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 Committees Joint Meeting on Parks, Budget, and Infrastructure - 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███████████████████████23%
Water And Wastewater Management███████████████15%
Parks and Recreation████████████12%
Public Safety███████████11%
Procedural██████████10%
Fiscal Sustainability██████████10%
Education And Training█████████9%
Public Infrastructure██████6%
Budget Equity Analysis██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Westchester County Committees Joint Meeting - October 5, 2026

The Parks & Environment Committee met jointly with the Budget & Appropriations and Infrastructure & Housing committees on October 5, 2026, at 10:58 AM (called to order late) in the Committee Room at the Michaelian Office Building. The meeting covered a bond act amendment for Playland parking lot drainage, a proposal to take over Woodfield Cottage operations due to vendor failure, and a financial update from Westchester Community College. Voting occurred on several items.

Discussion Items

  • BOND ACT (Amended) – Playland Parking Lot Drainage Improvement (Item 2026-490): Acting Parks Commissioner William Bland and Director Rob Lopane presented a request for an additional $14 million in bonding (total $21 million) to finance drainage and paving improvements in the bus parking lot near the Children's Museum, including rehabilitation of historic bus canopies. Legislator Williams Johnson asked about pedestrian safety for children crossing the lot; Bland noted the project includes new crosswalks, ADA ramp, signage, and other safety features. A diagram of improvements was requested. The item was approved unanimously by all three committees.
  • Woodfield Cottage – Proposal for County Takeover: Probation Commissioner Rapha Posey and his team presented a detailed report on the failure of vendor Together for Youth to operate the juvenile detention facility since January 2026, citing severe staffing shortages, lack of food service, and safety risks. The county had to intervene with security contracts and divert probation staff. The recommendation is for the county to take over operations, hiring 150 new staff at higher pay (estimated $68,000/year including benefits). Total operating cost is projected at $30 million, with ~$28 million in state reimbursement, leaving a net county cost of approximately $1.2–2.4 million annually. Several legislators questioned the reliability of state aid and the long-term cost. The motion passed without prejudice (all committees).
  • Westchester Community College Third Quarter Report: Dr. Valenza Miles, President of WCC, and CFO Jackie Clark presented the college's financial status through May 31, 2026. Enrollment headcount rose 33% (from 11,305 to 15,023) and FTE increased 4.3% (to 3,733). Operating revenues of $108.6 million and expenses of $108 million are essentially balanced. Capital projects total $143.3 million, with active projects including administration building expansion, roof replacements, and site improvements. Personnel costs represent about 85% of the budget. The report was received and filed.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 2026-490 (Playland Bond Act): Approved unanimously by Parks & Environment, Budget & Appropriations, and Infrastructure & Housing committees. Motion carried without recorded opposition.
  • Woodfield Cottage Proposal: All three committees voted to advance the item without prejudice (no recorded opposition), pending further fiscal and operational details.
  • WCC Third Quarter Report: Received and filed.
  • Other Items: A motion to receive and file a sales tax exemption MOL (Item 477) was approved. A motion on subscription transparency/affirmative consent (MOL) was continued to a future meeting at the sponsor's request.

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.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com