Mulch Much?
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There are exciting developments afoot in the “greening” of Scarsdale. The Scarsdale Village Trustees are currently working a new recommendation to encourage residents to mulch their leaves --rather than rake them to the curb for pick-up. On Monday night December 5, the Village Sustainability Committee met with residents and trustees to review new methodology for mulching in place.
Mulched leaves are a low cost way to naturally fertilize the lawn and landscape beds. The mulch improves the soil and acts as free fertilizer. Even better, mulching obviates the need to cart away leaves to recycling centers, saving manpower and fuel. Ten municipalities in Westchester have already joined a consortium in Westchester that is working to identify best practices for leaf mulching. In Irvington where a resolution to encourage mulching was passed, the mayor and town councilmen were so enthusiastic about the initiative that they all pledged to mulch themselves.
To get started, Scarsdale Village will test the new procedure in DeLima and Chase Parks in the fall, 2012 – where the Department of Public Works will shred, rather than blow the leaves. To get out the word, the Village plans a public education program with notices in the Village newsletter and brochures and handouts. In addition, a demonstration day, lead by the Cornell Cooperative Extension is planned for Sustainability Day, May 8th, 2012, in Scarsdale.
According to proponents of mulching, it is relatively easy to do. Using a lawnmower or a leaf shredder, the leaves can be shredded and left on the lawn to work their way into the soil. Watch this one-minute video to see how simple it can be to mulch leaves into the lawn, rather than blowing and collecting them.
Todd Wolleman, a Scarsdale resident and member of the Friends of the Scarsdale Parks conveyed his enthusiasm for this new initiative:
I just attended the Conservation Advisory Council meeting regarding leaf mulching and composting at Village Hall yesterday evening I am excited about the future for sustainability in our village. The notion that we are a park in a village is a precious thought. Our renewable resources consist of water, soil and energy. Let’s talk about our soil. We live in a glacial plan that consists primarily of clay. This clay has been amended by leaf droppings since the ice has receded about 10,000 years ago. I am continually amazed by the geological evidence of our recent history. The glacial outcroppings are everywhere in Scarsdale. The Post Road is a perfect example of the glacial plan where the hills were once carved by the glaciers.
What you may ask does this have to do with leaf mulching? Our clay soil needs to be amended by our leaves. We do not need to have our leaves carted off by the village staff to the County dump. The leaves need to be mulched or composted by village citizens. I have leaf mulched and composted for years and found it to be easy and rewarding. The Cornell Cooperative Extension service will be part of Scarsdale Sustainability Day, hosting a seminar on instructing your lawn maintenance professional in how to mulch your property. Saturday, May 5th, at the Scarsdale Middle School. A local campaign that will emulate Irvington’s successful effort in composting awareness will echo in Scarsdale. I intend to be amongst the first Scarsdale residents to display the badge of mulching awareness on my property and encourage my fellow village residents to inquire about sustainable efforts so that we have an environment that is transferable to our children in the offing.--Todd Wolleman, Cornell Agriculture NY Metro District Alumni Director
Westchester League Calls For Mandate Relief, Reval and Flood Mitigation Funds
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The Westchester County League of Women Voters, lead by Scarsdale’s Sharon Lindsay has issued the following statement on the proposed Westchester County Budget. The League of Women Voters of Westchester thanks the Board of Legislators (BOL) for this opportunity to present its views on the proposed budget. A copy of this statement will also be given to the County Executive.
The League appreciates efforts made thus far to make budget information more accessible to the public through the County and BOL websites and to bring greater transparency to the Board of Acquisition and Contract, a matter of long-term concern to the League. The on-line Media Center, where the public can view both live and on-demand video of the public Budget and Appropriations Committee meetings with Commissioners, is very helpful. However, we ask that the BOL hold public budget discussions to allow more scrutiny of its own budget.
The League recognizes that the budget process is dynamic; our statement is based on the information available to us when we developed our positions by consensus on November 28, 2011. In this context, we offer the following comments and suggestions.
There is much to like in this budget proposal… much that is not likable but necessary… and much yet to be addressed.
First, what we like.
We applaud holding the county tax levy flat. This is an appropriate measure in light of our residents’ and businesses’ current economic stress.
The League particularly commends the County for not invading the undesignated fund balance. This sound financial policy should help preserve our AAA Bond rating. The ability to borrow, at low cost, could finance much needed infrastructure projects.
