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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 26 April 2023

Created: 26 April 2023

Last Updated: 27 April 2023

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The Village Board, headed by newly elected Mayor Justin Arest, unanimously passed the 2023-24 Village Budget at their April 25, 2023 meeting.

The budget funds some of Scarsdale’s infrastructure needs including development of a plan to renovate the Scarsdale Pool, improvements to traffic and safety in the Village and paving of roads.

The tax levy of $46,510,000 represents a year-over-year increase of 4.15%, which equates to a $250.81 annual tax increase to the average assessed home of $1,597,000. It exceeds the New York State tax cap of 3.17%.

Commenting on the Village Budget, Deputy Mayor Randy Whitestone thanked the "Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer, Village Manager, Deputy Village Manager, and village department heads and staff for continuing to cement our relatively new – this is our second year -- approach to budgeting, including starting early and tightly weaving in goals, objectives, and data to guide our priorities and decisions, with the addition of significant public transparency on the village website and via a Digital Budget Book. "

He said, "any budget is a dynamic, year-round process and living document subject to adjustments throughout the fiscal year as we pay attention to real-world conditions such as inflation, fluctuating interest rates, and continued and active assessment of what “normal” equilibrium looks like."

Trustee Brew answered critics who objected to the increase beyond the cap. She said “We have neglected long term infrastructure needs for many years and made prudent choices to fund what is truly needed and struck a balance.” She said the tax cap was a “somewhat arbitrary number.”

Trustee Gans agreed. He said, “Each of us devoted considerable time to analyzing projected interest rates and we take our responsibility seriously. I am confident in the budget process and that this budget strikes the right balance between keeping taxes low while making the necessary expenditures to keep the village as one of the most desirable places to live in the NYC area.”

Trustee Gruenberg appreciated the efforts of the Treasurer and the Village staff. She said, “I am comfortable with the work done by the previous Village Board. Balancing the wants and needs of the Village with the tax burden is not easy particularly with our aging infrastructure.”

Trustee Mazer said, “It requires a lot of balance. But I would tell my neighbors that the money we raise will ultimately benefit you. Find some solace in knowing that we are all working on the same team for the long term health of our community.”

Trustee Ahuja explained, “There was many years of underinvestment in the Village. It was less than the expectations for a place like Scarsdale. Some money needs to be spent. It is very difficult to estimate revenues and expenses in an unprecedented interest rate environment. This is a time to make conservative and prudent calls.”

Mayor Arest complimented the Village Treasurer on the technological advances to the budget process. He said, “I am comfortable with where things have come out – and want to thank Mayor Veron and Trustee Lewis.” He said, “I look forward to the coming year.”

During Public Comments, there was some feedback on the budget:

Bob Harrison continued to urge the Board to use higher interest rates in their budget proposal.

Anne Hintermeister objected to the Village Board exceeding the NYS tax cap of 3.2% for their 2023-24 budget. She said it was unnecessary to maintain services or deal with an emergency. She said, “In fact there is a surplus available from the previous year.” She called it fiscally inappropriate in a year when the Board could have easily stayed below the cap.

Carl Finger thanked the Board for upholding laws that ban the placement of signs in the Village right of way. He said he considers signs in the right of way as “visual pollution.” He said he did not agree with Bob Harrison’s math and said that was gambling with our money.

Pickleball Courts at Crossway Field

However some were not happy with what is funded in the budget. During public comments, residents who live near Crossway came out to object to a plan to build pickleball courts on Crossway Field which were included in the 2023-24 Village budget. The speakers were familiar faces as they were the same people who objected to the Scarsdale Little League proposal to add field lights at Crossway last year.

Lori Garfunkel of 61 Lincoln Road said, “We object to the location near our house. We are concerned about a noise problem. This can be a life changing event for homeowners. We did a FOIL request for the studies of the noise conducted by the Village. They (the courts) should be built 450 feet away from homes. The pickleball sound is 70 decibels. The proposed location is as close as 150 feet from the closest homes. Brite Avenue has paddleball courts that are in disrepair, perhaps these can be used.”

