Board Passes Resolutions on Mandate Relief, Historic Preservation and Tax Assessment

The Scarsdale Board of Trustees did not permit the impending snow storm to stop them from passing some historic resolutions at their meeting on January 11, 2011.

With the election of a new Mayor looming on March 15, this Board appears to be determined to see through some of the initiatives they started earlier in the term. In one swift meeting they were able to hold “public hearings” on proposed changes to Village code and vote to enact these changes.

Among the items on the agenda were:

Changes to the local law on Dogs and Animals: this law had been revised in the fall and problems were found with the new language. The Board moved to amend the wording to permit dogs to defecate on sidewalks, walkways or driveways, provided that the pet’s owner or custodian remove the feces. The Board unanimously approved this new language.

Amendment of Off-Street Parking Requirements for Village Restaurants: The Board approved language to reduce the amount of parking required for Village center restaurants. The code previously required one space for each 75 square feet of leasable space but halved the requirement to one space for each 150 square feet of leasable space. It is hoped that more restaurants will find it feasible to open downtown.

Cynthia Roberts spoke on behalf the Old Scarsdale Neighborhood Association and raised a concern about traffic leaving the village via Woodland Place and Autenrieth Road. She requested that the Village work with neighborhood residents to examine traffic circulation in their area and the Mayor asked Roberts to set up a meeting with Assistant Village Manager Steve Pappalardo to examine traffic mitigation.

Resolution to Call for Mandate Relief from State and Local Leaders: In light of the threat of the imposition of a 2 % tax cap, the Trustees passed a resolution to ask state leaders for relief from pension and health insurance costs and changes to collective bargaining agreements controlled by the state. Without the repeal of costly state mandates, Trustees contend that a property tax cap could lead to “drastic cuts in essential local services and dramatic layoffs of municipal employees.”

Moving one step closer to a Village-wide tax reassessment, the Board approved a resolution instructing the Village staff to prepare an RFP to “locate and retain a professional and expert firm to conduct a revaluation of property in Scarsdale, recognizing that the dynamics of reassessment are being discussed in Mamaroneck, Greenburgh and by Westchester County”

In regards to historic preservation, the Trustees approved new language on the criteria to be applied to buildings, structures and sites to determine whether they can be deemed as a “Significant Site or Structure.” In addition to defining the criteria, the Trustees asked the Village staff to draft an RFP to hire a consultant to do a site and structure survey of the Village.

The criteria to be applied to Buildings, Structures and Sites for inclusion in the Significant Sites and Structures Survey are as follows:

1. Existence of special character, historic, aesthetic interest or value as part of the cultural, political, economic or social history of the Village, region, state or nation;

2. Identification with personages or events of historic significance to the Village, region, state or nation;

3. An example of a significant architectural style, period, or method of construction

4. The work product of a designer whose work has significantly influenced an age

5. Listed on the national Register of Historic Places or N.Y.S. Register of Historic Places or Westchester County Inventory of Historic Places

Additional language concerning interiors of public buildings and designation of historic districts was also included in the approved resolution. Trustee Irwin reassured the public that this resolution only approves a survey or an inventory of places. It does not outline what will be done with the information following the compilation of the list of historic sites and structures.

Kids’ Base: the Board of Trustees approved a building addition and reallocation of space to create a library, resource center and nurse’s station at Kids’ Base. The proposed plan is to add 750 square feet of space. These changes also require approval from the Village Planning Board and Board of Architectural Review.

Patisserie Salzburg to Open at Christie Place: The Board approved a Special Use Permit to allow Patisserie Salzburg to utilize 2,543 square feet of retail space at Christie Place. The Patisserie also has a branch in Rye.

In other business, the Board approved the following:

• The Board adopted an “internal control policy for 2011” in regard to procurement policies and approved an Investment Policy for 2011.
• The Village Election will be held on Tuesday March 15 at Village Hall from 6 am to 9 am and from 12 noon to 9 pm
• The Board extended the term of Captain Gerard McIlvain of the Village Fire Department for one year beyond the 30-year limit, provided he passes his annual physical.
• The Board agreed to act as lead agency in a review of the environmental impact of a potential storm water improvement project in Fox Meadow
• The Board approved an agreement for Drug and Alcohol testing of Village employees who drive Village vehicles by Clarity Testing of Elmsford.
• The Village Board approved payment of additional construction management fees of $142,873 to Calgi Construction of Mt. Kisco for their work on the Public Safety Building.

In comments from the audience, Bob Harrison spoke against the construction of the Scarsdale Community Center (SCC) and complained that last week’s meeting on the SCC financial plan was not taped and televised. He asked the Trustees to put the issue before the community as a public referendum and called for the leadership of the SCC to ask all the members on their list for an additional $600 before the Village spends “one more penny on this private group.” He said, “This proposal is fraught with many financial concerns.”

In response to his comments, Mayor Stevens told him that the outcome of last week’s meeting was that a small group lead by Mr. Weinstein would meet with the SCC and review their numbers. In addition, the Village is looking into hiring an expert to review the projections. She added that this Board’s decisions would not bind future boards and that a bond would not be issued for another three years.

Additional letters against the Scarsdale Community Center were received from four residents.