Kaplan and Mayer Named Co-Presidents of the Friends of the Scarsdale Library
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Stacey Mayer, Dara Gruenberg and Nancy KaplanThe Friends of the Scarsdale Library (FOSL) Board is pleased to announce the election of new co-presidents, Nancy Kaplan and Stacey Mayer. Their term begins April 1, 2023.
Kaplan and Mayer succeed Dara Gruenberg, who has been a key player in the Library’s immense transformation. Most notably, Gruenberg led the successful Capital Campaign, working with the Village to reimagine the SPL’s beloved Olmsted home and raised more than $8 million to help fund the renovation. Over the course of Gruenberg’s tenure, the role of the Friends Board of Directors was reconceived and adapted to suit the changing needs of the Library, including holding special events that both raised funds and brought residents of all ages together.
“Dara has been invaluable to the Friends of the Scarsdale Library and a crucial part of the success of the new Library,” said Kaplan. “We are very excited to carry on her legacy now that the Library is renovated and COVID concerns are lessening.”
“Our community can take full advantage of all that the Library has to offer. The support from the Friends does so much to enrich the partnership between the village and the Library and we are honored to be part of that mission,” added Mayer.
Gruenberg and the FOSL Board worked closely with SPL Director, Beth Bermel, and the Library Board to complete the renovation despite the difficulties associated with the pandemic, handling the many challenges COVID presented with grace and careful consideration of the community’s well-being. "I am fortunate to have worked closely with Dara over the last eight years. Her boundless energy and dedication at the helm of the FOSL during the Capital Campaign and renovation were instrumental in making the Scarsdale Public Library what it is today,” said Bermel. “The Friends of the Scarsdale Library has always been a strong supporter of the Library, and I look forward to working with Stacey and Nancy as they take the helm." Kaplan and Mayer are excited to continue the momentum ensuring that the Library continues to be a gathering place for exploration, learning and connection for all.
After moving to Scarsdale in 2017, Kaplan immediately got involved in the community, helming the Parents Association at Kids Base/The Little School from 2017-2019; she is currently on the PTA Executive Committee at Greenacres Elementary School. Kaplan, a professionally trained dancer, also sits on the Board of Trustees at the vaunted Jacob’s Pillow in Becket, MA where she serves as the Assistant Deputy Director and is a member of the philanthropy committees.
Mayer has been a Scarsdale resident since 2015 and is currently an associate real estate broker. Her prior experience includes working as an attorney and serving as the Secretary of the Board of Directors at Kids Base/The Little School. Additionally, she has worked on the Talent Management Team at The Accelerated Project (TAP).
Gruenberg stated, “I cannot think of two more capable people to begin the next chapter of the Friends’ eight decades of service to Scarsdale’s Library than Nancy and Stacey. They are enthusiastic, creative and will both bring tremendous energy and vision to the presidency. I am eternally grateful to the community for giving me the opportunity to serve the library since the inception of the renovation campaign in 2014 until today. I can’t wait to see how Nancy and Stacey continue to grow in their new roles and find innovative ways to serve SPL and to harness the talents of the members of the FOSL Board. The future of the Friends is bright under their leadership.”
The Library in the Park Fundraising Campaign is the next project underway. FOSL will aim to fund enhancements to the exterior campus including outdoor programming space.
Notable Locals Attend LWVS Annual Fundraiser
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Ann Lyons and Janice StarrThe League of Women Voters of Scarsdale held its Annual Fundraiser on Saturday, January 28th at the home of Janice and Ira Starr after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Many local politicians attended, including State Senator Shelley Mayer, State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, County Legislator Ben Boykin, and Scarsdale Mayor Jane Veron.
The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale is a nonpartisan, political organization with a rich history spanning more than 100 years in the Scarsdale community. They encourage you to join them as they work to promote democracy and political responsibility at the local, state and national levels through voter education, issue advocacy and the active participation of citizens
To learn more about their work or to donate, please visit our website: lwvs.org.
Jane Veron, Amy Paulin, Alissa Baum and Shelley Mayer
Anne Lyons, Janice Starr, Mary Blum and Angela Manson
NYC Bans New Gas Service While Con Ed Expands Gas Infrastructure in Scarsdale
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It seems like a major disconnect. All around us, our roads have been torn up by Con Edison as they work to upgrade the gas lines in Scarsdale. Yet at the same time we learned that the New York City Council has banned the use of gas in new buildings, effective 2024 and that there is a bill before the NYS Senate to “mandate all-electric buildings after 2023, except in cases where local permitting authorities determine they're not feasible, which may depend on the availability of equipment and labor.”
