Yorktown Town Board Meeting: December 17, 2024
Yorktown Town Board Meeting - December 17, 2024
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence for the victims of the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, and introductions of town board members and officials. Supervisor Ed Lachterman and councilmembers delivered a series of community event announcements and recognitions, including the holiday lights parade, a new business ribbon cutting (Shrub Oak Smiles), a holiday gift show, a card show, the Shrub Oak tree lighting, the Sons of the American Legion ham and toy drive, and upcoming events such as the Hanukkah Fun Day, the Polar Plunge, and the Yorktown Youth Council meeting. Councilwoman Susan Siegel expressed disappointment that two agenda items she requested—an RFP for field home improvements and a discussion on water meter changes—were not included, citing delays.
Police Promotions
- Chief Noble announced four promotions: Sergeant Michael Tillestrand, Sergeant Jack Doherty, Sergeant Thomas Murphy, and Detective Sergeant Sam Sanson. Each officer was sworn in by Town Clerk Diana Quast and pinned by family members. Chief Noble highlighted their ties to Yorktown and commitment to the community.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Gregory Kraftov (Yorktown resident, chemical engineer) proposed forming a taxpayer subsidy committee to use his patent for a space-time matrix technology to offset high property taxes. He requested the matter be reviewed in a work session.
- Felicity Orango (Mohegan Lake, volunteer trail maintainer for NY-NJ Trail Conference) opposed the alienation of parkland at Sylvan Glen Park Preserve for a private farm, citing negative impacts on trails, wetlands, carbon sequestration, water quality, and wildlife habitat.
- Myra Helfand (Stony Street resident, 10+ years) opposed the Gupta land swap, arguing it would harm property values, remove trees, and undermine the character of the area. She urged the board to prioritize the common good over individual interests.
- Brandon (Eagle Scout, Troop 165) spoke against the land swap, noting his Eagle project—building boardwalks in Sylvan Glen—would be invalidated if the parkland were alienated. He said the swap would set a bad precedent for the younger generation.
- Natasha Allison (Yorktown Heights) criticized the board's focus on fluoride, arguing for a system that allows choice rather than forced ingestion. She stated that forced fluoridation denies rights and that those who want it can access it through other means.
- Ella (Yorktown Heights) supported fluoridation, citing a North Carolina study showing lower tooth decay rates in fluoridated communities and emphasizing the need to protect underserved populations.
- Jan Mirchandani (Yorktown Heights) urged the board to reevaluate the 485-B tax abatement law, noting changing commercial real estate dynamics and suggesting alternatives like solar canopies and hybrid vehicles.
- Larry Killian (Yorktown Heights) argued that development policy—specifically tax certiorari reductions for the JV Mall and other properties—has cost the town over $1 million in lost revenue. He called for a new approach.
- Sarah (resident, retired teacher) advocated for clean energy transitions, citing Croton-on-Hudson as a model, and urged the board to set goals, install solar panels, and transition to hybrid vehicles.
- Sarah (resident) questioned the purchase of an M400 B2 base station transmitter for $49,063 to address dead zones in the smart water meter system, asking about initial coverage predictions and the percentage of meters that will become readable.
- Howard (resident) opposed the Sylvan Glen land swap and asked about drones in the skies.
- Andy Stegmar (Yorktown Heights) argued against fluoridation, citing conflicts of interest among FDA officials and big pharma, and advocated for education on nutrition instead.
- Melanie Ryan (15-year resident) thanked the board for suspending fluoridation and presented books on fluoride dangers, emphasizing accumulation in the body and the need to err on the side of caution.
- Robin Stagel (39-year resident) opposed forced fluoridation, stating it violates individual rights, and asked councilwoman Siegel why she insists on forcing it.
- Dan Strauss (58-year resident) supported maintaining fluoride at 0.7 mg/L, criticized the board's decision as possibly illegal, and also spoke against the overlay district and a proposed transfer station.
- Eva (Yorktown Heights) supported fluoridation, citing the North Carolina study and warning that removing it would harm vulnerable communities.
- Ashley Roma (mom of two) thanked the board for removing fluoride and urged it to stay out.
- Joe Selec (Yorktown Heights) questioned the benefits of the Navajo development (240 units), traffic, sewer hookup costs, and the overlay district process.
- Dwayne Simmons (Jefferson Village president-elect) criticized developers holding the town hostage over Lake Osceola pollution, arguing the town should clean the lake using taxpayer funds rather than relying on a developer's offer.
- Brian Sillick (Yorktown Heights) expressed confusion about the overlay district, questioned traffic impacts and who pays for traffic lights, and noted the unit count changed from 254 to 240.
Discussion Items
- Overlay District and Navajo Development: Supervisor Lachterman and councilmembers explained the overlay district's purpose from the master plan. Councilwoman Siegel noted that the developer's plan includes trunk lines for sewers to nearby streets, but the cost of hookups for existing homeowners remains a concern. The board requested more information on sewers, traffic, and environmental impacts before deciding on overlay status. Supervisor Lachterman clarified the town board's role is a two-step process: first, expanding the overlay district boundary; second, granting overlay status, which then goes to the planning board.
- Sylvan Glen Park Land Swap: Supervisor Lachterman stated he personally recommended the Gupta family use their existing right-of-way easement rather than swap parkland. Councilwoman Siegel described the proposed swap: the town would give the Guptas a portion of Sylvan Glen in exchange for their 18-acre parcel off Quarry Drive, requiring parkland alienation. She opposed the swap due to environmental and community concerns.
