AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
Committee of the Whole 7:30 P.M.
Stated Meeting 8:00 P.M.
City Council Chambers
TIME:
PRESENT: PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL
CHUCK LESNICK
DISTRICT:
1 MAJORITY LEADER PATRICIA D. McDOW
5 MINORITY LEADER JOHN .M. MURTAGH
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
DISTRICT:
2 WILSON A. TERRERO
3 JOAN GRONOWSKI
4 DENNIS E. SHEPHERD
6 JOHN LARKIN
Recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag followed by a minute of silence
to invoke God’s guidance and Blessing upon our deliberations.
Minutes of the stated meeting held on May 11, 2010 approved on motion of
Majority Leader Patricia McDow.
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
2
INDEX
ITEM DESCRIPTION PAGE
1. LOCAL LAW – RED LIGHT CAMERAS 6/11
2. S.O. – GRANT - DCJS – ENFORCEMENT OF DRINKING
LAWS - $6,000 12
3. RES - GRANT – AUTHORIZATION – ENFORCEMENT OF
DRINKING LAWS - $6,000 13/14
4 RES – STATE AID - PRE K PROGRAM 15/16
5. RES – STATE AID – ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE 17/18
6. RES – COMMISSIONERS OF DEEDS 19/20
7. RES – BANNER – YWCA 21
8. RES – HONORARY STREET RENAMING
(BISHOP ERNEST HAIRSTON) 22/23
9. HONORARIUM – DET. JOHN GEISS 24
.
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
3
COMMUNICATIONS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
4
COMMUNICATIONS – GENERALLY
1. Dated May 19, 2010 from the Westchester County Planning Board
correspondence in regard to additional information received relating to the
city’s Zoning Text Amendment for Historic Overlay Zone. COPIES ON
DESKS.
2. Dated May 17, 2010 from the Town of Eastchester a notice of Public
Hearing by the Eastchester Planning Board on premises known as 70
Garth Road. COPIES ON DESKS.
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
5
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
6
LOCAL LAW
1. BY: COUNCIL PRESIDENT LESNICK, MAJORITY LEADER McDOW,
MINORITY LEADER MURTAGH, COUNCILMEMBERS TERRERO,
GRONOWSKI, SHEPHERD AND LARKIN;
A LOCAL LAW AMENDING CHAPTER 109 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY
OF YONKERS ENTITLED “VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC” IN REGARD TO
OWNER LIABILITY FOR FAILURE OF OPERATOR TO COMPLY WITH
TRAFFIC-CONTROL INDICATIONS.
BE IT ENACTED, by the City Council of the City of Yonkers, as
follows:
Section 1.Chapter 109 of the Code of the City of Yonkers entitled
“Vehicles and Traffic” is amended, in part, by adding thereto a new
Section 109-145, entitled “Owner liability for failure of operator to comply
with traffic control indications” to read as follows:
“§ 109–145. Owner liability for failure of operator to comply with trafficcontrol
indications.
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Parking Violations
Bureau is hereby authorized and empowered to establish a demonstration
program imposing monetary liability on the owner of a vehicle for failure of
an operator thereof to comply with traffic-control indications in accordance
with the provisions of this Section. The Traffic Engineer, for purposes of
implementation of such program, shall be authorized to install and operate
traffic-control signal photo violation-monitoring devices at no more than
twenty five (25) intersections at any one time.
B. Such demonstration program shall utilize necessary technologies to
ensure, to the extent practicable, that photographs produced by such
traffic-control signal photo violation-monitoring systems shall not include
images that identify the driver, the passengers, or the contents of the
vehicle. Provided, however, that no notice of liability issued pursuant to
this Section shall be dismissed solely because a photograph or
photographs allow for the identification of the contents of a vehicle,
provided that the City of Yonkers has made a reasonable effort to comply
with the provisions of this paragraph.
C. The owner of a vehicle shall be liable for a penalty imposed pursuant
to this Section if such vehicle was used or operated with the permission of
the owner, express or implied, in violation of subdivision (d) of Section
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
7
LOCAL LAW (CONTINUED)
eleven hundred eleven of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law,
(hereinafter Vehicle and Traffic Law) and such violation is evidenced by
information obtained from a traffic-control signal photo violation-monitoring
system; provided, however, that no owner of a vehicle shall be liable for a
penalty imposed pursuant to this Section where the operator of such
vehicle has been convicted of the underlying violation of subdivision (d) of
Section eleven hundred eleven of the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
D. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, no owner of a
vehicle shall be subject to a monetary fine imposed pursuant to this
Section if the operator of such vehicle was operating such vehicle without
the consent of the owner at the time such operator failed to obey a trafficcontrol
indication. For purposes of this subdivision, there shall be a
presumption that the operator of such vehicle was operating such vehicle
with the consent of the owner at the time such operator failed to obey a
traffic-control indication.
