Appointments. In 3-2 vote, the Board appointed former Councilwoman Luciana Haughwout to a five year term on the Planning Board. Councilmen Gilbert and Siegel voted no, explaining that the Board had interviewed two other candidates they felt were more qualified and would be a better addition to the Board. They also cited what they believed was a lack of transparency as after interviewing the three candidates, the Board never discussed which of the three would be the best appointment.
The Board unanimously appointed members to the following volunteer boards: Community Housing, Zoning, Veterans Advisory and Accessibility Advisory.
Ambulance District Study. Councilwoman Siegel explained why, given the long term financial needs of both the Yorktown and Mohegan Volunteer Ambulance Corps, she was proposing that the town, in conjunction with the Town of Cortlandt, fund a study about the feasibility of forming ambulance districts that could provide needed supplemental revenue for both volunteer ambulance groups and assure their continued financial viability into the future. The Cortlandt Town Board has already committed to funding a portion of the study which Ms. Siegel estimated would likely cost less than $15,000. Supervisor Lachterman said that the Board would likely pass a resolution next week authorizing Ms. Siegel to solicit quotes for the study.
Industrial and Commercial Incentive Board. Supervisor Lachterman announced that the Board was interviewing residents interested in serving on the reactivated board with the goal of taking a fresh look at whether the existing law granting a 485b tax exemption for commercial properties should be continued, and if so, tweaked. He invited interested residents to submit their resume.
Referencing shortcoming in the previous board’s 2017 report, Councilwoman Siegel
suggested that the newly appointed members be given a series of guidelines on the issues and data the Town Board believes should be the foundation for its recommendations and report. The Town Board will review possible guidelines at its next meeting.
Sewer district consolidation. (See Town Board, October 14, 2025) Town Engineer Ciarcia and Town Comptroller MacNeil made a presentation on the proposed merger of the 11 separate sewer districts that are part of the county’s Peekskill Sanitary Sewer District into a single Peekskill Operation and Maintenance (O&M) district that would fund the costs of maintaining the collection system (sewer lines) and pump stations that are currently paid for separating by each district. The plan is designed to have all 4,100+ properties in the Peekskill system pay their fair share of maintaining the sewer system and also to increase administrative efficiency. While the new O&M district would initially be funded by a combination of taxes and charges on water bills based on consumption, the ultimate plan is to have the new district funded entirely by the water charge.
The Board is expected to proposed two local laws next week related to the plan: One would create the Peekskill O&M district and the second would change the current water charge that funds some of the O&M expenses to $2.50/1,000 gallons from $1.50/1,000, a rate that hasn’t been changed since 2015. At the same time, staff will consult with bond counsel about how the new O&M district would fund long term capital improvements. The sewer districts that currently have debt will remain as separate districts solely for the purpose of paying off their remaining debt.
Councilwoman Siegel asked that the comptroller’s report on the merger be posted on the town’s web site but cautioned that it’s tax implications were only projections and did not include any revenue from a water charge.
Sewer pump station upgrades. (See Town Board, January 13, 2026). In an item not on the agenda and in response to a question from Councilwoman Siegel, Mr. Ciarcia and Ms. MacNeil said that they had not yet worked out the timing of how to fund the planned $7.2 million upgrade project, $5.8 million of which will come from a grant. Staff said that they would ask bond counsel for advice.
Hallocks Mill sewer extension. (See Town Board, January 6, 2026 and October 14, 2025) In an item not on the agenda, Councilwoman Siegel announced that the president had signed the bill that included a $1.25 million grant to the town for the project. She then asked if the additional funds could/would be used to 1) lower the project cost for the estimated 180 homeowners in the proposed district, or 2) add additional homes into the district as long as the project costs to homeowners did not exceed state comptroller guidelines. She also asked the town engineer when the town would be reaching out to the DEC to see if the agency would approve the concept of routing the proposed sewer line through the Gomer wetlands.
Hunterbrook sewer upgrades. (See Town Board, June 17, 2025). In an item not on the agenda, Councilwoman Siegel, noting that the television inspection of the collection system has been completed, asked when the Board might expect to see a plan for needed upgrades. In response, the town engineer said that the work had only just been finished and that it was too soon to prepare an improvement plan. He did note, however, that there appeared to be a leak problem on the Catherine Street line and that the town might have to do some additional smoke testing to identify the source of the leak.
Daugthers of the American Revolution (DAR) monument. In a 4-1 vote with Councilwoman Siegel voting nay, the Board approved a $3,700 expense to provide a granite base for a DAR funded plaque honoring the patriots who fought in the Revolutionary War. The plaque will be installed in Railroad Park. Councilwoman Siegel thanked the DAR for its contribution but suggested that as Yorktown already has two other monuments commemorating the Revolutionary War (the Pines Bridge monument and the $15,000 already committed for a Revolutionary War monument at Veterans Circle) that its funds be used for some other project related to the town’s history.
250 Celebration. (See Town Board, January 13, 2026) The Board voted to give the Heritage Preservation Commission $42,150 to support its planned programs and events. In response to comments from Lynn Briggs, the Commission’s chairperson, Supervisor Lachterman clarified that the money did not include funds for the Pines Bridge Battle celebration which was being funded by other sources.
To view the video of the meeting, click yorktownny.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=2071