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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 17 September 2014

Created: 17 September 2014

Last Updated: 24 September 2014

Hits: 3823

This just in Antonio Capicotto from the Scarsdale Water Department: The planned road closure at Fenimore Road has been cancelled for Thursday September 25 due to the forecast for rain.

(Previously published) Fenimore Road will be closed from Fox Meadow Road to Oak Lane on Thursday September 25t to allow the Water Department to excavate a 2- inch water main for exploratory work for a future line stop at that location. The work will be performed on the 25th to take advantage of the Rosh Hashanah school closure. Fenimore Road will be closed from Fox Meadow Road to Oak Lane and traffic will be diverted around the block onto Highland Way, Oak Lane, Greenacres and Brite Avenue as shown on the traffic plan below. The work will start after 9:00 AM and end by 4:00 PM. If there are no obstructions, it should be completed in one day. However if there are delays the work will continue on Friday. Two police officers have been assigned to direct traffic around the detour.

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Written by: Melissa Hellman

Published: 08 September 2014

Created: 08 September 2014

Last Updated: 08 September 2014

Hits: 4887

The Finance Committee of the Village of Scarsdale Board of Trustees met on Thursday, September 4, 2014 to discuss property tax revaluation. The purpose of the meeting was to talk about the Scarsdale Village plan for property assessments on an ongoing basis. The meeting did not pertain to the recent Tyler Technologies assessment revaluation project and did not provide any information regarding the status of the 950 grievances that were filed with the village as a result of the Tyler Assessment except to say that a report will be issued on September 15, 2014 with the Board of Assessment Review's final decisions.

Village Manager Al Gatta presented the Board of Trustees with two options for property assessments going forward. The first option would be to update assessed values on an annual basis using sales data and market trends to make Village-wide adjustments to assessed values. Mr. Gatta estimated the cost of annual updates to be approximately $50,000-$100,000 per year. This method would have the Village maintain property assessment values at 100% of market value. Annual updates would allow the village to correct any under assessed property that may have been overlooked in the recent assessment project, but there was also some concern that it could lead to a large number of grievances each year. Even with yearly updates, a full reappraisal is required in 2017. (A full reappraisal is required every 4 years under any plan the Village adopts.) A full reappraisal reviews and assesses properties on an individual basis. It would be expected that adjustments resulting from the full reappraisal would be minimal, as the assessment values would have been updated yearly under this plan. Mr. Gatta estimated the cost of the full reappraisal to be $250K-$350K.

The second option is a full reassessment every four years only with the next assessment in 2017. The cost estimated for this option is $250K-$350K (same as the cost for this process shown above). Under this option, assessed market values slip until the next full assessment. The number of grievances in non-assessment years would be expected to be minimal with spikes during the revaluation years. Under this plan, if the Village identified a property that was under-assessed, it would not be able to act on any adjustment until an appraisal year.

It is important to note that under either option, the Village can still conduct tax assessments on new construction and additions/improvements to existing homes. Further, under either option, the village is required to complete a visual inspection (from the exterior) of each property on the tax roll every six years.

There was no decision made at this meeting and Mayor Steves wanted to give the Trustees some time to think about the issue. He acknowledged that a decision would have to be made soon especially if option one is selected. He plans to put this topic on the agenda for a meeting in approximately two weeks.

There was also some brief discussion during the meeting about whether the data from the current 950 grievances would be or could be analyzed to determine any trends. For example, would it show that there was a neighborhood without any grievances or a neighborhood with the majority of grievances? The Scarsdale Village Office of the Tax Assessor does not conduct this type of analyses. However, the information will be made public with the report on September 15 and it is expected that some citizens may try to look at the data to identify trends. The Board of Trustees is wondering whether analyses of the data would help to address community concerns about the appraisal process and bias, but there is not a clear answer to be provided at this time. It's likely this issue will discussed more intently after the grievance results report comes out on September 15.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 27 August 2014

Created: 27 August 2014

Last Updated: 27 August 2014

Hits: 8151

"I have been reluctant myself to enter any conversation on the website because of the free reign for destructive anonymous comments. I wonder if you might have more conversations on-line if people like me felt more comfortable contributing."

We received the above from a former school board member who urged us to rethink our policy on permitting anonymous comments on the site. Since the launch of Scarsdale10583.com, nearing six years ago, the posting of anonymous comments has been a hotly debated issue.

Even a former mayor, sent us harsh words about the comments that were posted on the site during Hurricane Sandy when many were without power for almost two weeks. Defending her performance during the storm, former Mayor Flisser warned, "If you get your information from ill-informed websites frequented by cyber trolls who are encouraged or even wholly created as sock puppets by anonymous bloggers you'd get a skewed view of the Village's response to the crisis."

Those who favor the policy say it gives them free reign to state what's on their mind without fear of repercussions while those who are against it say anonymous posts allow community members to attack one another without assuming responsibility for their statements.

As the site administrator, I see that the comments offer a glimpse into what people are really thinking. Who knew that 1,700 people would vote to turn down the first Scarsdale school budget in 40 years? The disgruntled failed to express the strength of their numbers at school board meetings and caught many by surprise. A careful reader of the comments on the site might have picked up a wave of dissent. On the other hand, some of the comments that are submitted are too pointed and put us in the uncomfortable position of moderating nasty debates.

We asked some of more involved users what they thought about the policy – and it's a mixed bag.

Here is what you said:

Michael Otten, a former member of the Scarsdale School Board said, "Why are so few willing to put their names on their comments? The site says "Name (required)," but obviously most of the comments do not include a real name."

