[00:00:01]
GREENBERG, OUR TOWN BOARD, UH, MEETING, UH, TODAY IS MARCH 10TH.IT'S 7 43, UH, PM AND WE'RE READY TO, UH, START, UH, THE MEETING.
SO, UM, THE FIRST THING IS, UM, THE, THE ROLL CALL
[ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
PLEASURE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC JITT STAND.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, DIVISIBLE, LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[ ROLL CALL: Town Clerk]
NEXT, WE'LL HAVE THE TOWN CLERK DO THE ROLL CALL SUPERVISOR.HERE, COUNCILWOMAN DIANA JUTTER.
COUNCILMAN FRANCIS SHAN, PRESENT AND TOWN ATTORNEY TIM LEWIS.
UM, NEXT, UM, OUR NEXT MEETING'S MARCH 24TH.
[ MOMENT OF SILENCE In memory of Lionel Minott, a dedicated (thirty-four year) employee of the Town's Department of Public Works]
AND WE HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE.UH, IN MEMORY OF LIONEL RENO, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE TOWNS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, AND OUTSTANDING, UM, EMPLOYEE, VERY WELL LIKED, VERY, UM, UH, DEDICATED.
HE WILL DEFINITELY AND VERY SKILLED.
HE WILL BE, UM, EXTREMELY, UM, YOU KNOW, MISSED AND YOU REALLY, UM, MADE THE TOWN, UM, UH, A BETTER, UH, PLACE.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
WE HAVE, UH, JOE RODRIGUEZ, WHO IS ONE OF THE, UH, MANAGERS DOWN AT THE E R B HAS WORKED WITH, UH, LIONEL FOR MANY YEARS.
I THINK ARD TANNER'S ALSO ON, HE'S IN CHARGE OF THE E R B.
IF I COULD FIRST SAY THAT, UH, I'M GONNA READ.
THE D P W HAD LOST A DEAR MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY.
MR. LION OAU WAS A 34 YEAR MEMBER OF THE D P W TEAM.
HE WAS THE TOWN'S ARTIST WITH METAL.
HE IS THE ONE THAT, IF YOU EVER SEE THE SMALLER SS TRUCKS THAT DRIVE AROUND THE SATELLITE TRUCKS FROM SANITATION, HE DESIGNED AND BUILT ALL THESE TRUCKS.
HE'S A TRUE TALENT AND AN ASSET TO THE DEPARTMENT.
THE E R B AND HIS FAMILY DOWN THERE ARE THE HARDEST HIT AS LIONEL TO SON.
WAS A FATHER FIGURE, A BROTHER FIGURE, OR JUST A DEAR FRIEND JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO.
EARLIER, IF YOU CAME INTO, DURING ONE OF OUR HEAVY SNOW EVENTS, YOU WOULD'VE SEEN LIONEL HARD AT WORK WELDING UP TRUCKS ON TOP OF THE TRUCKS.
HE, HE WAS A, AN ABSOLUTE WORKFORCE.
UM, AT THIS TIME, WE REALLY LIKE TO SEND OUR WARMEST, UH, REGARDS AND, AND CONDOLENCES TO HIS WIFE, KIDS, HIS GRANDCHILDREN, AND ESPECIALLY HIS, HIS E R B FAMILY.
DO YOU WANNA SAY ANYTHING? UH, YES.
UM, YEAH, WE LOST A, A GREAT ONE.
IT WAS A GOOD FRIEND AND A GOOD FATHER FIGURE AND A LOT OF FUN TO BE WITH.
AND HE REALLY ENJOYED COMING TO WORK, ESPECIALLY THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT, UM, A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS RETIRED AND WE HIRED A, A BUNCH OF NEW, UM, YOUNGER, UM, GROUP, AND THEY REALLY CLICKED.
IT WAS NOT EVEN WORK, YOU KNOW, IT WAS LIKE, IT WAS JUST LIKE, IT WAS HARD TO LEAVE AT THREE 30 BECAUSE THE FUN WAS OVER.
WE WORKED, WE WORKED HARD AND LIKE THIS SAID, THIS GUY WAS A, A WORK ANIMAL.
AT 74 YEARS OLD, HE WOULD BE ON TOP OF A GARBAGE TRUCK LEAKING HYDRAULIC FLUID, AND HE WOULD BE UP THERE FASTER THAN I WOULD EVER DO IT, YOU KNOW? AND, UM, AND WE REALLY, AT BREAK TIME, WE WOULD HAVE TO PULL HIM OFF WORK BECAUSE HE WOULD JUST KEEP ON GOING.
UM, YEAH, HE WAS A, HE WAS A JOKESTER, UM, AND JUST LIKED TO HAVE FUN AND DEFINITELY WOULD, WOULD BE MISSED.
AND IT'S, IT'S SAD THAT, UM, HE DIDN'T RETIRE.
IT WAS REALLY, REALLY SAD AND NOT BE ABLE TO ENJOY IT.
ARD, ANYTHING YOU WANT TO ADD? YEAH, JUST WANNA LET EVERYBODY KNOW,
[00:05:01]
I NEVER FORGET THE DAY LION KNOW WALKED INTO THE SHOP.IT WAS 1986, THE SUMMER OF 86, AND I SAID TO THE BOSS, YOU GONNA HIRE THIS GUY? HE SAYS, YEAH, HE'S A GOOD WELDER.
AND LEMME TELL YOU, THAT GUY COULD WELD, FABRICATE.
I DID A LOT OF THINGS WITH LIONEL.
I MEAN, WE WORKED ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT STUFF TOGETHER.
HE WAS MY GO-TO GUY, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SNOW SEASON.
WE HAD A BIG STORM ON THE 15TH AND 16TH OF DECEMBER.
THAT GUY WORKED ALL NIGHT, NEVER STOPPED.
UM, I CAN TELL YOU, I JUST, IT'S HARD TO ACCEPT THAT HE'S NOT GONNA BE HERE ANYMORE AND NOT BE IN THE SHOP, REALLY STRUGGLING WITH IT AND WAS GONNA MISS HIM.
I WAS WITH HIM, LIKE I SAID, FOR 34 YEARS, AND HE WAS A GOOD EMPLOYEE, WORKED VERY HARD.
MY WIFE USED TO SAY, YOU GUYS HAD LIKE A HATE LOVE RELATIONSHIP.
ONE DAY WHEN YOU GUYS ARE YELLING AT EACH OTHER THE NEXT DAY, YOU GUYS ARE BUDDIES.
YOU KNOW, WE WORKED TOGETHER A LONG TIME.
WE KNEW HOW TO WORK OUR DIFFERENCES.
I LEAVE HIM ALONE, YOU GET THE JOB DONE.
LIKE JOE SAID, YOU NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO ENJOY RETIREMENT.
AND I'M GONNA REALLY MISS HIM.
I MEAN, I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE HE'S GONE SOMETIMES.
ANYWAY, WE GOTTA MOVE ON AND THANK YOU EVERYBODY.
I, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH THE, THE GARAGE AND WE SAW, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT HE, UH, WHAT HE WAS ABLE TO DO, UM, WITH TRUCKS AND TAKE TRUCKS.
THAT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY, YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE OF BEING, UH, FIXED AND TURN THEM INTO WHAT LOOKED LIKE BRAND NEW.
AND, UH, AND HE JUST LOVED IT.
AND, UH, HE WAS, HE WAS, HE WAS BE LOVED AND, UH, HE WAS GONNA BE, HE WAS GONNA BE MISSED.
I AM TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT I'M TRYING TO KEEP IT TOGETHER SO I CAN GET THROUGH THE REPORT LATER THIS EVENING.
BUT, UM, HE WAS TRULY A, A SILENT STORM, IF YOU WILL, JUST TO SEE HIM WATCH HIM WORK AND TO SEE ALL THE GREAT THINGS HE DID.
AND I'M SO GLAD I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HIM.
AND AS I MENTIONED TO THE TEAM, THE E R B TEAM, YOU KNOW, I'M HERE, WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.
UM, BUT REMEMBER, AS I SAID TO YOU GUYS, HE'S RIGHT ON YOUR SHOULDER.
SO WHEN YOU'RE NOT, WHEN YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING WRONG, HE'S GONNA TELL YOU.
'CAUSE HE IS GONNA BE RIGHT THERE SAYING WHAT, AND POINTING OUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING WRONG.
SO ALL I, AGAIN, I SAY, PLEASE STAY STRONG AND JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.
AND I, I DO THINK THAT HE RECOGNIZED WHILE HE WAS ALIVE, HOW APPRECIATED HE WAS, UM, BY, UM, YOU KNOW, THE TOWN AND BY HIS FELLOW, UM, YOU KNOW, EMPLOYEES.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE MANY EMPLOYEES IN THE TOWN, UM, UM, WHO GIVE, YOU KNOW, OVER A HUNDRED PERCENT THEY REALLY LOVE THE JOB.
UM, IT'S NOT A JOB, IT'S THEIR LIFE.
AND, UM, AND HE REALLY REPRESENTED THE BEST OF, UM, OF THE BEST.
AND IT WILL ALWAYS BE MISSED AND HE WON'T BE, UM, FORGOTTEN.
AND HE WAS A ROLE MODEL FOR, UM, MANY OTHER, UM, YOU KNOW, EMPLOYEES, UM, WHO HAVE MADE OUR TOWN A MUCH BETTER, UM, YOU KNOW, PLACE.
AND AGAIN, SO MANY OF EMPLOYEES LIKE HIM, PEOPLE DON'T APPRECIATE, UM, WHAT THEY DO BECAUSE THEY'RE, THEY DON'T GET A LOT OF ATTENTION.
BUT AGAIN, GREENBERG IS A GREAT COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF THEM.
SO HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF A TRUCK BEFORE AND AFTER HIS WORK.
REALLY HELD THAT FLEET TOGETHER.
STAY STRONG, RIGHT? THANK YOU.
ALL OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYER, OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND HIM AND HIS FAMILY.
DAVE, DO YOU WANNA AND THANK YOU ALL AND, UH, WE'RE WITH YOU AND HE'S WITH US.
[00:10:01]
YOU.[ The test to become a Greenburgh Police Officer is being offered May 15 or 16, 2021. Candidates must apply for the exam through the Westchester County Department of Human Resources via the below link. https://www.westchestergov.com/hr/onlineexam/PE/OC/60194.htm The town is committed to maintaining a diverse work force and all individuals below the age of 35 (prior to the exam) are encouraged to take the test. For further information and review class scholarship opportunities, please contact Lieutenant Norman Hall at nhall@greenburghny.com]
DO YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT THE ANNOUNCEMENT? YES, PLEASE.SO WE HAVE THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY POLICE EXAM COMING UP, AND THAT IS THE TEST WHERE WE HIRE OUR POLICE OFFICERS FROM, WE ESTABLISH OUR RESIDENCE ONLY LIST.
IT'S, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY THAT IT ONLY COMES ALONG EVERY ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS.
SO WE ARE ENCOURAGING EVERYONE WHO HAS AN INTEREST IN, IN BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER AND JOINING THE RANKS OF THE GREENBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT TO SIGN UP FOR THE EXAM.
IT'S AT THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES WEBSITE.
WE ARE ALSO, UM, GOING TO ASSIST THOSE THAT MAY NEED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR REVIEW CLASS THAT'S BEING OFFERED BY A OUTSIDE AGENCY.
THIS IS A, A NEW TEST FOR THE POLICE OFFICER EXAM IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SO WE'RE NOT LOCALLY HERE, WE'RE NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT IS ON THIS TEST.
SO, UM, GREENBERG, LIKE SEVERAL OTHER MUNICIPALITIES ARE, UH, ARE JOINING FORCES AND SPONSORING PEOPLE, UH, WHO ARE INTERESTED, UH, FOR THIS REVIEW CLASS AT A REDUCED RATE.
SO INFORMATION IS IS POSTED, IT'S ON OUR WEBSITE.
WE'VE SENT OUT SOME, SOME BLASTS AS WELL.
THE FLYER, I THINK IS ALSO ON OUR WEBSITE.
WE SENT THAT OUT THROUGH OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.
IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS, THEY CAN CONTACT LIEUTENANT NORMAN HALL AT NHALL@GREENBERGANDY.COM.
WE'LL SHOW THE FLYER IN THE MOMENT.
BUT THE KEY, THE KEY RIGHT NOW IS THE DEADLINE IS RAPIDLY APPROACH APPROACHING AND SO THEY, YOU NEED TO APPLY BY MARCH 29TH.
AND, UH, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T EXPECT YOU TO WRITE THIS DOWN FROM THE TV SCREEN, UH, IT IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE.
IF YOU GO UNDER TONIGHT'S AGENDA, UH, IT'LL BE THERE AND IT'S A CLICKABLE LINK.
UH, SO FRANCIS, IF YOU'D LIKE, I'LL GIVE A LITTLE SEGUE INTO THIS VIDEO AS WELL.
WHILE YOU'RE DOING THAT, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT THE, UH, AUDIO GOES OUT.
SO THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, THE WESTCHESTER ROCKLAND GUARDIANS ASSOCIATION, THE WESTCHESTER HISPANIC LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, AND THE NEW YORK STATE WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION HAVE PARTNERED TO, UH, RECRUIT DIVERSE CANDIDATES FOR THE COMING EXAM.
AND PART OF THAT RECRUITMENT, IN ADDITION TO FLYERS, HAS BEEN A, THE PROMOTIONAL, UH, RECRUITMENT VIDEO THAT WE HAVE A LINK HERE FOR FEATURED IN THIS IS ONE OF GREENBERG'S FINEST.
HE'S THE FIRST, UH, PERSON IN THE VIDEO.
IT'S POLICE OFFICER WENDELL BARBOUR, A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THE TOWN,
MY COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE DIDN'T ALWAYS HAVE THE BEST RELATIONSHIP.
USUALLY WHEN WE SAW THE POLICE, IT WAS FOR SOMETHING NEGATIVE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW ARE AFRAID OF THE POLICE.
I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK I'VE TURNED MY BACK ON THEM.
BUT WHY? IT WAS HARD ENOUGH TO GET RESPECT IN THE JOB I'M ALREADY IN AS A QUEER PERSON.
I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO HIDE WHO I AM.
IT HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN GREAT, BUT A LOT HAS CHANGED.
IT'S STILL A CHALLENGE, BUT WE'RE MAKING IT HAPPEN.
BY BEING AUTHENTIC WITH OURSELVES, WE CAN BE HONEST WITH OTHERS.
I WANT TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE.
WHEN PEOPLE FROM MY COMMUNITY SEE ME, I WANT THEM TO SEE THEMSELVES.
I WANT MY FAMILY TO BE PROUD OF ME.
I WANNA WORK SOMEWHERE THAT I'LL BE ACCEPTED.
YOU'LL BE A HERO TO KIDS, SOMEONE PEOPLE CAN IDENTIFY WITH AND SOMEONE THEY CAN RELATE TO.
I'M READY TO TAKE A CHANCE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TO CHANGE THE WORLD, TO BE SOMEONE PEOPLE CAN TRUST,
[00:15:02]
SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THEM.WE'VE DONE SOME GOOD, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET.
WE NEED SOMEONE TO CARRY THE TORCH.
YOU CAN'T DO IT ALONE, BUT IT BEGINS WITH ONE, IT BEGINS WITH ME AND ME AND ME.
I THINK IT'S TERRIFIC THAT WE'RE, UM, TRYING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY TO, UM, TO CONSIDER BECOMING POLICE OFFICERS.
AND WE'RE ALSO HELPING, UM, UM, YOUNG PEOPLE, UM, PREPARE FOR THE EXAMS AND HOPEFULLY DO REAL GREAT.
[ PRESENTATIONS Greenburgh Against Systemic Racism (GASR) Task Force Report – Councilwoman Gina Jackson (A separate Public Comment segment on this item will be opened following the presentation)]
UH, NEXT WE HAVE, UM, GREENBERG, UM, TASK FORCE ON, UH, SYSTEMIC RACISM.UM, AND COUNCILWOMAN, UH, GINA JACKSON WILL, UM, PROVIDE US WITH A REPORT, UM, AND RECOMMENDATIONS AND WE'LL HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY.
SO TONIGHT WE WILL BRIEFLY GO OVER THE POLICE REFORM REPORT THAT WE PRESENTED TO YOU BACK IN, IN FEBRUARY.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, EVERYTHING WILL BE INTO RECORD.
AND THOSE WRITTEN COMMENTS THAT WILL BE RECEIVED, IT WILL BE IN RECORD THAT WRITTEN COMMENTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, AND THEY, AND THOSE COMMENTS WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE, UH, ALONG WITH, UH, NEXT TO THE REPORT AND THE SURVEY THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY POSTED.
UM, SO I JUST, BEFORE WE GET INTO THE REC THE REPORT, I JUST AGAIN, WANT TO THANK THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND TIME AND EFFORT THAT YOU PUT INTO THIS WORK.
I KNOW IT WAS CHALLENGING, UM, BUT IT, IT IS REALLY GOOD WORK.
WE STILL HAVE SOME MORE WORK TO CONTINUE TO DO.
UM, I FOUND, I FEEL LIKE I'M A BROKEN RECORD WHEN I SAY THIS WORK DOES NOT END HERE.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HERE TONIGHT, WE TAKE THOSE BACK, WE LOOK AT THOSE, MAKE SURE THAT, SEE WHAT MODIFICATIONS NEED TO BE MADE TO THE REPORT AND MAKE THE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS.
BUT EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING WILL, CAN BE CONSIDERED, EVERYTHING WILL BE READ.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I EMPHASIZE THAT.
UM, ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE RESIDENTS FOR PARTICIPATING IN OUR FORUMS AND ALSO PARTICIPATING IN OUR SURVEYS.
UM, YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR FEEDBACK WAS TRULY APPRECIATED TO HELP US GET AN IDEA OF WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS WERE, UM, AND THE COMMUNITY.
I'LL TURN IT OVER TO THE CHAIR OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE.
AS MS. JACKSON SAID, I AM HOWARD TRILL, UH, CO-CHAIR OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TASK FORCE TONIGHT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU THE RESIDENTS.
YOUR COMMENTS I WISH TO PRESENT.
FIRST, A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
I WOULD FIRST LIKE TO START OUT BY POINTING THAT NONE OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS RECOMMENDS CUTS TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, STAFF AND FUNDING.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE RECOMMENDATION WILL RESULT IN IMPROVING OUR ALREADY HIGH QUALITY POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS SEEK TO IMPROVE THE ABILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT TO SELECT THE BEST QUALITY APPLICANTS.
THEY SEEK TO TRAIN THE POLICE OFFICERS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THE TYPES OF ENCOUNTERS THAT OCCUR MOST FREQUENTLY WITH OUR RESIDENTS, RECOMMENDS RECOMMENDATION.
ALSO SEEK TO IMPROVE AND STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY BY ENHANCING THE ABILITY OF THE OFFICERS TO PROVIDE PROPER POLICING.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS SEEK TO IMPROVE THE ABILITY OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO IDENTIFY AND REMOVE ANY OFFICERS THAT MIGHT DAMAGE THE REPUTATION OF OUR FINE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WILLFULLY CAUSE HARM TO THOSE THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SWORN TO PROTECT AND SERVE.
[00:20:02]
MOVING FORWARD.FOLLOWING FOUR MONTHS OF RESEARCH SOLICITATION OF COMMUNITY INPUT AND DISCUSSION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT FEAR OF INTERACTION WITH OUR POLICE OFFICERS EXIST AMONGST MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT ARMED UNIFORMED POLICE OFFICERS CAN BE INTIMIDATING.
MANY EXPRESS THAT OVER POLICING OCCURS IN CERTAIN INSTINCTS AND THAT MANY EXPRESS THAT TO GET TO, UH, THAT THEY WISH TO GET TO KNOW OUR POLICE OFFICERS IN A NON-CONFRONTATIONAL SETTING.
RESIDENTS WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW THE POLICE OFFICERS AS MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE IS ALSO A STRONG DESIRE TO ADDRESS MANAGEMENT OF SITUATIONS INVOLVING PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS.
SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES INCLUDE IN THE AREA OF RECRUITMENT, HIRING AND TRAINING.
ONE, ENHANCING RECRUITMENT THROUGH MENTORING OF OUR YOUTH VIA A POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE AND THROUGH EDUCATIONAL INTERACTIONS IN OUR SCHOOLS IN ORDER TO CREATE A POSITIVE YOUTH INTERACTIONS THAT MIGHT STIMULATE INTEREST IN CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
IT ALSO SEEK TO DEVELOP A RECRUITMENT TEAM AND CONCERT WITH NEIGHBORING MUNICIPALITIES TO SEEK QUALITY INDIVIDUALS LOBBYING ON THE STATE LEVEL FOR CHANGES TO LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR HIRING PROMOTIONS AND DISCIPLINES THAT WILL IMPROVE THE ABILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT TO SELECT THE BEST QUALIFIED CANDIDATES AND ALLOW REMOVAL OF ANYONE FOUND TO BE UNSUITABLE FOR POLICING.
IT ALSO SEEKS TO LOBBY THE STATE AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR CHANGES IN TRAINING TO DE-EMPHASIZE THE USE OF FORCE AND TO EMBRACE USE OF SOCIAL SKILLS AND DEESCALATION, CHANGING LOCAL TRAINING TO EMPHASIZE DEESCALATION TECHNIQUES, PROVIDE CULTURAL SENSITIVITY AND ANTI-RACISM TRAINING, AND IMPROVE RECOGNITION OF MANAGEMENT OF PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.
IT ALSO SEEKS TO INCREASE PROCEDURAL JUSTICE SO THAT INDIVIDUALS NO LONGER SUFFER ARREST IMPRISONMENT OR EXCESSIVE PENALTIES FOR MINOR NON-CRIMINAL OFFENSES IN THE AREA OF OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO UNDERGO A DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE TO MAKE FULL USE OF THE CAPACITY OF EXISTING TECHNOLOGIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
USE THE CAPABILITIES OF A DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION TO INCREASE TRANSPARENCIES OF DEPARTMENT OPERATIONS AND INCREASE ABILITIES OF RESIDENTS TO IDENTIFY OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
CREATE A CIVILIAN TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY BOARD TO ASSIST IN THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE.
FOUR, IMPROVE THE PROCESS FOR FILING INVESTIGATIONS OF COMPLAINTS BY CITIZENS AND ALSO SEEKS TO REMOVE THEIR APPEARANCE OF A BLUE WALL OF SILENCE BY CREATING A CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD FOR POLICE MISCONDUCT.
CREATE A PEER INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR OFFICERS TO INTERCEDE WHEN FELLOW OFFICERS REQUIRE INTERVENTION, BOTH ON AND OFF DUTY.
THIS SHOULD BE COUPLED WITH A FORMAL FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAM.
REVISIT THE ROLE OF EXISTING POLICE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD WITH THE GOAL OF CREATION OF MORE RELEVANT CIVILIAN POLICE REVIEW BOARD WITH AUTHORITIES TO REVIEW AND PROVIDE INPUT INTO ISSUES CONCERNING POLICE OPERATION AND GENERAL MANAGEMENT.
IN THE AREA OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, IT SEEKS THAT ALL OFFICERS SHOULD HAVE THE DESIGNATION OF COMMUNITY
[00:25:01]
RELATIONS AND BE REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD REEVALUATE THE PROTOCOLS FOR RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR SERVICE IN ORDER TO AVOID EXCESSIVE POLICE PRESENCE.
AND ALSO, GREENBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD PARTNER WITH OTHER MUNICIPALITIES TO SUPPORT A CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM TO RESPOND TO 9 1 1 CALLS INVOLVING MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCIES.
THIS IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE HAVE.
A FULL LIST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IS GIVEN ON SECTION SIX IN THE REPORT.
I NOW WISH TO PRESENT TO YOU THE MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE WHO VOLUNTEERED THEIR TIME AND TALENT IN PUTTING THIS REPORT TOGETHER.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOUR, RECRUITMENT, HIRING AND TRAINING.
CAROL ALLEN, BRIDGET BROWN, LYNN GOODMAN, KEN JONES, LEON SMITH, JANICE GRIFFITH, COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR THE OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
DONALD WILLIAMS, CLAIRE NAN, WILBERT, PRESTON, AADE MEZA, PAT WEEMS, TERRY MONROE AND LES JOHNSON, THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, JANA JANERA FORTE, DELIA MAXIS, ELIZA XI AND JOHAN SNAGS.
I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS.
I ALSO THANK YOU THE COMMUNITY FOR GIVING US THIS TIME TO PRESENT THIS SYNOPSIS.
WE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK CHIEF CHRISTOPHER MCNERNEY AND HIS STAFF FOR HELPING TO PUT TOGETHER THIS REPORT.
SO NOW WE WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT UP TO, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT.
GARRETT OR JUDITH, I'M NOT SURE WHO HAS THE LIST.
JUDITH, ARE YOU ALL SET THERE, JUDITH? YES, YES.
I JUST HAD TO UNMUTE ERIC ZINGER.
UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE TODAY.
I WANNA START BY THANKING ALL OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GASTER COMMITTEE AND GINA JACKSON FOR HER LEADERSHIP ON THIS COMMITTEE.
THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, MANY OF WHICH YOU CAN WATCH ONLINE, UH, STILL, YOU KNOW, MONTHS AFTER THE FACT, WHICH I THINK IS WONDERFUL.
UH, IT'S CLEAR THAT A LOT OF TIME AND EFFORT WENT INTO ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY ON THIS REPORT.
WHEN I WENT THROUGH THE REPORT, UH, I AGREED WITH A LOT OF WHAT HAD SAID AND RECOMMENDED.
THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION OF THE G P D, ITS STRUCTURE AND THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND THE SERVICES IT PROVIDES.
UH, THE REPORT ALSO HIGHLIGHTED OPPORTUNITIES AND SUGGESTIONS FOR BE BEST PRACTICES GOING FORWARD, BECAUSE WE CAN ALWAYS, ALWAYS BE IMPROVING.
I WAS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT IN CONVERSATIONS WITH VARIOUS, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT MEMBERS AND, AND OTHERS THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE PRACTICES ARE ALREADY IN PLACE, WHICH IS, UH, GREAT AS WELL.
WE HAVE A GREAT POLICE DEPARTMENT HERE IN GREENBURG AND WE SHOULD ALL BE ENORMOUSLY PROUD OF THAT.
BUT WHEN I WENT BACK GOING INTO THE REPORT, THERE WAS SOME INFORMATION THERE THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR THAT WAS MISSING, AND I WAS HOPING THAT GOING ALONG WITH SOME OF THE QUALITATIVE STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE ABOUT, UH, POLICING AND DI DISCRIMINATION FOR SOME MORE QUANTITATIVE OR DATA-DRIVEN ANALYSIS ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN GREENBURG.
SO IN PREPARATION FOR THIS, UH, PUBLIC HEARING OR PUBLIC COMMENT TONIGHT, UH, I FO FOR SOME OF THAT INFORMATION, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT TONIGHT.
WE CANNOT TALK ABOUT SYSTEMIC RACISM WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE WAR ON DRUGS.
WE KNOW THAT THE IMPACT OF THE WAR ON DRUGS HAS BEEN BRUTAL, AND THAT WAR HAS BEEN WAGED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY IN POOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
EVEN THOUGH STUDIES HAVE CONSISTENTLY SHOWN THAT ALL PEOPLE, UH, PEOPLE OF ALL COLORS USE AND SELL ILLEGAL DRUGS AT REMARKABLY SIMILAR RATES.
AND THE WAR ON DRUGS IS PRIMARILY A WAR ON MARIJUANA, WHICH
[00:30:01]
NATIONWIDE MAKES UP OVER 50% OF ALL DRUG ARRESTS, 89% OF WHICH ARE FOR SIMPLE POSITION POSSESSION.SO WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN GREENBERG, I REQUESTED FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT RECORDS OF ALL ARRESTS FOR THE 2019 AND 2020 YEAR.
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, 90% OF THOSE ARRESTED IN GREENBURG POLICE FOR MARIJUANA OFFENSES WERE EITHER HISPANIC OR AFRICAN AMERICAN.
THAT'S 27 INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE, WERE ARRESTED COMPARED TO ONLY THREE OF WHICH WHO WERE WHITE.
THAT IS A 90% OF MINORITY ARREST RATE WHEN THEY MAKE UP LESS THAN 35% OF THE T O V POPULATION.
WE KNOW THAT WHITES CONSUME MARIJUANA AT THE EXACT SAME RATE AS OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS, BUT HERE THEY ARE BEING ARRESTED.
UH, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OF MINORITY AND PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE BEING ARRESTED AT THREE TIMES, UH, OR NINE TIMES THE RATE AS WHITES.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE 29 ARRESTS FOR PUBLIC APPEARANCE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS OR NARCOTICS.
AND 23 OUT OF THOSE 29 INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFIED AS, UH, BLACK OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN UNDER RACE IN POLICE REPORTING, THAT IS 82% OF THOSE ARRESTED FOR BEING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.
WHILE THE T O V POPULATION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IS ONLY 18% OR OVER FOUR TIMES THEIR PROPORTIONATE RATE, MARIJUANA IS EXPECTED TO BE RECREATIONALLY LEGALIZED IN NEW YORK IN THE NEAR FUTURE, IF NOT IN THIS BUDGET TERM, BUT IN ONE SOON TO COME.
AND IT HAS ALREADY BEEN LEGALIZED IN THE BORDER STATES OF NEW JERSEY, VERMONT, AND MASSACHUSETTS.
NOT TO MENTION AN ADDITIONAL 13 STATES FOR 16 TAPE STOLE.
BUT HERE IN GREENBURG, PEOPLE ARE STILL BEING ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION AND HAVING THEIR LIVES NEGATIVELY IMPACTED.
IT IS PAST TIME FOR GREENBERG TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
HEAD ON THE TOWN OF GREENBERG SHOULD ALWAYS BE KNOWN AS LEADING THE WAY BEING LEADERS.
AND BEST THAT WAS THE CASE WHEN WE WERE THE FIRST POLICE DEPARTMENT IN WESTCHESTER TO HAVE BODY CAMERAS FOR OUR OFFICERS.
AND WE NEED TO LEAD ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL.
I AM CALLING TONIGHT ASKING FOR RIGHT NOW, NOT RIGHT, RIGHT NOW, BUT IN THE MEDIA FUTURE FOR THE TOWN BOARD AND THE GREENBERG POLICE DEPARTMENT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A JOINT RESOLUTION TO NO LONGER ARREST OR PROSECUTE MARIJUANA POSSESSION OFFENSES.
THIS ALREADY JOINS LOCKSTEP WITH POLICIES IN NEW YORK ISSUED BY THE MANHATTAN AND BROOKLYN DISTRICT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND NATIONWIDE.
WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT LIBERAL STATES.
HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS, DAVIDSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE, FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA AND NORTHERN DISTRICT FLORIDA HAVE ALREADY GONE AHEAD AND SAYING THEY WILL NOT PROSECUTE OR ARREST FOR MARIJUANA POSSESSION.
