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.