[Call to Order]
[Consent Agenda]
[00:01:28]
I CALL THIS JULY 6TH, 2026, REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS.
COUNCIL MEMBER FREI-PEARSON, WILL YOU PLEASE LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.
TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MR. CARUSO.
HERE. BEFORE WE PROCEED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA, I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE.
WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL ROOM AND PERSON IN THE ROOM TONIGHT IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
FOR WHAT NUMBER? WHAT NUMBER? OKAY. WELL, THEN WE WILL SKIP THIS FOR A MOMENT.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO SAY THAT MY GOOD FRIEND AND A MODEL CITIZEN, JESS LORDAN, IS WITH US THIS EVENING, AND FOR A VERY GOOD REASON.
WITH THAT, UH, COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRESSER, DO WE HAVE A CONSENT AGENDA? MR. MAYOR, WE DO INDEED.
BEFORE I OFFER THE CONSENT AGENDA, I MOVE THAT ITEM 50 S BE SUBSTITUTED FOR ITEM 50, IN ORDER TO CORRECT THE DONATION SUBMITTED BY WUNDER FOR SOCCER.
I ALSO WISH TO NOTE THAT COUNCIL MEMBER SIMMONS IS RECUSING HERSELF FROM ITEM NUMBER 58, AN ITEM FOR INFORMATION FOR THE WHITE PLAINS HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD.
I OFFER THE CONSENT AGENDA OF ITEMS ONE THROUGH 59 AND REQUEST UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO CONSIDER FOR ACTION THE ORDINANCES ON FOR A FIRST READING.
I FURTHER MOVE TO ADOPT THOSE ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS.
FILE AND SPREAD ALL COMMUNICATIONS.
REFER THOSE MATTERS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO THE APPROPRIATE CITY DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND FILE ANY ATTACHMENTS.
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? MISTER CARUSO? YES.
YES, MR. WOLFE? YES, MR. MAYOR.
YES. TONIGHT'S CONSENT AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS.
ITEM ONE RE APPOINTS MEMBERS TO THE ETHICS BOARD.
ITEM TWO APPOINTS A MEMBER OF THE WHITE PLAINS DOWNTOWN DISTRICT MANAGEMENT.
THE BID OR BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
THAT APPOINTMENT IS ZACH SALINO, WHO IS WITH US TODAY.
HE BRINGS CONSIDERABLE EXPERTISE IN BUSINESS AND IN WORK WITH COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT ORGANIZATIONS TO THIS TASK.
AND WE WELCOME HIM TO THE WHITE PLAINS BID BOARD, WHICH THE CITY WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH, TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF WHITE PLAINS.
SO THANK YOU FOR AGREEING TO SERVE.
I WANT TO SAY ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE COUNCIL, WE WANT TO THANK YOU, MR. CELLINO.
I KNOW THAT I'VE PERSONALLY WORKED WITH YOU ON AN HONORABLE AND UPSTANDING PERSON.
[00:05:01]
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SERVICE TO.ARE YOUR CONTINUING SERVICE TO OUR CITY? ITEMS THREE THROUGH SIX AMENDS THE CAPITAL PROJECT FUND BY AMENDING CAPITAL PROJECT C 5677 ENTITLED LIBRARY PARKING STRUCTURE REHABILITATION.
ITEM SEVEN THROUGH TEN AMENDS THE OPERATING BUDGET AND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND BY ESTABLISHING CAPITAL PROJECT AND NUMBER C 5697 ENTITLED RENAISSANCE FOUNTAIN REHABILITATION.
ITEMS 11 THROUGH 12 EXECUTE CONTRACTS WITH THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
ITEMS 13 THROUGH 18 AUTHORIZES AGREEMENTS WITH LEGAL FILE SOFTWARE, INC., COHEN LAW GROUP AND SPECIAL COUNSEL COUNCIL MEMBER CARUSO.
YOU KNOW, I'M THE NEWEST COUNCIL MEMBER HERE.
AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING IS HOW COMPLICATED IT IS TO RUN A CITY AND HOW MANY DEPARTMENTS THERE ARE IN THAT CITY, AND HOW SO MANY OF THEM ARE UNSUNG AND SELDOM GET ANY KIND OF PRESS OR ANY KIND OF RECOGNITION.