THAT ALSO DOESN'T INCLUDE THE ADDITIONAL 16 STATES THAT HAVE LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.
LET'S BE UNEQUIVOCALLY CLEAR HERE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS KIND OF ACTION.
IT IS NOT UNPRECEDENTED, IT IS NOT EXTREME, BUT IT IS LONG, LONG OVERDUE.
IF WE WANNA ADDRESS SYSTEMATIC RACISM, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE DRUG WAR.
AND I'M ASKING TONIGHT FOR US TO COME TO THE REASONABLE CONCLUSION THAT PEOPLE IN GREENBURG SHOULD NO LONGER BE ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA.
CLIFF ABRAMS. CAN EVERYONE, CAN EVERYBODY HEAR ME? YES.
UM, THANK YOU GINA FOR, UM, HAVING THIS COMMITTEE I JUST WANT TO TALK ON, AND HOWARD WAS SPEAKING, HE SAID THAT, THAT PEOPLE, THAT THE COMMUNITY FARED THE POLICE.
I THINK THE POLICE, THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE, UM, THE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE POLICE, AND I SHARED IT WITH SERGEANT HALL, WHICH IS NOW LIEUTENANT.
UH, CONGRATULATIONS THAT I ALWAYS SAID, WHEN CHIEF CAPPE FIRST STARTED, THE COMMUNITY POLICE AND THE POLICE WALK THROUGH THE COMMUNITY.
DID EVERYBODY LIKE THE POLICE? NO, BUT PEOPLE GAVE THEIR RESPECT UP.
AND SO WHEN THE POLICE END UP SAYING SOMEBODY DID SOMETHING WRONG, WE GAVE THEM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS WALK THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND WE KNOW THEY WOULDN'T DO THINGS, JUST PRONOUNCE IT.
NOW THE POLICE JUST SIT IN THEIR CARS, THEY DON'T GET OUT, THEY DON'T ENGAGE.
AND I WAS SHARING THE OTHER DAY THAT THEY RIDE THEIR BIKES AND THEY WAVE, BUT THEY DON'T EVEN GET OUT OFF THEIR BIKES OR OUT THEIR CAR.
THEY TALK TO PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT IS SO IMPORTANT IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO ENGAGEMENT, THE POLICING AND I SHARE THAT WHY ISN'T THE POLICE WALKING THROUGH THE COMMUNITY? AND WHEN I SAY COMMUNITY, I'M TALKING
[00:35:01]
ABOUT FAIRVIEW BECAUSE THE WHOLE REASON WHY COMMUNITY POLICE IS STARTED WAS BECAUSE THEY WANTED A BETTER ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.AND YOU CANNOT HAVE A COMMUNITY.
YOU CANNOT COME TOGETHER AND SPEAK AND LEARN EACH OTHER IF YOU'RE NOT ENGAGING.
YOU KNOW, I WAS WATCHING THE VIDEO, I THROW THE BEAUTIFUL VIDEO, BUT YOU TRYING TO RECRUIT PEOPLE, I WAS WONDERING, WOW, I WISH I WOULD'VE HAD SOMEBODY WALKING THROUGH MANHATTAN AVENUE,
I WISH THEY WOULD'VE BEEN THROUGH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
IF YOU WANT CERTAIN TYPE OF PEOPLE, PEOPLE THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE RECRUITING AND, AND AS I WAS WATCHING THE VIDEO, EVEN THOUGH I THOUGHT IT WAS NICE, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY MUCH COMMERCIAL AND I DIDN'T THINK IT REALLY WAS ENGAGING TO GET PEOPLE WHO NORMALLY WOULDN'T WANT TO BE, UH, A POLICE OFFICER.
I ALSO KNOW THAT I KNOW AS A COUNSELOR, EVERY THREE YEARS I HAVE TO RENEW MY LICENSE.
I THINK THAT A POLICE, WHOEVER'S ON THE FORCE AFTER THREE OR FIVE YEARS, SHOULD HAVE A CYCLE EVALUATION OR WHATEVER, LIKE, YOU KNOW, EVERY, TO SEE WHAT THE CONDITION IS.
SO I REALLY DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH TO SAY, BUT I JUST FEEL THAT THE POLICING, UM, COMMUNITY POLICING THAT THEY NEED TO GET OUT OF THEIR CARS, THEY NEED TO WALK THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND WHETHER PEOPLE LIKE 'EM OR NOT TRY TO ENGAGE.
HOW'S EVERYONE DOING TONIGHT? WELL, GOOD, GOOD.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT TONIGHT.
AS SOME OF YOU ALREADY KNOW, I'M LIEUTENANT NORMAN HALL, COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS UNIT, AND, UH, JUST LIKE SOME OF MY OTHER COWORKERS, WE TAKE PRIDE IN BEING POLICE OFFICERS IN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
MY UNIT IN SOME REGARDS IS THE FACE OF THE DEPARTMENT DUE TO THE DIRECT ENGAGEMENTS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE COMMUNITY BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND DEPARTMENT INITIATIVES.
AND WE TALK ABOUT DIVERSE, OUR UNIT IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE, WE CONSIST OF FIVE OFFICERS, TWO BLACK, ONE WHITE, ONE HISPANIC, AND ONE ASIAN.
I KNOW I WAS A GUEST AT ONE OF THE INITIAL MEETINGS WITH G A S R, BUT I DO BELIEVE IT WOULD'VE BEEN MORE BENEFICIAL TO SIT AT THE TABLE AND TO PROVIDE MY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS A POLICE OFFICER AND EXPLAIN WHAT A REGULAR HUMAN IN A POLICE UNIFORM IS UP AGAINST.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND, THE GREENBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE PURSUIT OF RACIAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE.
OUR COMMITMENT WILL CONTINUE BEYOND THE PRESENT MOMENT.
OUR POLICE CHIEF CHRIS T MCNERNEY, HAS AND CONTINUES TO LEAD THE GREENBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT TO UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS.
HIS LEADERSHIP IS DISPLAYED THROUGH THE MANY MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE TAKEN AN OATH TO DO THE JOB OF PROTECTING AND SERVING.
THIS IS DONE ON MANY OCCASIONS WITH PROFESSIONALISM, DEDICATION, INTEGRITY, AND SERVICE.
UNDERSTAND IT IS NOT EASY CONFRONTING DANGER, KNOWING THE HAZARDS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE OF DEATH.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAINTAIN THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS IMPERATIVE TO US AND ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL ROLES OF OUR GOVERNMENT.
IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS GOAL, WE MUST HAVE MUTUAL TRUST AND RESPECT BETWEEN THE POLICE AND OUR COMMUNITY.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE LONG LASTING WORK OF OUR DEPARTMENT'S, OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES TO NAME SOME OF THESE WELL-KNOWN IN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AND BEYOND.
IT BORDERS ARE OUR, OUR SCHOOL INITIATIVES WHERE WE HAVE EDUCATIONAL LECTURES AND ALL THE DISTRICTS, WHICH IS VERY DIVERSE AND THERE ARE MANY IN THE TOWN.
WE HAVE COFFEE WITH A COP, BOOKS AND BADGES, THE GREENBURG YOUTH CAMP, OUR VERSION OF A MINI POLICE ACADEMY EXPLORER PROGRAM, NATIONAL NIGHT OUT STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AND YOUTH COURT.
WE ALSO ENJOY COLLABORATING WITH THEATER YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER.
IN ADDITION, AS WE ARE ASKED TO DO BETTER, AND WE HAVE ONE, OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND E M S PROVIDERS ARE CONFRONTED WITH THE UNFORTUNATE OPIATE EPIDEMIC AS WELL AS OTHER SUBSTANCE ADDICTIONS.
YES, WE AS A POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFER POLICE
[00:40:01]
ASSISTED ADDICTION AND RECOVERY WITH THE HOPE NOT HANDCUFFS ORGANIZATION.THIS INITIATIVE PROVIDES TRAINING, GUIDANCE, SUPPORT, AND IS AN EXCELLENT RESOURCE THAT CREATES A NON-ARRESTS PATHWAY TO TREATMENT AND RECOVERY.
TWO, WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PROVIDED A SECOND CHANCE PROGRAM AND THAT'S CALLED THE EDUCATION OVER INCARCERATION.
IN CONJUNCTION WITH JUDGE DOLORES BRA OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG COURT HERE, THE NONVIOLENT, WE HAVE NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS THAT ARE VETTED AND IF SUCCESSFUL ARE GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND ONE OF OUR NEIGHBORING COLLEGES INSTEAD OF GOING TO JAIL.
AND WE JUST HAD A RECENT GRADUATE AND THAT EDUCATION WAS PAID FOR BY THOSE NETWORKING PARTNERS.
WHEN I BECAME A POLICE OFFICER, MINNIE SAID IT WAS GOING TO BE A THANKLESS JOB.
WE AS A DEPARTMENT ARE ALWAYS WORKING TO RAISE OUR STANDARDS, BUT I ASKED THE COMMUNITY TO STAND IN UNITY WHILE WE WORK TOWARDS REASONABLE GOALS.
THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SATISFIED WITH THE GREENBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT IS VASTLY GROWING AT A TIME THAT IS CHALLENGING.
THE ISSUE OF OVERAL POLICING HAS BEEN A DISCUSSED TOPIC.
CHIEF MCNERNEY HAS ADVISED OF THIS DISAGREEMENT THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE.
OUR OFFICES WORK TO MAINTAIN EXCELLENT COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND BY HAVING SUCH RELATIONSHIPS IT PROVIDES US AN A, A DOORWAY WHERE INFORMATION ON VARIOUS ISSUES ARE CALLED FOR POLICE INVOLVEMENT TO CONFRONT AND HALT UNWANTED ACTIVITIES.
MANY RESIDENTS HAVE PERSONALLY REQUESTED AN INCREASE IN THE POLICE PRESENCE.
THIS HAS BEEN DONE BY INCREASING PATROL TO CERTAIN AREAS OR THE REQUESTS OF INCREASED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT IN THE FAIRVIEW EDGEMONT AND OTHER SECTIONS OF THE TOWN.
NO ONE SECTION IS OVER POLICE.
I UNDERSTAND MANY OF THE TOPICS ARE VERY SENSITIVE, BUT IN ORDER FOR US TO BE EFFECTIVE, WE HAVE TO WORK AS A TEAM, WHICH IS US COMING TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE AN COMMON GOAL.
IF I HAD TO EXPLAIN TEAM AS AN ACRONYM, I WOULD SAY TO ENCOMPASS ALL MEMBERS, WHICH IS THE EPITOME OF POLICE AND THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS TIME.
I'M GONNA SPEAK FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF A TOWN RESIDENT, A BLACK MAN, AND SOMEONE THAT'S WORKED FOR THE DEPARTMENT FOR HALF THEIR LIFE.
AND FORGIVE ME, BUT I'M GONNA READ, BUT I DIDN'T WANNA OVERLOOK ANYTHING THAT I WANTED TO MENTION.
I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A FEW OF THE G A S R TASK FORCE MEETINGS.
WHILE I WOULD'VE LIKED FOR MYSELF AND LIEUTENANT HALL TO HAVE HAD A LARGER INVOLVEMENT, I'M STILL GRATEFUL FOR THE EXPERIENCE.
THERE WERE DIFFERENT OPINIONS PRESENTED AND AS BOTH A BLACK MAN LIFELONG GREENBERG RESIDENT AND G P D OFFICER FOR 23 YEARS, IT WAS DIFFICULT NOT TO HAVE STRONG OPINIONS ON A NUMBER OF THINGS.
I'M GOING TO LIMIT MY COMMENTS TO HIRING, RECRUITMENT AND PROMOTIONS SINCE THOSE THREE THINGS ARE PART OF MY DUTIES AT THE DEPARTMENT.
AS A SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS LIEUTENANT, I'M THE DEPARTMENT'S PERSONNEL OFFICER.
EVERYONE THAT WE HAVE HIRED OVER THE LAST THREE AND A HALF, ALMOST FOUR YEARS HAS HAD TO COME IN, SIT DOWN AND TALK WITH ME BEFORE GETTING ANY FURTHER IN THE PROCESS.
IT IS EASILY MY FAVORITE PART OF MY JOB.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK FOR THIS POLICE, FOR THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST BLESSINGS OF MY LIFE.
I TRULY ENJOY BEING ABLE TO HELP OFFER THAT OPPORTUNITY TO OTHERS.
I'VE LIVED IN THIS TOWN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
MY MOTHER IN-LAWS GODPARENTS, STEPMOTHER ARE ALL HOMEOWNERS IN THIS TOWN.
MY MOTHER'S HEALTHY, BUT SHE'S IN HER LATE SEVENTIES AND I UNFORTUNATELY LOST MY WIFE AND FATHER TO CANCER BOTH WITHIN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, BE IT FOR THE E M S SERVICE, CAR ACCIDENTS OR LESS SERIOUS CALLS FOR SERVICE.
I'VE HAD TO CALL MY JOB FOR HELP.
I HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS BOTH IMMEDIATE AND EXTENDED THAT HAVE HAD TO CALL ON OCCASION.
I HAVE BOTH A PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL INTEREST IN WHO ANSWERS IN RESPONSE TO THESE CALLS.
I'M SAYING THIS BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT I LOOK AT EVERY HIRE THE DEPARTMENT MAKES AS SOMEONE THAT COULD BE INTERACTING WITH MY MOTHER, MY CHILDREN, AND MY RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND LIVES OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS COULD WIND UP DEPENDING ON THESE INDIVIDUALS.
I TRULY TRY TO DO THE BEST I CAN TO GET THE BEST HUMAN BEING AVAILABLE, HONEST, HARDWORKING, EMPATHETIC, AND TRUSTWORTHY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO HELP OTHERS AND MAKE POSITIVE DIFFERENCE.
OUR E M S RESPONSIBILITIES GIVE US MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT THAN A LOT OF OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
BUT THE GREAT THING ABOUT POLICE WORK IS THAT IT OFFERS SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS TO HELP PEOPLE AND POSITIVELY AFFECT LIVES.
[00:45:01]
MANY OF THE RECRUITMENT IDEAS SUGGESTED ARE GREAT IDEAS.THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY GAUGED IN SEVERAL OF THEM, WHICH LIEUTENANT HALL PREVIOUSLY COVERED.
I'M IN FAVOR OF ALMOST ANYTHING THAT MAKES BEING A GREENBERG POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICER A MORE APPEALING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO IMPROVE OUR CANDIDATE POOL.
THE BETTER THE QUALITY OF OUR APPLICANTS, THE BETTER THE QUALITY OF OUR PERSONNEL.
AS A TOWN RESIDENT THAT WAS HIRED OFF THE RESIDENCE LIST, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A SUPPORTER OF HIRING OFFICERS THAT GREW UP IN TOWN OR HAVE SOME OTHER TRUE CONNECTION TO IT.
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES OR TAX CREDITS TO OFFICERS THAT CALL GREENBERG HOME IS A GREAT IDEA.
AT THE SAME TIME, REQUIRING OFFICERS TO LIVE IN THE TOWN OR EVEN IN THE COUNTY, COULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT BOTH APPLICATIONS AND RETENTION OF HIRED AND TRAINED OFFICERS.
LIKE EVERY OTHER PROFESSION, YOUNG POLICE OFFICERS TEND TO GET OLDER, START FAMILIES AND SOMETIMES MOVE A LITTLE FURTHER AWAY FROM HOME.
I FULLY SUPPORT INCENTIVES TO STAY BUT NOT REQUIREMENTS.
I THINK THE MINIMUM HIRING AGE OF 24 YEARS OLD HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE US, EXCUSE ME, TO MAKE US LOSE QUALITY APPLICANTS TO OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS I HAVE.
I HAVE FACILITATED THE HIRE OF 18 POLICE OFFICERS SINCE BEING ASSIGNED TO MY POSITION.
THOSE HIRES WERE AN AVERAGE OF 27 YEARS OLD AT HIRE.
ONLY TWO OF THEM WERE LESS THAN 24 YEARS OLD.
THOSE TWO WERE 23 YEARS OLD AT HIRE.
I WILL ADMIT A SLIGHT BIAS THAT'S HOW OLD I WAS WHEN I WAS HIRED.
BESIDES MYSELF, THE DEPARTMENT HAS SEVERAL OTHER OFFICERS WITH AN EXCESS OF 20 YEARS ON THAT WERE HIRED BEFORE THE AGE OF 24.
THE ISSUE ISN'T IN THE NUMBER, BUT IN THE MATURITY SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND CHARACTER OF THE INDIVIDUAL, THE HIRING PROCESS DOES HELP DETERMINE WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE READY FOR THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE POSITION.
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING FOR ALL POLICE OFFICER CANDIDATES WAS CHANGED TO REQUIRE THAT ALL POLICE OFFICERS APPOINTED TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY SUCCESSFULLY PASSED STANDARDIZED PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING ADMINISTERED BY ONE ENTITY, PUBLIC SAFETY PSYCHOLOGY.
THE CONSOLIDATION AND STANDARDIZATION OF THIS TESTING WAS TOWARDS AVOIDING ARBITRARY EVALUATIONS FOR DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
I'M NOT PERMITTED TO DISCLOSE SPECIFICS OF SOMETHING.
I'M NOT PERMITTED TO DISCLOSE SPECIFICS OF THE TESTING.
IT'S DESIGNED TO WHAT IS I AM NOT PERMITTED TO.
I AM NOT PERMITTED TO DISCLOSE SPECIFICS OF THE TESTING, BUT PART OF IT IS DESIGNED TO ASSESS ISSUES RELATED TO ANGER, AGGRESSION, UNLAWFUL BEHAVIOR AND ISSUE, EXCUSE ME, AND ISSUES WITH RACE.
I FULLY SUPPORT EFFORTS TO GET A MORE DIVERSE GROUP OF APPLICANTS BY ENCOURAGING PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS TO TAKE THE EXAM WHILE THE DEPARTMENT'S DIVERSITY IS ON PAR OR BETTER THAN MOST POLICE AGENCY COMMUNITY DEMOGRAPHIC GOALS.
WHO WE CAN HIRE IS LIMITED TO WHO TAKES THE EXAM.
MEN OUTNUMBER WOMEN WHEN IT COMES TO CIVIL SERVICE POLICE OFFICER EXAMS. AND I'VE HAD NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUNG BLACK MEN OVER OVER THE YEARS ON WHY SOME ARE AND MANY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THE CAREER IN POLICING.
I BELIEVE OUTREACH TARGETED AT GETTING MORE PEOPLE TO TAKE THE EXAM CAN ONLY BENEFIT THE DEPARTMENT AND THE TOWN.
A LOOK BACK AT THE 18 HIRES ON MY WATCH, AND IT'S REALLY THE CHIEF'S WATCH, BUT I'M TAKING SOME OWNERSHIP.
TWO THIRDS OF THE 18 WERE WHITE MALES.
THE REMAINING HIRES CONSTITUTED A COMBINATION OF BLACK, HISPANIC, OR FEMALE HIRES.
I PROCESSED APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 20 APPLICANTS THAT WERE NOT HIRED.
THE BREAKDOWN BY PERCENTAGE BEING 50% WHITE, 30% LATINO, 20% BLACK.
AMONG THESE NUMBERS, TWO WOMEN OUT OF AN AVAILABLE SIX WERE HIRED.
OF THE FOUR WOMEN NOT HIRED, THREE, DID NOT MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HIRE AND WERE DISQUALIFIED.
THE NUMBERS FOR THE DEMOGRAPHICS HIGHER GENERALLY REFLECTS THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE APPLICANTS AVAILABLE FOR HIRE.
THE ISSUE IS NOT IN THE HIRING PROCESS, BUT IN THE APPLICANT POOL.
ANY MEASURES THAT ASSIST WITH GROWING THAT POOL SHOULD AID IN MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING THE DIVERSITY OF DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL.
THE PROMOTIONAL PROCESS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE HIRING PROCESS WITH THERE BEING A CIVIL SERVICE PROMOTIONAL EXAM AND THE ELIGIBLE CANDIDATES BEING THOSE WITH THE THREE HIGHEST SCORES.
MY PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL OPINION IS THAT LIKE WITH PREPARING FOR THE AGILITY EXAM EXAM AND THE POLICE OFFICER EXAM, THOSE THAT PUT MORE INTO THE PREPARATION WILL FARE BETTER.
WHAT SOMEONE WAS WILLING TO INVEST IS ULTIMATELY UP TO THEM.
I WAS BLESSED TO SCORE A DECENT GRADE ON MY VERY FIRST PROMOTIONAL EXAM THAT I TOOK IN 2002 AT 27 YEARS OLD.
IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE ONE IN THREE RULE, I MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY HAVE BEEN PROMOTED AT THAT TIME.
THAT PROMOTION PUT ME IN A POSITION FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THAT I MIGHT HAVE OTHERWISE MISSED.
THAT BEING SAID, CIVIL SERVICE LAW AND PROMOTIONAL EXAMS THAT TEST THE KNOWLEDGE THAT SUPERVISORS NEED TO MAKE INTELLIGENT DECISIONS AND LEAD IS OBJECTIVELY FAIR.
I WOULD NOT ARGUE TO CHANGE IT.
THERE ARE FACTORS THAT DECREASE THE NUMBER
[00:50:01]
OF CANDIDATES AVAILABLE FOR PROMOTION.PEOPLE IN THEIR THIRTIES AND FORTIES WITH FAMILIES DON'T ALWAYS TURN TO THEIR JOBS FOR THEIR SELF-ACTUALIZATION.
HAVING A FAMILY AND OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN YOU WORK FOR AN EMPLOYER THAT IS A 24 7 365 OPERATION, CAN MAKE A PROMOTION AND THE POTENTIAL ACCOMPANYING SCHEDULE CHANGE LESS DESIROUS.
ALSO, DETECTIVE DIVISION PERSONNEL GENERALLY TEND NOT TO TAKE THE PROMOTIONAL EXAMS. THE DETECTIVE DIVISION MINUS CAPTAIN DALESSIO CURRENTLY HAS 20 DETECTIVES AND DETECTIVE SERGEANTS, 11 OF THE 20 ARE EITHER A MINORITY FEMALE OR BOTH.
I AM CERTAIN THIS HAS AN EFFECT ON THE NUMBER OF MINORITY CANDIDATES TAKING THE SUPERVISORY EXAMS. HAVING WORKED FOR THIS DEPARTMENT UNDER FOUR CHIEFS, I'VE BEEN AFFORDED DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES UNDER ALL OF THEM.
I KNOW I OWE A GREAT DEAL OF THAT.
CHIEF MCNERNEY, I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE BOTH PERSONALLY AND AS A MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT'S COMMAND STAFF TO SEE MINORITY OFFICERS AND WOMEN GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES AS BOTH SUPERVISORS AND INVESTIGATORS.
LIKE WITH HIRING CHANGES MADE TO THE SUPERVISORY POSITIONS TO MAKE THE SUPERVISORY POSITIONS MORE DESIRABLE, MAY CREATE A LARGER POOL OF CANDIDATES FOR PROMOTION.
THE BREAKDOWN OF THE LIST FOR NEW SUPERVISORS TENDS TO BE A MATTER OF INTEREST MORE THAN APTITUDE OR OPPORTUNITY.
WHILE I TRIED TO STAY FOCUSED ON THESE THREE AREAS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO MY DUTIES, I JUST WANTED TO SHED A LITTLE LIGHT ON A PORTION OF THE PICTURE THAT THE REPORT MAY NOT HAVE PAINTED.
I KNOW EVERYONE INVOLVED WORKED VERY HARD ON THE REPORT AND EVERYONE INVOLVED HAS THE BEST INTEREST OF THE TOWN AT HEART.
HOWEVER, I DO BELIEVE SOME EFFORTS WILL MAKE MORE SENSE THAN OTHERS AND THAT THERE WAS A SIDE OF THIS THAT DESERVED MENTION.
THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE AND MY PERSPECTIVE.
WHO'S NEXT? MANNY? UH, WANTED TO, UH, SORRY.
THE NEXT ONE, THE NEXT SPEAKER ACTUALLY IS IN THE FORM OF A WRITTEN STATEMENT AND THAT'S, UM, CHIEF JOHN KAKA.
UM, THE BOARD, UH, HAS TO DECIDE HOW THEY WANT, WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT, UM, THE STATEMENT READ OR HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THAT STATEMENT AS STATED EARLIER.
JUDITH, WE WILL, WE WILL NOTE THAT WE RECEIVED A WRITTEN COMMENT, WHICH WILL BE NOTED ON THE RECORD.
AND THEN WHAT WE WILL DO IS WE WILL POST THAT WRITTEN COMMENT.
WE WILL POST THAT ON THE WEBSITE.
SO THEN, UM, THE NEXT PERSON ON THIS LIST, UH, UH, IT WAS MURRAY BOWDEN, BUT HE DECLINED SPEAKING, UH, COMMENTING ON THE REPORT.
SO AT THIS MOMENT, WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE ELSE ON THIS LIST TO SPEAK IN RESPONSE TO THE, THE GUESSER REPORT.
UM, UH, THERE WAS, UH, MANNY WANTED TO GET ON MANNY.
UM, UH, UH, GARRETT, DID YOU, WERE YOU ABLE TO REACH HIM? DID YOU SEND A REQUEST? YEAH, I SENT THE EMAIL.
I, UM, I JUST DON'T HAVE THE GENTLEMAN'S EMAIL.
YEAH, MY COMPUTER ISN'T WORKING THAT GREAT.
THERE WAS ANOTHER REQUEST THAT I JUST FORWARDED TO YOU.
IS RAKESH HERE? I SEND IT HIM.
RAKESH RAJANI IS RAKESH RAJANI PRESENT? I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAS THE LINK.
I THAT'S, THAT WAS WHAT I, OH, EMAIL.
IF HE, IF HE SENT THE REQUEST PRIOR TO SEVEN O'CLOCK, WE GOT IT OUT.
SO THIS MUST BE COMING IN LATER.
WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND IS, WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND, UH, IS DIANA, IF YOU COULD SEND ME THAT EMAIL AND I'LL SEND IT AND, UM, WE CAN, IF THAT PERSON DOES COME ON, I'LL FORWARD THE LINK.
THEY COULD MAKE THE COMMENT DURING GENERAL COMMENT AND WE CAN THEN SEND THAT AND INCLUDE IT HERE.
AND PAUL, UM, IF YOU COULD PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
THE, THE, WE'LL DO THE SAME WITH THAT ADDITIONAL GENTLEMAN THAT YOU SAID THAT HAD A COMMENT HERE.
MY, UH, YOUR EMAIL'S NOT WORKING, YOU CAN CHAT TO ME.
UM, AND THAT'S HOW I WOULD RECOMMEND I'LL USE, UH, MY PRIVATE ONE.
I DID FORWARD IT TO YOU, GARRETT.
I'LL TAKE CARE OF THAT RIGHT NOW.
OH, WHY DON'T WE GIVE HIM A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO COME ON.
UH, OTHERWISE WE CAN, WE'LL MOVE ON.
[00:55:05]
NO.GARY, UH, I RECEIVED DIANA'S AND, UM, I WILL BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR YOURS, UM, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE WATCHING LIVE, BUT IT MAY TAKE, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL MINUTES.
IT MAY MAKE SENSE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, COME BACK TO THIS IF THEY RETURN.
BUT, UM, I WILL GET THE LINK OUT.
SO YOU BASICALLY WANT TO ADJOURN THIS PUBLIC DISCUSSION UNTIL AFTER? WELL, WE'RE GONNA DO THE, UH, THE, UH, PROMOTION IN A MOMENT.
AND THEN AFTER THAT THERE, WHY DON'T WE DO THE PROMOTION AND THEN WE WILL DO THE, AND THEN WE WILL, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HEAR, UM, YOU KNOW, FROM ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK.
WELL, WE HAVE LEAF BLOWERS AND THAT'S GONNA TAKE SOME TIME.
NO, I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT DO THE PROMOTION AND THEN IF GARY COULD REACH MANNY.
WELL, I DID RECEIVE YOUR EMAIL, SO I'LL GET THOSE BOTH OUT AND I WILL, UH, ADVISE THE BOARD WHEN THEY ARRIVE.
UH, JUST, JUST AS IT SAYS ON THE AGENDA AND HAS FOR, I GUESS JUST SHY OF A YEAR NOW, I WAS LOOKING AT, WHEN WE FIRST STARTED DOING THE ZOOM MEETINGS, IT'S, IT'S ABOUT A YEAR.
UH, THE, THE EASIEST WAY TO GET THE LINK IS TO SEND AN EMAIL, NOT TO THE BOARD MEMBERS, BUT TO PUBLIC HEARING@BERGNY.COM OR PUBLIC COMMENT@BERGNY.COM.
IT GOES TO A BUNCH OF US, AND YOU THEN GET PUT ON THE QUEUE.
BUT THIS WAS PARTICULARLY CIRCUITOUS THIS TIME AROUND, UH, JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE, UH, THE ANNOUNCEMENT WENT OUT.
SO LEMME UH, MAKE A SUGGESTION.
YES, UH, BECAUSE I, I WAS SPEAKING TO MANNY, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, EARLIER TODAY, AND HE INDICATED THAT IT'S VERY, VERY CONFUSING FOR THE AVERAGE, UM, YOU KNOW, PERSON AND NOT, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY'S INTERESTED IN A TOPIC THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET ON.
AND I'M WONDERING IF ON THE HOMEPAGE OF, UM, OF THE WEBSITE, WE COULD HAVE A PERMANENT, UM, UH, LINK SAYING IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AT A TOWN BOARD MEETING, UM, UH, PLEASE CLICK ON, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS, THIS LINK, WE PUT IT ON THE HOMEPAGE, AND THEN IF THE TOPIC THAT IS OF INTEREST, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, COMES UP, THEN NOBODY HAS TO LOOK AROUND FOR, UM, UM, FOR THE LO YOU KNOW, FOR THE, FOR THE LINK.
BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE AVERAGE PERSON, MANNY'S NOT AN AVERAGE PERSON.
I MEAN, NO, BUT YOU KNOW, WHAT HAS TO BE TOLD, HE ONLY HAS TO BE TOLD WHAT, YOU KNOW, THE, LIKE THE BLAH BLAH, BLAH.
AS YOU SAID, AN ANNOUNCEMENT, THE EMAIL COMES BACK TO YOU, YOU THEN SEND IT TO THE BOARD.
I THEN GRAB IT, PUT IT TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
BUT YOU PUT OUT AN ANNOUNCEMENT, JUST SAY, IF YOU WANT THE LINK, JUST WRITE TO PUBLIC HEARING AT GREENBERG.
DO IT WORKS FOR ME, RIGHT? BUT, BUT, BUT MY FEELING IS IF WE HAD IT ON THE HOMEPAGE, IT WAS PERMANENTLY ON THE HOMEPAGE, THEN IF THERE'S AN ISSUE THAT'S INTEREST, YOU KNOW, WE COULD SAY, YOU WANT TO COMMENT THAT A PUBLIC HEARING OR DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS OF THE TOWN BOARD, THIS IS THE WAY YOU COULD GET, THIS IS THE WAY YOU COULD GET ON IF YOU HAVE.
