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[ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY.WELCOME TO OUR TOWN BOARD MEETING.
TODAY'S WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14TH, AND IT'S, UM, 7:12 PM AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA START THE MEETING WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[ MOMENT OF SILENCE In memory of John Mancuso, 69, Greenburgh Nature Center Naturalist Educator, cherished husband of Renee Coscia, father, brother, friend to many, passed peacefully on January 3. John's thirst for knowledge was as boundless as his love for nature. After devoting years to outdoor education programs at various YMCA camps, he ultimately found his calling at the Greenburgh Nature Center. His work inspired countless individuals to appreciate and respect the beauty and ingenuity of the natural world. In memory of Theresa Wolin,65, wife of Michael Wolin (Parks & Recreation) In memory of those around the world who have perished as victims of war, disease and natural disaster. Our hearts are with all who needlessly suffer.]
UM, WE'RE GONNA HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND MEMORY OF JOHN MANCUSO, UH, WHO PASSED AWAY AT 69 YEARS OLD.UH, JOHN, AS MANY PEOPLE, UM, KNOW, UH, WAS A VERY HARD WORKER AT THE GREENBERG NATURE CENTER.
HE WAS A NATURALIST EDUCATOR AND A CHERISHED HUSBAND OF RENEE, UM, CASIA FATHER, BROTHER, FRIEND TO MANY HIS FAMILY, UM, IS HERE AND HE PASSED AWAY, UH, PEACEFULLY ON JANUARY 3RD.
JOHN'S, UH, THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE WAS AS BOUNDLESS AS HIS LOVE FOR NATURE.
HE DEVOTED MANY YEARS TO OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS AT VARIOUS, UM, YMCA CAMPS.
HE ULTIMATELY FOUND HIS CALLING AT THE GREENBERG NATURE CENTER, AND HIS WORK INSPIRED COUNTLESS INDIVIDUALS TO APPRECIATE AND RESPECT THE BEAUTY AND INGENUITY OF THE NATURAL, UH, WORLD.
AND WE JUST REALLY FEEL SO HORRIBLY ABOUT HIS, UM, PASSING BECAUSE HE DID SO MUCH FOR THE ENTIRE TOWN AND FOR SO MANY CHILDREN AND PARENTS AND SO MANY PEOPLE WHO REALLY LOVED, UM, THE NATURE CENTER.
AND HE'S GONNA BE MISSED AND HE WON'T BE FORGOTTEN.
AND ALSO IN MEMORY OF THERESA WALLEN WIFE OF MICHAEL WALLEN PARKS AND RECREATION, AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE AROUND THE WORLD WHO HAVE PERISHED AS VICTIMS OF WAR, DISEASE AND NATURAL DISASTER, OUR HEARTS ARE WITH THOSE WHO NEEDLESSLY SUFFER.
[ ROLL CALL: Town Clerk Lisa Maria Nero]
SO NOW WE'LL HAVE THE ROLL CALL.COUNCILWOMAN HENDRICKS TO PUT THAT DOWN TOTALLY.
DEAR COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON, PRESENT, COUNCILWOMAN HABER PRESENT, COUNCILWOMAN HENDRICKS, PRESENT TOWN ATTORNEY AND PARLIAMENTARIAN.
[ SWEARING IN CEREMONY (speeches/comments will be held until after everyone is sworn) Town Justice Amy Foote Town Justice Lia Rodriguez Town Receiver of Taxes Venita Howard Town Clerk Lisa Maria Nero by Honorable Justin Brasch (Mayor of White Plains) Town Councilwoman Ellen Hendrickx by Honorable Justice Delores Scott Braithwate Town Councilman Francis Sheehan by Honorable Judge Walter Rivera Town Supervisor Paul Feiner]
NOW WE'LL HAVE A SWEARING IN CEREMONY, SO EVERYBODY WILL GET SWORN IN.AND THEN AFTER, UH, PEOPLE COULD MAKE, UM, UH, SPEECHES AND WE LIMIT IT TO AN HOUR A PIECE.
SO, UH, THE FIRST, UH, A PERSON WILL BE SWORN IN IS TOWN JUSTICE.
AMY FOOT, UH, HOLD ON WITH THE, UH, SHE AND TRO, UM, KANE, UH, ORTIZ FAMILY.
WE HAVE SEATS IN THE FRONT FOR YOU GUYS.
BY THE WAY, THAT'S ONE FAMILY.
DO YOU WANNA DO, UH, UH, YOUR, UH, GRANDCHILDREN? YOU SWEARING IN FOR YOU EARLIER SO THIS WAY THEY COULD GO HOME EARLIER.
TICK TICKLE MAKES ME, WHERE SHOULD THEY STAY? LIKE RIGHT HERE? SHOULD THEY HAVE ABLE TO SEE TERRENCE? CAN WE HAVE A HANDHELD MICROPHONE PLEASE? OH, THAT'S BAD.
AND THEN WE JUST NEED TO ADJUST THE CAMERA SO WE'RE ABLE TO YEAH.
CAN WE PUT THE SCREEN UP? YES.
UH, BEFORE YOU DO THAT, TERRENCE, COULD WE, UH, SHUT OFF THE PROJECTOR AND THE SCREEN? SO CAN YOU GUYS COME A LITTLE CLOSER? AN IMAGE THAT'S, IT'S A LITTLE CLOSER.
GIVE US, I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE IN THE FRAME SO THAT IT'S GOING OUT SO YOU GUYS CAN SEE.
WE'RE GETTING A BETTER BACKGROUND.
YOU WANT ME TO HELP YOU? I, I, I, I CAN.
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IT'S CONNECTED IN TO, OKAY.I'LL, HOW ABOUT I HOLD IT?
TERRANCE, CAN WE GET ANOTHER MIC? THANK YOU.
I'M PROBABLY THE ONLY PERSON HERE, NOT FROM WESTCHESTER, SO I'M, I PROBABLY MESSED UP CHAIR.
I JUST WANT, I HEARD SOMEONE SAY YOU ARE ALLOWED A ONE HOUR SPEECH TAKE UP ABOUT 15 MINUTES AMYS TIME.
AND I DO WANNA SAY THOUGH, THAT THIS IS QUITE AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE DOING THIS FOR MY NIECE AND MY WHOLE FAMILY'S HERE AND WE'RE ALL VERY PROUD OF HER.
AND WITH THAT, OKAY, YOU CAN WRITE IN ON YOUR RIGHT
I AMY FOOT, A RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER, A RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY AND THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
SISTER AND THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW AND THE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AND THE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE DUTIES OF TOWN JUSTICE, OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, TOWN JUSTICE, OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, TO THE BEST OF MY OPINION, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
UM, NEXT, UH, WE'LL HAVE THE SWEARING IN FOR TOWN JUSTICE.
WHO'S GONNA HOLD THAT THING? OKAY.
RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND BEFORE WE BEGIN.
I'D LIKE TO SAY IT'S AN HONOR TO SWEAR YOU IN.
AND, UH, MS. RODRIGUEZ, UH, WORKS IN MY CHAMBERS WHEN SHE'S NOT HERE IN THE TOWN.
SHE'S A PRINCIPAL LAW CLERK IN THE SUPREME COURT WITH ME.
SO SHE WEARS TWO HATS AND SHE DOES GREAT WORK IN BOTH.
I, LEAH RODRIGUEZ OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT I WILL UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
NOW I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM AND I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM MY DUTIES AS MY DUTIES AS TOWN JUSTICE GREENBURG TOWN COURT TOWN JUSTICE GREENBERG TOWN COURT.
AND NEXT, UH, WE HAVE, UH, THE RECEIVER OF TAXES.
SHE'S THE ONLY RECEIVER OF TAXES IN THE UNITED STATES THAT MAKES EVERYBODY SMILE WHEN THEY PAY TAXES.
NITA, I AM HONORED TO DO THIS FOR YOU.
NITA HOWARD, A RESIDENT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, RESIDENT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL UPHOLD, THAT I'LL UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND THE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS AND THE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM AND THAT I'LL FAITHFULLY PERFORM MY DUTIES, MY DUTIES AS RECEIVER OF TAXES, RECEIVER OF TAXES FOR THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, FOR THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
AND NEXT WE HAVE OUR TOWN CLERK, LISA MARIA NERA, YOU
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COME ON.WE'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR OF WHITE PLAINS, JUSTICE BROWN.
AND THANK YOU TO OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO ARE HERE, ASSEMBLYWOMAN, MARY JANE RINKY AND COUNCILMAN, UH, COUNCILMAN, EXCUSE ME, LE
WELL, I'M THRILLED TO BE HERE WITH MY FRIEND LISA NIRO, WHO I KNOW FROM SO MANY THINGS.
WE WORKED TOGETHER ON THE WHITE PLAINS GREENBERG NAACP, AND WE WORK TOGETHER ON BLACK WOMEN'S POLITICAL CAUCUS.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER AT THE CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH.
SO IT'S GREAT TO, TO HAVE THIS HONOR TO DO SO.
LISA MARIE NIRO OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER, OF THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER, AND THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE STATE OF NEW YORK, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF, AND I WILL FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF TOWN CLERK, TOWN CLERK TOWN OF GREENBURG IN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, ACCORDING TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
AND NEXT, UM, WE HAVE TOWN COUNCILWOMAN ELLEN HENDRICKS.
SO PLEASE, AND I AM HONORED TO HAVE YOU SWEAR ME IN AGAIN WITH JOHN BY MYSELF.
I PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
I ELLEN HENDRICKS, A RESIDENT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, A RESIDENT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER, THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER, AND THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT I WILL UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND THE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS AND THE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS AND THE LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS,
AS TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER TOWN OF GREENBURG, TOWN OF GREENBURG.
TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
YOU OUGHT TOO, I DUNNO WHAT TO DO WITH YOU
I WAS WAITING FOR NEXT, UH, FRANCIS SHANNON.
NEED JUDGE? HAVE A, UH, YES, HE HAS ONE.
AND THEN YOU WANT THE ENTIRE FAMILY UP HERE.
AND, UM, MAYBE, UM, YOU'RE GONNA RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND, SO YOU'RE GONNA PUT YOUR LEFT HAND ON IT AND THEN YOUR RIGHT HAND OVER HERE.
AND AND THE CHILDREN CAN YEAH, EXACTLY.
THIS IS, WELL THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
FIRST, IT'S AN HONOR FRANCIS FOR ME TO SWEAR YOU IN TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR THINKING OF ME FOR THIS.
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A REAL PLEASURE AND HONOR.THIS, UH, ADMINISTER THE OATH.
HI, FRANCIS SHEEN OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER, THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER AND TOWN OF GREENBURG, AND THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM, I SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES THAT'LL UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND THE RULES AND REGULATION OF THE TOWN OF GREENBERG AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS IN THE TOWN OF GREENBERG.
AND I'LL FAITH
HIS NAME IS PAUL FINE, BY THE WAY.
OKAY, MR. SUPERVISOR, WHO'S COMING? OKAY.
UM, AGAIN, IT'S AN HONOR TO, TO DO THIS FOR YOU, SUPERVISOR FINER.
AND, UM, SHERRY, YOUR WIFE AND I ARE CLASSMATES FROM LAW SCHOOL, SO THAT, THAT'S, UH, ANOTHER BOND WE HAVE.
AND, BUT FOR YOU AND SUZANNE BERGER AND THE RESIDENTS OF THIS TOWN, I WOULD NOT BE HERE AS A JUDGE.
MY WIFE SAID, UH, WHEN I FIRST UH, MET YOU, SHE SAID, YOU SHOULD BE A JUDGE
SO SHE THANK YOU SHERRY
UH, I AS, UH, SAR THE OATH, I, UH, PAUL FINER, PAUL FINER OF OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER.
OF WESTCHESTER AND TOWN OF GREENBURG AND TOWN OF GREENBURG.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THAT I WILL UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK CONSTITUTION, OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
AND I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM AND I WILL FAITHFULLY PERFORM MY DUTIES AS MY DUTIES AS TOWN SUPERVISOR, TOWN SUPERVISOR, TOWN OF GREENBURG, TOWN OF GREENBURG, TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITIES, BEST OF MY ABILITY.
SO NOW WE'LL, UM, DO THE, IF PEOPLE WANNA MAKE COMMENTS, UM, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF JUDGES, SO IF IT GOES OVER TWO MINUTES, THEY'LL, WE'LL BE IN CONTEMPT OF COURT, RIGHT?
UM, UH, THE TOWN JUSTICE AMY FOOT.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YEAH, I WILL BE BRIEF.
UM, SO I DON'T HAVE TO HOLD MYSELF IN CONTEMPT.
BUT THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT.
IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO STAND BEFORE YOU, UM, SURROUNDED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
TONIGHT'S CEREMONY IS NOT ONLY A PERSONAL MILESTONE FOR ME, BUT I THINK A REAFFIRMATION OF THE VALUES THAT SUSTAIN THIS TOWN.
UH, FAIRNESS, INTEGRITY, AND RESPECT FOR THE RULE OF LAW.
I ACCEPT THIS POSITION OF TOWN JUSTICE WITH HUMILITY AND DEEP APPRECIATION FOR THE CONFIDENCE YOU'VE PLACED IN ME.
I'M MINDFUL THAT JUSTICE IS NOT MERELY ABOUT APPLYING THE LAW, BUT ALSO ABOUT LISTENING CAREFULLY, ABOUT TREATING EVERY INDIVIDUAL WITH DIGNITY AND ENSURING THAT THE COURTROOM REMAINS A PLACE WHERE FAIRNESS AND IMPARTIALITY PREVAIL.
I WOULD LIKE IN PARTICULAR, TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO THE TOWN BOARD FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE TO SUZANNE BERGER AND TO STEVE BASS.
I ALSO WANNA THANK MY FELLOW JUDGES, JUSTICE, BREATH, WEIGHT, AND JUSTICE RODRIGUEZ, THE COURT STAFF, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ATTORNEYS WHOSE PROFESSIONALISM AND
[00:20:01]
DEDICATION MAKE OUR LOCAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY EVERY DAY.AND WHOSE EFFORTS BEEN THE ARC OF THE MORAL UNIVERSE TOWARDS JUSTICE.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, SO YOUR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT HAVE MADE THIS POSSIBLE.
UNCLE HOWIE, RETIRED SUPREME COURT JUSTICE FROM THE BRONX FOR COMING AND SWEARING ME IN.
AND AUNT DONNA AND COUSINS LINDSAY AND JACKIE.
I JUST WANNA SAY MY, MY GRANDFATHER, UM, WHEN HE WAS ALIVE REALLY WANTED TO BE AN ATTORNEY, AND HE DID NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.
SO HE WORKED REALLY HARD AND HE BECAME A COURT CLERK OF THE US TAX COURT IN WASHINGTON, DC WHICH WAS NOT THE MOST EXCITING COURT.
UM, PEOPLE DID NOT LIKE THAT, UH, THAT TOPIC MATTER, BUT I KNOW THAT HE WOULD BE VERY PROUD OF ME TODAY.
SO IT IS WITH HIM IN MIND THAT I TAKE THIS OATH VERY SERIOUSLY, AND I PLEDGE TO CARRY OUT MY DUTIES WITH INTEGRITY, COMPASSION, INDEPENDENCE, AND TO SERVE THIS COMMUNITY TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
UM, NEXT, UH, JUSTICE LEAH RODRIGUEZ.
I HAD A VERY, I HAD A LITTLE CEREMONY LAST WEEK AND I WENT ON AND ON, SO I WON'T DO THAT AGAIN.
UM, BUT I DO WANNA THANK YOU ALL, ESPECIALLY THE TOWN BOARD.
