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Record of Proceedings

Appointments Committee Approves Five Appointments to Boards and Commissions on May 18, 2026

Board of Legislators & Committees — Monday, May 18, 2026
BodyWestchester County, New York
SessionBoard of Legislators & Committees
DateMonday, May 18, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 44:12

Original source
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0:06

And RC.

0:07

Yeah, yeah.

0:08

This meeting is being recorded and summarized.

0:14

Sure.

0:15

If you're looking for a backup.

0:18

Okay, well, good afternoon.

0:20

My name is Anant Lambert.

0:21

I'm the chair of the Aformance Committee, and I'm going to call this meeting to all right 305.

0:26

And first going to start with attendance.

0:30

I am presence Vice Chair Clemens.

0:35

Chair.

0:39

Legislative Puja.

0:41

Here.

0:42

Thank you.

0:43

Legislative Uli.

0:45

And Chairman Dashi.

0:46

Here.

0:47

Okay.

0:47

So we are adjourned with it with the quorum.

0:51

And so the first thing we're going to start is just minutes.

0:54

We have minutes from April 20th.

0:58

And I'm just going to ask for a motion for any approval for the approval of the minutes.

1:04

So moved.

1:05

Thank you.

1:06

I got a second.

1:08

Second.

1:09

Thank you.

1:10

And I am a yes.

1:14

Legislative Puja?

1:15

Yes.

1:16

Thank you.

1:17

Chairman Gashi.

1:18

Yes.

1:19

Excellent.

1:20

Minutes are passed.

1:21

Today we have five appointments.

1:23

So we're going to start.

1:25

First, the first appointment is the Honorable Ben Boykin, who is being nominated to the Governing Boarding of the Westchester County Healthcare Corporation.

1:36

And so, Mr.

1:37

Would you like to join us?

1:38

Sure.

1:42

Thank you, Mike.

1:43

Thank you very much for your time today.

1:46

And obviously, we're very excited to have you join.

1:50

Would love to hear just your thoughts on the role, your interest in the role in the role, any challenges that you see, just kind of your general thoughts.

1:59

Okay.

2:00

Thank you, Mr.

2:01

Chairman, and Chairman Gashi and all honorable members of the board.

2:06

Thank you for inviting me to the appointments committee today for appointment to the Westchester County Healthcare Corporation.

2:15

As you know, the Westchester Healthcare Corporation, just as a little background, was once totally part of Western County.

2:23

And many years ago, when my predecessor, uh Bill Ryan was chair of the board along with Spano, the Westchester Medical Center was spun off into a public benefit corporation.

2:40

And it had one facility at that point in time.

2:44

And now it was in Westchester, and now it has grown to nine hospitals on seven campuses.

3:16

And where the governor has certain appointments, the county executive has certain appointments, and the board of legislators chairman and majority leader have certain appointments to the Westchester Medical Center Corporation vote.

3:39

I know Judith Watkin.

3:41

I know Michael Tullis.

3:49

The board is composed of 17 members.

3:51

I think three or four non-voted at this point in time.

4:21

No one is turned away.

4:33

Also, I think there's gonna be another issue that I know the hospital is wrestling with how to consolidate and integrate all the nine hospitals over time.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Personnel Matters███████████████████████████████31%
Public Health████████████████████████████28%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Affordable Housing█████████████████17%
Technology and Innovation███3%
Workforce Development██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Appointments Committee Meeting - May 18, 2026

The Westchester County Board of Legislators Appointments Committee met on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 3:05 PM in the Committee Room at the Michaelian Office Building, White Plains. Chair Anant Nambiar presided. The meeting was also livestreamed via WebEx. Legislator Jennifer Puja participated remotely from 595 W. Hartsdale Ave, White Plains. The committee approved the minutes of the April 20, 2026 meeting and then considered five appointments to various county boards. All appointments were approved unanimously by the four present members (Nambiar, Cunzio, Puja, Gashi) and referred to the full Board of Legislators. Legislators Clements and Ulaj were absent. The meeting adjourned at 3:49 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approval: The minutes of the April 20, 2026, meeting were approved on a motion by Legislator Gashi, seconded by Legislator Puja. The motion carried 4-0.

