The Village of Mamaroneck Board of Trustees will hold its regular bi-weekly meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the courtroom at Village Hall. Here's a look at some of the issues that will be discussed then:
1) Referral to Planning Board for review and recommendation on T-Mobile's application to locate wireless telecommunications facility at 626 Halstead Ave. and declaring intent to act as lead agency:
On Jan. 11, the Village of Mamaroneck administrator received an application for a 1oo-foot tall, free-standing cell tower antenna for 626 Halstead Ave., next to the Metro-North railroad in Mamaroneck. The request was discussed during last week's work session and will be addressed tonight.
It is not expected, however, that the board will make a decision regarding this matter any time soon.
"The Mayor and Board will be referring it to the Planning Board for their report and recommendation, and declaring themselves lead agency under NYS SEQRA laws," said Village Administrator Rich Slingerland. "I anticipate this will be a multiple-month review process."
The site plan application was sent by T-Mobile Northeast's attorneys to the village's building department, which in turn forwarded the request to Slingerland.
Said application letter stated that T-Mobile was proposing to locate a wireless telecommunications facility consisting of a 100-foot monopole, with antennas mounted on it and related equipment cabinets on the same level.
According to the Village of Mamaroneck Zoning Code, this type of application must be referred to the planning board for review and recommendation before being approved by the Board of Trustees, all within a 60-day timeframe.
A "pre-application meeting" with the board, where T-Mobile would be available to address concerns, hasn't taken place yet. So far, Snyder & Snyder, the firm working with T-Mobile, has submitted an escrow deposit in the amount of $7,500, letters of authorization from the property owners and copies of the site plan.
2) Authorization for Village Manager to execute agreement with Westchester County for solid waste and recyclables:
The village already had an agreement with Westchester County to accept solid waste and recyclables from the village, but that contract expired on October 21, 2009. It is expected that the board will approve the renewal of this agreement tonight. The tipping fee for this year will remain at $25 per ton and the contract will most likely be for a 10-year period with the option of a five-year extension, which would take the village through 2024.
3) Authorization for Village Manager to extend CDBG agreement with Westchester County for sidewalk improvement project on Boston Post Road:
On May 4, 2009, the Village of Mamaroneck signed an agreement with the county to receive Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds in the amount of $159,500 for a sidewalk improvement project along Boston Post Road, from Mt. Pleasant Avenue to Mamaroneck Avenue and from Mamaroneck Avenue to Spruce Street.
The village has entered into contract with Let it Grow, Inc., the lowest bidder, to begin the project. If this item is approved, the village will extend its agreement so that it can continue to receive funding for said project from the county through Sept. 30, 2010.
4) Proposal to increase parking ticket rates:
Having conducted a study of parking rates in 26 municipalities in Westchester- the average is $19.32 for an expired meter and $22.17 for overtime limit for un-metered parking- the board has discussed changing the village's parking ticket rate from $15 to $20. If the resolution is approved, the public hearing will take place on Feb. 8.
5) Proposal to change the imposition of a service charge for returned checks:
On Jan. 11, Village Treasurer Agostino Fusco brought to the attention of the village manager that TD Bank has increased its fee for returned checks to $35. Therefore, the board will address changing the village code to reflect this increase. The fee now, according to section 11-1 of the village code, is$20. The public hearing would take place on Feb. 8.
6) Approval of Traffic Commission request to make Highland Drive one-way westbound:
On Dec. 9, 2009, the Traffic Commission recommended the board that Highland Drive be made a westbound one-way street from Maple Avenue to Fenimore Road to "improve vehicular traffic flow as well as the safety of vehicles and pedestrians using the street." Given that this issue was discussed at last Tuesday's work session, the board will vote on the amendment, which has already been approved by the Board of Traffic Commissioners, tonight.
