Yorktown Town Board Meeting - September 1, 2026
Yorktown Town Board Meeting - September 1, 2026
The Yorktown Town Board met on September 1, 2026, at 12:30 PM UTC (evening session) to discuss a wide range of topics including e-bike regulations, drone delivery concerns, the closure of Bright Beginnings Preschool, capital projects, and the allocation of a $100,000 CREST security grant. The meeting included public comments, board discussions, and several resolutions.
Opening Remarks & Announcements
- Supervisor Ed Lachterman led the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence for Bob Siser (92), a longtime community figure who passed away, and for victims of flooding in the Powell region (Grand Canyon area).
- The supervisor highlighted the successful fireworks display on August 23rd celebrating the 250th anniversary, and upcoming events including Tea Town storytelling sessions (September 26th), the 9/11 memorial ceremony (4 PM at the 9/11 memorial), and the Grange Fair (starting September 11th).
- Councilman Lonnie announced positive feedback on the fireworks and stressed the importance of remembering 9/11, noting a state bill to teach 9/11 in schools.
- Councilwoman Susan Siegel announced a Senior Fair (September 18th), a county septic repair program for Hallecks Mill area homeowners, and updates on e-bike legislation. She is working on two aspects: legalizing mountain biking on town trails (currently illegal under state law) and regulating e-bikes/e-scooters and regular bicycles on sidewalks. She also raised concerns about the Lake Osceola overlay district after the former Ciola Manor property went up for sale.
- Councilman Sergio Villaverde reported the completion of Granite Knolls paving, added 20 parking spots at the trailhead, and upcoming events (Grange Fair, Feast of San Gennaro). He also organized a volunteer effort with Troop 173 to clean and restore the Vietnam Memorial at Lakeland High School, and noted that Walter Panas High School football has entered Section One.
- The board welcomed back students to Lakeland, Panas, and Yorktown school districts.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Chuck Newman (Fieldstone Court) expressed concern about drone delivery services (Amazon, Wing, Zipline, DoorDash) citing noise, privacy, safety, and property value impacts. He urged the board to consider local regulations on noise, frequency, and flight corridors, noting that Amazon already has drone delivery in several municipalities with complaints of constant buzzing.
- Jake Hopstein (former law enforcement) criticized the board for inaction on e-bikes and unregistered motorcycles/quads, stating someone will be hurt and it will be the board's responsibility. He mentioned that civil enforcement options exist but have not been pursued.
- Peter Cleary requested a safety review of the intersection of Poplar and Forest Court due to stop sign running. He also asked about the status of a lawsuit regarding Mr. Catucci using town property as a commercial parking lot, noting that the town's request for an injunction was denied due to a filing failure. He questioned the discrepancy between the town attorney's statement that vehicles were removed and recent photos showing junk still present, and asked for costs incurred. Additionally, he expressed disappointment over a swastika hate symbol appearing in Yorktown again.
- Jan Mirjan Donnie (Yorktown Heights) suggested that the board focus on the problem (speed, location) rather than the type of bike when regulating e-bikes. She commended the Girl Scout presenter and encouraged scouting registration. She also noted that the Grange Fair's overlap with Rosh Hashanah was an unfortunate calendar coincidence, not intentional.
- Sarah Wilson (Yorktown Heights) confirmed no future conflict between the Grange Fair and Rosh Hashanah for at least 10 years. She reminded about contest entries for the fair and thanked the refuse department for cleaning food scrap bins. She asked what residents should do when they see e-bike violations (children under 16 riding unsafely).
- Matt Laura (Yorktown resident) criticized the handling of Bright Beginnings Preschool's sudden closure after 43 years. He stated that the school was given two days' notice and could not reach a lease agreement with the town. He questioned whether the board was aware of the situation, why negotiations happened during summer recess, and why no board member visited the school after closure. He said that telling him "we hope this never happens again" is not acceptable.
- Ken Bell (Mohegan Lake) reported that an e-bike track had been built on town-owned property near Lake Mohegan (with jumps and a bridge). He and Jim Martyrano spoke with a family whose children were using it; the parents were unaware it was prohibited. He noted that the problem is growing exponentially.
