Thursday, May 15, 2008

HIGHLIGHTS FROM TOWN BD MEETING

TOWN BOARD APPLIES FOR ALMOST $900,000 IN GRANTS –INSTALLATION OF SOLAR HOT WATER SYSTEM, A BETTER AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, PLAYGROUNDS, REVITALIZATION OF MANHATTAN AVE



NEW ENERGY CONSERVATION COORDINATOR NAMED—funding from building permit fee

RFP FOR WATERWHEEL PROPERTY APPROVED—POSSIBLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES!

HEARING ON WESTHAB WORKFORCE HOUSING SCHEDULED

BOARD STARTS REVIEW PROCESS FOR SUPER STOP N SHOP PROPOSAL ON 119

DECADE + REVIEW OF AVALON 440 UNITS OF HOUSING GETS ANOTHER REVIEW—SITE PLAN)

NEW FOOD CONCESSION AT POOL





Greenburgh participates in a CDBG program and is eligible for grants. At last nights Town Board meeting the Town Board unanimously voted to support the following grant requests. Although we are endorsing almost $900,000 worth of grants the county (which administers the program) will be screening each of these applications and will probably approve between $100,000 and $200,000 of the applications. A more detailed summary of the grants that we are seeking can be found on the town web site: www.greenburghny.com (look for resolutions, Town Board meeting). My personal favorites: the Solar Hot Water system, the expansion of the after school program (we’re going to model the expansion on a very successful program that exists in Brooklyn) and the initiative to revitalize Manhattan Ave. I thought that the Commissioner of Planning, Thomas Madden, did a first class job highlighting ways that the town can enhance the look of one of the most important streets in our town – Manhattan Ave.

Installation of a Solar Hot Water System at the Theodore D. Young Community Center

Requested CDBG Funds: $168,750 Matching Town Funds Proposed: $56,250 (cash)



Expansion of the After-school Program at the Theodore D. Young Community Center

Requested CDBG Funds: $120,000 Matching Town Funds Proposed: $300,000 (in-kind)

($40,000 per year) ($100,000 per year)



Department of Community Development & Conservation Manhattan Avenue Street Revitalization

Requested CDBG Funds: $250,000 Matching Town Funds Proposed: $50,000 (cash)



Greenburgh Parks and Recreation – Yosemite Park Play Equipment Replacement

Requested CDBG Funds: $150,000 Matching Town Funds Proposed: $50,000 (cash)



Greenburgh Police Department – Travis Hill Park Crime Suppression Video System

Requested CDBG Funds: $40,500 Matching Town Funds Proposed: $13,500 (in-kind)



Greenburgh Police Department – Youth and Senior Programs

Requested CDBG Funds: $31,500 Matching Town Funds Proposed: $13,500 (in-kind)

($10,500 per year) ($4,500 per year)



Town of Greenburgh – Mentoring and Leadership Development Program

Requested CDBG Funds: $67,500 Matching Town Funds Proposed: $22,500 (in-kind)

($22,500 per year) ($7,500 per year)



Greenburgh Public Library – Young Adult Technology Engagement Plan

Requested CDBG Funds: $16,680 Matching Town Funds Proposed: $5,560 (cash)



Greenburgh Nutrition Program – Double - Deck Convection Oven

Requested CDBG Funds: $9,150 Matching Town Funds Proposed: $3,050 (cash)



Theodore D. Young Community Center – 16 Passenger Bus

Requested CDBG Funds: $30,277 Matching Town Funds Proposed: $10,092 (cash)



The Town Board also appointed Allegra Dengler as our new energy conservation coordinator. She will replace Nikki Coddington. Her part time stipend will be split with an energy conservation outreach coordinator. That appointment will be made within the next month. The Board also voted to increase fees for building department permits to pay for all energy conservation initiatives. The combined stipend for our p/t energy conservation coordinator/outreach coordinator will be about $29,000 a year.

