City Council

City of Mount Vernon, New York 1 ROOSEVELT SQ. RM. 104 CITY HALL, MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK 10550 & VIA FACEBOOK.COM/MOUNTVERNONNY Meeting Minutes - Final Wednesday, February 26, 2025 7:00 PM CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CITY HALL City Council NICOLE BONILLA, MBA City Clerk JORDAN A. RIULLANO, JD Deputy City Clerk City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 26, 2025 A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF THE MOUNT VERNON CITY COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2025. Scheduled for 7:00 pm in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, Mount Vernon, New York. *** This meeting was held in the City Council Chambers, with virtual participation via ZOOM and CMVNY Facebook. The meeting was not closed to the public.*** PRESIDING: Danielle Browne, President OTHERS: Nicole Bonilla, Deputy City Clerk; Antoinette Anderson, Legislative Aide; Johan Powell, Deputy Corporation Counsel. CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Lead by Deputy City Clerk Nicole Bonilla PRESENT: President Danielle Browne Esq., Acting Pro Tempore Derrick Thompson, Councilperson Jaevon Boxhill, and Councilperson Cathlin Gleason ABSENT: Pro Tempore Edward Poteat Council President Danielle Browne called the meeting to order and provided general house-keeping rules, including encouraging citizens to share the meeting on social media and what to do “in case of emergency”. Council President Browne explained the 3-minute-plus-1 public comment rule. She then asked a Councilperson to lead the council in the Pledge of Allegiance. Council President then proceeded to the Public Speakers session of the evening (listed below as public comment). Page 1 of 9 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 26, 2025 PUBLIC COMMENT 1. Tamara Steward, Mount Vernon, NY (No Show 7:05 PM) Topic - curb cuts at Westchester Plaza Council Response: Councilman Gleason - discussed how she spoke with this constituent already and DPW will assist with the application process. 2. Paul Colley, Mount Vernon, NY (No Show 7:05 PM & 7:10 PM) Topic - City issues 3. Chris McDonough, Mount Vernon, NY (7:05 PM) Topic - Constance G. Post appointment Council Response: Councilman Boxhill - expressed his concern with the appointment of Constance Post to the Mount Vernon Economic Development Task Force (EDTF) and that he did not add this to the agenda, the co-chair override and added this appointment to the agenda. Councilman Gleason - I understand the concern and appreciate you reaching out. I don't think peoples past dictates their future and I believe in second chances. I will always stand up for someone who has done something in their past and has made a change. She has valuable information and knowledge to help the city of Mount Vernon. I have worked with her in the past and he has institutional knowledge and has worked with a lot of the developers in the city. Councilman Thompson - I agree with CM Gleason, everyone deserves a second chance. We can't judge someone on the past mistakes they have made. Unfortunately, they have a record but we should not hold back everything else they can be an asset to, regardless of the mistakes. We have elected officials who have made mistakes who have made a change and are doing good things with their second chances. There should be oversight but we have to give people second chances. Mr. McDonough you are on the school board, some might say you should not be on the school board because of your outburst and behavior tonight, but we should not be so judgmental with people. Council President Browne - I will be approving her appointment because she has contributed significantly to the city and she ahs a record of decades of knowledge and just from the interview I learned more from her than anyone in city hall. We created this task force so we can have tactical information. She is only there for information, she does not have approval power,s he can only give recommendations. That is the expertise we are looking for. Her perspective is one of many, there are other people on the task force. 4. Peter Tsachalis, Mount Vernon, NY (No Show) Topic - still nothing Council Response: CM Gleason - Spoke with Pete this afternoon and gave him information on his licensing and the process of setting up a meeting with the chair of Public Safety Codes and myself. REFERRAL SESSION PRESENT: President Danielle Browne Esq., Acting Pro Tempore Derrick Thompson, Councilperson Jaevon Boxhill, and Councilperson Cathlin Gleason ABSENT: Pro Tempore Edward Poteat Page 2 of 9 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 26, 2025 Enter into Executive Session 7:17 PM Moved: Councilman Gleason, Seconded: Councilman Boxhill go into Executive Session Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat Exit Executive Session 7:40 PM approved Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES AND ACTION THEREON Roll Call administered by Deputy City Clerk Nicole Bonilla PRESENT: President Danielle Browne Esq., Acting Pro Tempore Derrick Thompson, Councilperson Jaevon Boxhill, and Councilperson Cathlin Gleason ABSENT: Pro Tempore Edward Poteat ADD ON To the Council: (Council agreed to start at item #11) The HUMAN RESOURCES Committee recommends for ADOPTION the following entitled legislation: 11. TMP -1231 Code: HR Attachments: 4th Street Park renaming 2025 Moved: Councilman Thompson, Seconded: