Westchester County Board of Legislators Regular Meeting - April 20, 2026

The Westchester County Board of Legislators held its regular meeting on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 7:03 PM in the Legislative Chamber, called to order by Chairman Gashi with a quorum present. The board approved a consent agenda and minutes, conducted two public hearings with no speakers, and unanimously passed numerous bond acts, resolutions, and a landmark local law requiring apprenticeship agreements on county construction contracts. The meeting adjourned at 8:09 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the consent agenda with no changes (16-0).
• Approved the minutes of the April 6, 2026 regular meeting (16-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No speakers registered for public comment.
• Two public hearings were opened and closed with no speakers:
  • Hearing on an act to modify the Saw Mill Valley Sanitary Sewer District by removing one parcel at 485 Chappaqua Road, Mount Pleasant.
  • Hearing on a local law adding Chapter 309 to require registered apprenticeship agreements on county construction contracts.

Discussion Items

• Affordable Housing in Tarrytown (Items 2026-146 to 151): The board approved a package including a $5,080,000 bond act (Housing Implementation Fund II), an inter-municipal developer agreement to construct 90 affordable rental units at 50 White Street in Tarrytown (affordable for at least 50 years), and acts rescinding prior authorizations for similar projects in New Rochelle and Greenburgh that will not move forward, thereby replenishing the BPL1A fund. All votes were 16-0.
• Capital Bond Acts: The board approved multiple bond acts, all 16-0:
  • $250,000 for interior renovations of the Michaelian Office Building (Consumer Protection Department).
  • $200,000 for a feasibility study on solar photovoltaic systems on county properties (prioritizing hardscaped areas like parking lots and rooftops).
  • $775,000 for exterior infrastructure repairs at the White Plains Complex, including roof replacement and a new flagpole (lost in a 2025 windstorm).
  • $865,000 for design of the Park Avenue Bridge over Beaver Swamp Brook in Harrison (18-month design).
  • $1,125,000 for design of the Quaker Ridge Road Bridge over Pine Brook and Sheldrake River in New Rochelle (carries ~10,000 vehicles daily).
  • $1,200,000 for chemical storage and distribution upgrades at the Yonkers Joint Water Resource Recovery Facility.
  • $2,000,000 for pumping station rehabilitation in the South Yonkers Sanitary Sewer District.
  • $1,000,000 for phase two of odor control and HVAC rehabilitation at the Mamaroneck Water Resource Recovery Facility.
  • Amendments and bonds for bus fleet replacement: reduced authorization for 30-foot buses ($15,241,078 reduction), increased authorization for 95 NABI 40-foot hybrid buses (total $124,946,250), and $9,294,828 for replacing Orion V 40-foot coach buses. These items collectively retire the last diesel buses in the fleet.
• Sewer District Modification (Items 2026-127 & 128): Approved environmental resolution and act to remove one parcel at 485 Chappaqua Road from the Saw Mill Valley Sanitary Sewer District (16-0).
• Apprenticeship Program (Item 2026-144): After the public hearing, the board adopted Local Law Intro No. 2026-144, adding Chapter 309 to require that county contractors and subcontractors on construction contracts over $250,000 have New York State-registered apprenticeship agreements appropriate to the work. Subcontractors have 90 days to comply. The law exempts non-apprenticeable occupations, emergency procurements, and contractors with 14 or fewer employees. Monthly certified payrolls are required. Legislators expressed strong support, noting the bill was years in the making and will create pathways to good-paying jobs, support workforce development, and keep local dollars in Westchester. Vote: 16-0.
• Retention of Counsel (Item 2026-174): Authorized up to $100,000 to retain outside counsel to represent Captain Frank Donovan in a lawsuit (Shannon Hicks v. Westchester County Department of Public Safety et al.) alleging sexual harassment and hostile work environment, due to a conflict of interest (16-0).
• Graphic Safety Warnings Public Hearing (Item 2026-175): Set a public hearing for May 4, 2026 at 7:30 PM on a local law to require posting a graphic image of the dangers of weapons or firearms (16-0).
• Appointments and Reappointments: Unanimously approved (16-0):
  • Reappointment of Monica Scantlebury, MD to the African American Advisory Board.
  • Reappointments of Danish Syed and May Tang to the Asian American Advisory Board.
  • Reappointments of Michael Gilberg, Francesca Hagadus, and Lucille Rossi to the Advisory Council on People with Disabilities.
  • Appointment of Lawrence C. Soule as Budget Director (term January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2028).

Key Outcomes

• All votes were unanimous (16-0) on every item.
• The apprenticeship local law was adopted, fulfilling a long-standing priority to strengthen workforce development and local hiring.
• The board approved substantial infrastructure investments including bridge designs, water facility upgrades, and bus fleet modernization (eliminating remaining diesel buses).
• A public hearing was scheduled for May 4, 2026 on proposed graphic safety warnings about firearms.
• The next regular meeting is scheduled for May 4, 2026 at 7:00 PM.