Scarsdale Village Board Appoints New Treasurer and Announces Renovations at Village Hall and Fireworks on July 2

Scarsdale has a new Village Treasurer! At their meeting on Tuesday night June 23, the Board of Trustees approved the appointment of a new treasurer, filling a critical job in the Village Manager’s office that has been open for almost a year. The Mayor announced an add on the agenda, explaining that “Since the treasurer resigned last August, we were clear that they we were not just going to fill a seat. This is one of the most consequential roles in Village Government … the person responsible for safeguarding our community’s finances.” He said, “the process took longer than any of us would have liked. ….”

Later in the meeting Trustee Schulhof read the resolution to officially appoint Dawn Donovan as Scarsdale's next Village Treasurer, effective August 3rd, 2026. He outlined the search and interview process. Donovan comes to the role with more than 35 years of public sector finance experience, including 25 years in municipal government. Notably, she served for over 15 years as the Town Comptroller and HR Manager for the Town of Eastchester, where she managed a $48 million municipal budget. The Board voted unanimously by roll call to approve her appointment.

During the second public comment period, Dawn Donovan came to the podium to thank the Mayor and the Board for the confidence they have placed in her, saying she is “honored to serve Scarsdale and is fully committed to managing the village's finances with transparency, integrity, and diligence.”Dawn Donovan has been appointed as Scarsdale Village Treasurer

Fireworks on Thursday night July 2, 2026

Village Manager Alex Marshall announced the upcoming Annual Fireworks Spectacular, celebrating the 4th of July, scheduled for Thursday, July 2nd, at the Scarsdale Pool Complex.

Key details for attendees include:

● A $10 fee will be charged to all non-pool members entering the complex starting at 5:00 p.m.
● Beginning at 8:00 p.m., a $10 fee will apply to all individuals entering the complex.
● The Westchester Band will perform at 7:30 PM.
● This year’s event features special "America 250" and "Scarsdale 325" giveaways.

Further information regarding parking and local road closures will be shared with the community later in the week.

Public Comments Regarding Lateral Sewer Lines and Con Edison

The first public comment period brought comments on the ongoing issues with damage to lateral sewer lines caused by the installation of a gas main by Con Edison.

Joe Lawrence of Walworth Avenue raised urgent concerns regarding the ongoing scoping investigations of Con Edison sewer lines. He noted that independent plumbers have captured clear video evidence of lateral line damage, while Con Ed contractors claim no issues exist. He noted that Con Ed representatives have gone so far as to claim that residents' video footage was "altered by AI."

Lawrence stated that out of roughly 60 homes inspected by a contractor, around 90% showed problems. He warned that wastewater leaking from these broken lines risks contaminating the local water table and creating a toxic waste site. He stated that some residents have already spent $50,000 to $60,000 out of pocket to repair lines so they can sell their homes. He urged the Village to apply pressure on Con Ed to provide a fixed timetable for repairs, before the ground is frozen, and to commit to resident reimbursement. It’s been 3-4 weeks since they said they were gathering information. He said, “I would like to have a fixed date for repairs and a third party to review their videos.”

Elizabeth Lawrence, also of Walworth Avenue, echoed these concerns, expressing worry for her neighbors who are paying large sums for infrastructure damage caused by Con Ed. She also noted the absurdity of Con Ed claiming that local residents were altering plumbing videos with AI and requested that a third party look into it. Additionally, she requested an update on the ongoing sidewalk project, noting she hoped everything was progressing according to plan, and thanked Dara Gruenberg for rescuing her from the ladies room earlier in the evening.

In response, Mayor Arest stated that the Village remains in regular communication with Con Edison and expects to host a public meeting in the near future where residents can attend to directly receive answers.

Board Actions and Resolutions

The Board voted on several key resolutions, all of which passed with unanimous support and no trustee objections:

● Approval of Bills: Trustee Silberfein presented the abstract of claims dated June 23, 2026, totaling $2,450,427.43. The board approved the payments unanimously.

● The Consent Agenda included the May 28 meeting minutes, a contract to deliver a 500-gallon oil-water separator, the purchase of a garbage truck chassis and rack body with a lift gate, and a New York State contract for gasoline procurement passed unanimously.

● Village Hall Interior Improvements: Trustee Foley introduced a resolution authorizing a contract with LaBella Associates DPC for design and engineering services to renovate the interior of Village Hall. Trustee Foley noted that the building has not seen significant renovations in over 50 years, leading to layout inefficiencies, poor staff workflow, and inadequate public restroom facilities. The contract, not to exceed $193,750, passed unanimously.

● Annual Property Tax Levy: Trustee Kaufman introduced the resolution to levy the annual property tax for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, totaling $53,354,201. As in previous years, the tax will be collected in two installments. This passed unanimously via roll call.

● Fire Apparatus Bond: Trustee Kaufman also introduced a resolution authorizing a $1,750,000 bond issuance to fund the acquisition of a new fire engine to replace Engine 55. Although delivery of the apparatus is not expected until 2030, the advance preparation ensures timely replacement of the vehicle, which will have 18 years of service and over 100,000 miles by that time. This passed unanimously via roll call.

● CSEA Agreement Amendment: Trustee Schulhof moved to ratify a stipulation agreement with the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA Local 1000) to officially add the title of police dispatcher to the bargaining unit. This passed unanimously.

● Therapeutic Recreation Services: Trustee Silberfein introduced an agreement with the Southeast Consortium for Special Services to provide therapeutic recreational programming for residents with special needs. Scarsdale’s cost share for 2026 is $18,018.96, representing a 2.5% increase from last year. This passed unanimously.

Communications and Future Meeting Schedule

The Village Clerk reported that seven written communications were received since the last meeting. These included emails from Andrew Petchek, Anna Petchek, Helen Macarino, Barry Abramson, and Andrew Rodman concerning a special tax district for stormwater remediation, as well as emails from Jordan Copeland and Jared De Palma regarding 27 Woods Lane.

Upcoming Meetings

● Tuesday, July 14, 2026: 6:00 p.m. Work Session; 7:30 p.m. Agenda Committee Meeting; 8:00 p.m. Regular Village Board Meeting.
● Tuesday, July 28, 2026: 8:30 a.m. Limited Agenda Morning Meeting.
● Holiday Closure Notice: Village Hall will be closed on Friday, July 3, 2026, in observance of Independence Day.