Board of Trustees

Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 357 THREE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIFTH REGULAR MEETING Video Conference Via Zoom July 14, 2020 A Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Scarsdale was held on Tuesday, June 14, 2020 via video conference (Zoom) at 7:00 p.m. Present were Mayor Samwick and Trustees Arest, Crandall, Lewis, Ross, Veron, and Waldman. Also present were Village Manager Stephen Pappalardo, Assistant Village Manager Richards, Village Attorney Pozin, Deputy Village Attorney Garrison, Village Clerk Conkling, and Assistant to the Village Manager Katzin. ******** Minutes The minutes of the Regular Board of Trustees Meeting of Tuesday, June 23, 2020 were approved on a motion entered by Trustee Crandall, seconded by Trustee Arest and carried unanimously. ******** Bills & Payroll Trustee Arest reported that he had audited the Abstract of Claims dated July 14, 2020 in the amount of $1,761,890.68 which included $23,023.03 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 Arest and seconded by Trustee Crandall, the following resolution was adopted unanimously: RESOLVED, that the Abstract of Claims dated July 14, 2020 in the amount of $1,761,890.68 is hereby approved. Trustee Arest further reported that he had examined the payment of bills made in advance of a Board of Trustees audit totaling $742,989.61 which were found to be in order and he moved that such payments be ratified. Upon motion duly made by Trustee Arest and seconded by Trustee Crandall, the following resolution was adopted unanimously: Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 358 RESOLVED, that payment of claims made in advance of a Board of Trustees audit totaling $742,989.61 is hereby ratified. ******** Mayor’s Comments Mayor Samwick stated that “there are four items I would like to address this evening during Mayor’s comments: (i) traffic, bicycle and pedestrian safety, (ii) COVID safety measures, (iii) the next budget work session, and (iv) a Resolution on the agenda this evening to form an ad hoc Council to Combat Racism and Bias. Traffic, Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety: More Scarsdale residents are walking, running and cycling around the Village this summer. Please be alert and drive with caution. Please reserve sidewalks for pedestrians. Where there are not sidewalks, please walk, jog or run facing oncoming vehicles. When riding a bicycle, please ride in the roadway with traffic and obey all traffic signs and signals. The safety of our neighbors is in our hands. COVID Safety Measures: We have seen a significant uptick in positive COVID cases in many other states over the past few weeks. We have seen a more modest increase in positive cases in Scarsdale. The most recent reporting for the Village shows 6 residents are currently infected with the Coronavirus, up from a low reported total of one positive case about two weeks ago. Please note that this statistic represents positive COVID tests that have been reported over the past two weeks and is only one measure of the severity of COVID impact on our community. Another important measure of the disease is hospitalizations, which continue to fall. Also, note that there can be delays in the transmission of positive cases. Again, our safety is in our hands. The best way to remain safe and healthy and slow the spread of COVID-19 is to continue to follow CDC and the NYS Department of Health guidelines. Specifically:  Wear a mask.  Wash or sanitize your hands frequently.  Avoid touching your face.  Practice social distancing (6 feet). Please be sure to reinforce these messages to our children, teens and young adults. When you follow these guidelines, you show respect for your neighbors, and you help stop the spread of the virus. Let’s continue to pull together as a community to defeat this virus! Budget Work Session: Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 359 The Village Board will hold a work session at 6pm on August 11 th to review the fiscal year 2020-21 operating and capital budgets. This review will include an assessment of COVID-related budget impacts to date and the adequacy of budget planning and allocation that took place early in the pandemic. Please see future announcements from the Village or the Village website to obtain information on how to participate in this important Village Board work session via Zoom. Ad hoc Council to Combat Racism and Bias: Last month, there was a vigil in Chase Park to honor George Floyd. The speakers shared their very personal, painful experiences of racism in Scarsdale. This is not the Village many us believed that we are part of. This is not the Village we want to be. We hold ourselves to higher ideals with core beliefs that each of us deserve and demand fair and equal treatment. We strive to become a community that holds diversity, inclusion, and belonging as core ideals. As I wrote to the community shortly after the vigil, the Village Board and I have worked to form a Council to combat racism and bias. The Resolution to form the ad hoc Council to Combat Racism and Bias is on the Village Board agenda this evening. The Council’s mission is to: 1. Create an anti-racist and anti-biased environment in Scarsdale that encourages inclusion and a sense of belonging for all residents – an environment that recognizes the value that each individual brings to our community. 2. Focus on listening and engagement to identify areas of tension in the community (specifically, where and how residents are experiencing discrimination or bias). 3. Use the information gathered to construct actionable recommendations that may include, but is not limited to, educating the community, creating a safe and open place for the community to bring any race or bias issues to seek resolution, and other concrete recommendations that derive from the work of the ad hoc Council. The ad hoc Council’s members are diverse and include a majority of people of color and include representatives from Scarsdale Family Counseling, the School District, Board of Education, Village staff and the Village Board. The Council has had three organizational meetings and is meeting again tomorrow afternoon. While I remain dismayed by what I have learned recently about racism in Scarsdale, I am genuinely encouraged and optimistic about the enthusiasm and passion of the Council members and the work the Council is going to undertake. I am also encouraged by the outpouring of residents wishing to be involved in this important work. Please know that community outreach is a critical component of the Council’s mission and all are welcome to share their thoughts with the Council, via email, at listening sessions, educational and discussion opportunities and more. The email address for the Council is: I sincerely believe that we have the opportunity at this time to make lasting change. I recognize that perfection, namely true equality, may not be achievable, but I believe that we Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 360 can make Scarsdale a community where all are welcome, all