Water rates. The Board is proposing a series of changes to the local law governing water rates. The law, which will be subject to a public hearing on February18th, would
- Raise the base rate for 9,000 gallons to $71.10 from $64.25,
- Increase of $0.75/1,000 for each additional 1,000 gallons
- Add an additional $5/quarter meter rental charge
- Add a $.20/1,000 gallon capital projects fee.
The proposed law also includes provisions for dealing with the 461 residential customers who have refused entrance to their house for the installation of the new smart meters as well as changes relating to the testing of commercial meters.
Copies of the proposed law can be found at
https://www.yorktownny.gov/townclerk/proposed-local-law-amending-chapter-280-water
485b tax incentive. Several residents repeated their call for the Board to revisit the tax incentive for commercial properties which, they said, is shifting the tax burden to homeowners. One speaker said that Yorktown was the only municipality in the area that had such an incentive. Another speaker asked the Board about the status of a report it said would be forthcoming that would total the amount of tax revenue the town and school district did not receive as a result of the incentive. Supervisor Lachterman said he would follow up about the report and also that the Board would review the incentive program.
Underhill Farms. Questions were raised about a proposed easement that would allow the public to access the area around the pond that would be owned by a homeowners’ association. What would happen, the speaker asked, if the association failed to maintain the property? The speaker also asked whether the supervisor could sign the easements (as he has already done) without any authorization from the Town Board. The town attorney said he would look into the issue, although he thought Board approval was not needed.
In a second issue, Supervisor Lachterman said the Board would be rejecting the December 4th bids that were received for the planned improvements to the Route 118/Underhill Avenue intersection. After Councilwoman Siegel stated that the lowest bid was about $1.8 million she explained that based on the resolution passed last year, the developer’s contribution toward the cost was capped at between $500,000-$600,000 with the town picking up the rest of the cost –which was estimated at the time to be in the neighborhood of $1 million. The supervisor blamed the DOT for adding extras to the bid specs and said that staff would be reviewing how the specs could be revised before the project was rebid.
Sensory garden at Granite Knolls. In response to a resident’s question about the status of the project, Councilwoman Siegel explained that a committee working on the project is expected to meet this month to finalize a plan that would be submitted to the Recreation Commission and Town Board in February.
Board meeting schedule. In a 3-1 vote (Councilman Esposito was absent and Councilwoman Siegel voted no), the Board approved a meeting schedule for 2025. The Board will continue to meet three times a month with three possible fourth meetings, “if needed.”
Councilwoman Siegel said the fourth meeting was needed so that the Board could address a series of what she said were long delayed issue, including the smoke and vape shop moratorium that expired on December 31 and the Solar Law and Battery Storage moratoriums that expired March 31 and April 1. She also invited public input about her suggestions to streamline Board meetings by limiting announcements about community events and eliminating the poet laureate.
Field Home. Supervisor Lachterman explained that the Planning Department was still working on the Request for Proposal for an adaptive reuse of the building.
CREST grant. The Board approved a resolution to apply for a $120,000 grant to purchase three motorcycles for the Police Department. It was explained that the grant would cover the full cost and that the new motorcycles would replace the department’s ageing motorcycles.
The meeting can be viewed at https://yorktownny.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=1903