Council splits on Recommended sale of 106 South Twelfth Avenue to Balan Nishi for $38,050, 1–1

Recommended sale of 3 Courtland Street to Metal Man Restoration for $420,000

2 yes, 0 no

Derrick Thompson (yes), Comptroller Morton (yes)

Recommended sale of 234 East Fifth Street to ShowDap Housing LLC for $445,000

2 yes, 0 no

Comptroller Morton (yes), Derrick Thompson (yes)

Recommended sale of 106 South Twelfth Avenue to Balan Nishi for $38,050

1 yes, 1 no

Derrick Thompson (yes), Comptroller Morton (no)

Approval of September 25, 2026 Meeting Minutes

0 yes, 0 no

141 West Third Street bid held until next meeting

0 yes, 0 no

Adjournment

0 yes, 0 no

CGI Communications renewal — Hello Nation Community Video Magazine

3 yes, 0 no

DPW budget line transfers

3 yes, 0 no

Youth Bureau coaching contract — $25,000

3 yes, 0 no

New Ford Police Interceptor — $74,055.90

3 yes, 0 no

Tax refunds — 25 Monroe Street

3 yes, 0 no

Franklin Avenue lease with Westchester County

3 yes, 0 no

Set public hearing date for 2027 budget — Nov. 16

3 yes, 0 no

Glock armorer school training — $300

3 yes, 0 no

Vincent Tomey as labor and employment counsel

3 yes, 0 no

Settlement — Artie Green v. City of Mount Vernon

3 yes, 0 no

Tax settlements, items 11–18 — $313,186 total

3 yes, 0 no

Tax refunds for 25 Monroe Street

4 yes, 0 no

Cynthia Turnquest-Jones (yes), Jaevon Boxhill (yes), Cathlin B. Gleason (yes), Derrick Thompson (yes)

Motion to enter executive session

4 yes, 0 no

Cathlin B. Gleason (yes), Jaevon Boxhill (yes), Derrick Thompson (yes), Cynthia Turnquest-Jones (yes)

Purchase of Ford Police Interceptor

4 yes, 0 no

Derrick Thompson (yes), Cynthia Turnquest-Jones (yes), Cathlin B. Gleason (yes), Jaevon Boxhill (yes)

Senior Policy Advisor attendance at Baltimore summit

4 yes, 0 no

Derrick Thompson (yes), Cynthia Turnquest-Jones (yes), Cathlin B. Gleason (yes), Jaevon Boxhill (yes)

Youth Bureau life coaching contract with OCB

4 yes, 0 no

Cynthia Turnquest-Jones (yes), Derrick Thompson (yes), Jaevon Boxhill (yes), Cathlin B. Gleason (yes)

Lease of 230 and 240 Franklin Avenue to Westchester County

4 yes, 0 no

Cynthia Turnquest-Jones (yes), Derrick Thompson (yes), Jaevon Boxhill (yes), Cathlin B. Gleason (yes)

Public Works budget line-item transfers

4 yes, 0 no

Jaevon Boxhill (yes), Cathlin B. Gleason (yes), Cynthia Turnquest-Jones (yes), Derrick Thompson (yes)

Rescission of Local Law No. 12 of 2026 (double parking penalties)

4 yes, 0 no

Cynthia Turnquest-Jones (yes), Derrick Thompson (yes), Jaevon Boxhill (yes), Cathlin B. Gleason (yes)

CGI Digital HelloNation video program renewal

4 yes, 0 no

Jaevon Boxhill (yes), Derrick Thompson (yes), Cathlin B. Gleason (yes), Cynthia Turnquest-Jones (yes)

365 South Union (buildability inquiry)

365 South Union, Mount Vernon, NY

A resident said a bid was submitted in March and never answered; the committee will research the file and check with Buildings whether the lot is buildable.

Discussed — no decision yet

Sale of 3 Courtland Street

3 Courtland Street, Mount Vernon, NY

A new $420,000 bid, below the $450,000 winning auction bid that fell through, was unanimously recommended to the City Council.

approved (3-0) · still approved

Sale of 234 East Fifth Street

234 East Fifth Street, Mount Vernon, NY

Two private bids came in ($445,000 and $435,000); the committee recommended the higher one to the City Council.

approved (3-0) · still approved

Sale of 106 South Twelfth Avenue

106 South Twelfth Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY

An all-cash offer of $38,050 for the house and combined lots (auction start price $470,000) was recommended, over one dissent that it was too low.

approved (2-1) · still approved

Sale of 141 West Third Street

141 West Third Street, Mount Vernon, NY

The $115,000 bid was held until next month while the bidder pursues a companion offer on 204 South Fifth Avenue.

tabled · still tabled

Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon Clubhouse

50 East First Street

Redevelopment of the property with a new two-story clubhouse building for the Boys & Girls Club.

still pending

Mount Vernon Caring Pharmacy Awning

65 South Fourth Avenue

Certificate of appropriateness for a previously installed commercial awning sign.

still pending

Joint Venture Cannabis Dispensary

10 East Prospect Avenue

Removal of an existing wall sign and installation of a new illuminated wall sign for a cannabis dispensary.

still pending

Target Façade and Signage Improvements

550 East Sandford Boulevard

Exterior facade and signage improvements at the existing Target department store.

still pending

Holy Burger Wall Sign

520 Gramatan Avenue

Replacement of an existing wall sign with an aluminum and orange acrylic LED-lit sign for Holy Burger.

still pending

Boys & Girls Club Downtown Redevelopment

The Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon is planning a brand new two-story clubhouse at 50 East First Street. The project requires architectural review and has already secured a variance for ground-floor transparency from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

What it means: Local youth and families who utilize Boys & Girls Club programs.