are treated fairly and equally and all can feel that they belong.” ******** Manager’s Comments Village Manager Pappalardo stated that he also had some comments regarding a COVID-19 update: “It’s been roughly four months since Village Hall was closed due to the Coronavirus and like most of us, I’m reminded daily that it is still far from over. I’m reminded on the drive to work with the lighter traffic volumes and variable message display signs reminding motorists that wearing masks saves lives. I’m reminded when I don my mask upon arrival at work, and even more so when entering Village Hall where Health Screeners are checking-in the public and performing temperature checks. I’m reminded from the Plexiglas installed throughout the Village Hall in the public and staff spaces providing protection when 6 ft. of social distancing may be difficult. I’m reminded by the 6 ft. social distancing floor markers, the sign on the elevator limited passengers to one at a time, and the Purell hand sanitizing stations installed on each floor. I’m reminded when I review emails from residents, law firms, the County Health Department, County Executive’s Office and others, with the latest COVID-19 updates and interpretations, and I’m reminded on weekends at home while reading the newspapers and watching television, especially this weekend it was reported that 41 of the 52 states in the U.S. realized an increase in the number of positive COVID-19 tests and deaths. Unfortunately, this pandemic is far from over and Village staff continues to spend much of our time managing the crisis and navigating and modifying program deliveries, general operations and public outreach in new ways, in order to continue servicing the community under this new paradigm. I also know that many Scarsdale residents are equally anxious and through necessity, have made far-reaching modifications in their daily lives both professionally and personally. We are living in very uncertain times with quality of life changing decisions and there impacts often out of our control. We should remember, however, that first and foremost we are living in the midst of a pandemic, unlike anything most of us have witnessed before, during which our health and well-being is paramount. Based on everything the health officials have stated, from the onset of COVID-19 to present, the consistent self-health messaging has not changed: 1. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water; 2. Use hand sanitizer frequently; 3. Refrain from touching your mouth, nose, or eyes; 4. Maintain proper social distancing from others of a minimum of 6 ft.; 5. Wear a facemask or covering when 6 ft. of social distancing cannot be maintained. Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 361 I would suggest here tonight that as members of the Scarsdale community we all have an obligation to follow these basic health tenants, especially when out in public, as part of a greater social contract to care about everyone’s well-being. All indications are that we have a ways to go living under the COVID-19 umbrella. Let’s be safe and look out for ourselves, our families and each other. RECREATION That being said I’d like to talk about a pending Village event that will hopefully return some sense of normalcy this summer to Scarsdalians. That is the opening of the Scarsdale Pool Complex scheduled for this weekend. PRC Staff have been working diligently to ensure a safe and timely opening of the Complex on Saturday, July 18 and throughout the planned eight week season. As of today, July 14, The Recreation Department has sold a total of 361 permits with the family permit category accounting for over 80% of the permits sold. Residents interested in purchasing a 2020 pool permit may do so through our on-line program registration system on the Village website, or in person at Village Hall. Our offices are open Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm. Special Pool Operating Procedures for the 2020 season were established last week and distributed via the Civic-Rec Software Management System on Friday, July 10 and posted on the Village website on the Parks Recreation and Conservation Department webpage. We strongly recommend permit holders familiarize themselves with these procedures which differ from previous years on account of COVID-19. I can mention that after factoring all social distancing requirements, we should be able to handle the expected crowds safely and are not currently limiting patron attendance to certain scheduled blocks of time. Patrons will be free to come and go from the Complex during operating hours. Department staff will conduct health screenings on all patrons upon their arrival before access to the Complex is provided. Towel and Chair setups on the grounds must be a minimum of 6 ft. apart, and there are limitations to the number of swimmers in the pool lanes at any given time. The snack bar will be open as well with some modifications. A better understanding of these procedures should help to clarify the many questions residents have been asking, in order to make a more informed decision on purchasing a Pool permit for the season. Some other Recreation Program Updates: TENNIS Since last reported at the Village Board’s June 23rd meeting, the PRC has opened all 26 of the Village’s Tennis Courts for both singles and doubles play. Courts must be secured utilizing the PRC’s CivicRec software, with reservations available up to 24 hours in advance of the desired timeslot. Tennis players wishing to bring guests must pay for the guests online while reserving Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 362 their court time in an effort to eliminate money transactions at the courts between players and staff. As of today, the Recreation Department has sold 695 Adult permits, 488 Junior permits, and 80 Senior Citizen permits for the 2020 season. This represents a year to year increase in sales of 21% for the Adult permits, a 52% increase in Junior permits and a 17% decrease in Senior Citizen sales. ATHLETIC FIELDS & PLAYGROUNDS All athletic fields and playgrounds are currently open. Visitors should adhere to NYS applicable guidelines pertaining to social distancing and mask wearing when 6 feet social distancing cannot be maintained. Bathrooms remain closed at the Crossway, Supply, Hyatt, and H.S. Tennis and Brite Avenue Tennis locations. The Village is in the process of hiring a seasonal employee to clean and sanitize each of these bathroom facilities multiple times throughout the day, before reopening to the public. WEINBERG NATURE CENTER Weinberg Nature Center has offered virtual programming through ZOOM since May for special educational seminars and birthday parties. This programming has been very well received. (PRC collected $2,085 in revenue from these programs to date). The Village is in the process of establishing a reopening plan for the Weinberg Nature Center as well as the Girl Scout House with the goal of re-establishing programming at both locations in August. