OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Peekskill Common Council Meeting: June 22, 2026 – Pride Month, Grants, and Development

Meeting Portal — Monday, June 22, 2026
BodyPeekskill, New York
SessionMeeting Portal
DateMonday, June 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:50:58

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Is this the rowdy group?

0:04

Is this the rowdy group?

0:05

Is that who we have here today?

0:08

Folks, can I have your attention?

0:10

We need to begin.

0:11

Mr.

0:12

Shooter, did you say no?

0:14

This is the Rowdy group.

0:16

So good evening, everyone, and welcome to our committee of the whole meeting for today, June 20.

0:21

Folks, I'm gonna need you to calm down so we can get started.

0:24

Ladies and gentlemen, please.

0:27

Thank you.

0:29

All right.

0:31

I'm gonna name you guys the rowdy group.

0:33

This is it.

0:33

All right.

0:34

So good evening and welcome to our committee of the whole meeting for today, June 22nd, 2026.

0:40

At this time, we're going to start with our meeting, and we're here for our Pride Month recognition, and we're gonna get right in and start with that.

1:27

So, whereas the month of June is known as Pride Month, a month-long up observance dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ plus pride and honoring the achievements and contributions of the LGBTQ plus community to our society.

1:41

This year's theme for New York State focuses on for us all and highlights the importance of community, liberation, and resistance.

1:50

It is with honor and distinction that the city of Peakskill acknowledges the outstanding service of Carla Ray Johnson for her commitment to the arts, civic engagement, and inclusion.

2:00

And whereas Carla Ray is surrounded by the lover of her devoted partner, Cynthia Knox, family and friends, and whereas for more than three decades, Carla Ray has enriched the city of Peakscale through her artistic vision and generous spirit.

2:12

Following the tragic attack on the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida in 2016, she responded with compassion and determination by creating the Peakskill Pride flag, a parable powerful symbol of strength and hope of the LGBTQ plus community.

2:28

And whereas Carla Ray has developed and hosted the monthly First Tuesday salons at Bean Runner Cafe, providing a free and welcoming gathering place where community members can share ideas and inspire one another.

2:39

And whereas her most recent endeavor, the democracy project, reflects her steadfast belief in community engagement, bringing together more than 50 local residents to contribute quilt squares, expressing their vision of democracy as part of a larger national initiative.

2:54

And whereas through her collaboration with Marcy Friedman of Thunder and Light and publishing The Artistic License, a thought-provoking newspaper featuring articles on art, poetry, politics, and culture.

3:10

And now therefore I, Vivian McKenzie, Mayor of the City of Peaksgale, on behalf of the Common Council and residents, do hereby extend great congratulations to 2026 Pride Month honoree, Carla Ray Johnson, for her humility and creativity, which enriched the culture and civic life of the community.

3:27

Congratulations.

3:41

Uh oh, the mayor just gave me the mic.

3:44

Uh-oh.

3:46

Thank you, Mayor McKenzie and the Peakskill Common Council.

3:50

And thank you, City Clerk, Cassandra Bread, because you took care of all the details.

3:57

The cake.

4:08

For always supporting and never saying what?

4:12

Another song?

4:17

Thank you for to everyone for being here.

4:20

And thank you to the city of Peakskill for fostering the arts as well as for celebrating pride with us.

4:27

But really, I just want to talk about pride.

4:30

Okay, as you may or may not have guessed, we are taking over.

4:38

Um the month of June is already ours.

4:40

It's a beautiful month of the year, and we we've got it.

4:44

Um we already have commandeered your colors, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink, baby blue, black, white, brown.

5:00

And we've uh we're taking over the alphabet too.

5:03

You know that.

5:05

L, G, B, T, Q, I, A Plus, that means we're coming for more.

5:13

Um, and we're coming for your words too, pride.

5:17

Now, my mother, I I am convinced if she were alive today, um, she would be not only fine, she'd celebrate with us in terms of pride, but in in the early 1970s, I remember her lamenting that they had taken over a perfectly good, usable word, and she could no longer say gay.

