Cell tower moratorium. The Board set July 7 for a hearing on a local law that will set a six month moratorium on the approval of any new cell towers.
2025 Audit. PKF O’Connor Davies, the town’s outside auditor, gave a presentation on the 2025 audit. The town is in good financial health, with a $35.9 million General Fund fund balance, of which $24.1 million is unassigned and can be used for any town purpose funded from the General Fund.
There are no state requirements that limit the size of the unassigned fund balance which currently is 64% of the General Fund budget. The auditor advised the Board that each town sets its own percentage.
There was a discussion about whether the town needed a capital plan that identified projects that could be financed from some of the funds in the fund balance. (The 2025 budget used $1.5 million as a revenue.) While Councilwoman Siegel suggested that the town needed to review the multi page list of capital projects and set priorities, while remaining flexible in order to accommodate unexpected needs, other Board members were satisfied with how the Board was using the funds, citing the need to stay flexible. Councilman Esposito accused her of cherry picking projects and she questioned his comment that the Board was working on a capital plan.
In 2025, the town received more revenue that budgeted mostly due to more revenue from sales tax, mortgage tax and building permits. Expenditures were less than budgeted because staff vacancies reduced salary and employee benefit expenses.
A copy of the audit is available online at https://www.yorktownny.gov/media-manager/media-pages/comptroller/audit-reports/2025-audit-report/
Jefferson Village. The engineer for the Village explained the need to replace a stormwater culvert. The Board will revise an existing administrative General Wetland Permit to include the replacement once the Village submits plans to the town. Considering the work an administrative issue will expedite the process. (Note: this summary was taken from the meeting video as Councilwoman Siegel, a JV resident, recused herself.)
EV charging stations. The Board approved an additional expenditure for the charging stations located at the library in response to a Con Ed requirement for an additional piece of equipment. The project is funded in part by a county grant and the exact amount of the town’s contribution was not clear.
Extension of Water District. A public hearing was scheduled for July 7 to add 82 parcels into the existing Yorktown Water District. Seventy-seven parcels are already connected to the district’s water supply but they pay an “out-of-district” charge which is double the regular charge. Sixty-four of those parcels are in the Glasbury development off Catherine Street. The other parcels will be able to tap into the district.
Court HVAC. After the Board rejected the May bids, it voted to readvertise the bid. (Note: In the interim, temporary air conditioning fixes have been installed in different parts of the court building.
Highway department. The Board voted for two transfers from the General Fund fund balance into the department: $200,683 for paving and $243,990 for the purchase of a rolloff hoist that increases the department’s efficiency.
The Board authorized the highway superintendent to apply for a grant to replace the equipment, known as the “beast”, that grinds up tree stumps. The department had its name added to the grant list in 2020 and was notified this year that it could apply. The new grinder costs an estimated $800,000 and the town’s share, if it gets the grant, would be $302,000.
Nor-West Recreation Services. Representatives of Nor-West made a presentation on the recreational activities it provides to individuals with special needs and respite for their caregivers. For more information, check out nor-west.org. The town contributes $40,000 to the organization.
Zoning Board. The Board accepted the resignation of Anthony Tripodi after about 20 years of service on the Zoning Board and earlier the Planning Board.
To view the video of the meeting, click yorktownny.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=2131