Westchester County Public Safety & Veterans and Budget & Appropriations Joint Committee Meeting - June 29, 2026

A joint meeting of the Public Safety & Veterans and Budget & Appropriations committees, chaired by Legislator David Tubiolo, was held on Monday, June 29, 2026, beginning at 10:21 AM and adjourning at 11:15 AM. The committee considered a bond act for renovation of the public safety facility in Hawthorne, a local law and public hearing on fire prevention code enforcement, a radio system replacement project, and a gift acceptance for accessible hay wagons at Muscoot Farm. Legislators present included Tubiolo, Clements (remote), Cunzio, Smith, Woodson-Samuels, and others.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: Nine sets of minutes from meetings on February 9, February 17, February 25, March 24, April 13, April 27, May 18 (two sessions), and May 26, 2026 were approved unanimously.

Discussion Items

1. Bond Act – Renovation of Public Safety Facility in Hawthorne (2026-289)

   • Captain Frank Donovan (Department of Public Safety) presented. The building, constructed in 1953 with a 1986 addition, has leaking roofs, lack of an elevator (non-ADA compliant), failing HVAC, inadequate plumbing, undersized prisoner booking rooms and holding cells, and a need for indoor impound storage. The bond act authorizes $375,000 for a second-phase planning and design study to produce three cost options (low, medium, high) over an estimated six months. No immediate health and safety risks were identified, but rooftop HVAC units are beyond design life and parts are difficult to obtain. The study will also evaluate whether a separate impound facility project can be avoided by reclaiming a maintenance garage after a centralized DPW facility is built. The committee voted (4 ayes, 1 absent) to approve and refer the bond act to the Board of Legislators.

2. Public Hearing and Local Law on Administration and Enforcement of NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (2026-275 and 2026-276)

   • Commissioner Hugh Greechan, Deputy Commissioner Hernane De Almeida, Director of Operations David Barbuti (DPW&T), and Associate County Attorney Jason Whitehead presented. The local law formalizes county code enforcement on county-owned properties, establishing a consistent program with fee authority. Currently, enforcement is done ad hoc by municipalities or the county depending on custody. The new law would allow the county to charge fees commensurate with local municipalities for plan review and inspections. Extensive discussion covered jurisdiction over leased properties, liability concerns (e.g., Westchester Medical Center’s fire access issues), whether fees require legislative approval, and the lack of formal certificates of occupancy for county buildings. Legislators Johnson and Cunzio raised questions about fee-setting authority and liability. The committee decided to continue both the public hearing resolution and the local law for further refinement, particularly regarding fee structure.

3. Radio System Replacement – Montrose Station Road Site (Agenda Items 5 & 6)

   • Rachel Zoe (Law Department) and Adam Epstein (IT) presented an amendment to Bond Act 262-2025 for the BIT 32 radio system replacement. The project expands public safety radio coverage for first responders, DPW, Bee-Line, and hospitals. The amendment authorizes construction of a new site in Blue Mountain Reservation after the previously planned Montrose VA site could not be acquired. The site will provide guaranteed on-street portable coverage, benefiting fire, EMS, and police responses in the park. Parks Department representative Peter Tartaglia noted the site is sited away from trails and will require tree removal with a 2:1 replacement ratio; the Parks Board approved. Project completion is targeted for November 2027, contingent on contract amendment execution. Legislator Pierce asked about adding cellular service for public use, but Tartaglia explained that state law prohibits such use on county parkland without special approval. The committee voted to approve and refer the amendment.

4. Receive and File – Gift Acceptance from Friends of Muscoot Farm (Item 279)

   • Commissioner Tartaglia presented the donation of two accessible hayride wagons (equipped for wheelchairs) and three sets of steps for existing hay wagons. The gift enhances inclusivity at the destination farm. A story was shared of a family whose wheelchair-bound child could participate in a hayride for the first time. The item was unanimously approved.

Key Outcomes

• Bond Act 2026-289 approved (4-0-1) and referred to the full Board of Legislators.
• Public Hearing 2026-275 and Local Law 2026-276 were continued for further discussion and refinement of fee authority.
• Radio system replacement amendment approved and referred.
• Gift acceptance from Friends of Muscoot Farm approved.
• Three additional items introduced by a legislator (property record notification/deed theft prevention, accessory dwelling unit tax abatement, and small business/MWBE microgrant pilot) were held for later discussion, not received and filed.
• A separate receive and file for extension of the PCL Hollow Sewer District was approved.
• Meeting adjourned at 11:15 AM.