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By Joyce Farrell

On April 1 at the beginning of the Annual Meeting of the Pelham Manor Board of Trustees, Mayor Jennifer Monachino Lapey announced the passing of former firefighter Paul Sutorious after a courageous battle with 9/11-related cancer. Firefighter Paul Sutorious served for over 27 years. The Oath of Office was then administered by Town Justice John Gardner to both Bridget A. Bennett and Maurice Owen-Michaane, who were re-elected Village Trustees on March 19, 2024.

Additionally, the Board approved the appointments of Gregory Varone to serve as Chairman of the Board of Appeals and William F. Taubner to serve as Chairman of the Planning Board. Both appointments are until the first Monday in April 2025.

At the Meeting of the Board of Trustees on April 8, Mayor Monachino Lapey thanked all service departments for their work during weather that included very high winds and coastal flooding. 

Trustee Maurice Owen-Micchane gave an update on the Village’s review of Vehicle Traffic and Safety Laws working with outside traffic engineers and will soon report on the findings. Several Stop Signs have already been added.

Fire Commissioner Tim Case offered his condolences to Fire Chief Michael Greco on the passing of former firefighter Paul Sutorious, and Chief Greco also announced the retirement of Captain William Treacy, who served the Village for over 30 years.

Additionally, Chief Greco hosted a meeting with FDNY and the fire departments of the bordering communities of Mount Vernon, Yonkers, and Pelham. Since Pelham Manor is a bordering community and has an interoperability agreement with FDNY, the agreement is being used as a model to come up with other inter-municipal agreements.

Lastly, Chief Greco announced that probationary firefighters are doing well and are about to start live-fire training. He also reminded residents not to block fire hydrants with garbage and brush piles as there needs to be a three-foot clearance all around the hydrants so that the department’s work is not hampered. 

Village Manager Lindsey Luft stated in the DPW report that about 80% of all material was recycled. That percentage was heavy due to leaf collection. Additionally, three streetlights were repaired, and the foreman and a crew member attended an Invasive Plant Management Workshop. 

Manager Luft also attended a national coastal resilience webinar and had a meeting with FEMA, which Mayor Monachino Lapey stated was important as the coastal storms affect the entire region, and  Westchester County is taking a regional approach towards the flooding problems in the area. Staying in touch on these resilience issues with the County and with FEMA is critical.

The 2024 budget and tax levy were approved. It includes an appropriation of about $2 million from the fund balance, but 97% of this is for one-time capital investments and not for balancing the budget. Of the $2 million, $1.2 million is for stormwater investments, and of the total projects authorized, $1.8 million is in stormwater. 

During public commentary, a representative for the PTA Council’s Pedestrian Safety Committee addressed the Board about safety concerns in light of an accident the previous week in which a Siwanoy Elementary School first grader was hit by a vehicle, the second such accident in the current school year. Several requests were made including the additions of speed bumps and Stop signs in various places and the decrease of the speed limit to 25 miles per hour. Mayor Lapey pointed out that several safety steps have already been taken and assured her that others are under review. 

Visit www.pelhammanor.org/AgendaCenter to view the agendas, meetings, or minutes for more information on any of the Board meetings.