Business Related Issues



Business Improvement Board
April 8, 2008
Business Advisory Committee
Bob Giordano and Trish Mulligan, members of a Business Advisory Committee appointed by Supervisor Peters presented their draft plan for how a permanent advisory committee could develop a plan for improving the business climate in Yorktown, making the town more business friendly and making Yorktown a destination for out of towners by highlighting the town's many assets.

The proposal includes plans for marketing the town, somewhat akin to the "I Love New York" theme, and could include brochures, the development of a logo, samples of which were shown to the board, and links on the town's web site. The committee could also identify businesses that could be encouraged to locate in Yorktown.

The committee and the proposed plan is an outgrowth of Mr. Peters' campaign platform.

Councilan Campisi asked about the relationship between the advisory committee and the Chamber of Commerce and wanted to know if the two groups would work against each other. Mr. Giordano and Ms. Mulligan replied that some Chamber members were on his advisory committee and he didn't see any conflict between the two. The new advisory committee was not interested in usurping the Chamber or in being redundant.

Membership on the proposed committee would be open to residents as well as non residents who have businesses in Yorktown although the board suggested that a majority of the members be residents.

The only disagreement was over the proposal's suggestion that a hotel might be desirable in Yorktown. Councilman Bianco said that earlier studies had shown that hotel chains weren't interested in the town because it could not generate sufficient business.

Mr. Giordano will review the suggestions from the different board members, make adjustments to the draft proposal and return at a future work session.

April 22, 2008 work session
Members of the ad hoc Business Improvement Board and representatives of the New Yorktown Chamber of Commerce met to discuss the next steps in creating the advisory board.

Councilman Campisi questioned why a new business group had to be formed to carry out initiatives that the town could ask the Chamber to do. He asked Town Clerk Alice Roker to explain the origin of the new Chamber dating back to the 1990s.

Councilman Martorano said he saw differences between the two groups although he acknowledged that there was some overlap in their missions.
It was also pointed out that whereas the Chamber has members with businesses in Cortlandt and Peekskill, the new group would be limited to people who owned or operated businesses in Yorktown.

Robert Giordano, one of the members of the ad hoc group, explained that the proposed new advisory board would be more inclusive than the Chamber whose mission was to advance the interests of its members. In contrast, the advisory group's "client" would be the town. He said that the two groups could work together.

There was some discussion as to whether the local law setting up the group should specify a fixed number of members representing certain groups in town, e.g., the Chamber, or whether membership should be completely left up to the town board. The board appeared to prefer the latter approach.

The local law setting up the group will be advertised for a public hearing in May.

May 6, 2008
A public hearing was set for May 20th to amend Article IX of the Town Board to create a new Business Improvement Board.

May 20, 2008
A public hearing was held on the creation of a new Business Improvement Board. Thom Ianniccari, speaking on behalf of the New Yorktown Chamber of Commerce spoke in opposition to the proposed new board on the grounds that it duplicated what was already being done by the 300+ member Chamber. He suggested that the town work with the Chamber in a spirit of cooperation instead of confusion.

The board closed the hearing and without any discussion voted unanimously not to create the new board. Instead it was suggested that the people who were associated with the proposed BID would work as an ad hoc group with the town and the Chamber.

Other Business Related Issues
For comments on the Chamber of Commerce postion on the Comprehensive Plan, see Comprehensive Plan

May 5, 2009
During Courtesy of the Floor, Ed Killeen, Shrub Oak resident and former Planning Board member, said he thought the Town was “getting a bad rap” for being anti-business when in fact the Planning Board and Town Board are making decisions based on accepted planning practices and the guidelines of the Town's master plan.  He referred  the situation at the Old Stone Church on Route 6, pointing out that the site abuts an important wetland, part of which the Town purchased in order to protect, and the master plan designates the area as part of a greenbelt which is supposed to run between the hamlets of Mohegan Lake and Shrub Oak.  According to Mr. Killeen the town needs “better PR.” to get this information out and rebut the charge of being anti-business.   

For comments about a possible hotel/convention center on Route 6, see Comprehensive Plan)

May 26, 2009, work session
Yorktown Chamber Festival and Street Fair
Joe Visconti and Michael Popp of the New Yorktown Chamber of Commerce reviewed the group's plans to hold a business oriented street fair along Commerce St from the bus shelter in front of the YCCC to the firehouse and portions of Veterans Rd on October 10th. Because the event would entail closing the streets to traffic, the group needs Town Board approval. Also the Chamber wants the town to be a co sponsor of the event. The event is being modeled after similar fairs in other Westchester communities.

