Town Council - Regular Meeting

Look at all these paints. I've gotten used to it.

I just I just upload those as well. 26.

I don't have nothing.

I thought you were coming. I thought you I thought you were going to come in and show the little videos of the office. video.

This is something else that he sent like explained it, but I said And I put it on there, but I can share the password that's gone.

I just want before we I just wanted you to know I don't know if you heard.

When are we ready? Hello everybody. Hello members of the public. Hello Debbie, was anybody waiting for us online?

Yeah, I want to show everybody.

And I think it was Mr. Chris's dad. Oh. Oh, who's who's the other one? That was just

us. Okay. Are we ready to go?

We're on. Okay. Welcome everybody to the Rytown Council meeting of February 19th, 2026. Uh I will note that we are starting a bit late. It is now 6 54. So please rise and join me for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible.

Please remain standing. Oh Lord bless this assemblage. Grant us the wisdom to make every decision fairminded in the best interest for all its residents. Amen. Amen. Roll call. Council person Debbie Friedman here. Council person Jaffy here. Council person Randy Sier will be here. Council person Thomas Nardy here. And supervisor Gary Zuckerman

here. Uh first item will be adoption of minutes uh held on January 6, 2020 2026. Keeps almost saying 2025. Um may I have a motion and a second? So moved. Second. Any discussion? If not, all in favor? I. None opposed. We have a public hearing that we called at the last meeting for local law to adopt the Westchester County Greenway Compact. Um Debbie, do you want to let me let me have a mo first? Uh let me have a motion to open the public hearing.

So moved. Second. All in favor?

I public hearing is open. have to do without visuals. So the um we are joining a uh a small group thank you very much of uh communities that have joined the Hudson River Valley Greenway Compact. There are 1500 about 1500 communities in New York State. There are 320 communities in the Hudson Valley region. Um, Rye is already a Hudson River Valley Greenway community and that in and of itself um has unlocked grant funds for us. However, we are it's still very competitive to get grant funding. By joining the compact we are joining 61 other communities. Um so in other words um we are reducing the number of communities against which we are competing. Um and we unlock even more grant funds that become available. For example, um we've just submitted a trailways grant for um also to the Hudson River Valley Greenway. Um by being a compact community, we would have gained five additional points in our competition. Um this is a um an organization that's particularly committed to planning grants and uh facilitating intermunicipal cooperation.

So that this is a policy that they are trying to effectuate by providing incentives for communities to work together. In other words, um if we're applying for a planning grant, um we would be eligible for $20,000 just because we're a Greenway community. If we partnered with another municipality, we would qualify for $45,000. As a compact community, we qualify for $50,000. If we are if we work together with another municipality, we qualify we're eligible for $110,000. It just so happens we are planning a planning grant. So the timing is wonderful. It also enables us to become more competitive for grants offered by any of the state agencies that sit on the board of the Hudson River Valley Greenway. for example, the Department of State, the DEC, the A and Markets Grant, uh Markets Department, the New York State Parks Department, the Office of General Services, and the DOT. Um so there are a number of other um remarkable aspects of um of joining the compact and I know it's a very long agenda tonight so I can tell you about them if you'd like or we can you can ask questions or we can proceed.

Well tell us briefly

one of the um interesting aspects of this local uh this law is that by joining the compact state agencies are um required is too strong a word but actively encouraged to coordinate with us if any of their projects affect the town directly. So if there is a road that this that the state is working on that happens to go by Crawford Park, they are required to inform us and listen to our concerns if we feel that they're not approaching it with particular aspects in mind. This is something that they are that is part of part becomes part and parcel with being a compact community. Apparently there's there's also an indemnity clause. So if we find ourselves in a legal case in which um the the the um tenants of the being a compact community are at are under attack. Um we can expect to have the interest of the state attorney general's office interested um at their discretion. They could even pick up the matter and defend it on our behalf. um if they choose not to do so and we go forward and spend money on a leg on our legal defense. Um, if we document throughout the process that the reasons that we are defending our case is in conjunction with the tenants of the Westchester of the compact community, um, we're apparently eligible to be reimbured by the controllers's office. But that's a good thing.

Agreed. Or get into an adverse position case. All right. All right. Thank you, Ben. You're welcome. Um, comments from members of the council. Just to confirm, there's no cost associated with becoming a member and participating in zero cost. Thank you. Anybody else? revenue natural outach of our overall sustainability, our town sustainability efforts. Yes, correct. One of the also things I didn't mention was that we um are eligible for technical support from the the staff of the Hudson River Valley Greenway as well.

Fantastic. Do we have any comments from members of the public? Do we know? Okay, thank you. I have a motion to close the public hearing. So moved. Sorry. All in favor? I uh I now let a vote on the public on the uh local law. I have a motion and a second to approve the local law. So moved. Second.

Hope, please call the role. Council person Freriedman. Yes. Council person Jaffy. Yes. Council person Nardy. Yes. And Supervisor Zookerman. Thank you. Yes. Uh the uh local law adopting the Westchester County Greenway Compact is passed. Do we have any comments from the public on non-aggenda items? No. Let us move along to the resolutions. The first one we have first a series of uh taxert resolutions handless Charlie Dan Jeff.

I'll do it with the backup of Charlie and Dan. It's nice to have. We've got three taxerts. Uh by the way, I am Jeffrey Binder. I'm the town attorney for the town of Brian and I handle as special counsel as well certain tax cases along with my colleague Dan Tartalia. Um these cases we have three on today for settlement. Um the first one I think this is an order of from the agenda the Dor Dorak Petroleum which is basically I think that's an old gas station site

and the refunds to the school district which we focus on pretty closely uh these days uh because they have a keen interest and usually the refunds hit the school district pretty hard. uh they are relatively small. So this represents a uh a very good settlement. Um the total refund to the school district uh from the school district to the property owner from 2020 to 2024 is a total of $10,000. And as per usual course, we alert the school district ahead of the settlement. We let them know. As a matter of fact, they're now represented by council. So I think is a Portchester case.

