TOWN COUNCIL NISKAYUNA TOWN MEETING Denise Murphy McGraw John Della Ratta Bill McPartlon Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 7:00pm Rosemarie Perez Jaquith Yasmine Syed Supervisor AGENDA FOR JUNE 22, 2021 REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. ROLL CALL 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES a. May 25, 2021 Regular Town Board Meeting b. June 8, 2021 Special Town Board Meeting 5. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR 6. COMMITTEE REPORTS 7. SUPERVISOR’S REPORT 8. RESOLUTIONS 9. 2021-136 (Sponsored by Councilwoman Jaquith) A Resolution authorizing the Supervisor to enter into a license agreement with Beestera Soccer 10. 2021-137 (Sponsored by Councilwoman McGraw) A Resolution approving the 2020 Fall residential/commercial utility bill reconciliation 11. 2021-138 (Sponsored by Councilwoman McGraw) A Resolution authorizing the Supervisor to enter into various fence and shed easements 12. 2021-139 (Sponsored by Councilwoman Jaquith) A Resolution authorizing the purchase of a freightliner for use by the Town’s Highway Department 13. 2021-140 (Sponsored by Councilwoman Jaquith) A Resolution amending Resolution No. 2021-73 14. 2021-141 (Sponsored by Supervisor Syed) A Resolution authorizing certain budgetary modifications 15. 2021-142 (Sponsored by Councilwoman Jaquith) A Resolution authorizing the purchase of a John Deere backhoe 16. Introduction of Local Law No. 4 of 2021 TOWN COUNCIL NISKAYUNA TOWN MEETING Denise Murphy McGraw John Della Ratta Bill McPartlon Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 7:00pm Rosemarie Perez Jaquith Yasmine Syed Supervisor 17. 2021-143 (Sponsored by Councilman McPartlon and Councilwoman McGraw) A Resolution calling for a Public Hearing on a local law regarding off-road vehicles 18. 2021-144 (Sponsored by Councilman Della Ratta) A Resolution authorizing a license agreement with Starfish Swim Club 19. 2021-145 (Sponsored by Supervisor Syed) A Resolution amending Resolution 2021- 109 20. 2021-146 (Sponsored by Councilwoman McGraw) A Resolution awarding a contract for the design of Water Treatment Plant upgrades 21. 2021-147 (Sponsored by Supervisor Syed) A Resolution authorizing a contract renewal for the Town’s municipal accounting software 22. 2021-148 (Sponsored by Councilwoman McGraw) A Resolution calling for a Public Hearing for a sewer district extension at Pearse Road 23. 2021-149 (Sponsored by Councilwoman McGraw, Councilwoman Jaquith and Supervisor Syed) A Resolution to authorize the submittal of a grant application for Town pool and Senior Center facilities 24. 2021-150 (Sponsored by Councilman Della Ratta) A Resolution authorizing the submittal of a grant application to Niskayuna Community Foundation 25. 2021-151 (Sponsored by Councilman Della Ratta) A Resolution calling for a Public Hearing on a special use permit for telecommunications antenna array located at 1 Research Circle 26. 2021-152 (Sponsored by Councilman Della Ratta) A Resolution authorizing the sale of Town owned lands on Fillmore Avenue 27. 2021-153 (Sponsored by Councilman Della Ratta) A Resolution calling for a Public Hearing on a special use permit for a proposed mixed-use building located at 2147 Eastern Parkway 28. 2021-154 (Sponsored by Councilwoman McGraw) A Resolution awarding a contract for sewer lining 29. 2021-155 (Sponsored by Councilman McPartlon) A Resolution appointing a part-time clerk in the Niskayuna Police Department 30. 2021-156 (Sponsored by Councilwoman McGraw) A Resolution calling for a Public Hearing for a Water District Extension at Kelts Farm 31. 2021-157 (Sponsored by Councilwoman McGraw) A Resolution calling for a Public Hearing for a Sewer District Extension at Kelts Farm TOWN COUNCIL NISKAYUNA TOWN MEETING Denise Murphy McGraw John Della Ratta Bill McPartlon Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 7:00pm Rosemarie Perez Jaquith Yasmine Syed Supervisor 32. 2021-158 (Sponsored by Councilwoman McGraw) A Resolution calling for a Public Hearing for a Drainage District Extension at Kelts Farm 33. 2021-159 (Sponsored by Councilman Della Ratta and Supervisor Syed) A Resolution to hire student workers 34. CEREMONIAL RESOLUTIONS 35. 2021-160 (Sponsored by Councilwoman McGraw) A Resolution to recognize the Niskayuna Class of 2021 Senior Officers 36. 2021-161 (Sponsored by Councilwoman McGraw) A Resolution to recognize the Niskayuna Mohawk Composite Mountain Bike Team for Winning the NICA New York State Championship 37. 