Board of Trustees

Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 187 THREE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-THIRD REGULAR AGENDA MEETING Rutherford Hall Village Hall March 26, 2019 A Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Scarsdale was held in Rutherford Hall in Village Hall on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at 8:30 P.M. Present were Mayor Hochvert, Trustees Arest, Callaghan, Crandall, Finger, Ross, and Veron. Also present were Village Manager Pappalardo, Deputy Village Manager Cole, Village Attorney Sapienza-Martin, Assistant Village Manager Richards, Village Treasurer McClure, Deputy Village Clerk Regazzi, and Assistant to the Village Manager Ringel. ******** Mayor Hochvert stated that there is an additional item to add to the agenda; he moved that the agenda be amended to include a resolution regarding the creation of the Arts Advisory Council, seconded by Trustee Finger and carried by a unanimous vote. ******** The minutes of the Board of Trustees Regular Meeting of Tuesday, March 12, 2019 were approved on a motion entered by Trustee Crandall, seconded by Trustee Ross and carried unanimously. ******** Bills & Payroll Trustee Veron reported that she had audited the Abstract of Claims dated March 26, 2019 in the amount of $452,274.32 which includes $1,082.42 in Library Claims previously audited by a Trustee of the Library Board which were found to be in order and he moved that such payment be ratified. Upon motion duly made by Trustee Veron and seconded by Trustee Finger, the following resolution was adopted unanimously: RESOLVED, that the Abstract of Claims dated March 26, 2019 in the amount of $452,274.32 is hereby approved. Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 188 ******** Mayor Hochvert stated that the first order of business will be to have the Board members speak with respect to those members that are leaving the Board. Afterwards, the public may offer their comments in the same regard. Other public comments will be saved for later in the meeting. Trustee Callaghan: Trustee Callaghan stated that he would like to call this speech “Callaghan’s reflections”. “The reflections have been crafted by the turbulences generated by the windmills in my mind over the last four years. Those turbulences have been gentle, mild, warm, and at times sensuous. Henry David Thoreau said, ‘if you built castles in the air, your work need not be lost, that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.’ Lots of thank yous – the first goes to the elite sorority of outstanding women administrators that occupy the Village Hall. They have a significant impact on Scarsdale’s superior sustainability, natural resources, economic, and human resources. They are responsible in a great part for Scarsdale maintaining its image as a Tiffany community. In this country and globally they polish the image of Scarsdale as being similar to that of sterling on silver and it will go on and on. Members of that elite sorority are Mary Lou McClure, our Village Treasurer; Donna Conkling, Village Clerk; Elizabeth Marrinan, Village Planner; and Nanette Albanese, Village Assessor who has left us, and our most recent inductee into the sorority is our Village Attorney, Angela Martin – congratulations. Behind those ladies are their assistants – Ms. Ingrid Richards, Assistant Village Manager; Ms. Samantha Garrison, Deputy Village Attorney and Prosecutor – you ought to see her work on Wednesdays, very interesting; Ms. Shelby Miller, Assistant to the Planner. These women are solely responsible for a lot that goes on here. There is a lady sitting in the audience tonight in the back, and that is Dara Gruenberg. She and ML Perlman have almost singlehandedly rescued the non-partisan system from a situation two years ago by their efforts. And Dara, I want you to do one more thing, if you will…I never, never want you to lose that sparkling charm that surrounds you. Thank you so much for what you did for the non-partisan system, the library, and me personally. Moving on to what we Trustees go through, kind of a pendulum that anybody in public life knows – very similar to the metronome at the top of my piano at home, tick, tick – goes between requiem and redemption. What causes the requiem is the decision we make as I explained at dinnertime. We all have various different life experiences and that’s what we bring to an issue or to a resolution and that’s very different among some of us and I’ve learned that from the Trustees on this Board and the prior Board. But the litmus test that we must put to every resolution that we read or every issue that we address is the same as written on the archway leaning from the Harvard School of Medicine. And what it says ‘At the least, do no harm.” They use that and we Trustees use that in every single resolution we Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 189 go through and there are some 240 of them we look at every year. I made a misstep a couple of years ago on two issues and it still hurts. I made the wrong move and you know, there are no mistakes in life, there are only lessons. And the lesson was, you know, Callaghan, sometimes listen to your heart and not your head. And that is my wish for new Mayor and new Trustees, at the least, do no harm. Other people to thank are the Scarsdale Inquirer. You have given me four consecutive years of unblemished press – unheard of in public service. Your last article on my voting record and the photograph – remarkable. To this day, people that I don’t know come up to me and remark about the reporting and the interview as well as the photograph. They say you look like Gary Cooper and the gunfight at the OK Corral – you’re a man who’s going to do business over the top. The way things turned out that might have been too good. Thank you again very very much for that unblemished coverage. Last person I want to thank is Howie Nadel. He’s no longer with use. Howie was the linchpin, the key man that got me to take that seat four years ago. How he engineered that is way beyond me. I don’t know how he did that and you know, I miss Howie and his advice and I thank him for what he has done for me. There are two other individuals who helped me immensely. One of them is sitting here this evening, the other is not. I will tell you that some other time who they are. But for Howie, a wonderful person, this community has lost a great person. All we public servants should be just like Howie. Again, thank you very much for sharing these reflections with me and good luck and bless you all. And what I wish for our new Mayor and new Trustees is this: that God grant them the grace to fulfill their duties and responsibilities as a Trustee/Steward of the public good and public welfare of Scarsdale consistent with the highest standards of ethical and moral accountability for the residents of Scarsdale. Thank you for sharing these thoughts with me. I almost forgot one, he’s sitting right here. Joshua Ringel. You know, in Las Vegas they have a term in the casinos in how they are run. They have the front of the house and they have the back of the house. Josh is the crew chief for the back of the house. He can be seen helping the Police Department empty the coins out of the machines, counting them and drafting grant proposals that bring thousands of dollars into this Village. And I want to thank Josh on a personal note. Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 of which I am a member of for 37 years, celebrated its 125th anniversary last year. That is a volunteer organization, the only one that has been active for that amount of time in Scarsdale. I asked Josh to do one thing – could he work something into that proclamation that would show how we firefighters go on from protecting lives and property to helping the Village. The Fire service in its history has given this Village 5 Mayors, 4 Trustees, leaders in the 17 Boards and Councils as well as in the 17 Neighborhood organizations. I would also like to thank Mayor Hochvert for the privilege and honor of allowing me to present that proclamation to the Fire Department on its 125th anniversary. That indeed Mayor, is a wow moment in any Commissioner’s life or any Trustee’s. Thank you and I appreciate that.” Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 190 Trustee Veron: “I would like to praise my colleagues who are ending their service to the Village Board as Trustees as well as our Mayor. First, Trustee Callahan, Mr. Fire Commissioner, my dais companion, thank you for your service to our community. With your great stories, quick wit, and decisive votes, you have enhanced our experience on the Village Board. You regularly provide new perspectives on subjects we discuss and always keep us on our toes. When you speak, we know there will be another angle to consider, and we are better for it. We have all benefited from your long- standing tenure in this community. You have an intuitive sense for what works in Scarsdale. I am certain that in the history of Scarsdale’s Village Boards there has never been a Fire Commissioner quite like you. Someone who has dedicated himself to a lifetime of service as a volunteer fire fighter who has then risen to the high post of Commissioner. You garner respect wherever you go. Impeccably clad in uniform, neatly pressed, badges ashine, you are held in the highest regard. You regale all with anecdotes that capture the essence of heroism and dedication, bringing honor to our public safety officers. Thank you for bringing into sharp focus the extraordinary work of Scarsdale’s men and women in uniform. You represent us so well. It has been my distinct pleasure to get to know you over these past several years. How lucky am I that I’ve been seated next to you for my entire board tenure. I feel a special kinship with you. I admire how you comport yourself with grace and gentility, no matter the circumstance. I know that even when our opinions differ, you will always treat me with honor and respect. You model the essence of civility and goodness. You set the bar high. We can all learn from you. Trustee Callahan, it is hard for me to imagine days on the board without you. I will miss your charm and good will. But, I know that you are already onto your next challenge. Congratulations on being selected to serve on the County advisory board on seniors. I have no doubt that you will continue to soar in your public service career. And, I will be cheering for you! Trustee Finger, you were the first Trustee to meet with me when I got elected to the board. We sat together over coffee, and you shared with me your journey as a first year Trustee. You gave me tips and advice and offered your help. Before we wrapped up, you pulled out a long wish list of things you wanted to see happen for our Village. You said you weren’t sure how to convert these wishes into reality, but you said you would certainly try. What struck me then and what I know so well now, is that your unassuming earnestness, your fundamental desire to do what you think is right, what will make Scarsdale even better, has propelled you forward to deliver for our community. Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 191 Throughout your tenure, you have focused on issues of sustainability. As chair of the Law Committee, you have worked dutifully to draft legislation to amend our current Code. You worked through iterations of the tree code, trying to bridge disparate views. You didn’t lose steam, leading the charge from one board to the next. You also advanced changes to our code to enable a more streamlined approach to solar panel approvals. Your efforts added the legislative backing to the Board’s expressed support. We now have codified modifications that reflect the evolving desires of our constituents. On a vastly different topic, you again displayed your commitment to ensuring that Scarsdale code embodies the belief system of our residents. With the increased national dialogue on gun control and teen vaping, you saw an opportunity to make a difference on the local front. You researched laws in neighboring towns and championed new legislation for Scarsdale. You listened to our citizens and found a way to reflect their beliefs in local law. Trustee Finger, I will miss your good counsel on our Board. You have an understated, effective style that gets your point across, captures the essence of the debate, and moves things forward. Your heart is always in the right place, and I have been proud to work by your side. You have given so much of yourself to our Village, and we are all grateful. Mayor Hochvert, these two years have flown by, and I am proud of what we’ve accomplished under your leadership. You have led our Village with the perfect blend of folksy charm and “can-do” determination. Your penchant for rolling up your sleeves and getting things done set just the right tone. One of my earliest memories of working with you preceded our time on the Village Board. Then, I was President of the League of Women Voters, and you joined one of our consensus meetings as an interested resident. You casually entered a packed room of all women engaged in animated debate. You listened intently, asked good questions, and contributed pointedly. At the meeting’s conclusion, you approached me, spoke about the issue, then exited the room, calmly resuming your day. To me, that snippet encapsulates who you are. No fuss, no muss, making impact without fanfare. You proceed in a measured, understated way and move things along. Throughout these past couple years, you have been a great partner to me. From the very beginning, you have supported the myriad of initiatives I’ve pursued: communications, roads, security, arts, food scraps, land use, library, cable, Village Center, the list goes on. You’ve always been there when I needed and helped me pave the way. Your support made a tremendous difference. Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 192 I am sure all of us will remember fondly our walks with the Mayor. Distinctive and appropriate. Discussing Village matters while strolling through our streets. We watched roads being paved, noted potholes, identified sick trees, and examined watercourses. In the Village Center, you helped me advance improved parking measures and revitalization activities. We strolled door to door to get an “on the ground” understanding of merchant parking stressors. We sat side by side, planting trees to enhance Scarsdale’s beauty. We tag teamed in work sessions. You welcomed new ideas and provided encouragement. You’ve been consistently available to assist in any way. Mayor Dan, I truly admire your countenance. You put people at ease and diffuse tension. You govern with an even keel. And you couple your calm with sharp intellect and an engineer’s precision. You have a wonderful spirit. When asked, you are always “splendid”. A term that will forever embody your service to the Village. I am grateful for our time together with you at the helm. Thank you for your tremendous service to our board and to this Village. You will be sorely missed.” Mayor Hochvert noted that one of their walks was during the big outage and they went around and visited both the workers and the neighbors and he felt that helped a few things also. Trustee Arest: “I will start with Trustee Callaghan. Matt, what can I say about the most dapper Trustee? Excuse me, dapper Commish. I have appreciated working with you and getting to know you. You are the quintessential volunteer and you’ve certainly kept us on our toes. And even once or twice may have made me hurt my neck muscles with an unexpected no vote. I think that the senior population of our County is very fortunate that George appointed you to represent them at the County level and I’m sure that our local senior council is excited for your addition. Carl, being a new Trustee can prove frustrating at times and I will always appreciate your concern and especially early on, your efforts to insure that I was heard. You immediately offered to come to my house over the weekend when you realized I had the bill bag for the first meeting and had never done it before. I appreciated your leadership and it was my pleasure working with you on the children safety zoning amendments that involved vaping and guns as well as the modifications to our obstruction law. I was not technically on the Law Committee but that did not stop you from including me. Even when we disagreed, I always appreciated our conversations. It appears that your work in Scarsdale is far from over; the school will be very lucky to have you and I hope to work closely with you in that next challenge. Dan, as I mentioned at our dinner, I learned early that one should not underestimate Dan Hochvert. It was pretty obvious when you asked me to take the first of many walks in Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 193 the Village and you were walking faster than me and in better cardio shape. I think our relationship has grown a lot this year. You and I might have slightly different styles and it may have taken a little while, but I think we became a very good team. I hope that now that the