AND THEN, THEN NOBODY HAS TO LOOK, THERE'S NO CONFUSION.
AND YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A, IT'S NOT GOING TO, I MEAN, JOE COULD DO THIS OR DEEPAK COULD DO IT, YOU KNOW, UM, EASILY.
AND WE WANNA MAKE IT REALLY EASY FOR RESIDENTS WHO WANNA PARTICIPATE AT PUBLIC HEARINGS TO DO SO.
UM, SO MY BELIEF IS THAT THE CONFUSION OCCURS WHEN YOU SEND OUT A A GB LIST.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED, GB LIST, AND AT THE BOTTOM IT SAYS, IF YOU WANT TO RESPOND, RESPOND TO PAUL FINER, THEY RESPOND TO PAUL FINER SAYING, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
YOU THEN HAVE SEND IT TO THE TOWN BOARD, TOWN BOARD, WHICH I'M ON.
I THEN GET IT AND THEN I PUT IT TO THE PUBLIC HEARING LINK, WHICH IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT TO THE FIRST PLACE.
OKAY, WELL, I'M JUST MAKING, I'M JUST MAKING IT EASIER.
SO, SO, SO TOWN, TOWN SUPERVISOR FEINER, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO COMMEND GINA ON THE HARD, UM, WORK THAT WENT IN LEADING THE, THE, THIS TASK FORCE.
AND, UM, DURING MY YEARS AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, I, I HAVE NOTICED THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS STOOD OUT IN MANY WAYS.
I'VE EVEN RECOMMENDED ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS TO, TO CHIEF THAT, UM, UH, WE SHOULD SEND SOME OF THE, UM, INITIATIVES THAT TOWN OF GREENBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES TO THE WASHINGTON AND, UM, AND PERHAPS, UH, TO PRESENT TOWN OF GREENBURG AS A MODEL FOR ITS COMMUNITY POLICE RELATIONS.
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK ERIC ZINGER, THE, FOR, UM, SHARING THE STATISTICS THAT HE SHARED
[01:00:01]
AND TO, TO ASK, UM, IF IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE.I'M RAISING THIS QUESTION TO ASK ALL OF THE OFFICERS WHO REPRESENTED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS OUR CHIEF, IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO INCORPORATE INTO THE TRAINING THE QUESTION, TO RAISE THE QUESTION AS TO WHY, UM, EVERYONE WHO IS BECOMING AN OFFICER, BEING TRAINED TO BECOME AN OFFICER, WHY THEY THINK THAT THE NUMBERS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN, UM, IT'S, IT'S AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED AMONG THOSE WHO ARE, UM, ARRESTED AND INCARCERATED, PARTICULARLY FOR, UM, NON-CRIMINAL OFFENSES.
IF, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT HOW TO MAKE CERTAIN REFORMS, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT WHERE THERE IS THIS DISPROPORTIONALITY IN, UM, UH, ARRESTING, IN THE ARRESTING OF, OF PEOPLE FROM NOT JUST THE IMMEDIATE GREENBERG COMMUNITY, BUT THROUGHOUT OUR ENTIRE NATION.
BECAUSE THAT NUMBER OF DISPROPORTIONATE REPRESENTATION OF BLACK MEN IS, IS PERVASIVE.
AND PERHAPS RAISING QUESTIONS LIKE THAT IN TRAINING CAN HELP PEOPLE TO RETHINK WHY IT, UM, UH, AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN ARE PERHAPS TARGETED MORE THAN OTHERS BECAUSE WE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS, THIS IS ABOUT LEARNINGS, ABOUT LOOKING AT HISTORY, THE HISTORY OF POLICING, THE ORIGINS OF POLICING, AND REALLY RETHINKING WHERE SOME OF THE THINKING COMES FROM THAT LEADS TO THESE KINDS OF OUTCOMES.
WE ALL KNOW THE BASIC SYSTEMS FORMULA, INPUT, THROUGHPUT, OUTPUT, AND IT REALLY, YOU KNOW, I I'M JUST ASKING THAT THROUGH TRAINING, UM, THAT, UM, WE, THAT, THAT WE TAKE A STRONG LOOK AT WHY THIS IS, UM, THE WAY IT IS.
THANK YOU IN ALL DUE RESPECT TO OUR CHIEF, OUR LIEUTENANTS, OUR POLICE OFFICERS FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THAT YOU DO AND THE TREMENDOUS WORK THAT YOU DID, GINA, ON LEADING THIS COMMITTEE.
I JUST WANTED TO QUICKLY NOTE THAT, UH, GENTLEMAN, RAKESH AND MANNY HAVE BOTH ARRIVED.
AND, UH, TASHA, UH, IF I MISINTERPRETED THAT YOU WANTED TO SPEAK DURING G I S R, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
I, UH, TOOK YOUR CHAT AS GENERAL COMMENT, SO IF YOU COULD JUST CLARIFY THAT AND, UM, CERTAINLY THANK YOU.
AND, AND GARRETT, YOUR, UH, AUDIO IS BREAKING UP.
OKAY, SO WE HAVE RAKESH, IS HE HERE? YES, HE IS.
ALRIGHT, RAKESH, THANK YOU FOR THE OP OPPORTUNITY AND I APPRECIATE, UH, SENDING ME THE LINK.
UH, I WANTED TO COMMEND THIS IMPORTANT WORK WE ARE DOING AND WANTED TO SPECIFICALLY SPEAK TO THE SURVEY.
I WAS GLAD TO SEE THAT WE HAD DONE THE SURVEY AND I SEE THAT THERE WERE, IT WAS DONE TWICE AND I WAS CAREFULLY LOOKING AT THE DATA.
WHAT SURPRISED ME WAS THAT THE DATA WAS, THE FINDINGS WERE NOT DISAGGREGATED, UH, BY RACE OR BY SEX AND GENDER OR BY AGE.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE THE DATA PRESENTED IN THE AGGREGATE, WE MISS, UH, THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHETHER CERTAIN CONSTITUENCIES OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED COMPARED TO OTHERS.
SO, AS A, GIVEN THE CONTEXT OF THIS ENTIRE PIECE OF WORK, UH, I THINK IT'LL BE REALLY HELPFUL TO DISAGGREGATE THE DATA BY THOSE, UH, BY THOSE VARIABLES.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'M ABLE TO SHARE SCREEN, BUT I COULD, I CAN SHOW YOU SOME WORK WE'VE DONE IN DOBBS FERRY THAT WILL HELP ILLUMINATE THIS.
SO IF I HAVE YOUR PERMISSION, I WILL JUST TAKE TWO MINUTES TO SHARE SCREEN TO SHOW YOU HOW THIS WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
UM, CAN YOU ALL SEE MY SCREEN? YES.
SO THIS IS JUST A, IT'S A TRUE SAMPLE QUESTION I'M SHARING, UH, WHERE THIS FIRST PIE CHART,
[01:05:01]
WHICH LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO THE, THE DATA PRESENTED IN THE GREENBERG REPORT, I THINK YOU USE THE SAME PROGRAM, GIVES THE INFORMATION AND THE AGGREGATE IN RESPONSE TO THE QUESTION OFFICERS IN DOBBS FERRY TREAT PEOPLE FAIRLY.SO IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT THIS DATA, THE BOTTOM TWO SLICES OF THIS PIE THAT ADDS UP TO 66% EXPRESS THAT THEY STRONGLY AGREE OR AGREE THAT OFFICERS IN DOBBS FERRY TREAT PEOPLE FAIRLY AND ANOTHER 11.3% ARE UNCERTAIN.
SO THAT YOU WOULD BE LEFT WITH A PICTURE.
IT'LL BE REASONABLE FOR YOU TO BE LEFT WITH A PICTURE THAT GENERALLY MOST PEOPLE ARE HAPPY WITH THE POLICE, YOU KNOW, AND OR UNCERTAIN AND VERY SMALL SLICE, UH, UNHAPPY.
THAT'S THE PICTURE YOU WOULD GET.
HOWEVER, IF YOU THEN, UH, IF YOU JUST ALLOW ME TO, IF YOU ARE TO DISAGGREGATE THE DATA, WHICH IS WHAT I'M GONNA DO, ONE SECOND, UH, GIVE ME A MOMENT.
I'M JUST GONNA STOP SCREEN FOR ONE SECOND AND I'LL BE BACK.
NOW THIS IS WHAT THE DISAGGREGATED DATA LOOKS LIKE.
I'LL JUST WALK YOU THROUGH IT.
ON THE LEFT HERE IS AGAIN, THE AGGREGATED DATA.
66% ARE SATISFIED, 23% ARE NEUTRAL OR UNCERTAIN, AND 11% ARE UNHAPPY.
SO IF YOU WOULD GET A SENSE VERY, IF YOU ARE HAPPY, BUT WHEN YOU DISAGGREGATE THE DATA, FOR EXAMPLE, BY GENDER, WHICH IS THIS FIRST SET HERE, YOU NOTICE THAT THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN, THAT MEN TEND TO BE MUCH MORE SATISFIED THAN WOMEN DO.
AND PEOPLE WHO WOULD PREFER NOT TO SAY THEIR GENDER POSSIBLY, THESE ARE NON-BINARY PEOPLE ARE MUCH LESS SATISFIED, ONLY HALF ARE SATISFIED COMPARED TO THE 66%.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE TABLE BELOW THIS ONE BY AGE, YOU SEE SOMETHING ELSE.
YOU SEE THAT OLDER PEOPLE, IF YOU LOOK ON THE RIGHT, 72% OF OLDER PEOPLE AGE 55 AND ABOVE ARE SATISFIED.
BUT IF YOU LOOK AT PEOPLE AGE, YOUNGER ADULTS AGE 18 TO 34, LESS THAN HALF OR ONLY 44% WERE SATISFIED WITH THE POLICE FELT THAT THEY WERE TREATED FAIRLY.
FINALLY, IF YOU LOOK BY ETHNICITY OR BY RACE, YOU SEE THAT 67% OF WHITE FOLKS, OR TWO THIRDS OF WHITE FOLKS WAS WERE FELT THAT POLICE TREATED THEM FAIRLY AS COMPARED TO ONLY 54% OF HISPANICS AND ONLY 45% OF BLACK FOLKS.
AND SIMILARLY FOR ASIANS, IT WAS ONLY HALF.
SO WHEN YOU DISAGGREGATE THE DATA THIS WAY, THE PICTURE THAT EMERGES IS, WHILE OVERALL VAST MAJORITIES MIGHT FEEL THAT THE POLICE TREAT YOU FAIRLY, WHEN YOU BREAK DOWN THE DATA, YOU NOTICE THAT ACTUALLY WHITE PEOPLE, OLDER PEOPLE AND MALES FEEL TREATED FAIRLY.
IT SIGNIFICANTLY DIMINISHES OR GOES DOWN WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT BY COLOR, BY AGE, BY AGE BANDS AND BY GENDER.
SO I WOULD URGE US ALL TO TAKE THE DATA YOU HAVE THROUGH THE TWO SURVEYS AND THIS AGGREGATE IT SO THAT WE CAN GET A TRUER PICTURE OF WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IN THAT WAY BETTER ADDRESS WHERE THERE MAY BE PROBLEMS. CAN I ASK YOU A QUE I HAVE A QUESTION.
UM, UH, HOW MANY PEOPLE, UM, RESPONDED, UH, TO THE DOPPS STORY SURVEY AND WHEN WE'RE ANALYZING A SURVEY, UM, IS IT IMPORTANT TO, UM, TO ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE NUMBER OF RESPONSES AND THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T RESPOND? COULD YOU GET, DOES THAT, IS THAT A FACTOR? THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
UM, ABSOLUTELY THIS IS A FACTOR.
IN THE CASE OF DOBBS FERRY, THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS RESPONSE.
OVER 700 PEOPLE RESPONDED FOR A POPULATION INCLUDING CHILDREN OF 11,000.
THAT IS A VERY HIGH RESPONSE RATE AND IT IS REPRESENTED, I CAN SHOW YOU TONS OF DATA, WHICH ALSO LOOKS AT THE MARGIN OF ERROR.
IN OUR CASE, WE, FOR EVEN THIS DISAGGREGATED, WE HAVE VERY HIGH CONFIDENCE INTERVALS AS THE TECHNICAL TERM IS.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU CAN TRUST THE DATA.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT, WHAT THE CASE IS IN THE CA IN THE, IN THE CASE OF THE GREENBERG SURVEY, ONLY AFTER DOING THIS ANALYSIS WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO TELL WHETHER WE CAN, WE CAN MAKE THESE SORTS OF, UH, CONCLUSIONS.
UH, BUT, BUT ANY STATISTICIAN OR SOMEBODY WHO HAS FAMILIARITY WITH DATA SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
I THINK THAT'S A GREAT CHART AND I
[01:10:01]
WISH WE COULD DO WITH THE GREENBERG BECAUSE I KNOW FAIRVIEW DO NOT THINK THE SAME WAY.LEY AND DALE AND EVERYBODY FEEL AND GET SOME PEOPLE THAT NORMALLY YOU DON'T TALK TO WOULD BE A PART OF THE CHART.
AND LEY, UM, I TALKED TO LEY AND THEY SAID THEY NEVER HAD A BLACK POLICE OFFICER AND I GUESS I GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GREENBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO BRING THAT TO YOUR ATTENTION, BECAUSE I KNOW LEY IS A PART OF GREENBURG.
UM, I, FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY I, I LOVE THE REPORT AND I THINK IT COVERED A LOT OF THE, THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS THAT I HAVE IN THE OUR COM, THE COMMUNITY THAT I REPRESENT, THIS, THE JUNIPER CIVIC ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT.
BUT, UM, I WANNA, I WAS GONNA GO THROUGH A LOT OF STUFF, BUT I WANTED TO FOCUS ON A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I THINK, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, SYSTEMATIC PROBLEMS NEED SYSTEMATIC SOLUTIONS.
AND A LOT OF THE, THE, THE, THE COVERAGE THAT WAS DONE ON THE REPORT DID, WAS FIXES THAT DIDN'T ADDRESS A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO MAKING SURE THAT IT MADE, IT'S, IT'S APPLIED THINGS LIKE HOW, HOW DO THE REPORT, UH, RECOMMEND THAT THESE ACTIONS ARE TAKEN? HOW ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS MAINTAINED? HOW ARE THE NEW CHANGES IN, IN, IN THE PROCESS, THE, UH, YOU KNOW, THE DEVELOPED, HOW IS THE, THE COM, HOW IS, HOW ARE THE CHANGES IN, IN, UM, HOW IS THE, THE, THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE BROUGHT INTO THE PROCESS? HOW IS THE COMMUNITY TO TRUST THAT THE CHANGES THAT ARE BEING CARRIED OUT BY, BY THE DEPARTMENT, BY THE DEPARTMENT'S HIERARCHY? AND, AND I, I HAVE TO MAKE A SUGGESTION.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE ALREADY HAVE A, A REVIEW BOARD OR SOME KIND OF A, A REVIEW PROCESS, AND THEY SAID IT'S STRENGTHENING THAT I THINK WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO STRONGLY PUT OUT A AND PUT IN CHARGE A COMMISSION OR A BOARD, YOU KNOW, AND THAT PROVIDES FOR, FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HAVE OVERSIGHT, YOU KNOW, AND THE OVERSIGHT SHOULD BE COMPLETE AND, AND, AND COMPREHENSIVE, NOT JUST SUGGESTIONS, YOU KNOW, TO BE MADE TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE ANSWERING TO THAT COMMUNITY THROUGH A COMMISSION OR BOARD.
UM, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, AND EVERYTHING FROM, FROM PROMOTIONS, EVERYTHING FROM HIRING EVERYTHING TO COMPLAINTS.
RIGHT NOW, THE COMPLAINTS GO TO A LIEUTENANT IN THE DEPARTMENT.
POLICE, POLICE POLICING, POLICE DOESN'T WORK.
UM, AND IT SHOULD BE LEFT, IT SHOULD BE CATALOGED AND KEPT OUTSIDE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO WE HAVE A RECORD OUTSIDE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WE ARE POLICING.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DO THIS ALREADY WITH PLANNING BOARDS AND ZONING BOARDS.
I MEAN, THEY ARE CITIZENS WHO PROVIDE FOR US THE, A SAFETY NET.
SO THEY'LL MAKE SURE BUILDINGS AND, AND SITUATIONS LIKE THAT ARE KEPT, ARE, ARE KEPT SAFE.
AND THEY USE PROFESSIONALS TO, TO CARRY OUT THE REQUESTS AND, AND THE, AND THE ACTIONS OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARDS.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND, AND, UH, AT ONE POINT, UH, THE GENTLEMAN THAT IS IN CHARGE SAID THAT FUNDING AND SIZE WAS NOT GOING TO BE ADDRESSED.
LOOKS LIKE I TOTALLY INCORRECT TO, TO, I'M TO SAY IS, EXCUSE ME.
ANYWAY, FUNDING AND SIZE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.
I MEAN, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, UM, I BROUGHT UP IN ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE, UH, UH, CONVERSATIONS WAS THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE GREENBERG POLICE DEPARTMENT, ACCORDING TO THE F B I STATISTICS FOR LIKE, COMMUNITIES OF SIZE AND, AND CRIME ARE O ARE IT'S OVER STAFF BY THE, BY AT LEAST 2020 POLICEMEN.
UM, AND, AND ALSO BRINGS INTO, INTO THE CONVERSATION THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SIX VILLAGES THAT ARE COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY OVERSIZED.
IF YOU LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS THAT PLAY, YOU KNOW, ALL THESE COMMUNITIES HAVE THERE TWICE AS MANY COPS AS THEY, THEY OUGHT TO HAVE.
IT BECOMES A, YOU KNOW, A, A JOB CREATION MECHANISM.
IF WE, IF WE PROVIDE SOME KIND OF, SOME, WHAT I CALL MUTUAL COOPERATION AND WORK WITH THEM,
[01:15:01]
YOU KNOW, THE TOWN OF GREENBERG SHOULD NOT NOT COUNT AS POPULATION JUST BEING THE WHOLE OF GREENBURG.IT SHOULD BE THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS WHEN THEY FIGURE OUT THE MANPOWER THEY NEED.
ALSO, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBERS OF DIVISIONS WE HAVE IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE ALREADY COVERED BY THE COUNTY.
AND WE STILL FUNDING THESE DIVISIONS IN, IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHY, YOU KNOW, IS DO WE, DO WE NEED 'EM? I MEAN, SO WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT, AT NOT ONLY THE FUNDING, BUT THE, THE MAKEUP OF OUR DEPARTMENT.
IF WE FREE, AND LET'S SAY WE FREE 20, THAT IT WOULD BE OVER A MILLION DOLLARS TO DO OTHER PROGRAMMING OR EVEN BETTER PROGRAMMING WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE EXISTING, THE EXISTING MANPOWER THAT WE HAVE.
BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN HIRE THEM DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY SHOULD BE HIRED.
THE RIGHT SIZE POLICING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF NOT HAVING OVER POLICING.
IT MAY, IT MIGHT BE THE, THE MARIJUANA THING.
THEY MIGHT NOT, WE NOT, MIGHT NOT HAVE AS MANY MARIJUANA ARRESTS BECAUSE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO.
I'VE SEEN TRAFFIC STOPS WITH, THERE'S FOUR POLICEMEN SHOWING UP.
I, I SAW A KID THAT WAS MAKING NOISE IN THE LIBRARY, AND FIVE COPS CAME TO VISIT THEM, THE LIBRARY.
SO HE COULD TAKE ONE OF 'EM, COULD TAKE 'EM AWAY BY SAYING, COME ON, GET IN MY CAR.
AND, AND, AND MAYBE IT HAS TO DO WITH THE NUMBER OF POLICEMEN WE HAVE.
'CAUSE I, I TRY TO MAKE NOTES HERE.
UH, YEAH, THE MUTUAL COOPERATIONS, UH, THE, THE, YOU KNOW, THE SERVICES ALSO, YOU KNOW, IN THE REPORT THERE WERE VERY INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT, ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING THE JOB, THAT THEY'RE, AND CREATING A VERY CLEAR AND CONCISE WAY DESCRIPTION OF THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION.
UM, I WANNA ADD TO THAT, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT KIND OF A ZERO BUDGETING, UH, TYPE OF APPROACH TO IT.
AND, AND EV AND ONCE YOU'VE ESTABLISHED IT, THE PARAMETERS THAT EACH, EACH DIVISION HAS TO DO WHEN THE BUDGET TIME COMES, THE DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE DOING ZERO BUDGETING, UH, UH, BASED ZERO BUDGETING, AND MAKE SURE THAT, THAT THEY'RE MEETING THE, THE, THE DESCRIPTIONS THAT THEY HAVE, UH, THAT THEY HAVE SUBMITTED FOR THEIR BUDGET.
SO THAT, THAT PUTS IT, THAT PUTS AND PREVENTS THE DEPARTMENT FROM, FOR JUST GROWING FOR THE SAKE OF GROWING.
BUT IT'S GROWING FOR THE SAKE OF DOING WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING AT EACH DEPARTMENT OR, OR, OR DIVISION.
UH, THE OTHER PART IS, OKAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A BIGGER, UH, POLICE BUILDING.
HOW ABOUT INSTEAD OF BUILDING A BIGGER POLICE BUILDING, HAVING SATELLITE OR PRECINCTS THAT ARE CLOSER TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE PROTECTING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S LOTS OF EMPTY BUILDINGS AND, AND, AND, AND REAL ESTATE AROUND PUT THE, PUT THE POLICING IN, IN THE AREA.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED SO MANY POLICE.
WELL, MAYBE WE SHOULD, INSTEAD OF HAVING A BIGGER POLICE, UH, DEPARTMENT OR BUILDING DOWN HERE ON TERRYTOWN ROAD, MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE SATELLITES AND KEEP THE BUILDING WE ALREADY HAVE.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE, IN OTHER WORDS, WE'VE GOTTA START THINKING OUT OF THE BOX A LITTLE MORE INSTEAD OF LIKE LOOKING AT THE THINGS AS THEY ALREADY ARE AND PROVIDING A PAINT JOB OR, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE SHEET ROCK.
WE NEED TO FOUNDATIONALLY LOOK AT HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM THE BOTTOM UP.
UM, AND THE OTHER PART IS, YOU KNOW, AND WE SHOULD MAKE THE AMBULANCE SCORE INDEPENDENT.
ALL RIGHT? I, I DON'T KNOW HOW THE POLICE SHOW UP TO, TO A, A, A CALL FOR AN EMERGENCY, BUT TO SEE A, A POLICEMAN SHOW UP FOR SOMEBODY THAT WAS, IS HAVING SOME KIND OF STRESS ISSUE OR A DRUG ISSUE, OR ONE OF THESE MANY OTHER ISSUES, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S FIVE POLICE CARS SHOWING UP A A ALONG WITH AN AMBULANCE.
YOU KNOW, I, I'VE LIVED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY HAVE FLY CARS, AND THEY DO, THEY, THEY DO THE JOB OF A, THAT A POLICE CAR DOES.
THEY GET TO THE THING, TO THE, TO THE SCENE.
THEY, THEY EVALUATE IT AND CALL THE AMBULANCE IF NECESSARY.
AND, AND, AND THAT CREATES A SEPARATION, UH, INSTEAD OF HAVING POLICE COMING IN FOR EMERGENCIES THAT ARE NOT POLICE RELATED.
SO, UM, MR. AIS, I DON'T WANNA INTERRUPT YOU, BUT YOU KNOW, WE WERE, WE'RE ALLOWING EIGHT MINUTES FOR COMMENT, AND YOU'RE A LITTLE OVER THAT, RIGHT? SO I WANNA CHECK WITH THE TOWN BOARD TO SEE, UM, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY WANT TO HANDLE THIS.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE ELSE BEFORE YOU HAS
[01:20:01]
STAYED WITHIN THAT TIME.UH, I GOTTA TELL YOU, 'CAUSE I TIMED A NUMBER OF, OF THE GUYS WHO WERE TALKING, AND THEY WENT OVER OVER THAT.
BUT ANYWAYS, I'LL, I'LL SHUT UP AND, AND, UM, I CAN SUBMIT SOME OF THIS STUFF IN WRITING IF YOU WANT.
BUT, UM, I, I LIKE TO TELL YOU, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE, WE, SOME OF THE DIVISIONS THAT WE HAVE ARE, ARE OVER THE TOP AND UNNECESSARY, YOU KNOW, UM, LIKE THE SWAT AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
BUT, UH, I THINK IF WE HAD A POLICE COMMISSION OR A BOARD THAT TOOK AND LOOKED AT ALL THESE ISSUES AS AN ONGOING BASIS AND INCORPORATED SOME OF THE, THE SUGGESTIONS THAT WERE BROUGHT IN BY GINA IN THE, IN THE, AND THE GREAT GROUPS YOU PUT TOGETHER, IT, IT SHOULD BE, IT, IT SHOULD IMPROVE THE WAY WE RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH POLICING.
AND I'M SORRY TO TAKE SOME EXTRA TIME.
SO WE DO NOT HAVE ANY FURTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK ON THE GASA REPORT.
I JUST WANTED TO RESPOND TO, UM, YOUR QUESTION AND ERIC ZINGERS.
AS FAR AS, UM, THE DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF ARRESTS.
I THINK THAT, UM, IT, IT DEFINITELY WARRANTS AN EXPLANATION AND, AND FURTHER ANALYSIS, BUT I CAN, I CAN TELL YOU THIS, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN JUST THE NUMBERS.
FOR 2020, THE TOTAL ARRESTS WERE IN THE AREA OF 600 ARRESTS, AND WE MADE ARRESTS FOR EIGHT MARIJUANA OFFENSES.
AND OUT OF THOSE EIGHT MARIJUANA OFFENSES, TWO WERE BLACK MALES, AND SIX WERE HISPANIC MALES.
AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE UNDERTAKING NOW IS A STUDY OF HOW THOSE ARRESTS OCCURRED.
BECAUSE WHAT WE BELIEVE IS WE'RE RESPONDING TO CALLS FOR SERVICE REACTIVE POLICING AS OPPOSED TO PROACTIVE POLICING.
SO WE'RE FINDING THAT OFTENTIMES WE'RE GETTING CALLED TO THE COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE ARE RAISING ISSUES ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE.
AND SOME OF THOSE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES ARE RELATED TO MARIJUANA AND, AND PUBLIC USE OF MARIJUANA.
AND, AND WE'RE RESPONDING TO THOSE.
SO IN A MORE TYPICAL YEAR, 2019, WE HAD OVER 900 ARRESTS, AND WE HAD 22 ARRESTS THAT WERE MARIJUANA RELATED OFFENSES.
AS MR. ZINGER, UH, HAD MENTIONED BEFORE.
OUT OF THOSE 22, WE HAD 11 MALE BLACKS ARRESTED.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER FOR HISPANICS AND WHITES.
BUT AGAIN, WE'RE UNDERTAKING AN ANALYSIS TO SEE WERE THOSE REACTIVE CALLS FOR SERVICE THAT RESULTED IN ARREST, OR WERE THEY PROACTIVE? SO I THINK THERE'S, THERE'S GOTTA BE AN ANALYSIS DONE BEFORE PEOPLE REACH CONCLUSIONS THAT THERE'S ANY KIND OF RACIALLY BIASED POLICING, AS I MENTIONED, AS A PROPORTION OF THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS.
WE'RE TALKING AN EXTREMELY LOW PORTION OF THE NUMBER OF ARRESTS FOR THE MARIJUANA OFFENSES.
BUT I WILL GET THAT ANALYSIS DONE, AND I, I'LL BE HAPPY TO REPORT IT BACK.
UH, CHIEF, I HAD A QUESTION, CHIEF.
I HAD A QUESTION, A FOLLOW UP TO MANNY'S, UM, COMMENTS ABOUT SATELLITE, UM, YOU KNOW, POLICE, UM, YOU KNOW, HEADQUARTERS.
UM, I KNOW WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, UM, THE POSSIBILITY OF, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, HAVING ANOTHER POLICE, UH, HEADQUARTERS AND, AND COURTHOUSE.
UM, IF WE'RE, UH, THINKING OUT OF THE BOX, YOU KNOW, LIKE MANNY, YOU JUST DID.
UM, IS THERE ANY VALIDITY TO, UM, UH, LOOKING INTO OR, OR STUDYING THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING SEPARATE, UM, YOU KNOW, LOCATIONS IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS, UM, RATHER THAN ONE SINGLE, UM, HEADQUARTERS? YOU KNOW, THERE WERE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THAT, PAUL.
I THINK THEY WERE EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS, PROBABLY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
WE, WE TALKED ABOUT EVEN BREAKING OUT E M S INTO A SEPARATE BUILDING, UM, FROM POLICE.
BUT SATELLITE BUILDINGS, YOU DO HAVE CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS WHEN IT COMES TO SUPERVISION AND, AND, AND MAYBE A LACK THEREOF WHEN YOU HAVE POLICE OFFICERS REPORTING TO, YOU KNOW, OFFSITE LOCATIONS.
AND, AND WHETHER THE TOWN WAS BIG ENOUGH TO WARRANT THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH THAT COMES CONCERNS AND PROBLEMS FROM, FROM A MANAGEMENT POINT OF VIEW.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT WAS DISCUSSED.
I DON'T THINK IT GOT MUCH TRACTION, BUT IT WAS EXPLORED.
AND AS THE CONVERSATIONS GO ON, IT, IT HASN'T BEEN RULED OUT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE E M S PART.
IF YOU WANT ME TO ADDRESS ANYTHING ELSE THAT MANNY SAID, I, I, I, A COUPLE OF COMMENTS I COULD, I COULD SPEAK TO.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER, UH, YOU KNOW, UH,
[01:25:01]
RESPONSES TO, YOU KNOW, MANNY'S, YOU KNOW, COMMENTS? HE ALWAYS COMES UP WITH CREATIVE IDEAS.YOU KNOW, I, I THINK HIS STAFFING, I'D LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HIM OFFLINE.
'CAUSE HIS STAFFING NUMBERS THAT HE, THAT HE FOUND THAT WE COULD BE OVERSTAFFED.
I THINK THAT, UM, I THINK THAT'S MISPLACED.
I KNOW WE HAVE RIGHT NOW 107 POLICE OFFICERS.
IT'S THE SAME NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS AS WE HAD IN 1971.
I THINK, UM, THE POLICE TO POPULATION RATIO WE'RE AT, WE'RE AT THE LOWER PART OF THAT.
AND THAT IS ONE OF THE GAUGES FOR STAFFING OF POLICE DEPARTMENTS.
SO, I'D LIKE TO, I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHERE HE, UM, KEITH, WHERE HE'S GETTING INFORMATION, BUT I'LL, I'LL TALK TO HIM OFFLINE.
'CAUSE WE COULD TALK ALL NIGHT ABOUT THIS ON THIS.
THERE'S A LOT WE'LL TALK, WE'LL, WE'LL TALK, BECAUSE I, I THOUGHT IT WAS 125.
UM, I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS 107.
