Village Voices

Details: Written by Joanne Wallenstein; Published: 05 May 2015; Created: 05 May 2015; Last Updated: 06 May 2015; Hits: 3591

Library1 The Scarsdale Library hosted a celebration of their Story Project on Thursday April 30, and a diverse group of residents turned out to view their neighbors' stories of how the library has impacted their lives. The framed presentations include a description of the individual experiences of current and former residents as well as a photo of each writer. The exhibits are now on view in the Scott Room of the library and the public is encouraged to stop by and take a look.

libraryschnur2 The project was inspired by a similar undertaking at the Rye Y where their "Voices from the Community" project has become an annual event. The program began there in the fall of 2012, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Rye Y members, staff and volunteers shared personal stories that brought them to the Y including the successes and challenges encountered on the road to healthy living. The program proved to build a sense of community at the Y and has continued for three years. Scarsdale's Lisa Tidball works at the Rye Y and was on hand at the Scarsdale Library to view the exhibit.

The reception in Scarsdale kicked off a major initiative for a $12 million renovation to the Scarsdale library that will bring advances in its technological capacity, provide meeting spaces for community gatherings and update the library to meet the future needs of Scarsdale. Library2 librarysingh Libraryschwarz

Details: Written by Joanne Wallenstein; Published: 30 April 2015; Created: 30 April 2015; Last Updated: 01 May 2015; Hits: 3731

Potholes Does the Village need more than the annual budget allocation of $1.3 million to repair roadways and should they issue bonds to finance the work? Mayor Jon Mark addressed this question at the Village Board meeting on Tuesday night April 28, prompted by Bob Harrison's call to replace 15-20 miles of Scarsdale's 79 miles of roads using debt financing.

Mark explained that $525,000 of the $1.3 million for road repairs in the 2014-15 budget has yet to be spent and will be used to patch and replace roads in the next few months. Another $925,000 will be available in the 2015-16 budget, and if that's not sufficient he said that the Board would analyze priorities and find ways to make additional funds available.

He said that "bonding for road repairs is not considered prudent fiscal management" and argued that if the Village borrowed money they would need to budget to repay the borrowed funds over many years, affecting their ability to keep the budget under the tax cap. Saying, "don't borrow long to solve a short term problem" he called road repair "a hardy perennial that is bound to reappear."

To those who suggested that each resident be levied a $100 fee to fund road repairs he answered that the NYS Taxing Authority does not permit the Village to impose this tax.

He answered critics who wanted to know why the Village would borrow for the library improvement project and not to repair the roads... saying, "Because a building remains for years." To others who asked him why he was "comfortable spending money for the revaluation and not road repair," he said, "The reval will pay dividends in the years to come with an updated database. This is a long term benefit in contrast to the short term benefit of road repair."

He explained that road repair is a seasonal business that has to be done when the temperature was above 40 degrees. Asphalt plants close in the winter so the Village has to wait to purchase asphalt until the spring. The Department of Public Works has already filled 1,800 potholes and it will take another month to fill another 1,800. In addition, contractors have been hired by the Village to do more extensive roadwork. In the meantime, he urged drivers to drive sensibly.

He concluded by saying that "Bonding for road repair is a pothole if not a sinkhole."

Details: Written by Joanne Wallenstein; Published: 15 April 2015; Created: 15 April 2015; Last Updated: 15 April 2015; Hits: 6763

pothole At his first official Village Board meeting on Tuesday night April 14th, Scaarsdale's newly elected Mayor Jon Mark was pleased to announce a big appropriation to repair and repave Scarsdale's distressed roadways.

Mark said, "We all drive on the same roads –and this Mayor is very aware of the poor condition of many of the roads in Scarsdale. We will have $1,298,000 in the budget for the year ending in May --which will cover 3.5 miles of roads and should allow the most egregious situations to be addressed. In the meantime three trucks have been out for the past month making repairs and responding to residents. We are addressing this issue in the short term. Winter happens every year – some more severe than others. We will face a similar situation in the years to come. We will address the roads with the resources that we have."

Later at the meeting, the board passed a resolution to accept reimbursements for funds from the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) of $526,000 and $206,000. These funds will be added to already appropriated funds to total $1,298,800 for road resurfacing which should go a long way toward repairing potholes and installing new roads and curbing.

The Board also held a Public Hearing on the proposed 2015-16 Village Budget which comes in under the tax cap and will mean a 3.33% tax increase for residents. This increase will be approximately $144 more next year for the owner of a home with an average assessed vale of $1,398,818.

Bob Harrison commended the trustees and the Village manager's office on the budget and said he was disappointed that others were not at the meeting to comment.

Susie Rush, President of the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale read portions of the league's lengthy statement which can be read in its entirety here. The League also commended the Village for a "well-managed, thoughtful process" and for developing a budget that takes "into consideration the current and anticipated needs of the Village."

Speaking about the tax revaluation she said, "The League commends the Village for completing the municipal-wide property value reassessment in 2014 and was encouraged to hear the Village Manager opine that the project greatly reduced inequities among property owners." The League "strongly encourages the Board to continue to keep its residents apprised of the progress of the 2016 Revaluation Update."