Next, what is not likeable, but necessary.
The proposed layoff of 210 County employees, while regrettable, is a consequence of the failure to negotiate new contracts, especially involving shared costs of health benefits. It appears to us this leaves the County with no other alternative.
We understand the program and agency cuts were made to achieve the flat tax goal. But there is the assumption built into the budget that as the County steps back, the cuts will be replaced by Federal and State support, other non-County-government service providers, and private (personal or business) contributions. The League is concerned that the County remain aware that many of these programs and agencies provide services and aid to our residents most in need. Therefore, the League recommends that the County establish a system to carefully monitor and analyze the impacts of these cuts throughout the next year. “Safety nets” for the most in need must continue, even if not paid for by the County.
Finally, we believe there are three major problems not addressed in the proposed budget.
The first, obvious and unrelenting unfunded State mandates. The League recommends that the County develop a strategy and assume a leadership role in lobbying for mandate reform, even if it requires additional resources, and focus on mandate relief in its 2012 County Legislative Agenda for the State.
The second area we urge you to address is county-wide reassessment (“reval”). No matter how much you decrease property taxes, if they are unfairly assessed meaningful tax relief has not been accomplished. There is no allocation in the budget to support “reval”, which is widely acknowledged to be long overdue. The Collaborative Assessment Commission, created by BOL resolution, recommended that the County provide support to local municipalities for reassessment. Those recommendations, supported by the League, have seemingly been ignored in this budget. We are cognizant of the need to restrict expenditures, but the County has presumably budgeted in 2012 for at least the $12 million it expended this year on tax certiorari proceedings and must recognize that each local municipality bears similar substantial costs. If the County is serious about tackling taxation in Westchester, we urge you support and encourage reassessment efforts.
The third, and we believe most important omission in the proposed budget, is flood mitigation. It has been almost five years since the 2007 100-year storm, where the six major watersheds in the County flooded and caused not only disruption of public and emergency services, but also caused substantial property damage for our residents. This is a local, a County, and a regional issue. Floodwaters do not respect municipal boundaries. By not continuing to appropriate funds to support mitigation programs, by not coordinating and bringing pressure to bear on State and federal authorities to deal with this problem, the County is abandoning an appropriate leadership role. Once again, we are aware of the need to conservatively spend County revenues but, in a climate of historically low interest rates and given the County’s AAA rating and low debt, the funds necessary to accomplish this could be raised by debt issuance and appropriately so, since flood mitigation projects will convey benefits to our residents over decades to come
The League of Women Voters of Westchester thanks Mr. Lawrence Soule, Budget Director, for his availability and the information he provided to us and to the public at the League-sponsored informational meeting on the budget. We also thank the Board of Legislators and the County Executive for their consideration of our concerns and suggestions.
What Are Your Children Planning To Do This Summer? Need Some Ideas?
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Representatives from 60 programs are expected to participate in the annual Summer Activities Fair at Scarsdale High School on Wednesday night November 30, 2011 from 7:30-9:30. This annual fair, now in it’s ninth year allows you and your kids to meet representatives from a wide variety of summer programs: including pre-college enrichment, sports, music, theater, travel, community service, language immersion, outdoor adventure, environmental studies, travel in U.S.A. and abroad, leadership and more...
Speak with students who have participated, see videos, pick up brochures and get lots of great information! Parents and students of all ages are welcome to attend. Bring your friends!
The event is held in the Scarsdale High School Cafeteria. Park at the back of the school and come in through the entrance on Brewster Road. Sponsored by the Scarsdale High School PTA, admission to the Summer Activities Fair is free.
Crossing the Line?
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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All appeared to have gone well with the Citizen Nominating Committee election on Tuesday November 15th. Participation was good, absentee ballots were mailed – not hand delivered -- and there were no poll watchers on site. Everyone involved breathed a sigh of relief that voting abuses and partisan politics were a thing of the past – and the consensus was that faith had been restored in the Non-Partisan system.
However, a letter from Bill Doescher in the Scarsdale Inquirer revealed that all was not as it should be. According to Doescher whose wife Linda Blair ran for the CNC, two residents had used the email lists of their respective neighborhood associations to endorse selected candidates. In these emails they endorsed candidates without consulting the current leadership of their neighborhood associations. Ironically a sitting member of the Procedure Committee sent out one of the emails, despite the fact that as a Procedure Committee member he had a duty to recruit candidates and insure a fair election.
