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Menands board appoints deputy clerk, approves maintenance expenditures including new generator and tree work
Summary
Trustees approved the appointment of Emily Bellcomb as deputy clerk and approved several spending items: $4,500 tree removal, $6,450 annual stormwater coalition dues, a $2,500 sign-study contract, and roughly $18,003.51 to purchase and install a replacement generator at the water plant; staff will file paperwork and proceed with procurement.
At its Aug. 5 meeting, the Menands Village Board approved multiple staffing and maintenance actions aimed at facility upkeep and municipal operations. The board approved the appointment of Emily Bellcomb to the deputy clerk role and authorized several expenditures for infrastructure and maintenance.
Key votes and approvals: Trustees voted to appoint Emily Bellcomb as deputy clerk. The board also approved a $4,500 contract with Groundscaping/Northeast Trees to remove dead limbs and trees threatening fiber and telephone lines (funded from DPW account 0442). Members authorized payment of annual dues of $6,450 to the regional stormwater coalition. The board agreed to re-engage Creighton Manning for an updated sign study and code implementation work with a maximum cost of $2,500.
Water-plant generator: Staff reported the village’s water-plant backup generator (at 473 Broadway) is more than 30 years old and recommended replacement. Trustees reviewed a contractor quote of about $26,225 for a fully contractor-supplied install and an alternative that splits purchase and installation: buy equipment for roughly $6,732.99 and hire Castleman Electric for installation for approximately $11,625, bringing the preferred combined option to about $18,003.51. The board moved to approve the two purchases (equipment and installation) and approved the expenditure; funds will come from the water account.
Why it matters: The generator powers critical water infrastructure, and the approvals move forward repairs and safety improvements. Deputy-clerk staffing addresses a vacancy in court/administrative operations. The sign study and tree work are aimed at public-safety and code-enforcement improvements.
What was said: A trustee described payroll corrections making staff whole after a raise was missed and reviewed line items; another trustee said the generator solution reduced cost compared with a commercial replacement and noted the installation would be done by a women-owned firm (Castleman, as stated in the meeting). Trustees asked staff to finalize contracts and file required documentation.
Next steps: Procurement, contract execution and filing; staff to return with documentation and implementation timelines.