AND ONE OF THEM HERE IN OUR CITY IS THE LAW DEPARTMENT, WHICH WORKS VERY HARD TO KEEP OUR CITY SAFE, HELP WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FUNDS ARE WELL SPENT AND THE CITY IS PROTECTED LEGALLY.
AND I KNOW THAT ACTING CORPORATION COUNSEL RICH AND HER STAFF HAVE WORKED VERY HARD, AND IT WAS SOMEWHAT SURPRISING TO ME TO FIND OUT THAT THEY'VE WORKED VERY HARD AND VERY WELL WITH SOME TOOLS THAT ARE SOMEWHAT OUTDATED.
AND AS WE SAY, THIS ITEM WILL BRING THE LAW DEPARTMENT SOMEWHAT INTO THE 21ST CENTURY, UM, IN TERMS OF THEIR RECORD KEEPING.
AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IN THE GREATER CITY BUDGET IS NOT VERY HUGE OR VERY BIG, BUT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO THE WELFARE OF OUR CITY.
SO I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THEM AND FULL SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM.
UH, ITEMS 19 THROUGH 20 RENEWS AND EXTENDS THE ANNUAL CONTRACT WITH THE THOMAS H.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT THAT WE'RE GOING INTO A NEW BUDGET WITH THE SLATER CENTER, AND HEATHER MILLER, THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OVER 45 YEARS, IS RETIRING, AND WE HAD A PARTY THAT THEY HONORED HER IN NEW ROCHELLE TWO WEEKS AGO.
FOR HER 45 YEARS OF SERVICE, SHE HAPPENS TO BE KNOWN AS ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS IN THE WHOLE STATE.
AND SHE HAS BUILT THAT SLATER CENTER INTO A PHENOMENAL ORGANIZATION WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, AND I THINK WE SHOULD HONOR HER.
SHE WAS HONORED BY BEING ON THE JUMBOTRON, UM, WITH HER CALLING HEATHER MILLER DAY.
AND SHE'S JUST DONE A TERRIFIC JOB.
AND I WANT TO EXPRESS MY OWN GRATITUDE TO HER AS A BOARD MEMBER, LONGTIME BOARD MEMBER.
AND THE SEAT IS BEING HANDED OVER TO DELPHINE BURTON, WHO GREW UP IN LYNBROOK AND WAS RAISED THROUGH THE SLATER CENTER AND HAS A PHENOMENAL KNOWLEDGE AND BACKGROUND IN THE OPERATION OF THE ORGANIZATION.
AND SHE'S ALSO A MINISTER OF BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH.
SO WE'RE LEAVING IT IN GOOD HANDS TO THANK YOU.
YES, I THINK WE'RE ALL IN AGREEMENT THAT HEATHER MILLER HAD VERY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I MIGHT ADD THAT COUNCILMAN NICK WOLF HAD VERY DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AND I BELIEVE, SERVED FOR OVER 20 YEARS ON THE BOARD OF THE SLATER CENTER.
SO EVERYBODY'S PULLING AND ROLLING TOGETHER.
AND WE DID HAVE A DAY, DECLARED THE HEATHER MILLER DAY IN THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS TO THANK HER AND CONGRATULATE HER.
AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO DELPHINE BURTON'S LEADERSHIP.
AND I RECENTLY MET WITH HER, AND I KNOW EVERYBODY'S GOING TO FIND HER INSPIRING AND HARDWORKING, AND WE'LL KEEP THE GOOD WORK GOING.
ON ITEMS 20 THROUGH 21, 21 THROUGH 22.
AUTHORIZES LITIGATION AND RETENTION RETENTION OF SPECIAL COUNSEL ITEMS 23 THROUGH 26.
APPROVES THE EMPLOYMENT OF APPRAISERS AND THE RETENTION OF LABOR COUNCIL ITEMS 27 THROUGH 28.
AUTHORIZES THE TAX SETTLEMENT OF TAX REVIEW PROCEEDINGS.
ITEMS 29 THROUGH 30 AUTHORIZES THE EXECUTION OF A JOINT TERRORISM TASK FORCE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.