Sorry. This is this we do uh alert the stakeholders uh ahead of time to these settlements and so they're aware of it. Um and any issues they may or may not they may have are worked out ahead of time. So I would recommend that the council approve this settlement as it is outlined in that in uh in the resolution. Thank you Jeff. Um, any questions? Otherwise, may I have a motion and a second? I make a motion. Second. Please. Council person Freriedman. Yes. Council person Jaffy. Yes. Council person Nardy. Yes. Supervisor Zuckerman. Yes. The next.

Okay. The next is a single family home also located in Mamarin on South Barry. Um, it's a very small matter. The school district refund is about $5,000. I'd recommend settlement or approving the settlement. Motion in a second, please. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Please call the role. Council person Freriedman. Yes. Council person Jaffy. Yep. Council person Nardy. Yes. And Supervisor Zucker. Yes.

Uh this next property, the last one on the list is uh at 111 South Ridge Street. This is a village of Rybrook case. Uh the village has been uh informed uh of this ahead of time. They knew this was coming. This has been discussed at uh several stakeholder meetings that we have at least three times a year. What about the village of Portchester? Um pardon me, the Portchester. It's in the Portchester School District.

This is also Portchester school district. Um and as I mentioned before uh they are now represented by their own council which is very very helpful to us uh because they provide a reliable pipeline of information to their client now. So, we're hoping going, this is relatively news, but we're we're hoping going forward that this will eliminate any miscommunication or lack of communication ahead of time visa settlements and the and the burden on the school district in terms of refunds. I recommend that uh this case comes goes from 2020 to 2024. Uh the total refund to the school district, as you can see, is is just under $70,000. Uh, I recommend that the council uh approve this settlement.

Do you have what is the refund to the village of Rybrook? The village refund is about $29,000. It's 7.4. I'm sorry, 7.3. Um, is there any discussion? Otherwise, I have a motion or a second. So moved. Second. Please call the role. Council person Freriedman. Yes. Council person Jaffy. Yep. Council person Nardy. Yes. And Supervisor Zer. Yes.

Thank you very much. I just wanted to uh at the conclusion of these just uh express my appreciation to Dan Tortalia who's my partner in in uh negotiating many of these settlements. And these were well done. the assessor has something to do with it. Good team.

Uh we're going to go to 7.6. Resolution to set the date for a public hearing to authorize a commencement of acquisition by eminent domain of what is called the bridge on Barry Avenue over creek. Dan, do you want to tell us what all this is all about? the um and actually Debbie can probably fill in portions of the history of this u before I got involved, but there is a there was an Otter Creek Bridge in Mamarin um that needs to be replaced and the supervisor and and Debisner have been working to get grant money to replace this bridge for a long time.

The grant the grant was approved in 2021.

Okay. Yeah. 2021. So the these wheels turn slowly. I I got um engaged about uh six months ago to uh because there's two pieces on either side of the bridge that um belong to the Westchester Land Trust and the bridge is going to be angled slightly differently. So, the town negotiated with the land trust to purchase these two small pieces and to obtain temporary construction easements on two other small pieces. And um we had an appraisal done. I think the appraisal price is about $2,000. It's something dimminimous.

Yeah, it's some small number. Um but there's a number of conditions that the land trust has required in connection with the transaction. So, there's been a lot of negotiation back and forth and back and forth and back and forth seemingly endlessly with the land trust and we we're pretty sure we're getting very close to the end. But New York State DOT, you know, doesn't want to hear that. They want to know that you've got sight control. Otherwise, you know, they're going to they're going to pull the uh the approvals on this.

It's only it's only a grant of $4.5 million. So the um so what we're what we're doing and the land trust is aware of this and they're not particularly happy about it but it's kind of what's helping us push this across the finish line hopefully is uh we've indicated to them that we're going to we're going to take the property through eminent domain um if we can't close like very soon. Um, so that's what this is. This te's up the first part of the eminent domain procedure law or condemnation as it's also referred to which requires a public hearing um and notification to the property owner and the town has to establish the public purpose. So the public purpose here obviously is to build a bridge for the benefit of of all of the residents of the town. Um, so it'll be an easy burden to meet, but you still have to go through a public hearing process on this. So that's what this is for. It's to establish a date for the public hearing, authorize the clerk to send out the notices and publish the notices, mail the notices to the to the land trust, and um, if for some reason we can't seem to conclude this before March 19th, we'll be having a public hearing on the on eminent domain. So I don't know if you have any questions about any of that. Are there any questions?

The eminent domain. If we take it, do they get paid at all? They get Yeah. No, they get paid. They get paid market value. They get paid market value. It's probably going to be a little more than we negotiated. Okay. Because under eminent domain procedure, valuation is done on the highest and best use. And those numbers are usually a little higher. I haven't I haven't really looked at this appraisal, but you know, we're talking about Yeah. We're talking about under $5,000. Yeah. It's not much money yet, right? Okay. Any other questions? What was the obstacle or their opposition to this to moving forward

today, yesterday, last week? I can go through a whole It's a lot of minutia. It really is. I don't I don't know, Deb. How would you characterize a lot of the comments that we've been dealing with? Um well, for for quite a while, it was um this is so easy. We don't have to pay attention to this. for a very long time it was that right and most recently it's oh and um I I believe that they are requesting that we pay them to oversee the project what yeah no

well yeah that that they want they want to send somebody periodically uh and us pay them to make sure that their the construction equipment that's on the temporary easement um doesn't damage the land. And so they're going to send somebody at several hundred dollars an hour to do this. And I to tell the truth, I instructed Dan enough of this already. We'll we'll go forward with the eminent domain proceedings. I mean we have we have a full engineering term team that are responsible for this and responsible contractors. So, this is just it's just the proverbial pushing the goalposts further and further away. And at some point, you know, you have to say enough is enough.

