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Health & Fitness

NEW VIDEO POSTED PATCHOGUE VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING OF 10-15-13

Video for 10-15-13 Patchogue Village Board of Trustees meeting now online to be viewed.

What follows is a time line narrative for the most recent video filmed by the Citizens Campaign for Open Village Government.  Just by quick way of explanation this video has been filmed by a resident group of Patchogue Village residents. We film and post our video on You Tube to provide members of the public who can not make it the meeting. The videos represent as well an unofficial documentary history of these meetings. The time line provides time marks that allow any viewer to see any part or parts of the video that they wish to without having to see the whole video. If you want to skip to the video a link to You Tube can be found on the front page of the website for the organization at:

www.patchoguevillagecitizens.com.

As well on the same page where the video link can be found there are also links to PDF documents for the recently completed audit of village finances and the “Trustee Packet”. The packet are those documents in the possession of Board members to guide them in their discussions when they meet. This packet also includes a copy of the meeting agenda too. All the documents posted were obtained as a result of a freedom of information request.

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The video has been reviewed prior to posting and is free of any technical issues that would interfere with viewing. The video is a faithful reproduction of the proceedings. The video was filmed by Jo Miller.

This narrative below does not note every issue touched on at the meeting. In the course of a meeting a hundred different issues were covered. In fact as mentioned in earlier blogs these videos of Board meeting provide one of the richest sources of information about events of all kinds that have occurred or will occur in the village. The time line tries to take into account some of the most important issues that came up during the meeting.

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From left to right sitting at the meeting table: Treasurer Ron Krawczyk, Trustee Crean, Village Clerk Patricia Seal, Mayor Pontieri, Deputy Mayor Krieger, Trustees Devlin and Hilton, sitting in for village attorney, a member of his law firm, Christopher Bianco. Trustees Keyes and Ferb absent.

 

Timeline narrative in minutes and seconds

1:11 tax rebates authorized

1:59 retroactive tax rebate for former four corners building with discussion

3:45 Treasurer Ron Krawczyk introduces additional tax rebate payments

NOTE: PDF documents as a the part of trustee packet identifies recipients and amounts for various tax grievance rebates: see citizens campaign for open village government website.

5:03 Mayor Pontieri leads discussion of services for salt agreement with Suffolk County and new duties by village public works under that agreement

6:24 Chris Reno discusses results of annual village financial audit including audit of the Village Justice Court.

NOTE: extensive discussion of FEMA money to repair Mascot dock…intended future follow up to look at village “capital projects” with reference to audit results arising from NY State Comptroller’s recent audit of village finances…Mayor Pontieri comments

NOTE : on the website for the citizens campaign there are PDF documents that can be downloaded providing a complete audit report, link:

www.patchoguevillagecitizens.com.

As well any person who would like to review the Comptrollers audit of the village’s finances can go to this link to see that report. What follows in the words of the Comptroller’s office not mine is an extract summary of that report from the Comptroller’s website and a link:

Audit No: 2012M-76

Audit Year: 2012

Release Date: 08/24/2012

Audit Name: Patchogue Selected Financial Activities and Information Technology (Village)

Report: http://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/audits/villages/2012/patchogue.htm

Summary:

The Board did not properly authorize all capital projects, nor did it effectively monitor them. As a result, the Village had $284,808 in unauthorized expenditures and experienced cost overruns in two of the five projects reviewed totaling $1,900,957. In addition, the Village issued debt to reimburse the general fund for capital expenditures totaling $549,015, in violation of the Local Finance Law. In addition, the Village did not receive all fees required before customers were allowed to hook up and discharge into the Village’s sewer system resulting in the Village not receiving revenues totaling $77,294. The Board also did not audit and approve claims prior to payment as required by Village law and has not established policies and procedures over the claims audit process. Finally, the Board has not established policies and procedures relating to the security of data and assets, including a formal disaster recovery plan.

