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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Yorktown Town Board Meeting – July 7, 2026

Town Board — Tuesday, July 7, 2026

BodyYorktown, New York

SessionTown Board

DateTuesday, July 7, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:47:10

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0:20

Good evening and welcome to the July 7th, 2026 uh board meeting.

0:25

If we could all rise for the na the uh Pledge of Allegiance.

0:32

If uh my head of recreation uh commission, Matt Talbert to lead us.

0:36

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republicans with liberty and justice of it all.

0:49

Okay, and if we could uh have a moment of silence.

0:51

Uh I know we've had had it before for her, but yesterday would have been uh Sheridan Gorman's 19th birthday.

0:58

Uh so if we could remember her, pray for her, uh and also give the courage to her parents for the fight that they've been uh holding to make sure that this never happens again.

1:19

Thank you.

1:25

We'll start with uh introductions to my right.

1:28

Good evening, Diana Quas, town clerk.

1:31

Good evening, Patrick Murphy, town councilman.

1:33

Supervisor Ed Lacterman, Deputy Supervisor Sergio Esposito, Councilwoman, Susan Siegel, and Long Gilbert Councilman.

1:41

Okay.

1:42

Uh gonna keep my uh report to the town a little brief today.

1:47

Uh first uh, you know, congratulate the Lions on a great first concert on uh June 28th with Showtime uh dance band, a Motown band.

1:56

They uh they had a fantastic uh showing and what a great band.

2:00

Next one coming up is this Sunday, the 12th, and it's um Danny V's 52nd Street, which is Billy Joel cover band, and they are amazing as well.

2:11

Um we have uh more of our USA 250 events coming up.

2:18

Uh the next one will be actually held at Lake Day.

2:23

And that is uh what do you know about Rashambo?

2:28

And that is July 11th, 2026 at 12 noon, and that will be occurring at the um Mohegan Highlands Beach at 3365 Mohegan Avenue in Mohegan Lake.

2:42

Uh then after that, towards the end of the month, uh we are co-hosting a online uh uh lecture, meet Benjamin Franklin, or as I used to call him back in school, Benny.

2:56

Uh he's uh actually one of my favorite uh founding fathers.

3:01

So uh that is on July 27th, uh 7 to 8 p.m.

3:05

It's on a Monday at the at the library, and uh it's uh it is a virtual event, but uh from from the lecturer, but a great uh uh great program.

3:17

And then uh just a quick storm update, uh about six and a half inches of rain fell after the uh the typhoons on Saturday.

3:27

Uh we started with about 1800, actually a little more than 1800 out of power.

3:34

Uh they kept getting the power on and finding more problems.

3:37

Uh but by Monday afternoon they had everything pretty much up and running just in time for some trees to come down and knock down some other things, but uh uh all of the secondary damage for the most part was done on the con Edison side of town, where the first one was primarily NICIG.

3:59

And uh as of uh earlier today, I believe it was three homes or four homes down on the con ed side, everything is back up on NICIG, and I believe the ones uh after talking with our our governmental representatives who uh the solo houses are you know that are down or trees taking out their particular wires and they're working on getting them back.

4:24

So I will uh congr say thank you to our police department, our highway department.

4:30

Uh we had our uh first responders were taxed quite a bit.

4:36

Uh dry ice.

4:38

Yep.

4:38

Oh, we had our dry ice.

4:40

Uh thank you, Sergio and Dave for getting that.

4:43

Uh which was just amazing to get that for the people that needed it.

4:47

We have um thank you.

4:52

No, no, I don't need that.

4:53

I need this, which I didn't know.

4:55

I wanted to thank a couple of residents also, because we had a tree fall in the middle of uh Hanover that blocked it.

5:01

Actually, it was a few trees that came down.

5:04

And uh there was some gentlemans who live live right there, Brandon, Nakhtali, and Ronnie, and they got they basically went home, grab some chainsaws, cut up the trees, and got a lane open on Hanover.

