new residents reception wed...job forum thursday

YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR ANNUAL NEW RESIDENTS/volunteer RECEPTION ON WEDNESDAY MAY 8TH FROM 6 PM TO 8 pm


You are invited to our Annual New Residents/Volunteer Appreciation Reception on Wednesday, May 8th at Greenburgh Town Hall. The reception will be held from 6 – 8 PM. Town Board members Ken Jones, Diana Juettner, Kevin Morgan, Francis Sheehan, and I will be joining commissioners and other town officials at the reception. Town Clerk Judith Beville, is coordinating the reception. There will be lots of food, donated by area restaurants and eateries. If you’re not a new resident and want to enjoy the delicious food and introduce yourself to new residents and volunteers who help the town – please join us. We request that you RSVP to Greenburgh Town Clerk Judith Beville at townclerk@greenburghny.com or call Judith at 993-1504. If you are a new resident and have some good suggestions for the town (programs, initiatives that took place in your old community that you’d like to see implemented in Greenburgh) we’d welcome your suggestions.





YOU'RE INVITED TO A FORUM ON JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT GREENBURGH LIBRARY MAY 9TH 10:30 to noon. About four years ago I formed a job club that has helped unemployed members of our community find job opportunities. We created a job board (www.linkedin.com greenburgh jobs group) and post job opportunities on the site. And, WJCS Women Helping Women and I co-sponsor some public forums designed to give attendees good tips that can help them find meaningful jobs. Our next public forum (which is open to anyone) will be held on Thursday, May 9th from 10:30 to noon at the Greenburgh Public Library, 300 Tarrytown Road, Elmsford. We will focus on jobs in health care and the bio tech community. If you would like to receive job postings please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com.

PAUL FEINER

9 million+ to Greenburgh for affordable housing!...at WESTHELP

Mark: Thank you for participating in the bid process for the WESTHELP property. We selected another company (they offered the town much more revenue) but appreciate your taking the time to meet with us. And, we also appreciate the work you put into the proposal.


I hope to continue to work with you on your current Greenburgh projects and hope you will consider managing other properties in Greenburgh when opportunities arise.

Thanks again.

PAUL FEINER





The Greenburgh Town Board unanimously selected MRH to lease the former WESTHELP property from the town. 108 affordable housing units will be rented.The town has rights to the property for 18+ years. MRH will give the town 9 million dollars over the 18+ years that the property is under town control. MRH has asked the Richman Group affordable housing corporation to provide property management and tenant compliance oversight for the affordable housing units at 1 West Help Drive. The Richman group is one of the nation’s leading investors in affordable housing with a portfolio which spans 49 states, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and Guam. They provide affordable housing for 115,000 families.

MRH plans to target seniors and people 55+so they will not affect the local school system. Estimated rent: $1,134/mo/unit MRH has offered the town 3 payment options. I prefer option two which is listed below. MRH will also pay any tax increases on the property if the assessor determines that the property is taxable.



1 West Help Property Rent Payment Options



OPTION 1: $1,500,000 paid up front , $0 rent in year 2 and 3, $500,000 rent year 4-18.



OPTION 2: $1,500,000 paid up front , $441, 176.47 paid year 2 thru 18.



OPTION 3: $3.5M Lump Sum payment up front



This is a good deal for the town. The town will be able to put the property to a good use –affordable housing. The revenue we will receive far exceeds what we had expected from other affordable housing developers who had expressed interest in the proposal. Next step: finalizing the terms of the lease. MRH will be spending about 2 million on renovating the apartments . They hope that the units will be ready for occupancy later this year!

PAUL FEINER

applications for police camp ...new WESTHELP affordable housing proposals

The Town of Greenburgh Police Department Summer Youth Program applications are available starting TODAY at Police HQ’s.

For information, call Sergeant Robert J. Gramaglia, (914) 682-5391.

MRH/Richman has offered the town two additional options if the Town Board decides to lease the WESTHELP property to them. The Town Board will be holding a special meeting tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM to make the decision. Option 1 (posted Friday and posted along with the other proposals on the town website) offered no rent in years 2 and 3 because there is a $1.5 million up front payment. Some residents questioned the lack of rental payments for two years. Option 2 addresses that concern.

1 West Help Property Rent Payment Options

OPTION 1: $1,500,000 paid up front , $0 rent in year 2 and 3, $500,000 rent year 4-18.

OPTION 2: $1,500,000 paid up front , $441, 176.47 paid year 2 thru 18.

OPTION 3: $3.5M Lump Sum payment up front

NOTE: Please let us know before the lease starting date which option you choose to move forward with.

PAUL FEINER

town to proceed with affordable housing now that Ferncliff has been rejected

New York State has rejected a proposal by Ferncliff Manor, an organization that provides services to the developmentally disabled, to lease the WESTHELP property from the town. The Town Board had supported Ferncliff over other proposals. Ferncliff offered the town much more revenue than any of other bidders. And, we felt that it was important to provide a quality of life opportunity for the developmentally disabled population in a campus environment.



The Town Board will meet on Tuesday morning to select an affordable housing developer to lease the WESTHELP property from the town. We hope to make a final decision next week so we could quickly move on and put the property to a good public use. The existing WESTHELP units will be converted into affordable housing -targetting senior citizens.

PAUL FEINER

The following statement has been released to the press by Ferncliff Manor. We received a letter from OCFS (attached) rejecting Ferncliff’s application for the Westhelp site. Although the State Education Department continues to enage in a review of Ferncliff’s application, the ultimate decision must be made by the State Office of the Budget. Although State Ed reports to the Board of Regents rather than the Governor, DOB as well as OCFS report to the Governor’s office.

Statement from Pat and Bill Saich

Ferncliff Manor is shocked and disappointed by this news from OCFS, since we have been working with the agency on this proposal for nearly two years and had never been told of their negative views or the possibility that their support would suddenly be reversed without warning. Moreover, the position of OCFS seems to run counter to that of the State Department of Education, which as recently as two weeks ago indicated our proposal is in line with acceptable cost formulas. We will seek a meeting with both agencies to determine how they can apparently be at such odds with one another. We are particularly surprised that OCFS has an issue with the proposed lease value, since it was made with their knowledge and under their guidance.

Contrary to the views expressed for the first time today by OCFS, we are not aware of any viable alternative site for Ferncliff Manor. We stand ready to consult again with SED, OCFS and the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities in order to determine whether we can come up with another plan that will enable us to serve the children with developmental disabilities whose future is impacted by this decision.

We note that in their letter OCFS expresses concern that potential affordable housing stock may be removed in order to provide for our disabled children. This is a policy issue that rests with the State, not Ferncliff Manor.

We wish to thank County Executive Astorino, the majority of the Board of Legislators who supported our application in their letter to the Governor, as well as Greenburgh Supervisor Feiner and Town Board, Assembly members Paulin and Abinanti, and the countless others who stood ready to help us.

students organizing rally for sidewalks wednesday

Westchester Community College students are not only studying government – they are participating in the process. On Wednesday April 3rd from 11 AM to 1 PM the students will be exercising their constitutional rights and will be organizing a sidewalk rally to promote the need for sidewalks along Hillside Ave, Grasslands and Knollwood Roads, roads that are state owned and maintained. The students, led by Neish Dawkins, a Westchester Community College student Trustee and future political leader, hope that this rally will generate momentum that will encourage lawmakers to fund sidewalks in future capital budgets. Petition drives, press events, meetingswith lawmakers and state officials are among some of the activities that the student group hopes to organize.




