By Mary C. Marvin, Mayor of Bronxville
Dec. 21, 2016: As the end of the year swiftly approaches, it is timely to recap on many fronts.
Village Finances
Sales Tax: Our sales tax revenues are slightly lower than year-to-date. It will not have a budgetary impact because based on our prognostication of the trajectory of internet sales, we budgeted an even smaller revenue stream as compared to years' past.
Parking Revenues: Meter revenues are up both in lots and on street. This is a result of an uptick in use, which can only be a good omen for our businesses, as well as the extension of the meter time from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. We expect a further revenue boost when the Kensington garage comes online in the spring.
Ancillary Fixed Costs: We are already seeing an electrical savings as a result of the installation of the new energy-efficient LED lights in the business district.
Our diesel and unleaded fuel costs were even lower than projected, as was our liability insurance, as we aggressively renegotiated our premiums. The new lighting and the extended foot candles/visibility aided in the recalculation of premium numbers.
Building permit revenue was up, but essentially as a result of the Kensington Road and NYP/Lawrence Hospital projects. Going forward, we expect building permits to level off, as we are essentially built out as a community and will rely only on the less expansive improvement of existing structures.
The "bad news" items are the projected increase in health care premiums, estimated to be at least 7%, and most likely more, and the unrealistic rate-of-return percentage on the New York State Pension Fund, which will most probably not materialize, resulting in increased local contribution.
FEMA Flood Mitigation Project
A massive auger boring machine will be staged in the coming days to bore 20 feet below Midland Avenue and thread a steel casing through the soil. The depth is required to avoid compromising the existing labyrinth of utilities and stormwater mains. The project is on schedule, moving forward as planned, weather permitting.
Kensington Development
All of the concrete work, which was very intrusive to neighbors and traffic flow, has been completed. The contractor will work through the winter months as planned. The placement of new granite curbing is under way, and work is continuing on the interior of the parking garage, readying for a spring opening. The sidewalk will be laid in January if the weather cooperates.
Parking
Pay station kiosks that enable patrons to simply use their parking space number to purchase time are now available in the Garden Avenue lot. The three kiosks are conveniently located and accept coins, dollar bills, five dollar bills, and MasterCard and Visa. Patrons can also continue to use our pay-by-phone app PANGO if that is more convenient.
Leaf Pickup Going Forward
I opened the conversation by design just at the close of this season's cycle so we as villagers can have a deliberative discussion on the merits of mulching in place, collecting leaves in compostable bags, vacuum truck pick-up curbside, or a combination thereof.
A gardening lobbying group quickly descended on the village to refute the merits of everything but labor-intensive manual leaf removal.
Please be assured our conversation will include residents, village public works staff, and our local gardening companies, who serve us so loyally. I don't anticipate engaging the advice of any lobbying groups in our village decision-making.
Whatever we decide as a community, we do have to change the habit of depositing leaves in the public right-of-way. Their slipperiness and narrowing of the roadway have contributed to auto accidents, and when they are washed down the streets after a rainstorm, our sewers are clogged. We then spend far too much of your taxpayer dollars on cleaning out our storm sewer system solely because of leaf obstruction.
Business District Public Comment
Many of you responded with very helpful, constructive comments on the issue of maintaining the vitality of our business.
A sampling of the comments:
- Continue to discourage the large national chains or, in the alternative, bring in high-end or "anchor" ones.
- Take advantage of the burgeoning youth population to provide young child services/activities, including art studios, Gymboree, and children's music spaces.
- Make parking signage clearer and modernize meters to accept all varieties of payment.
- More vigilance both from the village and shop owners in keeping the streets and storefronts clean and attractive and sidewalks free of debris.
- Extend store hours into the evening to accommodate villagers who want to shop in town but never arrive home by a 5:00 pm close.
- Add a hardware store to the mix
On behalf of my fellow trustees and the village hall staff, I wish you happiness and family joy as you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah in the coming days.
Hymes & Associates, CPA, P.C.
Our firm provides outstanding service to our clients because of our dedication to the three underlying principles of professionalism, responsiveness, and quality.
Listed as one of the 10 largest firms by The Westchester Business Journal, we serve clients throughout the tri-state area. By combining our expertise, experience, and
the energy of our staff, each client receives close, personal and professional attention.
