2 of 5 library construction contracts still not signed by contractors

The library construction has not started because 2 of the 5 contractors have not yet signed the contracts that had been awarded to them in Decembe by the Town Board. We were advised yesterday that the major general contractor, EW Howell, will sign by Thursday of this week. Once we receive all the contracts the Town Attorney will review the contracts - match the signed documents to the awarded bid documents. Once the Town Attorney completes his review the contracts will be presented to me for signature.

GREENBURGH DEMOCRACY--WEEK OF FEBRUARY 12TH..COMMENTS WELCOME ABOUT ANY TOWN ISSUE

Please feel free to comment about any town issue.

SNOW ANGEL VOLUNTEERS WANTED TO HELP ELDERLY...

The weather reports indicate that we could have our first snow storm of the season Tuesday night and Wednesday. I am looking for additional volunteers who might be willing to help senior citizens/disabled residents out by clearing their driveways after it snows.
If you're interested in helping out please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com. Please advise if you are willing to volunteer (at no pay) or if you expect the recipient to pay you for your services. If you expect to get paid, please let me know how much you charge.
I will advise residents of your offer to help when they contact me. Those under 18 should provide me with parental permission slips indicating that the under 18 year olds names can be released

HOME OF GORDON PARKS, LEGENDARY PHOTOGRAPHER, COULD BE DESIGNATED LOCAL HISTORIC LANDMARK

On Wednesday evening the Greenburgh Town Board will refer the proposed designation of 15 Adams place as a local historic landmark to the Planning Board for its advice. This is the house that legendary photographer, filmmaker, writer and composer Gordon Parks had lived in. Mr. Parks wrote a memoir in 2005 -describing the bungalow in the suburbs -its large room with a skylight and huge windows. Mr. Parks spent some of his most formative and creative years in the Adams Place house, which creatively has left its mark on american history. Special thanks to the Historic and Landmarks Preservation Board for their recommendation.

SUGGESTION OF THE DAY: NAPOLEON MITCHELL--INCREASE FINES FOR ILLEGAL HOUSING

Napoleon Mitchell of the Juniper Hill Civic Association has a suggestion: increase fines for illegal boarding houses. A fire last week at 66 Beech Street in Fairview fortunately did not injure anyone. However --it was determined that the property was a two family house. About 20 people lived there illegally. The house was subdivided into several smaller rooms, many of which showed evidence of electrical wiring that contributed to the overloaded circuit.
The owners had been cited for housing illegal roomers. The problem: the fines are very low--$500 a day maximum. A suggestion: the law should have a minimum fine of $1500 a day for the first offense and $5000 a day for a second offense.
Mr. Mitchell indicated that some towns in Westchester have been raising fines between $1000 and $5000 for violations of housing codes re: illegal apts and overcrowding. This would discourage unscrupulous landlords from renting illegal rooms in either an apartment or in a home.
The town recently hired an additional inspector to investigate illegal rooms. An increase in fines, as Mr. Mitchell states, would raise the stakes for those who are violating the law.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

WANTED: NAMES OF STREETS THAT HAVE HAD REPEAT POWER OUTAGES LAST YEAR--MEETING WITH CON ED NEXT THURSDAY FEB 15, 2007

Next Thursday evening (Feb 15) at 7:30 PM a meeting will be held with Con Ed representatives and residents who experienced power outages last year. The meeting is being held at the Greenville school, off of Ardsley Road. Con Ed has asked me to provide them with a list of streets that have had a number of power outages last year. If you are interested in being part of this meeting and helping us take proactive measures to reduce the potential for power outages in the future - please e mail me streets that had problems last year. I will contact Con Ed --helping them prepare for the meeting.

3 GROUP HOME RESIDENTS PUSH FOR SIDEWALKS ON CHATTERTON PKWAY

3 group home residents who reside on Chatterton Parkway and call themselves the "Three Musketeers" will speak at the Greenburgh Town Board meeting on Wednesday, February 14th at 7:15 PM. Jason Kingsley, Raymond Frost, Jr and Yaniv Gorodischer have down syndrome. Over a year ago they went door to door on Chatterton Parkway pushing for sidewalks. The petition drive was very successful. All of the neighbors, except two, were enthusiastic and signed in support of constructing a sidewalk along Chatterton Parkway down to Central Ave. There were two holdouts - one who didn't want to shovel the snow (the boys offered to do it for them).
At the meeting the 3 boys will speak about what they consider to be dangerous conditions on Chatterton Parkway.
Last spring the Town Board approved a resolution directing me to come up with a proposed sidewalk policy. The Board has not approved, rejected or modified the sidewalk policy. I would like to see a sidewalk policy approved (and would support modifications in my original proposal). I'm hopeful that the presentation by Mr. Kingsley,Frost and Gorodischer will lead to a sidwalk policy being approved.

