Yorktown Town Board Meeting – February 4, 2025
Yorktown Town Board Meeting – February 4, 2025
The Yorktown Town Board met on February 4, 2025, at 12:45 PM (local time) for a regular meeting that included a moment of silence, reports from the supervisor and council members, police promotions and swearing‑in ceremonies, an Eagle Scout project presentation, proclamations, a discussion on battery energy storage regulations, public comments, and the approval of numerous resolutions.
Moment of Silence & Supervisor’s Report
- Supervisor Ed Lachterman led a moment of silence for three community members: Holocaust remembrance speaker Sam Matzah, conservation board member James Patrick Francois, and Yorktown resident Christopher Katz (a Capitol Police recruit and U.S. Army reservist killed in an auto accident). Prayers were also offered for Alice Roker.
- Supervisor Lachterman reported on recent events: Eagle Fest at Croton Point (attendance in the thousands), the grand opening of Art and Soul studio, the Justice James Reitz Vision Breakfast, and the American Legion’s Four Chaplains ceremony.
Council Members’ Updates
- Councilman Sergio Esposito announced several new businesses and developments: Art and Soul (opened), Five Below (soft opened, grand opening February 14), Michaels (tentative March opening), Miraggio’s Italian restaurant (mid‑to‑late March), Sport Time Pickleball (late August), Dunkin’ Donuts relocation (June), two Spanish‑style restaurants, a ramen shop, a dumpling place, Acme interior remodel, Triangle Shopping Center reimagining (construction starting March), and the Turkles building (gutting into three spaces). He also noted that the Yorktown High School cheerleaders are heading to Florida for a competition.
- Councilwoman Susan Siegel provided updates on infrastructure: the EPA appeal of the fluoride ruling (filed January 17), the Hallex Mill sewer extension (grant not received for second time, project at a standstill), a $10 million authorization (not appropriation) from Congressman Lawler, a $5.8 million grant for pump station updates, a DOT study for Route 6 (estimated completion December 2028), the Peek skill Sewer District I&I problem (bids received but not yet awarded), and the pending RFP for field home repairs.
Police Promotions & Swearing‑In
Chief Noble introduced and swore in five officers:
- Officer Vincent Giordano – hired November 2024, NYPD veteran, oath taken by Town Clerk Diana Quast, badge pinned by his wife Gina.
- Sergeant Michael Veroso – NYPD veteran, Medal of Valor recipient, life‑saving award, oath and badge pinning.
- Detective Sergeant Matthew Rassiopo – U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Yorktown native, drug recognition expert, oath and badge pinning.
- Lieutenant Samuel Sanson – scored #1 in Westchester County on lieutenant’s exam, will oversee body‑worn camera program and school resource officers.
- Lieutenant Mark Rapasarda – 26 years of service, NYPD and Poughkeepsie PD veteran, now Patrol Division Commander. Chief Noble praised the department’s low use‑of‑force and zero deadly force incidents, and announced the March 13th Captain Kenneth Scroy Act of Kindness Day fundraiser for United for the Troops and Alliance for Safe Kids.
Eagle Scout Project Presentation
Kelly Griffiths of Troop 164 (first fully co‑ed troop in the region) presented her Eagle Scout project: a self‑guided audio tour of the Yorktown Museum using QR codes. The tour includes adult and children’s narrations, recorded by scouts and volunteers, making the museum more accessible. The board adopted a proclamation recognizing her achievement.
Proclamations
- Black History Month – read by Councilwoman Siegel, proclaiming February 2025 as Black History Month in Yorktown.
- Heart Health Month – read by Deputy Supervisor, recognizing February as Heart Health Month and February 7 as National Wear Red Day.
- Alice E. Roker Archives and Records Center – the board unanimously voted to name the town’s Archives and Records Center after former Town Clerk/Supervisor Alice Roker, honoring her 30+ years of service. A formal ceremony will be held later.
Personnel Resolutions
The board approved the following:
- Appointment of Robert Biagi to the Heritage Preservation Commission (term expiring October 31, 2028).
- Increase in hours for part‑time intermediate clerk Anna Maria Mandara from 24 to 30 hours per week, effective February 10, 2025, to support museum programs for children with disabilities.
