OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Larchmont Board of Trustees Regular Meeting - May 18, 2026

Village Board of Trustees — Monday, May 18, 2026
BodyLarchmont, New York
SessionVillage Board of Trustees
DateMonday, May 18, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 42:07

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Largmont Board of Trustees regular meeting.

0:02

It is Monday, May 18th, 2026.

0:05

Please note that the entire board is present.

0:08

We have Administrator Katseen and Assistant Administrator O'Neill and our village attorney will be joining us shortly.

0:15

Everyone, please rise for the pledge.

0:18

That's the agents to do that.

0:22

And so we're all visible in justice for all.

0:36

I actually don't think I have any comments this evening.

0:40

So we will move on to our public hearing to consider a local law to extend by two months to duration of the temporary moratorium established by law number six-2025, which established a six-month moratorium prohibiting the review and approval of applications and issuance of permits for convenience stores in the village of Larchmont.

0:58

The reason why we are looking to extend that is because we need a little bit more time.

1:07

So we just need a little bit extra time to be able to get a draft of that and review it.

1:14

So I seek a motion to open the public hearing.

1:18

So moved.

1:19

Do I have a second?

1:20

Second.

1:20

All in favor?

1:21

Aye.

1:22

Would anybody like to address the board?

1:24

Sure.

1:25

Good evening, ma'am.

1:28

Do you mind speaking at the mic, please?

1:29

Thank you so much.

1:31

Of course.

1:33

Okay, mayor, honorable uh board.

1:36

Uh Kevin O'Brien, O'Brien Law PC, 462, Sagmore Avenue, East Williston, New York, here on behalf of the property.

1:43

Well, I should say one of the property owners in the village that this uh law affects.

1:49

Okay, we have 2406, Boston Post Road.

1:53

It is the gas station which has been shuttered.

1:55

Uh I guess which would be on the west side of the village across from the diner.

1:59

Okay.

2:00

Yeah, down Boston Post.

2:01

Yes.

2:02

Okay.

2:02

So we filed applications to completely raise and rebuild that service station.

2:08

You know, I understand it's not looking like a model service station in its current uh configuration, but uh we are eagerly awaiting, and we have a tenant that's willing to uh completely raise and rebuild it.

2:23

We have not really seen any proposals or plans from anything as to what's being proposed.

2:29

We just recently received them, and I'm sure you got my letter uh the other day where we indicated that we received uh some notice of violations for kind of being abandoned and things along those lines.

2:40

We have protective security fencing, which we were requested to place there.

2:45

Like I said, our applications have been pending for over a year.

2:48

We'd like to be a little bit enlightened, and on the other hand, we know appreciate not to have violations issued against us while you know we're we're in the process of of trying to actually you know work with the village.

3:03

Uh you know, we met with planning, uh, but right now our hands are tied.

3:08

So I guess we'd probably like um your indulgence, be perhaps a little better idea as to uh what is being proposed, how it'll impact and how we could actually move this application forward, which would be in the betterment of that particular area, the village and the uh applicant.

3:29

Um so I'll I should turn yeah.

3:32

So as to the draft um we're talking about convenience stories.

3:39

Yes, the moratorium.

3:41

We expect to have it to the board within the next week or two.

3:44

Um we've been working with the villagers planning consultant on it.

3:47

And um you should be, and then you know, you'll have to notice it for a public hearing.

3:53

That uh I'll put it this way.

3:55

I think you will be able to be in a position to vote the law uh no later than your July meeting.

4:02

Okay.

4:02

Okay.

4:04

And if you when the draft comes out, I think you've got a contact with my office sometimes.

4:08

So yes, yeah, I I have any contact.

4:11

I was just wondering.

4:11

We'll try to get it to you.

4:12

That'd be great.

4:13

That'd be excellent.

4:14

I'm just wondering, is there is there a report by the planner that we'd be able to kind of take a look and see what what's uh kind of peek behind the curtain to kind of find out what we should anticipate and how if we need to bob and weave or zig and zag or do something to to accommodate whatever it is that's being recommended, we could do it proactively as opposed to reactively.

