By: Zarah Kavarana
Highlights of the meeting:
• The town’s Summer Concert Series, co-sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce will begin on Wednesday, July 10 at the Recreation Field. The schedule includes performances from Tramps Like Us on July 10, the Chappaqua Orchestra on July 17, One Hot Night on July 24, and Hollaback on July 31. All concerts begin at 7 p.m.., and admission is free.
• A Millwood Park Movie Night will take place this Friday, June 28, weather permitting. The scheduled show is Despicable Me at 8:30 p.m. on the Millwood Park baseball field. Admission is free.
• Every Saturday between 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., a Farmer’s Market will take place at the Chappaqua train station.
The Town Administrator’s report followed.
• As promised, a coyote tracking map has been posted on coyote.mynewcastle.org for members of the public.
• A new structure in Marion place, recommended by the Beautification Advisory Board (BAB) will include a kiosk to acknowledge merchants and others who would like to help beautify New Castle. The structure will be completed after the addition of a center board.
• The BAB Beautiful Landscape Contest is asking residents to submit photos of their front garden, or their neighbors’ by July 31. The winner will be announced in September and will receive a gift, compliments of Whispering Pines. All submissions should be sent to BAB at 200 S. Greeley Ave Chappaqua, NY 10514, or e-mailed to bab@town.new-castle.ny.us.
• The High Ridge and Croton water district is scheduled to go live on Monday, July 1. This area of New Castle has been getting water from Mt. Kisco for years, and therefore has been paying double rates. Earlier this year, the board worked with residents of the area and Mt. Kisco to bring residents back in their own water district.
• Con Edison will be repairing gas mains on Marcourt Drive and Chappaqua Mountain Roads, which have been suspected of gas leaks. According to Con Edison, the leaks are not considered hazardous at this time, but repairing them is a proactive approach to any future issues.
The town has inherited an island as a result of the new Quaker Bridge. The island requires maintenance. Robert Snyder, the Superintendent of the Recreation and Parks department said that this island was not included in the inventory of islands that require maintenance. In addition, the only plant material included in the landscaping plan was Tulips. To take care of the island in the short term, the department has hand weeded the island and removed the dying tulip stems. Wood chips have been place in the entire area. In plans for the long term, the Garden Club will be creating a landscape for residents to admire.
On Friday, June 21, the New York Department of State announced $12 million in a local government performance and efficiency program called LG PEP grant assistance in financial saving generated by 13 projects. The grants are to be distributed over the course of three years in equal parts, contingent upon continued demonstration of savings. The project rewards local governments for undertaking significant and innovated actions that reduce the property tax burden confronting residents. The town is expected to save $200,000 a year by going to one time per week garbage pick-up. We are receiving $194,313 over the next three years as our reward.
The Westchester County municipal executive tabletop exercise called Hurricane Leslie took place on June 18. Officials went through a three-part problem solving exercise on how they would handle a large storm, similar to Sandy. It partly focused on past experiences, and gave officials helpful takeaways on what can now be done with the help of new technology, improved relationships with Con Edison and Verizon, as well as increased support from the Department of Transportation.
Governor Cuomo announced in a letter to Chappaqua board members about a new hazard mitigation grant program to assist local governments mitigating the risk of loss and damage associated with future disasters and reducing hardships. Over $500 million is expected to be available for the program. Staff met on Tuesday, June 25 to discuss what kinds of mitigation initiatives should be applied for, and decided to apply for a generator for the New Castle Community Center, and have sent information to the library staff so that can apply for a generator as well.
A Public Hearing was next on the agenda.
At the request of the applicant, the continuation of the public hearing to consider a special permit for the Chappaqua Station apartments was adjourned until Tuesday, July 9, 2013.
Members of the public shared their concerns with the board in regard to the adjournment, as well as the construction plans that are currently in the works.
Attorney David Steinmetz spoke to represent his client, the real estate and equities firm involved with the project. He came looking for feedback on his client’s pending application, trying to find out if and when it will be processed. Steinmetz asked the board to add the topic to the evening’s agenda and make a decision.
The board went into executive session after a unanimous vote.
Recommencing the meeting, the board made the decision to refer the matter at hand to the planning board and neighboring municipalities, as otherwise mandated by law.
Various authorizations were made, including:
• Designate Town Clerk Jill Shapiro to receive notices of claims served upon the secretary of state by both mail and e-mail, and file the required certificate with the secretary of state, informing him of the town’s designation and applicable time limitation for filing a notice of claim with the town on or before July 14, 2013.
• Refund the reduced assessments for the years of 2010 and 2011 ($535.02 for 2012 and $565.91 for 2011)
• Post of positions – Machine Equipment Operator and Laborer
• Award of bids: Installation of highway materials and water maintenance materials
• Extend the contract for the United Millwood Water treatment Plant for another 5 years (January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2018)
• Obtain bids for a new roll off truck to replace the current 20-year-old one in use, funded by the capital project fund as part of the 2013 budget
• Request from the Chappaqua School Foundation to hold a bake sale at the train station on July 12, 2013 from 5 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
• Refund of two street opening permit fees for a total of $1,000 to a local resident
• Two consent and release agreements for a Mt. Kisco resident, and for a Millwood resident
• Hang a banner across S. Greeley Avenue between June 24 and July 12 to announce the Summer Concert Series at the Recreation Field
• Minutes for meetings on April 30, 2013 and May 15, 2013
The meeting was adjourned after all authorizations were made.