I think that this is terrific! The best way for students to learn about their government is to be a part of the process. Students at the Community College are taking on an important cause—pedestrian safey – and will learn advocacy techniques. They will interact with lawmakers, try overcoming some obstacles and will encourage residents, elected officials and community leaders to reflect on the benefits sidewalks have on safety, healthy life styles.



Residents of Greenburgh are invited to stop by at the rally on Wednesday to congratulate the students for their involvement in the processes of government and to encourage them to stay involved and to speak up when they have concerns. Who knows? One of the students participating in the rally could be a future US Senator or Governor! Students will be congregating at 11 AM at the Gateway front lawn of the Westchester Community College (across from parking lot 11) towards the East Grasslands Gate (at the college gate closest to BOCES). The students will be holding signs and banners for about 30 minutes from 11:20 to 11:50. Afterwards, the students will return to the Gateway Center Auditorium where the sidewalk open forum will be held.



I will be speaking to the students, along with Town Clerk Judith Beville, around noon. Refreshments will be served at the Gateway Center (room 11) from 12:30 to 1 PM. I have invited student leaders to be my guest on my WVOX radio program tomorrow (Wednesday) from 1 to 1:30 PM (program is streamed live on the internet: www.wvox.com). The students who will be on my radio program are Westchester CC student Trustee Neish Dawkins, organizer of the rally, Student Government Association President Taje Champagnie, Vice President Cyndy Shaw, Director of Public Relations Alexander Sharpsteen.



A special thank you to the leadership of the Westchester Community College for motivating students to not only study government but to be a part of it!



PAUL FEINER

outdoor fitness equipment to be installed at town parks

NEW--ADULT OUTDOOR FITNESS EQUIPMENT STATIONS TO BE PLACED AT TOWN PARKS

TOWN TO REPLACE YOSEMITE PARK PLAYGROUND AND TO INSTALL WATER CONSERVATION SYSTEM FOR SPRAY PAD AT YOSEMITE PARK

NO TAXPAYER DOLLARS WILL BE USED TO FUND THESE INITIATIVES!

The Greenburgh Town Board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing NON TAXPAYER DOLLARS (developer escrow funds) to be used to install outdoor adult fitness equipment at Travis Hill Park. This is the first time adult outdoor fitness equipment will be placed in a town park. Many communities around the world have incorporated adult fitness equipment in parks. We anticipate expanding the initiative in the future and will be placing the equipment in other parks around the town. You will not be able to exercise outdoors in our parks!

Credit for the adult fitness equipment concept goes to Lloyd Cort , a community leader who first suggested the outdoor equipment to Gerry Byrne, commissioner of parks, over six years ago. He saw how popular the fitness stations were around the country. Last year my family went to Israel and I enjoyed exercising on an adult fitness equipment on a beach in Tel Aviv! A few months ago I read an article about adult fitness equipment in europe for seniors --designed to help seniors improve their balance.

In addition to the adult fitness equipment the Town Board approved the purchase of a new outdoor playground equipment at Yosemite Park (near the Theodore Young Community Center). We also plan to install a water conservation system for the spray pad at Yosemite Park--which should save taxpayers money since less water will be used. The playground and water conservation initiatives will also be paid for by non taxpayer dollars--using developer escrow funds.

Bob Bernstein's comments on the Edgemont Community Council page are false, fiction, inaccurate

The ECC page has been used by Bob Bernstein to criticize me. That's democracy and freedom of speech. I have no objections to that.
However-- in recent months much of what Bernstein says is totally inaccurate. Fiction. Make believe. I sent the following to Bob and the head of ECC a short time ago.

---

From: Paul Feiner
Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 11:10 PM
To: Geoff Loftus; Town Board
Cc: Bob Bernstein; monica at ecc; aubrey graf-daniels; Peter Mellis; Gregory Adams
Subject: more distortions and fiction in last nights ECC post about me

Bob Bernstein, in last nights post about WESTHELP, indicated that I put up barbed wires at the WESTHELP facility.
I don't recall putting up wires or fences at WESTHELP. Can Mr. Bernstein provide some form of documentation which would confirm that the wires were installed at the direction of me or the town, not WESTHELP? And, that the town paid for the wires/fence?
During the time WESTHELP was operational, I met with some of the residents of WESTHeLP and tried helping them find employment and housing. Many met with me at Town Hall--and walked from WESTHELP to my office.
As indicated previously - many of the anti Feiner posts written by Mr. Bernstein on the ECC page are fiction and contain inaccurate information.

This is what Bernstein said -- please prove the allegations that this action was taken by me. Or, correct the facebook page.
PAUL FEINER
Mr. Feiner, in one of his first acts as town supervisor in Greenburgh, erected an eight foot high barbed wire fence to "surround" the WestHELP apartments so that none of these women and their infant kids could stray the mile or so into this "surrounding neighborhood of family homes." The fence still stands today.

allow limited number of boating on sprain lake (Greenburgh/Yonkers border)

Now that spring has arrived, it’s my hope that Westchester County officials will consider allowing a limited number of non power driven boats to use Sprain Lake on a trial basis. Allowing kayaking on the Sprain has been talked about for a number of years and has met some resistence from the county in the past. I believe that if the county authorized a test program (limited hours and limited number of boats) they will realize what an incredible asset the Sprain is and how allowing the Sprain to be used for non powered boats would be an enormous property value booster, quality of life enhancer. Allowing boating would help local governments attract people to the county and would help local businesses as well. After the trail experiment is over the county could consider expanding the number of hours or boats allowed. This has the potential to be a big revenue booster for the county as well.

Westchester County should authorize boaters to launch boats on Sprain Lake for recreational purposes. There are possible launching areas at the lake that would not interfere with golfers who enjoy golfing at Sprain Lake Golf Course. Currently, the only other lower Westchester County place to row is on Glen Island and the course is almost full to capacity. The NYAC, Pelham Community Rowing Assoc, Iona College, Pelham H.S., Riverdale H.S. and various other individuals are all using this site. It is essential that another site be opened for these booming water sport. Rowing and kayaking provide a tremendous opportunity for H.S. kids to participate in lifetime a sport, and may even help them acquire college scholarships. It would be great for the Greenburgh and Yonkers High Schools to be able to start programs for their students.

There has also been an incredible surge in Masters rowing programs. Many are returning to the sport they loved in college, and many more first time rowers are experiencing the joy of being on the water and improving their health through the great cardiovascular benefits of rowing.

Photos have been submitted to the county re: possible launch sites for boats.. These site are at the northern end of the golf course and do not in any way interfere with the golfers. There is also plenty of land that would be suitable to erect a temporary fenced in area to store boats for a trial use of the water. If all goes well and the community embraces the use of the lake, a permanent structure could be built for the storage of the boats.

There are several colleges in the area that are also looking for a better site to row. They may be able to assist with the installation of the fenced in area and help provide equipment for the high school programs to use to get started. This could be a revenue generator for the county. We have an asset that is not being taken advantage of by Westchester residents. We can enhance the quality of life for many people if we open up the lake to boating.

