Yorktown Town Board Meeting – March 4, 2025
Yorktown Town Board Meeting – March 4, 2025
The Yorktown Town Board convened on March 4, 2025, at approximately 12:45 PM, addressing routine reports, proclamations, police awards, public comments, public hearings, and multiple resolutions. Key actions included approving tobacco and water code amendments, recognizing police and civilian achievements, and authorizing budget transfers and contracts.
Proclamations
- Women's History Month: The board proclaimed March 2025 as Women's History Month, honoring contributions of American women.
- Irish American Heritage Month: Proclaimed March 2025 as Irish American Heritage Month, acknowledging Irish immigrants and their contributions.
- Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month: Proclaimed March 2025 as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, promoting inclusion and respect.
Police Awards & Recognition
Chief Robert Noble presented several awards for acts of service in 2023 and 2024:
- Civilian Recognition Award to Elizabeth Tavares, Rich O'Caftell, Town Clerk Diana Quast, and posthumously to Supervisor Tom Diana (accepted by Donna Diana) for their role in recovering over 150 cats from a deceased couple’s residence on January 30–31, 2023.
- Excellent Police Duty Award to Officer Domenico Donati for responding to a stabbing at T Bar and Grill on August 20, 2024, providing first aid and information leading to an arrest for first-degree assault.
- Excellent Police Duty Award to Officer Colin Hoolihan and Detective James Hannigan for a narcotics investigation in August 2024, resulting in two felony charges for criminal sale of a controlled substance.
- Life Saving Award to Officer Brian Bennett (and Officer Brian Mundy) for performing CPR on a trapped accident victim on July 14, 2024, saving the individual’s life.
- Excellent Police Duty Award to Officers Gino Argiro, Michael Yule, and Detective Michael Caprio for a traffic stop on April 7, 2024, recovering a ghost gun and charging the suspect with weapon possession and resisting arrest.
- Certificate of Commendation to Officer Brandon Schmelmer and Excellent Police Duty Award to Officer Michael Campion for their response to an assault on two senior citizens on October 16, 2023, disarming a knife-wielding suspect and providing medical aid.
- Excellent Police Duty Award to Detective James Hannigan for a two-year investigation (2021–2023) linking a fentanyl overdose death to a dealer, leading to federal charges with a minimum 20-year sentence.
- The chief also reminded of Act of Kindness Day on March 16th and a beard fundraiser on March 13th for United for the Troops and Alliance for Safe Kids.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Gregory Kraftsov (Yorktown Taxpayer Subsidy Committee) presented a timeline of prion detection, alleging cover-ups by health authorities. He proposed holding Westchester County and New York State responsible. Supervisor responded that the town lacks investigative resources and suggested contacting CDC/NIH.
- Larry Killian (Yorktown Heights) argued that the 485B tax break for BJ’s gas station was unnecessary, citing BJ’s trade area analysis and lack of need for incentives. He requested a traffic study. Supervisor defended the exemption, noting landlord investment and job creation.
- Tom Dunn (Fam Jam Committee) announced the fourth annual Fam Jam on May 10, 12–8 PM, with food trucks, vendors, inflatables, and a basketball tournament. Past donations benefited numerous local organizations; this year’s primary beneficiary is Yorktown Volunteer Fire Department.
- Mark Sussman (Yorktown Heights) complained about his neighbor parking four cars daily on the front lawn, violating zoning code §300-183. He asked for code enforcement. Supervisor and attorney agreed to investigate.
- Lonnie Gilbert (former supervisor) praised continued marketing efforts via Thompson & Bender, urging balance between progress and preservation. He supported the marketing expenditure.
- Dan Strauss (58-year resident) clarified that new housing projects are market rate, not affordable. He criticized trucks parked at the mall and dog waste at Sparkle Lake, requesting action. Supervisor noted that mall parking is private property and promised to check Sparkle Lake.
- Sarah Wilson (resident) asked about the failed 6,000-gallon diesel tank: age, environmental impact, cleanup, and cost coverage. Highway Superintendent Dave Paganelli provided a detailed response (see Discussion Items).
- Anthony Pachette (Yorktown resident) requested redirection of large vehicles on Veterans Road and inquired about trucks parking on sidewalks. Supervisor suggested a weight limit and asked for specific locations.
Discussion Items
- 485B Tax Exemption: Supervisor Ed Lachterman and Councilmember Luciana Howitt defended the exemption, citing jobs, tax revenue, and revitalization. Councilwoman Susan Siegel called for a formal review, stating that filling vacancies is separate from giving tax breaks. The board agreed to reconstitute the advisory committee.
- Affordable Housing: Councilwoman Siegel noted that Yorktown repealed its affordable housing ordinance in 2016 and now sees market-rate development. She suggested revisiting an affordable housing requirement for new projects.
- Convault Tank Failure: Highway Superintendent Dave Paganelli reported that a 6,000-gallon diesel tank leaked ~3.5–4 gallons into its concrete vault, triggering DEC notification. The cause was likely bacteria from biodiesel. Cleanup cost $124,740, covering removal and replacement. No environmental impact beyond the vault; all vehicles were fueled before a storm.
