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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Pleasantville Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting – June 26, 2026

Village Board of Trustees & Boards — Friday, June 26, 2026

BodyPleasantville, New York

SessionVillage Board of Trustees & Boards

DateFriday, June 26, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:11:24

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:00

We're now moving into the regular part of our meeting.

0:03

I want to remind everybody that this meeting, as well as our work session and every meeting, are recorded and are going to be up online in the uh agenda section of our website at Pleasantville NY.gov.

0:18

So anybody who didn't hear what went on or who wants to refer back to it within a short period of time, what Alyssa, uh less than a week.

Speaker 2

0:28

I'll get it up tomorrow.

Speaker 1

0:29

Okay.

0:30

So by tomorrow, um, because we have a crack uh village clerk.

0:36

Um the video of our work session and this board meeting uh will be up for anyone who would like to watch it again or who who didn't see it.

0:46

So let me just start uh

Unassigned speaker

0:50

uh

Speaker 1

0:50

with a couple of announcements.

0:52

Uh one of them

Unassigned speaker

0:53

is

Speaker 1

0:54

we had a really good meeting last night at the library uh with uh the uh two consultant teams that we have hired as part of a grant we got under a federal program called Safe Streets for All.

1:08

SS4A is the acronym.

1:10

We got a hundred sixty thousand dollar federal grant to undertake a safe streets for all study.

1:16

And um our consultant team has been doing a really great job of uh collecting and analyzing data and also collecting for for then analysis, comment from the community.

1:30

There's an interactive map on the website at Pleasantville Safestreets.com.

1:35

Uh and you can go on to that map uh and identify locations where you have a concern uh about traffic or pedestrian activity, click on it, a little window pops up, and you can enter into that window what your concern is.

1:52

So, as of last night, there's something like 450 such comments on the distractions map.

1:58

Um, a really impressive engagement by the community.

2:01

So pleasantville stage streets.com.

2:04

That interactive map is going to remain active for another month or so.

2:09

I think July 22 is when the comments will be closed.

2:13

The website will remain, it has other information about the grant of the process, but I can tell you uh it was an impressive uh presentation by uh the team and quite interesting uh preliminary analysis of the data they're presenting, literally going through every accident report in the last five years uh that involved an injury, which is the starting point, accidents that cause an injury, uh, and identifying where they happen, what time of day they happen, what the circumstances were feeding that all into a database that helps to start identifying what the trends are and help to start inform things we could do to improve

Unassigned speaker

2:54

it.

Speaker 1

2:54

The other critical piece of this is that we're going to end up with a big database, a much more comprehensive database than we've ever had before, of areas that folks have concerns about and areas where there have been injuries and accidents.

3:08

That database will substantially uh uh assist us in the effort to get grants to achieve some of these things that might be more expensive.

3:19

Certainly, some of the things that are hopped up on that map are simple, like we could solve them quickly.

3:24

Some of them are almost impossible to solve, but in the end, we're gonna end up with a big database of issues, and it will allow us to collect uh to create a database of priorities and all of that.

3:36

So I wholeheartedly encourage folks to go to Pleasantville Safestreets.com.

3:40

And I want to give a another shout out to uh Mark from BFJ Planning, the same firm Susan Favate is from and uh the team of guys

Unassigned speaker

3:49

from

Speaker 1

3:49

um NV5 uh who are uh traffic consultant types, uh really an impressive job.

3:55

And even though I've lived here 40 years and watched all of this, quite interesting to see the analysis that arises.

4:04

Was that your sense as well?

Speaker 3

4:06

Oh, definitely, yeah, I was there too.

4:07

I think that I mean we have a village of what 7,300.

4:10

Is that right?

Speaker 1

4:10

Yep.

Speaker 3

4:10

Around there, and I think we had about 400 comments.

4:13

I'd love to see it at a thousand.

4:14

The more pins in an area, for example, around Foxwoods or the traffic near the old village.

4:20

If you guys want to say something, put the pin in there.

4:23

The more comments there, the better, the more action will be taken around that area.

4:26

So if you want it, it's very quick and very easy to do, and we're trying to get at least a thousand for this next month.

4:32

I mean, that's one that's not even enough, but I would definitely, this is an amazing opportunity to help support the safety of our village.

4:40

So if you want to say something, this is a great opportunity for us to see those comments.

Speaker 1

4:45

And I I cautioned folks last night, and I caution now on the video of this meeting.

4:52

A lot of the issues are on uh Manville Road.

4:55

We don't own Manville Road, the state does.

Unassigned speaker

5:00

Uh the county owns Bedford Road, most of it, uh state owns it where it turns in the old village and heads toward Chappaqua.

Speaker 1

5:04

Uh County owns uh Broadway, county owns Washington past Grandview towards Chappaqua.

5:11

So some places on roads we own, we can take action inventory when we're engaging a uh state or a county road.

5:21

There are more players involved, and painfully and not unexpectedly, a lot of comments about the intersection of Pleasantville Road and Manville, uh, where you're up on a strip that was crossing over the Somville.

5:34

And that is the collision of a state, bad use of a state and a county road.

