OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Yorktown Town Board Meeting – April 9, 2024

Town Board — Tuesday, April 9, 2024
BodyYorktown, New York
SessionTown Board
DateTuesday, April 9, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:17:39

Transcript — Verbatim
0:11

2024.

0:12

If we could all stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:19

Brian, could you lead us from back there, please?

0:23

To the flag of the United States of America.

0:26

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:35

And if we could remain standing for a moment of silence, as we we remember those who fight every day to uh keep our freedoms in place and uh protect us and our society.

0:55

Thank you.

1:02

So we're going to skip around just a little bit.

1:05

Um I'd like to do some of our personnel uh to start with.

1:11

Um we are going to uh ask Winston Ralph to step to the podium if you don't mind, Winston.

1:22

So we uh we had a um we had a vacancy on our senior advisory board and um Mr.

1:32

Ralph has stepped up and uh is uh is looking to fill that position.

1:38

Could you uh Winston tell us a little bit about yourself?

1:41

Okay.

1:42

First thing I want to mention is that um I work for IBM for Winston.

1:48

I'm sorry, if you could you could talk into the mic, talk to us, and I'll get that.

1:52

Thank you.

1:54

Yes, uh the first thing I want to mention is that um I'm a retired IBM employee.

2:01

Work for IBM for 34 years, and I think it's two or three months.

2:06

I've worked in several locations during my initial training as a systems engineer.

2:12

I work in Kingston.

2:14

From Kingston, I went to Poughkeepsie.

2:17

From Poughkeepsie, I was told that there is a plant in Brooklyn, and there's a good potential for you, Winston.

2:26

So I ended up in Brooklyn as a system engineer.

2:31

And at that time, my primary responsibility was uh mainframes.

2:37

Because uh we had what referred to as the PDU, the power distribution unit.

2:43

In Brooklyn, I'm gonna move on.

2:46

After I think it was four years as a good engineer, I became a manager.

2:55

I had um, I think it was uh 50 or 60 employees, and the responsibility there was to ensure that between Poughkeepsie and Brooklyn I had enough work for about 400 people.

3:14

Okay.

3:15

It's kind of that's nuts and bulls, because um the work that I needed was not more or less a system that occupies just two or three people.

3:26

I want a manufacturing line where you can employ hundreds of people.

3:32

So that was my primary goal.

3:35

Um two years after was in Armoc and I got promoted.

3:40

Right.

3:41

So I became the senior manager for the plant, or one of the senior managers for the plant.

3:45

That's great.

3:46

Okay.

3:47

Then from there on I started to look around.

3:50

I spoke to some friends if it is time for me to get back to Poughkeepsie.

3:56

Uh other times.

3:58

So Winston, um, you kind of move up the ladder pretty fast, and there's nothing available right now.

4:04

But one of the things you can do is go lateral switch.

4:08

Okay.

4:09

So at the point in time, I became an advisory engineer.

4:13

Then from an advisory engineer, I became a senior engineer, in which I retired as a senior engineer.

4:22

My offices at that particular time was in Fischkill and Poughkeepsie.

4:27

So two days here, three days here, two days.

4:30

And my responsibility was to ensure that the transfer of the power for the main frame from Montpellier in France to Singapore, who went okay, or else Winston, you know.

4:47

So that was my responsibility on the retirement to show the performance of these sites worldwide.

5:00

And one of the things that I kind of pass on to my son, who's also an IBM employee, is that the operations meeting is on Monday.

5:07

I'm deep prepared to talk to anything that happens Sunday night.

5:13

There you go.

5:14

So Winston, what else have you done in the community?

5:17

Because I know you've had some information.

5:22

Nice.

5:22

That's in Patrick.

5:24

And it was enticing because one of the first people who just kept asking me questions because she sat just at the chair in the front with me.

5:36

I don't know if you know the person.