- Appointment of David T. Nickershere as Motor Equipment Operator in the Water Department (salary $60,495/year, effective February 10, 2025).
- Acceptance of resignations from Helen Lynch (museum clerk), Fred Amarosa (highway operator), and retirement of Michael Carducci (sewer maintenance foreman, effective March 24, 2025).
Discussion Items
- Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Law – The board discussed a proposed local law to ban Tier‑2 (large‑scale) battery storage systems (over 80 kWh) and regulate Tier‑1 (≤80 kWh) via building permits. Councilwoman Siegel raised concerns about redundant language and suggested simplifying the law. The board voted to refer the draft to planning, zoning, building departments, and the county for comment, with a 5‑0 vote.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Gregory Krautsov (Yorktown Taxpayers Subsidy Committee) spoke about prion disease in the water supply, claiming three deaths, and asked the town to investigate. The supervisor responded that the town cannot validate the claims and suggested federal agencies address the issue.
- Mark Lieberman (Wall Street) requested moving public comment earlier in the agenda and offered a more comprehensive Black History Month proclamation. The supervisor thanked him and noted that proclamations vary by year.
- Howard Gould (Yorktown Heights) opposed lithium batteries due to fire danger, questioned the lifespan of solar panels and bond costs, and opposed fluoride in water. The supervisor noted his concerns.
- Michael Hickens (Yorktown resident) thanked the board for recognizing Black History Month but pointed out that the hometown heroes banners on lampposts do not include any African American veterans. He urged more representation. Councilwoman Siegel and others discussed the banner program (family‑purchased) and noted that at least one African American veteran (Ronald Brockett) was represented. The supervisor offered to help families sponsor banners.
- Sarah Wilson (Yorktown Heights) thanked the board for Black History Month and highlighted the John C. Hart Library’s programs. She also questioned the cost of a water meter base station transmitter ($127,336) after a previous $49,000 authorization. The supervisor explained that the new amount includes the pole and installation; he will follow up with the water department.
- Dan Strauss (58‑year resident) praised the highway, parks, and refuse departments, asked about bike rack storage, traffic flow on Route 6, and overnight parking at the mall. The supervisor responded that the bike rack issue is being addressed, the DOT controls Route 6, and the mall’s parking is a private matter.
- Larry Killian (Yorktown Heights) argued that 485‑B tax abatements reduce existing commercial property values and increase tax certs, citing the school district’s $12.6 million in pending certs. The supervisor provided data on 485‑B benefits: projected town taxes of $1.07 million over 11 years, with $722,412 in improvements taxes collected, and noted intangible benefits like jobs and revitalization.
- Michael Beaks (Yorktown resident) supported prioritizing safety in energy storage but urged keeping a placeholder for future safe technologies. He also praised Alice Roker’s friendliness when he moved to town.
Key Outcomes
- Votes (all passed unless noted):
- Extended broadcasting services contract with Carrie Vigilante ($550/month for 2025).
- Approved fees for Tom Sangiovanni for recording services (town board $250, planning board $250, zoning board $225, etc.).
- Authorized agreement with Alliance for Safe Kids ($20,000 town contribution, plus $40,000 county).
- Approved use of community center for Dancers Against Cancer fundraiser (waived fee).
- Authorized town clerk and deputy clerk to attend NYS Town Clerks Conference (April 27‑30, 2025).
- Renewed commercial garbage licenses for CRP Sanitation and Oak Ridge Hauling.
- Authorized bids for boiler maintenance and UV lamp replacements at water pollution control plant.
- Authorized bids for Route 118/Underhill Avenue intersection improvements and traffic signal upgrades.
- Released erosion control bond for Darty (1225 Park Lane, $500).
- Approved budget transfers for workers’ compensation, highway salt, parks equipment, and other items.
- Authorized purchase of a 2025 Ford F‑550 truck for Parks Department ($99,773) and sale of obsolete equipment.
- Approved Transpo Group review of traffic study for 3000 Navajo Road project ($6,090, reimbursed by applicant).
- Purchase of M400 B2 base station transmitter for water department ($127,336) – passed 4‑1 (Councilwoman Siegel voted no, citing cost concerns).
