Pleasantville Village Board Work Session - February 27, 2026

Note: The agenda and transcript indicate this work session occurred on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, but the provided meeting date is February 27, 2026. This summary uses the latter date as instructed, but acknowledges the discrepancy.

The Pleasantville Village Board of Trustees held a work session to review preliminary FYE2027 budgets for the Justice Court, Senior Center, and Building Department, and to discuss the Nannahagan Brook Wall Improvement Project. An executive session on personnel and legal matters followed. The regular board meeting was scheduled for 8:00 PM.

Justice Court FYE2027 Budget Review/Discussion

• Stephanie Tim Austin, Court Clerk, presented the preliminary budget. She noted a small increase in court officer salary and ongoing efforts to arm court officers (requiring state legislation). The court’s revenue from parking fines is variable but has improved (over $15,000 in January 2026 from overnight parking enforcement).
• Austin announced she will retire in December 2026 after 20 years of service. She also reported that the court received a new J‑CAT grant to purchase a seal for the office and dual monitors to improve workflow.
• The board expressed support for the budget and commended the court’s efficient operations.

Senior Center FYE2027 Budget Review/Discussion

• Sarah, Senior Center Director, reviewed the expense and revenue budgets. She highlighted a seamless staff transition with new hire Vicky, and the positive impact of chef Frank, who cooks two days a week. Since Frank started, lunch participation has nearly doubled; a recent Thursday saw 20 seniors. The food quality has improved, driving demand.
• Discussion focused on expanding the meal program. The current budget includes a part-time cook (4 hours/day, 5 days/week) but Frank is only available two days. Options considered: adding a third day (Wednesday) gradually, hiring another part‑time chef for other days, or bridging with pizza from a local vendor. The board favored incremental expansion and asked Sarah to explore Frank’s availability for more days.
• Trips (tea house, lobster house, Bear Mountain) are selling out quickly, with waitlists. The grocery shopping service continues with variable demand.
• Sarah noted that a new bus is needed; grant applications have been submitted. The board encouraged pursuing additional grant opportunities (e.g., CDBG, senior-specific funds).
• The board conceptually agreed to support a five‑day meal program over time, with incremental steps to avoid waste.

Building Department FYE2027 Budget Review/Discussion

• Robert Hughes, Building Department representative, presented the budget. The main increase is due to annual personnel costs. He noted the need for a part‑time scanner to digitize old documents (a backlog from a previous inspector’s filing system). The new cloud‑based permit software is working well, and credit card payments have been added.
• Hughes requested a second large monitor for public meetings to improve visibility for attendees. Currently only one monitor faces the board; a second facing the public would enhance participation. The board discussed integrated wiring to reduce cable clutter.
• Revenue from permit fees remains strong but unpredictable. The department is busy, though activity has slowed compared to the previous five years.

Nannahagan Brook Wall Improvement Project Discussion

• Stephanie Kaiser, Project Manager from Woodard & Curran, presented an update. The project will replace approximately 535 linear feet of deteriorating stone retaining walls along Lake Street with pre‑cast gravity walls. The base bid covers 380 feet near the PCTV building; an alternate segment adds 155 feet upstream. Estimated cost: base bid ~$2.55 million, alternate ~$590,000. Construction is expected November 2026 – fall 2027 (8–12 months) to avoid tree‑clearing restrictions related to northern long‑eared and tricolored bats (clearing window Nov 1 – Mar 31).
• Permitting is underway: DEC wetland determination (no wetlands found, awaiting concurrence), NYSHPO finding of no historic properties, USFWS likely “may affect, not likely to adversely impact,” Army Corps nationwide permit (filing under new permit expiring mid‑March 2026), and SPDES construction permit for 1.5 acres of disturbance.
• Coordination with JCCA on an easement for wall sections on their property is in progress. Tree removal of 26 trees (≥8” caliper) is anticipated, with replacement of 40–47 new trees (≥1.5” caliper) per village planting list.
• The project also includes resurfacing Lake Street in the work area and improving the Greenway Trail asphalt up to the public pool. The bridge to the former PCTV building was not evaluated; the board asked that it be inspected.
• Funding: $500,000 from NYS Majority Leader’s office and $180,000 for design, totaling $780,000 in grants. Remaining cost would be bonded. Debt service on a $3 million bond is approximately $280,000 per year (15‑year term), representing roughly a 2% tax levy increase. The board acknowledged the project is critical to prevent loss of Lake Street and utility lines (county sewer, gas, 8” water main).

Executive Session

• The board entered executive session at 8:30 PM to discuss personnel and legal matters. No actions were taken in open session.

Key Outcomes

• Justice Court budget: Approved as presented for inclusion in the preliminary budget.
• Senior Center budget: Conceptually approved; direction given to explore incremental expansion of meal program with Frank and possibly a second part‑time chef. New bus grant applications to continue.
• Building Department budget: Approved as presented; second monitor for public meetings to be pursued, with wiring improvements considered.
• Nannahagan Brook Wall Project: The board endorsed the base bid scope (380 feet) and will evaluate funding for the alternate segment. Staff will coordinate with JCCA on easement, inspect the bridge, and continue grant seeking. Construction start targeted for November 2026.