The county has said no to this initiative in the past. It’s my hope that they will consider a trial experiment to test out the concept in 2013. I am sure that they will not be disappointed with the results..

Paul Feiner

Greenburgh Town Supervisor

link to LWV forum on reassessment-- Ben's Deli to open in Edgemont

Last week Edye McCarthy, Greenburgh Assessor, participated in a League of Women Voters sponsored forum on reassessment. She and other officials from around the county discussed reassessment and the experiences other communities have had dealing with reassessment. In the event that you are interested in the issue (the Town Board has committed to participate in reassessment with other communities around the county) you can watch the entire discussion on your computer. In the coming months the town will work hard trying to educate the public about reassessment -- how it will help stop the bleeding (certiorari tax refunds) and provide the taxpayers with stability and predictability.



To access the video open the following link: It will open the users default media player and begin streaming the event: mms://v2.webcasting.granicus.com/archives/newrochelle/03.20.2013newrochelle-board.wmv

Last summer I sent out an e mail advising that Ben's Deli planned to open up a new deli at the old Spiga Restaurant on Central Ave in Edgemont. Many residents have e mailed me, called me, written to me asking for an update. I sent the CEO of Ben's Deli an e mail over the weekend and received the following response this morning. Good news! Ribbon cutting expected later this year.

PAUL FEINER
Sent: Sunday, March 24, 2013 8:32 AM
To: Paul Feiner
Subject: Re: Ben's Deli

Thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. I look forward to meeting everyone at our ribbon cutting ceremony sometime in the early fourth quarter 2013.

With best regards,
Ronnie Dragoon
CEO/Founder

Ben's Restaurant Group, Inc.

terrific analysis by Milt Hoffman -why Ferncliff makes sense for WESTHELP

In recent months there has been some controversy over the proposal to turn the abandoned WESTHELP facility to Ferncliff, an organization that provides services to the developmentally disabled population. Milt Hoffman, a retired editorial page editor of the Gannett Westchester newspapers and a resident of the town, wrote the following opinion that appears in the Journal News on Sunday.

Among interesting disclosures: Mr. Hoffman located an old article in the Gannett newspapers indicating that the town was given power to use the WESTHELP site for public uses at our discretion.

Cuomo, son of then-Gov. Mario Cuomo, wanted his organization to construct apartments for the homeless in Greenburgh, Mount Pleasant, Mount Vernon and White Plains. He said that after 10 years, the HELP II facilities would be turned over to the local municipality to use at the local government’s discretion. (Westchester Rockland Newspapers, Feb. 18, 1988).

It's my hope that you will read the terrific analysis written by Milt Hoffman - which highlights the reasons why the town believes Ferncliff is a good deal for the town. We hope that the state and county will agree.

PAUL FEINER

Let Ferncliff come to WestHELP site

Mar. 23, 2013 7:34 PM, |

Milton Hoffman

In 1988, when Westchester’s government was spending millions a year to house homeless families and individuals in costly and often run-down hotels and motels, Andrew Cuomo, a young lawyer, showed up with his HELP II plan to build housing for the homeless.

“As county taxpayers, you will spend $54 million for welfare motels this year,” he told radio listeners on Feb. 17, 1988. “Under our HELP II project, you will save those county tax dollars.” His private nonprofit corporation had established a 200-unit HELP I facility in Brooklyn. Cuomo’s mission was to house homeless mothers and their children and remove them from welfare by providing training for mothers and day care for the young children.
Cuomo, son of then-Gov. Mario Cuomo, wanted his organization to construct apartments for the homeless in Greenburgh, Mount Pleasant, Mount Vernon and White Plains. He said that after 10 years, the HELP II facilities would be turned over to the local municipality to use at the local government’s discretion. (Westchester Rockland Newspapers, Feb. 18, 1988).
Mount Vernon and Greenburgh were the only governments that accepted the offer. At first, some in Greenburgh living near the site for WestHELP were dead set against it there. Nevertheless, the WestHELP facility for Greenburgh was built in 1990 on six acres of county owned land next to Westchester Community College. It was a huge success. Many women housed at WestHELP were trained at the college, enabling them to get jobs and get off welfare.
But about a year ago, County Executive Rob Astorino decided to close the facility because there was a decline in women and their children who needed it. The one in Mount Vernon remains.

Enter Ferncliff Manor

The present controversy is whether Greenburgh, which is 13 years into a 30-year lease from Westchester County, can rent it to Ferncliff Manor, a school in Yonkers that needs a new home for the severely developmentally disabled children it serves. I think it earned the right to do so.
Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner and the rest of his town board want Ferncliff to move to the Greenburgh site, not just because their town would be paid $500,000 in rent a year (less than half what they had been receiving from WestHELP), but also because they feel that Ferncliff Manor would be a noncontroversial fit in the surrounding neighborhood of family homes.

(Page 2 of 3)

Several weeks ago, 10 of the 17 members of the Westchester Board of Legislators agreed to send to Gov. Andrew Cuomo a proposal by Astorino to give Ferncliff Manor a 50-year lease on the six-acre WestHELP location. Good for them. They want the state to expedite the review process on Ferncliff Manor’s application. If the state gives its approval, votes of 12 members of the county board would be required to seal the deal.
Twelve votes by the county board were needed back on Oct. 25, 1989, when I, as a columnist for the Gannett Westchester Rockland Newspapers, urged the board to approve County Executive Andrew O’Rourke’s proposal to lease the Greenburgh site to WestHELP for 10 years. Greenburgh would get the property for the next 30 years. I repeated what others were saying, that the place would be used for transitional housing for homeless families and “eventually as permanent housing for seniors, municipal workers or whoever Greenburgh chooses.”
The phrase “whoever Greenburgh chooses” was not included when the lease was written and executed on April 26, 1990. It stated that when Greenburgh received the site in 2001, it could lease it “for low and moderate income rental housing (including, but not limited to senior citizen and municipal employees) for 30 years.”
But when the date neared for the Greenburgh takeover on Sept. 18, 2001, Andrew Spano, who succeeded O’Rourke as county executive, asked Greenburgh to delay taking over because WestHELP was still needed. Greenburgh was to be paid $1.2 million a year as compensation.

A 'rigid' reading

Some current legislators interpret the clause in the 1990 agreement rigidly. They want the property to be used only for affordable housing, even though Greenburgh not only has provided such housing but is a very racially diverse town and is not on the list of predominantly white Westchester towns that were ordered by the federal government to build 750 homes open to all.
I side with those who say the Ferncliff Manor clients fit the “low and moderate income” category, and as such would be entitled to that ideal location. Better, the county government should amend the original agreement to allow for a wider use of the property, adding the severely developmentally disabled to the list. Society’s needs have changed since 1990.

(Page 3 of 3)

Westchester government should remember the promise Andrew Cuomo made that helped Greenburgh accept the deal in the first place. Most of all, it should do so because the people served by Ferncliff Manor need a decent place. Also, it should do so because Westchester taxpayers saved millions when Greenburgh adopted WestHELP while other towns rejected it.
Another reason: County government occupies so much tax-exempt land in Greenburgh, outside of its six villages, placing burdens on the town’s property taxpayers.
People in the Fairview Fire District where the WestHELP property is located and where I live find that 32 percent of the property is exempt. It’s 12 percent for Hartsdale and 6.5 percent for Greenville (Edgemont). According to town assessment records, $39.2 million of nontaxable land lies in Fairview, $8.7 million in Hartsdale, and $5 million in Greenville.

