July 9, 2014

Minutes of the meeting of the Executive Board of the Suffolk County Village Officials’ Association held on July 9, 2014 at the Irish Coffee Pub, 131 Carleton Ave., East Islip, New York.

 

Board Members present:        Mayor Allan M. Dorman, 1st Vice President

Mayor Paul F. Rickenbach, Jr., Past President

Former Mayor Peter T. Imbert, President Emeritus

Mayor Paul V. Pontieri, Jr., Past President

Mayor Paul F. Rickenbach, Jr., Past President

Also Present:                          Hon. Peter A. Bee, Legal Counsel (Bee Ready Fishbein Hatter &

Donovan, LLP)

Hon. Paul J. Tonna, Executive Director

 

Vice-President-Mayor Dorman called the meeting to order at approximately 6pm.  The attendees discussed the following items:

 

I.          Approval of Minutes/General Business

1.         Minutes for the meeting of June 4, 2014 were unanimously approved.

2.         Director Tonna updated the Board regarding the status of the “Long Island Water Quality Bill” including his prediction that the Bill would return at the next legislative session.  There was discussion about the possibility of meeting with the Newsday Editorial Board, and the need for a “prep session” if that goal were pursued.  No final determination was reached, but there seemed to be consensus that a meeting with Newsday might be productive.

 

  1. Old Business/Action Steps

1.         The SC TVB Ticket issue was reported by 1st Vice President Dorman as a work in progress, including the pending motion to dismiss.

 

  1. Calendar of Events
  2. There was a brief discussion regarding the success of the June 16 Golf Outing & Installation Dinner.
  3. There was a brief discussion regarding planning for “satellite village meetings” and the need for dates/locations (sometime after Labor Day)
  4. There was a brief discussion of plans for the Fall Municipal Training and the likely inclusion of “Obama-care” as a topic (as it relates to Villages)

 

  1. SC VOA Outreach
  2. SCVOA Alerts were generally discussed, particularly in relation to Outdoor Maintenance, and the recent Alert on “best value” purchasing.
  3. There was discussion about the need to meet with newly elected Mayors (following the June elections).  A “recap” of the recent meetings with Mayors Delaney (May 15), and Doll (May 23) were given.
  4. The Legislation for Village Advertising was generally discussed and could perhaps be the topic of a SCVOA Alert.
  5. The Director advised the Board that there was continue progress regarding setting up a “mass texting” arrangement for Mayors

 

  1. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
  2. It was confirmed that the new packets would be sent out for September renewals.
  3. Mayors were again asked to identify village vendors.

 

  1. WEBSITE UPDATE

The continuing website redesign was acknowledged.  Mayor Imbert suggested that a map of Suffolk County be posted which “marked out” village territories

 

 

  1. Financials

Reviewed, details submitted

 

The meeting ended at approximately 8:30pm.

June 4, 2014

Minutes of the meeting of the Executive Board of the Suffolk County Village Officials’ Association held on June 4, 2014 at the Irish Coffee Pub, 131 Carleton Ave., East Islip, New York.

 

Board Members present:       Mayor Ralph A. Scordino, President

Mayor Allan M. Dorman, 1st Vice President

Mayor Richard B. Smith, 2nd Vice President

Mayor Thomas A. Brennan, Treasurer/Secretary

Mayor Timothy M. Hogue, Past President

Mayor Paul F. Rickenbach, Jr., Past President

Former Mayor Peter T. Imbert, President Emeritus

Also Present:                          William C. De Witt, Legal Counsel (Bee Ready Fishbein Hatter &

Donovan, LLP)

 

President-Mayor Scordino called the meeting to order at approximately 6pm. The attendees discussed the following items:

 

I.          Approval of Minutes/General Business

  1. Minutes for the meeting of May 7, 2014 were unanimously approved.
  2. A payment for the Tri-County Municipal Officials Association was unanimously approved in the amount of $803.43.
  3. The Long Island Water Quality Bill was discussed and there was consensus amongst those present that the villages should have more of an impact on this legislation.

 

  1. Old Business/Action Steps
  2. The SC TVB Ticket issue was reported by 1st Vice President Dorman as a work in progress.

 

  1. Calendar of Events
  2. There was a brief discussion regarding the May 14, 2014 Municipal Training. There was a question from 1st Vice President Dorman as to whether Suffolk County Legislators require any type of training.
  3. It was reported that all of the June 16, 2014 golf outing tickets were sold.
  4. It was generally discussed that a regional approach to satellite village meetings appeared to be working and that perhaps an approach to garnering interest by east end villages would be to include a discussion on deer ticks. It was agreed that dates for such meetings after Labor Day would be discussed in the near future.

