Town Board, August 8, 2024

My first meeting as your new Town Board member. It was certainly an interesting, and long, one, with many items to interest to all residents.

ATV Law. Yes, finally approved. To remind everyone, the law BANS ATVs and dirt bikes from ALL public and town property. That means parks, trails, and roads.  Now comes the hard issue: enforcement.  The law will be enforced by the police but the police can’t be everywhere. So it will be up to residents to notify the police if and when they see an illegal use, and, hopefully, can safely identify the violators.

Garbage.  The Board awarded the contract to AAA, the town’s former carting company and the lowest of three bidders, for two years, beginning, September 1, 2024, with an option to review for three one year extensions at a fixed price.

At Courtesy of the Floor prior to awarding the bid, several residents spoke about the need to be able to contact the town directly when they had an issue with the garbage company instead of having to deal with the company.  Supervisor Lachterman explained that this issue was being worked out and that the town would be closely monitoring the company’s compliance with all terms of its contract.

Because I was not part of the bid review and discussions, I abstained from the vote.  But after the vote, I asked for an update on the status of the town’s efforts to get an anticipated $279,737 from the company that held the bond for Competitive Carting. According to Supervisor Lachterman, the town is still in litigation with the bonding company.

In a related issue, Phil Marino, head of the town’s Refuse & Recycling Department, advised the Board that going forward the town would no longer pay for and maintain garbage receptacles for multi-family complexes.  While some complexes already pay for and maintain their own receptacles, he estimated that between 13-14 did not, accounting for about  87 receptacles.  The new procedures would put these complexes on equal footing with single-family homeowners and other multi-family complexes that already pay for their own receptacles.

And, sadly, Highway Superintendent Paganelli reported that there was a second incident of paint cans mixed in with household refuse that leaked onto a town road.  He said his department will be attempting to “erase” the paint and is also looking into other options for residents to safely dispose of paint.

Recycling: The Board voted unanimously to hold a public hearing on September 17 to REPEAL the provision in the Zoning Code that allows recycling facilities by special permit.  If and when adopted – and that appears likely – that would mean the Planning Board could stop reviewing the current proposal. Planning  Director Tegeder made a point of noting that although recycling facilities would no longer a permitted use in the zone, the zoning allowed many other possible uses.

Fluoridation:  The recent public notice that the town’s fluoridation system would go back on line shortly precipitated a resurgence of anti-fluoridation comments from activists who attended the meeting – and rudely and repeatedly interrupted the meeting. In response to their emails on the issue, Supervisor Lachterman initiated a discussion on fluoridation, indicating that although he had voted, several times over a period of years to continue the program, he was now having second thoughts based on what he said was new evidence of the possible negative side effects of fluoridation.  He added, though, that because of “contractual obligations,” he would authorize staff at the Northern Westchester Joint Water Works to activate the new system as soon as it finished a final test – which was expected to take place very soon.

While Councilmen Esposito and Murphy shared some of Supervisor Lacherman’s concerns (Coucilwoman Haughwort was not at the meeting), I was the lone defender for fluoridation, a position I’ve had for the 12 years the town has been dealing with this issue.  And I explained that Supervisor Lachterman’s reference to “contractual obligations,” meant the town would have to reimburse the state for the $940,000 it gave us for the new fluoridation system if the town suddenly decided to stop fluoridating its water.

Pet Care Facilities Law: The Board approved a law creating a special permit for pet care facilities. Although primarily for daycare facilities, the facility will also be permitted to offer “limited” overnight boarding in stand-alone buildings on parcels of at least 5 acres.  The permits will be approved by the Planning Board which will be able to attach conditions to any site plan approval.

Noise Law (Peace and Good Order Code):   In response to comments from a resident who said she and her neighbors were experiencing extreme noise six days a week from a rock drilling operation abutting their properties, the Board adjourned the hearing, for a second time, so that it could consider my suggestion whether additional restrictions could/should be added regulating extreme construction noise, either by decibel level and/or on Saturday and holidays. The latest draft already regulates Sunday noise.

And on a personal note:  Being on the “other side” of the table does make a difference – which is why I ran to fill the vacant seat on the Board.  As a Board member, I was able to present a different perspective on fluoridation. I was also able to make suggestions for revisions to the Noise Law; while I could have made those comments as a resident during the hearing, the Board could have ignored them. It’s a lot harder to ignore suggestions from fellow Board members.

And I enjoyed the playful references to my habit of knitting at meetings. Clearly, I won’t be doing that during Town Board meetings. But, if I find myself on the “other side” of the table at other board meetings, I just may bring my needles with me; as many of my fellow knitters will attest to, knitting helps focus one’s attention while listening.

Mark your calendar for two important September 3 public hearings.  Note that the meeting will take place in the gym in the Community Center.

1. The DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement) for the proposed 250-unit senior complex on the former Contractor’s Register site,
2. The rezoning request for the 118-unit Toll Brothers senior complex on Catherine Street.