July 10, 2023, Mayor's Column
I have been writing of late about issues beyond the Village borders, so I thought it was time to look inward and focus on Village government, especially in light of the fact that in July and August our capital projects accelerate as we try to complete initiatives by Labor Day to minimize disruption for returning vacationers and our school students.
But first, some really good news on the revenue side.
On the financial front, our building permits are up an unprecedented $600,000 thanks to the incredible volume of home-improvement projects as well as a major capital project undertaken by New York Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital. As a result, we are in the process of hiring an assistant building inspector so the timeframe between application, submission and approval can be accelerated.
Our interest earnings are up 125%…good for the Village but that cuts both ways as our new homeowners are dealing with high mortgage rates.
What is most gratifying to me is that sales tax revenues are up $300,000, which is a great indicator that the Covid effect on our small businesses seems to be receding and most importantly, Villagers are taking to heart the need to shop local as this revenue goes directly towards lowering property taxes.
Probably the biggest frustration for the Trustees and me is our interaction with Metro-North. Again, the news is positive as after a meeting last week, we seem to have gotten to the front of the queue for needed capital repairs. The concrete and steel repairs and surrounding painting are scheduled to start in September. It is a project of great magnitude, costing over $400,000, but we have been assured most of the work will be done on weekends.
As you can clearly discern, the condition of the underpass is completely unacceptable but we can neither use Village resources, nor enlist community groups to help us beautify the area without getting the structural issues addressed and remove the rust and rusty water that permeates the walls and contributes to a very unattractive aesthetic.
It is the season of capital projects and I am we’re happy to report that the traffic signal at Midland and Gramatan Avenues is completely operational and we just need to add another lighting fixture on the school corner of Midland Ave and Pondfield Rd and remove an old electrical box to finish that intersection. We are so hoping that more of our students will find it much more pedestrian friendly while walking to the Bronxville School.
Sagamore Park
Our pocket park is currently closed and will open again in late July when the installation of the new playground equipment is complete. We are also taking this opportunity for extensive tree pruning and landscaping.
Maltby Play Park
Thanks to a model public/private partnership spearheaded by Village resident Ashley Sharpe, construction of our new recreational area is underway and will include pavers, benches, fencing and plantings in addition to the installation of playground equipment. The park will provide a needed passive recreational destination for Villagers.
Library Patio
Slated for completion in the spring, the members of the Library Board of Trustees, the Friends of the Bronxville Library and Village government are collaborating to create a beautiful outdoor reading/resting place on the Library Lane side of the building. Plans are available for viewing in the library, and I urge you to view the exquisite architectural details and landscaping that are incorporated into this oasis of calm. Construction may start as early as this fall/winter.
Given the increased propensity for major summer rainstorms, we continue our program of addressing designated areas in the Village that have experienced poor drainage.
I encourage you to read the New York Times article of June 26, 2023, which puts the problem in a national context, entitled, “Intensifying Rains Pose Hidden Flood Risks Across The United States.” The first line seems to say it all. “As climate change intensifies severe rain storms, the infrastructure protecting millions of Americans from flooding faces growing risk of failures, according to new calculations of expected precipitation in every county and locality across the contiguous United States.”
To that end, we are currently focusing on what we call the Crawford Drainage Basin, which is in the area of Alder, Archer, Crawford and Dusenberry Roads. We are working with the Eastchester Town Planner and our political and administrative peers to discuss mitigation plans. A surveyor has already been retained to capture typographical data needed before a design can be finalized.
On the same subject, we are working on the Hamilton/Sussex drainage basin with a survey of the area already underway. The Department of Public Works has already found and exposed eight manholes in our right away, but off our roadway, which are currently being accessed as part of this project. Given the damage inflicted on so many Village homes, flooding is rightfully our highest priority.
To add to your summer enjoyment our diligent DPW staff has been sprucing up our common areas; power washing sidewalks and benches, pruning trees and polishing commemorative plaques. So get a good book at Womrath’s and enjoy the bucolic space.