UM, UH, AND I, BUT I REALLY WANNA SHARE AT THIS TIME, UH, FOR THIS PARTICULAR AUDIENCE IS HOW WONDERFUL, UH, MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN, UM, AT THE TOWN COURT.
UM, SO I WAS ORIGINALLY APPOINTED IN JULY, SO I'VE BEEN, UM, SITTING SINCE THEN.
AND THEN I WAS DUAL DULY ELECTED IN NOVEMBER.
BUT I JUST WANNA SHARE WITH EVERYONE HERE THAT OUR TOWN COURT IS, IS RUN BEAUTIFULLY.
OUR, THE ENTIRE STAFF WORKS SO HARD.
UM, I, I, THEY, THEY TREAT EVERYONE THAT ENTERS THE COURT WITH SO MUCH, UM, RESPECT.
UM, I, I JUST, I'VE, I'VE WORKED IN COURTS, UH, MY WHOLE, YOU KNOW, MY WHOLE ADULT LIFE AND THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS VERY FRIENDLY.
AND OUR TOWN COURT REALLY IS, UM, IS STELLAR.
AND, UM, NEXT, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE RECEIVER OF TAXES, VENITA HOWARD, AND MINE IS GONNA BE EVEN SHORTER.
I REMAIN TO STAY DEDICATED TO MY TAXPAYERS HELPING THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
AM I GONNA BE LONGER? THAT WAS THE SECOND BEST SPEECH AFTER THE GETTYSBURG ADDRESS.
UM, UM, NEXT, LISA MARIA NERA.
UM, I FIRST WANNA THANK GOD WHO IS THE HEAD OF MY LIFE.
I WANT TO THANK THE OF THE WESTCHESTER BLACK WOMEN'S POLITICAL CAUCUS.
I WANNA THANK MY PASTOR WHO UNFORTUNATELY COULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO THANK MY BISHOP WHO, UM, IS STILL MY BISHOP, EVEN THOUGH I'M A MEMBER OF CALVARY NOW.
UM, I WANNA THANK MY LIFELONG FRIENDS, UM, NOVA KIM.
OH MY GOSH, I'M LOOKING AT EVERYBODY.
UM, I, I SEE YOU MR. MAGOI,
AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED IN ME, AND THAT WAS AROUND 15,000, THIS WOULD GO AROUND.
UM, I, I DID NOT THINK THAT THIS COULD EVER BE THE BEST JOB I EVER HAD IN MY LIFE.
BUT I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT I AM, I'M PRIVILEGED
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TO WORK WITH AN AMAZING TOWN BOARD.CAN I PLEASE GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE BECAUSE THEY'RE AMAZING.
UM, AND, AND I'M JUST GONNA TAKE A PERSONAL PRIVILEGE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT FRANCIS SHEEN TOOK ME UNDER HIS WING AND TRAINED ME BEFORE ANYTHING EVEN TRANSPIRED.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO HIM AND ELLEN
UM, I JUST DID NOT THINK THIS WAS POSSIBLE EVER.
AND FOR EVERYONE THAT CAME THAT GOT THE TEXT MESSAGE, PLEASE COME.
AND WHEN WE'RE DONE WITH THIS, PLEASE GO TO MY OFFICE.
I HAVE REFRESHMENTS AND EVERYTHING FOR YOU GUYS BECAUSE I'M JUST SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU THOUGHT IT NOT ROBBERY TO COME HERE.
AND NO, I DID NOT FORGET ABOUT, UM, DARIUS'S, UH, GODPARENTS, UM, UH, MARCY.
AND OF COURSE SEAN, THANK YOU FOR COMING ALL THE WAY DOWN FROM BESSEL, CONNECTICUT.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST EVER, MR. LAFAYETTE, I LOVE BEING ON THE LAW DEPARTMENT, UH, LAW, LAW DEPART COMMITTEE WITH YOU.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING ME TO CONTINUE TO SERVE.
AND ELLEN HENDRICKS, YOU CAN SAY IT FROM THERE.
YOU WANNA DO IT FROM HERE? SAY IT FOR ME AGAIN.
WOULD YOU SAY IT FOR ME AGAIN? I CAN
MY SPEECH IS LONGER BECAUSE I GOT CARRIED AWAY.
UM, I WAS FEELING VERY PASSIONATE AS I WROTE THIS.
UH, GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
I FIRST ASK THAT WE TAKE A PERSONAL MOMENT OF REFLECTION TO THINK OF THOSE IN ALL OUR LIVES THAT WE HAVE LOST IN THE LAST YEAR.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXTEND CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY, NEIGHBORS, AND FRIENDS OF RENEE GOODE, WHOSE TRAGIC DEATH LAST WEEK IN MINNESOTA IS A SHOCK TO US ALL.
I JOINED MY COLLEAGUES SUPERVISOR, FINER COUNCILMAN SHEEN, TOWN CLERK, NERO RECEIVER OF TAXES, HOWARD AND TOWN JUDGES, RODRIGUEZ AND FOOT, AS WE ARE SWORN IN TO OUR NEW TERMS. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL AS WE EMBARK ON THIS NEW YEAR AND ALL ITS CHALLENGES AND REWARDS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS WONDERFUL COMMUNITY.
AND THANK YOU ESPECIALLY TO MY HUSBAND JOHN, MY DAUGHTER KATE, AND MY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, MIMI.
THEY'RE PROBABLY WATCHING FROM PROVIDENCE RIGHT NOW.
I'M HOPING THEY SAID THEY WOULD
LOOKING BACK AT 2025, WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED MUCH.
AND, AND WAIT, I MUST THANK THE RE THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WHO'VE BEEN GREAT SUPPORT.
UM, SO JUST TO LOOK BACK AT 2025, WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT.
I DROVE DOWN DOBBS FER ROAD EARLIER THIS WEEK AND ADMIRED THE NEW SIDEWALK AS IN YEAR'S COMPLETION.
IN MY TRAVERSE CROSS GREENBURG, I ADMIRED THE NEW LIBRARY ENTRANCE.
THE ODELL HOUSE EXTERIOR IS ALMOST COMPLETE, AND I MARVEL AT HOW HE RESCUED THE HOUSE FROM CERTAIN COLLAPSE.
COMMISSIONER RICH FAWN ADVISED US THAT 90% OF TOWN ROADS HAVE BEEN REPAVED IN ACCORDANCE TO THE DP.
W'S LONG-TERM PLANS, WHICH SPELL OUT A ROTATING PAVING CYCLE, WHICH APPROVES, WHICH HAS PROVEN SUCCESSFUL.
THE RECENT COMBINED FUNCTIONS IN COLLABORATION OF THE DPW AND BUILDING DEPARTMENTS HAVE SAVED THE TOWN MONEY AND EXPEDITED MUCH OF THE WORK THAT THE TWO DEPARTMENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
THE NATURE CENTER HAS MADE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENTS AND EXPECTS TO HAVE A WELCOME CENTER IN PLACE.
BY THE SPRING, OUR BEAUTIFUL WELL-KEPT PARKS CONTINUE TO PROVIDE WELCOME, RETREAT, AND GREAT ACTIVITIES FOR ALL TO ENJOY.
I MENTIONED THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS WE CAN ALL SEE THESE IMPROVEMENTS.
WHAT WE DON'T SEE IS ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE OR IS PROJECTED FOR COMPLETION, SUCH AS REPLACING AGED OUT AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS, REPLACING NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL ELEVATORS, LINING SEWER PIPES FOR GREATER RESILIENCE AND LONGEVITY, FIXING ROOFS THAT LITERALLY CRY FOR REPAIR.
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ALL THE DRAINAGE WORK THAT GOES INTO CREATING SIDEWALKS AND PAVING ROADS, WHICH ENHANCE OUR ONGOING FLOOD REMEDIATION.WE DON'T SEE ALL THE WORK THAT MUST BE UNDERTAKEN TO CLEAR SHRUBBERY AND DEBRIS FROM OUR WATERWAYS AND CULVERTS ALL THE WORK TO INSPECT, TO PROCESS PERMITS, TO COMPLETE EXTENSIVE PAPERWORK FOR APPLICATION FOR STATE, COUNTY, AND FEDERAL FUNDING.
WE DON'T SEE THE ONGOING WORK TO KEEP OUR LIBRARY CURRENT AND ABLE TO PROVIDE WONDERFUL ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS.
WE EXPECT OUR GARBAGE TO BE PICKED UP ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE.
AND IT IS, WE MUST THANK THOSE THAT MANAGE THE WEAR AND TEAR ON ALL OF OUR TOWN VEHICLES AND KEEP THEM RUNNING.
WE DO COMPLAIN THAT OUR STELLAR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND IT'S ROUGHLY A 70 TO 80 PATROL OFFICERS, CONTINUE TO WRITE TICKETS FOR TRAFFIC INFRACTIONS, BUT AREN'T EVERYWHERE, ALL AT ONCE A DIFFICULT TASK TO COVER 142 MILES OF ROADWAY.
WE'RE FORTUNATE THAT OUR COMMUNITY MINDED OFFICERS DO SUCH A FANTASTIC JOB AT KEEPING THE PEACE.
WE ARE ALL GRATEFUL FOR OUR EXCELLENT PARAMEDICS.
WE DON'T SEE THOSE THAT TOILING THE OFFICES BEHIND THE SCENES.
THE ATTORNEYS AND THEIR STAFFS WHO WORK LONG HOURS, THE CONTROLLER AND HER STAFF THAT ENSURE OUR FINANCES ARE IN ORDER.
THE PARK STAFF THAT CUT THE LAW AND MAKE CONSTANT REPAIRS, THE INSPECTORS CALLED OUT AT ALL HOURS.
ALL THE DEPARTMENT STAFFS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO MAKING GREENBERG THE BEST IT CAN BE.
I COULD CONTINUE BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT THE APPROXIMATELY 550 FULL AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES, ALONG WITH THE APPROXIMATELY 350 SEASONAL EMPLOYEES DUE TO KEEP THE TOWN RUNNING SMOOTHLY.
I CANNOT ADEQUATELY EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION AND TREMENDOUS GRATITUDE TO THEM AND THE COMMISSIONERS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT MANAGE THEM.
I AND MY COLLEAGUES ON THE TOWN COUNCIL ARE TASKED WITH OVERSIGHT.
FIRST, AS LIAISONS TO MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS, WE DELIBERATE POTENTIAL EXPENDITURES FOR TOWN IMPROVEMENTS, SYSTEM UPGRADES, CODE UPGRADES, NEW LAWS, LAND USE, CONTRACT REVIEW AND APPROVAL, INCLUDING NEGOTIATING UNION CONTRACTS AND SOMETIMES RESPONDING TO FINANCIAL STRESSORS AND EMERGENCY ACTIONS THAT REQUIRE MONEY AND PERSONNEL.
WE WORK WITH THE SUPERVISOR WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY MAN TOWN MANAGEMENT TO COME TO AGREEMENT FOR ANYTHING THAT IS IN THE TOWN'S BEST INTEREST.
WE ARE ALL COGNIZANT THAT WE ARE ELECTED TO LOOK AFTER THE BEST INTERESTS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AS WE HAVE WRAPPED UP THE BUDGET FOR 2026 AND PROJECTED INCREASES FOR THE NEXT NUMBER OF YEARS.
WE ARE KEENLY AWARE OF YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND DON'T TAKE THOSE CONCERNS LIGHTLY.
WE ARE TASKED WITH ENSURING THAT YOU RECEIVE THE SERVICES THAT I HAVE ENUMERATED AND THOSE I HAVE NOT MAKING SURE THAT THE UNDERPINNINGS CAN SUPPORT THEM ALL WHILE FACTORING IN INCREASED EXPENSES AND IN THE CURRENT POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT, DEALING WITH INCREASES DUE TO INFLATION IN TARIFFS.
AS ASIDE, MY HUSBAND IS FIGHTING A SURPRISE, CUSTOMS DUTY CHARGE FROM FEDEX, WHICH REPRESENTS 62% OF THE COST OF THE ITEM HE ORDERED, ORDERED.
LET'S NOT FORGET THE PRESSURES THAT COME FROM THE MOST RECENT FEDERAL DECISIONS THAT NOT ONLY IMPACT THE TOWN DIRECTLY, BUT FILTER DOWN TO US BY CUTTING REVENUE TO THE STATE AND COUNTY BUDGETS, FEDERAL POLICIES THAT NEED TO BE REVERSED.
WE HAVE TAKEN THESE CONCERNS EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY, BUT MUST BALANCE OUR FINANCIAL INTEGRITY WITH OUR RESIDENTS EXPECTATIONS OF SERVICES.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEARCH FOR WAYS ALONG WITH THE STAFF TO MAKE CUTS THAT DON'T HURT AND LOOK TO CREATE, TO FIND CREATIVE SAVINGS.
TO THAT END, I HAVE CONTACTED AN AGENCY WHICH I'D HAD MADE A PRESENTA, HAD MAKE A PRESENTATION IN 2019 WHEN I WAS THE INTERIM COUNCIL MEMBER TO PRESENT A PLAN CALLED DEMAND RESPONSE, WHICH WILL PAY THE MUNICIPALITY TO BE ON STANDBY TO LOWER POWER DURING HIGH USAGE PERIODS.
IN THE LAST SIX YEARS OR SO, WESTCHESTER COUNTY IS RECOUPED $2 MILLION.
EVEN IF GREENBERG IS ABLE TO RECOUP A QUARTER OF THAT AMOUNT, IT WILL REPRESENT NON-TAX INCOME TO THE TOWN.
THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE WAYS THE TOWN WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPLEMENT ITS RECEIVABLES WITHOUT ANY ADVERSE IMPACT TO OUR TAXPAYERS.
AS A BOARD, WE MAY BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH ADDITIONAL CREATIVE NON-TAX INCOME.
AND YES, IT IS SOMETIMES MESSY.
WE DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY OF GAMEMANSHIP OR SATISFYING THE EGO OF ANY ONE PERSON AS WE SEE HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
HONEST, STRAIGHTFORWARD, AND INCLUSIVE.
TOWN GOVERNMENT IS A NECESSITY.
OUR CHARGE IS TO MAKE IT WORK AS BEST WE CAN AND TO CONVINCE YOU, OUR FELLOW RESIDENTS, THAT WE MUST WORK TOGETHER IF WE ARE GOING TO FACE THE REAL CHALLENGES THAT TOMORROW BRINGS.
I CLOSE WITH A, WITH SINCERE THANKS.
WITH ALL SINCERE THANKS TO ALL MY COLLEAGUES AND ALL MY GREENBERG NEIGHBORS.
I EXTEND AN INVITATION TO CONTACT ME SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS OR CONCERNS.
AND I WISH GOOD HEALTH AND WELLBEING
[00:35:01]
FOR THE COMING YEAR.YOU, UH, UH, I'D LIKE TO, UH, FIRST THANK MY WIFE SHERRY AND MY DAUGHTER JULIA, FOR ATTENDING TODAY'S, UH, SWEARING IN CEREMONY.
I'D LIKE TO THANK JUDGE RIVERA FOR SWEARING ME IN TODAY.
I'D LIKE TO THANK JUDGE, UM, UM, UH, RODRIGUEZ FOR SWEARING ME IN LAST WEEK AT THE NEW YORK SCHOOL FOR, UH, THE DEAF, UH, BEFORE SOME STUDENTS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK JUDGE, UM, BRAVEWOOD FOR SWEARING ME IN NEXT WEEK AT HYVEE SCHOOL.
UM, I'M BEING SWORN IN THREE TIMES BECAUSE I WANNA MAKE SURE I'M GETTING IT RIGHT,
UM, WE, WE LIVE IN A GREAT TOWN.
UM, EARLIER TODAY I POSTED ON THE TOWN WEBSITE SOME AMBITIOUS GOALS AND PLANS FOR 2026.