Kaare Weber of 51 Crossway said, “We are adjacent to the proposed located for the eight pickleball courts. We question the approach to inform the community. Pickleball creates tension for good reason. It is no secret that the sound level is unreasonable. I ask for a reassessment of our noise level law. We look forward to a fair solution that we all can enjoy even within the Crossway and Pool Complex.

Josh Greenwald of 51 Harvest Drive also spoke up about the pickleball courts. He said, “There appears to have been little discussion about courts that back up to people’s homes. I would like to understand the process for these proposals moving forward.”

Michelle Castiello of Mamaroneck Road objected to the courts. She said, “Spending $400,000 for these courts is not appropriate. She raised concerns about drainage, and noise. She asked, “What would Crossway look like with sound barriers and nets? She said, there is “congestion and traffic is a problem in this area. We don’t know what the demand is for these courts
Use our existing paddle and tennis courts to meet the demand. That’s what’s done at FMTC and Lake Isle. Before we start spending money we should look at the demand and at repurposing existing courts.”

Andrew Casden said, “I won’t hear the noise and I won’t see the lights. This was brought on without any real discussion or planning. I don’t think that’s right. Where is the due diligence?”

What else:

Chris O’Brien

Mayor Arest observed a moment of silence for former Scarsdale Village IT Director Chris O’Brien who recently passed away. He said, “Anyone who knew Chris will remember him as a kind-hearted and generous sole. Chris was a product of Scarsdale and gave over 35 years of his life in service to our community here at Village Hall. Chris was always there when needed and was always willing to go above and beyond. Whether it was fixing a keyboard or helping Scarsdale become one of the earliest Westchester municipalities to have a dedicated website, he was happy to do what was needed.”

Scarsdale Bowl

The Mayor congratulated Janice Starr and the Scarsdale Village Ambulance Corps for receiving the Scarsdale Bowl, which will be celebrated at a dinner at Mamaroneck Beach Club on Thursday evening April 27.

Denim Day

The Board dressed in blue jeans to recognize Denim Day, a day to raise awareness of the prevalence of sexual violence. Natalie Ramos of the Safe Coalition thanked the Board and urged the community to make a social statement with their fashion statement.

Letters to the Board of Trustees

Though Mayor Arest spoke of making transparency a priority, the Village Attorney has recommended that letters to the Board of Trustees no longer appear in the agendas of Village Board meetings. He said that publishing these letters as part of the agenda could create legal issues for the Village. Arest assured the public that though the letters will not be published, they will be read and considered by the Board.

Manhunt

Village Manager Rob Cole discussed a manhunt for a suspect on the loose on Monday afternoon April 24, 2023. Cole explained that police stopped a stolen vehicle in Mt. Vernon where one suspect left the car and was apprehended. The other suspect drove the stolen car and crashed on the Hutchinson River Parkway. He got out of the car and escaped on foot and was observed on Mamaroneck Road and Griffen Avenue. Police and other emergency personnel conducted a thorough search for the suspect. Cole said, “Thanks to an alert from a resident and the police the unarmed suspect was arrested on Continental Road.”

Cole reported that the Village used press releases, twitter and robo calls to ask for support in finding the suspect. They utilized geographic fencing to focus on residents within the target area.

He said, that the Village will do a review of communications and improvements for the future. They will address why some in the targeted area were not reached. He encouraged all residents to sign up for Blackboard Connect to receive press releases and announcements from the Village and to follow the government on twitter at scarsdale.gov.

Compost Giveback Day

Compost Giveback Day is Saturday April 29 from 8 am to 3 pm at the recycling center on Secor Road. The compost, which was made from Scarsdale’s food scraps, will be given out on a first come, first served basis. The event will be held rain or shine.

Hydrant Flushing will begin on May 1 and last for three weeks. The schedule will be posted on the water department page of the Village website. Cole urged residents to refrain from washing clothes during the flushing as the water will be discolored.

Fire Pit Safety

Cole read some regulations pertaining to fire pits from the Fire Department:

-They must be attended by responsible adult.
- They should be placed beyond a ten foot radius from combustible materials.
- A water supply or hydrant should be nearby.
- There should be a phone within reach to access in case of an emergency.
- They must not be more than 3 feet in diameter.
- You should completely extinguish the fire when you are done.
- They may not be used to burn lawn debris or other types of materials.
- You should watch weather for dry windy periods when they should not be used

During liaison reports, Trustee Ahuja congratulated the new President of the Scarsdale Library Board – Laura Liu - as well as the new co-presidents of the Friends of Scarsdale Library, Nancy Kaplan and Stacey Mayer. He noted that in March 2023, 71 library programs served over 3,000 people and said that the library will be open late for study hours this week.

