Changes at the CHP, New Stairway and Library Gifts Approved by the Scarsdale BOT

Following the discussion about the gravel amendment at the meeting of the Board of Trustees on Tuesday October 13, trustees passed resolutions on changes to the Committee for Historic Preservation, a new stairway on East Parkway, improvements at the library and subdivision fees for two lots in Scarsdale.

The trustees announced changes to appointments to the Committee for Historic Preservation. Architect Bana Choura resigned from the committee on September 28, saying " that there is a perceived conflict of interest in my serving on the CHP, especially after the July CHP meeting." She may have been referring to the application to demolish a home at 11 Carstensan Road, where she spoke on the matter but then recused herself from the vote because her name appeared on the application. Choura was then appointed to fill a vacancy on the Conservation Advisory Council that was created when Julie Weinstein stepped down from the CAC because she is moving to California.

CHP Chair Paul Diamond also stepped down, due to personal circumstances. He will be replaced by William Silverman who currently serves on the committee. The Village Board's Personnel Committee will actively recruit a new member to serve on the CHP.

Good news from the library where the Library Board has retained a fundraising firm called Plan A Advisors to raise funds for an ambitious plan to renovate the library. The Board also approved the acceptance of two gifts toward the library's capital improvement project: The Friends of the Scarsdale Library donated $42,168 and John and Marcy Harris of Marjory Lane made a personal donation of $10,000.

Construction of a stairway from East Parkway to the outbound platform of the railroad track in Scarsdale is in process. The Village retained Specialty Construction System, Inc. of Mt. Vernon to build the stairway at a cost of $248,715 and also authorized fees to purchase a permit from Metro North. Mayor Jon Mark anticipates that the stairway will be completed before the winter.

Gifts from neighborhood sports organizations will be used to make improvements at Hyatt Field. The Board of Trustees accepted $15,000 from the Scarsdale Little League to go toward the construction of a restroom at the field. A new backstop and dugout fencing will be funded with a gift of $2,000 from the Scarsdale Raiders Youth Softball Association.

Fees from subdivisions on Stonewall Lane and Rodney Road will be allotted for improvements to Recreational Facilities. The Trustees passed resolutions assessing $67,500 to Jospeh Yasgur for the subdivision at 12 Stonewall Lane and $37,500 to 21 Rodney Road LLC for the subdivision on Rodney Road. Both subdivisions were previously approved by the Scarsdale Planning Board who also recommended the amount of the subdivision fees.