Update on the Pool Renovation, Safety Technology and a Food Drive from Village Hall

A Village Food Drive, a pool update and proposed police technology were all discussed at the Village Board’s first meeting in July.

The meeting opened with comments from Mayor Justin Arest:

Mayor’s Comments:

Good evening. I have four items to discuss tonight. Before I get to those, however, I want to extend our deepest condolences for the loss of life and share that the thoughts and prayers of this Board and our community are with everyone impacted by the flooding in both Texas and North Carolina.

I’d also like to recognize that July is Disability Pride Month, an important time to celebrate the contributions and diversity of the disability community. And on a lighter note, July is also National Ice Cream Month—something we can all enjoy as we come together this summer.

First, a reminder: we have paused the Technology Upgrade Program with Flock Safety following notification that our grant application was not approved. The Police Department had already begun developing a contingency plan in anticipation of this possibility, and we have now asked them to expedite that work and return to the Board in September. This timeline allows for thoughtful revisions and ensures the recommendations can be shared with both the Board and the broader community. We also recognize that many residents are away at times over the summer and want to allow for the greatest possible community engagement.

To clarify, the agreement with Flock Safety has not been cancelled, but no further steps will be taken until all options for public safety upgrades are reviewed at a public meeting in September. Termination remains on the table, as maintaining flexibility to meet the Village’s evolving needs has always been a priority for this Board and was a key consideration when entering the agreement.

Second, Scarsdale has launched a month‑long food drive this month, in partnership with Feeding Westchester. The drive began last week and will run through July 31, collecting nutritious, non‑perishable items at convenient drop‑off locations Village wide. Please go to our website, Scarsdale.gov for more information on how you can participate.

I think it is important to note that in Westchester County:

-1 in 3 households is currently at risk of hunger, and
-2 in 5 households report skipping meals or relying heavily on food pantries

Feeding Westchester serves over 175 partner food programs monthly, distributes fresh produce, and operates mobile pantries: providing vital nutrition to 80,000 children each month

The Village is proud to participate in the fight against this ongoing epidemic of food insecurity. Hunger, even in more affluent areas, is a growing, serious issue, and I encourage every resident to contribute canned goods, perishables, and if possible, a cash donation. Every dollar helps provide up to two meals.

Third, our pool renovation project is progressing. The architects are working on the schematic design, and we’ve reengaged Ballard and King to build upon earlier economic analyses. We expect to present a detailed plan, including design, operations, and timeline along with financial projections, to the Board and public during a work session in October. Once we have a better sense of timing, we will publicize that meeting.

Lastly, I want to mention community events that we attended on July 4 to celebrate the 249th anniversary of our nation’s Declaration of Independence. Trustees Wise, Mazer, and Deputy Mayor Gruenberg joined me at Arthur Manor’s celebration that included a parade with Uncle Sam, a ceremony and awards for scooters and floats. Deputy Mayor Gruenberg, County Executive Jenkins and Assembly Member Paulin joined me at Greenacres’ event which included a community gathering and ceremony along with the annual water run with a lot of welcomed help from our fire department. Thank you to Arthur Manor President Matt Martin and his team, Greenacres President Kristin Zakierski and her team, and their respective Neighborhood Associations for putting on and including us in these wonderful celebrations.

Village Manager Alex Marshall announced that the Public Service Commission will be holding hearings throughout July on Con Edison’s proposed rate increases for electric and gas delivery. See the full schedule here:

Marshall also announced that a traffic study of Mamaroneck Avenue is in progress. The information is needed in the planning of enhancements to Boulder Brook and Crossway including courts, a turf field and parking. The consultants have already collected the traffic data and plan to have the report by the end of the summer.

Responding to a question about the status of the pool project, Marshall explained, "Lothrop and Associates are further developing the proposal in schematic design for the pool complex that includes a year round natatorium in accordance with the board's direction at the January 28, 2025, budget work session. Our consultants from Ballard*King are simultaneously updating the market analysis and operational plan for the pool complex that were previously conducted in 2022. We anticipate having a public meeting this fall to update the Village Board and the community on the progress for the pool complex."

Following the meeting we questioned the Mayor about the timing of the pool renovation. Since it will not begin this fall, we asked if the current pool will remain open for the summer of 2026 - with construction to begin in the fall of 2026? He responded, "This is a reasonable assumption at this point. We want as little downtime as possible."

Stormwater and Sidewalks:

Village Trustees will hold a work session on stormwater management and sidewalks on Tuesday July 15 at 6 pm at Village Hall.

Public Comments:

Joseph Mauro of Murray Hill Road attempted some comic relief. He said he had come to present a video, but had to do a slideshow instead. It is a comic weaving of the complaints he has recently heard at Village Hall about accessible sidewalks, turf fields, redefining the zip code and more all-weather fields.

