Neighborhood Association News

The Presidents of Scarsdale’s Neighborhood Associations (SNAP) met on Monday night 4/5 and covered lots of ground.  School Board members Linda Chayes and Jill Spieler attended to update the group on the status of the proposed school budget for 2010-2011. The School Board will meet with the community on Thursday night April 8th to get feedback on the budget and on April 19 they will present the proposed budget. They encourage everyone to vote for the budget on May 18.

Here are some highlights of the 2010-2011 School Budget:

• The current proposed budget would require a 2.88% budget increase for Scarsdale residents and a 6.1% increase for residents of the Mamaroneck Strip. However, due to a recently announced decrease in tax assessments, the Board will need to find another $400,000 by dipping into reserves, raising the tax rate or decreasing the budget. They will make their decision before April 19 when the proposed budget is due.
• Teachers agreed to forego 1% of their salary increase for the next two years and in the third year to accept a 2% increase. Nine teaching positions, open due to attrition, will not be filled. In exchange for the salary concessions the Board agreed that there would be no layoffs for the next two years, though the number of teachers can be adjusted in response to drops in enrollment. The Board will make every effort to preserve class sizes.
• A revenue committee is being formed to investigate potential sources of funds for the schools. They will look into the formation of a school foundation, changes in regulations for accepting donations, pay for play for sports programs and other options. The Board is seeking committee members and if you are interested in participating, please email the Board of Education.
• The administration has proposed a full day kindergarten program, adjusting kindergarten from a 24-hour to a 30-hour week program. The Board supports the decision which will save the district $50,000 in transportation costs.
• The Board agreed to retain the third Assistant Principal at Scarsdale High School, as she has been effective at student intervention, communication with students and parents and the ninth grade orientation program.
• State aid to the district remains questionable. Governor Paterson recently proposed a cut of $1.4 billion to state schools and the Board is uncertain how much of the promised funds will come our way.

In other neighborhood business, SNAP welcomed David Bunzel representing the Heathcote Association, a group of 20-30 homes surrounding the Duck Pond in Heathcote.

Mayor Carolyn Stevens announced that the two new Village Trustees, Kay Einsenman and Jon Mark had been sworn in. She also announced trustee liaisons to the neighborhood associations.

Mayor Steves updated the group on the storm and discussed village management, Con Edison, village communications, costs and next steps. Though the storm was costly, if President Barak Obama signs, Scarsdale will receive $350,000 in emergency funds to reimburse us for costs incurred during the storm. She explained how she asked our public officials to intervene to get a response from Con Edison, reviewed the breakdown in Village communications and outlined her next steps to assure better service down the line. She also recommended that residents who wanted to install back-up generators file a permit and use a licensed electrician as a faulty generator had recently caused a house fire on Post Road.

Janet Bell of the Heathcote Five Corners Association asked the Mayor to look into the presence of a large “For Rent” sign near Bistro Citron. She thought that it violated Village Code. She also asked the Mayor if there was any new information on development of the Tavern building, and was told that there were no new plans at this time.

The Planning Board approved an 11,000 square foot building at the Five Corners on the site of the gas station. There will be two levels above ground and two levels of parking below. In addition, the village has permitted the developers to include a truck-loading zone on Heathcote Road. Several members of SNAP expressed concern that large trucks would block driver site lines on Heathcote Road and cause a hazard. However, the site plan has already been approved.

Neighborhood Associations were asked to complete an inventory of homes in their area for the Committee on Historic Preservation. The survey includes questions about neighborhood character, age of homes etc. The Committee will use the survey data in their work to establish new criteria for historic preservation in Scarsdale.