Social Services,  
Disabilities & Human  
Rights  
BOL Meeting Minutes -  
Final  
800 Michaelian Office Bldg.  
148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor  
White Plains, NY 10601  
Committee Chair: Nancy Barr  
WestchesterLegislatorsNY.gov  
Wednesday, February 25, 2026  
10:00 AM  
Committee Room  
Joint with B&A  
CALL TO ORDER  
Please note: Meetings of the Board of Legislators and its committees are held at the  
Michaelian Office Building, 148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor, White Plains, New York, 10601,  
and livestreamed via the WebEx video conferencing system. Legislators may participate in  
person or via Webex. Members of the public may attend meetings in person at any of its  
locations, or view the meeting and its video recording online on the Westchester County  
Legislature’s website: https://westchestercountyny.legistar.com/. This website also provides  
the links to documents to be discussed at a given meeting.  
Legislator Jenn Puja will be participating remotely from 595 W. Hartsdale Ave.,  
White Plains, NY 10607  
With a quorum present, Committee Chairwoman Legislator Barr opened the meeting at  
11:36AM.  
Barr, Williams and Gashi  
Williams Johnson and Imamura  
Puja  
Present:  
Absent:  
Remote:  
MINUTES APPROVAL  
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 - 11AM  
On motion of Williams, seconded by Gashi, the minutes were approved. The motion carried  
by the following vote:  
I.  
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION  
ACT-2026-14  
BOND ACT-BSS21-3085-Infrast. Improvements to Shelter  
Facilities-Coachman Family Center '25-'29  
Guest: Westchester County Department of Social Services  
Deputy Commissioner , John Befus,  
Reimbursement Manager, Tom Rooney  
This request is for $3.5 Million for the design portion of the Coachman Family Center building  
improvements, such as interior renovations, living spaces, HVAC system, electrical upgrades.  
This property is part of a multi-year three-shelter project: the Coachman Family Center serves  
up to 200 families, the Vernon Plaza Shelter serves 34 families and the Grasslands Singles  
Social Services, Disabilities &  
Human Rights  
BOL Meeting Minutes - Final  
February 25, 2026  
Shelters serves 149 individuals and childless couples. While design is anticipated to take 15  
months, construction is anticipated to take 30 months and there is no expectation that  
services will be interrupted during that time. The renovations will include State and Federal  
funding, energy efficient amenities and thorough inspections, as the building is nearly 100  
years old.  
On motion of Williams, seconded by Puja, the above item was signed by committee and  
referred to Board of Legislators. The motion carried by the following vote:  
Aye:  
Barr, Puja, Williams and Gashi  
Absent:  
Williams Johnson and Imamura  
RES-2026-5  
PH-Second Amendment of Sublease of Cedarwood Hall from WCHCC  
and Second Amendment of Sublease to WIHD  
Guest: Westchester County Law Department  
Assistant Chief Deputy County Attorney, Tami Altschiller  
Guest:Westchester County Budget Department  
Director, Larry Soule  
Authorizing the public hearing for the County of Westchester to enter into a second  
amendment to the sublease with the Westchester County Health Care Corporation for space  
at Cedarwood Hall and to enter into a second amendment to the sublease for the space at  
Cedarwood Hall to the Westchester Institute for Human Development.  
On motion of Williams, seconded by Puja, the above item was signed by committee and  
referred to Board of Legislators. The motion carried.  
Aye:  
Barr, Puja, Williams and Gashi  
Absent:  
Williams Johnson and Imamura  
LL 1-2026  
LOCAL LAW-Second Amendment of Sublease of Cedarwood Hall from  
WCHCC and Second Amendment of Sublease to WIHD  
Guest: Westchester County Law Department  
Assistant Chief Deputy County Attorney, Tami Altschiller  
Guest:Westchester County Budget Department  
Director, Larry Soule  
In Connection with 2026-15. The request would authorize a second amendment to the  
sublease of a portion of Cedarwood Hall at the Westchester County Health Care Corporation  
(Westchester Medical Center). In 2004, the County entered into a lease with the Westchester  
Medical Center; the Westchester Medical Center then leased the property back to the County,  
and the County subsequently subleased the property to the Westchester Institute for Human  
Development (WIHD). In 2015, the Board of Legislators approved an amendment to the  
sublease to extend the term, with an expiration date of March 31, 2025. As of this expiration  
date, WIHD has initiated plans to relocate to another property and depart from the  
Social Services, Disabilities &  
Human Rights  
BOL Meeting Minutes - Final  
February 25, 2026  
Westchester Medical Center campus.  
Clarification: Although the sublease identifies a total payment of $2.352 million from WIHD, it  
should be noted that this amount is not solely for rent — it also includes payments for a range  
of services provided under the agreement. Some portion covers rent, but the majority relates  
to the services WIHD receives, as discussed during the meeting. If either party needs to  
terminate the lease before the expiration date, a 60-day notice is required. The members also  
acknowledged and corrected an erroneous year referenced in the public hearing  
documentation, voting on the items as amended to reflect the correct year, 2026.  
On motion of Williams, seconded by Gashi, the above item was signed by committee and  
referred to Board of Legislators. The motion carried unanimously.  
Aye:  
Barr, Puja, Williams and Gashi  
Absent:  
Williams Johnson and Imamura  
II.  
OTHER BUSINESS  
RECEIVE & FILE  
III.  
ADJOURNMENT  
Moved by Williams, seconded by Gashi, the Committee adjourned at 12:27 PM  
Aye:  
Barr, Puja, Williams and Gashi  
Williams Johnson and Imamura  
Absent: