Good afternoon. Welcome to our special meeting of the Court on Hudson Board of Trustees for June 2. I'm mayor Brian Pugh, who's joining me in the Pledge of Allegiance. With allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Alright. Our first item of business is the approval of vouchers.
Okay. Thank you, mayor. For this evening, the general fund is $400,446.84. The water fund is $26,224.56. The sewer fund is $10,482.90. The Capital Fund is a $119,902.07, and the trust fund is $5,034.72 for a grand total of $562,091.09.
Motion by trustee Nicholson, second by trustee Nachtyler. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Okay. Next is we proceed to proposed resolutions, for readopting a home rule request to authorize the village of Croton on Hudson to establish a speed zone camera per demonstration program. Do I or manager, I guess. Do you wanna read the resolution? Yes. Thank you. Sorry.
Having some volume difficulties there. Okay. Whereas the village of Cortlandt Hutton desires to establish a school speed zone camera demonstration program, and whereas the state authorizes municipalities to make such requests through the home rule process. And whereas assemblywoman Dana Levenberg has introduced bill a one one three two two dash b in the state assembly to authorize the school speed zone camera demonstration program in the village of Corona Hudson. And where state senator Peter Harcom has introduced companion bill s one zero zero five eight c in the state senate regarding same, and whereas the village is required to formally submit a home rule request to the legislature. Now therefore, be it resolved that the village board of trustees hereby request authorization to establish a school speed zone camera demonstration program and be it further resolved that a copy of this home rule request be sent to state assemblywoman Dana Levenberg and state senator Peter Harkom.
Yes. Andrew, maybe you could, just clarify kind of why Yes. Why we're doing that. Why we're doing this for the third time in three weeks? Why the third time's the prize? So,
as home rule requests go, right, the village board has to adopt a resolution to formally submit the request to the state legislature. And, under their rules, whenever there's a change to the legislation, a new home rule request needs to be submitted. So last week, there was a change in the, wording of the traffic violations bureau versus parking violations bureau, which necessitated the new requests last week. And then this week's request more has to do with the adjudication of these tickets and, you know, what happens if somebody does not pay the ticket. So it's it's more just the the actual legal process. You know, the the merits of the program have not changed through any of the of the revisions. It's still, a request that the state legislature allows the village to establish up to three, speed zones around the schools.
Thank you. Yep. Right. I'd thank you. I I just wanna add because I in speaking to residents, they don't really understand what home rule means. And so I think many folks think that, you know, we're adopting procedures and are definitely going to do this in the village. And I just wanted to, you know, be clear that this does not mean that we are definitely Correct. Going to vote to do this. Maybe some folks would vote for it. Maybe some won't vote for it. You know, I mean or maybe we all vote for it. But it's not a vote to definitely do this. Right? It's, this bill, if and when signed by the governor, only gives our village the legal authority to establish a school speed zone camera pilot program. And through work sessions that we will have and board meetings and public hearings, right, we would then, you know, establish procedures, understand, first of all, why do we need this, what the cost implications might be,
you know, talk through whether we should we be a first mover on this? To my understanding, there aren't many municipalities that are currently doing this yet. We're a small village. So, you know, just talking through all of that. I also for the people that are nervous about data, my understanding is that the cameras are intended to capture only the rear of the vehicle, not faces, passengers, or vehicle interior. So I just wanted to, you know, mention that. And, again, this this bill that what we're passing tonight doesn't automatically create cameras in the village. Right? So Correct. I just wanted to to state that.
Yeah. And I think I think a perfect analogy is the red light camera. We we did a similar home rule request last year to authorize the village to have red light cameras. The governor did sign that bill in October 2025, but as of yet, the board has not even had a discussion about that. So, you know, we have the authority, but we haven't actually even begun the implementation process of that. So, you know, this I think, you know, the mayor may be able to speak to it more, but this is just to give the village the opportunity to do this should it ever want to in the future.
That's correct. Over the years, we've adopted a few or made a few different home rule rule requests. Sometimes they've been granted, though not always. And when we've received them, you know, in the case of residential parking systems, at least in one instance, it was over a year from the time we received the authorization until we enacted the local regulations.
Mhmm. And if if this is something that we end up putting on a future work session, I would just ask for us to consider, like, a comprehensive camera strategy approach, you know, just so it might be better to include a holistic camera approach rather than just talking schools and then another time talking the intersections or red lights. I know that that's a lot in a tall order, you know, to ask for, but just something to to consider.
