Yorktown Town Board Meeting - February 3, 2026
Yorktown Town Board Meeting - February 3, 2026
The Yorktown Town Board held a regular meeting on February 3, 2026, beginning at approximately 7:00 PM. The meeting featured proclamations, a presentation from the Alliance for Safe Kids and the Yorktown Youth Council, public comments on various issues, and a lengthy public hearing on a proposed 130-foot telecommunications tower at 62 Granite Springs Road. The hearing was adjourned to March 3, 2026, for additional information. The board also approved several resolutions, including one opposing state legislation on battery energy storage.
Consent Calendar
- Personnel items: Accepted retirement letter from Michael Hawk (Parks Department); appointed Philip Cambriello to Laborer in Sewer Department; appointed Megan Macedona Donia to Library Trainee at John C. Hart Memorial Library; accepted resignation letter from Antonio Galvo from Parks and Recreation Commission. All approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Multiple residents spoke on the need to review the 485B tax exemption law, arguing it has not been properly evaluated and results in lost tax revenue.
- A resident urged the town to mediate a noise issue with the T Bar and Grill, requesting lower bass levels.
- Another resident called for the police commissioner to publicly address constitutional protections and Fourth Amendment concerns.
- A businessman defended 485B, saying it has incentivized business investment and improved town services.
- A resident proposed using decommissioned Indian Point emergency sirens as cell tower locations, potentially generating revenue.
Discussion Items
- 485B Tax Exemption Law Review: Board members discussed the history and impact of the 485B law. Supervisor LaClair and Councilman Murphy supported a review but noted the law has attracted businesses. Councilwoman Siegel proposed reconstituting a committee with a clear charge. Councilman Esposito expressed interest but did not commit to a committee, preferring to reappoint the existing Incentive Board. The board generally agreed on the need for a review, with some differences on the mechanism.
- T Bar and Grill Noise: Councilman Esposito reported that he has been mediating between the business and neighbors. The Planning Board is awaiting the applicant's specific plans to address the noise issue, particularly regarding bass frequencies. The town may need to update its noise ordinance and acquire appropriate monitoring equipment.
- Fourth Amendment and Policing: Supervisor LaClair noted the town does not have a police commissioner; the police board is the authority. He offered to invite the chief of police for a presentation on constitutional policing. Councilwoman Siegel, a former town judge, expressed confidence in the town's judges and police to uphold rights.
- Ambulance Services: The board announced a discussion on the financial viability of Yorktown and Mohegan Ambulance Corps would be on the next work session agenda.
Cell Tower Public Hearing (62 Granite Springs Road)
- The public hearing was opened for the proposed construction of a 130-foot telecommunications tower in a wetland buffer. Applicant's attorney Robert Gordioso (Snyder and Snyder) gave an update: they are revising plans based on comments from the Conservation Advisory Council and the town's RF consultant (Mr. Fishman), and will respond to all comments.
- Public Testimony: Over 350 residents opposed the tower via letters and petitions. Many spoke in person, raising concerns about:
- Wetland disturbance and environmental impact (protected species, tree removal of 88 trees with only 24 replacements).
- Lack of demonstrated need: no evidence of coverage gaps; FCC maps show coverage; Cityscape Master Plan recommends small cells, not a macro tower.
- Health concerns: proximity to homes (120-400 feet), studies linking RF radiation to cancer.
- Property value decreases (estimated 15-20%).
- Inadequate alternatives: small cells on existing utility poles were dismissed by the applicant but not adequately explored.
- Discrepancies in the application (multiple addresses, conflicting timelines, inaccurate EAF forms).
- Fire Commissioner's letter noted prior commitments from Homeland were not honored, resulting in costs to the fire district.
- Legal arguments: applicant (a site developer, not a carrier) has not proven a substantial service gap or that this is the least intrusive option; town code grants discretion.
- Board Discussion: Board members acknowledged the volume of new information and unanswered questions. The hearing was adjourned to March 3, 2026, to allow the applicant to provide additional documentation (including updated coverage maps, responses to concerns) and for the public to submit further comments. The board requested materials be provided at least one week in advance.
Key Outcomes
- Cell Tower Hearing: Adjourned to March 3, 2026. The applicant will submit additional information; the public may submit written comments.
- 485B Review: The board in principle supports reviewing the law. Councilwoman Siegel will prepare a resolution for a committee with a clear charge. Councilman Esposito noted the existing Incentive Board can be reappointed.
- Thompson and Bender Agreement: Approved 4-1 (Councilwoman Siegel opposed) for community branding and communication services for 2026.
- Battery Storage Legislation: The board unanimously approved a resolution opposing New York State Senate Bill S5506 and Assembly Bill A8378, which would expand state authority over energy storage citing, citing a violation of home rule.
- Other Resolutions: Approved routine resolutions for tax certiorari, Alliance for Safe Kids agreement, attendance at conference, capital project for EV charging stations, highway budget transfer for snow removal, purchase of two dump trucks, animal control agreement, and water district emergency services agreement.
