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Record of Proceedings

Joint Committee Meeting on Budget, Legislation, Parks, Infrastructure, and Public Safety - 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 / 2:34:56

Original source
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0:07

This meeting is being recorded and summarized.

0:10

Good morning, everybody.

0:12

Today is September 22nd.

0:14

I am legislator Woodson Sanders chair of the budget appropriations committee.

0:19

I would have started us out with a roll for vote and presence.

0:22

Leader Holstein.

0:26

Let's say the non BR.

0:28

Let's say it appears.

0:29

Present.

0:30

Committee by Chair Tubbiolo.

0:32

Present.

0:36

Let's say to Lynn Johnson.

0:38

Chairman Goshi.

0:39

Present.

0:39

All right.

0:40

We are open at 1016 a.m.

0:42

for budget appropriations committee.

0:46

What's up first?

0:47

I think it's legislation.

0:48

Good morning.

0:49

I'm David Mamore.

0:50

I'm vice chair of the legislation committee.

0:52

Uh I will be a chairman of the committee.

0:56

Chairman Smith uh being on the Zoom.

0:58

Uh so I will begin by calling Raw.

1:00

Uh Chairman Smith.

1:02

Uh present.

1:03

Good morning, everyone.

1:04

Uh I am here by Chair Clemente.

1:07

Yeah, let's say a bar.

1:08

Yeah.

1:08

Let's say Nolan, Legislator Puja.

1:11

Here.

1:14

Chairman Gashi.

1:15

Um we have a part.

1:16

And we are all to order at 1070.

1:18

All right.

1:19

So the first item we're going to discuss is the septic removal reimbursement items.

1:26

Should I say 443 and 444?

1:29

Um we have our friend with Aiden here from the Law Department.

1:37

Good morning, sir.

1:40

Floor's yours.

1:42

Um, so the county has a septic um reimbursement um program.

1:49

So if somebody lives in a sewer district but they're not connected to the sewer, they have a septic system.

1:56

Basically, they can get um you know, get it infected, get it on bad, and they can get some reimbursements sewer tax, um, but not actually benefiting, you know, not being on the sewer itself.

2:10

Uh the program has been in place for a while, but every you know it's always set for six or so years, and then it'll expire.

2:18

We come back to the board to reauthorize.

2:21

So this would this primarily would extend the authorization for another six years to 2032.

2:28

Um, the other change in here is it will specify the applications for reimbursement has to be made within three years of the date that you get the services done on the department explained as explaining that sometimes they're getting these now.

2:43

You know, somebody's like, oh yeah, six years ago I did my uh I had my things inspected, and now here's my application, and so they want to say you've got three years to get the application of it, right?

2:55

Understood it's pretty straightforward.

2:57

Um no questions from me, legislative peers.

3:00

Hello, as as uh probably the the legislator with the most septics in our district, not that we have the sewer districts that go along with them.

3:07

Do you have a couple of questions?

3:09

So, you know, traditionally people discover that they are in this being included in the sewer district fee, they have septic system and they ask to be removed.

3:19

And I know the other traditional idea is that if you are within a certain distance of the sewer line, you're really supposed to be connected.

3:25

So can you explain to me what why we are what this population is, why they are close enough to they are within a district, they are not leaving the sewer district, but instead are are being um are still within but getting fees to help maintain the sewer the septic system.

3:44

So if that made sense at all.

3:46

Uh it does.

3:47

I can't answer that.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████████18%
Procedural██████████████14%
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████13%
Public Transportation█████████9%
Miscellaneous█████████9%
Food Assistance████████8%
Elderly Services█████5%
Active Transportation█████5%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Joint Committee Meeting on Budget, Legislation, Parks, Infrastructure, and Public Safety - September 23, 2026

The joint committees of the Westchester County Board of Legislators met to discuss and vote on numerous capital projects, bond acts, and intermunicipal agreements. Key topics included farm protection, flood mitigation, affordable housing, bus shelters, infrastructure repairs, and sewer district modifications. All items were approved with bipartisan support.