No. I think I mean, I think that makes I think that makes sense. Yeah. Well, to I I agree with what trustee Nachtaler is saying. And I do think, you know, every time cameras come up, people are concerned about I'm concerned about cameras as as are other people. And I the I know that and I wanna have further conversation about this, but, I know that the PAC is gonna talk the police advisory committee is gonna talk about, their upcoming community survey at their next meeting, and there has been some discussion about, trying to because they also are aware about some of the questions that the community has around cameras. So including some questions in that community survey that's already planned, so that that has to do with police, you know, some of which has to do with policing, that would was it was suggested that that might be a good spot to be touching the community again to get some feedback on that. So as we move forward and maybe to inform the conversation that we have at a work session, we could use that, vehicle to to get to gather some data to discuss. I think that makes a lot of sense. Fantastic. That's great. Yep. Yeah. Great idea.
Whereas the village board is desirous of creating the position of assistant village manager to assist the village manager with administrative duties, capital project planning, and grant administration among other duties. Whereas the village manager has recommended that a recruitment firm be retained to solicit and screen candidates for the position, and whereas two proposals for this work were received, and whereas the village manager has recommended that pracademic partners be retained for this scope of work at a cost not to exceed $15,000. Now therefore be it resolved that the village board of trustees hereby authorizes the village manager to accept the proposal from pracademic partners at a cost not to exceed $15,000 and be it further resolved that the village treasurer is hereby authorized to make the following budget transfer in the twenty twenty six twenty twenty seven general fund budget. General expenses increase a $12.30 dot 4,000. Municipal executive contractual,
15,000. Decrease a $19.90 dot 4,000. Contingency contractual, 15,000.
Well, mayor, first, going back to, our budget, consideration in the in the spring leading up to adoption of the budget. At the end of April, I'm I'm very grateful that we set aside funding for the future hiring of of an assistant village manager. I think if you look at the agenda that we have as a village with, you know, particularly with with an entrepreneurial board of trustees that's got some wonderful ideas that and and innovative approaches, It's, I I think, almost almost overdue that we have the assistant village manager position. So I'm I'm looking forward to that being being filled. And and also, I think it's important, you know, for any any municipal government to have, you know, what what amounts to a deputy position in the in in village government. So I look I look forward to to that individual joining us. How you get that individual, I think, is important as well. And in most of the municipalities, I'd say I'd say probably all that I'm familiar with or have worked for over the years, the use of
what's popularly referred to as a headhunter is very common. And so we've looked at the manager sought a couple of proposals, got one from from this firm. Looks looks good to me. And, you know, particularly since I I, for one, would would not look forward to tasking the the manager with with the additional work of having to go through what I I consider to be, you know, one of the most important hires that we've had in the village since we hired the manager way back in 2021, I think it was. So so I'm I'm looking looking forward to the work of of of this firm and most importantly, bringing the assistant, village manager on board.
Well said. Thank you. Yeah. I think recruiting, attracting top talent for the village is a key duty that we have, you know, as a board and manager. You have a full plate, a huge plate. So I think if we can help, you know, you attract great talent to support you and and the village on a approximately $24,000,000 budget. You know, juggling so many projects at once, would be key. Also, thank you for the work you did to reduce this fee. I know it was higher when we first looked at it. So, you know, thank you for doing that. Welcome.
It will come as no surprise to my colleagues that I disagree with them. I think that the assistant village manager position is extremely important. And I am a consultant myself. I am highly in favor of when necessary and appropriate hiring consultants to help us. But I believe that I think $15,000 is a lot of money, especially for what the salary of this position is going to be. And I think that it is well within our ability to at least give this a try without laying out $15,000 worth of taxpayer dollars. So I would be in favor of trying to do this ourselves without entering into this contract to do so with, an outside firm. So I will be voting no.
Well, and I I just wanna say I understand what you're saying. I We can disagree. We can disagree, but I just wanted to add too that timing is of the essence in trying to recruit this position. So we do have some element of time pressure for transitioning, for succession planning going on. You know? I mean, that's just something at least I wanted to share that I weighed too because I'm so mindful of inflation and what folks are going through. You know, it's it's not easy. And so I know we we talk. So that's you know, I just wanted to to add that. Yeah. And I I agree.
You know, think I it's important that we spend the money in a careful way. To trustee Simon's point, this was part of our contingency when we passed the budget back in April. And then this, you know, because this is a new position, not only will pracademic partners help us with the, you know, recruiting, they're also gonna help us with really hashing out kind of what that job description is and what the duties are, and really thinking about the position and who would be a good fit for that role and then seeking that person out. So I I will support this, this resolution.
Yeah. I mean, it's possible that we could, fill the position without expending this money, but given the time pressures we are under, I would not wanna take that chance, because I think getting the right person in the job is paramount and getting them in at the right time. So I will be voting aye. K. All in favor? Aye. Aye.
No. No. Okay. Or however you respond to Yeah. Opposing, which doesn't happen a lot up here.
Motion by trustee Simon, second by Justin Nicholson. All in favor? Aye. Alright. Just in case we need it, do I have a motion to adjourn?