weather is improving we can make time to continue those walks and discussions. I am sure that we will not agree on everything but I know you will listen. I have learned a lot from you; I can only hope that your positive outlook and even temper has rubbed off on me. Your disposition is just simply splendid. Overall, we haven’t agreed on everything as a group, but we have never lost our mutual respect and I hope, admiration. As a colleague but even more so as a resident, I appreciate your service to Scarsdale. I am grateful for your commitment to our Village. Thank you.” Trustee Crandall: “This has been a tough speech for me to put together because it seems like I just gotten used to working with all of you and now boom! Here we are, about to change Mayor, a couple of Trustees and I’ve actually been heartbroken. So I’ve tried my best and I did pen a few words; I’ll be brief but from the heart. Trustee Callaghan, when I was President of the Scarsdale Forum and you were a Trustee and Fire Commissioner, I invited you to speak about a large fire that demolished a home on Post Road. You delighted everyone when you walked into the room in full dress attire. And, then you provided an insider's view of what it was like for our professional and volunteer firefighters to put out the blaze. You also offered helpful information on fire prevention. You have continued to inform the public about the hard work of our first responders. But, more importantly, you have always been an independent voice on the Village Board. It's clear that you care about this community. I'm glad that you'll be continuing your advocacy for senior citizens on the County level during your next phase of community service. I'll certainly miss serving with you on the Village Board. Trustee Finger, years ago we both served on the Conservation Advisory Council together. I was delighted to once again to have the opportunity to work with you again on the Village Board as co-liaisons to the CAC. Thanks to your leadership, the tree ordinance was updated to address the problem of clear-cutting and to insure that at least some replacement trees would be planted. You also led the way on important zoning changes to protect our community from e-cigarettes and guns. And, most recently, you helped streamline solar panel installations. I have learned a lot from you about the legislative process and how to get things done. I frankly hope that someday you'll be our Mayor. Mayor Hochvert, we have worked together for several years now on different volunteer boards. I can't thank you enough for all you've done to help me make the transition from regular volunteer to a representative of the community on this Village Board. You have an efficient style of leadership that gets things done. And, I've always admired your hands-on work in our watercourses, parks and other public sites. Most importantly, Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 194 however, you've shown me with your own actions how to work as part of a team, not only with fellow board members, but also members of our hard-working village staff. I will miss you most of all. Trustee Ross: “Trustee Callaghan, your devotion to the Volunteer Fire Department to which you’ve given so much of yourself during your many years in Scarsdale is clear. Through your work as a skilled and dedicated firefighter, you’ve helped to make Scarsdale a better and safer place. But your service to the community has been so much broader than that. As a member of this Board, you take a rigorous and independent approach to deliberation on a wide range of issues that confront us. You speak forcefully and persuasively when you have a position that differs from that of those on the Board. And the contribution you make to our understanding on an issue is always profound. Even when I don’t end up agreeing with you, after hearing you speak I always have a more comprehensive understanding of the issue at hand than I had before. And the equanimity and courtesy that you invariably exhibit insures that discussions are always constructive. Thank you for your service. Trustee Finger, although you are among the youngest to serve on this Board, at least in recent years, you lived here in Scarsdale longer than most of us, most or all of your life I believe. So you have an innate feel for this community, a body of knowledge and a familiarity with the community’s workings that you acquired naturally. You also have all of the abilities and virtues one could ask for in a member of our Board. So you have quite a lot to contribute. You’ve willingly made that contribution on an ongoing basis throughout your two terms as Trustee and I look forward to your continuing to be an active and involved member of the community. I might add that I wrote these words before learning that you had been nominated to serve on the School Board and of course that nomination has really just amplified and added substance to the hope that I’ve had for you. Mayor Hochvert, we are all aware that the Mayor of Scarsdale is a very demanding position and takes a special person to do the job. What amazes me about you is that in addition to the tremendous ability and complete integrity you bring to the job, you take such an expansive view of your role as Mayor. You seem to know everyone, you speak to everyone, and you listen to everyone. You connect with people on every level. You always maintain a thorough grasp of the big picture but you never forget that what matters most to us in public service is meeting the needs of people we serve, and that each of those people is an individual with his or her own needs and perspectives and special contribution to make to the fabric of the community. It’s a great comfort to know that although as of next month you will no longer be Mayor, you will still be you and I think that is a very widely shared sentiment. Thank you.” Trustee Finger: Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 195 “Atypically, I have some prepared remarks but more typically I will make some unprepared remarks first. I first want to express appreciation for the comments of all my fellow Trustees this evening. We don’t often take the opportunity to share our views of each other in any way so it’s very interesting to hear everybody’s perspective and I appreciate it. Most people cannot understand, I don’t think, the bond that I think we share having spent so many nights and so many phone calls, and so much time together over a short intense period of time and I feel the same with the staff. You can’t really describe it adequately, but I have great affection for all of you and for the past Board members that I’ve served with and the past Mayor. I believe that everybody does a fantastic job and I can’t say enough good about each of you. So my comments forthcoming: Citizens of Scarsdale, our Village in the Park My last board meeting, so please do hark I invite you to hear about your Trustees As well as the staff that always aims to please Here is the tale of a government so fine The last four years have been a fabulous time This year we were joined by Arest and Crandall Ready they were to take the mantle From Pekarek and Samwick they sat in stead Working hard, learning the ropes, and getting ahead Justin quickly brought to the board his own view Adding process to our decision making stew He studied and learned of the village code Justin keeps us all on a very straight road (without potholes) Lena started off with verve and with ease Always of course preserving our trees She asks important questions and views And keeps us up on the sustainability news Continuing on were Callaghan, Veron and Ross Never a word from them would be cross Matt has been the fire commissioner Always the anti-vote positioner His independence was most respected And was most certainly why he was re-elected More can be said of our trustee Seth His comments often a fresh air breath Seth’s quite reserved its fair to say But when he speaks, better listen or be prepared to pay His analysis and comments always quite wise Logic prevails, he finds no need to dramatize Jane is third in the line of succession Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 196 She works hard and speaks clearly without digression Jane wanted a board that would communicate She suggested a committee to set us straight Websites, newsletters, instructional videos to exhort Every meeting Jane offered a comprehensive report Of her comings and goings we heard a great detail A report so lengthy it could not fit in the mail That brings me now to the current Mayor you see Who led