Regular meeting held by the Town Board,
Town of Yorktown on December 5, 2006 held at
the Town Hall, 363 Underhill Avenue, Yorktown Heights, NY
Present: Linda G. Cooper, Supervisor
James Martorano, Councilman
Nicholas Bianco, Councilman
Matthew Metz, Councilman
Louis Campisi, Councilman
Alice E. Roker, Town Clerk
TOWN BOARD MEETING
Supervisor Linda G. Cooper called the meeting to order. Town Attorney Kevin Sweeny was also present.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Westchester County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz led the Pledge of Allegiance
MOMENT OF SILENCE
In honor of our Armed Forces serving in the military in this country and abroad.
APPOINTMENT RECORDS MANAGEMENT CLERK
TOWN CLERK’S OFFICE
THOMAS TRAVIS
RESOLUTION #499
Upon motion made by Councilman Martorano, seconded by Councilman Bianco,
BE IT RESOLVED, that Thomas Travis is hereby appointed Records Management Clerk from Eligible List No. 62-345 in the Town Clerk’s Office to be paid from Yorktown CSEA Salary Schedule A-1, Group 4, Step 2 which is $20.90 per hour, working 17 hours up to 24 hours per week as determined by the Town Clerk. This represents no change in salary or hours worked.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this appointment is subject to a probationary period of not less than 12 nor more than 52 weeks.
Cooper, Martorano, Bianco, Metz and Campisi Voting Aye
Town Clerk Alice Roker explained that Mr. Travis has been an exceptional employee over the past fifteen months. In addition to his work at the Record Center, he has helped out in the Town Clerk’s Office as well as filled in for the staff at the Yorktown Museum
Mr. Travis thanked the Town Board for his appointment and outlined some of the Clerk’s goals with respect to record management for 2007.
CARRY OVER VACATION TIME
LIBRARY
PATRICIA HALLINAN
RESOLUTION #500
Upon motion made by Councilman Martorano, seconded by Councilman Bianco,
BE IT RESOLVED, that Patricia Hallinan of the Library is hereby authorized to carry over three vacation days from 2006 into 2007 to be used in 2007.
Cooper, Martorano, Bianco, Metz and Campisi Voting Aye
APPOINTMENT CONSERVATION BOARD
REENA LIEBER
RESOLUTION #501
Upon motion made by Councilman Martorano, seconded by Councilman Bianco,
BE IT RESOLVED, that Reena Lieber is hereby re-appointed as a member of the Conservation Board for a three year term expiring on 12/31/09.
Cooper, Martorano, Bianco, Metz and Campisi Voting Aye
Mrs. Lieber thanked the Town Board for her appointment and stated that it has been a pleasure working on the Conservation Board for the past two years. The Board works very hard with regard to its recommendations to the Town Board, Planning Board and Zoning Board.
APPOINTMENT LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
LESLEY BENEDUSI
RESOLUTION #502
Upon motion made by Councilman Martorano, seconded by Councilman Bianco,
BE IT RESOLVED, that Lesley Benedusi is hereby re-appointed as a member of the Library Board of Trustees for a five year term expiring on 12/31/11.
Cooper, Martorano, Bianco, Metz and Campisi Voting Aye
APPOINTMENT COMMUNITY HOUSING BOARD
KEN BELFER
RESOLUTION #503
Upon motion made by Councilman Martorano, seconded by Councilman Bianco,
BE IT RESOLVED, that Ken Belfer is hereby re-appointed as a member of the Community Housing Board for a six year term expiring on 12/31/12.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Ken Belfer is hereby re-appointed as Chairman of the Community Housing Board.
Cooper, Martorano, Bianco, Metz and Campisi Voting Aye
APPOINTMENT COMMUNITY HOUSING BOARD
MAURA GREGORY
RESOLUTION #504
Upon motion made by Councilman Martorano, seconded by Councilman Bianco,
BE IT RESOLVED, that Maura Gregory is hereby re-appointed as a member of the Community Housing Board for a six year term expiring on 12/31/12.
Cooper, Martorano, Bianco, Metz and Campisi Voting Aye
APPOINTMENT BOARD OF ASSESSMENT REVIEW
NATALE COSTANZO
RESOLUTION #505
Upon motion made by Councilman Martorano, seconded by Councilman Bianco,
BE IT RESOLVED, that Natale Costanzo is hereby re-appointed as a member of the Board of Assessment Review for a five year tem ending 12/31/11.
Cooper, Martorano, Bianco, Metz and Campisi Voting Aye
DURING HER REPORT TO THE TOWN, Supervisor Linda G. Cooper announced the Westchester Ballet will perform the Nutcracker at Yorktown Stage December 9th and 10th. Sunday will be a “Free Arts” Day in Westchester with programs at many museum, art galleries and the Jacob Burns Center in Pleasantville. She also spoke about last week’s opening of Mother Goose and Friends at the Yorktown Museum. The exhibit continues through the new year.
