Westchester County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Westchester County Board adopts community college budget, approves $62.789M Ice Casino bond

The Westchester County Board of Legislators on Aug. 3 adopted the Westchester Community College budget and approved several bond acts, including a $62.789 million bond for Ice Casino improvements and a $7.96 million fire alarm system for a correctional facility. The board also set public hearings for Sept. 14 on flavored nicotine vapor products and tax exemptions for veterans and first responders.

Board of Legislators

The board voted unanimously to adopt the Westchester Community College budget for 2026-2027. It also approved bond acts for:

• $62.789 million for Ice Casino Improvements II
• $7.96 million for a Correctional Facility fire alarm system replacement
• $3.2 million for Labs and Research Facility rehabilitation
• $2.525 million for a County-Wide Building Management System upgrade

The board approved a $15,000 inter-municipal agreement with Mount Vernon for a summer basketball program and prisoner transportation reimbursement agreements with Peekskill and White Plains. All votes were unanimous.

The board set public hearings for Sept. 14 on flavored nicotine vapor products (items 2026-212 and 2026-213) and on tax exemptions for active duty combat zone members, disabled veterans, and surviving spouses of police and volunteer firefighters/EMS.

Committee referrals

On July 27, several committees referred items to the Board of Legislators. The Public Safety & Veterans Committee referred tax exemptions for active duty combat zone members, disabled veterans, and surviving spouses of police and volunteer firefighters/EMS, all by 4-0 votes. It also approved a $7.96 million bond act for the correctional facility fire alarm system (4-0) and referred prisoner transportation agreements with Peekskill and White Plains.

The Infrastructure & Housing Committee referred bond acts totaling over $15 million, including a $4 million increase for Ice Casino rehabilitation, $3.2 million for Labs and Research Facility design, $1.3 million for County Clerk IT upgrades, $2.525 million for a building management system, $2.065 million for Bee-Line bus radio/data systems, $1 million for South Yonkers Trunk Sewer reconstruction, and a $1.3 million budget amendment for security camera upgrades. All votes were 6-0.

The Health Committee referred the Labs and Research Facility rehabilitation bond act (2026-339) and two flavored nicotine vapor product items (2026-212 and 2026-213). The Legislation Committee also referred the nicotine vapor product item and tax exemption items.

The Budget & Appropriations Committee referred the Westchester Community College budget, tax exemptions, and several bond acts, and approved a $15,000 inter-municipal agreement for the Mount Vernon summer basketball program.

The Seniors & Youth Committee referred the $15,000 Mount Vernon agreement (3-0), and the Parks & Environment Committee referred Ice Casino Improvements II items.

Coming up

The Appointments Committee will meet Aug. 24 to vote on one new appointment and 11 reappointments to advisory boards, including Kevin Winn to the Storm Water Advisory Board and 11 reappointments to the Women's Advisory Board.

County committees advance $15M+ in bonds, tax exemptions for veterans and first responders

County legislative committees advanced more than $15 million in bond acts and a series of property tax exemptions for veterans and first responders' families to the full Board of Legislators during meetings held July 27. The Board of Legislators' July 20 agenda included a $62,789,000 bond amendment for Ice Casino Improvements II and a $7,960,000 bond for a correctional facility fire-alarm replacement, but minutes from that meeting have not yet been published, so outcomes are not confirmed.

Correctional facility fire alarm bond approved by committee

The Public Safety & Veterans Committee approved a $7,960,000 bond act for replacement of the correctional facility fire alarm system (4-0) and referred it to the Board of Legislators. The committee also referred prisoner transportation reimbursement agreements with the City of Peekskill (4-0) and the City of White Plains (4-0) to the full board.