4:36

So I would say we'll we'll try it.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████21%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Water And Wastewater Management██████████████14%
Environmental Protection██████████████14%
Public Safety█████████████13%
Parks and Recreation███████7%
Cannabis Regulation█████5%
Fiscal Sustainability████4%
Personnel Matters████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Larchmont Board of Trustees Regular Meeting - May 18, 2026

The Larchmont Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on Monday, May 18, 2026, with all board members present. The meeting covered a public hearing on extending a moratorium on convenience stores, various departmental reports, appointments, resolutions, and public comments. Key actions included approving the moratorium extension, adopting new policies, and appointing library board members.

Public Hearing: Extension of Convenience Store Moratorium

  • The board held a public hearing to consider a local law to extend by two months the temporary moratorium (established by law number six-2025) that prohibits the review and approval of applications and permits for convenience stores in the village.
  • Kevin O'Brien (O'Brien Law PC, representing a property owner at 2406 Boston Post Road) expressed concerns about pending applications to rebuild a shuttered gas station. He requested a draft of the proposed law and asked for clarity on how it would affect his client. The village attorney stated the draft would be available within one to two weeks, with a vote expected by the July meeting.
  • The board closed the public hearing and approved the moratorium extension unanimously.

Village Administrator's Report

  • Building Department: Effective May 26, revised hours will be implemented: closed to the public 8:30-9:30 a.m. (to catch up), open 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., and closed 3-4:30 p.m. This adds half an hour per day total.
  • Rodent Activity: The village is aware of increased rodent activity near the train station and is working with local businesses and the MTA. Residents are asked to report improper garbage disposal to code enforcement.
  • Sewer Work: From May 27-29, sewer line rehabilitation will occur on Shore Drive and Douglas Lane using in-situ lining. Affected homes will receive paper notifications. Residents are asked to minimize water use during the work.

Police Chief Report (Lt. Calipai)

  • Incidents: A local business owner on Boston Post Road was scammed out of $20,000 by a person posing as a bank representative. Investigation ongoing.
  • New Hires: Two new school crossing guards hired: Tony Dedovanovic (on post at Boston Post Road and Beach Avenue as of May 11) and Grace Savanella (in training).
  • Leaf Blower Statistics: Since the last meeting, six incidents reported (four citizen-reported, two officer-observed); one summons issued.
  • Community Events: Coffee with a Cop at Starbucks on May 1 was successful. School safety talks at French American School completed. Upcoming: senior talk on June 2, Memorial Day Parade on May 21, Sprint to Flint on May 29.

Fire Chief Report

  • Wires Down Incidents: On May 5, a downed wire on Palmer Avenue trapped a delivery truck driver; no injuries. On May 6, another truck struck a communication line on Went Avenue. Both accidental. The chief urged residents to respect yellow caution tape.
  • Fire Safety Inspections: Ongoing; reminded businesses not to use extension cords for high-load appliances (air conditioners, dryers).
  • National Safe Boating Week: Reminder about heat fatigue, dehydration, and sudden storms.

Trustee Comments

  • Deputy Mayor Finelli: Reported on Earth Day cleanup (May 16) at Manta Park with 24 Girl Scouts, Rotary Club, and Manapark Society members; collected about 70 pounds of garbage. Announced Flint Park open, Memorial Day Parade details, sidewalk sale (May 28-30), Lochella music festival (June 6), Sprint to Flint (May 30), and summer concert series (Thursdays in July).
  • Trustee Parray: Noted that $17,146.49 was spent on emergency lights for motorcycles (total now nearly $30,000). Also praised Mike Schnabel for saving the village $679.96 by identifying an overcharge from the town of Mamaroneck on service billing.

Appointments to Library Board of Trustees

  • Celeste Sharp appointed as member for a five-year term (retroactive June 1, 2025 – May 31, 2030).
  • Lauren Gottfried appointed as chair for a five-year term (June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2031).
  • Both appointments approved unanimously.

Resolutions Approved

  • Professional Services Agreement for Recreation Consultant: One-year term starting February 20, 2026. Authorized village administrator to execute.
  • 2026-2027 Tax Warrant: Authorized Village Treasurer Maria Broderick to execute the tax warrant, including the adopted tax levy and special assessments.
  • Complete Streets Policy: Adopted to consider sustainable and complete streets practices in roadway projects and new development.
  • Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy: Adopted as part of Climate Smart Communities program (bronze certified, working toward silver).
  • Police Chief Employment Extension: Authorized a three-month extension of Police Chief Chris McNurney's contract (expiring end of May).