She expressed concern about the deferral of capitol projects such as road repair, new equipment purchases, renovation of Village Hall, repairs and security at the Freightway and Christie Place Garages and the removal of an underground oil tank at Village Hall.

In response to pressure from the state to merge and consolidate Village services, the League asked the Village to seek public opinion on village-provided services and ascertain which ones residents would be willing to eliminate or scale-back or pay for on a fee-for service basis.

Though the Scarsdale Forum usually studies and comments on the Village Budget, this year they declined to comment.

The preliminary budget has been filed and will be voted on at the April 28th meeting of the Scarsdale Village Board of Trustees.

Click here to read the full statement from the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale on the Village budget.

Details: Written by Joanne Wallenstein; Published: 22 April 2015; Created: 22 April 2015; Last Updated: 23 April 2015; Hits: 9929

JackAllemany Scarsdale's Jack Alemany was recently named Acting Village Justice in Scarsdale, replacing Arlene Katz who was elected to Family Court. Alemany, his wife Ellen and their children have lived in town on and off for 25 years. Here's an interview with the new justice who you may meet in Village Court.

Tell us about your professional background

I started my career as an attorney in 1983 as a Prosecutor with the Bronx District Attorney's Office. I then went to the Securities and Exchange Commission (NY Regional Office), where I worked in the Division of Enforcement (1987-1989). In 1989 left the SEC and started a firm with a couple of former colleagues from the Bronx District Attorney's office. We had an office on Brook Street, Scarsdale. During that time I was appointed to be the Acting Village Justice of Sleepy Hollow (1997-1999), and as an Administrative Law Judge with the Westchester County Taxi and Limousine Commission. In 1999, Ellen was transferred to London, and in 2000 the children and I joined her. We all returned to Scarsdale in 2001, and I rejoined one of my former partners. We moved our office to Bronx County, where we've been ever since. I also served as an Administrative Law Judge with the Westchester County Human Rights Commission (2006-2010).

Why did you decide to become a judge?

I have always wanted to be a judge. I have always had a sense and appreciation for justice, fairness and due process.

What's the process for applying to be a judge in Scarsdale?

I'm not really certain what the exact process is; I can only relate what I went through. The Mayor and/or the Village Attorney would know the exact process.

I read a notice posted in the newspaper. I sent my resume to the "Judicial Qualifications Advisory Committee, as per the notice. The Committee reviewed the resumes, interviewed and rated candidates and reported to the Mayor. The Mayor then interviewed candidates. I then interviewed with the Mayor and the Board. (I interviewed with the Committee, then the Mayor and a Trustee, then the Mayor and the Board).

How long is your term?

The term for Acting Village Justice in Scarsdale is 1 year. I was appointed to complete Judge Arlene Katz's term. Judge Katz was elected (in November 2014) to Family Court, commencing January 1, 2015. The Village Board of Trustees has re-appointed me as Acting Village Justice until April 4, 2016.

How many justices are there?

There are 2, the Village Justice and the Acting Village Justice.

What did you have to do to prepare for the position?

Courtroom and trial experience are extremely important along with a knowledge of the law and the rules of evidence. I have spent almost all of my career in a court room, before many different judges, dealing with many different types of criminal and civil matters, in trials, hearings and motion practice. Valuable knowledge, perspective and comfort comes from this experience. Also, having prosecuted cases, defended cases and adjudicated cases gives me insight on how all parties in an action may approach a case.

What are the hours? How many times a week on average do you expect to be called in at night?

Court is in session every Wednesday. Traffic and parking summonses are answerable at 9:00 A.M., the Criminal Calendar is called beginning at 9:30 A.M. and traffic trials are held from 1:00 until 5:00 P.M.

Small Claims trials are generally scheduled for the second Thursday of each month. Extra criminal, civil and traffic trial days are scheduled as needed.

Why do justices have to go in at night? Why can't the cases be dealt with during usual business hours?

When someone is arrested there is a legal requirement to have the individual arraigned as soon as possible. At the arraignment, among other things, the person is formally charged, given legal notices, informed of their rights, and they are either released on their own recognizance, remanded without bail, or bail is set.

Do you have any suggestions for residents to help them avoid a court appearance? i.e. Common mistakes/misunderstandings that lead to trouble?

Generally, Scarsdalians are a law abiding people. So far, most of the serious cases I see in court concern non-residents.

How long have you lived in Scarsdale?

Ellen and I have lived in Scarsdale approximately 25 years.

What do you like about living here?

I love living in Scarsdale. It is a great community where people are concerned with family, education, public service and being good citizens. We are all very fortunate to live in Scarsdale.

Details: Written by Joanne Wallenstein; Published: 07 April 2015; Created: 07 April 2015; Last Updated: 04 September 2020; Hits: 7518

markfamily Scarsdale Mayor Jon Mark and Village Trustees Carl Finger, Matt Callaghan and Bill Stern were sworn into office at a joyous ceremony at Scarsdale Village Hall on Monday April 6th. Surrounded by family, friends, Village administrators and officials, the four officially began their terms of office.

