BY: Keith S. Shikowitz, Editor in Chief/Investigative Reporter
West Haverstraw mayor Robert D’Amelio began the meeting with the usual platitudes, the Pledge of Allegiance, asking if anyone was recording the meeting by audio or video, asking for phones to be turned to vibrate and the roll call. All were present except for Village clerk Fred Miller and Confidential Assistant Katie.
He asked for the board to adopt the minutes from the November 5, 2025, regular board meeting. He followed up with the treasurer’s report which put the Village accounts at $11,169,0001.81.
Deputy Village Clerk Laura Bidewy-Zitofsky relayed thecommunications the village had received since the last meeting.
“The mayor’s office received an email from the Rockland Special Olympics thanking the Village for the use of the community center for their tricky tray fundraiser held on November 8th.”
“The Town of Clarkstown sent a notice of public hearing for the local law amending chapter 290 Zoning of the Town Code for electric vehicle charging stations.”
“The Town of Clarkstown sends a notice of public hearing for local law amending chapter 290 of the Town Code and the zoning map to establish new zoning districts in the hamlet centers of Congress, Valley Cottage, and West Nyack.”
“The County of Rockland Department of Planning sent a general municipal law review in connection with the Town of Stony Point amendment to their Zoning Code to regulate the construction of manor and oversized single-family and two-family residences.”
The final communication came from the Town of Stony Point which sent a copy of the proposed local law amending Chapter 215 to regulate oversize and manor residents.
D’Amelio then moved on to new business. “Number one scheduled public hearing from 2026 Community Development Block grant, February 4th, 2026.
On the question, Trustee Bob LaGrow responded, “Mayor, this is something we have to do. It’s very important we do this every year in order for us to secure the necessary funds to do improvements within the village.”
Items 2 – 4 dealt with grants and acquiring land near Helen Hayes Hospital.
“All right, number 5, right? Approved budget transfers. These are budget transfer for state grants and annual audit recommendations on changes.”
Once the budget transfers were completed, it came time to pay the bills. “Number 6, payment of voucher claims $908,151.49.
All right, now we do Firematics. Accept the minutes of the West Haverstraw Fire Department board meeting on November 6, 2025. We’ve all had a chance to review them. As we have, can I ask the commissioner of the fire department to make the motion.
After D’Amelio had a little trouble pronouncing his name, new member David Orellana was approved for membership at SW Johnson Fire Department. “Nice recruitment.”
With the regular business completed, it came time for public participation. “Now is the time if anybody wants to bring anything to the village board’s attention, the village business, please do so. Please state your primary address and your name. Let the record show that no public comment was offered.” D’Amelio stated.
He then went on to explain the Village Projects being undertaken. We’re winding down. We’re doing winter prep. We’re getting cold days already, guys. What’s going on out here, huh? Looking at the DPW workers, Keith, you promised me no snow this year.”
Keith responded, “There’s nothing yet, so, okay.”
He continued, “Winding down, right, guys wrapping up Trimble Street, with nice project there wrapped up the other streets and what do you got?”, pointing to Anthony, another DPW worker.
“We’ve got Cosgrove wrapped up, center and north and Demarest. We got Trimble we’re paving tomorrow that’ll be wrapped up too by next week all done you also got speed humps coming up. That’ll be wrapped up tomorrow too.”
D’Amelio noted, “Oh, there you go, the village of speed humps.” What about anything else?
Anthony explained that they were putting snowflakes and banners and stuff like that, pole banners with the holidays coming. D’Amelio complimented them on the job they were doing.”
There are two things that separate small town communities from big cities, first is that everyone pretty much knows everyone else. You can’t go anywhere without bumping into someone from whatever group you belong to at the mall or even in the middle of Main Street. Second, when people find out that someone needs help, no one has to ask for it. It shows up automatically.
D’Amelio made this point.
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Butch Babcock had an announcement to make along this line. “Just to let you know the SW Johnson Fire Company will be cooking 15 turkeys for the Quisqueya Club, that’ll be brought down on Thanksgiving morning, and, along with, Cathy Stobo from Holt’s Funeral Home we donated 15 carrot cakes to go with them. We’ll be delivering all that, Thanksgiving morning.”
The next to last item D’Amelio covered was announcements.
“I have a couple here. From now until Tuesday, November 25th, the Village of West Haverstraw will host a, a food drive, here we go for the local Feeding Body and Soul pantry located off of Wayne Avenue. A drop-off box is located in the hall, Village Hall. Requested items include rice, stuffing, canned vegetables and non-perishable food items.”
All right, on Monday, December 1st, from 1:30 to 7:30, the Village will host, a blood drive at the community center right here. The drive will honor Patty Genniro, all right, she was the founder of Feeding Body and Soul in 2015. Everybody knows that’s a phenomenal woman, and she’s there with two other ladies, and they just get it done, big work.”
His final item every meeting is This Moment in History. I’ve got a couple here, 1493, Puerto Rico was discovered by Columbus during his second voyage to the New World, alright.
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address.
In 1939, construction of the first presidential library began.
In 1990, the Cold War came to an end during a summit in Paris as leaders of NATO and the Warsaw Pact signed a treaty.
The House of Representatives in 1998 began an impeachment inquiry about President Bill Clinton.
I’ve got some here from our village historian, Mr. Babcock.
In 1969, Pele scores his 1,000th goal.
In 1975, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was released.
In 1977, Anwar Sadat visits Israel.
In 1990, this is a good one. Milli Vanilli was stripped of their Grammies because they were lip syncing, right?
2002, the Department of Homeland Security is formed with 170,000 employees.
In 2017, Charles Manson dies in prison.
He thanked Babcock and anyone else who participated. Check for any new business form the board, adjourned the meeting and wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
The next meeting is December 1, 2025, at 7:00 pm at Village Hall.