DURING REPORTS FROM THE TOWN COUNCIL, Councilman Bianco announced that the Town had reached a deal with the owners of Solomon Farms in Yorktown to purchase the 33 acre parcel of land off Gomer Street for $1.2 million.
Supervisor Cooper stated that this land could have been the site of a subdivision. It will be purchased with money from the Town’s Open Space Bond which was approved by voters two years ago. The $30.00 per year charge for open space will pay the yearly cost of the bond.
PURCHASE SOLOMON FARMS
RESOLUTION #506
Upon motion made by councilman Bianco, seconded by Councilman Martorano,
WHEREAS, the owner of a vacant parcel of approximate 33.89 acres, located on the westerly side of Gomer street, formerly know as the “Solomon Farm, ” has offered to sell the property to the Town for use as recreational and open space, and
WHEREAS, the Town has agreed to purchase the property at a price of $1,250,000, and to name any parks or playing fields to be located on the property after the Kass and Malluzzo families,
NOW THEREFORE, the Town board of the Town of Yorktown resolves as follows:
RESOLVED, that the Town shall purchase the 33.89 acre parcel on the westerly side of Gomer Street in the Town of Yorktown formerly known as the Solomon Farm from the present owners thereof for a purchase price of $1,250,000, to be funded from the Town’s Open Space Fund, using anticipation funding to the extent required, and further
RESOLVED, that the Supervisor is authorized and empowered to enter into a Contract of Sale incorporating the above terms in such form as she and counsel shall approve, their approval to be conclusively evidenced by her signature thereon.
Cooper, Martorano, Bianco, Metz and Campisi Voting Aye
Councilman Bianco thanked the Supervisor for her leadership role in this endeavor and for her negotiating skills.
Supervisor Cooper addressed an issue which she and the members of the Town Board have been receiving mail about, the Community Preservation Act. The Supervisor stated that when this issue arose, a member of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment was invited to a work session to address the Board. He gave them his prospective on how supporting this legislation would be beneficial to the Town of Yorktown. She further stated that while the Board is in favor of preserving open space, it did not favor the Community Preservation Act. A majority of the Town Board did not feel a real estate transfer tax was the way to fund open space.. The Town instead has opted to finance open space through a $30.00 flat tax. Residents
agreed to the flat tax and they also approved bonding open space acquisitions through a $5 million bond. The New York State Legislature passed special legislation permitting the Town of Yorktown to levy this tax. The Supervisor stated that 2200 acres of land has been preserved in the last eleven years.
Councilman Bianco also stated that the Lakeland School District’s Bond Vote is Tuesday, December 12, 2006.
DURING REPORTS FROM WESTCHESTER COUNTY, County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz stated that the Board would consider requests from the Town of Yorktown concerning several sewer modifications this coming Friday. He also asked the Board to reconsider supporting the Community Preservation Act. While, the Town of Yorktown may not want to utilize this legislation, there are other communities that might want to use it. Legislator Kaplowitz also spoke about a proposal which he will support which would permit all non capital costs for all county sewer districts to be consolidated. He stated that this would be beneficial to the Town of Yorktown. The present tax of $353 would be reduced to $203. which represents a 44% reduction. The 2007 budget which Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano presented
to the Legislature totals $1.5 billion. Spending in this budget is up 3.2%, the cost of living is up 4%.
DURING COURTESY OF THE FLOOR, the following people addressed the Town Board.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ciffone asked if she and the other members of the Museum Board whose terms have expired would be reappointed?
The Town Clerk explained that during her budget discussion with the Town Board she spoke about the Museum’s future. But, she stated that no action was taken and that she would be meeting with the Town Board at a work session at a later date. Mrs. Roker told the members of the Museum Board that she would inform them of the date of the meeting.
Mr. Edward Ciffone asked that he be reappointed to the Museum Board tonight. He further complained about his water bill being doubled from what it was last year. He asked that the Town Board create a Water Commission or Water Board.
Mr. Edward Donovan spoke about several methods of funding open space including the Town’s flat tax and the Community Preservation Act.
Mrs. Linda Clemenza read from a prepared statement. A portion of her statement dealt with the Proposed 2007 Preliminary Budget, she called various lines in the Library’s 8.9% increase into question including temporary help and overtime.
Mr. Joseph DiMichelle updated the Town Board on his problem with the Cappelli Organization and his sewer hook up.
ADJOURN
Upon motion by Councilman Campisi, seconded by Councilman Metz and carried, the meeting was adjourned.
Alice E. Roker
Town Clerk
Town of Yorktown
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