Cell tower law. After a brief discussion with Douglas Fishman, the telecommunications professional the Board hired to assist with developing a new telecommunications law, the Board decided to scrape the existing law and start from scratch to draft a new law, using as a guide, already existing laws in other municipalities. Mr. Fishman will send the Board sample laws he’s worked on for other Westchester municipalities that will supplement links to other Westchester laws Councilwoman Siegel previously shared with her colleagues.
Councilwoman Siegel suggested some general topics that should be covered in the new law including where cell towers should or should not be allowed, whether different types of locations should be prioritized, whether a tower on town land should have to follow the same rules as towers on private property, whether the approving authority should be the Town Board or the Planning Board, and how to establish appropriate setbacks. The only specific issue that was discussed, without arriving at any consensus, was whether towers should be automatically prohibited in wetlands or whether the wetland’s functional value should be decided on a case by case basis.
Mr. Fishman explained that the only FCC restrictions on a town law were related to radio frequencies and other safety issues and that the town could adopt its own regulations dealing with co-location requirements and generators. When he sends the sample laws, he will call attention to specific provisions he feels should be included in a new law.
Change in town procurement policy. After opening and closing a public hearing on changing the town’s procurement policy to require vendors bidding on town projects costing $500,000* or more to have state approved apprenticeship programs before submitting a bid, the Board voted 4-1 to approve the new law. Councilwoman Siegel voted no.
There were only four speakers at the hearing: three union members and a fourth who was an apprentice at a union apprenticeship program. All talked about the benefits of apprenticeship programs, especially union sponsored programs.
All Board members, including Councilwoman Siegel, were strongly in favor of apprenticeship programs. However, Councilwoman Siegel said she saw her primary responsibility as protecting Yorktown taxpayers and that limiting the number of vendors who could submit bids would reduce competition and would likely lead to higher costs. While Supervisor Lachterman also said that the new requirement would eliminate some vendors, he did not think the requirement would lead to hire costs.
- As originally proposed the law had a $500,000 trigger point. But before voting to adopt the law, Supervisor Lachterman explained that the version of the law that was advertised had a $250,000 threshold, which was the amount originally suggested by the unions and adopted by Westchester County. The Board, however, voted for the $500,000 threshold.
License Plate cameras. In response to a question raised during the Public Comment portion of the agenda about a camera on Underhill Avenue at Overhill Street, Supervisor Lachterman and Councilman Esposito explained that the cameras are part of a Westchester County program designed to assist investigations. They pointed out that the cameras are not Flock cameras and that they are a closed system which means the public cannot access the data.
Noise law. During Public Comment, a resident asked the Board to proceed with changes to the Noise Law in order to regulate lower frequencies. He advised the Board that it did not have to wait for the owners of the Tee Bar restaurant to do an acoustical study and that he had previously sent some town officials copies of sample legislation. Supervisor Lachterman said Councilman Esposito would work with the town attorney on the issue.
Town hall ramp and portico. The Board awarded a $288,728 bid for the construction of a portico at the entrance to Town Hall and a new ramp. The project will be funded by the fund balance and an insurance payment stemming from the damage done to the ramp some time ago.
Affordable Housing Management Services. In a resolution not on the agenda, and without any discussion, and on the recommendation of the Community Housing Board that reviewed proposals from three vendors, the Board approved a one year contract not to exceed $36,000 with Community Housing Innovations to manage the implementation of the town’s affordable housing program, including establishing waiting lists for for-sale and rental units and screening prospective buyers and tenants for their eligibility under the town’s affordable housing guidelines. The services will be provided on an a la carte basis as needed. The funds will come from an existing Affordable Housing Trust Fund that was funded in previous years by developers. (Note: At present, based on prior town approvals, there are seven available rental units in the program and nine for-sale houses.)
DeVito Field sign. (See Town Board, May 12, 2026) A member of the Veterans Advisory Group again asked the Town Board to revisit the issue of the field’s name. Supervisor Lachterman appeared inclined to schedule a discussion at a future Board meeting.
Bicycle safety. E-bikes and other cycling safety issues were raised during Public Comment. It was noted that state law currently bans e-bikes from town sidewalks and all town property – but that the town can modify those provisions. There are however, no state or town laws banning standard bicycles from on sidewalks.
The Board was also reminded that according to Town Code, “no bicycle” signs in town parks can be enforced. Councilwoman Siegel urged the Board to address both types of bicycles.
Fireworks. The Board approved a not to exceed $9,500 contract for a fireworks display the August 23 Lion’s Concert.
For a video of the meeting, clickhttps://www.yorktownny.gov/living-in-yorktown/ygtv/