From left Lakewood Mayor Randy Holcomb, Trustee Richard Fischer, and Trustee Ellen Barnes look over documents at Monday’s meeting. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

Photo in September 2023

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From left Lakewood Mayor Randy Holcomb, Trustee Richard Fischer, and Trustee Ellen Barnes look over documents at Monday’s meeting.

P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

Lakewood Approves Joining NYCLASS

LAKEWOOD — Lakewood has joined the New York Cooperative Liquid Assets Securities System.

On Monday, the board of trustees voted unanimously to adopt the resolution.

According to the NYCLASS website, newyorkclass.org, NYCLASS is a short-term, highly liquid investment fund, designed specifically for the public sector. NYCLASS provides the opportunity to invest funds on a cooperative basis in short-term investments that are carefully chosen to yield favorable returns while striving to provide maximum safety and liquidity.

Village Treasurer Apryl Troutman said that categories have been set up for different village departments that have reserve funds. She said those funds will earn their own interest.

“It’s good for the village,” Trustee Ellen Barnes said.

Participation, the website stated, is available to any municipal corporation or special-purpose district empowered under New York state statute including counties not within the City of New York, cities, towns, villages, school districts, boards of cooperative educational services, and fire districts. Also eligible are county or town improvement districts where the respective county or town is required to pledge its faith and credit for the district’s debt service.

Troutman said by joining NYCLASS, the village will continue its efforts in saving money for future equipment purchases.

Mayor Randy Holcomb added that the village will receive better interest rates on its investment funds.

The board also approved expanding its services with Clinton Brown Architecture, PC. The board OK’d $25,000 for the exterior historic rehabilitation at the Village Hall.

In August, after hearing a presentation by Ted McCague, the village historic preservation committee chairman, trustees said they wanted more time to study the information provided by McCague about the construction documents phase for the rehab.

McCague said in 2014 the village began the comprehensive planning process for long-term preservation of the village’s historic building. Recently the Village Hall was listed on the New York State Register of Historic Places. McCague said the services include architectural assessment work, structural engineering inspections, and hazardous materials inspections that will go with the pre-construction for the exterior of the building. He said the document given to board members also includes a bid package and any specifications a company would need to bid on the work.

In other business:

¯ Trustees accepted the resignation of Village Clerk Mary Currie effective Sept. 30. Currie has been a fulltime employee of the village since March 1, 2000, and plans to retire.

¯ Trustees approved a special-use permit submitted by Danielle DeVine requesting a short-term rental at 141 Chautauqua Ave.

¯ Trustees accepted the resignation of Deputy Clerk/Treasurer Julie Toennis effective Aug. 22. Toennis has been employed by the village since May 2021.

¯ Trustees approved village Halloween trick or treat hours from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

¯ Trustees approved the re-hiring of Doug Goodwin as a part-time police officer at $25.50 per hour. Goodwin retired from LBPD in June.

¯ Trustees learned the beach at Richard O. Hartley Park had 1,212 visitors; salaries totaled $12,513.77. Trustee Nancy Jones said overall, visitors were happy.

Due to the Columbus Day holiday that will fall on Oct. 9, the next board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m.