OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Yorktown Town Board Work Session – December 9, 2025

Town Board — Tuesday, December 9, 2025
BodyYorktown, New York
SessionTown Board
DateTuesday, December 9, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 25:11

Transcript — Verbatim
0:09

Good evening and welcome to the December 9th, 2025 work session.

0:14

If we could rise for the uh Pledge of Allegiance.

0:18

Luciana.

0:20

Thank you.

0:20

I Pledge of Legends.

0:22

To the flag of the United States of America.

0:25

And to the Republic for which it stands.

0:28

One nation under God.

0:31

Liberty and justice for all.

0:33

And a moment of silence as we remember our military, our first responders, uh, and all of those who keep us safe every day.

0:46

Thank you.

0:47

Amen.

0:51

Okay, we'll start with a discussion regarding a letter of support to Governor Hochel regarding EMS services not counting towards the tax cap.

1:00

Susan, thank you for sending that around.

1:03

Basically, there is a bill that is uh I think the governor it's waiting for the governor to sign, hopefully.

1:11

Yeah, I sent an email to her office today to find out whether she signed it or not, signed it or vetoed it because there was a press release that she had signed 45 bills, but I couldn't get the information back.

1:22

So we'll uh go on the assumption that it's still pending.

1:26

Sure.

1:27

So um Adam, uh can you draw something up for us if the board so sees fit?

1:33

Is a sample.

1:34

Do what?

1:35

Support the legislation.

1:36

So support the legislation to uh remove EMS tax from the tax cap.

1:43

So it would be its own separate uh tax.

1:46

Exactly.

1:47

And I'll send you the link as a sample letter.

1:51

Whatever.

1:51

I can mention that, yes.

1:53

All right.

1:54

So um can I have a motion?

1:56

Motion.

1:57

Second.

1:59

Actually, let's Susan make the motion since she sent it around if you don't mind, and you can have a second.

2:03

Sure.

2:04

Uh all in favor?

2:05

Aye.

2:05

Aye.

2:06

Aye.

2:07

I guess Sergio abstains.

2:11

You can use proxy.

2:13

Okay.

2:14

Said aye.

2:15

All right.

2:15

Also, from a discussion point of view, I know I sent it around a little late.

2:20

Unfortunately, it got back to me late.

2:21

There were some legal questions that I wanted definitive answers on regarding uh the changes to the solar law.

2:29

I uh I think that it makes it uh enough of a change that we need to re-notice and do the whole the whole spectrum on it and have another public hearing.

2:43

Uh Adam, can you go over the changes uh that that we were going to propose on the last version?

2:51

Sure.

2:51

I mean the they're simple and they're really just clarifications and and you know.

3:00

Right.

3:01

But I think that's honing in on some things, right?

3:03

I think we have a more definitive uh a more definitive definition for the uh when you're when you have that overlook when when you're yeah, so now if the vertical elevation rises 50 feet or greater in the horizontal distance from uh the 150 feet setback requirement uh to a hundred feet behind the property line, beyond the property line, the required setback will increase by a factor of two.

3:28

And the planning board can increase the minimum setback if they determine it necessary to achieve the most effective visual screening or buffering.

3:34

So it's gonna give the planning board some discretion also to increase the setback.

3:38

Uh we made a change to the mature screening from fully mature to substantially mature screening.

3:43

Uh we made clear that the deed restriction for the projects that might be grandfathered in would not prevent any development on the land ad infinitum, but would only prohibit the creation and construction, installation, and development of battery energy storage systems.

3:58

Uh and we also changed the language of the bond to a to an 8020 uh 8020, 80 percent bond and 20 percent cash.

4:11

80 percent performance bond and 20 percent cash bond.

4:14

Uh now we uh I thought that on the last version it was sub uh what it was uh reasonably mature.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Veterans Affairs██████████████████████████26%
Procedural██████████████14%
Historic Preservation██████████████14%
Emergency Services Planning████████████12%
Personnel Matters████████████12%
Solar Power Generation████████8%
Fiscal Sustainability████████8%
Community Engagement██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Yorktown Town Board Work Session – December 9, 2025

This evening work session of the Yorktown Town Board covered a letter of support for EMS tax-cap legislation, proposed changes to the solar law, multiple proclamations, routine personnel and financial resolutions, and a separate vote to fund a Revolutionary War monument. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence.

Consent Calendar

  • EMS Tax Cap Letter of Support: The board unanimously approved drafting a letter to Governor Hochul supporting legislation that would remove EMS services from the state property tax cap, allowing a separate EMS tax. Motion by Susan, seconded, all ayes (Sergio initially abstained but later voted aye via proxy).
  • Vacation Carryover Resolutions: Approved carryover of accrued 2025 vacation time into 2026 for three employees: Alison Egan (35 hours), Serafina Bravo (105 hours), and Elena Penagi (42 hours). Motion carried.
  • Personnel Actions: Approved title change for David Nicoshier from motor equipment operator to water maintenance worker; accepted resignation of Jonathan Stock (laborer, Sewer Department); and authorized vacation carryover for one additional employee (not specified). All passed.
  • Library Agreements: Authorized the town supervisor to sign a two-year agreement with Automated Control Logic for 24-hour computer monitoring of the library HVAC system, and an agreement with 4D Designs and Decorating for renovation work at the library. Approved.
  • Bond and Fund Balance Releases: Released $7.10 for environmental review of Guiding Eyes for the Blind facility; $90 for Dorchester Glen subdivision; $7,500 cash bond to Oster Yorktown Properties LLC for Yorktown Green Shopping Center; $0 amounts for landscape bond at Staples Plaza, erosion control bond at Chestnut Court, and erosion control bond at Blackberry Lane. All approved.
  • Payroll Software Agreement: Authorized the supervisor to sign a revised agreement with ADP Inc. for payroll software services, switching to the Workforce Mo platform at no additional cost, with a new four-year term. Approved.
  • Insurance Coverage 2026: Authorized the supervisor to sign an agreement with Arthur J. Gallagher & Company for 2026 insurance coverage. Discussion noted that insurance policy numbers were received after the budget adoption; the board agreed to explore adjusting the policy term to align with the budget cycle. Motion carried.
  • Police Vehicle Budget Transfer: Approved budget transfers for police department vehicle purchases. Motion carried.