Board Responses to Public Comments
- The supervisor and council members acknowledged the e-bike issue broadly. Councilman Villaverde noted the difficulty of identifying riders without license plates and suggested registration as a potential enforcement mechanism. Councilman Siegel emphasized that the board is limited by state law but is working on legislation, hoping for a draft by the third meeting in September. Councilman Lonnie stressed that enforcement is the key challenge, and that parental involvement is critical.
- Regarding Bright Beginnings, Supervisor Lachterman and Councilman Lonnie expressed regret that the closure was handled poorly. They stated the board was not informed throughout the process. Councilman Lonnie apologized directly to Matt and his mother, and said they would try to ease the transition. Councilwoman Siegel said the board was blindsided and called it a communication failure.
- On the Catucci lawsuit, Town Attorney Adam Rodriguez clarified that the judge denied a preliminary injunction due to procedural issues (lack of proof of service and insufficient affirmation), not on the merits. He admitted that his earlier statement that the vehicles were removed was based on false representations from the opposing attorney. The town is considering re-filing the motion. Councilwoman Siegel expressed frustration over the two-year timeline. The supervisor noted that donations from Mr. Catucci should not imply favoritism.
- Regarding the swastika, the supervisor condemned it, noted it was quickly removed by parks staff, and emphasized ongoing education through Holocaust and Human Rights programs.
- On drone delivery, the board acknowledged it as a new issue and will consider noise ordinance updates as a possible local regulatory tool, though airspace is primarily FAA jurisdiction.
Discussion Items
- E-bikes and Bicycle Regulations: Councilwoman Siegel is drafting legislation to legalize mountain bikes on town trails (currently illegal under state law) and to address e-bikes and regular bicycles, including potential registration, civil penalties, and impoundment. The board discussed the complexity of enforcement, particularly with non-resident riders and the difficulty of identification. The police department has a bike unit but cannot be everywhere. The board also considered working with school resource officers and educating sellers and parents.
- CREST Grant (Security) Allocation: The town received a $100,000 state security grant. Department heads proposed several projects: 1) Library: relocate security monitors to admin office and add cameras to cover blind spots (~$22,000). 2) Albert A. Cappellini Community Center: additional cameras and possibly security doors. 3) Police: a new canine vehicle ($75,000 plus equipment) to replace aging cars for retiring police dogs. 4) Parks & Rec: automatic gates at Granite Knolls to prevent after-hours vehicle access. 5) Courthouse: bullet-resistant film/glass for the clerk's window. 6) Water Department: cybersecurity upgrades for the SCADA system. The board decided to gather cost estimates and usage data for the dogs before prioritizing.
- Sewer Pump Station Rehabilitation: Engineer Dan presented the SEQR process for a $7.2 million project (80% grant-funded) to rehabilitate five pump stations. The environmental assessment form is being circulated to agencies, with the town board as likely lead agency. A two-year extension has been granted, with completion required by May 2028. Designs are being done in-house; the Farm Walk station has been sent to the health department, and Mohansic is expected in two weeks. The board expressed urgency and concern about the timeline given past delays. Dan noted that funding availability and force account work (using town staff) can accelerate progress.
Key Outcomes
- Resolutions Approved (Consent Calendar): The board unanimously approved multiple resolutions including: promotion of Ian Richie to provisional planner; appointment of Catherine Ritchie to the library board; payment of unused time for retiring employee Markham McClennon; agreement with Attorney Stephanie Adams for library legal services; amended agreement for Granite Knolls parking lot paving; software agreement with Govell Technologies; final order for water district Extension No.1; purchase of a 2027 Ford Transit van; change order for Rayburn Consulting billing analysis; and purchase of a used double drum roller for the water district.
- Public Hearing Rescheduled: A public hearing on a "Do Not Knock" registry (Local Law to amend Chapter 219) was rescheduled from September 1 to September 15, 2026.
- SEQR Referral: The board authorized circulation of the environmental assessment form for the sewer pump station project to various agencies, declaring its intent to act as lead agency, with comments due by October 13, 2026.
- Next Steps on E-bikes: Councilwoman Siegel aims to present a draft e-bike and bicycle law by the third meeting in September.
- Next Steps on Bright Beginnings: The board will attempt to ease the transition for affected families and staff, and will review internal communication procedures to prevent similar situations.