The meeting adjourned shortly after midnight.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening everyone and welcome to our February 3rd, 2026 town board meeting. If we could all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Howard, as we welcome you back, why don't you lead? And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. If we could all remain standing for a moment of silence. And I'd like to add in addition to the first responders to Alex Freddie and maybe respects a hand. Thank you. So just a couple of quick things before introductions. Most likely tonight. We're talking about the public hearing. Correct. Then for and then for um when we do come to courtesy of the floor, a public comment. If you are here for the cell tower hearing, you will be able to speak at that point. I would ask you to not uh speak about that so we don't double up on that, if that's uh okay with everyone. Uh so introductions to my right. Good evening, Diana Kwas, town clerk. Good evening, Patrick Murphy, town councilman. Supervisor Red Lacterman. Uh Deputy Supervisor Sergio Esposito. Susan Siegel, councilwoman. Adam. I'm sorry. Multitasking. Uh Adam Rodriguez, town attorney. We're a full service law firm folks. And also sitting to his left is uh Doug Fishman, who was our uh actually to his right, my left, uh, who is the uh RF expert that came in. Um so I I will move quickly through my reports uh from the uh from the town supervisor. Uh I know there's been question about the master plan. As I mentioned last week, they had a meeting. The meeting happened with uh a couple of key members of our planning board along with planning and engineering. They are now devising a report to come back to us to say this is how we feel we you should address the master plan. So that is running and working, and hopefully in the next uh by the end of February we'll have those results and be able to put them on to a work session. Uh we mentioned the fire, and there were a couple things that are very important. Uh driving around in the storm, I saw quite a few fire hydrants, or I should say after the storm, uh quite a few fire hydrants buried by the snow. Uh if there is a fire hydrant on your property, it is really your responsibility to clear that. You also definitely want to because it saves precious minutes in the event of a fire. Uh my wife also pointed out that I had not checked our smoke detectors or our uh fire extinguishers when the clocks changed. So that is something that we definitely want to uh make sure you're looking at and keep your your your uh your home safe. Another safety issue, especially during snow emergencies is parking. Uh we had some incidents with parking and uh and and uh wow, I feel like I'm getting the hook off stage. You shut the lights down on me. Um we had some incidents, uh there were some ticketing uh instances, and people were surprised, uh, even though we had been on air quite a bit uh with that, and it's on the website. your your uh your home safe another safety issue especially during snow emergencies is parking uh we had some incidents with parking and uh and and uh wow feel like I'm getting the hook off stage to shut the lights down on me um uh we had some incidents so there were some ticketing uh instances and people were surprised uh even though we had been on air quite a bit uh with that and it's on the website please remember there is no overnight parking in the town of Yorktown with the exception of a couple of places that are zoned out in the in the town code uh but if you're not sure please do not park overnight on the street and when there is a snow emergency please do not park on the street it creates an unsafe situation as they come and plow and then uh you know god forbid you need those emergency services and they can't get through because of a car parked uh parked there so please be very careful and on a brighter note uh I just uh when we talk about safety first responders medical all that uh I was made aware that it is the 10 year anniversary of AFC urgent care and they were uh they were here with us during COVID and really did a great job uh for the town and and for the residents around the area uh by BJ that's one by BJ so happy anniversary it's also owned by a Yorktown resident Dr. Gupta so thank you uh AFC urgent care I'll make it quick it looks like we're uh in for a long night uh me personally I'm good to be back uh I had a little medical procedure you know on the 13th and uh it's just good to be back um the library please go to their website it's gonna be Black History Month all month long there so please just check out the library's website for all the activities crafts everything that goes on there and uh it's good to be back thanks uh so our good yep good evening everybody good to see everybody here tonight um so uh just uh some quick stuff about our our uh our youth and and our our high school teams the Yorktown high school cheer team uh went to the states um and they placed five fifth out of I think eighty four um eighty four teams um fifth in the nation so um really cool uh they did a great job let's give them a round of applause yeah there was also a great showing from the Panis cheer team the Lakeland Panis Rebels wrestling and uh the Yorktown high school wrestling team they are all just excelling and uh the Yorktown high school basketball the varsity team is 13 and one so uh really good to watch all uh all of our kids succeed and and just the many wonderful programs that we have here in Yorktown uh that I think some of us take for granted um folks I know uh this is a contentious issue I can tell you that uh the cell tower issue um I can tell you that I have made no decisions on the matter um and I'm laboring over uh uh all of the information that we're getting we are taking everything into account but please I ask all of you when you come up and speak keep your comments directed to the cell towers and not any of us personally because we are uh citizens of Yorktown just like you guys are and we have uh families just like you guys do and we appreciate your respect just like we give you thank you so much um an issue came up at the December hearing um on on the cell tower and it's also come up in some of the emails that have been sent to town board members and that's on who gets notified about these public hearings. So I would just like to clarify that we have a public notification law in Yorktown the adjacent properties get notified and also if it's across the street you get notified but that's the extent of it except that the town board or if it the issue is before the planning board they can expand they can they can expand that at the at their discretion. So that's why you didn't get notified on a personal note I just like to add that this law dates back to 1978 when I was involved with the League of Women Voters and we were the ones that pushed for notification law it was the first time in Yorktown and it still is an issue and if we want to modify that issue at this well we should do that. But you can't so if you're not the adjacent property owner you are not going to get notified and not every action of the town board for example the the alienation action that does the law does not require that to have a notification not everything does. The only way to know what's happening at the town board or or possibly at the planning board and the zoning board is to look at the agendas for these meetings and you can do that by subscribing to get the agendas if you go to the town website you go to the leadership and government link at the top of the page and then from there you go to news and public and public notices. And then you can subscribe and you can subscribe to which board you want the town board the planning board or the zoning board.
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