The Board also approved a resolution by the Town Board of the Town of Greenburgh authorizing the Request For Proposal (RFP) for development opportunity for a mixed affordable housing and market rate multifamily development located at 330 Saw Mill River Road (commonly referred to as the Water Wheel Inn Property). This property is owned by the town due to a foreclosure but is located in the village of Ardsley. Approximately 15 homes may be built at this location. The town, working with Ardsley, will review various proposals and then decide who to sell the property to.

The Board voted to schedule a Public Hearing for Wednesday, May 28th at 8:30 PM, to consider a petition submitted by Westhab, Inc. for amendments to the Zoning Map and the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Greenburgh affecting property located at 22 Tarrytown Road, White Plains. WESTHAB is proposing to build 35 affordable apartments for working families. The building is proposed to be 4 stories high. The proposal has been downsized.

The Board voted to start the review process for the proposed super Stop N Shop on Route 119 in Tarrytown at 600 White Plains Road (next to the Sheraton). We will be scheduling many community meetings during the review process. The first community meeting is scheduled for June 4th at 7 PM. A zoning ordinance amendment is required.

The Board also referred the proposed Avalon Green II Site Plan Application and amended Avalon Town Green Site Plan Application to the Planning Board for review and recommendation. This proposal has been reviewed by the town for over a decade (440 units of housing)—we’re nearing the end of the review process!

There will be a new food concession at the town pool this summer. The Board authorized a license agreement with O’Neill’s Concession to operate a food concession at the Anthony F. Veteran Park Pool and Tennis Complex

We also promoted Glenn Bryan to Police Captain and appointed Bryan Ryan as Lt. Police Officers Norman Hall and Thomas Foltin are Sergeant and we have a new detective: Timothy Carroll.

We also honored two student interns: Chadwick Campbell and Victor Griffith, senior interns from Woodlands High School WISE programs.



These are some of the highlights from our Town Board meeting: May 14th.

54 comments:

Anonymous said...

the town spends 20 million to build a new library only to house video games - and juettner and sheehah, so called educators, support this nonsense.

paul is right - abolish county government.

this is pure idiocy!

Anonymous said...

Well we will have an arcade room at the library.
This is a no no in my house but the town goes ahead and goes against our wishes.
You started to vote on extra expenses incurred by the library after the budget was approved.
Are you guys going crazy.
The budget was supposed to cover all expenses now there is not enough money to finish the disaster.
Boy paul you and the rest of your board know how to fool the people.

Anonymous said...

This is just an application for the arcade. What makes everybody think that they are even going to receive the grant? I don't believe they will.

Anonymous said...

as hal samis pointed out, the title of the resolution for video games was entirely misleading.

seems sheehan will say or do anything to keep his position.

sell the library.

Anonymous said...

We have to see how much more money will be poured into the library.
Sheehan and Juettner are still a big influence on the rest of the board.
We did not need the video games.
We did not need the windows washed We did not need the carpets
We did not need the furniture
all in all we did not need to spend tax dollars on the monster.
Sheehan and Juettner did this to get back at Feiner.
Don't get fooled how lowed keyed Sheehan is trying to be. Wait a while and see how he becomes the person he was years gone by.
He will be showing his true colors when other things will be presented to the courts and the board.
The library should be sold to a developer for affordable housing.
By the way has the question been answered how much did the library pay for the old town hall.
Still waiting !!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Well with all the things going on in Fairview I think we should sell our homes thru out Greenburgh and move to Fairview.
The plans to beautify are great on paper,too bad no plans have been made for Central Ave.

Anonymous said...

At last night's meeting some of the public wanted to know why nobody from the library board or staff was not present to answer questions pertaining to this grant. I thought all department heads or alternates were to attend town board meetings for this reason. Please respond to this Mr Feiner.

Anonymous said...

Why are we hiring an environmental chief? I hope this gets charged to A budget. so what that it comes out of building fees -- those fees are green money -- they can be used for anything.

Anonymous said...

Does Paul know people are upset re 20% tax increase? Couldnt tell from this meeting. Loads of promotion, new hires. The villages wouldnt do this.

Anonymous said...

Who pays the salary for the grant person?

Why are all grants for Greenburgh 7 or Fairview?

Anonymous said...

"one of the most important streets in our town – Manhattan Ave"

Huh? Never heard of it. I just looked it up online, and I can't envision what would be there. Maybe I'll go for a drive later to see this important street.

