Pleasantville Village Board of Trustees Work Session on FYE2027 DPW Budget – March 2, 2026

The Pleasantville Village Board of Trustees held a work session on Monday, March 2, 2026, at 7:00 PM at Village Hall to review the proposed Fiscal Year Ending 2027 Department of Public Works (DPW) budget. Superintendent Anthony Carr led the detailed line-by-line discussion of expenditure and capital items, with input from the Mayor, Village Administrator, and board members. The draft budget will be posted March 20, 2026, with a public hearing scheduled near the end of April.

Discussion Items

• Snow Removal Costs: Superintendent Carr reported that the January 25, 2026 storm (14.5 inches) cost approximately $83,000, and the February 22 blizzard (colder, icier) cost about $80,000, with salt usage of 100 tons and 220 tons respectively. The cost per inch was roughly $5,000. The village borrowed equipment from the school district, saving about $6,000 in labor.
• Parking Meter Transition: A discussion was held on phasing out coin-operated meters in favor of app-based payment (Pango). The Mayor noted previous pushback from the Chamber of Commerce but acknowledged that technology adoption is increasing. Board member David suggested not refurbishing broken meters ($8,000 line item) and instead transitioning incrementally. The board agreed to have a broader community conversation about the future of parking payments, but left the $8,000 in the budget for now.
• Leaf Collection Overtime: The projected overtime for leaf collection jumped to $13,000, partly due to a second collection in November (started in 2024) and comp time cash-outs. Historical data showed wide variation (from $4,500 in 2023 to $12,000 in 2020). The board discussed whether to continue the second collection or consider bag-only policies, but no decision was made.
• Sanitary Sewer Lining: The superintendent explained that $45,000 is requested for manhole lining (10-12 manholes) and pipelining. He noted uncertainty about how much of the village's 24 miles of sewer main has already been lined (estimates range from 50% to 90%), and plans to inventory records.
• Water Distribution: A $6,000 line item is for investigating an inactive 10-inch water main crossing under the Sawmill River, believed to serve about 25% of the village. The valve is shut on one side, removing redundancy. Repair would be much more costly.
• Water Meter Replacement: The superintendent presented a program to replace 80-100 meters annually at a cost of $270-$1,200 per meter. Older meters run slower, costing revenue; the current oldest meters date from 1999, exceeding the 20-year recommended lifespan.
• Sanitation Staffing: The budget includes additional Saturday hours for recycling center staff (CSEA) and two extra hours for DPW staff to empty garbage cans in business districts and the old village before the recycling center opens.
• Capital – Vehicle Replacement: A $385,000 proposal for a new Freightliner chassis with hook lift system, including four interchangeable bodies (dump, roll-off, flatbed, container). This would replace five aging vehicles (1998-2008) and repurpose a 2022 sanitation truck. The superintendent argued it reduces fleet size, fuel, and insurance costs.
• Fleet Radio Communications: The DPW radio system is analog and outdated (components from 2007-2015). A $50,000 digital upgrade with repeater and antenna at the water tank site is proposed, to be funded from fund balance. The board questioned whether police infrastructure could be used; the vendor will present further details.
• Back Truck (Combination Vacuum Truck): The superintendent renewed his request for a vacuum truck (estimated $325,000-$350,000), citing its use for water main breaks, catch basin cleaning, sewer jetting, and hydro excavation. He provided a payback analysis of 5-7 years. Board members asked for more usage data and noted the possibility of including it in a future bond for the water tank project. No decision was reached; the item may be deferred to next year.
• Water Tank Project: Design costs of $600,000-$650,000 are underway. The village has secured $500,000 from Assemblywoman Stretch-Cousins and expects $2.2 million in federal funding (still pending). A rate study recommended a 9.5% increase in water rates (fixed and variable) to cover debt service, with the first year at 4.5%.

Key Outcomes

• Budget Timeline: The draft FYE2027 budget will be posted March 20, 2026, with a public hearing in late April before adoption.
• Parking Meter Discussion: The board will hold a broader community conversation about transitioning to app-based payments; the $8,000 meter refurbishment line remains in the budget for now.
• Fleet Radios: The board agreed in principle to allocate $50,000 from fund balance for the digital radio upgrade, contingent on a detailed vendor presentation.
• Water Rate Increase: The board affirmed the planned 9.5% water rate increase (phased over four years) to support the tank project, though adjustments may be made if grant funding materializes.
• Leaf Collection Policy: No change adopted; the double November collection continues. The superintendent will provide historical comp time data for further review.
• Back Truck: The request will be further evaluated; the superintendent will re-circulate the payback analysis. The board indicated it may be included in next year's capital budget or bonded with the water tank project.
• Grant Success: The village received a $500,000 state grant for the water tank design phase; additional federal funding is anticipated but not guaranteed.

Note: The meeting date is stated as March 2, 2026 in the agenda and transcript, consistent with the regular Monday schedule. The user-provided date of March 4, 2026 appears to be an error.