ITEMS 31 THROUGH 32 AUTHORIZES AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK FOR USE OF CERTAIN FACILITIES AT SUNY PURCHASE COLLEGE.
ITEMS 33 THROUGH 40 AUTHORIZES GRANTS FROM NEW YORK-PRESBYTERIAN HUDSON VALLEY, FRIENDS OF THE WHITE PLAINS YOUTH BUREAU, THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER, AND NEW YORK STATE TO SUPPORT VARIOUS YOUTH BUREAU PROGRAMS. ITEMS 41 THROUGH 42 AMENDS THE BUDGET FOR THE YOUTH BUREAU'S STEM CAMP.
ITEMS 43 THROUGH 44 AUTHORIZES A GRANT FOR SUNY PURCHASE LP SUMMER MEDICAL CAREER LEADERS.
ITEMS 45 THROUGH 46 ACCEPTS A DONATION FOR THE YOUTH BUREAU'S S.A.T.
ITEMS 47 THROUGH 48 AUTHORIZES INTERMUNICIPAL AGREEMENTS TO PROVIDE A GRANT.
UNITED MENTORING PROGRAM COUNCIL MEMBER JEREMIAH FREI-PEARSON.
[00:10:01]
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.AS THE MAYOR OFTEN SAYS, THE YOUTH BUREAU IS OUR THE SECRET SAUCE OF OUR CITY.
AND I JUST WANT EVERY AS FREQUENT WATCHERS WILL KNOW, ONE OF MY GREAT PLEASURES IS I GET TO SING THE PRAISES OF THE YOUTH BUREAU QUITE REGULARLY, AND YOUTH BUREAU IS ALWAYS DOING FANTASTIC THINGS.
OUR GRANDPA'S UNITED PROGRAM IS SOMETHING THAT OUR YOUTH BUREAU CAME UP WITH THAT IS NOW GOING NATIONWIDE.
AND I JUST WANT TO FLAG AGAIN THAT THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS WILL ALWAYS FUND ITS YOUTH BUREAU, AND OUR YOUTH BUREAU WILL PROVIDE SERVICES FOR EVERY SINGLE CHILD IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO NEEDS IT, AS WELL AS INTERGENERATIONAL SERVICES AS WELL.
SO WE HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF IN THIS CITY.
AND I CERTAINLY URGE ANY PARENTS WHO HAVE KIDS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE YOUTH BUREAU.
AND I WILL POINT OUT THAT I COULD TALK ABOUT THE YOUTH BUREAU FOR HOURS AS WELL, BUT I WILL NOT DO THAT.
BUT I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBER FREI-PEARSON IS THE CHAIR OF THE YOUTH BUREAU AND DOES DEVOTE AN EXTRAORDINARY AMOUNT OF TIME AND ENERGY ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US TO MAKE OUR YOUTH BUREAU'S STRONGER, BETTER, AND AND TO HELP ALL OF THE CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY THOSE THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE.
ITEMS 51 THROUGH 52 AMENDS THE TRAFFIC ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS IN RELATION TO A TWO HOUR PARKING MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY ZONE ON THOMPSON AVENUE AND ADDING A NO PARKING AT ANY TIME ZONE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THOMPSON AVENUE.
ITEMS 53 THROUGH 55 SCHEDULES A PUBLIC HEARING FOR AUGUST 3RD, 2026, IN RELATION TO A PETITION FOR A ZONING AMENDMENT TO PERMIT MANY STORAGE FACILITIES IN THE CB THREE CORE BUSINESS DISTRICT AS A SPECIAL PERMIT USE, ITEM 56 REFERS A PETITION REQUESTING AN EXTENSION FOR BROOKFIELD COMMONS.
ITEM 57 TRANSMITS THE SUMMARY OF THE ADOPTED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 TO 2027.
ITEM 58 APPOINTS MEMBER A MEMBER TO THE WHITE PLAINS HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD.
TONIGHT WE HAVE THE PLEASURE OF HAVING JUST JORDAN WITH US.
SHE IS AN INCREDIBLY INSPIRING PERSON.
I WON'T EVEN TELL YOU HOW BIG HER TITLE WAS AT IBM.
