Larchmont Village Board Meeting - October 19, 2026

The Larchmont Village Board met in the evening on October 19, 2026. Trustee Fennelli was absent; the village attorney and village administrator attended. The board heard department reports, approved a series of special agenda items and bill lists, and received public comment on two major local issues: the New York State DOT road diet proposal for Boston Post Road and environmental contamination at Flint Park.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the special meeting minutes of September 18, 2025.
• Approved the bill list from July 24, 2026 through October 1, 2026 totaling $1,599,597.46, and a second bill list identified as job ID 444 totaling $251,001.33. The board highlighted that a new police vehicle on the bill list was a hybrid, consistent with the village's green fleet goals.
• Noted prior work-session actions from September 28, 2026: amendment to the fringe benefit policy for non-union employees and elected officials, promotion of Sergeant Michael Dusset to police lieutenant, and an exception to the bench donation policy. A separate bill list approval was also noted as from October 5, 2023, as stated in the transcription.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Julie Hecker, co-owner of Sherwood's Restaurant, read a letter into the record formally opposing the NYS DOT road diet/complete streets plan for Boston Post Road. She cited concerns about concrete medians, loss of curbside parking, delivery trucks blocking single-lane traffic, and bike lanes on a busy commercial corridor. She said the plan could force Sherwood's to move to a more business-friendly town, noted about a dozen empty storefronts already in the area, and urged the board to advocate on behalf of local businesses to the NYS DOT.
• Kristen Anderson, a concerned resident, said the village ignored applicable environmental laws during construction at Flint Park, which sits on a documented incinerator-ash landfill. She described public health risks, likely project cost overruns, and asked the village to conduct park-wide soil testing, inform residents, especially parents, about potential exposure, and take a more open approach.
• John, a community member, asked the board for transparency. He cited site history, shallow soil testing showing elevated lead, carcinogenic PAHs, chromium, mercury, semi-volatile organic compounds, and all 18 samples with toxicity. He said the project should have triggered additional permitting and a Type I environmental review, and he referenced an August DEC Notice of Violation. He requested work-session minutes, FOIL compliance, community workshops, and involvement of the environmental committee and coastal zone commission.
• Michael, a community member, thanked village staff for responding to hazardous leaf piles after a complaint the prior year. He discussed leaf collection procedures, mentioned that nearby Mamaroneck moved its leaf window to November 2, and urged the board to harmonize leaf collection rules for safety.

Discussion Items

• Mayor's report: announced a $4.8 million Transportation Alternatives Program grant from Governor Hochul's office, with a $1.2 million village match, totaling $6 million for safety infrastructure improvements on Chatsworth Avenue, Larchmont Avenue, and Vanderberg Avenue. She credited the prior board, AKRF, the Safe Routes to School Committee, and village staff. She also reminded residents about the November 3 general election, early voting starting October 24, the 23rd annual Arts Festival with over 60 artists, the October 24 Ragamuffin Parade, and the November 15 emergency preparedness webinar with free emergency go bags for registered attendees.
• Village administrator report: said the affected Flint Park area has been secured and posted with signage, and the village is working with New York State DEC on mitigation, remediation, and monitoring. Police Chief Paprota retired effective October 16, 2026; Lieutenant Dan Callipai is overseeing the department while the village conducts a search for a new chief.
• Police chief report: oversaw the swearing-in of Lieutenant Michael Dusset, a 21-year Larchmont PD veteran with 27 years of total police service. He reported assisting MTA PD on October 16 with an arrest of a suspect who allegedly set a small fire at the Larchmont train platform. He also discussed seasonal property crime prevention, the dark-house property check program, the 50th anniversary memorial for Patrolman Arthur DeMati, who was killed on October 12, 1976, Coffee with a Cop, and library storytime.
• Fire chief report: described an October 9 response to an electrical fire in a bathroom, fire prevention week education focused on safe charging of lithium-ion batteries, and a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant covering 95% of the cost, just over $60,000, to replace the fire department's vehicle exhaust system. He urged residents to check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and congratulated Lieutenant John Adams and Firefighter Jordan Bogart on completing marathons.
• Trustee reports: no items were reported.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimously scheduled a public hearing on a proposed local law to amend Chapter 245 of the Village Code relating to streets and sidewalks; the hearing date was not stated.
• Unanimously approved the SCADA application upgrade for the water department, covering both hardware and software.
• Unanimously authorized the purchase and installation of a new vehicle exhaust system for the fire department.
• Unanimously appointed Julia Davis as deputy village clerk.
• Unanimously amended the paddle tennis permit and league fees schedule.
• Unanimously authorized the village administrator to extend the Westchester Joint Waterworks water purchase contract for one year on a form acceptable to the village attorney.
• Noted that a rescheduled special work session on capital planning will be publicly noticed, with the Flint Park Conservancy invited.
• Adjourned the meeting after the above actions.