Pleasantville Village Board of Trustees Work Session - April 29, 2025

The Pleasantville Village Board of Trustees held a work session on April 29, 2025, beginning at 7:00 PM. The meeting covered two main topics: a discussion with representatives from Break the Hole regarding the route for their annual "Walk Into the Light" event scheduled for June 8, 2025, and an update from Superintendent of Public Works/Village Engineer Anthony Carr on the Nannahagan Brook retaining wall improvement project. No formal votes were taken, but the board indicated it would defer to the police department's safety judgment on the walk route and received information on the wall project.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Representatives from Break the Hole, an organization promoting youth mental wellness, presented their case for maintaining the traditional route of the "Walk Into the Light" event. They reported the walk has been held for six years with 500–900 participants annually. They argued that the current route on Manville Road is safe, has a history of no incidents, and provides a meaningful experience (e.g., sunrise views). They expressed frustration with the police chief's request to modify the route, stating that alternative routes proposed by the chief (e.g., using sidewalks or multiple crossings) are less safe and diminish the event's impact. One representative noted that the walk is only about two miles long and reducing it further would undermine its purpose.

Discussion Items

• Walk Into the Light Event Route: The board discussed the police chief's concerns about safety on Manville Road, particularly the risk of a vehicle incident. The chief had proposed alternative routes that avoid Manville Road entirely or use sidewalks and multiple crossings. Break the Hole representatives countered that those alternatives introduce new hazards (e.g., narrow sidewalks, multiple road crossings) and that the current route has been safe. The board acknowledged the chief's professional judgment, with the mayor stating it would be "extremely difficult" to overrule the police department's safety assessment. Trustees noted that the village must allocate public resources and that overriding the chief could create liability. The board encouraged further negotiation between the organization and the police chief to find a compromise.
• Nannahagan Brook Retaining Wall Project: Anthony Carr presented an update on the project, which involves three wall segments (1A, 1B, and 2) totaling approximately 525 feet along Lake Street. The walls are in poor condition and protect utilities (water mains, sewer lines) and the road. Estimated hard costs are about $2.6 million (including a 30% contingency), with $500,000 in grant funding from the leader's office already secured for construction and $200,000 for design. The village needs temporary and permanent easements from the Cottage School, which owns part of the wall property. A replanting plan (2-to-1 or 3-to-1) will be developed, and the Conservation Advisory Council will be consulted. Construction is targeted for late summer 2026, pending permits from the DEC and Army Corps. The board discussed scheduling, cost refinements, and the possibility of making segment 2 an alternate bid.

Key Outcomes

• Walk Into the Light Event: No decision was made; the board indicated it would not overrule the police chief's safety concerns and directed the organization to continue working with the chief on a route modification.
• Nannahagan Brook Wall Project: The board received the information and noted the next steps: completing design, securing permits, obtaining easements, and moving toward bidding in late winter/early spring 2026. No formal action was taken.