As is my custom, this will be the last column until Labor Day. With that in mind, I wanted to update residents on all activities/projects that will be taking place in the interim as well as trends we observed in the summer months.
The major undertaking between now and the opening of school will be road resurfacing throughout the village. Portions of the following streets are slated for repaving:
- Northwest Way
- Sturgis Road
- Vine Street
- Tanglewylde Avenue
- Pondfield Road
- Courseview Road
- Park Avenue
- Kensington Road
The decision was based on the age of the road, amount of traffic, state of disrepair and location in the village. We received an unexpected favorable quote on the cost of materials so our money will go a little farther, resulting in some extra roads repaved. Even if a specific street is not slated for resurfacing, the potholes throughout the village will be repaired.
Sagamore Park is finally in the last stages of refurbishment as we just await fencing. Then that same construction crew will head to Maltby Field to begin improvements there.
A new sidewalk and curbing was added near the Meadow Avenue entrance of the Bronxville School and a “bump out” was created along Tanglewylde Avenue near the school track. The “bump out” is a safety measure to narrow the road and eliminate the many “near misses” as drivers head the wrong way on Meadow Avenue. Though safety is its prime purpose, we plan to make it an attractive open space with grass and plantings.
Our Building Department has seen a significant uptick in activity this summer which is always a good sign. We attribute it to the accelerated pace in home sales. As example, in all of 2011, 51 homes traded in the village versus 52 sales already as of mid-July. Our expectations are that the village’s share of mortgage tax revenue will exceed budget expectations, further improving our bottom line.
Sales tax revenue is also higher than projected by both the county and the village, further indicating some economic upturn.
Many residents are choosing to install emergency generators over the summer months. The installation requires not only a generator permit but plumbing and electrical ones as well due to the gas connection. The Building Department urges residents to contact the office with size and location expectations prior to making the actual generator purchase.
Though many residents are undertaking home improvements, others are traveling leaving residences empty for various lengths of time. In past columns, I have shared the Police Department’s suggestions for keeping homes safe and appearing to be occupied. The following are just less obvious safety measures that are worthy of review. Push button locks and doorknobs have proven very easy for burglars to open. The Police Chief suggests the installation of dead bolt locks on all exterior doors. Sliding glass doors are also particularly vulnerable. The special locks customized for these doors have proven worthwhile. Finally, prior to vacation departure, do a check on all window locks and repair and replace as needed.
Make your children aware of the recent stranger soliciting lewd acts while driving in the village. Chief Satriale recommends that you instruct them never to approach an unfamiliar vehicle. Also, if something seems suspicious, call 911, try to remember the license plate number and take a cell phone photo of the vehicle.
The New York State Office of Taxation and Finance just last week notified the village that our tax equalization rate is 100 percent. As per the state, this number confirms, “that the Vvillage is assessing property at 100 percent of value; there was most likely a recent reassessment and the assessment roughly equates to market value.”
We received very good news from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) this week as well in the form of a requirement to publish a notification to the public of the intent of FEMA to provide funding to the village to remediate repetitive flooding in the vicinity of Midland Avenue and Pondfield Road. Though we have no “final notice of funding,” we are clearly one step closer.
As we look to the fall, the trustees and I will focus on formulating a capital budget to improve village infrastructure as well as upgrading our parking service functions in the areas of technology, equipment and permit processing.
I wish all residents a most wonderful summer!
