City council meeting, city of Newburgh, New York. This is meeting December 18th, 2025. It's now 7 p.m. 659, to be exact.
We will start with a moment of silence, and then we will commence with our president's
and the rest of the agenda.
I have two requests for the moment of silence.
There was recently a shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island,
and some people were obviously afflicted,
and I believe there was one death.
So we want to think about that circumstance.
And then there was a shooting at a Hanukkah ceremony in Australia, and people were harmed.
I believe there were some deaths there as well.
And we want to think about those family members that were gathered for a Hanukkah
Uh, festivity and, and, and ceremony, um, during the holiday season of Hanukkah and, and so
we want to think about those, um, tragedies in our, our moment of silence, if we will.
Uh, so we'll take a brief moment of silence.
Thank you.
Uh, roll call, please.
Councilmember Martinez, present.
Councilmember Macklemore.
Councilmember Monteverdi.
Councilmember Shakur.
Council Member Scalars.
Here.
Council Member Sophocles.
Here.
Mayor Harvey.
Here.
So carried.
Thank you very much.
Next, under communications, we have item number four, and we need an approval for the minutes from the City Council meeting of December the 8th, 2025.
We'll have a motion.
So move.
First motion said by Councilman Sklarz. Do we have a second? Second by Councilmember Sophocles.
Roll call and a motion please.
Council members Martinez.
Hi.
Macklemore.
Yes.
Monteverdi.
Shakur.
Yes.
Sklarz.
Yes.
Sophocles.
Mayor Harvey.
Yes.
So carried.
Thank you.
Item number five under communication as we go to the city manager's report.
So first we're going to start with a notice for sanitation collection changes over the upcoming Christmas holiday and New Year's.
There will be no sanitation collection on Thursday, December 25th and Thursday, January 1st in observance of Christmas and New Year's Day.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday pickups are not affected.
If you have any questions or concerns, sanitation hotline is on the screen and that is 845-565-1082.
Our police report totals for the month of November. Police department fielded 2,695 calls.
Crime reduction strategies continue to produce results.
Our preliminary Part 1 crimes data through November 30th shows a 19% decrease in crime
compared to the same timeframe in 2024. Violent crime decreased 16% while property
crime has decreased 20%.
Some updates from our land use board approvals from planning and development.
The land use board received the following applications in November.
The planning board received three new applications and issued three approvals.
The zoning board of appeals received four new applications and issued three approvals.
And the architectural review commission received nine new applications and issued ten approvals.
There were also 10 informational requests that were received in the month of November.
Continuing with planning and development department updates,
a department highlight is going to
be 331st Street that is featured on screen.
The zoning board of appeals granted area variances for 331st Street, giving the project
full land use board approval.
The proposal involves constructing two connected buildings, sharing a common wall
with three apartments in each.
A key element of the project is its full compliance with the city's streetscape standards bringing new curbs, street trees and a buffer strip to the area.
A project rendering and existing streetscape conditions are shown on the screen.
Coming into our public works update, we'll talk about the sanitation and enforcement totals.
Sanitation department collected a total of 729 tons of solid waste during the month of November and a total of 63 tons of recycling.
were processed supporting the city's sustainable efforts.
Additionally, 39 sanitation warnings were issued,
reflecting ongoing enforcement of waste management regulations
and community standards.
Following up on our Christmas tree donation to the city,
looking around the city, you'll see many signs
of holiday cheer.
I want to recognize the phenomenal work our DPW has
put into cultivating a festive atmosphere,
in addition to placing the city's iconic holiday
reefs along Broadway and stringing lights downtown around City Hall, DPW is also responsible
for securing the city's holiday tree. This year the city's holiday tree was donated
by Jamie Levoti of the town of Newburgh, who of course we will be recognizing later
tonight. The city's DPW workers carefully removed the tree, loaded it onto a trailer,
this featured on screen, with the help of a crane and graciously donated every year by
a quality towing company. It was also transported from the town to the foot of Broadway under
a police escort. DPW then strategically set the tree at the foot of Broadway and commenced
decorating. Thank you to our DPW, Ms. Levoti, and Quality Towing for bringing holiday cheer
to our city.
Moving into our fire department updates, the fire department received a total
of 280 calls for service during the month of November. Two of those calls were
for structure fires. For all other fires seven calls were received. 22 calls or
7.8% were for non-fire hazard calls and 54% of calls or 151 calls were non-fire
calls for service and lastly 34% of the fire department calls were for false
alarms and false calls. Moving into our emergency medical services update
this is the ambulatory service that the city contracts for. In November, emergency medical
services responded to 393 calls, resulting in 398 dispatches and 241 transports. Average response
times fluctuated throughout the week, with Sunday recording the longest average response time,
and the busiest day of the week was Saturday, which saw the highest number of emergency
calls.
Getting into our board and commission vacancy reminder. This is a
final reminder that the police community relations and review board
application deadline is December 19th. Residents interested in serving on this
board or any other board may apply through three options. This includes the
city website at cityofnewberg-my.gov. You can also email a completed
application to boards at cityofnewberg-my.gov or you can hand
deliver an application here at City Hall at 83 Broadway. Members of the press are
reminded they can contact us at press at cityofnewburg-ny.gov and lastly just on
the holiday note happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate tonight is the fifth
night of Hanukkah night five marks the first time more candles are lit then are
left unlit symbolizing a tipping point and bringing light into the world and
And lastly, besides the Christmas holidays coming up, we want to close off our final meeting of the year by wishing everyone a happy new year.
Thank you, Mayor.
Thank you very much, Mr. Vinnie.
Excellent job on this city manager's update.
Next, we move to a very exciting segment of our agenda.
Okay,
so yeah, so we are going to move to presentations.
Our first presentation is going to be a certificate of recognition for Jamie Levoti.
Just want to make sure there's no one here representing the Levoti family.
