Bronxville School Board Report: In-School Learning Commences; Budget Impacts of COVID-19

By Staff

Sep. 23, 2020: The Bronxville School Board of Education broadcast its September meeting over YouTube on September 17, 2020.

Bronxville School Superintendent, Dr. Roy Montesano, reported that the Bronxville School opened for in-person learning this week. Elementary and Middle School children are attending classes in school while high schoolers have a hybrid learning model, spending half of each day in school and half learning remotely.

There is temperature screening at each entrance, revamped classrooms with desks six feet apart, desk shields, and technology that enables teachers to broadcast the class live to those learning from home. All individuals in the building must wear masks at all times.

Dr. Montesano said that "things have gone really well, better than expected," and that the transformation of the school is "nothing short of a miracle."

One of the most visible signs of change to people driving by the school is the many students outside on the lawn taking classes and eating lunch.

Dr. Montesano reported that, since school opening, a few individuals had been tested for Covid, but to date, all tests have come back negative. He also said that the school must report this information to the New York State.

Bronxville School's Assistant Superintendent for Business, Dan Carlin, reported that there would likely be adverse budgetary impacts related to the Covid-19 pandemic and that the school is tightening its belt. Adverse impacts could include a $500,000 or 20% reduction in state aid (typically around $2.6 million a year), lower interest income, and additional Covid-related expenses primarily for cleaning. One offset to this is more non-resident tuition income, partially resulting from the enrollment of staff children at the Bronxville School. Carlin noted that the Bronxville School Foundation has been extremely helpful, particularly in providing funds to ready classrooms for remote learning.

Finally, Dr. Montensano said that the State had designated the Bronxville School a polling place on the November 3rd election. Voting will take place in the gym only. Montesano is recommending the school do fully remote learning on that day.

Pictured: The Bronxville School on September 22, 2020

Photo by Staff

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Photo of the Week & Events Coming Up

First day of in-school learning at Bronxville School Sept 14, 2020

Sep. 16, 2020: Below is information about upcoming events in and around Bronxville. If you would like to be included, please send event information to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

September 16, 2020: The Friends of the Bronxville Public Library will host a virtual author event via Zoom on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 7 PM.  Barbara Demick will discuss her new book, "Eat the Buddha: Life and Death in a Tibetan Town."  Register here, and you will be sent the Zoom link on the day of the event.  Click here to learn more.

September 17, 2020: Bronxville School Board of Education Meeting Broadcast on YouTube, 7 PM

September 30, 2020: The Friends of the Bronxville Public Library will host a virtual author event via Zoom on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 7 PM. best-selling author Fiona Davis will discuss her new book, "The Lions of Fifth Avenue."  Register here, and you will be sent the Zoom link on the day of the event. Click here to learn more

September: View September Calendar of Zoom Meetings by Gramatan Village. For program descriptions and to register for events, please call Gramatan Village at 914.337.1338 or visit www.gramatanvillage.org

Septembr & October: The Bronxville Library offers virtual events for kids, teens and adults.  Click here to learn more. 

October: Due to the continuing uncertainty of the COVID-19 situation, The Counseling Center is canceling its 2020 benefit, scheduled for October 17. They are instead hosting a lively, interactive online event in October with opportunities to support the work of The Counseling Center. Details will follow. A grand in-person 49/50th Anniversary Benefit with special honorees is scheduled for May 7, 2021, at the Bronxville Field Club.

October 6, 2020: The Community Fund Annual Golf Outing. For more information, contact Amy Korb, Executive Director, The Community Fund of Bronxville, Eastchester, and Tuckahoe at 914.337.8808.

October 13, 2020: Village of Bronxville Board of Trustees Meeting, 8 PM at Village Hall

November 3, 2020: Election Day

November 7, 2020: Take Back Day.  In the meantime, you can bring paper for shredding (up to four boxes), electronic waste, and other hazardous waste to the Household Materials Recovery Facility (H-MRF), 15 Woods Road, Valhalla. For details on what is accepted and to make an appointment, call 914-813-5400 or click here.

April 15, 2021: Senior Citizens Council 50th Anniversary Benefit 

May, 2021: Gramatan Village May Magic Event

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From The Mayor: Review of Bronxville Village Finances, Improvements & Capital Projects

Sep. 16, 2020: Welcome back to all the families who might have been away both for the summer and the COVID months. September feels like the start of the new year for Village government, so I wanted to give you an update as to where we are as to Village initiatives and how we have weathered these uncertain times in the past six months.

All Village staff have been back in the office since August though they had been working daily remotely since Day 1 of COVID. We made some additional improvements in Village Hall to meet COVID standards, including a new glass window across the main office counter. We have also added a computer at the front counter so that title searchers and real estate brokers can look up properties much easier. We are still limiting the amount of foot traffic to the upstairs offices as the space is quite small.

A Snapshot

Revenues

The good news is that building department activity has been very strong, and permit revenues are already at 38% of budget for the first three months of this fiscal year. However, our on-street parking revenues for the same period are only at 68% compared to last year’s numbers. The trend is upward as August revenues came in at 75% of budget. In a sign of progress, our Village court had the first in-person session last Wednesday. A plea by mail system for vehicle and traffic tickets has been instituted and is running smoothly.

On the parking front, the reserved 24-hour parking permit fee totals are under budget. Merchant permit renewals were mailed out in late August following a three-month extension of all existing permits. Commuter permits are normally mailed out mid-September for the permit year commencing October 1. However, given the current uncertainty due to COVID-19, we are providing a three-month extension on the commuter permits, which will make the existing permits valid through the end of the calendar year

Close Out of our 2019-2020 Budget

Our total fund balance as of May 31, 2020 stands at $9,207,000, representing 47% of the current 2020-2021 budget. This is due in large part to expenses coming in well below budget. Also, at fiscal year-end, the strong sales and mortgage tax revenue numbers offset the losses in parking and fine revenues. As a comparison, we need a fund balance of 15 to 20% of budget to retain our Village’s highest possible bond rating, so we stand in excellent financial shape.