After Con Ed spent years encouraging users to convert from oil to gas, new research has shown that “Indoor gas stove use for cooking is associated with among children and is prevalent in 35% of households in the United States (US).” In addition, fossil fuel combustion, mostly for heating, is responsible for about 13% of greenhouse gas emissions in the US, according to 2019 figures from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
However, here in Scarsdale, Con Edison has undertaken a major 5 year project to replace the gas lines. This is a tremendous undertaking and ultimately the costs will be underwritten by users.
We asked Alan Drury, a spokesperson for Con Edison about the ongoing gas line installation and the potential ban on usage and here is what he said: “There is no disconnect. We support a transition away from fossil fuels and are taking numerous steps in that direction. Needless to say, it will take the region years to complete such a large and complex transition. In the meantime, we must continue to invest to keep the gas system safe and reliable. It’s essential for natural gas customers (particularly those who rely on natural gas for heat and might be vulnerable due to age or health issues) to have reliable service, particularly on the coldest days of the year”
Asked for a comment, Village Manager Rob Cole said, “Because Con Ed is regulated by the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC), with funding mechanisms and approval for their proposed major capital projects authorized through that oversight process, your questions are best addressed to the PSC; we note, however, that the disruptive gas main project predates recent discussion of phasing out gas appliances.”
Cole continued, “Staff are unable to comment on rules and regulations passed by NYC, though we note media reports that Governor Hochul had recently expressed support for a similar statewide ban that would begin phasing out a majority of such gas appliances in 2030. If the NYS codes change, we would need to comply, of course.”
I wondered what the men who are installing the pipeline in front of my house thought and stopped one to ask. He threw up his hands and said, “They tell us to rely on electric, but the grid is inadequate to power our area. So once there’s an outage, everyone will ask, what happened to our gas service?
Farmers Market Coming to the Village, Heathcote Bridge to be Repaired and more from Village Hall
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At the opening of the January 24 meeting of the Village Board Mayor Jane Veron wished everyone a Happy Lunar New Year, the year of the rabbit, and said, “2023 is predicted to be a year of hope. ‘
She reported that trustees were holding meeting with Village Department heads to review their budget needs for the coming fiscal year. In addition to the budget, Trustees are focused on road conditions and will hear a report from the Department of Public Works on a road survey next week. She also warned residents to heed the new Village speed limit of 25 mph and said signage has been installed.
In other news, the Village is considering a contract from a firm in Connecticut to bring a farmer’s market to Scarsdale Village to be held on Sundays in Scarsdale Village from June to November. Trustees also scheduled a public hearing on a code amendment to allow retailers to sell goods on the sidewalks of the Village. Work continues on schematics for the pool renovation and for plans for traffic and sidewalks in the Village center.
Heathcote Bridge Repair
Village Manager Rob Cole reported that the repair project for the Heathcote Bridge will soon be put out to bid. Specifically he said, “Following a review process that involved both NYS and federal agencies, the Village has received authorization to bid the Heathcote Road Bridge Reconstruction project. We are on target for a bid opening on March 2, with an award in late March or early April. The construction timeline will be fleshed out with the successful bidder, though it should be noted that Superintendent Coleman and his team continue to place priority on project completion following the shortest possible timeline.”
Property Tax Exemption
A public hearing was held on a resolution to increase the minimum income level for property tax exemptions for seniors and the disabled. Village Assessor Victoria Sirota explained that the proposed resolution raises the income level from $29,000 up to $50,000 for a 50% exemption and on a sliding scale for those with incomes between $50,000 and $58,0000.
The school board opted to increase the exemption for school taxes for those earning up to $50,000 but did not include exemptions for medical expenses. Unreimbursed medical expenses could be considered for those earning above $58,000 The consideration would allow those to qualify for the exemption if they earn more than $50,000.
Public Comments
Bob Harrison spoke about tax increases and said the county would have no tax increase this year. He also said the Village had understated the amount of interest income they would receive in the proposed Village budget for next year.
Liaison Reports
Trustee Ahuja said the Personnel Committee of the Board of Trustees is looking for diverse candidates to fill vacancies on Village Boards and Councils.
Public Hearings
Trustees agreed to hold a public hearing on February 14, 2023 on a code amendment to allow retailers and café owners to utilize sidewalks to sell goods, foods and beverages and to place tables for the pick-up or drop off of goods in these areas.
The Board approved a resolution to hold a public hearing on a new law regarding illegal connections to the sanitary sewer system. The new law would require those who do a property improvement of more than $100,000 or sell their home to obtain certification by an appropriate professional that their sewer lateral and plumbing do not contribute inflow or infiltration in the village sanitary sewer system or contain significant defects or lack maintenance.
