Smoke shop/vape law. (See Town Board, January 14, 2025.) The Board opened and closed the hearing but delayed voting to adopt the law until its March 4th meeting as the Board decided to add “senior citizen housing developments and medical buildings” to the list of locations that cannot be within 1,500 feet of a smoke or vape shop. In response to a question during the hearing, Supervisor Lachterman explained that there were three such shops currently in Yorktown but that one may be losing its lease.
Water rates and smart meters. (See Town Board, January 7, 2025.) The Board opened and closed the hearing but delayed voting to adopt the law and changes to the Master Fee Schedule until its March 4th meeting as the Board decided to tweak some of the language in the law, e.g., deleting the word “quarterly billing” as water bills are sent three times year.
Paul Vasillo, Water Superintendent, explained that the increase in rates was needed to pay for the raising costs; everything from the cost of water it purchases to all the equipment the department needs to maintain the system. The total yearly increase for residents who pay the base rate for up to 9,000 gallons per bill will be $40.65 and approximately $75 for the average customer who uses 21,000 gallons per billing period.
Residents were also encouraged to use the portal on the department’s web site, https://my-york.sensus-analytics.com/login.html#/signin, to monitor their own water usage. The system can alert customers when there are unexplained surges in water use.
Stop signs. After opening and closing a public hearing, the Board voted to install stop signs at five intersections. The sign that got the most attention and support during the meeting was from residents who use the Hanover Street/Underhill Avenue intersection.
Truck purchase. Before passing a resolution to purchase a truck for the Water Department, Supervisor Lachterman explained that in response to comments from residents, the department researched the cost of a hybrid truck. According to the department’s analysis, the hybrid would have cost more than the potential savings in fuel costs and would not have met all the department’s needs.
Road salt. The Board authorized a transfer of $37,375 from the General Fund fund balance to the Highway Department to pay for the purchase of additional road salt necessitated by the frequent icing events the department has had to deal with.
Infrastructure updates. ( See Town Board, February 7, 2025)
Hallocks Mill sewer extension. Given the likely absence of any additional outside funding for the project, and the concern that the town might lose the $12 million in outside funding already committed for the project if it didn’t use the money, Councilwoman Siegel suggested that the Board direct the town engineer to crunch the numbers to see how many of the original 315 homes could be sewered with the available funds. When she asked that the engineer report back to the Board in March, Supervisor Lachterman said the engineer was busy with another project and that the town couldn’t proceed with the project as it didn’t have sufficient funds to front the cost. He also said the town didn’t have the money to front the cost.
Hallocks Mill pump station upgrades. Councilwoman Siegel reported that she had received a copy of the May, 2021 report on the proposed upgrade to four pump stations and asked why the town hadn’t proceeded with the project, estimated to cost $7.2 million in 2023 dollars when it had received a $5.8 million grant in 2021. When Supervisor Lachterman said the problem was the lack of money to front the cost, Ms. Siegel suggested that the district’s $2.9 million fund balance could be used to begin work on at least the most needy pump station.
Peekskill I&I CCTV project. Commenting on Supervisor Lachteman’s comment at the previous meeting that the town would have to bond to do the I&I work, Councilwoman Siegel noted that the two sewer districts that use the Hunterbrook pump station had more than enough in their fund balance to cover the $145,000 low bid for the project And, she asked, why did the Board vote in November to go out to bid for the work if it didn’t have the money to pay for the project. Supervisor Lachterman said he was reviewing the issue with the town comptroller.
For a video of the meeting, click: https://yorktownny.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=1919