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By Joyce Farrell

At the July 22 meeting of the Village of Pelham Manor Board of Trustees, Fire Commissioner Timothy Case congratulated Nicholas Senerchia and Alfonso Migliarini for graduating from the Westchester Career Firefighters Academy and Firefighter Daniel Higgins for passing his probationary period.

In discussing recent noise complaints, Mayor Jennifer Monachino Lapey stated that the noises, which originate from beyond the Village’s jurisdiction, were addressed at a meeting held by NYS Senator Nathalia Fernandez at the Daronco Town House in the Town of Pelham and attended by Trustees Daniel McLaughlin. , Trustee Case, Police Lieutenant Gregory Sancho, Mayor Lapey, and Village Manager Lindsey Luft. Trustee McLaughlin mentioned that they were told about the steps the other jurisdictions had taken and the guidelines that they are following, especially Mount Vernon. Mayor Lapey asserted that the Manor is continuing to work collaboratively with the 45th and 47th precincts in the Bronx and with Mount Vernon, but it’s a difficult problem to solve because sometimes events are impromptu, such as a group showing up with speakers on a flatbed truck. If their equipment is impounded, another group will show up the following weekend with new equipment.

Rather than feeling futile that the police department can’t do anything because the noise is not originating from its jurisdiction, Police Commissioner Breda Bennett encouraged all to complain to the police department at 914-738-1000 and report what they are hearing. The police will then go out with a decibel reader to collect important data, and when residents call them, the police can let them know which precinct to call to complain. Additionally, residents can send an email to loudmusic@pelhammanor.org, which goes to officials outside Pelham Manor, to let them know what kind of noise they are hearing and when they are hearing the noise. 

Firefighter Jeff Strati, who graduated from the Westchester Career Firefighters Academy in February 2021 and has been working as a firefighter in Harrison for the last three years, was then sworn in by Mayor Lapey.

Fire Chief Michael Greco reported that there’s been an uptick in car accidents throughout the Village Manor and asked that everyone slow down. He’s hopeful that the reduced speed limit and the new STOP signs will assist in reducing the number of accidents. He also reported that his department worked with Pelham the Village of Pelham and the Westchester County Police Department to remove a downed tree that fell across the Hutchinson River Parkway; the removal was achieved within thirty minutes.

Lieutenant Sancho reported to the Board on behalf of the Police Department that there were multiple shoplifting incidents with a total of 18 larcenies, chiefly at ShopRite, CVS, and Dollar Tree. Many of them resulted in same-day arrests; the others continue to be investigated. One person had her purse stolen from her car; the perpetrators broke her car’s back window to remove it. Another had her bag stolen from the front seat of her car as she was loading the back of the car. The Department also issued summonses for the use of gas-powered leaf blower violations. Additionally, the police took a fraud report from a victim who wired money after receiving a phone call from someone claiming to be from ConEd. Lieutenant Sancho reminded residents that legitimate businesses will not contact customers over the phone or via text and ask them to wire money or send payment via gift cards. Police Commissioner Bennett suggested that residents ask questions or hang up and call the company back. Finally, Lieutenant Sancho mentioned that the aforementioned Bronx precincts with whom he is in contact regarding the loud music noise complaints have established special units to combat the noise issues.

Based on Manager Luft’s recommendation, the Board voted to award a contract for the milling and resurfacing of various streets to ELQ Industries, Inc. The Board also authorized Manager Luft to submit an application through the Consolidated Funding Application for the Green Infrastructure and Water Quality Improvement Project for the Pelham Manor Esplanade/Ely Green Infrastructure project. It is predicted that the project with will enhance the Village’s sustainability practices and have some stormwater mitigation benefits.

The Board then adopted a Village of Pelham Manor Employee Handbook and a Schedule of Non-union Employee Benefits, a result of the work of Manager Luft, who has a background in civil service human resources, and the Village’s outside labor and employment attorney, with whom Manager Luft worked closely for months. The Handbook brings the policies that the Village is required to have up-to-date with current state and federal regulations, and the Non-union Schedule of Benefits centralizes the location for referencing the benefits of non-union employees.

Finally, the Board set a public hearing for amending Local Law 3 of the Village’s code for its next meeting on August 12. Visit www.vimeo.com/988644747 to view the entire meeting.