Budget & Appropriations Committee Meeting - July 13, 2026

The Budget & Appropriations Committee of the Westchester County Board of Legislators met on Monday, July 13, 2026, at 10:12 AM in the Committee Room at the Michaelian Office Building. Chair Tyrae Woodson-Samuels presided with all seven committee members present (Legislators Woodson-Samuels, Holstein, Nambiar, Pierce, Tubiolo, Williams, and Williams Johnson). The meeting also included joint sessions with other committees as noted. All ten agenda items were signed by the committee and referred to the full Board of Legislators. The meeting adjourned at 11:10 AM.

Discussion Items

Westchester Community College Budget (Items 303, 304, 305) The committee considered three resolutions related to the proposed 2026-2027 Westchester Community College budget: setting a public hearing for August 3, 2026 at 10:30 AM; adopting rules for that hearing; and suspending Rules 9 and 11 of the Board’s rules to provide flexibility during the budget process. No discussion or debate occurred. The items were moved and seconded, then approved unanimously.

Amendment to Credit Card Fee Authorization (Item 299) Budget Director Larry Soule and County Attorney John Nonna presented an act amending Act No. 8-2002 to allow the county to require credit card users to pay any service fees or surcharges incurred by the county. Key discussion points:

• An inconsistency was identified: the committee report said “will require” while the legislation said “may require.” The committee agreed to amend the report to read “may require.”
• Director Soule noted that total credit card processing fees across county departments exceed $650,000 annually (including over $500,000 for Parks, $11,000 via Elavon, and $26,000 via American Express). This legislation would allow recouping those fees.
• Legislators asked about debit cards, international cards, and transaction fees (e.g., representment fees). County Attorney Nonna clarified that the definition of “credit card” in Section 2 includes debit cards, and the phrase “any service fee or surcharge” is broad enough to cover most fees.
• Concerns were raised about implementation for Parks mid-season and the need to update point-of-sale systems. The committee directed that the change be considered for the 2027 budget.
• The item passed unanimously after amending the committee report.

Inter-Municipal Agreements for Senior Services (Item 300) Sherine Kurien, Acting Director of Program Development for the Department of Senior Programs and Services, presented an act authorizing agreements with Yonkers and New Rochelle to provide “livable community regional host” services for seniors. These services include coordinating regional council meetings, educational forums, and volunteer recruitment to support aging in place. In the 2025 program year (January–December), approximately 440 units of service were provided to 1,680 individuals. The county has five such contracts covering all of Westchester. Legislators expressed support for the program, noting the small investment ($40,000 per agreement) yields significant benefits. The item was approved unanimously.

Tibbetts Brook Park Pool Rehabilitation Bond Act (Item 301) Acting Parks Commissioner Peter Tartaglia and Director of Park Planning Rob Lopane presented a bond act for $800,000 to finance design of the pool rehabilitation at Tibbetts Brook Park. The pool, originally rebuilt in 2009, has significant deterioration: cracking tiles, failing filter room (old sand filter system, flooding electrical components), leaking water slides, and outdated mechanical systems. The design phase will take approximately 15 months and will address resurfacing, mechanical upgrades, ADA compliance, and improved materials. The pool can hold about 2,000 people at once and often reaches capacity during heat waves; it serves as a critical public resource, especially for low-income residents. Legislators asked about future construction costs and supply chain risks. The item was approved unanimously by the Budget & Appropriations, Infrastructure & Housing, and Parks & Environment committees.

Flood Mitigation – Powderhorn Road, Ardsley (Items 316, 317, 318) Planning Department Assistant Commissioner David Kvinge presented three items together: a bond act for $550,000 to fund flood mitigation on Powderhorn Road in Ardsley; an act to amend the Storm Water Reconnaissance Plan to include this flood problem area; and an inter-municipal agreement with the Village of Ardsley. The project will install new stormwater piping, catch basins, and curbing within the municipal right-of-way, directing runoff to the Saw Mill River. The village has already designed the project and is ready to bid; construction is expected to take a few months, ideally completed by end of summer. The county’s flood mitigation program provides up to 50% funding assistance. Kvinge also discussed future watershed planning efforts to identify larger, grant-funded projects. Legislator Nambiar thanked colleagues for supporting this long-sought project. All three items were approved unanimously.

FAA Airport Counsel Agreements (Item 306) County Attorney John Nonna explained an act to exercise the first of five one-year renewal options for two law firms (Kaplan Kirsch, LLP and The Wicks Group, PLLC) to provide “Of Counsel” legal services for airport matters, at approved hourly rates not to exceed $200,000 in aggregate ($100,000 per firm). Nonna detailed a recent successful case: Airport Mar, a former concessionaire, filed a state court lawsuit and an FAA Part 13 complaint after losing an RFP; Kaplan Kirsch handled the FAA proceeding, which was dismissed. The Wicks Group was retained but not used; their lower rates ($300–$400/hour vs. Kaplan Kirsch’s $500–$600/hour) make them suitable for minor matters. Legislators asked about the necessity of retaining both firms and the hourly rates. The item was approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• All ten agenda items were signed by the committee and referred to the full Board of Legislators with unanimous votes (7 ayes).
• For Item 299 (Credit Card Fees), the committee directed a correction to the committee report: change “will require” to “may require” in the third paragraph.
• The committee approved minutes for June 8, 2026 and June 29, 2026.
• The meeting adjourned at 11:10 AM.