Resident Queries Village Role in
County Affordable Housing Settlement
By Stephen E. Lipken
During Public Comment at the Monday, January 11 Bronxville Board of Trustees meeting, chaired by Deputy Mayor Glenn D. Bellitto, resident James P. Kroulas inquired about the Village’s role in the County Affordable Housing Settlement.
“Didn’t we have to meet the requirements based on the 2000 Census, with three percent African-American and ten percent Hispanic dwellings, or four units? And how is the new administration handling the situation,” Kroulas asked.
Village Attorney James Staudt replied that the settlement was enacted prior to the November election. “The plans were submitted to the plaintiff and County does not require the Village to do anything. Their incentive is to withhold grants. Bronxville was not party to the settlement.”
“Can the County sue our municipality,” Kroulas continued. Staudt answered that the County does not intend to sue and that further information will come from a series of meetings that he will attend, including one on Wednesday, January 13.
At the beginning of the meeting, Bellitto stated, “Our hearts go out to the family of Mihako Fukuzawa, 15 who died just two days before Christmas on December 23.
“Now is the time when the warmth of the December celebrations yield to the cold reality of January,” Bellitto observed, reporting that he attended the inauguration of Eastchester Town Supervisor Anthony S. Colavita on Tuesday, January 5.
“We have an excellent relationship with Eastchester and Tuckahoe. We jointly purchase street pavement, enforce Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) violations and participate annually in Green Day at Eastchester Town Hall,” Bellitto noted.
To corroborate DWI, drug and alcohol-related crime enforcement, the Board unanimously passed a Resolution renewing the Bronxville Eastchester Scarsdale Tuckahoe Alcohol and Drug Enforcement Task Force (B.E.S.T.A.D.E.), an Inter-Municipal Agreement.
In the Deputy Mayor’s Report, Bellitto said that there were 6 misdemeanor arrests in December, mostly vehicle thefts out of driveways. He cautioned citizens to lock their cars and set alarms. Detective Richard Anderson, Police Officers Nicholas De Young and Brenton Dorre were cited for the highest number of arrests in 2009.
Parking revenues were $7,000 higher than 2008, but $8,864.71 less than the budget, $47,582.24 versus $56,446.95, due to less parking tickets.
Concerning the Trustee Reports, Robert S. Underhill mentioned that the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the WCI/Kensington Road project has been sent out; deadline is February 1st.
Trustee Anne W. Poorman conveyed the good news that the Library continues to draw patrons in spite of reduced hours due to budget cuts. The Friends of the Bronxville Library, using the wish list posted at Womrath Bookstore, donated over 100 books.
Bronxville Trustee William H. Barton, Jr., reporting on the Village Budget for six months ending November 30, 2009 remarked that revenues are 51.5 percent above last year; expenditures are 46.7 percent below budget.
Resolution was passed approving the Village Election for Tuesday, March 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with Trustees Barton, Poorman and Village Justice George McKinnis standing for re-election.
© Shoreline Publishing 2010
629 Fifth Avenue, Suite 213, Pelham, NY 10803
Phone: 914-738-7869 Fax 914-738-7876
http://www.shorelinepub.com
prod@shorelinepub.com
