Town Board Meeting Summary - March 11, 2025
Town Board Meeting Summary - March 11, 2025
The Yorktown Town Board held a regular meeting on March 11, 2025, starting at approximately 12:45 PM (actual start time was evening as per transcript, but agenda date is used). The meeting included presentations, discussions on accessory dwelling unit (ADU) law revisions, snow removal district reforms, large-scale solar regulations, and numerous routine resolutions. Key decisions were made on ADU law referral, snow law revision, and solar law drafting, while several contract awards and personnel actions were approved on the consent agenda.
Consent Calendar
- Awarded bid for three Ford F-550 trucks to Nelson Ford of Morristown Inc. for $370,743, with budget transfers authorized.
- Authorized release of a $500 escrow deposit for a driveway permit (Mary and Russell Seacor).
- Awarded annual maintenance and emergency on-call services for town buildings to First Heating Solutions ($28,500 annual contract, $225/hour labor).
- Authorized agreements with Labella Associates for consulting services on a new education building and a nature center renovation at the T Town project.
- Approved budget transfers for a playground at Blackberry Woods ($50,000 from Park Land Trust).
- Appointed Justin Garagna as Motor Equipment Operator in the Highway Department (effective April 7, 2025).
- Approved purchase of two 2025 Ford Hybrid Police Interceptor SUVs and installation services.
- Authorized town clerk to advertise bids for rotating contactor bearing replacement, Lake Mohegan biological treatments, and police uniform dry cleaning services.
- Approved intermunicipal agreement with Westchester County for access to criminalistics information repository.
- Authorized library budget transfer of $72,000 for an electronic perimeter access control system (partially reimbursed by $60,000 CREST grant).
- Approved bid awards for sewer CCTV inspection (Fred A. Cook Jr. Inc.) and UV lamp replacement (North American UV Inc.).
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments or testimony were recorded during the meeting.
Discussion Items
- Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Law Revisions: Community Housing Board Chair Sarah Wilson (with members Ken Belfer and Maura Gregory) presented six proposed changes to Section 300-38, including lowering minimum lot size for detached ADUs to 0.92 acres, eliminating the second-story requirement, increasing max size to 1,000 sq ft (or 40% of building), removing owner occupancy requirement for the larger unit, allowing expired permits to be reset, and providing a one-year amnesty period. Discussion covered parking, architectural compatibility, and impact on neighborhood character. Board members expressed support and concerns; Sergio requested stronger architectural controls. The board voted to refer the redline version for comment and schedule a public hearing.
- Snow Removal Districts: Judge Paganelli explained conflicting regulations and proposed repealing outdated snow district maps and clarifying that all property owners (including condo managers) are responsible for sidewalk snow/ice removal within 24 hours. The board unanimously agreed to draft a new local law and refer it out.
- Large-Scale Solar Law: A lengthy debate occurred on tier-two ground-mounted solar installations. Councilman Sergio advocated for a complete ban in residential zones, citing visual blight and preference for housing. Councilman Ed favored strict regulations (15-20 acre minimum, 50% lot coverage, 200-foot setbacks, enhanced screening) to allow some solar. Supervisor Susan proposed a floating zone as a compromise. The board agreed to have the town attorney draft a law based on the discussion (15 acres, 200-foot setback, 50% coverage, strengthened screening) and to decide later whether to grandfather pending projects (Jacob Road and Dell Avenue).
- Battery Storage Law: Discussion was deferred to a later meeting to incorporate planning board feedback and clarify regulations for existing facilities and tier-one batteries.
- Route 118 & Underhill Avenue Intersection Improvements: The board rejected the submitted bid due to unresolved costs and scope discrepancies. Councilman requested a work session to review planning board requirements and DOT mandates before re-bidding.
Key Outcomes
- ADU Law: Motion to refer the redline version for comments and schedule a public hearing passed unanimously.
- Snow Removal: Motion to direct the town attorney to draft a revised local law and refer it out passed unanimously.
- Solar Law: Motion to have the town attorney draft a new local law reflecting board discussion (15 acres, 200-foot setback, 50% coverage, etc.) and refer it out passed unanimously. Grandfathering of pending projects to be decided after receiving further information.
- Battery Storage Law: Discussion postponed to next meeting.
- Route 118 Bid: Rejected unanimously; to be addressed in a work session.
- Con Edison Rate Case: Authorized hiring of Joel R. Dictor (Dictor Law LLC) to represent the town in rate case proceedings before the Public Service Commission, with a cap of $5,000. Motion passed unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the town board meeting of uh March 11th, 2025. If we could all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Sarah, would you start us? For the flag of the United States of America and the Republic for which stands, one nation, under God, indivisible and problems. And if we could remain standing for a moment of silence, as we pray for those fighting for our freedoms, and uh also uh it looks like we are on a verge of a uh peace agreement between or at least a ceasefire between Russia and the Ukraine, and we uh we pray that that holds and and that we are able to uh move past this uh this mini war over there, and that it doesn't uh extend can we also mention the genteel family in the Mount K Pleasant district for their daughter lost her battle to um neurolastoma, and they're starting a fundraiser for kindness on behalf of Gia. Amen. Thank you. All right, normally we don't have any reports to the town, but I do know that Luciana had an important announcement, especially for our parents within the town. So I just want to let everybody know that March 18th at 9 30 a.m. sharp. So set your alarms. That is the spots for the town camp that open up. I understand how frustrating it is, so set your alarms today that alert you that on the 18th at 9.30 a.m. the spots for the town camp will go on sale. Step-by-step instructions on how to sign up can be found on our town website. So go on to the parks and rep portion of the website. That's Yorktown NY, one word, dot gov, Yorktown NY, gov slash parks and recreation, parks and recreation, one word, and general registration will only be held up to March 25th. However, as all parents know, it closes out pretty quickly. So that's all I have. Under 10 seconds. Thank you so much. Well, no, it wasn't, but that's okay. Very important aspect. All right, so we're gonna start uh with a presentation today. Uh John Bell, uh representing New Yorktown Grange. You don't talking about uh New York State Maple Weekends. Good to see you, John. Good to see you. All right. And every year, the New York State Maple syrups producers uh association puts on a maple weekend, or actually weekends, to celebrate the our heritage of maple syrup. And it is the last two weeks in March, so it's coming up really, really soon. And the Grange, Yorktown Grange, and White Oak Farm, the southernmost producer of maple syrup in New York State, get together to produce one really great maple syrup celebration. At the new um Yorktown Grange, we are having pancake breakfast, using obviously maple syrup from White Oak Farm, and bacon and sausage from Himlock Hill. It's a yummy day. Yes. Yes. And not only but not only do you have can get a breakfast there, we also have because we're the grange of animals, goats, chickens. You can have a hay ride, and it's just one really exciting outing with really delicious food. Uh really nice breakfast. And then afterwards, you can just head a little south to White Oak Farm, and you can see their sugar house. And uh they'll show a little film, and it's a really nice thing. And especially down at Wygoak, uh, not only can you have maple syrup for sale, but he has many other maple syrup products. And if you need to buy maple syrup and can't go down there, we do have maple syrup, his maple syrup also for sale at the Grange. It's a really exciting time. We really look forward to it. And we welcome all of you to come. Well, thank you very much. Thank you. Thanks, John. Just a couple questions.
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