Resolutions:

The board approved two resolutions: The first is for a subdivision fee of $60,000 for 28 Aspen Road where the lot will be divided into two parcels.

The second was for a contract to Hudson Valley Charter Service for $71,000 to supply two buses for the Teen Travel Camp.

Mayor’s Comments

Here are opening comments from Mayor Justin Arest

Earlier this evening we met in the 3rd Floor Meeting Room to begin discussing Community Priorities that the Board hopes to advance in the coming weeks, months and potentially years. I encourage residents to watch the brief work session which should be posted online in the next day or two. The agenda from that meeting is already on our website and there will be more to come on this topic next week when we reconvene as a Board to continue the prioritization conversation.

One topic I want to highlight is the Board’s commitment to communication and transparency. Everything we do is with the community’s best interests in mind and we encourage all of you to participate early and often. This hope for even greater collaboration is a large part of the impetus for a desire to reframe our budget conversations and in turn, we hope to also continue improving our budget process. A tremendous amount of hard work is put forward by staff each year and board members have always been diligent in reviewing what is proposed. Of course, this will not change. There has also been a lot of focus by the Board and some in the community on a few line items in the budget as well as available funding sources. These can be important conversations to have. But when done in a vacuum, I do not think they are the best way to move us forward. For example, if there is concern our tax rate is too high, the discussion should not be focused on how much fund balance we can use or whether we can borrow more. Let’s start discussing the level of services we are providing and whether there are places to save money and always try to do them more efficiently. Periodically, the Village has added services or amenities that residents desire without conversation about what we might do without. Of course, while adding these new options might only require a capital expenditure up front, they also add operating expenses into the future.

I am proud of what previous boards have accomplished working with DPW when examining our road paving needs and evaluating a fleet replacement plan. Instead of making improvements based on surpluses we might hope for, planning is now done to budget for a minimum expenditure in these areas thereby ensuring a baseline condition level. Additional funds can be added when available and needed. This is also similar to the water study planning that was done a few years ago. Water rate increases should no longer be a surprise. There is a well reasoned long term plan to address our water infrastructure needs that includes rate increases when necessary. There may be tweaks needed should assumptions in that model prove to be incorrect but the hope is that such changes will not materially impact the path forward.

Without effective long term planning, it is almost unrealistic to think that annual deferrals will not be necessary and some service or part of our infrastructure that many residents rely on will perennially fall victim. We do not have unlimited funds. And, that is exactly what happened to our roads a decade ago. There was nothing nefarious. There was nothing but good intentions. But without disciplined long term planning, and expectation setting, it is hard to choose to raise taxes when provided with options that at the time might seem reasonable.

What is my point? My point is that our residents deserve to have things done well and for our resources to be in good condition. Despite the misconception of Scarsdale, we have never believed in having everything new and shiny and perfect. We just want what is best for our families and our children and we would like the things we use and rely on to be in good functional shape. Our fields do not need to look like Citi Field but they should be safe and they should drain and be playable. Our roads will always have to face the wear of the environment, but we should not have to regularly fear a blow out. We take the infrastructure that brings us our drinking water for granted and that should not change assuming we continue necessary improvements and repairs. And our tax rate and potential increases should not be a complete surprise each year and certainly should not be a number predetermined and then worked backward to accomplish. Our tax rate is an output based on our community’s needs.

Again, to be clear, this is not an indictment on anyone and certainly not a criticism of our hard working and dedicated staff. This is a belief that we need to start discussing our priorities now and determining what we are doing well, what we can be doing better, what more we can do, and, what can we possibly forgo. This all needs to be discussed in the context of our taxes and how they might be impacted understanding potential increases. If we want to lower our taxes, we may have to do less as a government. If the community wants more or even just wants much of what we already do but done better, then we have to be able to explain and justify the costs involved. And, we can’t do one program or area each year. Each area studied might exhibit a genuine need for additional investments but without a holistic view, there is not an opportunity to weigh incremental costs for potentially competing priorities against one another.

