Budget &  
Appropriations  
BOL Meeting Minutes -  
Final  
800 Michaelian Office Bldg.  
148 Martine Avenue, 8th Floor  
White Plains, NY 10601  
Committee Chair: Tyrae Woodson-Samuels  
WestchesterLegislatorsNY.gov  
Tuesday, March 10, 2026  
1:00 PM  
Committee Room  
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.  
With a quorum present, Chair Woodson-Samuels called the meeting to order at 1:08PM.  
Others in Attendance: GUESTS: Dianne Vanadia (remote), Robert Abbamont (remote), John  
Nonna, Stephannie Basilan, Nancy Tunis, Peter Tartaglia, Robert Lopane, Hernane De  
Almeida, Vincent Kopicki, Melissa Rotini, Blanca Lopez and Carla Chaves; BOL: Legislator  
Colin Smith, Legislator Nancy Barr, Legislator James Nolan, Ethan Samuel, Jill Axelrod,  
Althema Goodson, Sebastian Loreti and Dayana Gómez-Holguín  
Legislator Woodson-Samuels, Legislator Nambiar, Legislator Pierce, Legislator  
Williams and Legislator Williams Johnson  
Present:  
Legislator Holstein and Legislator Tubiolo  
Absent:  
MINUTES APPROVAL  
I.  
ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION  
1.  
ACT-2026-45  
ACT - Lawsuit Settlement of Pellis v. Russo  
AN ACT authorizing the settlement of Craig Pellis v. Vincent R. Russo in the amount of TWO  
HUNDRED THOUSAND ($200,000) DOLLARS inclusive of attorney's fees.  
SUBMITTED BY: COMMITTEES ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS AND LITIGATION  
Joint with LIT  
Guest: Law Dept.: County Attorney John Nonna  
The case involved a $200,000 settlement over excessive force claims. Liability concerns  
centered on an officer who failed to activate his body camera for the first 25 minutes on scene  
and on the decision to handcuff a victim who was involuntarily flailing during a grand mal  
seizure. New measures have since been implemented to prevent similar issues. The  
discussion also addressed EMS arriving first, what qualifies as excessive force, and the need  
for additional training to help officers better manage medical emergencies.  
On motion of Legislator Williams, seconded by Legislator Nambiar, the above item was signed  
Budget & Appropriations  
BOL Meeting Minutes - Final  
March 10, 2026  
by committee and referred to Board of Legislators. The motion carried by the following vote:  
Aye:  
Legislator Woodson-Samuels, Legislator Nambiar, Legislator Pierce,  
Legislator Williams and Legislator Williams Johnson  
Absent:  
Legislator Holstein and Legislator Tubiolo  
2.  
ACT-2026-34  
ACT-WCHCC-FACT Program-Forensic Medical Care  
AN ACT authorizing the County of Westchester, acting by and through its Office for Women,  
to enter into an agreement with the Westchester County Health Care Corporation ("WCHCC")  
pursuant to which WCHCC shall operate its Forensic Acute Care Team (FACT) Program and  
provide forensic medical care for children/adolescents and adults, for the term commencing  
retroactively on January 1, 2025 and continuing through December 31, 2027, in an amount  
not to exceed THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED  
SEVENTY-FIVE ($322,575) DOLLARS.  
COMMITTEE REFERRAL: COMMITTEES ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS, SOCIAL  
SERVICES, DISABILITIES & HUMAN RIGHTS AND HEALTH  
Joint with SSD&HR and H  
Guests: Office for Women  
Program Coordinator Stephanie Basilan, Program Administrator Nancy Tunis  
This item requests authorization in the amount of $322,575 to enter into another three-year  
contract with the Westchester Medical Center for their Forensic Acute Care Team Program  
(FACT) which provides forensic medical care to children, adolescents and adults who are  
victims of sexual assault or abuse. There is a longstanding partnership with WMC for  
initiatives such as the SAVE program, which provides advocacy services and high-risk team  
services allowing both programs to work hand in hand. The three-year contract would be  
retroactive to January 1, 2025 and expires December 31, 2027.  
On motion of Legislator Woodson-Samuels, seconded by Legislator Pierce, the above item  
was signed by committee and referred to Board of Legislators. The motion carried by the  
following vote:  
Aye:  
Legislator Woodson-Samuels, Legislator Nambiar, Legislator Pierce,  
Legislator Williams and Legislator Williams Johnson  
Absent:  
Legislator Holstein and Legislator Tubiolo  
3.  
ACT-2026-38  
BOND ACT-3061-Haulage Vehicle and Solid Waste Equipment Phase  
VI  
A BOND ACT authorizing the issuance of TWO MILLION, FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND  
($2,500,000) DOLLARS in bonds of Westchester County to finance Capital Project RD021 -  
Haulage Vehicle and Solid Waste Equipment Phase VI.  