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING: With the cancellation of day camp this summer, the PRC has been seeking safe programming opportunities under the current COVID-19 environment. One such prospect currently offered is a 2-day a week camp style program through one of our vendors, Backyard Sports, for children grades Kindergarten through 5th. The program was planned for three weeks but unfortunately the first week was cancelled for lack of adequate enrollment. PRC Staff is optimistic that registrations will increase such that the remaining program sessions will occur. Future week long sports and specialty camps are also being offered during the month of August. Enrollment is ongoing with openings available. For more information, please visit the Parks Recreation and Conservation page of the Village website. POLICE DEPARTMENT – LARCENIES AND VEHICLE THEFTS Westchester County has experienced an alarming increase in the number of stolen vehicles and larcenies from vehicles since the beginning of the calendar year. There are a Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 363 number of groups operating independently which appear to be utilizing all major highways and parkways throughout the County to enter and exit the local communities. These groups are targeting unlocked, high-end vehicles which are often identified as being unlocked by observing the position of the side view mirrors. In many of the newer high-end vehicles, the side view mirrors remain in the driver’s position when unlocked and fold-in when locked. Specifically in Scarsdale, there have been 71 larcenies from vehicles to date in 2020 as opposed to 49 for the entire year in 2019. There have been 17 stolen vehicles to date as opposed to 1 in 2019. The Scarsdale Police Department has recovered 13 of the 17 stolen vehicles and have submitted DNA samples obtained from the vehicles for analysis through the Westchester County Lab. Through these recoveries and ongoing investigations the Police have determined that the groups originate out of Connecticut, New Jersey and the Bronx. There has not been a discernible time or date pattern or one specific target area or neighborhood within the Village. Once the vehicle is stolen, thieves quickly exit the Village and are back in their respective locales within 45 minutes. Scarsdale Police are working closely with the NYPD and have assisted in an arrest of one individual in possession of one of our stolen vehicles. We have also worked with the Yonkers PD in identifying a suspect who was in possession of another stolen vehicle. That individual will be charged for possession of stolen property. Additional arrests may be made upon the aforementioned DNA results. The Scarsdale Police Department is also participating in a Stolen Vehicle Task Force with the County Police and the majority of the other local police departments, in a coordinated effort through the County’s Real Time Crime Center. NYPD is also participating, as well as the FBI because of the Interstate travel component. Privately owned security video such as Ring, Nest, and others, throughout the County, confirms that the perpetrators are checking and entering vehicles with open doors, and passing on those that are locked. In Scarsdale 100% of the vehicles entered or stolen have been unlocked, and of these unlocked stolen vehicles, 100% had keys or key fobs in the vehicle. Based on this clear and indisputable data, it cannot be stressed enough, that as a preventative measure, homeowners should lock their vehicles when parked at home and never leave a set of keys or the key fob in the vehicle. This is the clearest and most effective way for Scarsdale residents to protect themselves from these vehicle thefts. In doing so, the Village of Scarsdale community as a whole should realize reductions in the numbers of vehicles entered and stolen. Please assist the Scarsdale Police Department in this manner Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 364 and remind your friends and neighbors to lock their vehicles as well. Together we can make a difference. Thank you.” ******** Public Comments Mayor Samwick opened the public comment portion of the meeting, which he stated will be subject to a 5 minute limit. He noted that Assistant to the Village Manager Aylone Katzin will be keeping track of the time limit – when you see the time clock shown on the screen, any one making comments at that time will probably have about 10 seconds or so remaining. Randy Whitestone, 94 Sprague Road, stated that he had a few brief comments. He stated that he appreciated the Mayor's comments and the Village Managers comments regarding traffic safety, and noted that the Heathcote Road sidewalk has been patched recently. He stated that he was very appreciative of that since he occasionally jogs along there, and he knows that others walk and jog along there as well. He stated that it has been patched a few times over the years, it's in very tough shape. He also noted that he thought if you take a step back and think about the big picture on traffic safety that the Village should think about a more strategic approach, rather than just patching. This would obviously involve a budgetary discussion, but he felt that everyone is committed to encouraging pedestrian activity. He encouraged a strategic approach to thinking about the sidewalks and pedestrian passageways in the Village. Secondly, Mr. Whitestone stated that he is encouraged by the formation of the Ad Hoc Council believes it's a time for listening and learning. He applauded the Mayor for what he said about that. It is a very important time to listen and learn and to try to understand how the Village can be more inclusive and encourage diversity. Mr. Whitestone spoke on the pool opening, stating that it is a good moment and he felt good about the progress that we've made, and knows the Village will be careful and observant as far as how that unfolds. He stated that some people have spoken to him about potentially adding early hours at the pool for those workers who are home and can get out early in the morning and do a swim before work. He thought that this is something the Village could consider if all goes well. Mr. Whitestone ended by stating that he applauds the scheduling of the budget session for August and looks forward to hearing more about the progress that has been made and understanding how the pandemic has impacted the Village budget. Robert Harrison, 65 Fox Meadow Road, stated that he wanted to thank the Village Manager for his presentation and comments on various areas. He stated that it is exciting to have 488 youth permits and it looks like the total number of tennis permits is 1,263. He stated that perhaps another letter can be sent to the Scarsdale Inquirer editor encouraging more parents and families to sign up for almost the only sports game in town. He thanked Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 365 the recreation department for doing a great job with tennis attendance around the Village. The young people are really doing a great job and earning some money this summer. Mr. Harrison continued, stated that there are things that we have to observe under the virus