us all with humor splendidly He took the reins of the board as our newest steward He stood firm and didn’t allow us to be skewered He carefully quietly listened and always heard Dan could change minds and hearts with one word He let us all stretch out and explore Our interests and goals he would never ignore I can’t say enough about his first rate function Suffice to say I have no compunction Mayor Dan has my greatest appreciation For service well done and much approbation That takes me now to those who make our work possible Though they often labor without name, they are cognoscible It’s hard to know quite where to start To remember them all I’d have to be really smart Safety in Scarsdale is number one Chiefs Matturro and Seymour cannot be outdone No longer a long term renowned employee I’d be remiss not mention Salanitro Benny His knowledge of all matters snow, trash, and compostable Made most first rate because he was always approachable Paul Zaicek is a wiz with buildings and plans In planning buildings not a thing is missed, not even the fans Liz Marrinan our planner knows the village codes and lots Her advice on point and correct and quite often sought Frank Diodati has taken over the building department with zeal The information he provides is always even keel Our Court Clerk April is always so kind Ever present a smile that will help you unwind Donna Conkling our Village Clerk is as organized as one could hope She manages personnel, committees, councils as well as the pope Mary Lou McClure manages our money with care and finesse and details aplenty She always has the numbers at hand and if you ask nicely she’ll lend you a twenty Assistant to the Village Manager is Josh Ringel Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 197 His expertise on parking, traffic and safety, permit fees and the like explain why he’s no longer single Assistant Manager Ingrid Richards appeared on the scene Just in time for meter, trees, and other legislation she presented with sheen Robert Cole also arrived with a great flair He’s done amazing work despite not having hair Rob’s work I must say is always first rate Newsletters, spreadsheets, analysis, and never ever late Our Village Attorney Angela Martin a fine legal mind Supported my efforts and wrote legislation really quite fine That brings me to Steve, Pappalardo I mean, Who runs a Village with much great esteem From our friend Winston who closes up Village Hall each night To the many employees who toil out of sight It’s hard to imagine a business run so well by so few But I am here to tell you it is definitely true Steve takes copious notes at every committee, council, or board meeting He records all the words and ideas without eating But that’s not all that Steve does every day He reviews those notes while hidden away Then returns to us with a memo and plan to weigh It’s truly apparent to those close enough to hear That Steve is force of excellence for the Village year after year So as I bring my comments to a close I realize that names I’ve omitted nobody knows But at least for me I’d like staff to hear They keep our village running and that much is clear I will never forget the contributions you make And will tout your accomplishments for Scarsdale’s sake Police, Fire, Public Works, Buildings, Courts, Planning, Treasurers, Assessors, and so many more All I can say is thank you so much, as I head for the door.” Mayor Hochvert: Mayor Hochvert stated that it is interesting to see this man sitting and reading a marvelous piece and I recall the first time I saw him he was 11 years old at a basketball court. You’ve come a long way! “Over this two years working with a terrific Board has been a great reward for me. The Staff is splendid as you might expect but it goes beyond that. We have so many volunteers, some of whom are sitting in the audience. We have the SNAP, Scarsdale Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 198 Neighborhood Association Presidents, we have the Boards and Councils, and you could go on with all the people that are working together to make this a fine place to live. Yes, we try to do our job but without all that other work, Scarsdale wouldn’t be as fine a place to live as it is. We’ve got two new members of our Board this year. Lena had a lot of assignments but then she doubled the number of activities she picked up so she could bring additional information. I don’t know how many meetings you have gone to this year but it certainly is over 100. The thing that I have learned with Justin who also does a great deal of looking into things, understanding what the normal process is, bending when he thinks it’s the right thing to do because the thing we are all charged to do is serve the people and if the bending is not going to harm the people that we represent. You do bend, I’ve seen that a couple of times and so I appreciate that. A long time ago, there was a fellow that was working in my division and I had set up some evaluations of the people that reported to me and the ones below that. I told them to evaluate my performance and they all told me who they were and they trusted that I wouldn’t put anything untoward. Tom said, ‘Dan, sometimes I think you argue to win, not for the truth.’ And I said, you know, that man’s right. It’s an ego thing, so I’ve tried to adjust it. What I find is that Seth has that ability that he argues for truth. He is, as somebody has already said, he’s quiet and thinks and before he offers an opinion. But when he hears a counterpoint that he agrees with, he will quickly say I agree with you, not what he had originally done. I think that is very valuable to this Board. Carl, I don’t think anybody’s worked any harder than you have this last year. I think you’ve had hands in more things than probably anybody else on the Board and it has certainly borne good work. Yes, Trustee Callaghan, we have done some things together. And we’ve agreed on most things. I wish we had agreed on a couple others, but it’s good to have somebody you know you have to convince and you have to think of why is it being proposed to do such and such, will that benefit the people we are serving? And if I could make the argument well enough, you would agree with it. And you did most of the time, 90% of the time probably, or more. Trustee Veron and I have taken many walks and have done many activities together and I also often wonder how she schedules all the things she does. She also tries to please all the people all the time and you can’t do that. I’m satisfied with most of the people, I hope. You have done a great deal and I think people know that, and I don’t think I don’t have to say anymore because I think they do know that. Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 199 With that, since it’s already 9:15, if there is anyone in the audience that wants to comment on the Board members, particularly those who are leaving, just grab the microphone.” Andrew Sereysky, Walworth Avenue, speaking as the President of the Greenacres Neighborhood Association, presented proclamations to the Mayor and Trustee Finger from the neighborhood association and read them to those present. The proclamations declared Mayor Hochvert and Trustee Finger honorary members of the Greenacres Neighborhood Association. Jon Mark, 58 Brookby Road, gave the following statement: “I am here this evening in several roles: as a Scarsdale resident of more than 40 years, as a former Village Board member and Mayor, and currently, I am President of the Scarsdale Forum, and offer my comments in that capacity. My purpose is to thank the members of the Village Board – and in particular Mayor Dan Hochvert, Trustee Matt Callaghan and Trustee Carl Finger at this final Board meeting of their respective terms – for their volunteer service to our community. Serving on the Village Board requires commitment, an open mind, a willingness to listen to a wide variety of points of view and the courage to exercise one’s reasonable judgment in making decisions that affect our community as a whole. The time and effort of those who serve on Scarsdale’s Village Board are an essential component to our community’s effective management of its municipal affairs. Through your service, each of you has contributed greatly to fostering the continued desirability of settling and residing in our village. If we are to continue to enjoy our village as we know it – and continue to improve it – history teaches us that attracting thoughtful, committed resident volunteers will be an important part of achieving that goal. This evening, I thank Messrs. Hochvert, Finger