Our high standards, service, and specialized staff spell the difference between our outstanding performance and other firms. We make sure that every client
is served by the expertise of our whole firm.
Hymes & Associates, CPA, P.C.
55 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
914-961-1200
914-961-1715 (Fax)
Website: www.hymescpa.com
Baillie & Hershman
44 Pondfield Road, Suite - 12
Bronxville, N.Y. 10708
Office: 914-337-6300
Matthew W. Kerner, ESQ.
Direct Dial: 914-337-6569
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Fax: 914-337-6913
Suzanne M. Bloomer, Esq.
Direct Dial: 914-337-0142
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Baillie & Hershman provides comprehensive Real Estate legal services for buyers, sellers, current owners, real estate agents and lenders. We also handle estate planning, including the drafting of wills.
Griffin, Coogan, Sulzer & Horgan, P.C.
Attorneys and Counselors at Law
Griffin, Googan, Sulzer & Horgan, R.C.
Located in Bronxville, New York, Griffin, Coogan, Sulzer & Horgan, P.C. takes great pride in providing our clients with comprehensive, high quality legal services in a responsive manner. The firm concentrates its practice in real estate law with a primary focus on issues relating to real estate tax litigation (also known as tax certiorari), real estate transactions, valuation law, real property taxation and tax planning and real property tax exemption matters throughout New York State.
The firm serves as general counsel for several local cooperatives and represents clients in various issues relating to wills, trusts and estate planning.
51 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, NY 10708
(914) 961-1300
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Nobile, Magarian & DiSalvo LLP
We are hardworking and dedicated attorneys who, combined, have more than 150 years of experience delivering quality legal advice. Our cutting edge is our ability to enter both the conference room and the courtroom with strength. Our law firm provides legal representation and counsel for both individual and business clients on issues related to estate planning and administration, real estate law, litigation, and business law. Our practice areas include: Commercial Litigation, Business Law, Real Estate, Wills, Estate Planning, Trusts, Estate Administration, Living Wills, Health Care Proxies, Powers of Attorney, Not For Profits, and Employment Law.
111 Kraft Avenue
Bronxville, NY 10708
914-337-6300
Veneruso, Curto, Schwartz & Curto, LLP
Veneruso, Curto, Schwartz & Curto is dedicated to providing businesses and individuals with exceptional legal services customized to each client's needs and objectives. Practice areas include litigation, real estate, not for profit, wills and estate planning, land use and zoning, business and corporate, cooperative and condominium and real estate tax assessment litigation.
The Hudson Valley Bank Building
35 East Grassy Sprain Road, Suite 400
Yonkers, New York 10710
914-779-1100
Aegis Capital
Steve brings 40 years of investing experience to his role as Senior Managing Director at Aegis Capital Corp., a prominent national securities firm.
Allstate
Auto, Home, Business and Life Insurance
Exclusive Agents:
Debbie M. Stockton
George L. Petronella Jr.
108 Kraft Avenue
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-961-7200
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http://agent.allstate.com/DSTOCKTON2/Welcome/
John L. Vorbach Company, Inc. Insurance Brokers
Manhattan Media & Technology Center
65 Broadway, 9th Floor
New York, New York 10006
212-294-4900 x 112
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www.vorbach.com
MDIC Investment Company
Mutual Funds, Stocks & Bonds, Financial & Estate Planning, Investment & Advisory Services, Life & Health Insurance
Daniel S. Macdonald, Jr.
116 Kraft Avenue, Ste. 8
Bronxville, New York 10708
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www.mdicinc.com
Palmer-Tanno Agency, Inc.
Independent Insurance Agents since 1948
Greg Tanno
141 Parkway Road, Suite #11
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-793-6603
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Personal Risk Management Solutions
Focuses solely on personal insurance and
provides unique, customized solutions that save
money and time and create peace of mind.
Linda Graef Jones, Private Client Sales Executive
6 East 43rd Street
New York, New York 10017
914-645-3951
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Ranieri Insurance Agency
Auto, Home, Business & Life
Over 50 Years' Experience
Paul D. Ranieri, CPCU
457 Palmer Road
Yonkers, NY
914-376-2560
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The Rollins Agency, Inc.
Insurance and Risk Management Solutions
Since 1910
800 Westchester Ave. Suite N-311
Rye Brook, NY 10573
914-337-1833
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