- Fluoridation: The board majority (Supervisor Lachterman, Councilmen Esposito and Murphy) defended the decision to suspend fluoridation pending the EPA's response to the court ruling. Councilwoman Siegel argued the science supports fluoridation at 0.7 mg/L and urged the board to consult public health professionals. Councilman Esposito said the board voted and should move on. Supervisor Lachterman emphasized erring on the side of caution, noting that fluoride cannot be removed once ingested. The board acknowledged that new information could prompt reconsideration as stated in the October 22 resolution.
- Water Meters: Councilwoman Siegel and Supervisor Lachterman discussed the history of the smart meter project (started 2010-2011) and the need for a transmitter to address a dead zone. The water superintendent will provide more details at the January 7 meeting.
- 485-B Tax Abatement: Councilwoman Siegel and Supervisor Lachterman committed to reevaluating the law in the first quarter of 2025, noting the incentive is for improvements to existing properties, not a blanket giveaway.
- Clean Energy: Councilwoman Siegel urged the town to issue an RFP for solar on municipal properties and to move forward with climate action goals.
- Lake Osceola: The board discussed that the lake is not town-owned and that pollution stems from failing septic tanks. The developer's offer to install sewers could address the issue, but the board noted the complexity of creating a sewer district.
Key Outcomes
- Vote on MS4 Stormwater and Tree Removal Permit (2991 Hickory Street): Passed 5-0 with an amendment added to require a tree mitigation plan approved by the Tree Advisory Commission prior to the supervisor signing the plans.
- Consent Calendar (passed en bloc with one motion):
- Authorized advertisement of the January 7, 2025 town board meeting.
- Authorized bid for various chemicals for the water pollution control plant.
- Authorized agreement with insurance broker Arthur J. Gallagher & Company for 2025 coverage (not to exceed $1,048,882.21).
- Authorized release of highway department drainage permit (bond $1,000).
- Authorized bid for rental of two Horizon signaled temporary traffic lights.
- Authorized carryover of 7 hours of vacation time for employee Michelle Diaco.
- Authorized bid for transportation services for camp buses.
- Authorized budget transfer for police department (from medical insurance to police equipment).
- Authorized three collective bargaining agreements (CSEA, Superior Officers Benevolent Association, Police Benevolent Association) each for three years with 3% annual salary increases.
- Authorized purchase of one M400 B2 base station transmitter and extended warranty for the water district ($49,063.94).
- Authorized budget transfer for water department (from water medical insurance to water maintenance/repair of roads).
- Authorized auction of obsolete equipment (1992 skag walk-behind mower).
- Resolution on Chamber of Commerce Sign: Passed 5-0 authorizing the supervisor to execute an agreement assigning the town's arrangement with the Yorktown Chamber of Commerce to the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce. Councilwoman Siegel expressed concern about monitoring use, but the board noted the sign is privately owned and the assignment does not change eligibility for advertisers.
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at approximately [time not specified].
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the town board meeting of December 17th, 2024. If you could all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty, and justice for all. Okay, and if we could uh remain standing for a moment of silence as remember and pray for the uh Madison, Wisconsin community uh after the tragic abundant life Christian school shootings there yesterday. Thank you to our honor guard. Uh if you could all uh sit uh sit down, please. Thank you. Amen. Our second. All right. Uh introductions to my right. Good evening, Diana Quask, Town Clerk. Luciana Howitt, Councilwoman. Uh Supervisor Ed Lacterman. Deputy Supervisor Sergio Esposito. Patrick Murphy, Councilman. Susan Siegel, Councilwoman. Adam Rodriguez, town attorney. All right. Um, luckily there's a lot of police officers in the room. All right. So just uh for record for the count, I just want to run through a few events that we had uh over the last two weeks. That uh we had some great community response, and it was uh so fantastic to see so many people. Uh on on the 7th, we had our holiday lights parade, uh, which was great. We had uh uh an abundance of floats. Uh we had uh people all over the place. It was it was really uh it's one of the great things that that Yorktown does through our parks and recreation department, and there was a tremendous amount of uh outreach there. So very happy to uh to have had everyone who attended, and I'm sure if you couldn't make it there, uh you watched it on the uh cable station. If not, it is available on our public asset access station. Uh then this past Saturday we had the we had a lot going on actually. We we opened another new business, uh Shrub Oak Smiles had their ribbon cutting uh over by uh Novicento. It's a new uh dental uh office. We had uh a holiday gift show at the Alberda Capolini Community and Cultural Center, uh and then uh prior to that we also had a card show there, baseball card show, and apparently they have plans for another show in the spring, both uh actually two shows, one a uh a craft show and one a comic book show, uh Yorktown's own little minic mini comic-com. So uh hopefully uh that goes off well. And uh we ended the night on Saturday uh in town with the shrub oak uh Christmas tree lighting or holiday tree lighting uh that was started by Tom Diana three years ago. Uh and uh the tree was generously donated by some of the uh shrub oak families over there, and uh that was it was really nice. We had the golden apple chorus singing. Uh there was hot chocolate being passed around and uh hot apple cider donuts. That was a wonderful, wonderful time. Uh and then on Sunday, the Sons of the American Legion uh completed their ham drive and toy drive for the uh St. Mary's Food Bank and for their Christmas gift wish list. And uh today uh we drove over 30 hams and uh I think it was uh another 14 turkeys plus a uh a nice trunk load of toys and and gifts for the for the children in need and some gift cards for the older kids. Uh upcoming uh this year uh Hanukkah and Christmas fall on the same day. Uh the first night of Hanukkah is Christmas Day. Uh the Chabad of Yorktown will be having their Hanukkah Fun Day. Uh that will actually be on the third night, fourth night. Sorry, the 29th. Yep, 1229 24 from three to four, followed by their menorah lighting. Uh there's no charge, all a welcome. That's at the uh Capolini Center as well.
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