- Referrals: The proposed battery energy storage law was sent to planning, zoning, building, and Westchester County for review.
- Next Steps: The board will revisit the battery storage law after receiving comments; the next meeting will be a work session (no meeting on February 11 due to special election).
Meeting Transcript
Good good evening, everyone. Welcome to the town board meeting of February 4th, 2025. If our chief of police could uh send in the colors, and if we could all rise okay, and if you could join us for the Pledge of Allegiance, uh Lieutenant Graham, could you please start us? Welcome back. To the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God individual with liberty and justice for all. Okay, if we could remain standing for a moment of silence. Um we lost our first Holocaust remembrance speaker, uh Sam Matzah, uh about uh two weeks ago now. Um we also lost, I found out one of our uh longtime conservation board members, uh James Patrick Francois, um was a very uh very knowledgeable uh man and and uh and uh uh did a lot of a lot for our community uh with the conservation board. Uh and I just learned of the passing Saturday of a Yorktown resident Christopher Katz, who is a Capitol Police recruit and U.S. Army reservist who was killed in an automobile accident in Georgia over the weekend uh at the age of 22 years of age. Um just uh very tragic. Um and also uh special prayer and thoughts towards Alice Roker, who has been uh ill, and uh you know we we pray for her. Amen. Thank you. Okay, we'll start with introductions to my right. Good evening, Diana Quas. Town clerk. Luciana Howey, Councilwoman. Supervisor Red Lacterman, Deputy Supervisor Sergio Esposito, Councilman Patrick Murphy, Councilwoman Susan Siegel. Uh Town Attorney Adam Rodriguez. Okay. Um just report for the to the town. I wanted to share a few uh a few of the events I had gone to uh over the past uh weekend. Um and we're gonna talk about something we did during the week, which I won't go into great detail with because we're gonna be having a presentation on that later. Um but uh this past Saturday was Eagle Fest uh put on by Tea Town at Croton Point. Uh it was uh it was really uh an amazing uh uh presentation. They had a show with Birds of Prey, they had uh places you could go and and watch the Eagles, and it was some great learning opportunities and uh really a very, very educational day, to say the least. Uh they had hundreds and hundreds of people, probably in the thousands, to be honest with you. They they were coming in from down in the city, all over the area, and I would recommend anyone in the area. Tea Town is like a little hidden gem, and a lot of learning, a lot of nature, they have camps. Uh, we're probably gonna have them come in and talk on one of the supervisor shows. So there's some great uh opportunities to uh to uh educate and have some things for your kids to do. Uh uh. After that, uh there was a grand opening at Art and Soul, which is in the brick building by the diner, uh, which is uh a art class studio, and uh very, very nice uh presentation there that he did wonderful things with the site, and just part of the arts and culture that that uh Yorktown's trying to build upon. them come in and talk on one of the supervisor shows so the there's some great uh opportunities to uh to uh educate and have some things for your kids to do uh uh after that uh there was a grand opening at art and soul which is in the brick building by the diner uh which is uh a art class slash studio and uh very very nice uh presentation there that he did wonderful things with the site and just part of the arts and culture that that uh Yorktown's trying to build upon so if you get a chance stop by there say hello uh very nice place on Sunday I got the uh honor of being invited to participate in the judge james reit's vision breakfast which happens in Mayapack at one of the shoals there and uh it's religious and community leaders who get together they talk about the vision uh that they have and and where they want to go and it's a great opportunity to exchange ideas uh so it was a very nice breakfast uh there were quite a few Yorktowners in the room uh that belong to the temple there and uh it was uh it was really a a great uh time and later uh one of the things that I uh enjoy going to every year as we talk about the sacrifice of our servicemen and and and hold them in our hearts uh the American Legion post 1009 the first weekend of of the first Sunday of every year they put on um the of uh first Sunday in February of every year they put on their uh ceremony of the four chaplains and it's to commemorate four chaplains who after the uh US TA no I'm sorry US A T Dorchester got struck by a torpedo excuse me they uh gave up their life vests for other soldiers uh so they could survive and they went down with the ship uh arm in arm so uh a very uh very powerful service that they always do right loop um I think you got the covered and I'm gonna pass it back to Sergio to tell us about all the fun stuff that's