Public Comments

  • Arthur (Chamber of Commerce): Requested a draft of the convenience store policy before official notice, noting the chamber has not taken a position yet.
  • Michael Gottfried: Commented on water rates (NYC raising 6% on excess, village 4.5% increase starting June 1) and urged leak detection. Also advocated for an inter-municipal agreement (IMA) with the town regarding the sanitation project, emphasizing the need for clear terms on cost overruns and billing.
  • Helen Mach (attorney for Jules Del Vecchio): Thanked the board for addressing noise issues but urged locals to install adequate sound mitigation. Requested that ambient noise measurement at night be included in any agreement and that coordination between consultants continue.
  • Max Mahalik (on behalf of applicant locals 1053): Noted that sound mitigation details were provided in a Sound Sense report submitted May 11.

Bills

  • The board approved payment of bills totaling $363,929.87 (including emergency motorcycle lights) and ratified previously paid bills totaling $68,447.41.

Key Outcomes

  • The moratorium on convenience stores was extended by two months.
  • Library Board appointments were approved.
  • Five resolutions were adopted: recreation consultant agreement, tax warrant, Complete Streets policy, environmentally preferable purchasing policy, and police chief contract extension.
  • The next work session is scheduled for June 8, 2026, with a work session and regular meeting on June 22, 2026. Village offices closed May 25 for Memorial Day.

Meeting Transcript

Largmont Board of Trustees regular meeting. It is Monday, May 18th, 2026. Please note that the entire board is present. We have Administrator Katseen and Assistant Administrator O'Neill and our village attorney will be joining us shortly. Everyone, please rise for the pledge. That's the agents to do that. And so we're all visible in justice for all. I actually don't think I have any comments this evening. So we will move on to our public hearing to consider a local law to extend by two months to duration of the temporary moratorium established by law number six-2025, which established a six-month moratorium prohibiting the review and approval of applications and issuance of permits for convenience stores in the village of Larchmont. The reason why we are looking to extend that is because we need a little bit more time. So we just need a little bit extra time to be able to get a draft of that and review it. So I seek a motion to open the public hearing. So moved. Do I have a second? Second. All in favor? Aye. Would anybody like to address the board? Sure. Good evening, ma'am. Do you mind speaking at the mic, please? Thank you so much. Of course. Okay, mayor, honorable uh board. Uh Kevin O'Brien, O'Brien Law PC, 462, Sagmore Avenue, East Williston, New York, here on behalf of the property. Well, I should say one of the property owners in the village that this uh law affects. Okay, we have 2406, Boston Post Road. It is the gas station which has been shuttered. Uh I guess which would be on the west side of the village across from the diner. Okay. Yeah, down Boston Post. Yes. Okay. So we filed applications to completely raise and rebuild that service station. You know, I understand it's not looking like a model service station in its current uh configuration, but uh we are eagerly awaiting, and we have a tenant that's willing to uh completely raise and rebuild it. We have not really seen any proposals or plans from anything as to what's being proposed. We just recently received them, and I'm sure you got my letter uh the other day where we indicated that we received uh some notice of violations for kind of being abandoned and things along those lines. We have protective security fencing, which we were requested to place there. Like I said, our applications have been pending for over a year. We'd like to be a little bit enlightened, and on the other hand, we know appreciate not to have violations issued against us while you know we're we're in the process of of trying to actually you know work with the village. Uh you know, we met with planning, uh, but right now our hands are tied. So I guess we'd probably like um your indulgence, be perhaps a little better idea as to uh what is being proposed, how it'll impact and how we could actually move this application forward, which would be in the betterment of that particular area, the village and the uh applicant. Um so I'll I should turn yeah. So as to the draft um we're talking about convenience stories. Yes, the moratorium. We expect to have it to the board within the next week or two. Um we've been working with the villagers planning consultant on it. And um you should be, and then you know, you'll have to notice it for a public hearing. That uh I'll put it this way. I think you will be able to be in a position to vote the law uh no later than your July meeting.

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