Commercial Signage and Awning Standards

Several local businesses, including a new cannabis dispensary, Holy Burger, Target, and a pharmacy, are seeking design approvals for new wall signs, awnings, and exterior building improvements.

What it means: Business owners and customers visiting commercial corridors.

Summer Youth Employment Program Funding

The city will spend up to $25,000 with Organizational Capacity Building for youth life coaching supporting the YEP and WDAY programs through June 30, 2027.

What it means: Up to $25,000 from the city through June 30, 2027.

Lease of Franklin Avenue properties to Westchester County

The council approved leasing city-owned property at 230 and 240 Franklin Avenue to Westchester County.

What it means: The city and the county, through continued use of the Franklin Avenue properties.

School Bus Stop-Arm Cameras and Public Surveillance

The police department wants automated red-light enforcement with license plate readers at a congested, crash-prone intersection where five pedestrians were injured in 2026 and traditional traffic stops are nearly impossible. Members questioned the "emergency" wording, electrical supply, and a named individual as contract signatory, and no vote was taken.

What it means: Pedestrians and drivers using the busy Broad Street/Fleetwood Avenue corridor near Exit 7 of the parkway.

Alleged AKRF conflict of interest and code enforcement ticket validity

A resident alleged the council's AKRF consulting contract for the comprehensive plan conflicts with AKRF's work for a developer at 20 McQueston Parkway, and claimed tickets written by a code enforcement court coordinator may be invalid — potentially $1.6 million in fines. Members asked him to submit documentation.

What it means: If the claim holds, the city could owe refunds on roughly $1.6 million in collected code enforcement fines.

DPW Code Updates on Fines and Penalties

The council repealed Local Law No. 12 of 2026, which had set penalties for double parking. A companion ordinance adding enhanced penalties for heavy commercial vehicles was called but not voted on.

What it means: Drivers who risked double-parking fines under the 2026 law; commercial vehicles near the new enhanced-penalty rules remain in limbo.

$6.3 million state award to reopen Firehouse Four

The Governor awarded the city $6.3 million to renovate and reopen Firehouse Four on Oak Street, closed since 2021 because of crumbling conditions. It's the oldest firehouse in the city and covers the area with the largest service footprint and most fire deaths.

What it means: $6.3 million in state funding for renovation — no cost to city taxpayers.

School Zone Speed Camera Discrepancies and Refunds

School zone speed cameras came online in September and are expected to bring in $575,000, plus $175,000 from red light cameras. The Mayor stressed the goal is safety, not revenue — but the cameras are helping fund the budget.

What it means: $575,000 in speed camera revenue and $175,000 in red light camera revenue are budgeted for 2027.

Property revaluation and tax certiorari costs

Mount Vernon hasn't done a citywide property revaluation since the 1960s. Homes sell for $800K-$1M while assessments stay outdated, and the city loses over $1.5 million a year fighting certiorari challenges — including $313,186 approved at this one meeting, mostly to LLCs.

What it means: Certiorari refunds cost the city over $1.5 million annually; $313,186 was approved at this meeting alone.

2027-2030 Budget Adoption

The city set a Nov. 16 public hearing on its 2027 budget: a 1.98% tax increase driven mostly by $5 million in union contract costs and rising medical insurance. $10 million in new state aid is keeping the increase under the tax cap, plus new spending on sanitation crews, dispatchers, FOIL staff, and an environmental planner.

What it means: A 1.98% property tax increase, with about $5 million in new union-contract spending offset by $10 million in state aid.

Tax foreclosure surplus and new state law

The chair explained a recent legal change: when a foreclosed property sells for more than the owed taxes and costs, the surplus must go back to the former owner.

What it means: Former homeowners with built-up equity in foreclosed homes.

Tax Delinquency and In-Rem Foreclosure Process

The chair explained a recent legal change: when a foreclosed property sells for more than the owed taxes and costs, the surplus must go back to the former owner.

What it means: Former homeowners with built-up equity in foreclosed homes.

Disposal of City-Owned Properties and Unsold Auction Inventory

The city is finally moving properties that have sat in its inventory for 10 to 30 years back into private hands. Sales put them back on the tax roll, but some bids came in below the city's upset prices.

What it means: About $903,000 in proposed sale proceeds across three properties, plus future property tax revenue once they're back on the roll.