Your village taxes are currently about 50 basis points of your home’s assessed value. The budget which is on our agenda and will be voted on this evening can show you where every dollar goes. But we need your help to plan for Scarsdale 2030 and beyond. It will not be easy, and it will likely not be a one year project. And, I can promise there will be difficult conversations but I hope we can always remember we are neighbors and understand that we are just trying to achieve the same thing, what is best for Scarsdale.

Finally, I received public correspondence regarding our rules of procedure that we passed at our last board meeting. It was specific to the treatment of written correspondence to the mayor and board from the public. I would like to ask the Village Attorney to share with the community why he and his firm believes that this is a best practice for municipalities.

Watch the meeting here:

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 29 April 2023

Created: 29 April 2023

Last Updated: 04 May 2023

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Everything old was new again at the centennial celebration of the Scarsdale Foundation and the 2023 Scarsdale Bowl Award dinner on Thursday April 27 at Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club.

The event committee presented an evening that respected the traditions of the annual dinner while streamlining the program and adding some light and levity to mark a new era.

Gone were the lengthy speeches from fellow volunteers, recitation of resumes and toasts from family and friends. These were all captured in entertaining videos featuring comments from the community that said in five minutes what formerly lasted for hours. The 2023 recipient of the Scarsdale Bowl, Janice Starr, was lauded by friends, family and fellow committee members in short cameos that did an excellent job of portraying Janice’s character and work on behalf of the community.

In another new element of the event, the Bowl Committee added a second award recipient. They broadened their recognition to include the first ever Spotlight Award, which went this year to the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps who played an essential role in saving lives during the Pandemic.

The venue was new as well. Just as the evening began, skies cleared for a stunning view of Long Island Sound from the terrace of the Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club where drinks and appetizers were served outside. The scene made a picturesque backdrop for photos of the honorees and their guests.

Bowl Chairman Erika Rublin welcomed the crowd of almost 300 guests along with the Scarsdale High School group Classified Musicians and the members of the Scarsdale High School A capella group For Good Measure who entertained the group.

She acknowledged elected government officials in the room including State Senator Shelley Mayer, Assemblyperson Amy Paulin, County Legislator Ben Boykin, Village Trustees Sameer Ahuja, Jeremy Gans, Dara Gruenberg and Randy Whitestone, Scarsdale School Board President Amber Yusef, School Board Vice President Ron Schulhof and School Board Trustee Suzie Hahn.Bowl Chair Erika Rublin with David Raizen

She gave a shout out to the Scarsdale Foundation Board: BK Munguia, Tom Giordano, Jennifer Love, Marc Greenwald, Seema Jaggi, Jon Leslie, Anne Lyons, Elyse Klayman and Suzanne Seiden and Elyse Klayman, Bowl Liaison to the Foundation.

About Suzanne Seiden, Rublin said, "You have been a wonderful collaborator, cheerleader and mentor. You have both made the job of chairing the Bowl dinner what volunteering should be - fun, rewarding and a place to make new friends. I could not have done it without you.”

She thanked the members of the Bowl Committee: Becky Bach, Sara Farnsworth, Carl Finger, Adam Hellegers, Ronny Hersch, Sharon Higgins, Angela Manson, Margot Milberg, Susan Ross, Xue Su, and Beverly Thornhill. A special thank you to our Bowl Treasurer, Isabel Finegold and Leah Dembtizer, Bowl Secretary as well as Melanie Applebaum for her help with marketing and technology.

Last she thanked all the volunteers in the room, saying, “As much as the Bowl dinner is about honoring a particular volunteer, it is also about celebrating and honoring all of the community volunteers who work so hard…… Scarsdale is a special place because of its heart – all of you – the volunteers who give back so much to our community.”

Rublin introduced a beneficiary of the Foundation’s generosity who was on hand to express her gratitude. Svitlana Artamonova, an emigree from Ukraine, explained that the Foundation paid for her daughter to attend summer camp this year. Her daughter loved it and while she was in camp, Svitlana used the time to study for her real estate license and is now an agent.

