Update from Village Hall
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Mayor Miriam Flisser discussed the status of the conversations about the Scarsdale Building Department and other issues at the March 27th meeting of the Village Board. Here are her remarks: The Village Board continues to be involved in many projects: On April 16, we will hear a presentation from LI Saltzman, our consultants for Historic Preservation. If you would like to preview the report and photography produced in their recent windshield survey, please go to Scarsdale.com, and look for Historic Preservation under Hot Topics. Then join us in Rutherford Hall on April 16 at 6:30 PM.
In addition, we are working on issues raised by residents concerning the Building Department. We continue to receive input from residents about specific instances, and we welcome all community experience. I have been working on concepts for administrative review, based on this input, and have been able to categorize them in 5 main areas:
1) Planning: The role of Land Use Boards, and also how information from the Building Department affects their deliberations.
2) Notification: How notifications have limitations, and how modifications of approved projects are exempt from notifications
3) Enforcement: including inspections and actions based on them; especially current practices in inspections.
4) Recourse: Correction and other issues, especially those involving neighbors.
5) Changed environment, especially concerning water, and practices for regulation and enforcement.
Our next meeting will concern the first topic, Planning Boards, the date to be announced.
Finally, this Board's sitting term is ended, with this being our 24th meeting, and we will re-start next month with a newly elected member, Mr David Lee, who will be sworn in, along with two Trustees beginning their second term, Trustee Kay Eisenman and Trustee Jonathan Mark on Monday April 2 @ 3:30 PM in Rutherford Hall. This is a public event that you are invited to join. We bid farewell to Trustee Richard Toder, a community volunteer with a long and impressive history of service to Scarsdale, and we express our gratitude for his contribution to this, and other organizations that he has served.
In addition to saying goodbye to departing Trustee Richard Toder, the Board passed the following resolutions:
The Board of Trustees awarded contracts for segments of the Fox Meadow Stormwater Improvement Project to two firms. The portion of the work at George Field Park was awarded to NDL Associates of Yonkers for $912,500. The segment that runs from Cambridge Road to Cooper Green and south on the Post Road was awarded to Acocella Contracting of Scarsdale, for a total of $642,500.
The bids for the work at the High School parking lot and Harcourt Woods were rejected and that portion of the project will be redesigned, re-bid and re-advertised. Learn more about this project at Scarsdale.com.
Authorization of the third Ronald McDonald House Day in the Country for pediatric cancer patients and their families, to be organized by the Scarsdale Uniformed Firefighters Assocation. The event will be held on Thursday July 19 and the Crossway Firehouse and at the Scarsdale Pool.
Authorization for the Scarsdale Chamber of Commerce to utilize Village property to run the following events on the following dates:
- Westchester Festival of the Arts on Saturday May 19 and Sunday May 20 in Chase Park, on Woodlands Road and on Chase Road between Spencer and Christie Place.
- Taste of Scarsdale on Sunday June in Boniface Circle
- Scarsdale Health Fair on Saturday June 16 in the lower level parking lot of Village Hall
Statement from Independent Candidate Harry Reynolds
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There is the popular saying that one should beware of getting what one wishes, for one may get what one does not want. On March 20 I was not elected Trustee but I got what I wished for.
My Non-Partisan opponents, Mark, Lee, and Eisenman received, respectively, about 390, 384, and 351 votes. I congratulate them. I received 140 votes. The total of votes cast was 468 in a village of 17,000 residents of whom 11,500 were registered to vote. Putting aside who won or lost, the figures speak aloud the long history in Scarsdale of voters so unmindful of a local election and its consequences that they appear to be walking around our electoral process like unemployed extras on a movie lot.
I ran for election on the claim that from beginning to end the electoral process of the Scarsdale Citizens Non-Partisan Party is, admittedly, secret, and thus contrary to every principle of a democratic society. No argument was advanced against that claim by Mark, Lee, or Eisenman, individually. No answer was made to my claim that Scarsdale’s nonpartisan system is unique among electoral systems in this country and in that part of the world we call the West. As for the system’s keeping secret what occurs before the nominating committee, the only place on earth where that justification could be claimed with a straight face is the fifth floor of a poorly lit asylum late at night.
On March 14, a week before the election, I wrote the following on Scarsdale10583:
“As for the Trustees seeking re-election, Ms Eisenman and Mr Mark, and as for Mr Lee running for the first time, I have no reservation whatsoever with respect to their competence and integrity. What divides us on the ballot is the issue of secrecy that I have raised not against them but against the NonPartisan System’s indefensible love affair with secrecy. As a native born citizen of this country, as a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, and as the son of a Russian mother, I was raised in a culture rebellious against any authority, civil or religious, social or political, claiming any power over me originating in secrecy. My arguments against the Non-Partisan System’s use of secrecy have been plainly laid out and they have been left unanswered. The residents of Scarsdale now have the occasion to vote for or against that secrecy. If they vote for secrecy, that stark fact will be historically recorded. In a sense, my effort will have accomplished something by way of compelling that confession. And that is why I am running. I want to see how my friends and neighbors vote in 2012 on the issue of secrecy in government, whether they move to the left or to the right, for in the absence of supervening reasons of state that justify secrecy, there is no center in which secrecy may hide. In the end, we must decide the issue and let the fat lady sing, so that we can turn out the light and go home.”
