Westchester County Board of Legislators Joint Committee Meeting - August 31, 2026

The meeting convened at 1:09 PM and adjourned at 2:34 PM, with legislators participating in person and remotely. Multiple committees (Public Safety & Veterans, Budget & Appropriations, Seniors & Youth, Parks & Environment, Infrastructure & Housing) met jointly to discuss and vote on a series of inter-municipal agreements, easements, flood mitigation projects, and affordable housing developments. All items were approved unanimously.

Discussion Items

1. IMA with Lakeland Central School District for School Resource Officers (2026-390) Captain Donovan presented a five-year renewal (2026-2031) of the inter-municipal agreement for three School Resource Officers (SROs) at Walter Panas High School, Van Cortlandtville Elementary School, and Lincoln-Titus Elementary School. The agreement includes a new pro-rata share of the cost for a police supervisor. Legislators expressed strong support for SROs, noting community desire for the service. The item passed unanimously.

2. Senior Services Grant Funding (Items 350 and 351) Sharon Curry, Director of Program Development for the Department of Senior Programs, presented two items: 350 (state grant funds for municipalities) and 351 (federal funding). The state grant funds case management, home-delivered meals, information/assistance, and transportation. In the past program year (April 2025-March 2026), municipalities provided approximately 238,000 units of service to 3,715 unduplicated individuals. Allocation is based on historical performance and proposals. Legislators noted that the state funding is not federal, providing more reliability. Both items passed unanimously.

3. Croton Gorge Park Utility Easement (Items 352 and 353) Acting Commissioner William Bland and Romble Payne, Director of Park Planning, presented a 20-foot permanent easement on village of Croton-on-Hudson land to support utility and telecommunications infrastructure for Croton Gorge Park. The easement formalizes an existing informal arrangement, addressing aging electrical infrastructure. No upfront cost to the county; the county will reimburse 50% of costs for shared poles and wire, subject to appropriation. Both items passed unanimously.

4. Kingsland Point Park and Tarrytown Lighthouse Easements (Items 404 and 405) Romble Payne described three easements: a permanent easement for a new waterfront park and promenade (to be dedicated to the village of Sleepy Hollow), a temporary easement during construction, and an easement for electrical hookup to the lighthouse. The existing easement will be extinguished. Public access between Kingsland Point Park and the lighthouse will be maintained. Legislators clarified that the land is currently owned by a developer but will become public parkland. Electrification will enable lighting and security cameras. A meeting with the village manager is scheduled for late September to discuss fencing. Both items passed unanimously.

5. Stormwater and Flood Mitigation Projects (Items 354-362) Assistant Commissioner David from Planning presented a bundle of stormwater and flood mitigation projects under the county's capital program. Items included amendments to reconnaissance plans for the coastal Long Island Sound, projects in Mamaroneck (Larchmont Reservoir, stormwater improvements), Scarsdale (Griffin Avenue culvert replacement, George Field flood storage expansion), Hastings-on-Hudson (Tilliers Brook project, $6.85 million bond), and Peekskill (design and investigation). Watershed plans for the coastal Long Island Sound, Bronx River, and Sawmill River were also funded. A separate design project for Cushman Road in Scarsdale will incorporate green infrastructure. All items passed unanimously.

6. 81 Elliott Avenue Affordable Homeownership, Yonkers (Items 392, 393, 394, 396) Len Granfeld, Program Administrator for Housing, presented a project to rebuild 9 affordable homeownership units (limited equity co-op) on a site that burned in December 2021. Three original owners will return; six new units will be marketed via lottery. Units are 2-4 bedrooms, with three at 80% AMI (returning owners) and six at 65% AMI (new owners). Financing includes sales proceeds, insurance, county flex funds, and New Homes Land/HIF funds. The project has a 50-year affordability covenant. Legislators discussed the income disparity between county and Yonkers AMI, the resale process, and community benefits. The item passed unanimously.

7. Westmoreland Avenue Affordable Rental Development, White Plains (Items 390-396? Actually a separate item: 90-14 Westmoreland Ave) A presentation for 154 affordable rental units on a 1.02-acre site in White Plains. The project includes New Homes Land acquisition authorization ($8.81 million bonds) and HIF funding ($1.562 million). Financing includes federal and state low-income housing tax credits, state subsidies, and city funds. Units range from studios to two-bedrooms, with income averaging from 30% to 80% AMI. Parking requirements (36 spaces) were noted as a local zoning issue. The site is near the train station and Contrell Park. The developer is a limited equity co-op with a consultant. The item passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• All agenda items (2026-390, 350, 351, 352, 353, 404, 405, 354-362, 392-396, and the Westmoreland Ave project) were approved unanimously by the respective committees.
• Minutes from July 13, 2026 were approved.
• The meeting adjourned at 2:34 PM.