We're still going to do that recognition and the other recognitions that we have on our agenda.
So, if I can get the council members to come and join me on the other side of the table,
we can properly do these recognitions.
So, all
right, one, two, one, two, mic check, mic check,
okay, so, again, this is the most
exciting segment of our agenda when we recognize important people and people who are in and
in our community for noble deeds, as one would say.
So this first city of Newburgh recognition
is a certificate of recognition presented to Jamie Levoti
for December 6, 2025, which was our annual Christmas
parade and annual tree lighting event, which
was spectacular each year.
It gets better and better.
There is a grateful recognition of the generous donation of a 36 foot tall Norway spruce to
serve as the city of Newburgh's official tree for the 2025 holiday season.
The kindness and community spirit that the Levotee family has brought joy, beauty and
holiday cheer to us all as residents.
Thank you so much to the Lavotee family for their dedication and their continued support,
signed, sealed, and delivered.
The Lavotee family.
You got it?
Okay.
All right.
And we'll accept this recognition on her behalf, Jamie Lavotee, and the Lavotee family.
All right.
I grab the one on top first.
and this is a really, really, really special recognition
because this is the official last city council meeting
for two of our wonderful, wonderful city council members
who have served and worked very hard and diligently
and have added some wonderful personalities to our legislative body.
And so, Certificate of Recognition, December the 18th, 2025, awarded to Patty Sophocles,
Councilwoman Patty Sophocles, in recognition of your dedicated service and commitment
to the City of Newburgh residents during your two-term appointment or election as City Councilmember,
For your leadership, your integrity, steadfast advocacy has contributed.
Interpreted, meaningful to the growth, progress, and well-being of our community.
Through your public service, you have worked diligently to represent the voices of the people
and to strengthen the future of our city. The city of Newburgh extends its deepest gratitude
and appreciation for your time, your dedication, and your lasting impact. We wish you continued
success in a fulfilled future and all your future endeavors, signed, sealed, and
delivered by all the city council members, and I would like to also add your
mom and dad would be so proud of you for all that you have done for this city and
being that you were raised in a wonderful family, your mom being an
educator for many, many, many years here in the Newberry and Lark City School District
with the Liberty Street School. We present this to you, Ms. Patty Sophocles, our wonderful
city councilwoman.
Come on, guys. Join in. Get closer. Get closer. Take a picture.
I'd be remiss not to ask councilmember Sophocles to say a few words.
Let me just sing the National Anthem.
Yes.
It's been a long time. I'm so proud to have been a part of this.
And you'll see me. I'm not going anywhere.
I've been doing community work for 40 years.
I'm not going anywhere.
And you're right about my mother.
It's hard to talk about. She's only been gone a few years,
years, but she taught in the Newburgh School District for almost 40 years. She started at
Liberty Street School, went to Meadow Hill for many, many years, and she would have been
happy to be here today. And my father had a body shop across from old Sam and Bill's
diner on 9W for many, many, many years. So we've been here a long time. And I love
this city. That's all I can say. There's no doubt in my mind. I think we've accomplished
a lot over the last eight years, and I'm very proud of this council. You have no idea. Every
single one of them brings a lot to the table. And I'm really going to miss it, but I'm not
going anywhere. And I love all you people in the audience that came out tonight that
are always here. And that's what it's all about. People come out now to the council
meetings. We have great department heads. Our city manager, where are you?
We have
balance budget, not that I had anything to do with it, but I'm just very, very happy
tonight and, well, not really, I'm crying, but thank you very much. Thank you all.
Here you go, stars, man. Oh, you want to introduce.
All right. Our next certificate of recognition is Certificate of Recognition, December
of the 18th 2025 awarded to, and I get to say this for the very first time because we've
got two Roberts presented to an awarded to Robert Sklarz, our city councilman,
third
award.
This frame is heavy. In recognition, Councilman Robert Sklarz for your dedicated
service and commitment to the city of Newburgh residence during your two terms as city
Council member, your leadership and integrity, steadfast advocacy have contributed meaningful
to the growth, progress and well-being of our community.
Through your service, Councilman Robert Sklarz, you have worked diligently to represent the
voices of the people and to strengthen the future of the City of Newburgh.
The City of Newburgh extends its deepest gratitude and appreciation for your time,
time, your dedication, lasting impact, let me say that again, time, dedication, lasting
impact, we wish you continued success and fulfillment in all your future endeavors.
Sign sealed and delivered with sincere appreciation.
Mayor Harvey and the City Council,
close in, close in, close in, get closer, get closer.
I
do have a few words I want to add to the written comments on the certificate of recognition.
I remember Councilman Sklarz was being heavily vetted and one of the questions were, who's
going to when former Councilman Jonathan Jacobson had gotten elected to the assembly, the 104th
Who is going to fill the big shoes of Jonathan Jacobson?
Big Bob, that's right.
And so, and I remember when Bob, you know, decided, because I had met Bob behind the scenes.
He was doing a lot of community service work, helped me get elected when I first got elected.
He was always helping us with those petitions and things like that.
And I remember saying, oh, wow, and he's going to take this position.
And, you know, he thought about it, he wrestled with it, and you step right in, Councilman
Sklarz, and you went right to work, you didn't blink an eye, you fought every day and every
night to make this city move forward.
And I want to personally say thank you.
I'm going to miss your dry humor.
I'm going to miss some of the conversations we've had just as friends, and we've become
great friends.
And I want to say thank you for your hard work and your dedication, because you stepped
up when it was most needed.
Thank you, Councilman Sklarz.
Although I didn't know your wife before, because we taught together at NFA.
But let's have a word from Councilman Sklarz.
Then I want to give the council members a chance to say some parting words to our
council members.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.
Thank you to my colleagues on the City Council.
You know, we get a lot of attention, a lot of credit up here on the City Council.
