The Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) hosted today the annual meeting of the Council of Governments here in its offices, which provided an opportunity for the nearly 50 elected officials present to hear what the County’s leaders have been working on. Several of the officials also gave presentations of various issues facing local governments around Westchester.

“The Council of Governments brings us together to share information and ideas, as well as to bolster the understanding that cooperation and collaboration are necessary for effective governance,” said BOL Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers). “The meeting includes a beneficial, wide-ranging give-and-take between the participants, who all recognize that the people of Westchester are depending on us to do what’s right.”

Presentations at today’s Council of Governments meeting included one on Shared Services from BOL Vice Chair Lyndon Williams (D-Mount Vernon),an early report on the County’s Storm Water Advisory Board from Legislator MaryJane Shimsky (D-Hastings-on-Hudson) and an overview of septic and storm water issues from BOL Majority Leader Peter Harckham (D-Katonah).

Chairman Jenkins joined Yonkers Council President Chuck Lesnick and Scarsdale Village Manager Al Gatta on a discussion of property reassessment and revaluation for the assemblage, Tarrytown Mayor Drew Fixell called for support of public transportation on the next Tappan Zee Bridge structure and New Rochelle City Manager Chuck Strome noted the need for more flood mitigation projects.

A lively roundtable discussion followed the formal presentations. Elected officials from over twenty different local governments attended today’s meeting, along with the County Executive.

Shared IT Services presentation by Vice-Chairman Lyndon D. Williams (PDF format)

Storm Water Advisory Boards (SWABs) and our Crumbling Bridges presentation by Majority Whip MaryJane Shimsky (PDF format)