E. For purposes of this Section, "owner" shall mean any person,
corporation, partnership, firm, agency, association, lessor, or organization
who at the time of the issuance of a notice of violation in which a vehicle is
operated:
(1) is the beneficial or equitable owner of such vehicle; or
(2) has title to such vehicle; or
(3) is the registrant or co-registrant of such vehicle which is registered
with the Department of Motor Vehicles of the State of New York or
any other state, territory, district, province nation or other
jurisdiction; or
(4) uses such vehicle in its vehicle renting and/or leasing business; or
(5) is an owner of such vehicle as defined by Section one hundred
twenty-eight or subdivision (a) of Section twenty-one hundred one
of the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
F. For purposes of this Section, "traffic-control signal photo violationmonitoring
system" shall mean a device installed to work in conjunction
with a traffic-control signal which, during operation, automatically produces
two or more photographs, two or more microphotographs, a videotape or
other recorded images of each vehicle at the time it is used or operated in
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
8
LOCAL LAW (CONTINUED)
violation of subdivision (d) of Section eleven hundred eleven of the Vehicle
and Traffic Law.
G. A certificate, sworn to or affirmed by a technician employed by the
Traffic Engineer, or a facsimile thereof, based upon inspection of
photographs, microphotographs, videotape or other recorded images
produced by a traffic-control signal photo violation-monitoring system,
shall be prima facie evidence of the facts contained therein. Any
photographs, microphotographs, videotape or other recorded images
evidencing such a violation shall be available for inspection in any
proceeding to adjudicate the liability for such violation imposed pursuant to
this Section.
H. An owner liable for a violation of subdivision (d) of Section eleven
hundred eleven of the Vehicle and Traffic Law pursuant to this Section
shall be liable for monetary penalties in accordance with a schedule of
fines and penalties to be promulgated by such Bureau. The liability of the
owner pursuant to this Section shall not exceed fifty dollars for each
violation; provided however that such Bureau may provide for an
additional penalty not in excess of twenty-five dollars for each violation for
the failure to respond to a notice of liability within the prescribed time
period. Such Bureau shall adjudicate liability imposed by this Section.
I. An imposition of liability under this Section shall not be deemed a
conviction as an operator and shall not be made part of the operating
record of the person upon whom such liability is imposed nor shall it be
used for insurance purposes in the provision of motor vehicle insurance
coverage.
J. A notice of liability shall be sent by first class mail to each person
alleged to be liable as an owner for a violation of subdivision (d) of Section
eleven hundred eleven of the Vehicle and Traffic Law pursuant to this
Section. Personal service on the owner shall not be required. A manual or
automatic record of mailing prepared in the ordinary course of business
shall be prima facie evidence of the facts contained therein.
K. A notice of liability shall contain the name and address of the
person alleged to be liable as an owner for a violation of subdivision (d) of
Section eleven hundred eleven of the Vehicle and Traffic Law pursuant to
this Section, the registration number of the vehicle involved in such
violation, the location where such violation took place, the date and time of
such violation and the identification number of the camera which recorded
the violation or other document locator number.
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
9
LOCAL LAW (CONTINUED)
L. The notice of liability shall contain information advising the person
charged of the manner and the time in which he or she may contest the
liability alleged in the notice. Such notice of liability shall also contain a
warning to advise the persons charged that failure to contest in the
manner and time provided shall be deemed an admission of liability and
that a default judgment may be entered thereon.
M. The notice of liability shall be prepared and mailed by the Bureau or
its designee.
N. If an owner receives a notice of liability pursuant to this Section for
any time period during which the vehicle was reported to the Police
Department as having been stolen, it shall be a valid defense to an
allegation of liability for a violation of subdivision (d) of Section eleven
hundred eleven of the Vehicle and Traffic Law pursuant to this Section
that the vehicle had been reported to the Police as stolen prior to the time
the violation occurred and had not been recovered by such time. For
purposes of asserting the defense provided by this subdivision it shall be
sufficient that a certified copy of the police report on the stolen vehicle be
sent by first class mail, return receipt requested, to such Bureau.
