White Plains, NY— On Monday, the Westchester County Board of Legislators passed several essential items, most notably to potentially increase the term of office for a County Legislator from two years to four. Other items included funding to modernize the Public Safety Answering Points system (PSAP), upgrade facilities at Mohansic Golf Course for improved recreational amenities and sustainability, enter into a Climate Grant agreement, and support Yonkers' National Night Out Program.

Board Chair Vedat Gashi (D - New Castle, Ossining, Somers, Yorktown) said, "In our twelfth board meeting of the year, we moved forward with important legislation aimed at systematically upgrading County infrastructure, enhancing safety measures, and improving our service to Westchester residents. A significant part of this effort was our unanimous adoption of a local law empowering voters to decide to extend the term of Westchester County Legislators from two to four years. This initiative aligns us with neighboring counties in New York State and helps cut down on the costs of frequent elections. Extending terms allows our legislators more time to focus on what matters most: meeting the needs of our community. A referendum is required to enact this change, ultimately placing the final decision in the hands of our residents."

Four-Year Terms for County Legislators

In a unanimous vote, the Board proposed and approved a referendum to extend the term of a Westchester County Legislator from two to four years. Co-sponsored by Minority Leader Margaret Cunzio (C - North Castle, Mount Pleasant, Pleasantville, Sleepy Hollow, Harrison) and Legislator Benjamin Boykin II (D- White Plains, Scarsdale, West Harrison), it follows the standard set by more than half the counties in New York State.

This initiative offers several key benefits:

• Substantially decreases taxpayer expenditures on election coordination and administration.
• Redirects these funds towards critical priorities such as public safety, infrastructure investments, and vital social services.
• Empowers Legislators to concentrate on addressing intricate County and district challenges instead of campaign activities, further enabling the creation and passing of impactful legislation and the allocation of resources to projects that enhance the lives of Westchester residents.

The term limit of a maximum of twelve consecutive years would remain in place.

Legislators Cunzio and Boykin said, "As Co-Sponsors of this tri-partisan supported legislation, we believe this would reduce the cost of elections and have legislators focus on public service rather than running campaigns every two years.  Once signed by the County Executive, the legislation will go to the voters on November 5 to decide if this law is enacted. This change will allow Legislators to be more effective and efficient in performing their duties and serving their constituents."

Legislator Colin D. Smith (D - Cortlandt, Peekskill, Yorktown) Legislation Chair said, "In addition to the cost savings to taxpayers, longer terms provide enhanced policy continuity, which can lead to more stable governance and sustained progress on long-term projects without the disruption of frequent elections. More time for long-term planning allows for implementing more complex and ambitious legislative agendas that may require multiple years to develop and execute fully."

Infrastructure and Parks Upgrades

Public Safety Answering Points System (PSAP)

The Board approved a $1.3 million Bond Act to upgrade the County's Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) system. PSAPs are call centers that handle emergency calls and coordinate necessary responses also known as 911 Call Centers. They receive and handle calls from landlines and mobile phones. Following approval, the County will acquire equipment, software, and implementation services necessary for the upgrade.

Legislator Judah Holstein (D - Eastchester, New Rochelle, Tuckahoe), Information Technology & Cybersecurity Chair, said, "I am proud to support this critical investment in our public safety infrastructure. Upgrading our PSAP system ensures prompt and efficient emergency responses, protecting our residents. Balancing obsolescence with leading-edge technology is challenging, and we appreciate the work of our IT staff and other involved departments in coordinating with the State, vendors, and municipalities for this second phase of the upgrade. This Act underscores our continued dedication to leveraging cutting-edge technology for the safety of our community."

Mohansic Golf Course Maintenance and Recreational Improvements

The Board approved two bond acts to fund upgrades at the Yorktown Heights Mohansic Golf Course. One bond is for electrical service enhancements and construction of a new maintenance and storage complex, which the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation will oversee. The project aims to enhance energy efficiency and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The second bond will allocate funding to construct improvements to the recreational area, modernize facilities, and to improve visitor experiences. These enhancements will benefit Westchester County residents for years by providing upgraded recreational amenities and ensuring long-lasting infrastructure.

Legislator David J. Tubiolo (D - Yonkers, Mount Vernon) Parks & Environment Chair, said, "Mohansic is a terrific recreational facility that we are making better. As we continue to strive toward meeting the County's energy needs, I'm happy to support this upgrade to our Parks' infrastructure while supporting initiatives to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote sustainability."

Agreement with NYSDEC for Climate Grant

This Act empowers Westchester County to pursue a grant agreement with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) under the Climate Smart Communities Grant Program. This initiative will fund the Westchester County Climate Action Planning Institute II, a collaborative effort among local governments to develop greenhouse gas emissions inventories and climate action plans. Securing approximately $100,000 in grant funds, the County has also mobilized matching contributions of about $100,000 through donated professional services from elected officials, staff, and dedicated volunteers.

Legislator Erika L. Pierce (D- Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, Somers) Parks & Environment Vice Chair said, "The weather outside and the news of heatwaves across the country underscore our critical need for action when it comes to our climate crisis. We are happy to partner in helping another cohort of Westchester's municipalities create climate action plans so that together, we can make a difference for Westchester's future generations."

Legislator Jewel Williams Johnson said, "I am incredibly pleased to see the progress we are making in addressing climate change through the WC Climate Action Planning Institute II. It is particularly gratifying to have the Town of Greenburgh, part of the district I represent, included in this vital initiative. The authorization for Westchester County to apply for the NYS Climate Smart Communities Grant is a significant step forward. Securing this $100K grant from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation will provide essential support to our collaborative efforts with local governments to develop comprehensive climate action plans and greenhouse gas emissions inventories. This initiative exemplifies our County's leadership, as we now boast more municipalities with climate action plans than any other county nationwide."

National Night Out

The Board of Legislators authorized funding for the National Night Out Program in two municipalities: $9,000 for the City of Yonkers and $1,000 for the Town of Bedford through inter-municipal agreements (IMAs) facilitated by the local Police Departments. The Program will feature K-9 demonstrations, helicopter flyovers, and family-friendly entertainment. The Board's decision underscores its commitment to enhancing community safety, strengthening community-police relations, and fostering local partnerships. Tuesday, August 6 is National Night Out, with events occurring across the United States.

The Yonkers delegation, comprised of Vice Chair Jose Alvarado (D – Yonkers), Minority Whip James Nolan (R - Yonkers, Eastchester, Bronxville), Legislator Shanae Williams (D - Yonkers) and Legislator David J. Tubiolo (D - Yonkers, Mount Vernon), issued a joint statement saying, "We would like to thank our colleagues on the Board for voting to approve the $9,000 IMA to support the City of Yonkers National Night Out Program. Safety is a top priority in Westchester County, so we take community policing very seriously. National Night Out is a great event because it's the best time to promote and strengthen community policing in Yonkers. Promoting police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie makes our neighborhoods safer and more caring places to live."

For the August 5th regular Board meeting, the BOL set Public Hearings on:

• A local law authorizing the continued use of extraordinary circumstances videoconferencing for members of the County Board, its committees, and its subcommittees, and for members of public bodies of the County's Westchester County.
• An Act adopting the SUNY Westchester Community College (WCC) Budget for 2024-2025 and making appropriations for the operations of WCC.

 Watch the Board Meeting Recap HERE