Ravena Village Board members approved a bond resolution to increase the village's borrowing authorization for replacement and upgrades of the sedimentation basins at the village water treatment plant.

The measure was presented by Speaker 1, a board member, who said the request invoked Section 81 of the Local Finance Law (Chapter 33-A, consolidated loans of New York State) and explained that bids and estimates for the basin work predated the COVID-19 pandemic and that costs have since risen. “That's it in a nutshell. So I have a motion that we accept this, bond resolution, and proceed forward,” Speaker 1 said. The motion received a second from Speaker 3, a staff member, and Speaker 1 stated, “Alright. This resolution is passed.”

The bond increase is intended to pay for planned replacement and upgrades of the plant's sedimentation basins after grant applications did not produce sufficient outside funding, according to Speaker 1. The presenter told the board that the project had been planned and bid before the pandemic but that prices for materials and services rose during and after COVID-19, and that the village had been unable to secure grants for this specific project.

Nut graf: The board authorized additional borrowing under the cited state finance provision to complete a capital water project whose estimated cost rose after the pandemic and which the village said could not be fully covered by grants.

In other business, Speaker 2, a board member, moved to approve the audited bills listed in Abstract 8-1-25 (voucher numbers 8-1 through 8-36) totaling $112,997.92. The motion was voiced and met with affirmative responses from other meeting participants; the transcript records the motion and participants saying “Yes,” but does not include an explicit roll-call vote or a formal tally in the record.

The board received brief reports on scheduling and public safety: members discussed a joint meeting with the town scheduled for January 15 at 6 p.m. at the village (described in the meeting as a regularly scheduled quarterly joint session) and mentioned a Planning/Zoning Board meeting date read from the agenda. Chief Phillips's report to the board was summarized by Speaker 3, who said the fire department's December activities and calls went well and that the department continues recruitment and training efforts. Speaker 2 noted they had “some water budget reading to do.”

Before adjournment, Speaker 1 said the board would move to an executive session on a personnel matter; the transcript records the board moving to executive session without further public discussion.

Votes at a glance:
- Bond resolution to increase borrowing for sedimentation-basin replacement/upgrade — motion by Speaker 1; second by Speaker 3; outcome: passed (as stated in the record).
- Approval of audited bills, Abstract 8-1-25 (vouchers 8-1 through 8-36; $112,997.92) — motion by Speaker 2; second: not specified in the transcript; outcome: not specified (the motion was made and participants said “Yes,” but no formal tally or explicit approval statement is recorded).

Ending: The board scheduled routine upcoming meetings and then adjourned to an executive session on a personnel matter.