And and that's the point. The purpose tonight is simply to call for a public hearing. That's all we're doing, right? And I think that's important to know the neighbors here are going to come to that public hearing as they have in the past. Yeah. And and and it's only a public hearing for purposes of establishing public purpose. Has nothing to do with valuation whatsoever. There's

basically the what the let me it's a very short resolution. Basically, we're setting the date for the public hearing for our next regular meeting of March 19th, 2026 to authorize the commencement of acquisition by eminent domain pursuant to the eminent domain procedure law. Does confirming for compliance scheduling uh ADPL article 2 public hearing regarding the the bridge to be held at the regular monthly meeting and that's basically it to to establish secret compliance and that it's a public purpose you already have you've already done secret compliance secret has been done over a year ago by the engineering firm it'll get folded into this correct

so okay all right yes sir motion and a second I'll make the Motion second. Please call the role. Council person Freriedman. Yes. Council person Jaffy. Yep. Council person Nardy. Thanks. And Supervisor Zuckerman. Yes. Thank you. Thank you, Dan. You're welcome to stay around for the rest of the fun. That's a blast from the past. Watch Facebook. finally send. The next

uh the next two items are regarding our green resiliency grant. Uh under the terms of the uh the award which is for Rytown Park um as well let me just back backtrack. We received a green resiliency grant in the amount of $8.1 million and in I've mentioned this previously but in order to sign the grant agreement uh we have to go through certain steps. Uh the first of the steps first two steps that this board will form will take uh are this resolution and the next resolution. The substance of this resolution is to do a couple of things that are required. Um, one is to set forth that we have the matching funds. The grant is a 90% grant. We have to the U matching funds are the 10%. Uh and the total project is uh $9 million. So that we have to come up with $900,000. Luckily, we also have a grant from the county of Westchester totaling $1.9 million which we will use as a match. So we have to set forth in resolution where the match is coming from and uh and this resolution does that. It mentions the grant and says say says that the grant award from the county of Westchester is hereby identified as the

source of matching funds for the GRG grant. And the second part is that the town council authorizes its use and hereby appropriates such funds for this purpose. And the third item that's required is to designate the town official who can execute the grant. And this resolution designates the town supervisor uh to execute the grant agreement and all associated contracts, documents, and instruments necessary to implement the project and fulfill the obligations under the grant agreement. So that's what this resolution is. Are there any questions or comments? It's quite a resolution.

So confirming there's zero cost to the town of Ry for this. That is hopefully the case. Thank you. We're we're we're we're working towards that end. Um and with that, may I have a motion in a second? Salute. Second. Please call the role. Council person Freriedman. Yes. Council person. Yes. Council person. Yes. The supervisors are coming. Yes. What are we saying? Yes.

I know. Council person Jackie. The next resolution is to declare the town of Ry uh to declare the intent for the town of R to serve as lead agency. This is the beginning of the seeker process and uh the the board has previously retained um hardest handover which is actually the successor firm to FP Clark um to do our seeker work and they have prepared this resolution for us to um to enact Uh this will be a type one action which is uh has um because it's located uh in a public park and there are several involved agencies. They will all be served this notice of intent for the town of Ry to serve as lead agency and they have to respond within 30 days and thereafter uh we will be completing the environmental assessment forms to complete the seeker action and hopefully uh this action will be completed in time for our April Are there any questions?

May I have a motion and second, please? So moved. Second. Please call the role. Council person Freriedman. Yes. Council person Jaffy. Council person Nardy. Yes. And Supervisor Zookerman.

Yes. The next item is a resolution to adopt the new rate schedule for our architect Gary J. Francisco of Aronics. This is a fairly straightforward. Gary has not increased his rates for some time and he's been acting as the architect for the town and for town park uh for a period and he's actually been the architect who's done much of work for both the park right park and the town of Ry.

If there are no questions or comments, I have a motion and a second. I'll make the motion. Second, please. Council person Freriedman. Yes. Council person Jackson. Yes. Council person Ny. Yes. Supervisor Zuckerman. Yes. Uh resolution approving the renewal of our contract with Passport Labs for citation management services. Debbie, I think you would like to speak about this.

Yeah, this is a pretty straightforward uh contract. Um I don't have it in front of you, but in brief, we are changing the framework uh through which we are build. Uh we are no longer going to be build per dollar collected, but rather um a flat fee of $35,000 a year with a year-over-year escalation not to exceed 3%. Um and this will repeat. So our rather than budgeting an expense for 2024 or 2025 was $180,000 a year. We are now have a flat fee of $35,000 a year. The reason we could do that is we have altered the convenience fee paid by the violators. So when people settle their when they pay their parking violation, they are now paying a 4 and a half% convenience fee. So that is how passport is being compensated for their work and that is how the town is controlling its expense. Um, I would add that we have added to the services provided by passport a letter to violators that will go out three successive letters. One on day 32 after they receive a violation. Day 62 and day 92, each with advising them of the um fees and penalties of paying late. Um and on day 120, the town court will then be sending letters to the violators advising them that um that their infraction will be um proceeding to

judgement. Thank you. Judgment. I thought there was another word in there, but yes. Um, in addition to that, what has always been part of the agreement, but is now specifically is that, um, if a car is a scoff law, um, three unpaid violations in a certain period of time, those that notification will automatically go to the Department of Motor Vehicles so that the um, when um, officers um, scan the license plate, they will see it's a scoff law and the villages can proceed to boot the car if they so choose. Any questions?

