What’s up with the BOT? February 9, 2026

First of all, the Board of Trustees (BOT) and staff rearranged the seating as the staff was seated on the dais – a throwback to years past.  Trustee Nora Lucas, who was ill, tried to participate via Zoom but had problems with her audio throughout the meeting.

A New Master Plan for Harbor Island Park

The BOT authorized Village Manager Kathleen Gill to enter into a contract with BBS Architecture to develop a Master Plan for Harbor Island Park.  See proposal HERE.

Selected by an internal committee from five or six submissions, the proposer sees the project as “an opportunity to help the Village shape the next chapter for Harbor Island Park – ensuring that it remains a place where neighbors gather, children play, recreation thrives, and the Village’s diverse character is celebrated for generations to come.”

The project is expected to cost $39,500, funded by grant money with a 100% match from the Village.  The consultants will review past and current projects and hold at least three public sessions to get community input.

New Board Procedures

After much discussion at an earlier work session (see HERE), the BOT passed new procedures for their meetings without any further discussion.  One change from the previous version is that no member of the BOT must vote where previously it was only the mayor who had to vote if there was a tie.  Mayor Torres exercised this option at the Legislative Session by not voting on any measure before the BOT.  None of the votes required a tiebreaker. See procedures HERE.

Preliminary Audit Results for FY 2024-25

Jeffery Shaver, Partner at PKF O’Connor Davies, presented a preliminary financial report for last fiscal year.  See presentation HERE.

The final numbers show that the Village was over budget for revenue and under budget for expenses and was able to add $988K to the fund balance.  Helping this bottom line was the receipt of $1.96 million in Federal grant monies.

The fund balance stands at 39% of the budget which Shaver deemed appropriate.  When Shaver presented the slide showing the total Village debt at 139% of the general fund budget, Trustee Ellen Silver questioned the numbers.  Shaver reported that the debt included all debt (general, water and sewer) but the budget was just the general fund.  He will change the analysis for the final audit report in order to more clearly reflect the Village’s commitments.

Leave the Leaves?

Continuing their discussion from an earlier work session and in possession of a memo from James Barney, General Foreman of the Department of Public Works (DPW), a majority of the BOT clearly came out in favor of ending the process of picking up loose leaves in the Fall.  Despite Barney’s arguments against the change (see HERE) the BOT discussed bagging the leaves and/or encouraging property owners to “leave the leaves” as mulch for their properties.  Gill said she would discuss this change with Barney.  Watch this space as there will be more to come as draft changes to the Village Code are made public.

Limiting Massage Parlors Operations

Also at the work session, the BOT discussed draft changes to the Village Code regarding Massage Establishments.  See HERE. Major changes include requiring the special permit be renewed annually, a mandatory police inspection prior to each renewal, limitations on where these establishments can be located vis-a-vis residential districts, schools and libraries, and a reduction in hours of operation (currently 7 am to 10 pm).  Village Attorney, Steven Pambianchi, has been working closely with Police Chief PJ Trujillo and will make further changes based on the BOT discussion.

Currently, there is an application before the Zoning Board of Appeals for such an establishment.  See HERE.

Storm Water and Winged Foot Golf Club

Although located in the Town of Mamaroneck, storm water runoff from Winged Foot Golf Club does impact the Village.  Village Manager Kathleen Gill reported that Winged Foot is proposing a change in their storm water management on site but no changes to water that flows offsite and into the Village.  Gill has engaged an engineer to review Winged Foot’s system.  The Town Planning Board will consider the matter at their meeting at 7 pm on February 11^th in the Town Courtroom.  The Village has made a formal request that the matter be adjourned awaiting the engineer’s report.  Gill urged residents to attend and Mayor Sharon Torres will be there to address the issue.