I'M HOPEFUL THAT ALL OF US WILL WORK, UM, TOGETHER, UM, TO MAKE GREENBURG AN EVEN BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK IN BECAUSE WE REALLY LIVE IN A GREAT TOWN.
AND THIS YEAR WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE THAT THE TOWN IS EVEN BETTER THAN IT IS.
UH, TODAY WE HAVE A LOT OF GOALS, AND I'M NOT GONNA READ ALL OF THEM, BUT THE GOALS RANGE FROM RESUMING THE SUMMER GS CONCERT SERIES AT THE THEATER YOUNG, UH, COMMUNITY CENTER ON THURSDAYS, ON EVENINGS IN THE SUMMER, SOME QUALITY OF LIFE ENHANCEMENTS.
WE PLAN TO ADDRESS INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES, AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPENING OF THE HISTORIC ODELL HOUSE AS A MUSEUM, WHICH WILL HAPPEN LATER.
UM, THIS YEAR, WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE GREENBURG A SAFER PLACE FOR PEDESTRIANS AND MOTORISTS WITH NEW SIDEWALKS, ENHANCED CROSSWALKS AND TRAFFIC CALMING MEASURES.
AND WE WILL WORK HARD TO, UM, ADDRESS FLOOD MITIGATION ISSUES AND COMPLETE THE SEWER REPAIRERS ON EAST HARTSDALE AVENUE.
I EXPECT THE HARTSDALE FOUR CORNERS TO BE REZONED FOR, UH, MIXED USE AND ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO A NEW SUPERMARKET ON EAST HARTSDALE AVENUE.
THE ELMSFORD, UH, LITTLE LEAGUE, UM, WILL GET THEIR SORT AFTER LIGHTS SO THEY COULD HAVE MORE GAMES IN THE EVENING.
AND WE ALSO WILL LOOK FOR WAYS TO KEEP TAXES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.
AND, UM, I'M COMMITTED TO FORMING A CITIZENS BUDGET COMMITTEE.
AND ONE OF THE OTHER GOALS IS TO MENTOR PEOPLE IN THEIR TWENTIES, THIRTIES AND FORTIES, UH, TO PREPARE YOUNGER PEOPLE, UM, AS OUR FUTURE LEADERS IN THE TOWN, MENTOR THEM, UH, HELP THEM LEARN HOW TO, UH, BE OUR FUTURE LEADERS.
UH, THERE ARE OTHER GOALS, AND YOU CAN LOOK AT THE WEBSITE.
FINALLY, I'D LIKE TO, UM, TALK VERY BRIEFLY ABOUT THE NEED FOR ALL OF US TO WORK TOGETHER AND TO RESPECT DIFFERENT IDEAS ABOUT HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. THIS IS A DEMOCRACY AND, UM, EVERYBODY ON THE TOWN BOARD, THE PEOPLE WHO ATTEND OUR MEETINGS, UH, THE CIVIC ACTIVISTS, THE PEOPLE WHO AGREE WITH US, THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T AGREE WITH US, PEOPLE WHO YELL AT US, ALL OF US HAVE THE SAME GOALS FOR THE TOWN.
TO, UM, BE A GREAT COMMUNITY WITH INTEGRITY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND RESPECT.
PERSONAL ATTACKS, QUESTIONING MOTIVES DOESN'T REALLY SERVE ANYBODY'S INTERESTS.
IT DOESN'T MOVE THE TOWN FORWARD.
IT SLOWS PROGRESS, DAMAGES, TRUST, AND SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE TO THE COMMUNITY.
THAT DIVISION MATTERS MORE THAN SOLUTIONS.
UH, WE, WE WANT TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT OR A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON.
UH, WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS.
UM, AND WE SHOULD CHALLENGE EACH OTHER'S IDEAS WITHOUT CHALLENGING EACH OTHER'S CHARACTER.
UH, WE OWE THE RESIDENTS RESULTS.
AND FINALLY, UM, AS ALWAYS, IF, UM, ANYBODY HERE OR YOU KNOW, ANYONE WHO HAS A PROBLEM OR CONCERN, WHETHER IT'S A BIG ONE OR A SMALL ONE, YOU COULD ALWAYS CALL ME.
MY CELL PHONE NUMBER IS FOUR THREE EIGHT THIRTEEN FORTY THREE.
AND, UM, I'LL ALWAYS RETURN YOUR PHONE CALL TO, YOU KNOW, USUALLY WITHIN AN HOUR.
WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS I DIDN'T PREPARE A SPEECH.
THE BAD NEWS IS I PREPARED A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION.
THE POWERPOINT FIRST, LET ME, LET ME, LET ME GO RIGHT INTO IT.
SO THE HANDSOME GUY YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN IS SITTING IN THE FRONT ROW.
[00:40:01]
THIS DECK, BUT I TRIED TO FIND A PICTURE OF JUDGE RIVERA SMILINGI WENT TO AN INTERVIEW THAT HE DID, WHICH IS WHAT THIS IS FROM ANOTHER JUDGE, IF YOU REMEMBER.
UM, AND, UH, THIS WAS, THIS IS, THIS IS WHAT I, UH, I CAME UP WITH.
UM, BUT IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, I REALLY, I REALLY, UM, I'M HONORED JUDGE TO HAVE YOU SWEAR ME IN.
UM, YOU, UH, AND, AND YOUR WONDERFUL WIFE, ISABELLA.
UM, I'VE ALWAYS BEEN, YOU KNOW, BEFORE ACCIDENT AFTER ACCIDENT, YOU KNOW, HOW'S BILLY? YOU KNOW? AND, UH, IT REALLY MEANS, IT REALLY MEANS A LOT.
UM, I DREADED THIS DAY COMING BECAUSE, UM, THERE'S THE FIRST SWEAR AGAIN THAT I'VE EVER HAD WHERE MY WIFE DIDN'T HANDLE HOLD THE BIBLE.
FOUR YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS SWORN IN, JUDGE BRATHWAITE DID THE HONORS, AND ALONG WITH MILLIE, MY SON FRANCIS, HIS WIFE DIANA, UM, I WAS SWORN IN, IN THE BACKGROUND.
SINCE WE ARE A FAMILY THAT STAYS TOGETHER, EVEN DURING COVID, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE TWO GRANDCHILDREN AT THE TIME, TWO MORE WERE COMING.
UH, AND MY DAUGHTER, CHRISTINE, WERE AT HOME ON ZOOM IN THE BACKGROUND.
AND AS I PUT ON THE SLIDE, COUNCILWOMAN ELLEN HENDRICKS IS PHOTO BOMBING US IN THE CORNER.
AND I ACTUALLY, JOE POINTED THAT OUT TOO, RIGHT? AND, YOU KNOW, GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS BECAUSE I WAS, I WAS IN NEAR PANIC WHEN MY TURN WAS COMING, JUST GETS SWORN IN.
AND THEN WHEN ELLEN INTENTIONALLY
AND THE RULES OF REGULATIONS IN TOWN OF GREENBURG
AND, AND THAT JUST PUT ME AT EASE.
UM, AND IT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST, THAT'S JUST THE WAY LIFE IS.
SO THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT OF A SPEECH THAN YOU WERE HEARD.
YOU'VE HEARD ALL THE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO DO AND HAVE BEEN DOING AND ALL THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT THE TOWN SHOULD BE DOING.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS TO, UM, EXPRESS HOW I AM SITTING HERE TONIGHT AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
FIRST, I WANT TO THANK THE WESTCHESTER DEMOCRATIC, UH, WESTCHESTER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE.
THE CHAIR, SUZANNE BERGER IS IN THE AUDIENCE.
I WANNA THANK THE, UH, GREENBERG TOWN DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE.
STEVE BASS IS SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE AND THE DISTRICT LEADERS, UH, THAT WORK SO HARD TO GET THE PETITIONS AND SIGNATURES AND THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK THAT THEY DO THAT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
AND OF COURSE, I WANT TO THANK THE VER VOTERS REGARDLESS OF PARTY.
I WANNA START BY THANKING THE BATTLE HILL COMMUNITY.
NONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS DID.
AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THEY PUT UP A SHRINE.
AND YOU SEE HERE, MY FAMILY MEMBERS, GINA JACKSON IS OF COURSE IN THE PICTURE BECAUSE SHE PHOTO BOMBS.
EVERY PICTURE THAT YOU'RE GONNA SEE IN THIS THING,
YOU HAVE REVEREND DR. KELLY ROGERS IS THE CHAPLAIN FOR THE SCARSDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND SHE HAS BEEN ENORMOUSLY HELPFUL OVER OUR HOUSE, TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF TIMES.
AND OF COURSE, YOU SEE MY SON, WHO'S A CAPTAIN IN THE SCARSDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE FOUR GRANDCHILDREN.
[00:45:01]
AND WE, UM, GO THERE ON ANNIVERSARIES.BUT IT JUST, IT, IT JUST, THE, THE LITTLE THINGS, AND THIS IS NOT A LITTLE THING, BUT THE LITTLE THINGS THAT PEOPLE DO MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE'VE GREETED WITH.
WHEN WE WENT BACK TO THE SIZE, HEAVEN HAS GAINED TWO ANGELS, BILLY AND DIANA, MAY THEY REST IN PEACE.
AND SO THEN WE, AND LOVE THE HILLS.
I MEAN, WE'RE TALKING COMMUNITY.
WE'RE GONNA TALK A LOT ABOUT COMMUNITY.
IT'S MOSTLY WHAT I'M GONNA TALK ABOUT.
THIS IS NOT IN GREENBERG, BUT THERE ARE MANY COMMUNITIES.
AND I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU WHAT COMMUNITY IN THE TOWN OF GREENBERG REALLY MEANS.
UH, WE WENT BACK AFTER SEEING THAT, AND WE PUT THEIR PICTURES SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE FACES WITH, WITH THE, THE NAMES.
AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING COMMUNITY.
I WANT TO THANK THE WHITE PLAINS, PUERTO RICAN CULTURAL COMMITTEE.
SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THEY HONORED MILLIE IN TOWN HALL AND IT, IT HELPED MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I WANT TO THANK THE SACRED HEART CHURCH PARISHIONERS.
LILY WAS AN ARCHER AT THE CHURCH.
NOBODY SITS IN THAT SEAT FOR THAT MASS EXCEPT ME.
I WANT TO THANK THE OUTPOURING THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.
UH, UH, DAVID AND URA, JEWEL WILLIAMS JOHNSON, ALFREDA WILLIAMS, ANDREA STEWART, COUSINS, UH, ME.
GINA
THIS IS NOT OUR DISTRICT, AND IT WAS, IT'S JUST PHENOMENAL HOW INVOLVED SHE HAS BEEN AND HOW HELPFUL SHE HAS BEEN.
AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THIS ANNUALLY, UM, UNTIL WE THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS HELPED US.
AND SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING THAT, UH, YEAR AFTER YEAR ON THEIR ANNIVERSARY.
I WANNA THANK ALL THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE SCARSDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UM, UH, FUND FOR THE GRANDCHILDREN.
UH, THIS IS TAKEN SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
AND, UM, AND ALSO FOR THOSE THAT DID THE MEAL TRAIN, UH, THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THERE, THERE'S NO WAY WE WOULD, WE COULD COOK.
UM, AFTER, UH, I HAD MET MILLIE, UM, I STILL WONDER WHY SHE MARRIED ME.
THERE'S A PICTURE TAKEN IN PUERTO RICO WHERE I SENT HER FLOWERS BECAUSE WE WEREN'T, BY THE WAY, THERE WAS NO INTERNET BACK THEN.
WE, WE SENT LETTERS TO EACH OTHER EVERY DAY BECAUSE I WORKED IN THE SAME BUILDING AS HER, BUT DIFFERENT SHIPS.
AND WE WOULD WRITE TO EACH OTHER.
UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, SHE KEPT THE LETTERS.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S MY FAULT OR NOT.
INSTEAD OF GOING TO PONCY AIRPORT, IT WENT TO SAN JUAN AIRPORT AND SHE HAD TO GET A RIDE BEFORE THERE WAS THE REAL HIGHWAY PUT IN.
UM, BUT SHE WAS, SHE, WHEN SHE MADE THAT EFFORT TO GET THE FLOWERS THAT I HAD SENT HER, I THOUGHT I MIGHT HAVE A CHANCE.
THIS IS WHAT I CALL THE SHE AND KAIN ORTIZ TROS FAMILY.
UM, AND THIS IS, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, OUR TYPICAL DINNER IN MY HOUSE EXTENDING FROM ONE ROOM INTO THE OTHER.
UM, AND, UM, UM, IF YOU WONDER WHY IT'S BEEN
[00:50:01]
OVER A YEAR, I'M NOT OVER IT.I JUST DON'T SEE IT HAPPENING.
I WANNA THANK CRUZ, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW.
THERE ARE NO MOTHER-IN-LAW JOKES IN MY HOUSE.
UH, SO HERE SHE WAS TWO YEARS AGO.
IN THE UPPER RIGHT WAS OUR LAST TRIP.
UH, THIS WAS ABOUT SIX WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
THERE SHE IS IN THE LOWER LEFT.
WE HAVE A HOUSE IN PUERTO RICO.
UM, AND SHE'S HOME NOW AND SHE'S WATCHING THIS.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH INCIDENTS OF FLU AND EVERYTHING ELSE, UH, WE COULDN'T TAKE A CHANCE.
UM, AND SO I'M SURE SHE'S ENJOYING LOOKING AT OUR PICTURE.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ELLEN, UH, MY RUNNING MATE ON TOWN BOARD.
I COULD NOT FIND A PICTURE OF LISA MARIE, UH, BUT I'LL TALK ABOUT HER SEPARATELY IN A MOMENT.
UM, BUT I WANTED TO SHOW YOU WHAT IT IS THAT, UM, GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES.
YOU SEE US UP HERE ON THE DAIS.
UM, BUT I WANNA SHOW YOU THE HEART AND COMPASSION, UM, UH, OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING UP HERE THAT I HAVE PICTURES FOR.
I, I CAME INTO THE ROOM ONE TIME.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT ELLEN HAD SHOWED UP.
AND THERE WAS ELLEN READING TO THE GRANDCHILDREN.
AND, UM, THAT'S A PERSON WITH HEART, THAT'S A PERSON WITH SOUL.
I THANK YOU FOR CANVASSING AND DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT I JUST HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO BECAUSE I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF.
I DON'T, I NEED TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, UH, AT HOME WHO'S, UM, UH, NEEDS CARE.
I WANT TO THANK GINA, WHO IS FREQUENTLY AT MY HOUSE, UNINVITED.
UM, AND THIS IS ACTUALLY A VIDEO THAT I DIDN'T SHOW, BUT SASHA, THE GIRL, LITTLE GIRL THAT'S RIGHT THERE, SHE RAN TO GINA FOR THAT HUG.
IT WASN'T LIKE GINA GRABBED HER AGAINST HER WILL
THIS IS, BY THE WAY, THE CHRISTMAS RIGHT AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
THAT'S, THERE'S JUST ON, RIGHT? AGAIN, YOU CAN'T GET RID OF THEM.
UM, BUT IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE WE'RE FRANKLY IN IT FOR THE GRANDCHILDREN.
WE'RE IN A MINUTE FOR MY CHILDREN.
I WANNA THANK THE SCARSDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND ONE FAIRVIEW FIRE DEPARTMENT IMPOSTER, WHO HAPPENS TO BE MY SON'S BEST FRIEND,
UM, AND THIS IS, THIS IS, THIS IS HOW WE GOT THROUGH THIS BY HELPING MY SON GET THROUGH.