I just want to kind of give Debbie a standing ovation for this because this was one of those moments in our budget session where we magically a got about a $100,000 back into the budget and b really creative solution to um one of our neighboring municipalities having millions of dollars in like unpaid parking tickets. So this was two birds, one stone, very graceful and great solutioning. So bravo.

I I appreciate that. Thank you very much. I also really need to to uh give a shout out to our um the executive office staff and particularly Allah Abraman who um was a a complete heroine when it comes to financial analysis. And um we we um were able to drive this because we did a deep dive into the economics and also into that offered by competitors. I think we can stress that offer by competitors as well. But I I too Debbie, I've worked with Debbie on this and uh and the staff

um and they've done an amazing job. And John stepping in also with his analysis of where all the parking problems were was a great help in negotiating this contract with Passport. I think we're we're ahead of the game and hopefully we'll have a productive relationship going forward that um will not cost the town the amounts of money that it has cost in the past. Thank you, baby. Just a quick question. This is just for online payment, correct? Can people in person?

They can walk in in person. They're still they're still working on a passport software system. Okay. So, are all violations now paid online or expected? They can be played online, but if some the um if they you know, I don't want to misspeak, Debbie. I I would prefer to double check with the chief court clerk. Okay. An answer to your question what happens because there's there's an enormous number of people who do walk up to the window and pay their bill

and they do it. That's all done based on with the passport software. And my question was that 4 point whatever percent 4.5% that's the fee for paying online the convenience fee for paying online which then helps to offset our cost or lower significantly lower our cost if people did not want to pay that and were moved to go pay in person more would that not collect that fee and and not recognize the savings that we're anticipating recognizing I don't want to make it up I would rather get I I think I think that if they came and paid in person, they would not have to pay the passport fee, but also it would be more inconvenient. Yeah, clearly. But okay.

Are they still handwriting tickets or are they up to date where they have the little tablets? Portchester I Portchester I believe are only they are moving toward only only handheld technology devices. I can't guarantee you right now that they're not there's no handwritten tickets. Westchester County is still doing handwritten tickets and the um I've been speaking with the village of Rybrook and they have indicated that they want handhelds and I have connected them with passport and that they are in budget season right now. So I expect that that will be following.

Could they piggy back with us with passport? Could the villages piggy back with us? Yeah. The you mean for the handhelds? Handhelds. Yeah. We don't have a handheld. We we actually do have two handhelds, but they we don't pay for those. Okay. Um that is not an arrangement that Portchester is able to they have to pay for their handhelds and that is um that is a contract directly with the village and I'm sorry directly with passport. However, it's not a um it's not a citation contract. It's only a handheld contract.

Okay. So, does that answer your question? Yes, it does. Okay. It's a lot easier for everybody if they use handhelds because there's a lot of loss with the handwritten tickets as opposed to the scan tickets because um people then have to scan the ticket into the system and very often the police officer or traffic enforcement officer signature pardon me writing on the tickets is not legible. They don't know what the violations are. So the tickets are void and they never can collect that money.

All right. Okay. No other questions. May I have a motion and a second to approve the contract? So moved. Second. Please call the role. Council person Freeman. Yes. Council person Jaffy. Yes. Council person. Yes. And supervisor.

Yes. Um, next one is a resolution to enter into contract with Admir video. Maybe do you want to talk about that briefly? Contract with AdWir. It's a video upgrade or let let me let me say the video system uh here is in need of upgrading. We often have had problems with the equipment and so we're going to enter into a contract to upgrade it and that's what it's about.

Fantastic. Uh maximum cost will be $133,000. I have a motion and a second. So moved. Second. Any further discussion? Please call the role. Council person Freriedman. Yes. Council person Jaffy. Yes. Council person. Yes. And Supervisor Zirkman. Yes. Next item is a By the way, help. Have I skipped anything yet? Have I gotten everything? So far so good. I usually manage to skip over one or more resolutions.

No, you're good. You're good. Numbers though. See the number as you're going. Be helpful for 10. I know I'm on 710.

Uh, this is the resolution to consider participating in the Long Island Sound Wershed Intermunicipal Council, also known as Liswick, an approval of an intermunicipal agreement. Do you want to discuss this? I know I was at the last listen meeting as was Debbie Freeman and this is a very beneficial intermunicipal uh intermunicipal agreement of many municipalities on the Southshore. So I'm not sure that I have much more to add to that. Um this is the um reinvigoration of a an intermunicipal effort um by the communities on the Southshore to advocate for the Long Island Sound Watershed to work together on projects uh to participate jointly in grant applications and other kinds of um initiatives. Certainly we need it. Um so this resolution um approves the bylaws of this um organization that have been agreed to by all of the membership communities and um and the intermunicipal agreement that will provide a framework for us going forward. I mean, we're dealing, this is an agreement among virtually every community that surrounds us from Rybrook, uh, Portchester, city of Rye, town and village of La Marin, even the, uh, town village of Harrison, which is really not on the water, but they're part of it as well.

And Scarsdale and Scarsdale and Larchmont. Mhm. Well, Lan is on the sound.

So, basically all all of the communities in our area are part of this. And what it does is it gives us um increased clout, if you will, when we're dealing with state agencies or federal agencies in securing funds because we sound community speak with one voice and and um this is a very very forceful if you will um agreement that um that we're all participating in. So I think this is really beneficial. Debbie, you were you were at that meeting. Do you have a you want to comment on it? Um yeah, I think it's very beneficial um for us to understand when something happens that has to do with climate or or water or flooding or you know the systems can't handle water and we have to close our beaches and that it affects all of our communities. So our municipal lines we have in terms of where the town of Ry borders are and the various villages and other towns but these weather events and things that happen in the environment don't follow the same lines and we're all interdependent. one municipality does can impact another municipality as far as their own you have envir negative environmental impacts on another municipality. And so I think it's very important for us to work together with our neighbors. Um and so I'm really pleased that there's several initiatives tonight and resolutions on the agenda that have to do with the environment and sustainability. And I think that the town of Ry has done a really good job so far at staying at the forefront. Um and I hope we're going to continue to do so. So yeah, I think it's very important and I'm pleased that we're part of it.