UH, AND ALSO THE POPULATION SHOULD, THAT YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING AT IS THE POPULATION OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREA, NOT THE WHOLE POPULATION OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, BECAUSE THAT'S ALREADY COVERED BY THE VILLAGES.
THAT'S THE ONLY PORTION WE LOOK AT, LOOK AT IS THE UNINCORPORATED NUMBER.
ALSO, ALSO, JUST AS A, A FOLLOW UP, UM, AS TECHNOLOGY CHANGES, UH, I MEAN, THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TECHNOLOGY BEING USED.
HOW WILL THAT IMPACT, YOU KNOW, SAY FUTURE? UH, YOU KNOW, UH, POLICING IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS OF POLICE OFFICERS, UH, THAT ARE, ARE, ARE NEEDED AS YOU KNOW, AS WE GO INTO A ONE AND ROBOTS AND ALL THOSE, IT, IT'S HARD TO SAY, WE HAVE NOT HEARD OF, YOU KNOW, ANY KIND OF ROBOTS OR ANY OTHER ELECTRONIC MEANS THAT ARE GONNA REPLACE ACTIVE POLICE OFFICER YET MM-HMM.
SO IT, IT, IT'S HARD TO SAY TECHNOLOGY HELPS US DO OUR JOB MORE EFFICIENTLY, BUT IT DOESN'T REPLACE THE JOB OF A POLICE OFFICER.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, UM, A POINT THAT I MADE THAT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RESPONDING TO, TO MY, UM, QUESTION.
BUT I, I WANT TO JUST MAKE, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT, UH, EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS.
I WASN'T SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT MARIJUANA.
I WAS SPEAKING IN GENERAL ABOUT THE DISPROPORTIONATE, UM, NUMBERS OF, OF AFRICAN AMERICANS, MALES AND FEMALES WHO ARE, UM, IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND IN, IN OUR JAILS.
UM, AND, UM, AND FOR, FOR, I'M SPEAKING WITH RESPECT TO NONVIOLENT OFFENSES.
AND, UH, I, I JUST, YOU KNOW, JUST THINK THAT, UM, PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE NEED TO LOOK AT, AND I SAY WE, BECAUSE I THINK I'M, I'M, YOU KNOW, SAYING EVERYONE WHO, UM, BECOMES AN OFFICE.
YOU KNOW, I USED TO BE A TEACHER AND, UM, I, I WOULD NOTICE HOW, UM, CERTAIN CHILDREN WOULD BE TARGETED FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.
NOT ONLY AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE STUDENTS, BUT MOSTLY MALE STUDENTS WHO PRESENTED CERTAIN BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTICS.
YOUNG, YOUNG MALE STUDENTS WHO WERE, UM, SOMETIMES VERY BRIGHT, VERY ENERGETIC, UM, AND, AND THEY, THEY JUST, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T GET THE NORM OF SITTING AT THEIR DESK WITH THEIR FEET ON THE FLOOR AND THEIR HANDS FOLDED.
AND, UM, OFTENTIMES THE ASSUMPTION WAS MADE, OH, UH, HE NEEDS, UM, SOME KIND OF BEHAVIORAL MOD DRUGS.
AND I'M ONLY SAYING THAT WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE OF A DIS DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN AND A GROWING DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN IN OUR PRISON SYSTEM.
AND I'M JUST SUGGESTING THAT AS A PART OF TRAINING, THAT QUESTION MIGHT BE EXPLORED TO SEE WHAT EVERYONE THINKS ABOUT THAT.
THAT THAT'S, THAT'S MY ONLY RECOMMENDATION.
SO, SO WE SHOULD MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PART OF THE AGENDA.
HEY, BARBARA, YOU OFF THE HOOK FOR A FEW MINUTES.
[ PO 1 - 3/10/2021 Resolution promoting Police Officer Maria Pacino to the position of Police Detective]
UH, WE HAVE A PROMOTION, UM, UH, POLICE OFFICER MARIA PACINO TO THE OFFICER OF, UM, POLICE DETECTIVE.AND, UM, I'D LIKE TO ASK THE POLICE CHIEF TO INTRODUCE SOME OR SOON TO BE, UM, PROMOTED, UH, DETECTIVE? YES.
FINER, YOU KNOW, TONIGHT IS A, AN EXCITING NIGHT IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S A NIGHT WE GET TO REWARD A HARDWORKING POLICE OFFICER, UM, FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK.
SO, UM, POLICE OFFICER MARIA PACINO WAS BORN IN THE BRONX AND MOVED TO HARTSDALE, EVENTUALLY GRADUATING FROM MARIA REGINA HIGH SCHOOL.
UH, SHE CONTINUED HER EDUCATION AT JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, WHERE SHE COMPLAINED ABOUT ONE SPECIFIC, UH, UH, PROFESSOR, BUT I DON'T WANNA GO INTO DETAIL ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.
[01:30:02]
UH, SHE EARNED HER BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE.IN 2012, MARIA BEGAN HER LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER WITH THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON POLICE DEPARTMENT, UH, WHILE SHE WORKED IN THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON AND CONTINUED TO LIVE IN HARTSDALE.
UM, IN 2015, WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE MARIA JOIN THE RANKS OF THE GREENBERG POLICE DEPARTMENT.
UH, MARIA QUICKLY STOOD OUT AS A PATROL OFFICER AND WAS, UH, QUICKLY ASSIGNED TO MANY SUCCESSFUL UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS.
IN 2017, MARIA'S HARD WORK IN, IN TALENT EARNED THROUGH THE SELECTION TOUR ELITE STREET CRIME UNIT.
AND WHILE IN THE UNIT, MARIA CONTINUED TO EXCEL, AND IN OCTOBER OF 2020, MARIA WAS SELECTED TO FILL A POSITION IN THE DETECTIVE DIVISION TO NO ONE'S SURPRISE, MARIA EXCELLED IN THAT ASSIGNMENT TO THE DETECTIVE DIVISION.
AND, UM, I ASKED YOU TO JOIN ME TONIGHT AS I RECOMMEND POLICE OFFICER MARIA PACINO FOR PROMOTION TO DETECTIVE.
DID WE, UM, UH, YEAH, LET'S DO ONE.
YOU WANT ME TO SHARE IT? YEAH.
WELL, IT'S ACTUALLY THE SAME WORDING.
JUST SAY RESOLUTION APPOINTING POLICE OFFICER.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE, UH, THE RESOLUTION, UH, PROMOTING POLICE OFFICER MARIA CASINO TO THE, UH, THE POSITION OF POLICE DETECTIVE.
SO IS THE DETECTIVE HERE? YES, I BELIEVE SHE IS.
OH, I WON'T, I DON'T SEE BEING A DETECTIVE
SHE'S, CONGRATULATIONS, CONGRAT.
YOU VERY NO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, AND I WILL DO MY VERY BEST TO REPRESENT GREENBERG.
AND WE WANNA, UM, WISH YOU GREAT SUCCESS, AND WE'RE REALLY THRILLED THAT YOU'RE PART OF, UH, OUR, UH, POLICE DEPARTMENT.
YOU'VE BEEN AN OUTSTANDING OFFICER, AND I KNOW YOU'LL BE A TERRIFIC, UH, DETECTIVE.
[ TOWN CLERK COMMENTS]
HAVE ANY COMMENTS STARTED BERG? I MUTE.I JUST WANT TO, UM, UH, ANNOUNCE THAT ON MARCH, UH, 24TH, SO OUR NEXT MEETING, CORRECT? YES.
AND I JUST SEE THAT THERE ARE 52 PEOPLE HERE WITH US TONIGHT.
WE INVITE ALL OF YOU AND MORE TO BE HERE WITH US ON THAT OCCASION, BECAUSE THERE ARE GOING TO BE SEVERAL SURPRISES IN TERMS OF WOMEN IN OUR TOWN WHO WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT EVENING.
AND, UH, AND I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION THAT, UM, WE STARTED, UH, JUDITH AND I ARE WORKING ON, UM, THE ZUCKERBERG, UH, GREENBERG POST PANDEMIC, UM, UM, INITIATIVE WHERE STUDENTS ARE GONNA BE WORKING WITH, UM, AND, AND GARRETT, UH, TEAM'S ALSO WORKING ON THAT.
AND STUDENTS ARE GONNA BE WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES, UH, STRUGGLING BUSINESSES, HELPING THEM, UH, SURVIVE.
AND WE'LL HAVE ACCESS TO SOME OF THE NATION'S, UH, TOUGH MINDS, BUSINESS MINDS COMING UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND THAT PROGRAM, I BELIEVE, IS STARTING, UH, THIS WEEK.
WE HAVE, UH, 70 STUDENTS WHO, UM, ARE PARTICIPATING.
UM, AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE A VERY EXCITING, UM, INITIATIVE.
GREENBERG'S ONE OF TWO COMMUNITIES IN THE COUNTRY THAT IS, UM, INVOLVED IN THIS.
[ To consider a Local Law amending Chapter 380 of the Code of the Town of Greenburgh, entitled “Noise," to restrict/prohibit the use of leaf blowers in the Town of Greenburgh while allowing their use during specified spring and fall clean-up periods]
MOVE THAT WE, UM, OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING RELATING TO A LOCAL LAW, AMENDING CHAPTER THREE 80 OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG ENTITLED NOISE TO RESTRICT, UH, PROHIBIT THE USE OF LEAF BLOWERS, UM, IN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG WHILE, UM, ALLOWING THE USE DURING SPECIFIED SPRING AND FALL, UH, CLEANUP, UM,[01:35:01]
PERIODS.AND I SHOULD JUST BEGIN BY, UM, MENTIONING THAT OVER THE YEARS, UM, MANY RESIDENTS HAVE, UM, EMAILED OR CALLED US COMPLAINING ABOUT NOISE AND THE SOUNDS OF WEEP BLOWERS, UM, THAT WAS ESCALATED DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE WORKING FROM THEIR HOME.
SO WE ASKED THE CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL TO, UM, UM, REVIEW THE TOPIC AND COME UP WITH, UM, A PROPOSED LOOK.
UH, THE TOWN BOARD WILL NOT BE VOTING ON, UM, ANY PROPOSALS OF TODAY.
UM, AFTER THE COMMENTS, UM, WE WILL, UM, ASK, UM, CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO REFLECT ON THE COMMENTS.
AND, UM, WELL, CAN I, I THINK IT'S GOOD IF YOU OPEN THE HEARING, SO THIS COULD BE ON THE RECORD.
AND ALSO, YOU SHOULD INTRODUCE THE LAW.
YOU ALSO MAKE A MOTION TO INTRODUCE IT AND ASK TO GET A SECOND.
I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE HEARING, AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
I'D LIKE TO, UM, MAKE, UM, A MOTION TO, UM, UM, INTRODUCE THE, UH, THE LAW SO PEOPLE COULD COMMENT SECOND.
SO, GOING BACK, UM, I JUST WANTED TO MENTION FOR THE RECORD THAT OVER THE YEARS, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE EMAILED ME OR CALLED ME COMPLAINING ABOUT NOISE, UM, AS A RESULT OF, UH, LEAF BLOWERS, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE DURING THE PAST YEAR HAVE BEEN WORKING, UM, AT HOME, AND THEY, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE GOING LIKE CRAZY HEARING ALL THE NOISE.
SO WE ASKED THE CONSERVATION, UM, ADVISORY, UH, COUNCIL, UM, TO, UH, REVIEW WHAT OTHER COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN DOING, UM, TO COME UP WITH A PROPOSED LAW.
UM, AND THAT IS A SUBJECT OF, UM, TONIGHT'S HEARING IS THE PROPOSED LAW THAT, UM, THEY DRAFTED AFTER TONIGHT.
WE'RE NOT GONNA BE VOTING ON ANYTHING.
UM, AFTER, UH, THE HEARING IS OVER, UM, THE CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL WILL REVIEW, UH, THE COMMENTS AND IF APPROPRIATE, UM, MAKE, UM, UH, FURTHER RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE TOWN BOARD.
AND THE TOWN BOARD OBVIOUSLY WILL, UM, DISCUSS, UM, THE COMMENTS THAT WE HEAR TONIGHT.
AND SO I'D LIKE TO ASK, UM, MIKE SIEGEL, UM, AND TERRY TORI TO, UM, BEGIN BY, UM, DISCUSSING WHAT THEIR PROPOSAL IS ABOUT.
I'M THERESA TORI, AND I'M CHAIR THE CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL.
AND I'D JUST LIKE TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT OF THE BACKGROUND ON THE, AND WE HAVE, UM, BY MYSELF AND THE VICE CHAIR MIKE GEL, AND THE SUPERVISOR ASKED THE C A C SEVERAL TIMES TO FOCUS ON LEAF BLOWERS, RESPONDING TO THE SUPERVISOR'S 2017 REQUEST.
THE C A C RESEARCHED THE ISSUES AND MADE A REPORT TO THE TOWN BOARD IN 2018, RESPONDING TO THE SUPERVISOR'S 2020 REQUEST TO DEVELOP A LAW.
THE C A C DEVELOPED THE LAW BASED ON ITS PREVIOUS RESEARCH TO UNDERSTAND THE BASIS FOR THE LAW.
I'D LIKE TO BRIEFLY SHARE THE RESULTS OF THE C A C STUDY.
THE C A C STUDY REVEALED THAT BLOWERS BOTH GAS AND ELECTRIC CAUSE UNWARRANTED AND HARMFUL IMPACTS TO BOTH THE ENVIRONMENTS AND RESIDENTS.
AIRBORNE PARTICULATES BLOWERS WITH BOTH GAS AND ELECTRIC IGN HURRICANE FORCE WINDS.
THESE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS INVOLUNTARILY EXPOSE RESIDENTS TO AIRBORNE PARTICULATES.
THESE CAN LARGE IN LUNGS, CHILDREN IN THE ELDERLY, AND THOSE WALKING AND EXERCISING OUTDOORS ARE PARTICULARLY AT RISK SOILS DUE TO THEIR VERY FORCED WINDS, BOTH GAS AND ELECTRIC BLOWERS ADVERSELY IMPACT REGENERATION OF SOILS IN THE COMMUNITY.
NOISE BLOWERS INVOLUNTARILY EXPOSE RESIDENTS TO ANNOYING NOISE LEVELS, ALMOST ALL BLOWERS, BOTH ELECTRIC AND GAS OPERATE AT A DECIBEL LEVEL, ABOVE WHICH THE E P A SETS FOR AS COMFORTABLE.
THE TOWN'S NOISE ORDINANCE PRESENTLY PROHIBITS GAS BLOWERS TO OPERATE ABOVE 55 DECIBELS.
THE CACS STUDIED THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS FOR OVER 300 BLOWERS, BOTH GAS AND ELECTRIC ON THE LOCAL MARKET.
BY 30 MANUFACTURERS ONLY FIVE ELECTRIC BLOWERS HAVE DECIBEL LEVELS BELOW THAT ALLOWED BY THE TOWN'S NOISE ORDINANCE.
ALL THE REMAINING ELECTRIC BATTERY POWERED
[01:40:01]
GAS POWERED BLOWERS ALL HAD DECIBEL LEVELS ABOVE 55 DECIBELS.AND AFTER FIVE ELECTRIC BEGAN LEAF BLOWERS THAT WERE NOT AT 55 DECIBELS, I BELIEVE THREE OF THEM HAD HURRICANE FORCE WINDS.
IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANNOYANCE OF THE RESIDENTS PERSPECTIVE, BOTH GAS AND ELECTRIC BLOWERS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE LOCAL WAR.
WHILE IT MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE CASE THAT AT ONE POINT IN TIME ELECTRIC BLOWERS WERE LESS POWERFUL AND LESS NOISY THAN GAS BLOWERS, THAT IS NO LONGER THE CASE.
TODAY'S ELECTRIC BLOWERS, HURRICANE FORCE WINDS, AND DECIBEL LEVELS, SCREW AIRBORNE PARTICULATES, DESTROY SOILS, AND CREATE NOISE POLLUTION.
AS NOTED, THE C A C RESEARCHED OVER 300 BLOWERS ON THE MORGAN, AND FOUND ONLY FIVE THAT HAD NOISE LEVELS BELOW THOSE ALLOWED BY TOWN CODE.
GRAVE DETAIL ON THE HARMS CAUSED BY LEAF BLOWERS ARE DETAILED BY DR.
SPEC, PROFESSOR AT HOD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, WHOSE LETTER IS ON FILE WITH THE TOWN BOARD.
LEAF BLOWER'S LEGISLATION IS SUPPORTED BY THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THE LONG ISLAND CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, CANCER SOCIETY, THE ASTHMA COALITION, AND THE BREAST CANCER COALITION.
GREATER DETAIL ON THE HARMS CAUSED BY LEAF BLOWERS, I'M SORRY, THE LAW PROPOSED BY THE C A C WOULD ALLOW BOTH GAS AND ELECTRIC BLOWERS TO BE USED MARCH 1ST TO MAY 15TH AND OCTOBER 15TH TO DECEMBER 15TH, BLOWERS WOULD BE BANNED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR.
EXCEPTIONS WOULD BE ALLOWED SO THAT BLOWERS COULD BE USED YEAR ROUND FOR DEBRIS CLEANUP RESULTING FROM AUTHORIZED TREE REMOVALS CLEAN UP WITHIN TWO FEET OF OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS AIR CONDITIONING, COMPRESSORS AND GENERATORS, AND RELATED ABOVE GROUND PIPING OR WIRING AND PUBLIC SAFETY ACTIVITIES OF THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
AND D P W THE TOWN SUPERVISOR MAY SUSPEND THE LAW WHEN THERE IS A WEATHER EMERGENCY, THE C A C CONSIDERED, BUT DID NOT RECOMMEND OTHER EXPECT EXCEPTIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE, AN EXCEPTION FOR HOMEOWNERS.
THE C A C DID NOT RECOMMEND SUCH AN EXCEPTION BECAUSE THE HARMS CAUSED BY BLOWERS OCCUR REGARDLESS OF WHOSE HANDS THE BLOWER IS OPERATED FROM.
THE PARTICULAR PRACTICALITIES OF ENFORCEMENT ARE ALSO CONSIDERED BY THE C A C, THE LORD TO BE ENFORCED.
ALL THAT IS NEEDED IS A CALENDAR.
UNDER THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, THE TOWN RESOURCES DO NOT NEED TO GET INVOLVED IN SOUND MEASURING OR MEASURING TIME OF USE LAW IS SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO THE LAW RECENTLY ADOPTED IN THE VILLAGE OF LARGEMONT.
LARGE AMOUNTS ADOPTED LAW BANNING BLOW IS EXCEPT FOR RELATIVELY SHORT SPRING AND FALL CLEANUP PERIODS.
AND THE LARGEMONT LAW DOES NOT PERMIT GAS BLOWERS TO BE USED IN ANY OF THOSE CLEANUP PERIODS.
THE LAW DEVELOPED BY THE C A C HAS A LONGER SPRING AND FALL CLEANUP PERIODS, AND ALLOWS BOTH GAS AND ELECTRIC BLOWERS TO BE USED IN THOSE PERIODS SINCE ONLY FIVE BLOWERS ARE BELOW THE TOWN'S NOISE ORDINANCE LEVEL.
FINALLY, IN CONSIDERING THIS LAW, PEOPLE SHOULD REMEMBER IF A LAW WILL BE SUNSETTED IN TWO YEARS, AT WHICH POINT WE CAN REEVALUATE THE LEGISLATION IN THE CACS DISCUSSION WITH CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS AND RESIDENTS, AND FROM EMAILS FROM RESIDENTS, IT IS CLEAR THAT MANY RESIDENTS WANNA BLOW A LAW, AND MANY RESIDENTS DON'T WANNA BLOW A LAW.
NOW IS A LEGISLATIVE MATTER FOR THE TOWN BOARD TO DECIDE WHETHER TO ADOPT A BLOW A LAW OR NOT.
DO, UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? I, UH, UH, UH, SUPERVISOR, UH, UH, A THANK YOU NOTE, MIKE, I WAS TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE LAYING ON THE FLOOR.
UH, I'M GONNA GET OFF AND COME BACK IN BECAUSE THIS THING IS 90 DEGREES, BUT, UM, NO, I THINK I, UH, TERRY AND I WORKED ON THE PRESENTATION.
IT'S A JOINT PRESENTATION, AND, UH, UH, THERE'S, THERE'S NOTHING I WANNA, I WANNA ADD, BUT, UH, UH, FRANCIS, IF YOU'LL LET ME BACK IN, I'M GONNA
[01:45:01]
GET OFF RIGHT NOW.DO WE HAVE ANYONE COMMENT OR WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK? OH, YES, THERE ARE.
UM, WE, LET'S BEGIN WITH PETER BROWN.
UH, HOW MANY PEOPLE DO WE HAVE, BY THE WAY? UH, APPROXIMATELY 10.
I JUST WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.
UM, ALSO COMMEND EVERYONE ON DISCUSSION PRIOR TO THIS.
UM, I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, START A CONVERSATION IS A START.
SO HOPEFULLY TONIGHT WAS A START, UH, MOVING FORWARD.
UM, I WANNA DISCUSS THE, THE LEAF BLOWER POSSIBLE BAN.
I FIRST WANNA SAY THAT I AM COMPLETELY AGAINST A OUTRIGHT BAN OF LEAF BLOWERS.
UM, HOWEVER, I DO RECOGNIZE THAT OTHER FEEL DIFFERENTLY.
UH, MAN WANTS SOME KIND OF BAN, BAN OR RESTRICTIONS.
UM, SO I'M COMING TO YOU TONIGHT TO SPEAK ON THE SIDE OF MIDDLE GROUND AND, AND, AND COMPROMISE, UM, OF WHICH THE LAW THAT'S CURRENTLY WR AS IT'S WRITTEN, HAS ABSOLUTELY NONE.
UM, IN SECTION ONE C, IT ACTUALLY STATES THAT THE INTENT OF THE LAW IS TO BALANCE THE INTEREST OF PROPERTY OWNERS AND RESIDENCE.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE, EVERYONE TOUCHES WHEN WE WE'RE DISCUSSING THINGS EVERYONE LIKES TO TOUCH ON.
OH, WELL, TARRYTOWN BANNED IT, AND THEY HAVE WALLED SPRING CLEANUP LAWS, AND THIS PLACE HAS A BAN, BUT YOU NEVER HEAR ABOUT THE PLACES THAT, THAT DON'T BAN.
BUT THEY HAVE A MIDDLE GROUND.
UM, AND ONE OF THOSE PLACES HAPPENS TO BE IRVINGTON.
UM, AND IF I COULD JUST READ YOU A COUPLE, COUPLE NOTES FROM THERE.
WELL, THEY HAVE PROBABLY A BIT MORE OF A GENEROUS SPRING AND FALL CLEANUP, UH, TIMEFRAME.
UH, I'D PROBABLY SAY IT'S TOO GENEROUS.
UH, IT GOES FROM MARCH 15TH TO JUNE 1ST.
UM, I DON'T KNOW MANY PEOPLE, UH, WHO ARE DOING SPRING CLEANUPS ON, ON JUNE 1ST.
I THINK EVERYONE'S PRETTY MUCH DONE WITH THAT, UH, BY THE END OF APRIL.
UM, AND THEN THEIR, THEIR FULL CLEANUP GOES FROM SEPTEMBER 15TH TO DEC AGAIN, I THINK THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER IS, IS, IS PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT TOO FAR INTO TO THE SEASON FOR, FOR FULL CLEANUP.
BUT THAT'S JUST MY OPINION AS A, AS A LONG CARE NUT.
UM, I SHOULD, I SHOULD STATE THAT UP, THAT I AM VERY MUCH INTO LAWN CARE AND LANDSCAPING.
SO, UH, I'M VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS TOPIC.
UM, THEY, THEY ALLOW THE GAS, YOU KNOW, THE GAS BLOWERS, UH, MONDAYS THROUGH FRIDAY, EIGHT TO FIVE, SATURDAY, SUNDAY HOLIDAYS, 10 TO FOUR DURING THOSE, THOSE FALL CLEANUP, UH, TIMES.
BUT THEY HAVE SOMETHING INTERESTING, WHEREAS THERE'S NO MORE THAN TWO HANDHELD OR BACKPACK BLOWERS ALLOWED AT A TIME, UNLESS THE PROPERTY IS LARGER THAN ONE ACRE.
UM, AT WHICH POINT THERE'S NO LIMIT.
UM, AND THERE'S NO WALK BEHIND MOWERS OR ANY OF THOSE INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH ONES, I WOULD GUESS WE WOULD SAY, UNLESS THE, THE PROPERTY IS GREATER THAN ONE ACRE.
WHEN YOU SAY LOWER, DO YOU MEAN BLOWER? BLOWER? I'M SORRY.
UM, BUT THEY DO ALLOW FOR BLOWERS TO BE USED BETWEEN JUNE 2ND AND SEPTEMBER 4TH.
SO WITH BETWEEN THE, THE, THE SPRING AND FALL CLEANUP, UH, WINDOWS, UM, THEY DON'T ALLOW GAS POWERED BLOWERS EXCEPT FOR ONE AND TWO FAMILY PROPERTIES.
UM, AND THE OWNER MAY ONLY USE THE GAS POWERED BLOWER ONE TIME A WEEK FOR NO MORE THAN 30 MINUTES.
UM, I DON'T KNOW MANY AVERAGE HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE OUT THERE MORE THAN 30 MINUTES WITH A BLOWER ONE TIME A WEEK.
I, LISTEN, I MOW MY LAUNCH THREE TIMES A WEEK, AND I USE THE BLOWER EVERY SINGLE TIME I BLOW IT.
UH, I MOW, AND I DON'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO USING IT FOR 30 MINUTES.
I USE IT FOR MAYBE FIVE EACH TIME.
AND THAT'S LITERALLY JUST TO BLOW CLIPPINGS OFF OF ANY MY DRIVEWAY, MY WALKWAY, ANY OF THE HARD SCAPES THAT, THAT ARE ON MY PROPERTY.
UM, IT'S TO BLOW ANY CLIPPINGS THAT MAY HAVE GONE ONTO THE STREET BACK INTO MY GRASS SO THAT I CAN UTILIZE THE, THE, THE CLIPPINGS, UH, FOR MULCHING.
UM, THEY ALLOW IT FOR MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM EIGHT TO FIVE, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, AND HOLIDAY FROM 10 TO FOUR.
UM, AND LISTEN, I'M NOT SAYING THAT THIS LAW IS WRITTEN IS PERFECT.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, TIMEFRAMES CAN BE TINKERED WITH A BIT.
I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY A HOMEOWNER NEEDS TO BE OUT AT EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING USING A LAWN THE MORNING, USING A LAWN, UH, LEAF BLOWER.
UM, AND I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY ONE WOULD NEED TO BE OUT PAST FIVE OR SIX O'CLOCK AT NIGHT.
UM, I ACTUALLY LIKE THE TIMEFRAMES IN THE SENSE THAT MOVING IT UP A LITTLE BIT, MAYBE YOU GO FROM LIKE A 10 TO 10 TO FOUR,
[01:50:01]
IT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO, TO, UH, ENJOY THEIR MORNING A BIT, SIT OUTSIDE WITH A CUP OF COFFEE, UM, AND THEN DO THE SAME THING ON THE BACK END OF THE DAY.ENJOY SOME DINNER AT NIGHT OUTSIDE AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE NOISE.
THERE ARE NO LIMITATIONS ON, ON ELECTRIC OR BATTERY BLOWERS IN, IN IRVINGTON.
UM, AND THAT TAKE CARE, THAT TAKES CARE OF THE HOMEOWNER'S PERSPECTIVE.
AND FOR ME PERSONALLY AS A HOMEOWNER, I JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO BLOW CLIPPINGS OFF MY DRIVEWAY AND OFF MY HARDSCAPES, AND FINISH UP MY JOB AND BE DONE.
UM, BUT I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER ASPECT TO CONSIDER, AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE LANDSCAPER, UH, WHO'S DOING THIS AS A, AS A PROFESSION.
SO, MR. BROWN, I'M GONNA HAVE TO STOP YOU THERE BECAUSE YOU'RE AT FIVE MINUTES AND WE HAVE A FEW SPEAKERS.
CAN I JUST ASK A, CAN I JUST ASK A QUESTION? WOULD WE BE ABLE TO GO, UM, UH, LIKE EIGHT MINUTES AND HAVE EVERYBODY SPEAK LIKE ONCE? BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I SORT OF FIGURE, UH, YEAH.
IT IS AN INTERESTING TOPIC IN THIS WAY.
UH, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER THREE MINUTES, I NO PROBLEM WITH THAT.
I DUNNO IF WE'RE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER HEARING OR WE'RE JUST GONNA NOT THE HEARING, SO THERE MAY EVEN BE ANOTHER DAY THAT PEOPLE GET TO, RIGHT? I'M, I'M JUST COMMENT.
NO, I'M JUST WONDERING IF ON, UH, I'M JUST WONDERING IF ON THIS HEARING, WE COULD JUST HAVE ONE EIGHT MINUTE, IF THE BOARD WOULD CONSIDER HAVING ONE EIGHT MINUTE, UH, CONVERSATION.
JUST LET PEOPLE SPEAK FOR EIGHT MINUTES.
LIKE WE, I MEAN, WE DID THIS ON, UH, THE SYSTEMIC, UH, RACISM.
AND THEN JUST DO, DO ONE EIGHT MINUTES IS FOR COMMENT, BUT IT WOULD BE TWO FIVE MINUTE PERIODS.
IF IT'S PUBLIC HEARING, IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING.
AND THIS WAY PEOPLE COULD JUST FINISH IT UP.
I, IT'S THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD BECAUSE I, I REALLY WANNA REFLECT ON, YOU KNOW, THE COMMENTS THAT PEOPLE ARE MAKING AND, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND, BUT IF THERE ARE 10 PEOPLE SPEAKING, UH, THAT MEANS THAT IT'S OVER AN HOUR BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS TO PUT IN THEIR FIVE MINUTES.
IF THEY ONLY HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK, I, I SUGGEST WE STAY WITH OUR RULES AND, UH, FIVE MINUTES AND THEN HAVE A SECOND ROUND OF FIVE MINUTES WITH ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO DO IT.
I THINK IT'S BETTER TO DO THAT, PAUL.
LET'S JUST MAKE SURE EVERYBODY GETS A CHANCE, BECAUSE IF WE'RE NOT, I DON'T BELIEVE WE'RE CLOSING THE HEARING TONIGHT ANYWAY.
NO, WE'RE NOT, WE'RE NOT SCHEDULED.
WELL THEN I, I DON'T, I, I DON'T RECOMMEND THAT WE, WELL, WHY DON'T WE JUST DO THE FIVE MINUTES AND SEE HOW, HOW MUCH TIME WE'VE GOT.
SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK MORE, YOU, YOU CAN HANG AROUND AND LISTEN TO EVERYBODY ELSE, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY.
I SENT IT IN AND I THOUGHT GARRETT HAD GIVEN IT TO YOU TO READ.
I SENT IN AN EMAIL AND I DON'T HAVE IT.