Tax exemptions for veterans and first responders

Multiple committees advanced local laws creating real property tax exemptions. The Public Safety & Veterans Committee referred exemptions for active-duty military members serving in combat zones (4-0), seriously disabled veterans in the line of duty (4-0), surviving spouses of police officers killed in the line of duty (4-0), and surviving spouses of volunteer firefighters and ambulance members (4-0). The Legislation Committee signed and referred corresponding items numbered 2026-312 through 2026-326 to the Board of Legislators. The Budget & Appropriations Committee also referred these tax exemptions to the full board.

Infrastructure bond acts referred

The Infrastructure & Housing Committee recommended approval of several bond acts, all by 6-0 votes:

• $4M increase for Ice Casino Improvements II rehabilitation
• $3.2M for Labs and Research Facility design
• $1.3M for County Clerk IT upgrades
• $2.525M for County-Wide Building Management System
• $2.065M for Bee-Line bus radio/data systems
• $1M for South Yonkers Trunk Sewer reconstruction
• $1.3M budget amendment for security camera upgrades
• $7.96M amended bond for Correctional Facility fire alarms

The Parks & Environment Committee unanimously referred the Ice Casino Improvements II bond act amendment (2026-347), which would increase the county share by $4,000,000 to a total of $62,789,000. The Health Committee referred a bond act for Labs and Research Facility rehabilitation and upgrade (2026-339) to the Board of Legislators.

Flavored nicotine vapor products

The Legislation Committee signed and referred item 2026-212 regarding flavored nicotine vapor products to the Board of Legislators. The Health Committee referred both the public hearing item (2026-212) and a local law item (2026-213) on flavored nicotine vapor products to the full board.

Westchester Community College budget

The Budget & Appropriations Committee received a presentation on the Westchester Community College budget for 2026-2027 on July 20, with no substantive votes recorded. On July 27, the committee referred the proposed 2026-2027 WCC budget to the Board of Legislators.

Mount Vernon summer basketball

The Seniors & Youth Committee referred a $15,000 inter-municipal agreement for a City of Mount Vernon summer basketball program to the Board of Legislators (3-0). The Budget & Appropriations Committee also approved the agreement.

Coming up

• **Aug. 3 — Board of Legislators:** Votes scheduled on $25.7M in flood-mitigation bonds for Scarsdale, Mamaroneck, Hastings-on-Hudson, Peekskill, and Bedford; $11.1M for Oasis Center homeless shelter infrastructure upgrades in New Rochelle; $4.85M for Greenwich Road bridge over Mianus River in Bedford; and $900K for School Resource Officers at Lakeland Central School District. A public hearing on the 2026-2027 WCC budget is also scheduled.
• **Aug. 4 — Intergovernmental Affairs:** Discussion of federal grant compliance with citizenship information requirements, with guests from the New York State Association of Counties.
• **Aug. 5 — Labor Committee:** Discussion of a county/municipality EV charging station program and the County Construction Careers program.
• **Aug. 5 — Health Committee:** Discussion on Cyclospora featuring Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler and Dr. Gary Zeitlin of White Plains Hospital.
• **Aug. 6 — Families Task Force:** Monthly meeting at the Michaelian Office Building in White Plains, livestreamed and open to the public.

County committees advance $1.35M in park and flood bonds; Ice Casino $62.8M upgrade heads to Board

Westchester County legislative committees moved more than $1.35 million in bond acts for park and flood projects to the full Board of Legislators at their July 13 meetings, while the Board's July 20 agenda tees up a $62,789,000 bond amendment for Ice Casino Improvements II.

Parks and Flood Mitigation Bonds Referred

The Infrastructure & Housing Committee approved an $800,000 bond act for Tibbetts Brook Park Pool Rehabilitation (5-0) and a $550,000 bond act for Powderhorn Road flood mitigation (5-0), signing both and referring them to the Board of Legislators. The Parks & Environment Committee separately referred the Tibbetts Brook Park Pool Rehabilitation bond act to the Board (unanimous). The Infrastructure & Housing Committee also signed and referred an Ardsley flood mitigation intermunicipal agreement (5-0) and a Stormwater Reconnaissance Plan amendment (5-0).