New Improvements and Upgrades

Building department fees can now be paid online, and new building department software will soon enable building applications to be submitted online as well. We are also entering a new phase of scanning records for the building department, which will allow more permits and building certificates to be stored and searched via laser fiche.

Capital Projects

-The refurbishment of our Department of Public Works building continues on budget and on schedule.

-Tennis Courts - the replacements of courts four and five are now complete. 

-Stone wall repair on Pondfield Road near Locust Lane is completed.

-Metro-North Underpass -The median curb has been constructed, steel work is ongoing, and sidewalk and railing repair underway.

-Paving-currently scheduled for the week of September 14 on streets throughout the village; Pondfield Road from White Plains Road to Crampton Road, Dusenberry Road to White Plains Road, Sunnybrae Place from Sturgis Road to Pine Terrace. Additional paving is scheduled for Hemlock Road, Park Ave, and Tanglewylde Ave the following week.

-Speed displays - another digital speed indicator was installed on Avon Road at the intersection of Plateau Circle East heading westbound.

-Masterton Road at Midland Avenue intersection- improvements should be completed this fall. A new Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacon was already installed on the Bronxville School side of the new crosswalk.

-Striping - Per the recommendation in the Village’s recent Comprehensive Plan, the parking spaces in front of the Post Office on Pondfield Road between Tanglewylde and Meadow Avenues will become angle parking in the next few weeks. The result will almost double the number of spaces on the northerly side within this area.

-Charging stations - electric vehicle charging stations funded by a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority grant have been mounted in the Kensington Road garage and are available for use.

-Tropical storm -we incurred $20,000 in expenses associated with the August 4th storm, and an additional $5,000 in tree expenses is anticipated. Expenses have been submitted on the outside chance that we may be eligible for reimbursement from FEMA.

State Budget Update

We have been informed by the State Department of Environmental Facilities that our previously awarded state grants totaling over $700,000 for sanitary sewer repairs have now been placed on hold due to the state budget deficit.

The NYS and Local Retirement System also recently announced that employer contribution rates for the State’s next fiscal year will increase by double digits. This translates to $170,000 in additional budget expenses for the Village in 2021-22 (the equivalent of a 2% tax increase).

 

Pictured: Mary Marvin

Photo by A. Warner

 

Editor's note: As a public service, MyhometownBronxville publishes articles from local institutions, officeholders, and individuals. MyhometownBronxville does not fact-check statements therein, and any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the thinking of its staff.

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Bronxville Village Election Update

By Staff

Sep. 16, 2020: Yesterday, Bronxville residents had the opportunity to vote for three Village Trustees and one Village Justice.  

Below is the unofficial tally of election results posted on the Westchester Board of Elections website as of 10:30 am today.

In a call to the Westchester Board of Elections this morning, MyhometownBronxville was told that the unofficial tally below does not include absentee ballots, which are counted in a separate process.

Additionally, the unofficial tally does not include the results for the write-in candidate, Bill Fredericks. These ballots are also counted in a separate process. Bill Fredericks ran to fill the unexpired term of Mark Wood, who has moved out of the village. Since this is a recent development, Fredericks' name did not appear on the ballot, and he ran as a write-in candidate.

MyhometownBronxville will post updated results as they become available.

Unofficial Tally of Election Results for Village Justice (Pick 1)

Natasha Nordahl: 653 votes

George Mayer: 522 votes 

Unofficial Tally of Election Results for Village Trustees - Term 2 Years (Pick 2)

Mary Taylor Behrens: 772 votes

Helen Knapp: 600 votes

Unofficial Tally of Election Results for Village Trustee - Unexpired Term

Bill Fredericks: no results as yet

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Photo of the Week & Events Coming Up

Goodbye to Summer

Sep. 9, 2020: Below is information about upcoming and ongoing events. If you would like to be included, please send event information to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Upcoming Events

September 15, 2020:  Village of Bronxville Local Elections. Click here for more information.

September 16, 2020: The Friends of the Bronxville Public Library will host a virtual author event via Zoom on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 7 PM.  Barbara Demick will discuss her new book, "Eat the Buddha: Life and Death in a Tibetan Town."  Register here, and you will be sent the Zoom link on the day of the event.  Click here to learn more.

September 30, 2020: The Friends of the Bronxville Public Library will host a virtual author event via Zoom on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 7 PM. best-selling author Fiona Davis will discuss her new book, "The Lions of Fifth Avenue."  Register here, and you will be sent the Zoom link on the day of the event. Click here to learn more.

Events in Later Months

October: Due to the continuing uncertainty of the COVID-19 situation, The Counseling Center is canceling its 2020 benefit, scheduled for October 17. They are instead hosting a lively, interactive online event in October with opportunities to support the work of The Counseling Center. Details will follow. A grand in-person 49/50th Anniversary Benefit with special honorees is scheduled for May 7, 2021, at the Bronxville Field Club.

October 6, 2020: The Community Fund Annual Golf Outing. For more information, contact Amy Korb, Executive Director, The Community Fund of Bronxville, Eastchester, and Tuckahoe at 914.337.8808.

November 7, 2020: Take Back Day.  In the meantime, you can bring paper for shredding (up to four boxes), electronic waste, and other hazardous waste to the Household Materials Recovery Facility (H-MRF), 15 Woods Road, Valhalla. For details on what is accepted and to make an appointment, call 914-813-5400 or click here.

April 15, 2021: Senior Citizens Council 50th Anniversary Benefit 

May, 2021: Gramatan Village May Magic Event

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