OK school's move

County government has 34 tax-exempt sites in those areas. Westchester acquired the 364-acre Hartford Estate off Grasslands Road in 1957 for the bargain price of $750,000, about one fifth of its true value.
It was a great coup for the county, but property taxes were lost. Today that property is assessed at $17.9 million, which means its true value is more than half a billion dollars.
About 210 acres were dedicated to Westchester Community College, which has become a leading community college in the state. Like other tax-exempt properties, the college does pay sewer and refuse district charges.
The remaining 154 acres are undeveloped, except for the six acres for WestHELP and a parcel down the street that is used by students of Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES).
Other large tax-exempt properties in Greenburgh also provide services for the wider Westchester community, and they include the New York School for the Deaf, the Hebrew Hospital Home, Ferncliff, Calvary and Mount Hope cemeteries, county and town parklands, dozens of public and religious schools, religious buildings and a number of group homes. The Greenburgh Police and the three fire departments respond to calls from those properties.
If the state gives Ferncliff Manor the approval it needs to transfer to the WestHELP site, the Board of Legislators should rapidly execute the move. If the state rejects the Ferncliff Manor application, Greenburgh’s Town Board should be given wider discretion in choosing a facility to occupy the property. It has earned that right.

Milton Hoffman is retired senior editor of The Journal News.

proposed capital budget released

have submitted my proposed 2013 capital budget to the Town Board for consideration. The proposed capital budget includes spending recommendations of $2,187,157 in the A budget, $4,322,909 in the B budget and $5,350,000 in the water department. Although many requests were made by department heads, the goal has been to maintain a level debt service, going forward, relative to previous years.




Many of the requested initiatives in the proposed capital budget will reduce our costs long term. The town wide reassessment, which will take place in cooperation with other communities in Westchester, will reduce tax certiorari’s and revenue losses for the Town. The cost of the reassessment will be paid out over 3 years. We have appropriated $350,000 for the purchase of a “one arm bandit” sanitation truck—a truck that picks up garbage using a hydraulic arm. This vehicle uses one employee instead of three. The Town will be able to reduce our personnel costs via attrition and we will be able to increase collection efficiencies.



LED lighting will be phased in. Our new LED lighting will enable the Town to save money because these newer LED lights are much more energy efficient. The new lights will also help the town reduce personnel costs associated with replacement of the lights. I have recommended that $500,000 be appropriated for 2013. We anticipate that all lights will be replaced within 3 years. We will be comparing some different purchasing options. Some companies will replace lights at no cost to the Town –they are paid via savings. We will compare the financial options before making a decision. If it is determined that the Town will come out financially better off by not paying any upfront costs, the Town will not have to borrow the $500,000.



The proposed capital budget also includes funding for water meter replacements which will enable water rate users to feel more confident about the accuracy of their meters. The water meters will also reduce our costs. The proposed budget also includes funds to repair, renovate and paint our water tanks. The capital budget includes updating our computer system, providing funds so we can continue to provide quality, advanced life support services to the Town. We are recommending additional security upgrades at the Theodore Young Community Center and at our fuel stations. I am recommending funding that will enable residents to continue to enjoy our recreation programs. There is also funding for road resurfacing and curbing rehabilitation.



I appreciate the fact that members of the Town Board met with department heads earlier this year to discuss capital budget needs. Their recommendations and input as well as the feedback from department heads and comptroller Bart Talamini are appreciated. Members of the Town Board will hold hearings on the budget later this spring and have the ability to make modifications before a final budget is approved.



Paul J. Feiner, Town Supervisor





Below are summaries of all of the recommended projects for 2013:



Town Entire



Assessor

Town Wide Revaluation - $1,500,000 – Evaluation of all Real Property within the entire town to create equity and fairness among all taxpayers.



Central Services

Replace Windows XP computers - $74,430 – Replace 90 computers. Microsoft will stop supporting Windows XP systems in 2014

Replace the Main Server - $15,536 – Our main server is more than 5 years old

New Storage Server - $36,500 – Needed to keep up with the growing demands of data storage space (emails, data files, time booking records, assessment data, etc.) a new storage server is necessary.

Replace Old Network Switches - $37,300 – Current switches are over 10 years old. We need to replace them with new CISCO switches which will increase our network security and efficiency.

Set up Disaster Recovery Site - $46,500 – To set up a disaster recovery site at the Greenburgh Court. In case of emergency, essential servers will be available. (Email, GIS, primary, etc.)



Planning and Zoning Department

Greenburgh Town Hall Stormwater Retrofits-$30,000 – The proposal consists of two major capital improvements: retrofitting a portion of the parking lot with pervious pavers or pavement including a bioretention rain garden to act as stormwater pretreatment measure; and installing a new and improved planted bioretention channel. This is an estimated $407,710 project which requires the Town of Greenburgh to provide $106,633.00 in matching funds and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to provide a grant of $ 331,327.50 to help implement the project.



Nutrition Program

Replacement CargoVans-$44,000 – To replace Vehicle 116 a 10 year old vehicle with 72,000 miles, Vehicle 117 a 10 year old vehicle with 79,000 miles, and Vehicle 119 a 10 year old vehicle with 56,000 miles.



Advanced Life Support

Ambulance 2012 - $150,000 – The Town needs to replace the civilian paramedic ambulance due to high mileage and being repair prone.

Ambulance 2013 - $160,000 – The Town needs to replace the civilian paramedic ambulance due to high mileage and being repair prone.

Motor vehicles (Fly Car & Ambulance) - $31,591 – The Town needs to replace the Village Paramedic Fly car and civilian paramedic ambulance due to high mileage and being repair prone.

Batteries for Cardiac Monitors- $11,300 – Lithium Ion batteries for the portable Life Pack 12 cardiac monitor. A majority of the batteries are no longer holding a charge.

Emergency Medical Dispatch Software- $50,000 – The computerized system provides for quick access to the various life-saving protocols.



Town Outside Villages



Theodore D. Young Community Center

Upgrade of Security System -$25,000– Upgrade of Cameras and Computers that monitor TDYCC. Additional cameras placed in blind spots in the stairwells and strategic locations for improved security.



Building Department

Replacement Vehicle Purchase -$22,500 – To replace vehicle 54 which is in a state of disrepair



Parks and Recreation

Regular Cab One Ton Dump Truck/Plow- $50,000 – This vehicle will replace #99 which is a 2003 model. This truck is a crucial piece of equipment in the daily operations of the department. Vehicle #99 was involved in an accident that was damaged beyond repair. The town received $15,000 from our insurance carrier and money was deposited into the general fund.

4 Door Passenger Vehicle - $17,000 – To replace vehicle 107; 2000 model with 52,000 miles. Replacement of this vehicle is part of the overall fleet management program.

Rehabilitate Ball field Poles Screening- $40,000–To correct a dangerous situation need to replace deteriorated poles.

