Board Highlights July 14, 2025

With heavy rain outside and warnings of flash flooding, the Board of Trustees (BOT) shortened the July 14^th meeting.  The agenda was abbreviated and the public hearing on a proposed local law to add the position of Auditor, as well as the other deferred items, were postponed until the July 28 meeting.

Capital Plan Approved

With a unanimous vote, the BOT approved the 5 Year Capital Plan.  See Plan HERE. See previous article HERE.

Village Manager Kathleen Gill pointed out that the BOT was actually only voting on funding the projects in the first fiscal year (2026/26) and that funding for those projects did not involve issuance of any new debt but would instead be funded by grants and the reserve fund.

Plans for subsequent years will be changed as more information is available and the BOT will be asked to fund each year, presumably during the budget process.  The 5 Year Plan is expected to a “rolling plan” and will be updated each year with the fifth year.  This will allow the BOT to make better decisions on capital spending and its impact on the operating budget.

Food at Harbor Island Park

Apparently in response to a request from the Village, two potential vendors presented their concepts for a food concession in Harbor Island Park.  These proposals are very preliminary, and the details of the arrangement need to be developed with Village management.  These details include everything from location, Village financial involvement, whether a permanent structure will be required and revenue sharing.

The first, Salt Shack, is a venture proposed by the owners of the SmokeHouse Tailgate Grill on Mamaroneck Avenue.  See presentation HERE. They emphasized a “family friendly” menu with burgers, salads, a vegetarian option – things easy to eat on the go.

The second presentation, Beach Bites was from a local resident who is a business partner in The Dog Den in White Plains.  See presentation HERE. This proposal includes a food truck as an interim step until a final location and permanent structure is available.  The menu was described as “street food” – hot dogs, tacos, sliders, protein bowls and sweets.

Both presenters promised to hire local youths and seemed to understand that this is just the beginning of the process to select a vendor and develop the concept of food in Harbor Island Park.

Crosswalks

The Traffic Commission requested the BOT consider adding or maintaining existing crosswalks at the following intersections – Florence and Keeler, Jensen and Keeler, Brook and N. Barry and Hillside and Howard.  After a lengthy discussion regarding the efficacy of crosswalks, the BOT decided to add the item to the July 28^th agenda.  There was concern about public input and the BOT asked for emails on the matter.  Later in the meeting, Diana Reilly, the Rye Neck Schools Safe Routes to School volunteer spoke to the BOT urging them to approve the crosswalks.

Interestingly, Gill reported that crosswalks need to be repainted every 2-3 years, and all crosswalk painting is done during off hours using overtime.

New Holiday Lights

American Christmas, a holiday lighting company from whom the Village has previously purchased holiday decorations, presented a new Holiday Décor plan to light up Mamaroneck from the train station to the Pavillion in Harbor Island Park.  See presentation HERE.

The proposal included adorning the green lampposts on Mamaroneck Avenue (including the few at the entrance to the Avenue), displays at the entrance to Harbor Island Park, and a large Holiday tree in the park with a photo op setup.  Options were given for all the elements of the proposal.

Some of the existing decorations are around twenty years old and need replacement but this proposal greatly expands the holiday lighting in the central business district.  No cost estimates were included in the presentation, and it appears much more work needs to be done before any decisions are made.

Village Stormwater Regulations to be Overhauled

Village Manager Kathleen Gill gave an update that the Village’s stormwater regulations will be reviewed by an outside planning firm.  Residents and land use board members have been asking for this update for many years as flooding has become more frequent and severe.

The $14,000 fee is covered under the Goldstein legal settlement (see HERE) where Goldstein, in consultation with the Village Manager, designates a flood mitigation project.  The remaining $4,000 will be allocated in the future.

Gill said it should take about a month to have information ready for the BOT.

Residents Incensed About Project at Mamaroneck Avenue School

During the public comment portion of the meeting, several Washingtonville residents expressed their exhaustion, anger and dismay about what they describe as their “abused community.”  A “solar carport structure” is being built by the Mamaroneck School District at Mamaroneck Avenue School located in the heart of Washingtonville.  Residents charge that the construction project circumvented required land use board review and/or building department permitting.  Concerns include an unsightly structure, environmental issues and concrete pilings near a stream and over an aquifer that could exacerbate the already serious flooding in the area.

The Mamaroneck Observer will follow-up on this story in future editions.