What's To Become of Cudner-Hyatt House
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Controversy is brewing over an application by the Scarsdale Historical Society to convert the Cudner Hyatt House on the Post Road from museum to single-family home. The house was built between 1734 and 1754, predating the Revolutionary War. Strapped for funds, the Historical Society wishes to sell the 18th century building that it has used as a museum since it was granted a variance in 1974.The Society has applied to the Scarsdale Zoning Board of Appeals to amend that variance and revert the building for use as a single family residence. A decision on the application was held over at the Board’s February 8th meeting and is on the agenda for the March 14, 2011 meeting.
Despite the challenges of paying for the property, some are not in favor of clearing the way for the demolition of this historic building. The Scarsdale Arts Council contends that the house is “one of Scarsdale’s greatest heritage treasures,” and “has been the focus of community attention for more than two and half centuries.” It was originally part of a 200-acre farm that extended from the Post Road to the Bronx River. More recently, “Generations of Scarsdalians, including thousands of school children, have visited Cudner-Hyatt and participated in a wide range of activities centered there,” and furthermore, a Historical Resources Survey of Scarsdale acknowledges that Cudner-Hyatt house is a “likely landmark for designation.” The house already has historic site recognition form Westchester County, the State of New York and the national government.
In a statement from the Scarsdale Forum’s Executive Committee issued under expeditious treatment, two recommendations are made, both of which are endorsed by the Scarsdale Arts Council.
First, the Forum recommends that the Board of Appeals hold off a decision on the matter until the Historical Society informs the N.Y.S. Attorney General of their application.
Second, that the Society continue to maintain and the house and make it available for public use while the decision is pending.Since the N.Y.S Attorney General is responsible for supervision of charities in the state the Forum contends that they should have the opportunity to address the matter and possibly find a white knight to save the property. They urge the Society to maintain the house in the interim to “avoid irreparable harm” and to seek ways to save it and use it.
In a rather cryptic message on the Scarsdale Historical Society’s Facebook page, a post says:
There's a lot of chatter about the Society's application to lift the variance at 937 Post Road to return it to its original as of right single-family residential use. We probably agree with you. We also care about the buildings and lifting the variance is not intended to destroy them. Let us know your concerns or thoughts.
The matter will be considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals at Scarsdale Village Hall on Wednesday March 14 at 8 pm.
Board of Appeals Considers Fate of Cudner-Hyatt House
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Concern about the fate of the Scarsdale Historical Society’s 18th century building attracted a crowd to the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at Scarsdale Village Hall on Wednesday night March 14th.
The Board of Directors of the Scarsdale Historical Society has filed an application to remove the variance that requires Cudner-Hyatt House to operate as a museum. They contend that removing the variance would allow them to explore ways to make this property financially viable and permit the Historical Society to continue their work. According to the Board, with the variance in place they are having trouble exploring alternative uses for the building and having serious negotiations with others who could take over the property. They looked into moving the building, and leasing it to another group but have not had any success.
In recent years the building has seen little use as it appears that there are no longer people in the community willing to invest their time, money and energy to produce the fairs and educational events that were formerly the lifeblood of the Society. According to the Board, the house is “no longer relevant to the community.” They argue that the Historical Society does not need to “own real estate to accomplish their mission.” Maintenance of the house is draining the Society’s funds, leaving them without resources to pursue other projects such as the digitization of historic issues of the Scarsdale Inquirer or awarding grants for the study of the Scarsdale history.
Speaking in support of the application were many who have previously fought to protect the Village’s historic assets. Society Board Member Carolyn Mehta said, “There is not much at the society that is Scarsdale based history. Right now the Society’s funds are being spent on building maintenance. We have events and fairs but no one comes. Lifting the variance will free funds for the society to do what it wants to do.”
In a written statement, Lucas Meyer, who has served on the Society’s Board for ten years said, “Despite my lifelong commitment to historic preservation I cannot ignore the fact that the ongoing maintenance of the building is beyond the scope and financial ability of the Scarsdale Historical Society. I also trust that this board understands the Society’s Board of Trustees has been extraordinarily thorough in its year-long deliberations, and that we are completely united in our decision.”
