Sustainability Committee Offers Ideas to Improve Recycling
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Dear Honorable Mayor Flisser and Board of Trustees: The Scarsdale Forum's Sustainability Committee has been exploring many avenues. One of them ties in with the Village's recycling work.
The tentative Village budget for 2011-2012 includes $242,500 for waste disposal fees which are paid to the County based on tonnage collected. The budgeted 2010-2011 amount was $282,500 and the projected spending for 2010-2011 is now estimated to be $250,000. It is presumed that the anticipated $7500 lower cost for 2011-2012 is based partly on the County's upcoming acceptance of plastics 3-7, as recyclable material.
The Committee urges the Village Board to increase the public awareness of the change in County policy and the correlation between Village disposal fees, taxes and recycling, perhaps using the mayoral letters as a vehicle. If residents understand that the more they recycle, the less Scarsdale will pay in "tipping" fees, potentially lowering this line item in the Village budget, there may be greater compliance. The public should be advised that caps may remain on containers as they are also recycled. Thomas Lauro, the County Commissioner of Environmental Facilities, informed the audience of this additional change at a recent sustainability event in Bedford.
The tentative budget shows $105,000 for recycling, which our DPW head Salanitro explained includes paper, commingled recyclables and yard waste. This amount is also lower than the $112,500 expected to be spent in 2010-2011. The Committee applauds the effort to contain cost in light of the expected increase of plastics recycled.
At a Committee meeting ideas to further reduce the waste disposal fees were considered. One way could be to encourage composting. Two Committee members already use a rotating composter. Committee members asked whether it might be possible to invite vendors who make composters available to set up a table the Farmers' Market. Another idea discussed was a volume discount coordinated by Village Staff. If waste disposal fees could be reduced 10% ($24,000) the effort would seem worthwhile.
Another significant cost is leaf collection and disposal fees tentatively budgeted at $705,414. Encouraging residents to compost even some of their leaves might make a noticeable reduction in that line item. Composting is an excellent alternative to fertilizer and is environmentally friendly.
These suggestions are thought to be win-win-win. Less work for DPW crews, lower costs for residents and better for the environment.
Bruce Wells,
President Scarsdale Forum
Contacts for the Forum Sustainability Committee are co-chairs Steve Frantz and Dan Hochvert
Village Board Hears Feedback on Proposed Budget
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Driving rain didn’t deter residents from attending the first meeting of the newly elected Scarsdale Village Board of Trustees on Tuesday April 12th. The session included public comment on the Village budget, the announcement of appointments to Boards and Councils and liaison assignments, an update on the Popham Road bridge and approval of a downtown art fair in May.
Mayor Fliisser commented on the process of Village government, noting that she has heard from residents that televised Village Board meetings seem formal and dry, She explained that Board meetings are a result of work done at committee meetings and by Village staff. She encouraged those who want to get involved to attend these committee meetings -- that are open to all. At these meetings residents can speak and let the Board know what they think.
Public comment to the Board on the proposed 2011-12 Village Budget was given by Sara Werder, President of the Board of Trustees of the Scarsdale Library, Bill Kaye from the Scarsdale Forum Fiscal Affairs Committee, Pam Rubin of the Scarsdale League of Women Voters and Dan Hochvert for the Scarsdale Forum Sustainability Committee.
Werder warned that by complying with the Village request to cut the library budget by $93,000, the Board was forced to cut back on service to Scarsdale residents. Both staff hours and the book-buying budget has been reduced and the Board elected to take $60,000 out of reserves to fund their annual budget.
Speaking for the Scarsdale Forum Fiscal Affairs Committee, Bill Kaye provided recommendations on reducing the Village Budget but did endorse passage of the budget as proposed.
Among their suggestions for cost reductions were:
- Require non-tax paying entities such as religious institutions to pay for refuse collection and requiring commercial facilities such as country clubs to pay more than residential properties for collection.
- To seek methods to deliver services more cost effectively for the long term.
- To reduce the Village staff headcount through attrition -- as 70% of the Village budget is comprised of salaries in benefits
- To renegotiate contracts with Village employees to reduce salaries and benefits and to require employee contribution to healthcare.