SHE WAS ONE OF THE MOST SENIOR LAWYERS, AND SHE LEFT TO SERVE THE BROADER COMMUNITY AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CONGREGATION COLUMN IN HER HUSBAND'S AND HER FAMILY'S TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE.
SHE HAS AGREED TO SERVE ON OUR HOUSING AUTHORITY BOARD, WHICH MOST OF YOU KNOW DOES TREMENDOUS WORK REBUILDING OUR HOUSING AUTHORITY AND MAKING IT BETTER.
SO I PERSONALLY WANT TO THANK JUST FOR SERVING AND THANK EVERYONE HERE FOR, OF COURSE, APPOINTING HER UNANIMOUSLY TO THIS POSITION WHERE SHE CAN CONTINUE HER HARD WORK TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR BROADER COMMUNITY.
UH, ITEMS. ITEM 59 APPOINTS A MEMBER TO THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE.
I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY RECOGNIZE OUR SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE, WHICH DOES TREMENDOUS WORK.
OFTEN HAS EARTH DAY EVENTS AND DOES A LOT OF THINGS IN OUR CITY.
AND I PARTICULARLY WANT TO THANK JOE FOR HIS SERVICE.
JOE HAS BEEN AN INFORMAL MEMBER OF THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE FOR NEARLY A YEAR.
HE PUT TOGETHER THE NEWSLETTER.
HE'S AT EVERY SINGLE EVENT, ORGANIZING IT, MAKING SURE THAT OUR CITY IS AS GREEN, AS SUSTAINABLE AS IT CAN BE, AND HIS SERVICE SHOULD BE APPLAUDED.
WELL, THIS IS AN UNUSUAL MOMENT.
THIS BASICALLY CONCLUDES OUR MEETING.
I CAN'T EXPLAIN THAT, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO COMPLAIN.
AS MOST OF THE PEOPLE DO KNOW THOUGH, WE HAD QUITE AN EXTENDED WORK SESSION LAST WEEK AND THAT WAS QUITE SUCCESSFUL AS WELL.
BEFORE WE PROCEED, I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE WILL CELEBRATE WHITE PLAINS 250 THIS COMING SUNDAY, JULY 12TH.
WE HAVE A LOT OF BEAUTIFUL THINGS PLANNED.
WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN CELEBRATING OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY AND DEMOCRACY WITH A PARADE STARTING AT RENAISSANCE PLAZA AND GOING DOWN MITCHELL PLACE TO THE ARMORY.
AFTER THAT, WE WILL HAVE A READING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE DONE BY THOSE WHO ARE EXPERT PERFORMERS.
BUT AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, THE FIRST PLACE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK WHERE THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS PUBLICLY READ, WAS IN THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS.
SO WE WILL CELEBRATE THAT OUR RIGHTS AND OUR FREEDOMS AND OUR AMAZING COUNTRY, THIS BEAUTIFUL DEMOCRACY THAT MANY HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED FOR.
AFTER THAT, WE WILL GO TO TIBBETTS PARK AND WE WILL HAVE A COLONIAL VILLAGE.
SO AND WE WILL HAVE ALL KINDS OF ENACTMENTS, RE-ENACTMENTS AND OTHER KINDS OF AN ACT, ENACTMENTS AND LOTS OF ENTERTAINMENT.
WE WANT TO SEE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND EVERYBODY TOGETHER AS USUAL.
I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK EVERYONE THAT CAME OUT TO THE FIREWORKS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL ON THE 4TH OF JULY, ON THE 2ND OF JULY, TO CELEBRATE AGAIN OUR DEMOCRACY AND OUR COUNTRY, WHICH WE LOVE SO MUCH.
BUT WE HAD A GREAT TIME, A LOT OF LIVE MUSIC AND A GREAT TIME.
SO WE ARE BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, DOING GOOD THINGS.
FINAL REMINDER IS ROCK THE BLOCK WILL BE WEDNESDAY, JULY 15TH.
WE'RE GOING TO BLOCK OFF MAMARONECK AVENUE AGAIN, HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE AND LOTS OF GREAT TIMES.
SO WITH THAT I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
[00:15:01]
SECOND.ALL IN FAVOR? ALL RIGHT EVERYBODY, HAVE A SAFE EVENING.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.