New PMPD Sergeant Sworn in at
Manor Board of Trustees Meeting
Left to right: Pelham Trustee Maurice Owen-Michaane; Village Attorney Albert Cornachio; Trustee Breda Bennett; new Police Sergeant Thomas Ryan; Police Chief Thomas Atkins; Mayor Jennifer Monachino Lapey; Trustees Michelle DeLillo, Joseph Senerchia.
By Stephen E. Lipken
Pelham Manor Mayor Jennifer Monachino Lapey called to order the January 24 Board of Trustees meeting, relaying the sad news of the passing of Pelham Town Engineer Nicholas Grecco. “It is a big loss for the Town,” Trustee Joseph Senerchia added.
Mayor Lapey pointed to the excellent Westchester County COVID vaccination rate and decried the deaths of NYPD Officer Jason Rivera and NYPD Officer Wilbert Mora. “A few dozen Westchester Police Departments drove in a caravan as part of the 32nd NYPD Precinct tribute,” Trustee/Police Commissioner Breda Bennett stated.
Minutes of prior meetings were approved, including Local Law 6 of 2021 – Traffic Control Signal Photo Violation-Monitoring System. It states: The Village Manager, for purposes of implementation of the program, is authorized to install and operate a traffic-control signal photo violation-monitoring device on Pelhamdale Avenue and Boston Post Road.
Next, Lapey administered the Oath of Office to Police Sergeant Thomas Ryan, 36 who received a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College and became a Mount Vernon Police Officer in 2012. Assigned to Pelham Manor Patrol Division in March 2014, Ryan was promoted to Patrol Sergeant in December 2020.
Then Fire Chief Joseph Ruggiero mentioned 47 calls in December, ranging from downed wires to a car fire and fluid spill, pointing to a serious dryer fire. “People need to know that dryers need maintenance; lint builds up and make sure that the exhaust hose is cleaned out,” Ruggiero stressed.
Village Manager John Pierpont referred to a Memo from Assessor Joe Battaglia, saying that Westchester County recently passed legislation adopting new maximum State levels for the Alternative Veterans Exemption, starting with the 2022 Assessment Roll for 2023 taxes.
The new levels are Alternative Veterans Exemption, $54,000 to $75,000; Additional Combat Zone Exemption, $36,000 to $50,000; Additional Service-Disabled Exemption from $180,000 to $250,000.