How Town Government Works: Village of Pelham Manor

PELHAM MANOR, N.Y. – The village of Pelham Manor holds public board meetings on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. The government does its best to make sure village residents know exactly what will be discussed at those meetings.

Deputy clerk Mary Alice Barnett said that the village posts the agendas on the Friday before each meeting on its website and also prints them out for the public at the actual meetings. The village also posts the agenda in seven public places around Pelham Manor, including downstairs at the village hall, on Boston Post Road, and at the corner of Wolfs Lane and Esplanade.

Barnett said the agendas are written so that the public can understand them.

"I think they're pretty clear," Barnett said. "With budget, it will say 'to adopt proposed budget.' I don't think there's anything being hidden there."

Village manager John Pierpont said that the village publishes agendas for the Board of Appeals meetings ten days in advance in the official town paper. Pierpont said the village holds publication of the Board of Trustees meeting agendas until the Friday before the meetings to allow the public the chance to get items on the agenda.

"We try to be as responsive as we can, and so we publish that agenda at the last possible moment," Pierpont said. "We try to be nimble and responsive."

Barnett said residents can call the village hall to find out how to get an item on the agenda such as a block party.

Pierpont said that the government records every action of the board and publishes the minutes for each meeting on its website.

Do you know how your town government works? Are agendas and meeting times clear to you? Comment below, on Facebook or Twitter @DailyPelham.

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