THAT BENCH IS THE BENCH THAT WE, IT TOOK ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR OF DETECTIVE WORK, BUT LOOKING AT THEIR WEDDING PICTURES, MY SON AND DIANA'S WEDDING PICTURES, THAT WE WERE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE ANGLE OF THE BUILDINGS BEHIND US.
THAT THAT IS THE BENCH THAT HE AND DIANA, UH, TOOK THEIR WEDDING PICTURES.
AND MY SON WANTED TO SIT THERE ON THEIR ANNIVERSARY.
I WANNA THANK THE TOWN OF GREENBURG TOWN BOARD FOR DEDICATING SARATOGA ROAD IN HONOR OF MILLIE.
AND I WANT TO, AND I MUST SAY THAT FOR MANY MONTHS, THE SUPERVISOR WOULD EMAIL ME AND SAY, WE NEED TO NAME SOMETHING AFTER MILLIE.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO NAME AFTER MILLIE? AND I DIDN'T REALLY RESPOND, UH, UH, SOMETHING IN THE PARKING LOT.
THE, UH, THE PARKING AREA, THE FLAG POLE, WHATEVER.
HE WAS VERY GENEROUS AND VERY GRACIOUS.
UM, MILLIE STARTED HER CAREER AT THE, UH, THE LEE F JACKSON SCHOOL.
ENDED HER CAREER AT THE LEE F JACKSON SCHOOL.
[00:55:01]
SPEARHEADING HAVING THE STREET ENTERING INTO LEAH JACKSON SCHOOL.MILLIE WAS A SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST.
THERE WAS NOBODY THAT HAD SPECIAL NEEDS.
AND WHEN THERE WAS PUSHBACK, SHE GOT THEM HELP.
ANYWAY, SHE GAVE OUT HER NUMBER TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO MAY BE IN TROUBLE, AND SOMETIMES THEY WOULD CALL AT TWO OR THREE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.
THEY JUST NEEDED SOMEBODY TO TALK TO.
THEIR PARENTS WOULDN'T LET 'EM BACK IN THE HOUSE.
SHE'D FIND A PLACE FOR THEM TO STAY.
SHE IS TRULY A LEGEND IN THE GREENBERG CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMUNITY THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT COMMUNITY.
I THANK GEORGE LATIMER FOR THE DAY THAT THAT SIGN WENT UP.
AND UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, I DIDN'T ASK HIM.
HE WENT TO THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE AND HE MADE A SPEECH ABOUT MILLIE.
AND, UH, AND INCLUDED DIANA IN THERE AS WELL, UH, TALKING ABOUT THEIR IMPACT IN THE GREENBURG COMMUNITY.
HE ONLY GETS ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK, AND HE CHOSE TO USE THAT TO TALK ABOUT MILLIE.
PARKS AND REC, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
THIS IS A PICTURE THAT WAS TAKEN, UH, AT PRESSER PARK.
UH, THIS WAS, UH, JUNE OF 2022.
AND OF COURSE NOW IT HAS EVEN MORE MEANING THAN EVER.
THEY ALSO WANT TO, UM, TALK ABOUT HOW PARKS AND REC, THEY REALLY PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS IN TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT, UM, WE WERE TAKEN CARE OF AND COMFORTED, UM, INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY.
I WANT TO THANK OUR FIRST RESPONDERS.
I WANT TO THANK THE HARSDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AND YOU'LL SEE WHY IN, IN A MOMENT.
THE FAIRVIEW FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE GREENVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE SCARSDALE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE GREENBURG POLICE, WHO, UM, UH, WELL, YOU'LL SEE WHY.
AND OF COURSE, THE WHITE PLAINS.
THIS OCCURRED IN THE RIGHT ACROSS THE BOARD BORDER FROM GREENBURG INTO WHITE PLAINS.
UH, AND WHAT'S NOT UP HERE? 'CAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO MAKE IT.
UH, I WANTED TO THANK THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER, UH, THE CHIEF MEDICAL EXAMINER.
HE PROVIDED COMFORT, UM, AND, UM, UM, AT A TIME WHEN WE REALLY NEEDED IT.
UH, I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE, UH, THE FUNERAL PARLOR EDWARDS.
UM, TO THIS DAY, THEY TALK ABOUT MILLI AND DIANA AS MILLI AND DIANA, AND NOT USE SOME OTHER TERM, UH, FOR THEM, WHICH REALLY WAS VERY, VERY COMFORTING.
I WANT TO END WITH COMMUNITY, AND I WANNA SHOW YOU A DEMONSTRATION OF COMMUNITY.
THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, UH, MANY OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE UP ON THE DAYS HERE, WERE, WERE THERE.
UH, UM, THE ACCIDENT WAS SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2024.
SEPTEMBER 19TH WAS MY GRANDSON'S BIRTHDAY.
HOW DO YOU HAVE A BIRTHDAY PARTY? THREE DAYS AFTER WHAT HAPPENED, MY DAUGHTER TOOK ON THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TRYING TO BE BOTH MILLIE AND DIANA, BY THE WAY.
THERE'S TWO HOUSES SIDE BY SIDE.
AND WE BASICALLY ALL LIVE TOGETHER.
UM, AND SHE SAID TO ONE OF THE FIREFIGHTERS, COULD YOU BRING A FIRETRUCK, YOU KNOW, FOR HIS BIRTHDAY? 'CAUSE WE CANCELED THE BIRTHDAY PARTY.
ALL THE DECORATIONS THAT MEL AND DIANA HAD ALREADY PUT UP IN OUR HOUSE FOR EVERYTHING HAD THERE, HAVE A THEME, RIGHT? SO THEY, THEY HAD IT ALL SET UP GETTING READY FOR THE BIRTHDAY PARTY.
UH, THOSE DECORATIONS ARE STILL UP, BY THE WAY, SAYING HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
UM, AND THEY CAME THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BIRTHDAY, AND SHE CAME HOME FROM A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT AND WAS SO DISTRAUGHT, SO DISTRAUGHT.
HOW COULD I BE LIKE MILLIE OR DIANA MOMMY OR DIANA WHEN I CAN'T EVEN GET THE FIRE TRUCK TO COVER ON THE RIGHT NIGHT? SO THE NEXT MORNING I HAD THE HARTSDALE FIRE CHIEF, THE FAIRVIEW FIRE CHIEF, THE GREENVILLE FIRE CHIEF WHITE PLAINS, AND WE ALSO HAD SOMEBODY FROM WESTCHESTER COUNTY
[01:00:01]
IN OUR, IN OUR HOUSE.UM, AND I SAID TO THEM THE STORY THAT MILLIE, UH, THAT CHRISTINE WAS SO UPSET THAT SHE COULDN'T EVEN GET THE FIRETRUCK CORRECT.
WELL, IT TURNS OUT THE FIRETRUCK WASN'T THERE BECAUSE OF THAT ASK.
IT WAS THERE BECAUSE THEY STOPPED BY AND THEY HAD TO KEEP THE TRUCK THERE SO THAT IF A CALL CAME, THEY COULD HOP ON THE TRUCK AND LEAVE.
SO I SAID, YOU THINK YOU CAN BRING BACK A FIRETRUCK TONIGHT? I THINK IT WOULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND THEY SAID, SURE, I THINK WE CAN DO THAT.
UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, UNBEKNOWNST MY ENTIRE FAMILY WORD WENT OUT.
THERE'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO FOR THE SHIELDS, THE CAVES, THE CHURCHES IS, AND THE ORS.
AND SO I WANNA SHOW YOU, I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
OUR FAMILY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS IN GREENBURG WHEN YOU ACTIVATE THE COMMUNITY.
SO I'M GOING, I'M GOING TO PLAY A LITTLE BIT OF THE AUDIO AND THEN I'M GONNA SHUT IT OFF BECAUSE I DON'T WANT YOU TO, UH, AND THEN I'LL TALK, I'LL TALK THROUGH IT.
I TOLD YOU, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, LET ME GET RID OF THIS.
WHAT THEY WENT OUT, WORD WENT OUT, IS WE WANNA BRING A FIRETRUCK.
WELL, THEN EVERY FIRE DISTRICT WANTED TO SEND US FIRETRUCK
IT STARTS WITH A MOTORCYCLE, UH, PROCESSION BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEN IT COMES BY, WE HAD AMBULANCE, FIRE TRUCKS, POLICE CARS, SANITATION VEHICLES, YOU NAME IT.
IF YOU KNOW SEACOR ROAD FROM WEST HARTSDALE AVENUE, YOU COULDN'T GET THERE TO ACROSS THE SPRAIN AND UP THE HILL.
IT WAS ALL STAGED WITH THIS TO HAPPEN.
AND THEY DIDN'T MAKE A SOUND UNTIL IT WAS TIME TO TURN THE CORNER.
AND SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY, AND THE SUPERVISOR WAS THERE AS WELL, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY, WE WERE ALL THERE.
THIS IS WHAT COMMUNITY IS ALL ABOUT FOR 20 MINUTES.
AT THE WORST TIME, FOR PARTICULARLY FOR THE GRANDCHILDREN, PARTICULARLY FOR HER BIRTHDAY, MY GRANDSON GOT RELIEF, DISTRACTION FROM THE PAIN, AND THEN THEY STOPPED ALL OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEY, AND ANYBODY WANTED TO GO INTO THEIR TRUCKS OR ON THEIR TRUCKS AND, YOU KNOW, PULL THE, PULL THE HORN.
AND WE HAD CANCELED THE BIRTHDAY PARTY, BUT ALL THE KIDS SHOWED UP ANYWAY,
AND SO ALL THE KIDS GOT TO EXPERIENCE GETTING ON THE TRUCKS AND SO FORTH.
SO THIS IS, THIS IS EXTREMELY PAINFUL FOR ME.
BUT I USED THIS OPPORTUNITY KNOWING MILLIE, KNOWING DIANA AND DIANA WAS A DAUGHTER TO ME, NO DIFFERENT, UM, TO WORK HARDER.
DO KNOW, BY THE WAY, THAT'S, UH, MARIA PORTILLA, WHO I THINK IS SITTING ALL THE WAY IN THE BACK, WHO WAS, UH,
UM, IT GIVES ME, AND OF COURSE, TAKING CARE OF MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, WHO, UM, UM, IS A PLEASURE.
AS I PUT ON THE SLIDE, IT GIVES ME PURPOSE.
[01:05:02]
I'M NEVER PUTTING IT IN OUR NURTURING HOME.WE JUST DON'T DO THAT IN OUR FAMILY.
UM, BUT IT HELPS US GET THROUGH IT.
AND SO THE LITTLE, LITTLE THINGS AND NOT SO LITTLE THINGS, THIS, THIS IS OUR COMMUNITY, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING UP ON THE SCREEN, UM, UH, MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.
UM, AND SO I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR ENDURING THIS.
UM, AGAIN, I KNOW IT'S NOT THE COMMON, YOU KNOW, HEY, I GOT A SWORN IN THING, BUT IF IT WASN'T FOR ALL OF YOU, IF IT WASN'T FOR ALL THE PEOPLE MENTIONED AND MORE, AND THE WELLNESS CHECKS, I SEE MARK LAFAYETTE IN THE BACK AS WELL.
AND, UM, IT'D BE VERY DIFFICULT TO, FOR US TO GET THROUGH THIS.
AND DAVID AND URA, OH, I HAVE TO GIVE A, A, A, UH, SHOUT OUT.
I DIDN'T PUT THE SLIDE IN HERE.
THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES DIVISION, AND DAVID DI PUT ME IN CONTACT WITH THEM.
IT'S A VERY SMALL SLOG LONG PROCESS.
UM, BUT IT HAS HELPED US TREMENDOUSLY, UH, CARING FOR MY, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW.
AND, UM, I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT WESTCHESTER COUNTY, THE LEGISLATORS AND, UM, THE INDIVIDUAL, UH, DEPARTMENTS.
AND I ALSO, UH, ANDREA STEWART COUSINS, HER FREQUENT, FREQUENT, YOU KNOW, UH, HOW ARE YOU DOING? YOU KNOW, UH, IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
SO I THINK THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
MY SPEECH MAY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN THE OTHERS
YEAH, I, I, I, AGAIN, I, I KNOW I, I'M KIND OF VENTING, BUT I, UH, IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE THAT I'M, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL WORKING THROUGH THIS, BUT WE HAVE A FAMILY, WE HAVE A VERY EXTENDED FAMILY, AS YOU KNOW, AND, YOU KNOW, WE COUNT EVERYBODY AS PART OF OUR EXTENDED FAMILY.
AND, UH, AND, AND FOR GOOD REASON.
SHOULD WE TAKE LIKE A FIVE MINUTE, UH, RECESS BREAK, AND THEN WE'LL RESUME THE MEETING.
WELCOME TO OUR TOWN BOARD MEETING.
UM, REORGANIZATION BY THE TOWN BOARD IS BEING HELD OVER, UH, TOWN BOARD MEETINGS.
RULES AND PROCEDURES IS ALSO BEING HELD OVER.
[ To consider an application by Paige Brodsky to extend the Finmor Sewer District in the Town of Greenburgh]
WE HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.UM, THE FIRST ONE IS, UM, TO CONSIDER AN APPLICATION BY PAIGE BRODSKY TO EXTEND THE FINMORE SEWER DISTRICT BY THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE, UH, THAT WE OPEN THE HEARING.
YOUR, UH, ANYBODY WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? I BELIEVE SOMEONE MIGHT BE ON ZOOM TO PRESENT.
YEAH, YOU WANNA SWITCH OUT COMPUTERS? I FEEL LIKE I'M DOING THAT'S ONE.
HE'S IN THE, NOT QUITE STARTED.
YEAH, BUT HE HAS TO BE ON THE RIGHT COMPUTER.
ALRIGHT, LADY, IF YOU TURN ON YOUR VIDEO, WE'LL ACTUALLY SEE YOU.
UH, GOOD, GOOD EVENING, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE, UH, THE NEWLY APPOINTED THIS MORNING.
UH, UM, PEOPLE, UM, THIS IS A, UH, I THINK SOMEWHAT ROUTINE.
UH, THE, THE BROSKI PROPERTY IS ON SUMMER ROAD.
UH, THERE IS A SEWER, UM, AT THE END OF, UH, CUL-DE-SAC, SOMEWHAT ACROSS THE STREET THAT WE WANT TO INCLUDE, UH, THIS PROPERTY IN THAT SEWER DISTRICT SO THAT WE CAN CONNECT, UH, THAT HOUSE AND, UM, GARAGE TO THE SEWER.
IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO COMMENT ON THAT? DO WE HAVE A LETTER FROM THE ENGINEER, TOWN ENGINEER? I HAVE
[01:10:01]
NOT SEEN THAT LETTER.I KNOW THE LETTER WAS REQUESTED.
I DON'T SEE IT AS PART OF THE RECORD.
I WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF THE, IF THERE WAS NO SPEAKERS TONIGHT, THAT THE TOWN BOARD CLOSED THE RECORD WITH THE CAVEAT THAT WE HAVE THAT, UH, LETTER FROM THE ENGINEER PRIOR TO THE RECORD CLOSING.
SO PAUL, WHY DON'T YOU MAKE A MOTION? WE WOULD LEAVE THE RECORD OPEN FOR SEVEN DAYS, RIGHT? YES.
AND IN THAT TIME, WE EXPECT THERE TO BE A LETTER FROM THE ENGINEER.
UM, AND IF WE DON'T, THEN WE WON'T BE ABLE TO MAKE A DECISION AT THE NEXT MEETING.
SO I MOVE THAT WE LEAVE THE, WE CLOSE THE HEARING AND LEAVE THE RECORD OPEN FOR SEVEN DAYS AND THAT WE GET A LETTER FROM THE ENGINEER.
ARE YOU DOING THE NEXT ONE TOO? YES.