SUBMITTED BY: COMMITTEES ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS AND  
INFRASTRUCTURE & HOUSING  
Joint with I&H  
Guest: Department of Environmental Facilities  
Commissioner Vincent Kopicki, Assistant Commissioner Melissa Rotini  
This request is for additional bonding of $2.5 Million for the purchase of additional vehicles  
and other solid waste equipment for phase six. All of the vehicles include the latest technology  
and these changes are cyclical due to continuous usage.  
Budget & Appropriations  
BOL Meeting Minutes - Final  
March 10, 2026  
On motion of Legislator Nambiar, seconded by Legislator Pierce, the above item was signed  
by committee and referred to Board of Legislators. The motion carried by the following vote:  
Aye:  
Legislator Woodson-Samuels, Legislator Nambiar, Legislator Pierce,  
Legislator Williams and Legislator Williams Johnson  
Absent:  
Legislator Holstein and Legislator Tubiolo  
4.  
ACT-2026-46  
BOND ACT-SW034-Heavy Equipment & Vehicle Replacement  
A BOND ACT authorizing the issuance of EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND ($800,000)  
DOLLARS in bonds of Westchester County to finance Capital Project SW034 - Heavy  
Equipment and Vehicle Replacement.  
SUBMITTED BY: COMMITTEES ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS AND  
INFRASTRUCTURE & HOUSING  
Joint with I&H  
Guest: Department of Environmental Facilities  
Commissioner Vincent Kopicki, Assistant Commissioner Melissa Rotini,  
This request is for additional bonding of $800,000 for the replacement of sewer district  
vehicles and heavy equipment, including a tanker truck, a single rear axle dump truck and a  
boom truck.  
On motion of Legislator Pierce, seconded by Legislator Williams, the above item was signed  
by committee and referred to Board of Legislators. The motion carried by the following vote:  
Aye:  
Legislator Woodson-Samuels, Legislator Nambiar, Legislator Pierce,  
Legislator Williams and Legislator Williams Johnson  
Absent:  
Legislator Holstein and Legislator Tubiolo  
5.  
ACT-2026-42  
BOND ACT(Amended)-BLA1A-Parkland and Historical Preservation  
Program  
A BOND ACT (Amended) authorizing the County of Westchester to amend Bond Act No.  
171-2025, which authorized the issuance of up to ONE MILLION, TWENTY-FIVE  
THOUSAND ($1,025,000) DOLLARS in bonds in finance a component of Capital Project  
BLA1A - Parkland and Historical Preservation Program in order to limit the scope of work for  
the project to waterfront improvements only.  
SUBMITTED BY: COMMITTEES ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS, INFRASTRUCTURE  
& HOUSING AND PARKS & ENVIRONMENT  
Joint with I&H and P&E  
Guests: Planning Department  
Commissioner Blanca Lopez  
Law Department  
Senior Assistant County Attorney Carla Chaves  
This item was discussed in conjunction with item #6. The first request is to amend a bond act  
to authorize up to $1.025 Million for project BLA1A and the second request authorizes the  
County to enter into an inter-municipal agreement (IMA) with Port Chester, both addressing  
the Waterfront Promenade in the Village of Port Chester. The originally approved legislation  
and IMA needed language correction clarifying that the work to be addressed is limited to  
waterfront improvements and not waterfront and downtown improvements.  
Budget & Appropriations  
BOL Meeting Minutes - Final  
March 10, 2026  
On motion of Legislator Nambiar, seconded by Legislator Pierce, the above item was signed  
by committee and referred to Board of Legislators. The motion carried by the following vote:  
Aye:  
Legislator Woodson-Samuels, Legislator Nambiar, Legislator Pierce,  
Legislator Williams and Legislator Williams Johnson  
Absent:  
Legislator Holstein and Legislator Tubiolo  
6.  
ACT-2026-43  
ACT-Amend IMA-Port Chester-BLA1A  
AN ACT authorizing the County of Westchester to amend Act No. 172-2025 which authorized  
the County of Westchester to enter into an intermunicipal agreement with the Village of Port  
Chester in connection with making certain waterfront and downtown revitalization  
improvements in the Village of Port Chester, in order to limit the scope of the project to  
waterfront revitalization improvements only.  
SUBMITTED BY: COMMITTEES ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS, INFRASTRUCTURE  
& HOUSING AND PARKS & ENVIRONMENT  
Joint with I&H and P&E  
Guests: Planning Department  
Commissioner Blanca Lopez  
Law Department  
Senior Assistant County Attorney Carla Chaves  
Please refer to item #5 for discussion.  
On motion of Legislator Nambiar, seconded by Legislator Pierce, the above item was signed  
by committee and referred to Board of Legislators. The motion carried by the following vote:  
Aye:  
Legislator Woodson-Samuels, Legislator Nambiar, Legislator Pierce,  
Legislator Williams and Legislator Williams Johnson  
Absent:  
Legislator Holstein and Legislator Tubiolo  
7.  