Discussion Items

  • Septic Reimbursement Program Extension (Items 443-444): The committees discussed a six-year extension (through 2032) of the county's septic reimbursement program, which provides up to $300 per household for septic cleaning and inspection for properties within a sewer district but not connected. Legislators questioned why properties remain in the district and how reimbursement amounts are set. The program has a current year expense of $30,000 and annual estimated expenditure of $80,000 for the next four years. Approved unanimously.
  • Senior Citizens Real Property Tax Exemption (Items 459-460): An amendment to the existing senior tax exemption to add higher exemption levels (55%, 60%, 65%) for incomes below $50,000. Only affects county taxes; municipalities and schools must enact separately. No fiscal impact on county. Approved unanimously.
  • Farm Protection Study Bond Act (Item 406): A $400,000 bond act to fund a comprehensive study of the county's food system from production to distribution, including cold storage, transportation gaps, and connections to food pantries. The study, led by the Department of Planning, will take approximately two years and involve stakeholders such as the Soil and Water Conservation District and Cornell Cooperative Extension. Approved unanimously.
  • Flood Mitigation – Harrison Avenue, Yonkers (Items 466-468): An environmental resolution, amended bond act ($1.85 million additional, total $1,971,250), and amended intermunicipal agreement with Yonkers for a stormwater wetland and flood storage project in Tibbetts Brook Park. The project will include berm improvements and drainage upgrades. Construction expected in 2027. Approved unanimously.
  • Sewer District Modification – Mount Pleasant (Items 408-410): Removal of two parcels (52 and 62 Larrys Lane) from the Saw Mill Valley Sanitary Sewer District, as they are not served by sewers and no future connections are anticipated. The removal represents a 0.0058% decrease in district equalized value. Approved unanimously.
  • Complete Streets Municipal Assistance Program (Items 448-449): A $4.195 million bond act to fund construction of four complete streets projects in Terrytown, Mamaroneck, Tuckahoe, and Sleepy Hollow. These projects include sidewalk improvements, crosswalks, traffic calming, and pedestrian safety. The program has awarded approximately $8.5 million of the $16 million total available. Approved unanimously.
  • Conveyance of 30 Riverdale Avenue, Yonkers (Item 465): Approval of the sale of a 170-unit affordable housing development. The buyer (WB/Boulder) will extend the affordability period to 50 years from the date of transfer and invest over $1 million in capital improvements. All units will be at or below 60% area median income (AMI), aligning with current regulatory agreements. Legislators raised concerns about monitoring and capital improvement sufficiency. Approved unanimously.
  • V Line Bus Shelter Program IMA (Item 407): Authorization for the county to enter into intermunicipal agreements with municipalities for bus shelter maintenance and advertising. The county receives $225,000 in the first year from Insight (advertising contractor), with half distributed to municipalities based on shelter count. The agreement includes snow removal and cleaning. Approved unanimously.
  • Exterior Infrastructure Repairs – White Plains Complex (Items 416-417): A capital budget amendment ($2.54 million) and amended bond act ($2.705 million) to create a new entrance vestibule at the Richard J. Daronco Courthouse, replacing the revolving door with sliding doors for improved ADA access and energy efficiency. Design complete; construction to take nine months. Approved unanimously.
  • Snow Removal Equipment Building – Airport (Items 453-454): A bond act of $3 million for construction of a snow removal equipment building at Westchester County Airport. The project is partially funded by FAA grants; the county's share decreased due to increased grant eligibility. The building will house 17 bays for airport snow removal equipment. Approved unanimously.
  • Interior Infrastructure Repairs – White Plains Complex (Items 455, 456, 458): A capital budget amendment ($1.6 million), amended bond act (reducing previous bond by $3.25 million), and new bond act ($30.75 million) for elevator modernization at the correctional facility (17 elevators, $14.25 million) and replacement of chillers, cooling towers, and thermal storage tanks at the Michaelian Office Building ($16.5 million). Energy savings estimated at $180,000-$190,000 annually and 109 metric tons CO2 reduction. Approved unanimously.
  • District Attorney Office Upgrades (Item 411): An amended bond act increasing authorized amount to $473,000 for IT capital improvements, matching the approved capital budget. The increase was needed due to price changes after July 1. Approved unanimously.
  • Prisoner Transportation IMAs – Greenburgh and New Rochelle (Items 445-446): Renewal of two-year contracts reimbursing towns for prisoner transportation costs, reflecting increased staff costs from collective bargaining. Approved unanimously.
  • Combined Sewer Overflow and Electrical Rehabilitation – North Yonkers Pump Station (Item 412): A $3 million bond act for design and construction management of CSO equipment and electrical system upgrades at SPS 16. Equipment is over 30 years old. The project will improve reliability but will not address inflow from Yonkers' combined sewer system. Approved unanimously.
  • Underground Pipe Leak Detection System (Items 418-419): A $500,000 increase (total $750,000) for design of a leak detection system for chemical piping at the county wastewater treatment plant. Additional piping found during inspections requires replacement. Construction costs estimated at $6 million. Approved unanimously.
  • Yonkers Joint Resource Facility Settling Tanks (Item 421): A $5 million bond act for additional design and construction administration for rehab of primary and final settling tanks. The project was expanded to include both tank sets for efficiency. Construction expected to take two years. Approved unanimously.
  • Pump Station Rehabilitation – New Rochelle Sewer District (Item 452): An $8 million bond act for design and construction management of four pump stations (Flint Avenue, Sutton Manor, Beach Avenue, Park Circle). Part of a rotating rehabilitation cycle. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • All 18 bond acts, capital budget amendments, and intermunicipal agreements were approved by the respective committees (Budget & Appropriations, Legislation, Parks & Environment, Infrastructure & Housing, and Public Safety & Veterans) with unanimous votes.
  • Several items had follow-up questions: legislators requested additional information on the number of seniors benefiting from tax exemptions, the number of homeowners eligible for septic reimbursement, and monitoring mechanisms for affordable housing units.
  • The committees adjourned at 12:50 PM.