Already well known and respected from a lifetime of residency and four years as Scarsdale Village Trustee, Mark (SHS '65) had many supporters in the audience, including his mother, wife, son, daughter, brother and sister-in-law.

He made a thoughtful speech (shown in its entirety below) that looked back on the history of Scarsdale and drew links to many of the issues that face the Village today. His words were deeply ingrained with the fabric of the community in which he was raised and has called home for decades.

Trustees Carl Finger (SHS '86) and Matt Callaghan are newly elected to the Board of Trustees, while Bill Stern was re-elected for a second two-year term. Carl Finger's mother, Dorothy, who is a former Village Trustee, was also at the ceremony along with former Mayors Miriam Flisser and Carolyn Stevens.

Remarks of Jon Mark, Mayor, at swearing in ceremony: sworn in

The shield behind me has a 1701 date on it. That's the date that Scarsdale was said to be settled. If you look around town and see the Village shields in town, you will see the word "settled" under that date. I think that is the date that Caleb Heathcote bought Anne Richbell's estate which stretched from Long Island Sound to what is now the Bronx River Parkway and there is a mural that depicts that transaction on one wall inside the Post Office in the Village. So that is what happened in 1701 and Scarsdale was the Manor of Scarsdale at that time.

Heathcote thought it resembled his town of Scarsdale in Derbyshire, England which was a rocky place -- scarred with rocks -- and had a lot of valleys or dales, so Scarsdale became the name of the Manor.

So we jump ahead, we fast forward, to June of 1915, approximately one hundred years ago. In June of 1915, the Town of Scarsdale was wrestling with a political issue. The issue was that the legislature of the State of New York had it within its power to change the boundaries of towns. And the residents of Scarsdale were concerned that the boundaries would be changed and they would become part of White Plains. They discussed this topic for a couple of months, this is according to Carol O'Connor's history of Scarsdale and also in Harry Hansen's history, both of which were provided to me by Dan Hochvert. The residents put this matter to a vote. What they voted on was whether Scarsdale should incorporate as a Village. A vote was taken in May of 1915, the vote was 142 to 39, reflective of the great turnout we still have today in municipal elections, and the referendum passed. The Village was incorporated and the significance of that was that the boundaries could only be changed by a referendum vote of the residents. They thus took that power away from the state legislature.

newteam The first Village Board, which was made up of the Board of the Town, because the Town had a Board, met on June 26th. It was a five person Board. The population of Scarsdale was under 3,000 and under state law the Village was not eligible to have a mayor. So the Board had a President. The President was Franklin Bethel, for whom Bethel Road presumably was named. Franklin was a Vice President of the New York Telephone Company -- a business man -- and he designed the Village shield. He used the crest of the Caleb Heathcote family and put some other things on there that you can see. I note that one of the other Board members was Rush Wilson and his descendant is with us today as a prominent businessman in town.

That was a fateful decision in 1915 because we, over the last 100 years, have benefited from that decision as Scarsdale has evolved into a residential community that we all know and love. But we have also borne the burdens of that as well. Particularly, and most specifically, in terms of the tax dollars we all have to pay to support the services we wish to receive here.
Pressure is now being put on that decision. Pressure has always existed on that decision because it cost a lot of money to live here. But the New York State legislature through the so called 2% cap, is doing its best to try to pressure the 900 or so municipalities that are in the State of New York into consolidating.

Village Manager Al Gatta has said that can't be the only goal and maybe there is a higher goal to redistribute equity and resources more fairly in some way among residents of the State. Who knows? Maybe that will reveal itself in time or maybe it won't. The point is that the new Board, like the Boards that have recently preceded it, is going to have to wrestle with this existential question: that is, what services do the residents want and expect to receive from the Village, and what are they willing to pay for them – because as we go forward, unless something very dramatic happens, that will continue to be an increasingly difficult decision to make.

There have been some stories recently in the paper about the value of five-year budgeting, as if that was some new concept. It is a very good concept. It's a concept that deserves to be raised and discussed. But in point of fact for those of you who follow our budget process, the Village has always engaged in five-year budgeting. There is an operations budget that addresses the day-to-day operating costs of the Village and there is a capital plan. And if you look on the capital plan, which is posted on the Village web site and is also available in the Library, you will see various projects that are pushed out over five years. Unfortunately, in the last several years, many capital projects have been deferred because of the pressure to allocate dollars to day-to-day operations. So we have always engaged in a five-year budget planning process, and in some cases longer than that, and we will continue to do that.

So here I am the Mayor which is not something I ever thought I would be. I am humbled by the opportunity to serve for the next two years. Obviously, we are not going to resolve all problems in two years, which would be impossible. But we're going to give it our best shot. And I very much look forward to working with our new Trustees Matt Callaghan and Carl Finger, with my old Trustee – not an old Trustee -- Trustee Bill Stern, as well as with Deb Pekarek, David Lee and Marc Samwick. I think we have a great board. I look forward to serving the residents of Scarsdale.