OH, YOU KNOW WHAT? OKAY, SO WE'LL COME BACK TO YOU AND, UM, ONCE I, I RECEIVE THAT.
UM, SO I, I, I JUST WANNA, I UNDERSTAND WE HAVE ONLY FIVE MINUTES, SO I'M JUST GONNA READ SOMETHING THAT, UM, THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS AND MYSELF PREPARED EARLIER TODAY.
SO THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE HARTSDALE PUBLIC PARKING DISTRICT IS REQUESTING SPECIAL PERMISSIONS BE GRANTED TO THE DISTRICT IF THE TOWN BOARD VOTES IN FAVOR OF THE CHANGES TO CHAPTER THREE 80 OF THE LOCAL CODE.
AS A DISTRICT WITHIN THE TOWN, THE DISTRICT MAINTAINS AND MANAGES SIX PARKING LOCATIONS.
AND WHILE THESE LOTS ARE PRIVATELY OWNED BY THE DISTRICT, THEY FUNCTION AS MUNICIPAL PARKING, SERVING THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS, COMMUTERS, AND LOCAL MERCHANTS.
THE USE OF LEAF BLOWERS TO MAINTAIN THESE PROPERTIES IS ESSENTIAL FOR BOTH THE PRESERVATION OF THE PROPERTIES THEMSELVES AND FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
SERVING AS AN EXTENSION OF THE TOWN, THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN GRANTED NOISE WAIVERS IN THE PAST.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE DISTRICT IS GRANTED NOISE WAIVERS FOR BOTH SNOW REMOVAL AND LINE STRIPING ANNUALLY FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
THESE EXEMPTIONS ARE MADE BECAUSE THE DISTRICT LIKE PARKS AND RECREATION AND LIKE D P W IS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND ROUTINE GROUNDSKEEPING OF PROPERTIES THAT BENEFIT AND SERVE THE WHOLE OF GREENBURG.
[01:55:01]
THE USE OF LEAF BLOWERS BETWEEN MAY AND OCTOBER WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY HINDER OUR MAINTENANCE TEAM'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN SAFETY IN THE LOTS AND TO PERFORM REQUIRED AND ROUTINE REPAIRS.THE DISTRICT IS SEEKING TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE EXEMPTIONS NOTED IN SECTION FOUR OF THE LAW, IN LINE WITH PARKS AND RECREATION AND D P W.
WE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THESE EXEMPTIONS NOTED FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
WE USE RELATIVELY NEW BLOWERS, WHICH EMIT LOWER DECIBEL LEVELS.
THE USE OF BLOWERS IS FOR DEBRIS CLEANUP, WHICH IS REQUIRED TO ENSURE THAT USERS OF THE FACILITIES ARE NOT SUSCEPTIBLE TO SLIP AND FALL ACCIDENTS.
WHILE SMALLER AREAS MAY BE BROOM SWEPT.
THE LOTS THEMSELVES ARE FAR TOO VAST TO BE PROPERLY CLEARED OF DEBRIS USING BROOMS. IT'D BE INEFFICIENT AND UNFEASIBLE TO SWEEP UNDER PARKED VEHICLES FOR DEBRIS.
FINALLY, THE DISTRICT USES BLOWERS TO CLEAR AREAS BEFORE PERFORMING BLACKTOP AND TRAFFIC MEMBRANE REPAIRS, BOTH OF WHICH NEED TO BE CONDUCTED IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE LOTS AND AVOID TRIPPING HAZARDS.
MANY OF THOSE REPAIRS ARE CONDUCTED DURING THE TIMES IN WHICH THIS LEAF BLOWER RESTRICTION WOULD BE IN PLACE.
AND WE AGREE THAT THE USE OF LEAF BLOWERS AND OTHER MACHINERY, THEY'RE PUT OUT HIGH DECIBEL LEVELS CAN BE AGGRAVATING TO RESIDENTS IF PASSED.
WE RESPECTFULLY ARE REQUESTING A MINIMUM OF ONE HOUR DAILY TO PERFORM THE REQUIRED BLOWING FOR OUR FACILITIES.
DOREEN, SHE MAY NOT BE ON AS I'M LOOKING AROUND.
UH, SO I HAVE TO SAY I REALLY APPLAUD THE C A C AND THE TOWN BOARD FOR TAKING UP THIS ISSUE OF GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWERS.
I AM A RELATIVELY NEW RESIDENT OF, UH, EDGEMONT.
I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE, AND I LOVE MY LITTLE HISTORIC HOUSE THAT I'VE BOUGHT.
BUT HONESTLY, THERE WAS A PERIOD IN OCTOBER THAT I COULD NOT USE MY OFFICE.
UM, I WAS REALLY SHOCKED, TO BE HONEST.
I, I HAD NOT EXPECTED THAT MOVING TO THE SUBURBS WOULD TURN OUT TO BE SO NOISY.
THIS EQUIPMENT REALLY DOES PRESENT QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES, AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR RESIDENTS, BUT IT'S ALSO FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE LANDSCAPING FIRMS THEMSELVES.
I DO FEEL THAT THE AMENDMENT HAS PROPOSED, DOES NOT, DO YOU GET A COPY OF IT? I, I DO FEEL THE AMENDMENT AS PROPOSED DOES NOT DO ENOUGH TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING CHANGES.
FIRST, I DO FEEL THAT THE NUMBER OF DAYS THAT THE BLOWERS CAN BE USED SHOULD BE REDUCED.
THE SPRING SEASON SHOULD NOT START UNTIL APRIL 1ST.
AND, AND I SAY THAT AS A GARDENER, AND I SAY THAT AS SOMEONE WHO IS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THINGS LIKE THE POLLINATORS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHETHER THEY CAN EXIST.
AND IN FACT, THEY ARE IN THE LEAVES RIGHT NOW THAT ARE SITTING IN OUR GARDEN BEDS.
AND UNTIL THE TEMPERATURES ARE CONSISTENTLY ABOVE 50 DEGREES, UM, THEY NEED TO STAY IN THE LEAVES, AND THE LEAVES NEED TO STAY IN THE BEDS.
AND APRIL 1ST IS A BETTER DATE THAN MARCH.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE FALL SEASON COULD BE SHORTENED AS WELL.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST, ALTHOUGH I, I KNOW THIS IS A CONTROVERSIAL SUGGESTION, BUT IT WOULD REALLY BE AMAZING TO HAVE ONE DAY ON THE WEEKEND THAT WOULD BE FREE OF NOISE.
UM, I'LL JUST THROW THAT OUT THERE.
THE SECOND POINT THAT I'D LIKE TO MAKE, AND, AND I UNDERSTAND, I, I THOUGHT THERESA'S COMMENTS, AND I, I, I RECOGNIZE THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESEARCH WAS DONE ON, UM, THE TYPES OF BLOWERS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, GAS AND ELECTRIC.
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, YOU KNOW, VERY FEW OF THE ELECTRIC BLOWERS WOULD MEET THE NOISE STANDARD THAT'S CURRENTLY IN PLACE.
BUT IN GENERAL, AND, AND CERTAINLY THE ELECTRIC BLOWERS ARE ALSO GENERATING A LOT OF WIND, UH, THE HURRICANE FORCE, UM, AIRFLOW.
BUT THE ELECTRIC BLOWERS ARE NOT GENERATING GAS FUMES.
THEY ARE NOT GENERATING EXHAUST.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE A CONCERN FOR
[02:00:01]
ALL OF US AS WELL AS FOR THE WORKERS WHO ARE BEHIND THESE GAS BLOWERS AND INHALING THIS ALL DAY LONG IN THEIR JOBS.SO I THINK THERE ARE ADDED BENEFITS TO REQUIRING THAT ONLY ELECTRIC BLOWERS BE UTILIZED.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO RESPECTFULLY SUGGEST THAT THE C A C AND THE TOWN BOARD CONSIDER SETTING A DATE IN THE FUTURE, AT WHICH POINT ONLY ELECTRIC BLOWERS CAN BE USED.
AND PERHAPS THAT'S TWO YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.
BUT HONESTLY, I REALLY THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE VERY SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED.
AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
SORRY, I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT I WAS MUTED.
I'M, I'M LOOKING FOR AN EMAIL THAT PAT IS SENDING ME.
HI, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UM, FOR, FOR THIS OPEN, OPEN HEARING.
UH, I ALSO WOULD, I'D LIKE TO REALLY, UH, JUST ECHO, UH, ACTUALLY, KATHLEEN EVERS JUST SAID A LOT OF WHAT I, WHAT I HAD WANTED TO SAY.
I, I THINK A LOT OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT, THAT SHE DID UP ARE IMPORTANT AS WELL.
I, I FIRST WANNA THANK THE C A C FOR DOING REALLY AN EXCELLENT JOB, JOB ON THIS REPORT.
I SAW THE 2018 OR A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND MY ISSUE WITH LEAF BLOWERS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE NOISE PART.
I WAS EDUCATED IN READING THAT REPORT ABOUT THE, THE HEALTH EFFECTS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF LEAF BLOWERS WITH THE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE, UH, THE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS.
WHEN I FIRST READ THAT REPORT, I THOUGHT THAT WAS A, IT WAS A, IT WAS A, A CALL TO ACTION THAT WOULD, WOULD HAVE TO DO SOMETHING RIGHT AWAY.
AND I WAS REALLY QUITE SURPRISED THAT IT'S TAKEN AS LONG AS IT HAD TO TAKE ACTION.
AND I REALIZED IT'S A CONTROVERSIAL ME.
UH, BUT GIVEN THE, THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF THE, UH, OF LEAF BLOWERS, THE, THE QUALITY OF LIFE IMPACTS THAT THEY HAVE AND, UH, THE IMPACT IT HAS AR THEY HAVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, UM, I THINK IT'S REALLY A COM A VERY COMPELLING CASE THAT HAS BEEN MADE BY THE C A C, UM, THAT WE, THAT WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION.
AND I, YOU KNOW, I, I, UM, I APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THE, YOU KNOW, FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS WHO SEE IT AS, UH, IMPORTANT TO, TO THEIR INDUSTRY FOR, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S, UH, UH, LANDSCAPING, YOU KNOW, IS A, IS A GOOD INDUSTRY.
BUT EVERY INDUSTRY THAT I, THAT YOU CAN THINK OF HAS UNDERGONE A CHANGE, UH, FOR EITHER THE BENEFIT OF THE CUSTOMERS OR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
IT WOULDN'T, IT CERTAINLY WOULD NOT ELIMINATE THE LANDSCAPING INDUSTRY.
IT WOULD JUST BE A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO ADAPT TO.
UH, BUT THIS HAS BECOME SUCH A MAJOR QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE.
I LIVE IN HARTSDALE AND MA IN A MATTER WOOD SECTION, AND IT'S ALL DAY LONG LANDSCAPERS.
I CAN HEAR THEM ALL DAY LONG AROUND, UM, AND I KNOW THAT ON ONE HOU, THEY, THEY MAY SPEND A HALF AN HOUR ON ONE HOUSE, BUT THEY'RE JUST BASICALLY HERE MANY DAYS ALL DAY LONG.
AND, AND IT CERTAINLY HAS AN IMPACT ON ME IN TERMS OF THE RESPIRATORY ISSUES THAT I HAVE.
I'M CONSTANTLY, I GARDEN AS WELL, AND I'M CONSTANTLY COMING BACK IN, OR I'M OUT ON THE DECK AND I HAVE TO COME BACK IN BECAUSE OF SOMEBODY'S DOING NEXT DOOR, AND THEN I GO BACK OUT, AND THEN I'M COMING BACK IN BECAUSE SOMEBODY'S DOING ACROSS THE STREET.
UM, AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT, UH, HAVING A, A FALL AND SPRING CLEANUP IS WISE.
I, I, I'D RATHER NOT HAVE IT, FRANKLY, BUT IT'S, I THINK IT'S, IT'S FAIR, I THINK SHORTEN IT, SHORTENING IT, UM, TO THE EXTENT THAT KATHLEEN MENTIONED IS A GOOD IDEA.
AND I ALSO HAVE TO AGREE THAT, UM, FOR THE PERIOD THAT THEY'RE IN USE, UH, THAT THAT LEAF FLOWS ARE ALLOWED, UH, IT, IT SHOULD BE ELECTRIC.
UM, I KNOW, AND I READ THE C A C REPORT, THAT YOU DIDN'T TAKE UP THE ISSUE OF EMISSIONS BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT SAYS IN THE REPORT THE E P A HAS ALREADY DOCUMENTED, YOU KNOW, THE IMPACTS OF EMISSIONS.
UM, UH, BUT IT'S SUCH AN INEFFICIENT, UH, FORM OF COMBUSTION.
THOSE LEAF BLOWERS ARE THAT, UH, THE, THE FUMES FROM THE, UH, FROM THE LEAF BLOWERS AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ARE I THINK ALSO SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
SO I ENCOURAGE THE, THE BOARD TO, UM, TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION TO ADD PERHAPS SOME OF THE, UH, ADDITIONAL IDEAS THAT ARE WORTH TODAY.
AND I THINK THE, THE OTHER I, I ADMIT, UH, IN THIS, AND I HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS IN IT, UH, IN WHAT I HAD, WHAT I HAD WRITTEN.
UH, BUT ONE COMMENT IS THAT SHOULD THIS BE PASSED, AND I DO HOPE THAT YOU ALL CONSIDER THIS
[02:05:01]
STRONGLY AND AND PASSING IT WOULD BE A VERY IMPORTANT COMMUNICATION EFFORT TO GET OUT TO THE LANDSCAPERS AND TO HOMEOWNERS.WHY? BECAUSE ONE, ONE THING ABOUT THE C C REPORT IS THAT THERE'S SUCH COMPELLING INFORMATION IN THERE, UH, BUT IT'S A BIG REPORT AND, YOU KNOW, SENDING IT OUT TO EVERYONE, EVERYONE'S NOT GOING TO READ IT.
BUT THERE ARE A FEW VERY IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT THE, THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF LEAP BLOWERS THAT I, I KNOW, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE NOT AWARE OF.
AND IF THEY WERE AWARE, I WOULD BE SURPRISED THAT PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN OR ELDERLY, UH, FOLKS LIVING IN A HOME WHO HAVE, UH, YOU KNOW, RESPIRATORY SYSTEMS THAT, THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, AT GREATER RISK FROM THESE EFFECTS, UM, I THINK IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW, AND THAT, AND THAT THE, THE TOWN CAN DO, UH, A BETTER JOB OF, OF COMMUNICATING THE MAIN POINTS IN THE CA'S REPORT THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW.
SO AGAIN, I REALLY WANNA THANK THE C A C AND ALSO THE BOARD FOR TAKING UP THE ISSUE.
OKAY, SO WE HAVE TWO STATEMENTS.
UM, ONE JUST CAME IN FROM PAT WILLIAMS WHO HAD BEEN CALLED ON TO SPEAK, AND THEN WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER AND THEN ANOTHER STATEMENT.
SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND READ THE STATEMENT.
UM, CAN WE MAYBE, JUDITH, CAN WE HAVE THE LIVE SPEAKERS FIRST AND THEN THE STATEMENTS READ AFTER, SINCE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO KEEP PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WAITING ANO WAITING ON THE WAITING.
THE NEXT PERSON TO SPEAK THEN IS MARY KVO.
I HOPE I'M PRONOUNCING YOUR NAME CORRECTLY.
YES, YOU PRONOUNCE IT PERFECTLY.
I'M, UH, A PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AND I'M A HOMEOWNER IN THE AREA FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
AND JUST LIKE EVERYONE HERE, I'M VERY PROUD OF MY HOME AND MY YARD.
UM, AND, AND REALLY DIDN'T GIVE THIS TOPIC A WHOLE LOT OF THOUGHT UNTIL I STARTED WORKING ON AN ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE AT THE HOSPITAL WHERE I WORK.
SO WHAT I'VE LEARNED IN A NUTSHELL WOULD MAKE MOST PEOPLE HESITATE BEFORE USING LEAF BLOWERS AT ALL.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE AT LEAST RESTRICT THE USE OF THESE MACHINES BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE THEY DO.
IT'S REALLY NOT JUST ABOUT THE NOISE.
SO I'LL JUST GIVE YOU THREE THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.
ONE, LEAF BLOWERS ARE JUST BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH AND YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HEALTH.
SO ANYONE WHO'S USED A LEAF BLOWER KNOWS THAT THESE HURRICANE FORCE WINDS THAT TERRY MENTIONED CHURN UP A LOT OF DUST.
WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW IS THAT THE DUST CONTAINS POLLEN, MOLD, ANIMAL WASTE, HEAVY METALS, AND WHATEVER CHEMICALS OR PESTICIDES HAPPEN TO BE ON THE PROPERTY, THAT EXHAUST IS CARCINOGENIC ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION.
AND IT ESPECIALLY AFFECTS CHILDREN BECAUSE THE DUST RISES ABOUT THREE OR FOUR FEET, JUST CHILD LEVEL.
NUMBER TWO, THEY'RE BAD FOR YOUR YARD IN THE LONG RUN.
LEAF BLOWING BLOWS AWAY INSECTS.
UM, AS KATHLEEN MENTIONED, IT SOUNDS GOOD, KIND OF, BUT IN, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE BENEFICIAL INSECTS THAT ARE IN DANGER OF DISAPPEARING ALTOGETHER.
AND WITHOUT THEM, YOU'LL HAVE FEWER BIRDS.
AND WITHOUT THESE INSECTS THAN BIRDS, YOU'LL HAVE NO POLLINATION.
FEWER FLOWERS, FEWER VEGETABLES.
AND NUMBER THREE, LASTLY, THE MOST OBVIOUS PROBLEM WITH LEAF BLOWERS IS THE NOISE.
SO A CONVERSATION BETWEEN YOU AND ME IS ABOUT 60 DECIBELS.
A CAR DRIVING BY IS SEVEN DECIBELS.
A LEAF BLOWER IN SOMEONE ELSE'S YARD A FEW FEET AWAY IS 80 DECIBELS.
SO IF YOU'RE USING THE LEAF BLOWER YOURSELF, YOU'RE WAY ABOVE THAT.
AND ANYTHING ABOVE 75 CAN CAUSE HEARING DAMAGE.
SO WHILE YOU MIGHT NOT BE, UM, YOU KNOW, TOO WORRIED ABOUT IT, 'CAUSE YOU'VE GOT YOUR EAR PROTECTION, MANY OF OUR LANDSCAPERS DO NOT.
MANY TIMES I PASS THEM, UH, AS THEY'RE WORKING, AND I SEE THEY'RE NOT WEARING ANY EAR PROTECTION.
SO THIS NOISE CAN PENETRATE WALLS, UH, INTO YOUR HOME, LIKE OTHER NOISES DON'T.
SO YOU'LL HEAR THAT LEAF BLOWER WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO WORK INSIDE, BUT YOU WON'T HEAR A VEHICLE PASSING BY, FOR EXAMPLE.
SO FOR THESE REASONS, I SUPPORT RESTRICTING THE USE OF GAS POWERED LEAF BLOWERS, IN PARTICULAR.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK, AND I HOPE IT HELPS PEOPLE MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION.
OKAY, SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER REQUESTS TO SPEAK IN PERSON.
[02:10:02]
YES.UH, FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, BE ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS WITH, UM, THE EDGEMONT COMMUNITY COUNCIL, UH, WHICH HAS DISCUSSED LE PROPOSED LEAFBLOWER LAWS IN THE PAST, BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS VERSION YET.
UM, WHICH IS, UH, SOMETHING THAT, UH, THE C A C SAID THEY HAD DISCUSSED WITH CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS, BUT THEY HAVEN'T DISCUSSED IT WITH, UH, THE EDGEMONT CIVIC, UH, COMMUNITY COUNCIL.
AND, UH, WE JUST HAD OUR MEETING AND, UH, MR. SIEGEL WAS THERE AND HE DIDN'T BRING IT UP.
SO WE'D LIKE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AS FAR AS, UH, THE SUBSTANCE OF WHAT'S PROPOSED, UM, THE CONCERN THAT I'M SURE WOULD BE EXPRESSED BY THOSE WHO, UM, RESENT THE INFRINGEMENT ON THEIR RIGHT TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY, UH, AS THEY SEE FIT, IS THAT IT SEEMS HYPOCRITICAL BY EXEMPTING THE TOWN FROM ITS, UH, FROM THE VAN.
IF YOUR PROPERTY, UM, ABUTS ANY OF THE TOWN'S RECREATIONAL AREAS, UM, OR, OR ANY OTHER TOWN FACILITIES, UM, YOU'LL BE EXPOSED TO, TO THIS BAN EXPOSED TO THE BLOWERS ALL YEAR ROUND.
UH, ALL OF THE HEALTH DANGERS THAT HAVE BEEN SO, UH, WELL ARTICULATED WILL BE VISITED UPON EVERY HOMEOWNER WHOSE LAND ABUTS THIS PROPERTY.
UH, WHY? WELL, PRESUMABLY BECAUSE, UH, THE TOWN OR THE C A C MADE A JUDGMENT THAT THE ECONOMIC INTERESTS OF THE TOWN IN PROTECTING ITS PROPERTY OUTWEIGH ANY ADVERSE IMPACT UPON THE HEALTH, UH, OF ITS RESIDENT.
IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO LIVE NEXT TO THEIR PROPERTIES, THEN YOU ASSUME THE RISK OF WHATEVER CARCINOGENS THE TOWN WISHES TO BLOW IN THEIR, YOUR FACE.
NOW, I'M SAYING IT A BIT HARSHLY, BUT THAT'S THE ARGUMENT.
NOW, MY OTHER CONCERN IS THAT THERE ARE SOME OF US WHO LIVE IN GREENBURG IN ON, ON PROPERTIES THAT ARE UNDERNEATH TREE CANOPIES.
WE DON'T HAVE LAWNS TO SPEAK OF, BUT WE HAVE MASSIVE TREES OVERHANGING OUR PROPERTIES.
UH, TREES DROP, LEAVE THEIR DROPPINGS ALL YEAR ROUND AND CLEANING THEM UP ALL YEAR ROUND IS IMPORTANT TO CLEAN, UH, FOR, TO MAINTAIN THE, UH, THE, THE SAFETY OF YOUR PROPERTY BECAUSE GUTTERS HAVE TO BE CLEANED ROOF GUTTERS.
AND THE ONLY PRACTICAL WAY OF CLEANING THE ROOF GUTTERS IS WITH BLOWERS.
UH, AND IF YOU BAN THAT USE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, THE LEAF DROP, YOU KNOW, TWIGS LEAVES, WHAT HAVE YOU, WE'LL ACCUMULATE AND THEN YOU'LL BE CREATING ANOTHER PROBLEM.
ONE WAY TO REMEDY THAT WOULD BE TO REQUIRE, UH, THAT, UH, LANDSCAPERS OR HOMEOWNERS USE ELECTRIC BLOWERS, WHICH HAVE SOME AMOUNT OF, UH, THEY, THEY ARE AT LEAST NOT, UH, DON'T ADMIT NOXIOUS FUMES AND MIGHT EVEN ARGUABLY BE LESS NOISY.
UH, BUT AT LEAST YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET THE GUTTERS CLEANED.
UH, AND, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS A MAJOR THING, UH, FOR MANY HOMEOWNERS.
AND LASTLY, THE C A C DOES A VERY ADMIRABLE JOB OF MARSHALING THE DATA TO JUSTIFY WHY, UH, THERE SHOULD BE A BAN, BUT THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING IN TERMS OF JUSTIFYING THE EXCEPTIONS AND THE COUNTERVAILING INTERESTS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT WOULD THE IMPACT BE IF THERE WERE NO, UH, UH, UH, GAS BLOWERS OR BLOWERS USED DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS? HAVE THEY MEASURED THAT? WHAT WOULD THE IMPACT ON PROPERTIES BE? UM, IS IT MINUSCULE? IS IT A LOT? HOW DO YOU MEASURE THAT? HAVE THEY MEASURED THAT? IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, HOW CAN YOU BAN IT AND SAY YOU'RE DOING IT IN GOOD FAITH? IT OTHERWISE LOOKS LIKE THE DATES YOU'VE CHOSEN OR COMPLETELY ARBITRARY.
AND ARE THOSE DATES SUPPORTED BY ANY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE? WE KNOW WHEN THE TOWN, UH, ELIMINATED LEAF PICKUP THAT AND, AND VISITED THAT BURDEN NOW UPON THE HOMEOWNER
[02:15:02]
LEAVES SOMETIMES DON'T DROP IN GREENBERG UNTIL DECEMBER, SOMETIMES MID-DECEMBER, AND AS IT, AND IT'D BE OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW.SO HOW HAVE YOU MEASURED THAT? WHAT DO YOU DO IN THAT SITUATION? UH, WHERE'S THE DATA TO SUPPORT THAT? AND SIMILARLY, UH, WHERE IS THE DATA THAT WOULD SHOW WHAT THE COST IMPACT WOULD BE ON, UH, HOMEOWNERS WHO EITHER USE LANDSCAPERS OR DO IT THEMSELVES IF THEY HAD TO CLEAN UP THE MESS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WITHOUT THE USE OF THE BLOWERS? WHAT ARE THE ALTERNATIVES AND WHAT WOULD THE COST IMPACT BE? YOU KNOW, IN WASHINGTON, WHENEVER THEY WANNA PASS A REGULATION, THEY'RE REQUIRED BY LAW TO ILLUSTRATE THE COSTS AND BENEFITS.
AND THEN YOU LET THE CHIPS SW FALL WHERE THEY MAY, AND YOU CAN MAKE AN INFORMED JUDGMENT HERE.
THE C A C HAS MADE ITS JUDGMENT.
BUT WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO MY FRIENDS ON THE C A C, THEY HAVEN'T COME FORWARD WITH ANY DATA THAT WOULD SUBSTANTIATE THAT COUNTERVAILING CONCERNS, WHICH THEY SAY THEY'VE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, BUT WHICH ONE MIGHT ARGUE THEY REALLY JUST PAID LIP SERVICE TO, BECAUSE THE TOWN JUST DOESN'T WANT TO COMPLY WITH THESE RULES.
YEAH, WE WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS WITH THE E C C, UH, AND, AND I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS THAT WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THIS AS WELL.
SO ARE WE READY FOR THE STATEMENT FROM THE FAIRGROUNDS CIVIC ASSOCIATION? YES.
UH, LET ME JUST ASK, UH, IS THERE ANYONE WHO SPOKE THE FIRST TIME WHO'S STILL ON THE, UH, YOU KNOW, ON THE ZOOM, WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK AGAIN.
SO THIS WAY THEY DON'T HAVE TO, UM, STAY THE WHOLE, YOU KNOW, FOR ANOTHER, NEITHER WANTED TO.
NO, NO, THAT'S NOT GONNA WORK.
WHY YOU'RE ASKING IF SOMEBODY, IF SOMEBODY, IF SOMEBODY SPOKE, UM, I'D RATHER HEAR THEM RATHER THAN SOMEBODY WHO JUST READING A, A STATEMENT FROM SOMEBODY ELSE.
UM, BUT SHE'S READING A STATEMENT.
BECAUSE WHEN I HOLD MY HEAD DOWN FROM MY ALLERGIES THAT I GOT FROM
IF YOU'RE, IF YOU'RE ON THE LINE, THEN
YOU COULD READ PATS, BUT THEN AFTER THAT, LET'S HEAR FROM, UM, ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO WANTS TO SPEAK AGAIN.
SO THIS, THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS FROM PATRICIA WEAM, PRESIDENT OF FAIRGROUND CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
BECAUSE OF THE POWERFUL ENGINE OF A LEAF BLOWER, THE ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE, NOISE, POLLUTION, AND MOST IMPORTANT UPPER RESPIRATORY MEDICAL PROBLEMS. CONFRONTING OUR GREENBERG RESIDENTS, I STAND IN SUPPORT OF THE LEAF BLOWER LAW.
HOWEVER, IN SECTION X X X DASH SIX FINES, LETTER B I DISAGREE WITH THE MANNER IN WHICH THE FINES WILL BE GIVEN.
THE TOWN MUST, WITH SIGNS ON ALL MAJOR ROADS WITH DOUBLE LINES HAVE A SIX MONTH WARNING PERIOD, THEN A CITATION CAN BE GIVEN TO BOTH THE HOMEOWNER SLASH RENTER.
THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WILL BE A FINE FOR $50 TO BOTH THE HOMEOWNER AND RENTER.
THE THIRD OCCURRENCE WILL BE A FINE OF $50 TO THE HOMEOWNER AND A HUNDRED DOLLARS TO THE RENTER, WHOMEVER IS ACTUALLY USING THE LEAF BLOWER.
THE FOURTH OCCURRENCE WILL BE A $100 FINE FOR THE HOMEOWNER, AND 150 FOR THE RENTER, WHOMEVER IS ACTUALLY USING THE LEAF BLOWER.
AT NO TIME SHALL THE AMOUNT ON THE FINE EXCEED $150 SECTION X XX DASH SEVEN EXPIRATION.
THE PERIOD OF EXPIRATION SHOULD BE FOR A MINIMUM OF THREE TO FIVE YEARS.
THAT WILL BE AMPLE TIME TO EVALUATE THE PROGRAM AND CORRECT THE FLAWS.
THE FLAWS, F L A W S SECTION THREE, EFFECTIVE DATE.
THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL BE NOTIFIED AND RECEIVE A COPY OF THE LAW WE WILL BE IMPLEMENTING, ALONG WITH THE RATIONALE AND PURPOSE
[02:20:01]
OF THIS LAW.THE TOWN SHOULD SEND THIS INFORMATION TO THE THREE TO FIVE LEADING LEAF BLOWER COMPANIES IN THE U SS A, GIVING THEM THE SAME INFORMATION, STRESSING THE DAMAGE THAT IS CAUSED BY ENGINES ON LEAF BLOWERS THAT ONLY NEED TO BLOW THE LEAVES AND PAPER THREE FEET TO ONE YARD.
GIVE THEM THE FULL DEMOGRAPHICS OF GREENBERG.
AS A TOWN IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WE'RE TALKING MONEY.
I CAN, I CAN SELL FISH FISHERMEN.
THIS IS NOTHING BUT A MONEY MAKING PROJECT FOR THEM.
THIS WAY PEOPLE COULD BUY A MODIFIED LEAF BLOWER THAT CAUSES NO LITTLE TO NO DAMAGE.
IF BLOOMBERG IS GOING TO LEAD, THEN SUBMIT A COMPLETE PACKAGE.
AND I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD TO THAT, THAT A LOT OF, IN, UH, MINORITY COMMUNITIES, WE HAVE UPPER ATORY PROBLEMS. YOU'RE EITHER BORN WITH THEM OR YOU'RE GONNA DIE WITH THEM.
AND I THINK WE DO NEED TO DO SOMETHING, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE TO PUT A BURDEN ON ANYBODY, LIKE $500 FOR A, A FINE.
THE IDEA IS TO GET THE COMPANIES TO MAKE A MACHINE THAT WE CAN USE THAT'S INEXPENSIVE AND DOESN'T TAKE WHAT THEY'RE DO WHAT WE ARE USING NOW TO BLOW A LEAF, NOT EVEN ACROSS THE STREET.