Westchester will keep homeless shelter agreement

I spoke to Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano earlier today about a proposal to place a homeless drop in shelter from White Plains to Hawthorne. This would have violated an agreement the county made with Greenburgh not to build any new homeless facilities within 2 miles of the center of the Grasslands reservation. I am pleased to report that the County Executive will keep the promise that was made to the Mayfair Knollwood community at the time the WESTHELP partnership agreement was made. This shelter would have violated the agreement that had been made.
A promise was made. The promise must be kept. Otherwise no one will ever trust those who were elected to public office.

update: 3 of the 5 contracts have not been signed re: library construction (holding up start of library construction)

A number of library patrons have called for an update re: library construction. In December 5 contracts were awarded by the Town Board to contractors so that work on the library could begin. As of Monday only 2 out of the 5 contractors have signed the documents. What is holding up their signature? I am asking the Town Board to discuss this tomorrow. Hopefully, tomorrow we will have better news --and all 5 contractors will have signed the documents with attachments.

CENTRAL 7 SCHOOL COMMUNITY MEETING FEB 13TH 8 pm TOWN HALL

Are you interested in helping to make the Central 7 schools better? If the answer is yes, please join us at important community meeting---Tuesday, February 13th at 8 PM at Greenburgh Town Hall.
The meeting will be informational. You'll learn about how to get involved in the district. We welcome your suggestions and thoughts regarding to ways to enhance the quality of education offered to our children. Harry Phillips, a Regent with the State Education Department and long time Hartsdale resident, will provide residents with an update on what is happening in Albany. Vic Leviatin, co-founder of the WISE program, will chair the meeting.
We can improve our schools. We need your help and involvement. Join us on 2/13 at 8 PM. This will be an exciting and productive meeting.

GREENBURGH DEMOCRACY-WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND WEEK OF FEB 5th

Post any comments about town issues for the week of Feb 5th. Tell us what's on your mind!

SATELLITE LIBRARY 2 WEEKS OLD--YOUR FEEDBACK ENCOURAGED!

The satellite library locations are about 2 weeks old. We're continuing to work to enhance the satellite libraries and welcome your thoughts. Here are some impressions that I have.
* The staff working at the library is outstanding. They are trying very hard to make the best out of the smaller satellite spaces. I'm extremely impressed with their efforts. They are terrific public servants.
* I am also pleased to see so many people stop by at the satellite library location at Town Hall. There is a steady flow of traffic -- almost non stop. Residents really love the Greenburgh library. Programs for children will start soon.
* Earlier in the week we had to close down the lobby/check out area of the lobby (located at the entrance of Town Hall) a few times. It was freezing - about 57 degrees. The librarians were uncomfortable, but not complainers. We are addressing the freezing condition problems --providing the staff with portable heaters.
* In response to complaints about lack of parking near the entrance to the library (creating difficulties for seniors/disabled residents) we increased the number of disabled parking spots at Town Hall and also created short term (30 minute or less) parking at the front row parking area.
* We need a reading area for library patrons/librarians to use to relax - to read magazines, newspapers. I suggested a possible location: the former room used for STAR applications. Another possibility: Use the back area of the Town Board auditorium/meeting room.
* I believe that we need an additional satellite library location(s)--East Hartsdale Ave and/or the Greenburgh Nature Center.
* The ground breaking ceremony was held last Saturday. However, construction of the new library has not yet started because only 2 of the 5 contracts have been signed by the contractors. I feel that we should have closed down the old library a few weeks later --providing residents with full service library programs a bit longer. It's my hope that the other contractors will sign the contracts that had been awarded to them in December of last year. No construction could happen till they sign the documents. 3 of the 5 still have not signed the contracts.
* I am requesting the Town Board to discuss the status of the library construction at our work session - this Tuesday. The work session starts at 3:30 PM. I feel that the Town Board and community deserve an explanation as to why the contractors have delayed signing the contracts that had been previously awarded to them.
We want the library to continue providing residents with outstanding services during the next two years - during the construction of our new library. It's very important that you, our library users, take the time to provide me and other town officials with your thoughts and suggestions.

2 of 5 library construction contracts signed by contractors

As of this writing two of the five contracts with the contractors for the library construction project have been signed by the contractors. 3 have not been signed. The failure of the library construction contractors to sign the contracts is delaying the start of the construction. We hope that all the documents will be signed by the contractors early next week - I will promptly review the signed documents before signing the agreements. Once both parties sign the documents construction of the library can start.

COUNTY PLANNING BOARD HAS CONCERNS ABOT MORATORIUM ON RESIDENTIAL DEVLEOPMENT-CENTRAL AVE

The Westchester County Planning Board has sent the town a letter expressing concerns about the proposed moratorium on residential development - Central Ave. The county claims that the CA district is the only zoning district within the Edgemont School district which permits multi family dwellings. The county wants to promote the creation of a mix of uses along the county's developed corridors. The county claims that Central Ave is a particularly suitable place to locate multi family housing due to the fact that commercial and retail areas are often nearby. The county has stated that "while the overcrowding of local schools is an important concern, the issues of school enrollment must be weighed against the smart growth benefits that multi family developments along a major mixed use, transit oriented corridor can provide for a region in need of housing that is transit oriented and near local commercial centers.
The Westchester County Planning Board does not have the ability to overrule local decisions - they act in an advisory capacity. The Town Board will review the Planning Board's recommendations.

