Westchester County Board of Legislators Committee Meetings — October 26, 2026

On Monday, October 26, 2026, Westchester County Board of Legislators committees met jointly at the Michaelian Office Building in White Plains, NY. The combined session covered Budget & Appropriations, Public Safety & Veterans, Infrastructure & Housing, Legislation, and Litigation; the Litigation Committee sat jointly with Budget & Appropriations and Legislation. Committee work began around 10:30 a.m., Litigation was called to order at 12:01 p.m., and the session adjourned at approximately 12:33 p.m. No standalone agenda was provided; the published draft minutes cover only the Litigation Committee.

Budget & Appropriations / Public Safety & Veterans

• Police Academy instruction services (item 2026-493): The committees approved a five-year intermunicipal agreement for outside law enforcement instructors at the Westchester County Police Academy, beginning March 21, 2027. Instructors remain employees of their home agencies, the county assumes no liability for them, and reimbursements are handled by the participating municipalities or through agency time. A recent basic course used 487 outside instructor days. Instruction follows the DCJS curriculum and instructors must be DCJS-certified. The item was referred to the full Board.
• Regional hazardous materials partnership (item 2026-495): The committees authorized a partnership with Dutchess and Putnam Counties to accept a $15,000 federal PHMSA grant for hazardous-materials transportation response in the 2025-26 grant year. The county will satisfy the 20% match with existing personnel costs. Officials explained the state has created 18 hazmat partnership regions, and the Indian Point decommissioning remains a planning factor, including future off-site waste transport. The item passed and was referred to the full Board.

Airport Hangar Lease Conversions (Infrastructure & Housing / B&A)

• Hangar Victor — Interlaken and PepsiCo (items 2026-510/511 and 2026-512/513): The committees approved converting two 30-year ground leases into improved leases. Interlaken has an initial 20-year term; PepsiCo has an initial 5-year term with two 5-year renewal options. Both pay $41 per square foot with 3% annual escalation. The lessees assume responsibility for improvements, including structural work, while the county remains responsible for runways, taxiways, and roads. The financial impact statement showed current-year revenue of about $1.06 million rising to about $1.8 million in the first year, an increase of nearly 80%. Because the lease terms and renewals require a two-thirds Board vote and local law, public hearing resolutions were included. Legislators raised concerns that the county might be pricing too low and suggested benchmarking in the top 10% or 5% of comparable markets and reassessing every five years. Airport staff responded that the rents were based on a market study by R.M. Friedland, that negotiations lasted months, and that tenants pushed back on the increases. Legislator Barr noted the PepsiCo five-year renewals could mean the matter would not return to the Board for up to 15 years.
• Hangar Whiskey — IBM (items 2026-514/515): The committees approved IBM's improved lease at $43 per square foot, reflecting its exclusive entrance, parking, apron, and hangar space. The lease includes a temporary subleasing provision for another HPN-based aircraft during nearby construction, with language excluding FBO operations, and IBM may terminate after the 10th anniversary with 24 months' written notice. IBM's rent rises from $245,000 per year to $2 million per year, with IBM absorbing operating and structural costs. All airport lease items passed and were referred to the full Board.

Legislation — Commissioner Qualification Change (Items 2026-501/502)

• The committees considered a charter change to eliminate the requirement that the commissioners of the Department of Public Works and Transportation and the Department of Environmental Facilities be professional engineers. The Deputy County Executive said both departments have evolved beyond design and construction to include airport, transit, facilities, and environmental program management, and noted other large agencies such as NYS DOT, NYC DOT, and the MTA do not require a PE for their top transportation roles. The proposal was supported unanimously by the Charter Revision Commission in June. Legislator Puja, an engineer, expressed support; Legislator Cunzio asked whether removing the requirement would reduce the salary, and the Deputy County Executive said it would not because the position is not diminished. Majority Leader Holstein flagged a typo in a financial impact statement and voted no on the Budget & Appropriations portion; the item otherwise passed and was referred to the full Board.

Litigation — Defense and Indemnity Actions (Items 2026-519/520)

• The Litigation Committee, sitting jointly with B&A and Legislation, approved amendments to Section 158.11 allowing the County Attorney to commence actions or proceedings for defense, indemnification, insurance coverage, or contribution without first obtaining Board authorization. Existing exceptions for money judgments up to $25,000 and county-executive emergency actions were consolidated. Law Department representatives explained that insurers or contractors sometimes refuse to defend or indemnify the county, and CPLR 1007 requires third-party actions within 90 days, making prior Board approval impractical. Legislators raised oversight concerns, and the committee adopted an amendment requiring the County Attorney to simultaneously file a report and notification with the Clerk of the County Board when commencing an action under the new subsection. The items passed as amended and were referred to the full Board.

Litigation — Written Notice for Contract and Nontort Claims (Items 2026-521/522)

• The committees approved measures requiring written notice for contract and other nontort claims within three months, modeled on City of Newburgh law and a Second Department decision. Law Department staff said the requirement gives the county early notice and helps avoid stale lawsuits. The items passed and were referred to the full Board.

Litigation — QBE Insurance Surety Dispute Retainer (Item 2026-504)

• The committees approved a retainer, not to exceed $50,000, for outside counsel in a surety dispute with QBE Insurance Company. County attorneys said their usual outside counsel had a conflict because QBE would not grant a conflict waiver. Officials described the county's case as strong and said they hope to settle, but additional funding may be requested if litigation continues. The item passed and was referred to the full Board.

Other Business / Receive & File

• Committee minutes from prior meetings were approved.
• A gift acceptance item valued at approximately $10,000 was received and filed.

Key Outcomes

• All substantive items were approved by their respective committees and referred to the full Board of Legislators.
• The defense/indemnity items were amended to require notification to the Board Clerk before referral.
• The commissioner-qualification change passed despite one no vote in Budget & Appropriations.
• The session adjourned at approximately 12:33 p.m.; the published Litigation minutes record 12:32 p.m.