East Rumbrook Park Repaint Basketball Court- $16,000–Apply action pave acrylic coats to 6 basketball courts

Anthony F. Veteran’s Park Lap Pool –PVC Liner - $150,000–To install a PVC (polyvinyl chloride) Membrane Pool Lining System in the lap pool.



Police

Police Cars 2012 – Unmarked - $85,642 – This is to replace four (4) vehicles as part of the ongoing fleet replacement program.

Police Cars 2013 – Unmarked - $100,000 – This is to replace four (4) vehicles as part of the ongoing fleet replacement program.

Police Cars – Sport Utility Vehicle - $95,767 – This is to replace three (3) marked vehicles as part of the ongoing fleet replacement program.

Fingerprint Identity Hardware and Software - $20,000 – To replace old hardware that is at the end of its useful life

Vehicle Mobil Data Terminals- $60,000 – To replace older Motorola MW800 mobile computers and to outfit all active police vehicles with Panasonic Tough Books

Portable Radios - $245,000 – To replace the current fleet of Motorola portable and mobile radios that are 13-16 years old. The company will no longer support the current fleet and the radios do not support programming of the new Town wide Interoperability frequency.

Replacement File Server- $21,000 –The current file servers are over 5 years old.

TRACS Mobil printers and scanner- $5,000 – Traffic Accident and Citation System (TRACS) Equipment needed to compliment the Virtualization for Police Network.

TRACS Havis Mounting- $5,000 – Mounting for Traffic Accident and Citation System (TRACS) Equipment needed to compliment the Virtualization for Police Network.

Microsoft Office 2010- $10,000 –Equipment needed to compliment the Virtualization for Police Network.



Public Works

74-foot bucket truck tree trimming- $180,000 – Existing bucket truck used to trim and remove trees is aging and does not have sufficient reach to safely prune of remove many Town trees.

Security Cameras-Fuel Stations– $25,000 - Limited or no security cameras currently exists at our fueling stations. It has been suggested by the GBOC and others that security system cameras should be employed at all fueling stations to monitor fuel dispensing and deter theft.

TDYCC Natatorium HVAC– $500,000 - The pool natatorium HVAC no longer functions. The air in the natatorium is not adequately conditioned and damp air now permeates the TDYCC. This will cause advanced and rapid rusting of equipment in the TDYCC and may force closure of the pool.

Jackson Avenue Signal Pole– $75,000 - The existing street signal support pole at Jackson Avenue and Fort Hill Road is severely rusted. The rust may result in complete failure of the pole, causing the traffic lights and pole to crash onto the roadway. It must be replaced.

Bridge Repair-Fairview Park Dr– $25,000 - The NYS DOT inspected the Town bridge carrying Fairview Park Drive over the Saw Mill River. They noted several safety conditions to the Town. Subsequent inspection by Town consultant confirmed safety defects and have advised the Town to perform remedial actions to the bridge structure.

Drain Pipe-Hunter Lane– $350,000 - A large diameter drain pipe exists across private property adjacent to Hunter Lane. This pipe passes under a private home. The Town has no easement to this pipe. It does carry municipal stormwater from the streets in the area. To remove the public storm water from this pipe, a new pipe is proposed along Hunter lane within the Town right-of-way. Such work will remove any municipal storm water from the pipe now under private property.

Road Resurfacing - $1,200,000 – This project funds the on-going road resurfacing program that serves to maintain the Town’s infrastructure.

Curbing Rehabilitation– $500,000 - Annual reinvestment to Town owned curbing.

LED Street Lights– $500,000 - The existing street lights are not as efficient as newer LED lighting promises. Further, many of our lights use Mercury vapor lamps which are increasingly difficult to obtain as their manufacture is being phased out. Currently, the Town spends nearly $500, 000 per year in electrical charges to power the street lights. Study suggests costs can be reduced by almost $300,000 annually by replacing all Town street lights with LED fixtures.



Consolidated Water Department

Water Meter Replacement / AMI– $3,500,000 - The existing meter reading system is obsolete. The hand-held reading devices do not function properly. Significant re-reading and re-checking must be performed each day. The older water meters are not as accurate as newer meters and result in some water consumption that is missed or not recorded. The new meter system is needed to accurately record and bill customers for water consumed.

Greenvale Circle Water Main Replacement– $350,000 - The existing water main has numerous failures and contains asbestos fiber. The roadway is in poor condition and must be repaved. A new main must be installed to remove any asbestos contamination and to ensure long-term reliability.

Water Tank Rehabilitation Yr 1– $1,500,000 - The existing water storage tanks vary in age from 15 to 87 years old and are in need of repair, renovation and painting. Each Water Storage Tank requires some type of rehabilitation as condition of each tank varies. Water Storage Tank work is necessary to stay in compliance with Federal, State and Health Department regulations and also to maintain water quality throughout the Town of Greenburgh.

newest business opens up -helps with education prep

Let’s welcome Greenburgh’s newest business. The grand opening is today from 4-6 PM! Academic services, counseling, help with exams, etc… Hope to see you at the opening celebration. PAUL FEINR


C2 Education Announces Grand Opening in Tri-State Area 142 N Central Ave, Hartsdale

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After a year of unprecedented growth and expansion across the country, C2 Education is proud to announce the opening of a new and improved center in Scarsdale, New York. C2 Education is an elite test preparation and subject tutoring provider with locations in thirteen states and Canada, including more than a dozen centers in the tri-state area.

The new C2 center, located on the second floor at 142 North Central Avenue in Hartsdale, will provide local families with access to C2 Education’s full range of customizable programs. The Grand Opening events will last from 4 to 6 PM on Wednesday, March 20, 2013. Town Supervisor Paul Feiner will be on hand for a ribbon cutting ceremony to herald the Grand Opening of the Scarsdale center, scheduled for 5 PM. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the newly updated facilities, meet with C2 Education’s expert academic advising team, and enjoy free food and drink. All attendees will also have the opportunity to register for an Academic Assessment and will receive a savings voucher for $1,000 off services at the newly improved location.

The new center will provide local K-12 students with access to a wide range of academic services, including SAT preparation, ACT preparation, subject tutoring, and college admissions counseling. The new center opens at a time when students’ need for academic support is at a peak as final exams, Advanced Placement exams, and the beginning of the college admissions process looms. “This time of year is very important for students of all ages, but particularly for college bound high school students,” says C2 Education founder and CEO David Kim. “We’re always thrilled to be able to bring our services to a new location, but we’re especially happy to be doing so at such an important time in the school year. We hope local students will benefit from the help and support that we offer.”

ABOUT C2 EDUCATION

C2 Education was founded as an in-home tutoring service run out of a Harvard dorm room in 1997. From those humble beginnings, C2 has grown to include more than 120 tutoring centers across the country serving thousands of students each week. C2 students enjoy fully customized programs, one-on-one interaction with highly qualified teachers, and the support needed to succeed throughout their educational careers. C2's results speak for themselves: C2 students increase their SAT scores by an average of 362 points, 100% of C2 students pass state standardized tests, and 85% of C2 students go on to attend a top 50 college or university. For more information about C2 Education, please visit http://www.c2educate.com or call 800-777-7000.

TV angels are angels!

