New Rochelle Council adopts 2025 flag calendar, approves property acquisition and six other items including budget changes

The New Rochelle City Council on Feb. 11 adopted a slate of routine and substantive measures, including a 2025 flag calendar that now includes a United Nations flag week, authorization for the city manager to pursue acquisition of 625 North Avenue, the reappointment of Robert Balachandran to the New Rochelle Industrial Development Agency, acceptance of a police foundation donation just north of $50,000 and two budget amendments that add a school crossing guard and a dedicated risk manager position.

The flag calendar amendment won council approval after Council member Kaye asked that the United Nations flag be raised beginning Oct. 23 for seven days. "I just wanted to ask that in the past, we had raised the UN flag on UN day, and if we could include that flag as well. And it it would be on October 23 and for 7 days," Council member Kaye said. Council member Stern, a member of the flag subcommittee, said the subcommittee recommended keeping one flag per pole and consistent durations so no holiday appears valued over another: "typically it's best practice to only have, 1 flag on a given pole...and we are also just keeping, all, flags up for the same amount, just so that there's never any question of whether we value 1 holiday over another."

Why it matters: The flag calendar is a ceremonial policy that sets the city's practice for recognizing international and national observances on City Hall flagpoles; the council's decision to add the U.N. flag formalizes a request from a council member and sets the dates the flag will be flown.

Council members next approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to submit a written offer and commence legal proceedings to acquire 625 North Avenue, the parcel formerly occupied by a CVS. City staff clarified that the acquisition package covers three parcels (the building and two adjacent parking lots) that are held by two owners. The resolution authorizes the city to secure a bond for purchase and any required renovation.

The council also confirmed the reappointment of Robert Balachandran to the New Rochelle Industrial Development Agency and Corporation for Local Development; the reappointment was discussed in executive session and presented to the council for a vote.

Commissioner Gizola asked the council to accept a gift from the North Shore Police Foundation, described in the packet as "just north of $50,000," to fund seven items including rescue gear backpacks, uniform-mounted safety lights, training mannequins and fitness equipment for officer wellness, and upgraded honor guard equipment. The council approved acceptance of the donation.

Two budget amendments were adopted: one adds a school crossing guard position at Isaac Young (the packet identifies the location as Isaac Young), freeing a community service officer to concentrate on parking enforcement; the other adds a risk manager position in the finance department to handle insurance, safety training, workers' compensation and inventory management as the city grows.

Most items had limited debate and passed on motions and second motions recorded at the meeting; the transcript records elisions of formal vote counts (council members voiced "aye" and no opposition was raised). The meeting closed with a motion to adjourn.

Votes at a glance

- Item 4: Resolution approving the 2025 City of New Rochelle flag calendar, amended to add the United Nations flag beginning Oct. 23 and lowered Oct. 30 — Motion to amend moved by Council member Kaye; amendment adopted; motion to adopt resolution (as amended) moved by Council member Lopez; outcome: adopted. Vote tally: not specified in transcript (recorded as unanimous voice "ayes").

- Item 5: Resolution authorizing the city manager to submit an offer and commence acquisition proceedings for 625 North Avenue (three parcels, two owners) — Mover: Council member Peters; outcome: adopted. Vote tally: not specified in transcript (recorded as unanimous voice "ayes").

- Item 6: Reappointment of Robert Balachandran to the New Rochelle Industrial Development Agency/Corporation for Local Development (discussed in executive session) — Mover: Council member Lopez; outcome: adopted. Vote tally: not specified in transcript.

- Item 7: Acceptance of North Shore Police Foundation donation (described as just north of $50,000) to fund equipment and training items — Mover: Council member Kaye; outcome: adopted. Vote tally: not specified in transcript.

- Item 8: Budget amendment adding one school crossing guard position at Isaac Young — Mover: Council member Lopez; outcome: adopted. Vote tally: not specified in transcript.

- Item 9: Budget amendment adding a risk manager position in Finance (insurance, safety, workers' comp) — Mover: Council member Lopez; outcome: adopted. Vote tally: not specified in transcript.

Discussion and context

Council members thanked the flag subcommittee (Council members Stern and Tarantino) for returning a calendar that retains the city's practice of one flag per pole and uniform flag durations. Questions about the 625 North Avenue item clarified the parcel composition: "The 3 lots that made up..." (clarified by staff), and corporation counsel noted there are three parcels and two owners. The reappointment was presented after executive session, and the donation acceptance included a short list of intended items. The risk manager position and crossing guard addition were characterized by staff as responses to operational needs from city growth and school safety demands.

What the transcript does not specify

- Exact roll-call vote counts and individual member votes beyond vocal "ayes" are not specified in the transcript. The transcript also omits full first names for several council members in some exchanges; motions and seconders are recorded as spoken into the record but detailed tallies were not provided in the available transcript.

Ending

The council concluded the Feb. 11 meeting after adopting the items above and adjourning; several items had been discussed previously (flag calendar and 625 North Avenue) and some were discussed in executive session (IDA reappointment, risk manager item).