Mount Vernon council holds executive session for personnel interviews; reviews agenda of resurfacing, events and police equipment purchases

Council President Danielle Brown said the City Council held an executive session for personnel interviews during its April 21 work session and later returned to open session with a unanimous roll call.

The work session focused on a committee-led tally sheet of proposed ordinances and resolutions to place on the council’s next public meeting agenda, including street resurfacing, a drug-and-alcohol testing contract to comply with U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, the acceptance of donated trees, several recreation events (an HIV/AIDS awareness walk, Juneteenth activities, Cityfest and a summer concert series), and public-safety items including acceptance of 12 parking spaces from Montefiore Health System and the proposed purchase of equipment for the Department of Public Safety.

Why it matters: the session set which items the council will consider at its upcoming public meeting and flagged several items for further confirmation from city departments or additional procedural steps. Several agenda items were marked “agenda pending” until departments such as the fire department, police department and Department of Public Works provide responses; one crossed-out item will be returned as a resolution after county and planning board review.

The council first moved into executive session for personnel interviews; the motion and second were made on the record and a roll call recorded ayes by Councilman Fazos, Councilwoman Leeson, Councilman Poteet, Councilman Thompson and Council President Brown. After the closed session the council moved to reconvene; roll call on re-entry included Councilman Barca, Councilwoman Gleason, Councilman Poteet, Councilman Thompson and Council President Brown, all recorded as voting “aye.”

Committee chairs then reviewed specific items proposed for the next public agenda. Highlights listed by the committee chair included: - Public Works: an ordinance to advertise bids for resurfacing various city streets for 2025–2026; an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with partners in safety for required drug-and-alcohol testing for Department of Public Works employees (to comply with U.S. Department of Transportation regulations); and acceptance of three donated trees from Neighbors That Care Inc. proposed for planting on South Columbus Avenue near Graham School parking. - Recreation: ordinances to authorize and support an HIV/AIDS awareness walk scheduled for June 21, 2025; co-sponsorship and appropriation for a Juneteenth walk and interfaith health fair on June 7, 2025; co-sponsorship of Cityfest on Sept. 13–14, 2025; and authorization for a summer concert series with acceptance of monetary donations. - Board of Water Supply: a retroactive authorization to attend the 2025 Mayor’s Water Council meeting (the chair said this will require a second vote because it did not receive necessary approvals at a prior meeting) and an amendment to the salary for a senior account clerk position. - Youth and clerk’s office items added as add-ons: the youth bureau requested use of City Hall Plaza May 14, 2025, for a youth mental wellness festival; the clerk’s office submitted a resolution honoring Catherine Coleman Flowers. - Public safety: an ordinance authorizing acceptance of 12 parking spaces from Montefiore Health System for police use; an ordinance to purchase equipment from Faro Technologies for the criminal investigation unit with a request to waive competitive bidding because the vendor is available through a federal GSA contract; and travel authorization for Department of Public Safety members to attend training in Somerville, Massachusetts. The council asked that items involving procurement or unusual travel be held “agenda pending” so staff can confirm contracts, pricing and whether State or federal contracts apply. - Finance and controller items: an ordinance adopting standard installment-plan terms for delinquent tax agreements; an ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter a payment plan with the New York State Department of Civil Service for outstanding health insurance premium arrears; and a proposal to offer voluntary supplemental dental benefits from Aflac via payroll deduction.

Council members raised several follow-ups the committee will address before the public meeting: a request that the controller or his representative brief the council on the status and next steps for selling tax liens; confirmation from departments (fire, police, DPW) about event approvals and impacts; clarification on why attendance at a May emergency management and cybersecurity summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is necessary; and verification of the procurement justification for waiving competitive bidding when using a GSA or state contract. The council directed staff to follow up and to mark items “agenda pending” when departmental responses were outstanding.

Council members also discussed one item that had been crossed out on the tally sheet. Staff said the crossed-out item will be reworked as a resolution and routed to the county and the city planning board; it is expected to be added as an add-on at the council’s Wednesday meeting after those reviews.

Less substantive matters at the end of the session included reminders about the Citizens Police Academy event and procedural notes on microphones and meeting adjournment. The work session adjourned after a ceremonial gavel tap by a guest invited to the dais.

A complete list of items and the committee’s placement recommendations will appear on the council’s formally posted public meeting agenda; several items were explicitly marked in the work session as needing department confirmation or additional procedural steps and therefore remain pending.