Board of Estimate and Contract: votes at a glance (Jan. 28, 2025)

This is a concise summary of formal motions and roll-call votes taken at the City of Mount Vernon Board of Estimate and Contract on Jan. 28, 2025. The board recorded votes, approvals and a held item across departments.

Key outcomes (selected items):

- Office lease (6 Remington Ave., Suite 203): Motion to approve the two-year lease was moved and then withdrawn; the board subsequently voted to hold (table) the item until a future meeting. Roll call on the motion to hold: Comptroller Morton — Aye; Council President Brown — Aye; Mayor Deirdre Patterson Howard — Aye. Outcome: tabled.

- Department of Public Safety: Ordinance to authorize the mayor to enter into an agreement with Secure Watch 24 for purchase of 21 tablet-style mobile computers for police cruiser use was approved. Roll call: Comptroller Morton — Aye; Council President Brown — Aye; Mayor Deirdre Patterson Howard — Aye. Outcome: approved.

- Board of Water Supply: Ordinances authorizing two position changes (add a position titled “Water Resource Specialist” and add a position titled “Water Quality Analyst”) were approved. Officials said these changes reflect an expanded scope for the lead service line program and are funded by a New York State Department of Health grant. Roll calls for each were unanimous (Aye). Outcome: approved (positions added).

- Youth Bureau — Ready for Life college tour: The board granted permission for the Mount Vernon Youth Bureau to sponsor the college tour. Officials noted the program is federally funded and that the administration is monitoring a temporary pause in federal grant execution; the board approved the item (roll call unanimous). Outcome: approved (planning contingent on funding availability).

- Office of the Comptroller — USDOT grant: The board authorized acceptance of a $1,000,000 U.S. Department of Transportation grant for innovative finance and asset concession activities. Roll call recorded unanimous approval. Outcome: approved.

- Delinquent taxes: The board approved submission of a list of delinquent taxes and procedures for tax-lien sales and in rem foreclosure proceedings. Officials emphasized publication and statutory notice steps and discussed payment-plan options. Roll call recorded unanimous approval. Outcome: approved (publication and process steps authorized).

- Department of Public Works: Resolution authorizing partial payment No. 8 to National Water Main Cleaning Company for sewer system cleaning and televising, Phase 1, was approved on an amended coding (C937/C938). Roll call: Comptroller Morton — Aye; Council President Brown — Aye; Mayor Deirdre Patterson Howard — Aye. Outcome: approved (partial payment authorized).

- Settlements and tax-review items: The board approved several settlement payments and tax-review consent judgments in block votes. Notable settlement amounts recorded on the minutes: Noel Borno Santana — $22,500; Shamika Punter — $12,500; Romy Lawrence — $18,000; Serena Coates — $2,220.97. For the block of items (11–13) the roll was recorded as: Comptroller Morton — Aye; Council President Brown — Abstention; Mayor Deirdre Patterson Howard — Aye. Outcome: approved (block votes recorded).

- Salary resolutions: Salary resolution items associated with the water positions and CSEA minimum/maximum amendments (items 19–21) were approved (roll call unanimous). Outcome: approved.

Detailed roll-call tallies and in-meeting notes are on the meeting record; motions that lacked an on-the-record mover or seconder in the transcript are recorded in this summary as “not specified.”