But I really want to call attention to the people sitting over there who represent all the city workers who work 24-7, 365,
to provide all the services that you provide for us.
And even more importantly, to implement the crazy ideas that come from this side of the table.
Really. Thank you for all your service and all your efforts.
I thank my wife Margaret for putting up with all of this,
for putting up with all of this and putting up with me over these past seven years.
To my daughter Cassie who says she doesn't have a sense of humor,
but has kept me laughing all these seven years.
And to all the rest of you, thank you for your support.
It's been a pleasure serving you. Thank you.
All right, we're going to go right down the list, Council Member Monteverdi.
Thank you, Mayor. So, yeah, this is, you know, it's bittersweet. We, as a group and council, got a lot of work.
Put our heads together, got a lot of work done, you know, continue to move this city forward.
I'm going to miss you, Bob. You're, you know, who am I going to call now? You're my, you know, sounding board.
You're always so reasonable, you know, I always look to you for guidance, and Patty, you know,
I'm going to miss you as well sitting next to me with your funny comments, and you know,
you cracked me up. So it's, again, it's bittersweet, and you should be proud of the work that we
did together. You know, these were difficult times, but we got through it, and you know,
I'll try not to cry. Patty, you can do that for me.
It's going to make me cry.
Yes, I don't even know what to say.
I'm not going anywhere.
But when Bob Sclores came into my office, he was on the Democratic Committee,
and he sits there very smooth and cool and talking about things,
and I thought, so I really found him, just so everybody knows.
I said, you need to run for city council, and he, what did you say?
and that's true yes see and I've sat next to that for eight years and but it's
been such a pleasure being being on this council I love every one of you the
department heads are great I'm really sorry to leave but like I said Anthony
here's thank you Anthony Grace former councilman wonderful yay
so anyway it's
It's been a pleasure, and I think we've accomplished a lot, and I'm sorry it's over, but, you know,
if anybody wants to drop out, give me their seat.
I'm kidding.
I could have run if I wanted to.
But I've enjoyed everything.
You're awesome.
Just everybody is, now I'm sounding silly, saying awesome what eight times my daughter's
going to go, oh, she's recording it.
But I thank everybody, and I'll miss you all, but I'll see you all around because
I've been in Newburgh all my life and I'm not going anywhere.
Newsburg, I call it.
That's right.
All right.
Next we'll hear from Councilman Macklemore.
I'll make mine quick.
It's definitely a pleasure having you guys here.
You guys are the ones that got me into this.
And now you're leaving me.
But you get to go on with your life and enjoy your life.
I know you're not going anywhere, but you'll always be here especially if we need some you know the wisdom and prudence
You guys have strong sense of sagacity and Bob is filled with equanimity. He's calm. He's collected
Great compose, but he's also a jokester. And so he really is and so I really appreciate you guys
And once you know from bottom my heart that you know, I love you guys
So all right, and I'll be I'll be calling you don't worry
That was quick
Okay, I'm gonna be quicker
No, we've been here six years. I've been here with y'all six years
Y'all been here two years before me, but y'all were here before me
So y'all taught me to some of the things I need to do and just being a part of this team
It's just been it's just been good
And I know Patty forever and I met Bob and we work for her so we're a team and we were a good team
And you was on one of the best teams that we had so for this for the city. So thank you
Okay, so I don't I don't know where to start and I'm gonna pull one of Patty's lines. I'm gonna try not to cry
I've had the absolute honor and pleasure of not just
serving on the city council with both you know councilman scholars and council
women Sophocles but also on the Democratic Committee and I've been able to
really just take in the wisdom and the knowledge of both of you and I'm really
going to miss your calmness in the situation in this literally you're like
the sounding board of our city council and honestly it's been really
gracious learning from you especially when I was new I was learning so much
and I learned so much from you know hearing both of you and Patty I know
your love for Downing Park is always gonna be there and we will be sure to
take care of the park. But overall I'm just really really excited for both
of you in this new chapter of your journey because people don't realize how much time
and sacrifice it takes away from your family and loved ones.
So I also want to congratulate your families.
Being away from your family for so long and serving a city is not easy.
So I'm sure that your family will be very excited to have more time with you and maybe,
you know, you'll drag them out to come and give public comment in the new year.
but thank you it's been an honor. Maybe I could get my taxes done.
Yeah I just want
to say you know just to piggyback I know well we're gonna finish up. Council
member Martina is when she said like we've been through a lot of crises in the
state of Newburgh since we all been on council I mean from a global pandemic to
tornadoes, you know, various different things. And the sky could be falling. And Bob will
maintain his cool, calm, collected demeanor. And then in the midst of those crisis where
everybody's going crazy like, what are we going to do? He'll crack a joke and make
us laugh. And then we can move forward and figure out our path forward. And Patty,
First and only person that called me GQ and in our African American culture, being a well-dressed man or a well-dressed woman is very significant to the culture.
And when she calls me GQ, she's the only one that calls me GQ.
I've always tried to live up to it. Be smooth, debonair, and a GQ. So thank you for that tag.
Thank you. Let's give the council members a hand, especially our departing council members.
We love you. We will always, always keep you plugged in. Thank you so much for your service.
Thank you so much. Love you.
Let's give it another hand, ladies and gentlemen, for the city council members.
Councilmember Sklarz and Councilmember Sophocles.
All right, once again, thank you everyone for coming out and being patient with those presentations.
They're very, very important and dear to our heart.
Okay, next we under presentation, presentations, plural, go to item number eight.