5:40

So great project, great progress.

5:42

Please help.

5:43

Just a couple of other quick things I wanted to say.

5:45

One is um uh you may have seen

Unassigned speaker

5:49

it

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural████████████████████20%

Zoning And Land Use████████████████████20%

Personnel Matters████████████12%

Community Engagement██████████10%

Historic Preservation███████7%

Affordable Housing██████6%

Transportation Safety█████5%

Community Events█████5%

Environmental Protection█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

Pleasantville Village Board of Trustees Regular Meeting – June 26, 2026

Note: The agenda listed the meeting as June 25, 2026, but the provided date for this summary is June 26, 2026.

The Pleasantville Village Board of Trustees held a regular meeting on June 26, 2026. The meeting included announcements regarding community safety and events, public comments focusing on a proposed mixed-use development by Lenar, and unanimous approval of 26 resolutions covering routine financial items, personnel changes, and operational approvals.

Announcements

Safe Streets for All Study: The Village received a $160,000 federal grant for a safety study. An interactive map at PleasantvilleSafestreets.com has received about 450 comments; the comment period closes July 22, 2026. Board members encouraged more participation.
Scam Warning: Residents were alerted to fraudulent emails impersonating the village regarding permit fees.
Red Light Camera: Progress is being made on a red light camera at Grand Street and the Saw Mill Parkway, pending a county contract.
Upcoming Events: The Pleasantville Concert Series begins this Saturday; the 20th Annual Pleasantville Music Festival is scheduled for July 11, 2026; tickets are available online.

Consent Calendar

The board unanimously approved the following resolutions (Res. 2026-203 through 2026-228):

Res. 2026-203: Approval of minutes from the June 8, 2026 regular meeting.
Res. 2026-204: Establishment of a $10,000 petty cash fund for the Pleasantville Music Festival front gate box office.
Res. 2026-205 & 2026-207: Budget amendments for FYE 2026 and FYE 2027.
Res. 2026-206 & 2026-208: Payment of claims totaling $171,968.23 (FYE 2026) and $710,956.22 (FYE 2027).
Res. 2026-209: Closure of the Tompkins Avenue Parking Lot (owned by Holy Innocents Church) on July 17, 2026 from 6:30am to 3:30pm for a parish event.
Res. 2026-210: Authorization for the Village Administrator to sign sponsorship agreements for the 2026 Pleasantville Music Festival with six sponsors.
Res. 2026-211: Change Order #1 for $600 for additional electrical needs at the music festival (total contract $22,800).
Res. 2026-212: Agreement with Helpsy for textile recycling; Helpsy will pay the village $100 per ton collected through home pickups, not to exceed $1,500 per calendar year.
Res. 2026-213 to 2026-215: Parking restrictions and tow authorization for the music festival on July 11, 2026 from 6:00am to 10:00pm on designated streets and the Hopper Street parking lot.
Res. 2026-216: Free music festival tickets for caregivers accompanying individuals with disabilities.
Res. 2026-217: Authorization for the Ragamuffin Parade on October 26, 2026, with road closures and parking restrictions.
Res. 2026-218: Authorization for the Veterans Day Ceremony on November 11, 2026, with parking restrictions.
Res. 2026-219: Acceptance of a $500 donation from Pleasantville FC for the World Cup Watch Party.
Res. 2026-220: Establishment of a capital project for Water Storage Tanks Replacement and appropriation of $660,000 from Water Fund balance. (The board noted a $2.4 million federal grant toward the estimated $6-7 million project.)
Res. 2026-221: Authorization for the Village Administrator to execute an intergovernmental agreement for Endpoint Detection and Response Services with New York State.
Res. 2026-222: Authorization for the Mayor to sign an amended employment agreement with Police Chief Erik Grutzner.
Res. 2026-223: Award of tree removal and stump grinding bid to New England Property Maintenance, Inc. (daily rate $2,300; emergency/stump grinding $330/hour) for a three-year term.
Res. 2026-224: Award of Village Hall Boiler Replacement contract to Sun-Dance Energy Contractors, Inc. d/b/a Markely Mechanical for up to $283,020 (including alternatives), with $300,000 appropriated from General Fund balance.
Res. 2026-225: Promotion of Kristin Trezza to Senior Recreation Leader (salary $70,651, effective June 29, 2026).
Res. 2026-226: Appointment of Michael Peppard as Village Historian (effective June 26, 2026). This was approved separately prior to public comment.
Res. 2026-227: Acceptance of resignation from Police Chief Erik Grutzner, effective July 10, 2026. The board read his resignation letter, which praised the department and expressed confidence in his successor.
Res. 2026-228: Appointment of Lt. Kevin Gilmartin as Provisional Police Chief, effective July 10, 2026, at an annual salary of $208,000.

Public Comments & Testimony

Five residents spoke during the public comment period, primarily concerning the proposed Lenar development on the former Bank of New York site.

