Town of Pelham 2025 Proposed Budget: Town Budget Memo 2025 In recent discussions, the Town Council carefully reviewed and ultimately voted to break the tax cap to present the 2025 town budget. This decision was not made lightly, but it was necessary to cover critical increases in costs that affect the community’s essential services and operational needs. To provide context, the 2024 budget appropriations were $6,703,375.16, with revenues of $3,364,559.48, resulting in a need to raise $3,338,815.68 through taxes. For 2025, the town’s total appropriations have increased to $7,182,220.84, with projected revenues of $3,254,981.29. To help offset this, $280,000 is being drawn from the town’s fund reserve, but the amount to be raised by taxes will still increase to $3,647,239.55—a necessary rise to maintain vital town operations and improvements. Key areas requiring this additional funding include: Police Facility Renovation: $100,000 is being earmarked for capital improvements for our town hall which are critical to maintain and upgrade the facilities when the Village of Pelham Police department relocates to the new Village Municipal center in 2025. We are also actively seeking grant money to assist us with the costs of this necessary project. Ambulance Contract: Includes an increase by $64,000 – This is a contractual expense for timely, quality emergency medical services for all residents. Library Budget: Includes an Increase of  $54,000 – Supporting our library services, a community hub for education and resources, remains a priority for the town. Insurance: Rising costs include a medical insurance increase of 10% and a liability Insurance increase of 15% Mandated Retirement and Employment Benefits: Increased by $44,500 – As mandated costs rise, meeting these obligations is essential to support our employees’ future financial security. The impact taxpayers can expect is as follows: 2024 Tax on a home assessed at 1 Million  was $754.78 (homestead) 2025 Tax on a home assessed at 1 Million is $777.37 (homestead) The increase is $22.59 The Town Council will hold a budget hearing on Monday, December 2nd at 7pm on the 2nd floor of Town Hall. All residents are invited to review the preliminary budget and be heard during public comment. Preliminary Budget 2025  

Town of Pelham

Posted on , by Town of Pelham

Town Board Update

 

Town of Pelham Board Update

January 2023

                          

Dear Pelham Friends and Neighbors:

 

The Board of the Town of Pelham would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year!

The Pelham Town Board has been very busy since the start of the New Year. The Annual Organizational Meeting took place on January 9, 2023, at which the Board announced the following appointments for 2023:

  • RECREATION BOARD APPOINTMENTS: Aisling Bier, Kevin Fee, Daniel Green, Rosa Polenzani and John Boyce.
  • TOWN ATTORNEY: Thomas Kleinberger
  • TOWN ENGINEER: James Vassalotti
  • COMPTROLLER: Samantha Losurdo
  • TOWN POLICE CONSTABLES: Steven Conte, Chief; Anthony Camardella, Lieutenant; Michael Farley, Robert Iaboni, and Christopher Williams, Sergeants; and Vylinda Adorno-Marrero, Anthony Bonilla, Carlos Dos Santos, Jose Llamas, Richard Iaboni, Harrin Platzner, Eugene Pope, Dallas Ramirez-Gillison, Nicholas Florio, and John Zocolillo, Town Police Constables.
  • CUSTODIAN OF ELECTIONS: Molly Girolamo
  • CARETAKER: Felix Anderson and Philip DeSimone
  • COURT CLERK: Deanna Depierro and Eileen Gregware
  • PART-TIME CLERICAL ASSISTANTS: Lisa Vassalotti and Harold Engstrom
  • MARRIAGE OFFICER: Joseph Durnin
  • DEPUTY RECEIVER OF TAXES: Darlene Paolercio
  • DEPUTY TOWN CLERK: Molly Girolamo
  • CONFIDENTIAL SECRETARY: Ruthann DeSimone
  • TOWN HISTORIAN: Arthur Scinta
  • DEPUTY SUPERVISOR: Rae Szymanski
  • COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
    • TOWN HALL FACILITIES Supervisor McLaughlin
    • FINANCE Supervisor McLaughlin
    • PELHAM TOGETHER Councilwoman McLoughlin
    • RECREATION Councilwoman McLoughlin
    • LEGAL AFFAIRS/ASSESS Councilwoman Burke
    • LIBRARY Councilwoman Curtin
    • SENIOR CITIZENS Councilwoman McLoughlin
    • INSURANCE Supervisor McLaughlin
    • INTERGOVERNMENTAL LIAISON:
      • Village of Pelham Manor, Councilwoman McLoughlin
      • Village of Pelham, Deputy Supervisor Szymanski
      • School Board, Supervisor McLaughlin
    • FIELDS AND GROUNDS Councilwoman McLoughlin
    • SUPERVISOR’S REPORT Supervisor McLaughlin
    • OFFICE PERSONNEL Deputy Supervisor Szymanski
    • SPECIAL EVENTS / CELEBRATIONS Deputy Supervisor Szymanski
    • COURT LIAISON/ CONSTABLES Councilwoman Burke
    • WEBSITE/PUBLICITY Councilwoman Curtin

In addition, new Pelham Library Trustee Amie Hughes—with an impressive background in journalism and public relations—was sworn in by Supervisor Dan McLaughlin, alongside Town Board Library liaison Maura Curtin.