O. The owner liable for a violation of subdivision (d) of Section eleven
hundred eleven of the Vehicle and Traffic Law pursuant to this Section
was not the operator of the vehicle at the time of the violation, the owner
may maintain an action for indemnification against the operator.
P. An appeal of an adjudication of liability pursuant to this Section may
be taken in accordance with this Article.
Q. An owner who is a lessor of a vehicle to which a notice of liability
was is sued pursuant to subdivision (h) of this Section shall not be liable
for the violation of subdivision (d) of Section eleven hundred eleven of the
Vehicle and Traffic Law provided that:
1. prior to the violation the lessor has filed with the Bureau and paid
the required filing fee in accordance with the provisions of Section two
hundred thirty-nine of the Vehicle and Traffic Law; and
2. within thirty-seven days after receiving notice from the Bureau of
the date and time of a liability, together with the other information
contained in the original notice of liability, the lessor submits to the Bureau
the correct name and address of the lessee of the vehicle identified in the
notice of liability at the time of such violation, together with such other
additional information contained in the rental lease or other contract
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
10
LOCAL LAW (CONTINUED)
document, as may be reasonably required by the Bureau pursuant to
regulations that may be promulgated for such purpose.
3. Failure to comply with subparagraph 2 or paragraph one of this
subdivision shall render the owner liable for the penalty prescribed in this
Section.
4. Where the lessor complies with the provisions of this subdivision,
the lessee of such vehicle on the date of such violation shall be deemed to
be the owner of such vehicle for purposes of this section, shall be subject
to liability for such violation pursuant to this section and shall be sent a
notice of liability pursuant to subdivision (h) of this Section.
R. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to limit the liability of an
operator of a vehicle for any violation of subdivision (d) of Section eleven
hundred eleven of the Vehicle and Traffic Law.
S. On or before October 1, 2009, and every four months thereafter, until
such time as the demonstration program authorized in subdivision (a)
hereof shall be fully operational, the Director of the Parking Violations
Bureau shall submit a written report to the City Council on the status of
said demonstration program. Such report shall include, but not be limited
to, the locations selected for inclusion in the demonstration program and
the cost to the city, both individually and collectively, of each location
included in such demonstration project.
T. The Director shall submit to the Governor, the temporary President of
the Senate, the Speaker of the Assembly and the City Council, an annual
report on the results of the use of a traffic-control signal photo violationmonitoring
system on or before July first, two thousand and ten, and on
the same date in each succeeding year, in which the demonstration
program is operable. Such report shall include, but not be limited to:
1. a description of the locations where traffic-control signal photo
violation-monitoring systems were used;
2. the aggregate number, type and severity of accidents reported at
intersections where a traffic-control signal photo violation-monitoring
system is used for the year preceding the installation of such system,
to the extent the information is maintained by the New York State
Department of Motor Vehicles;
3. the aggregate number, type and severity of accidents reported at
intersections where a traffic-control signal photo violation-monitoring
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
11
LOCAL LAW (CONTINUED)
system is used, to the extent the information is maintained by the New
York State Department of Motor Vehicles;
4. the number of violations recorded at each intersection where a
traffic-control signal photo violation-monitoring system is used and in
the aggregate on a daily, weekly and monthly basis;
5. the total number of notices of liability issued for violations recorded
by such systems;
6. the number of fines and total amount of fines paid after first notice of
liability issued for violations recorded by such systems;
7 the number of violations adjudicated and results of such adjudications
including breakdowns of dispositions made for violations recorded by
such systems;
8. the total amount of revenue realized by Yonkers from such
adjudications;
9. expenses incurred by Yonkers in connection with the program; and
10. quality of the adjudication process and its results.
U. It shall be a defense to any prosecution for a violation of subdivision (d)
of Section eleven hundred eleven of the Vehicle and Traffic Law pursuant
to this Section that such traffic-control indications were malfunctioning at
the time of the alleged violation.
V. This law will terminate, unless extended by the New York State
Legislature, on December 1, 2014. “
Section 2. This local law shall take effect immediately.
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
12
SPECIAL ORDINANCE
2. BY: COUNCIL PRESIDENT LESNICK, MAJORITY LEADER McDOW,
MINORITY LEADER MURTAGH, COUNCILMEMBERS TERRERO,
GRONOWSKI, SHEPHERD AND LARKIN;
A SPECIAL ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF YONKERS GRANT
BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009/2010.