Councilman Poteat On the question: none Response: All Council members spoke about the renaming of the party, anecdotal's, and found memories of Mr. Williams. adopted Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Page 3 of 9 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 26, 2025 Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat To the Council: The LEGISLATION AND PUBLIC WORKS Committee recommends for ADOPTION the following entitled legislation: 1. TMP -1211 Code: LPW Attachments: Approval of Budget transfer of $4000 from A1680.215 to A1680.216 for February 26 2025.pdf Moved: Councilman Gleason, Seconded: Councilman Boxhill On the question: none Response: none adopted Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat 2. TMP -1212 Code: LPW Attachments: VxRal Maintenance Contract Retro Award City Council Meeting 2-26-2025.pdf Moved: Councilman Gleason, Seconded: Councilman Boxhill On the question: none Response: none adopted Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat Page 4 of 9 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 26, 2025 3. TMP -1215 Code: LPW Attachments: Readyly Pilot Contract and Payment City Council Meeting Revised 2-26-2025.pdf Moved: Councilman Gleason, Seconded: Councilman Boxhill On the question: none Response: none adopted Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat 4. TMP -1214 Code: LPW Attachments: Equipment Disposal 1st Qtr 2025.pdf Disposal List 2-13-2025.pdf Moved: Councilman Gleason, Seconded: Councilman Boxhill On the question: none Response: none adopted Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat 5. TMP -1198 Code: LPW Attachments: Combo Truck Moved: Councilman Gleason, Seconded: Councilman Boxhill On the question: none Response: none adopted Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Page 5 of 9 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 26, 2025 Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat 6. TMP -1200 Code: LPW Attachments: Edison Avenue Pump Station Upgrade Project-General Construction (Contract 12222024) Moved: Councilman Gleason, Seconded: Councilman Boxhill On the question: none Response: none adopted Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat 7. TMP -1201 Code: LPW Attachments: Edison Ave Pump Station Upgrade Project- Equipment Procurement ( Contract 122232024) Moved: Councilman Gleason, Seconded: Councilman Boxhill On the question: none Response: none adopted Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat To the Council: The PUBLIC SAFETY AND CODES Committee recommends for ADOPTION the following entitled legislation: Page 6 of 9 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 26, 2025 8. TMP -1227 Code: PSC Attachments: MWolfe-RefferalLetter Moved: Councilman Thompson, Seconded: Councilman Boxhill On the question: none Response: none adopted Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat 9. TMP -1226 Code: PSC Attachments: Referral Letter from the Office of the Mayor - Uniformed Firefighters Association of the City of Mount Vernon Local 107 IAFF AFL-CIO Contract Moved: Councilman Thompson, Seconded: Councilman Boxhill On the question: none Response: none adopted Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat To the Council: The FINANCE AND PLANNING Committee recommends for ADOPTION the following entitled legislation: Page 7 of 9 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 26, 2025 10. TMP -1220 Code: FP Attachments: ReferralltrMRB20250001 Moved: Councilman Boxhill, Seconded by Councilman Thompson On the question: none. Response: none. adopted Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat ADD-ON To the Council: The FINANCE AND PLANNING Committee recommends for ADOPTION the following entitled legislation: 12. TMP -1232 Code: FP Attachments: Constance G Post Moved: Councilman Thompson, Seconded: Councilman Gleason On the question: none Response: none adopted Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: Councilperson Boxhill Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat 13. TMP -1233 Code: FP Attachments: City Council Appointments Moved: Councilman Thompson, Seconded: Councilman Boxhill On the question: none Response: none adopted Page 8 of 9 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final February 26, 2025 Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat To the Council: The LEGISLATION AND PUBLIC WORKS Committee recommends for ADOPTION the following entitled legislation: 14. TMP -1237 Code: LPW Attachments: Referral Letter - R. Thomas Umstead 02-25-2025 Moved: Councilman Gleason, Seconded: Councilman Boxhill On the question: none Response: none adopted Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat OTHER BUSINESS/CLOSING COMMENTS Councilman Gleason - Back in November and at the last meeting, we had Mr. Welsh and parking on Hutchinson Blvd and the parking situation. I worked with DPW and we are trying a pilot on where the residents park on the opposite side of the street. The parking bureau is aware of the change. Councilman Thompson- Next week is the fundraiser for the young girl. Stop at any Mount Vernon school building to contribute to the fundraiser. Motion to adjourn Moved: Councilman Thompson, Seconded by Councilman Gleason approved Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat There being no other further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:07 PM. Jordan Riullano, JD Deputy City Clerk Page 9 of 9