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Record of Proceedings

Joint Committee Meeting on Woodfield Cottage, Playland Park, and WCC Quarterly Report - October 5, 2026

Board of Legislators & Committees — Monday, October 5, 2026
BodyWestchester County, New York
SessionBoard of Legislators & Committees
DateMonday, October 5, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:53:13

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:02

Diane, do you have something to that point?

Speaker 2

0:06

Yeah, two comments, which I definitely would request that DEF confirm.

0:12

I believe that we the one of the main drivers to asking for the full amount to do the break the repair to the breaks is A, there's um a time sensitivity due to DEC monitoring.

0:28

And um I believe that this work is intended to be accomplished on a somewhat expedited basis.

0:36

But again, I need uh Vinny and Lou and Jasmine to confirm that.

Speaker 3

0:41

Commissioner Yes, no, no, no, we've had conversations with DEC.

0:46

DDC is very interested in having us do this as soon as possible.

0:52

Uh we did not receive an order of consent or an administrative order.

0:57

However, um basically based on you know they were looking for a timeline for us, they look for uh schedule for for this replacement as soon as possible.

1:07

So we haven't received, like I said, any consent order for this, but they are watching this very closely and they want this you know installed as soon as possible.

1:16

The other money that we're talking about is really just design, which it's not additional, it's construction of the second half of that forcemain.

1:28

This is going to cover the design of this emergency work and the installation of this emergency

Unassigned speaker

1:38

work,

Speaker 3

1:38

and

Unassigned speaker

1:39

the

Speaker 3

1:39

back and the rest of the money is going to be for the design of the you know for the remainder of that pipe.

1:46

It's not for construction of the second half of the pipe.

Speaker 4

1:49

Okay, can you then please just get us a breakdown which will show how much is for design for the next stage, how much is for design for this stage, and how much you're estimating for construction for this stage, so that we can at least see those three buckets.

Unassigned speaker

2:04

I can go back to the

Speaker 4

2:12

just a reminder, we can't hear anyone on the back on the back um.

Speaker 3

2:20

Um, so yeah, I can try to get you something.

2:24

I mean, it's gonna be

Speaker 4

2:25

Yeah, we don't we don't have a meeting tonight, so you got you got time.

2:30

Good answer

Speaker 1

2:30

to that to that point, Ms.

Speaker 5

2:32

Yeah, to the point of something that uh Commissioner Biggie said.

2:36

Thank you, uh Mr.

2:37

Chairman.

2:37

The DEC is asking for a timeline.

2:39

So what is the timeline you're giving the DEC?

Speaker 3

2:42

Uh it's really based on delivery of material, but we would like to get the uh temporary pipe in the ground before the holidays.

2:52

Uh once the temporary pipe is in the ground, I believe we gave them a date of May of next year for complete construction, but that is weather dependent uh re plan.

3:06

That's like an outside date.

3:08

We would like to get this in again.

3:11

It's it's it's I I can't even tell you you know when the permanent pipe is going to be delivered because we're still talking again.

3:19

We have a meeting going on in the other room with the contractor about

Unassigned speaker

3:22

the

Speaker 3

3:22

pipe that we're specifying for the permanent installation.

3:26

And because that because that pipe saw so much corrosion and why it failed, it wasn't being eaten from the inside, it was from the outside.

3:36

And I think that's due to the the water table there and the salt in the water, and it was eroding the pipe.

3:43

So we're having to switch gears a little bit here, maybe do a coating on the outside of the pipe, and that all impacts, of course, the delivery uh you know of the new pipe.

3:54

So it really depends on delivery of a pipe, but I would love to get this in January, February if we can, if we have a mild winter.

4:03

Um you know, May is on the outside.

4:06

Uh, but um

Unassigned speaker

4:08

of

Speaker 3

4:09

course it really depends on um delivery time.

4:12

But again, the HD the HDP pipe that's going to be the uh the bypass pipe, those are typically readily available.

4:23

Um and if that's the case, we're just ironing out which

Unassigned speaker

4:27

you

Speaker 3

4:27

know, specifying exactly what type of pipe we need.

4:30

If we can get that right away, I'd like to break ground here within the next couple of weeks and get that in before Thanksgiving, if it's possible.

Speaker 6

4:44

All right, we have

Speaker 4

4:45

to that point.

4:46

So can you just let us know when conversations um with uh DEC started for this um this particular issue?

Unassigned speaker

4:54

Uh this was I forget exactly the date of the break, but it was it was the day after the uh break.

Speaker 3

5:00

Um August 25th was the first one.

5:05

Two breaks in the same week on this on this pipe within a hundred feet of each other.

Speaker 1

5:11

Understood.

5:11

So uh we have a cue, so let's say the Nobby R then Let's say uh Williams Johnson.

5:15

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Youth Programs██████████████████████22%
Water And Wastewater Management██████████████14%
Procedural██████████10%
Public Safety██████████10%
Education And Training██████████10%
Parks and Recreation█████████9%
Fiscal Sustainability█████████9%
Budget Equity Analysis██████6%
Transportation Safety█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Joint Committee Meeting on Woodfield Cottage, Playland Park, and WCC Quarterly Report - October 5, 2026

The joint meeting of the Public Safety & Veterans, Budget & Appropriations, and Seniors & Youth committees convened on Monday, October 5, 2026, at 10:00 AM. The meeting addressed several items including an emergency sewer force main repair, funding for Playland Park improvements, a proposal to take over operation of Woodfield Cottage juvenile detention facility, and the Westchester Community College third quarter report. All items were approved or received with additional information requested.