Possibly as a result of these emails the endorsed candidates, Anita Mann of the Overhill Neighborhood Association and Salvatore Rao of the Old Scarsdale Neighborhood Association, beat the two Fox Meadow Neighborhood Association candidates, Linda Blair and Ted Tyberg. It is not clear what the Overhill and Old Scarsdale residents believed was at stake – or if their candidates have specific agendas.
Historically, the neighborhood associations have played an important role in the election by cooperating with the Procedure Committee to recruit candidates to run for the CNC and ensure that there are ample names on the ballot. I know from firsthand experience that the Greenacres Neighborhood Association has acted in a non-partisan fashion to support the system and to encourage widespread resident involvement in the process.
One could argue that there is no rule against campaigning via email, and no specific rule against neighborhood association candidate endorsements. But clearly endorsing candidates from one neighborhood over another and utilizing neighborhood association email lists to politic could serve to undermine the process. Down the line, it may prove to be even more difficult to get people to run for the CNC if they know that their own neighborhood association could swing the race.
This most recent transgression warrants discussion when the Procedure Committee and the League of Women Voters review the 2011 election.
Your comments?
CNC Election Results: Amendments Pass and Eleven New Nominators to Serve
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Village Hall was lively on November 15, 2011 when the Citizen’s Nominating Committee election was held. A total of 533 residents voted – in person or by absentee ballot -- slightly more than participated in the 2010 election. Eleven new nominators were selected and all seven of the proposed amendments to the Non-Partisan Resolution were passed. Under the new provisions, two members of the same household will no longer be permitted to serve on the CNC simultaneously and former Mayors and Trustees will need to wait 19 months before running for the CNC. These provisions were hotly debated but ultimately passed by healthy majorities by Village voters.
Below please find a thank you from David Brodsky who served as a Co-Chair of the Procedure Committee with Michelle Lichtenberg, as well as a review of the election results as announced by the Committee.
From David Brodsky: Thank you to the many volunteers who helped run this year's election to the Citizens Nominating Committee, and to the more than 530 residents who voted in person or by absentee ballot for candidates for the CNC and for seven amendments to the Non-Partisan Resolution. These amendments were aimed at making our form of government even more diverse and open to innovation. To those who could not vote, please know that, because of one of the adopted amendments, next year's voters will be able to vote by mail whether they are "absentee" traveling or unable to leave home, thus hopefully broadening voter participation.
Official Election Results:
The election of members to the Citizens Nominating Committee and approval of all of the nine proposed amendments to the Non-Partisan Resolution took place on Tuesday, November 15th 2011, as 533 residents, including 56 who voted by absentee ballot, participated in the election.
The electoral breakdown was as follows:
- Edgewood – 64 voted (including 2 absentee ballots) – Betsy Bush and Michael Duncanson were elected.
- Fox Meadow – 162 voted (including 5 absentee ballots) – Anita Mann and Salvatore Rao were elected.
- Greenacres – 106 voted (including 12 absentee ballots) – Mona Longman and Andrew Sereysky were elected to three-year terms and Glenn Fishman was elected to a successor term of two years.
- Heathcote – 134 voted (including 25 absentee ballots) – David Michaels and Emilia Rodriguez were elected.
- Quaker Ridge - 67 voted (including 12 absentee ballots) – Douglas Birns and Joseph Sarachek were elected.
The amendments to the Non-Partisan Resolution that were proposed by The Procedure Committee were overwhelmingly adopted, as follows:
Amendment 1: Add membership on the Citizens Nominating Committee (CNC) to the existing exclusions against simultaneous service on the Procedure Committee
405 Yes 62 No
Amendment 2: Clarify that CNC members elected to fill a one-year term may run immediately in the following election for a three-year term
417 Yes 42 No
Amendment 3: Allow the Procedure Committee to make recommendations to the CNC with respect to its Rules of Procedure
412 Yes 47 No
Amendment 4: Add mail-in ballots
422 Yes 51 No
Amendment 5: Add a household restriction on who can run for the CNC
363 Yes 91 No
Amendment 6: Add a former Trustee or Mayor restriction on who can run for the CNC
374 Yes 75 No
Amendment 7: Add to the voting procedures of the CNC
378 Yes 66 No
