COMMON COUNCIL MEETING SUMMARIES
by Clifford Blau
JANUARY: The White Plains Common Council held its regularly-stated monthly meeting on January 3, 2023. It was a quickie, with no public hearings.
The council approved:
- Receipt of grants of about $800,000 for a Youth Bureau programs, some covering three years
- Property tax refunds of more $240,000, the bulk of it going to 1-11 Martine Avenue
- Various capital improvements and the related borrowing of $678,000
- Extended site plan approval for 1111-1129 Westchester Avenue
- Zero-interest loans and grants from the CFBG Program for rehabilitating community facilities
The Common Council also held a work session on Decenber 12, 2022, and heard a presentation on a zoning change for the Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center.
At the Citizens to be Heard session, which was longer than the Common Council meeting, several people spoke for and against 5G.
DECEMBER: The White Plains Common Council held its regularly-stated monthly meeting on December 5, 2022. A public hearing was held on the solar panels for 1133 Westchester Avenue, which were approved after several residents commented on the approval process.
The council also approved:
- Receipt of grants of $100,000 for the flower garden on Tarrytown Road and $26,000 for a Youth Bureau program as well as donation of $7500 for the Public Safety Department and $20,000 for the New Year's Eve celebration
- Property tax refunds of $469,500, almost all for the Gateway 1 building
- A ban on drones at the New Year's Eve celebration
- Extended site plan approval for 70 Westchester Avenue
- Approved an amendment to the site plan at 200 Hamilton Ave.
In addition, the council received the financial report for the first thee months of the fiscal year, which shows revenues and expenses up compared to the prior year, with the net being about the same. The meeting was adjourned in honor of the late Paul Schwarz, community leader and LWVWP member.
The Common Council also held a work session on November 28, 2022, and heard presentations on upcoming activities from new Deputy Commissioner of Recreation and Parks Bricker, the Clean Energy Communities program, parking from new Commissioner Livingston, and Planning Commissioner Gomez with an update on the comprehensive plan- a draft is expected in mid-2023- as well as development and low-income housing in the city.
The parking commissioner revealed that there will now be a second computer program people can use to pay for parking (Passport), that they hope to install level 3 electric chargers soon, and he gave the financial status- revenue is up 4% from the prior year.
At the Citizens to be Heard session several people spoke about 5G, the Kenneth Chamberlain law suit, and the Galleria.
