2023 Capital Budget, Leaf Blowers and Food Scrap Recycyling
Hello Greenburgh,
Election Petition Conclusion
So you can read all about the petition drama in my previous email but one small update. I am told second hand that incumbent Town Clerk Judith Beville is circulating a new petition to run as an Independent for Town Clerk in the November general election. It is too late for her or others to appear on the ballot for the June primary as a Democrat but not too late to run as an independent in the general election. I am not aware of any efforts by either disqualified Town Council candidate to run in the general election.
Capital Budget Update
Tomorrow 5/10 there will be the first public hearing on the proposed 2023 Capital Budget at the Town Board Meeting at Greenburgh Town Hall at 7:30pm. I have been told that the public record will remain open for a second hearing but obviously that cannot be guarenteed. You can read the current proposal here:
Overall there isn't too much of note or controversy. There is $2mm for road repaving, another $2mm for curb replacements and $1.3mm for unspecified pedestrian safety improvements. This is on top of $1mm combined for sidewalks on Hillside Avenue and W. Hartsdale Avenue. Other larger items include 8 new vehicles for the Police Department, $1.5mm for a retaining wall at DPW and $3.8mm for replacing deteriated water mains.
One interesting item of note is $575k for "Babbit Court Home Elevation" . Babbit Court is an area in Unincorporated Elmsford that has flooded in the past. The Town has worked to apply for FEMA grants to help 6 homeowners raise their homes here to avoid the issues of frequent flooding and the total projected costs is $1.875mm. My understanding is that the $575k contribution from the Town is required because the town has to front the cost of the project in order to receive the FEMA grant. The question is will this $575k be paid back by the homeowners or is it an outright gift from the taxpayers to these private property owners. I've reached out to Supervisor Feiner and the Town Boardto try and clarify this point. I spoke to one Town Board member directly who said they would look into it. I certainly hope we get more clarity on this item before any spending is authorized
If its an outright gift, do you think public taxpayer money should be used to subsidize and improve private single family home property owners? I don't.
Food Scraps
Supervisor Feiner has circulated a survey to gauge resident interest in replacing one of the trash pickup days with food scrap pickup. The results will be used to inform the town board during a 5/16 work session whee the topic will be explored. Click here to fill out the survey.
Leaf Blowers
I'm so sick of talking about Leaf Blowers but there is another public hearing also tomorrow on the topic. This bill would ban all leaf blowers between June 15th and August 14th. You can read the full detail here. Frankly if our Town Board spent 1/4th the time they spend on Leafblowers on good governance and actually doing the business of running the town we'd all be much better off.
Additional Items
School District Update
This upcoming Tuesday is your local school board election and budget vote. Make sure to come out and vote. Check your local district for polling times and locations.
Interesting drama at the latest Ardsley School Board meeting where a vote reccomending tenure for the Elementary School and Middle School Principal was taken with the School District BOE voting No 4-1 against granting tenure. Surely that will shake things up in the district.
AssemblyWoman Mary Jane Shimsky- As part of my role with Hartsdale Neighbors I'll be hosting a Zoom roundtable with our new Assemblywoman for the 92nd district Mary Jane Shimsky. This will be 5/18 at 8:00pm on Zoom. More details and the zoom link to join here. Email info@hartsdaleneighbors.org if you have topics you'd like to see raised.
Hopefully, you have found this informative. Please send any questions and forward to your friends and neighbors. If you have questions about any of the above, please email me at Eric@ericzinger.com
Eric Zinger
www.ericzinger.com