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Mount Vernon council approves package of ordinances on public works, finance and development
Summary
The Mount Vernon City Council on May 14 approved a series of ordinances and resolutions covering public works, recreation, public safety and finance, including an extension and modification of a tax-interest amnesty program for qualified owner-occupied residential properties and a second amendment to the Library Square land-disposition agreement.
The Mount Vernon City Council on May 14 approved a series of ordinances and resolutions covering public works, recreation, public safety and finance, including an extension and modification of a tax-interest amnesty program for qualified owner-occupied residential properties and a second amendment to the Library Square land disposition agreement.
Among the measures the council adopted were ordinances authorizing the mayor to attend the 2025 New York Conference of Mayors, an updated memorandum of understanding with the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, amendment of the city code's nuisance-abatement provision, a one-year leave of absence for Jawad Abdul Halim to serve as a code enforcement officer, and a land lease with Positive Pup Playgroup for the exterior area of the animal shelter at 600 Garden Avenue.
The council also approved items recognizing National Public Works Week (May 18'24), sending a public-works employee to traffic-signal technician training, declaring an emergency at certain city properties, a permit for the Portuguese American Club's Saint Antonio feast on June 8, creation of an additional recreation assistant position with funds reallocated within the Recreation Department, co-sponsorship of the Fourth Street Classic basketball tournament, and a date change for a Mount Vernon Youth Bureau use of City Hall Plaza.
On public safety and personnel the council voted to provisionally appoint Fire Captain Robert D. Curtin to the position of provisional deputy fire chief within the Mount Vernon Fire Department; council members noted that the appointment requires Board of Estimate approval before taking effect. The council also authorized a memorandum of understanding to partner with Westchester County on the STRIVE initiative under the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
Financial and development actions included a refund/credit to Metro Green Realty of Westchester LLC for tax years 2023 and 2024 due to a correction of error, an extension and modification of the tax-interest amnesty program for qualifying owner-occupied residences, a budget transfer to fund outside legal services for the Charter Review Commission, and approval of the second amendment to the land disposition agreement regarding 20 South Second Square (Library Square).
Councilwoman Gleason abstained from the vote on the tax-correction credit for Metro Green Realty, citing a business relationship. "I actually do business with this particular organization, so I'm going to abstain from voting on this," Gleason said at the meeting.
Most items were approved by roll call with councilmembers recorded as voting "aye." The meeting record shows repeated roll-call votes listing Councilman Boxall, Councilwoman Gleason, Councilman Thompson and Council President Brown on adopted measures; where the transcript records abstentions, those are noted above.
The council concluded the legislative session after the final roll calls and moved to adjourn; no further public hearings or ordinances were taken up that night.