Discussion Items

Emergency Sewer Force Main Repair

  • The committee discussed an $11 million capital budget amendment for emergency repairs to a sewer force main in the 9th district, which experienced two breaks in August 2026. Commissioner Rocco Pozzi (Probation) explained that the DEC is closely monitoring the situation and expects a timeline. A temporary bypass pipe is planned for installation before the holidays, with permanent replacement targeted for May 2027. Commissioner Pozzi stated that the cost estimate was based on experience and similar projects, though no written breakdown was provided. Legislators expressed concerns about the lack of detailed cost data and the need for better communication with the village. The committee voted to move the item forward "without prejudice" pending additional schedule and cost breakdown information.

Playland Park Drainage Improvements (Item 490)

  • William Bland, Acting Commissioner of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation, and Rob Bopane, Director of Park Planning, presented a request for $14 million in additional bonding (total $21 million) for paving, drainage, and replacement of historic bus canopies (colonnades) in the bus parking lot behind the Westchester Children's Museum. The project includes pedestrian safety improvements such as crosswalks, ADA ramps, and signage. Legislators questioned the bus routing near the museum and discussed potential relocation. The project is expected to take 14-16 months after bidding. The committee approved the item unanimously.

Woodfield Cottage Pay Plan Amendment (Item 489)

  • Commissioner Rocco Pozzi and Deputy Commissioner Mary Frascello presented a detailed account of failures by the vendor "Together for Youth" (and previously "Children's Village") in operating the juvenile detention facility. Issues included chronic staffing shortages, lack of food service, reliance on county resources (including probation officers diverted from warrants), and safety risks. The county recommends taking over operations, creating 150 new positions at an estimated annual cost of $30 million, offset by $28 million in state reimbursement (net increase of $1.2-2.4 million). Legislators raised concerns about the sustainability of state funding and long-term cost growth. The item was approved "without prejudice" with requests for further financial details.

Westchester Community College Third Quarterly Report

  • Dr. Valenza Miles, president of SUNY Westchester Community College, presented the third quarter financial report. Key points: enrollment growth (headcount up 33% from fall 2020 to spring 2026; FTE up 15%), revenues projected at $108.6 million vs. $108 million in expenditures, capital program of $143.3 million in active projects with state reimbursements lagging. The college reported no significant financial risks. The report was received and filed.

Other Business

  • Two memorializing resolutions were considered: one regarding sales tax exemption (MOL by Legislator Nolan) was received and filed; another regarding subscription transparency (MOL by Legislators Amora, Nambiar, and Williams Johnson) was continued to a future meeting.

Key Outcomes

  • Sewer Force Main Repair: Motion to advance without prejudice (approved).
  • Playland Park Improvements (Item 490): Motion to approve (passed unanimously).
  • Woodfield Cottage (Item 489): Motion to approve without prejudice (passed with bipartisan support).
  • WCC Quarterly Report: Motion to receive and file (approved).
  • Sales Tax MOL: Motion to receive and file (approved).
  • Transparency MOL: Continued (motion to continue approved).
  • Meeting adjourned at 12:20 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Diane, do you have something to that point? Yeah, two comments, which I definitely would request that DEF confirm. I believe that we the one of the main drivers to asking for the full amount to do the break the repair to the breaks is A, there's um a time sensitivity due to DEC monitoring. And um I believe that this work is intended to be accomplished on a somewhat expedited basis. But again, I need uh Vinny and Lou and Jasmine to confirm that. Commissioner Yes, no, no, no, we've had conversations with DEC. DDC is very interested in having us do this as soon as possible. Uh we did not receive an order of consent or an administrative order. However, um basically based on you know they were looking for a timeline for us, they look for uh schedule for for this replacement as soon as possible. So we haven't received, like I said, any consent order for this, but they are watching this very closely and they want this you know installed as soon as possible. The other money that we're talking about is really just design, which it's not additional, it's construction of the second half of that forcemain. This is going to cover the design of this emergency work and the installation of this emergency work, and the back and the rest of the money is going to be for the design of the you know for the remainder of that pipe. It's not for construction of the second half of the pipe. Okay, can you then please just get us a breakdown which will show how much is for design for the next stage, how much is for design for this stage, and how much you're estimating for construction for this stage, so that we can at least see those three buckets. I can go back to the just a reminder, we can't hear anyone on the back on the back um. Um, so yeah, I can try to get you something. I mean, it's gonna be Yeah, we don't we don't have a meeting tonight, so you got you got time. Good answer to that to that point, Ms. Yeah, to the point of something that uh Commissioner Biggie said. Thank you, uh Mr. Chairman. The DEC is asking for a timeline. So what is the timeline you're giving the DEC? Uh it's really based on delivery of material, but we would like to get the uh temporary pipe in the ground before the holidays. Uh once the temporary pipe is in the ground, I believe we gave them a date of May of next year for complete construction, but that is weather dependent uh re plan. That's like an outside date. We would like to get this in again. It's it's it's I I can't even tell you you know when the permanent pipe is going to be delivered because we're still talking again. We have a meeting going on in the other room with the contractor about the pipe that we're specifying for the permanent installation. And because that because that pipe saw so much corrosion and why it failed, it wasn't being eaten from the inside, it was from the outside. And I think that's due to the the water table there and the salt in the water, and it was eroding the pipe. So we're having to switch gears a little bit here, maybe do a coating on the outside of the pipe, and that all impacts, of course, the delivery uh you know of the new pipe. So it really depends on delivery of a pipe, but I would love to get this in January, February if we can, if we have a mild winter. Um you know, May is on the outside. Uh, but um of course it really depends on um delivery time. But again, the HD the HDP pipe that's going to be the uh the bypass pipe, those are typically readily available. Um and if that's the case, we're just ironing out which you know, specifying exactly what type of pipe we need.

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