OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Westchester County, New York/Board of Legislators & Committees
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Westchester County Joint Legislation and Public Safety & Veterans Meeting - September 23, 2026

Board of Legislators & Committees — Wednesday, September 23, 2026
BodyWestchester County, New York
SessionBoard of Legislators & Committees
DateWednesday, September 23, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 53:10

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:30

Hold on one second.

0:31

Hi.

0:33

Yes, we'll follow it.

0:42

Okay.

0:43

Uh good afternoon.

0:43

I'm David Wilmore.

0:44

I'm vice chair of the litigation committee serving in the same true chairman uh Colin Smith.

0:49

Uh I will begin by calling Rawl.

0:51

Um Chairman Smith.

0:54

Good afternoon.

0:55

I am present.

0:56

And thank you once again, Mr.

0:58

Vice Chairman.

0:58

I I yeah, I I always appreciate getting the chance to pinch.

1:03

Um thank you.

1:04

Thank you, Mr.

1:05

Chairman.

1:05

I am here, Vice Chair Clements.

1:10

Sherry.

1:11

Here.

1:12

Okay.

1:13

Uh Minor Kunzio.

1:15

Here.

1:16

And just to make sure you said litigation, we're legislation committee.

1:19

Legislation.

1:20

Yeah, I keep on.

1:22

I'm halting back into what my my other chairman shift.

1:25

Uh legislative bar.

1:27

Legislator Nolan.

1:28

Here.

1:28

Legislative Puja.

1:30

Legislator Uli.

1:31

Chairman Gashi.

1:32

Here.

1:32

All right.

1:33

We are called to order at 126.

1:35

Uh first item on the agenda is the red camera.

1:38

Uh yes, Mr.

1:40

Chairman.

1:40

May I also open up.

1:41

Oh, I'm sorry.

1:42

I'm sorry, that's great.

1:43

Veterans.

1:45

I am without Goshi serving a chair.

1:49

Public safety and veterans for this.

1:52

Uh time is uh 126 p.m.

1:56

calling roll.

1:57

Um chair Tubiolo.

2:02

Uh Vice Chair Clemens.

2:06

Here.

2:08

Um Legislator Kunzio.

2:10

Here.

2:12

Smith.

2:15

Here.

2:16

Uh what's in Samuels?

2:22

And uh I am present.

2:24

We have a forum.

2:25

Uh thank you, Mr.

2:27

Chairman.

2:27

Uh so we will begin by discussing 2026 461, Westchester County Red Light Camera Demonstration Program.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Youth Programs█████████████████████████████████████████████51%
Procedural███████████████████22%
Public Safety█████████████████19%
Fiscal Sustainability████5%
Personnel Matters██2%
Engineering And Infrastructure█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Westchester County Joint Legislation and Public Safety & Veterans Meeting

On September 23, 2026, the Westchester County Board of Legislators held a joint meeting of the Legislation and Public Safety & Veterans committees at 1:26 PM. The meeting, chaired by Legislator David Tubiolo (acting for Public Safety) and Vice Chair David Wilmore, covered multiple legislative items and a major discussion on the future operation of Woodfield Cottage juvenile detention facility. The meeting adjourned at 2:17 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of minutes from the July 27 meetings (10:00 AM and 1:00 PM) passed unanimously.

Legislation Passed (All Votes Unanimous)

  • 2026-461 / 2026-462 – Red Light Camera Demonstration Program: A resolution and local law to amend Section 709.31 of the Laws of Westchester County, expanding authorization for red light cameras to include state-specified intersections beyond the existing 50 county-owned locations. Passed by both committees.
  • 2026-463 / 2026-464 – Solid Waste Licensing Clarification: Amendments clarifying that individuals transporting only food waste qualify for a Class F license rather than a Class A or other category. Presented by Executive Director Perry Cadman of the Solid Waste Commission. Passed.
  • 2026-399 – Utility Bill Navigation and Energy Affordability Memo (Legislator Tyra Woodson Samuels): Passed.
  • 2026-423 – Property Tax Relief for First-Time Buyers (Legislator James Nolan): Passed.
  • 2026-424 – (Sponsored by Legislator James Nolan): Passed.
  • 2026-425 – Westchester Drone Law (Legislator James Nolan): Passed.
  • 2026-426 – ADA Ride-Sharing Requirements (Legislator James Nolan): Passed.
  • 2026-427 – Creation of Office of Inspector General (Legislator James Nolan): Passed.