SO THAT'S WHY I THINK IT WOULD WORK, AND I THINK WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING AND I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT NOW.
SO PAUL AND BOARD MEMBERS, WE HAVE ONE LAST STATEMENT FROM MADELINE, OSHA.
UM, WOULD YOU LIKE, WOULD YOU LIKE FOR THAT TO BE READ NOW OR DO YOU WANT TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY MORE SPEAKERS? WHY DON'T WE JUST, UH, HEAR FROM EVERYBODY ELSE? SO THIS WAY THEY WANNA, IT'S GETTING, IT'S AFTER 10, SO THIS WAY THEY DON'T HAVE TO STAY ON THE WHOLE EVENING.
IS PETER STILL HERE? HE WAS THE ONE THAT DIDN'T, I DON'T THINK HE FINISHED HIS STATEMENT.
I MEAN, I, I'M, YOU KNOW, LIKE, LIKE YOU JUST SAID O'CLOCK, I DON'T WANNA NO, COULD KEEP YOU COULD, NO, YOU, THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO SPEAK.
I MEAN, LISTEN, YOU KNOW, FOR ME IT'S, AS A HOMEOWNER, I'M LITERALLY JUST LOOKING TO BLOW CLIPPINGS OFF OF MY DRIVEWAY.
AND BACK, AND BACK INTO, AND BACK ONTO MY GRASS AND, AND GET THE BENEFITS OF, OF, OF THAT GRASS.
UM, AND, UH, I THINK AN OUTRIGHT BAN BANNING ME FROM JUST DOING SOMETHING THAT SIMPLE, UM, UH, I JUST CAN'T ACCEPT THAT THERE, THERE HAS TO BE SOME MIDDLE GROUND SOMEWHERE WHERE IT'S, WHETHER YOU WANNA SAY WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE ALL ELECTRIC OR ALL BATTERY.
AGAIN, I'M SENSITIVE TO, TO, TO EVERYBODY'S CONCERNS.
AND I, I, YOU KNOW, I, I'M HOPEFUL THAT THERE IS A MIDDLE GROUND.
UM, PERHAPS SOME OF THE, THE, THE, THE PARTS OF THE LAW AND EVERYTHING THAT I MENTIONED COULD BE IT.
MAYBE YOU LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT COULD BE USED AND LIMIT IT TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF DAYS.
BUT I, I JUST DON'T THINK, UH, AN OUTRIGHT BAN, AN OUTRIGHT BAN WOULD BE FOLLOWING THE TREND.
AND PEOPLE TALK ABOUT GREENBERG SETTING A TREND OR, OR DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
UM, I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW, UH, WHAT EVERYONE'S THOUGHTS WOULD BE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT I WOULD DO WITH THOSE CLIPPINGS IF I CAN'T BLOW 'EM.
I DON'T WANT TO HEAR SWEEP 'EM MOUNT OF THE LAWN.
'CAUSE THAT'S TELLING ME WHAT TO DO WITH MY TIME.
UM, SO I'D BE CURIOUS WHAT, WHAT, WHAT PEOPLE WOULD DO, UH, IF THEY HAVE CLIPPINGS OR, OR LEAVES ON THEIR DRIVEWAYS OR ON THEIR HARDSCAPES AROUND THEIR PROPERTY.
THE OTHER QUESTION I ALWAYS HAVE IS, UH, IN THE LAW STATED THAT GREENBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD ENFORCE THE LAW.
HOW ARE THEY DOING THAT? THE LAW, OUR NEIGHBORS TALL TAILING ON EACH OTHER.
AND SO IS THE ONE THAT, AND I AGREE WITH YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY, THAT WE SHOULD HAVE IT SO THAT YOU CAN DO IT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
THAT'S NOT GONNA BE MORE THAN A HALF AN HOUR, 15, 20 MINUTES.
I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 75 BY A HUNDRED, 200
YOU KNOW, NOBODY'S GONNA BE OUT THERE THAT LONG.
AND IF I COULD ASK A QUESTION WITH REGARDS TO THAT, TO THE PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW, THAT DID VOICE THEIR CONCERNS, I WOULD ASSUME THAT MOST OF THE NOISE YOU'RE HEARING IS PROBABLY FROM THE PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPERS.
'CAUSE THE REG, THE REGULAR HOMEOWNER IS NOT OUT THERE ALL DAY.
[02:25:01]
RIGHT.I MEAN, IF YOU LIVE ON A BLOCK WITH 20 HOUSES, YOU KNOW, THE ODDS OF OLD 20 BEING DONE ON THE SAME DAY.
SO I'M, I, I WOULD THINK THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE ISSUE PROBABLY LIES.
AND I'M NOT LOOKING TO THROW THE, THE PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPER UNDER THE BUS HERE, BUT I WOULD THINK THAT THE, THE, THE MAJORITY OF THE ISSUE LIES WITH THE PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPER WHO'S USING THE, THE BACKPACK, THE INDUSTRIAL ONE, UM, THE HEAVIER ONES THAT, THAT ARE BRINGING A LOT OF NOISE AND, AND, AND THE WINDS THAT, THAT, THAT, THAT YOU SPEAK OF.
'CAUSE A HOMEOWNER LIKE ME IS NOT ON, LIKE I SAID, I MOW MY LAWN THREE TIMES A WEEK AND I BLOW THREE TIMES A WEEK.
AND I PROBABLY USE THE BLOWER FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AT A CLIP.
AGAIN, MS. EMES, TIM, THAT WHAT I MENTIONED TO MS. EMES WHEN SHE INTERRUPTS THE
WELL SEE, THAT'S THE AMEN CORNER.
AND I WAS JUST SAYING HE'S RIGHT.
WHAT'S HE'S SAYING? THAT'S THE AMEN CORNER.
CAN I JUST ASK YOU A QUESTION? YES.
UM, UM, IN TERMS OF, UH, UH, UH, PETER BROWN'S, YOU KNOW, COMMENTS ABOUT YOUR COMMERCIAL, UM, IS THERE A LEGAL, UH, IMPEDIMENT WHERE IF WE FOCUS, SAY ON COMMERCIAL RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, HOMEOWNERS, UH, WOULD THERE BE, UH, YOU KNOW, A WOULD THEY, UH, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN'T DO BECAUSE WE HAVE TO TREAT EVERYBODY EQUALLY? YOU CAN MAKE DISTINGUISH DISTINCTIONS.
YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT, UM, THE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE PEOPLE WHO PROPOSED THE LAW HAVE DISCUSSED THAT IT'S PERMISSIBLE, BUT IT'S REALLY HAS TO BE UP TO THE BOARD AS TO WHETHER THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THAT.
NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER OTHER SPEAKERS WHO WANNA SPEAK FOR A SECOND TIME.
I SEE MR. BODEN'S HAND UP, AND HE HASN'T SPOKEN FOR A FIRST TIME.
AND I JUST WANT TO GET A HANDLE ON HOW WE'RE GONNA HANDLE THIS HEARING.
I KNOW THERE'S SOME OTHER BUSINESS, AND I THINK I SEE SOME PEOPLE WHO WANT TO DISCUSS SOME OTHER TOPICS.
SO I JUST WANT TO GET SOME GUIDANCE.
MY COMMENT IS FOR PETER BROWN TO CLEAN YOUR DRIVEWAY.
UH, THEY INVENTED SOMETHING SOME YEARS AGO.
IT WORKS BY TWO HANDS, AND YOU PULL IT AND IT CAUSES VERY LITTLE POLLUTION.
SO WHEN YOU ASKED HOW YOU CLEAN YOUR DRIVEWAY, YOU USE A BROOM.
I THINK I SPECIFICALLY ASKED, I THINK I SPECIFICALLY ASKED NOT TO BE TOLD HOW TO USE MY TIME.
COME UP WITH SOMETHING BETTER THAN THAT GUY.
SO DO WE ELSE WE HAVE ONE MORE STATEMENT.
IS THAT SOMEONE WHO'S SPEAKING A FIRST TIME OR A SECOND TIME? NO, THIS IS A, A FINAL STATEMENT TO BE READ.
AND FOR THE SONOGRAPHER, AGAIN, THIS IS MADELON, M A D E L O N O.
SHE, O H A, I THINK I UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE FOR CREATING, CREATING LEAF BLOWER LEGISLATION.
BLOWERS ARE NOISY, POLLUTE THE AIR WITH FUMES, AND CAN CAUSE OBJECTS BECOME AIRBORNE AND STRIKE PEOPLE OR THING.
HOWEVER, LAWNMOWERS ARE EVERY BIT AS NOISY, POLLUTE THE AIR AND HIT OBJECTS, THEN BECOME AIRBORNE.
I RE I RESPECT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SPENT HOUR UPON HOUR CRAFTING THIS LEGISLATION.
I WILL NOT YET COMMENT ON THE SPECIFICS OF THE LEGIS OF THE LEGISLATION.
I FIRST NEED ANSWERS TO THE PROBLEMS I FORESEE.
THERE REALLY CANNOT BE ANY EXCEPTIONS.
PARKS AND RECREATION, B P W AND ANY TOWN DEPARTMENT SHOULD NOT BE EXEMPT FROM THE LEGISLATION ON THE GROUNDS OF HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE, ET CETERA.
SAFETY AND WELFARE APPLY ALL OVER SCHOOLS AND FIREHOUSES.
THEIR OWN MUNICIPALITIES ARE MOST CONCERNED WITH SAFETY AND MAY NOT HAVE TO FOLLOW TOWN REQUIREMENTS ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY.
GOLF CLUBS, CEMETERIES, SHOPPING CENTERS, CONDOS, CO-OPS, RENTALS MUST BE CONCERNED WITH SAFETY.
SO THEY TOO WILL DEMAND EXCEPTIONS.
SOME UNFORTUNATE HOMEOWNERS ABUT EVERY EXEMPTION.
THE EXEMPTION CAN BLOW, LEAVES OR GRASP WHENEVER, BUT THE HOMEOWNER MAY NOT QUESTION MARK.
WHAT THIS AMOUNTS TO IS THAT ONLY THE SINGLE FAMILY HOMEOWNER
[02:30:01]
WILL BE THE ENTITY WHO RECEIVES A SUMMONS OR A FINE.IT WILL BE THE SMALL INDEPENDENT GARDENERS WHO WILL HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP GRASS AND LEAVES FROM BECOMING A HAZARD FOR THE MAILMAN.
ALL DELIVERY PEOPLE AND THE HOMEOWNER.
IT IS A SINGLE FAMILY HOMEOWNER WHO WILL LOSE HIS GARDENER OR HAVE THE GARDENER'S FEES BECOME TOO BURDENSOME.
ALL WHAT CONCESSIONS? UM, CORRECTION.
AND WHAT CONCESSIONS ARE BEING MADE FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS WHOSE NUMBERS ARE INCREASING IN THE TOWN, WHO CANNOT RAKE THEIR OWN LEADS, AND WHO CERTAINLY CANNOT AFFORD THE INCREASE IN RATES.
GARDENERS WILL CHARGE TO PURCHASE NEW EQUIPMENT OR HIRE MORE WORKERS TO RAKE GRASS AND LEAVES.
HAS ANYONE SMOKE? HAS ANYONE SPOKEN TO THE SMALL INDEPENDENT GARDEN TO ASK WHAT THIS LEGISLATION WILL DO TO HIS COSTS OR TO HIS CUSTOMERS? SINCE MOST HOMEOWNERS WITH UNDER AN ACRE OF LAND IN SMALL, INDEPENDENT GARDENERS, HAS ANYONE EXPLAINED TO THESE GARDENERS THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS LEGISLATION, FOR THAT MATTER? WHAT ARE THE FEELINGS OF THOSE RESIDENTS WITH OVER AN ACRE OF PROPERTY? WHAT IS THE REACTION OF THE TOWN'S CORPORATE BUSINESSES LIKE REGENERON, THE HOTELS WHO HIRE LARGE LANDSCAPE FIRMS TO MAINTAIN THEIR PROPERTY? DON'T YOU THINK THESE ISSUES NEED ADDRESSING BEFORE NEW RULES TAKE PLACE? YEP.
OR IS IT ONCE AGAIN, THAT A SINGLE FAMILY, HOMEOWNER, HOMEOWNER WILL BE ASKED TO SHOULDER ANOTHER BURDEN, ANOTHER SUBSIDY? SO, WHILE I THINK INTELLECTUALLY, SO WHILE I THINK I INTELLECTUALLY UNDERSTAND THE REASONS BEHIND THE LEGISLATION, THE PRACTICALLY IS MISSING SINCE MOST ENTITIES WILL SAY THEY ARE EXEMPT, OR THEY WILL SUE SHOULDN'T MORE THOUGHT GO INTO CREATING THIS LAW? SHOULDN'T ALL THE PROBLEMS BE THOUGHT THROUGH BEFORE ANYTHING IS VOTED ON? THAT'S A GOOD ANSWER.
OKAY, SO I KNOW THE HOUR IS GETTING LATE.
AND AGAIN, I, I DO KNOW WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD COMING UP AS WELL.
AND I'M JUST TRYING TO INQUIRE AS TO HOW THE BOARD WANTS TO PROCEED AT THIS POINT.
KNOWING THIS MATTER IS GONNA BE ADJOURNED AND THE HEARING WILL NOT BE PLACED.
WELL, WE COULD DO, UH, IF NOBODY ELSE WANTS TO SPEAK, WE COULD, UH, ADJOURN IT AND THEN, UH, CONTINUE THE HEARING IN TWO WEEKS.
WELL, UH, BEFORE WE PICK A DATE, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO SEE WHAT ELSE IS ON THE AGENDA IN TWO WEEKS.
AND I, AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS, BUT IT'S OKAY.
WELL, WHENEVER THE BOARD WANTS A DATE, YOU WOULD WANNA, UM, UM, HAVE A LITTLE TIME.
UM, WHAT WOULD THE BOARD LIKE TO DO? ADJO FOR ALL PURPOSES TO A DATE TO BE DETERMINED?
I JUST, I JUST ASK BEFORE WE VOTE.
WHEN IT MAKES SENSE TO HAVE LIKE A OUTSIDE DATE, JUST SO WE DON'T GET, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, COULD, IF WE WANNA MAKE IT A MONTH OR A MONTH, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER WE WANT.
SO THIS WAY AT LEAST, UH, SUGGEST A DATE GOAL.
IT WON'T, IT WON'T, IT WON'T FALL.
UH, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, IT WON'T FALL, UH, YOU KNOW, MEET THE CRACK, YOU KNOW, WE ALWAYS GET DISTRACTED AND THEN IT'S HARD TO SOMETIMES KEEP UP.
AND THEN WE, WE FORGET ABOUT IT.
AND I THINK THAT IF WE SET ANY DATE, THEN AT LEAST, UH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TIME TO, UH, LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE SAY AND THEN MAKE A DECISION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
SUGGESTED DO YOU, DO YOU WANNA SAY THE FIRST, THE FIRST MEETING IN APRIL, PAUL, WHICH IS THE EIGHTH? IT COULD, IT COULD BE.
IF THE BOARD WANTS TO HAVE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, IF THEY FEEL THAT THEY NEED MORE TIME, THAT'S, THAT'S FINE WITH ME.
YOU KNOW, I JUST FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE, HAVE STRONG FEELINGS ON, ON BOTH SIDES AND I FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, WE OWE IT TO THE COMMUNITY TO, UM, YOU KNOW, TO BRING CLOSURE TO THIS.
OR AT LEAST, UM, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST, UM, IF, YOU KNOW, DECIDE I MOVE THAT WE PUT THIS ON THE APRIL 8TH AGENDA.
[02:35:01]
I'M LOOKING, I'M LOOKING AT THE THURSDAY, APRIL 14TH.WE PUT THIS ON THE APRIL 14TH AGENDA.
LET'S, WE NEED A CLEAN RECORD HERE.
'CAUSE WE ALREADY VOTED ON IT, SO I WILL WITH WHOEVER DID THE SECOND, I THINK IT WAS KEN, RIGHT? YES.
YOU WITHDRAW, WITHDRAW YOUR SECOND.
I'LL WITHDRAW MY MOTION AND THEN WE'LL, YOU MAKE A NEW MOTION AND WE'LL HAVE A NEW SECOND AND WE'LL VOTE ON IT.
WHO? IT WAS GINA WHO SECONDED THAT WE SAID IT AT THE SAME TIME, SO I DON'T YOU REALLY SAID AT THE SAME TIME.
SO
SO I WITHDRAW MY MOTION AS WELL.
OKAY, SO KEN, MOVE, UH, OKAY, SO GO AHEAD, KEN.
YES, I, I I MOVED THAT WE, UH, TABLE THE MOTION UNTIL, PUT IT ON THE APRIL 14TH, NOT TABLE.
KEEP, KEEP THE, KEEP THE HEARING OPEN AND REVISIT IT ON THE, UH, 14TH OF APRIL.
YEAH, IT'S ADJOURN FOR ALL PURPOSE.
OKAY, SO NOW WE'RE GONNA HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.
WE STILL HAVE TWO MORE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
[ To consider agreements between the Town of Greenburgh and the Village of Elmsford to provide Fire Protection Services to residents of the North Elmsford and West Elmsford Fire Protection Districts, respectively, for the year 2021]
NEXT PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AND THE VILLAGE OF ELFORD TO PROVIDE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES TO RESIDENTS OF NORTH ELM FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT VIA 2021 AT A REQUEST NOT TO EXCEED 813,000 941 64.SO THIS IS A FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT CONTRACT.
THIS ONE HAPPENS TO BE WITH THE VILLAGE OF ELMS FOR, UH, THEY HAVE TWO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS.
WE'RE GOING TO TREAT THEM SEPARATELY JUST SO THAT THERE'S NO MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE COSTS.
THE COST FOR THE NORTH ELMSFORD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT FOR THE YEAR 2021 IS, UH, $813,941.
AND, UH, 64 CENTS FOR COMPARISON I PUT UP ON THE SCREEN, IT WAS $805,980 AND 75 CENTS, UH, LAST, LAST YEAR IN 2020.
UH, THIS IS, THIS MONIES ARE, THESE MONIES ARE ONLY PAID BY THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
THAT'S AN AREA IN, UH, OUTSIDE, UH, THE VILLAGE BELLFORD INSIDE THE UNINCORPORATED AREA, UH, THAT IS NOT SERVED BY EITHER HARTSDALE, FAIRVIEW OR GREENVILLE FIRE DISTRICTS.
UH, SO THIS, AGAIN, I I WILL SAY IT AGAIN.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR FIRE DISTRICTS THEMSELVES, DALE FAIRVIEW OR GREENVILLE, OR WHETHER OR NOT THEY SHOULD BE CONSOLIDATED OR HOW EXPENSIVE THEY MIGHT BE, OR NOT EXPENSIVE THEY MIGHT BE.
THIS IS SOLELY WHETHER OR NOT THE, UH, TOWN SHOULD ENTERTAIN AN AGREEMENT WITH THE VILLAGE OF ELSS FOR, FOR THE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
I WILL DO THE FIRST ONE, WHICH IS THE NORTH ELMSFORD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
AND IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT, WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO HEAR IT.
MURRAY, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT PICTURE OFF THE SCREEN? I HAVE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ABOUT, UH, WHY I AM GOING TO SAY WHAT I SAID TONIGHT WAS ONE OF THE MOST UNUSUAL MEETINGS THE TOWN OF GREENBERG HAS EVER HAD, WHAT WAS SAID TONIGHT IN ALL ASPECTS, MOST OF WHICH WAS NEVER SAID BEFORE, AND, AND WHAT APPOINTED TO IS A NEW WAY OF LIVING.
THE AGE OF THE PAST IS GONE, AND WE LIVE IN THE AGE OF THE FUTURE.
BASICALLY, IT COMES FROM GLOBAL WARMING BECAUSE WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, IT'S HERE.
THE DISCUSSION ABOUT POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND THIS AND THAT, AND EVERYTHING ELSE GOES TO THE FIRE DISTRICTS AS WELL.
AND THOUGH THIS IS ONE SMALL PART OF IT, THE SAME
[02:40:01]
LOOKING AT WHAT YOU DID FOR THE POLICE, HOW THEY BEHAVED, HOW THEY TEACH PEOPLE, THE COSTS NEEDS TO BE DONE AS THE SAME FOR FIRE DISTRICTS.NOW, YOU REPEAT THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN BECAUSE YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE IT THAT WAY, BUT WHAT THE POLICE HAVE DONE IS SAID, WE HAVE TO TAKE A NEW LOOK AT THE WAY WE POLICE.
AND THEY'VE BEEN QUITE SUCCESSFUL.
THEY'VE GOT INPUT FROM ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE.
THE WORLD HAS CHANGED, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, ALL OF THE CARS ARE GONNA BE ELECTRIC AND WHAT ALL THE MECHANICS THAT SERVICE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES ARE GONNA DO, GONE.
SO YOU HAVE TO STRUGGLE TO THINK OUT OF THE BOX.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT IT.
I'VE SAID ENOUGH HERE TO GET YOU STARTED.
I HEARD VERY WELL WHAT FRANCIS SAID.
IT'S NOT YOUR SUBJECT, IT'S MY RIGHT TO CONSTRUCT MY ARGUMENT THE WAY I WANT TO CONSTRUCT IT.
ANYBODY ELSE WANNA SPEAK ABOUT THE NORTH ALLENSBURG FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT CONTRACT? DO NOT HAVE ANY NAMES, UH, AND REQUEST TO SPEAK ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
I MOVE THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND LEAVE THE RECORD OPEN FOR SEVEN DAYS.
SO THE SECOND ONE IS ALSO WITH THE VILLAGE BELL FORD.
AND I WANTED TO SEPARATE THEM OUT BECAUSE THE COSTS ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF THE, THE RATIOS INVOLVED IN THE TWO DIFFERENT DISTRICTS.
AND SO I DIDN'T WANT THE WEST ELMSFORD, UH, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT RESIDENTS TO THINK THAT THEIR, THEIR AMOUNT WAS THE 805,000, UH, NUMBER.
IT'S 220,000 IN THEIR PARTICULAR DISTRICT.
UM, AND SO THIS IS A, UH, THE WEST ELMSFORD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
WE NE WE NEVER, UH, OPENED THE HEARING.
OKAY, SO LET'S, UH, UH, COULD YOU JUST PULL THE SCREEN AGAIN? SURE.
UM, LET'S SAY TO CONSIDER AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AND THE VILLAGE OF ELFORD TO PROVIDE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES TO RESIDENTS OF THE WEST ELFORD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT FOR THE YEAR 2021.
OR THE QUEST NOT TO EXCEED 230,000 921 69.
SO THIS IS THE SECOND OF TWO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT CONTRACTS WITH THE VILLAGE OF ELMSFORD.
THE COST FOR THE, UH, THE PROTECTION OF THE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
THE WEST ELMSFORD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT FOR 2021 IS $230,921 AND 69 CENTS.
UH, FOR COMPARISON I PUT UP ON THE SCREEN IN 2020, THE COST WAS $220,996 AND 87 CENTS.
THIS IS ONLY PAID BY THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE WEST ELMSFORD FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
UH, NO ONE WHO LIVES IN THE HARTSDALE, UH, FAIRVIEW OR GREENVILLE FIRE DISTRICT PAYS THIS AMOUNT.
IT IS SOLELY FOR THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE SERVED BY THE VILLAGE OF ELMSFORD IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.
AND, UH, IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT CONTRACT, THIS IS THE TIME TO DO IT.
UM, HEARING NONE, I WOULD MOVE THAT WE CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND LEAVE THE RECORD OPEN FOR SEVEN DAYS.
THERE'S ONE MORE, BUT IT'S BEING HELD OVER, PAUL.
UH, SO THE NEXT ONE'S BEING HELD OVER.
UH, WHY DON'T YOU ANNOUNCE IT? CONSIDER A PETITION BY
[ To consider a petition by the Scarsdale Golf Club, to extend the boundaries of Consolidated Water District No. 1 in the Town of Greenburgh (Held over from Town Board Meeting of 2/24/2021) (To be held over to Town Board Meeting of 3/24/2021)]
THE GREENBURG SCARSDALE GOLF CLUB TO EXTEND THE BOUNDARIES OF CONSOLIDATED WATER DISTRICT IN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.HELD OVER TO TOWN BOARD MEETING OF 3 24, UH, 21.
[02:45:01]
TO MOVE THAT.WE ADJOURN IT, WE ADJOURNED IT.
WELL, IS THERE A DATE THAT WE'RE HOLDING IT? UM, 3 24 UNTIL 3 24.
WE'RE, WE'RE SEEKING ADDITIONAL DATA.
[ PUBLIC COMMENT Advance signup via PublicComment@GreenburghNY.com is required. See instructions on first page. A three minute limit per speaker will be strictly enforced. No interruptions by Town Board members, the Town Clerk or the public will be permitted. Any questions on agenda items should be asked at this time. Department Heads have the option of leaving the meeting following Public Comment. Therefore, if anyone has questions that are related to resolutions/items on the agenda involving a specific Department Head, those questions should be raised at this time]
COMMENTS.SO EVERYBODY GOODNIGHT, BARBARA.
BARBARA, I THINK YOURS MUST BE TIME A LITTLE BIT.
LET'S BEGIN WITH CLIFF ABRAMS. OKAY.
SO BEFORE MR. ABRAMS STARTS, WE DOING THREE MINUTES, EIGHT MINUTES.
HOW, HOW ARE WE, UH, HANDLING THIS? ARE WE STICKING TO OUR RULES? ARE WE, MARK, HOW, HOW MANY PE HOW MANY PEOPLE WANNA SPEAK? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
CAN WE HAVE EIGHT MINUTES? BECAUSE WE WAITING FOR THREE HOURS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, SO IT WOULD BE NICE SINCE WE HAD TO HEAR EVERYBODY ELSE AND WE GET EIGHT MINUTES TO SPEAK ON WHAT WE NEED TO SPEAK ON.
YEAH, I HAVE NO PROBLEM DOING EIGHT MINUTES.
AND THEN THAT WOULD BE, UH, AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE AGENDA AND THEN WE WON'T HAVE A SECOND TIME.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I HAVE EVERYONE DOWN.
I HAVE EVERYONE HERE BECAUSE I SEE SOME HANDS RAISED AND, UM, STEPHANIE, STEPHANIE SWAN IS NOT ON THIS LIST, AND SO I'M ADDING HER AND MICHELLE BROWN ADDING MICHELLE, IF YOU WANT TO SPEAK, IF YOU COULD ANYONE ELSE RAISE YOUR HAND? YES.
MARY, MARY, MARY, MARY, YOU'RE ON THE LIST.
I HAVE CLIFF ABRAMS, MARY BOIN, LAUREN BOLEN, ERIC ZINGER, PAT WEEMS, STEPHANIE SWAN AND MICHELLE BROWN.
ANYONE ELSE? HOW MANY PEOPLE IS THAT? AND MR. THAT'S, UH, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
I DON'T THINK ERIC'S HERE HIS NAME.
YOU SEE MME. CLARK? I DON'T THINK ERIC IS HERE.
UM, GARRETT HAD ASKED IF I WAS GONNA SPEAK EARLIER, SO I I HAD BEEN ON LIST NINE TIMES.
SO WE DO THAT TO TAKE A VOTE AND MODIFY ITS RULES.
NO ONE CAN SAY THAT YOU'RE BREAKING YOUR RULES, BUT YOU VOTED TO MODIFY YOUR RULES.
PAUL, YOU MAKING THAT MOTION? I MAKE THE MOTION SECOND.
OKAY, SO CLIFF ABRAMS, DO I HAVE THE EIGHT MINUTES? YES.
LAST YEAR, IN APRIL OF 2020, I CAME TO THE BOARD AND I ASKED TO DO A PROPOSAL FOR BLACK LIVES MATTER MURAL ON MANHATTAN AVENUE.
PAUL FINALLY SAID TO ME THAT HE AGREED, BUT HE BRUNG IT UP AND NOBODY FROM THE TOWN BOARD SUPPORTED IT, WHICH WAS SURPRISING ME, WHICH WAS A SURPRISE BECAUSE WE HAD TWO AFRICAN AMERICAN COUNSEL, AND I COULDN'T BELIEVE ALL IT TAKE IS THREE VOTES.
AND WITH THOSE TWO VOTES AND PAUL, THE MAYOR WOULD BE PASSED.
SO AS TIME WENT ON, I DIDN'T GIVE UP, I KEPT ON ADVOCATING FOR THE MAYOR TO BE DONE.
IN JULY, I GOT A CALL FROM TERRENCE JACKSON, THE COMM INTERN COMMISSIONER OF DEPARTMENT OF COMMAND RESET DEPARTMENT OF COMMAND RETAIL, SAYING THAT COMMISSIONER GARITY CASEY FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SAID HE MIGHT COULD HELP ME OUT BY HAVING A MURAL UNDER THE UNDERPASS IF I'M WILLING TO GO FROM THE STREET TO THE UNDERPASS.
AND WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, I SAID, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA BECAUSE IT WILL BE PROTECTED.
AND IT'S A LOT OF HISTORY UNDER THAT BRIDGE.
AND MOST PEOPLE FROM THE TOWN OF GREENBURG FAIRVIEW AREA UNDERSTAND WHEN I SAY IT'S A LOT OF HISTORY.
SO I CAME BACK, THE BOARD VOTED ON IT, AND THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS, DEREK CALLED ME AND ASKED ME CAN HE MEET ME UNDER THE UNDERPASS WHERE I COULD SHARE MY VISION AND THE CONCEPT THAT I WANTED TO
[02:50:01]
DO.AND LAST BOARD MEETING TOWN CLERK, JUDITH VILLE HONORED ME BECAUSE I WAS THE ARCHITECT OF THIS PROJECT.
JERRY COMES WITH ME AND HE ASKED, CAN HE BRING SARAH GRACIE WHITE? AND I TOLD HIM, I DON'T MIND BECAUSE HE, SHE ARE, SHE IS THE PEOPLE THAT CONNECT THE DOTS.
THEY CAME, WE MET UNDER THE UNDER PATH.
I GAVE MY VISION AND I CHANGED IT.
I SAID, I DON'T WANT TO DO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING BECAUSE ALL THEY DO IS GEORGE FLOYD AND VERONICA TAYLOR.
I SAID, I WANNA DO AN AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE THROUGH BLACK LIVES MATTER, BECAUSE I HAVE FOR THE LOVE OF MY COMMUNITY.
I CAME UP WITH THAT TO GIVE US PRIDE, EMPOWERMENT, AND ENRICHMENT.
SARAH BRACY SAY TO ME, CLIFF, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOUR IDEA IS.
SO FOR TWO MONTHS WE'VE BEEN MEETING AND I MUST SAY THE TOWN BEEN VERY SUPPORTED.
SO AS TIME GOES ON, WE MEETING, I HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE, AND NOT ONLY THAT, I, I AM THE MAIN PERSON THAT PICKED THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE AND THEN KEN JONES ADDED PEOPLE THAT HE FELT SHOULD BE ON IT.