The City of Yonkers hereby ordains and enacts:
Section 1: The City’s Grant Budget for fiscal year 2009/2010 is
hereby amended by increasing revenues and appropriations for the Police
Department for a grant from N.Y.S. Office of Alcoholism and Substance
Abuse, for purpose of Enforcement of Drinking Laws and active
community participation.
Increase Estimated Revenues
NYS DCJS 049-G16-3054-7518 $6,000
Increase Appropriation
Police – Overtime 049-G16-3054-0198 $6,000
Section 2: The unencumbered balance of such appropriation
equals or exceeds the estimated expenditures the City requires for such
purpose during the remainder of the budget year.
Section 3: This ordinance shall take effect immediately.
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
13
RESOLUTION
3. BY: COUNCIL PRESIDENT LESNICK, MAJORITY LEADER McDOW,
MINORITY LEADER MURTAGH, COUNCILMEMBERS TERRERO,
GRONOWSKI, SHEPHERD AND LARKIN;
WHEREAS, the New York State Office of Alcoholism and
Substance Abuse Services (NYS OASAS) has been awarded a Federal
Grant from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile
Justice and Delinquency (OJJDP) under the Enforcing Underage Drinking
Laws (EUDL) Block Grant; and
WHEREAS, NYS OASAS has entered into an agreement with
Student Assistance Services Corporation, a New York State not for profit
corporation, to increase the number of retail compliance checks and
improve the rate of alcohol establishments that comply with the laws
prohibiting alcohol sales to minors and to prevent and reduce access of
minors to alcohol; and
WHEREAS, the City of Yonkers has agreed to participate as a law
enforcement partner and to participate in the EUDL program, and Student
Assistance Services is empowered to provide said programming in the
City of Yonkers; and
WHEREAS, the Yonkers Police Department has been awarded a
$6,000 grant (2010 OASAS/EUDL Student Assistance Services Sub-
Grant T001162) to ensure that alcohol establishments comply with laws
prohibiting alcohol sale to minors and the City of Yonkers is not obligated
to provide matching funds for this sub-grant; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor of the City of Yonkers is hereby authorized
to execute such agreement with the aforementioned Student Assistance
Services, to provide for the payment of the $6000 grant to the Yonkers
Police Department ; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor of the City
of Yonkers, or his authorized representative, is hereby authorized to
execute the aforementioned Agreement with Student Assistance Services,
to provide a $6000 Grant to the City of Yonkers to assist in the
enforcement of laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors, with no
requirement for matching funds from the City; and be it further;
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
14
RESOLUTION (CONTINUED)
RESOLVED, that this resolution shall take effect immediately.
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
15
RESOLUTION
4. BY: COUNCIL PRESIDENT LESNICK, MAJORITY LEADER McDOW,
MINORITY LEADER MURTAGH, COUNCILMEMBERS TERRERO,
GRONOWSKI, SHEPHERD AND LARKIN;
WHEREAS, the need for universal prekindergarten is
essential for the development of students; and
WHEREAS, the Yonkers City School District has a fully
implemented Universal Prekindergarten Program in its schools
that has been regarded as a model for other districts and has
had a significant positive impact on improving student
performance in the District; and
WHEREAS, due to the current state-wide fiscal crisis, the
Yonkers Universal Prekindergarten Program is now cut in its
entirety in the proposed Fiscal Year 2010-2011 budget; and
WHEREAS, NYS Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins and
NYS Assemblyman Michael Spano have introduced, Senate Bill
S7190 and Assembly Bill A10435, an act to provide an
apportionment to the Yonkers city school district based upon
universal prekindergarten enrollment; and
WHEREAS, the effect of this bill would be to help the
funding formula to provide the maximum benefit to the local
community it was designed to help; and
WHEREAS, the proposed legislation states “effective
July 1, 2010, there shall be an apportionment made to the
Yonkers city school district, and such apportionment shall be for
an amount equivalent to the base year total of universal
prekindergarten pupils served, multiplied by the value calculated
by subtracting from the selected foundation aid per pupil, the
quotient calculated by dividing the base year universal
prekindergarten grant by the base year total of universal
prekindergarten pupils”; and
WHEREAS, the act provides additional aid of $4.8 million
to the District in support of its commitment to serving the needs
of its prekindergarten population; and
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
16
RESOLUTION (CONTINUED)
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City
Council of the City of Yonkers hereby declares that the
enactment of Senate Bill S. 7190 would be in the best interest of
the City and is essential to improving the City’s financial stability
and independence; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City Council of
Yonkers strongly urges the State Senate and Assembly to pass
this important legislation and for Governor Paterson to sign it
into law; and
ALSO RESOLVED, that the City Council requests the
City Clerk to forward a copy of this Resolution to the Legislature
of the State of New York and Governor Paterson requesting the
passage of the aforementioned bill.