- To lobby N.Y.S. to reduce unfunded mandates and continue to work with municipal workers and NYCOM to reduce pension contributions.
The Scarsdale Forum also called for the Village wide tax revaluation to be done this year. Kaye noted that this report was submitted in memory of friend and colleague Boine Johnson who passed away earlier this year.
Pam Rubin spoke on behalf of the Scarsdale League of Women Voters and commended the Village staff, Trustees and former Mayor Carolyn Stevens for maintaining “quality of life” while containing the tax rate.
The League offered the following recommendations:
- Consider the reallocation of resources – such as crossing guards who are no longer needed for midday dismissal, as Kindergarten is now a full-day program
- Move forward with the Village–wide tax revaluation
- Explore outside revenue sources and cooperative agreements with neighboring municipalities to fund capital improvement projects on the storm water drainage system and sanitary sewer lines.
- Continue to fund road repair, as 25% of Scarsdale roads are now classified as “poor.”
- Replace Village trees lost to storms and disease
- Work with community groups to determine which services can be reduced, eliminated or paid for by alternative means.
Dan Hochvert the spoke as a co-chair of Scarsdale Forum’s Sustainability Committee. He commended the Village for reducing costs for recycling and noted that the County will now recycle plastics in categories #3-7. He urged the Village to publicize this change in policy.
He also spoke about the benefits of composting to further reduce waste disposal fees and suggested that a composter be set up at the Famer’s market and that residents compost their leaves rather than have them collected. The Village currently spends $705,414 on leaf collection – and this cost could be reduced if residents composted leaves.
Popham Road Bridge Project: Deputy Village Manager Steve Pappalardo announced that Phase II of the renovation of the Popham Road Bridge was scheduled to begin. This will involve work on the south side of the bridge. During this phase, one lane of traffic will be closed and the south lane of the bridge will become a sidewalk. Drivers will not be able to make a left turn off the bridge onto East Parkway and will now have to go to Chase Road to turn left. The bridge is tentatively scheduled to be completed at the end of May 2012.
Art Festival: Lewis Arlt spoke on behalf of Chamber of Commerce to encourage the Board to approve an application for the Westchester Festival of the Arts by Paragon for May 14-15, 2011.He explained that this would be the sophomore year of the event and the miscalculations made last year would be corrected. Last year the fair was held on Father’s Day and all Village streets were closed to vehicular traffic. In addition, artist’s booths blocked storefronts and prevented shoppers from entering.
This year these problems have been addressed. The fair will be held on May 14-15, a non-holiday weekend, it will be moved to the Merchant’s Lot and no booths will be placed in front of store windows. The Scarsdale Art Association will also hold their show in Chase Park that same weekend.
The Board subsequently voted to approve both Art Fairs for the weekend of May 14-15.
Mayor Flisser and the Board then announced Board and Committee appointments and assignments for the coming year. This lengthy roster can be viewed on the Village website here
Flisser also noted some upcoming meetings … among them a Land Use committee Meeting on Thursday night April 14 to discuss a proposed land sale at 2-4 Weaver Street. However, this meeting is expected to go into Executive Session, and in that case, it will be closed to the public.
Sherwood is Honored at the 2011 Scarsdale Bowl Dinner
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The atmosphere was warm and festive at the 2011 annual Scarsdale Bowl Dinner at Lake Isle Country Club on April 6. This year’s honoree, Emily Sherwood, is a beloved member of the community and her wide network of friends and supporters came out in force to celebrate her service to Scarsdale.
The room overflowed with present and former Mayors, Village Trustees, School Board members, and participants in the many activities, causes and committees on Emily’s lengthy resume. Also on hand were three of the Sherwood’s four children, her husband, mother, and family friends. The 2011 Bowl Committee should be credited with identifying an honoree who has touched so many lives in a meaningful way.
The 2011 Chair of the Bowl, former School Board member Rita Golden, offered welcoming remarks and Rabbi Rick Jacobs gave the invocation. He told the group
2010 Bowl Winner Jackie Irwin briefed the room on the work of the Scarsdale Foundation and asked the community to be generous with college scholarship support for Scarsdale students. The Foundation provides need-based scholarships to those entering their sophomore, junior and senior years, and last year awarded $76,000 to 24 students. Sherwood serves on the Board of Trustees of the Foundation. Irwin recognized Nancy Michaels who has served as the secretary/treasurer of the Bowl for three years and presented her with a gift.
