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Police Officer Appointments Announced and Possible Moratorium on Solar Energy Systems Referred to Planning Board

By Stephen E. Lipken 

At the Town Board meeting on July 18, Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Richard Dionisio announced the probational promotion of Police Officer Justin Caraballosa to the rank of sergeant and the probational appointments of Officers John A. Fiumefreddo, Zachary J. Lucien, and Matthew A. Mulvihill. 

M.S.G. Events, LLC’s request to hold the Fourth Annual Italian Heritage Festival in West Harrison on October 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and the Board approved a Special Events Permit for the thirty-first Annual  American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Cancer Walk on October 20 at Manhattanville College between 9:00 a.m. and noon were approved.

 Regarding authorization to adopt a Domestic Partnership Policy for Town/Village employees and elected officials, Village Attorney Jonathan D. Kraut stated that regarding retirement benefits, union members who have domestic partners should be treated the same as those who are married.

The final item on the Town Board Agenda concerned a Public Hearing regarding a moratorium on Solar Energy Systems. Kraut explained that the proposal was not in opposition to solar energy but to ask the Planning Board to review a contemplated moratorium, a temporary pause regarding Tier 3, commercial-sized solar energy; it does not affect Tier 1 and Tier 2,  aesthetics have been raised about Tier 3 solar projects. Deforestation needs to be considered as well as battery storage facilities, which could be considered a fire hazard.

 Purchase resident Stephen Cohen noted that his home was one of four affected homes behind the proposed solar project and would have been the fifth largest solar project in Westchester  County.

 “In light of the residents regarding Tier 3 and battery storage systems, I would like to refer both of these items to the Planning Board for review, comment, recommendations, and a possible moratorium,” Dionisio concluded.