and Callaghan for generously giving of their time to serve our community. Trustee Finger, while I am at it, congratulations to you as one of three nominees for the School Board and thanks for your continued desire to serve the Village. Finally, I also thank Mayor-elect Marc Samwick, and Trustees elect Jonathan Lewis, Rochelle Waldman and, returning for a second term, Trustee Seth Ross for stepping up to carry on Scarsdale’s tradition of volunteerism which has served our community well for more than 100 years.” Lynne Clark, 13 Walworth Avenue, stated that she had to attend the meeting this evening with a special tribute to Mayor Hochvert. She stated that back in 2002, she received a call from her friend, Dan Hochvert who had an unusual question to ask me. He told her he was retiring from Verizon and asked for her recommendation as to what to do with his time. She stated she thought about it for one second and told him to give his time to the Village. He decided to do it and the rest is history. She stated that she is here tonight to give thanks on behalf of the residents of Scarsdale to a man who has given his heart and soul, full Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 200 time, to make our town a better place; wherever and whenever he was needed, especially during his two years as Mayor. He was present at every Scarsdale event. He was thorough in investigating every issue before him. He was one of the first residents to mulch leaves and recycle food scraps. His willingness to use his practical skills like helping to build the deck at the Teen Center - I watched him do that. If something needed to be done and he could do it himself, he just did it. His dedication to our Village has been awesome. She thanked him and thanked his wonderful wife Susan also. She thanked the entire Board for their dedication to Scarsdale. Diane Greenwald, 2 Oak Lane, speaking on behalf of the Scarsdale Library Board, stating that they would like to offer their sincere thanks to Dan Hochvert, Carl Finger and Matt Callaghan for their remarkable service and commitment to Scarsdale. They have seen the amount of work they have put into their positions, the integrity with which they worked and the dedication to that work. Mayor Hochvert and Trustees Finger and Callaghan have been part of the library’s journey improving a critical resource for Scarsdale and part of the larger continuum of volunteer leaders who model the non-city life, not for self alone. The Library Board extends its thank you to the full Board of Trustees for their ongoing support of the library’s mission to be the central hub of lifelong learning for this community. She noted their special gratitude to Trustee Veron, liaison to the Library Board, who has attended all of their business meetings and is an asset to their team. She provides feedback, Village wide perspective and valued advice. The Library Board is grateful for the services of the many capable Village and Library professionals who do the work to make our Village a well-run, safe and beautiful place to live. The Library Board offers its congratulations and thanks to incoming Mayor-elect Marc Samwick, to returning Trustee Seth Ross, and to Trustees-elect Jonathan Lewis and Rochelle Waldman. The Library Board looks forward to working together. Janice Starr, Co-President, Scarsdale League of Women Voters, along with Linda Doucette Ashman stated that they would like to honor and thank outgoing Mayor Dan Hochvert and outgoing Trustees Carl Finger and Matthew Callaghan for the tremendous service they have given to the Village over the years. Ms. Starr read a statement thanking each one individually. She also congratulated Mayor-elect Marc Samwick and Trustees-elect Jonathan Lewis and Rochelle Waldman, as well as Trustee Seth Ross as he begins his second term. Jaclyn Finger, 38 Butler Road, stated that she is very proud of Trustee Finger (her father) noting that he worked very hard the past four years and it is visible how much he impacted not only the Village but all of the people he worked with. His other daughter, Serena stated that she hoped he enjoyed his time with the Village; they love him so much and stated that he should continue doing awesome things. Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 201 Dara Gruenberg, Hampton Road, stated that she wanted to say thank you; she knows the extraordinary amount of time they give to the Village. Most importantly they are always available and accessible and always allow people to be heard. Ron Schulhof, Springdale Road, speaking as a resident for both himself and Michelle Sterling, made the following statement: “I’ve had the chance to work with the Board in various capacities – tonight these are the personal comments from myself and Michelle Sterling. Michelle wasn’t able to attend tonight’s meeting so I will present these comments from the both of us. Mayor Hochvert, Trustee Finger, and Trustee Callaghan - Thank you for your service as Mayor and trustees. It has been a pleasure working with you and the entire board. While we are speaking tonight because Dan, Carl and Matt will be finishing their terms, these comments are reflective for this board as a whole. Scarsdale has seen a number of exciting and important initiatives launch under this board’s leadership and is a better place for it. As a resident of this community I am appreciative of all the work you are doing for this community. You have always given time to hear from volunteers, whether it be during public comments, and committee meetings on the 3rd floor or simply a phone call from a resident. You always came to the table with an open mind, listened and advocated for bringing volunteers into the process. While we are sad to see Mayor Hochvert’s, Trustee Finger’s, and Trustee Callaghan’s time on the board come to a close, we are excited that the community has dedicated volunteers with Mayor-elect Samwick, returning Trustee Ross, Trustee-elects Waldman and Lewis and the return board members Trustees Arest, Crandall and Veron to represent our community.” Madelaine Eppenstein, 18 Autenreith Road, stated that it is such a privilege to be able to have worked with each member of the Village Board as well as the staff. She stated that it is just incredible how accessible, friendly, and professional the relationships are for ordinary civic volunteers and non-profit advocates like herself to be able to work with them. She congratulated Mayor Hochvert and Trustees Callaghan and Finger on the work they have done. She also extended her congratulations to Mayor-elect Samwick and Trustees- elect Waldman and Lewis. Robert Harrison, 65 Fox Meadow Road, thanked Mayor Hochvert and Trustees Callaghan and Finger for the time spent and allowing him to speak before them. Having served as a Trustee in the past on this Board, he is aware of the time commitment, Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 202 dedication and effort that all Trustees and Mayors put forth as volunteers. Scarsdale is a great community with the volunteers that they have. Speaking to Trustee Callaghan, Mr. Harrison told him that he was really impressed by his speech earlier in the meeting. He thanked him for his thoughtful votes over his four years on the Board. Mr. Harrison told Trustee Finger that he acknowledged his hard work that was done on the budget and trees. He also noted that Trustee Finger’s poetry was outstanding. To Mayor Hochvert, Trustee Harrison stated that the two of them have had a number of telephone conversations and have worked together over the years. He stated that he was very involved with the Teen Center from the beginning and noted that the Mayor took tremendous efforts with the Teen Center and the deck and he thanked him for that. He hoped that his time spent on the comfort station will come to fruition in the coming months. He wished Mayor Hochvert and Trustees Callaghan and Finger well. ******** Mayor’s Comments Mayor Hochvert reported that on March 14th, he attended the Scarsdale Forum meeting that Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins attended and spoke to the attendees. On March 15th, he had his second to last wedding ceremony; one of the better parts of this job. A Committee of the Whole meeting was held on Freightway project and a public meeting on the pre-designation of historic homes on March 20th. The Board is working on many issues that were raised at that meeting. On March 24th, there was a Sunday speaker meeting that was co-chaired by the Scarsdale Forum, the League of Women Voters and Historical Society. They presented the history of the Bronx River as well as a discussion of the rejuvenation of the Bronx River. Trustee Crandall will continue to work with the parties involved in that project. Mayor Hochvert stated that his last wedding ceremony was held on March 22nd. He also had a request to teach another City 2.0 class at the high school. They wanted to talk about solar panels. Their teacher was one of the public that came to the microphone at the last Board meeting to comment on the Board’s discussion of solar panels. This is part of his effort to bring the two Boards together; it is not the first time he had an opportunity to teach a class in the high school. On Friday, most likely his last official act is going to be joining the Police Chief in making presentations for promotions. Trustee Veron, the Police Commissioner, will also be there. Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 203 ******** Manager’s Comments On behalf of the staff and community, Village Manager Pappalardo presented Mayor Hochvert and Trustees Callaghan and Finger with engraved pewter trays to commemorate their respective two and four years of dedicated service as Mayor and Trustees and thanked them for their service to the Village. ******** Trustee Committee and Liaison Reports Trustee Arest reported that the search for a new assessor is well underway. He noted that they have met with some positive, interesting candidates. They are considering having some of them come back for a second round; however, the search is ongoing. There is really no timetable involved although they would like to have someone chosen as soon as possible but at the same time they are looking for someone for the long term. There are plans in place for continuity which is important with the assessment role. He stated that the community will be kept updated. Trustee Veron stated that she wanted to report on our Land Use meeting last week where we began discussion regarding the historic preservation code. The community might recall that last year the Board of Trustees discussed issues raised by the Committee for Historic Preservation and decided to tackle the topic in two parts. First this Board voted to modify the current code that addresses historical preservation when applicants seek to demolish homes. At that time, the Board committed to examine options for a proactive approach. To initiate what I expect will be a fairly lengthy conversation, the Board reviewed draft legislation in a working session and had the opportunity to listen to concerned residents. This is a complex issue which will require much discussion. Trustee Veron stated that she also wanted to recognize the excellent work of the PRC (Parks, Recreation and Conservation) as one of their efforts has come to fruition. The PRC, in partnership with Little League and the Village Staff, led the effort to bring batting cages to Scarsdale. The PRC sought input from the neighborhood association and ensured that the project could be completed on schedule for the upcoming season. There will be a ribbon cutting for the new batting cages on Saturday April 6th. Special thanks to the Little League and all the PRC volunteers, and Brian Gray, Superintendent of PRC and his staff for their contributions to our Village. Trustee Callaghan reported as liaison on the Board of Appeals and stated that they heard five cases at their last meeting; they approved four of those with one holdover. Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 204 In regard to the Advisory Council on Scarsdale Senior Citizens, Trustee Callaghan stated that they are currently working with Pace University’s Elder Justice Unit. This Unit offers free counseling to any senior regarding legal matters such as wills, trusts, estates. This service is free of charge. He stated that they are also working with that unit on elder abuse. He noted that the County has a Senior Citizens Council. They discuss various issues affecting seniors and their finances, such as Medicare and Medicaid, etc. Trustee Callaghan next reported as liaison to the Council on Disabilities, stating that they are currently working with the group Westchester Disabled on the Move, which is a lobbying organization that looks out for disabled adults in the Westchester area. There is a new website that the New York State Controller established called ‘New York Able’. This site has information on what you can do if you are a caretaker for an elderly disabled person, what services are available, etc. Trustee Crandall gave the following report: “It’s time for spring-cleaning! And, time for the Scarsdale Schools PT Council Sports equipment and formal wear swap this Friday from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm and Saturday from 8:00 am to 9:00 am at the middle school gym. All proceeds will benefit PTA projects and programming throughout the Village. And, the more items that are kept out of the trash, the less all of us taxpayers have to pay to have it carted away. The Scarsdale Safe Coalition will be hosting a community meeting on Wednesday, April 24th, 10:00 am, at The Scarsdale Woman's Club, 37 Drake Road. The program will focus on factors that contribute to sexual assault and violence in our community. The Scarsdale Drug & Alcohol Task Force is the recipient of the Scarsdale Teen Center's remaining funds in the amount of $12,400. The Teen Center closed last summer. DATF is also speaking with NYS Assemblywoman Amy Paulin about issues to consider with respect to the potential legalization of marijuana in New York State. Sustainable Westchester is a nonprofit collaboration of Westchester County, local governments and volunteers that seeks to develop and promote a more environmentally friendly region. They are offering a limited opportunity until April 1st for residents to enroll in "community solar." The solar panels are installed at another location, but enrollees can benefit from potential savings on their electric bill while also supporting clean energy on the Con Edison grid. For more information see www.westchesterpower.org and www.sustainablewestchester.org. Please let the Scarsdale Village Conservation Advisory Council know if you sign up for this program. They are researching community solar and would like to hear about your experience. ******** Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 205 Public Comment Mayor Hochvert opened the public comment section of the meeting at this time. Robert Harrison, 65 Fox Meadow Road, speaking as volunteer director of the Scarsdale Youth Tennis program. He noted that discussions have been held regarding a comfort station at the middle school field and tennis courts. He stated that he has had some conversations with Stuart Mattey and Dr. Hagerman at the School District. He stated he also had a brief conversation with the Village Manager in this regard. He stated that he has a list of some questions regarding how this can be moved forward. As no further comments were offered, the Mayor closed the Public Comment portion of the meeting. ******** Finance Committee Trustee Ross reported on the statements of expense and revenue for the various funds of the Village for the first nine months of fiscal year 2018-2019. General fund appropriations were 71.80% spent as of February 2019 as compared to 72.09% in 2017-2018. General Fund Revenues other than property taxes are $12,606,539 through February 2019. After adjusting for the sale of 32 Ferncliff ($956,300) in the first quarter of last year, the resulting total represents a decrease of $351,727 from the 2017-2018 figure of $13,914,566. Overall revenue from Special Assessments and Delinquent Tax collections improved $6,100. Building Permit revenue (included in License and Permit revenue) is down $166,100. The largest impact in the Licenses and Permits is the reduction in the reimbursement for special details because Con Edison finished much of the gas main replacement work last year. Parking revenue and departmental fees are up a combined $103,800 offsetting the drop in Recreation revenue of $63,600. The increase in investment earnings of $162,600 offsets the drop in Mortgage Tax of $146,300 and (partially) in the building permits. Cable TV and gross receipts taxes increased $13,000. Unrestricted State Aid was reduced $16,500. The actual collection of Village taxes through February, 2019 is at 99.64%. This is an increase of 8 basis points from last year’s collection rate. ******** Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 206 Upon motion entered by Trustee Ross, and seconded by Trustee Finger, the following