NORTH COUNTY NEWS ENDORSES FOLLOW UP TO 3 COUNTY MERGER IN 2/18/09 ISSUE

I was very pleased to read that the North County News endorsed a professional study to determine if Westchester, Rockland & Putnam Counties should be merged. The following is an editorial that appeared in the 2/18/09 issue of this publication.
I intend to pursue the proposal.
I also intend to initiate some significant reorganization of local government proposals in the coming months. We need to look for ways to reduce taxes by eliminating unnecessary layers of government.
PAUL FEINER

Department of Redundancy Department

Politicians have a tendency to be reactive, rather than proactive, often to the detriment of taxpayers. The reactionary response of government becomes more evident in a faltering economy. While officials and legislators desperately look for ways to save money during the current economic downturn, they sometimes contradict themselves.

Sharing services was the focus of a roundtable discussion, moderated by Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, D-90, and Westchester County Association Chairman and former Lt. Gov. Al DelBello, on Feb. 12 at the Town of Cortlandt municipal building. The forum included 14 local and county officials from Westchester and Putnam who championed the need for more shared services among county, municipalities and school districts.

Sharing services is not a new idea. It is a time-honored practice to reduce costly redundancy by sharing resources with cooperative government entities. Over the past 20 years, the term “shared services” has been slowly adopted, if in limited ways, by some municipalities, but it has not been fully embraced by the 10,500 – count ‘em! – 10,500 individual municipal jurisdictions, including water districts, throughout New York State.

DelBello made several good points during the forum, including the remark that governments around the state operate as if we were still in the 1800s. He also said that while sharing services is a good idea, it is not enough. Municipalities themselves need to consolidate so that there are fewer of them. The same can be said of school districts, which some advocates want to be realigned according to municipality.

A perfect example of DelBello’s point is having two governments in Ossining. He questioned the need for a Village of Ossining government and a Town of Ossining government. Village Mayor William Hanauer said the two governments are working toward becoming one, which is good news, but why is it taking so long? The village and town already share a range of services, but they also overlap in some services.

That kind of duplication overtaxes taxpayers. The village and town have separate police departments. The town of Ossining employs 19 full-time police officers, including the chief, and the village has 59 in its police force, which covers 3.3 square miles with a population of 24,000. The money that could be saved by consolidating the two police departments would amount to millions of dollars in salaries, benefits and pensions.

Cortlandt got rid of its police department 10 years ago, saving taxpayers millions of dollars. The town now pays state and county police about $1 million a year to patrol the 35-square-mile municipality.

As we said, politicians tend to be reactive creatures. Perhaps then, the current economic meltdown will provide enough impetus for our leaders to understand that all this redundant bureaucracy is costly and unnecessary. Perhaps one elected official will have a moment of clarity and will lead us out of the bureaucratic jungle and back onto the path of sane and logical governing.

Perhaps that official is Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner, who is leading an effort to explore ways to maintain essential services in the region while reducing taxes. Called Rethinking Westchester, the group’s Website www.rethinkingwestchestergov.com explains it all for you.

Feiner recently noted that “instead of eliminating county government, we could and should explore the value of merging existing county governments. If Westchester, Rockland and Putnam counties could be combined into one super regional entity, we might be able to save many millions of dollars. A larger regional governing body, to replace our current three county governments, could easily handle solid waste, health and social services.

“We need a professional study to determine if abolishing county government will save taxpayers significant dollars,” Feiner says. “The study should also provide residents with a roadmap, how this will be done. In addition, a professional study should explore the benefits of combining neighboring county governments. All options to save money should be explored.”

Nothing would be finer than for many other town officials in our region to echo Feiner’s clarity of voice and vision.