5:38

Rosemary Tarot.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety█████████████████17%
Emergency Services Planning██████████████14%
Procedural████████████12%
Public Health███████████11%
Noise Ordinance███████████11%
Personnel Matters██████████10%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Fiscal Sustainability██████6%
Traffic Safety████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Yorktown Town Board Meeting – April 9, 2024

The Yorktown Town Board convened on April 9, 2024, to address a range of administrative, legislative, and public safety matters. Key actions included appointments to boards and the police department, a proclamation for Autism Awareness Month, a discussion on funding for additional paramedic services, introduction of local laws on noise and traffic, adoption of amendments to the large-scale energy moratorium, and passage of a resolution calling for amendments to New York State’s criminal justice reforms.

Personnel Appointments

  • Winston Ralph was appointed to the Senior Advisory Board after sharing his background as a retired IBM employee and community involvement. Motion passed unanimously.
  • Police Officer Michael Tillestrand was promoted to sergeant effective April 15, 2024.
  • Ashley Sakaza was appointed as a police officer effective May 1, 2024, coming from the NYPD with a 14-year career.
  • Michael Campion was appointed as a permanent police officer effective April 1, 2024.
  • Andrew A. Hetty was appointed as lead maintenance mechanic in the refuse and recycling department effective April 15, 2024.
  • The job classification for wastewater treatment plant operator grade 3 was modified from group 14 to group 15, and Kyle Glitz was moved to the new salary step ($89,016.66).

Proclamation: Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month

  • The board proclaimed April as Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. Scarlett’s mother shared her daughter’s journey with autism, noting Scarlett was diagnosed at 17 months and now excels in third grade. The board recognized Brian and his father for their advocacy. The Fam Jam event (April 27, 12–8 p.m., rain or shine) was promoted, with proceeds supporting community organizations including the Yorktown Teen Center.

ALS Commission Discussion

  • Paul Turiano, Tony Ianone, Barbara Santora, and Jeff Siegel, the Advanced Life Support commissioners, presented a request for additional funding. They reported that 911 call volume has tripled from about 1,000 calls in 1994 to 3,000 in 2023, while paramedic coverage remains at 1994 levels (one fly car with two paramedics 24 hours, plus a second paramedic for 12 hours). They requested $390,882 to add a second fly car and extend paramedic coverage by 12 hours per day. The board agreed to explore grant opportunities and budget options, noting the need to address the deficit in the ALS tax line item.

Proposed Local Law: Noise Ordinance Amendment

  • Adam presented amendments to Chapter 216 (Peace and Good Order) to add objective decibel thresholds for noise disturbances. For example, between residential properties, sounds above 55 dB between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., and above 50 dB between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., would be prohibited. Councilwoman suggested extending the 10 p.m. cutoff to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays to accommodate businesses. The board voted to refer the proposed law to appropriate departments for review. Motion passed unanimously.

Proposed Local Law: Vehicles and Traffic Amendments

  • Two local laws were introduced: one creating a no-parking zone for commercial vehicles on the service road off Route 6 (at all times), and another reducing speed limits on Underhill Avenue (from 40 mph to 30 mph from Overhill to the Taconic, and to 20 mph on other roads including Hitching Post area). The board voted to set a public hearing on April 30, 2024. Motion passed unanimously.

Large-Scale Energy System Moratorium

  • The board adopted the amended version of the moratorium, which allows projects that have already obtained permits to proceed, and requires new projects to comply with any future changes to the law. Motion passed unanimously.

Resolution: Criminal Justice Reform Amendments

  • The board passed a resolution supporting seven amendments to New York State’s criminal justice reforms, citing concerns about ghost guns and the inability to detain dangerous individuals. The resolution notes that over 40% of individuals released on non-monetary bail for violent felonies are rearrested while charges are pending, and that a recent arrest of a person with a ghost gun and 17-round magazine could only be held because of the magazine capacity violation. The seven amendments include: increased financial support for municipalities, longer timelines for discovery, exclusion of non-misdemeanor/felony charges from accelerated discovery, allowing prosecutors to withhold sensitive information without court order, giving judges discretion to order pretrial detention, imposing a dangerousness standard, and adding all firearm-related offenses to the list of qualifying offenses for bail or remand. Motion passed unanimously.