[ To consider an application by Michael P. Teverbaugh, Sr. & Karen Taverbaugh to extend the Finmor Sewer District in the Town of Greenburgh ]
OKAY.THAT'S TO CONSIDER AN APPLICATION BY MICHAEL TAVER BAR, UH, SENIOR AND KAREN AT TAVR BAR TO CON, UH, TO EXTEND THE FINMORE SEWER DISTRICT IN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
UM, IF YOU WANT ME TO TALK ABOUT IT, UH, BASICALLY IT'S A FOUR LOT SUBDIVISION THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, ON THE END OF VTA AVENUE.
UH, THE SEWER IS AT THE TOP OF THE HILL, AND WE'RE PROPOSING TO INCLUDE THOSE FOUR LOTS IN THE SEWER DISTRICT.
SIR, COULD YOU REPEAT THAT? I, IT WAS VERY UNCLEAR.
I'LL MOVE CLOSER IF I HAVE TO.
UM, SO THIS IS, UH, A PROPERTY ON THE END OF VANCO AVENUE OFF OF WIN WINSOME DRIVE.
UH, AND IT'S A FOUR LOT SUBDIVISION THAT WE HAVE, UH, WANT TO CONNECT, UH, UH, THE FOUR LOTS TO, UH, SEWER DISTRICT, UH, AND CONNECT TO THE SEWER ON, UM, I THINK IT'S WIN WINSTON DRIVE OR COURT, YOU THINK, OR IT IS.
SO IS THERE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO COMMENT ON THIS? UH, NO.
SO THEN WE WOULD, UH, LEAVE SAME MOTION.
UH, CLOSE, CLOSE THE HEAR HEARING, LEAVE THE REC, UH, RECORD OPEN FOR SEVEN DAYS AND WE NEED A LETTER FROM THE ENGINEER.
[ To consider a one-year agreement between the Town of Greenburgh and the Village of Irvington to provide Fire Protection Services to Unincorporated area residents of the East Irvington Fire Protection District for the year 2024]
ONE YEAR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG IN THE VILLAGE OF IRVINGTON TO PROVIDE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES TO UNINCORPORATED AREA RESIDENTS OF THE EAST IRVINGTON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT, UH, FOR THE YEAR 2024.UM, LISA, WHO WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT? UH, THIS IS A, UM, FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT CONTRACT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AND THE VILLAGE OF IRVINGTON FOR THE EAST IRVINGTON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT, UH, FOR THE YEAR 2024.
UH, THE SUM THAT, UH, OF COST IS GOING TO BE 128,341.
THE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT IS THE AREA OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREA OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG THAT IS NOT SERVED BY ANY OF THE THREE CAREER FIREFIGHTER, UH, FIRE DEPARTMENTS THAT WE HAVE.
HARTSDALE, FAIRVIEW, AND GREENVILLE.
ANYBODY LIKE TO COMMENT? NO ONE'S SIGNED UP.
THEN I MOVE THAT WE CLOSE THE HEARING AND LEAVE THE RECORD OPEN FOR SEVEN DAYS.
[ To consider a one-year agreement between the Town of Greenburgh and the Village of Irvington to provide Fire Protection Services to Unincorporated area residents of the East Irvington Fire Protection District for the year 2025]
UM, TO CONSIDER A NEXT HEARING TO CONSIDER, UM, A ONE YEAR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AND THE VILLAGE OF IRVINGTON TO PROVIDE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES TO UNINCORPORATED AREA RESIDENTS OF THE EAST IRVINGTON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT FOR THE YEAR IS 2025.UM, UH, ANYBODY? UH, YOU'D LIKE TO? SURE.
AND JUST TO PUT IT ON THE RECORD THAT THIS IS A CONTRACT BETWEEN THE VILLAGE OF IRVINGTON AND THE TOWN OF GREENBURG TO PROVIDE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES TO THE EAST IRVINGTON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT.
UH, THIS TIME FOR THE YEAR 2025, UH, THE SUM TOTAL IS $212,063, UM, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OVER 2024, WHICH WAS 128,341.
UM, AND THAT, UH, THIS, A FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT IS AN AREA OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, UNINCORPORATED AREA OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG THAT DOES NOT HAVE FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES COVERED BY THE THREE CAREER FIRE DEPARTMENTS, WHICH ARE FAIRVIEW, DALE, AND GREENVILLE.
UM, ANYBODY WANT TO COMMENT? NO ONE'S SIGNED UP.
IS THIS RETRO FOR HECTOR? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? DO YOU WANNA COME? YOU PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
BUT WHEN, SO WHY WOULD YOU APPROVE A CONTRACT FOR 25 IF WE 26 FIRST, PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF.
[01:15:01]
HOE I'M A RESIDENT OF VOL.FOR EXAMPLE, THE 2025, UH, BILL CAME IN AT THE END OF 2025.
AND SO SOME FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICTS WITH SOME VILLAGES, THEY ACTUALLY WAIT UNTIL THEY HAVE ACTUALS OR CLOSE TO ACTUALS, UH, IN ORDER TO PUT IN THEIR BILL.
AND OTHERS, UH, THEY DO IT MORE, UH, BASICALLY MORE TIMELY.
SO THERE MUST BE AN UNDERSTANDING THAT, UH, FORWARD GOING, THEY'LL PROBABLY TEND TO DO THE SAME THING NEXT YEAR.
I'VE ACTUALLY WROTE TO ALL THE VILLAGE ADMINISTRATORS AND ALL THE FIRE CHIEFS, AND I, UH, I SAID, YOU KNOW, I FIND THIS LIKE VERY, VERY UPSETTING, UH, THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT WE DO THINGS RETROACTIVELY, YOU KNOW, THE IRVINGTON FIRE DISTRICT, UH, WE HAVEN'T PAID THEM SINCE 2020, THE END OF 23.
SO I SAID THAT IF THEY COULD GET US THEIR, UM, UH, THE DOCUMENTS BY THE END OF MARCH, THEN WE COULD APPROVE IT THE SAME YEAR.
UH, WE STILL HAVEN'T, UM, FINALIZED THE, THE TARRYTOWN DISTRICT, AND THAT'S STILL FROM THE END OF 2023.
I SPOKE TO THE VILLAGE ADMINISTRATOR THIS WEEK, UM, RICH SLINGERLAND.
AND, UM, UH, IS THERE LIKE ANY PROGRESS REPORT ON THAT? WELL, I, I DON'T REALLY WANNA MAKE IT PART OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, BUT YES, WE'RE CURRENTLY REVIEWING, WE'LL GET BACK, WE'LL FINALIZE THAT, BUT IT IS COMMON PRACTICE AND BOTH SIDES KNOW IT HAS BEEN COMMON PRACTICE.
BUT I THINK THE COMMON PRACTICE, AND THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR, IT'S THE SAME DIFFERENCE, RIGHT.
I, IT SOUNDED LIKE A CONTRACT TO ME.
AND CONTRACTS ARE USUALLY FORWARD GOING, BUT I, I, I REALLY FEEL THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS ONE OF MY PERSONAL GOALS.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO JUST MOVE AWAY FROM PASSING THINGS AFTER THE FACT.
BECAUSE IF WE SAID RIGHT NOW, OH, BY THE WAY, UM, WE DON'T WANT TO PAY YOU, AND IT'S ALL THE, THEY ALREADY PROVIDED THE SERVICE, IT DOESN'T MAKE, MAKE SENSE.
OR, YOU KNOW, AN ALTERNATIVE COULD BE, WE COULD PAY THE SAME AMOUNT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, UH, SO IT COULD BE, THEY COULD GET THE MONEY AND THEN THEY COULD, IF THERE'S A DIFFERENCE, WE COULD ALWAYS DO THAT LIKE A YEAR LATER OR, OR WHATEVER.
BUT I, I WOULD PREFER EVERYTHING BEING DONE THE SAME YEAR.
BUT I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT IT OFF.
BUT NOW THERE'S A TRANSCRIPT OF THIS.
WE NEED TO CLARIFY WHEN YOU SAY TARRYTOWN HASN'T BEEN PAID SINCE 2 20, 23 MM-HMM
WE ONLY GOT THE BILL FOR 2024, ABOUT TWO MONTHS, THREE MONTHS AGO.
LESS, LESS THAN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AGO.
BUT YOU, YOU PUT LETTERS INTO THE LE TO THE NEWSPAPER SAYING, I THINK IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE.
WE HAVEN'T PAID TARRYTOWN, BUT WE CAN'T PAY A BILL THAT WE DON'T HAVE.
AND WE DIDN'T GET THE BILL FROM TARRYTOWN AFTER REPEATED REQUEST AND INITIALLY AFTER REPEATED REQUEST, AND INITIALLY IT WAS WRONG AND THEY HAD TO REDO IT.
SO THEN WE GOT ANOTHER ONE LATER, AND NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT IT, AND THERE DOES SEEM TO BE THAT THERE'S SOME ISSUES WITH THAT BILL.
UM, SO I KNOW YOU LIKE TO PUT IT OUT INTO THE NEWSPAPERS.
WE'RE NOT PAYING OUR BILLS TIMELY.
BUT AGAIN, I'LL REPEAT AGAIN, WE CAN'T PAY A BILL THAT WE DIDN'T RECEIVE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, I'VE WRITTEN THEM MORE THAN ONCE AND HOPEFULLY GOING FORWARD, UH, YOU KNOW, BOTH THE FIRE DISTRICTS, THE VILLAGES AND THE TOWN WILL ALL WORK TOGETHER AND GET EVERYTHING DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER.
EVEN THE POLICE CONTRACTS OR THE CSEA CONTRACTS OR THE TEAM SERIES, IT SHOULDN'T BE, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE YEARS AFTER, YOU KNOW, IT SHOULDN'T BE HOLDOVERS.
EVERYTHING SHOULD BE DONE, UH, IN A MORE TIME MANNER ON NEGOTIATIONS ARE NOT HOLDOVERS.
NO, BUT I'M JUST SAYING, BUT ALSO THIS IS A TRANSCRIPT ON THE NO, BUT I'M JUST SAYING NO, I'M JUST SAYING THAT PROTECTION, I JUST AS A CONCEPT, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, IF THERE'S A, IF A CONTRACT STARTS IN JANUARY, 2026, THE CONTRACT SHOULD BE SIGNED IN 2026, NOT IN 2029.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU JUST SAID, BUT THERE IS A PROCESS THAT WE DO FOLLOW.
SO I DON'T WANNA GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE'S NOT A PROCESS THAT WE DON'T FOLLOW.
THAT'S, AND THIS PRO NO, DON'T, THE PROCESS THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN, SHE JUST EXPLAINED.
SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO PUT OUT, UM, FALSE NARRATIVE THAT WE'RE NOT PAYING OUR BILLS ON TIME.
SO THERE IS A PROCESS THAT WE FOLLOW AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW.
AND WE'LL WORK ON IMPROVING IT.
WELL, IT, IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO.
YOU UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS FIRST, PAUL, I'M SURE THAT EVERYBODY'S GONNA WORK TOGETHER AND WE'RE GONNA GET IT.
ALRIGHT, YOU'RE GONNA CLOSE THIS HEARING, PLEASE.
WHO'S, YOU'RE CLOSING THE HEARING? LEAVING THE RECORD OPEN FOR SEVEN DAYS.
[ To consider Town Board use of limited immunity in connection with the installation of lights at West Rumbrook Park located at 2305 Saw Mill River Road (P.O. Elmsford, NY) [TB 25-11] ]
OKAY.UH, PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER TOWN BOARD USE OF LIMITED IMMUNITY IN CONNECTION WITH INSTALLATION OF LIGHTS AT WESTBROOK PARK, LOCATED AT 2 3 0 5 SOMO
[01:20:01]
RIVER ROAD.I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE OPEN THE HEARING.
I DON'T, I DIDN'T, DID YOU SAY IF IT WAS A WHISPER? I SECONDED.
I'LL TALK LOUDER IF IT WAS A WHISPER.
FINER AND TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS.
I'M GARRETT DUANE, COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION.
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR REAPPOINTMENTS.
YOU MIGHT WANNA THINK ABOUT THAT
THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS A CONTINUATION FROM THE HEARING HELD ON NOVEMBER 12TH, 2025.
AND IT'S RELATED TO THE PLANNED USE OF LIGHTING FOR THE LITTLE LEAGUE FIELD AT WEST BROOK PARK AND THE TOWN BOARD'S POTENTIAL USE OF LIMITED IMMUNITY, WHICH IF APPROVED, WOULD PERMIT THE PROJECT TO ADVANCE TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS.
FOLLOWING SEEKER FINDINGS OF THE TOWN BOARD AT THE LAST HEARING, THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC HEARD EXPERT TESTIMONY WITH REGARDS TO THE NEED FOR THE PROPOSED HEIGHTS OF THE LIGHT POLES, WHICH WOULD RANGE IN SIZE FROM 16 TO 70 FEET HIGH.
WE ALSO HEARD EXPERT TESTIMONY WITH REGARDS TO THE DOWNCAST DESIGN OF THE LIGHTS AND HOW THE HEIGHT, ANGLE AND INTENSITY OF THE LIGHTS ARE SET TO FOCUS SPRAY ON THE IMMEDIATE BALL FIELD, WHILE MINIMIZING IMPACTS TO ADJACENT AREAS, SOME OF WHICH INCLUDE RESIDENTIAL HOMES.
I HAVE RECOMMENDED THE USE OF A LIMITED IMMUNITY PROCESS TO THE TOWN BOARD BECAUSE IT SPECIFICALLY APPLIES TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT UNDERTAKE PROJECTS WITHIN THEIR OWN BORDERS.
FACTORS SUCH AS THE LACK OF VIABLE ALTERNATIVES TO ACCOMMODATE THE PLAYING TIME NEEDED FOR YOUTH IN THE TOWN.
THE MINIMAL IMPACT STYLE DESIGN, THE COMMITMENT TO LIMITED HOURS OF OPERATION, AND THE OVERALL BENEFIT TO RESIDENTS THAT THE TOWN BOARD IS ENABLING BY THE PROJECT OF SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PRO.
THIS PROCESS SINCE THE LAST HEARING, AND AS WAS NOTED AT YESTERDAY'S WORK SESSION, THE POLLS THAT ARE ON LOCATION TODAY WILL BE DECONSTRUCTED AND FOLLOWING A COMPLETE BUILDING PERMIT APPROVAL PROCESS, THE LIGHTS WILL BE REINSTALLED UNDER THAT PROCESS LEADING TO A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT.
ANYONE LIKE TO TALK IF UP TIME, IF, IF, IF I COULD JUST RESTATE A LITTLE BIT HOW WHAT YOU JUST SAID SO THAT WHEN THE RESIDENT SEE THE POLLS COMING DOWN, THEY DON'T PANIC.
UM, BECAUSE I KNOW THE PRESIDENT OF LITTLE LEAGUE AND WAS INSISTING THEY NOT COME DOWN AT THE LAST TIME HE WAS HERE.
UH, THEY HAVE TO COME DOWN BECAUSE THE CONCRETE THAT WAS USED TO SUPPORT THE, THE POLES WERE POUR WAS POURED IMPROPERLY AND WAS POURED INTO WATER AFTER THE VERY HEAVY RAIN THAT WE HAD IN JULY.
AND SO HAVING DONE THE INSPECTION, HAVING AN INSPECTOR TAKE A LOOK AT IT, AND, UH, IT'S DETERMINED THAT THE CONCRETE THAT WAS POURED CAN BE CHIPPED AWAY AT WITH A SCREWDRIVER.
THAT'S HOW POOR THE, THE, THE CONCRETE IS.
AND SO AT SOME POINT, THOSE POLES WOULD'VE FALLEN DOWN.
AND SO WE'RE TAKING THEM DOWN.
