Mayor Prioritizes Noise Ordinance, Pool Study and Plans for Village Center

(Here are comments delivered by Scarsdale Mayor Jane Veron at the June 14, 2022 meeting of the Village Board.)
Good evening, Scarsdale. It is good to be back. Many thanks to Deputy Mayor Whitestone for presiding while I was sick. I missed catching you up on Village matters so my comments tonight might be a tad longer.

Our Board just completed the first ever two-part weekend retreat where we collectively reviewed the Village strategic and financial planning framework and associated goals and objectives. Our regular outreach informs our thinking, and we articulated priorities that best captured the needs of our community. Staff will be reviewing our recommended initiatives to give us feedback on operational practicalities and limitations, and we will set timing accordingly.

A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a Village staff department head meeting (thank you, Rob, for inviting me). It is vitally important for elected officials and residents to have a window into staff’s daily workload and stressors. We must always understand that we ask staff not only to deliver upon day-to-day responsibilities but also to partner with us on key strategic initiatives. In the end, we are team who must work together to provide service excellence for residents, and with finite resources, we must carefully set priorities. Please know that the Village Board and staff are moving at a rapid pace to address your needs.

Over the next several weeks, the Board will bring to the public, work sessions that feature key priorities. Projects continue to heat up in the Quality of Life, Infrastructure/Municipal Services/Sustainability and Public Safety Pillars, and our special assignments are at the intersection of all three. Economic Development and Land Use is also moving ahead, but we do not yet have projects that are work session ready. We anticipate discussions on sensitive drainage areas and historic preservation code, but both of these matters still reside with staff.

Here’s what’s happening right now:

Our Noise Law
Earlier this evening, we began the complex discussion around noise ordinances. Scarsdale is approximately 6 square miles, and we live together in close proximity. While we enjoy many benefits from our densely situated community neighborhoods and easy commute to NYC, we also experience some of the discomforts. Over the years, residents have noted an increase in noise created by construction activities, property maintenance, equipment, social gatherings and animals. With more residents working from home and an increase in outdoor activity, there has been a heightened sensitivity to noise matters. The Board has begun the process to reexamine our Noise Level Law and enforcement mechanisms. We expect to continue these discussions over the next few months.

Pool Complex Study
Thank you, Scarsdale, for your active engagement in the pool complex study. We have been thrilled with your responsiveness, but we still want to hear from more of you. To date, we have received 1,114 online survey responses, 691 from the mailed control, and sizable in person engagements at both the pool and Scarsdale Music Festival. The online survey closes on this Friday, June 17, and we eagerly await a report based on your feedback. We expect the consultants to synthesize your input and share it with the community later this summer. From there, they will develop three alternative proposals with the associated economics. It is truly exciting that together we will shape the future of our beloved asset as we set its course for the next many decades.

Village Center Mobility Study
Our consultants took the public through an interactive mobility activity during our second work session tonight. We hired FHI Studio for their innovative, creative thinking and they offered proposals that stretched our imaginations. We had a great session, envisioning the possibilities and wrestling with the practical realities. We look forward to piloting opportunities, getting community feedback, and iterating, before we make significant hardscape investments.

Little League Lights and Fields
As you know, the Planning Board delivered its report to the Village Board, and now the Board is in the process of determining what additional information is needed in order to prepare for the next work session. We hope to provide a list of data needs shortly. We will keep the public apprised of next steps. The field lights discussion underscored what the community already knows. There is often a shortage of playable fields, and we struggle to meet the demand. We are hoping to partner with the schools to examine the gaps together.

Budget Input
We promised during budget discussions that we would not wait until the peak of budget season to address several open items. We plan to reconvene on leaf vacuuming this summer, and in the early fall, when our PRC department has a reprieve from managing the pool, we will take another look at recreation fees. At our next work session on June 21, we will reflect on the budget process, identifying areas for improvement for the next budget cycle.

Public Safety
I am eager to share the very positive news that both Houses of the NYS Legislature passed the law that will permit local governments to reduce maximum speed limits to 25 mph. We have been calling for this change, and our colleagues at the State level delivered. We are incredibly grateful to our own Assemblymember Paulin along with our Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and our soon to be State Senator Mayer who helped get this legislation over the finish line. Research shows that lowering the speed limit by five mph improves safety outcomes for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. We will begin planning now as the legislation will soon be sent to the Governor for executive action.

Mayor’s Council
As you can see, the Board has advanced many strategic priorities and more will be queued up for the fall. As we dive into the details, we have seen that many issues have a long history that often takes time to uncover. To retain institutional knowledge and ensure continuity, we are creating a Mayor’s Council comprised of former Mayors and Deputy Mayors. I have asked former Deputy Mayor Arest to chair the group that will meet quarterly. We want to benefit from prior experience and accelerate the learning curve.

As we all know, June is a very busy month. I have represented Scarsdale at many ceremonies and want to give a shout out to our Parks Recreation and Conservation staff who received multiple awards at the Westchester Recreation and Parks Society and to the Scarsdale PD who will be celebrating officer achievements and welcoming new recruits later this week. On June 22, we will be honoring all of our volunteers who do vital work for the Village on Boards and Councils.

June is also a month to reflect on our goals of diversity and inclusion. I want to acknowledge Juneteenth Independence Day, celebrated on the 19th of June. Also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the US. The day commemorates the anniversary date when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were told they were free. We recognize this important moment in history, honor this celebration of resilience, and vow to build a better future for all.

June is also PRIDE month, a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. The monthlong set of festivities is anchored in values of self-affirmation, acceptance, and equality. On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village and catalyzed a revolt. No longer were people willing to accept the brutal treatment of the gay community. The first PRIDE march was held one year later in 1970 in NYC and has grown to be a major global effort. Tonight, the Village Board wears the symbolic rainbow, reflecting the many groups in this community, to show that Scarsdale stands united.