2021-162 (Sponsored by Councilwoman McGraw) A Resolution to recognize Jordan Zenner and Heather Schmidt for their accomplishments in the U.S. Rowing Youth Nationals MOTION TO ADJOURN AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF NISKAYUNA DULY CALLED AND HELD ON THE 25th DAY OF MAY, 2021, AT 7:00 PM AT THE EDWIN D. REILLY, JR. NISKAYUNA TOWN HALL BOARD ROOM, ONE NISKAYUNA CIRCLE, NISKAYUNA, NEW YORK, THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS WERE PRESENT: HONORABLE: JOHN DELLA RATTA COUNCILMAN ROSEMARIE PEREZ JAQUITH COUNCILWOMAN - Absent DENISE MURPHY MCGRAW COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAM MCPARTLON COUNCILMAN YASMINE A. SYED SUPERVISOR Others present: Michele M. Martinelli, Town Clerk; Alaina Finan Attorney; Michael Stevens, Deputy Police Chief; Ismat Alam, Comptroller; Ray Smith, Highway Superintendent; Matthew Yetto, Superintendent of Water and Sewer; Eric Amberger, Assessor; Seth Goldstein, Systems Administrator; Denis Brennan, Town Historian CLERK’S BUSINESS Minutes of the April 27, 2021 Regular Meeting were approved as presented. Minutes of the May 10, 2021 Special Meeting were approved as presented. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Leslie Gold, 1919 Pawtucket Avenue, asked for a traffic update Balltown Road roundabout at Aqueduct Road and also asked that there be a reminder on the Town website to remind residents to clean up after their dogs while on their walks. Ms. Gold said she is very pleased with the paving at the recycling and transfer station. She noticed there's an area now with gravel for parking and she hopes this land will be in reserve and not adding it to the park land because she thinks at some time we might need to add on to Recycling Transfer Station. Ms. Gold stated she thinks the budget passed last November looked like a budget exercise not a proper budget she realized there were extenuating circumstances and she remembers when Supervisor Syed promised at some point those challenge lines would all be filled. At this point she said she hasn’t seen anything posted. Ms. Gold wants the next budget to be proper. Later in the meeting Ms. Gold commented on where essential and nonessential workers were derived from. Linda Rizzo, 2229 Fairlawn Parkway, commented that she sent a couple of emails to the Town Board members over the shutdown and didn't know if anyone read them. She stated she was not pleased with the quality of plowing performed by the Highway Department of the Town roads this past winter. She said that she has mentioned to Supervisor Syed when Miss McGraw was in charge of the Highway Department the roads were always plowed and there was never a problem. Ms. Rizzo commented she is concerned with Supervisor Syed not running again and the concern is accountability, because of a new budget is being developed. In January Supervisor Syed will be gone and she has no accountability. Ms. Rizzo commented on the shutting down of Town Hall and what was aggravating to her was the reference of non- essential workers. She stated she thought that's the most degrading thing this state could ever come up with. Lorene Zabin, 2455 Brookshire Drive, Commented that for the last year and a half she had not gotten a letter from Supervisor Syed about what was going on during the year of COVID- 19 concerning updates. Ms. Zabin commented that the Town Clerk’s office answered every phone call she made to them, along with the Assessor’s office and Brian Backus; she was able to talk with. She thought everyone could have done a better job over the last year and a half. She commented the plowing of the Town road last winter were not done like in the past and she doesn’t thing it has anything to do with the drivers, it was the supervision. Ms. Zabin commented that since Supervisor Syed is not seeking reelection, her best thing is to resign. She doesn’t think working another budget is going to do Supervisor Syed any good, it's going to do her a lot of harm and thought this is unfair to the Town and to the Town Board members if the Supervisor remains. Ms. Zabin also has concerns with all the employee of the Town of Niskayuna who do not live within the Town. Supervisor Syed commented to Ms. Zabin, she still lives in the Town of Niskayuna and she is still going to live here for the next six months. She’s not turning her back on the Town, she was elected for a two-year term and she’s not going to cut that term short. Cutting the term short would be doing a disservice to all the people who voted for her. Supervisor Syed said she is not resigning. Rich Oden, 36 Ray Street, he has lived in Niskayuna about 40 to 45 years and now 20 years he has lived in his current home on Ray Street. Mr. Oden has concerns with his current neighbor raising chickens in their backyard and there is also a rooster which is creating a smell. This smell is preventing him from opening his window. Mr. Oden asked for help from the Town Board on this issue. Linda Rizzo, 2229 Fairlawn Parkway, commented that she wanted to clarify in her last statement she didn't hear officially from the Supervisor's office, she did though hear from both Councilman McPartlon and Councilwoman Murphy McGraw, although not officially, but they acknowledged that they did receive her emails. She also stated she agrees that Supervisor Syed is living in the Town of Niskayuna, but what she is talking about is accountability.