GREENBURGH TV ANGELS--meet 2 outstanding citizen volunteers from E Irvington who have picked up 18 TVs from homes of senior citizens/disabled residents and dropped them off at the DPW yard

TV sets have weighed as much as 150-200 pounds!

The Town of Greenburgh sanitation crews does not collect electronic waste, such as TVs, computers, printers, etc. This cost-reduction policy imposes a relatively minor burden on most households, who can deliver their electronic waste to the DPW Yard. However, for those who are elderly, disabled, or otherwise unable to carry a television to Sprain Road, the policy is a problem. To solve that problem, one couple from East Irvington, Debra Pelo and Bob Brantl, accepted my invitation to serve as volunteer TV Angels. They started picking up TVs from the homes of elderly or disabled residents in April of last year. So far they have picked up about 18 TV sets and personally carried them to the public works yard. Most of the TVs that they have delivered to the yard weigh about 30-35 pounds. However, they have picked up old TV sets that have weighed as much as 150 to 200 pounds. Their efforts are invariably met with gratitude by the residents they assist, who in many cases are replacing old, large plasma-screen cabinets and smile warmly at the willingness of these strangers to give time and risk back-ache to help out. Greenburgh residents needing the assistance of the TV Angels can contact the Department of Public Works or me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com

Debra Pelo and Bob Brantl represent the best of the best in the town. In addition to our TV angel program, the town has a snow angel program. Volunteers assist in shoveling out driveways of seniors and disabled residents. During Hurricane Sandy we started a new program: house angel program. Home owners with power offered to shelter residents without power in their homes for free! We have many other volunteers working hard to enhance your living experience in Greenburgh. Our volunteer firefighters, ambulance corp members, volunteers working as police constables, CERT team members, citizen board volunteers work long hours --usually without much recognition.

We owe a big thanks to citizens like Debra and Bob who make Greenburgh a very special place to live. A BIG THANK YOU!
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor

40% savings in towns fuel costs is a possibility!

In recent weeks the town has been looking into initiatives that could save the town significant dollars long term. The goal: to give you, the taxpayer more value for your dollar. Retrofitting lights with LED efficient lighting can save the town millions. The one arm bandit sanitation truck will enable us to manage sanitation collection with fewer employees as existing employees retire (one employee per truck instead of three). Reassessment will significantly reduce tax grievances and large tax refunds. It will cut our legal costs. This is the most recent re-invention of the way we're going to re-organize so we can save you money. PAUL FEINER

Alternative Fuel Initiatives for Town of Greenburgh could save town 40% off of cost of fuel in vehicles

The Greenburgh Town Board discussed a major new initiative that can help the town reduce fuel costs for our vehicle fleet, reduce dependency on foreign oil and enable us to go green with our fleet.

There are many types of alternative fuels available today that reduces our reliance on foreign oil. Propane “LPG” and Compressed Natural Gas “CNG” are too leading alternative fuels that fleets have successfully switched to. LPG is being used with smaller vehicle platforms such as taxis, limos, police vehicles, vans, SUVs and mini buses. CNG is being used for larger vehicles platforms such as sanitation vehicles, large trucks and buses. Both of these alternative fuels are domestically produced and can substantially reduce fuel costs up to 50%.

Over the past 10 years, new technologies to convert vehicles from gasoline to alternative fuels have been used throughout the United States. Municipalities have successfully integrated these technologies for their police fleets, sanitation vehicles, public transportation vehicles and government vehicles. Commercial businesses have converted service vans, buses, limousines and SUVs to lower costs and dependability on foreign oil. The question is not if, but when.

The Town of Greenburgh will be launching an alternative fuel test program later this year. The town will be converting 3-4 vehicles to run on both gasoline and propane. Based on the results of this test, the town hopes to convert other vehicles in the coming years. This is a great opportunity to help its businesses community by following their lead. Beside the positive environmental impact, Greenburgh should be able to save approximately 40% off the cost of fuel for each converted vehicle. It’s a win-win for us.

The Town of Greenburgh will be working with The Alliance to execute this endeavor. The Alliance includes American Alternative Fuel “AAF” the technology vendor who certifies the conversion kits; Paraco Gas “Paraco” the supplier of the LPG fuel; and 4 Star Auto Services “4 Star” who converts the vehicles and provides maintenance and emergency service. There are several other Municipalities in Westchester County working with The Alliance. AAF has converted more than 10,000 vehicles in North America and has hundreds of customers including DHL, UPS, the Raleigh NC Police Department, and the Sheriff Department of Jackson County, GA.

Some Advantages of Propane “LPG”

· Unlike natural gas, propane distribution and infrastructure does not rely on an inflexible underground pipeline network.

· Propane is easily transported over land, and fueling station placement does not depend on proximity to gas pipelines, as is necessary for compressed natural gas (CNG) stations.

· Propane “LPG” has the most extensive infrastructure network for any alternative fuel in the country.

· Propane fueled vehicles are perhaps the most affordable alternative fuel vehicles on the market today – especially the light-duty trucks and passenger cars that most Americans drive.s

· Propane infrastructure and incremental costs are much lower than those for Compressed Natural Gas. Paraco is providing the fueling station at no cost.

· Propane reduces carbon emissions (CO2) by about 20% compared to gasoline or diesel.

· Propane reduces nitrogen oxide (NOX) between 42 and 78 percent compared to gasoline or diesel. P ahaps

PAULPPP

a terrific 225th anniversary party--links to video's

Last night’s 225th anniversary celebration of the town of Greenburgh was a blast! A great kick off to some fun activities in the coming months. If you missed the party and ceremonial Town Board meeting you might want to watch the video’s on LOHUD.COM and in greenburgh.dailyvoice.com. Links to both stories/video’s can be found below. A special thank you to the hard working committee that organized such a terrific event! The next big events celebrating our 225th anniversary will be held during the week of July 13-20th. We will be sponsoring a series of events including a salute to our elders. During that week we will organize activities at the library, nature center, farmer’s market, Theodore Young Community Center. On July 20th we will have a spectacular Greenburgh day at Anthony Veteran park.


PAUL FEINER

VIDEO CAN BE WATCHED ON…

http://www.lohud.com/article/20130308/NEWS02/303080036/Greenburgh-gets-its-goat-225th-anniversary-event?odyssey=mod
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http://greenburgh.dailyvoice.com/neighbors/town-greenburgh-celebrates-225th-anniversary-retro-style



ENTIRE CEREMONIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING WILL BE ARCHIVED ON THE TOWN WEBSITE –WWW.GREENBURGHNY.COM (UNDER ARCHIVED MEETINGS)

225 anniversary...lots of changes in past 25 years

A live goat will attend the ceremonial Town Board meeting on Thursday night-around 8 PM. A reception in honor of our 225th anniversary begins at 6:30 PM.

During the days of early town government, the Town Clerk kept a record of lost animals – a major concern to residents at that time. The Clerk would also inform residents of animals that were recovered.

Join us on Thursday, March 7, 2013 for a re-enactment of an early Town Board meeting as Town of Greenburgh officials, residents and guests “kick off” a season of celebrating the Town’s 225th year. Our town was formally created and chartered on March 7, 1788. Members of the Town Board will dress in colonial outfits tomorrow evening.