BARNES AND NOBLES BUILDING (SPOOKYTOWN) HAS BEEN LEASED--WILL BE REPAINTED

The property owner of the former Barnes and Noble building (Spookytown) has notified the Building Department that the space has been leased to a seasonal furniture store and will be repainted once the weather warms enough for exterior painting to take place. This building has been empty for a number of years.
This is great news for the town –highlights the fact that Central Ave is coming back to life. A new Starbucks is being constructed across the street from Barnes & Nobles…a new restaurant (Banzai) will be built at the site of the former Carvel property.
E Hartsdale Ave is also experiencing some good news –for the first time in memory all the stores on the avenue are rented. There is a new clothing store, a new bank is about to open up. Frankie & Fanucci’s Restaurant will replace Lia’s and Masala Kraft (an Indian Restaurant) will be opening soon.

WHAT IS HAPPENING ON ARDSLEY ROAD AT THE RESERVOIR?

The Metz Reservoir, located on Ardsley Road in the Town of Greenburgh, is an open reservoir that was constructed in 1904. The reservoir is part of the United Water New Rochelle, Inc. (UWNR) distribution system and is the primary source of water storage for 12 Westchester County Municipalities, including several sections which are located in the Town of Greenburgh.



On January 5, 2006, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency enacted the “Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule” (the "LT2 Rule") to further protect public health against Cryptosporidium bacteria, Guardia and other pathogenic microorganisms in drinking water from open reservoirs.



The LT2 Rule requires public water systems ("PWS") that rely on open reservoirs to either enclose the reservoir or to treat the water being discharged to achieve inactivation of potential microorganisms All PWS must be in compliance with the LT2 Rule by April 1, 2009 or be on a compliance schedule to meet the deadline. I was also informed that the UWNR decision to replace the open reservior with a new covered, ground level, water storage tank was to also address safety issues and Department of Homeland Security concerns with having of an open reservior in a residental neighborhood.



UWNR is scheduled to complete the renovation of the Metz reservoir by June 2009. UWNR will be replanting the existing berm around the reservoir with trees to help hide the new tank.

CUT YOUR HEATING AND ELECTRICITY COSTS

Wednesday Feb 25 7:30pm
175 Walgrove Ave, Dobbs Ferry
Springhurst School (Cafeteria)
Learn How To Reduce Heating & Electricity Costs In Your Home.
Flyer attached. PDF.
Presentations followed by Q&A with a multidisciplinary 5 member panel.
Learn about current incentives and financing. Learn the latest to Do It Yourself.
Brought to you by the Dobbs Ferry Mayor's Task Force on Energy and the Environment & the Dobbs Ferry PTSA.
for more information see attached PDF and/or contact Nina Orville ninaorville@gmail.com

ANOTHER JOB OPPORTUNITY...

JOB OPPORTUNITY: Please continue to forward me names of businesses/organizations that are hiring and I will share the info with residents looking for work. I will start posting the info on the blog so more people can become aware of job openings. If you want to be personally advised via e mail of job opportunities as I learn of them please e mail me your e mail address: pfeiner@greenburghny.com. Good luck, don't get discouraged.

Dear Mr. Feiner

The Guidance Center School Based Program is looking for bilingua (Spanish speaking) Social Workers with a minimun of a Master's Degree or (MSW) their phone number is 914-934-8607.

Also I know of a Mental Health company in the Bronx, FEGS, who is looking for a Business Manager and bilingual (Spanish speaking) Social Workers. Their phone number is 718-881-7600 xt. 324 they can speak to Dr. Marjorie Stuckle.

Hope is hellpful

SHOULD WESTCHESTER, ROCKLAND AND PUTNAM COUNTIES BE MERGED IF IT WILL SAVE TAXPAYERS DOLLARS? ANOTHER OPTION TO BE STUDIED...