Though I wonder why no one does basic street-sweeping and weed-wacking along Central Park Avenue. So much neglect along such an essential income source for the town, and it could be so easily remedied.

Anonymous said...

Yes, and why are Paul and his posse inspecting the HPPD facilities (which are in excellent condition and working just fine AND SO FAR UNDER THE CARE OF THE HPPD) and ignoring the streeets which ARE THE TOWN'S RESPONSIBLITY.

Anonymous said...

Have I got a tale to tell but later.

Anonymous said...

It's easy to criticize. I love this town!

Anonymous said...

Greenburgh:
The portion of the taxes that are impacting our wallets is not the town but the schools. Town services remain excellent.

Anonymous said...

Where in town do you live, Fairview???

Anonymous said...

i would call some of these items lowlights.
in an era of record levels of childhood obesity we should not be encouraging kids to play video games.

shame on the board.
sonja - you saw there where problems with this. that it wasnt thought through. so why did you cave? we got rid of bass and barnes. we are stuck with sheehan and juettner. i hope you do the right thing the next time stupid ideas like this come up esp as the library board was missing in action.

Anonymous said...

the taxes in Greenburgh are very low to the quality of service. I would suggest somehow eliminating the GC7 from greenburgh that would change our tax structure because than our children could get a better education at the other public schools in our area. It all comes down to the school district.

Anonymous said...

"The children! We can't do enough for the children!"

What children?


Children under 18 years Fairview- 779
Children under 18 years Hartsdale-1,769

Is grant money being obtained by using particular demographics and not total Unicorporated Greenburgh? Is this why these funded programs are either unknown to the majority of Greenburgh kids or not created to address concerns of the majority of these kids?

Anonymous said...

Councilwoman Brown is a breath of fresh air. She doesn't take crap from anyone.There are more positive changes at the center since Sonja and Valerie came on board than in 30 years!

Anonymous said...

Yes since sonya came aboard we have another problem .
Her attention is always for the Fairview area.
Does she not know about the other areas in Greenburgh.

Anonymous said...

No one on the board cares about the B budget. Tax and spend. TAx and Spend. We dont need more police promotions. We dont need an enviornmental officer.

Anonymous said...

I would like to know if all these grants are given sight unseen.
I'm suprised that the grants are requested and received without total investigations made to see if these monies are going where they are requested .
A question was ask to the housing authority who had received two hundred thousand from the government,and of this money thirty four thousand was spent,well where is the rest of the money the housing representative could not answer.

Does this lady asks for grants just for the sake of asking ?.

These grants are monies paid in taxes throught the United States [federal grant]and the state [Albany]by all the taxpayers.

Are these people taken the taxpayers over a barrel I think so because most of these people can afford to pay all the free services that they recieve.
If the center needs more money raise the fees.
The people that use the place can very well afford it.
This town has fallen into a trap because they have been living in a bubble of lies that there are poor people in Greenburgh.
How can one be poor when everything is free.
Many of us have to much pride to accept charity .

We must be doing something wrong because we break our butts to get where we are today while others stay home and live off the fat of the land.
Great town.

Anonymous said...

I would like to know if all these grants are given sight unseen.
I'm suprised that the grants are requested and received without total investigations made to see if these monies are going where they are requested .
A question was ask to the housing authority who had received two hundred thousand from the government,and of this money thirty four thousand was spent,well where is the rest of the money the housing representative could not answer.

Does this lady asks for grants just for the sake of asking ?.

These grants are monies paid in taxes throught the United States [federal grant]and the state [Albany]by all the taxpayers.

Are these people taken the taxpayers over a barrel I think so because most of these people can afford to pay all the free services that they recieve.
If the center needs more money raise the fees.
The people that use the place can very well afford it.
This town has fallen into a trap because they have been living in a bubble of lies that there are poor people in Greenburgh.
How can one be poor when everything is free.
Many of us have to much pride to accept charity .

We must be doing something wrong because we break our butts to get where we are today while others stay home and live off the fat of the land.
Great town.

Anonymous said...