conditions. We’ve had 50 to 60 youths in our summer program and you have to be cognizant of keeping them six feet apart. There are many conditions and he stated that he has spoken with the recreation department about a safety plan. He stated that they will have to see how it goes and they might try to do something at the end of August and hold a tournament over a couple of days – this has yet to be determined. He stated that he heard that the baseball program has been cancelled for this summer, so we will have to do our best to see what we can do to keep our youth busy, and continue to urge families to buy tennis permits. He stated that for comparison, back in the 1990’s 2,700 permits were sold. Mr. Harrison stated that he was a little concerned about the newly formed Ad Hoc Council. He wasn’t sure if the Mayor stated that they have already have met and he asked if they going to meet in open sessions and will those sessions be announced so that people can come and listen to the discussion. He urged good open government good open discussions. He stated that there are a couple of people on the list of the Council where there is no street address shown and that he had mentioned this to one of the Trustees today, so perhaps that address can be filled in. When the resolution is presented this evening, perhaps the Mayor would mention any background of each of the people being appointed to the Council. He questioned whether or not the Personnel Committee was involved in the selection of members of this Ad Hoc Council; there was no indication that people should apply with a resume, which he stated is standard procedure for all the other councils of the Village. He asked for any comments on that would be appreciated. Mr. Harrison noted that he looks forward to the Board’s budget session in August. He stated that he received his Village tax payments in the mail with payment slips and two envelopes to return them. He stated that the residents have received a bonus in that they don’t have to make the first payment till August 22nd. He praised Robert Berg for being proactive in contacting Assemblywoman Amy Paulin back in early April and pressing to have this opportunity to pay Village taxes in two payments. Mayra Kirkendall-Rodriguez, Fox Meadow Road, thanked the Board for creating the Ad Hoc Council to combat racism and bias, and noted that she found the first two emails that Mayor Samwick and Trustee Veron sent incredibly comforting and very, very kind and appreciated that very much. However, she stated that for an Ad Hoc Council that is supposed to be inclusive, she found a sad irony that how this committee has been created is not is not inclusive at all. She stated that it was unfortunate that the objectives of this committee was never publicized ahead of Friday's agenda. She questioned who designed the objectives of this committee and why was there no press release inviting volunteers from the community. She also questioned why and how these members of the Ad Hoc Council were selected and who selected them, and whether they will they receive diversity and inclusion training. She asked how they be doing outreach to the community, and where can residents write if they want to volunteer to be on the Ad Hoc Committee. She also inquired as to where one can write if they actually have suggestions on ameliorating the bias ethnocentrism and racism that she states unfortunately exists in our Village and schools. Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 366 Ms. Kirkendall-Rodriguez thanked the members of this committee for accepting their selection. She noted that during her career and here in Scarsdale, she volunteered in numerous gender, diversity, multicultural, and inclusion organizations and committees, so she stated that she really looks forward to the kind of work this committee is going to do, and if they were to achieve one of the objectives in the resolution that she read on Friday, to nurture an equitable diverse and inclusive community to be achieved through deeds that not only encourage, but require an anti-racist and anti-bias citizenry and community. She noted some comments and questions that she has for the committee as they relate to Scarsdale and she looks forward to them being able to answer them. Ms. Kirkendall-Rodriguez asked whether they will be taking minutes in their meetings. She noted that they have already had three meetings. She asked how will residents will know what has transpired at those meetings, and will those meetings be open to the public? She asked if this committee will be looking at the Citizens Nominating Committee, the caucus for the Scarsdale Citizens’ Nonpartisan Party, which is not diverse and which has never ever selected a person of color for a Mayor or Trustee. She stated that the Village has never had people of color on the Board; and asked if future Boards, as well as the three Trustees that are selected in the next election receive any anti-racism and bias training. She also questioned if they will look at why Village Boards are not diverse and not inclusive. She noted that some are all Caucasian but that most have one, or perhaps two people of color. She stated that Scarsdale’s population is comprised of about 25% Asian, Hispanic, African American and mixed races. Lastly, she asked if they will be looking into how Village and School staff and personnel can be more diverse. Ms. Kirkendall-Rodriguez spoke to the Ad Hoc Committee members, stating that she looks forward to answers from them, noting that they can make history by affecting badly needed change in Scarsdale and she wished them the very best of luck. As there were no further comments, Mayor Samwick closed the public comment section of the meeting. Mayor Samwick addressed a few of the points that have come up during public comments. In regard to the formation of the Ad Hoc Council, he stated that the formation of any council requires difficult choices and this is certainly no exception. One of the primary objectives of this Council was to have a diversity of voices and that includes people on the Council, as well as the work of the Council. As he mentioned earlier, people of color represent the majority of council members, and the work that's going to be done is going to be inclusive. One of the main tenants of what the Council would like to do is to fully engage the community and to listen to make sure that people individually are heard. That involves some discussions that may not be open to the public, because people may not feel comfortable sharing everything in a public setting as they would in a more discreet setting. He stated that it will include written communication, potential programming discussions, and a number of different ways to engage the community as fully and completely as possible. Mayor Samwick stated that as the speakers during public comment mentioned, this is a very real opportunity. It's an opportunity to take a very candid and difficult look at who we are and how we're conducting ourselves, especially given what's going on in the world in the country, and certainly in our region. Within