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, May 14, 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 May 14, 2025 A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF THE MOUNT VERNON CITY COUNCIL HELD ON WEDNESDAY, [INSERT DATE], 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, City Clerk; Antoinette Anderson, Legislative Aide; Johan Powell, Deputy Corporation Counsel. CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Pledge lead by Councilmember Gleason 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). PUBLIC COMMENT 1. Peter Tsachalis 335 Miller Place, Mount Vernon, NY [non-responsive government] *no show* 7:13 pm / 7:18 pm 2. Ray Copeland 236 Bedford Ave, Mount Vernon, NY [follow up on scooters and tire shop on 11th ave] *no show* 7:13 pm/ 7:18 pm 3. Geoff Munroe 216 So Columbus Ave, Mount Vernon, NY [criticism in audio and visual upgrade - public input for the public square] 7:13pm Council Responses CM Boxhill - believes the upgrades are good CM Gleason - spoke on getting public feedback in talks with Commissoner Perez, this is an ongoing project. Thanked speaker for his time CM Thompson - thanked speaker for his input. CP Browne - The RFP allowed experts to consult, to get their expertise on what was needed 4. Toni Gamils 96 Southfield Rd, Mount Vernon, NY [traffic and safety in our neighborhood Brookfield Rd, Monterey Rd and Mount Eastfield Rd] *no show* 7:13 pm/ 7:18 pm REFERRAL SESSION Roll Call administered by 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 Page 1 of 11 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 14, 2025 Motion to enter into Executive Session for legal counsel. Moved: CM Gleason, Seconded: CM Thompson go into Executive Session Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat Motion to exit into Executive Session Moved: CM Gleason, Seconded: CM Thompson 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 To the Council: The LEGISLATION AND PUBLIC WORKS Committee recommends for ADOPTION the following entitled legislation: 1. TMP -1361 Code: LPW Attachments: Referral Letter - NYCOM Annual Conference 2025 Moved: CM Gleason, Seconded: CM 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 Page 2 of 11 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 14, 2025 2. TMP -1362 Code: LPW Attachments: Referral Letter -Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initative. docx MOU_Bloomberg Moved: CM Gleason, Seconded: CM 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 3. TMP -1347 Code: LPW Attachments: Amendment to Mount Vernon City Code Moved: CM Gleason, Seconded: CM 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 -1352 Code: LPW Attachments: J. Abdul- Halim LOA Moved: CM Gleason, Seconded: CM 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 3 of 11 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 14, 2025 5. TMP -1360 Code: LPW Attachments: Animal Shelter Land Lease Animal Shelter - Land Lease Agreement (1) (1) Moved: CM Gleason, Seconded: CM 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 6. TMP -1363 Code: LPW Attachments: DPW-Printer_20250505_142732 DPW week Moved: CM Gleason, Seconded: CM 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 -1367 Code: LPW Attachments: Traffic Signal Technician Training- B.Whitley Traffic-signal-brochure Moved: CM Gleason, Seconded: CM Boxhill On the question: none Response: none adopted Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Page 4 of 11 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 14, 2025 Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat 8. TMP -1368 Code: LPW Attachments: Declaration of Emergency- City Owned Property - Parking Structure and Stationhouses of FDMV Moved: CM Gleason, Seconded: CM 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 HUMAN RESOURCES Committee recommends for ADOPTION the following entitled legislation: 9. TMP -1365 Code: HR Attachments: rec assistant letter Moved: CM Thompson, Seconded: CM Gleason On the question: none Response: CM Thompson - discussed with Commissioner that the bus driver line is no longer needed and next year they are going to remove that title and add the new recreation position. adopted Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat Page 5 of 11 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 14, 2025 10. TMP -1375 Code: HR Attachments: referral letter-4th street basketball classic2025 basketball cal DPW 4th Street Classic PD Basketball Classic Moved: CM Thompson, Seconded: CM Gleason 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 11. TMP -1377 Code: HR Attachments: READY Vibe event R4L Vibe Check Flyer Moved: CM Thompson, Seconded: CM Gleason 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 11 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 14, 2025 12. TMP -1374 Code: PSC Attachments: FDMV Referral - Provisional Deputy Chief 2025 Moved: CM Thompson, Seconded: CM Boxhill On the question: none Response: CM Gleason - Fire department came up with a creative way to combat excessive overtime. adopted Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat 13. TMP -1366 Code: PSC Attachments: STRIVE Initative Referral Letter Westchester County STRIVE Moved: CM Thompson, Seconded: CM 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 11 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 14, 2025 14. TMP -1376 Code: FP Attachments: Amendment for Metro Green Moved: CM Boxhill, Seconded: CM Gleason On the question: none Response: CM Gleason - abstain because she does business with the company. *Item needs to go for second vote* approved Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, and Councilperson Boxhill Nay: None Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat Abstain: Councilperson Gleason 15. TMP -1345 Code: Comptroller Attachments: COMP2025-07 Recommendation to Extend the Tax Interest Amnesty Program_ Moved: CM Boxhill, Seconded: CM Gleason 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 16. TMP -1372 Code: FP Attachments: COMP2025-8– Request for Budget Transfer to Support Charter Review Legal Services Moved: CM Boxhill, Seconded: CM Gleason On the question: none Response: none adopted Aye: President Browne, Acting Pro Tempore Thompson, Councilperson Boxhill, and Councilperson Gleason Nay: None Page 8 of 11 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 14, 2025 Absent: Pro Tempore Poteat 17. TMP -1371 Code: FP Moved: CM Boxhill, Seconded: CM Gleason 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 HUMAN RESOURCES Committee recommends for ADOPTION the following entitled legislation: 18. TMP -1385 Attachments: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOUNT VERNON, NY, HONORING THE LEGACY OF MS. VERONICA GILL Moved: CM Thompson, Seconded: CM Gleason 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 LEGISLATION AND PUBLIC WORKS Committee recommends for ADOPTION the following entitled legislation: Page 9 of 11 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 14, 2025 19. TMP -1388 Code: LPW Attachments: PAC Application Moved: CM Gleason, Seconded: CM 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: 20. TMP -1384 Code: PSC Attachments: Temporary Help Ref letter Moved: CM Thompson, Seconded: CM 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 Council President Browne - reminded the public that there will be a press conference tomorrow for the residential camera program. Councilmember Thompson - reminded the public of a youth bureau event and to keep the Hamlin family in prayer. Page 10 of 11 City Council Meeting Minutes - Final May 14, 2025 Motion to adjourn Moved: CM Thompson, Seconded: CM 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 8:29 p.m. Nicole Bonilla, MBA City Clerk Page 11 of 11