Written by Mary C. Marvin

Oct. 8, 2014:  As I walk in the village, many of you take a moment to ask me a question or discuss an issue. These one-on-one encounters are the most rewarding part of my job.

But I do know that if one resident has a question on a project or initiative, many more have the same. The following is a compilation of topics of interest and query since summer's end.

Parkway Road Bridge

Quite understandably, the status of the bridge repair is the most asked question, and after some frustrating months, I can report positive news.

Just this week, I met with Mayor Spano of Yonkers and Eastchester Town Supervisor Colavita and we finalized our financial commitments for undertaking the repairs.

As a result, the village has engaged an engineering firm and we expect a project schedule this week.

Kensington Road Development

Construction is finally ramping up after a sizable delay due to issues/coordination with United Water and the presence of an active water line that also runs under the Metro-North Railroad tracks.

Now that all utilities are on board, fencing and walls at the northern end of the property will be removed this week and the construction fencing will be extended.

As you might have noticed, heavy equipment is in place on the site in anticipation of pavement and soil removal slated to begin next week. Our village website has a two to three week calendar of the rollout of activities on the site should you need to anticipate any possible noise or vehicular disruptions.

Brick Walkways in the Business District

The "stamped brick" macadam will be redone on every current site. The delay was due to a bit of bad luck as we twice had to cancel due to rain.

Tree Trimming

You may have noticed the tree trimming service in the village business district the past few weekends, a disruption that wasn't ideal, but we took what we could vis-à-vis scheduling.

The tree trimming initiative is a result of a preliminary recommendation from our lighting consultants. They noticed that trees often shrouded our light poles, diminishing the illumination of our existing structures. Before we embark on our new lighting plan to upgrade light quality and increase efficiency, we are maximizing what we have as a benchmark or jumping off point.

Yellow Brick Road

Our engineers are in the process of constructing a project timetable for the refurbishment of the one stretch of Park Avenue. Working in conjunction with The Bronxville Historical Conservancy, we are sourcing historic recycled bricks that would work with the existing bricks so we can salvage some of our own as well. The first shipment we received did not meet our needs, so new samples have been ordered for review. We are coming upon the winter season, so worst case scenario if our sourcing is not successful in the coming weeks, the road would be the first capital project in the spring.

Garden Avenue Lot

As part of the flood mitigation component of the lot refurbishment, the water quality monitoring equipment was installed last week allowing us to measure the success of the new underground water chambers.

Water Flow on Pondfield Road

Much to the village's consternation, United Water did not address an active leak on Midland Avenue for over a week despite daily requests from the village, and, as I write, the repair seems only partial, as water is still flowing, though at a reduced rate.

From both a safety and environmental perspective, the delay was inexcusable.

Solicitation

The upcoming holiday season contributes to an increase in door-to-door solicitations as well as individuals on the sidewalks in the business district. Individuals selling goods cannot do so legally without first receiving a permit from the village. Do not hesitate to call the police department if the salesperson cannot produce his or her permit. Upon investigation, the police have found that some of the charities that were purported to benefit from our purchases were nonexistent. The First Amendment does protect all those "selling" an idea or cause, so groups such as the Jehovah's Witnesses or Greenpeace do not need permission to ring your bell. To limit this kind of visit, a small "No Solicitation" sign near the front door has proven effective.

Leaf Season

Leaf season begins on or about October 15 and ends on December 15, weather permitting. Crews circle the village as often as possible and they will be at your home at least four times during this period. Leaves should be placed curbside, but not in the street, so our vacuum truck can easily collect them. Leaves left in the street narrow the roadways and cause slippery conditions for vehicles and pedestrians as well as eventually migrating to catch basins impeding effective drainage. Yard waste such as branches or shrub trimmings cannot be comingled with the leaves, as these will clog the vacuum truck. They should be placed curbside in biodegradable bags.

I look forward to seeing you all on Pondfield Road.