In recent months Westchester County residents have started to debate the value of having a county government. Connecticut, Rhode Island and much of Massachusetts have no county government and property taxes in those states are less than ours. A group: www.rethinkingwestchestergov.com has started a web site to encourage people to reflect on the value of eliminating county government and transferring the responsibilities to local and/or state governments (which is what happened in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts). The goal: reducing our property taxes and maintaining high quality services. Getting more value for our precious tax dollars.
There is another option that we should be thinking about: instead of eliminating county government we could and should explore the value of merging existing county governments. Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties could be combined into one super regional entity. If these county governments would be merged we might be able to save many millions of dollars. Less administration, fewer commissioners, fewer lawmakers & savings of millions in salaries for executive and legislative branches of government, reduced expenses, etc...
Last week the Regional Plan Association and Tri-State Transportation campaign held a forum to discuss a proposal that the MTA take over the county's Bee line bus system. Our current bus system is subsidized by Westchester residents but crosses county lines. It would make sense for the bus system to be regional (paid for by more than one county). Westchester County residents support the Westchester Medical Center (the county also guarantees the bonds). Yet, the medical center serves more than one county. A regional government that would replace the county would spread the costs to those who use it. A larger regional governing body, to replace our current three county governments, could easily handle solid waste, health, public safety, recreation and social services.
Last year, when I helped form Rethinking Westchester, my goal was to encourage debate and discussion. The next step: We need a professional study to determine if abolishing county government will save taxpayers significant dollars. The study should also provide residents with a roadmap--how this will be done. How many millions will be saved. In addition, a professional study should explore the benefits of combining neighboring county governments. All options to save money should be explored.
In the coming weeks I will be suggesting other possible areas to study --we need to explore big ideas that could save money.

INFO ON CONGRESSIONAL PAGE OPPORTUNITIES

If you who know someone who
is 16 yrs. old and has a 3.0 GPA who might be interested in
serving in the Obama Administration as a page.

Please share this information with friends, family and
potential US House of Representatives Page candidates. The
honor of serving as a page during the Obama administration
will be an invaluable experience.

Help identify students to participate in this enlightening
educational opportunity. Please access the below link for
specific details.

http://pageprogram.house.gov

GREENVILLE FIRE DEPT TO SEEK ANTENNA AT FIRE HOUSE---REVENUE TO FIRE DISTRICT RATHER THAN TO BUSINESS LANDLORDS

Representatives of the Greenville Fire Department (located in Edgemont) appeared before the Greenburgh Town Board. They are planning to seek permission (and a possible zoning change or variance) so they can place an antenna pole at the fire house. The pole could be rented to phone companies -to enhance service to Edgemont residents.
Everytime I drive on Ardsley Road my NEXTEL cell phone stops working. It's frustrating. Cell phone service in Edgemont is horrible.
Everytime a proposal is initiated to place a cell tower in a neighborhood there is opposition. Federal laws limit the ability of governments to say no to cell towers.
The benefit of this proposal -which is in its early stage- is that the rent and revenues will go to the fire district, not a landlord. If we have to have cell towers somewhere doesn't it make sense for local governments to get some revenue from it?

JOBS--TESTING FOR CENSUS JOBS, JOB CLUB

Greenburgh residents can apply for census bureau jobs and take a test at the following locations:
Wednesday, Feb 11th 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM -------Greenburgh Library
February 17 and 24th @ 10 Am and 12 Noon ---------------------------Theodore Young Community Center
Jobs pay between $18 and $20 an hour.

PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE BEEN COMPILING A LIST OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR WORK. I AM ALSO ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO ADVISE ME WHEN THEY LEARN OF JOB OPENINGS IN THEIR COMPANY. I SHARE THE INFORMATION WITH PEOPLE ON THE LIST AND HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL HELPING SOME PEOPLE FIND WORK.
IF YOU ARE OUT OF WORK AND WANT TO BE ADDED TO MY E LIST OF PEOPLE IN SEARCH OF WORK – PLEASE SEND ME YOUR E MAIL ADDRESS. my e mail: pfeiner@greenburghny.com
IF YOUR COMPANY IS INTERESTED IN HIRING ANYONE (LOW PAYING TO HIGH PAYING JOBS) PLEASE ADVISE AND I WILL SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH PEOPLE OUT OF WORK. JUST TODAY—FOR EXAMPLE—I LEARNED OF SOME GREAT JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT DANNON.
I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FORM A JOB CLUB TO HELP PEOPLE FIND EMPLOYMENT.
PAUL FEINER
GREENBURGH TOWN SUPERVISOR


CENSUS BUREAU JOBS
To Westchester organizations and community groups -please feel free to place this information in your newsletter or as an e-blast to your membership/contacts.

