MONTICELLO  — The Village of Monticello Manager James Snowden talked of certain parking lots that will close during the winter time at the Village Board’s latest meeting on Wednesday, November 6.

He also said that some of these lots will still be kept open.

Half of the parking lot behind the old Woolworth store is planned to remain open due to its usage by St. Peter’s churchgoers.

“The Peachtree Building, we’re gonna ask them to be responsible for the parking lot because they [the owners] use that,” explained Snowden.

The Bagel Bakery lot was also included in these discussions, and half of that lot is planned to remain open.

Half of the Government Center’s lot in front of the building will also remain open as well.

“The rest of them we’re going to - pretty much - close them down,” stated Snowden.

Snowden stated that there was discussion on leaving Fraser Road open this year, taking it day-by-day to “see how it goes”.

Moratorium on Multiple Dwellings

Trustee John Barbarite recalled the Village’s numerous complaints regarding the condition of the older multiple-dwellings in the Village.

“Historically, the majority of the old buildings that have been converted into multiple dwellings were done in violation of our Village ordinances,” said Barbarite.

The Village is looking at correcting the issue many buildings faced in the past in violation.

“A violation that lasts 10 years never ripens into a legal use,” stated Barbarite.

Barbarite also stated that this is the forefront source of problems in the Village pertaining to sanitation, garbage cans, cars parking on front yards, driving off and leaving mudholes.

He stated that these problems leave the Village “very undesirable” for bringing in new development.

Barbarite has stated that they’re looking into the possibility of an amnesty program  in some cases.

An example that was provided was of houses that were developed on lots too small and parking is in the front yard, an amnesty could be provided of parking in the back.

“They may have to build driveways,” said Barbarite. “[This is to] get them as close to compliance as we can. In most of these buildings - to be blunt - they became slums. It’s a terrible situation and we want to clean that up.”

Trustee Gordon Jenkins shared the sentiment.

“We’re losing our single-family housing,” admitted Jenkins. “So basically we’re losing the community. We need to get back to single-family houses where you have a community. We want to get better standards and better communities.”

Village adopts Local Law #10

The Village adopted Local Law #10 of 2024 which also adds Chapter 131 entitled “Constabulary”.

Villlage Attorney Michael Sussman recounted that  there are different ways  of staffing the police functions in the community.

“The use of constabulatories is a means of not using higher paid police officers for functions which are itinerate functions which will be performed by individuals who essentially funtion as police officers under the direction of the Board, the Village Manager, or the Police Chief,” explained Sussman.

The overall intention of this  is to give more flexibility of staffing in police functions and divert police officers who are more highly-paid to law enforcement duties outside of courts, as an example.

With nobody in objection or support during the public hearing, the Local Law was promptly adopted with the motion of Trustee Theodore Hutchins, seconded by Jenkins  and with the overall in favor by the rest of the Board.