Thank you. Would you like to make the motion? So moved. I'll second. Thank you. Call the role. Council person Freriedman. Yes. Council person Jackie. Yes. Council person. Yes. And supervisor. Yes. Our next resolution is a fun one. We do at least once a year, sometimes twice. budget modifications. John, you want to tell us what this is all about?

So, the um the budget modifications as uh many of you know, Debbie's of course is new is at the end of our fiscal year. Um the uh it's important for us to take a look at any line items that have um come in. In actuality, the actual spend is different more than or less than what was budgeted. And if it if the spending was more than we balance that out with another line where the spending was under so that we um basically create a um um a revised budget for 2025. This is a budget modification issue. So though the um the backup is attached to your resolution um the um modifications if you take a quick look are really quite small. You know $1,000 here, a couple thousand dollars there. Um it all balances out.

I'm happy to answer any questions. I just want to stress that the total appropriations for the year don't change. It's just how it's reallocated within the lines as the year goes on. You know, one uh one budget line may have spent more on pencils than they anticipated and another budget line may have spent less on paper clips,

for example. Um and then there are, you know, several several different uh areas, but uh none of them, as Debbie points out, None of them are uh are egregious or numbers aren't crazy. It's not like we underspent, you know, one line by $300,000 or overspent one line by $300,000.

Yeah. The for example, the the top line item um our court security outsourcing company forgot to change our bills for several years in a row. They were entitled to a year-over-year escalation, but they just forgot to bill us for it. So, they're entitled to those funds. We agreed to them. We're making the modification. $6,000. It's not a significant

correct number. I will say that in the in honor of councilman former councilwoman Lindseay Jackson and former councilman Jill Axelrod, we spend a lot of time every year on the budget and you know Lindsay used to just really drill down on these little micro movements of money but I want to say that this council are we're very good financial stewards. We are doing our best with the administrative a office or the administrative office is doing their best for us to make sure that we meet not exceed goals every year. So taxpayer dollars are in very careful hands.

Thank you. With that, may I have a motion and a second? I'll make the motion. I'll second. Please call the role. Council Person Freriedman. Yes. Council person Jaffy. Yes. Council person Nardy. Yes. And Supervisor Zuckerman. Yes. Um resolution to approve the proposal from the friends of Crawford Park to install a blue stone walking path. I think that we have a uh picture.

The friends would like to install a path at George's Garden. can show pictures. I don't I think this is very non-controversial.

This is this is what the uh these are pictures of what the current garden looks like. It is this path that they that the friends propose to address so that it's no longer a muddy mess. And um this is a picture of the um preferred um path and they have a contractor who uh they have already um identified um they have discussed this project in detail with Victor Federico. He's in full support and um they would like um a blessing to go forward. I'm not even sure it requires a a full resolution, but we have one. So, um I have a motion and a second to accept the proposal from the Friends of Crawford.

Can I just ask a question? Sure. Um do we know what the life um useful life is of this path and maintenance and is that going to require maintenance and is that I'm going to call Victor Federico. Hold on. Vic, you're on. Sorry. just want to understand whether there's going to be ongoing cost. Yeah. And just for anyone who doesn't know, George was our town of bride caretaker for many, many years. And the fact that the friends have created this bench and want to keep his legacy alive and beautify his legacy within a place that was so near and dear to him. I have to thank the friends.

Yes, it's going to be a beautiful pathway. Um, I've met with the, um, landscaper that will be doing it. It's a blue, it'll be a blue stone or flag stone pathway. Um, they wanted something natural that would look fine down there. The pathway right now, we've tried putting wood chips and whatever, but it's very uneven. Um, how long would this last? where it is and how often it will be walked on. You're going to get 25 to 50 years out of it at least.

So it wouldn't require ongoing maintenance. Well, in answer to your question, the friends maintain that garden. So they will maintain they will be maintained. They would maintain it. Yes. Okay. Anything else? Not for now. You may be back. George George was a good guy. He was He left us too soon. He was a good friend. Do anything for you. So, I think this is a worthwhile project. Well, I agree. Well, anyway, I may have a motion in a second. I'll make the motion. Second. We'll do a voice for it. All in favor?

I And now we come up to the another fun part, our homestead base proportions. Charles, would you like to take care of this? Tell us what is a tell the audience viewing at home. What is a homestead base proportion? Charles Zaba, town assessor. Good evening. Um this is an obviously an annual fun event we usually do is we sit here and explain what base proportions are. Um just to give you a little history on it uh back when we did our first revaluation to go 100% this was in 2004 2005 uh we came out with our base proportions at that point we were approximately 7030 residential properties to commercial properties. So annually we have to readjust the base proportion for any physical changes or market changes. So from year to year it could fluctuate if the market's down in residential we could see a shift onto commercials. Then we could see a shift onto residential. So this is something we have to do for the villages and the school districts which then gets approved by New York State and then obviously the board now approves it and then will be applied to all the tax bills going forward for the year. explain who set these base proportions that we are now approving.

Uh they they go by how the shift changes. So I I create the base proport the adjusted base proportions by how the shift in our values from year to year. So if we increase a value for residential properties in a certain area and at let's say 6% and commercial only went up at 3% we can see a shift towards more residential property value for the next year. So, as the values go up and down, there'll be an adjustment to the proportions.