The Town of Greenburgh’s Anniversary “Kick-Off” will be held at Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Avenue and will begin with a 6:30pm reception to include music, entertainment and refreshments including food and beverages made possible by Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery, Sam’s Club of Elmsford, ShopRite of Scarsdale/White Plains and Sun Splash Caribbean Bakery of Elmsford. At approximately 8:00pm, activities will transition to a re-enactment of a late 1700’s/early 1800’s Town meeting, based on original meeting minutes, and the “Town Crier” to bring everyone together. A major highpoint of the evening will be the unveiling of the “Supervisors’ Gallery,” a wall of pictures and names of the past thirty-five known Town Supervisors . Activities will culminate with the sharing of the 225th Anniversary Cake donated by Riviera Bakehouse of Ardsley.For further information, please contact Judith Beville, Greenburgh Town Clerk and Co-Chairwoman, Town of Greenburgh’s 225th Anniversary at 914-993-1504.

The last time the town celebrated the chartering of the town was 25 years ago -when we celebrated the 200th anniversary of Greenburgh Much has happened in the past 25 years. There were no DVDs. No web. No google. Gas prices were about $1 a gallon (not $4). Most people listened to music on cassette tapes. Record players (what is that?) were still common place. No one ever heard of a smart phone. An apple was something we ate! No apps. Almost no one had desk top computers. Cell phones were exotic, most people didn't have them and they were big. Pay phones were easier to find.

In the past 25 years the town went from typewriters to computers and to smart phones. Our parks increased by more than 300 acres. The towns bond rating increased a few times to AAA, the highest possible rating a community can receive. We have a new Town Hall,a new library, an expanded police station, a new multipurpose center at AF Veteran town park, a new highway garage, a 2nd floor at the Theodore Young community center, 3 Town Judges (instead of two) and a court administrator. The police started community policing, crime continues to be lower than it was 25 years ago. We built in the past 25 years many new playgrounds. There is a a new interactive kiddy pool. Town Board meetings can be viewed live on internet and one can watch, on demand, old bd meetings (which are archived on the web). We approved more affordable housing around town. Our Town Hall is powered, in part with solar energy. And, our library uses geothermal. we're starting to convert lights to energy efficient led lighting. 25 years ago greenburgh had a number of homeless shelters. Today, they have been shut down. Greenburgh today has become the bio tech capital of the region - with major bio tech companies in our town. The NY Knicks & Rangers have built a training facility in our town. And, Dannon Yogurt's headquarters are across the street from our Town Hall.

Alot has happened in 25 years!

PAUL FEINER

frank's nursery soil test..aarp tax help...pothole repairs

SOIL TEST REPORT ON FRANK'S NURSERY AVAILABLE TOMORROW

Woodard and Curran completed their Site Investigation Report for the former Frank’s Nursery property. The Town Board briefly discussed the report at our work session meeting - streamed meetings are archived on the website: www.greenburghny.com. Some remediation will have to take place at the former Frank's nursery before any sports facility is built. The report will be posted on the town website tomorrow.

FREE AARP TAX HELP ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAYS TILL APRIL
AARP is offering tax preparation help in cooperation with the Theodore Young Community Center, 32 Manhattan Ave, White PLalins every Friday and Saturday from 10-2 PM 2nd floor computer room until April 13. First come first serve. No appointments. Call 989 3622 for more info.

POTHOLES--CAUSES, LET US KNOW WHERE THEY ARE...
What causes a pothole?

Water can get under the pavement through cracks or from the side of the road.

Over time, the water can cause the material under the pavement to erode,

causing the pavement to sink down and break. During the winter, the water under

the pavement freezes then thaws (contracting and expanding). This freeze/thaw

cycle can cause the pavement to crack so that it deteriorates quickly under the

weight of traffic, and then streets can seem to break out in potholes overnight

Why are there so many potholes in our streets?

You can expect to see more potholes in the winter and spring, following periods

of cold temperatures and rain or snow. Coastal area cities and towns experience

extensive freeze/thaw cycles.

AN INTERESTING YOU TUBE VIDEO ABOUT POTHOLE CAUSES how potholes are formed - YouTube

you filled a pothole, but a few days later, there it was again. Why don't your

repairs last longer?

Because making permanent repairs during the winter is both difficult and

expensive, in winter months many communities fill potholes with both cold and hot patch and wait

until spring to make permanent repairs with hot asphalt. These temporary repairs

are intended to maintain safety and minimize damage to vehicles. Permanent

repairs require waiting until the spring to thaw. The town has been trying to fill more potholes this season with hot patches--a more permanent fix.

How do I report a pothole?

In addition to our town personnel, we also rely on residents to report potholes. If

you come across a pothole, call public works at 993-1574. You can also e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com. I will follow up every complaint.

What if the pothole is on a County-maintained road?

Westchester County D.O.T. : 914-995-4951. I e mail the County Executive at ceo@westchestergov.com too.

What if the pothole is on a state maintained road.
call 1-800-pothole.
(please feel free to e mail me the information. I will also reach out to the state and county.

How long does it take to fill a pothole?

We try to fill a pothole as soon as it is reported. Many times we are able to fill a pothole the same day. If there are weather related events that cause numerous potholes around town, it could take us two or three days to fill the pothole.

Some potholes, because of their location in the road or proximity to other

infrastructure such as manhole covers, are more difficult to fill and, consequently

take longer.

HINTS THAT CAN HELP EXPEDITE THE POTHOLE REPAIRS

To help speed up the repairs, please be prepared with specific

information when you contact the Public Works Department. The more

information we have, the better we can serve you. Useful information includes:

-Provide the exact location of the pothole with the closest street address and

cross street and if the hole is in the driving lane or the parking lane.

-Describe the approximate size and depth of the pothole.

-Is there a barricade or cone marking the pothole location
Paul Feiner

town could save over $4 million using LED lighting

The Greenburgh Town Board is looking for ways to save taxpayers money long term. Sometimes, there are large upfront costs that have to be appropriated before one can achieve the long term benefits. This past week we discussed an initiative that could be included in the upcoming capital budget –retrofitting lights at our municipal buildings and street lights with LED lighting. LED lighting drastically reduces the kW load required to operate facility lighting systems. Communities around the United States have reported successes with LED lighting.

The proposed cost if we retrofit all the lights at once: $1,650,303.22.

The total monthly savings the town will receive: $42,476,55

The total Yearly savings: $509,719.94

The savings during the next five years: $4, 233, 138.74

The average payback on lighting: 34.5 months.

Is this too good to be true? Forbes had an interesting article about California's experiences with Led lights. Please read the following. Your comments will be appreciated. Inasmuch as the Town Board will be voting on the capital budget in the coming months - please e mail townboard@greenburghny.com. We are looking at some grant possibilities that could reduce our upfront costs.

2013 is shaping up to be an important year. We're taking action steps this year that will reduce costs of governing in the future. For example, the reassessment initiative will reduce certiorari''s, legal expenses and large tax refunds. The one arm bandit sanitation truck that we will include in the upcoming capital budget will enable the town to reduce the workforce of our sanitation department through attrition (as people retire some won't be replaced). The one arm bandit trucks use one employee, instead of three. We will be purchasing one initial truck as a pilot.
PAUL FEINER

Justin Gerdes, Contributor

10 California Cities Saving Money With LED Street Lights

The Great Recession hammered California. The state received an economic drubbing (partly self inflicted; the housing bubble) from which it has not yet recovered. The unemployment rate, at 11.3%, is almost three points above the national average.