And item number eight is a public hearing and the public hearing is regarding local law amending the city Charter article 3 section 5 c
Point 01 to add the deputy city manager to the
City Charter officially
so
All our public hearings people get to speak for five minutes
please tell us your name and just simply tell us whether or not you live in the
city of New Bird or not you don't have to give us your address we don't we
don't need all that but we just like to know if you live in the city or not give
us your name and then give us your public comment and we would love to hear
from you all so if you have for this public hearing please come forward
comments if
there are no public comments will anyone else anyone okay
if we
don't have any public comments then Mrs. Kelsen can we close out the public
comment you can close the public hearing public care I'm sorry public hearing
thank you all right next we go to comments from the public regarding agenda
items and or non-agent items which are typically general matters of the
city business. So for this portion of the agenda comments from the public, we ask
you again to state your name. Whether or not you live in the city of New
Berg, please don't give us your address. We don't need that much information.
You'll have three minutes to give your comment and the city council will be
happy to hear it and possibly respond.
Hi everyone. Is this on? I'm on. So hi
Hi everyone. I just want to congratulate all of you for really doing a phenomenal job under a lot of pressure.
A lot of people sometimes don't understand everything that goes on behind that table, but I think you guys are doing wonderful.
But I especially want to say, I'm going to try not to get too emotional to Bob and Patty. I love you guys.
Yeah, I'm going to leave it at that. I love you guys.
Thank you Mr. Grace. Thank you so much. It's great to see you.
Carla Johnson, 50 Landa Street. So I came here tonight because I want to start with Bob. I really love Bob.
So it's a while of Bob. So when times used to be a little rough and I used to go to the pantry,
there's this tall guy there. He was the coolest dude there out of everybody. Bob didn't discriminate nobody.
And he liked me, so I used to get to go first.
Bob was my guy.
Patty, that park, first I thought it was bougie,
but then I realized when I went there, it was a great park.
And it was so dirt-putic to me around the time when my husband died just sitting near
and they say don't feed the fish, but I'd be feeding the birds
and I'd be throwing stuff in here and I'd be like,
I hope nobody ain't in that house
and tell Patty somebody out here throwing stuff in the thing.
And I just want to say that working with y'all,
seeing the work that y'all have done in the community,
I think is really great.
And I'm going to see you guys, I guess,
like when the weather breaks and whatnot.
But one thing I do know is that if y'all both would
have ran again, y'all would have won those seats.
But enjoy your family because I know your happy is over.
Have a good one.
Thank you so much, Carla. Thank you.
Thank
you very much, resident of the City of Newburgh.
First, give congratulations to Ms. Patty and Bob.
Thank you too for all that you've done.
I see you guys are out there in the community and being new to this political game.
Not game, but being new to this political world, actually seeing our city leaders out in the community,
that meant a lot to me, with everything, even going to school board and being
involved. You guys really show up and you show out. Patty, I'll see you at the
fishing. And Bob, I'm sure I'll see you more and more. So congratulations guys
and I'm looking forward to who's filling those seats. I just wanted to make a
comment on the funding for daycare. We need daycare funding. City of New
needs daycare funding. I know you guys just got funding for a lot of after-school programs,
but a lot of kids can't go to those programs because they cost money. And a lot of parents,
you guys know the salaries don't even fit what we have to pay for rent, car insurance,
light bill, all of that. So most of the city residents can't afford to send their kids
to after-school programs and all of that. Daycare would help provide funding for that
for the parents, but we have no daycare funding. So can we get some daycare funding?
so this summer kids can go to camp, kids can go to after school, kids can be
involved in some things. That's it. Have a good night. Thank you very much. It's
good to see you. School Board member Burks. All right. Good evening everybody.
Good evening. My name is Mr. Angelo Pagan. I am a former resident of New
Burk. Hopefully in the future I will be back. But I came to deliver a
message to well I'm glad to be here I'm reuniting myself with a few people that
I remember from when I was here but with some potential good news and with the
hopes of doing something wonderful for the town and for the city of Newburg
I represent an individual named Oscar Lottie Hall and he is a person that's
interested in developing some projects here in the city regarding low-income
housing and we would like to partner and get in touch with the people that's
best suited to help guide us to see what the real needs are so that anything that we do
will be in alignment with the goals, the visions and with the expressed needs of the people
of this wonderful city.
As a person that has worked here in social work, social services, I was a job developer
here at one time dealing with a lot of the underserved.
You know, most of the people that we work with come from the area of social work.
And for example, some of the stuff that we would like to include in our housing project
would be rent stability-styled programming where not only are we providing homes for people,
houses for people, but we're making sure that they stay in their homes.
And that we could hopefully, in God willing, do something to offset this price gouging
that I've heard about for the last five years.
When I came here, I was renting an apartment,
one bedroom for $750.
Now that's something almost unheard of.
And so if there is something that we could do
in partnership in strategizing some way
to not only protect the rights of the people,
but to create a situation where we offset this insanity.
You know, people need to live.
People need to have to know where their next meal is
and people need to feel safe,
that they have a roof over their head
that they're not going to lose.
That's hopefully the goal and the vision
that we would like to have.
And we would like to produce a dialogue
where we could come to some understanding
and assist one another in that endeavor.
Thank you.
Many blessings.
Congratulations.
Blessings to all of you.
Thank you.
Thank you, Angela.
If Angela, if you don't mind,
you and I go way back for many years.
This is some great work.
Please put your name and contact
so I can reach out to you.
Thank you.
Anyone else for public comment? Oh, yeah, he, he, he, um,
Mr. Pogon worked many years with the Exodus program and the formerly incarcerated.
Oh, you're playing with me. He's playing around with you. Oh, are you?
Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, he got me. He got me.
Michael LeBron, Grand Street. Good evening.
First of all, congratulations to Robert and Patricia for your eight years of service
and your great work. We'll miss you here. But as Patty says, you'll be back.
Alright, moving on. Mayor Harvey, at the last council meeting, I believe you claim credit for certifying a housing emergency and passing rent stabilization.