Discussion Items

  • Proposed Solar Law Amendments: The board discussed proposed clarifications to Chapter 300 (Zoning) regarding solar power generation systems and battery energy storage. Key changes include:
    • If vertical elevation of a solar system rises 50 feet or more, the horizontal setback from the 150-foot property line requirement increases to 100 feet behind the property line, with the setback doubling. The planning board may further increase the setback for visual screening.
    • Screening language changed from "fully mature" to "substantially mature".
    • Deed restrictions on grandfathered projects will only prohibit future battery energy storage systems, not all development.
    • Bond requirement changed to 80% performance bond and 20% cash bond.
    • Supervisor Lacerman opposed immediate referral, arguing that incoming board members should have input and that a new public hearing would be delayed six to seven weeks. The board voted to refer the revised law to the zoning board and appropriate agencies for review, with Supervisor Lacerman as the only opposing vote (motion and second; all others aye).
  • Monument for Revolutionary War Soldiers: The board separately considered and approved a $14,922 granite monument to commemorate Revolutionary War soldiers from the town of Yorktown (formerly Hanover). Supervisor Lacerman noted that the monument is separate from the upcoming 250th anniversary celebration activities and that he will seek board support for a Civil War monument next year. The board voted in favor (motion, second, all ayes including Susan).
  • 250th Anniversary Celebration Coordination: Brief discussion that a meeting will be held in January to prioritize projects for the 250th celebration, identifying which already have funding. Board members expressed commitment and noted ongoing planning.

Proclamations

  • Wreath Across America Day (December 13, 2025): Proclamation honoring the national nonprofit that coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at veterans’ cemeteries. Encouraged residents to donate wreaths.
  • National Guard Day (December 13, 2025): Proclamation recognizing the 389th birthday of the National Guard (founded December 13, 1636, by the Massachusetts Bay Colony). Corrected earlier typo indicating 389th anniversary.
  • Space Force Day (December 13, 2025): Proclamation marking the birthday of the United States Space Force (established December 20, 2019). All proclamations were read and approved.

Key Outcomes

  • EMS Tax Cap Letter: Unanimous approval to draft and send a letter supporting state legislation to exclude EMS taxes from the property tax cap.
  • Solar Law Referral: Board voted 4-1 (Supervisor Lacerman opposed) to refer the revised solar law to relevant boards and agencies, with a new public hearing expected in January.
  • Monument Purchase: Approved $14,922 expenditure for a granite monument honoring Revolutionary War soldiers.
  • Routine Resolutions: All consent calendar items passed without opposition.
  • Adjournment: Meeting adjourned after announcements about upcoming holiday events: Shrub Oak Christmas tree lighting (December 12 at 6:30 pm at John C. Hart Memorial Library) and Menorah lighting (December 14 at 3:30 pm).

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the December 9th, 2025 work session. If we could rise for the uh Pledge of Allegiance. Luciana. Thank you. I Pledge of Legends. To the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God. Liberty and justice for all. And a moment of silence as we remember our military, our first responders, uh, and all of those who keep us safe every day. Thank you. Amen. Okay, we'll start with a discussion regarding a letter of support to Governor Hochel regarding EMS services not counting towards the tax cap. Susan, thank you for sending that around. Basically, there is a bill that is uh I think the governor it's waiting for the governor to sign, hopefully. Yeah, I sent an email to her office today to find out whether she signed it or not, signed it or vetoed it because there was a press release that she had signed 45 bills, but I couldn't get the information back. So we'll uh go on the assumption that it's still pending. Sure. So um Adam, uh can you draw something up for us if the board so sees fit? Is a sample. Do what? Support the legislation. So support the legislation to uh remove EMS tax from the tax cap. So it would be its own separate uh tax. Exactly. And I'll send you the link as a sample letter. Whatever. I can mention that, yes. All right. So um can I have a motion? Motion. Second. Actually, let's Susan make the motion since she sent it around if you don't mind, and you can have a second. Sure. Uh all in favor? Aye. Aye. Aye. I guess Sergio abstains. You can use proxy. Okay. Said aye. All right. Also, from a discussion point of view, I know I sent it around a little late. Unfortunately, it got back to me late. There were some legal questions that I wanted definitive answers on regarding uh the changes to the solar law. I uh I think that it makes it uh enough of a change that we need to re-notice and do the whole the whole spectrum on it and have another public hearing. Uh Adam, can you go over the changes uh that that we were going to propose on the last version? Sure. I mean the they're simple and they're really just clarifications and and you know.

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