resolution regarding Calling for a Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Tentative Budget was approved by the vote indicated below: WHEREAS, pursuant to New York State Village Law §5-508 (3), a public hearing must be held on the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Tentative Budget on or before the fifteenth day of April, with notice of such public hearing published in the official newspaper; and; WHEREAS, a copy of the Tentative Budget is available for public viewing in the Village Clerk’s Office, with an electronic copy available on the Village Treasurer’s Department page of the Village website at www.scarsdale.com; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Village Board of Trustees herein schedules a public hearing for Tuesday, April 09, 2019, at 8:00 PM in Rutherford Hall in Village Hall to receive comments on the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Tentative Budget filed on March 20, 2019; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Village Clerk is hereby directed to publish notice of said hearing pursuant to Village Law. AYES NAYS ABSENT Trustee Arest None None Trustee Callaghan Trustee Crandall Trustee Finger Trustee Ross Trustee Veron Mayor Hochvert ******** Law Committee Upon motion entered by Trustee Finger, and seconded by Trustee Veron, the following resolution regarding Proposed Playground Equipment at Kid’s BASE and the Little School Facility was approved by the vote indicated below: WHEREAS, Kid’s B.A.S.E. and the Little School (KBLS) entered into a lease agreement with the Village of Scarsdale in July, 1996, later amended in June, 2011, wherein the Village leased the building located on Village Property at 307 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale, New York, to Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 207 KBLS for the purpose of providing child related services and activities, including day care; and WHEREAS, the aforementioned amended lease is scheduled to expire in September, 2031, and KBLS is now seeking to install playground equipment in the yard on the northeastern side of the building; and WHEREAS, KBLS has provided correspondence, a preliminary plan and the design of the playground equipment which is similar to the equipment currently installed in the building courtyard; and WHEREAS, Article 19 of the aforementioned lease agreement states that any changes and/or alterations to the leased premises requires the approval of the Village Board of Trustees as the landlord, as well as land use review and approval from the Planning Board and/or the Board of Architectural Review; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Article 19, the landlord has 30 days to respond, if the plans are simple, and 45 days to respond if the plans are complex, said landlord’s approval to be separate and distinct from approvals required by law by the Planning Board, Board of Architectural Review and other levels of government where applicable; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Village Board of Trustees, in its role of landlord under the terms of the lease, herein approves the installation of playground equipment on the leased premises, subject to the appropriate land use board(s) review and approval of the application in substantially the same form as depicted in the correspondence and plans previously cited and attached hereto, and any other level of government; and be it further RESOLVED, that KBLS shall pay all fees and obtain all appropriate building and construction permits and comply with all laws, rules and regulations of the Village of Scarsdale. AYES NAYS ABSENT Trustee Arest None None Trustee Callaghan Trustee Crandall Trustee Finger Trustee Ross Trustee Veron Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 208 Mayor Hochvert ******** Municipal Services Committee Upon motion entered by Trustee Veron and seconded by Trustee Crandall, the following resolution regarding a First Amendment to Intermunicipal Agreement with the City of New Rochelle and Town of Eastchester for Hutchinson River Flood Mitigation Project was approved by a unanimous vote: WHEREAS, in response to long-standing flooding issues throughout the County of Westchester (“County”) causing damage to public and private properties, the County and municipalities worked together culminating in the County adopting a Stormwater Management Law in 2011, encouraging municipalities to work collaboratively on a regional basis to address flooding and advance flood mitigation projects in accordance with the County’s Flood Mitigation Program; and WHEREAS, the Flood Mitigation Program enables the municipalities to partner with Westchester County to fund the planning and construction for flood mitigation projects on a cost sharing basis, provided projects for which funding is sought meet the eligibility criteria and cost sharing requirements and are included in the Westchester County Reconnaissance Plan for the Coastal Long Island Sound, one of six Reconnaissance Plans prepared by the County Planning Department and adopted by the County Board of Legislators; and WHEREAS, in accordance with a preliminary design concept prepared by a consulting engineer for the City of New Rochelle, the City, Village of Scarsdale and the Town of Eastchester submitted a joint application to the County pursuant to the Flood Mitigation Program for a two phased project estimated at $3,000,000-$5,000,000 with a scope to replace and enlarge four stormwater culverts and the desilting and bank stabilization within 6500 linear feet of river bed along the Hutchinson River Basin, traversing all three communities and predominantly located on private property within the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) identified 100 year flood zone; and WHEREAS, completing this flood mitigation project which will positively impact a number of Village residents within the Hutchinson River Drainage Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 209 Basin FEMA flood zone and has been in the planning stages and included in the Village’s Capital Budget and Plan for the past eight years; and WHEREAS, said application was approved by the County through a $5,000,000 grant award with the County contributing 50% or $2,500,000 in accordance with the Stormwater Management Law, and the municipalities funding the balance through a 50% local match, a percentage of which can be satisfied through in-kind services; and WHEREAS, the County Stormwater Management Law provides funding assistance for projects in two phases: Phase I, which includes project development; feasibility; preliminary design; surveying; final engineering, plan specifications and bidding assistance; and Phase II, which includes construction documents, construction and construction management; and WHEREAS, in order to move forward with securing the County grant funding through a grant agreement and proceeding with the Phase I work, the municipalities executed a tri-party Intermunicipal agreement establishing roles, responsibilities and funding obligations, with the City of New Rochelle, identified as the “Participating Agent Municipality”, to execute the grant agreement with the County and any subsequent consultants and contractors, while handling all associated administrative matters pursuant to these grants and agreements; and WHEREAS, said Intermunicipal Agreement dated August 25, 2017, was approved by the Village pursuant to an August 8, 2017 resolution (attached), identifying an estimated cost for the Phase I preliminary engineering and design work of $350,000 with the 50% local share or $175,000 to be divided through a formula based on the number of properties within each municipality benefitting from the flood mitigation work, said formula resulting in a payment obligation of 57.3%, or $100,275 for New Rochelle; 21.7%, or $37,975 for Eastchester and 21%, or $36,750 for Scarsdale; and WHEREAS, a recently completed request for proposal (RFP) process conducted by staff representing the communities and involving the solicitation and interviewing of six professional engineering consulting firms, resulted in the unanimous selection of the Westchester firm of Mott- McDonald at a total fee of $1,207,582; and Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 210 WHEREAS, Mott-McDonald’s proposal (attached) is segregated into three separate phases, with the Phase I engineering scope of services at a fee of $499,600, involving the studying and assessing of the project site to include the completion of topographical, utility, geotechnical and bathometric, surveys