By JEFF MORRIS
It took only an hour for the Bedford Town Board to forge through a wide variety of agenda items at its Aug. 13 meeting.
The meeting began with state Assemblymember Chris Burdick presenting town board member Stephanie McCaine with a 2024 Women of Distinction Award. Honors selected for the Assemblymember’s awards program were recognized June18 in Chappaqua, but McCaine was unable to be at that ceremony. The awards recognize women who make a difference in their communities and for the people around them, or excel in their professional careers. “Stephanie, you have been absolutely exemplary,” said Burdick. “Your calm, your demeanor, your being responsive and receptive to the community is really stellar.”
New Dawn David Ryan then appeared to present a brief update from the New Dawn Family Resource Center. Ryan, the retired police chief of Pound Ridge, is project director of the Westchester County Domestic Violence High Risk Team and serves on the board of New Dawn. The organization provides support for programs and services for victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, elder abuse, and human trafficking to five towns in northern Westchester.
The principal reason for Ryan’s appearance was to let the board know that New Dawn is looking for a new location. “We are in a position now where we may have to relocate,” he said. “We have been in a location in Lewisboro since our start. That location may be torn down.” He said board members were looking at different organizations and places, and may have found a site in North Salem, but they have specific criteria, including close proximity to law enforcement. He said they were going to each town to keep them in the loop and hopefully maintain their support. But, referring to the relocation, Ryan noted, “We will continue to do this with or without municipal support.”
Ryan said he was uncertain of the timeline for the move, noting that the board thought they were going to lose the current location in June, but that did not happen. However, without knowing for sure whether the whole building or just a part of the building where they are located will be torn down, the facility is in limbo. “Based on what I’ve heard, our piece of that facility given its current condition will be torn down,” he said. “We don’t want to be stuck; we don’t want to be in a position where we have nothing, and we’ve lost opportunities elsewhere.” Ryan said it will not be a problem to get out of the lease. He estimated the facility needs three decent-sized office spaces, including a meeting room that could house about 60 people.
“New Dawn is the only 501(c)(3) serving victims in Westchester County that has no paid employees,” Ryan pointed out. “Every penny we raise other than the rent pays a victim. If we raise a dollar, that victim gets a dollar.”
Public hearing The board held a public hearing on a proposed local law that would impose a six-month moratorium on battery energy storage systems. The intent of the moratorium is to provide adequate time for the town to consider the development implications of such facilities within Bedford, specifically regarding fire safety and environmental impacts.
The proposed legislation defines battery energy storage systems as “one or more devices, assembled together, capable of storing energy in order to supply electrical energy at a future time, not to include a stand-alone 12-volt car battery or an electric motor vehicle.” It states that such systems “are a key component to the viability and promotion of renewable energy sources,” but goes on to explain that since the technology of these systems is still in its infancy, “there is a significant amount of recent public concern about the potentially volatile nature of lithium-ion batteries.”
The legislation cites potential updates to the state fire code, and references numerous issues pertaining to the energy systems that the town needs to study.
Resident Simon Skolnik asked for clarification on what the moratorium covered, looking for reassurance that he would not be restricted in charging his electric car, which supervisor Ellen Calves confirmed.
Mariah Okrongly read a statement from Bedford 2030, where she is a program director, supporting the moratorium. She noted batteries are essential for the creation of energy sources that are non-polluting, healthier, and to preserve resources, as well as providing a more resilient grid during damaging storms and heatwaves. She lauded the town board’s proactivity in addressing concerns and enabling the town to move forward with these essential systems.
The board closed the public hearing and approved the six-month moratorium.
New NYSEG power agreement The board agreed to approve a memorandum of understanding with Sustainable Westchester, for a new Westchester Power supply contract meeting low bid requirements to provide 100% renewable energy for NYSEG customers. The board had previously approved a new agreement for Con Ed customers that went out to bid and takes effect Nov. 1.
Calves said getting 100% renewable energy has allowed the town to meet its climate action goals.
“This has been a very impactful program,” she said, “to make the 100% renewable supply the default — and if people choose not to participate they can opt out, find a different ESCO to enroll with, or they can go with whatever supplier their utility has chosen, which is a variable rate. Currently the variable rate is a couple of cents lower than the contracted rate with Westchester Power; that may not always be the case, it could be that the fixed rate ends up being a better deal.”
Calves thanked all the residents who have stayed in the program “because it really is making a difference and paving the way for a brighter future.”
The board’s quick approval contrasted with the recent refusal of the Lewisboro Town Board to even hear any presentation from Sustainable Westchester, and thus to allow that town’s participation in the Westchester Power program to end.
Additional items The board discussed and approved two requests from Police Chief Melvin Padilla. One was to use funds that had been donated in a previous year and then were rolled over to the fund balance, to cover expenses for working with the Westchester County Cause and Origin Team to investigate the origin and cause of fires and to support subsequent criminal investigations. The other was to authorize an agreement with Motorola to install new direct communications technology, independent of cellphones, that will ensure communications are clear, continuous, and coordinated across multiple users, agencies, and systems. The state is providing $1.4 million in grant funding, and most of the radios and equipment needed had previously been authorized and installed. Padilla said this authorization is more for the heavy-duty equipment and towers needed to make everything operable. The board approved both requests.
Another request that was approved was from town clerk, Alexandra Whalen, for purchase of online dog licensing software, which will allow dog owners to save time and money in obtaining licenses, as well as provide greater convenience and accessibility. An accompanying approval contracted for an online payment processor and office terminal to facilitate the new online capabilities.