Yorktown Town Board Meeting - September 16, 2025: Infrastructure, Community Programs, and Nuclear Power Debate
Yorktown Town Board Meeting - September 16, 2025
The Yorktown Town Board met on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at 12:30 PM (session) for a regular meeting covering a wide range of topics including road and sewer infrastructure updates, public safety, community events, education on anti-Semitism, online permit applications, and a heated public discussion on the potential reopening of Indian Point nuclear plant. The meeting also featured presentations from youth activists, a nonprofit director, and the building department.
Consent Calendar
- [No consent calendar items were identified as such; multiple resolutions were passed later in the meeting.]
Public Comments & Testimony
- Alan Gilbert, former town judge and supervisor, expressed strong support for Holocaust education programs, citing his father's role as a liberator of Dachau and urging the town to partner with the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center.
- Kevin Burns (co-chair, Yorktown Republican Committee) and Peter Cleary (co-chair, Yorktown Democratic Committee) jointly announced a candlelight vigil for victims of political violence on Sunday, September 21, at 7 PM at the Jack DeVito Gazebo (Veterans Memorial Field). Cleary stated that the Democratic Committee prefers faith-based leaders to speak, not elected officials, and both condemned political violence.
- Mark Lieberman, a resident, expressed strong opposition to Holtec's proposal to rebuild Indian Point nuclear plant, citing 40+ years of spent fuel, lack of a repository, high-pressure gas pipelines, and the plant's location in a populated area. He asked for a briefing on the adjacent Project Maple pipeline upgrade.
- Jake Hopstein countered, arguing that the plant's closure (coerced by Democrats) led to higher electric bills and increased fossil fuel use, and that Holtec's $10 billion refit could restore valuable 2.2 gigawatts of power.
- Joanne Wayne Silla set the record straight on the Navajo development project, stating that the Jefferson Village community (JOC) overwhelmingly opposed it (hundreds of signed petitions), that the developer misrepresented a JOC president's letter, and that traffic and flooding concerns remain unresolved. She warned residents to watch for the project's return after the November election.
Discussion Items
- Underhill Avenue Road Safety Project (Supervisor): The town is widening the road, adding three turn lanes (left, straight, right) projected to speed traffic by 80%, eliminating an angled curve, and installing new traffic lights. Work is on schedule for October 31, with temporary lights if mast arms are delayed. The town's financial contribution is fixed, with costs absorbed by Underhill Farms.
- Sewer Pump Station Upgrades (Councilwoman Siegel): The town is proceeding with upgrades to five pump stations using a $5 million grant. The consultant EDR is already working on design and specs, and the town is building up sewer fund balance to cover costs.
- Meeting Schedule and Work Sessions (Councilwoman Siegel): She requested a fourth work session in October (October 28) due to a growing list of pending issues, but the Supervisor preferred to evaluate progress after the October 7 meeting. Siegel listed urgent items including a NY Forward grant application due October 15.
- Online Building Permits (Serene Corey, Building Department): A new online portal (City Squared integrated with existing MuniCity software) will allow homeowners and contractors to apply for permits (e.g., roofing, plumbing), schedule inspections, and check property records. Expected to launch by January 2026. Will not cover complex additions or commercial buildings.
- Holocaust Education and Anti-Semitism (Millie Jasper, Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center): Proposed town-sponsored Saturday events to show the film "Testimony of the Human Spirit" (for ages 12+) and offer programs on anti-Semitism, symbols of hate, and language. The Supervisor and several board members expressed strong support and interest in partnering.
- Youth October 7 Memorial (Talia Pearson and other high school students): They announced a September 29 event at the YCC featuring a survivor and an American lone soldier. The students thanked the town for past support. The Supervisor confirmed the town will hold its own candlelight vigil later.
- Recovery and Wellness Events (Liz Talbert, Alliance for Safe Kids): Reminded of the Drug Epidemic Awareness Memorial (Sept 25 at the fence behind Town Hall) and the 11th annual Run for Recovery (Sept 27 at FDR Park). Also introduced a virtual Save a Life Wellness Fair (website/app) with free resources on substance misuse, mental health, and community connections.
- Fire Code Uniform Keys (Council discussion): A state regulation requires a common elevator key for emergency access; the town plans to update its code to clarify adoption. The fire department also recommended lowering Knox boxes for easier access.