Scarsdale we really do believe that there is an Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 367 opportunity at this time to make substantive change, and that's really the goal. The goal is the fairness, the equitability, the diversity and a genuine sense of belonging, regardless of who you are. He stated that we want you to feel that you belong in this community and you are an active and engaged part of this community. ******** Trustee Liaison Reports Trustee Ross gave a brief update on the aftermath of last week's fire on Church Lane. He stated that it was reported that two firefighters sustained injuries that required medical attention. He stated that he was pleased to report that neither of those injuries were life threatening, and one of the injured firefighters was cleared to return to work today. The other firefighter will be back for light duty tomorrow, and is anticipated to be back to full duty next week. He stated that they are all relieved to hear of their recovery. ******** Trustee Veron stated that “Scarsdale is now in Phase 4 of the Governor’s reopening plan and we proceed with cautious optimism. There’s more activity in Scarsdale’s retail hubs as residents join together at a social distance to dine and shop. Here’s the update: 1. The Dine the ‘Dale tent in the Village Center continues to be enjoyed by residents and is actively used throughout the day. It is also available in the evening hours for patrons to enjoy family dinners. In addition to table service provided by Parkway and Yeomiji, twenty five other restaurants and food service providers will deliver to or provide take out for those who would like to dine in the tent. A listing of all participating restaurants is on signage at the tent located at Spencer Place and East Parkway. 2. The Village welcomed Rothman’s Faherty pop up mobile store last week in Boniface Circle. After’s Friday storm, consumers flocked to the pop up and enjoyed the summer vibe, creating great energy for the Village. 3. Boniface Circle Park has been spruced up. Thanks to a collaboration between the Forum’s Downtown Revitalization Committee led by Susan Douglass and Madelaine Epstein from Friends of the Scarsdale Parks, the park received its long overdue grooming, making it even more inviting for residents. 4. For those of you wishing to leave your cars at home, two more bike racks have been installed in the Village Center. We’ll continue to keep tabs on increased demand and plan accordingly. 5. As for increased parking capacity, consumers are invited to use Christie Place parking garage, access off East Parkway. Consumers can park up to 3 hours using the PANGO app 10599. Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 368 6. The biking and parking information will be particularly relevant the week of July 27 through August 2 during the sidewalk sale when Spencer Place, Boniface Circle and Harwood Court will be shut down in the Village Center for the entire week. This year, the Sidewalk Sale will extend beyond the Village Center inviting all retail hubs including the Golden Horseshoe, another beloved retail hub. There is so much merchandise to sell, food to eat, and services to partake in. Please remember masks are required as well as social distancing. 7. On Friday, July 31, from 6:30-8 pm, just as the sidewalk sale is closing up for that day, there will be a Chalk the ‘Dale event. Organized by SHS rising sophomores, Anna Feldstein and Katie Han, in conjunction with the SBA, the Chalk the ‘Dale event is designed to bring the community together to decorate the Village streets. Local restaurants will also be providing dinners and snacks, and the proceeds of the event will support the Scarsdale Business Alliance, the organization that has been working overtime on the nuts and bolts of reopening. Families can sign up at livethedale.wixsite.com. Again, masks and social distancing will be required. 8. At the Golden Horseshoe, twenty two of the twenty five stores are open, and Seven Woks has made outdoor dining accommodations in the parking lot. 9. For Scarsdale service businesses constrained by indoor space limitations, the Village has offered to permit access to parks and fields. Gyms, yoga classes and other service providers can contact Superintendent of Parks, Recreation and Conservation Brian Gray. As I transition from my business report to my library update, I want to highlight the confluence of both. In a wonderful collaborative effort among our Parks Recreation and Conservation Department, the Scarsdale Business Alliance, local volunteers and the Friends of the Scarsdale Library Drive, our first ever Drive-In Movie night was established. Scheduled for Wednesday, July 22, and already sold out, this event was made possible by the generosity of The Friends of the Scarsdale Library and flawlessly managed by the Recreation Department. Seventy-five carloads of Scarsdale residents will park at Crossway Field to watch Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. To round out the event, the SBA invited local restaurants to provide boxed dinners and snacks. Within 90 minutes of opening enrollment, nearly all of the 75 car slots were taken. Given the strong demand, we’d like to try to schedule another Drive-In movie event in the near future. Now for the library report. The Board met last night and has been actively preparing for reopening. The Board is reviewing policies and procedures and making plans for a fall soft opening, provided the Governor permits. In the interim,  Contactless pick up at the Loft continues with patrons availing themselves of the full Westchester public library system offerings. Outside pick up can be made by appointment. With the increase in demand, pickup hours have been expanded to 9am-4:30. Items will be checked out and left in a bag with your name on it.  The library has also expanded times for returns from Monday at 8 a.m. to Friday at 5:00 p.m. in marked bins outside the Loft. Items will be quarantined for 72 hours in Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 369 the bins before they are checked in, so will remain on your card for up to one week, and fines will be forgiven during that time.  Summer Blackout Bingo is underway for children, encouraging children to read and enjoy some fun activities. Once the Bingo card is completed, child and parent can take a photo of completed board and send to scakids@wlsmail.org for a gift card to Bronx River Books. Not only will this encourage our community to read some great books but it is also supporting a local business. The bingo card is available on the Library homepage.  Summer reading lists for children entering middle school also available on the Library website with links to how to reserve the book for pick up.  For adult readers, the Library staff selections and latest titles are available on the website for download or check out. If you need book recommendations, please reach out to the librarians through email, which is scaref@wlsmail.org.  A wide range of online family, adult and children programs are happening this month and you can see them on the homepage of the Library website. Some require registration.  