5:16

Uh just you know, great to see that community spirit.

5:20

Um and Con Ed and Isig did fantastic work in uh they were very responsive.

5:26

I was on the phone with them around the clock.

5:29

Uh and uh a big shout out to our new chief of police, Justin Foley, uh was in constant communication with him uh the night of that Saturday night into Sunday morning.

5:42

I was at PD.

5:44

We were liaisoning with our new with uh Sergeant Curtin, uh uh Chief Foley, Captain Rapasardo, we were all in constant communication, and it really helped uh help to make things happen because I think that Con Edison and Nice had realized hey they're prepared and they're ready to go.

6:04

And Dave was getting his his crews out to cut up the trees, so once again, great work.

6:10

And that's it for me.

6:13

All right.

6:14

We'll go down to Lonnie.

6:16

I'll keep my uh remarks brief as well.

6:19

Um again, a shout out to our highway department for these storms.

6:24

Um it used to be uh rarity.

6:28

Uh you know, a couple of times a year.

6:31

Now it seems like every season we're facing new types of uh uh weather events and um and I just uh give total credit to our crews uh in terms of their uh action and helping us uh make it through.

6:48

Uh and again, actually uh to to piggyback on that.

6:53

I also welcome uh Chief Ole to his first uh uh week in service baptized by fire or lightning, so to speak.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Technology and Innovation███████████████████████23%

Transportation Safety██████████████████18%

Public Engagement██████████████14%

Procedural████████8%

Parks and Recreation███████7%

Community Engagement███████7%

Historic Preservation███████7%

Public Safety█████5%

Water And Wastewater Management█████5%

Summary of Proceedings

Yorktown Town Board Meeting – July 7, 2026

The Yorktown Town Board met on the evening of July 7, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. (EDT) to conduct a regular meeting. The agenda included presentations on a proposed interactive kiosk system and a memorial for Sheridan Gorman, a public hearing on a moratorium for wireless telecommunication facilities, and numerous administrative resolutions. Several residents raised concerns about traffic safety, e‑bike regulation, and the need for a consistent memorial policy. The board voted to approve the Sheridan Gorman memorial and to adopt the moratorium on new wireless facilities.

Consent Calendar

The board approved a series of resolutions by a single vote, including personnel appointments (John Foley as laborer in the sewer department, Robin Steinberg as permanent director of planning, police officer Devin Gregorio to detective, Brandon Schmelmer as police sergeant), acceptance of a retirement and a resignation, and numerous administrative items (building permit refund, vehicle scrapping, change orders, bid awards, budget transfers, agreements for IT services, police software, water district changes, stormwater permits, and a justice court HVAC installation).

Public Comments & Testimony

Daniel Lufkritz (resident of 2057 LeVoy Court) requested permanent traffic calming on Baldwin Road, citing speeds of 40–60 mph in a 30 mph zone, endangering pedestrians and cyclists.
Karen Erickson (resident of Granite Springs Road) urged a five‑ton weight limit for the entire length of Granite Springs Road to keep tractor‑trailers away from residential neighborhoods, noting a near‑miss with an 18‑wheeler in December 2025.
Jake Hopstein commented on memorialization and e‑bikes, calling for enforcement of existing laws and stronger penalties.
Sarah Wilson (resident) noted 49 traffic fatalities in Yorktown over 15 years and questioned the selection of a vendor for a police mapping software contract.
Wendy Frank reiterated the need for a five‑ton limit on Granite Springs Road and requested improved responsiveness from the town to resident service requests.
Ken Belfer (Mohegan Lake) promoted the upcoming Lake Day (July 11, 2026) and provided updates on lake water quality.
Ann Mirchandani advocated for a balanced approach to e‑bike regulation – education alongside enforcement – and suggested the town could use the existing ticket booth at the trail as a site for a future kiosk.
Maria Ivasek raised safety and accessibility concerns at Brookside Elementary School during drop‑off and pickup, particularly for students with special needs.
Monica Cole thanked the board for proposing the cell‑tower moratorium and asked to be involved in drafting the new law.
Anthony Pachette asked the board to consider reducing pool fees, which have nearly doubled since 2022 (from under $300 to about $600 for a family pass).
John Capabasso suggested registering e‑bikes like dogs, and praised the board’s handling of the Sheridan Gorman memorial.