US CENSUS BUREAU CURRENTLY RECRUITING
The U.S. Census Bureau is now recruiting Westchester residents for temporary part-time census positions for the 2010 Census. The pay is good (field workers can earn $18-$20 per hour), the hours are flexible, and the work is close to home.
Census taker jobs are excellent for retirees, college students, persons who want to work part-time, persons who are between jobs, or just about anyone who wants to earn extra money while performing an important service for their community.
In order to apply, you must be 18 years old or over and pass a written test. US citizens are given preference. Tests are currently being offered in convenient locations all over Westchester County. To apply to take the test, please call (866) 861-2010. For more information, you may go to www.census.gov/2010censusjobs/index.php

JOBS--TESTING FOR CENSUS JOBS, JOB CLUB

Greenburgh residents can apply for census bureau jobs and take a test at the following locations:
Wednesday, Feb 11th 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM -------Greenburgh Library
February 17 and 24th @ 10 Am and 12 Noon ---------------------------Theodore Young Community Center
Jobs pay between $18 and $20 an hour.

PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE BEEN COMPILING A LIST OF RESIDENTS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR WORK. I AM ALSO ENCOURAGING RESIDENTS TO ADVISE ME WHEN THEY LEARN OF JOB OPENINGS IN THEIR COMPANY. I SHARE THE INFORMATION WITH PEOPLE ON THE LIST AND HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL HELPING SOME PEOPLE FIND WORK.
IF YOU ARE OUT OF WORK AND WANT TO BE ADDED TO MY E LIST OF PEOPLE IN SEARCH OF WORK – PLEASE SEND ME YOUR E MAIL ADDRESS. my e mail: pfeiner@greenburghny.com
IF YOUR COMPANY IS INTERESTED IN HIRING ANYONE (LOW PAYING TO HIGH PAYING JOBS) PLEASE ADVISE AND I WILL SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH PEOPLE OUT OF WORK. JUST TODAY—FOR EXAMPLE—I LEARNED OF SOME GREAT JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT DANNON.
I AM IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FORM A JOB CLUB TO HELP PEOPLE FIND EMPLOYMENT.
PAUL FEINER
GREENBURGH TOWN SUPERVISOR


CENSUS BUREAU JOBS
To Westchester organizations and community groups -please feel free to place this information in your newsletter or as an e-blast to your membership/contacts.

US CENSUS BUREAU CURRENTLY RECRUITING
The U.S. Census Bureau is now recruiting Westchester residents for temporary part-time census positions for the 2010 Census. The pay is good (field workers can earn $18-$20 per hour), the hours are flexible, and the work is close to home.
Census taker jobs are excellent for retirees, college students, persons who want to work part-time, persons who are between jobs, or just about anyone who wants to earn extra money while performing an important service for their community.
In order to apply, you must be 18 years old or over and pass a written test. US citizens are given preference. Tests are currently being offered in convenient locations all over Westchester County. To apply to take the test, please call (866) 861-2010. For more information, you may go to www.census.gov/2010censusjobs/index.php

PLEASED WITH EVACUATION PROCEDURES AND RESPONSIVENESS OF FIRE DEPT: 33 OAK STREET FIRE --ONLY ONE FAMILY SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE

