Carl Finger: Village Trustee to Be

Fox Meadow resident Carl Finger has been nominated to serve as Village Trustee. A lifelong resident of Scarsdale, Finger shares his thoughts on living in Scarsdale and how he hopes to contribute as Village Trustee. Remember to vote in the election on March 18th:

Tell us about yourself: How long have you lived in Scarsdale and what do you enjoy about living here?
I consider myself a lifelong resident of Scarsdale. I was raised in Scarsdale, attended Edgewood Elementary School, Scarsdale Junior High School (now Scarsdale Middle School), and Scarsdale High School. We bought our house on Butler Road in 1998 and our daughters, Jaclyn and Serena, attend Fox Meadow Elementary School and Scarsdale Middle School.

Scarsdale is a unique and special community and more than just a municipality or school district. I've been fortunate to build lifelong and special relationships with so many people in Scarsdale. Even this most recent page has been replete with connections. Jon Mark's mother, Ruth Friendly was my fifth grade teacher and Matt Callaghan lives in the house in which I grew up. These types of connections create a sense of community which is particularly meaningful in a day and age where such links are more difficult to find and retain.

If someone asked you if they should consider moving to Scarsdale – what would you say?
I can't think of a better place to live. In additional to the obvious draws, the schools and proximity to NYC, the small town feel that we have where the local merchants know the customers, the elementary schools and parks provide walking distance resources, the recreation department, the Scarsdale Pool, the library, and the welcoming nature of the community are without comparison.

What do you do in your professional life?
I am an attorney with the firm of Finger & Finger, A Professional Corporation. The other attorneys are Kenneth J. Finger, my father, Daniel S. Finger, my brother, and Dorothy M. Finger, my mother. Our practice is mainly real estate and litigation, relative to which we represent boards of various types of communities, closings, commercial litigation, and personal injury representation. All of the attorneys in our practice are also committed to civic service and Dorothy is a former Scarsdale Village Trustee.

Have you been involved in any Village committees or organizations?
I served on the Conservation Advisory Council for about fifteen years. I have served on the Board of Architectural Review for the past two years. I have also served on a variety of Westchester County Board of Legislator sub-committees and was counsel to the Westchester County Board of Legislators Labor Committee.

Why did you decide to step up and volunteer to serve as Village trustee?
I was flattered to be asked to submit my name for consideration by the Citizens Non-Partisan Committee for nomination as Trustee. The combination of my history and long term residence in Scarsdale, my involvement with the Village on the CAC, and BAR, and my professional experience all seemed to point toward a greater involvement in the Village. I believe that I can bring both a historical perspective and an open but critical mind to the issues facing the Village. The culture in my family and practice is a civic commitment and service as a Trustee seems like a natural step in that direction.

What do you think are the key issues facing the Village?
Since being nominated I've reviewed Trustee Agendas and attended a variety of meetings in order to be fully apprised of as many issues as possible when my term starts. In general the challenge facing Scarsdale is to find a way to deliver the services which make Scarsdale such a great place to live as efficiently as possible. In the past I know that the Village Staff endeavored to accomplish this but now the so called "2% tax cap" virtually requires efficiency. Scarsdale residents expect the services that the Village has always provided but we also need to see what more can be done for our citizens.

Similarly, we want to preserve and enhance the community. Already the Board of Trustees is reviewing various statutes including those pertaining to floor area ratio, lot coverage, and the like. The Board of Trustees is also reviewing the "Tree Law" which relates to the removal of trees. These laws and others that will be reviewed will determine how Scarsdale looks for decades into the future. Scarsdale's "village in a park" reputation will be determined by how we manage the issues that impact the aesthetics of Scarsdale. These are complex issues that will take much thoughtful analysis and input from the community to reach the proper decision.

How do you hope to contribute?
I hope to provide an appropriately critical analysis of the issues that come before the board with a historical perspective. I anticipate that my experience advising boards, as an attorney, as a member of the CAC, on the BAR, and as a long term residence of Scarsdale will allow me to provide a particular point of view to the Board. I also hope that the community and residents of Scarsdale will participate and share their thoughts and feelings with us and that they will find me to be a welcoming and considerate audience. I will endeavor to thoughtfully include any comments and concerns that may be shared with me in the decision making process.