Mayor Declares June 2 as Gun Violence Awareness Day in Scarsdale

Mayor Jon Mark took a step to raise awareness about gun violence when he issued a proclamation declaring Thursday June 2 to be Gun Violence Awareness Day in Scarsdale at the Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday May 24

Members of the Interfaith Coalition Against Gun Violence attended, wearing orange, and posed with the Mayor and Trustees before the beginning of the meeting. The group was formed in the wake of the shootings in Newtown and is co-chaired by Patricia Colella from the Scarsdale Congregational Church. The group is raising awareness about gun violence and approaching the problem though a variety of tactics. At the meeting, Colella advocated for the passage of laws to ensure the safe storage of guns, asked sympathizers to sell any stock funds they own that include investments in gun manufacturers, recommended visits to websites of organizations that fight gun violence and urged residents to wear orange on June 2 in recognition of Gun Violence Awareness Day.

For his part, the Mayor read the following proclamation:

National Gun Violence Awareness: June 2, 2016 is National Gun Violence Awareness Day. In the spirit of supporting a substantive discussion of that issue with the goal of helping to reduce threat to public safety and health posed by gun violence, I offer the following proclamation.
"WHEREAS, the daily killings and injuries of Americans by Gun Violence constitute a significant public safety and health concern in this country and it is desirable that our local communities promote substantive conversation of this issue with a goal of reducing the occurrence of Gun Violence; and
"WHEREAS, many communities have declared Thursday, June 2, 2016 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day to honor and remember victims and survivors of gun violence and to increase awareness among their residents about Gun Violence and its effects on human lives; and
"WHEREAS, this day was inspired by Hadiya Pendleton, who was a victim of Gun Violence weeks after marching in President Obama's second inaugural parade; and
"WHEREAS, Ms. Pendleton was born on June 2, and her classmates decided to commemorate her life by wearing the color orange, a color that symbolizes the value of human life; and
"WHEREAS, the Village of Scarsdale believes it is vital to increase awareness, among its residents, about Gun Violence and honor the lives of Americans such as Hadiya Pendleton who have been victimized by Gun Violence; and
"WHEREAS, the Village of Scarsdale encourages all of its residents to reflect upon Gun Violence and join the members of Scarsdale Congregational Church Interfaith Coalition Against Gun Violence and citizens around the country by wearing orange on June 2nd.
"Now, Therefore, Jonathan I. Mark, Mayor of the Village of Scarsdale, does hereby proclaim Thursday, June 2, 2016 to be
"National Gun Violence Awareness Day
"in the Village of Scarsdale, and on behalf of all Village residents, am pleased and proud to join all associated with National Gun Violence Awareness Day and herein encourage all citizens to support their local community efforts to prevent gun violence and to honor and value human life."

License for Tree Planting:

In other Village business, the trustees considered an application of a license for Mendel Hui of 10 Ogden Road to install 34 giant arborvitae trees and a sprinkler line on the border of his property, extending into the Village right of way. According to the resolution, the Village Engineer inspected the area and the proposed landscape plan and determined that the trees would not "create a visual obstruction or unsafe conditions." Hui will indemnify the Village from all claims, judgments and costs and provide a certificate of liability insurance naming the Village as an additional insured. He also agreed to pay a fee of $1,000 for the license. The license would be revocable.

Village Manager Steve Pappalardo said that the right of way is 24 feet wide, double the regular width. He is aware of the trees that were there before and said the Village had torn out the ones that posed a problem. He said that the Village Engineer had inspected several times and said he did not believe the arborvitae would cause a problem. Pappalardo said the Village would continue to monitor the trees once they were planted. Mayor Mark said the license was revocable and if the trees were causing an issue they could rip them out.

Bob Harrison objected to an application and said that the trees would cause an obstruction in the sight line resulting in a blind curve for walkers and drivers. Bob's wife Terri Harrison also spoke on the matter and said that the hedge that was in that spot before created an obstruction that prevented her from seeing oncoming traffic. She told trustees that a young Scarsdale woman was once killed at the intersection of Ogden and Fox Meadow Roads and urged the Board not to permit the planting of large trees there.

Following the discussion, the trustees granted the license to Hui.

Sidewalk Sale:

The Scarsdale Chamber of Commerce received permission to hold the annual Sidewalk Sale on Thursday July 28, Friday July 29 and Saturday July 30, 2016 from 10am to 5 pm in Scarsdale Village.

Gift to the Library:

The Board of Trustees accepted a gift of $100,000 from the Siegel Family Endowment to be used for the Scarsdale Library Master Plan Improvement Project.

Sediment Removal at Crane Berkley Pond:

The Board of Trustees authorized $626,908 to Aqua Cleaner Environmental for cleaning the watercourse and pond of sediment and debris that has accumulated in the drainage system at Crane Berkeley Pond. A portion of the expense will be paid by Crane Berkley property owners and collected in their property taxes. The Village will collect more than half of the expense from the homeowners over a period of 5-7 years.

Wage Increase for Department Heads:

Trustees granted a 2% salary increase to department heads and other non-union personnel no represented by collective bargaining agreements.