THE CONTRACTOR HAS AGREED TO COVER THE COSTS BECAUSE IT WAS THE CONTRACTOR'S MISTAKE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUTTING THEM BACK UP.
AND WE EXPECT THAT TO BE BACK UP BY THE START OF THE LEGAL LEAGUE SEASON.
UM, WHETHER PERMITTING, THANK YOU, MAYBE THEY COULD PUT UP A SIGN.
SO THIS WAY WHEN PEOPLE SEE, UM, YOU KNOW, SEE THEM TAKEN DOWN, UH, PEOPLE WILL SEE THAT IT'S GONNA BE COMING BACK UP AND IT'S GONNA BE IN TIME FOR THE, THE SEASON.
YOU KNOW, I'M JUST SAYING IT'S SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE, THERE'S NOT EVERYBODY WATCHES OUR MEETINGS AND NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT GOES ON.
JOE LUCAS, UH, COMMISSIONER PARKS AND RECREATION, UM, I DID SPEAK TO THE CONTRACTOR TODAY AND THE, UH, AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THE POLES WILL BE DOWN WOULD BE PROBABLY APPROXIMATELY THREE DAYS.
SO ONCE THEY TAKE 'EM DOWN, THEY'RE GONNA PUT 'EM BACK UP.
THEY'RE NOT EVEN GONNA LEAVE THE SITE.
THEY'RE GONNA WORK THERE, UH, STRAIGHT THROUGH UNTIL IT'S FINISHED.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT EVEN IF THEY'RE, SURE, MAYBE YOU COULD JUST ASK HER.
WE COULD USE A DIGITAL BOARD SAYING IT'S, UH, THEY'RE GONNA BE REPLACED, WE HAVE TO REPLACE IT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING SO PEOPLE PASSING, WE WILL, WE WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE COULD DO A DIGITAL BOARD ALSO.
UM, SO ANYBODY WANT TO TALK? NO, THEN I MOVE THAT WE CLOSE THE HEARING AND LEAVE THE RECORD OPEN.
JUST ANSWER NO SIGNED UP THAT THERE'S NO NO SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO NOW DO WE HAVE A SECOND? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[01:25:01]
AYE.AYE, NOW WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UH, CAN WE HAVE LEE LEFKOWITZ PROBABLY LEFT, LEFT NANDA PO.
IF YOU COULD SPELL IT WHEN YOU GET UP HERE.
[ PUBLIC COMMENT Advanced signup is required. A continuous five-minute limit per speaker will be strictly enforced. The clock will start when a speaker begins speaking and will not be stopped for any reason until the speaker is finished, or five minutes have elapsed, whichever occurs first. Interruptions by Town Board members, the Town Clerk or the public will not be permitted. If a speaker insists on an immediate answer, should an answer be provided, it shall be part of the speaker's five-minute allocation and not be interrupted. There will not be a second five-minute round. Any written comments sent to PublicComment@GreenburghNY.com by 4 PM the day of the hearing will be forwarded to all Town Board members in advance of the meeting for their consideration. Written comments will not be read at the meeting unless the original author is present to do so.]
YOU, YOU CAN SPEAK ON WHATEVER TOPIC YOU WANT DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.THE PUBLIC HEARINGS PORTION HAS, IS OVER.
EVERY SPEAKER WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
THERE ARE CLOCKS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROOM.
UH, I WILL STOP YOU AT FIVE MINUTES, SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND ALSO NO PERSONAL ATTACKS ARE ALLOWED.
WELL, HELLO TO EVERYBODY AND, UH, GOOD EVENING.
CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL OF YOUR REELECTION.
I'M A RESIDENT OF 1 4 5 CLAYTON ROAD, SCARSDALE, NEW YORK, 1 0 5 8 3.
I PURCHASED MY PROPERTY, UH, IN APRIL, 2015.
MY HOUSE AND THE DRIVEWAY FACES, UM, AND OPENS INTO CLAYTON ROAD, UM, AND THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY PROPERTY IS ADJACENT TO LONGVIEW ROAD FOR APPROXIMATELY A HUNDRED FEET.
WHEN I PURCHASED THE PROPERTY IN 2015, THERE WAS NO SIDEWALK ON, UH, LONGVIEW SIDE.
IN 2022, THE TOWN MAYOR DECISION TO PUT UP A SIDEWALK TO FACILITATE CHILDREN GOING TO GREENVILLE PUB PRIMARY SCHOOL IS A FANTASTIC INITIATIVE FOR THE SCHOOL CHILDREN TO WALK.
THAT SAID, THE TOWN OR THE STATE NEEDS A LANDOWNER OF ANY PROPERTY, ABETTING ANY STREET, UM, UH, TO, TO, TO CLEAR, UH, AND KEEP IT FREE OF, UH, SNOW, ICE, DIRT AND STUFF LIKE THAT WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER AN OBSTRUCTION IS CREATED.
I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SOME SEVERAL POINTS REGARDING THIS.
UM, NONE OF US ON THAT LONGVIEW ROAD REQUESTED FOR THE SIDEWALK TO BE INSTALLED ADJACENT TO OUR PROPERTIES.
OUR CONSENT WASN'T SOUGHT BY THE TOWN BEFORE INSTALLING THE SIDEWALK ADJACENT TO OUR PROPERTIES, NOT ONLY WAS CONCERN NOT TAKEN, UH, FROM US, WE WEREN'T EVEN EXPLAINED THAT ONCE THE SIDEWALK IS INSTALLED, WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO CLEAR THE SNOW ON IT, AND WE WERE NOT FURTHER AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERNS PRIOR TO INSTALLING THE SIDEWALK.
IF HE HAD KNOWN THIS, WE WOULD'VE REQUISITE DOWN TO NOT INSTALL THE SIDEWALKS AT ALL, OR NOT INSTALL IT ON THE SIDE OF OUR ROAD.
THE SIDEWALK IS A PROPERTY OF THE TOWN AND NOT A PART OF OUR PROPERTY, SO IT'S NOT CLEAR WHY IT WOULD BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP THAT CLEAN.
UH, THIS IS A CLASSIC CASE OF HAVING RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, UH, BUT MORE AUTHORITY WHATSOEVER UNLESS THE TOWN PLANS TO ADD THAT ACREAGE TO OUR PROPERTY BOUNDARIES AS WELL.
FINALLY, THE TOWN'S OWN PLOWS, UM, PUSHED THE SNOW ON THE ROAD, UH, TO THE SIDEWALK WHILE WE CLEARED THOSE TODAY IN FRONT OF OUR DRIVE DRIVEWAYS.
WHY ARE WE RESIDENTS EXPECTED TO CLEAR THE SNOW ON THE SIDEWALKS THAT GET DUMPED WITH MORE SNOW BY THE TOWN'S OWN PLOWS? UM, OUR TAXES AVERAGE UPWARDS OF 35,000 PER ANNUM.
WE BEYOND THE 99TH PERCENTILE OF HIGHEST PROPERTY TAXES, COUNTIES AND TOWNS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THOSE TAX DOLLARS ARE WHAT GET USED TO MAINTAINING THE TOWN AND THE FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF SIDEWALKS CURRENTLY UNDER DISCUSSION.
IN ADDITION TO PAYING THE PROPERTY TAXES AT THE HIGHEST END OF THE SPECTRUM, WE CAN'T BE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR CLEARING THE SNOW ON THE SIDEWALKS THAT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED USING OUR TAX DOLLARS IN CASE WE ARE PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO CLEAR IT.
UM, I HAVE NOT USED A SIDEWALK EVEN ONCE IN THE LAST THREE YEARS DESPITE THAT.
UM, I HAVE DONE THE CIVIC DUTY OF SHOVELING A HUNDRED FEET OF SNOW ON MY SIDEWALK IN ADDITION TO SHOVELING MY DRIVEWAY AND WALKWAY EVERY SINGLE TIME IT'S SNOWED FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
THAT'S A CASE OF ALL THE RESIDENTS, UM, ON, ON LONGVIEW.
UM, AND WHO ARE MY NEIGHBORS IN FRENCH HERE? UM, SO, UM, THIS DOESN'T FEEL RIGHT OR FAIR.
UM, THE SIDEWALK HELPS ALL RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN AND MORE SPECIFICALLY CHILDREN OF THE TOWN TO WALK TO SCHOOL DURING WINTER.
IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT ALL CITIZENS CONTRIBUTE TO ITS MAINTENANCE.
SO THE FAIREST WAY TO DO THAT IS THAT TOWN TAKES UP THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SHOVELING THE SNOW, ESPECIALLY ON ROADS LEADING TO SCHOOLS.
UH, THE EASIEST WAY, UM, IS, IS FOR THE SHOVELING, UM, YOU KNOW, IS TO MAKE A RULE THAT, UM, SHOVELING THE SNOW FROM NEW SIDEWALKS ON LONGVIEW ROAD AND ACTUALLY ANY ROAD WITHIN ONE MILE OF ANY ELEMENTARY OR HIGH SCHOOL IN THE TOWN, UH, BE TAKEN OVER BY THE TOWN.
UH, THIS WILL MAKE IT EQUITABLE AND FOR EVERYONE IN THE TOWN TO SHARE THE EXPENSE OF A COMMON AMENITY, UH, FOR ALL OF US.
UH, THAT TOWN SHOULD ALSO STOP PLACING MORE SNOW IN FRONT OF OUR DRIVEWAYS.
THIS IS NOT A BIG ASK AND WE WILL ALL DEEPLY APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD PLEASE, UM, TAKE CARE OF THIS FOR US.
CAN I ASK THE BOARD A QUESTION? BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE SNOW, UH, POLICY ON SIDEWALKS AND COULD WE SCHEDULE LIKE A, A DATE CERTAIN WHEN WE COULD PUT THIS ON THE WORK SESSION AGENDA AND THEN, YOU KNOW, MAKE A DECISION? YOU KNOW, WE WERE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SIDEWALK DISTRICTS MM-HMM
UM, THAT COULD ADDRESS, UH, THIS, AND I FEEL THAT IF WE JUST SAY WE'RE GOING TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MEETING, IT COULD BE TWO WEEKS FROM NOW, IT COULD BE JUST PICK A
[01:30:01]
DATE AND THEN WE CAN SAY, WE'LL MAKE A DECISION WITHIN A MONTH AFTER THAT, THEN, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY SHOULD BE A TOP PRIORITY BECAUSE IT'S, IT REALLY IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.AND, YOU KNOW, WE ALL KNOW THAT WE NEED MORE SIDEWALKS.
WE HAVE TO MAKE THE AREA MORE PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY.
AND, UM, AND THE SNOW POLICY IS MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THE SIDEWALKS, UM, YOU KNOW, MORE SIDEWALKS APPROVED BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE, DON'T LIKE THE IDEA THAT THEY HAVE TO SHOVEL IT.
SO WOULD WE BE ABLE TO PICK A DATE NOW THAT WE COULD ALL LET SAY TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY ON TUESDAY, COULD WE PUT THIS AS THE GENDER ITEM AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE'LL DISCUSS IT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE COULD SEE IF WE COULD CO YOU KNOW, UH, JOE, HIS OFFICE ALREADY CAME UP WITH SOME OPTIONS.
WE COULD DISCUSS OPTIONS AND WE'LL MAKE IT, WE SHOULD MAKE A DECISION.
WHY DON'T WE SEE WHAT HOLLY HAS AGENDA SCHEDULED IN ADVANCE AND THEN SCHEDULE SOMETHING ACCORDINGLY.
BUT COULD WE DO SOMETHING LIKE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS? WELL, LET'S SEE WHAT HOLLY HAS.
SHE'S TALKED TO HOLLY ALREADY.
SO WE'LL, DO YOU KNOW WHAT, WHY DON'T YOU EMAIL ME AND THEN I'LL GET, I'LL EMAIL YOU AND ANYBODY ELSE HERE, UH, THE DATE OF THE DISCUSSION.
AND THEN WE'LL, YOU KNOW, WE'LL TRY MAKING A POLICY, YOU KNOW, ADOPTING A POLICY.
I, I THINK EVERYBODY ON THE TOWN BOARD, WE'VE SAID THAT, UH, SIDEWALKS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES NEAR SCHOOLS OR, UH, TRAIN STATIONS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SHOULD CLEAR THOSE I THINK.
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW THEY HAVE TO BE CLEAR HOW THEY CAN BE CLEARED.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THERE, THERE'S SOME COMPLICATIONS.
SO WE JUST HAVE TO GET THROUGH THAT, RIGHT.
SO WE HAVE A DISCUSSION AND IF WE CAN AFFORD IT.
AND WE ARE HAPPY TO COME AND CHAT WITH YOU ALL AGAIN.
YOU KNOW, IF, IF, IF YOU SCHEDULE SOMETHING MORE.
I'M JUST RIGHT IN THE, THE SNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, BASICALLY HAVING, UM, A, A SNOW DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, UH, SIDEWALK DISTRICT.
THAT'S THE WAY, A WAY OF REALLY ADDRESSING WELL, WELL, WHY DON'T WE HEAR ALL THE PROS AND CONS WHEN WE HAVE OUR MEETING.
SO WILL WE BE CALLED FOR IT, MA'AM? FOR, FOR THAT? YEAH, WE'LL JUST WORK SESSIONS, UH, TYPICALLY IS JUST A DISCUSSION AMONGST THE TOWN BOARD, HOWEVER, WILL BE BROADCAST, THE AUDIENCE WILL BE OPEN IF YOU'D LIKE TO ATTEND AND FUTURE TOWN BOARD MEETINGS, PEOPLE CAN COME UP AND SPEAK ON THAT JUST LIKE YOU ARE NOW DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
IT'S NOT AN INTERACTIVE PROCESS WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THE BOARD.
IT'S AMONG US TO DISCUSS WHETHER IT'S LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OR LOGISTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING, UM, FOR EVERYONE TO HEAR AND, AND LISTEN.
AND THEN IT INFORMS YOU SO THAT THE NEXT TIME WE HAVE A TOWN BOARD MEETING, WHETHER IT'S THE NEXT NIGHT OR A WEEK AND A DAY FROM THAT, UM, WORK SESSION, THEN YOU CAN COME AND COMMENT.
SO THE WORK SESSIONS ARE TUESDAYS AT FIVE 30.
THE BOARD MEETINGS ARE EVERY, ARE ARE THE SECOND AND FOURTH.
WE, UH, WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH.
SO IT'S SEPARATE, RIGHT? THE WORK SESSION IS NOT INTERACTIVE.
THE BOARD MEETING IS, AND, AND IF YOU, IF YOU WANT TO RESPOND, REACT RIGHT AWAY, THEN WRITE TO US AND TOWN BOARD AT GREENBURG AND RIGHT.
AND SO IF YOU CAN COME GIMME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS, I CAN MAKE SURE YOU GET THE PROPER INFORMATION.
WE'LL, WE'LL, WE'LL DO, AND I'LL ALSO LOVE TO KNOW, I MEAN, I'LL EMAIL THE BOARD, UM, IF THERE'S A POLICY, UM, TO CLOSE DOWN SIDEWALKS IF YOU DON'T AGREE WITH, YOU KNOW, TO PETITION THE, THE, THE TOWN, UM, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, WHICH DOESN'T, UM, HELP, YOU KNOW, ENABLE US TO SORT OF, YOU KNOW, SHOVEL THE SNOW BY OURSELVES.
SO IF THERE'S A POLICY FOR THAT, WE CAN ALSO PETITION FOR THAT TOO.
WELL, WE'RE DEFINITELY NOT GONNA WORK ON THIS AND I REALLY APPRECIATE IT AND I THINK YOUR, UH, PRESENTATION, YOU KNOW, WAS VERY, VERY, YOU KNOW, HELPFUL BECAUSE IT, IT'S AN ISSUE THAT REALLY WE HAVE TO ADDRESS AND ADDRESS IT SOON.
