Mount Vernon work session: council moves prisoner‑meals transfer to agenda after officials cite budget shortfall; executive session held

The Mount Vernon City Council on Oct. 6 reviewed a slate of departmental items and directed several to the agenda for future action, including a request to transfer funds to cover higher-than-expected prisoner meal costs.

During discussion of the Department of Public Safety request to transfer funds for prisoner meals, Deputy Chief Pattison said the per‑meal cost rose by about $0.50 and that the number of arrests had increased. Pattison told the council the budgeted amount for prisoner meals had been $15,000 for several prior years but was set at $10,000 for 2025; the department expects the lower line is now insufficient. He said the city’s 2024 expenses for prisoner meals were about $10,600 and that historical budgeted amounts included $15,000 in 2020–2021, $25,000 in 2022 and $15,000 in 2023.

After that explanation the council moved item 15 (prisoner‑meals transfer) to the agenda for action at the next meeting.

The work session also previewed several other items that are scheduled for council action or referral: emergency tree removal and debris management along McQuestion Parkway; a mayoral authority request for an emergency contract to remove dead oaks on McQuestion Parkway; committing a 10% nonfederal matching share for a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant (project 46150004) for South Third and South Columbus Avenue flood mitigation; enrollment and funding for a Green Project Manager (GPM‑B) certification for the sustainability director; an honorary street conaming policy; a resolution to appoint members to the Cable Television Advisory Committee; acceptance of the annual independent audit prepared by PKF O'Connor Davies; an ordinance to establish a business registration requirement for for‑profit businesses; and a CEQA‑related referral for a petition from Grace Baptist Church seeking zoning text and map amendments (the council said it intends to serve as the lead agency and referred the petition to the city corporation counsel, planning board and Westchester County Planning Board).

Separately, the council voted, by roll call, to enter an executive session to receive legal advice on pending matters; the roll call recorded "aye" votes from Councilman Box Hill, Councilwoman Gleason and Council President Brown. The council later voted by roll call to end the executive session and return to public session.

The council also discussed two Catalyst Enterprise contract amendments originating from a June 25 ordinance; legal staff advised one of the items did not require council approval because the amendment was unnecessary. Several items were marked "agenda pending" while council members awaited legal clarification.