Discussion Items

Hoot Board Interactive Kiosk Presentation: Bill Mott and Satya demonstrated an indoor/outdoor digital kiosk for community calendars, announcements, events, and directories. The kiosk can be wall‑mounted or stand‑alone, costs about $6,700 for an indoor unit plus a $350 stand, with annual software licenses from $3,600 to $5,400. The board discussed placement, vandalism risks, warranty (5‑year average LCD life), and the possibility of sponsorship to offset costs. The town clerk, Diana Quas, had spearheaded the inquiry.
Sheridan Gorman Memorial: Matt Talbert (Recreation Commission) presented a proposal for a memorial at Downing Park, designed and donated by local professionals (Joe Tremelli, Nick Caracati, Jim Paglis) at no cost to the town. The memorial features green lighting, a plaque with a QR code, and a location under the oak tree across from the Presbyterian Church. Councilwoman Susan Siegel urged the board to first adopt a formal policy for memorialization before approving this one, citing inconsistency with past memorials. Several board members opposed any delay, calling the request disrespectful given the tragic circumstances. The board voted to approve the memorial (4‑0‑1, with Siegel abstaining).
E‑Bike Regulation: Councilwoman Siegel raised the need to update the town’s sign law and specifically address e‑bikes, noting that state law classifies e‑bikes but the town code has no prohibition on riding them on sidewalks. The board discussed education, enforcement, speed limits, parental responsibility, and registration. Town Supervisor Ed Lacterman noted that Officer Ul is researching options and that the police department now has a bicycle unit. The board agreed to pursue a comprehensive law.
Cell‑Tower Moratorium: The board held a public hearing on a proposed local law imposing a six‑month moratorium on new wireless telecommunications facilities. Residents expressed support. The town received letters from Homeland Towers questioning the legality, but the county planning board had no objections. The board closed the hearing and voted to adopt the moratorium.
Traffic and Safety Issues: Several council members responded to concerns about speeding on Baldwin Road, Granite Springs Road, and the need for a five‑ton weight limit. Deputy Supervisor Esposito noted that enforcement would require cooperation from neighboring municipalities (Somers, Putnam Valley). The board discussed using speed feedback signs and data collection.