 

  1. SC VOA Outreach
  2. SCVOA Alerts were generally discussed in relation to Downtown Revitalization Grant Applications with a focus on the work done in the Village of Patchogue; a report on the Village of Flower Hill’s snow removal program through contract; IBM’s grant regarding Water Quality Issues and the open position in Huntington Bay for a Village Court Clerk.
  3. The meeting May 15, 2014 meeting with Mayor Mark Delaney of the Village of the Branch and the May 23, 2014 meeting with Mayor George Doll were discussed regarding issues in those villages related to roads. In addition, it was reported that Mayor Doll had an interest in SCVOA, but found it difficult to attend meetings as he is a commercial fisherman. This lead to a further discussion that in order to attract more participation it may be helpful to focus on regional issues.
  4. The June 19, 2014 Municipal Innovation Exchange Summit was discussed with regard to location, NYCOM and the sharing of services.
  5. The Legislation for Village Advertising was generally discussed and could perhaps be the topic of a SCVOA Alert.
  6. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
  7. It was confirmed that the new packets had been sent out and that perhaps the rates for Associate Members should be reviewed.

 

  1. WEBSITE UPDATE

The continuing website redesign was acknowledged.

 

  1. Financials

Reviewed, details to follow

 

After further continued discussion about the best way to attract further participation and the future of the country, the meeting ended at approximately 8:45pm.

May 7, 2014

Minutes of the meeting of the Executive Board of the Suffolk County Village Officials’ Association held on May 7, 2014 at the Irish Coffee Pub, 131 Carleton Ave., East Islip, New York.

 

Board Members present:       Mayor Allan M. Dorman, 1st Vice President

Mayor Richard B. Smith, 2nd Vice President

Mayor Thomas A. Brennan, Treasurer/Secretary

Mayor Paul V. Pontieri, Jr., Past President

Mayor Peter T. Imbert, President Emeritus

Also Present:                        Hon. Peter A. Bee, Legal Counsel (Bee Ready Fishbein Hatter &

Donovan, LLP)

Hon. Paul J. Tonna, Executive Director

 

 

First Vice-President-Mayor Dorman called the meeting to order. The attendees discussed and dealt with the following items:

 

  1. Minutes/General Business
    1. It was noted that there were no minutes for the meeting of April 2, 2014. The “meeting” of April 16 was simultaneous with the SC VOA “Legislative Awards” Night, and no minutes were taken; however, it was noted that the membership of the Executive Board was announced to the membership at that time.

 

  1. Old Business/Action Steps
    1. Mayor Dorman reported to the Board regarding the status of litigation against the County of Suffolk re “ticket issuance” in Islandia. The Board continued to encourage the Mayor to have his Counsel regularly update SC VOA members through the SC VOA website.

 

  1. Calendar of Events
    1. The Executive Director reported on the Legislative Dinner & Awards night that was held April 16, 2014.

i.     The location was the Hotel Indigo, Riverhead from 5 – 9pm and the featured speaker was Peter Baynes of NYCOM. Various awards were given and acknowledgments made, including Joe Prokop and Jack Martens

  1. The Executive Director reported on the SC VOA “municipal training” seminar scheduled for May 14

i.     The location is the Atlantis, Riverhead (next to the Hyatt)

ii.     The curriculum is expected to be well received, and has been expanded from zoning/planning to include other topics

  1. The Executive Director noted the Golf Outing & Installation Dinner is set for June 16, confirmed through Mayor Rickenbach.  Foursomes have been sold out!
  2. There was discussion regarding “satellite village meetings” for which dates & locations and format are still needed; the plan is for after Labor Day. ACTION ITEM.

 

  1. SC VOA Outreach
    1. The Executive Director reported on the “Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization” Progarm and the availability of grants to villages thereunder.
    2. The Executive Director reported on various SC VOA “Alerts” (including material re the 2% tax cap, PSEG-LI’s Draft Emergency Response Program (for which PSEG representatives were present); “best practices” for snow removal; and the planned golf outing.
    3. Counsel noted his recent advice to the Board regarding lobbying activity by SC VOA.
    4. A new Mayor (Mark Delaney, Village of the Branch) was noted.

 

  1. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
    1. Renewal packets were sent out, and will continue to go out
    2. Mayors were again requested to identify potential associate members from vendor lists

 

  1. FINANCIALS
    1. Reviewed, noting $71,000 in Bank. Details to follow

 

After further continued discussion about the best way to respond to the perceived “attack” on villages embodied in the Governor’s Legislative Program, the meeting ended at approximately 8:45pm.