I believe that on April 19th, 2024, the Orange County Supreme Court ruled that the city's vacancy study was flawed,
finding the calculation lacked a rational basis and was calculated in an arbitrary and
capricious manner. The court declared the housing emergency resolution in E.T.P.A. adoption
null and void. Therefore, Nuremberg does not have rent stabilization at this moment. Let
me be clear. I have been a tenant supporter most of my life. I helped write the law of
law that kept over 10,000 artists in their homes in Manhattan and Brooklyn and helped
secure its passage.
But tenant supporters need our elected officials
who tell the truth, including when their efforts fail and why.
Non-officials claim victories that the courts have taken away.
Why should we believe any of your administration's
other claims, such as they bought half a billion dollars
here in investment?
If I also remind the mayor, I warned you years ago
there was a conflict of interest
for the conductive vacancy study itself, and not really why, since the political landscape
incentivizes you, your planning department, to find a particular answer, the court agreed.
Yet you've doubled down on the same approach.
I hope it turns out differently, but I'm concerned.
I've also told you that your planning department was less than honest about the condition
of the Dutch Reformed Church.
I have recently noticed new movement, not just in the north part of the west wall, which
is fairly plain to see and is still alarming, but in the ridge beam of the roof, which is
now sagging in two places.
So once again, I'm warning you, we have very little time left to address this.
I've also repeatedly warned you that the fence is not secure and that children get
in and play there.
I've repeatedly used the phrase, quote, for sealable liability for the municipality, end quote.
That phrase means something and it should concern you.
Thank you very much, Mr. LeBron. Anyone else?
Okay. If there are no other comments in the public comment section, we'll look to hear from the City Council regarding the comments that were made
and or general matters of the city.
And first we'll hear from Council Member Martinez.
Thank you Mayor Harvey.
I'll try to keep my comments brief.
So I really encourage everyone to come out
to our meetings all year round as much as possible
if you're not able to.
When we have public hearings,
especially when it comes to funding
on any type of programs or things that you wanna see
or on our budget, you usually have a certain number of days to email us or submit a written
public comment. And we look at everything. You can always email us as well, and we'll
take a look at your suggestions. And the reason I say that is because certain funding
that we get, and this isn't about anything in particular, just in general, certain
and funding is specific for specific projects.
Other things can't be used for different projects.
So when we have public comment,
when we have money coming in,
it's also important for people to know
what we can and can't use it for.
And if it is something that we can use it for,
by all means, send us those suggestions
because we're happy to, you know,
hear and apply the money
where the community needs it the most,
especially if it's going to help our youth,
especially if it's going to help working families.
And like the suggestion that we got today for daycare,
I think it's very important to make sure that we're providing
that type of help to our families.
And then other than that, I think I'm going to end my comments.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Council Member Martinez.
Next we hear from Councilman.
Come on, say it right.
Come on.
Back to the board.
Take your time.
All right, no.
Once again, I want to say we're going to miss you guys. You know it. You know how much you mean to me. I wish you were still sitting here in 2026, but I understand. And so I'm going to miss you.
Bob is definitely happy though, trust me. He is happy to move on. He is. He told me plenty of times.
So, bulk pickup. Jason, thank you. You and the sanitation department, you guys did a wonderful job with the bulk pickup.
Also this weekend, they had the Polar Express by raising solo at the library.
That was an awesome event.
I finished my last feeding with the seniors.
We had a Christmas dinner night at the Fogarty Senior Apartments.
There were about 30, 35 people.
They were very happy, the seniors.
And also, congratulations and thank you to the fire department, the IAFF Local 589.
They gave $500 to four families.
And so that was something that's positive.
And we work together.
Thank you.
We work together to make sure that we give these families something for Christmas.
and so I want to say thank you to them as well this weekend I'm doing an
initiative you guys don't need gas but I'll be paying for people gas this
weekend and I'm not gonna tell you where I'm going to be but it'll be in the
city of Newburgh yes right not so because some of y'all don't need the
gas but I'll be doing an initiative with the fire department and the police
department and so that's something that's positive so we want to make sure that
we do that no pebbles other than that other than that that's all I have I'll
give you I'll give Bob my last 30 seconds. Thank you very much Councilman
Macklemore. Next we hear from Council Member Monteverdi. Thank you and thank you everybody
for coming out tonight. The holidays are here. I know that you know people want to be with
their families and you know as a reminder these with all the news and everything that's
going around it's it's these are difficult times for all of us but you know I just
Just want to encourage you to celebrate, be with your family, do what you can to stay safe,
not be so stressed out.
I went to the menorah lighting the other night on River Road with the rabbi there.
He shared a story of his family.
His cousin was one of the victims in Australia that was shot in Australia.
you know and he shared that and you know these again the the hate and the fear
that is in our country now people at you you just never know feel like they can
just go off on you for no reason and you know just just be remember that
we're all human beings that we are all here living together and you know just
learn to accept the differences.
We're different colors. We come from different cultures.
We can all coexist in this world.
And my message is that just do what you can.
As this council, we do what we can.
We're up here. We're volunteering our time.
Well, not volunteering, but we were taking time away from our families
to do the work that we think is important.
and we're sitting with you, we're listening to your concerns,
trying to do the best that we can.
We're all, and the thing that I appreciate
about everybody that sits on this council
is we're all involved in different things in this city.
I'm involved in different areas that,
Mayor Harvey's involved in, or Bob or Patty,
Giselle, Omari, Rob, we go to our different events
and whenever we can, we try to support each other,
but you know we're out there doing the work and you know when I see every
people on the street and they thank us you know I truly appreciate it and I do
it because I believe in this great city and you know speak one of the things
about right the the housing that that's been brought up a couple of times
tonight you know this has been a long time coming and in the city of New
Burg you know for a very long time as we know when I first moved here
1999. I've never seen housing in the condition that it was in the city and
that was one of the things that this council sat down back in 2019, right?