Other Resolutions (Consent Calendar)

  • The board approved a series of resolutions from various departments, including:
    • Designating JP Morgan Wealth Management and New York Class as additional depositories.
    • Changing highway department fees.
    • Budget transfer for the Shrub Oak Park Stream Repair Project (pending weather, start May 1).
    • Authorizing an RFP for food concessions at town pools and Granite Knolls.
    • Accepting a landscape bond ($1,500) for Burger King at 385 Downing Drive.
    • Authorizing a police officer to attend a three-day out-of-state conference (October 19–21).
    • Extending dry cleaning services bid with Right Price Cleaners for one year.
    • Authorizing an agreement with Weston and Samson for waterline cleaning and structural relining on Route 35 and Greenwood Street.
    • Releasing retainage ($64,630 and $43,541) to Mickel’s Trenchless Inc. for completed projects.
    • Paying unused time to Adele Hobby (retired) and Zoe Cosma (separated).
    • Authorizing use of the Yorktown Community and Cultural Center gym for a job fair on May 1 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) and waiving the $156 rental fee.
    • Issuing a temporary certificate of occupancy for Burger King (180 days) with a ribbon cutting on April 10 at 3:15 p.m.

Key Outcomes

  • All votes were unanimous (aye) as recorded.
  • The board will continue to explore ALS funding, including grant opportunities and budget adjustments.
  • Public hearing on traffic laws set for April 30, 2024.
  • Noise ordinance referred for departmental review.
  • Special election (April 16) for early voting at the Cappellini Center or JOC; details on the town clerk’s website.
  • The board reminded residents to watch for vehicle break-ins, lock cars, and be vigilant against scams targeting the elderly.

Meeting Transcript

2024. If we could all stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Brian, could you lead us from back there, please? To the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. And if we could remain standing for a moment of silence, as we we remember those who fight every day to uh keep our freedoms in place and uh protect us and our society. Thank you. So we're going to skip around just a little bit. Um I'd like to do some of our personnel uh to start with. Um we are going to uh ask Winston Ralph to step to the podium if you don't mind, Winston. So we uh we had a um we had a vacancy on our senior advisory board and um Mr. Ralph has stepped up and uh is uh is looking to fill that position. Could you uh Winston tell us a little bit about yourself? Okay. First thing I want to mention is that um I work for IBM for Winston. I'm sorry, if you could you could talk into the mic, talk to us, and I'll get that. Thank you. Yes, uh the first thing I want to mention is that um I'm a retired IBM employee. Work for IBM for 34 years, and I think it's two or three months. I've worked in several locations during my initial training as a systems engineer. I work in Kingston. From Kingston, I went to Poughkeepsie. From Poughkeepsie, I was told that there is a plant in Brooklyn, and there's a good potential for you, Winston. So I ended up in Brooklyn as a system engineer. And at that time, my primary responsibility was uh mainframes. Because uh we had what referred to as the PDU, the power distribution unit. In Brooklyn, I'm gonna move on. After I think it was four years as a good engineer, I became a manager. I had um, I think it was uh 50 or 60 employees, and the responsibility there was to ensure that between Poughkeepsie and Brooklyn I had enough work for about 400 people. Okay. It's kind of that's nuts and bulls, because um the work that I needed was not more or less a system that occupies just two or three people. I want a manufacturing line where you can employ hundreds of people. So that was my primary goal. Um two years after was in Armoc and I got promoted. Right. So I became the senior manager for the plant, or one of the senior managers for the plant. That's great. Okay. Then from there on I started to look around. I spoke to some friends if it is time for me to get back to Poughkeepsie. Uh other times. So Winston, um, you kind of move up the ladder pretty fast, and there's nothing available right now. But one of the things you can do is go lateral switch. Okay. So at the point in time, I became an advisory engineer. Then from an advisory engineer, I became a senior engineer, in which I retired as a senior engineer. My offices at that particular time was in Fischkill and Poughkeepsie. So two days here, three days here, two days. And my responsibility was to ensure that the transfer of the power for the main frame from Montpellier in France to Singapore, who went okay, or else Winston, you know. So that was my responsibility on the retirement to show the performance of these sites worldwide.

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