Town Board

March 13, 2018

 

Absent: Councilwoman Roker

 

closed session

Litigation and negotiations:  Highway Department, Legal Department

 

Open Session

1. Storm issues

Supervisor Gilbert thanked all those who assisted in the aftermath of the two storms, explaining that about 85% of the town was without electricity and about 400 trees were downed.  The board approved a resolution to intervene as a party in a proceeding before the PSC asking the agency to investigate how the utility companies responded to the power outages.

 

Highway Superintendent Paganelli informed the board that homeowners, with an appropriate ID, can dispose of their tree debris at the recycling facility on Greenwood Street, Monday-Saturday, 7:30-2:45. Branches must be no longer than 4’ and 10” in diameter.  The Highway Department is currently working out the details for allowing commercial vendors to use the facility if they are disposing of tree debris from Yorktown residents.

 

The town will also be working with the county as the latter releases details of how it will be assisting .municipalities dispose of their debris..

 

Supervisor Gilbert reminded residents that they can sign up for the Nixle emergency alerts on the Police Department’s web site.

 

In a related action, the board approved a transfer of $200,000 from the General Fund fund balance to the Highway Department for the purchase of additional salt.  Mr. Paganelli indicated what while in a “typical” year, the town deals with 10 snow events, so far this year, it has had 16 events and several more are possible this season.  If the salt is not used, it will be available for next winter.

 

2. Landmark Preservation Commission

With limited information made available to the public, the board indicated its support for the Landmarks Preservation Commission to apply for a grant. As explained by Supervisor Gilbert (no one from the Landmarks group was at the meeting), the grant would be for a forum to discuss how to preserve Yorktown’s disappearing historical legacy. The group is supposed to provide the financial details of the grant proposal tomorrow; the grant has a 40% town match.  Because the deadline for submitting the grant application is March 19, prior to the next board meeting, tonight’s action will allow the Commission to apply for the grant with the official Town Board resolution submitted later.

 

3. Emergency generator

The board is expected to vote on March 20 to authorize the purchase of a diesel generator for town hall, similar to the one installed last year in the police department.  The generator will be purchased off the state contra ct. The cost was not identified.  

 

4. Immigration Protection Act/Sanctuary City

In response to a question from the audience as to whether the board will be rescheduling the March 7 meeting on the sanctuary city issue that had to be cancelled, Supervisor Gilbert said that the board would be discussing a new date.

 

The rest of the brief meeting was devoted to reading a series of resolutions to be voted on at the March 20th meeting.

 

Closed Session

Negotiations