Meet Scarsdale's First Female Village Manager

After Village Manager Robert Cole’s abrupt departure last September, a key position in Village Hall was left vacant. The Village Board hired a search firm and undertook a national search, but the process was lengthy. In the interim, Deputy Village Manager Alex Marshall stepped up and was later promoted to Acting Village Manager.

After the Board vetted and interviewed candidates from the search process, they ultimately concluded that the best candidate was right in the building.

So on September 10, 2024, Mayor Justin Arest announced the appointment of Marshall to the role of Village Manager, making her the Village’s first female manager and the youngest one in Scarsdale’s history.

Congratulating Marshall on her promotion, Deputy Mayor Dara Gruenberg said, “Alex, you are truly extraordinary. A year ago, you stepped up without hesitation to take on the role of Acting Village Manager, and throughout this year, you have managed the village with exceptional efficiency and effectiveness, all while continuing your responsibilities as Deputy Manager, which is a superhuman feat. You are caring, patient, and an excellent listener. You have a unique ability to ensure everyone feels heard, and even when delivering difficult news, you do so with kindness and respect, making people feel valued. You have earned the admiration of the village staff, who were delighted by the announcement. When faced with the unknown, you dive in with enthusiasm and a commitment to learning. You are humble, approachable, and we are fortunate to have you as our new Village Manager. I am excited to see all you will accomplish.”

To help our readers get to know Ms. Marshall, we asked her a few questions, and here is what she shared:

Tell us about yourself: How did you become interested in municipal government and what has been your career path?

I first became interested in government in early 2016 when I began an internship at the Village of Rye Brook. My original career plan was focused on museum science, and I enrolled in a Master of Public Administration (MPA) program at College of New Rochelle, concentrating in non-profit management. My role in Rye Brook was intended to be temporary while I focused on my graduate school studies. During that time, I came to enjoy learning about the inner workings of municipal government and making a positive difference at the local level. I decided to switch my MPA concentration to government. I was fortunate that my internship materialized into a full-time job opportunity, and I enjoyed working in Rye Brook for nearly six years under the leadership of Village Administrator Christopher Bradbury. I credit Chris for showing me how interesting the world of municipal management is, and I still look to him as a mentor and role model.

How long have you been working in Scarsdale and what were your initial responsibilities and then in your job as Acting Village Manager?

I began working in Scarsdale in November of 2021 as Deputy Village Manager. My primary responsibilities as deputy included preparation of the Village Board agenda, participating in the creation of the annual budget, and creating public communications. Throughout my time in Scarsdale, I have worked closely with our department heads. I worked closely with the Village Treasurer on the budget and budget presentations. I also spent a period of time filling the Personnel Administrator role until that position was filled in early 2023.

When I stepped into the role of Acting Manager in September 2023, I continued my responsibilities as Deputy Manager while also assuming the responsibilities of Village Manager which include overseeing 10 department heads and having responsibility for the operations of the village.

What is the job of the Village Manager? How many people report to you – and what are their roles?

The Village Manager serves as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Village, managing day to day operations. The Village is fortunate to have such capable department heads who manage their respective departments, but the Manager has oversight of all operations in the Village including public works, parks and recreation, land use, public safety, and more. The Village Manager reports to the Village Board and works closely with them to execute their priorities.

What do you enjoy about the job and what are you looking forward to in your new role?

As Village Manager, I’m excited to be involved in more ‘big picture’ projects. Over the next several months, I’m looking forward to leading discussions about the pool complex, joint field study with the school district, and Village-wide stormwater improvements.

What do you think are the major challenges facing the Village?

As with many communities in our region, aging infrastructure is one of the biggest challenges we face. Much of our infrastructure was built over 100 years ago. The Village has deferred maintenance on many of these items so now we are looking for ways to ensure we invest in our infrastructure while also being conscientious of budgetary implications. As we look towards the FY 2025-2026 Budget Cycle, I expect staff and the Village Board will have continued conversations about necessary long-term repairs and improvements as part of the capital budget.

What are your thoughts on the renovation of the pool project? Do you think it will move forward this year?

I am happy to share that we are making positive progress on the pool project. Earlier this year we brought on the architects at Lothrop & Associates to begin developing more detailed concept plans for the pool complex, and we are looking forward to a presentation to the board and public at a work session on October 29.

Some are calling for the redevelopment of the Freightway site. What do you think?

My primary focus for the Freightway garage is ensuring that any necessary repairs occur over the next few years to maintain the structural integrity and safety of the facility as a parking garage until a future decision is made by the Village Board and community as to what will be done with the site.

What funding sources are available to replace the Village’s aging infrastructure?

Our staff and consultants are constantly looking to other government agencies for grant opportunities. For example, we recently received a $1,156,326.75 FEMA grant for the replacement of the culverts on Catherine Road.

As Scarsdale’s first female, and perhaps youngest Village Manager, do you think you will bring a new perspective to the role?

It’s an honor to be able to serve as Scarsdale’s first female manager. I believe I bring compassion, inclusivity, and a collaborative spirit to the role. While a younger manager, I have spent my entire career in municipal government. I have fostered close relationships with many managers and department heads throughout the county who are great resources. I feel confident in continuing to serve in the role of Manager knowing that I have an excellent team of professionals that work with me. While I may not always give staff and residents the answers they are looking for, I believe it's important to be a good listener, keep an open mind, and treat everyone with respect. The Village has some big infrastructure challenges ahead, but we have capable and experienced staff as well as dedicated residents who volunteer their time and talents for the betterment of the Village, so I am confident we will find creative and thoughtful ways to tackle these challenges. I appreciate the board’s trust in me, and I look forward to continuing to serve the Scarsdale community.