KEN JONES' MAIN CONCERN WAS DOING SIGNS AND BANNERS AND I SAID, NO PROBLEM, BUT SIGNS THAT BANNER AIN'T GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE MURAL.
WE MEETING, UM, BY, I HAD SPIRITUAL ADVICE TO ALLOW OTHER PEOPLE TO BE A PART OF IT.
AND NOW THE WHOLE TOWN WAS INVOLVED AND, AND I WAS GETTING EXCITED BECAUSE IT, I WAS TOLD, HEY, LET OTHER PEOPLE BE A PART OF IT AND YOU'D BE SURPRISED.
AND THEN IT WAS SHARED WITH ME TO LET A YOUNG ARTIST BE A PART OF IT.
SO I PICKED MADISON HOOD, WHO'S A YOUNG ARTIST AND THAT'S WHAT SHE MAJOR IN AND SHE'S FROM FAIRVIEW.
THEN PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT SHE WASN'T EQUIPPED TO DO IT, AND I SAID, NO, NO MATTER WHAT, WE GONNA GIVE HER THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE YOU NEED OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD YOUR RESUME UP.
AS I TALKED TO SOME FRIENDS, THEY CALLED ME UP AND SAID, HEY, I THOUGHT THE MURAL WAS YOUR IDEA.
THEN THEY SAID, WELL, SOMEBODY WAS GOING, THEY SAID, KEN JONES WAS ON NEWS 12 AND SARAH TALKING ABOUT AN INTERVIEW ABOUT THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MURAL.
AND I'M LIKE, WHAT? THEN IT'S AN ARTICLE BY THE WHITE PLAINS AS AMATEUR WITH KEN JONES PICTURE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF MY IDEAS, MY CONCEPT OF WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.
I PICKED MADISON HOOD, HE BRING ALL THAT UP, BUT NOBODY NEVER MENTIONED MY NAME.
AND I AIN'T ABOUT I, 'CAUSE I DO PLENTY OF THINGS FOR MY, FOR MY COMMUNITY WHILE LOOKING FOR NO PAT ON THE BACK.
BUT IT UPSETS ME THAT A COUNCIL PERSON WHO DIDN'T SUPPORT IT DIDN'T VOTE ON IT.
NOW, I COULD BE STAND CORRECTED ON THAT PART BECAUSE AS FAR AS I KNOW, I KNOW HE DIDN'T SUPPORT IT.
BUT AS FAR AS VOTING, I'M NOT SURE.
THEN I CALLED, UM, SUPERVISOR FINDER UP AND I SAY TO HIM, I SAID, MR. FINDER, HOW CAN YOU HAVE AN INTERVIEW ON NEWS 12 AND A PERSON WHO VISUALIZES CONCEPT WITH THE RED, BLACK AND GREEN ROCKS? BECAUSE I WANTED TO SHARE WITH I LIST, I AIN'T EVEN TALKING TO THE BOARD ON, FOR ANYBODY LISTENING TO A FRIEND OF MINE, A VERY SPECIAL FRIEND NAMED MICHELLE BROWN, SAID TO ME, WE SHOULD DO THE ROCK, RED, BLACK, AND GREEN WITH THE WRITING OF THE PEOPLE WHO GOT MURDERED BY POLICE IN THE UNITED STATES, PICKED THEIR NAMES IN ROCK AND WHITE.
I SAID, IMAGINE UP TO DATE IT'S 455 PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN MURDERED BY THE POLICE IN THE UNITED STATES.
IMAGINE HAVING RED, BLACK AND GREEN, WHICH IS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN FLAG COLORS WITH WHITE, WHITE WITH FOUR, WITH 500 ROCKS.
JUST THAT ALONE, PEOPLE WILL COME TO SEE THIS HISTORICAL EVENT THAT THEY SO MUCH BRAGGING ABOUT.
NOW THEN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE THAT, I'M NOT TRYING TO DO A HISTORY LESSON, BUT I DON'T MIND HAVING SOME HISTORY.
BUT THE MAIN POINT IS THE URGENCY OF POLICE BRUTALITY.
[02:55:01]
PEOPLE CAN, CAN TALK ALL DAY LONG ABOUT HOW GREAT GREENBURG POLICE IS, AND I'M NOT KNOCKING THAT, BUT IN THE UNITED STATES, BLACKS ARE BEING MURDERED EVERY DAY AND NOBODY BEING ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT.AND THEN I COME UP WITH A VISION AND I CREATED AN IDEA WHERE THE CONCEPT AND THEN SELF-SERVING POLITICIANS WANT TO GET ON TV.
AND IN THE NEWSPAPER THEY DON'T EVEN MENTION MY NAME.
AND MAYBE IF THEY MENTION MY NAME, I WOULDN'T PROBABLY BE THAT THIS MUCH DISGUSTED.
BUT IT, IT, IT, IT IT, IT DISTURBS ME THAT I'M WILLING TO DO SOMETHING.
I'M WILLING TO BE OPEN AND WORK WITH THE TOWN AND WORK WITH EVERYBODY.
AND I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT PART.
I'M HAPPY BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS INVOLVED THAT MAKE ME HAPPY.
'CAUSE THIS PROJECT BECAME WAY BIGGER THAN I EVEN IMAGINED.
AND IT WAS TOLD TO ME BY THAT, WITH PASTOR WILLIAMS FROM UNION BAPTIST CHURCH.
SO ALL I'M SAYING THAT PAUL PROMISED THAT FROM HERE ON OUT, I WOULD BE RECOGNIZED, BUT I REALLY WASN'T LOOKING FOR NO PAT ON THE BACK.
BUT I DO NOT LIKE WHEN PEOPLE WHO DON'T SUPPORT IT.
AND IT REALLY AMAZED ME WHEN YOU HAVE THE FIRST TIME IN GREENBURG HISTORY, TWO AFRICAN AMERICANS AS A COUNCIL, AND ALL IT TAKE IS THREE VOTES.
AND IT WAS, AND AND THEY HAD, THEY DIDN'T FEEL IT WITH THE NEED TO SUPPORT SOMETHING HYSTERICAL AS IS.
EVERYBODY WANT TO TAKE CREDIT? THANK YOU.
ON THAT NOTE, CLIFF, I JUST GOTTA STOP BECAUSE YOU JUST REACHED YOUR EIGHT MINUTES.
YEAH, I, I JUST WANNA, I JUST WANNA MENTION, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA MENTION THAT, YOU KNOW, I WANNA TAKE, YOU KNOW, FULL RESPONSIBILITY.
UH, NEWS 12 CALLED ME, UM, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WANTED TO DO A STORY AND THEY WANTED TO INTERVIEW ME.
AND I FELT THAT IT WAS WRONG FOR ME TO BE INTERVIEWED, UH, BECAUSE IT WASN'T MY IDEA.
AND I KNOW THAT KEN WAS WORKING ON IT.
I KNOW THAT, UH, SARAH G. GRAY, I KNOW THAT YOU, YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT.
UM, I, AND AS I TOLD YOU, I MAY, I CREATED, UH, I KEN DID NOT ASK TO GO ON.
SIERRA DID NOT, BUT CLIFF, BUT CLIFF INTERRUPT.
I BASICALLY, NEWS 12 WANTED TO INTERVIEW ME.
THEY SAID THEY WANTED ME TO GO ON THE AIR WITHIN LIKE A HALF HOUR.
I TOLD 'EM I DID NOT THINK IT WAS RIGHT FOR ME TO GO ON AND, UM, AND GET THE COVERAGE WHEN I, WHEN THERE WERE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE WORKING HARDER THAN ME.
SO I BASICALLY HAD LIKE A COUPLE MINUTES TO GET THEM SOMEBODY TO, UM, TO, YOU KNOW, INTERVIEW.
UM, I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF KEN, WHO I KNOW HAS BEEN WORKING VERY HARD ON THIS.
I I KNOW THAT SIERRA'S BEEN WORKING HARD.
IT WAS A TOTALLY INNOCENT, UNINTENTIONAL, UM, YOU KNOW, MISTAKE ON MY PART.
NOT TO GIVE THEM YOUR NAME AND I WILL IN THE FUTURE, UM, IF ANYBODY IN THE MEDIA, UM, YOU KNOW, CALLS ME, UM, YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS, UH, GIVE THEM YOUR NAME, YOU KNOW, AS WELL BECAUSE YOU CAME UP WITH, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU WERE INSTRUMENTAL.
UH, YOU COME UP WITH, UM, A LOT OF GOOD IDEAS, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, DESERVE, UH, YOU KNOW, DESERVE THE RECOGNITION.
BUT THIS IS REALLY A, YOU KNOW, A JOINT EFFORT.
AND AGAIN, I, YOU KNOW, THEY WANTED TO INTERVIEW ME AND I TURNED IT DOWN.
AND THAT IS SO, I, I DID NOT WANNA TAKE CREDIT FOR SOMETHING I DIDN'T DESERVE.
OKAY? BUT IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
MARY BODEN LAST SUNDAY NIGHT WAS A TELEVISION PROGRAM THAT CHANGED SOCIETY.
WHAT OPRAH WINFREY AND INTERVIEWED MEGAN AND HARRY USED TO BE PART OF THE ROYAL FAMILY.
IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE INTERVIEW, AT LEAST READ THE REVIEWS OF IT.
IT CHANGED THE WAY PEOPLE THINK ABOUT QUOTE THE FIRM, THE FIRM BEING THE ENGLISH MONARCHY, WHICH RAISES THE QUESTION, HOW DID THEY ACQUIRE ALL THAT LAND? AND WHAT RIGHT DID THEY HAVE TO CONTROL ALL OF THE PEOPLE? WHAT WORKED ON THAT LAND? WHAT RIGHT DID THEY HAVE TO SILENCE MEGAN WHEN SHE WANTED TO SPEAK OUT?
[03:00:02]
TAKE A LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEPARTED THE TELEVISION, SEEN THE COMMENTATOR.I GUESS HIS NAME IS, USED TO BE IN THE UNITED STATES ON C N N A.
HE WAS ON A MORNING SHOW THERE.
HE SAID, I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT SHE SAID, HE'S GONE.
SHE SPOKE OF THE ABUSE THAT WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR HAVE ENDURED FOR YEARS.
SHE SPOKE THAT THEY WERE WORRIED THAT HER BABY MIGHT NOT BE COMPLETELY WHITE
HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT HIS MOTHER, DIANA, WHO'S ALSO BOOTED OUT OF THE FIRM BECAUSE SHE SPOKE UP.
I'M PRETTY SURE THAT MOST OF YOU DON'T WANNA CHANGE.
YOU'RE GONNA LOSE YOUR INCOME.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO LOSE ELECT LESS RESOURCES.
THERE'S A LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT THE EARTH CAN SUPPORT.
LET'S SEE, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT BITCOIN.
YOU KNOW THAT MAGIC MONEY THAT THEY CREATED OUT OF NOTHING TO MAKE ONE BITCOIN USES MORE ELECTRICITY THAN THE WHOLE COUNTRY OF NORTHERN IRELAND.
THAT'S KIND OF ABUSIVE IN AUSTRALIA.
THEY DESTROYED SOME HISTORICAL MINING, UH, RELICS OF CIVILIZATION THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THAT COMPANY IS GONE.
AND IF YOU WANNA START LOOKING AT HOW MANY PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT WE ARE GONNA MAKE MONEY ON THIS ARE GONE, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.
THERE'S ONLY A FUTURE AND THE FUTURE WILL BE NOTHING.
LIKE THE PAST ASKED UBER DESTROYED THE YELLOW CAB INDUSTRY.
WHO KNOWS WHERE WE'RE GONNA WIND UP.
THERE'LL BE NO INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.
POLICING WILL BE DONE DIFFERENTLY.
FIRE PROTECTION WILL BE DONE DIFFERENTLY.
AND I'M SURE THAT SOME OF YOU THINK I'M NUTS.
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF RESOURCES.
THERE'S GONNA BE A SNOWSTORM IN DENVER WITH TWO FEET OF SNOW TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY.
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, WHERE AT MIAMI BEACH IS TAKING OUT ALL OUR PALM TREES AND REPLACING 'EM WITH SHADE TREES.
AARON KNOWS ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY EXPECT THE HEAT TO BE MUCH HIGHER THAN IT IS.
THE PEOPLE WHO WALK UNDER 'EM INSTEAD OF THAT'S FANCY THING THAT THEY'VE FAMOUS FOR ALL THEIR LIVES.
IF YOU'RE RICH, YOU MOVE TO THE TOP OF THE HILL.
IF YOU'RE POOR, YOU GET FLUTTERED OUT.
MY BEST FRIEND DIED YESTERDAY.
NONE OF MY OLD FRIENDS ARE LEFT ANYMORE.
I'M AT THE TOP OF THE HEAT, WHICH MEANS I'M NEXT.
BUT TOMORROW WE'RE HAVING A WALK AND DINNER WITH MY GRANDSON, MY WIFE AND I, BECAUSE WE WANT TO HAVE EVERY CHANCE TO SAY HELLO TO HIM AND BE WITH HIM.
EVEN IF IT'S SOCIALLY DISTANCED EVERY CHANCE WE CAN.
YOU ARE NOT GONNA HAVE ME AROUND HERE MUCH LONGER.
AND WHAT KIND OF A WORLD YOU'LL BE LIVING IN? I, I NEED TO THANK, I NEED TO THANK, I THANK ALL OF THOSE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO WORK IN GREENBERG WHO TAUGHT ME WHAT I KNOW.
[03:05:01]
JOHN TOPEKA'S NAME WAS MENTIONED BEFORE.I MET WITH JOHN NUMEROUS TIMES.
AS CRAZY AS I MAY SEEM TO YOU, I WASN'T CRAZY TO JOHN.
'CAUSE WHAT I SPOKE TO HIM ABOUT, HE WENT TO HIS MENTOR AND CHECKED OUT WHAT I ASKED.
JOHN TOPEKA WAS ONE OF THE ONE BEST MENTOR I'VE EVER HAD.
I'VE NEVER HAD A CHANCE TO REALLY WELCOME JOHN.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT.
VERY, VERY SORRY TO HEAR THE LOSS OF YOUR, YOUR DEAR FRIEND.
UM, PATRICIA WILLIAMS. I AM NOT HERE.
THANK YOU BOARD FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
FORGIVE ME FOR NOT BEING ON CAMERA.
I'M NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT TONIGHT.
AND I ALSO WANNA EXTEND CONDOLENCES TO MURRAY AND ANYONE WHO'S LOST ANYONE RECENTLY.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS TASHA YOUNG AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LETTING ME SPEAK.
I WANNA ADDRESS SOME THINGS THAT I EXPERIENCED LAST NIGHT IN THE WORK SESSION.
BISHOP PRESTON'S NO LONGER HERE, BUT I DO WANT TO SAY FOR THE RECORD THAT I WANTED TO ADDRESS HIM AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK THAT HE HAS DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY FOR SOME 20 PLUS YEARS AS CHAIR OF THE GA GREENBERG HELD IN AUTHORITY AS A WOMAN OF FAITH.
I KNOW SCRIPTURE AND WILL ALWAYS REFER TO HIM AS A MAN OF GOD AND TREAT HIM AS SUCH.
I FELT SO BAD AFTER THE TREATMENT THAT I AND OTHER RESIDENTS RECEIVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THIS BODY WHO I WILL LATER NAME.
BUT HIM IN PARTICULAR, I HAVE TO SAY I EMPATHIZE WITH HIM.
I LIKE HIM, HAVE DEDICATED MY LIFE
I PERHAPS KNOW HOW IT FEELS TO SERVE SOMETIMES.
SO AFTER SPEAKING WITH OJ ZA, SHE HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THAT PART OF HIS PASSION AND WHAT SOME CALL HYPE LAST NIGHT COME FROM A PLACE OF KNOWING THAT HE DID EVERYTHING OR TRIED TO DO EVERYTHING RIGHT.
HE EXPLAINED HOW MUCH WORK WENT INTO THE PLAN AND MADE REFERENCE TO HOW MUCH HE CROSSED HIS T'S AND DOTTED HIS HONOR.
BUT IN MY DEAR SISTER O J'S WORDS, SOMETIMES WHAT YOU DO RIGHT, NOT THE BEST THING TO DO.
AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE SENIORS AND DISABLED WILL MOVE DURING THE HEIGHT OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
THANK YOU FOR THE REPORT I AND MANY OTHERS LOOK FORWARD TO YOU ATTORNEY TIM LEWIS.
I TAKE EXCEPTION AND BEFORE I EVEN OPENED MY MOUTH, YOU STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO CORRUPTION YET WHEN I WAS REPEATEDLY RUDELY INTERRUPTED, YOU WERE NOWHERE TO MAINTAIN YOU.
COUNCILMAN JONES, I AGAIN TAKE EXCEPTION TO HOW YOU TREATED ME.
NOT ONLY DID YOU JUMP AHEAD OF ME WHEN IT WAS MY
AND I WAS SIMPLY ASKING QUESTIONS.
[03:10:01]
TO SAY THAT I DO NOT LIKE THE WAY I WAS TREATED LAST NIGHT.LIKE THE WAY MS. FELL GROUND WAS CUT OFF AS SHE QUESTIONED THE FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF THIS RENOVATION.
I'M PURPOSELY USING
I AM INCLINED TO BELIEVE AND SHUDDER TO THINK ABOUT THE TREATMENT THAT BOTH MS. RENEE ROBINSON AND MS. STEPHANIE SWAN HAVE ENDURED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS OR IN PRIVATE WHEN IN THE ROOM WITH ANY, ANY ONE OF YOU.
AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BISHOP PRESTON, YOU WORK FOR US.
SAME ON ANYONE WHO TRIES TO DEFEND THE REMOVAL OF SEAS DURING THE HEIGHT OF COVID 19
THERE WAS NOT A THREAT OF THE GROUND BENEATH OPENING UP AND SWALLOWING THEM.
THERE WAS NO IMMINENT DANGER AS FAR AS I AM, AS FAR AS I KNOW WHERE IT HAD TO HAPPEN.
AND IF THAT WAS THE CASE, I'M SURE SOMEONE WOULD'VE SAID SO.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO ASK THE WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY, AND WHEN UNTIL WE HAVE ANSWERS.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO RESEARCH HOW HARD WAS.
FINALLY, I WILL SAY THAT IT'S PARTICULARLY HURTFUL THAT THE VITRIOL AND DISDAIN WAS FROM BLACK MEN DIRECTED TOWARDS BLACK MEN.
THE SUPERVISOR I MIGHT ADD WAS QUITE RUDE ALSO IN ENDING THE DISCUSSION ONCE THE MONEY WAS QUESTIONED, AS HE HIMSELF SAID ON RECORD THAT HE WOULD NOT ATTEND A B L M DEMONSTRATION 'CAUSE HE DID NOT WANT TO COMPROMISE THE HEALTH OF HIS MOTHER, BUT THOUGHT IT APPROPRIATE TO ALLOW OR SIT IDLY BY THE REMOVAL OF THE MOST VULNERABLE.
BUT BACK TO KEN AND TIM, AS WE SPEAK ABOUT SYSTEMIC RACISM, I ASSERT THAT THE PERPETRATORS HAVE NO SPECIFIC COLOR.
AND WHEN IT'S BLACK ON BLACK VERBAL, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, OR PSYCHOLOGICAL VIOLENCE ATTACHED TO A LAND USE POLICY AND DECISION AND THE QUESTIONING OF SUCH, IT IS PARTICULARLY HARMFUL.
WE CAME AS ADVOCATES FOR THE CURRENTLY VOICELESS AND YOU MISTREATED ALL OF US.
I SINCERELY HOPE THAT YOU DO BETTER.
WE, THE PEOPLE EXPECT YOU TO DO BETTER.
AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, GINA JACKSON.
I'D LIKE TO COMMEND YOU ON YOUR CREATING THE TASK FORCE.
YOU WERE ONE OF MY FORMER STUDENTS AT WOODLANDS HIGH SCHOOL AND I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU AND I DID NOT WANNA PUT THE PIN IN THE BALLOON, BUT I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR DUE DILIGENCE AND MAKING ME VERY PROUD OF YOU.
NOW TO GET TO BUSINESS, I'M DIRECTING THIS STATEMENT TOWARDS COUNCILMAN KEN JONES.
I'M REQUESTING AN APPOINTED INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO THE UNETHICAL, MENACING AND HARASSING ACTIONS DIRECTED TOWARDS ME BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ROGER ABRAMS OF THE GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY ON SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2018.
PRIOR TO A RESIDENTIAL ASSISTANT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, WHICH WAS SCHEDULED ON AUGUST 22ND, 2018, DAYS BEFORE RAD SLASH HUD INSPECTORS WERE TO COME THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 10TH TO INSPECT THE SCATTER SITES FOR FUNDING.
REASON WHY I'M SAYING THIS IS BECAUSE WHEN I MADE MY STATEMENT LAST NIGHT,
[03:15:02]
I WAS TRAUMATIZED.AND IT SEEMED LIKE NO ONE TOOK IT SERIOUSLY.
I WOULD ONLY IMAGINE THAT IF YOU HAD A SISTER, A DAUGHTER, OR EVEN YOUR WIFE TO HAVE EXPERIENCED SOMETHING.
WHAT I HAD WENT THROUGH, I'M PERTAINING TO ALSO BECAUSE THIS LEADS UP TO COMMISSIONER RENEE ROBINSON'S LETTER THAT SHE SUBMITTED TO THE BLACK WESTCHESTER MAGAZINE.
I APPLAUD HER FOR HAVING THE STRENGTH TO ACTUALLY PUT THAT LETTER OUT THERE.
I'M VERY PROUD THAT SHE DID THAT BECAUSE FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME, THE GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY AND YES, AND I'M GONNA SAY IT HAS BEEN ACTING LIKE NEW JACK CITY UNDERNEATH THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT RULES.
WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT IS THAT THE DAY BEFORE THEY HAD THE RENAMING OF THE CHAPLAINCY BRIDGE AND THEY RENAMED IT THE, UH, WHAT WAS HIS NAME? MARIO CUOMO, EXCUSE ME.
THAT'S WHEN MY HUMAN RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED.
AND I WAS DEMORALIZED AS A HUMAN BEING, ESPECIALLY AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN BLACK WOMAN.
I URGE YOU, KEN JONES, COUNCILMAN YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE OUR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE TOWN OF GREENBERG, OUR LIAISON TO THE GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY.
YOU ARE THERE TO PROTECT US IN OUR BEST INTERESTS TO RELAY TO THE ELECTED CONSTITUENTS OF THE TOWN OF GREENBERG, THE BOARD MEMBERS OF WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS TO THE RESIDENTS THAT GO ON BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
BUT AS MANY A TIMES AS COMMISSIONER RENEE ROBINSON DID MENTION THAT AT THE SENIOR CITIZEN, UH, MEETINGS, YOU ARE NOT PRESENT AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
SO MY QUESTION ALSO WOULD ARISE TO HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO CONVEY THAT INFORMATION BACK TO THE BOARD MEMBERS.
MY ONLY THING IS THAT I WISH THAT, I DON'T WISH I DEMAND THAT YOU TAKE ME SERIOUSLY AND HAVE AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED TO FIND OUT WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED AND TO ALSO TO HAVE THAT APPOINTED INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION LOOK INTO THE UNETHICAL CONDUCT OF RAJU ABRAMS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY.
AND ON THAT NOTE, MAURY, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY CONDOLENCES IN YOUR MOMENT OF SILENCE DURING THE LOSS OF YOUR FRIEND.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK.
HOW'S EVERYONE DOING THIS EVENING? UM, IT'S HEAVY.
UM, I TOO WAS ON A WORKSHOP MEETING LAST NIGHT AND I DID FEEL THE TRAUMATIZATION OF THE MOMENT WHEN, UM, WHAT, WHAT STEPHANIE'S TALKING ABOUT.
I FELT IT, I FELT THAT SHE WAS ASKED TO REMOVE HER BIBLES, CLEAN UP HER DECK, UP HER, YOU KNOW, I I I SHE, HER YARD WAS RIPPED UP.
YOU KNOW, I ALSO FELT DISRESPECTED.
I ALSO FELT VERY MUCH, UM, THAT OUR BLACK MEN DID NOT STAND UP FOR US AS BLACK WOMEN.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALLY UNDERSTAND THE UNDERLYING SOUL OF BLACK PEOPLE THAT ARE REPRESENTING THEM.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE ARE RESPECTING THE FACT THAT THEIR
[03:20:01]
ARE OUR ANCESTORS AND THEY COME FROM A PLACE OF DISCRIMINATION GREATER THAN WE ARE COMING FROM RIGHT NOW.THEY COME FROM A PLACE OF SLAVERY.
THEY'RE A GENERATION OR TWO AWAY.
AND WHEN SOMEONE, WHEN A BLACK WOMAN IS ON HER PORCH READING HER BIBLE, THAT'S WHAT WE DO.
WHEN A BLACK WOMAN IS IN HER HOME AND SOMEONE COMES UN UNANIMOUS, LIVING ALONE AND IS TOLD BASICALLY, YOU'RE ALONE, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO? IT'S ALMOST THREATENING.
AND I AM ALSO ASKING THE LIAISON, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT YOU ARE REPRESENTING THE RESIDENTS? WHEN I WAS TOLD LAST NIGHT, 'CAUSE I ASKED ABOUT A BUDGET TO GO ON A WEBSITE TO I GO ON THE WEBSITE FOR THE GREENBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY.
I THINK THE LATEST DOCUMENTATION WAS LIKE 2000
AND THAT WAS FOR SOME TENANT FORM.
IT'S LIKE NO ONE, THEY HAVE ROGER A ABRAMS ON THE WEBSITE IN CHARGE OF FINANCE, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH BEING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND C E O ON THE WEBSITE.
CAN HE BE IN THREE PLACES AT ONE TIME? I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S JUST, IT, IT, THIS IS WHY I QUESTION THE FINANCE.
IF YOU CAN'T MAINTAIN ONE, THE LEVEL OF RESPECT FOR YOUR SENIORS, TWO, THE LEVEL OF RESPECT FOR WOMEN THREE A WEBSITE.
WHY IS IT NOT PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE TO THESE RESIDENTS? HOW MUCH MONEY AND WHERE THE MONEY'S GOING AND HOW IT'S BEING SPENT AND WHY I HAVE TO MOVE.
I MEAN, I WAS, WE WERE TOLD THAT 60% OF A BUDGET PRESENTED TO HUD, A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE BUDGETS PRESENTED TO HUD, THEY ONLY RECEIVE 60%, 40% THEY ALLOCATE FROM OTHER PLACES.
YOU HAVE A RESERVE ACCOUNT, BUT YOU HAVE TO MOVE SENIORS.
WHEN THE STATE SAID NOBODY SHOULD LEAVE THEIR HOME.
WHEN THE STATE PUT A HOLD ON EVICTION, WHEN THE STATE SAID WE COULDN'T EVEN SPEND HOLIDAYS WITH OUR FAMILY WHEN PEOPLE WERE DYING IN OUR FAMILY.
AND ALL WE COULD SEE WAS A NURSE WHO WAS NICE ENOUGH TO SEND A VIDEO OF THE DEAD PERSON BECAUSE WE COULDN'T GO TOUCH THEM.
WHEN YOU HAVE 40% RESERVE, YOU CAN FIND, BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE THAT WORD FOR ALL TO THINK PERHAPS I COULD DO A BETTER, MAKE BETTER DECISIONS WHEN IT COME, WHEN IT COMES TO MOVING SENIORS THAT HAVE DIED DURING THIS PROCESS.
AND THEN I ASK FOR AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND THEN I'M BASICALLY SHUT DOWN BECAUSE I'M TALKING TOO LONG AND I HAD ONLY BEEN SPEAKING FOR LITERALLY MAYBE SEVEN, EIGHT MINUTES.
THE POINT I'M MAKING IS THIS ALL TO ME AS A FORENSIC ACCOUNTANT IS ABOUT MONEY.
AND YES, PEOPLE IN POLITICS ARE INVOLVED TOO.
HOWEVER, SENIOR CITIZENS COME ON NOW.
I MEAN, EVEN IF IT'S A FAMILY THAT HAS CHILDREN, THERE'S IT'S SCHOOL TIME.
AND I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY INTERESTING THAT THE, THAT SOMEONE WOULD MENTION THAT THEY COULD GO TO HAWAII OR PUERTO RICO WITH A VOUCHER AS IF THEY DON'T WANNA LIVE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY.
AND BY THE WAY, DOES THAT VOUCHER COVER AIRFARE AND DOES IT SHIP THEIR FURNITURE? DOES IT HELP THEM FIND A DOCTOR NEAR THEM? I I MEAN,
[03:25:01]
THAT WAS SO CONDESCENDING, MY BROTHER, SO CONDESCENDING, LIKE YOU'RE OPENING UP A WORLD TO PEOPLE THAT ARE OVER 70 AND 80 DURING A PANDEMIC TO PUERTO RICO AND HAWAII, AND YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE DOING THEM A FAVOR.ALL I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS HOW DO WE GET TO SEE THE TRANSPARENCY FOR ALL RESIDENTS THROUGH GREENBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY? THAT'S ALL I WANNA KNOW.
IF THEY CAN TAKE, IF RAJU IS THE TREASURER AND THE C E O AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THAT'S CLEARLY A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
AND ANYBODY LOOKING AT THAT WEBSITE WOULD SAY WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON? AND THERE IS NO FORM AND THERE IS NO TRANSPARENCY WHEN IT COMES TO THE FINANCES.
AND I REALLY AM SORRY FOR ANYONE WHO'S LOST ANYONE TO COVID TO ANYTHING.
MENTAL HEALTH IS AT BEST TOUGH FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE ABLE TO MANAGE PART OF THEIR LIFE.
MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT AT BEST FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING TRAUMATIZED AGAIN AND AGAIN BY HAVING TO BE FORCED TO LEAVE THEIR HOME.
AND IF YOU HAVE 40% IN RESERVE, I THINK THAT BETTER DECISIONS COULD BE MADE WITH THAT MONEY.
UM, I I I JUST, I JUST, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, JUDITH, I'D JUST LIKE TO JUST MENTION, YOU KNOW, I BEEN SPEAKING TO A BUNCH OF PEOPLE AND YOU KNOW WHAT BOTHERS ME ABOUT THE COMMENTS ABOUT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS, UM, IS THAT THE PEOPLE I SPEAK TO, UM, THE SENIORS, UH, I HAVEN'T HAD ONE SENIOR WHO WAS RE RELOCATED WHO BASICALLY HAS COMPLAINED AND PEOPLE COMPLAINED TO ME ABOUT EVERYTHING.
IN FACT, PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME TODAY I SPOKE TO SOMEBODY, UM, WHO'S A FRIEND OF, UH, ONE OF THE SENIORS, UH, WHO IS RELOCATED AND THEY'RE SO HAPPY BECAUSE NOW THEY HAVE, I THINK A B AID THAT THEY NEVER NEVER, THEY NEVER, THEY NEVER HAD, YOU KNOW, BEFORE.
