Elmsford board approves five-year cable franchise renewal with Verizon

The Elmsford Village Board on a unanimous vote approved a five-year renewal of its cable franchise agreement with Verizon following a public hearing.

Village officials said the renewed agreement continues the village's 5% gross fee and includes a $10,000 grant to the village, split into two payments of $5,000 each. The contract also preserves free service drops to 10 village locations, described by staff as “our facilities and schools.” Officials said the agreement becomes effective only after the village approves it and files it for state approval.

A staff presenter summarized the history: the original 15‑year franchise had expired in 2020 and negotiations took place jointly with six neighboring municipalities using outside counsel. The new agreement is a five‑year renewal negotiated through that group, village officials said. The presenter described an upstream payment arrangement and the list of 10 free service drops; the transcript did not list each location by name.

No members of the public spoke during the public hearing. After the presentation and the public‑hearing closure, the board moved to adopt the resolution approving execution of the franchise agreement with Verizon. Trustees voted as follows: Trustee Jose Coffey — aye; Trustee Jose Lopez — aye; Trustee Dorio — aye; Trustee Corrales — aye; Trustee Morales — aye; Mayor Williams — aye. The motions to close the hearing and to approve the resolution carried by voice vote with all members recorded as voting in the affirmative.

The board’s staff noted two implementation conditions on the record: the village will submit the signed agreement to the state for approval before the contract becomes effective, and the $10,000 grant payment schedule (two $5,000 payments) is built into the agreement. Staff also referenced a village obligation to document free service drops once the contract is active; the transcript did not provide the full list of the 10 locations or which village department will manage the service drops.

The board took no other action on cable operations or programming during the hearing; no amendments to the proposed agreement were made at the meeting.

The village clerk will forward the signed agreement to the state for the required approval, at which point the renewal will take effect and the village will confirm the facilities that receive the free drops.