And we decided that we were going to prioritize, brought in the Leviticus
Group, did that study and I pulled out the the old sheet that we worked with
that was kind of our guideline for you know like a master plan for housing and
I went through it you know we got the strategic mayor strategic group out of
that we cleaned up codes and I got to thank codes for doing a great job, you know,
with these landlords who just bought these properties, did no work.
And we've come a long ways in the city and now it's time to be strategic and plan housing.
There's going to be housing, market rate housing, affordable housing in the city
of Newburgh and, you know, it's not an easy task, but we're trying to do the best
that we can, and communicate that and be transparent at the same time.
So thank you for sticking with us and for coming out and for supporting us.
Have a wonderful holiday.
Thank you very much, Council Member Monteverdi.
Next, we will hear from Councilman Shakur.
Yes.
I just wanted to say goodbye once again to Patty and Bob, and it's been a pleasure
because me and Bob, we've been the gatekeepers.
He's on that end.
And I'm honestly, we had to keep y'all,
we had to keep the rest of y'all in line.
Well, anyway, I'd like to thank Mr. Pagan.
He had gotten in touch with me earlier this week
and I told him to come up with me when he comes to Newburgh.
I told him, we're doing a meeting on the 18th.
If he could stop by and give us a little peek
into what he was talking about.
And hopefully, if y'all like what he was saying
or whatever, he can come and do a presentation for us
with the people so that's why right I would like them to do a presentation
because I would like to get more information on that cause whatever they're
doing they said they can cut the rents in half so I would like to see what's
going on but thank you for coming and everybody else and February 1st we get
ready for that our flag raising how I mean how Christmas is coming up
Christmas is still coming up, right?
I've been in and out of things. I'm like, I lost the dates.
But anyway, thank you. Happy holidays to everybody. Thank you.
Our brother Anthony Grice came back.
And that's what distracted me because usually he'd be over here making me laugh and stuff.
But thank you for coming. Thank you everybody for coming out tonight.
And Mr. Pagan, if you'd bridge back out to us,
then maybe we could set up a presentation for the housing issues talking about.
Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Chakour. Next we hear from Councilman Sklaris.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you all for coming out tonight. It was over 400 years ago when Henry
Hudson sailed at Hudson. He looked up at our hillside and a ship made said to him,
it's a great place to build a town. In 1952 we were named an all-American city.
The past 70 or so years have been very challenging. The ferry vanished when the
bridge was built. Urban renewal, which affected a lot of cities throughout the
country, seemed to tear the house at the heart of this community. Retail
shifted to the suburbs, small manufacturing, with jobs you could walk to, they moved even
farther away.
We stand in a pivotal moment in our history. Construction of the pier promises
to transform the whole water farm and will enhance tourism throughout this city. Intelligent
redevelopment of the hillside is vital for the future of the city we all love.
It is essential that future City Councils, along with dedicated City staff, engage community
members to collaborate effectively, together we can assure that the revitalized Seals
side will foster growth and prosperity for generations to come.
It's been my honor and pleasure to serve you over the past seven years.
Thank you for all your support.
Thank you, Councilman Sclaris.
That was very beautiful.
Thank you.
Next we hear from Council Member Sophocles.
What's wrong Tammy?
No, my kids told me I can't.
I don't really want to talk. I want to cry.
I want to address Michael LeBron.
I agree 100%. I walked down Grand Street
many, many moons ago with Judy Kennedy.
We declared, I forget the big signs and stuff we had,
but we were in and we had Hillary Clinton as well and
maybe you want to form a group, the
Dutch reform group, there was one at one time, I don't know what's going on, but we definitely
need to do something with the Dutch reform church
and I'm glad you put that back in the brain here because I really, really
want to work on the Dutch reform church
and on another note, I'm very
sad I'm leaving but I'm not going anywhere. I've been in this city for so
many years and so I'm not going anywhere I'll always be there and I'll
always be up well I don't know how many more years on upper Broadway for taxes
but 440 Broadway you need me you come to see me because that's where I'll be
and and I mean it with all sincerity you know me Chade and so it's very
Melancholy it's you know I'm just sad you understand Anthony and it's just it's
like something the last eight years have been really pleasurable for the most
part and we have great department heads now I really feel like this is it's
good everything's good. Newsburg is back. I call it Newsburg because everybody
know everybody business, you know.
Thank you all. Love you all. Thanks.
Thank you
Councilmember Salford, please. And I guess the remaining of her time will be yielded
to the mayor. Just kidding. That was beautiful. Thank you Patty. First I want to say thank
you to everybody that came out. I want to give a special shout out to Donald,
Donald, one of my former students is here. One of our long-time, lifetime, huh?
Lamhart. Yes, I was trying to remember the last name. I was going to say Coolidge, but
Donald Lamhart is here. Thank you for all your point of view and perspective on some of the
recent commentary that was on social media. Very powerful. I look forward to working with you
and some of your ideas and some of the things you want to do with the youth. I do want to
make a point of clarification, December 18, 2023, I'm sorry.
So that's two years from today, ironically.
The City Council declared a housing emergency.
The whole E.T.P.A. Emergency Tennis Protection Act was something we were pursuing,
but I want to make it clear, I was not in favor of having a vacancy study internally.
I'm always in favor of hiring outside folk just for the matter of transparency and I know
how the city of Newburgh is in terms of some of the claims of things not being done properly
when they're done internally, especially if you're looking for something, a study of
source.
We've always outsourced that.
We've always hired an outside agency just as we did the Leviticus Group as Council
I also remember Monteverdi mentioned Leviticus Group led by Kevin Duarca, we've got that housing study done.
The next thing was to do was the housing vacancy.
I was in favor just for a point of clarification of a false narrative.
I was in favor of outsourcing that to an outside independent agency and paying for it so that we could get that done without people making claims that it wasn't whatever.
However, we did not qualify for the EPA.
We did declare a housing emergency in 2023, December the 18th, two years exactly from today,
and that declaration preceded the governor's declaration.
