the Village from such catastophes.
Before we go any further, can anyone name a village that does not have an ARB? If there are any, we should take a very close look at how that Village functions without an ARB, whether they have some other method of enforcing some modest standards and whether we consider that Village a "model" Village that we would like to be like.