Budget Committee Advances WCC Budget and Multiple Bonds

The Budget & Appropriations Committee referred the proposed 2026-2027 Westchester Community College Budget to the Board (7-0), along with public hearing rules and a suspension of rules for the WCC budget, each on 7-0 votes. The committee also referred the $800,000 Tibbetts Brook Park Pool Rehabilitation bond act (7-0), the $550,000 Powderhorn Road flood mitigation bond act (7-0), an act to amend credit card fee requirements (7-0), inter-municipal agreements for senior services in Yonkers and New Rochelle (7-0), an Ardsley flood mitigation inter-municipal agreement (7-0), an act to amend the Stormwater Reconnaissance Plan (7-0), and airport counsel agreement renewals up to $200,000 (7-0).

Senior Services and Airport Counsel Agreements

The Seniors & Youth Committee signed and referred inter-municipal agreements with the City of Yonkers and the City of New Rochelle for senior outreach and services funded by County tax dollars to the Board (3-0). The Litigation Committee signed and referred FAA Airport Counsel Agreements (ACT-2026-306) to the Board (4-0).

Legislation Committee Actions

The Legislation Committee referred Local Law 2026-295, regarding master plumber business ownership requirements, to the Board of Legislators. The committee also received, filed, and approved the Property Record Notification & Deed Theft Prevention Law (2026-204), the Public Safety Nuisance & Illegal Housing Enforcement Law (2026-205), and the Safe Access to Religious Institutions Act (2026-236).

Board of Legislators July 20 Agenda

The full Board of Legislators is scheduled to hold public hearings on a law to prohibit the sale of camouflaged vaping devices (2026-43) and a law to eliminate the master plumber 51% ownership requirement (2026-294). The agenda includes a bond act amendment (2026-347) increasing the county share by $4,000,000 for Ice Casino Improvements II, bringing the total to $62,789,000, and a $7,960,000 bond act (2026-331) for a correctional facility fire-alarm system replacement. An intermunicipal agreement (2026-337) for prisoner transportation reimbursement with the City of Peekskill is also listed. Minutes from this meeting have not yet been published.

Coming Up

Several committees meet July 27 with significant items:

• **Health & Legislation (joint):** Discussion of a local law (Intro 2026-213) establishing a rebuttable presumption for possession of flavored nicotine vapor products, and a resolution (2026-212) to set a public hearing.
• **Parks & Environment and Budget & Appropriations (joint):** Discussion of the amended $62,789,000 Ice Casino Improvements II bond act and capital budget amendment.
• **Budget & Appropriations:** Review of proposed real property tax exemptions for active-duty combat zone members, disabled veterans, and surviving spouses of first responders; the WCC 2026-2027 budget; the $62,789,000 Ice Casino bond; the $7,960,000 correctional facility fire alarm bond; and a $15,000 inter-municipal agreement with Mount Vernon for a summer basketball program.
• **Legislation and Public Safety & Veterans (joint with Budget):** Discussion and possible votes to set public hearings on tax exemption laws for surviving spouses of fallen police officers (2026-313), volunteer firefighters and ambulance members (2026-315), active-duty combat zone service members (2026-324), and seriously disabled veterans (2026-326).
• **Infrastructure & Housing:** Discussion of the $62.789M Ice Casino bond, $7.96M correctional facility fire alarm bond, $3.2M labs and research facility upgrade bond, and a $1M South Yonkers Trunk Sewer System Reconstruction bond.
• **Families Task Force (August 6):** Monthly meeting at the Michaelian Office Building in White Plains, livestreamed and open to the public.

County committees advance $1.35M in park and flood bonds; WCC budget heads to full board

Westchester County legislative committees spent the week of July 7–14 referring bond acts, budget resolutions, and service agreements to the full Board of Legislators, with the largest dollar items targeting pool rehabilitation and flood mitigation.