Vote NO on 5/20 for the Greenburgh Central budget.

Anonymous said...

When is the Town going to try to control expenses? Police salaries and OT? Fairview? And on top of that how many poliitcal hacks have to get jobs. Ok we needed a controller. Dont know if Kolesar was really the best choice (he was the one who increased the budget for interest income while he was a consultant, then had to decrease when he became an employee), but we did need a controller. I just don't want to hear that we need anymore staff in controllers office. The comes Denglar as envirornmental czar. And this is BS that her salary comes out of increased building permit fees. Those fees should just go into the budget. No need to hire her. Cant wait to see whose next on list of political supporters of Pauls who gets a job.

Anonymous said...

Agree. Controller's office does not need more staff. Set example for rest of departments that do more with less money.

Anonymous said...

Alternatively, if the Town wants to hire someone, then they should cut someone else. And lets get rid of all the outside contractors. Let the employees do the work. Why cant the department heads get the employees to do the work?

Anonymous said...

TOM - WE NEED YOU!
Westchester Legislator Tom Abinanti had a curious answer when asked about rumors that he’s considering a primary campaign against Assemblyman Richard Brodsky.

“I’ve had a lot of people ask me to run but I have no plans at this time to do anyhing,” said Abinanti, a Greenburgh Democrat.

Abinanti also said he plans to “sit back and see what happens.” He declined to comment further.
LOHUD.COM (politics on hudson)

Anonymous said...

10:40 -- what has Brodsky done that you don't approve of?

ed krauss said...

I attended the 5/15/08Town Board meeting and was there long enough to hear cogent reasons, from citizens,as to why the block grant to buy video games etc. for use in the new library should be held over and fleshed out.

Not necessarily to my surprise, this resolution as well as the myriad of other ill-defined resolutions passed unanymously.

Why, town board, go through the charade of having citizens voice their opinions, for 3 minutes or less, when your minds have been already made up to do as you please- right or wrong? I guess the answer to my rhetorical queston is, "cause we've gotten away with it this long, keep getting re-elected, so why change?"

You're most likely right until you get caught and DON'T get re-elected. Maybe next time, the time after that, or never.But why chance it? "Kicking sand in the face of the 98 pound weakling (the voters of Greenburgh")can be dangerous, if they are secretly working out.Besides, smart administrators take input from all sides,distill out the undesirable, and then decide.

Of equal dismay about the meeting is the unnecessary delay. A 7:15 meeting starting at 7:30 is acceptable. At 8:00 for the reason given-attending the awards meeting for Chief Kapica- as an entire board is not very smart AND unacceptable. Worse of course is the 8:00delay was further delayed until 8:30 because board members took their time coming back. Equally curious is the fact that no one had the good sense to ameliorate a bad situation by starting the meeting when there was a quorum present.

Starting the meeting late, very late, did not switch on a bright light flashing, "we have a good deal of agenda items so let's compress some of the 'feel good' items."

Hell no, instead of compressing, they were expanded. Yes a young man lost his life because of Iraq, but a moment of silence was observed. The expanded litany was superfluous.Yes two young Greenburgh men enjoyed a beneficial internship at the town and were honored, but it could have been celebrated at a meeting with a lighter load.

As far as the police promotions are concerned, do we stop the show for promotions of employees in other departments?

You have to be at the board meetings, the public does not. But those who do attend are obviously interested.If your motivation is to drive them away, it's the most successful policy I've witnessed in ages...from any Greenburgh board.

Lastly, your critical report card on the 5/15/08 meeting is as far from reality as Alice in Wonderland.

If you wonder why people like me are negative,frustrated, disgusted with this government and those who, putatively, run it, pretend you're in the audience, for a change and see how postive you would be.

I remember Francis in that situation, and he was pretty critical. I can't remember Diana in that situation, because I can't remember her at board meetings before she was appointed to fill a seat, and subseuently reelected for what reson I have no idea. If memory serves, I can't remember Paul at any meetings before he was elected. Sonya and Kevin are newcomers- although they're picking up bad habits quickly-so I can't comment on them.

Come to think of it, most of you can't picture yourselves in our shoes, because you haven't been in our shoes.