- Solar Energy Project (Resolution debate): A resolution was passed to contract with Sustainable Westchester for technical assistance to develop an RFP for solar and energy storage on town facilities. Councilwoman Siegel sought clarity that the RFP would also cover ground-mounted and canopy solar, not just rooftop. The Supervisor agreed to include all feasible options.
Key Outcomes
- Resolutions Passed (via motion, all in favor):
- Release of erosion control bonds for two properties ($1,500 to Pietro and Gladys to Sisto; $500 to ARQ Architectures PC).
- Payment of unused time for retiring employee Donna Polito.
- Authorization for the chief of police to sign a criminal history data agreement.
- Approval of a lease for Philum Self-Defense Inc. at the Cappellini Center.
- Authorization for the Section 8 program director to sign the annual civil rights certification for FY2026.
- Retroactive approval of a $4,500 appraisal agreement with Hudson Property Advisors.
- Award of the bid for auto and small engine parts for the Water Department.
- Agreement with Sustainable Westchester for solar RFP technical assistance (with clarified scope including rooftop, ground-mount, and canopies).
- Referrals (unanimous): Six items were referred out for further review including:
- Two vacant lots on Stony Street (permit for disturbance, steep slopes concern).
- 3307 Hollywood Street (stormwater and excavation permit after variance approval).
- Shrub Oak Lake dredge spoils disposal using town parkland (the board expressed support; project will proceed with state and town permits).
- Fire District Vote: The Yorktown Heights Fire District will hold a special election on September 30 from 6-9 PM for a bond up to $30 million to build a new firehouse.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the town board meeting for September sixteenth, twenty twenty five. We will arise with a pledge of allegiance. And uh Talia, would you lead us today? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. And if we could all remain standing for a moment of silence. Uh they were told they needed to bring the road up to a certain level in order for that project to go through. Uh there were there were more improvements that could be made. The town became a partner in getting those made. Uh unfortunately, some of those costs have gone up. Fortunately, from the town point of view, those costs were absorbed and will continue to be absorbed by underhill farms. We agreed on a certain amount of price, which uh the people had told us uh their their consultant said this is what the cost of it would be broken down, and we were very adamant about you know the dollar amount that we would go with and uh uh things are moving along. Uh so the towns the town's buy-in is fixed. Yes. Yes. So what's happening right now is as you see they're digging out some trees. They did it on the other side. Uh where right now, if you've ever noticed you come down underhill. Well, first you don't have turn lanes properly, and you also don't have proper turn lanes off of one eighteen. Those are being added. They are widening the road. They will have coming down underhill, you will actually have three turn lane or three lanes. You'll have a left turn, a straight ahead, and a right turn lane, which is uh projected to speed up the traffic on that road by eighty percent uh because people won't get stuck behind uh cars waiting to make a left hand turn. Uh we will also have uh if you notice coming down, when you get to in front of town hall, the road sort of turns, it has an angle in it, and that angle will be eliminated and the road will be widened to be able to um uh handle the traffic in a safer uh uh environment. So a lot of great things. They are they started the work. We are looking to have just about everything done by and if uh Dan could correct me later when he comes back up. I believe we were uh the schedule is October 31st. So we are looking to get that uh get that road work ready to go. The only issue is uh we're waiting on the uh mast arms, but there is a solution to utilize the lights that are there at a head that will be lent to us uh to uh extend the turn lanes and uh be able to uh make it functionable even if we have to wait for those mast lights to come in. So some good things. Uh Con Ed was just m uh not Con Ed, I'm sorry, NICIG just moved the telephone or the um the electric pole over uh for that road widening. You'll see you've seen the curb cutting. So a lot of great things and uh I think that this'll make uh the underhill uh avenue in particular when you're coming off the taconic much, much safer. So very excited about that. Um I'll talk about other projects another time. I'll kick it back actually. We'll kick over to Susan. Thank you. Um kind of know by now I tend to deal with the with the issues that are not so sexy, all right. But the nitty-gritty of how this town works. So I I do have a few items. I just want to give you updates on. Um confusion about our public access chat, channel twenty, which for Verizon turned to 1313. But there's a notice that came out from Verizon uh I'm sorry, from from Optimum saying they're going back to Channel 20. B beginning channel 20. I misread it and thought it was starting on September 15th, but it's beginning September 15th on a rolling basis. So just keep on alert that if you turn into 1313 and it's not working, go back to 20, because I have no idea when when the change is being made. But it's important that you know when the public access channel is as of today, it was still 1313. Umwards are always one of my issues. Um July first, we had a uh hearing and we passed resolutions.
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