MINUTES

COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS

Present: Chair Bronz, Legs. Stewart-Cousins and

Spreckman.

Chair Carsky, Legs: LaMotte & Delfino

Co-Chair Wishnie, Legs: LaMotte,

Delfino, Darcy & Young

Also Present: Mayor Spencer, Mr. Farmer, Leg.

Mosiello, Mr. Boland, Mr. Guzi, Mrs. Gorski, Mrs. Keating

Items Discussed:

Chair Bronz, Chair Carsky and Co-Chair Wishnie called the joint committee meeting to order at 3:10 P.M.

Chair Bronz explained to those present that the three committees have been discussing this matter for a month. We were planning to sign out a committee report today, however, counsel has advised us that we must have specific meets and bounds for the five acres in order for her to draw up the act. Since we do not, as Chair of the Committee on Community Affairs, she is not prepared to sign out anything at this time.

Leg. Mosiello stated that if we deed off the wrong area, its done and we won’t be able to change it back.

Mayor Spencer stated that this issue has gone on too long. This is truly a federal issue. Yonkers lives under federal rule. This issue must be solved. Yonkers is being prevented from moving forward. This is a Home Rule request and the Westchester County Board has never rejected a home rule request before. This should not be looked at as a city issue, but a county-wide issue.

Page 2 Community Affairs

The Mayor stated that he did not get involved sooner because he thought that government would work on its own. The reverter clause was done before and it can be done again. The Yonkers Parks Board has also approved this unanimously.

Chair Bronz again brought up the fact that counsel stated that we needed specific meets and bounds and Mr. Farmer stated that no official survey regarding meets and bounds was done yet.

Chair Bronz stated that the legislation that Yonkers sent to Albany had a very general description and the County Attorney has been very on the meets and bounds.

Mayor Spencer stated that Yonkers was misdirected and did not find out about this additional requirement until last Thursday. He stated that he wished the County Attorney would direct us on what needs to be done.

Leg. Mosiello stated that he finds it interesting to hear that the Mayor was invited here today and no one from the Environmental Group to speak for the other side was invited. Leg. Mosiello stated that there is other land available.

Mayor Spencer stated that there is no other land available and the City only had 30 days in which to do this before Judge Sand would act. The Mayor stated that the City needs the school.

The City must built 100 units of housing per year for the next six years.

County Attorney Slaatten stated that the Board needs to pass this act by a 2/3’s vote, and she needs to know the method of conveyance, what type of deed, what type of consideration, the Board wishes to charge the City. We also need a SEQR Determination by the Planning Department and a Planning Report.

The Mayor stated that he would have his staff take care of this as soon as possible.

Mr. Neal stated that this is not a Yonkers Issue, it is a county park, and as such, it is a county-wide issue.

Chair Bronz stated that based on Mr. Neal’s comments we will wait to hear from our County Attorney.

Ms. Slaatten again stated that once it is dedicated, that it. The issue of

dedication may cause a reverter issue.

Mrs. Spreckman asked for a title search.

Mrs. LaMotte stated that she is having real problem with giving parkland. If you do it now, what’s going to stop you from doing it in the future. Also, who is the owner of the land.

Ms. Slaatten stated at this point she does not know if it’s owned by Yonkers or Westchester County.

Chair Bronz stated that she toured the park with Comm. DeSantis.

Mr. Mosiello stated that it does not have to be on parkland.

It was stated that it operates as an automatic reverter to the County if not used for the purpose intended.

Co-Chair Wishnie thanked everyone for coming and stated that the Budget Committee needed to continue with their agenda and that they were keeping several people waiting. It is obvious that we cannot go any further today on this issue.

On motion of Leg. Stewart-Cousins, seconded by Chair Bronz, the Community Affairs Committee adjourned at 4:00 P.M.

On motion of Leg. LaMotte, seconded by Chair Carsky, the Environment Committee adjourned at 4:00 P.M.