Dobbs Ferry trustees swear in mayor, appoint new trustee and approve routine financial policies

Mayor Christy Fitzgerald was sworn in at the Village of Dobbs Ferry’s 2025 annual organization meeting and used the event to outline plans for greater transparency and more structured trustee liaisons to boards and committees.

"This is an amazing board. It's a great team, and we really love doing this work," Mayor Christy Fitzgerald said as she opened the meeting and thanked outgoing trustees for their service. She told residents the board will finalize goals in coming workshops and use liaison assignments to improve coordination with volunteers and staff.

During the organization meeting the board filled a trustee vacancy by appointing Dr. Nitin Gupta, owner of Rivertowns Pediatrics, to serve the remainder of the term. Mayor Fitzgerald introduced Gupta by recounting his community work during the COVID-19 pandemic and his Rotary leadership; she said his practice vaccinated "more than 7,000 kids," a point cited in the meeting.

Dr. Gupta, who said he became involved because he "loves this village," accepted the oath and thanked the board for the opportunity to serve. "I just wanted to be a small town pediatrician ... I'm doing this because I love this village," he said.

The board also administered oaths for other returning and newly appointed officials including Deputy Mayor Jessica Galen, Village Justice David Koenigsberg (sworn for a third term), and Elizabeth Draper as village clerk. Jeff (treasurer) and Diana Bonilla (deputy village clerk) were appointed to their respective posts; the votes on those appointments were recorded in the meeting as carried by voice vote and described as unanimous.

On routine administrative business the board unanimously: - Adopted a resolution setting mileage reimbursement for village officers and employees at the annually approved IRS rate; trustees noted this is an annual housekeeping item related to expense reimbursement. - Adopted the investment and procurement policies and the village's comprehensive financial policy as recommended by the state; trustees noted the comprehensive policy had been adopted locally in October and this action adds it to the annual organization review. - Adopted the master fee schedule, with staff explaining the modest increases are intended to absorb credit-card processing costs.

Mayor Fitzgerald presented a brief, high-level plan for the year to help onboard new trustees and to prioritize projects during the upcoming budget season. She said the village will circulate a list of goals to board liaisons and committee chairs and will rely on the liaisons to report progress at workshops. She identified Gould Park drainage and routine operational needs among items the board expects to address.

The meeting also confirmed dozens of committee assignments and appointments — including the Conservation Advisory Board, Planning Board leadership, Traffic Committee, Zoning Board of Appeals members, and chairs of boards relating to downtown and public art — as well as designating official depositories (Thompson's Bank, Webster Bank and NYCLASS) and naming the Journal News as the official newspaper for legal notices.

Trustees approved a resolution to appoint special counsel to advise the board on emergency services so the village can consult on support options for its volunteer ambulance corps. The board closed with thanks to volunteers and an adjournment motion; the roll-call details for the final adjournment vote were not recorded in the transcript.

The board scheduled regular and workshop meeting times for 2026 and noted additional public budget hearings and workshops will be scheduled later.