When tax receipts plummeted, Sacramento and local governments shed jobs to balance their books. California was one of only two states to see an increase in the unemployment rate since June 2009 and lose at least half of its jobs in the public sector.
Forced to balance their budgets, cities have several options, none appealing: raise taxes or fees, cut staff or services, or slash expenses. On this last measure, however, cities across California are realizing that one expense is entirely within their control – their electricity bill. Smart cities are saving energy and money by replacing inefficient high-pressure sodium (HPS) or high-intensity discharge street lights with light-emitting diodes, or LEDs.

LED street lights consume up to 80% less electricity than traditional lights. Credit: U.S. Department of Energy

The Sustainable City Network explains why:

Currently the most energy-efficient lights on the market – the light-emitting diode, or LED variety – are up to three times more expensive than their traditional counterparts. Still, if you can afford the up-front costs, experts say LED street lights can save money in the long run by consuming 50 to 80 percent less energy than conventional lighting products and virtually eliminate maintenance costs for up to 20 years. These benefits, advocates say, provide a 5-year payback in most cases.

Seattle, which plans to convert street lights citywide by 2014, has found that the switch to LEDs is already saving taxpayer money, and that falling prices are bringing projects in well under budget – nearly $5 million in the most recent round of installations.
“Our new LED street lights are already saving more than $300,000 each year and with the latest round of installations the annual savings is expected to grow to nearly $900,000,” Councilmember Bruce Harrell told the Sustainable City Network.
Back to California. And here I want to emphasize a point. Every city on the list below was able to undertake its LED retrofit project with funding provided wholly or in part from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) – yes, the Tea Party- and GOP-maligned stimulus.
The California Energy Commission (CEC) received $314.5 million for energy-related projects and rebates from the stimulus bill (see this pamphlet [PDF] for details). One beneficiary, the Energy Efficient Conservation Block Grants Program (EECBG), has been a lifeline for cash-strapped California cities and counties.
The program has provided more than $35 million in direct payments to small California cities and counties to fund energy upgrades. The CEC estimates that every $1 of ARRA dollars invested in public sector building retrofits has returned $3 in additional economic output.
What did American taxpayers receive in return for that $35 million investment? An estimated 2,375 jobs created, 61.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity savings, and $9 million that local governments shaved from their annual utility bills. Stimulus squandered? Hardly.
Here are 10 California cities that have turned to LED street lights to save money, improve safety, and slash carbon emissions:

1) Brisbane: This waterfront city south of San Francisco just completed a second street light swap-out, replacing 45 HPS street lights at the city marina parking lot with LEDs lamps that use half the energy. The project was funded by a $25,000 ARRA grant. Last year, Brisbane used a low-interest loan to replace 372 HPS street lights with LEDs.

2) Carpinteria: This Santa Barbara County city replaced 199 HPS, 138-watt street lights with brighter 29-watt LED fixtures. The project, funded with a $74,177 ARRA grant, will save the city $11,600 on its energy bill, and cut 33 tons of CO₂, annually. Carpinteria has replaced over 90% of its traditional street lights with LEDs.

3) Needles: This San Bernardino County city replaced 30 HPS lamps with LEDs. The retrofit, funded by a $30,048 ARRA grant, will save Needles $1,892 annually in avoided energy costs and cut CO₂ by nearly 11,000 pounds each year.

4) Foster City: Completed in 2011, the city’s lighting swap-out replaced 260 HPS street lights with LEDs that use half the energy. The retrofit, funded by a $157,426 ARRA grant, will save Foster City taxpayers $17,600 in avoided energy costs, and $1,900 in avoided maintenance, annually.
5) Lemoore: This Kings County city replaced 283 HPS street lights with brighter 39-watt LED fixtures. Funded last year by a $136,469 ARRA grant, the project will save the city $6,240 on its energy bill annually. Lemoore has replaced a quarter of its traditional street lights with LEDs.
6) Marysville: This city of 12,000 located north Sacramento retrofitted 176 HPS, 95-watt street lights – 15% of the total – with 39-watt LEDs. Funding came from a $69,000 ARRA grant. The project will save taxpayers $4,285 in energy costs annually.
7) Yountville: This Napa wine country town, home to the world-famous The French Laundry restaurant, replaced 110 HPS street lights with LED fixtures. The project, completed early in 2011, was funded by a $25,000 ARRA grant and $200,473 low-interest loan. The retrofit will save the city $21,060 annually, and slash CO₂ by 44 tons each year.
8) Ceres: This Stanislaus County city will use a nearly $1.2 million low-interest loan to convert 2,200 HPS and mercury vapor street lights to LEDs. The project will save Ceres $108,500 on its energy bill annually and slash CO₂ by 346 tons each year. Pay back on the loan is 11 years from the energy savings alone.
9) Burlingame: This city on the San Francisco Bay waterfront is completing a two-part lighting retrofit. Part one, funded by a $150,010 ARRA grant, replaced HPS street lights with LEDs and upgraded the lighting at the fire station, police department, corporate yard, city garage and library – good for $29,000 in annual energy savings. In part two, Burlingame will use a $458,633 loan to replace 767 HPS street lights with LEDs. With the energy savings alone, $57,500 annually, Burlingame can repay the loan in less than eight years.
10) Kerman: This city of 13,500 in Fresno County will use a $202,000 low-interest loan and a $72,075 ARRA grant to replace all 718 HPS and metal-halide street lights citywide. The retrofit will save Kerman $26,364 annually, which could pay off the loan in less than eight years.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/justingerdes/2012/01/30/10-california-cities-saving-money-with-led-street-lights/2/

reassessment forum planned for march 20th

The Town of Greenburgh is partnering with some other communities in Westchester in preparing for a municipal wide reassessment of properties. The last time properties in Greenburgh were reassessed was close to 60 years ago. The 2013 capital budget will include funding to start the project . The League of Women Voters is holding a forum on this issue on Wednesday, March 20^th at New Rochelle City Hall. Edye McCarthy, Town Assessor, will be one of the panelists, along with several other qualified individuals.

You're invited to this forum. Learn about experiences of other communities that have embarked on reassessment. If you would like Edye McCarthy and town officials to meet with your neighborhood association or neighbors to discuss reassessment - we would be pleased to do so. It's important that people be educated and understand the benefits of reassessment to the town. It will stop the bleeding--at every Town Board meeting we issue significant tax refunds to businesses that have successfully filed tax grievances. Once a reassessment is done there won't be many certiorari's. Please e mail me at pfeiner@greenburghny.com if you would like to host a special presentation for your neighbors on reassessment.

REMINDER- 225th anniversary celebration of the town of Greenburgh will be held Thursday, March 7th at 6:30 PM at Greenburgh Town Hall. You're invited to our reception. And, to the ceremonial Town Board meeting beginning after the reception.

DID YOU KNOW THAT 225 YEARS AGO THE BIG ISSUE IN TOWN GOVERNMENT DEALT WITH GOATS? A GOAT WILL BE PRESENT AT OUR TOWN BOARD RE-ENACTMENT!