So the governor declared it after this council did, all right, for the whole entire state.
So we are currently in a housing crisis right now.
So when we talked, I mentioned earlier about the deputy city manager position and capacity
I'm telling you half a billion dollars of private and public
Investment is already going on in this city and we are that we have doubled down. We have moved
seven or eight housing development projects already through the city council
Council and or the city IDA. And so we look at that capacity. That is serious, serious work
to manage through our land use boards, the East Historic Inn, which is the ARC board, all
that stuff, that serious stuff that has to come through as part of this revitalization.
And I want to say in closing regarding that, housing is a human right. Affordable housing
is a human right and no one should be paying more than 30% of their income on housing.
And that is something I know this council is unified on, unanimously on.
And so that's something that is still being pushed, that's something that we are going
to have to continue to fight between now and I said three to five years, definitely
You're going to see some major reconstruction of a lot of properties and apartments that
are affordable coming on board and then there's some market rate stuff that's coming on board
like the one that the city manager mentioned on 3rd Street and that big parking lot at
the waterfront that's privately owned, okay, where you see the gullies boat sitting.
And that is in the pipeline to be market rate, high-end condominiums, overlooking the Hudson
River by the people that own that.
And that's going in the pipeline.
So we are pushing for the affordable apartments.
And lastly, I want to say, as that hillside has to be developed for rateables and to
help this city have the funds and the monies to take care of daycare and other social
issues that we have with our youth.
that hillside has to be developed properly and respectfully as it relates to
urban renewal and lastly the Newburgh Landing Dock which I believe is at 98 to
100% design once that comes on board that's going to transform as very
transformative it's going to transform the city and that entire
downtown business corridor so get ready because it's coming so as in the
famous words of Lauren Hill ready or not here it comes okay anyway it's coming
ready or not we got to be there to stand up and make sure those who are at the
margins or beneath the margins are taken care of when this revitalization
continues thank you okay all right next we go to the next item on our agenda
which is the city manager's report thank you mayor yep resolution number 273-2025
walsh road bridge replacement contract amendment number two with CSX do you
have a motion for resolution number 273-2025 so moved first motion accepted by
councilman sclars do we have a second second by council member software please
we'll call in the motion please council members Martinez hi Macklemore
Yes.
Monteverdi, Chacor.
Yes.
Scalaris, Sophocles.
Mayor Harvey.
Yes.
Resolution approved.
Resolution number 274-2025, personnel book amendment, police department.
So, I have a motion for resolution number 274-2025.
Personal motion accepted by council member Sophocles.
Do we have a second?
Second.
Second by council member Scalaris.
Roll call in the motion please.
Council members Martinez, Macklemore, Monteverdi, Chacor, Scalars, Sophocles, Mayor Harvey,
Resolution approved. Resolution number 275-2025, budget transfers for legal notices.
Do I have a motion for a resolution number 275-2025? First motion is settled by council
Council Member Sophocles, do we have a second?
Second.
Seconded by Councilman Scalars.
Roll call and a motion, please.
Council members Martinez, aye.
Macklemore, Monteverdi, Chacor.
Yes.
Scalars.
Yes.
Sophocles, Mayor Harvey.
Yes.
Resolution approved.
Resolution number 276-2025, Rico Human Resources Printer.
Whoever motion for resolution number 276-2025,
First motion is accepted by Council Member Sophocles. Do I have a second?
Second. Second
by Councilman Scalaris. Roll call and a motion please. Council members Martinez. Aye. Macklemore.
Yes. Monteverdi. Yes. Shakur. Yes. Scalaris. Yes. Sophocles. Yes. Mayor Harvey. Yes.
Resolution approved. Local Law D-2025 amending the City Charter Article 3 in Section C501 to
Deputy City Manager. Do we have a motion for local law, letter D, that's 2025, so
first motion is set with Councilman Shakur. Do we have a second? Second. Seconded by
Council Member Macklemore. We'll call in the motion please. Council Members
Martinas. Hi. Macklemore. Yes. Monteverdi. Shakur.
Scalaris. No. Sophocles. Yes. Mayor
Harvey. Yes. Local law enacted. Resolution number 277-2025. Confirmation of Deputy City
Manager Appointment. Confirming the appointment of Michael Neppel as Deputy City Manager of
the City of Newburgh.
Do I have a motion for resolution number 277?
That's 2025.
So moved.
First motion is set up by Councilman Shakur.
Do we have a second?
Seconded.
Seconded by Council Member Sophocles.
Roll call and a motion please.
Council members Martinez.
Aye.
Macklemore.
Yes.
Monteverdi.
No.
Shakur.
Yes.
Scholarz.
Yes.
Sophocles.
please. Mayor Harvey. Yes. Resolution approved.
Big Mike. Backers is the report. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Vinnie. All right. So we don't try to run through this really
quickly. For any old business that the mayor and the city executive team need to consider
for the next work session and the old business. Yes. Please give it to us. Yes. Council
Can we go back and review the request for the stop signs?
I don't know if it's with the Transportation Committee, but I began a lot of requests
due to the accidents over at South William and Lander, South Lander, right?
In that area.
So if we can discuss that and where we are with that, that would be great.
All right, anyone else?
I have one request.
I'd like to review where we are with the street sweeper program, the street sweeper program
that's in the budget to hire individuals to do street sweeping in needs, in areas of need.
I'm getting a lot of phone calls and emails and even persons coming up to me throughout
about the community, talking about the drug paraphernalia and how that is creating a danger
to children on residential blocks, especially throughout the city.
And that's actually one of the reasons why I'm hoping that we can clean up that area
that we discussed about Downey Park for the re-enterment of the former slaves because
Because even up there, there are hypothermic needles and there's drug paraphernalia, aside
from the graffiti on the pergola that we're hoping to all get cleaned up.
