The Village of Pelham Board of Trustees passed a budget under the state tax cap by cutting garbage pickups to weekly from from twice-a-week starting June 1 and freezing other spending.

This trash collection change will save the village $230,000, according to an email from Mayor Chance Mullen. Mullen said he also ordered a freeze on discretionary spending, excluding contractual obligations and “spending needed to protect the life, health and property of the village and our residents.” Professional staff salaries have also been frozen until September 1.

According to Mullen, departments will still be operating under conservative budgets in the fall and additional cuts may be made into next year. Parking permit and meter fees will increase, but Mullen said these changes will be “moderate” and will not occur until December.

The board met on Tuesday to discuss the 2020-21 budget and other issues. Mullen said that there are unavoidable expenses in the proposed budget, such as the new garbage contract that makes up 4% of the spending plan and required payments for state retirement which represent 1.5%. An additional cost is repairs needed to the firehouse, which could land at about $10,000. Mullen also said reserves are getting hit by infrastructure costs.

Deputy Mayor Pete Potocki said only 63.3% of Pelham residents have responded to the federal census. He urged people to do so as it will allow Pelham to receive more federal funding.

Passport Parking will be rolled out next month, allowing parking meters to be paid through a mobile app, Mullen said.

Potocki said Pelham residents should continue to social distance and wear face coverings in public despite nicer spring weather.

Mullen said at this time he does not recommend getting the Covid-19 antibody test as it only shows your status for the virus, not immunity. The mayor said controlling the hospitalization rate while building capacity at the hospitals will allow for patients to receive the best treatment possible. He also said a reliable treatment protocol is needed as this will allow opening the economy. 

A general fund account for the village’s Covid-19 response was also discussed. The account would track disaster-related costs (including overtime, PPE, sanitary cleaning, time planning) that could possibly be reimbursed by the federal government. 

Mullen said the village administrator’s report states Pelham is registered to submit emergency costs to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the village’s Covid-19 response.

The village board’s next meeting is scheduled to be held via video conference on May 12 at 7:30 p.m..