Discussion Items

  1. Appointment of Hon. Benjamin Boykin II to WCHCC Board (Item 2026-246)

    • Boykin, a former county legislator and board chair, detailed his knowledge of the Westchester Medical Center’s history, its growth to nine hospitals, and challenges such as federal Medicaid cuts. He expressed a passion for healthcare and the ability to lead. Legislators praised his experience, accessibility, and mentorship. The motion to refer to the full board carried 4-0.

  2. Appointment of Tamer El-Rayess, MBA to WCHCC Board (Item 2026-245)

    • El-Rayess, a finance and technology expert who served as chair of the Bon Secours network after its acquisition by WMC, highlighted financial headwinds, the need for technological integration (including a $150 million system upgrade), and shifting the case mix from 80% governmental payers toward 40% commercial. Legislators noted he would be the first Muslim member of the board and valued his expertise. The motion carried 4-0.

  3. Appointment of Nick Beqi to Rent Guidelines Board (Item 2026-247)

    • Beqi, a small business owner in construction from Yonkers, shared his personal story as an immigrant and his concerns about rising rents, citing that a one-bedroom apartment in Yonkers that was $650 in 1998 is now unaffordable for his 19-year-old daughter. He expressed a desire to give back and noted his experience with affordable housing construction. Legislators discussed the need for workforce housing for teachers, police, and nurses. The motion carried 4-0.

  4. Appointment of Clifford Bluestein, MD, MBA to WCHCC Board (Item 2026-244)

    • Bluestein, a former surgeon with an MBA and 17 years teaching healthcare economics at NYU Stern, described his career shift from one-on-one patient care to impacting systems through consulting and running a public company. He emphasized his role as a “chief translating officer” between doctors and administrators. After a brief technical interruption, he resumed. Legislators commented on his diverse skills. The motion carried 4-0.

  5. Appointment of Shannon Algiere to Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board (Item 2026-255)

    • Algiere, a farmer with 30 years in agriculture and director of the Stone Barns Center for Agriculture, discussed her work on regenerative farming, farmer training, and protecting farmland for community food systems. Legislators noted Stone Barns as a global culinary and ecological asset. The motion carried 4-0.

Key Outcomes

  • All five appointments were approved by the committee and referred to the full Board of Legislators for final action.
  • The three appointments to the WCHCC Board fill vacancies left by retirements and other departures.
  • The committee adjourned at 3:49 PM.

Meeting Transcript

And RC. Yeah, yeah. This meeting is being recorded and summarized. Sure. If you're looking for a backup. Okay, well, good afternoon. My name is Anant Lambert. I'm the chair of the Aformance Committee, and I'm going to call this meeting to all right 305. And first going to start with attendance. I am presence Vice Chair Clemens. Chair. Legislative Puja. Here. Thank you. Legislative Uli. And Chairman Dashi. Here. Okay. So we are adjourned with it with the quorum. And so the first thing we're going to start is just minutes. We have minutes from April 20th. And I'm just going to ask for a motion for any approval for the approval of the minutes. So moved. Thank you. I got a second. Second. Thank you. And I am a yes. Legislative Puja? Yes. Thank you. Chairman Gashi. Yes. Excellent. Minutes are passed. Today we have five appointments. So we're going to start. First, the first appointment is the Honorable Ben Boykin, who is being nominated to the Governing Boarding of the Westchester County Healthcare Corporation. And so, Mr. Would you like to join us? Sure. Thank you, Mike. Thank you very much for your time today. And obviously, we're very excited to have you join. Would love to hear just your thoughts on the role, your interest in the role in the role, any challenges that you see, just kind of your general thoughts. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and Chairman Gashi and all honorable members of the board. Thank you for inviting me to the appointments committee today for appointment to the Westchester County Healthcare Corporation. As you know, the Westchester Healthcare Corporation, just as a little background, was once totally part of Western County.

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