All right. Thank you. Any questions about that? I would like to the way we're going to do this, we'll take take them one at a time, but we're going to do this by voice vote. And just for everybody's edification, uh item 7.19 is a history of the homestead non homestead based proportions prepared by our clerk. spreadsheet. The spreadsheet that shows the history over time. So, um let's start as they said and as they said in the sound of music, let's start at the very beginning.

Okay. Uh resolution to establish a homestead base proportion for the I guess the first one is for the town of R. May I have a motion and a second? Second. All in favor? I resolution to establish a homestead based proportion for the village of Portchester. Make a motion. Second. All in favor? I I We can do this more quickly. Resolution of the of the town board to establish a homestead based proportion for the village of Rybrook. So moved.

Second. All in favor? I resolution of the town board to establish a homestead base proportion for the Portchester School District. Make the motion. Second. All in favor? I resolution of the town board to establish a homestead based proportion for the Ry School District. So moved. Second. All in favor? I forgot Blind Brookke. Yes. Next. Okay. Got it. I know they stuck RIneck in between. That's okay.

Resolution of the town board to establish a homestead base proportion for the Blind Brook School District. Got it. I'm looking at the master grid. Yes, please. Um moved. Second. All in favor? I. Okay. Our next item is a resolution regarding the adoption of the revised employee handbook.

Debbie, this is all yours. So, uh, midway through 2025, the, uh, town engaged a human resources consultant and together with the executive office staff did a deep dive into to review our current employee personnel policy and our handbook. um and uh with the assignment to um update it to ensure that all of the pieces are consistent and support each other um in in terms of you know not having um I'm I'm at the words um basically we want to make ensure consistency and equity throughout the um policy. Also, we have added we wanted to make sure that we were in complete compliance with New York state regulations with regard to the policies that we were carrying and there have been a number of additions as well. Um uh lastly uh you had a memo um several weeks ago uh from John Prriscantelli and I because um we observed um with the help of David Burns that the town had had a PRA was following a practice that was not u memorialized in the um personnel policy. So we have now added that there's actually two and that is namely the um the town um pays our retirees and their dependent we we reimburse them for um their Medicare part B payments and if they have Irma payments we reimburse them for that as well. Um and we are now collecting backup for that but we've been doing it

over the years. it was just not written down. So, it's now written down. Um and uh specifically the um the reimbursements for retirey medical um vision and dental um care. Um the for employees um hired prior to January 1st of 2009 who retire after 10 years of service. um over the age of 55. Um the commitment was that the town would continue to ensure that they can pay the same contribution to their medical care as they were um paying at that time which is 15%. So that is also written down now. Any questions?

Did everybody get a copy of the handbook? Everybody copy got a copy of the handbook and an outline of the changes and an invitation to hold a meeting if they so choose or to submit questions or concerns. Um same thing to the town council um was submitted on October 31st of 2025. Um and um it is good um policy to adopt the personnel handbook every year and we did not do that in January because we wanted to take a closer look at some of the policies. We're now confident that we're on solid ground and I'm presenting it to the council for adoption in February.

Okay. Normally we do this at the U reorganization meeting, but as Debbie said, it was still in a state of flux, so we wanted to present the final version, and that's what we're doing tonight. Okay, questions. You're welcome. It's important to have clarity, so thank you for taking the time to go through. I know it's a lot of work. Thank you. Uh motion second, please. So moved. Second. All in favor? I I

uh next one is a resolution to authorize the administrator to enter into a contract with Sengage Learning. Debbie, tell us what this is.

Yes. So, um many of our staff and uh council members will recognize that they in the in the past couple years we've been um you received um educational short educational programming um and requests to do training um from a company called No Before. We had a a several year agreement with no before that specialized in ensuring that everybody was aware of good cyber hygiene. Um we don't open that email.

That was it. Don't click on that thing. Yes. Um we uh have uh this Sengage is a uh company that was very well re well recommended is uh used by several of our neighboring community neighboring communities and saves us a considerable amount of money and training costs and so I'm recommending that we hire Sage instead which is what this does. How much are we saving? Oh gosh, I don't remember off the top of my head. a couple of thousand dollars a year. All right. Okay. Thank you. Any questions? May I have a motion? Second. Make the motion.

Second. Deb. Call the roll, please. Council person Freriedman. Yes. Council person Jaffy. Yes. Council person Nardy. Yes. And supervisors.

Yes. Our last resolution to approve extending the contract with Simon Security Systems for enhanced coverage of preferred park. This is um to improve our surveillance system. Uh had a contract of that not to exceed $26,377. Um, I believe the council was all aware of this. They have a motion and a second. Make a motion. Second. Any further discussion?

Please call the role. Council person Freriedman. Yes. Council person Jaffy. Yes. Council person. Yes. And supervisor. Yes. Uh, reports. Do we have a Crawford report tonight? If not, it's up, but it's also in your agenda, so we don't need to spend time on it unless you would like. Thank you. Cool. Great job, Crawford team.

All right. Good. Um, does Vic have a separate report or is going to remain in hiding? If he says no, it's okay. He did. He said no. Okay. Thank you, Vic.

John, do you have a a report for us or are you gonna say no also? No, this is exciting for Tom. I'm sure I have the January report to review. Is that up? Um, well, don't think Do we have it? Yes. I think we we'll have it in our in our computers. Oh, you don't have your comput? We have it. I said we do have a spreadsheet. Oh, the spreadsheet.