Construction is moving well at 54 Olmsted with carpeting and painting and bathrooms being finished. Next month, furniture and shelving will start to be delivered. I had the privilege of receiving a tour of the library, and I was in awe. Since I’ve been deeply involved in this project from the beginning, I thought I knew what to expect. I was blown away - the library has been transformed in ways that defy proper description. Truly a tribute to the countless volunteer hours spent on every detail.” ******** Trustee Arest stated that he would like to add one quick thing to close the Trustee Veron’s report, stating that on a call today, they discussed the seniors in the community who are always on their mind, and thanked Trustee Crandall who forwarded them some information about the City of Yonkers and some things that they're working on for their senior residents, and it's definitely something that is being discussed with the Recreation Department and the Village Manager. He stated that the Girl Scout House was mentioned, of course, and hopefully that site will be coming back online soon. He stated that hopefully, there will be more to announce in the very near future on that. Trustee Veron thanked Trustee Arest, noting that he has been her partner on all of the Scarsdale reopening efforts, and added that Assistant Village Manager Richards has been instrumental in making sure that these things happen. She noted that they are doing it very swiftly. Mayor Samwick stated that he wanted to second what Trustee Veron just said about the work that's been done by Village staff, going beyond Assistant Village Manager Richards, Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 370 although she’s leading the charge and the work has been amazing - with the creativity, the flexibility, the diligence, and rapid responses, the Village is doing great with this and the work that is being put into it is greatly appreciated. ******** Mayor Samwick Upon motion entered by Mayor Samwick, and seconded by Trustee Crandall, the following resolution regarding the Ad Hoc Council to Combat Racism and Bias was approved by a unanimous vote: WHEREAS, Martin Luther King Jr. profoundly stated “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice”; and WHEREAS, Justice can be achieved with the assistance of many people bending the arc of the moral universe who have a genuine desire to live in a society that respects and seeks to include all inhabitants through understanding and education about our similarities and differences; and WHEREAS, Mayor Samwick and the Board of Trustees seek to combat racism and bias and their deleterious effects on society, including the senseless killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others, and local incidents of racism and bias, including disparaging comments made at a public Village Board meeting in March 2020, hate symbols that were found on School District property, a number of micro-aggressions as well as other unfortunate incidents, are among many events that provide the impetus for us all to aspire for social justice in Scarsdale, this nation and around the world, and WHEREAS, Mayor Samwick and the Board of Trustees strive for a more equitable and just society whereby all humankind is treated with respect and dignity and all Scarsdale residents feel that they are welcomed and belong to this community, and WHEREAS, Mayor Samwick and the Board of Trustees of the Village of Scarsdale is aware that nurturing an equitable, diverse and inclusive community has to be achieved through deeds that not only encourage, but require an antiracist and antibias citizenry and community; now therefore be it RESOLVED, that Mayor Samwick and the Village Board of Trustees, herby, formally establishes the Ad-Hoc Council to Combat Racism and Bias; with the following residents, school district officials, community leaders and village staff appointed as members: Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 371 Jennifer Fischman, Chair of the Advisory Council on Human Relations, Wildwood Road Christopher Jackson Chandra Nottage, Lockwood Road Piero Olcese, Brown Road Kelly Shang, Sherbrooke Road Karen Smith, Windmill Circle Purnima Srivastava, Myrtledale Road Lisa Tan, Webster Road Karen Ceske, Board of Education Edgar McIntosh, School District Jay Genova, Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Robert Cole, Deputy Village Manager, Staff Member Ingrid M. Richards, Assistant Village Manager, Staff Member and; be it further RESOLVED, that Village Board Trustee Rochelle Waldman shall serve as the liaison to the Council, and be it further RESOLVED, that Mayor Marc Samwick shall serve in an ex-officio capacity to the Council, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Ad- Hoc Council to Combat Racism and Bias is charged to address the following: 1. provide a safe place to convene community conversations about racism and bias; 2. identify events, episodes where racism, bias and discrimination exist and are encountered in the Scarsdale community; 3. educate the community about issues related to racism and bias, thereby ensuring that the community is cognizant of behaviors that may be racist and bias. This may be achieved through inviting leaders in the industry to convey useful information to the community and inviting local public officials to discuss policies and practices that demonstrate a diverse and inclusive environment; 4. explore and assist with the coordination of multi-cultural events to better educate and connect the residents toward creating and fostering a more empathetic community; 5. develop a report that documents the events, episodes where bias, racism and discrimination exist in the community and provide an actionable strategic plan that will ameliorate conscious and Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 372 unconscious bias, racism and discrimination within the Scarsdale community. ******** Trustee Arest Upon motion entered by Trustee Arest, and seconded by Trustee Crandall, the following resolution regarding Fiscal Year 2020-2021 General Fund Supplemental Appropriation and Transfer to Capital Budget for 2020-2021 Road Resurfacing was approved by the vote indicated below: WHEREAS, to protect its investments made in paving local roads, the Village of Scarsdale (Village) previously amended Village Code Chapter 256 relative to roadway restoration standards and specifications applicable to right-of-way openings, to include utility-related excavations, requiring said utility companies to restore and repave the disturbed roadway in a more complete curb-to-curb fashion, said roadway restoration work to be performed by either the utility directly or by the Village on a reimbursement basis, at the Village’s discretion; and WHEREAS, subsequent to extensive natural gas main replacement work performed by Consolidated Edison (Con Ed) during the Village’s 2019-2020 Fiscal Year, on Fox Meadow Road, Griffen and Grand Park Avenues, Dobbs Terrace, and Ridgecrest East, North and West, Village staff computed a payment from