Edgemont Incorporation Redux

Seven years has passed since a group of Edgemont residents created the Edgemont Village Exploratory Committee (EVEC) to study the possibility of the incorporation of Edgemont and now the idea is back on the table. At the October 3, 2011 meeting of the Edgemont Community Council (ECC) directors voted unanimously to form a committee to investigate whether it makes sense to incorporate Edgemont now as Greenburgh's seventh village.

Why revisit this idea and why now, On the ECC Facebook Page , ECC president Geoff Loftus, cites a number of concerns, including escalating town property taxes over which Edgemont has no control, the Town's 56-year failure to conduct a town-wide reassessment which is costing the Edgemont school district millions of dollars annually, and the absence of any Edgemont control over zoning and planning. Greenburgh is now considering a comprehensive plan that is expected to call for substantially increased housing density along Central Avenue that could swamp the school district with a substantial increase in enrollment.

Loftus stressed that what is being considered is not "secession" from Greenburgh which is not legally or economically practical. Secession was a term used by opponents of incorporation in 2005 to scare residents. Appointed to the ECC committee to study the issue were ECC directors Marc Ackerman, Peter Mellis, Aubrey Graf, and Greg Adams.

In June 2005, the EVEC published the Report to the Community on Village Incorporation, and found that the cost of an Edgemont Village would be higher than the expense of remaining as part of the unincorporated area of Greenburgh. There were numerous issues including the ability to acquire land and create the village infrastructure. The EVEC report can be viewed here:

In taking the pulse of the community on this issue this week, I found that many had no idea that this committee had been formed -- and most admitted that they did not understand what it means for Edgemont to become a village. A relative newcomer in the community was curious about the discussions and wondered why she knew nothing about it. She said, “I feel that the debate has not been fairly disseminated to all of Edgemont, especially those new to the area who have the most to gain/lose by such a move. The membership of this village committee should be open to the Edgemont community more broadly so that we are insured of an unbiased report at the end.”

Another well informed community member said that he recalls that the EVEC report indicated that “Edgemont Village” taxes would be 33% higher than the current (in 2005) Greenburgh Town taxes. He felt that at this time, when real estate agents say that Edgemont properties are not selling as quickly as Scarsdale properties, the last thing we need is higher taxes. Common sense dictates that a small village cannot provide infrastructure and municipal services as efficiently as a l

arge town. He believed his taxes would go through the roof, just when Edgemont can least afford it.

A third community member said that if it would ultimately lower her family's taxes, she would be in favor of becoming a village but would like to hear more about how being a village would affect the schools. She worries about her kids' classes getting more crowded so if becoming a village could help in that aspect, she would like to hear more about it.

John Sganga of Edgemont has mixed feelings about the move. He said, “I am intrigued by the idea of a village. However I need to see how this will occur without additional costs to the homeowners of Edgemont. All types of governments today are being challenged to reduce taxes and increase services! I just assume that the village of Edgemont will add an additional layer of taxes to edgemont denizens. This will be unacceptable. However, I look forward to the findings of this new committee and I will review the results with an open mind!”

Personally, I would like to see more concrete information presented in open community meetings about whether or not Edgemont would be better off as the seventh village within Greenburgh. I also need to know how this will affect the Edgemont schools, if at all. I need to know that no school land will ever be used for village purposes. I need to know what my taxes will be under a new village and most of all, I need to know who will run this Edgemont Village.

Caroline Tzelios is a "stay at home" mom of three kids who never stays at home. She has spent the past thirteen years volunteering in the Edgemont Schools and recently completed her two year term as PTSA co-president of Edgemont High School. She is the current co-chair of Edgemont's ACE Theater Committee and serves on the Edgemont School Foundation and E Club boards.