- Next Steps on Lawsuits: The town attorney will consider re-filing the preliminary injunction motion in the Catucci case.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening and welcome to the September first, twenty twenty six town board meeting. Uh, if we could all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic where we stand one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. And if we could all remain standing for a moment of silence as we pray for those uh who protect our freedoms, our first responders, and a special prayer. Uh, last week we lost uh Bob Siser. Uh, those of you that uh may not know him, he was the man who ran the wreck all his family owned it since nineteen thirty. Um Bob passed away uh after a battle with uh Parkinson's, but uh he was, I believe, ninety two years old. A blessed life, and he really did a lot for our community in our town through the years. I would also uh the hundreds of uh souls that were lost in the Powell uh in a surreal um uh incident of uh flooding that occurred in that nation. Yes, and uh Grand Canyon. Yes. Susan Siegel, town councilman. Adam Rodriguez, sound attorney. Um get moving along to everyone else. I do hope everyone enjoyed the fireworks display on uh August 23rd after the last Lions concert. It was truly a great uh end to the summer concerts and a uh fantastic way to help celebrate the 250th anniversary of our country. Um but please remember that it doesn't stop there. We still have a few things going on. Uh I know I read one of the things coming up at the Presbyterian Church. There's a concert uh coming up this month. Uh but we also have a Tea Town, a uh day of revolutionary storytelling with Jonathan Cruck, and they're gonna have uh two different um two different sessions. Uh that's Saturday, September 26th, two to three T Town Tales for Families, and from 6 to 7 30, revolutionary Tea Town for adults. Um Tea Town actually gets its name from the revolutionary war times when uh a tea merchant down in uh in New York City wanted to hold his tea for the value and sell it at higher taxed rates, so he shipped it up to what's now referred to as Tea Town and stored it there, and then a s uh a group of women in the city who couldn't get their tea found out about it. And I did not realize how important tea was back then, but they literally came up, they they marched on to Teetown and they demanded that it be sold and uh and got it onto the market without the taxation. So great great little story. Uh and there'll be I'm sure plenty of those at Tea Town. Um a little more on the somber side as we come up on the twenty-fifth anniversary of uh nine eleven. We will be doing our annual ceremony at the nine eleven memorial at four P.M. Um the Grange will also be doing one with their opening ceremonies the same day. Um I know that uh this year is a little strange with two events at the same time and uh Russia Shauna starting that evening as well. So uh, you know, if you can't make it, please remember those who perished and those who continue to to fight uh the illnesses caused by nine eleven uh in your prayers. Um and then just a reminder again, we will be doing some major renovation work at the library. There'll be closures when they redo the flooring. There'll also be limited use of the facilities at times. Um it will create some inconveniences, which we apologize for, but these changes will make a huge difference in your experience and service uh service in the library, and they're also uh working out a deal with the Jefferson Valley Malls we spoke about last time to uh be able to do some programming in some of their community areas. So the programming will not end. All right. Uh Lonnie, you want to go next? Yeah, thanks. Uh pretty much reiterating uh what you've indicated, Ed. Uh uh I got a lot of wonderful feedback on the night of the fireworks by those attending the event as I was leaving, and um it was great to it was gratifying knowing that it was really appreciated by uh those uh uh uh individuals in the town. And secondly, it's it is hard to believe that it's been 25 years uh since uh the fateful day of nine-eleven. Uh but it what's even harder for me to conceive is um a whole generation of people have uh been born who did were not alive at that time and uh and and it's up to us to continue um that memory just as years passed after Pearl Harbor and uh and World War II and D Day and how we commemorate those days. Uh it's so important for us to continue and never forget uh the events of nine eleven. I will uh I will add on that uh I do hope uh that the state assembly will sign on. I know uh assemblyman Slater has been working on a bill to try to make sure that 911 is taught within our schools and and not forgotten, and it has received uh some considerable headwinds uh for different reasons. But uh I think that it's uh extremely important that that uh we never forget and I urge anyone to talk to your st uh uh your state assembly people and and ask them to please push this and and try to get this into our schools. Gotta remember no one in school was alive during this. And most of the people that that uh were alive have graduated college. So it's really um we can't let this become a thing of the past.
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