Written by Carol P. Bartold

Feb. 4, 2015: Rene Atayan, chair of the Bronxville Village Republican Committee, has announced that incumbents Mayor Mary Marvin, Deputy Mayor Robert Underhill, and trustee Randolph Mayer, who was named to complete Donald Gray's term, will be the party's candidates for the March 17 village election.

Betsy Harding, chair of the Bronxville Village Democratic Committee, noted that the party did not nominate any candidates for the March election.

"Managing and governing municipalities, particularly in states like New York, has become increasingly complex," Atayan stated. "We have three very thoughtful individuals willing and, we feel, able to take on the challenge."

Mayor Mary Marvin points to fiscal responsibility, watching the budget, and spending wisely as the board of trustees' key achievements over her most recent two-year term. "We're down to running on 18 cents [per dollar] of the total village and school tax dollars," she pointed out, "and we've managed to keep a high level of services to residents."

Marvin also noted that, every year, "crushing mandates" from Albany demand more of those 18 cents from each tax dollar collected. Despite increasing demands, she said, the village has managed to maintain its fund balance at approximately 20 percent of its operating budget. Bronxville's attention to its fund balance, the excess of assets over liabilities, has again earned the village a top Aaa bond rating. It is an indication of the village's strong financial health and outlook.

"We are in a world of unprecedented projects," Marvin said. "Everybody is in 'go' mode at this point." With the Kensington Road development in progress and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Midland Valley Drainage Project soon to begin, Marvin looks forward to completion of repairs on the Parkway Road bridge, updating village lighting, repairing the yellow brick road, and offering electronic options to pay for parking.

Remaining challenges, Marvin said, include finding the right candidate for the Department of Public Works (DPW) superintendent position.

Deputy Mayor Robert Underhill highlighted the exhaustive and successful search and hiring process that brought village administrator Jim Palmer and village treasurer Lori Voss to Bronxville after the back-to-back retirements of Harry Porr and Bob Fels. "We have put in place an outstanding team," Underhill stated.

Underhill points to the Kensington Road development as another board of trustees achievement over the last two years. "Kensington is moving forward after decades of effort," he said. "We completed due diligence on the prospective developers and have entered a contract with a first-rate team."

Over the next two years, Underhill said, he hopes the village can "complete what we started," including the Kensington Road development, completion of construction at NewYork-Presbyterian/Lawrence Hospital, and the FEMA flood mitigation project.

Underhill feels that completing the Kensington project, working to alleviate parking issues in the village, upgrading street lighting in the downtown area, and hiring a new DPW superintendent present ongoing challenges for the trustees in the upcoming two years.

While achievement of the top bond rating is significant, Underhill realizes that operating under the 2 percent tax cap will make that success an ongoing challenge for the trustees in maintaining a strong fiscal position.

Noting that he has come to the job of trustee very recently, Randy Mayer believes that village government must remain responsive to residents' needs and focus on efficiency in dealing with the basic services of public safety, sanitation, and care for the physical environment.

"I realize now that dedicated people are thinking about these things all the time so the average citizen does not have to," Mayer said.

Mayer agrees with his fellow candidates that the tax cap legislation presents a continuing challenge. "It was intended to," he stated. "Nonetheless, we need to do the best we can with the hand we are dealt."

Mayer believes that Bronxville cannot survive and prosper if the village is not affordable for young families. "We have a responsibility to control whatever costs we can," he said

Over the next two years, Mayer said, he would like to see the village's business district realize its full potential. He noted that the empty stores create an atmosphere of decline that is not optimal. However, he said, he does see that new businesses, in touch with current needs, have opened in Bronxville.

"We have major projects under way, all necessary for the long-term betterment of the village," said Rene Atayan. "We feel this slate, along with the rest of the board of trustees and the many subcommittees serving the village, can deal positively and productively with those challenges."

Pictured here (rotating): Village candidates Mary Marvin, Robert Underhill, and Randy Mayer.

Photos by N. Bower