Joint Committee Meeting on Infrastructure, Housing, Budget, and Public Safety – June 29, 2026
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Joint Committee Meeting (Infrastructure & Housing, Budget & Appropriations, Public Safety & Veterans) – June 29, 2026
The meeting was called to order at 10:15 AM and adjourned at 11:15 AM. A quorum was present. The committees jointly considered several items. The agenda provided covers only the Infrastructure & Housing portion; the transcript includes additional discussions from other committees not reflected in the agenda or minutes.
Discussion Items
1. Renovation of Public Safety Facility in Hawthorne (Bond Act 2026-289)
- Captain Frank Donovan (Department of Public Safety) detailed deficiencies in the 1953-built headquarters: leaking roofs, lack of elevator (ADA non-compliance), aging HVAC, inadequate plumbing, small booking rooms, and outdoor impound storage. The $375,000 bond act funds a second-phase planning study (approx. 9 months) to develop low-, medium-, and high-cost options for renovation or replacement. The study will also evaluate whether a planned impound vehicle building (Capital Project 30) is needed.
- Legislators asked about total project cost (to be determined by study) and immediate health/safety concerns (band-aid repairs preferred pending study).
- Vote: Unanimous (4-0) to sign and refer to Board of Legislators.
2. Radio System Replacement – Environmental Resolution (2026-277) and Amended & Restated Bond Act (2026-278)
- Adam Epstein (IT) and Rachel Noe (Law) presented. The project replaces the county’s public safety radio system for first responders, transit, and hospitals. The amended scope adds a site at Montrose Station Road in Blue Mountain Reservation after the county could not obtain property rights at the Montrose VA Hospital. No additional bonding is needed; total remains $32,018,183. Tree removal will be mitigated with a 2:1 replanting ratio.
- Peter Tartaglia (Parks) confirmed coordination with the Parks Board and noted precedent for towers in three other parks. Completion is targeted for November 2027, contingent on contract amendments.
- Legislators inquired about timeline and whether private cell service could be added – it cannot under current park alienation rules.
- Vote: Both items approved unanimously (4-0) and referred to full Board.
3. Local Law on County Code Enforcement (Unlisted in Agenda)
- Note: This discussion appears in the transcript but is not on the provided Infrastructure & Housing agenda or minutes; it likely occurred under Budget & Appropriations.
- Commissioner Greechan, Jason Whitehead, and David Barbuti presented a proposed amendment to formalize the county’s authority to enforce the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code on county-owned properties and charge fees. Currently enforcement is informal. The law would create a formal program with fee authority, subject to future board approval.
- Legislators raised liability concerns (e.g., Grasslands hospital access) and questioned fee-setting process. The item was held for further discussion, with a suggestion to model fee authority after other county practices and possibly require board approval.
4. Gift Acceptance – Accessible Hayride Wagons (Unlisted in Agenda)
- Note: Also present in transcript but not in provided agenda/minutes; likely under a different committee.
- Commissioner Tartaglia presented a donation from Friends of Muscoot Farm: two accessible hayride wagons with wheelchair ramps and three new sets of steps for existing wagons. The donation is valued at an unspecified amount. Legislator Pierce shared a story of a wheelchair-bound child who could now ride.
- Vote: Unanimous (4-0) to receive and file.
Receive & File Items (from Infrastructure & Housing Agenda)
Peekskill Hollow Sewer District Extension (2026-36)
- A resolution from Town of Somers to extend the sewer district to include North Edge Realty Corp. area. Received and filed unanimously.
Memos of Legislation (Continued)
- Three memos from Legislator Tyrae Woodson-Samuels were presented but not voted on; they were continued (held) for further review:
- Property Record Notification & Deed Theft Prevention Law (2026-204) – Establish a county-operated notification system with the County Clerk to alert homeowners when documents are recorded against their property.
- Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Property Tax Abatement (2026-206) – Incentivize creation of code-compliant ADUs to expand affordable housing.
- Public Safety Nuisance & Illegal Housing Enforcement Law (2026-205) – Strengthen enforcement tools against illegal housing, chronic nuisance properties, and zombie homes.
Key Outcomes
- Public Safety Facility bond act (2026-289): Approved and referred to full Board.
- Radio System Replacement environmental resolution (2026-277) and amended bond act (2026-278): Approved and referred.
- Local law on code enforcement: Held for further discussion on fees and liability.
- Gift acceptance: Received and filed.
- Three memos of legislation: Continued without action.
- Minutes approval: Nine sets of minutes from previous meetings approved unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 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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