The Board of the Scarsdale FoundationFoundation President Suzanne Seiden revealed the history of the Scarsdale Foundation, which dates back to November 1923. The committee was founded when Scarsdale Police Sergeant John J. Harrison was shot in the line of duty while pursuing a stolen car from a garage on Dobbs Terrace. When the community learned that Harrison had left behind a wife and three children they formed a relief committee to support them. Since that time the Foundation has raised funds for college scholarships and support for children to attend the rec camp. Last year they granted over $148,000 in scholarships to 33 students.

Rublin then honored Spotlight Award recipient David Raizen and the Scarsdale Bowl Recipient Janice Staff.

To SVAC she said, “I remember the chaotic time of 2020 - kids were home from school, choices of food were limited, I was afraid to go anywhere and we were isolated at home. But SVAC was there - one of our healthcare heroes - never missing a call. And they went above and beyond - not just responding to emergency calls, but they also provided essential testing and vaccines for our community at a time when it was really, really hard to get those services. SVAC was all over Scarsdale Buzz – when the question of where can I get a COVID test or where can I get a vaccine was posted, the answer was SVAC!”

About Janice Starr she said, “You truly live up to your name! You light up a room and are a true star! You are open and warm and humble and you graciously pull everyone around you in. You have been involved in, and a leader in, pretty much every organization in Scarsdale and even beyond – your keen mind and spot on instincts leaves these institutions better for having your leadership and input. But, really, Janice, what sets you apart is your generosity, your kindness and your caring. You have a unique ability to encourage others to get involved, to step out of their comfort zone and do things they might not normally do. You are a connector - you promote cooperation and consensus among different people. And you invite Scarsdale into your home! I too have been lucky enough to attend some of your open houses and I have experienced firsthand your hospitality. Scarsdale is lucky to have you as a leader and volunteer.”

Watch the videos about the recipients and the history of the Scarsdale Foundataion here:

The Scarsdale Bowl Committee

Accepting their awards, David Raizen said, “If three and a half years ago I had told you that SVAC would be testing 17,000 people and vaccinating 3,000 people for Covid, you would have told me that I had lost my mind. This small, but crazy group of volunteers and career personnel never missed a 911 call, and set up to help the entire county in what was probably the worst plague that has happened in our lifetime.”

“There is no town, city or village in Westchester that one of their residents didn’t take advantage of the services that only two volunteer ambulance corps in Westchester offered.
We continue to add to our community outreach, thru joint training with the police and fire depts, and are doing home visits to patients thru our community paramedicine program in conjunction with White Plains Hospital.”

“SVAC needs volunteers young and old. You don’t necessarily need to ride in the ambulance. We need people for other functions as well. We offer in-house training for anyone who wants to ride, including CPR and EMT classes in our building.”

“This award is an enormous thank you to our membership who went above and beyond the call of duty during the covid outbreak. Thank you to the Scarsdale Foundation for acknowledging our hard work over the last 52 years.”

Accepting the Bowl, Janice looked out at the crowd and said, “I don’t shy away from speaking in front of crowds, but tonight is overwhelming for me. And I like getting attention but this is a little extra even for me. I am truly grateful to the Scarsdale Foundation for giving me the honor of receiving the Scarsdale Bowl. I am humbled to be in the company of so many past recipients of the bowl, many of whom are in the room, many of whom are no longer with us, and many of whom I have worked with on numerous Boards and committees. I also recognize that many of you and others are as worthy of receiving this award as I am and I accept this for all of you! It takes a Village. And there are not many villages as dedicated to volunteerism as Scarsdale. I am proud to say that our reach extends far beyond our community and it is an honor to be recognized as a volunteer in such an esteemed community.

01/23 

   

Most of you know that I love a good party, so I will keep my speech short so we can keep the party going.

I want to thank each one of you, family and friends, for being here. I want to give special thanks to my husband Ira and to our sons for tolerating a lot of takeout meals and evening meetings. And I’d like to thank all of you here, and many others, who have contributed to the Scarsdale Foundation. Your contributions will provide scholarships and grants to local individuals and organizations.

