Board Highlights June 23, 2025

Capital Budget

For the first time in memory, and maybe the first time ever, the Village is about to have a Five Year Capital Plan.  Village Manager Kathleen Gill and Assistant Village Manager Dennis Delborgo continued discussion of this $100.8 million Plan with the Board of Trustees (BOT) at a Work Session on June 23rd.

The Plan (see HERE) includes 80 projects listed by department and category including Equipment, Infrastructure Improvement, Vehicle, and Pedestrian Safety.  The first year (current FY) includes $3.9 million in projects, many of which are underway.

At the beginning of the discussion, Gill emphasized that flooding was the number one priority, and the flood related projects are listed separately.  (See article on Flood Plan HERE.) The eight flood projects total over $2.1 million, 54% of the capital budget for this fiscal year.

The remaining four years are listed together as the staff and BOT continue work on prioritizing the projects.  The BOT will vote on the Capital Budget on July 14th.  Please note there is an error in the amount for the Trash Receptacles on Mamaroneck Avenue page 2, line 6.  It should read $75,000 and not $11 million. 

Abandoned Vehicles

After a referral by the Traffic Commission, and a discussion at the June 9th BOT meeting, Police Chief PJ Trujillo appeared to clear up some misunderstanding regarding the reporting of abandoned vehicles on Village streets and commented about the length of time the vehicle should remain before removal.

The presence of any apparent abandoned vehicles can be reported to the Village Police Department within “one or two days,” according to Trujillo.  This starts the waiting period before the vehicle can be removed.  During what was formerly seven days and now has changed to four days, the police document the presence of the vehicle, complete with photos of the location of the tire valve and attempt to contact the owner.  If the owner of the vehicle cannot be reached, a red warning sticker is attached to the vehicle.

As the BOT considered shortening the waiting period to three days, Trujillo recommended that the period from report to removal be no shorter than four days to allow vehicle owners to work with the police and take care of the matter.  The BOT subsequently voted to change the waiting period to four days after the first report – which can be as early as the second day the vehicle is noticed.

Trujillo also advised residents who rely on parking on Village streets to notify the Police Department if their vehicle will be on the street for an extended period due to vacation, illness or any other reason.

Westchester Joint Water Works Filtration Project

Reluctantly, the BOT passed a bond resolution for the entire $205 million for the design and construction of the Filtration Plant even though the Village is only responsible for 27.7% of the project.  This action is a requirement of the project funding sources, and the Towns of Harrison and Mamaroneck are also required to do the same.

After many years of trying to avoid building a large filtration plant as required by the federal Clean Water Act, the project is moving forward.  Financing has not been finalized but a subsidized loan for the construction cost of $175 million from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation’s (NYSEDC) New York State Drinking Water State Revolving Fund is under review.  This will reduce the cost of bonding (borrowing money).  Additionally, an Intermunicipal Grant application from the NYSEDC is pending and would reduce the overall cost of the project.

Design and other costs, including fees will be paid by the three municipalities.  The Village’s 27.7% share is estimated to be $8.3 million which will be borrowed and the debt charges added to future water bills.  When the total financing plan is in place, the Village’s share of construction debt will be available and that, too, will be added to our water bills.

Consent Agenda Items Voted as One

As the BOT continues the trial period for the new meeting process, eleven action items discussed at the June 9th BOT meeting, were voted on with a single vote.  These are non-controversial items, and this process allows the meetings to move along faster.

Included on the Consent Agenda for June 23rd was the hiring of an independent auditor to assist the BOT in the audit of the bills, approval of a contract with Dana Pest Control to address the rat issues along the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake rivers in Washingtonville, and approval of new fees for some Village programs and services.  See Fee Schedule HERE.

Summer Fun for Everyone

Jason Pinto, Recreation Superintendent gave an comprehensive presentation of all the Village programs offered this summer.  There is at least one program every week ranging from concerts to movies to parties on the beach.  And don’t forget the Fire Department Carnival that starts on June 26th and fireworks on July 4th.  See the Events Calendar for details.  https://www.villageofmamaroneckny.gov/calendar/month

Public Commenters Thank the Administration

At a very sparsely attended BOT meeting, two regular attendees came to the podium to thank the staff and BOT.

Bea Cerasoli commended Assistant Village Manager Dennis Delborgo for his work on the Flood Plan.  She also thanked Mayor Sharon Torres for her work and mentioned that the talk on social media was that the Village wasn’t doing anything about flooding was false.

Donyella Bierman, a member of the Ad Hoc Affordable Housing Committee thanked the BOT for appointing her, someone who clearly had a different opinion than others on the Committee. .  Reading from a prepared statement Bierman said that her different voice “led to deeper critical thinking” and “allowed her to bring forth voices of people that were being stifled.”  She urged the BOT that “until we can assure the people of this village that our elected officials and those placed on boards by said officials are working with the interest of protecting our residents then and only then can we move forward with development that will not exacerbate the problems we already have.”