Linda Blair, who has served on the Committee for Historic Preservation and the BAR said “ I am a steward of the past but a believer in appropriate use. Though I love old things I understand what is happening now. Free this board to do what they need to do.”
However others urged the Zoning Board of Appeals not to act in haste. Speaking on behalf of the Scarsdale Forum, VP Dan Hochvert asked that the Attorney General make a determination on the variance before the Board of Appeals takes action. He also requested that the Society continue to maintain the house while awaiting a decision. A statement from the Scarsdale Forum’s Executive Committee on the house was issued under expeditious treatment and presented to the Board of Appeals.
Lena Crandall urged the Board of Appeals to refer the matter to the Village Board to do its own study to see if another group is willing to operate the house as a museum. She said, “We need another Eda Newhouse to come along with energy and imagination.”
Former Historical Society President Eda Newhouse called the application “shocking and absurd.” She told that board that when she ran the Society there were 25 people on the Board of Directors as well as scores of others on the Advisory Board. and that they “had a party every year and worked hard to find ways to keep the money coming in.” She also asked the Board of Appeals to give the item more time on the agenda, saying, “You are shortchanging the Historical Society to say what we think in such a short time.”
Former Mayor Ed Morgan spoke on behalf of the Scarsdale Arts Council. They also submitted a statement supporting the position of the Scarsdale Forum. He said, “When the trustees granted the variance they believed it was a landmark worth saving. The Attorney General can get involved at any time. Other neighborhoods have recently saved their historical societies. I don’t have all the answers but it is premature to say there are no answers. We endorse the recommendations made by the Scarsdale Forum and ask you to wait until the Attorney General can get involved.”
When the current president of the Scarsdale Historical Society returned to the table he said, “I want to thank everyone who came tonight. This is the most interest we have had in the Society in years. I agree with what was said. We are dealing with a zoning issue. We want to look for opportunities in the best possible way. As a responsible board we continue to look for options. Grant this so that we can continue to do our due diligence.”
Edgewood 4th Graders Inspired by Pianist at Grace Church
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Edgewood 4th graders were treated to a special mid-day concert at Grace Church, White Plains this past Wednesday featuring an artist internationally recognized for her talent as a concert pianist. Leann Osterkamp, who just turned 21, entertained William Reilly and Joann Mraz’s classes for just under an hour and then spent a good 20 minutes taking questions from the audience.
Osterkamp was born in Boulder, Colorado and has performed as a solo and chamber artist across the U.S. and Europe (including the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Baryshnikov Center in New York City and the Prosels Castle in Vols am Schlern, Italy). Most recently Miss Osterkamp was the 2010 Finalist in the New York International Piano Competition. She came as a guest in the Downtown Music at Grace* (White Plains) concert series, which sponsors free noonday concerts each Wednesday throughout the year.
Downtown Music’s musical director and founder Tim Lewis felt that this particular concert would connect with young people as Leann 
Osterkamp grew up doing many of the things that Scarsdale’s children do (soccer, gymnastics, band) and then pursued her passion for playing the piano. The Edgewood 4th graders learned during the question & answer session that Miss Osterkamp, curiously enough, included in her musical “arsenal”: the kazoo, the xylophone (she was part of her school’s marching band) and the trumpet. The piano, the audience would learn, was something that she’s been studying since she was 7 years old. 10,000 hours later Leann Osterkamp can claim to be one of the rising stars in the world of classical music (a student in the audience asked her whether or not she had put in that many hours of practice time – ostensibly this child was told by his music teacher that that was what it would take to get to Julliard – where Osterkamp is currently studying under Julian Martin).
The actual program included pieces by Debussy, Beethoven and Chopin. Between each selection Miss Osterkamp took time out to speak about the music and encouraged the children to use their imaginations while listening (the Debussy piece – “Poissons d’or” (goldfish) – was of particular interest). Despite the sophisticated nature of the music being performed, it was clear that the children were engaged (many were actually fingering imaginary keyboards along with the music). The Q&A session ran over the allotted time (Miss Osterkamp was visibly delighted at the level of enthusiasm). The concert ended with the presentation of flowers by students from Mr. Reilly and Ms. Mraz’s classes.
4th grade teacher William Reilly and Principal Scott Houseknecht get much credit for supporting this outing (the first group of local students to have attended this concert series). Reilly, an actor with an extensive Broadway background, was quick to accept an invitation to expose the children to such a high level of musical talent. Principal Houseknecht , the creator of the “Classical Café” – a music series dating back almost 10 years (which was designed to create a forum for elementary school students to perform in front of their peers) was also very supportive of providing the children with this cultural opportunity.
Funding for the transportation of the children was underwritten by ArtsWestchester with funds from Westchester County. The free noonday concerts will take place every Wednesday until the end of May ( www.DTMusic.org ). Please contact Tim Lewis at 949-0384 for further information.
