Budget & Appropriations Committee Meeting - June 29, 2026
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Budget & Appropriations Committee Meeting - June 29, 2026
Meeting Date: June 29, 2026
Time: 10:17 AM – 11:15 AM
Location: Michaelian Office Building, White Plains, NY (hybrid with remote participation)
This meeting of the Westchester County Board of Legislators’ Budget & Appropriations Committee, chaired by Legislator Tyrae Woodson-Samuels, considered several fiscal and policy items. The committee approved contracts, bond acts, and a gift acceptance, while continuing discussions on code enforcement legislation and deferring action on three memos of legislation. All votes were unanimous where taken.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: Nine sets of minutes (Feb 17, Feb 25, Mar 24, Apr 13, Apr 27, May 18, May 26, and two others) were approved unanimously.
Discussion Items
1. ACT-2026-139: Agreement with Stephen Leventhal as Special Counsel for Board of Ethics
- Presenter: County Attorney John Nonna and Assistant Chief Deputy County Attorney Justin Adin.
- Description: A three-year contract (August 1 start) for up to $9,000 to retain Stephen Leventhal as independent special counsel for the Board of Ethics. Leventhal has served in this role since approximately 2010.
- Outcome: Approved unanimously and referred to the full Board of Legislators.
2. ACT-2026-138: Bond Act – Renovation of Public Safety Facility in Hawthorne (BPS15-3161)
- Presenter: Capt. Frank Donovan, Department of Public Safety.
- Description: A planning and design study (Phase 2) for renovating the Hawthorne headquarters, built in 1953 with a 1986 addition. Issues include leaking roofs, lack of ADA compliance, inadequate HVAC, plumbing, and prisoner booking areas. The study will evaluate low-, middle-, and high-cost options (including total renovation vs. new construction) and consider repurposing a maintenance garage for impounded vehicle storage. Expected timeline: 6 months. No immediate health/safety concerns, but HVAC units are beyond design life and will be bandaged until study results.
- Outcome: Approved unanimously and referred to the full Board.
3. RES-2026-275 & LOCAL LAW-2026-276: Administration and Enforcement of NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code
- Presenters: DPW&T Commissioner Hugh Greechan, Deputy Commissioner Hernane De Almeida, Director of Operations David Barbuti, and Associate County Attorney Jason Whitehead.
- Description: These items would formally codify the county’s authority to enforce the uniform code on county-owned properties and create a fee structure. The county has historically performed code enforcement informally; this law would establish a consistent program, including plan review, inspections, and issuance of certificates of occupancy. The legislation also includes authority for the Commissioner to set fees, which would be comparable to municipal fees. Discussion centered on jurisdiction (custody of property), fiscal impact (future staff needs), and liability concerns (e.g., hospital fire access). Legislator Williams Johnson suggested revisiting the fee structure to ensure legislative oversight. The items were continued to a future meeting for further work on fee provisions.
4. RES-2026-60 & ACT-2026-137: Radio System Replacement (BIT32) – Environmental Review and Amended Bond Act
- Presenter: Program Coordinator Adam Epstein (IT) and Acting Parks Commissioner Peter Tartaglia.
- Description: This project replaces and expands the county’s public safety radio communication system (for DES, DPS, DPW Bee-Line, first responders, hospitals). Stage 1 (equipment replacement) is complete. Stage 2 builds new structures for guaranteed on-street portable coverage. The current legislation authorizes construction of the Montrose Station Road site in Blue Mountain Reservation (a 1,500+ acre regional park) as an alternative to the previously authorized Montrose VA site (which could not be obtained). The site will serve a park purpose by providing communication for park rangers, DPS patrols, and fire/EMS responses. Tree removal will be mitigated with a 2:1 replacement ratio. The vendor Motorola anticipates completion by November 30, 2027, contingent on contract amendment execution.
- Discussion: Legislator Tubiolo asked about adding private cell service to the tower; Acting Commissioner Tartaglia explained that county parkland cannot be used for commercial cellular towers without state approval for parkland alienation. Legislator Pierce noted that other counties (Nassau, Suffolk) generate revenue from such arrangements, but he acknowledged the legal constraints. No further action was taken on that point.
- Outcome: Both items approved unanimously and referred to the full Board.
5. COMM-2026-279: Gift Acceptance – The Friends of Muscoot, Inc.
- Presenter: Acting Parks Commissioner Peter Tartaglia.
- Description: The Friends of Muscoot donated two accessible hayride wagons (with wheelchair ramps) and three sets of steps for existing wagons. The wagons will be added to the county fleet. This enhances accessibility at Muscoot Farm, a destination park. Legislator Cunzio shared a family’s positive feedback about a wheelchair-bound child being able to enjoy a hayride.
- Outcome: Approved unanimously and referred to the full Board.
6. Memos of Legislation (Continued)
- Presenter: Chair Tyrae Woodson-Samuels.
- Items:
- 2026-204: Property Record Notification & Deed Theft Prevention Law (working with County Clerk Tom Rose).
- 2026-206: Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Property Tax Abatement (working with Director of Taxation Vic Mallison).
- 2026-207: Small Business & MWBE Micro-Grant Pilot Program ($1M).
- Discussion: Chair Woodson-Samuels noted these are priorities but will require further collaboration. On the suggestion of colleagues, the items were continued (not voted on as Receive & File) to allow for more development.
Key Outcomes
- Approved (all unanimous):
- ACT-2026-139 (Ethics special counsel contract)
- ACT-2026-138 (Public Safety Facility renovation study bond act)
- RES-2026-60 (Environmental review for radio system site)
- ACT-2026-137 (Amended bond act for radio system)
- COMM-2026-279 (Gift acceptance from Friends of Muscoot)
- Minutes approval (9 sets)
- Receive & File: Reports on extension of PCL Hollow Sewer District (additional item after main agenda)
- Continued (no vote):
- RES-2026-275 & LOCAL LAW-2026-276 (Fire Prevention and Building Code enforcement) – to be revised on fee structure and legislative oversight.
- 2026-204, 2026-206, 2026-207 (Memos of Legislation) – held for further development.
- Adjournment: 11:15 AM.
Meeting Transcript
This meeting is being recorded and summarized. Oh, I thought that's what you're referring to. All right, good morning, everyone. Good morning, everybody. Thank you all very much for your patience. Sorry about that. We are officially beginning our meeting. The budget appropriations meeting committee meeting on June 29th. It is now 1017 a.m. I'll start us out with a roll call vote. I am present. Majority leader hosting. Let's present. Legislator Pierce. Present. Committee Vice Chair Tubiolo. Majority Wood Williams. Legislator Williams Johnson. Present. Chairman Dodge. All right. We have a quorum again. It's 1017 a.m. Let's chairman. I'm David Omar. I'm chair of the litigation committee. I'm calling this to order. I am here. Vice Chair Smith. Here. Legislator Barr, Legislative Williams Johnson. Let's say an MVR. Here we got it. Thank you, sir. All right. Those are the two relevant committees for our first item. We have our great county attorney, Mr. John Nona here to present along with Mr. Aiden. Great Mr. A. Great. The great John. And we have an assistant chief deputy county attorney Justin Aiden. Excellent as well here. Just and you just bridge it. Good morning, gentlemen. Thank you for joining us. So this item is to allow us to retain Stephen Leventhal as special counsel for the Board of Ethics. Independent consultant for the Board of Ethics since oh probably around 2010.
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