ACT-2026-39  
BOND ACT-RGP16-3125-General Infrastructure-Roofing Systems  
'24-'28  
A BOND ACT authorizing the issuance of FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND ($500,000)  
DOLLARS in bonds of Westchester County to finance Capital Project RGP16 - General  
Infrastructure - Roofing Systems (2024-2028).  
SUBMITTED BY: COMMITTEES ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS, INFRASTRUCTURE  
& HOUSING AND PARKS & ENVIRONMENT  
Joint with I&H and P&E  
Guests: Parks Dept.: First Deputy Commissioner Peter Tartaglia and Director of Park Planning  
Robert Lopane  
This item requests $500,000 for general infrastructure roofing systems at the Merestead Barn,  
the Cabana House and the Muscoot maintenance buildings, as part of their smaller roofs  
improvements. There are no operational impacts expected while the work is being conducted.  
On motion of Legislator Nambiar, seconded by Legislator Pierce, the above item was signed  
by committee and referred to Board of Legislators. The motion carried by the following vote:  
Budget & Appropriations  
BOL Meeting Minutes - Final  
March 10, 2026  
Aye:  
Legislator Woodson-Samuels, Legislator Nambiar, Legislator Pierce,  
Legislator Williams and Legislator Williams Johnson  
Absent:  
Legislator Holstein and Legislator Tubiolo  
8.  
ACT-2026-40  
BOND ACT-RGP21-General Infrastructure-Pool Facility-Play  
Equipment Systems  
A BOND ACT authorizing the issuance of FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND ($500,000)  
DOLLARS in bonds of Westchester County to finance Capital Project RGP21 - General  
Infrastructure - Pool Facility - Play Equipment Systems.  
SUBMITTED BY: COMMITTEES ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS, INFRASTRUCTURE  
& HOUSING AND PARKS & ENVIRONMENT  
Joint with I&H and P&E  
Guests: Parks Dept.: First Deputy Commissioner Peter Tartaglia and Director of Park Planning  
Robert Lopane  
This item requests $500,000 for general infrastructure improvements of pool facility and play  
equipment systems at Tibbetts Brook Park, Croton Gorge Playgrounds and Wilson’s Woods  
Park’s splash pad.  
On motion of Legislator Williams, seconded by Legislator Nambiar, the above item was signed  
by committee and referred to Board of Legislators. The motion carried by the following vote:  
Aye:  
Legislator Woodson-Samuels, Legislator Nambiar, Legislator Pierce,  
Legislator Williams and Legislator Williams Johnson  
Absent:  
Legislator Holstein and Legislator Tubiolo  
9.  
ACT-2026-41  
BOND ACT-RGP20-Gen'l Infrastructure-Equipment Acquisition '26-'30  
and B035F-Equipment Acquisition Program '26-'30  
A BOND ACT authorizing the issuance of THREE MILLION, SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND  
($3,700,000) DOLLARS in bonds of Westchester County to finance two Capital Projects:  
RGP20 - General Infrastructure - Equipment Acquisition (2026-2030) and B035F - Equipment  
Acquisition Program (2026-2030).  
SUBMITTED BY: COMMITTEES ON BUDGET & APPROPRIATIONS, INFRASTRUCTURE  
& HOUSING AND PARKS & ENVIRONMENT  
Joint with I&H and P&E  
Guests: Parks Dept.: First Deputy Commissioner Peter Tartaglia and Director of Park Planning  
Robert Lopane; DPW: Robert Abbamont, Director of Operations for the Capital Planning  
Program  
This item requests $3.7 Million for general infrastructure improvements for equipment  
acquisitions which include a variety of trucks for parks maintenance. The department has  
heavy vehicles at all parks and some of them do transfer based on needs. Most of these  
vehicles will be replacements and others will be new purchases, such as those for rough  
landscapes and terrains. Additionally, vehicles that transport asphalt and salt will also be  
replaced as well as purchasing related machinery to repair road cracks.  
On motion of Legislator Pierce, seconded by Legislator Nambiar, the above item was signed  
by committee and referred to Board of Legislators. The motion carried by the following vote:  
Aye:  
Legislator Woodson-Samuels, Legislator Nambiar, Legislator Pierce,  
Legislator Williams and Legislator Williams Johnson  
Budget & Appropriations  
BOL Meeting Minutes - Final  
March 10, 2026  
Absent:  
Legislator Holstein and Legislator Tubiolo  
II.  
OTHER BUSINESS  
RECEIVE & FILE  
III.  
ADJOURNMENT  
On motion of Legislator Nambiar seconded by Legislator Williams the Committee adjourned at  
2:42pm..