 

In other important news:

  • The RFP for the Town’s ambulance services closed on 1/24, with five applicants. The Town committee is currently reviewing the applications and expects to make a determination in the coming weeks.
  • The Town was awarded a $280,0000 SAM grant from former State Senator Biaggi prior to her term ending for capital improvements to the Daronco Townhouse. Some of the projected improvements include upgrading to the kitchen area for the addition of a large refrigerator for use by the Senior Citizens and others who may use the Townhouse. The Town Board voted on January 9th to release the funds to front the cost of the renovations that will be reimbursed by the grant.
  • The Town introduced proposed Local Law No. 1 of 2023, which would amend Local Law No. 1 of 2007 to increase the maximum income limits for qualifying seniors to receive the senior citizen real property tax exemption pursuant to New York State Real Property Tax Law § 467. A public hearing and vote will take place at the next Board meeting on February 6th.
  • The Town approved a new Code of Conduct for all of its employees as a part of the Town Employee Handbook.

 

Other Town Updates

 

Recreation: Winter 2022-2023

  • Youth and Adult Recreation Programs

Youth and adult recreation programs are in full swing!  K- 3rd basketball clinics have started as well as the league for 4th grade and up. Afterschool and weekend programming including dance, art, karate, tennis, soccer and indoor running are all in progress. Over 500 children are participating across all of the programs. More information, including how to sign-up, can be found on the recreation website.

  • Senior Citizens Activities

The Senior Citizens Club continues to meet weekly, with a full list of activities, including exercise classes, yoga, arts and crafts, bingo and cards. Club membership is free. Trip transportation is sponsored by the Recreation Department. Last month, the senior van transported seniors on 33 trips to doctors and other important appointments.

  • Senior Citizen Club Meeting(Main Room)

Monday / 1:00PM – 4:00PM

  • Senior Exercise(Main Room)

Tuesdays and Thursdays / 10:00AM – 11:00AM

This type of class consists of various forms of stretching, random motion, isometric and low impact aerobics. All levels welcome/sit or stand

  • Senior Cards(Main Room)

Wednesdays and Fridays / 1:00PM – 4:00PM

Come socialize and enjoy playing various card games, bridge, poker, Mahjong.  Coffee and Tea served.  

  • Yoga (Main Room)

Friday: 10:00AM – 11:00AM  

This class consists of various forms of yoga exercises designed for Seniors.

 

Town of Pelham Library

The Town of Pelham Public Library continues its robust programming, with outdoor story time, author talks, book clubs, JLP story time and crafts, and coding for tweens. Please check out the website and calendar of events at https://www.pelhamlibrary.org/

 

The Pelham Public Library celebrated Martin Luther King Day by asking community members to contribute to our “I Have a Dream Board” from January 9- 21. The topic on hand: “What can people do to make their community a better place?”

 

And finally, the Town of Pelham Public Library Board of Trustees has initiated a master planning process to prepare for a new chapter in the Library’s service to the community.  The planning process will consider the evolving composition and needs of the Town of Pelham and offer suggested options for improvements to the Library’s facilities to help shape this essential community asset for a generation to come. The Board has engaged the services of HMA2 + Plan A Advisors, architecture and planning firms, to facilitate the process and develop a Master Plan. The study is being funded by generous donations from patrons and is expected to be completed by early summer.

Courts

The Town of Pelham Justice Courts are fully open, hearing Vehicle and Traffic cases on Tuesday mornings and criminal cases Thursday evenings. The Town would like to congratulate long-time clerk Patricia Tobin on her retirement from the courts. We wish her the best of luck. The Town would also like to congratulate Pelham Village resident Eileen Gregware, who became full-time clerk on January 1, 2023.

 

Pelham Fly Car

The average response time for the units backing up the fly car was 9:33. That time was slightly elevated due to a response on the Hutchinson River Parkway that the units had issues locating. Overall volume in the Pelham’s was higher than normal this past month.

Calls in Village of Pelham: 52
Calls in Village of Pelham Manor: 50
Calls on Hutchinson River Parkway: 9
Calls on I-95: 4

 

Clerk’s Office

Some of the services available at the Clerk’s Office include:

  • Disabled parking permits, available for Village of Pelham residents.
  • Dog Licenses, available for Village of Pelham residents.

Further information, including applications for disabled parking and dog licenses, can be found on the Clerk’s website.  Village of Pelham Manor residents must go to Village of Pelham Manor Village Clerk at 4 Penfield Place to acquire a Disabled permit and Dog license.

Next Town Board Meeting

Our next Town Board meeting will take place on Monday February 6, 2023 at 7pm at Town Hall.  Please see our Town website for all updates.  

 

Sincerely,

 

Dan McLaughlin, Supervisor

Rae Szymanski, Deputy Supervisor

Kristen Burke, Councilwoman

Maura Curtin, Councilwoman

Kara McLoughlin, Councilwoman