Westchester County Legislature Committee Meetings - August 31, 2026

The Westchester County Board of Legislators held a series of committee meetings on Monday, August 31, 2026, beginning at 1:00 PM and adjourning at 2:34 PM. The meetings covered multiple committees including Public Safety & Veterans, Seniors & Youth, Budget & Appropriations, Infrastructure & Housing, and Parks & Environment. Legislators voted on numerous items including inter-municipal agreements, easements, flood mitigation projects, and affordable housing developments.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The Parks & Environment committee approved minutes from July 13, 2026, unanimously.

Discussion Items

1. School Resource Officer Agreement (Item 2026-390)

• Proposal: A five-year renewal contract (2026-2031) between the County and Lakeland Central School District for three School Resource Officers (SROs) at Lakeland High School, Van Courtland Elementary, and Lincoln Titus Elementary. The school district will also pay a pro-rata portion of a police supervisor's cost, a new provision.
• Speaker Positions: Captain Donovan presented the item. Legislators expressed strong support, with Legislator Woodson Samuels noting personal advocacy for SROs. Chairman Gashi voiced support contingent on local community desire, and noted the item's importance to the community.
• Vote: Unanimous approval in both Budget & Appropriations and Public Safety committees.

2. Senior Services Grants – State Funds (Item 2026-350) & Federal Funds (Item 2026-351)

• Proposal: Authorize inter-municipal agreements using New York State Office for the Aging grant funds for services like case management, home-delivered meals, information/assistance, and transportation. The state-funded item (350) uses state-only funds, while the federal item (351) uses Older Americans Act funds. During the past program year (April 2025–March 2026), municipalities provided approximately 238,000 units of service to 3,715 unduplicated individuals.
• Speaker Positions: Director Sherine Kurien explained the allocation is based on historical performance and proposals. Legislator Pierce asked about funding sources, noting that state-only funds are more reliable than federal. Legislator Puja noted Chairman Alvarado was attempting to join the meeting.
• Vote: Both items passed unanimously in the Seniors & Youth committee, with Chairman Alvarado added in the affirmative after joining.

3. Croton Gorge Park Utility Easement (Items 2026-352 & 2026-353)

• Proposal: A 20-foot permanent easement on village of Croton-on-Hudson land to support electrical and telecommunications infrastructure for Croton Gorge Park, formalizing an informal arrangement. The county will maintain its own infrastructure and reimburse 50% of costs for shared village poles/wire, subject to appropriation.
• Speaker Positions: Acting Commissioner William Bland and Director Romble Payne presented. No questions or comments from legislators.
• Vote: Unanimous approval in both Parks & Environment and Infrastructure & Housing committees.

4. Kingsland Point Park / Tarrytown Lighthouse Easements (Items 2026-404 & 2026-405)

• Proposal: Three new easements (two permanent, one temporary) and extinguishment of an existing easement to allow public access and electrical hookup to the Tarrytown Lighthouse (located in Sleepy Hollow). The existing pathway over former General Motors property (now owned by Lighthouse Landing Communities) will be replaced with a new waterfront park dedicated to the village of Sleepy Hollow. The electrical connection will enable lighting, security cameras, and Wi-Fi at the lighthouse.
• Speaker Positions: Director Payne presented. Legislator Williams Johnson clarified the village is Sleepy Hollow, not Tarrytown. Legislator Holstein asked about fencing along the park; the county has a meeting scheduled for late September to review with the village manager.
• Vote: Unanimous approval in Parks & Environment and Infrastructure & Housing committees.

5. Flood Mitigation Projects (Items 2026-354 through 2026-362)

• Proposal: A bundle of seven stormwater projects including:
  • Reconnaissance plan amendments to include projects in Mamaroneck, Scarsdale, Larchmont, and Hastings-on-Hudson.
  • Bond requests: $6.85 million for the Tiller's Brook project in Hastings-on-Hudson; design funding for a project in Peekskill ($?); design for Cushman Road in Scarsdale; and $? for a watershed plan for the Coastal Long Island Sound.
  • The Coastal Long Island Sound watershed plan will cover from the Hutchinson River to the Sound, using additional modeling. Contractor selection is pending funding availability.
• Speaker Positions: Assistant Commissioner Melissa Votini and David (planner) presented. Legislator Holstein asked about the countywide study scope and timing. The study is expected to begin in the new year after contract execution.
• Vote: Items 354-356 and 357-359 passed unanimously in both Budget & Appropriations and Infrastructure & Housing committees. Items 360, 361-362 also passed unanimously.

6. 81 Elliott Avenue Affordable Homeownership (Items 2026-392, 393, 394, 396)

• Proposal: Rebuild a nine-unit limited equity co-op at 81 Elliott Avenue in Yonkers after a catastrophic fire in December 2021. The building will have two, three, and four-bedroom units. Three units will be for prior owners (at 80% AMI, Yonkers local), and six units for new owners (at 65% AMI, county). Total development cost ~$7.15 million, with county funds from New Homes Land and HIF ($752,500). The land trust (REAPS) will dissolve; their permanent restrictions will be layered with the county's 50-year restriction.
• Speaker Positions: Program Administrator Len Granfeld presented. Legislator Alvarado, whose district includes the site, thanked everyone and noted knowing the families personally. Legislator Williams Johnson asked about the resale process and affordability controls—the county will enforce a marketing plan and restrictive covenant. Legislator Barr asked about the exception to lottery; staff explained it's due to the legal structure (co-op ownership). Legislator Holstein noted the discrepancy between the slide and the document regarding AMI levels; staff corrected that the slide was wrong and the document is correct.
• Vote: Unanimous approval in Budget & Appropriations and Infrastructure & Housing committees.

7. Westmoreland Avenue Affordable Rental (Items 2026-397, 398, 399, 400 - not explicitly listed but described as such)

• Proposal: Acquire 1.02 acres at 90-114 Westmoreland Avenue in White Plains to create 154 affordable rental units. The project will receive federal and state tax credits, state subsidies, and city funds. Total development cost ~$115 million ($750,000/unit). The building will be U-shaped with rooftop open space, and parking costs are $36,000 per space due to local zoning requirements. Units will range from studios to two-bedrooms, with income averaging from 30% to 80% AMI.
• Speaker Positions: Len Granfeld presented. Legislator Williams Johnson asked about parking costs and local zoning (White Plains does not reduce parking requirements like Yonkers). Legislator Holstein commented on the lack of family-friendly larger units despite proximity to parks; staff noted that developers decide unit mix based on zoning and market factors. Legislator Williams Johnson asked about municipal worker preference in marketing; staff indicated no current change for rentals.
• Vote: Unanimous approval in Budget & Appropriations and Infrastructure & Housing committees.

Key Outcomes

• All items discussed received unanimous approval in their respective committees. No items were voted down or amended.
• Next Steps: Projects will proceed to the full Board of Legislators for final approval. The 81 Elliott Avenue project aims to close within a few months and begin construction by end of 2026. The Westmoreland Avenue project expects to close with state funding next year.
• Meeting adjourned at 2:34 PM.