OH, MY, I'M, I'M TELLING, I'M TELLING YOU.
ARE YOU BEING SERIOUS? NO, I'M TELLING YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT? I AM ASKING PEOPLE WHO ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SENIORS.
I'M NOT COMPLAINING OF ADVOCATING EXCUSE ME'S THE DIFFERENCE WITH NAMES BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? I HAVEN'T FOUND? I I, THE THING IS I DON'T WANNA SEE THE GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY.
I WANNA SEE, UM, I DON'T WANT TO SEE THE GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY SMEARED.
IF, IF IT'S NOT, NOT, IF NO, YOU KNOW WHAT, THERE'S, NOBODY HAS PROVIDED ANY SINGLE NAME OF A SENIOR CITIZEN WHO BASICALLY, UM, WAS FORCED TO RELOCATE AND IS UNHAPPY.
I WANNA HAVE SAY NAMES, GIMME NAMES.
YOU SAY FORCED LISTEN TO THEM, FORCED ME WITH NAMES.
I'LL CONTACT THEM AND, AND, AND, AND FOLLOW UP.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS IS NOT A, THE DEAD CAN'T SPEAK.
YOU KNOW WHAT? I KNOW PAUL, PAUL, SENIOR CITIZENS HAVE CALLED ME AND ASKED ME, THEY 80 SOMETHING YEARS OLD.
YOU THINK THEY WANT TELL THEM TO CALL ME? TELL THEM TO CALL ME.
AND SO I, YOU KNOW WHAT, PAUL, YOU ARE NOT GOD AND PEOPLE.
BUT THE THING IS, BUT I WANNA, I WANNA LEARN WHAT'S HAPPENED.
I WANNA BASICALLY VERIFY THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU DON'T WANNA KEEP TELLING YOU THEY 80 SOMETHING YEARS OLD, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO COME JEOPARDIZE.
YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK THAT, I DON'T THINK THAT THE THING IS, I'VE SEEN THE HOUSING CONDITIONS.
I'VE CHECKED WHERE THE PEOPLE HAVE MOVED.
ALL I'M ASKING PEOPLE TO DO, IF YOU'RE GONNA BE MAKING ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, PROVIDE US WITH SPECIFICS.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ME ALONE.
IT COULD BE ANY MEMBER OF THE TOWN BOARD, PROVIDE THE MEMBERS OF THE TOWN BOARD WITH NAMES OF SENIORS WHO INVOLUNTARILY MOVE.
WERE, WERE FORCED TO MOVE WHO, WHO ARE LIVING IN SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS.
SHARING THE HOUSING AUTHORITY UNNECESSARILY.
AND YOU'RE PROVIDING INFORMATION.
I WANNA HEAR FROM WHO'S NEXT TO SPEAK, WHO'S NEXT TO SPEAK, WHO ASKS TO SPEAK.
WE'RE TRYING TO RESPECT THE PEOPLE.
[03:30:01]
FOR THE NEXT SPEAKER TO SPEAK.LIKE HE JUST SAYING, WELL, I MAKING ALLEGATIONS.
I I THINK THAT YOU'RE MISSING, YOU DON'T WANT US TO MAKE ALLEGATIONS, BUT HE'S MAKING WHO'S NEXT, WHO'S NEXT TO SPEAK? AND I'LL SPEAK TO ANYONE MAKING ALLEGATION.
I HAVE TO MAKE ALLEGATIONS, JUDITH, WHO'S NEXT? IT'S NOT TRUE.
SO, UM, I DON'T HAVE ANYONE ELSE HERE TO, UH, ON, ON THE LIST TO SPEAK.
UM, I, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT MR. BERNSTEIN HAS HIS HAND UP.
NO, BUT BEFORE HE SPEAKS, BEFORE HE SPEAKS, WE SAID EVERYBODY GETS EIGHT MINUTES AND THAT'S IT.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO THE REGULAR AGENDA.
THIS IS NOT GONNA GO ON FOR THREE HOURS.
I I JUST HAVE TO SAY THIS, THE WOMEN, THE WOMEN WHO SPOKE LAST NIGHT AND, AND WHO CAME BACK AND SPOKE TONIGHT, UM, UH, I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE A POINT THAT MICHELLE BROWN MADE.
UM, IN HER EARLIER COMMENT SHE SAID, THIS IS CULTURAL.
AND I'M JUST REALLY GLAD TO SEE THAT EVERYBODY HERE HAS A OPEN HEART AND A OPEN MIND TO HEARING THAT, BECAUSE THAT'S A VERY PROFOUND POINT THAT SHE JUST MADE.
THE WOMEN WHO SPOKE LAST NIGHT AND TONIGHT WITH REGARDS TO THE ELDERS REPRESENTED VOICES OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN FROM CENTURIES AND DECADES AGO WHO HAVE TRADITIONALLY COME TOGETHER FOR WHAT HAS BEEN REFERRED TO CULTURALLY AS A LAYING ON OF HANDS WITH REGARDS TO THE ELDERS AND THE COMMUNITY.
SO REGARDLESS, I'M, I'M NOT PASSING JUDGMENT ON THE, UM, ALLEGATIONS OR, OR, OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE.
I'M SAYING THAT WHAT THEY DID IN TERMS OF HAVING THE CULT, THE, THE COURAGE AND THE CONVICTIONS TO COME FORWARD AND SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE GENERAL WELFARE AND WELLBEING OF THE ELDERS IN THE COMMUNITY IS A VERY CULTURAL, IT'S A LONG STANDING CULTURAL EXPRESSION.
AND I'M SURE THAT ALL WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN LISTENING TO THEM RESPECT THAT CULTURAL EXPRESSION.
AND I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION, I'VE ALSO SPOKEN TO, UH, PAMELA EARL.
SHE'S SOMEBODY WHO LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY.
SHE'S CALLED, SHE CALLS THE SENIORS, UM, A FEW TIMES A WEEK BY PHONE.
SHE'S HELPED THEM, UH, RESOLVE, YOU KNOW, PROBLEMS. SHE'S REALLY A HOUSING ANGEL.
YOU KNOW, SHE'S A, A WONDERFUL PERSON.
SHE'S VOLUNTEERED AT WEST CUP.
SHE ALSO ADVISED ME WHEN I, WHEN I SPOKE TO HER, THAT EVERY SENIOR BEFORE THEY WERE ASKED TO MOVE, SIGNED OFF AND SAID THEY WERE HAPPY WITH THE LOCATION WHERE THEY WERE, THEY WERE SENT, NOBODY, ACCORDING TO HER, WAS FORCED TO MOVE TO ANY OF THE, ANY OF THE UNITS.
AND, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? SHE ALSO PROVIDED THEM, UM, SHE PROVIDED THEM WITH ASSISTANCE.
UM, UH, YEAH, UH, SHE, UM, SHE, WELL, THAT'S HER, THAT'S HER HEARSAY.
LET, LET WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S NOT BECAUSE SHE, SHE'S ON THE PHONE WITH SENIORS ON A REGULAR BASIS, ON A WEEKLY BASIS, SOMETIMES TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK WITH THEM TOO.
SO YOU CAN, SO ALL I'M ASKING, ALL I'M ASKING, UH, YOU KNOW, ALL EVERYBODY IS SAYING, THE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE YESTERDAY ARE SAYING THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS, IS, IS A BUNCH OF, IS A ROTTEN GROUP OF PEOPLE.
AND IT'S NOT TRUE BECAUSE THE THING IS NO, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY, THEY MAY UNDERSTAND.
THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TRYING TO CREATE A, A, A PU AN IMAGE.
THAT THEY, THEY'RE, PEOPLE DON'T CARE WHEN IT'S NOT TRUE.
ALRIGHT, MR. BERNSTEIN, YOU COMMENT PLEASE.
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IN GREENBERG, I CAN'T COMMENT, REPUTATION SPEAK.
OKAY, WELL, WE HAVE TO LET MR. BERNSTEIN SPEAK AND THEN AFTER BOB BERNSTEIN, UH, GARRETT HAS A STATEMENT TO READ.
BECAUSE, UH, GARRETT'S STATEMENT, WHICH I THINK IS SUPPOSED TO BE A QUESTION TO FRANCIS REGARDING AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, UM, IF THAT'S WHAT IT IS, I DON'T HAVE TO SAY IT.
UH, I'LL WAIT FOR, FOR GARRETT TO RAISE THAT QUESTION.
UM, THE, THE, THE DISCUSSION THAT WE'VE JUST BEEN HAVING, UH, IS EXTRAORDINARILY TROUBLING TO LOTS OF US, EVEN IF WE LIVE OUTSIDE OF FAIRVIEW, WE'RE WATCHING THIS
[03:35:01]
AND WE ARE JUST AS APPALLED AS, AS, AS, AS TASHA WAS, AS, AS, UH, STEPHANIE WAS, AS CLIFF IS.WHAT WE SAW YESTERDAY WAS OUTRAGEOUS BEHAVIOR, ESPECIALLY BY ELECTED OFFICIALS, ESPECIALLY BY A 30 YEAR INCUMBENT WHO SHOULD KNOW BETTER AND SHOULD KNOW HOW TO TREAT PEOPLE BETTER.
HE AND INVITED YOU TO COME TO THE WORK SESSION TO AIR YOUR GRIEVANCES.
BECAUSE AT THE, AT THE TOWN BOARD MEETING TWO WEEKS PRIOR, WHEN THE LETTER APPEARED IN BLACK WESTCHESTER AND PEOPLE WANTED TO DISCUSS IT, HE SAID, NO, COME, I'LL HAVE A MEETING.
UH, AS IF, AS LIKE SOMEONE ELSE ONCE SAID, ONLY I CAN SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
AND WE KNOW WHERE THAT WAS, WHO THAT WAS AND HOW THAT ENDED.
BUT WHAT I HAD SUGGESTED WAS THAT THERE BE, WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT, AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION WHO CAN EXAMINE THE, THE, THE, THE CONTENTIONS ON BOTH SIDES AND MAKE FINDINGS.
AND THAT IN THE INTERIM, NOBODY BE EVICTED, UH, UH, UNTIL EVERYONE IS SATISFIED THAT THE PROCEDURES MAKE SENSE.
AND, AND, AND, UH, WE GET TO THE, WE GET TO THE BOTTOM LINE AS TO WHAT REALLY HAPPENED HERE.
LET ME GIVE YOU A, AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT ANYONE COULD CHECK.
I I HEARD THE DISCUSSION YESTERDAY, UH, BETWEEN BISHOP PRESTON AND RESIDENTS SAYING, WHERE ARE THE FINANCIALS? WHERE'S THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT? AND HE SAID, GO TO THE WEBSITE.
AND WE HEARD TONIGHT, SOMEONE DID GO TO THE WEBSITE.
I WENT YESTERDAY AND I WENT AGAIN TODAY TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T MISS ANY MISS.
THE, THE INFORMATION ISN'T THERE.
THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY THERE.
AND SO RESIDENTS THERE HAD A VALID RIGHT TO MAKE THAT REQUEST.
THOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SHOULD BE ON THE WEB TOMORROW MORNING AND THE TOWN SHOULD PUT IT ON ITS WEBSITE AND SAY THEY'RE RELEASING THEM.
WHY SHOULDN'T THE PUBLIC SEE THAT? IF THAT'S PART OF THE ISSUE, LET THEM SEE IT.
THEY COULD THEN RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, BUT NOT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, NOT AT MEETINGS WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN'T SEE.
AND ALONG THOSE LINES, LET ME ALSO POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE EDGEMONT COMMUNITY COUNCIL AT ITS LAST REGULARLY SCHEDULED MONTHLY MEETING, PASSED A RESOLUTION UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTING THOSE WHO ARE ASKING FOR AN INVESTIGATION AND, AND, AND, AND CALLING ON THE TOWN BOARD TO DO SO.
IT'S SAD THAT A TOWN COUNCILMAN WOULD HAVE THE AUDACITY TO SAY TO THOSE QUESTIONING THE VOUCHERS AND WHETHER THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BEING PUT TO GOOD USE OR A, OR A PRACTICAL USE.
YOU CAN USE THEM ANYWHERE YOU WANT.
EVEN IN PUERTO RICO OR HAWAII, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH VOUCHERS EVEN IN WESTCHESTER.
NOT ALL LANDLORDS WILL ACCEPT THEM, BUT GOD FORBID YOU HAD TO TRY TO GO SOMEWHERE FAR FROM DOCTORS, FAR FROM, UH, UH, UH, UH, YOUR FAMILY AND HAD THE COST INVOLVED IN DOING THAT.
AND UPROOTING, THOSE ARE PRACTICAL, OBVIOUS THINGS.
BUT FOR AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO CAVALIERLY, DISREGARD AND DISRESPECT THOSE WHO ARE RAISING THOSE QUESTIONS, UH, IS PAINFUL, REALLY PAINFUL FOR US TO WATCH.
AND THEN FOR PAUL FINER TO DO WHAT HE DID, AND HE'S DOING IT TONIGHT, RAISING ANECDOTAL COMMENTS AS IF THAT ANSWERS THE QUESTION.
AND BASICALLY DISPARAGING THOSE WHO ARE RAISING THE QUESTIONS BECAUSE HE HAS HAD HIS OWN ANECDOTAL EXPERIENCES AND THEREFORE THEY INVALIDATE EVERYONE ELSE'S.
THAT'S APPALLING BEHAVIOR, THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS AND THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW BETTER AFTER 30 YEARS IS TRULY TRAGIC FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
SO I CALL ON THE TOWN BOARD TO HAVE A DISCUSSION, A SOBER DISCUSSION ABOUT CLEARING THE AIR HERE AND APPOINTING AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS AND ISSUE THE FINDINGS AND IN THE MEANTIME, DIRECT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO SUSPEND ANY FURTHER MOVE OUTS UNTIL WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S TRULY GOING ON.
UH, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, YOU'RE GONNA BE VISITED WITH, YOU KNOW, WEEK AFTER WEEK OF HOSTILE QUESTIONING AND SUSPICION AND,
[03:40:01]
AND, AND JUST RAISING MORE DOUBT AND CONCERN AMONG THOSE DIRECTLY IMPACTED.AND THOSE OF US WATCHING THAT SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY BAD IS GOING ON HERE.
BECAUSE IF IT WASN'T SO BAD, THE TOWN WOULDN'T BE SO AFRAID TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR COME IN AND TAKE A LOOK.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST.
GARRETT, DID YOU WANNA MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT, YEAH, NO, IT'S NOT MY STATEMENT.
I WAS ASKED BY A RESIDENT TO, UH, MAKE A COMMENT ON, ON THEIR BEHALF.
SO THIS WAS SENT FROM RESIDENT JEFF SHERWIN YESTERDAY ON THE WORK SESSION.
IT WAS INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NEW INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE GLENVIEW FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT AGREEMENT.
I'VE REVIEWED THE SITE AND I SEE NO NEW ITEMS. ALL THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA THIS WEEK ARE THE SAME AS THOSE AVAILABLE TO US TWO WEEKS AGO, WHICH LED TO THE PUBLIC QUESTION TO QUESTION THE 0.414 BUDGET ITEM.
THE CURIOUS COMMENT ABOUT HOW IT WAS CONTINGENT ON THIS AGREEMENT'S EXECUTION AND THE LACK OF BREAKDOWN OF THE FUND.
IT WAS ONLY CONTAIN, IT ONLY CONTAINED AN EXPENSE LIST WITH A TOTAL EQUAL TO THE 0.414 BUDGET ITEM DIVIDED BY THE SIX COMPANIES.
I WAS HOPEFUL THAT YOU HAD DONE THE DILIGENCE YOU SAID YOU WOULD DO PRIOR TO MOVING SECONDING AND VOTING FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
WILL YOU DELAY AGAIN UNTIL YOU GET AND POST THE REQUESTED INFORMATION OR WILL THE BOARD SIMPLY MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT HAVING ALL THE NUMBERS? THANKS, JEFF.
JEFF SENT THAT TO YOU FOR YOU TO READ IT TO ME INSTEAD OF JUST SENDING IT TO ME.
IT WAS A REQUEST, UM, TO BE READ FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF HE COULDN'T BE ON THE CALL ANYMORE.
SO JIM, IS THAT THE LAST SPEAKER WE HAVE NO.
WHY? WE JUST GO RIGHT, WE HAVE NO FURTHER REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
LET'S GO, LET, LET'S GO RIGHT NOW TO THE REST OF THE AGENDA.
AGENDA'S ALREADY 1130 ALL WAIT, I DISCUSS, YOU KNOW, WE, WE CAN'T KEEP GOING ON.
WE SAID EVERYBODY HAS EIGHT MINUTES.
I DIDN'T HAVE EIGHT MINUTES THOUGH.
I DIDN'T HAVE EIGHT MINUTES, SIX MINUTES AND 47.
YOU'RE GONNA BE GOING ON TILL THREE IN THE MORNING.
DIDN'T I WANNA GO THROUGH YOUR AGENDA RIGHT NOW AND THEN YOU THE NEXT TIME FINE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU INTERRUPT PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.
OKAY, WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? NO, I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK THINK IT'S REALLY RUDE.
I THINK THAT IT'S DISRESPECTFUL AND I'M TELLING YOU SECOND TIME YOU DID THIS, YOU OKAY? WHAT DO YOU WANNA SAY? WHAT I WANNA SAY IS, ONE, YOU'RE DISRESPECTFUL, SIR.
TWO, DO YOU KNOW THE SPIRIT OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN? YOU SAY THAT YOU ARE SO WILLING TO HELP BECAUSE YOU DON'T, ALL YOU SEE IS THEY GOT A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
YOU KNOW, THE SOUL OF A, OF AN ELDERLY AFRICAN AMERICAN HUMAN BEING.
DO YOU KNOW THAT THE SPIRIT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN IS OF BEING BLACK IN AMERICA? YOU KNOW THAT BECAUSE I OUTWARDLY YOU CAN MOVE SOMEBODY ACROSS THE STREET AND YOU'RE TAKING THEM FROM THEIR HOME.
AND YOU ALL YOU CAN SAY IS, PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME EVERYTHING'S GREAT.
I'M TELLING YOU I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO MEET ANY OF THEM.
I KNOW THAT AGAIN, THEY'RE FEELING ENSLAVED AND HAVE NO DECISION IN THEIR OWN LIFE.
I KNOW THEY'RE FEELING OPPRESSED.
I KNOW THAT THEY'RE FEELING THAT WAY.
DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? AND THEY'RE GONNA BE, YES SIR.
BECAUSE THEY'RE ONLY A GENERATION OR TWO BEING REMOVED FROM SLAVERY AND YOU WERE BORN INTO SLAVERY AND SOME OF THAT RUNS THROUGH YOU TOO.
WHETHER YOU WANNA ADMIT IT OR NOT, YOU HAD A WHITE AND A BLACK FOUNTAIN GROWING UP.
YOU, YOU CONSIDER THAT WOOLWORTH'S COUNTER NOT THEY COULDN'T.
SO YOU'RE CONDESCENDING WHEN YOU SAY, I SPOKE TO THESE PEOPLE AND DAH DAH DAH DA DA.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE SOUL OF A BLACK PERSON, YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO GET EDUCATED ON.
'CAUSE IT'S NOT AN OUTWARD THING, IT'S AN INWARD THING.
IT'S A FAMILY THING EVEN WHEN THEY'RE NOT YOUR FAMILY.
SO DON'T PLEASE, SIR, DO NOT DISMISS.
WHITE PEOPLE MAY SAY TO YOU, YES, THINGS ARE FINE WHEN THEY'RE 75 AND 80 'CAUSE THEY'RE NOT FAR REMOVED AGAIN FROM SLAVERY.
AND THAT IS SYSTEMIC AND YOU'RE PERPETUATING IT
[03:45:01]
BY NOT UNDERSTANDING THE CONDITION OF OUR SOUL.OKAY? SO THANK YOU AND I WANNA MOVE THE AGENDA AT THIS POINT.
I GAVE YOU AN ADDITIONAL TWO MINUTES AND I THINK WE SHOULD MOVE ON.
OKAY, MR. LEWIS, MAY I JUST ASK NOPE, NOPE, NOPE.
I DON'T WANNA ENTERTAIN THIS, RIGHT? WE HAVE RULES WE FOLLOW.
YOU CAN COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS AND YOU CAN SAY THE SAME THING.
WE'RE GONNA MOVE THE AGENDA, THEN YOU CAN SAY T TB
[ TB 1 - 3/10/2021 Resolution authorizing the Town Supervisor to enter into a one-year contract commencing January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020 with the Village of Tarrytown for Fire Protection Services to the Glenville Fire Protection District, at a cost not to exceed $295,538.68]
TB ONE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN SUPERVISOR 10, ENTER INTO A ONE YEAR CONTRACT COMMENCING JANUARY 1ST, 2020 THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2020 WITH THE VILLAGE OF TARRYTOWN FOR FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES TO THE GLENVILLE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT AT COST NOT TO EXCEED 295,000 5 38 68.I'M GONNA SECOND THAT, BUT I WANNA HAVE A DISCUSSION FIRST.
UM, MR. SHERWIN CONTACTED GARRETT IN ORDER TO GET A MESSAGE TO ME, EVEN THOUGH HE KNOWS MY EMAIL ADDRESS.
UH, BUT WE DID RECEIVE DOCUMENTATION FROM THE VILLAGE OF TARRYTOWN, ACTUALLY THE FIRE COMPANY.
THERE WAS A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE, FROM, FROM A RESIDENT, WHETHER OR NOT THE FIRE COMPANY WAS DOUBLE DIPPING ON 2% MONIES.
THEY'RE SHOWING IN BLACK THE 2% MONEY AND HOW THAT WAS SPENT.
AND THEN THE DIFFERENCE, WHAT'S NOT IN BLACK ADDED UP VERY CLOSELY TO WHAT THEY SAID IT WAS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL FIRE COMPANY.
I POSTED THIS NOT THINKING ANYBODY WOULD GO BACK TO THE 2019 CONTRACT.
SO I POSTED THIS WITH THE 2020 CONTRACT.
UH, SO YOU CAN FIND IT THERE ON THE WEBSITE.
YOU CAN FIND IT THERE ON THE WEBSITE.
AND THE REASON WHY THAT THE PAYMENT WAS HELD UP WAS BECAUSE OF ADDRESSING THE, UM, MR. SHERWIN'S COMMENTS AND OTHERS, UM, ERIC ZINGER AND BOB BERNSTEIN AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THIS OF A CONTRACT.
AND SO THE CONTROLLER, OUR RESOLUTIONS ALWAYS SAY THAT IT'S SUBJECT TO THE CONTROLLER HAVING ADEQUATE DOCUMENT.
AND SO NO PAYMENT WAS MADE UNTIL THERE WAS ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION THAT IT SATISFIED OUR CONTROLLER.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE ADOPTING THIS TONIGHT.
SAME PROVISION, SAME, SAME, UM, SAME, UM, CAVEAT IN THE RESOLUTION THAT THIS PAYMENT WILL NOT BE MADE WITHOUT ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION, UH, SATISFACTORY TO THE CONTROLLER.
THE CONTROLLER IS ALREADY INFORMED, UM, THE, UH, FIRE COMPANIES THAT SHE IS NOT GOING TO MAKE A PAYMENT UNLESS SHE HAS SOMETHING SIMILAR FOR 2020 FROM ALL SIX FIRE COMPANIES.
SO THAT IS THE, THAT IS THE EXPLANATION, BUT THAT DOCUMENT IS ON THE WEBSITE.
WE DID HAVE AN ISSUE WITH AGENDA QUICK.
I DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS OVER THE WEEKEND.
UH, WE GOT THAT RESOLVED THEN.
UM, BOTH JOAN AND MYSELF LOST AGENDA, QUICK ACCESS TODAY.
I TRIED TO KEEP IT ACTIVE, BUT THEN IT DROPPED ME OUT.
AND SO, UH, THIS, THIS DOCUMENT, I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE DOCUMENT WAS POSTED, BUT IT WAS, IT MAY HAVE BEEN POSTED, UM, YOU KNOW, EARLY THIS EVENING.
UM, THE DOCUMENT THAT I JUST SHOWED.
ALRIGHT, SO ANYWAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION.
CHRIS, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT YOU DID ALREADY.
[ AT 1 - 3/10/2021 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner 55 Main Street Associates for property located at 55 Main Street. The Town’s share of the refund is $232±; the County’s share is $1,705±; the No. Yonkers Sewer District’s share is $259±; the Hastings-on-Hudson Union Free School District’s share is $11,289±. Refunds from all sources total $13,486±]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TEXAS TERTIARY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER 55 MAIN STREET, UH, TOTAL AMOUNT 13 4 86.[ AT 2 - 3/10/2021 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner 728 Central Avenue LLC for property located at 728 Central Park Avenue. The Town’s share of the refund is $19,665±; the County’s share is $13,681±; the Bronx Valley Sewer District’s share is $1,492±; the Edgemont Union Free School District’s share is $63,398±; the Greenville Fire District’s share is $11,302±; the Consolidated Sewer Mtc. District’s share is $692±. Refunds from all sources total $110,230±]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TAX TERTIARY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER 7 28 CENTRAL AVENUE.TOTAL AMOUNT, ONE TEN TWO THIRTY.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE THOSE SECOND.
[ AT 3 - 3/10/2021 Resolution authorizing settlement of property damage related Claim, File No: 9/20C, by GEICO a/s/o Jessica Parris, for an amount not to exceed $3,818.76]
SETTLEMENT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIM FILE, UH, NINE TWO OH C BY GEICO.TOTAL AMOUNT, 3,803,000 NOT TO EXCEED 3 8 1 8 7 6.
[ CD 1 - 3/10/2021 Resolution granting a two year extension of a prior amended site plan approval in connection with outdoor sports facility improvements by Maria Regina High School for property located at 500 West Hartsdale Avenue (P.O. Hartsdale)]
UH, RESOLUTION GRANTING A TWO YEAR EXTENSION OF A PRIOR AMENDED SITE PLAN, APPROVAL AND CONNECTION WITH THE OUTDOOR SPORTS FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS BY MARIA REGINA.[ CD 2 - 3/10/2021 Resolution granting a two year extension of a prior amended site plan approval in connection with off-street parking improvements by Crossroads Shopping Center for property located at 367-399 Tarrytown Road (P.O. White Plains)]
RESOLUTION, UH, GRANTING A TWO YEAR EXTENSION OF A PRIOR AMENDED SITE PLAN.APPROVAL IN CONNECTION WITH WALL STREET PARKING, IMPROVEMENTS BY CROSSROAD SHOPPING CENTER FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 360 7 3 99 TERRYTOWN ROAD.
[03:50:01]
SECOND.[ CO 1 - 3/10/2021 Resolution authorizing Fiscal Year 2020 budget transfers]
AYE.RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FISCAL YEAR 2020.
[ CO 2 - 3/10/2021 Resolution amending the 2020 operating budget of the Town Outside Villages Fund and the Debt Service Fund]
THE 2020 OPERATING BUDGET OF THE TOWN OUTSIDE VILLAGES FUND AND DEBT SERVICE FUND.[ CO 3 - 3/10/2021 Resolution amending the 2020 operating budget of the Tax Increment Finance District by increasing the appropriation for Judgments & Claims and for Sewer Taxes and Increasing the Appropriation of Fund Balance]
RESOLUTION AMENDING THE TWO 2020 OPERATING BUDGET OF THE TAX IMPLEMENT FINANCE DISTRICT BY INCREASING THE APPROPRIATION FOR JUDGMENTS AND CLAIMS AND FOR SEWER TAXES AND INCREASING THE APPROPRIATIONS OF FUND BALANCE.[ PR 1 - 3/10/2021 Resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement between the Town of Greenburgh and the County of Westchester for HDC2-FFCR Act and HDC3 Cares Act Funds for Title 3C-1 and 3C-2 Nutrition Program PY 2020-2021]
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AND THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER FOR HT C TWO F F C R ACT AND HTC THREE CARES ACT FUNDS FOR TITLE THREE C ONE M THREE C TWO NUTRITION PROGRAM.I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND.
[ PR 2 - 3/10/2021 Resolution authorizing award to lowest responsible bidder or New York state contract approved vendor, whichever is lowest cost per item meeting specification, for athletic supplies for 2021, at a total cost for all items bid not to exceed $34,674.74]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AWARD TO LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER OR A NEW YORK STATE CONTRACT APPROVED VENDOR, WHICHEVER IS LOWEST, UH, PER COST PER ITEM MEETING SPECS FOR ATHLETIC SUPPLIES FOR 2021.I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.
[ PR 3 - 3/10/2021 Resolution authorizing award to lowest responsible bidders for T-Shirts and Miscellaneous Supplies for 2021, at a total cost for all items bid not to exceed $29,797.43]
AUTHORIZING AWARD TO LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDERS FOR T-SHIRTS AND MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES FOR 2021 AT A TOTAL COST FOR, UM, ALL ITEMS NOT TO EXCEED 29,797 AND 43 CENTS.I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.
WE ALREADY VOTED ON THE OH ONE, UH, UH,
[ PW 1 - 3/10/2021 Resolution authorizing the award for 2021 Traffic Materials to the lowest responsible bidders]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE AWARD FOR 2021.TRAFFIC MATERIAL MATERIALS TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDERS.
WE NEED A MOTION FOR A SPECIAL MEETING, UH, FOR FRIDAY.
TO, TO SLIGHTLY REWORD RESOLUTIONS, TB ONE AND TB TWO ORIGINALLY APPROVED ON DECEMBER 12TH, 2020, RELATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT 62 MAIN STREET IN THE VILLAGE OF TARRYTOWN.
UH, WHAT TIME WOULD BE GOOD? UM, I'M IN COURT ALL DAY.
I, I, BUT I HAVE LUNCH BETWEEN ONE AND TWO.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S CONVENIENT FOR ANYONE ELSE.
I HAVE A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT AT FOUR 30, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT'S GONNA BE, BUT, SO WHY DON'T WE DO AT ONE O'CLOCK? YEAH.
IS EVERYBODY ELSE OKAY FROM ONE O'CLOCK? HOLD ON.
I'M SURE I'M CHECKING MY CALENDAR RIGHT NOW.
I HAVE A CLASS, SO I'M NOT SURE IF I'LL BE OUT AT THAT TIME.
YOU WANNA MAKE A ONE 30? IT COULD BE BETTER.
WHAT ABOUT YOU, DIANA? IS IT BETTER? ONE 30? IT IS.
ALL RIGHT, SO I'LL NOTE IT ON THE CALENDAR.
OKAY, THEN I MOVE THAT WE ADJOURN.
OH, DID WE VOTE ON THIS? NO, I, YES.
MOTION FOR A SPECIAL MEETING FOR THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY, MARCH 12TH, 2021 AT 1:30 PM FOR THE PURPOSE OF VOTING ON MODIFIED WORDINGS OF RESOLUTION, TB ONE AND TB TWO ORIGINALLY APPROVED ON DECEMBER 12TH, 2020, RELATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT 62 MAIN STREET IN THE VILLAGE OF TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK.