Village Issues Stop Work Order on Barry Road, Holds Budget Hearing and Airs Complaints About Con Ed

The original home at 21 Barry Road.(Updated April 16) At the first meeting of the newly elected Board of Trustees on April 14, 2026, Mayor Justin Arest welcomed both the new and returning trustees. In his opening comments he addressed a range of matters.

Congressman Eliot Engel

Arest remembered Congressman Eliot Engel who represented the 16th Congressional District for seven years. Arest said, “We lost Eliot Engel on April 10th. He was 79 years old. Congressman Engel represented Scarsdale as part of New York's 16th Congressional District from 2013 until 2021, following a redistricting that brought our community into his district. Over his 32-year congressional career, he served as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and left a record of achievement in foreign policy and human rights that earned him respect across the aisle. He devoted more than 44 years to public service, and that is a legacy worth pausing to recognize.

Our condolences go to his family and to all who knew and worked with him. May his memory be a blessing.”

21 Barry Road

Arest offered the following information on construction activity at 21 Barry Road. In September 2025, the Committee for Historic Preservation granted permission for a partial demolition of the home, as Architectural Historian Andrew Dolkart had recommended that the house be preserved. AS a compromised, the CHP required the applicant, Christopher Knopp, to demolish less than 50% of the exterior of the home– and more than 50% of the interior.

However, neighbors reported that the demolition appeared to exceed those parameters and the Village of Scarsdale took action.

Arest said, “The Village has commenced a legal action in Westchester Supreme Court to enforce our Historic Preservation Code in connection with unauthorized alterations to a residence on Barry Road. In addition, the Village has pursued zoning enforcement in connection with this matter, and a Stop Work Order has been issued. I want to assure residents that the Village takes both its Historic Preservation Code and its zoning code seriously, and we will use the tools available to us to enforce them.21 Barry Road Now

We have heard from members of the community who expressed concern about this matter, and I want to acknowledge that. Until today, it was not appropriate for us to make any public comment, and out of fairness to the process, we were also not in a position to discuss the matter individually with residents who reached out while staff was actively reviewing the situation and consulting with the Village Attorney. We appreciate the community's patience and understanding, and we are grateful to those who took the time to reach out. Resident input always matters to us, and I want to remind the community that the most effective way to reach us on any matter is directly, by email or by calling the appropriate department or the Village Manager's office at Village Hall. That is the channel that ensures your concern gets to the right people promptly, and we are always listening.

As this matter is now in active litigation, there is a limit to what I am able to share publicly tonight. More information will be made available to the community as circumstances permit, and I would ask for the public's continued patience and trust that the Board is engaged and that the Village is taking appropriate action.”

Budget Hearing:

The meeting included a hearing on the proposed 2026-27 budget.

As outlined in a March 20 budget letter, “This budget calls for an increase in the tax levy of 5.36%, or $2,721,201, which exceeds the New York State Tax Cap. This increase equates to a 4.86% increase on the tax rate or $423.77 for the average household. The increase from FY2025-2026 in non-discretionary budget items alone totals $2,530,813, which already exceeds the allowable levy increase under the tax cap formula of 3.65% or $1,849,461. Despite rising personnel costs, the FY2026-2027 Tentative Budget includes no increase in full-time positions and an overall headcount decrease of two permanent part-time positions in the Police and Human Resources Departments.”

Budget Comments

During public comments on the budget, Anne Hintermeister of Chase Road said, “The proposed 5.36 tax levy increase exceeds the max 3.65% tax cap…. I think the increase is unreasonable and unnecessary and the Board should proceed with a budget that complies with the tax cap. The unassigned fund balance is 22% and it is more than the board’s own guidelines. There is room for use of unassigned fund balance. I think the board can readily comply and pay the employees and fund capitol projects. It seems like surplus funds could be used to keep us within the tax cap. $3mm in surplus funds are assigned to the pool which is supposed to be supported by the bond. You should follow your own policy on the use of fund balance. I think exceeding the tax cap looks bad.”

Mayor Arest responded to Hintermeister saying, “Using fund balance to fund operations is not a wise use of fund balance – and we should take another look at our policy. The range was discussed. We want to be sensitive to our bond rating and having a healthy fund balance will be helpful.”

Beth Cukier President of the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale spoke on behalf of the League and read from their consensus statement. The League supports the budget and commended the board on their process, fiscal responsibility, maintenance of the Village’s bond credit rating and collaborating with the school district.
They praised the Board for taking an analytic approach, for implementing sustainable practices, for embarking on the field study, for their continuing efforts to hire a Village Treasurer and more. Regarding Freigthway, the League supports the use of committee with diverse interests to lead the process.

After the budget hearing, the Board heard comments on other matters.

Con Ed and Damaged Sewer Laterals

The issue of damaged sewer laterals during the installation of a gas main on Walworth Avenue remains unresolved.

Ellizabeth Lawrence of 7 Walworth Avenue first sked for confirmation that the monies for sidewalks have been allocated in the budget.
She then said, “We were inconvenienced by the Con Edison project for three years. I was in a wheelchair – it was a hardship for two years. Now we are left with a bill of 40K due to the misaligned sewer lines. A model town does not leave the residents holding the bag for the mistakes of a utility company. You should be protecting the residents and fighting for us. Instead, a past trustee pressured Con Ed to fix a few residents homes and left the rest of us with a big price tag. Have our lines repaired by Con Ed without cost.”

Arest responded saying that the statement about the former trustee was not true. He also said, “Yesterday there was a municipal meeting for Westchester offiials and I brought this up. I said we expect them to make independent investigations of all impacted homes. We have a list – we want to make sure everyone is included. As soon as we get more information their legal team is working on bringing on an independent inspector. We want to come to the right resolution for the residents.”
Joe Lawrence also of 7 Walworth Avenue said, “We have made claims to Con Ed as directed by the legal staff. We presented video evidence that was not taken seriously. Con Ed claimed the problem was due to tree roots. They are ignoring the root of the problem. Though it still works – it is not up to code. I am skeptical -- we already filed a claim but we jumped through hoops and they delayed the process. I think the whole block should be addressed.”

Dan and Dorian Glickenhaus of 11 Walworth said "We have been involved with Con Ed for over 6 months. Thanks to the Mayor for your help. We filed a complaint and made a claim with Con Ed and the Public Service Commission. The number of people who have this issue is growing. We would like some concrete dates on when this will be resolved. We filed claims, we were denied by Con Ed who passed it to their subcontractor who then denied it due to roots. We have reams of paperwork. It is exhausting. How was a permit granted to work on our lateral by the town – and now that’s it’s broken it is our responsibility to fix it. We really need to push Con Ed because I am afraid time will run out in which to make a claim. We can’t sell our home without a $40,000 fee under the Village’s new ruling. We need the full court press. That is why we are here."

Mayor Arest assured them saying, “We do have next steps ready to go with Con Ed but I hope we don’t have to go there. I think that there are looking for a solution. If they don’t move, we will take next steps. Those documents are ready to go. They are finalizing an arrangement with an independent inspection firm. We will hopefully have something this week.”

Lilly Fan of 9 Walworth said, “I had my sewer scoped and it showed a break in the PVC to the clay pipe. I am happy that Con Ed is willing to get this fixed. Thank you for putting pressure on them to give us a timeline for when this is scheduled.”

Eilon Amidor of Morris Lane spoke about the Planning Board. He said, “I agree with the folks who spoke about Con Edison. I am here because the Planning Board is overwhelmed. They get too many technical items to review. They don’t have the knowledge and capacity to decide about these. I am in front of boards for over a year. The staff and engineers should deal with the technical details. The process is broken.”

Resolutions:

Village to Accept Payment by Credit Card

The Board of Trustees found it to be in the public interest to “accept various forms of payment for certain charges, and authorized the Village Manager to enter into agreements with one or more financing agencies or card issuers to provide for the acceptance of credit cards, as a means of payment of fines, civil penalties, rent, rates, taxes, fees, charges, revenue, financial obligations or other amounts, including penalties, special assessments and interest owed to the Village of Scarsdale; 

They found it to be in the public interest “to accept payment of penalties, rents, rates, taxes, fees, charges, revenue, financial obligations or other amounts, including penalties, special assessments or interest via the Village’s official website and/or the website of a third-party vendor contracted with the Village and therefore authorized the Village Manager to arrange for online payments of such penalties, rents, rates, taxes, fees, charges, revenue, financial obligations or other amounts, including penalties, special assessments or interest thereof, as the Village Manager deems appropriate and in furtherance of the public interest served by the convenience of internet payments.”

Attorney Retained to Monitor Con Edison Electric and Gas Rate Plan

Joel R. Dichter of Dichter Law LLC was retained to monitor Con Ed electric and gas rates. The resolution says,” Joel R. Dichter has demonstrated the necessary experience and expertise to represent the interests of the participating municipalities and has submitted a proposal dated April 2, 2026, to represent participating municipalities in the ongoing monitoring of Con Edison over the next 3 years, terminating December 31, 2028; now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Village Board of Trustees of the Village of Scarsdale hereby authorizes the hiring of Joel R. Dichter of Dichter Law LLC as special counsel to represent participating Westchester municipalities in the monitoring of Con Edison’s three-year rate plan at the rate of $1,250 per annum; and, be it further resolved , the Village Board of Trustees authorizes the Village Manager to execute all necessary agreements and related documents in accordance with this resolution.”

Holiday Observances

Arest recognized recent observances. He said, "Turning to the month, April has already brought several meaningful observances, and more lie ahead.

As the month began, many in our community observed Passover, which ran from the evening of April 1st through April 9th (or 8th). To all those who gathered around the Seder table, Chag Sameach. I hope it was a time of meaning, reflection, and connection with family and loved ones.

Easter Sunday was April 5, and Orthodox Easter was celebrated just this past Sunday, April 12. To all those who marked either of these holidays, warmest wishes for a joyful and peaceful season.

Today was Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this very day, communities around the world are pausing to honor the six million Jewish lives lost in the Holocaust. We reaffirm our commitment to the words "never again" in all that they demand of us. I would like to invite everyone to join me in a moment of silence in their memory.

April is Autism Acceptance Month, a time to affirm our commitment to a community that is genuinely welcoming and inclusive for everyone.

Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22. Scarsdale has long taken its environmental responsibilities seriously, and Earth Day is a fitting moment to recommit to the work of protecting what we value most about this place.

And that spirit carries right into Arbor Day on Friday, April 24, when we will be planting a tree at Aspen Park at 9:30 in the morning. I hope residents will join us."