Dobbs Ferry trustees authorize event contracts, budget transfers, stormwater filing and join Westchester legal effort on Con Edison rate case

The Village of Dobbs Ferry Board of Trustees on March 25 approved a slate of contracts, donations and administrative actions and voted to participate in a coordinated Westchester effort to retain special counsel in Con Edison's electric and gas rate case.

The board unanimously authorized the village administrator to execute an information-technology support services contract (mover: Trustee Galen; seconder: Trustee Sullivan) and approved event contracts for two Waterfront Park markets: a June 14 pop-up artisan market with Phoenicia Flea (waiver of park and vendor fees; rain date June 15) and a seasonal vintage/antiques market produced by Wickers Creek Market. The Phoenicia Flea contract was presented as an annual partnership the village has hosted; trustees said the village would assume staffing costs for recreation, public works and police on event days.

Separately, trustees authorized retaining Joel Dichter of Dichter Law as special counsel to represent participating Westchester municipalities in Con Edison's rate case before the New York State Public Service Commission. The resolution discussed a contribution of $5,000 from Dobbs Ferry toward a pooled legal engagement; Rye Brook will coordinate payments and engagement logistics, the record shows. Trustees described the tactic as a way for Westchester municipalities to "have a seat at the table" during rate proceedings.

The board also: - Accepted a donation from the Dobbs Ferry Youth Little League for a scoreboard valued at $11,100 and formally recorded the gift. - Accepted donated food items tied to a "Taste of Dobbs Ferry" event (a $70 cheesecake and a $40 tray of items); trustees discussed policy for accepting donated goods and confirmed the invoices were presented with event documentation. - Approved budget line transfers for the fire department (to reallocate funds among building maintenance, uniforms, protective gear) and for the police department (reallocating an unneeded salary line to equipment, radios and safety gear). - Authorized the village administrator to execute and submit the village's annual MS4 stormwater report to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. - Approved the audit of claims as submitted by the village treasurer. - Added and scheduled a public hearing on the 2025-26 proposed budget for April 8, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall.

Why it matters: The actions advance routine municipal operations (IT, event permitting, budget housekeeping, stormwater compliance) and reflect a deliberate inter-municipal strategy to influence a major utility rate case affecting Westchester ratepayers. The Con Edison item drew discussion about cost-sharing and who would be signatory to any engagement letter; trustees sought clarity that Rye Brook would coordinate payments and that terms would be specified in a formal engagement letter.

Trustees generally approved the items unanimously; the special counsel resolution and most contract approvals passed without recorded dissents. Where dollar amounts were discussed in motions (for example the scoreboard's $11,100 value), the board recorded those amounts in the motion language.