E-bikes. (See Town Board, August 5, 2026) In response to comments from both residents who spoke during the Public Comment portion of the meeting and from Town Board members about the need to do something about the unsafe use of e-bikes, much of the discussion focused on how the town could enforce any legislation that regulated their use.
Councilwoman Siegel, explaining that the state law regulating e-bikes limits the town’s regulatory options, said she has asked the town attorney for guidance on what the town can and cannot do. A second issue is who could/should enforce any new town regulations. When Councilwoman Siegel raised the idea that Parks Department staff might be able to enforce the law if they were present when saw a violation taking place, e.g., at the track, the other Board members dismissed the suggestion saying that only the police should enforce the law. Councilman Esposito suggested that if the town required e-bikes to be registered and have a license plate, people seeing a violation could send the plate number to the police.
Councilwoman Siegel advised the Board that she was working on draft legislation that would legalize e-mountain bikes in selected own parks that the state law prohibits, and also regulate the use o regular bicycles on sidewalks and in town parks.
Crest grant. Supervisor Lachterman shared with Board members suggestions from department heads on possible uses for a $100,000 CREST grant received from Senator Harkham to be used to enhance security. Among the suggestions were
- New cameras and monitors in the library
- A new police car that is outfitted for our police dogs and funds for one new dog
- Bullet proof glass in the court
- Cameras at the community center
- An automatic gate at the entrance to Granite Knolls
- Software for the Water Department.
Before making any decision, the Board will need more information about the cost of some of the suggestions. Estimates for the library were in the neighborhood of $20,000-$30,000 while the police dog measures would use most of the grant. (Note: The town received a separate $35,000 grant from Assemblyman Slater’s office for cybersecurity enhancements at the sewage treatment plant.
Fieldstone Manor In response to questions from a resident during Public Comment about the dismissal of the town’s Supreme Court filing for Mr. Catucci to remove vehicles from the town owned land, Town Attorney Rodriguez explained that the lawsuit was still pending and could be refiled if that was the Board’s decision. Supervisor Lachterman added that he would rather settle the issue than go back to court and that the Board was considering various options. He explained that he had a Notice of Seervice but didn’t submit it to the court because he was in settlement talks with Mr. Catucci.
Mr. Rodriguez added that when he stated that the vehicles had been removed from the site it was because that is what he had been told.
Councilwoman Siegel, reiterating the supervisor’s comment about not being able to publicly speak about issues discussed in closed executive sessions, added that she was frustrated with the way the parking lot issue has been handled over almost two years.
Supervisor Lachterman rejected the suggestion that past donations to his campaign and a friendship with Mr. Catucci had any bearing on how he was dealing with the issue.
Pump station upgrades. The Board voted to refer out an Environmental Assessment Form (EAF) for the upgrade of the five pump stations. In a status update on the project, Town Engineer Dan Ciarcai advised the Board that a revised plan for the Farmwalk station was almost ready to be sent back to the Department of Health (DOH) for approval and that plans for the upgrade of the Mohansic pump stations should be ready to send to the DOH in about two weeks. There was no information on the status of the other three pump stations.
Mr. Ciarcia advised the Board that each of the five stations would proceed as their plans were approved and that given the long lead time from ordering to delivery, he has started ordering parts for some of the pump stations. He added that some of the work at some of the stations would be done by town staff. In response to questions from the Board, he said he expected that the upgrades for all five pump stations would be completed by the time the grant expires in May, 2028 and that the five projects could come within the 2021 estimated $7.2 million cost (20% to be paid by the town) because although the design for the four Hallocks Mill stations was revised so that a fifth station could be added, the cost for all five stations was kept within the original $7.2 million estimate.
In a related issue that came up during the discussion, the Board was advised that the town is negotiating with the DEC over the terms of a Consent Order involving violations at the sewage treatment plant
Drones. During Public Comment, a resident called the Board’s attention to the growing use of drones for delivery purposes, adding that they generated an undesirable noise level. He acknowledged that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allowed drones, but asked if there was anything the town could do to regulate them. Councilman Siegel asked Councilman Esposito if he can could look this as part of his efforts to tweak the Noise Law regarding bass frequencies that has been a problem with the Tee Bar.
Yorktown Heights Streetscape. (See Town Board, July 21, 2026) Councilman Esposito said he expected the text of the Request for Proposals (RFP) to be ready for Board review “soon.”
Affordable Housing. Due to a communications glitch, the representative from the Building Realty Institute was not available.
For a video of the meeting click: https://www.yorktownny.gov/living-in-yorktown/ygtv/