Menands board approves warrants, DPW cameras, retirement resolution and several motions

Menands Village trustees on Feb. 3 approved a package of administrative and capital motions, including payment warrants, authorization to solicit bids for a salt/water/sewer project, installation of surveillance cameras at the DPW garage and a resolution to place police employees into a New York State retirement tier, officials said.

The actions, taken during the regularly scheduled meeting at 250 Broadway, were routine approvals and project authorizations the board said are necessary to keep several capital and administrative efforts on schedule.

The board approved payment of warrants and payroll presented at the meeting. The totals announced in the meeting packet included $92,103.92 for the general fund and $31,433.90 for water; combined warrant and payroll figures were discussed on the record and the motion to approve passed with no recorded opposition.

The board authorized staff to put the village’s salt and water/sewer infrastructure project out to bid. Officials said the bid documents are nearly complete, with an award expected in late March or early April and construction mobilization aimed for April or May if site conditions permit. Trustees also set a tentative bid-opening for March 23 at 2 p.m. in the village offices at 250 Broadway.

Trustees approved a request to have ABS install a camera system at the Department of Public Works (DPW) garage. The quoted installation cost discussed at the meeting was $8,800 and board members said funds are available in the buildings budget.

The board approved several personnel and policy items discussed in the packet, including updated policies covering bloodborne pathogens and a cell-phone fuel/reimbursement policy for firefighters; trustees discussed practical aspects of the fuel policy and backup fueling arrangements when pumps are out of service.

Trustees reapproved a previously considered resolution to enroll village police employees in a New York State retirement tier (referred to in the meeting as “384-e”). The board member presenting the item said the retirement system rejected an earlier submission and the village is resubmitting a resolution; the cost of the village contribution stated at the meeting was $209,470. The motion to reapprove passed on the record.

The board voted to apply to the Town of Colonie’s Community Block Grant set-aside for up to $20,000 to fund engineering and planning for an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramp to 250 Broadway. The application requires no local match, the presenter said; one board member abstained from the vote because they serve on the committee that oversees the grant program.

Other procedural business included authorizing policies and approving routine departmental reports and meetings schedule items. Several board members and residents raised separate issues during public comment, including requests for website transparency and updated financial postings, but those items were referred to staff follow-up rather than formal board action.

Votes at a glance - Warrants and payroll (amounts discussed in packet): approved (no opposition recorded). - Salt/water/sewer project: motion to put project out to bid; approved. Tentative bid opening: March 23, 2 p.m., 250 Broadway. - DPW garage camera system (ABS), $8,800: approved. - Bloodborne pathogen and firefighter cell-phone fuel/reimbursement policies: approved. - Police retirement resolution (resubmission to NYS retirement tier noted as “384-e”), village share stated as $209,470: reapproved. - Town of Colonie Community Block Grant application, up to $20,000 for ADA engineering/planning: approved; 1 abstention (board member on committee).

The board did not enter executive session and concluded the meeting following routine closing motions.