Village of Ravena adopts LEP policy, adopts county hazard plan and approves $74,910 in bills

The Village of Ravena board on May 6 adopted a limited English proficiency (LEP) policy, approved Albany County's Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan update for 2025, approved audited bills totaling $74,910.14 and authorized public works staff to pursue a municipal lease for a mid-size dump truck.

The actions took place during the village's regular board meeting at Ravena Village Hall. Board members also received routine reports from the fire department and public works, set a May 19 Planning & Zoning public hearing for an area variance at 19 Van Buren Ave., and noted seasonal hiring for lifeguards and splash-pad staffing.

The LEP policy establishes how the village will provide language assistance and sets a translation threshold of 5 percent of the population (or 1,000 individuals, whichever is lower) before translating essential documents into a non-English language; the village clerk's office was identified as the primary contact for requests. The board said the policy is in response to New York State requirements and federal civil-rights guidance, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Executive Order 13166, which address meaningful access for persons with limited English proficiency.

By resolution the board adopted the Albany County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan update for 2025 (listed in the meeting as Resolution 10-2025). The document, prepared for Albany County, identifies mitigation goals and actions intended to reduce long-term risks from natural hazards. The resolution states the village's commitment to those mitigation goals and notes the community may edit or amend the plan before submission without needing to readopt later iterations.

The board approved audited vouchers 12-1 through 12-35 (abstract 12-1-25) in the amount of $74,910.14 and placed the All Funds bank reconciliation on the record for review. Separately, trustees moved and seconded a motion allowing DPW foreman Lee Van Etten and a Mr. Youmans to pursue details of a municipal lease for a mid-size Chevrolet dump truck (a plow-capable vehicle similar to the village's leaf/sweep truck). The board said the lease would break payments into five installments and permit early payoff without penalty, and the motion directed staff to continue negotiating terms so a final purchase could be considered later when full terms and costs are available.

Fire Department correspondence read into the record indicated the department responded to 15 calls in the cited period and 60 year-to-date, including basement pump-outs, motor-vehicle accidents on Main Street and on the interstate, arcing wires on Woodlawn and multiple fire-alarm activations; Chief Kevin Phillips was named in the report. The fire department reported training updates (including interior firefighter operations courses) and ongoing recruitment and planned interviews for applicants.

Public works updates from Foreman Lee Van Etten noted service on turbinometers and pressure-reduction pits, a water break on Church Street that was repaired, repairs to winterized equipment (sweeper and dump truck), pothole remediation coordination with New York State for Main Street, ditch and guardrail work on Clearwater Street, and the impending start of a basin project described as the final phase of a plan upgrade.

The board set a May 19 Planning & Zoning public hearing for an area-variance application at 19 Van Buren Ave. that concerns shed placement and reminded residents that sheds require permits. The meeting closed after routine agenda items and a notice that lifeguard applications for summer pool and splash-pad operations are being accepted.

Votes at a glance: - Acceptance of minutes (April meeting): motion moved and seconded; board responded "Yes" and minutes were accepted. - Adoption of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) policy: motion moved and seconded; board responded "Yes" and adopted the policy. - Resolution 10-2025: Adoption of Albany County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan update for 2025: motion moved and seconded; board responded "Yes" and adopted the resolution. - Approval of audited vouchers (abstract 12-1-25, vouchers 12-1 to 12-35): motion moved and seconded; board responded "Yes" and approved $74,910.14 in payments. - Authorization to pursue municipal lease for mid-size dump truck: motion moved and seconded; board responded "Yes" and directed staff to pursue lease terms (final purchase not authorized without further information).

Discussion v. decisions: The meeting record indicates these items were approved by voice vote after motions and seconds; no roll-call tallies were provided in the transcript. Several agenda items were informational (fire and water/DPW reports) and do not reflect formal policy changes.

For more information or to request language assistance under the new LEP policy, the village clerk's office was listed as the contact at (518) 756-8233 and ravinaclerk@gmail.com.