Councilman Francis Sheehan and I stopped by at the scene of the fire at 33 Oak Street around 11:15 PM. By time we both arrived at the the fire - the fire was out. I spoke to one family at 90 Manhattan Ave (temporary shelter). They were waiting for permission to get back into their apartment. According to some of the firefighters who I spoke to only one apartment in the building was damaged significantly. This was good news. When I was first alerted to the fact that there was a fire - we thought more people would need to be evacuated.
I was very impressed with the procedures being used with this fire. And, evacuation procedures. First -- the Fairview, Hartsdale, Greenville and White Plains fire departments deserve our thanks for effectively responding to the fire. The police chief, John Kapica advised the Town Board of the fire. I also received a call from James Robinson, a Fairview Fire Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner at the Theodore Young Community Center. We were also advised of evacuation procedures. Displaced residents would be sent to a holding area at 90 Manhattan Ave. If overnight shelter would have been needed - we would have opened up the Community Center for residents.
Although we hope that we will never need to use our town facilities as emergency shelter - the town is prepared for emergencies and will offer our facilities to the community if there is a need. Today's fire highlighted the fact that the town is prepared for an emergency.
PAUL FEINER

FIRE AT 33 OAK

I was just informed by Police Chief John Kapica and James Robinson, Deputy Commissioner of the Theodore Young Community Center, that there is a fire at 33 Oak Street. The Greenville, Fairview, Hartsdale and White Plains fire departments are at the scene. Some residents may be displaced. The town will, if necessary, open up the community center as a temporary shelter.
I am running to the scene of the fire and will offer my assistance to families in need of help.
PAUL FEINER

Week of February 8th: Miscellaneous

The purpose of this Miscellaneous topic is to discuss any town related issues you feel are important that are not addressed in other topics. Please post any issues you wish to discuss in the comments section of this post. Thanks!

If you have any suggestions or comments regarding the blog, please contact me at 'mherman.gny@gmail.com'. Thank you for your input.

-Marc Herman

MESSAGE FROM MAYOR OF ARDSLEY JAY LEON IN RESPONSE TO INACCURATE STATEMENTS ON BLOG RE: WATERWHEEL

To all,

I don't know who wrote this message, but it was apparently BCC'd to many people in Ardsley. It's from a disgruntled Greenburgh resident who feels Supervisor Feiner betrayed unincorporated residents by breaking a promise not to permit Section 8 housing in a project in the Fulton Park section of Greenburgh.

There is no provision for Section 8 housing in the Waterwheel project. There is no reason to surmise that there will be. We cannot permit negative people who are ignorant of all the facts and who have an axe to grind to sabotage our project or to distract us from a worthy cause.

To date the Town has been very open and inclusive in their dealings with the RFP process of the Waterwheel. I would ask that you make this clear to any of your neighbors and friends who may have received this message and are confused by it.

Thanks and have a good weekend.

Jay Leon
Mayor, Village of Ardsley

TOWN ACTIVITIES BROCHURE ON WEB...WON'T BE MAILED OUT IN FUTURE...SAVINGS TO TAXPAYERS WILL EXCEED $20,000

The Greenburgh town wide activities brochure for spring/summer 2009 is now posted on the town web site: www.greenburghny.com. The brochure will be mailed to unincorporated Greenburgh households by the end of the month.
Because of budget cuts this will be the last time the brochure is mailed out to all residents. In the future the Town Board will not be mailing out the town wide activities brochure. We will post the brochure on our website and update the activities during the year. We will print some hard copies of the brochure and will be leaving the copies at town government facilities. We anticipate that this budget cut will save the town over $20,000 a year

TOWN RECEIVES GRANT FOR COURT TRAILERS

I am pleased to advise you that the Town Court was awarded $22,135.00 (the amount requested) in response to our recent JCAP application. The award is for furnishing the trailers that will be installed at the Court in Spring 2009.
The trailers will provide much needed space for the court.