SHOULD MICKEY'S HOT DOG STAND ON JACKSON AVE BE ALLOWED TO STAY OPEN?

An article in today's Journal News (www.lohud.com) -"Greenburgh has beef with longtime hot-dog stand" reports that Mickey's snack bar was forced to close last month - after 78 years of selling food on Jackson Ave. The Building Department enforced a law that bars roadside vendors in residential areas. Mickey Difate, 96 years old, stopped working at the snack bar last year. The hot dog stand did not operate for a number of months. He now resides at an assisted living center. A family member was planning to take over the business and continue operating the hot dog stand.
The property is zoned for a residential purposes. The Difate's can apply for a zoning variance. Would you support giving Mickey's snack bar the variance so they can continue operating their hot dog stand? Or, should the town not make any exceptions to our law?
One resident wrote to me--suggesting that this snack bar is a local landmark in town. Another person pointed out that a snack bar is preferable to residential development at the site.
What do you think?

SHOULD MICKEY'S HOT DOG STAND ON JACKSON AVE BE ALLOWED TO STAY OPEN?

An article in today's Journal News (www.lohud.com) -"Greenburgh has beef with longtime hot-dog stand" reports that Mickey's snack bar was forced to close last month - after 78 years of selling food on Jackson Ave. The Building Department enforced a law that bars roadside vendors in residential areas. Mickey Difate, 96 years old, stopped working at the snack bar last year. The hot dog stand did not operate for a number of months. He now resides at an assisted living center. A family member was planning to take over the business and continue operating the hot dog stand.
The property is zoned for a residential purposes. The Difate's can apply for a zoning variance. Would you support giving Mickey's snack bar the variance so they can continue operating their hot dog stand? Or, should the town not make any exceptions to our law?
One resident wrote to me--suggesting that this snack bar is a local landmark in town. Another person pointed out that a snack bar is preferable to residential development at the site.
What do you think?

AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMMITTEE BEING FORMED...SUGGESTIONS ENCOURAGED

The Greenburgh Town Board is moving forward --creating an affordable housing committee. Last year the Town Board approved a resolution authorizing the committee to be formed but no appointments were made. That should change --soon!

Suggestion are welcome? Last night I was at a meeting in Hastings. Hastings Trustee Peter Swiderski discussed his views on the topic yesterday. In Hastings there is a requirement (similar to Greenburgh) that 10% of multifamily housing that is built be affordable. He proposes that the percentage increase to 15%. What do you think?

Other suggestions that have been made in the past include --retrofitting old homes and turning these existing homes into affordable housing. Another proposal: foreclosed property should be designated for affordable housing. A third suggestion made by a blogger on this blog a few months ago: Create a fund. Developers who purchase land owned by the town (foreclosed property) would be required to put funds in an account. The funds would be used to help volunteer firefighters, municipal workers purchase housing in a community. Perhaps --anytime a developer builds commercial or multifamily developments, a contribution towards an affordable housing account could be required --to help volunteer firefighters, municipal workers and others move into affordable units.Other suggestions: the county/state could provide localities that build affordable housing units additional grants for schools/open space.

The purpose of this blog is not to endorse or oppose any of the above suggestions --just to encourage more people to think about the problem and to help us come up with good, creative ideas.

January: Miscellaneous

The purpose of this Miscellaneous topic is to discuss any town related issues you feel are important. Please post any issues you wish to discuss in the comments section of this post. Thanks!

TOWN TO ISSUE TICKETS TO THOSE PARKING IN DISABLED PARKING SPOTS AT TOWN HALL

The Greenburgh Town Board decided at our work session meeting today to increase the number of disabled parking spots at Town Hall (satellite library). We expect to adopt a local law in February authorizing the police to issue tickets to those who park at the spots without a valid disabled parking permit.
The Board also agreed to reserve short term parking (30 minutes or less) spots at the locations closest to Town Hall. This will encourage more people to visit the library - especially senior citizens who might be reluctant to walk from the back of the parking lot to the Town Hall.

TOWN WINS LAWSUIT RE HAMPSHIRE MANAGEMENT-QUALITY OF LIFE

Good news for the town and residents of the Colony in Hartsdale! Judge Robert DiBella dismissed Hampshire Management's Article 78 petition and upheld the Town Board's April 6, 2006 Amended site plan approval requiring Hampshire Management to relocate a Knox lock, chains and an electrical transformer to a location approved on the approved 2003 amended site plan. This was a major quality of life issue for some residents of the Colony in Hartsdale. I am very pleased with the decision. Want a copy of the decision? e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com
PAUL FEINER