Discussion Item: Woodfield Cottage Operations

Probation Commissioner Rocco Pozzi, accompanied by Deputy Commissioners Mary Frascello and Mona Barry Court, delivered a detailed presentation on the county's potential takeover of Woodfield Cottage, a secure juvenile detention facility currently operated by the private contractor Together for Youth.

  • Background: Together for Youth took over from Children's Village on January 1, 2026, after an RFP process. The county gave the contractor seven months' notice plus an additional two months due to a mold-related closure, but the vendor failed to meet staffing and operational requirements.
  • Failures Noted: Chronic staffing shortages, reliance on overtime, inability to provide required programming, lack of food service (county secured an emergency Aramark contract starting October 1), and the need for a $1.6 million county-funded security contract to supplement safety functions. Probation officers and other county staff were diverted to perform duties such as food distribution and transport.
  • State Oversight: The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) issued a corrective action plan—the first for Woodfield—and strongly recommended county operation. Currently, six of the eight secure juvenile detention facilities in New York are directly operated by county or city governments; Westchester is one of only two using private contractors.
  • Proposed County Operation: Commissioner Pozzi argued that direct county control would improve staffing, accountability, safety, and youth programming. The projected annual operating cost is approximately $30,467,000, with state reimbursements expected to reduce the county's net cost to about $2,461,000—an estimated $1,210,000 increase over the vendor contract. He stated the county executive is preparing a pay plan amendment to create new county positions.
  • Questions and Responses: Minority Leader Margaret Cunzio asked about OCFS's role and why they didn't intervene earlier; Pozzi replied that OCFS holds the county responsible. She also asked about contract termination—Pozzi confirmed a 15-day termination clause and no penalties. Legislator Clements and others noted the financial increase but expressed support, emphasizing that private contractors have repeatedly failed and that safety and rehabilitation of youth justify the added cost. The county anticipates retaining experienced on-site leadership and hiring additional staff.

Key Outcomes

  • All legislation items passed unanimously in both committees.
  • The Woodfield Cottage discussion concluded with no formal vote, but committee members voiced strong support for the county takeover and expressed anticipation of the forthcoming pay plan amendment.
  • The public safety committee adjourned after the discussion.

Meeting Transcript

Hold on one second. Hi. Yes, we'll follow it. Okay. Uh good afternoon. I'm David Wilmore. I'm vice chair of the litigation committee serving in the same true chairman uh Colin Smith. Uh I will begin by calling Rawl. Um Chairman Smith. Good afternoon. I am present. And thank you once again, Mr. Vice Chairman. I I yeah, I I always appreciate getting the chance to pinch. Um thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am here, Vice Chair Clements. Sherry. Here. Okay. Uh Minor Kunzio. Here. And just to make sure you said litigation, we're legislation committee. Legislation. Yeah, I keep on. I'm halting back into what my my other chairman shift. Uh legislative bar. Legislator Nolan. Here. Legislative Puja. Legislator Uli. Chairman Gashi. Here. All right. We are called to order at 126. Uh first item on the agenda is the red camera. Uh yes, Mr. Chairman. May I also open up. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, that's great. Veterans. I am without Goshi serving a chair. Public safety and veterans for this. Uh time is uh 126 p.m. calling roll. Um chair Tubiolo. Uh Vice Chair Clemens. Here.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com