SO IF YOU CAN COME, UM, NEXT WE HAVE ERICA, PUT YOUR EMAIL.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE OFFICIALS WHO GOT REELECTED.
SO I HAVE TO JUST MAKE TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
ONE QUESTION AND ONE ANNOUNCEMENT.
UH, LET ME JUST, UH, PURSUE WITH THE QUESTION.
I HAVE APPLIED FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND I WAS INTERVIEWED BY LYNN COBB AND LYNN GOODMAN ON ZOOM, SO IT WENT VERY WELL.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I SEND AN EMAIL AND THANKS TO MR. PAUL FINER FOR INSPIRING ME TO BE A PART OF THE COMMITTEE.
SO I HAVE A VERY HUMBLE APPEAL TO THE BEAUTIFUL BOARD AND VERY TALENTED BOARD THAT IF
[01:35:01]
YOU CAN KINDLY, UH, INCLUDE ME IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.SO THIS IS ONE REQUEST AND, UM, UH, THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT I WANT TO MAKE IS THAT, FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, I THANK PAUL ER BECAUSE, UM, I WAS RUNNING AGAINST HIM AND, UM, MY MENTOR, ONE OF MY MENTOR, MR. STEVE BASS, UH, VERY TALENTED, VERY CARING, UH, MENTOR, HE'S THE CHAIRPERSON OF GREENBERG.
HE ADVISED THAT WHY DON'T YOU ATTEND AS MANY AS TOWN BOARD MEETINGS AS POSSIBLE? SO THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE SEEN ME THAT I KEEP ON COMING AND TRY TO GET MYSELF EDUCATED, UH, IN THE TOWN BOARD, UH, MEETINGS AND THE DISCUSSIONS.
UM, I AM TRYING TO, UH, ENHANCE MY KNOWLEDGE.
UM, I'M VERY MUCH THANKFUL TO THE TOWN SUPERVISOR FOR PROVIDING ME A BEAUTIFUL PLATFORM TO, UM, INCLUDE MYSELF BEING THE HOST OF THE GREEN BAR CABLE TELEVISION.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I HAVE ALREADY APPROACHED TO GINA AND TO FRANCIS, SO I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE, UM, WHOEVER IT MAY CONCERN IN MY PANEL.
SO IT IS RELATED TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS, UH, ACTIVISM ON REAL ISSUES.
THE DISCUSSIONS I HAVE DONE EPISODE ONE AND TWO RIGHT NOW, AND EVERY MONTH I'M MEETING.
AND, UM, IT CAN BE EITHER A CELEBRITY OR A POLITICIAN OR LIKE PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITY, REAL PEOPLE, REAL ISSUES.
SO I WOULD MORE THAN APPRECIATE IF YOU CAN INSPIRE ME AND WHETHER ACTIVELY OR PASSIVELY, WHETHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, EVERY SINGLE DAY, EVERY SINGLE MOMENT I'M LEARNING FROM YOU ALL.
SO YOU ALL ARE MY MENTORS IN SOME WAY OR THE OTHER, AND I'M NOT GONNA APPRECIATE YOUR KIND SUPPORT.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT.
I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT YOUR CABLE TV SHOW, AND I THINK, UH, YOU DEFINITELY ARE, UH, ONE OF THE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC CABLE TV UM, HOSTS.
AND OUR PUBLIC ACCESS, UH, PROGRAMMING IS, IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT GIVES PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, SHARE INFORMATION WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK YOUR SHOWS IS GONNA BE ONE OF THE BEST IN, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE TOWN.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING ALL, ALL THE FUTURE EPISODES AND YOU KNOW, I, I REALLY THANK YOU FOR, UM, YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE TOWN AND HUMAN RIGHTS ALSO.
AND I THINK IT'S A, A GREAT, UM, SERVICE THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A SHOW FOCUSING ON HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES.
AND I MORE AND APPRECIATE TERRANCE AND SAM, THE STUDIO ENGINEERS.
I MEAN, THE BEAUTIFULLY THEY COMPOSED THE VIDEOS, IT IS, IT LOOKS LIKE A MOVIE.
AND, UH, THANK YOU, LISA, FOR THE SNACKS YOU PROVIDED TODAY,
I'M LEARNING SO MUCH FROM YOU ALL.
SO YOU ALL ARE MY MENTORS, WHETHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ACTIVELY OR PASSIVELY.
CLIFF, DID YOU WANNA SPEAK ABOVE COMMENTS? YES.
HAPPY NEW YEAR'S, RIGHT? HAVE VERY EMOTIONAL, FRANCIS, I'M GLAD YOU HERE, MAN.
AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU KNOW THE SUPPORT YOU'RE GETTING THAT YOU'RE GETTING.
AND I, I ENJOY SITTING BACK THERE WATCHING IT ALL.
UM, PAUL ASKED ME TO GET SOME YOUTH FOR THE ANGELS, SNOW ANGELS AND UM, I GOT ABOUT FOUR OF MY YOUTH, RIGHT? AND IT IS FUNNY, SO PAUL GAVE ME, TEXT ME THE NAME, THE NUMBER.
SO WHEN I CALLED HER UP, SHE GOT 10 PEOPLE THERE ALREADY,
SO I SAID, HEY, LOOK, NO PROBLEM.
SHE TOOK MY NAME DOWN AND I SAID, WHEN THE SNOW, GIVE ME YOUR CALL AND WE'D BE THERE TO HELP YOU.
YOU KNOW? SO, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE LOOKING FORWARD TO DO.
UM, WE JUST GOT FINISHED HAVING A, UM, COLLABORATION WITH WILLENS HIGH SCHOOL.
I TALKED TO THE ASSISTANT, UH, SUPERINTENDENT, AND WE GOING TO COME DO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS UP THERE WITH THE KIDS.
SO THAT'S GONNA HELP US OUT BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO GIVE US A BASE OF YOUTH RIGHT THERE.
AND THEY KIND OF SIDE IT BECAUSE THEY HAVE, UM, WHAT'S
[01:40:01]
THAT? MY BROTHER KEEPERS MM-HMMUM, I GUESS WITH WASHINGTON, THEIR MONEY DIDN'T COME IN YET, SO IT'S GONNA BE HELPFUL FOR ME TO BRING SOME PROGRAMS IN.
AND WE WENT, TODAY, I DID A MASTER DRUMMING AND WE DID SOME DRUMMING THERE WITH THE YOUTH.
UM, AND LASTLY, UM, I HEARD THAT, UM, I SENT YA EMAIL BECAUSE I HEARD THAT IT WAS PASSED WITH THE, UM, THE GRANT.
I'M LOOKING AT JOY LOOKING AT ME LIKE YOU, IT'S NOT A GRANT, IT'S JUST, IT'S IN THE BUDGET.
AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, I WAS WAITING FOR JOE TO GIVE US A CALL BECAUSE THIS WILL BE HELPFUL FOR US, WILL BE WILL HIGH SCHOOL TO DO THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO.
UH, JOE, WHEN DO YOU THINK WE WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE A CONTRACT AND THEN, UH, ISSUE THE PAYMENT? SO WE, YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE THE INITIAL PROPOSAL.
UM, SO IT'S NOT A CONTRACT, RIGHT? IT'S RIGHT.
I'LL GET BACK TO YOU IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND AND WE COULD WORK IT OUT.
THE SOONER, IF YOU DO IT A WEEK, IT'D BE NICE IF A FEW WEEKS YOU CAN, YOU KNOW.
AND I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS SNOW ANGELS, YOU KNOW, WHILE I WAS ON VACATION, UH, THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO CALLED ME OR EMAILED ME, UM, AND, UH, SHE WAS 95 YEARS OLD, RIGHT.
HAS CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, UM, AND NEEDED THE, UH, SNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, CLEARED.
SO I CONTACTED VIVIAN HOLLAND, WHO'S A COORDINATOR OF THE SNOW ANGELS PROGRAM, LIVES IN, UH, IN EDGEMONT.
AND, YOU KNOW, SHE AND HER FAMILY DID THAT.
AND THEN A COUPLE MINUTES LATER GOT AN EMAIL FROM SOMEBODY WHO HAS PARKINSON'S, PARKINSON'S, WHO'S 80 YEARS OLD.
UM, AND I THINK I EMAILED YOU ALSO YES.
BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED THAT WE WEREN'T GONNA BE ABLE TO HELP THEM.
AND, UM, THEY WORKED THE HOLLAND FAMILY, THEY HAD THE WHOLE FAMILY, UM, HELPED OVER SIX FAMILY, SIX HOMES, LIKE IMMEDIATELY.
BUT I CALL, I SPOKE TO THEM ON MONDAY AFTERNOON, AND, UM, I SUGGESTED THAT, UH, THEY ASSIGN YOU SOME HOMES IN FAIRVIEW BECAUSE THAT'S THE AREA WHERE YOU HAVE THE COMMUNITY CENTER WITHOUT WALLS.
BUT I REALLY THINK THAT IT'S LIKE REALLY FANTASTIC.
BUT I, I REALLY THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY, IT'S REALLY VERY, VERY COMMENDABLE THAT THE COMMUNITY CENTER, WITHOUT WALLS, WITHOUT WALLS, YOU KNOW, YOUR INITIATIVE IS ACTUALLY, UH, TAKING THE LEAD ON THE SNOW ANGELS PROGRAM AND GONNA BE HELPING US COORDINATE, UM, UH, PROGRAMS FOR RESIDENTS OF FAIRVIEW.
UM, AND, YOU KNOW, IT IS JUST A REAL, BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD THAT IN THE PAST.
WE, WE NEED, WE DEFINITELY NEED PEOPLE.
AND IF WE COULD SAY YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF THE FAIRVIEW AREA MM-HMM
THERE, SOMEBODY ELSE IS IN CHARGE OF EDGEMONT OR HARSDALE, THAT'S THE WAY WE CAN MAKE THIS MORE SUSTAINABLE.
SO I'M LIKE SO GRATEFUL AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED IT AND, UM, AND, YOU KNOW, REALLY APPRECIATIVE AND CONGRATULATIONS, ALAN FRANCIS AND LISA.
SO WE'LL, THE CHECK'S NOT IN THE MAIL.
NOT IN THE MAIL YET, BUT IT WILL BE OKAY.
ANYBODY ELSE? IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTED TO SPEAK THAT DID NOT SIGN UP? NO.
UM, SUPERVISOR, UM, IF I CAN JUST MAKE AN, AN ANNOUNCEMENT.
UM, THE GREENBERG BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM INITIATIVE, UM, THEY ARE HAVING, UH, THEIR DISPLAY AT TOWN HALL.
SO WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE COME AND SUPPORT THIS, UM, INITIATIVE.
UM, IN CONJUNCTION WITH, UH, THE GREENBERG, UM, TOWN HALL SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE, TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE, UM, FAIRVIEW EMPOWERMENT GROUP, AND OF COURSE THE BLACK GREENBERG HISTORY MU MUSEUM INITIATIVE COMMITTEE.
UM, ALSO, UM, THE, UH, MUSEUM INITIATIVE IS ALSO GOING TO BE HAVING A BOOK TALK ON FEBRUARY 4TH AT THE GREENBURG PUBLIC LIBRARY.
AND WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING A TALK, I'M SORRY, NOT A BOOK TALK, A TALK WITH THE SCULPTURE GREENBURG NATIVE, UH, VINNY BAGWELL.
SO WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UM, SHE'S AN INCREDIBLE SCULPTOR.
SHE'S AMAZING, INCREDIBLE, AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL WORK.
AND NOT ONLY IS SHE A GREENBERG NATIVE, SHE IS A MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI AND
[ BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Reappointment of Stephen Cowles to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, for a term to expire December 31, 2026]
OUR REAPPOINTMENT OF STEVEN ALS THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD FOR A TERM TO EXPIRE DECEMBER 31ST, 2026.AYE, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN BOARD OR A TTT ONE, A B ONE A S NO TB
[ TB 1 - 01/14/2026 Resolution of the Town Board authorizing a Loaner Agreement with the Village of Ardsley for a loan of a certain item known as the “Ardsley Story Quilt” for a short-term display at the Anthony F. Veteran Park Community Center ]
ONE, ONE T ONE RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN BOARD AUTHORIZING A LOAN OR AGREEMENT WITH THE VILLAGE OF LEY FOR A LOAN OF A CERTAIN ITEM KNOWN AS HARLEY'S STORY QUOTE FOR A SHORT TERM DISPLAY AT THE ANTHONY VETERAN PARK COMMUNITY CENTER.[01:45:01]
UM,[ AS 1 - 01/14/2026 Resolution authorizing the Supervisor to execute a three-year license agreement with GAR Associates LLC, to provide valuation and assessment appeal software and associated professional services, at an annual cost not to exceed $35,000 without further Town Board approval]
A S ONE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUPERVISOR TO EXECUTE A THREE I YEAR LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH GAR ASSOCIATES TO PROVIDE VALUATION, UM, AND ASSESSMENT APPEAL SOFTWARE AND ASSOCIATED PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, AN ANNUAL COST NOT TO EXCEED 35,000 WITHOUT FURTHER, UM, TOWN BOARD APPROVAL.[ AT 1 – 01/14/2026 Resolution authorizing the retention of the law firm of Morris Duffy Alonso Faley & Pitcoff to represent the Town of Greenburgh in the matter of Deborah Kavourias as Administratrix of the estate of Stephanie Kavourias, deceased v. the Town of Greenburgh, for an amount not to exceed $25,000, $50,000 in total]
I'M, UM, NOT GONNA VOTE FOR A T ONE.UM, AND YOU KNOW, HAL SAM, UH, LAST NIGHT EMAILED ME WITH, YOU KNOW, A GOOD POINT.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S REALLY ANY CHANCE THAT WE'RE GONNA WIN LOSE THIS CASE WITH THE STEPHANIE VORE, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S SO A LOT.
WE DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG.
AND I SORT OF FEEL THAT BY HIRING AN OUTSIDE LAWYER, IT'S SENDING THE WRONG MESSAGE TO THE OTHER SIDE THAT, UM, WE'RE TAKING THIS REALLY VERY SERIOUSLY AND THEY'RE GONNA THINK THAT WE WILL NEGOTIATE A SETTLEMENT.
AND THIS IS THE CASE THAT THERE'S LIKE NO WAY ANYBODY COULD THINK THAT, UM, THAT THE TOWN IS RESPONSIBLE AT ALL FOR THIS.
SO I'M VOTING AGAINST THIS, BUT IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO MAKE A MOTION, THEY CAN.
WELL I'LL MAKE THE MOTION RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING RETENTION OF THE LA LAW FIRM OF MO MA MORRIS DUFFY, ALFONSO FINNEY, AND PICKOFF TO REPRESENT THE TOWN OF GREENBURG IN A MATTER OF DEBORAH CAVA AS ADMINISTRATIVE STATE OF STEPHANIE CAVAS DECEASED VERSUS THE TOWN OF GREENBURG FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 25,050,000 IN TOTAL.
JOE, I'VE NOTICED ON TB ONE, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT WENT THROUGH THE TOWN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
IT DOESN'T HAVE THE TOWN ATTORNEY AS A NOTICED PARTY, AND IT DOESN'T SAY THAT THE MODIFICATIONS HAVE TO BE DUE TO, SO I, I BELIEVE THEN THE WRONG AGREEMENT WAS ADDED BECAUSE I DID GO OVER THIS CONTRACT AND I DID ADD BOTH OF THOSE NECESSARY PROVISIONS.
SO WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON IS THE ONE THAT IS WHAT I MEAN.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THAT HAPPENED.
UM, I DID SUBMIT THE PROPER ONE.