5:41

And I said, Oh, you mean like the same way that they took over the words faggot and dike.

5:50

But uh, most important of all, we're coming for fears.

5:55

The ones who divide, the ones that demand silence and complicity.

6:00

And we're coming to clear out those dusty corners of minds that assume only the binary.

6:07

We're here in the month of pride to insist that the current climate of division and mistrust can be dispelled, not by power, not by dominance, but by celebration.

6:22

Because the words of the incomparable Audrey Lord, it is not our differences that divide us.

6:28

It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.

6:35

So let's celebrate Mara Mills.

7:04

Whereas it is with honor and distinction that the City of Peaksgill acknowledges the outstanding service of Mara Mills, who has devoted more than 45 years to the arts as an educator, storyteller, writer, stage director, and producer.

7:18

And whereas in 20, in 2005, she co-founded Studio Theater in Exile at Hudson Valley Mocha, creating a dynamic artistic home dedicated to original works that explore identity, equity, displacement, and belonging throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond.

7:35

And whereas through groundbreaking initiatives such as Writing the Walls, Mara has fostered meaningful collaborations among playwrights, poets, visual artists, performers, and community members.

7:46

And whereas Mara has been a steadfast advocate for LGBTQ, visibility and representation, dedicating annual collaborations between Studio Theater and Exile and Peakscale Pride to celebrations of humanity, artistic freedom, education, and equality, including productions that illuminate LGBTQ plus history and amplify lived experiences.

8:08

And whereas our artistic excellence, leadership, and dedication to the cultural community have been recognized through numerous honors, including the East Coast Theater Conference Outstanding Service Award, and the Cab Callaway Award for Excellence in Theater.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Zoning And Land Use████████████████16%
Public Safety███████████11%
Community Engagement█████████9%
Public Engagement████████8%
Arts And Culture██████6%
Parking Management██████6%
Parks and Recreation█████5%
Fiscal Sustainability████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Peekskill Common Council Meeting – June 22, 2026

The Common Council held a combined work session and regular meeting on June 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Common Council Chamber. The meeting began with a Pride Month recognition ceremony honoring four community members, followed by work session reports on CDBG funding, police locker room plumbing, a religious procession, the summer youth employment program, and a full moon walk. The regular meeting included a police officer promotion, public comments on a proposed development at 418 N. Division Street, a public hearing for a special permit at 301 N. Division Street, and the adoption of 14 resolutions. The meeting concluded with an executive session.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Leslie Lawler (Constant Avenue) opposed the resolution for 418 N. Division Street, arguing that the resolution only listed one building while the project involves the entire White Plains Linen complex. She stated the public was being misled and requested the council resubmit the resolution with all properties listed. She also expressed concern about the project’s scale (up to 160 units) and zoning changes.
  • Fred Constant (Constant Avenue) objected to the 418 N. Division Street project, stating that the developer’s profitability should not be a concern for residents. He noted that the area was designed for small stores, not large developments, and that parking is already inadequate. He urged the council to reject the project.
  • Sue Imhoff (North James Street) raised concerns about traffic and parking impacts from the 418 N. Division Street project. She noted that the developer’s representatives seemed unaware that Constant Avenue is a one-way street. She also questioned the lack of one-to-one parking and suggested townhouses instead of apartments.
  • Ann Jackley (1 Lake View Drive) provided a bi-monthly check-in on the “Peekskill for All” immigration enforcement and discrimination policy. She thanked the city manager for progress on training and signage but urged the city to create a third-party mechanism for anonymous complaints.