- Water Meter and Rate Changes: The board discussed a new fee schedule including a 20-cent per thousand gallon surcharge for capital improvements, a $5 per billing cycle meter rental fee, and commercial/residential meter testing fees. Supervisor emphasized that electronic meters are available free to those who opt in.
Public Hearings
- Tobacco Control Law: Proposed local law restricting tobacco sales within 1,500 feet of schools, playgrounds, and places of worship. Approved unanimously.
- Water Code Amendment: Adopted to increase water rates for capital improvements, implement meter testing, and add rental fees. Approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Personnel: Granted permanent status to Lt. Mark Rapasarda and Sgts. Michael Tillestrand, John Dougherty, and Thomas Murphy (effective March 5, 2025).
- Resolutions approved:
- Architectural services with David A. Tetro Architect for cornice inspection/repair at Capolini Center ($6,500).
- Budget transfer of $124,740 for highway department tank replacement.
- Extended towing contract with Yorktown Auto Body for 12 months.
- Payout of unused time to retired employee David Dougherty ($213,010.40).
- Auction of obsolete 2012 F350 utility body (estimated $3,500).
- Traffic review by Transpo Group USA for proposed childcare facility at Route 132 and Downing.
- Stormwater control facility maintenance agreement with Marcel Pralla.
- Indemnity agreement with Lake Mohegan Mansion LLC for parkland deeded to town.
- Adopted updated master fee schedule (effective March 4, 2025), including water fees and legal review fees with asterisk clarifying initial review applies to all categories.
- Adjourned: Motion passed to close meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the uh town board meeting for March 4th, 2025. As our police uh department enters the room. All right, and if we could all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance, Lieutenant Foley, could you uh lead us? And through the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and indivisible with liberty and justice for all. And if we can remain standing for a moment of silence, as we remember those who are fighting for our freedoms and especially tonight, our first responders, as uh we will be recognizing them for the great job they do in our community, but uh we should keep them in our hearts and prayers uh every day. Thank you. Amen. Okay, introductions to my right. Good evening, Diana Quas, town clerk. Good evening, Luciana Howitt, Councilwoman. Supervisor Red Lacterman, Deputy Supervisor Sergio Esposito, Councilman Patrick Murphy. Councilwoman Club Town Attorney, town attorney Adam Rodriguez. Okay, thank you. Um report from the town. Uh you know, I I don't have a lot today. We have we have some proclamations talking about some things coming up. I just want to remind uh everyone that we have um quite a few groups working uh for our town uh and coming up our American Legion and uh as we spoke about uh our military and the Sons of the American Legion are doing a fundraiser for St. Patrick's Day uh corn beef dinner. Uh I think there was some information on that in my newsletter that you could click through if you get that. If not, it you should be able to find it on the uh town website. And um, you know, I just want to thank all of our volunteer groups. So there's a lot of work that goes into running the town, and we can't do it uh can't do it alone. And uh we've had uh a lot of people stepping up in in those different areas, our planning board, our zoning, our uh our uh parks and rec commission. So thank you all for that work. And I'm gonna just punt over to uh Luciana. I thought you would speak about the teen center and their hoop challenge. Well, do you remember what day it is? It's uh it's uh the 7th. I think it's the 14th or the 21st. All right, so we'll get we'll get that one. Well, this morning I spy and if you ever saw me play basketball, you'd know why I don't talk about it. Okay, well, they have K through th third grade, six through twelfth, and it's a way to just bring the kids together and kind of get used to being in the teen center so that they can use it as a tool to hold space for themselves, which I think is really neat. On top of that, this morning I spied my tulips fighting through the hard ground, which is you know the proof of possibility. Um Chipoli is also hosting a Brookside PTA for the elementary school in town. It's helping them do some fundraisers for books and their library and getting all of these really neat um, I call them these 3D printers where they can create their own 3D artwork. Um there is an essential service EMS petition going around that will go up to our Governor Hochel to see about what we can do to honor our first responders and support all of them and their safety. I will say that they are hiring for counselors and lifeguards, so please go on our parks and rec website and apply if you were looking for a part-time job or you have a teen home that wants to work. There is a spot on there where you can click and you'll get Marissa. She will tell you what's available as a camp counselor and also how to support the pools. That's all. Uh 6 30 for the middle school competition, 8 o'clock for the high school, and 8 30 for the adult competition for ages over 19, which I will not make. I also I forgot Sergio normally talks about the new businesses, but he was not able to make the last one. We had uh 50 plus training open. They are in the building uh right behind 7-Eleven and the diner to the side of the diner, the old uh Padovani building. And uh we welcome them. It's uh uh athl it's uh training for personal training for those 50 and over. So I think a couple of the people in the room may qualify, including myself. So pass it to Pat real quick, and then I'll uh I'll pick up after him. All right, just uh the library so yesterday started their seed exchange program. So you can go to the library, it's a great thing they do.
openpublica.com