January 22, 2019 Mayor's Column
The following is a year end compilation of the most asked questions to Village staffers as well as issues that have generated the most inquires/confusion.
This is also an opportunity to say thank you to every Village employee. We truly have the finest, kindest, most professional group of people dedicated to our Village. It is an honor – and a joy – to interact with them every day. It makes my job truly a pleasure.
Police – Safety – Parking
Our Parking Enforcement Officers, per New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, cannot stop drivers who cross double yellow lines to park. Only a trained police officer can make the stop. As reasoning, consider the scenario – driver is stopped, car is stolen, unregistered or driver dangerous, only a trained police officer is equipped at this juncture to handle the aftermath. In addition, any yellow line violation must be witnessed by a police officer. A video taken and delivered to the PD does not constitute legal grounds for a ticket.
In the past, we have used overtime funds, especially near the holidays, to monitor this violation. However, in 2018, our police department dealt with an unprecedented number of highly unusual incidents including a pervasive mail fraud scheme, store holdup and personal crimes which depleted our funds at an unprecedented rate.
Our Parking Enforcement Officers have defined routes. They cannot stand and wait, cross the street or issue a ticket in another Parking Enforcement Officers (PEO’s) zone. Routes can be tracked and errors in enforcement can be found.
Six national holidays trigger free parking in the Village: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Meters are strictly a tool to ensure parking turnover for our merchants. Without meters, someone could park in front of their stores, walk two blocks and spend the day in New York City. Meter operation is related to store openings and has no relation to the esteem the Village holds for any holiday honoree.
The old adage, “oh it’s the end of the month, so the PD must be under pressure to write more tickets” is just not true. Our Village Police Department has no quotas. In truth, if one is stopped for a NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law Violation, i.e., speeding, the Village receives a flat $15 regardless of the face value of the ticket. Given the time expenditure of the police officer, court clerk and Judge adjudicating the ticket, it is very much a money losing transaction. Tickets are issued for safety concerns only.
Note: Cameras authorized to record speeding are not authorized in New York State. Only a few cities have received a waiver including our neighbor Yonkers.
Crosswalks, to meet requirements, must be from a corner to a corner unless a nearby construction project creates temporary exigent circumstances.
Our police department has measured and re-measured Village streets and has not yet found a continuous stretch of road that meets width, visibility for turning and safety standards. Simply painting a bike lane symbol is not the answer as is evidenced by the configuration on nearby Palmer Road.
If you witness a friend or neighbor in any kind of need, do not hesitate to call our Police Department desk at 914-337-0500. If you wish to remain anonymous, it will be totally respected. The goal - whether a teen or senior – is to get immediate help for one’s friend.
If you do not have a garage or driveway as a part of your property title or plan to move to a Village property that does not have parking, you may put your name on the parking waiting list either in person or online under the header Bronxville Reserved Space Sign-up. (one space per household)
Note: The space previously occupied by the former renter or owner of your new home does not run with the property.
Administrative Functions
There is a great deal of confusion generated by the Bronxville address – Village vs postal code.
If someone pays their taxes to the Village, the State allows us to issue handicap parking permits, offer spaces in the Village owned parking lots and give a discount for the use of recreational facilities. Services such as these are offered in every community in which you write your property tax check.
The Village can issue birth certificates for babies born within the Village boundaries. The first two documents are free and then $10 each thereafter. If born within New York State, one can order a birth certificate online for $30. (a cost closer to the true cost of processing these documents)
Vital Statistics such as the above are not “foilable” under the New York State Freedom of Information Law.
New York State also regulates all penalties and time periods for tax payments. We have no discretion whatsoever at the local level to revise penalties or extend payment periods.
In the same vein, new residents to the Village who qualify for the STAR tax exemption must now apply directly to the State and not the Village.
One hundred percent of any credit card fees associated with an administrative transaction at the Village are passed through to the credit card company.
Sadly, the Village has no control over much of the area surrounding the rail station as it is Metro North’s property. Our offers to even do repairs by Village employers/contractors have been rebuffed due to union and liability issues.
The Scout Field area, both upper and lower fields, are almost entirely in the cities of Mt. Vernon and Yonkers and under the umbrella auspices of the County of Westchester. (a very narrow land strip abutting Alden Place is Village property). As a consequence, our police department has no jurisdiction over the property or activity in these other jurisdictions.