Discussion Items

  • Pride Month Recognition: The council recognized Carla Ray Johnson, Mara Mills, John Peron, and Laura Paiucci for their contributions to the arts, LGBTQ+ advocacy, volunteerism, and historic preservation. Each honoree spoke briefly.
  • CDBG Funding Awards (Work Session): Planning Director Carol Samol presented a retroactive acceptance of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awards from 2022-2024: $150,000 for senior nutrition center upgrades (with $150,000 city match) and $200,000 for hydrant/valve replacements (with $303,000 city match). The council approved the acceptance.
  • Police Locker Room Plumbing (Work Session): Police Chief Renwick requested authorization to solicit bids for plumbing work as part of the locker room renovation, funded by a $100,000 CREST grant. The council approved the resolution.
  • Religious Procession (Work Session): The city manager reported that an agreement was reached with Father Esteban of Assumption Church to move the feast procession time back one hour, with no issues noted from last year. A resolution was prepared and approved.
  • Summer Youth Employment Program (Work Session): The city was unsuccessful in obtaining the usual grant from Westchester County. The city manager identified alternative funding: $50,000 from a NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services grant (LG20104712) and $20,000 from the city budget for DPW laborers. The program will continue as planned.
  • Full Moon Walk (Work Session): The Conservation Advisory Committee (CAC) organized the second educational full moon walk at DePew Park on Monday, June 29, 2026, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (no rain date). The council approved a resolution allowing attendees to remain in the park after dusk.
  • Liaison Reports: Councilwoman Chang reported on the Westchester County Board of Health meeting, including PFAS testing and pool signage. Councilwoman Talbot mentioned 33 of 47 Westchester municipalities have passed legislation banning gas-powered leaf blowers in summer. Deputy Mayor Riley announced an American flag retirement collection box at City Hall, updates on senior visits, and Juneteenth events. He also raised the issue of empty storefronts; the city manager noted that the city cannot force landlords to rent, but can enforce property maintenance codes. The council requested further research into potential legislation.
  • Public Hearing – 301 N. Division Street (Special Permit): The public hearing was held for a special permit application by Vaba Peekskill Property Holdings LLC and Auto Art Inc. to operate a minor auto repair shop (oil changes, inspections, tires, brakes) at 301 N. Division Street. The former auto body shop has been vacant. The Planning Commission recommended approval with a time limit (7-10 years) and the ZBA approved a variance for 16 parking spaces (8 indoor, 8 outdoor) instead of the required 20. The applicant stated that services will be by appointment, with no body work or painting. The council discussed safety concerns with vehicle egress onto North Division Street and Cortland Street (one-way). The applicant noted an existing driveway on Cortland. The public hearing was closed with no public speakers.
  • Resolution J5 – 418 N. Division Street: The resolution was initially introduced to set a public hearing for July 13, 2026, and refer the application to the Planning Commission. The property listed was only 418 N. Division Street, but the project involves the entire White Plains Linen complex. After public comment, Councilman Fassett moved to amend the resolution to remove the public hearing date and only refer the application to the Planning Commission, with the requirement that all tax lots and addresses be included in the notice. The amendment passed, and the resolution as amended was adopted.

Key Outcomes

  • Pride Month Proclamations: Approved unanimously.
  • CDBG Funding Acceptance: Approved unanimously (Resolution J9).
  • Police Locker Room Plumbing RFP: Approved unanimously (Resolution J12).
  • Religious Procession: Approved unanimously.
  • Summer Youth Employment Program Funding: Approved unanimously (Resolution J15). The council authorized use of $50,000 from a NYS DCJS grant and $20,000 from city budget.
  • Full Moon Walk: Approved unanimously (Resolution J14).
  • 301 N. Division Street Special Permit: Public hearing closed; no further action taken at this meeting. The council will consider conditions at a later date.
  • 418 N. Division Street: Resolution J5 was amended to delete the public hearing date and only refer the application to the Planning Commission. The amendment passed unanimously.
  • Other Resolutions Adopted Unanimously:
    • J1: Agreement with NorWest Regional Special Services for culinary program.
    • J2: Accept BID funding for Destination Peekskill Shuttle (Councilman Fassett recused himself; roll call vote: 5 ayes).
    • J3: Adopt 2027 multi-year capital plan.
    • J4: Authorize grant application for $5 million for Hurricane Ida resilience.
    • J6: Authorize NYS Consolidated Funding Application for energy efficiency, water quality, resiliency, and strategic planning.
    • J7: Approve jet ski concession agreement with New York Water Sports.
    • J8: Approve PILOT agreement for 41 N. Division Street.
    • J10: Accept FEMA AFG grant for air packs ($227,000).
    • J11: Intermunicipal agreement with Westchester County for prisoner transportation.
    • J13: Declare 946 Second Street as surplus and authorize bids.
  • Police Officer Promotion: Matthew Rivera was sworn in as Sergeant.
  • Executive Session: The council moved into executive session to discuss personnel matters.