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
17
RESOLUTION
5. BY: COUNCIL PRESIDENT LESNICK, MAJORITY LEADER McDOW,
MINORITY LEADER MURTAGH, COUNCILMEMBERS TERRERO,
GRONOWSKI, SHEPHERD AND LARKIN;
WHEREAS, the current educational funding formula does
not adequately provide for the significant increase in the student
enrollment in Yonkers Public Schools and the significant
demand for English as a Second Language; and
WHEREAS, NYS Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins and
Assemblyman Michael Spano introduced Senate Bill S4816 and
Assembly Bill A8167, an act to amend the education law, in
relation to supplemental educational improvement plan grants;
and
WHEREAS, the effect of this bill would be to increase
funding to the City of Yonkers by providing a maximum benefit
to the local community it was designed to help; and
WHEREAS, regional cost indexes were recently adopted
under the State's new Foundation Aid formula for public
education; and
WHEREAS, certain school districts, however, may also
receive supplemental educational improvement plan grants,
which are designed to provide additional State funds for the
continuation of programs and services; and
WHEREAS these funds should also be subject to the
regional cost differences accounted for in the new school aid
formula.
WHEREAS, this measure would provide to the Yonkers
city school district with seventeen million five hundred thousand
dollars ($17,500,000).
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City
Council of the City of Yonkers hereby declares that the
enactment of Senate Bill S4816 and Assembly Bill A8167
amending the education law is in the best interest of the City
and is essential to improving the City’s financial stability and
independence; and
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
18
RESOLUTION (CONTINUED)
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City Council of
Yonkers strongly urges the State Senate and Assembly to pass
this important legislation and for Governor Paterson to sign it
into law; and
ALSO RESOLVED, that the City Council requests the
City Clerk to forward a copy of this Resolution to the Legislature
of the State of New York and Governor Paterson requesting the
passage of the aforementioned bill.
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
19
RESOLUTION
6. BY: COUNCIL PRESIDENT LESNICK, MAJORITY LEADER McDOW,
MINORITY LEADER MURTAGH, COUNCILMEMBERS TERRERO,
GRONOWSKI, SHEPHERD AND LARKIN;
BE IT RESOLVED, that the following applicant(s) are hereby
appointed and/or reappointed to the office of Commissioner of Deeds for a
period of two years to expire on June 30, 2012.
Patrick McLaughlin
20 Wilbur Street
Yonkers, New York 10704
Retired NEW
Patrick McLaughlin
20 Wilbur Street
Yonkers, New York 10704 NEW
City of Yonkers
Steve Tvert
1 David Lane
Yonkers, New York 10701
Citi Bank NEW
Amy Abrusci
695 Yonkers Avenue
Yonkers, New York 10704
Child Care NEW
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
20
RESOLUTION (CONTINUED)
Bernadette McLaughlin
20 Wilbur Street
Yonkers, New York 10704
Retired NEW
Josephine Viviano
437 Palisade Avenue – E2
Yonkers, New York 10703
Clerk RENEWAL
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
21
RESOLUTION
7. BY: MAJORITY LEADER McDOW, COUNCIL PRESIDENT LESNICK,
MINORITY LEADER MURTAGH, COUNCILMEMBERS TERRERO,
GRONOWSKI, SHEPHERD AND LARKIN;
WHEREAS, the Young Women’s Christian Association of Yonkers,
located at 87 South Broadway in Yonkers will be holding its 18th “Celebrity
Chef’s” Benefit on Sunday, June 13, 2010 from 2:00pm until 6:00pm, and
has requested permission from the City Council to display (3) three
banners in specific area promoting this event from the week of May 17
until Monday, June 14, 2010, and
WHEREAS, the Young Women’s Christian Association of Yonkers
requested that they be permitted to place three banners in the following
locations:
1. On Central Park Avenue, at the intersection/overpass of Yonkers
Avenue (Empire City).
2. On Executive Boulevard at the intersection/overpass of North
Broadway (banner to face Executive Boulevard).