Con Ed in the amount of $498,621.12 for 2020-2021 roadway restoration and repaving work using pricing from the existing Village Road Resurfacing VM Contract; and WHEREAS, the roadway resurfacing work was completed in June 2020, with the Village receiving the Con Ed reimbursement of $498,621.12, and the revenue recorded as Miscellaneous General Fund Revenue (A-1000- 022-2770-0), to be transferred to the Capital Project Account for Road Repaving in the 2020-2021 budget; and WHEREAS, the recorded revenue in the amount of $498,621.12, in the Miscellaneous General Fund Revenue Account cannot be transferred to another expense account and will fall to General Fund Fund Balance at the close of FY 2020-2021 to appropriately replenish the Fund Balance; and WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 5-508(3) of New York State Village Law, a supplemental appropriation is now required; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the $498,621.12 from Consolidated Edison, New York, as reimbursement for Village road resurfacing work on various roads Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 373 disturbed by Con Ed during utility replacement activities, is herein appropriated as follows: From: General Fund Use of Fund Balance A 9999-9999-9999 $498,621 General Fund Transfer to Capital A 9990-TRNFR-TRNFR-950-9550-.0 $498,621 To: Capital Transfer from General Fund H 1000-030 5031-01 $498,621 Capital Project Road Resurfacing H 5197-963 2021-055 $498,621 AYES NAYS ABSENT Trustee Arest None None Trustee Crandall Trustee Lewis Trustee Ross Trustee Veron Trustee Waldman Mayor Samwick ******** Trustee Crandall Trustee Crandall stated that “before reading the next Resolution regarding a gift from the Friends of Scarsdale Parks, I would like to give credit to our excellent Village staff, Trustees Arest and Veron, Scarsdale Forum Downtown Revitalization Committee Chair Susan Douglass, and Friends of Scarsdale Parks members Betsy Bush and Madelaine Eppenstein. All of these people saw potential for the green area between the Harwood Building and Chase Park. They knew it could be more than a holiday scene or a place to remember our war heroes. They saw Boniface Circle as a place where people could safely visit with one another outdoors before shopping or dining in one of our local establishments. And, as I will now read, they found a way to make the area more inviting so that it will no longer be forgotten. Many thanks to all involved!” Upon motion entered by Trustee Crandall, and seconded by Trustee Veron, the following resolution regarding Acceptance of a Gift from the Friends of the Scarsdale Parks was approved by the vote indicated below: WHEREAS, Friends of the Scarsdale Parks, working collaboratively with the Scarsdale Forum Downtown Revitalization Committee, has offered to engage and pay for the services of a professional landscape design contractor to trim and treat designated park trees, remove dead wood, ivy and weeds, and seed new grass were needed at the Village owned Boniface Circle, so visitors and patrons of the Village Center may better enjoy this area with family and friends; and Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 374 WHEREAS, the cost for the landscaping contractual services is $2,825 as identified in the service agreement attached hereto and made a part hereof; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Policy #106 of the Village of Scarsdale Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual, entitled “Gifts to the Village of Scarsdale,” acceptance of all gifts valued at $500 or more must be approved by the Village Board of Trustees; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Village Board of Trustees hereby accepts the gift of professional landscape contracting services from Friends of the Scarsdale Parks to maintain and beautify the Village owned Boniface Circle for the use and enjoyment of Scarsdale residents and other Village Center patrons; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Village Board of Trustees hereby extends its heartfelt thanks to the Friends of the Scarsdale Parks for their generosity. AYES NAYS ABSENT Trustee Arest None None Trustee Crandall Trustee Lewis Trustee Ross Trustee Veron Trustee Waldman Mayor Samwick Before voting in favor of the resolution above, Trustee Arest gave a big thank you to the Forum and to the Friends of Scarsdale Parks and to everyone really involved. He stated that he thinks it's a wonderful improvement and noted that Trustee Crandall was very kind and had a very long list, but she didn't include herself, so he also thanked Trustee Crandall because she definitely was a force behind it. Mayor Samwick stated that he also wanted to thank everyone involved. The work that was done there was really great. ******** Trustee Lewis Before reading the following resolution, Trustee Lewis stated, “Before us tonight we have a historic document and a resolution for our consideration. This is the resolution regarding the 2020 Village Election. This document is historic because it represents the unexpected consequences of the pandemic. We know all too well the tragic impact this pandemic has on our economy, our livelihood, and the lives of loved ones who have fallen ill, or perished. Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 375 Our Democracy has been weakened by this pandemic. In many walks of life, from the private to the public sector, the pandemic has been largely used as a justifiable reason to depart from normal process and procedures. These changes are driven by a sincere desire to save lives, and there can be no doubt that in March when Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.04 postponing Village Elections to an undetermined date, that the safety of voters was first and foremost in his mind. Yet, it is undeniable that democracy is weakened when elections are not held. In the operating environment of a crisis, well intended changes can have unintended impacts on how government functions. In our own local government, before the crisis we used to hold open agenda meetings before our formal meeting. The public could watch the trustees discuss the agenda for that evening, in an unscripted fashion, before the start of the formal meeting. These open meetings were eliminated during the crisis. At times in recent months our agendas have been more limited in scope, and meetings shorter. Some trustees have requested more opportunities to discuss the budget and planning related to the uncertain future ahead of us. The budget work session announced by the Mayor tonight for August 11 is a positive step. Other topics are deserving of greater discussion and working sessions - including longer-term strategic planning. Complicating matters, the elimination of the Boards traditional committee structure, before the pandemic, has resulted in follow-up that has at times been ad hoc and this has been worsened by the crisis environment of the pandemic. We need to restore these processes and committee discussions, on matters like finance and investments, as we restore our democracy with September