UM, CAN YOU, WOULD YOU MIND VOTE REVOLTING AS AMENDED TO MAKE THOSE NECESSARY INCLUSIONS? I'LL REVOTE TB ONE.
TB ONE AS AMENDED RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN BOARD AUTHORIZING A LOAN OR AGREEMENT WITH THE VILLAGE OF LEY FOR A LOAN, A CERTAIN ITEM KNOWN AS LEY STORY QUOTE FOR A SHORT TERM DISPLAY AT ANTHONY
DO YOU WANT TO MENTION THE AMENDMENT? YES.
UH, WELL I BELIEVE WHAT COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, SHEHAN JUST SAID WAS THAT THE TWO AMENDMENTS ARE, ONE IS, UH, ANY FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE AGREEMENT HAVE TO BE DONE BY A DULY ADOPTED TOWN BOARD RESOLUTION.
AND THE OTHER IS NOTIFICATION SHOULD BE SENT TO THE TOWN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
CAN WE FINISH A T ONE PLEASE? I HAVE A SECOND BY COUNCILWOMAN HABER.
WE DID ALL, WE SAID ALL FAVOR.
I THOUGHT SUPERVISOR FINDER WAS VOTING AGAINST IT.
[ AT 2 - 01/14/2026 Resolution authorizing the continued retention of Thomas J. Troetti, Esq., to represent Greenburgh Police Officer Joseph Falcone in the matter of Tina Scolpini v. the Town of Greenburgh, et al, for an amount not to exceed $25,000, $200,000 in total]
OKAY.A T TWO RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CONTINUED RETENTION OF THOMAS RETI TO REPRESENT GREENBURG POLICE OFFICER JOSEPH FCON IN THE MATTER OF TINA SINI VERSUS THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, UH, FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 25,200,000 IN TOTAL.
[ AT 3 - 01/14/2026 Resolution authorizing the continued retention of Thomas J. Troetti, Esq., to represent Greenburgh Police Officer Jason Vlasaty, and authorizing the continued retention to represent Greenburgh Police Officer Joanny James and Sergeant Dyana Albano in the matter of Patrick A. Navas v. the Town of Greenburgh, et al, for an amount not to exceed an additional $25,000, $125,000 in total]
UH, 18 THREE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CONTINUED RETENTION OF THOMAS TI TO REPRESENT GREENBERG POLICE OFFICER JASON PLUS STATE AND AUTHORIZE THE CONTINUED RETENTION TO REPRESENT GREENBERG POLICE OFFICER JOANNA JAMES AND SERGEANT DEANNA ALBANO IN THE MATTER OF PATRICK NOVICE VERSUS THE TOWN OF GREENBURG FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEEDING ADDITIONAL 25,000 125,000 IN TOTAL.UM, CAN I JUST ASK, UH, JOE A QUESTION ON THAT? JUST, I JUST HAD A QUESTION.
THE, THE, THE THE LAW REQUIRES US TO HIRE, UM, AN ATTORNEY OF THE PBAS UH, CHOOSING IS THAT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE PBA, IT'S THE, THE OFFICER.
THEY, SO THE OFFICER COULD, SO WE, WE, YES.
AND TOM, TOM RETI HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME AND HAS ESTABLISHED A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GREENBERG POLICE OFFICERS.
UM, AND, AND WE HAVE SOME OTHER ATTORNEYS WHO WORK WITH OUR POLICE OFFICER AS WELL, UH, AS WELL.
AND WE FIND THEY DO A FANTASTIC JOB AND WE'VE HAD GREAT RESULTS WITH
AND I KNOW TOM INDICATED THAT HE'S RETIRING.
UH, AND THE ONLY QUESTION THAT I'M, UM, THIS IS JUST A OFF THE, YOU KNOW, TOP OF MY HEAD QUESTION.
WOULD IT, WOULD WE BE BETTER OFF IF WE SAID TO THE POLICE THAT UH, WE COULD, YOU KNOW, WE COULD HIRE SOMEBODY, UM, WHO WOULD BE ON THE PAYROLL, WHO WOULD DO ALL
[01:50:01]
THESE CASES RATHER THAN CONSTANTLY, YOU KNOW, BE SPENDING 200,000 HERE, 125? I THINK WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES.NO, I'M JUST, I'M JUST ASKING AND WE NEED TO FIND THAT PERSON.
WE KEPT, WE KEEP HAVING THE SAME CONVERSATION.
NO, BUT I'M SAYING NOW THAT THERE'S GONNA BE, UH, I MEAN TOM IS, BUT THE, THE CONVERSATION IS THAT WE'RE SHORT AN ATTORNEY, BUT ALSO THE OFFICERS DO HAVE A RIGHT TO BE REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL OUTSIDE OF THE TOWN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
AND I COULD PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH A OKAY PRIVILEGE AND CONFIDENTIAL MEMO DETAILING THE LAW ITSELF.
NOT, NOT ONLY THAT WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS, POLICE OFFICERS HAVE MADE THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH VINCE TOONEY BECAUSE EACH ONE COULD GET A DIFFERENT ONE AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO ALL DO THE BACKGROUND WORK, BUT BY USING THE SAME PERSON IT SAVES, IT SAVES THOSE HOURS.
NO, I'M JUST SAYING IF WE, IF THEY AGREED ON AN OFFICE ON A LAWYER THAT THEY LIKED AND THEN WE PUT THEM THAT PERSON ON THE PAYROLL, THEN WE WOULDN'T BE, WE WOULDN'T HAVE THESE HOURLY.
WHY WOULD WE DO THAT? PAYROLL THAT'S, I'M JUST, I'M JUST THROWING OUT.
BUT PEOPLE'VE, LOOK AT THE, WELL RIGHT NOW ONE'S 125,000 OTHER ONE'S, UH, 200,000, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER'S 50,000, YOU KNOW I'M SAYING, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE DISCUSSED IF IS IF WE HAVE SOMEONE ON PAYROLL AND WE ARE PAYING THE BENEFITS IN ADDITION THAT THE COST TO HAVE A PAY SOMEONE ON PAYROLL DO THE WORK WOULD BE, IT WOULD BE A WASH WITH THEIR OUTSIDE ATTORNEY.
BUT THEN, BUT YOU'VE ASKED AND WE'VE SAID IT, WE'VE ASKED AND ANSWERED THIS.
SO IS THIS FOR THE PUBLIC THAT YOU'RE ASKING THIS? NO, I'M ASKING FOR EVERYBODY.
YOU KNOW, I'M JUST, SO THAT'S THE REASON SORT OF BECAUSE I'M JUST TRYING, I'M JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION LIKE ELLEN, YOU MENTIONED BEFORE, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR CREATIVE WAYS OF CUTTING, YOU KNOW, COSTS AND ABSOLUTELY WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING.
AND WE DO, BUT THIS WOULDN'T NECESSARILY CUT COSTS, WHICH IS THE POINT OF IT.
[ AT 4 - 01/14/2026 Resolution authorizing settlement of property damage related Claim, File No.: 48/25C, by Alice Emmer, for an amount not to exceed $7,150]
A T FOUR, UH, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE RELATED CLAIM BY ALICE AMER FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $7,150.[ AT 5 - 01/14/2026 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner 14 Bayley Associates LLC for property located at 8 Washington Avenue. The Town’s share of the refund is $641±; the County’s share is $4,015±; the No. Yonkers Sewer District’s share is $854±; the Hastings-On-Hudson Union Free School District’s share is $30,449±. Refunds from all sources total $35,959±]
AYE.A T FIVE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TAX TERTIARY SETTLEMENT.
THE PETITIONER 14 BAILEY ASSOCIATES, UM, REFUNDS FROM WALL SOURCES 35,000 905 9.
[ AT 6 - 01/14/2026 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Princess Properties LLC for property located at 40 S. Central Ave. The Town’s share of the refund is $2,308±; the County’s share is $1,194±; the Bronx Valley Sewer District’s share is $196±; the Greenburgh Central School District’s share is $6,205±; the Hartsdale Fire District’s share is $2,181±; the Consolidated Sewer Mtc. District’s share is $85±. Refunds from all sources total $12,169±]
AYE.A T SIX RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TAX TERTIARY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER PRINCESS PROPERTIES FOR PROPERTY LOCATED 40 SOUTH CENTRAL AVENUE REFUNDS FROM WALL, UH, SOURCES TOTAL 12,169.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.
[ AT 7 - 01/14/2026 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner 280 DFR-NY LLC for property located at 280 Dobbs Ferrry Road. The Town’s share of the refund is $5,285±; the County’s share is $2,558±; the Bronx Valley Sewer District’s share is $533±; the Greenburgh Central School District’s share is $14,382±; the Fairview Fire District’s share is $4,129±; the Consolidated Sewer Mtc. District’s share is $178±. Refunds from all sources total $27,066±]
A SEVEN RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TAX TERTIARY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER TWO 80 D-F-R-Y-L-C REFUNDS FROM ALL SOURCES TOTAL $27,066.[ AT 8 - 01/14/2026 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner 552 Corp. for property located at 255 Broadway. The Town’s share of the refund is $202±; the County’s share is $1,259±; the No. Yonkers Sewer District’s share is $270±; the Dobbs Ferry Union Free School District ‘s share is $9,965±. Refunds from all sources total $11,695±]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TAX TERTIARY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER 5 5 2 CORP FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2 5 5 ROADWAY REFUNDS FROM ALL SOURCES TOTAL 11,695.[ AT 9 - 01/14/2026 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Margash LLC for property located at 36 Cross Hill Rd., 0 Clover Cl., and 0 Cross Hill Rd. The Town’s share of the refund is $5,574±; the County’s share is $2,687±; the Bronx Valley Sewer District’s share is $533±; the Greenburgh Central School District’s share is $14,930±; the Hartsdale Fire District’s share is $5,303±; the Consolidated Sewer Mtc. District’s share is $192±. Refunds from all sources total $29,219±]
AYE.18 NINE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TAX TERTIARY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER GASH FROM LLC FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 36 CROSS HILL ROAD.
UM, REFUNDS FROM ALL SOURCES 29,002, UH, 19.
[ AT 10 - 01/14/2026 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Central Wilson Properties LLC for property located at 17-12 Wilson St. and 20 N. Central Ave. The Town’s share of the refund is $4,396±; the County’s share is $2,160±; the Bronx Valley Sewer District’s share is $429±; the Greenburgh Central School District’s share is $11,914±; the Hartsdale Fire District’s share is $4,137±; the Consolidated Sewer Mtc. District’s share is $149±. Refunds from all sources total $23,185±]
AYE.UH, 80 10 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TAX TERTIARY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER CENTRAL WILSON PROPERTIES FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1712 WILSON STREET AND 20 UH, NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE REFUNDS FROM WALL SOURCES 23 185.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.
[ AT 11 - 01/14/2026 Resolution authorizing settlement of property damage related Claim, File No.: 145/25C by Michele Vacca, for an amount not to exceed $1,000]
AYE.AT T 11 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT, A PROPERTY DAMAGE ON, UH, RELATED CLAIM FILE NUMBER 1 45 25 C BY MICHELLE VACA FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED A THOUSAND DOLLARS.
[ AT 12 - 01/14/2026 Resolution authorizing the retention of Volz & Vigliotta, PLLC to represent the Public Administrator of Westchester County of the Estate of Detective Gerard Holley, in the matter of Leonard Mack v. Town of Greenburgh, et al., for an amount not to exceed $25,000]
A T 12 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE RETENTION OF VOL AND VITA TO REPRESENT THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY OF THE STATE OF DETECTIVE GERARD WHOLLY IN THE MATTER OF LEONARD MACK VERSUS TOWN OF GREENBURG FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 25,000.[ CO 1 - 01/14/2026 Resolution authorizing fiscal year 2025 budget transfers]
CO ONE AUTHORIZING FISCAL YEAR 2025.[ CO 2 - 01/14/2026 Resolution Approving Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Amendment to Cover the Cost of Stenographers for Town Board & Board of Ethics]
AYE.UM, CO2 RESOLUTION APPRO F UH, FISCAL YEAR 2 0 2 6.
BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO COVER THE COST OF STENOGRAPHERS FOR TOWN BOARD AND BOARD BOARD OF ETHICS.
[ CO 3 - 01/14/2026 Resolution amending the 2025 Town Outside and Debt Service Fund]
UH, CO THREE RESOLUTION AMENDING THE 2025 10 OUTSIDE AND DEBT, UH, SERVICE FUND.I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.
[ CO 4 - 01/14/2026 Resolution ratifying a Supplemental Memorandum of Agreement Between the Town of Greenburgh and Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 100AFSCME, AFL-CIO to reassign and ratify the title of Network Administrator to Group XIII in the current agreement]
CO FOUR RESOLUTION, UH, RATIFYING A SUPPLEMENTAL ME MO OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AND CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION.IT'S ME, A-F-L-C-O-C-I-O TO REASSIGN AND RATIFY
[01:55:01]
THE TITLE OF NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR TO GROUP, UM, X UH, ONE.ONE ONE IN THE CURRENT AGREEMENT.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT 15 SECOND.
[ CO 5 - 01/14/2026 Resolution authorizing Fiscal Year 2025 & 2026 budget amendments to reclassify funds to cover the cost of Snow Removal Vehicles & Van for the Department of Public Works]
A CO FIVE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND 26 BUDGET AMENDMENTS TO RECLASSIFY FUNDS TO COVER THE COST OF SNOW REMOVAL VEHICLES AND THE ENDS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.[ PR 1 - 01/14/2026 Resolution authorizing award to lowest bidder or New York State Contract Approved Vendor, whichever is lowest cost per item meeting specifications, for paper goods and kitchen supplies for 2026, at a cost not to exceed $40,618.85.]
AYE.UH, PR ONE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AWARD TO LOIS BIDDER OR A NEW YORK STATE CONTRACT APPROVED VENDOR, WHICHEVER IS LOWEST COST PER ITEM MEETING SPECIFICATIONS FOR PAPER GOODS AND KITCHEN SUPPLIES FOR 2026 AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED 40,618 $85.
I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.
[ PO 1 - 01/14/2026 Resolution promoting Police Officer Joseph Kelly to Detective]
POLICE OFFICER PO ONE, UH, PO OH ONE, UH, POLICE OFFICER JOSEPH KELLY TO DETECTIVE, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.[ PW 1 - 01/14/2026 Resolution awarding a professional services agreement for the Highway and Sanitation Garage spill remediation to D&B Engineers and Architects, D.P.C. for an amount not to exceed $56,987.70]
UH, PW ONE RESOLUTION AWARDING AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AGREEMENT, UH, FOR HIGHWAY AND SANITATION GARAGE BILL REMEDIATION TO D AND B ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 56,987 $70.I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.
[ PW 2 - 01/14/2026 Resolution awarding the bid for water treatment chemicals to the lowest responsible bidders for 2026]
AYE.A PW TWO RESOLUTION AWARDING THE BID FOR WATERED TREATMENT CHEMICALS TO THE LOWEST RESPONSIBLE BIDDER FOR 2026.
[ PW 3 - 01/14/2026 Resolution awarding the bid for chemical systems maintenance & repair services to Thomas English & Associates, Inc. for 2026]
AYE.PW THREE RESOLUTION AWARDING THE BID FOR CHEMICAL SYSTEMS MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR SERVICES TO THOMAS ENGLISH AND ASSOCIATES FOR 2026.
WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND.
UM, DID WE HAVE TO HAVE A, UH, RESOLUTION FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF, UM, AMY FOOT? OKAY.
SHE ALREADY GOT SWORN IN? NO, I KNOW SHE WAS SWORN IN, BUT THAT IT WAS, UH, UH, THE, UH, PREVIOUS, UH, OKAY.
SPECIAL MEETING 23RD, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THE READ, ADJOURN SECOND.