Meeting Transcript

This meeting is being recorded and summarized. Good morning, everybody. Today is September 22nd. I am legislator Woodson Sanders chair of the budget appropriations committee. I would have started us out with a roll for vote and presence. Leader Holstein. Let's say the non BR. Let's say it appears. Present. Committee by Chair Tubbiolo. Present. Let's say to Lynn Johnson. Chairman Goshi. Present. All right. We are open at 1016 a.m. for budget appropriations committee. What's up first? I think it's legislation. Good morning. I'm David Mamore. I'm vice chair of the legislation committee. Uh I will be a chairman of the committee. Chairman Smith uh being on the Zoom. Uh so I will begin by calling Raw. Uh Chairman Smith. Uh present. Good morning, everyone. Uh I am here by Chair Clemente. Yeah, let's say a bar. Yeah. Let's say Nolan, Legislator Puja. Here. Chairman Gashi. Um we have a part. And we are all to order at 1070. All right. So the first item we're going to discuss is the septic removal reimbursement items. Should I say 443 and 444? Um we have our friend with Aiden here from the Law Department. Good morning, sir. Floor's yours. Um, so the county has a septic um reimbursement um program. So if somebody lives in a sewer district but they're not connected to the sewer, they have a septic system. Basically, they can get um you know, get it infected, get it on bad, and they can get some reimbursements sewer tax, um, but not actually benefiting, you know, not being on the sewer itself. Uh the program has been in place for a while, but every you know it's always set for six or so years, and then it'll expire. We come back to the board to reauthorize. So this would this primarily would extend the authorization for another six years to 2032. Um, the other change in here is it will specify the applications for reimbursement has to be made within three years of the date that you get the services done on the department explained as explaining that sometimes they're getting these now. You know, somebody's like, oh yeah, six years ago I did my uh I had my things inspected, and now here's my application, and so they want to say you've got three years to get the application of it, right?

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