going on in town nice to see everyone today no later okay uh good evening everybody um so we did uh we did honor um uh boy scout troop uh 164 and 5164 um the other day um and uh it was uh Brennan Ashling Rosario Henry Lazo Rankin Devin Anthony Tudos Mario Di Paolo Gooley and Mark uh Diacutis all uh made eagle uh very very powerful very uh very proud of them but I told them I said the town's proud of you um your parents are proud of you the people that should be proud of you the most is yourself uh for such a monumental uh accomplishment so congratulations to uh to them um I do want to say that we have uh quite a bit of um of uh uh stores and activity coming in this let me grab my post here um so as uh as a supervisor mentioned art and soul just opened really great place uh a lot of a lot of beautiful art and um I believe Rita is uh is capturing the essence of of women in her in her imagery so it's very nice uh we have five below their grand opening is now going to be when is it 14th it's gonna be uh February 14th they are head to egg open for business right now they they did a soft opening uh they're trying to uh um to iron out the kinks uh they got a lot of people in there to help uh help them iron out the kinks so they are open but their official grand opening is going to be the 14th uh Michael's is tentatively going to be opening sometime in March um and uh the legendary Miragios Italian restaurant family style restaurant uh that many of us who lived in Yorktown for so many years had our uh um baptisms and communions and I I think my daughter's uh baptism was there uh anyway uh the original owner par is uh we met him today um he's in great shape he's doing well and uh they're in the process of opening up and I think they're looking at now mid-March mid to late March mid to late March uh the place looks absolutely beautiful they uh they they've they they're doing quite a uh a great job uh people have been asking us about sport time pickleball sport time pickleball will will probably be open late August of this year uh early fall uh they're shooting for late August um the uh Dunkin' donuts on 202 they were uh originally across the street in the BJ's parking lot they're moving across the street their build out uh their construction has commenced uh we don't have a uh grand opening date for them yet he's looking for June he's looking for what June he's looking for June okay um and then we we're we're actually going to have uh two uh uh uh Spanish style uh restaurants coming one is going to be Latin fusion uh one is going to be I think Mexican right Mexican's up uh what's it called El Nancho I'm not sure what the name is but they're coming to the the the heights area so that's exciting we also have a ramen noodle uh place coming we also have a yeah and we also have a dumpling place uh coming the triangle time within pizza people ask why so many pizza shops we're trying to change it up um the uh the acme in the triangle shopping center is is going for a full interior remodel uh coming soon so uh they they're uh they're they're pouring quite a uh a few bucks into into the remodel and they're really modernizing and upgrading everything so it's gonna be wonderful um the triangle shopping center um they have the signs up you may have seen them that they're reimagining the site well uh they're looking People ask why so many pizza shops. We're trying to change it up. Um the uh the acme in the triangle shopping center is is going for a full interior remodel uh coming soon. So uh they're uh they're they're pouring quite a uh a few bucks into into the remodel and they're really modernizing and upgrading everything, so it's gonna be wonderful. Um the Triangle Shopping Center, um, they have the signs up. You may have seen them that they're reimagining the site. Well, uh they're looking to start uh construction and start uh reimagining the site sometime in March. Um so that's coming, and I know that there are a lot of um uh national retailers that are are uh knocking at their at their front steps at their door front door uh that want to get in, but they're waiting for um the waiting for them to reimagine it and and upgrade it. Everybody wants in to want to move into the new places, so they're making it new. Um and we talked about uh we one last thing that's a big uh big thing that everybody keeps talking about is the Turkles building. Um the Turco Turkos building is uh going to they've completely gutted it already, um, and they are going to divide it into three separate spaces. Um, and they have actually two of the spaces which are about 10,000 square feet each. Um they already have letters of intent out uh to some retailers, and the hope we're hoping we uh we introduce them to a restaurant tour uh for the third space, which would be about 7,000 square feet again, all tentative, um, but uh all very exciting. We've got a lot of stuff going on. Um you also have guiding eyes for the blind that's that's that's putting up their new site.
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