elections. I hope this resolution, which restores Village Elections, is the first step in a return to traditional process. I would encourage a return to more frequent work sessions, even if our meetings are longer. I would recommend a working session for us to reflect on these governance matters. We should reflect on what we have learned so our local government continues to evolve in a manner that meets the highest standards of our cherished non- partisan system.” Upon motion entered by Trustee Lewis, and seconded by Trustee Veron, the following resolution regarding the 2020 Village Election was approved by a unanimous vote: WHEREAS, on January 14, 2020, pursuant to Section 15-104 of the New York State Election Law, the Village Board adopted a resolution stating that the Village Election would be held on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.; and WHEREAS, on March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and concerns about spreading the virus through lack of ability to properly social distance at potentially crowded polling sites, New York State Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.04, postponing the Village Election to an undetermined date; and Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 376 WHEREAS, on March 31, 2020, the Governor issued Executive Order 202.13, postponing the Village Election until at least June 01, 2020, and subsequently issued Executive Order 202.26 dated May 01, 2020, establishing a new Village Election date of Tuesday, September 15, 2020; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that pursuant to Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 202.26, the Scarsdale Village Election shall be held on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.; and be it further RESOLVED, that the polling place for all Election Districts, #1 through #19, is the Scarsdale Congregational Church, 1 Heathcote Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583; and be it further RESOLVED, that qualified registered voters who reside within Westchester County may serve as Election Inspectors for the Village elections held in Scarsdale. ******** Trustee Ross Upon motion entered by Trustee Ross, and seconded by Trustee Crandall, the following resolution regarding Rejection of Bids for VM #1267 – Fire Apparatus Maintenance Services was approved by the vote indicated below: WHEREAS, the Village of Scarsdale Fire Department is committed to the protection and preservation of life, property, and the environment from the adverse effects of fire and hazardous conditions through fire prevention, education, suppression, and training; and WHEREAS, due to the mechanical and operational complexities of the Village Fire Department apparatuses, the Village contracts for certain repairs, service, and preventative maintenance work; and WHEREAS, the bid solicitation for VM #1267 – Fire Apparatus Maintenance Services, providing for the mechanical and operational maintenance of the Village Fire Department apparatuses, was published in the Scarsdale Inquirer and BidNet on May 12, 2020, and directly mailed to nine vendors; and WHEREAS, on the bid opening date of May 26, 2020, five sealed bids were received from Campbell Freightliner, Excelsior Garage & Machine Work, Hudson Valley Fire Equipment, Neville Fleet Service, and Premier Fire Apparatus; and Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 377 WHEREAS, a review of the bid submissions by the Fire Department and Legal Department resulted in finding the totality of bids unsuitable for determining the lowest responsible bid based on the Village’s Fire Department Apparatus needs, vis-à-vis the lack of sufficient award specificity in the bid specifications; and WHEREAS, Pursuant to §57-7 of the Scarsdale Village Code, the Village Manager recommends rejecting the bids for VM Contract #1267, revising the bid specification to better clarify the services requested and the basis for which the contract is awarded, and rebidding the work; now therefore be it RESOLVED, that the Village Board of Trustees, pursuant to Section 103 of the New York State General Municipal Law, hereby rejects all bids for VM Contract #1267 – Fire Apparatus Maintenance Services; and be it further RESOLVED, that the Village Manager is herein authorized to amend the bid specifications accordingly, re-advertise and re-bid these fire apparatus mechanical services in accordance with Scarsdale Village Code §57-7 and New York State General Municipal Law §103. AYES NAYS ABSENT Trustee Arest None None Trustee Crandall Trustee Lewis Trustee Ross Trustee Veron Trustee Waldman Mayor Samwick ******** Trustee Veron Upon motion entered by Trustee Veron, and seconded by Trustee Ross, the following resolution regarding Establishing Site Plan Review Fee for the 30 Popham Road Garage Project was approved by the vote indicated below: WHEREAS, an application from the Scarsdale Improvement Corporation has been submitted to the Planning Board for a proposed Parking Garage with 135 parking spaces, to be located at 30 Popham Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583, which will require Lot Merger (Subdivision) and Non- Residential Site Plan approvals; and WHEREAS, Village Code §A319-17 and the 2020-2021 Fees and Charges Schedule, adopted by the Village Board on February 25, 2020, establish various fees for certain land use applications; and Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 378 WHEREAS, the 2020-2021 Fees and Charges Schedule specifies an established fee of $1,500 for a Lot Merger (Subdivision); and WHEREAS, the 2020-2021 Fees and Charges Schedule specifies an established fee of $1,000 for Non-Residential Site Plan applications, plus $40 per parking space up to 25 proposed spaces, with projects exceeding 25 proposed parking spaces receiving a fee set via Village Board resolution; and WHEREAS, the Village Planner recommends a total Non-Residential Site Plan application fee of $6,400, inclusive of a $5,400 parking space fee for the proposed 135-space parking garage at a value of $40 per space, and the base fee of $1,000 for Non-Residential Site Plan application; and WHEREAS, the recommended $6,400 Site Plan review fee is in addition to the Lot Merger (Subdivision) fee of $1,500, combining for a total $7,900 application review fee for the 30 Popham Road Parking Garage Project; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Village Board of Trustees hereby establishes a fee of $6,400 for the Non-Residential Site Plan application of the 30 Popham Road Garage Proposal Project. AYES NAYS ABSENT Trustee Arest None None Trustee Crandall Trustee Lewis Trustee Ross Trustee Veron Trustee Waldman Mayor Samwick ******** Written Communications Village Clerk Conkling reported that no communications have been received since the last meeting of the Village Board. ******** There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 8:10 P.M. on a motion entered by Trustee Crandall, seconded by Trustee Ross, and carried by a unanimous vote. Village Board of Trustees Meeting 07/14/2020 379 Respectfully submitted, Donna M. Conkling Village Clerk