Ashley Gray (36 Highland Territories) argued that presenting new development as a property tax benefit is misleading, stating no resident’s taxes have gone down. He criticized Lenar’s corporate record and expressed concern that the project would displace existing businesses.
Judy Gordon (Manville Lane) raised concerns about affordability, accessibility, and diversity in the proposed development. She noted that most units would be two-story and expensive, not suitable for older adults. She also questioned whether the density and design would meet community needs.
Joe Belloyer (9 Tudor Court) compared the proposed 102 units on 20.5 acres to a previous development (68 units on 18.5 acres), stating the density is substantially higher and may be inappropriate for the quieter Washington Avenue area.
Ann Mulloy (9 Tudor Court) questioned the role of the Planning Commission (advisory on zoning changes) and pressed for a formal environmental impact statement rather than a potential exemption. She also expressed aesthetic concerns about building height and design.
Joan Maybury (28 Summit Place) , former Town of Mount Pleasant Supervisor, shared that her village taxes have increased and criticized the project’s potential tax burden. She warned against proceeding with a planned unit development (PUD) rezoning and urged the board to take more time for analysis.

Several board members responded, noting that environmental and density issues are being studied, that more than half of the units could have ground-floor bedrooms, and that a formal public hearing has not yet been scheduled. The board indicated a decision on the zoning change is likely in fall 2026.

Key Outcomes

All 26 resolutions were approved unanimously.
The board set the stage for continued review of the Lenar development, with additional submissions from the applicant expected and a formal public hearing to be noticed in the coming months.
Personnel changes: Michael Peppard appointed Village Historian; Kristin Trezza promoted; Police Chief Erik Grutzner’s resignation accepted; Lt. Kevin Gilmartin appointed Provisional Police Chief.

The meeting concluded with a motion to enter executive session for personnel and real property matters.

Meeting Transcript

We're now moving into the regular part of our meeting. I want to remind everybody that this meeting, as well as our work session and every meeting, are recorded and are going to be up online in the uh agenda section of our website at Pleasantville NY.gov. So anybody who didn't hear what went on or who wants to refer back to it within a short period of time, what Alyssa, uh less than a week. I'll get it up tomorrow. Okay. So by tomorrow, um, because we have a crack uh village clerk. Um the video of our work session and this board meeting uh will be up for anyone who would like to watch it again or who who didn't see it. So let me just start uh uh with a couple of announcements. Uh one of them is we had a really good meeting last night at the library uh with uh the uh two consultant teams that we have hired as part of a grant we got under a federal program called Safe Streets for All. SS4A is the acronym. We got a hundred sixty thousand dollar federal grant to undertake a safe streets for all study. And um our consultant team has been doing a really great job of uh collecting and analyzing data and also collecting for for then analysis, comment from the community. There's an interactive map on the website at Pleasantville Safestreets.com. Uh and you can go on to that map uh and identify locations where you have a concern uh about traffic or pedestrian activity, click on it, a little window pops up, and you can enter into that window what your concern is. So, as of last night, there's something like 450 such comments on the distractions map. Um, a really impressive engagement by the community. So pleasantville stage streets.com. That interactive map is going to remain active for another month or so. I think July 22 is when the comments will be closed. The website will remain, it has other information about the grant of the process, but I can tell you uh it was an impressive uh presentation by uh the team and quite interesting uh preliminary analysis of the data they're presenting, literally going through every accident report in the last five years uh that involved an injury, which is the starting point, accidents that cause an injury, uh, and identifying where they happen, what time of day they happen, what the circumstances were feeding that all into a database that helps to start identifying what the trends are and help to start inform things we could do to improve it. The other critical piece of this is that we're going to end up with a big database, a much more comprehensive database than we've ever had before, of areas that folks have concerns about and areas where there have been injuries and accidents. That database will substantially uh uh assist us in the effort to get grants to achieve some of these things that might be more expensive. Certainly, some of the things that are hopped up on that map are simple, like we could solve them quickly. Some of them are almost impossible to solve, but in the end, we're gonna end up with a big database of issues, and it will allow us to collect uh to create a database of priorities and all of that. So I wholeheartedly encourage folks to go to Pleasantville Safestreets.com. And I want to give a another shout out to uh Mark from BFJ Planning, the same firm Susan Favate is from and uh the team of guys from um NV5 uh who are uh traffic consultant types, uh really an impressive job. And even though I've lived here 40 years and watched all of this, quite interesting to see the analysis that arises. Was that your sense as well? Oh, definitely, yeah, I was there too. I think that I mean we have a village of what 7,300. Is that right? Yep. Around there, and I think we had about 400 comments. I'd love to see it at a thousand. The more pins in an area, for example, around Foxwoods or the traffic near the old village. If you guys want to say something, put the pin in there. The more comments there, the better, the more action will be taken around that area. So if you want it, it's very quick and very easy to do, and we're trying to get at least a thousand for this next month. I mean, that's one that's not even enough, but I would definitely, this is an amazing opportunity to help support the safety of our village. So if you want to say something, this is a great opportunity for us to see those comments. And I I cautioned folks last night, and I caution now on the video of this meeting. A lot of the issues are on uh Manville Road. We don't own Manville Road, the state does.

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