Meeting Transcript

Is this the rowdy group? Is this the rowdy group? Is that who we have here today? Folks, can I have your attention? We need to begin. Mr. Shooter, did you say no? This is the Rowdy group. So good evening, everyone, and welcome to our committee of the whole meeting for today, June 20. Folks, I'm gonna need you to calm down so we can get started. Ladies and gentlemen, please. Thank you. All right. I'm gonna name you guys the rowdy group. This is it. All right. So good evening and welcome to our committee of the whole meeting for today, June 22nd, 2026. At this time, we're going to start with our meeting, and we're here for our Pride Month recognition, and we're gonna get right in and start with that. So, whereas the month of June is known as Pride Month, a month-long up observance dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ plus pride and honoring the achievements and contributions of the LGBTQ plus community to our society. This year's theme for New York State focuses on for us all and highlights the importance of community, liberation, and resistance. It is with honor and distinction that the city of Peakskill acknowledges the outstanding service of Carla Ray Johnson for her commitment to the arts, civic engagement, and inclusion. And whereas Carla Ray is surrounded by the lover of her devoted partner, Cynthia Knox, family and friends, and whereas for more than three decades, Carla Ray has enriched the city of Peakscale through her artistic vision and generous spirit. Following the tragic attack on the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida in 2016, she responded with compassion and determination by creating the Peakskill Pride flag, a parable powerful symbol of strength and hope of the LGBTQ plus community. And whereas Carla Ray has developed and hosted the monthly First Tuesday salons at Bean Runner Cafe, providing a free and welcoming gathering place where community members can share ideas and inspire one another. And whereas her most recent endeavor, the democracy project, reflects her steadfast belief in community engagement, bringing together more than 50 local residents to contribute quilt squares, expressing their vision of democracy as part of a larger national initiative. And whereas through her collaboration with Marcy Friedman of Thunder and Light and publishing The Artistic License, a thought-provoking newspaper featuring articles on art, poetry, politics, and culture. And now therefore I, Vivian McKenzie, Mayor of the City of Peaksgale, on behalf of the Common Council and residents, do hereby extend great congratulations to 2026 Pride Month honoree, Carla Ray Johnson, for her humility and creativity, which enriched the culture and civic life of the community. Congratulations. Uh oh, the mayor just gave me the mic. Uh-oh. Thank you, Mayor McKenzie and the Peakskill Common Council. And thank you, City Clerk, Cassandra Bread, because you took care of all the details. The cake. For always supporting and never saying what? Another song? Thank you for to everyone for being here. And thank you to the city of Peakskill for fostering the arts as well as for celebrating pride with us. But really, I just want to talk about pride. Okay, as you may or may not have guessed, we are taking over. Um the month of June is already ours. It's a beautiful month of the year, and we we've got it. Um we already have commandeered your colors, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink, baby blue, black, white, brown. And we've uh we're taking over the alphabet too. You know that. L, G, B, T, Q, I, A Plus, that means we're coming for more. Um, and we're coming for your words too, pride. Now, my mother, I I am convinced if she were alive today, um, she would be not only fine, she'd celebrate with us in terms of pride, but in in the early 1970s, I remember her lamenting that they had taken over a perfectly good, usable word, and she could no longer say gay. And I said, Oh, you mean like the same way that they took over the words faggot and dike. But uh, most important of all, we're coming for fears. The ones who divide, the ones that demand silence and complicity.

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