Yorktown Town Board Meeting: October 1, 2024 - Fluoridation Pause, Solar Law Debate, and Multiple Proclamations
Yorktown Town Board Meeting - October 1, 2024
The Yorktown Town Board met on October 1, 2024, addressing a packed agenda including proclamations, presentations, a major discussion on fluoridation of the public water supply, public hearings on recycling, solar energy, battery storage, and smoke shops, and approval of numerous resolutions. The board voted to set a public hearing on a proposed local law that would give the town board authority over fluoridation, effectively pausing the practice pending further information. The meeting lasted late into the night, reflecting the contentious nature of several agenda items.
Consent Calendar
- The board approved a series of routine resolutions, including: budget transfers for building maintenance and park improvements; bid awards for glass doors at the Albert A. Cappellini Center, pickleball court fencing at Granite Knolls, and sludge removal; authorization to advertise bids for a used police vehicle, a tub grinder, and ALS services; acceptance of road widening strips on Hallex Mills Road; setting of public hearings for traffic regulations (no parking, stop signs, left turns); and suspension of a police officer without pay pending disciplinary charges. The board also authorized a subpoena and litigation to enforce it in an investigation of a town employee.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Fluoridation: Multiple residents spoke on the fluoridation issue. Jay Copstein, Vlora Backay, Olimpia Gosey, Elise Parlman, and Melanie Ryan expressed strong support for the pause, citing health risks (IQ reduction in children, dental fluorosis, thyroid disruption) and the federal judge's ruling. Others, like Mark Lieberman and Larry Killian, urged caution and reliance on health experts rather than the town board. The discussion highlighted the polarized views on the science.
- ADA Accessibility: Mel Tanzman criticized the town's temporary ramp as non-compliant with ADA regulations, asserting it was unsafe and illegal. He also called for assisted listening devices at town hall.
- ALS Services: Alex Ruggo and other residents, including a spouse of a medic, spoke about the need for a comprehensive study before adding a second ALS fly car, citing mutual aid reliance and volunteer shortages. They emphasized the need for sustainable long-term planning.
- Recycling Facility: Several residents from Jefferson Village and surrounding areas opposed the proposed private recycling facility, citing concerns about traffic, odors, and environmental impact. They argued it would harm the town's character.
- Solar Energy Law: A large number of residents, including Clifford Davis (attorney for adjacent property), Randy Pratt, Sarah Wilson, Dan Strauss, and Jenny Sunshine, opposed the proposed amendments that weaken screening standards. They called for a moratorium, stronger protections for woodlands, and a ban on large-scale solar in residential zones. Developers from Freestone Renewables and Soul Systems argued for flexibility, stating that 100-foot setbacks and planning board discretion can achieve effective screening. The board received extensive testimony on both sides.
Discussion Items
- Fluoridation of Water Supply: Supervisor Lacterman explained his unilateral decision to stop fluoridation after a federal judge (Obama appointee Edward Chen) ruled that the EPA must regulate fluoride due to unreasonable risk of IQ reduction in children. He proposed a local law to replace the current mandate with a provision allowing the board to decide by resolution. Councilwoman Siegel strongly opposed, arguing the shutdown violated state public health law (1100A) and was premature given the judge's ruling was not final and the EPA has yet to issue rules. She cited a letter from a local dentist emphasizing the benefits of fluoridation. Councilman Esposito and others supported the pause, calling it a prudent “wait and see” approach. The board voted 3-1 (Siegel dissenting) to set a public hearing for October 15, 2024, and to pause fluoridation pending more information.
- Solar Energy Law Amendments: The board discussed proposed amendments to Chapter 300, including increasing setbacks from 100 to 200 feet and changing “fully screened” to “reasonably screened” from residential structures. Councilman Esposito expressed strong support for 200-foot setbacks and opposed allowing the planning board to vary them, arguing that the ZBA is the proper body for variances. He also called for more frequent inspections of screening vegetation. Councilwoman Siegel advocated for a moratorium and a work session, citing the need to balance tree conservation with solar goals. The board decided to adjourn the public hearing and work on a new law, with a motion to extend the existing moratorium for six months.
- Battery Storage and Smoke Shop Moratoriums: The board held brief public hearings and voted unanimously to enact six-month moratoriums on large-scale battery energy storage systems and smoke shops, allowing time to study and update regulations.
Key Outcomes
- Fluoridation: The board voted 3-1 (with Councilwoman Siegel in opposition) to set a public hearing for October 15, 2024, on a proposed local law to amend Chapter 280 (Water) to give the town board authority over fluoridation. The law would effectively pause fluoridation pending further review.
