Town Board

April 3, 2018

1. Affordable Housing

Rose Noonan of the Housing Action Council announced that there are five single famiy houses and one condominium available for sale at below market prices, ranging from $164,000- $285,800, for qualified buyers.  For a family of our, the maximum income is $93,680.  For more information, call 914-332-4144 or visit the town’s web site, http://www.yorktownny.org/section8/fair-and-affordable-purchase-assistance-properties-yorktown-and-nearby

During Courtesy of the floor, Mel Tanzman and Ken Belfer, chairman of the Community Housing Board spoke about the need for diversity in the town’s housing offerings. Citing several proposed rental developments, they said that now was the time for the board consider reinstituting the type of affordable housing set aside law that was repealed by the former board. Councilwoman Roker said she was against the previous repeal and agreed that the time was right to enact a new law.

2. Courtesy of the Floor

JV Mall Ring Road:  Tony Grasso asked about the status of the draft agreement for the town to take ownership of the ring road around the Mall approved by the previous board. Councilwoman Roker said the Town Board has done what it had to do and it was now up to the highway superintendent to sign off on the agreement.  In response, Mr. Grasso said that if the superintendent  didn’t sign off, he should be “taken to the wood shed.”

Hanover Street issues:  Michael Gordon asked the town to do something about speeding on Hanover St. He also complained about the loud music coming from the San Genero Festival and the recent Chamber Springfest. In response, Police Chief Noble said he would look into putting Hanover on the department’s “hot list.” Serge Esposito of the Chamber dismissed the noise complaint as unjustified, adding that the music stopped at 7-7:30pm.

Senior Center: Jennie Menton urged the board to do something for the town’s 5,000 seniors, especially building a senior center at Downing Park that would include an affordable adult day care center.

Highway garage: Eric DiBartolo of the Chamber said he wanted to sit down with the board and workout plans to continue the highway garage/Depot Square project.  Mr. Grasso also asked the board to proceed with the project.

3. Jefferson Village wetlands permit

(See Town Board, 3-20-2018.)  Before approving the permit, the board made several changes to the draft resolution prepared by the town engineer.

Where the engineer proposed a one year permit to complete the dredging of two ponds and a five year general permit for routine maintenance, the board okayed a single five year permit.  While the Village will have to pay for both wetland and stormwater permits, the board dropped the requirement for a $2,000 inspection fee and the need to post a performance bond; the engineer explained that the town is still holding the bond from the previous permit. 

4. Journey’s End wetland permit

(See Town Board, 3-20-2018.)  Without any discussion, the permit was approved.

5. Parkland alienation on Illington Road/Public hearing

(See Town Board 2-13-2018.) Several residents spoke in support of the alienation and thanked the Saunders family for caring for and improving the property over many years at their own expense.  According to the town attorney, the 5.39 acre site is likely to be assessed at $160,000 and will general combined taxes of $5,000 a year. Members of ACOS, the Advisory Committee on Open Space, supported the alienation but requested that the proceeds from the sale (the amount of the sale was not disclosed) should go into the town’s Open Space Fund.  Mr. Daniels also raised issues about the state’s law governing cemeteries. The board closed the hearing and approved the alienation resolution; the request will now go to the state legislature for approval. After Councilman Diana noted that the town’s previous alienation request was not approved by the state because it arrived in Albany too late in the legislative session, Supervisor Gilbert noted that there were procedural problems with the earlier request.

6. 1775 Darby Street/Wetlands permit

(See Town Board, 2-27-2018.) Michael Beakes, the abutting property owner, urged the board not to grant the permit, noting that water from this abutting property (which he explained was a vernal pool that only stored water at certain times) would flow onto the septic fields and make the fields inoperable; given the topography, he explained that any potential runoff from the septic fields would continue to flow downhill to a different abutting property. However, the town engineer confirmed that even with the new information about the abutting wetland, the DOH reconfirmed its earlier approval for the septic system. The engineer, with the concurrence of the board, rejected Mr. Beakes request that they visit the site before voting for the permit. With the applicant pressing for an immediate decision, the board closed the hearing and voted 4-1, with Councilman Patel voting no, to grant the permit.   

7. Mohansic Trailway/wetlands permit

(See Town Board 2-13-2018.)  Mr. Tegeder and Jane Daniels presented an overview of the project and Ms. Daniels updated the board on the issues raised at a March 19 informational meeting; the questions dealt mostly with parking and Ms. Daniels explained that because the trailway was a link between existing trails and not a destination, the trailway would have generate a need for additional parking. In addition to a petition from about 20 White Birch residents opposing the project, residents from White Birch Dr, Lavoie Court and Defoe Court raised concerns about privacy, parking and  runoff issues. Several people spoke in support of the project.  Susan Siegel, a member of the Yorktown Trail Town Committee, the group that is working with the town on the project (and the person writing this summary) explained that the project, that has been discussed for almost two decades, and which three members of the current board voted to support on three previous occasions, could not proceed without the permit.  She asked that the group vote for the permit tonight so that work on the trailway could begin the first week in May. Councilman Lachterman noted that while no project was perfect, after weighting the pros and cons of the project, he concluded that it was in the public interest to support the project. 

The board closed the hearing and voted to grant the permit.

8. NYCDEP pilot program for New Croton Reservoir/public hearing

(See Town Board 2-13-2018.) Representatives of the DEP explained the need to use a chemical to kill the hydrilla invasive plant in the reservoir, adding that the decision had been made after reviewing — and dismissing as not practical or effective — other killing/removal options. The decision to use the chemical is based on its successful use in other parts of New York, New Jersey and California.  Judy Bernstein, a Hunterbrook Rd resident whose property abuts the reservoir, raised several questions and wanted the board to delay a decision. Because the DEP needs to introduce the chemical in May before the plant starts its active growing season, time was a factor. Supervisor Gilbert said he listened to Ms Bernstein’s concerns but felt the need to move forward with the permit. The board closed the hearing and voted to approve the permit.  More information about the project, the chemical, and the progress in removing the invasive plant, will be posted on the DEP’s web site and linked to the town’s web site.

8. Appointments

Planning Department: Nancy Calicchia, senior office assistant. The vote was 4-1, with councilman Patel voting no.
Police Officer: Colin Houlihan

9. Miscellaneous resolutions

Building Department: approved the temporary hiring on a part time basis of Ralph Tarchnie as an assistant building inspector until a permanent person is hired.

Police Department: approved the purchase of two Ford utility police interceptors at a cost of $57,980.

Lake Mohegan: advertised bids for pesticide treatments.