Bond Acts for Tibbetts Brook Pool and Powderhorn Road Flood Mitigation

The Infrastructure & Housing Committee approved an $800,000 bond act for Tibbetts Brook Park Pool Rehabilitation (5-0) and a $550,000 bond act for Powderhorn Road flood mitigation (5-0) on July 13. Both were signed by the committee and referred to the Board of Legislators. The Parks & Environment Committee also referred the Tibbetts Brook Park Pool Rehabilitation bond act to the full board by a unanimous vote the same day. The committee approved minutes from its May 26 and July 7 meetings unanimously.

The Budget & Appropriations Committee referred both bond acts to the Board of Legislators on 7-0 votes, along with an act to amend the Stormwater Reconnaissance Plan, an intermunicipal agreement for Ardsley flood mitigation, and airport counsel agreement renewals up to $200,000 — all on 7-0 votes.

Westchester Community College Budget Advances

The Budget & Appropriations Committee referred the proposed 2026-2027 Westchester Community College Budget to the Board of Legislators on a 7-0 vote. The committee also referred associated public hearing rules and a suspension of rules, each on 7-0 votes. An act amending credit card fee requirements was referred 7-0.

Senior Service Agreements for Yonkers and New Rochelle

The Seniors & Youth Committee signed and referred intermunicipal agreements with the City of Yonkers and the City of New Rochelle for senior outreach and services funded by County tax dollars (3-0). The Budget & Appropriations Committee also referred these agreements on a 7-0 vote. The committee approved its June 8, 2026 minutes (3-0).

Legislation Committee Refers Plumber Ownership Law

The Legislation Committee referred Local Law 2026-295, regarding master plumber business ownership requirements, to the Board of Legislators on July 13. The committee also received, filed, and approved three legislative memos: the Property Record Notification & Deed Theft Prevention Law (2026-204), the Public Safety Nuisance & Illegal Housing Enforcement Law (2026-205), and the Safe Access to Religious Institutions Act (2026-236). June 29, 2026 meeting minutes were approved.

Airport Counsel Agreements

The Litigation Committee signed and referred FAA Airport Counsel Agreements (ACT-2026-306) to the Board of Legislators (4-0). The committee approved minutes from June 8 and June 29, 2026, each on 4-0 votes.

Discussions Held (No Votes Taken)

Several committees met for discussion-only sessions whose minutes have not yet been published. The Parks & Environment Committee discussed Playland ride operations, Merestead farmhouse phase one progress, and a potential pool study for Croton Point Park on July 7. The Small Business and Public Safety & Veterans committees held a joint meeting July 8 on retail crime with guests Douglas Horsting (Metrorca) and Mike Burke (CVS). The Families Task Force discussed a youth program called "Delay the Scroll" presented by Rye High students and the Childcare Wage Enhancement Initiative with guests from The New York Community Trust and Mount Kisco Child Care Center. The Cultural Affairs Task Force heard an overview from Waddell Stillman, President & CEO of Historic Hudson Valley, on the Hudson Summer Arts Pass. The Intergovernmental Affairs Committee discussed student debt forgiveness for public service workers with guest speaker Tony Raffa of Savi. The Social Services, Disabilities & Human Rights Committee discussed accessibility guidelines for county communications with the Office for People with Disabilities.

Coming Up

The Board of Legislators meets today, July 20, with public hearings on a proposed ban on camouflaged vaping devices (2026-43) and elimination of the master plumber 51% ownership requirement (2026-294). The agenda includes a $62,789,000 bond act amendment for Ice Casino Improvements II and a $7,960,000 bond act for a correctional facility fire-alarm system replacement. The Budget & Appropriations Committee also meets today to hear a presentation on the 2026-2027 WCC budget, along with memos on an Accessory Dwelling Unit property tax abatement and a $1M Small Business & MWBE Micro-Grant Pilot Program.