Great. So, um, let's talk about the tax receables. Um, If you know first glance, the number is higher this year compared to this year, but that's really driven by um 2024 leans, which weren't in last year, right? So, if you factor out the 2024 leans, we're really in good shape. Overall, we've had $775,000 receivables this year versus a million308 when you compare it apples to apples. So, really, our receivables are going in the right direction. Great overall. Okay. So, couple other things I'd like to bring to mind is that if you look at the inrem property, which is foreclosed property, the first three items, um, compared to last year, um, we're at roughly for the inrem properties this year versus last year, this year at 163K versus 431K. So, the inm are also moving in the right direction. and Jeff um collected a big property in um December 143 Westchester Avenue for about 236K. So again, they're moving in the right direction and I know that just been working on it on the other ones. Also, I just want you to know that the 2023 taxes are going to go to INREM in February. Okay. So, we're gonna have

February of this year. Yeah. Because it's 18 months, right? It was two years, but now it's 18 months. So, we're going to have a whole new set of inround properties, new in properties in February, and they're going to be substantial. There are 52 properties. Okay. Wow. Yeah, that's a lot of properties. So, be prepared for a big spreadsheet next month. It's your notm as Gary pointed out to me.

Okay. So, What I also want to point out to you is when you look at these schedules, okay, on this first page for inrem, that's only the original property where the lean was begun. Okay. So, if you look at the three, that's the only that's the original property where the Are we looking at schedule C? Um, you're looking at Well, you can, but I'm still on the first page. Oh, you're on the first page. I'm on the second page.

Okay. Well, we can go to but I just want to point out that when you look at the first schedule, okay, those inrem properties are the original lean amount. Okay, that doesn't include leans subsequent to 101 inrem as well as interest as well as penalty and interest. Now, to your points, uh, Gary, if you go to the next schedule C, that shows the total amount which includes penalty, interest, and additional leans. So the total of those INREM properties are $962,731. That sits on our balance sheet. Okay. On our balance sheet. John, I'm not looking at the right one. I'm looking at

January. Are you looking at January 2026, which is Yeah. So we've got we've got 1231 2025. Okay. So that's why none of the numbers that you're saying match what we're looking I have I have January. Okay. But January is uploaded also. But it's uploaded also. Look, they're refreshing full summary with comparison as of January. Can you tell me where to find? We might need to refresh. Uh, hope is just is it okay? Better refresh. Updated.

I'm sorry. the text financials, but I think you That's not good. Okay. So, if you pop open the I only have 12 in rim. No, excuse me. The tax receable first one. No. Okay. So, there's the last one right here. Oh, I I have it now. Okay. So, again, moving in the right direction. Um, if you really wanted to compare this apples to apples, you'd back out the 2024 lean property because that wasn't

um outstanding last year. So again, moving in the right direction. Overall receivables, if you back out that 956,000, it's 775 versus 1,308 on an apples to apples basis. Okay. Oh, that's the number. I'm looking at the bottom number. Okay. So, if you back that out and compare apples to apples, this is about 775K versus a million308. So, it's moving in the right direction. So, the other thing I was going to point out, thank you, Carla.

Oh, so we're taking out the 956. Yeah, because if you want to look at apples to apples, so if you go here on these three items, okay, which are inrem properties compared to last year again, they're moving in the right direction. Okay, okay, they're at about 16 163 versus about 488. So that's also moving in the right direction. And a big contributor to to that was here where, as I said, a big in room property was collected by Jeff in December. Okay. And I know he's working on other ones. Jeff went out to the he went out and knocked on the door and said, "Give me your money." It's been done before. So, everybody else, is everybody good with that?

Yeah. Okay. So, another thing I wanted to point out is when you look at this schedule, right? This is only the original principal amount when the property went first into lean. All righty. So, that's only about 163,000. But that's not what's on the balance sheet. If you go to the next schedule, can you pull up the next schedule, which is schedule C. And I think it's important that you know that because you're not seeing the whole picture, right? No, it's the next one. It's the one above that that um we're looking at.

Yeah. Right. Okay. Good. So again, this is what appears on the balance sheet, okay? Not the original $163,000. That doesn't include leans subsequent to the original property, the original property lean. It includes leans after that plus penalty and interest. So this is what appears on the balance sheet. 153 plus 209 plus 599, which is about $962,000. So that amount includes the original lean plus subsequent leans plus penalty and interest that's on the balance sheet.

We have to figure out a way to take that schedule A because those those properties are basically dead to us. I mean the we own the oral property outright. We just haven't taken the deed on the two others. Um, so th those properties are are already in re. They shouldn't really be on the balance sheet. Okay, fine. Then I, you know, we can I'll talk to the orders of how you want to book. We have a reserve. They might already be reserved.

I think you need to talk not only to the auditors but to the state controls office as to as to how to handle that. I will do that because they are old and And we did take we did take title to one of the properties. Yeah, that's the place. Yeah. And the oral the or the the first one we own. The second one is a sliver of land on King Street. The property is in Greenwich. The that uh 1093 King Street is uh a sliver of land that is several hundred square feet.

Okay. that's located uh just off the road on King Street before the Greenwich property line where the rest of the property is located. And the third one is a cell tower on top of the housing authority which is a bonus contention which is a bonus content. So the first two I'll talk I'll talk to Dan I met Dan who's in the auditing division for New York. I'll talk to him this week. So he wants to see what he wants to do. Let's a point to get that off the books for this year for the so that going into 2026 is off the books in one way or another.

And the the other one is on schedule B that's in litigation. Okay. And in schedule C, Jeff is about to file in papers on those properties because that's like I said 52 more properties right in February. They're going to come up and that's a lot of properties and again they will continue on penalty and interest on so that's going to be pretty substantial. Right now I think it's $377,000

but it includes penalty. Okay. So, and it's going to build until we get paid. So, those are the really important things I think on this schedule. A couple other things I want to go over too. I think we have to before you Jeff, we're going to have to when when that date when you give Jeff the date that they go in REM, Jeff will be sending out letters. Okay. notifying them of a redemption date because we send out a letter. The law requires 90 days. We usually give them 120 days and then after that he can file the in petition. Carl and myself have already been going over that schedule.