He suggested that Scarsdale annex Edgemont for their playing field and use drones to limit littering at the Golden Horseshoe and enhance golf bag security at Scarsdale Golf Club.
He suggested that the Scarsdale Pool could be converted into a turf field and that a lazy river could transport commuters to the Hartsdale Train Station. He said the video would be posted on social media.

Beth Lambert of Chateaux called in via Zoom to discuss the Flock contract. She said, “I’m grateful we have this moment to pause, to reset, and I hope you see it as a chance to refine your plans and seriously consider some community concerns.

Meaningful, appropriate security is vital to our village. But like any investment in our shared well-being, it demands deliberate thought. Surveillance, call it what you will, is not a dog park debate. It’s not about pickleball. This is a fundamentally different kind of conversation, one that touches on privacy, trust, and the future we want to create together.

I imagine you expected unanimous support going into this. And perhaps that was part of the oversight. I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt because I do believe you serve with good intentions. So let me be clear: dissenting from this decision does not mean we don’t value your time or your commitment. It means some of us believe this decision needed more conversation, upfront.

By not opening it up early, those of us with concerns have been cast as divisive or ungrateful. That’s unfair, and deeply disappointing.

I’ll be honest: I don’t know the full scope of what’s involved in securing a village like ours. But I also don’t know what we’re securing ourselves from. Personally, I feel safe here. I always have. So, if we’ve truly been at risk all this time, why are we only hearing about it now?

Mayor Arrest mentioned this agreement with Flock is simply to upgrade failing systems. But if that’s the case, if it’s just an equipment swap, why wasn’t it shared more transparently from the beginning? Was public input deemed less important than on other issues?

Is it wrong for members of this community to question a surveillance contract? To ask about data collection? Or the impact on our children, who make mistakes, who test boundaries, and who deserve the same space for youthful error that many of us once had? What happens when those mistakes are recorded and archived? What of our own mistakes? What happens when that data ends up in the wrong hands?

Please don’t tell me it can’t. We all know it can.

Does increased surveillance prevent tragedy? Sometimes, maybe. But often, no. Atrocities still happen. And if you feel you need cameras to feel safe, you have the right to secure your home, your property, your family. But I ask, will that really prevent the unthinkable? Or are we just building a false sense of safety while quietly giving up something we can never fully get back?

We owe it to everyone in this village, not just the loudest voices, not just those comfortable participating online, to ask hard questions before we normalize surveillance as part of daily life. That includes thinking about those who stay quiet or who fear being seen.

This moment is your chance to rebuild trust. Not by doubling down, but by listening harder, being more transparent, and recognizing that community safety is about more than hardware. It’s about shared values, even when those values are somewhat different.

Let’s make sure we haven’t lost sight of them.”

Robert Berg also called in. He said, “I am concerned about why the Flock contract has not been cancelled. Has the clock started on the no-cancellation clause? I have seen the Village’s response to some FOIL requests. This no-bid contract was a result of documents from Flock claiming they should be the sole source. There are a number of competitors out there that provide identical services but perhaps not marketed as well. In April the Chief noted that no other communities in Westchester were using Flock – though they have drones and cameras.

But you are persisting on going forward – and have not cancelled the contract. The law requires justification for the sole sourcing contract. You are still lying about this. Why would the lawyers on this board go forward with this? Why not question the Village attorney’s erroneous decision?

The public was not made aware of the advanced state of this. This is a terrible state of affairs.
You should admit it and be more transparent moving forward.”

The Mayor responded, “The 180 day cancellation period has not started.”

Resolutions:

Trustees passed several resolutions including:

-Approval of a $199,000 contract with Logically for an IT switch infrastructure upgrade

-Approval of an agreement with the CSEA for the addition of a senior office assistant at the Police Department to the bargaining unit.

-Approval of an amendment to the CSEA agreement for benefit provisions to reflect actual practices.

-The appointment of Joseph Lawrence of 7 Walworth to the Arts Advisory Council.

-The approval of $325,000 in funding for Youth Services provided by Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service. SFCS provides youth outreach, counseling services, leadership groups and managers SAY and the Safe Coalition.

-Approval of the purchase of a 2026 Freightliner, which is a 6-wheel dump truck for snow removal at a cost of $302,000.

-The Board approved disciplinary charges against an employee of the Police Department who was terminated in March 2025.

Communications

The Village Clerk reported that the Board received 32 communications about public safety technology since the last meeting.

Tax Collections

The Village Treasurer reported the following rate of tax collections as of June 30, 2025

98.79% of County Taxes
99.69% of School Taxes
99.71% of Village Taxes

All of these percentages exceeded the average for the past five years.

The Treasurer also discussed the following chart about tax collections via a lock box and online payments. She said the new system was reducing mail bulk and leaving staff more time for customer service.