New Rochelle Council approves pool grant, ethics appointments and updates to smoking and cannabis rules

The New Rochelle City Council on Tuesday approved its consent agenda and adopted a set of ordinances and administrative actions, including acceptance of a grant for Lincoln Park pool renovations, appointments to the Board of Ethics and code cleanups related to smoking and adult-use cannabis establishments.

Council members approved minutes and routine business items, accepted staff-recommended appointments to reestablish a three-member Board of Ethics under the city charter and voted to accept a grant intended for the Lincoln Park pool renovation. Council members also adopted an ordinance to centralize smoking rules in the municipal code and approved two related pieces of legislation regulating smoke shops and adult-use cannabis dispensaries and consumption lounges.

Why it matters: The council’s votes move planned capital work and code updates forward without delay. Acceptance of the pool grant clears a funding hurdle for repairs or renovation of a decades-old municipal pool that city members said serves families and youth. The smoking-code cleanup is intended to consolidate provisions that staff said are currently scattered through the code. The cannabis- and smoke-shop legislation, taken together, establishes local rules for retail and consumption venues.

Council action and notable details

- Minutes and routine approvals: The council approved minutes for several regular and special meetings dating from Oct. 15, 2024, through Oct. 30, 2024, and accepted filings for upcoming meeting agendas. Motion by Council member Stern; second by Council member Achinloy. Outcome: approved.

- Consent agenda (items 1–9): Approved. Motion by Council member Kaye; second by Council member Stern. Outcome: approved.

- Item 10 — amendment and final approval: Council member Kaye moved, with a second (recorded as Achinloy) to amend item 10 to make the age limit “less restrictive” than the version printed in the resolution; council approved the amendment and then approved item 10 as amended. The transcript does not specify the exact ages or the final text of the amendment. Outcome: amendment adopted; item 10 approved.

- Item 11 — Board of Ethics appointments: The council adopted a resolution approving appointments to the New Rochelle Board of Ethics. Staff reported they recommended an alternate candidate after executive-session discussions; the action was described as reestablishing a three-member board consistent with the charter to allow continued financial-disclosure work. Motion by Council member Peters; second by Council member Lopez. Outcome: adopted.

- Item 12 — acceptance of grant award for Lincoln Park pool renovation: Council voted to accept a grant, referenced in the meeting as the “Moore and Swimming NY Swims” grant, for work at the Lincoln Park pool, described in discussion as a roughly three-decade-old facility. Council member Ayesha Knight said she welcomed attention to spaces in New Rochelle "that have been underserved for a very long time." The transcript does not specify the dollar amount or the full grant terms. Motion for adoption recorded by Council member Peters; second recorded in the transcript as Asha Moye/Achinloy. Outcome: adopted.

- Item 13 — smoking-code cleanup ordinance: Council adopted an ordinance described by staff as consolidating smoking-related provisions that are currently scattered across the municipal code. Motion by (recorded in the transcript) Ashan Loye; second by Council member Kaye. Outcome: adopted.

- Items 14 and 15 — smoke shops and adult-use cannabis rules: Two related ordinances addressing smoke shops, adult-use cannabis dispensaries and adult-use cannabis consumption lounges were taken together and adopted. The items had been the subject of a recent public hearing. Motion recorded by Council member Stern; second not specified in the transcript. Outcome: adopted.

Council comments and context

Council members who spoke during the items complimented staff and partners involved in the pool project. Ayesha Knight said, "I absolutely love more looking at the spaces around New Rochelle that have been underserved for a very long time." Staff named during discussion included Nick Soufas and Deputy City Manager Todd Castaldo; council members credited staff for driving the grant effort.

Several items were described in the meeting as having been discussed at previous sessions, including the cannabis-related legislation and the smoking-code cleanup. Where the transcript lacked specifics (for example, exact age limits in the item 10 amendment and the grant amount for the pool), the council’s votes nevertheless authorized the actions as presented to the body.

The council concluded the meeting after recognizing the city clerk and moving to adjourn.