There would be vendor tables along the street, activities for children, food booths hosted by local restaurants, an amateur talent show, possibly some type of auto related show and “a million different ideas.”

After meeting its costs to host the event, Mr. Visconti said that the Chamber would donate 50% of any profits to 4-5 community groups. The only cost to the town would be for police overtime associated with the road closings. There was some discussion about the Chamber reimbursing the town for any overtime costs but nothing definite was decided.

Councilman Campisi expressed support for the idea but had some concerns about how the street closing would impact on local businesses. Mr. Visconti assured him that he thought the businesses would likely be pleased with the event. The entire board supported the idea and asked Mr. Visconti to return in July with an update on the Chamber's plans.

There was a discussion of 4 large banner signs crossing the roads entering Yorktown as well as signs on the new lampposts along Commerce St.

July 14, 2009, work session
Joe Visconti and Michael Popp of the Chamber of Commerce gave the board an update on the Chamber's plans for the October 10th street fair. Basically, everything is proceeding smoothly.

Councilman Lou Campisi said that he had done a survey of businesses along Commerce St. and that several were against closing the street because they believed doing so would hurt their business. This led to a prolonged discussion on whether Commerce St should be closed up to the firehouse or possibly up to only one of the two entrances to the Catalo building. The street closing will start just after Friendly's. It was ultimately decided that the street would be closed to the fire house and that the Chamber would try to speak to those businesses opposed to the closing and try to “win them over” by explaining that they would likely see an increase in business because of all the people who will be attending the event.

Police Chief McMahon estimated that he would need seven or eight police for traffic control that day at an estimated overtime cost of between $6,000 - $8,016 (12 hours of overtime). He will try to see if auxiliary police are available. Mr. Visconti advised him not to skimp on the police as it was important that a safe environment be maintained.

The board and Chamber representatives also discussed clean up arrangements and the location of banners that will go up 30 days before the event. The Chamber asked if the town's senior vans could be used as a shuttle bus from parking areas, but that was ruled out for insurance reasons. The field behind the YCC will be used to inflatable fun apparatus.

A heated discussion took place as to whether tables should be sold to political parties. Mr. Viscontii said that as the fair was being co-sponsored by the town, this should be a town board discussion. Councilman Campisi noted that three of the five board members were running for office and he vehemently opposed any political tables. He said that if they were allowed he would do all he could to stop the event. It was pointed out that while the Grange Fair allows political parties to have tables, that was a private function.

In the end, the board voted 3-2 to prohibit political tables with Supervisor Peters and Councilman Martorano dissenting. Supervisor Peters noted that the tables might minimize the amount of trash.

July 28, 2009, work session
Councilman Matt Metz advised the board that he wanted to change his vote from two weeks ago banning the sale of tables to political entities at the upcoming October street fair. He said he questioned the constitutionality of such a restriction.

Councilman Campisi said that if the board allowed the political tables for the street fair, he wanted the board to realize that it would then open the way for political tables at Community Day held in Downing Park. (Other board members noted that Community Day was held on school property so that the school district would have to decide on this issue.) He repeated his objection to the tables at a public event sponsored by the town, but added that he had no problem with politicians distributing their literature on the street.

Supervisor Don Peters felt that the Chamber should be allowed to make money if it wanted to and Councilman Bianco said that while he felt the tables would be in bad taste but that he did not want to legislature what was good or bad taste and that he would go along with the majority. Councilman Martorano said this wasn't a constitutional issue and he saw no reason to discourage political discourse that was part of a vibrant democracy.

The board voted 5-0 to rescind the previous vote with Councilman Campisi saying that he would go along with the majority.

September 8, 2009, work session
Joe Visconti, Michael Popp and the events planner in charge of the fair gave the board an update and status report. In general, they discussed the location of things like porto toilets, emergency services, trash removal and special needs such as electrical outlets. All of the issues on the Chamber's list of questions/issues were easily resolved.

Councilman Bianco asked why the police chief had sent a $7800 bill/contract to the chamber to cover police overtime costs. He explained that when the board first signed on to the idea of the fair, it knew that it would incur costs. Supervisor Peters said he didn't know why the chief had sent the contract.

Supervisor Peters said that some of the stores and the gas station closest to the fire house still objected to the street closing in front of their facilities. This led to a renewed discussion of safety issues if that portion of the street was left open. The group concluded that the town board members should speak to the store owners, especially the owner of the gas station, and explain to them the benefits of the fair to their own business. It was generally agreed that the gas station would be hurt the most by the closing and the Chamber offered to work with the owner.