3. On Nepperhan Avenue; on the overpass by City Hall
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the
City of Yonkers hereby grants permission to the Yonkers Women’s
Christian Association of Yonkers to place three banners in the
aforementioned locations, subject to any terms and conditions deemed
appropriate by the Administration to protect the best interests of the City of
Yonkers.
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
22
RESOLUTION
8. BY: COUNCILMEMBER LARKIN, COUNCIL PRESIDENT LESNICK,
MAJORITY LEADER McDOW, MINORITY LEADER MURTAGH,
COUNCILMEMBERS TERRERO, GRONOWSKI AND SHEPHERD;
WHEREAS, the late BISHOP ERNEST HAIRSTON and his loving
wife Lucille resided in Yonkers on Runyon Avenue for over 40 years
where they raised their two children and grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, BISHOP ERNEST HAIRSTON graduated from Kimball
High School in the mid-west, attended Aenon Bible Institute in Aenon,
Ohio, received a BA from SUNY Purchase College and a Doctorate of
Theology at Manhattan Bible Institute; and
WHEREAS, BISHOP HAIRSTON served at the Strait Gate
Apostolic Church in Mamaroneck, NY under the leadership of the late
Bishop Powell, thereafter being called to serve the Runyon Heights
Community and the very fine people of The Kings Highway Apostolic
Church as Pastor at 36 Kenmore Street in Yonkers for 38 years; and
WHEREAS, for 38 years not only did BISHOP HAIRSTON provide
spiritual guidance for the Runyon Heights community his heart was filled
with love and compassion opening his home to a host of congregational
and neighborhood children along with orchestrating food drives for the
needy and toy drives for the underprivileged children of Yonkers; and
WHEREAS, BISHOP HAIRSTON assisted many churches
throughout our, City, State, and Nation in their infancy by donating chairs,
organs, pews, lights, transportation and so much more; and
WHEREAS, it is with great sadness that the City Council
recognizing the passing of BISHOP ERNEST HAIRSTON and know that
his accomplishments in the City of Yonkers will greatly be remembered.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the
City of Yonkers hereby directs the City Clerk to set a public hearing date
for the consideration of adding the honorary street naming of “BISHOP
ERNEST HAIRSTON WAY” on Kenmore Street, between Potomac and
Dunbar Streets; and
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
23
RESOLUTION (CONTINUED)
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council requests that
the Administration have the Traffic Engineering Department make and
affix signs at the appropriate street corners designating the honorary
naming; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall take effect
immediately.
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
24
RESOLUTION
9. BY: COUNCIL PRESIDENT LESNICK, MAJORITY LEADER McDOW,
MINORITY LEADER MURTAGH, COUNCILMEMBERS TERRERO,
GRONOWSKI, SHEPHERD AND LARKIN;
WHEREAS, Detective John Geiss of the Yonkers Police
Department Cold Case Unit has been a member of the Yonkers Police
Department since 1987, having transferred from the New York City Transit
Police Department, and Detective Geiss has worked in the First and
Fourth Precincts, and in 1995 was promoted to the rank of Detective and
assigned to the Major Case Unit, and continues to serve as the
department’s polygraphist and as a crisis negotiator; and
WHEREAS, on February 5, 1989, Maria Ramos, age 26 years, and
mother of one child, was found murdered at 78 Fernbrook Street, and on
March 28, 1991, Tawanda Hodges, age 27 years, and mother of three
children, was found murdered on Federal Street, and on May 24, 1996,
Kimberly Moore, age 30 years, and mother of two children, was found
murdered at the Tradewinds Motel on Yonkers Avenue, and in 2000,
Detective John Geiss was assigned to the Cold Case Unit and
investigated the aforementioned homicides; and
WHEREAS, Detective Geiss interviewed hundreds of people
related to the above murders, traveled inter-state, and worked tirelessly to
develop leads, evidence and information on the whereabouts of the killer
of the above young women, and Detective Geiss recently learned of a new
submission of DNA to the CODIS database that matched DNA left at the
crime scenes of the above-mentioned murders and subsequently was able
to identify the murderer of the three women; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the City Council of
Yonkers recognizes the dedication and extraordinary efforts of Detective
John Geiss and the Yonkers Police Department Cold Case Unit that has
brought a serial killer to justice and resulted in grand jury indictments for
the murders of Maria Ramos, Tawanda Hodges and Kimberly Moore.
AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YONKERS
STATED MEETING
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2010
25
COMMITTEE REPORTS
