Westchester County Board of Legislators Hispanic Heritage Celebration and Regular Meeting - September 28, 2026

The Westchester County Board of Legislators convened on September 28, 2026, first for a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration honoring Nelson Gisbert and Brenda Maeda, followed by a regular board meeting. The meeting included public comments, unanimous passage of numerous bond acts and resolutions, and memorial resolutions.

Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

• Nearly a third of Westchester County residents are of Hispanic descent. (statistic from introductory remarks)
• Honored Nelson Gisbert: business owner from Yonkers, recognized for creating jobs and supporting students. October 22, 2026 was declared Nelson Gisbert Day in Westchester County, and a mural featuring his building will be installed.
• Honored Brenda Maeda: hairstylist and salon owner, recognized for mentoring, charity work, and perseverance. October 2, 2026 was declared Brenda Maeda Day.
• Remarks were made by Legislators Jose Alvarado and Nancy Barr, and by the honorees.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved with changes: item 2026-489 was added to the seniors and youth committee; item 2026-477 was moved from infrastructure and housing to the legislation committee. (Voice vote, 16-0)
• Minutes of the September 14, 2026 regular meeting were approved with no changes. (Voice vote, 16-0)

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jessica White (probation officer, speaking personally): Expressed support for granting probation officers a 25-year retirement benefit, citing public safety risks and equipment carried. Noted that Legislator James Nolan would request the legislation go to committee.
• Daniel D'Amico (Yonkers resident): Requested legislation requiring 80% in-person attendance for legislators, supported the probation retirement benefit, and urged flood mitigation in Yonkers near Warburton Avenue.
• Josephine O'Grady (master plumber, Yonkers/ Mount Vernon): Criticized the removal of the 51% ownership requirement for plumbing businesses, questioned how Teamsters and a heating oil company knew about the change before plumbers, and asked about the appointment of a Wall Street Star Energy Group (Robson Oil) representative to the plumbing board.
• Tom Bach (53-year member of Elmsford Fire Department): Requested the county lift a stop work order on Manhattan Brook clearing by the town of Greenburgh, arguing county inaction had worsened flooding.
• Sean Carey (plumber): Supported the 51% ownership rule for licensed master plumbers to ensure accountability and public safety.
• David Latinto (master plumber): Emphasized the importance of the 51% rule for public health and safety, and accountability.
• Ed Cullen (second-generation plumber): Supported the 51% rule, stating a licensed master plumber as an employee cannot control work quality.
• Craig Strasser (business agent, Plumbers Local 21): Opposed the recent changes to the 51% rule, arguing they were pushed through quickly without consulting the plumbing board or industry. He cited false equivalencies with Rockland County and questioned the appointment of a private equity-owned company representative to the plumbing board.
• Erica Bacchi (Fairview/Greenburgh resident): Urged the board to help with flooding, opposed the county's stop work order on Greenburgh's brook clearing, opposed the Knolls senior housing project, and criticized Legislator Williams Johnson for lack of visible work.

Discussion Items

(All items below were passed unanimously (16-0) unless noted.)

• Appointments: Kevin Wynne to the Stormwater Advisory Board; Terrence Raynor and Elaine Dew to the Traffic Safety Board; Khalia Carter to the Domestic Violence Council; Tejan Nelson and Douglas A. Colte as election commissioners.
• Bond acts and budget amendments:
  • $400,000 for a farmland protection study (item 376).
  • $3,000,000 for rehabilitation of the North Yonkers Pumping Station combined sewer overflow and electrical systems (item 412).
  • $2,705,000 for exterior infrastructure repairs at the White Plains Complex courthouse entrance (items 416-417).
  • $750,000 for leak detection and chemical handling upgrades at the New Rochelle Water Resource Recovery Facility (items 418-419).
  • $7,500,000 for rehabilitation of primary and secondary settling tanks at the Yonkers Joint WRRF (item 421).
  • $4,195,000 for Complete Streets improvements in Tarrytown, Mamaroneck, Tuckahoe, and Sleepy Hollow (items 448-449).
  • $17,150,000 for pumping station rehabilitation in the New Rochelle Sanitary Sewer District (item 452).
  • $3,000,000 for a snow equipment storage building at the county airport (items 453-454).
  • $30,750,000 for elevator modernization at the correctional facility and interior repairs at the White Plains Complex (items 455-456, 458).
  • $1,971,250 for flood mitigation improvements on Harrison Avenue, Yonkers (items 466-468).
• Intermunicipal agreements: B-line bus shelter program with municipalities; prisoner transportation reimbursement with Greenburgh ($214,924) and New Rochelle ($555,550); flood mitigation partnership with Yonkers.
• Public hearings set for October 19, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.:
  • Local law amending reimbursement deadline for senior tax exemption (item 459).
  • Local law amending the red light camera demonstration program (item 461).
  • Local law amending solid waste recyclables collection licensing (item 463).
• Other: Acceptance of a $589,026 state probation block grant (item 413); amendment to National Night Out funding for Eastchester (item 437).

Key Outcomes

• All standing committee items were approved unanimously (16-0).
• Public hearings scheduled for October 19, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
• Meeting adjourned at 9:14 p.m.; next regular meeting set for Monday, October 19, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

Memorial Resolutions

• Legislator Nambiar remembered Maryam Kernan, first female mayor of Larchmont, who passed away in August 2026.
• Legislator Puja remembered Lewis William Pasquale, former county DPW employee, who passed away at age 90.
• Chairman remembered Florida Hoja, an attorney and community volunteer, who perished in a building collapse in Greece while on her honeymoon. A moment of silence was observed.