But we have an unsafe circumstance throughout the city of Newburgh and our residents can
tell you where there's needles, I mean near the motor vehicle, behind the motor vehicle,
chamber street and various different blocks throughout the city and that we really need
to look at that street sweeper program to get more people, even if we have to do amendments
to the 2026 fiscal budget, so we can get people to work, especially those who are formerly
incarcerated, which was the one reason why we wanted to have that program in DPW.
And we really got to get to addressing that.
So the next next work session, I'm hoping we can look at that because these needles and that's randomly out in the street and residential areas, especially in our parks is just unsanitary and is really unsafe, especially for children and even our elderly.
So all right, if there's no other old business, we'll go to new business. Anyone for new business?
If not, we'll go to final comments from the city council.
We'll start with Council Member Martinez.
I just want to say happy holidays to everyone and happy new year.
And I'm really going to miss Councilman Scalars and Councilwoman Sophocles.
Thank you for coming tonight.
Thank you very much, Council Member Martinez.
Councilman Macklemore.
So, happy holidays to everyone and be safe and I'll see you in the new year.
That's it. And once again, I love you guys. So, yeah.
Thank you.
Very quick.
Yep. I'll take your time over.
Next we'll hear from Council Member Matthew Verde.
Yeah, so happy holidays everybody and I hope you, you know,
spend some wonderful time with your family, be safe over the holidays, eat some
good food, and I'm looking forward to 2026 and doing a lot of good work and I
will miss Councilwoman Sophocles sitting next to me and Bob Scars, Councilman Scars.
Good luck. Thank you. Next we hear from Councilman Shakur. Yes, 2025 coming to
it in where I want to thank okay yeah 2026 is coming but we still won't have
some of the same problems and it's this is new bird so we'll never fix new bird
but every year we getting better because when we fix this something else
breaks there's always gonna be but that's part of the community that's
part of what it is. But we're doing our jobs. I'd like to thank everybody for coming out
and I'll see y'all next year.
Thank you very much, Councilman Chacor. Next we'll hear from
Councilman Sklaris. Merry Christmas. Happy holidays. Hold your friends and family close.
Thank you. Thank you very much. Next we'll hear from Councilmember Sophocles.
I really can't speak right now, but I told my kids I wouldn't cry.
Tammy, I'm sorry. I can't help myself. I'm really going to miss this, but I'm not going anywhere.
So I just want to say happy holidays to everybody and thank you for all your support.
All you guys that come out to the council meetings, that helps the council make better decisions
Because we hear your ideas publicly, and you have no idea what it is when we have a full house.
Okay? Love you all. Happy holidays.
Thank you very much, Council Member Sophocles. I want to thank everybody again for coming out tonight.
I do want to say a special thank you to Marissa Wilson.
Let's give her a hand because she's been filling in full time as our acting director of recreation.
And Marissa helped me out a big, big, big deal this past Sunday.
And I'd be remiss not to first of all publicly say thank you.
The Neighborhood Vitality Corp worked with Marissa, myself and the city executive team to put together a very last minute in a sense.
we got a call from one of my wife's cousins and who's tied to the sheriff of
Ulster County Juan Figueroa he got like 500 like toys and he you know he got
them from the sheriff at Albany they said he said Juan we don't know what to do
with these toys we can't give them away we got so many and so Marissa helped
helped us coordinate this event on this past Sunday with the Neighborhood
Vitality Corporation who we're going to do more work with philanthropic work and
we gave away at least 300 to 400 toys to families for free at the Recreation
Center and it was huge at first 340 people signed up only 50 that
pre-registers signed up then we went Facebook live and then they started
flooded, they started coming and it was great. We stayed an extra an hour and it was really really good.
But I want to also give my colleagues props and Mr. Venning and the executive team.
We stood up when the federal government went to a shutdown. Snap recipients weren't going to get
their snap benefits. And this team as Councilman Shakur mentioned, this dream team, he calls it
the dream team. I'm going to call it dream team in agreement with him. This dream team
right here stepped up answered the call in the time of crises to give our
residents 700 residents especially our elderly community all gotta give props
to Allie Church and her team as well let's give it to them a hundred thousand
dollars worth of benefits to give each family a hundred fifty dollars when and
And not to compare, but Westchester gave 50 grand
We gave 100 grand. Middletown, shout out to Joe. They gave 10 grand. We gave 100 grand.
And the other cities in the Midhust and Valley didn't do anything for their SNAP recipients
that their benefits were cut off. So this team did that. And then we all participated in
Thanksgiving feeding the community events. I know Rob and I went to shout out to Youth
Hill, Repco, and then I know my time is up real quick. We gave away hot meals and we
served the community and so did my colleagues. They were participating in
that. And then lastly, what's that? He was there too. Oh yes, Councilman
Schubert was there. That's right. We served him and he helped serve. But we
all put our hands together, even with the New
Bergen Large-City School District and all they did during the holidays,
Thanksgiving, the Christmas gifts and you know the events that the New Brigham
Large-City School District, we all stepped up for our community is my point
and I'm really proud of that because I saw I saw us come together like I
hadn't seen and I've been here since 1991. I have not seen such a robust
effort for us to unify and support the local community especially the
population that's most vulnerable. Can we do more? Absolutely. Are we going to do
more? Absolutely. But I want to say to all the people involved, my colleagues,
whether it's the city government, the Newburgh School District, let's give
everyone a hand that stepped up for the people in the city of Newburgh during
their great times of needs, even when the federal government, you know, turned
their backs on them. But okay, but I just want to give that out there. I
want to thank you all for coming happy holidays love on your family spend some
time with your peoples and enjoy these holiday season this holiday season with
joy and happiness and love because that's the most important gift love on
each other the next the plan oh shout out to the New York Knicks they won the
season cup and it's been 52 years 52 years it's out to the New York Knicks
they playing right now. Have a good holiday. God bless you and God bless America.