Highlights of Actions Taken by the Westchester County Board of Legislators at its August 11, 2008 Meeting

Written By: Talk of the Sound News

Please note: Votes are unanimous unless otherwise indicated. Absent: L. Bronz

Public Hearing Scheduled – Texting-while-Driving Ban
A public hearing on the proposed local law prohibiting text messaging while operating a vehicle has been set for Monday, September 8, 2008 at 10:30 AM.

Westchester Community College – 2008/09 Appropriation Approved
The Board adopted the Westchester Community College Budget for fiscal year September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2009, approving an appropriation of county funds of $24.26 million.

Social Host Law Passes
Looking to curb underage drinking and bolster the effort to protect the health and safety of minors, the County Board tonight approved a “Social Host Law” aimed at penalizing adults who create the opportunities for minors to drink alcohol. The law will take effect as soon as it is signed into law.
(15-1; No: Abinanti)

Cough Syrup “DXM” Law Passes
Law approved will prohibit the sale of over-the-counter cough suppressants made with Dextromethorphan, or DXM, to minors under the age of 18. The ban will take effect 120 days after it is signed into law. DXM, when taken in large doses, can cause intoxication and is increasingly being abused by young people. The legislation is also known as “Anthony’s Law,” after Anthony Viero, an 87-year old WWII veteran from Yonkers who was tragically killed in a car accident in Westchester in which the driver was intoxicated by DXM.
(15-0; Out, Abinanti)

Sleepy Hollow Affordable Housing Approved
The Board approved the purchase and construction of 163 new affordable rental units on approximately 2.4 acres of land in the Village of Sleepy Hollow (15-1; No: Oros)

Funding for RiverWalk Trailway in Tarrytown
The Board approved a $4 million bond act to extend the RiverWalk Trail System through the Village of Tarrytown.

County Sewer & Water Treatment Infrastructure Maintenance & Improvements

Bond acts approved to perform maintenance work in the following sewer districts:

Blind Brook ($300,000)
Mamaroneck ($350,000);
Ossining ($200,000)
Peekskill ($200,000)
Infrastructure Projects Cont’d

New Rochelle ($720,000)
Hutchinson Pump Station Rehabilitation ($800,000)
Flow Monitoring Equipment Purchase and Installation

Yonkers –flow monitoring equipment ($1.45 million)
Sound Shore (Blind Brook; Port Chester; Mamaroneck; and New Rochelle- flow monitoring equipment ($5.7 million)
Added to the Peekskill Sanitary Sewer District: 7 parcels from Town of Cortlandt; 3 from Town of Yorktown;

Removed from Saw Mill Sanitary Sewer District: 7 tax parcels from the Town of Mt. Pleasant

Mamaroneck Waste Water Treatment Plant ($3.75 million)

Various Approved Parks Improvements
The Board approved bond acts to fund:

V.E. Macy Park Ball Field Improvements ($1.3 million)
Willson’s Woods Pool Modernization ($150,000)
Croton Point Park Bathhouse Replacement ($400,000)
Executive Director Position for COWPUSA
The creation of an Executive Director position for the Westchester County Public Utility Service Agency (COWPUSA) was approved. Among its responsibilities, the position is intended to effect greater energy efficiency, including coordination of renewable energy initiatives.

WCHCC to Provide Health Services to County Correctional Facility
The Board approved an agreement allowing the Westchester County Health Care Corporation (WCHCC) to provide microbiological services to inmates of the County Correctional Facility being provided medical services, also through WCHCC.

Westchester Community College teams up with Greenburgh Police Department
The Board approved a program in which Westchester Community College will partner with the Greenburgh Police Department to institute a health care instruction program specializing in emergency medical services for students studying the health care field.

Improving Water Quality at Rye’s Manursing Lake
The Board unanimously approved a measure to permit water quality and habitat improvements at the City of Rye’s Manursing Lake. According to specialists, the Lake has been impaired through dredging and impoundment since the 1920’s construction of Rye Playland Amusement Park. The county will partner with the State Dept. of Environmental Conservation, through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to provide such improvements as the installation of self-regulating tide gates and low/high marsh habitat vegetation.

Westchester County Airport – Security Master Plan Implementation
The Board approved a Grant Agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the New York State Dept. of Transportation (DOT) in relation to the Security Master Plan Implementation project. The project includes the replacement and repositioning of 15 cameras, and addition of 6 new cameras, to eliminate gaps and enhance surveillance.

Valhalla Campus – Building Repairs for Labs & Research Building
A Bond Act in the amount of $1,080,000 was approved to finance rehabilitation and maintenance work on the County’s Labs & Research Dept. building and the Mt. Kisco District Office

Climate Change Resolution Overed
A resolution committing the county to a four-part program to mitigate sources of climate change was overed by Legislator George Oros.
Appointment & Reappointments to Westchester County Boards:

The following appointments were approved:

Fire Advisory Board
Kenneth E. Hoffarth, Valhalla

Board of Ethics
Linda A. Reitano, White Plains

Electrical Licensing Board
William R. Hanauer, Ossining

The following reappointments were approved:

Youth Board
Dolores Thompson, Yonkers
Marouh Hussein, Yonkers
Dr. Douglas Plath, White Plains
Cheryl Hunter Grant, Cortlandt Manor
Nilou Noorani Grewe, Larchmont

Transportation Board
Donald Cecil, Harrison

Council for Seniors
Daniel Sambol, Ardsley
James Cronk, Verplanck
Peter L. Bisulca, North Salem
Goody Sculky, Port Chester
Grace Byrd, Yonkers

African-American Advisory Board
Dr. Monica A. Scantlebury, White Plains
Albert Wesley, Port Chester

Airport Advisory Board
Edward Berman, North Castle
Robert A. Dashow, Rye
Robert F. Gilbert, New Castle
Timothy Tynan, Bedford

Deferred Compensation Board
John R. McPhillips, Mohegan Lake

Domestic Violence Council
Mary Gadomski, RN, BSN, Scarsdale

Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board
Garrett T. Doering, Monroe

Hispanic Advisory Board
Sylvia Escala DeRosa, Yorktown
Jose Chevere, Sleepy Hollow

Planning Board
Barnard B. Thombs, Valhalla

Police Advisory Board
Michael F. Bruno, Valhalla

To view the full agenda packet and minutes, please visit the County Board”s Meeting web portal