By Staff

Sep. 12, 2018:  At the Village of Bronxville Board of Trustees Meeting on September 10, Mayor Mary Marvin provided an update on improvements in the village this summer, including $500,000 worth of paving, new islands, and improvements by Metro-North at the train station.   

Village Administrator Jim Palmer reported that Midland Avenue had been paved and thanked residents for their patience with the Con Ed pipes project. The village is also undertaking a comprehensive plan, and Mayor Marvin and the trustees are looking at the best ways to solicit input from key stakeholders and residents in the village. Marvin also reported that there are leases out for almost all of the empty stores and that if all goes well, almost all the stores could be occupied by the holidays. Trustee Mark Wood reported that the village had purchased the Avalon parking lot and is going to improve this space.

County legislator Gordon Burrows reported that two bridges in Bronxville are going to be rebuilt, the Palmer Road bridge and the bridge on Pondfield Road West over the Bronx River. Work on the Palmer Road bridge will start soon and is being funded by a $2.375 million bond. The bridge on Pondfield Road West will be replaced in the spring of 2019 at a total cost of $9 million.

Burrows also reported that a soccer field is being built on Scout Field and that work will start this fall.  There was some opposition to this field and Burrows said that they are trying to address these concerns.

Finally, Westchester County is currently projecting a deficit of $18.2 million for the year, but this could increase to $58 million because of the impact of a new union contract.

At the meeting, the fire inspector provided tips to avoid fires such as the one that occurred this summer in Midland Gardens, caused by an air conditioner that was plugged into a power strip. The fire inspector presented key fire safety tips:

• Do not plug large devices like air conditioners and microwaves into power strips because these strips are meant for small devices. If used for small devices, make sure they are “good ones” and will shut down if overloaded.

• Have smoke detectors in every bedroom, outside bedrooms, and on every floor. Make sure they are charged.

• If there is a fire, get outside, then call 911.

• Have carbon monoxide detectors.

• Do maintenance on heating systems before winter comes.

• Make sure Christmas trees are watered; check lights to make sure there are no frayed cords.

• Be careful with candles.

• Plan your escape; always plan two ways out.

• Cooking is the largest cause of home fires, accounting for 30 to 40%. If you have a grease fire, the best way to put it out is to turn off the burner and cover the pot.

Finally, also mentioned at the meeting were two upcoming events, the Be Well Event sponsored by NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital, which will take place on the front lawn of The Bronxville School on September 29, and the “Speeders” Art Show, which will take place starting September 23.

Pictured here: Bronxville Village Hall.

Photo by A. Warner