Key Outcomes

Sheridan Gorman Memorial Approved: The board approved a resolution (4‑0‑1, Siegel abstaining) authorizing placement of a memorial at Downing Park, with design and construction donated by local contractors. The resolution states this is a unique circumstance and does not set a precedent.
Cell‑Tower Moratorium Adopted: The board voted to enact a six‑month moratorium on new wireless telecommunications facilities, effective immediately, to allow time to rewrite the town’s law.
Personnel and Administrative Resolutions Approved: All consent‑calendar resolutions were adopted, including the appointment of Brandon Schmelmer as police sergeant (effective July 13, 2026, salary $151,925).
Police Software Contract: The board authorized an agreement with SKLD GIS Solutions ($6,400) for mapping software support and a Motorola Flex CAD system ($909,606).
Justice Court HVAC Bid Awarded: The bid was awarded to Mercury Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. ($109,750) after the lowest bidder was deemed ineligible due to the 25‑mile service radius requirement.
Public Hearing Dates Changed: Two public hearings were rescheduled to July 14, 2026 – one for a water district extension, and one for a zoning amendment to add entertainment uses to the commercial regional center district.
Future Discussion: The board will continue to explore e‑bike legislation, the Hoot Board kiosk, and a formal memorialization policy. Councilwoman Siegel’s request for updates on the 485‑B tax incentive committee, the emergency services RFP, the sign law, the Hallex Mill sewer extension, and closed captioning will be addressed at future meetings.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the July 7th, 2026 uh board meeting. If we could all rise for the na the uh Pledge of Allegiance. If uh my head of recreation uh commission, Matt Talbert to lead us. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republicans with liberty and justice of it all. Okay, and if we could uh have a moment of silence. Uh I know we've had had it before for her, but yesterday would have been uh Sheridan Gorman's 19th birthday. Uh so if we could remember her, pray for her, uh and also give the courage to her parents for the fight that they've been uh holding to make sure that this never happens again. Thank you. We'll start with uh introductions to my right. Good evening, Diana Quas, town clerk. Good evening, Patrick Murphy, town councilman. Supervisor Ed Lacterman, Deputy Supervisor Sergio Esposito, Councilwoman, Susan Siegel, and Long Gilbert Councilman. Okay. Uh gonna keep my uh report to the town a little brief today. Uh first uh, you know, congratulate the Lions on a great first concert on uh June 28th with Showtime uh dance band, a Motown band. They uh they had a fantastic uh showing and what a great band. Next one coming up is this Sunday, the 12th, and it's um Danny V's 52nd Street, which is Billy Joel cover band, and they are amazing as well. Um we have uh more of our USA 250 events coming up. Uh the next one will be actually held at Lake Day. And that is uh what do you know about Rashambo? And that is July 11th, 2026 at 12 noon, and that will be occurring at the um Mohegan Highlands Beach at 3365 Mohegan Avenue in Mohegan Lake. Uh then after that, towards the end of the month, uh we are co-hosting a online uh uh lecture, meet Benjamin Franklin, or as I used to call him back in school, Benny. Uh he's uh actually one of my favorite uh founding fathers. So uh that is on July 27th, uh 7 to 8 p.m. It's on a Monday at the at the library, and uh it's uh it is a virtual event, but uh from from the lecturer, but a great uh uh great program. And then uh just a quick storm update, uh about six and a half inches of rain fell after the uh the typhoons on Saturday. Uh we started with about 1800, actually a little more than 1800 out of power. Uh they kept getting the power on and finding more problems. Uh but by Monday afternoon they had everything pretty much up and running just in time for some trees to come down and knock down some other things, but uh uh all of the secondary damage for the most part was done on the con Edison side of town, where the first one was primarily NICIG. And uh as of uh earlier today, I believe it was three homes or four homes down on the con ed side, everything is back up on NICIG, and I believe the ones uh after talking with our our governmental representatives who uh the solo houses are you know that are down or trees taking out their particular wires and they're working on getting them back. So I will uh congr say thank you to our police department, our highway department. Uh we had our uh first responders were taxed quite a bit. Uh dry ice. Yep. Oh, we had our dry ice. Uh thank you, Sergio and Dave for getting that. Uh which was just amazing to get that for the people that needed it. We have um thank you. No, no, I don't need that. I need this, which I didn't know. I wanted to thank a couple of residents also, because we had a tree fall in the middle of uh Hanover that blocked it. Actually, it was a few trees that came down. And uh there was some gentlemans who live live right there, Brandon, Nakhtali, and Ronnie, and they got they basically went home, grab some chainsaws, cut up the trees, and got a lane open on Hanover. Uh just you know, great to see that community spirit. Um and Con Ed and Isig did fantastic work in uh they were very responsive. I was on the phone with them around the clock. Uh and uh a big shout out to our new chief of police, Justin Foley, uh was in constant communication with him uh the night of that Saturday night into Sunday morning. I was at PD. We were liaisoning with our new with uh Sergeant Curtin, uh uh Chief Foley, Captain Rapasardo, we were all in constant communication, and it really helped uh help to make things happen because I think that Con Edison and Nice had realized hey they're prepared and they're ready to go. And Dave was getting his his crews out to cut up the trees, so once again, great work.

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