NOTE: The Village Board did adopt a Community Action Plan (CAP) to deal with the above cited criticisms last year. However a status report addressing the status of that plan does not seem to appear in the current audit. And those interested in reviewing the past two budgets may also do so. They are archived as PDF documents under the “More” tab found on the website for the citizens campaign:

www.patchoguevillagecitizens.com.

22:25 2013 local audit results accepted and approved by the Board

22:23 Public hearing on local law easing requirements for seniors to retain eligibility for reductions for village taxes, discussion and approval

27:08 Mayor Pontieri leads discussion of first out of sewer district approval for businesses located outside of the village along the east main street corridor. Mayor indicates that revenues will now start to flow to village as hook ups occur and expansion of service begins.

NOTE: extensive report on this can be found as a PDF document on the citizens campaign website as part of the trustee packet for this meeting

30:19 BID report by Executive Director Dennis Smith…extensive outlining of main street grant program with specific recipients identified, estimate that seed money provided as the result of about 200k in grant money matched by another 400k by businesses participating in grant program…hanging baskets issue discussed

45:40 Chamber of Commerce report by Executive Director David Kennedy who discusses multiple topics…chamber awards dinner…Harvest Festival planning….other various holiday events…Halloween Happenings…Homecoming Parade..Boat Parade for 11/24/13 and provisional advisory opinion about permitting tattoo parlor in village business zones where now prohibited…Mayor Pontieri comments

Time line now in hours, minutes and seconds

1:01:56 Marian Russo speaking about activities of COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disasters), a new organization established post storm Sandy to coordinate services to disaster victims whether hurricane or other emergencies


NOTE: those interested in getting more information or helping out Marian can contact her via the village website link. Look for departments tab and find the drop down menu for the CDA (village Community Development Agency) of which Marian is the Executive Director, link at:

www.patchoguevillage.org.

1:14:32 Deputy Mayor Krieger reports…theater program outlook for next several months…Parking lot plans explained as part of larger parking meter initiative discussed with approvals for some street improvements authorized, announcement that early stages of parking meter roll out will begin with warnings for meter violations instead of actual fines…delay for full metering of planned parking lots till spring to allow for repairs in better weather

1:24:20 discussion and approval for Oak street road upgrade

1:29:00 Trustee Crean reports…Christmas Boat parade…set 10/28/13 for two public hearings relating to change in rental laws and demolition of eye sore buildings

1:33:44 Trustee Devlin reports…discussion of installation of new public art sculpture to be dedicated Sunday 10/20/13 eventual relocation of art work to site of Carnegie Library building property

1:37:00 Trustee Hilton reports…theme for village Christmas holiday parade will be Dancing with the Clause…attendees will be allowed to dress as Santa Claus where in the past there was one and only one Santa Claus at the parade

1:40:45 Public portion, one speaker from the public John Bogack… discussion of safety planning for Haunted Pirates Ferry event… Board discussion.

Meeting ends.

All residents are reminded that elected village officials may be contacted by email at the village website at

: www.patchoguevillage.org

Next video that will be taken by the Citizens Campaign for Open Village Government will be the Tuesday 10-22-13 meeting of the Patchogue Village Planning Board (Assisted Living facility on the agenda for final approvals). And approval for a clam bar at the Oar House. Meeting begins at 7:30 p.m and there are opportunities for residents to speak on most of the applications on the agenda. Meeting is held at village hall.

Next video after that will be Village Board of Trustees Monday 10-28-13, meeting begins at 6 p.m. All residents may participate in the public portion and address the Board on any matter of importance. The public portion is the last agenda item for the night. There will be at least two public hearing held that same date at which members of the public will also have a chance to speak on those specific issues. Agendas of the Board meeting usually appear on the Friday before the meeting date and a copy is posted online at the village website for viewing:

www.patchoguevillage.org.

Finally feedback welcome please use our email link on the website for the Citizens Campaign for Open Village Government link at:

www.patchoguevillagecitizens.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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