Mount Vernon council approves grants, contracts and appointments; questions raised over emergency paving procurement

The Mount Vernon City Council on March 12 approved a package of ordinances, grants, contracts and appointments covering city technology, sewer planning, pump station upgrades, street resurfacing, park infrastructure and public-safety measures.

Among the actions, the council voted to authorize an agreement with OpenGov to create a custom environment for the Fire Department; to accept a $1,000,000 New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (NYSEFC) grant for sewer cleaning and closed-circuit-television inspection to support capital planning; and to accept a $1,300,000.02 NYSEFC grant for upgrades to the Edison Avenue pump station. The council also approved payment to Petrillo Contracting, Inc., for emergency milling and paving of Bonita Vista Drive in the amount of $38,000, a budget transfer to buy a combination vacuum truck, an amendment to the local match for the South Fourth Street Park green infrastructure project, multiple appointments and a series of public-safety items including a red-light camera RFP and a vehicle-forfeiture ordinance.

Most items passed by roll call vote. The council’s roll-call roster for votes on agenda items consisted of Councilman Javon Box Hill, Councilwoman Caitlin Gleason, Councilman Ed Poteet, Councilman Derrick Thompson and Council President Danielle Brown. Notable roll-call outcomes included an abstention by Box Hill on a resolution reappointing commissioners of deeds (Box Hill recused because he was on the list) and a split vote on the emergency paving payment: Council President Brown voted No on the Bonita Vista payment while the other four members voted Aye.

That dispute prompted a question from council members about whether the work qualified as an emergency under procurement rules. DPW Commissioner Bush, who joined the meeting remotely, said the work followed a Con Edison gas-main replacement and that crews found the remainder of the roadway in “deplorable condition.” He said the city already had a contractor under an existing street-resurfacing contract who was mobilized on site, and the change order approach avoided the delay and mobilization costs of sending the job back out to bid. "When we got there, we realized that the other side of the road was in deplorable conditions," Commissioner Bush said. He added that the work would be reimbursable under CHIP (Community Home Improvement Program) and that the additional paving was treated as a change order because it was not in the original scope.

Council members pressed that procurement policy defines emergencies narrowly. Councilman Javon Box Hill said the rationale did not fully justify bypassing normal procedures; Brown ultimately cast the lone No vote on the Bonita Vista payment.

Other actions included: - Approval of an agreement with OpenGov for a custom fire-department environment (roll call: Box Hill Aye, Gleason Aye, Poteet Aye, Thompson Aye, Brown Aye). - Reappointment of commissioners of deeds for the city of Mount Vernon (Box Hill abstained; other members Aye). - Acceptance of a $1,000,000 NYSEFC grant for sewer CCTV and cleaning (unanimous Aye). - Acceptance of a $1,300,000.02 NYSEFC grant for Edison Avenue pump station upgrades (unanimous Aye). - Payment of $38,000 to Petrillo Contracting, Inc., for emergency milling and paving of Bonita Vista Drive (roll call: 4 Aye, 1 No). - Amendment to the local match for the South Fourth Street Park green-infrastructure project and confirmation of a Type 2 SEQRA exemption (unanimous Aye). - Budget line transfer to purchase a combination vacuum truck (unanimous Aye). - Appointment of Dorothy D’Amico to the Board of Ethics (unanimous Aye). - An add-on appointment of Nicole Bonilla as city clerk (unanimous Aye after roll call; Councilman Thompson initially said he “need[ed] time to think” but voted Aye). - A Recreation Department agreement with Westchester County to fund the Fun-Filled Summer program, July 1–Aug. 31, 2025 (unanimous Aye). - Acceptance of a donation of tactical vest carriers from the Mount Vernon Police Foundation (described in the agenda as "157 Safe Life Defense tactical vest carriers") and a public thank-you from council members (unanimous Aye). - Authorization to issue an RFP for a red-light camera enforcement system (roll call: Box Hill No; others Aye). - A resolution urging the New York State Senate and Assembly to reopen a State retirement pension case for Jose Centeno (unanimous Aye). - An ordinance enacting Chapter 137 of the Mount Vernon code regulating vehicle forfeiture in connection with criminal acts (unanimous Aye).

The council handled the items in committee groups (legislation and public works; public safety and codes; finance and planning) and took roll-call votes after motions and seconds were recorded on the record.

The record reflects that questions about procurement and appropriate use of change orders remain a point of contention. Council members requested documentation and photographs; Commissioner Bush said photos were available. Several council members said they want clearer written justification when work is added to an on-site contractor outside a prior scope of work.

The meeting ended with a unanimous vote to adjourn following a moment of silence.