(PICTURE: Rye City Hall by local artist Heather Patterson)

The city council’s agenda for its meeting on Monday, August 17, 2020 is out. This meeting was originally scheduled for Wednesday, August 5th but was postponed due to tropical storm Isaias.

It’s not on the agenda but expect Mayor Josh Cohn to speak about the burning of a Pride lawn flag in Rye over the weekend.

The council will hold the council meeting virtually at 7:00pm. The Council will convene via ZOOM CONFERENCE at 5:15 p.m. and it is expected to discuss attorney-client privileged matters, personnel matters and legal matters.

PURSUANT TO GOVERNOR CUOMO’S EXECUTIVE ORDER No. 202.1, REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED AND PUBLIC BODIES MAY MEET WITHOUT ALLOWING THE PUBLIC TO BE PHYSICALLY PRESENT. FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL, CITY HALL WILL REMAIN CLOSED. THE MEETING WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM VIDEO-CONFERENCING WITH NO IN-PERSON LOCATION AND WILL BE BROADCAST ON THE CITY WEBSITE. A FULL TRANSCRIPT OF THE MEETING WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE AT A FUTURE DATE.

RESIDENTS MAY EMAIL COMMENTS REGARDING THE PUBLIC HEARING TO: [email protected]. ALL COMMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 3:00 PM ON AUGUST 17, 2020. THE SUBJECT OF THE EMAIL NEEDS TO READ “Metered Parking” PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.

TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PUBLIC HEARING OR OTHER AGENDA ITEMS, PLEASE ATTEND THE MEETING VIA ZOOM USING THIS LINK:

Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://zoom.us/j/92785111832?pwd=cE9mbTVGVWFsQi8wWml1M0lCSTQxUT09 Password: 815298

Or phone: (646) 558-8656 or (301) 715-8592 or (312) 626-6799

Press *9 to raise your hand to speak

Webinar ID: 927 8511 1832

Password: 815298

The meeting will also be aired on Cablevision Channel 75 and Verizon Channel 39. We’ll also see you on the Internet (live and archive).

Formal office hours of the Mayor and other officials have been suspended.

Let’s check the batting order and highlights from the 18 agenda items.

• Two Stomach Punches. Isaias Storm Recovery and Coronavirus Update.
• Hungry for More? Discussion to determine if “Purchase Plaza” street closures will extend beyond the previously set date (originally August 9, 2020).
• Just Fined. Continue the public hearing to amend chapter § 191-38 “Parking in Metered Zones” to extend all metered parking zones until 9:00 PM Monday – Saturday.
• Better Than 2020. Presentation on 2019 City financials by the auditing firm of BST & Co, LLP.
• Afloat? Update on disposition of donated boat.
• Not Pretty. Presentation by City Deputy Comptroller of the City’s current financial position.
• Also Probably Not Pretty. Presentation regarding the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for 2021.
• Remote Learning Fee. Adoption of the 2020/2021 tax levy and tax rate for the Rye Neck Union Free School District. Roll Call.
• Watery Data. Authorize the Interim City Manager to sign an agreement with Suez Water Westchester, already approved by the Public Service Commission, to provide water usage data by property.
• Open Mic. Residents may be heard on items that do not appear on the agenda. (Please ‘raise your hand’ via Zoom to indicate that you wish to speak or press *9 if you are dialing in via phone and limit your remarks to no more than 3 minutes.)
• eBay. Authorization for the City Manager to sell at auction surplus equipment as listed by the Boat Basin.
• Book It! Consideration of a request from the Rye Free Reading Room to use the Village Green on Sunday, September 20 from 12 pm to 5 pm to host the Rye Free Reading Room Book Sale, a fundraiser for the Rye Free Reading Room.
• Book It! Consideration of a request from The Rye Free Reading Room to use of the Village Green to offer Wiggle Giggle with Dawny Dew, a popular children’s program (usually held indoors) on September 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30, and October, 7 and 14. The program begins at 9:30, and repeats at 10:15 and 11 am. Each of the three sessions runs for 20 minutes.
• Patronage. Appointments to Boards and Commissions by the Mayor with Council approval.

The next regular meeting of the City Council will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at 5:30 p.m.

Wash your hands!