Jeff Blatt, another former School Board member is passionate about this issue. He said, "Anonymous comments on 10583 are the height of cowardice and are typically supplemented by the same anonymous poster publishing almost identical comments under multiple anonymous names. This has the effect of making it seem as if many share the same view when in fact the commentary is all coming from one individual. I try to teach my children that free speech is a right to be used responsibly and with integrity. Both of these principles are violated by anonymous posters. If an individual is unwilling to stand tall behind a comment, then a strong case can be made that the comment should not be published by a web site that purports to provide a forum for civil and progressive dialog. I am willing to say whatever is on my mind precisely because I am willing to sign my name to my comments. I often am counterattacked by the anonymous. Such attacks roll easily off my back. I am only offended by the fact that I have such cowardly neighbors. For the few who have responded and signed their name, thank you for engaging.

But Bob Berg, currently the President of the Scarsdale Forum, and one who enjoys debate has another view. He said, "The bottom line for me is - who cares? As the butt of many comments, occasionally positive, but often vile, on your website, both anonymous and purportedly named, I certainly don't care. I'm probably in the minority. But I know others who have been verbally abused who now have retired from public participation in important community discourse. That's sad and unfortunate since your website should be a forum for reasoned debate, even if posted without attribution. And the blame has to lie with you for posting ad hominem attacks. So the solution is simple -- you just need to exercise a modicum of judgment and not post inappropriate comments."

We also received this unsolicited comment from someone who calls themselves "Scarsdale Teacher" and believes that anonymity is necessary to protect teacher-student-parent relationships. Here is what he/she wrote. "I appreciate Mr. Otten (and others) who post under their names. I wish I felt able to do so. But in trying to provide a teacher's perspective on issues that relate to the schools (note that I have made no comment at all on the wisdom or fairness of the reval itself), I must be mindful that I teach the children of other commenters in this forum. I do not wish to prejudice my relationship with any of my students, either because they know I agree with their parents or because they know I do not."

So where do we come out? We agree with Berg that it's up to us to be judicious about which comments we post. We should refuse to put up comments that include personal attacks, low blows and unproductive criticism but permit those that engender community conversation. We promise to do our part to be more effective moderators and ask that you, our readers, do your part to maintain our forum. Here's how you can help.

-Include your name when you can
-Avoid personal attacks and naming names
-Make constructive comments that move the dialogue forward

Comments about comments? Please send them to us in the box below.

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Written by: Stacie M. Waldman

Published: 21 August 2014

Created: 21 August 2014

Last Updated: 24 August 2014

Hits: 4611

If you watched wistfully as your kids went to camp this year, next summer you should consider going too. Many local camps in Westchester (as well as sleep away camps) are eager to hire parents for the summer. John Collins, Director of Badger Day Camp in Larchmont, has seen the benefit of hiring people who are also parents. "It's great to have an employee with guaranteed experience that is personally invested in the welfare of the children and the camp," he said.

Working at camp can allow you to explore a hobby or passion, while spending more time with kids and getting a break on the camp fees. Did you play the acoustic guitar and write music before having kids? Did you play college soccer or do you love coaching baseball? Working at camp can mean getting back to do something you had loved before your own kids took over all of your free time.

There are numerous positions at camps for which a parent can apply, including waterfront staff, head counselor, division leader, program coordinator, marketing director, sports staff, farm or gardening staff, various office jobs, cooking, yoga, drama, art, computers, nurse, and doctor, among others. Some camps prefer that you have an education degree and/or teaching experience; others just require an interview and proof that you have the ability to teach a certain activity or lead a particular group. Don't downplay the skills you have attained as a parent. Most parents of campers are thrilled to learn that a head counselor or instructor has kids of his or her own at camp.

There are many benefits to working at a summer camp, whether day or sleep away, for example:

• It's fun! Really fun most of the time.
• It's active. Yoga then tennis followed by swim and martial arts maybe?
• Your kids will LOVE seeing you there, guaranteed.
• Playing a role in teaching a three-year-old how to swim for the first time and forever is priceless.
• Free hot lunch daily (and maybe ice cream too)
• You'll have the opportunity to see your kids socializing and learning.
• Many camps offer a significant discount on tuition, a salary, or both. Kids may even go for free!
• You may have influence over your own child's camp experience.
• You can have a true impact on other kids' lives for eight weeks.

There are a few realities to working at a summer camp to keep in mind. Badger's John Collins thinks there are challenges to overcome if you are working at a camp that your child attends. "You may need to realize for the first time that your own kids don't come first," he said. "You have 10 to 20 kids in your group who are looking toward you as their parental figure/role model for the day and every one of those children has to be treated equally no matter what the situation." If you're working as a head counselor or division leader, you may be responsible for helping your counselors do the "nitty gritty" work at camp, like applying sunscreen to a whole lot of wiggly four-year-olds, serving lunch to kids that may be picky eaters, and helping kids get dressed for swim (as well as redressed after swim). You will also have to manage counselors who can be conscientious and mature, or sometimes not so much. You may be a contact point for parents so you need to feel comfortable with this aspect of the job. If you're an instructor, camps often count on you to develop teaching plans for your activity. Instructors are responsible for different age groups, so the plan needs to be appropriately adjusted to reflect age differences.

Working at a summer camp can make you feel young again, at least until your own kids walk in the door. There's nothing like having a bunch of high school and college kids as your assistant counselors when you're a division leader or head counselor. Have them guess your age at the end of the summer and I bet they'll guess that you're 5-10 years younger than you really are (as evidenced by asking my own counselors for the past two summers).

Last but not least, a tremendous benefit to working at a local summer camp is the giant list of qualified babysitters you can add to "favorites" on your smartphone.

Contributor Stacie Waldman worked at her children's day camp this summer.