I learned the value of volunteerism growing up in Syracuse As an only child with seven adults in a large home that was built Suzanne Seiden and Angela Mansonby my grandfather. On the bottom floor was a small grocery store where I started to “work” at the age of three. My salary was a penny candy a day! I learned to read the labels, add up the bills on the big paper on the counter, make change in the money drawer, and interact with all kinds of people. But most of all, I learned how people in a community help each other. During the depression my grandfather extended credit to many people in our small Polish community. Later, those credit slips still stood on the nail on the counter of the store as a reminder of harder times. Our family provided services to the community for almost 100 years. Not only did we sell groceries but we helped people with many personal issues including legal assistance and translation.

It was hard to leave my family but I pursued a wonderful education, worked as a consultant, and started a family. It was only when I got to Scarsdale that I found a community that I could embrace. I have always marveled at the way our village comes together to support our triumphs and tragedies, and to achieve so much more than we could achieve acting alone.
In Scarsdale, I immediately threw myself into the world of volunteering. I have continually worked with smart, passionate, dedicated people. I learned to respect our differences in the pursuit of common goals. I have such fond memories of working with so many of you and, as you know, I enjoy hosting parties at home to raise money and awareness for many organizations!

I don’t regard this as a lifetime achievement award that signals the end or even the slowing down of my volunteerism in Scarsdale. And we never plan to leave - Scarsdale is truly our home. I am grateful to all of you for all that you do to make Scarsdale and the broader community better for everyone!

Randi Culang and Dara Gruenberg seranaded StarrThe evening ended on a high note with a video of Fox Meadow friends Randi Culang and Dara Gruenberg singing “Starlight, Starbright.” In a play on Starr’s name, they rewrote the lyrics into a hilarious rendition of Starr’s many contributions to Scarsdale.

Everyone left the room with a smile and pride that they were a part of this thoughtful and generous community.

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 06 April 2023

Created: 06 April 2023

Last Updated: 06 April 2023

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Joanne Wallenstein and Amy Paulin on the floor of the NYS Assembly(From the office of Amy Paulin)
On Thursday March 30, 2023 the New York State Assembly Legislative Women’s Caucus held its annual Women’s History Month Celebration where one woman from each New York State Assembly district was chosen to be honored for their service to the community. Joanne Wallenstein was chosen by NYS Assemblywoman Amy Paulin to be the honoree for District 88. Joanne has served the Scarsdale community in various roles as a volunteer and since 2009 has served the Scarsdale community through her online newspaper, Scarsdale10583.com.

On March 30, Joanne came to Albany and was invited to the floor of the New York State Assembly. Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Hon. Jeffrey Aubrey offered Joanne a grand welcome and gave her “privileges of the floor” for the day. Joanne was formally introduced on the floor by the NYS Assembly Majority Leader, Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes, who stated “On behalf of our colleague Amy Paulin, we’d like to welcome to our chambers Joanne Wallenstein … through her online newspaper Scarsdale10583.com she fearlessly and relentlessly covers a broad range of topics of immense importance to her community. In addition to her community journalism, Joanne has consistently uncovered and pursued stories in search of the truth and in search of transparency.” Peoples-Stokes’ introduction was followed by a standing ovation for Joanne from the NYS Assembly. Watch the introduction here.

Assembly Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes with Wallenstein and Paulin

During a reception for the honorees later in the day Assemblywoman Amy Paulin said, “Community journalism is so important, and year after year Joanne continues to do a fantastic job covering the happenings in our area. Our community is more informed and stronger because of Joanne’s work. I’m so pleased to celebrate her this year as District 88’s Women’s History Month honoree.” Watch it here.

Assemblymember Paulin, Wallenstein and State Senator Shelley Mayer

(From Joanne Wallenstein)

I was thrilled to be honored in Albany where I met so many dynamic women who lead the state. After the introduction on the floor of the NYS Assembly, we toured the Capitol Building, an architectural wonder, and saw “the rooms where it happens.” Thanks so much to our esteemed Assemblymember Amy Paulin and her Chief of Staff Michelle Sterling for making me feel like a Queen for the Day. I’ll remember the event for the rest of my life.

Paulin and Wallenstein

Chief of Staff Michelle Sterling and Wallenstein toured the CapitolThe Million Dollar Staircase has 444 steps and 77 famous faces carved in the stonework.