Nevertheless, for whatever reason, there are ample reasons to be negative with the government of this town...and few if none to be positive.

Anonymous said...

Ed: Our Town Board is hard working, they work long hours and they are cooperating with each other, for the good of our town. They are doing a superb job. I disagree with you. So, do most of the people in Greenburgh who voted with Paul and his team last year, despite your opposition.

ed krauss said...

5/18 2:24PM
Paul, you could at least have signed your name to this fairy tale.

There are many people in our society who put in long hours, yet accomplish little or nothing. Hours of work is no criteria. Output is!

All it would take is for an outside service to do a study on the process, checks and balances,management principles used, any principles used etc., publish the results and there would be an outcry for impeaching the board...the entire board.

We are into a 20+% tax incease, with one estimated to repeat itself in 2009 and maybe further into the future. What is our hard working board doing to lower that trajectory? Are they laying off people(as many municipalities are?) No!!!!
Are they watching their dollars? Not when they are calling "borrowing" or soliciting grants moves to save money. Not to pick on Alegra,but do we really need an energy coordinator? If so, show me how she will save the town money.

Yes, Paul and his team won. Yes Paul has been winning all along. But, do any, some, most in this town know anything about how poorly this town is run? No,no and no.Paul is expert at getting re-elected. That's where his talents end.

And suckers like you buy into his act. It's really a sad day when someone quotes generalizations in justification of mediocrity- and I'm being ultra kind.

You and those like you are the reason Paul Feiner is in office.

Hope you're happy in your ignorance. I know I obviously don't know who
i'm writing to, but from where I sit you could be a summa cum laude graduate from the top ranked university in the land (who by the way accept less than quality, in some cases stupid- i.e. George W Bush Yale and Harvard pedigree) and still be ignorant.

Anonymous said...

Ed, the fact is only the TOV had a 20% tax increase. And TOV has no elected officials.

Anonymous said...

The TOV has elected officials. It is called the Town Board.

The "we don't have any elected officials" is the latest garbage that is being used to avoid having to answer questions about honesty and logic. Feiner and three of the Town Council live in TOV and Juettner, who lives in Ardsley, is no friend of the villages.

So find some real reasons to complan. Don't give us the spin.

Anonymous said...

They live in the TOV, but are elected by the villagers. Juettners latest pandering is trying to get more Ardsley Village people into Veterans park. If it is one thing a politician knows, it is who is entitled to vote for him or her.

Anonymous said...

Guess what this town board really sucks.

I said it a long time ago that each board member meets with the public in favor of the things that will be mentioned at the meetings .
As far as taking what the public has to say serious they have already made up there mind at executive sessions as to which way to vote.
Those present at executive sessions cannot say anything because they are there just to listen.
Yes the board has forgotten about the other parts of Greenburgh,
Yes Fairview will be the the seat for the Greenburgh government.

Anonymous said...

Please there were no highlights at the meeting.
If you call all the grants being directed to the center -the day care and all the rest in Fairview you have got to be kidding.
That meeting should have been held some other time and not at a regular meeting.
As if we don't know where all the tax dollars are going.
Give us a break.

Anonymous said...

This Town Board ROCKS, like Obama!
This Board has been promoting openness. They are not perfect. They are trying very hard. I appreciate all of them.

Anonymous said...

If this board rocks you must be deaf.
What have they done townwide?

Anonymous said...

This board is not rocking for the rest of the town.
It seems that the rocking is only for Fairview.
They have been out of step from the beginning.
They have not done anything to lower our taxes significantly.
The only thing that they are doing they are dancing to a moon walk.
Slower than a snail.

Anonymous said...

They have ROCKS in their head!

Anonymous said...

the next town resolution
change the name of the town to fairview.

just three votes

Anonymous said...

Twice I have heard that the housing authority received monies totaling to $200,000.00 of which $34,000.00 was spent.

The question was asked as to where the balance of the money was but no one from the housing board answered and the town board kept quiet.

