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City council approves multiple ordinances and resolutions; lease for internal‑affairs office renewed amid calls to find city property
Summary
At the June 25 Mount Vernon City Council meeting members approved a block of event, contract and training items, passed several resolutions honoring local figures, and renewed a one‑year lease for an off‑campus internal‑affairs location while directing staff to search for city‑owned alternatives.
The Mount Vernon City Council on June 25 voted on a series of ordinances, resolutions and contracts. Most items on the legislative calendar were approved; several items produced brief discussion and directions for follow‑up.
Key outcomes (motions adopted by roll call or unanimous voice vote):
- Grace Baptist Church special event permit (5K Walk for Education, scheduled July 19 with rain date July 26): ordinance moved and approved by roll call (Councilman Boxhill—Aye; Councilwoman Gleason—Aye; Councilman Thompson—Aye; Council President Brown—Aye).
- Department of Public Works: authorization to advertise for bids for various public‑works construction equipment rentals (ordinance) — passed by roll call.
- Intermunicipal agreement with Westchester County Youth Bureau to support the 2025 summer youth employment and training program ($16,666.67, July 1–Sept 30, 2025) — ordinance/contract authorization approved by roll call.
- Block vote: three resolutions honoring inductees into the Mount Vernon High School Hall of Fame (George Latimer; Senator Ruth Hassel Thompson; posthumous commendation for Elise Finch) — adopted as a block vote.
- Building department: ordinance to establish time limits on dormant building‑department applications — approved (one abstention recorded by Council President Brown).
- Department of Public Safety: ordinance renewing a lease for Suite 407 at 6 Grama Avenue for an off‑campus internal affairs/location used by the police department — approved after discussion. Recorded roll call votes indicate support by a majority while Council President Brown stated a preference to identify a city‑owned property; council members directed police and other departments to seek a city‑owned alternative for next year. The lease term approved is one year (08/01/2025–07/31/2026) with fixed annual cost cited in committee as $24,102 (base rent and electricity combined).
- Training authorizations: two public‑safety training items were approved — attendance at a mechanical breaching instructor school in Wayne, NJ and an initial response to active‑shooter course (dates and attendees listed in committee reports).
- Contracts with Catalyst Enterprise for software/professional services (two items totaling $44,600 across contracts reported: $9,600 for software services and $35,000 for professional services, each for one‑year terms beginning 07/15/2025) — authorized by ordinance vote.
Votes on the above items were typically unanimous among members present; notable exceptions were the abstention on the dormant applications ordinance and Council President Brown’s recorded opposition to one lease matter even though the overall vote carried.
Councilmembers who spoke during the legislative session repeatedly asked staff to identify city‑owned properties that could host the internal‑affairs function to avoid future lease expense and urged tighter coordination among departments when city leases are being considered.