OLD WATERWHEEL PROPERTY ON SAW MILL RIVER ROAD ARDSLEY TO BECOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The Town Board of the Town of Greenburgh recognizes the importance of providing adequate and affordable housing for residents and employees.
On October 30, 2008, the Greenburgh Affordable Housing Committee reviewed three presentations from developers who had submitted responses to the Waterwheel RFP; and on November 18, 2008, after careful deliberation of the three presentations, the Affordable Housing Committee recommended that the Town of Greenburgh enter into negotiations for the sale of the property with the development group formed by Ariston Properties, Developer: Conrad Roncati, Community Housing Innovations, Affordable Housing Partner: Alexander Roberts and Architectura, Inc – Architect (“Developers”).The Developers are proposing a “green” design development that would be flexible and able to be changed based on further input from the community; and
the Developers are proposing eight (8) market units, six (6) “below market” rate units, and eight (8) affordable units, for a total of twenty-two (22) units on the property; and

The Developers have agreed to have restrictive covenants going with the land that will insure affordability of the units;

the Town Board of the Town of Greenburgh hereby expresses interest in conveying the above mentioned Town-owned real property to Ariston Properties, Community Housing Innovations, and Architectura, Inc for development for affordable housing,

RESPONSE FROM COMMISSIONER OF TDYCC IN RESPONSE TO INACCURATE BLOG COMMENTS ABOUT FAST TEAM

STATEMENT FROM BILL CARTER, COMMISSIONER OF THE THEODORE YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER IN RESPONSE TO INACCURATE BLOG COMMENTS ABOUT FAST TEAM TRIP TO DC

The FAST swim team generated $24,376.12 in revenue for the year 2008-09. The coachs’ salaries for the team is $12,000. The cost for the bus is $2,975.00. Therefore, the FAST swim team generated a total of $9,201 in revenue for the year. The parents signed their kids up for the program expecting the team would attend the swim meet in Washington. This was factored into the fee when the parents paid. As you can see, the team has generated a significant amount of revenue over costs of operation of the team and the trip. Please be advised that the FAST swim team is more than paying for itself and generating a significant amount of revenue.

TAX OFFICE OPEN TILL 7 PM ON MONDAY NIGHT...SCHOOL TAX BILLS CAN ALSO BE PAID ON LINE WITH NO ADDITONAL FEE

Greenburgh Receiver of Taxes David Dwinell's office at Greenburgh Town Hall will be open till 7 PM tomorrow (Monday, February 2nd) to accept the second half of the school tax bill. School districts are independent of the town. School taxes and budgets are approved by the electorate. However, the town is required by law to act as a tax collector for the school districts. The town pays the school taxes to the school districts whether we collect the tax from residents/businesses or not - according to the law. Schools are guaranteed payment.
Next years school tax bills could be more upsetting to taxpayers. Because of the budget crisis the Governor of New York State has proposed that New York State REDUCE STAR PAYMENTS TO RESIDENTS AND SENIOR CITIZENS BY 18%. The New York State Legislature must approve the budget by April 1st, according to the NYS constitution.

IF YOU HAVEN'T PAID YOUR SCHOOL TAX BILL AND CAN'T GET TO TOWN HALL BY 7 PM ON MONDAY YOU CAN PAY YOUR SCHOOL TAX BILL ON LINE BY VISITING OUR WEB SITE: WWW.GREENBURGHNY.COM. THERE IS NO FEE FOR ONLINE PAYMENTS. HOWEVER---IF YOU CHOOSE TO PAY YOUR TAXES BY CREDIT CARD THERE IS A FEE.

Week of February 1st: Miscellaneous

The purpose of this Miscellaneous topic is to discuss any town related issues you feel are important that are not addressed in other topics. Please post any issues you wish to discuss in the comments section of this post. Thanks!

If you have any suggestions or comments regarding the blog, please contact me at 'mherman.gny@gmail.com'. Thank you for your input.

-Marc Herman