Who is stealing the money given to them by the county ,state and federal governments??????
What about the money owed to the town for police protection at the housing complexes?????
They claim that they owe nothing. Thats' BS. They received the service and now they have to pay the taxpayers plus interest.
To add insult to injury, they had the nerve to ask for another police officer without paying for the first.
The money owed is almost half a million dollars.
Why should they get this service for free at the expense of the taxpayers?
Why do you have a comptroller who is telling you what they owe and the books cannot balance with this outstanding figure and you all try
to find a way for the housing authority to weasel out of their commitment.
If a resident did not pay their taxes you would take over their home.
The police should not have given the service to them for free.
Whom do you blame,I leave it up to you.

Anonymous said...

Fairview,Fairview that's all you hear at these meetings.

The state comptroller said that the Westhelp money should be used town wide.

Greenville Fire company is part of Greenburgh and so is Hartsdale.

Why does it go to Fairview?

Greenville asked for some money that was not coming from the taxes that we pay but from Westhelp rents.
The argument that the taxpayers would be up in arms is a lie since the town is receiving not paying.
The board gave the monies to the Valhalla school district which was used for vacations and plenty of good times.

Greenville asked for some money give it to them and the same goes for Hartsdale.

Anonymous said...

The other fire companies in Greenburgh should receive their share of the Westhelp money.

It should not only be granted to you all know who FAIRVIEW.

Anonymous said...

You know Paul your work sessions and town hall meetings are one sided.

FAirview.

Extra money for the fire dept.
All the grants that one can apply for.

Free police protection and they are looking for one more police officer.

Free this and free that.
Why must allthe taxpayers give up their hard earned money to be squandered on Fairview.

Does the federal and county government know of how crooked things are getting in Greenburgh.

A grant of two hundred thousand dollars----spent thirty four thousand.Who filled their pockets with all the remaining monies.

Why is it that the town officials will not start an investigation as to what is happening in this town.

Are you all waiting for a government investigation.
How many times must they say that your hands a dirty for letting many things pass you by.

The town board is as guilty as those that are crying that things are bad at the complexes.
I have news for you things are bad all over.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone demanded an accounting?

Anonymous said...

Paul panders to Fairview and the Villages. And basically the rest of the town can get lost.

Anonymous said...

Fairview has more voters than Greenville. It is pure politics.

Anonymous said...

This non payment of debt should be reported to the proper agencies that give the taxpayers money to this housing authority.

Not only do they owe this money to Greenburgh but it seems that there are monies missing from a grant of $200,000.00 of which only $34,000.00 was used .

Boy do they know how to fool the public.

Take away their private patrol from our PD and give them the same service that the rest of the town gets.

There is crime all over why should this place receive special services.They have the same problems as we do .

Anonymous said...

In todays Journal News the chief of police states that he does not have the resources to do a thorough job in patroling Edgemont .
Who is he kidding????

He should take the personnel out of headquarters and put them out to the street patrol.

Tell me why is Bernstein playing nice nice to the chief?

The chief will have one extra man for patrol now,since the Housing Authority has not paid for patrol services for years.
One man plus his office staff will do wonders in protecting high crime areas other than Fairview.

The residents of Edgemont and Hartsdale deserve better patrols after reading how much of our tax money was used to pay a patrolman's salary for years to patrol The housing complexes
without being reembursed for this service.
Almost one half a million dollars is owed to the town.But the biggest joke is that they say they owe nothing.

The biggest joke will be on the taxpayers because the new members of the board are leaning towards
forgetaboutit just start paying now.But the biggest BUT is that they claim that they have no money to pay for the service at this time they are waiting for a grant.
DAH.
They are looking for continuance of service without payment.
The public must be protected well what about the public in other parts of town are we considered chicken liver.

Anonymous said...

The biggest crime in Town is all the Free services for people and the low cost housing for these people in one area of town.
Start making these people pay the going rate for rent in these apartments(cops,firefighters, sanitation etc.making over $80,000)
living in Greenburgh housing and not paying the market rate is the BIGGEST CRIME!
How many crimes did housing police solve?

Anonymous said...

White Plains actually monitors income levels of people in subsidized apartments. They prosecute people for fraud. They run a tight ship, and still help out the neediest. Why can't we?