Carl is actually doing it. So we'll have it we'll have the actual principal penalty and interesting. Okay. Very good. Okay. Other than that um this month I know Carlo gets it. I don't want to Thunder, but we literally sent out about 59,000 59 million 59,400,000 we collected and sent out to the schools and school tax. So that was sent out beginning of February, right? That's out the door. She's probably going to talk about something else. And the other thing I also have to let you know is the audit starts next week. Okay. for the source

already. The audit for the town. Yeah, have they done the order for the court? Yes, but I don't know. Just asking. Yeah, I don't know. Okay. It went pretty quick as I understand it. So, thank you. You know, I asked about that. Usually, it's usually a four day audit, right? And then the fifth day is at the court. So, the court's already been done. So, it I would expect that it's going to be a four-day audit. Hold. Wait, wait. John, can't go quite yet. Do any of the council members have any questions for our controller?

None. Thank you. All right. Now, we can get to the receiver. Hi everyone. Um I move to talk about the villager Ry Brook second. I think you should I think you should introduce yourself.

Carla Pley receiver of taxes. Um the only thing that's going on right now is the village of Ry Brook second installment taxes have been mailed and they're online. They're due by February 28th. we are allowed to give them till March 2nd by law since the 28th falls on a Saturday. Um just another note that we did send delinquent letters to schools and county taxes. So if you did get them, please pay them because the penalty will just keep going up. um compare online. It's safe and secure and it's really the easiest way to do that at this point. We've gotten a lot of calls from people that we did not receive their checks and that's a big concern for us. So, we're really pushing the online payment at this point.

I think that's a really good idea. We really are. I think we should consider sending a text mygov out to people. We're going to put a little um we're going to put a slip in the county bills like a separate slip just to encourage it more and hopefully that'll you know that'll push people more. They can set up automatic payments too. Is that correct? Well, it's hard to set up automatic only because the amounts might differ.

The amounts might differ, but they could set up their whole, you know, account, the bank account or their credit card, whatever they want to do. They could do that. Is there a way with the system to to be able to account for the difference? In other words, when let's say your your village bill is $4,000, for example, and the next the next village bill year might be $4,200. Is there a way that we could communicate automatically by computer with um

with count well when they get their first No, I'm asking I'm asking I don't know how how much about for example if you get a credit card bill yeah if you want to set up an automatic payment right you could usually have three choices you could set up I want to pay the minimum right I want to pay the full amount due or I want to pay a set amount so is Is there anything that we could do regarding that where because the bank will obviously know what those numbers are. So is there a way that when we have that set up that we can make it easier so that the taxpayer would be able to to do something and say I'm not sure I have to ask

the company but I understand what you're saying like when they get their first new bill they'll know the two amounts. So, yeah, that would be good if they could just set them both up, right? No, I I don't know if him, but I could find out. Thanks, Carla. You're welcome. Carla, do any of the council members have questions of our receiver?

Thank you, Carla. Attorney, do you have anything else you would like to tell us? I'd just like to accept all the praise for collecting all that money. I'd like to thank the economy. Nothing. Slow clap. Slow clap. That was very good. Good job. All right. Good luck next month with the 52 new ones. So,

all right. We um our our tax collector numbers are filed. uh town clerk's report is filed. Do you have anything you would like to add? Because I do see something. Yes. For uh to mark your calendars for the next mobile shredder event which takes place on Saturday, March 14th h from 10 to 1 in the parking lot of the of the town of Ryan Village of Portchester. I'm putting that in my calendar right now.

I actually just did too and I showed hope. I'm like, I'm going this time. It's very easy and convenient. You don't even have to get out of your car and they'll take your papers and they'll put them in the shredder and it's a really very convenient easy way to dispose of those confidential documents. I swear we get so many calls on this 10. Yes. when it automatically 10 to 1. It says 10 to 11. Saturday, March 14th, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 222 Grace Church Street as per the flyer. Thank you, Deb. You read that very well. I also already put it in my calendar.

We all have it in our calendar. Okay, great. That's okay. Um, anything else from the council? Comments, questions? The only comment I have to say is please pay your taxes. 52 uh residences is a lot. Please answer your mail. Get in touch with the attorneys. Work it out. You really need We don't want your property. Please pay your taxes. We really don't. We don't want your property. We really don't. We want you to pay the taxes. You know, I know it's embarrassing. I know you're embarrassed, but been there, done that.

Yeah. So please find a way now. Thank you. And and you know I I just say this to people. Um the penalties especially the school penalties are very severe for unpaid taxes. You're dealing in, you know, 12% and it's uh if possible people can can take out a mortgage at a much lower rate than that to to make sure their taxes are paid. So, please please get your taxes in. My receivers department is we must follow the law.

Yeah, I I know I know that the receiver fields calls. Can you give me a break? Can you, you know, can you wave the interest? Things. She cannot do that. These are all done according to law. The interest cannot be waved. Penalties cannot be waved. She has absolutely no authority to do that. So, please pay your taxes. Thank you. And with that, I would like a motion to that. I was going to say I have one last comment. You go. Oh, I thought I didn't hear any. Oh, I'm sorry. Please.

Yes. I want to thank the villages because we have gotten a heck ton of snow and they have done a fantastic fantastic job of keeping our roads clean and plowed and safe for residents. So, credit goes there to the villages and those municipalities. And I actually want to thank my colleagues on the board and our town clerk and the staff and everybody for having patience with me and answering all my questions and and helping me get up to speed as I try to learn everything that goes on here. So, thank you really. It's been a pleasure to work with everybody and I look forward to continuing to get to know everybody who I don't know yet and to continue to work, you know, with everybody across the board. So, thank you all.

I just want to say I just want to say you asked some very good questions. You asked a lot of them. But they're all very good, very intelligent, very well thought out, and it's a pleasure to work with you. Could I have a motion to move? Second. All in favor? I