Public, Legislative Meetings Held in Town of Pelham
By Stephen E. Lipken
Pelham Town Supervisor Daniel J. McLaughlin opened the Monday, December 1st Public Meeting, discussing the proposed 2026 Town Budget. “The Budget, under the Tax Levy Limit allowed us to increase our Budget by $85,000; that’s what the 2% Tax Cap gave us,” McLaughlin stated.
“It is a little hard to keep under for various reasons; one is our medical expenses,” McLaughlin continued. “Our medical expenses went up by $72,000, .85% of the Tax Levy; our insurance went up $95,264. Then we add in salaries, we tried to get a 3% raise; salaries are $46,405 or .54% of the Tax Limit. The ambulance increase is $56,392.
“The NYS Retirement System, which we have no control over, was $54,143, which is .64% of the 2%. Even though revenues are going up by $342,000, taxes are only going up by $270,000,” McLaughlin concluded. The 2026 Preliminary Budget passed and Public Meeting closed.
Next, McLaughlin convened the Legislative Meeting, beginning with Committee Reports. Councilwoman/Deputy Supervisor Rae Szymanski mentioning the Certificate of Need (CON) for ambulance service meeting on November 19th. New York State approved the CON, according to Szymanski.
Szymanski then said that there were 79 November Emergency Medical Service calls (EMS); 35 in Pelham; 37, Pelham Manor, 4 on the Hutch, 2 on I-95; 2, Bronxville; 3, Eastchester; Tuckahoe, 1 and 1 in New Rochelle. Average Response Time, 5 minutes 3 seconds; On Scene Time, 17 minutes, 3 seconds; Transport Time, 13 minutes, 5 seconds; Turnaround Time, 29 minutes, 3 seconds. Szymanski added that the Employee Manual has been completed, containing a dress code policy. “The Manual not only protects the employee, it protects the employer,” Szymanski noted.
In the Recreation Report, Councilwoman Kara McLoughlin remarked that the Pelham Recreation Department presented the prestigious Dr. John Marshall Award to Joanne Case on Tuesday, November 18th for her leadership across Pelham Youth Tackle and Pelham Little League.