- Solar Moratorium: The board voted to extend the existing moratorium on solar energy projects for six months, with a public hearing to be scheduled in November 2024. The board will hold work sessions to develop a new law.
- Battery Storage Moratorium: The board voted unanimously to enact a six-month moratorium on large-scale battery energy storage systems.
- Smoke Shop Moratorium: The board voted unanimously to extend the moratorium on smoke shops for six months.
- Police Discipline: The board approved the suspension of a police officer without pay pending disciplinary charges, effective October 2, 2024.
- ALS Services: The board authorized the town clerk to advertise a request for proposals for advanced life support services, including the potential addition of a second fly car and 12-hour shift, pending budget considerations.
- Miscellaneous Resolutions: Numerous resolutions were approved, including budget transfers, bid awards, and agreements for services and equipment.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the uh town board meeting of October 1st, 2024. If we could all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance, absolutely. I proudly allegiance 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. If we could all remain standing for a moment of silence, uh, as we are uh six days away from the anniversary of the uh October 7th attacks in Israel, uh we keep the uh the hostages in our prayers. We uh hope for peace uh in the Middle East in the near future, and uh pray pray for uh God to show us the way there. Thank you. Please be seated. Start with introductions to my right. Good evening, Diana Quest, Town Clerk. Good evening, Councilwoman Luciana Howitt. Supervisor Ed Lacterman, Deputy Supervisor Sergio Esposito, Councilman Patrick Murphy. Councilman, Susan Siegel. Christine Kager standing in for Adam Rodriguez as a as the town attorney tonight. All right. So I had some copious notes about things that went on this week, which I left upstairs. So you're you're saved. Uh I will just uh I I do want to mention a couple things. We had the run for recovery this weekend at the park, which was very well attended, uh trying to end the the stigmatism of uh of uh drug use and and drug abuse uh and have people realize that is a don't worry about Lorraine, I never printed it, it's still on the computer. Okay. Uh but to end that stigmatism and and realize that this is a illness that that uh people need help with, and they do a fantastic job. So uh, you know, really uh great, great showing and run, and um not that I ran anywhere, but it was uh it was nice to see all the people there to support that. Uh and yesterday we did have a uh remembrance and a survivor from the October 7th uh attacks in Israel who was at the music festival who came and uh gave his story, uh a young man, 24-year-old uh uh American Israeli by the name of uh Atier. And uh it was a compelling story. Uh I know I see quite a few people who were there last night. Uh and to see someone in Israel, if you don't know it's mandatory to serve in the armed forces. Uh so to see someone who was a military man uh in a situation where uh evade and escape was his only option, and and to see what it you know the effect uh and to see what was happening with his friends and then having to trust a total stranger uh who was a uh Bedouin Muslim Israeli who that he knew did not know who helped to hide him uh and to hear the experience and see what he went through was just an amazing, amazing thing. Uh so it just uh I I really want to give a shout out to the young lady who organized it all. Uh Talia Pearson Cohen. Uh Talia's uh uh grandfather was a judge in our town, her mother is a judge in our town. Uh so they they have very close ties to the to the community, and uh one of the hostages who was murdered, or one of the the the concert goers on the right over here, is actually uh or was actually her cousin. So uh and around the room we have some of the people who unfortunately did not make it out and um were senselessly slaughtered. And uh, you know, we have a lot of things in our community that and and in our in our world, never forget, never forget the Holocaust, never forget 9-11, never forget any of these terrorist attacks, and uh you know, as I said, we pray for a day when there is no terrorism, when there's when that is not the message to kill someone uh for a political uh statement. It just does not uh it just does not make sense in in the world, and uh we we pray for that to uh end. Uh we will uh we're trying to arrange and we'll work on trying to do a candlelight vigil here at town hall on October 7th at 6 p.m. Uh I'm trying to get that uh organized and together with uh Rabbi Hever, and we will try to uh have that right out front on the front area. So uh please stay focused for that or stay alert for that. Um we do have a couple of great things coming up though to get on to some better things in another uh six days. Next actually Friday, not even uh we have uh Scared by the Sound, our haunted house, which is at the old Turcos opening. Uh so that'll run every weekend through uh November 2nd. So it'll run the first and second of November. That's Saturday and uh Friday and Saturday. Uh they do a phenomenal job. They've been doing this for a lot of years, and uh they've added to it if you went through it last year. I think they've added a few extra rooms and it should be a really great time. And I'm sure that Ariana will get up later and talk. But on Sunday, October 6th, we have our um we have our uh support connection walk-a-thon at FDR Park. I believe the step off is 10 o'clock for that. Yep. So that that's uh another fantastic event.
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