All kidding aside, he told the group how thankful he was to have her as a role model and marveled out how many friendships she maintained while juggling a dizzying array of commitments. He ended by telling the group that "my Mom has more Facebook friends than I do!"
Her first-born son Matt continued a family tradition and wrote a poem about the honoree. Speaking in verse he called Sherwood a real life superhero with rippling
“She has a Penn education and a phd,
But she could have used an engineering degree”
And ended with,
“You’ll continue to strive higher.
This won’t be the last time we see your face in the Scarsdale Inquirer.”
Next, she was given a humorous and heartfelt toast by three colleagues from the Board of Education; Florie Wachtenheim, Terri Simon, and Bob Steves.
Rita Golden then presented Sherwood with the Scarsdale Bowl, and Emily took the podium. She said she was “totally overwhelmed” and thanked Rabbi Jacobs, her sons, her family, her fellow Board members, the Bowl Committee and Rita Golden. Sharing the limelight with the audience she said, “There are dozens and dozens of individuals who qualify for this Bowl award because of your tireless activities to make our village and schools better -- and indeed – this is an evening that celebrates the accomplishments of our entire volunteer community."
She said that “collaborative decision-making” is done well in Scarsdale, and that the non-partisan system is the ultimate model of collaboration. Referring to the
Sherwood encouraged all to give their time and told the group that she had “received so much more in return for volunteering in Scarsdale than I could possibly have given.”
The evening was a wonderful celebration of Sherwood, Scarsdale and all the volunteers that work endless hours for the community.
The 2011 Scarsdale Bowl Committee
Rita Golden, Chair
Jane Buck
Matthew Callaghan
Marc Carter
Jonathan Drescher
Malula Gonzalez
Liz Gruber
Joyce Hirsch
Carolyn Mehta
Laurence Mintzer
Anne Moretti
William Natbony
Robert November
Seth Ross
Tara Smith Tyberg
Non-voting
Jacqueline E. Irwin, Ex Officio
Nancy Michaels, Secretary/Treasurer
Do It Yourself Mailing in Scarsdale Village
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No more waiting online at the post office at 29 Chase Road in Scarsdale Village. A new automated postal center has now been installed in the post office allowing customers to send packages and letters and purchase stamps without waiting online for customer service.
These new, user-friendly machines do almost everything. You can pay for a box, weigh it, calculate and purchase postage for parcels up to 70 pounds and even buy insurance for your shipment.
In Scarsdale, since the post office is often open even when the customer service window is closed, you can now take care of all of your postal needs in the off-hours. Valerie Jackson, the supervisor of the Scarsdale branch pointed out that the building is open on weekends for those who have mail to pick up from post office boxes on the site.
The next time you’re in the Village, stop buy and put the new machine to the test.
It's Official: Scarsdale Swears In New Mayor and Trustees
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Miriam Levitt Flisser was sworn in as Mayor of Scarsdale on Monday April 4th at Scarsdale Village Hall. Village Clerk Donna Conkling administered the oath to Dr. Flisser and three recently elected Village Trustees; Robert Steves who will serve his second two-year term, as well as Stacey Brodsky and Robert Harrison who were sworn in to serve two-year terms.
Friends, family, Village staffers and well-known faces from around the county came to witness the ceremonies. County Executive Rob Astorino and Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner were on hand as well as several former Scarsdale Mayors and past Village Trustees.
Flisser vowed to serve seriously and joyously and to continue to “make Scarsdale a beautiful place to live.” Referring to her heritage as the child of Holocaust survivors, Flisser said, “I represent the parents of a million children who were unable to protect them and bring them to this day.”
The mood was both solemn and hopeful as observers put aside differences that arose during the contested election, celebrated Scarsdale’s new leadership and set their sights on a bright future for the Village.
(Pictured Above: Mayor Miriam Flisser and County Executive Robert Astorino)