and testing, wetland delineation and hydraulic modeling, and assistance to the municipalities with the additional County grant application requirements; and WHEREAS, pursuant to the County grant program, the 50% municipal share of this Phase I engineering work is $249,800 or $143,135 for New Rochelle, $54,206 for Eastchester and $52,458 for Scarsdale, with the County funding the 50% balance of $249,800; and WHEREAS, an amendment to the existing Intermunicipal Agreement to reflect the revised Phase I costs, herein referred to as the “First Amendment”, was drafted and approved by the City of New Rochelle and Town of Eastchester and is herein submitted and recommended for approval by the Scarsdale Village Board; and WHEREAS, subsequent to the Village of Scarsdale’s approval, New Rochelle is prepared to execute a professional engineering services agreement with Mott McDonald and the grant Intermunicipal agreement with the County for the Phase I funding; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Village Manager is, herein, authorized to execute the First Amendment to the August 25, 2017 Intermunicipal Agreement between the City of New Rochelle, Village of Scarsdale and the Town of Eastchester for the Hutchinson River Flood Mitigation Project, in substantially the same form as attached hereto, updating the applicable sections of the Agreement to reflect the funding obligations associated with the Phase I project engineering work; and be it further RESOLVED, that the cost of the Village share of $52,458 be funded through an existing purchase order for $29,000 and available funding of $23,458 in Capital Budget Account #H 8597-965 2016-018; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Village Manager shall take all appropriate administrative acts required for the successful completion of the terms of the Intermunicipal Agreement. AYES NAYS ABSENT Trustee Arest None None Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 211 Trustee Callaghan Trustee Crandall Trustee Finger Trustee Ross Trustee Veron Mayor Hochvert ******** Recreation Committee Upon motion entered by Trustee Callaghan, and seconded by Trustee Finger, the following resolution regarding Awarding Renewal of Preferred Source Agreement – Village Properties, Applications and Special Services was approved by the vote indicated below: WHEREAS, New York State's Preferred Sources were statutorily created to advance certain social and economic goals, with all State agencies, political subdivisions, and public benefit corporations required to purchase approved products and services from Preferred Sources in accordance with NYS Finance Law, Article XI, Section 162; and WHEREAS, Grounds keeping & Lawn Maintenance is a Preferred Source offering by New York State Industries for the Disabled (“NYSID”) through their eligible lawn care service provider, Alternative Earthcare Tree and Lawn Systems, 1 Jem Court, Bayshore, NY 11706; and WHEREAS, on March 26, 2014, the Village entered into a one-year Preferred Sources agreement with the NYSID for landscaping-related services, including such tasks as fertilization, aerating, seeding and other organic applications for turf, having renewed that agreement for each successive season, most recently 2018/19, in response to competitive pricing and quality work performed; and WHEREAS, Village staff have now negotiated a one-year renewal agreement for the 2019/20 season for $49,900, which is the same fee as it has been since 2015; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that pursuant to NYS Finance Law, Article XI, Section 162, the Village Manager is herein authorized to enter into a Preferred Source agreement with NYSID in the amount of $49,900 to provide the scope of services identified in said agreement for a one-year period, commencing April 1, 2019, and ending on March 31, 2020; and be it further Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 212 RESOLVED, that the scope of services identified in the agreement will be performed by Alternative Earthcare Tree and Lawn Systems, 1 Jem Court, Bayshore, NY, 11706, acting as an authorized affiliate of NYSID; and be it further RESOLVED, that the cost for the services provided in the agreement be charged accordingly to the General Fund Operating Budget Account #A- 7020-PARKS-MAINT-400-499, where sufficient funds are available. AYES NAYS ABSENT Trustee Arest None None Trustee Callaghan Trustee Crandall Trustee Finger Trustee Ross Trustee Veron Mayor Hochvert ******** Personnel Committee Trustee Arest stated that this resolution is Personnel related and it is establishing the Arts Advisory Council or AAC. This is something that has been discussed for some time and the goal here was to bring an arts advisory body to the Village in a format similar to the other advisory councils. We have been very fortunate that for many years, former Mayor Ed Morgan has been a steward of the arts. His Scarsdale Arts Council has been an incredible advocate and supporter of arts in Scarsdale. The creation of the AAC would not be as easy without the work Ed and all those members and directors that Ed works with have done. We are fortunate that Ed has agreed to help this new council foster relationships with various local and regional arts organizations such as Arts Westchester. The AAC is anticipated to liaise with Ed’s group and be a conduit to this board. This Board will make appointments to the AAC in the near future. Upon motion entered by Trustee Arest, and seconded by Trustee Veron, the following resolution regarding the Establishment of the Arts Advisory Council was approved a unanimous vote: WHEREAS, art is intrinsic to community quality of life; and WHEREAS, a community where art and artists are valued, and where visual arts, Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 213 literary arts, performing arts, and multidisciplinary arts, collectively “the arts,” are integrated into the fabric of our public spaces, encourages contemplative and creative thought while also serving to activate dormant public spaces, thereby further enriching Scarsdale’s aesthetic appeal; and WHEREAS, developing and supporting policies, programs, and activities that promote the arts enhances and celebrates the social, economic, and cultural foundation of our community; and WHEREAS, realizing the community benefits of a thriving arts community requires thoughtful, deliberate advocacy for the arts, including recognizing, valuing, and promoting the contributions of artists, as well as increasing public awareness and appreciation for the importance of the arts; and WHEREAS, nationally recognized arts communities harness the expertise, energy, and commitment of appointed resident volunteers to help develop and guide initiatives that support a vibrant local arts culture; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that a permanent advisory council to the Village Board of Trustees titled the Arts Advisory Council is hereby established, comprised of seven members, inclusive of a chair, each appointed to serve a two- year term, with a two-term maximum, which may be waived by approval of the Village Board; and be it further RESOLVED, it is the Village Board’s intent in establishing this Council that it shall work in coordination with staff to support increased public awareness and appreciation for the arts, the integration of art into our public spaces, and to recognize and celebrate the achievements of our local arts community; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Purpose, Duties, and Membership of the Council are herein established in the Constitution of the Arts Advisory Council, attached hereto. AYES NAYS ABSENT Trustee Arest None None Trustee Callaghan Trustee Crandall Trustee Finger Trustee Ross Village Board of Trustees 03/26/2019 214 Trustee Veron Mayor Hochvert ****** Written Communications Deputy Village Clerk Regazzi reported that one communication has been received since the last regular Board of Trustees meeting. Please note that all written communications may be viewed on the Village’s website at www.scarsdale.com. • A letter from Carl H. Pforzheimer III regarding the draft Landmark Preservation Law. ******** Future Meeting Schedule • Tuesday, April 9, 2019 – 7:30 PM – Agenda Coordination Meeting – Trustees’ Room • Tuesday, April 9, 2019 – 8:00 PM - Village Board Meeting – Rutherford Hall ******** There being no further business to come before the Board, on a motion entered by Trustee Finger, seconded by Trustee Ross and carried unanimously, the meeting adjourned at 10:15 P.M. Donna M. Conkling Village Clerk