Tax Cap Override
The Board passed a resolution to allow them to adopt a budget that requires a real property tax levy in excess of the tax cap, if needed. Trustee Lewis explained, “This does not mean that the board is going down that path – just that they can.”
Appointment to the Committee for Historic Preservation
The Board approved the appointment of Sherry Geer to the Committee for Historic Preservation for a term vacated until April 2025.
Residents Ask for a Moratorium on Development in Sensitive Drainage Areas, New Eateries Opening and More from the Village Board
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Developers are proposing an 8 home subdivision in a wetlands on Garden RoadThere was promising news from the` Village Board about eating options in the Village at their first meeting of the new year. The Mayor announced the “imminent” opening of the long awaited One Rare Steakhouse in the space formerly occupied by Zachys on East Parkway. The restaurant, from the owners of Ben and Jack’s Steakhouse on East 44th Street, will feature dry aged steaks, pasta and seafood.
The Mayor also said that the owners of Martines on East Parkway plan to open Mimis -– an artisanal gelateria, serving gelato, waffles and hot lava cakes. The new shop will be at 51 East Parkway in the space once held by Webster Bank.
With little discussion, the Board also passed two amendments to Village code regarding permeable vs. impervious surfaces for lot coverage and another regarding grading for stormwater management. However residents who live in a sensitive drainage area near Garden Road were not satisfied that these changes would do enough to safeguard their homes. See below:
Budgeting Software
In an update from Village Treasurer Ann Scaglione, she unveiled new budgeting software called ClearGov, which will be accessible to Village personnel as well as the public via a link on the Village website. The software will enhance the budgeting planning process by permitting Village staff and trustees to track iterations of the Village budget, by department as it evolves.
Village Manager Rob Cole congratulated Scaglione on the implementation and said this new software was a substantial improvement over previous practice and should be easy to navigate for trustees and the public. Trustee Ahuja suggested that the Village produce a video tutorial on how to use this new software.
Speed Limit
Cole discussed the implementation of the new speed limit, which will be lowered to 25 mph on most streets throughout the Village. He said new signage will be posted at the end of the month and the Village will undertake education to inform the public of the new law. In the interim, he suggested that everyone get used to the lower limit by driving at a maximum speed of 25 mph.
Tax Cap
In other business, the Board approved a resolution to allow the passage of a budget which exceeds the tax cap, if necessary. According to the Village Treasurer, the Village must stay below a 3.28% increase in order not to exceed the cap.
Security at Village Hall
Trustees approved $392,000 for access control and security improvements at Village Hall plus $27,000 for electric work for a total of $419,824.
Gifts
The Board accepted two gifts – one for the police department and another for the fire department.
Gifts are as follows:
The Bowman Family Foundation gave $2,000 to the Police Department for projects selected by the Police Chief and approved by the Village.
Sang Han of Paddington Road gave a $1,000 donation to the fire department for training of career firefighters and volunteers.
Village Election
The Board passed a resolution to hold the village election for Mayor and Trustees on Tuesday March 21, 2023 from 6 am to 9 pm at Scarsdale Public Library.
Bonds
The Board approved a resolution to issue $1,709,472 in bonds to purchase trucks and equipment for use by the Department of Public Works.
Lot Coverage
The Board approved a resolution to amend Village code to “align the runoff curve used to determine whether a surface is permeable or impervious with the predominant soil type on a property.”
Stormwater
The Board approved an amendment to Village code to limit the changing of grades which will encourage the maintenance of natural topography and natural water flow to avert flooding of neighboring properties.
Letters
Some did not think that the two resolutions regarding lot coverage and stormwater did enough to safeguard their properties.
Helen Maccarino wrote to the Village Board regarding a proposed 8 home subdivision at 80 Garden Road, now referred to as “The Gardens.” Her letter says, “ The Gardens" is an enormous project covering over 6 acres, the equivalent of nearly 5 football fields. If you are unfamiliar with the plan, it calls for clear-cutting hundreds of trees, raising the terrain by approximately 4 feet, and installing a retaining wall just 6 feet from the adjacent property lines. Not only is there no APB, there is a retaining wall instead of a "tapered slope", a wall that runs the length of the entire site. The subdivision plan also ignores the findings of NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation which the Chapter 254 code cites prominently from the outset. The NYS DEC states that clear-cutting and terrain-raising risks altering drainage patterns across property lines, cause erosion and "have significant impact on the health, safety and welfare of the community."
Another letter was received from the law firm of Mintzer, Mauch PLLC who represents a group of 29 residents who would be affected by the development on Garden Road. They urged the Board to adopt a temporary moratorium on the processing of development applications within sensitive drainage areas while the Board makes substantive changes to land use code.
