News Flash

Mayor’s Comments

Good evening, welcome to our first regular meeting of March. Before we begin, I want to recognize a few observances that are meaningful to many in our community, including a couple that have recently passed and several that are underway right now. Recently, many neighbors celebrated Purim, a joyful holiday in the Jewish community, and Holi, the Festival of Colors, celebrated by many in the Hindu community. March is also a month of important, month-long recognitions, including Women's History Month, honoring the contributions and achievements of women throughout our nation's history. March 8th was also International Women's Day. Irish American Heritage Month is celebrated this month, recognizing the legacy of Irish Americans and shaping our communities. For many residents, Ramadan is also underway. Ramadan is expected to continue through much of this month. To everyone observing, I want to again say Ramadan Mubarak and wish you a month of reflection, compassion, and peace. Looking ahead, Eid Al Fitr is expected around March 20th or 21st. Saint Patrick's Day is Tuesday, March 17th, and because the third Tuesday in March happens to be Saint Patrick's Day, election day automatically moves to Wednesday. March 18th is Village Election Day at the Library, from 6 am to 9 pm. Please vote. Scarsdale is strongest when we make room for one another's traditions and take the time to acknowledge what matters to our neighbors. 

Now to my budget comments. I also want to say a few words about the budget, but I don't really mean a few. New York State's property tax cap for us this year is approximately 3.65%

increase to the tax levy. But if you take the core cost drivers, we do not fully control – personnel costs, largely set by collective bargaining agreements, and benefits costs driven by pension obligations, and the insurance markets – those increases alone put us at roughly 5%. That is before we account for inflationary pressures across the rest of the budget, the everyday cost of serving residents, and the investments we still need to make in core infrastructure, facilities, and community resources. Only after that do we even get to the question of whether there are new or expanded services the community wants us to consider. That is a fundamental problem, because it means the only path to stay within the tax cap is to reduce services or defer important maintenance and improvements. And let's be clear, in municipal government, deferred maintenance is just a deferred tax increase with the promise of future higher costs. It is a bill we are passing to ourselves a few years down the road at a much higher price tag due to more repairs to be addressed, plus inflation, supply chain issues, and potential tariffs.

I will be candid. It pains me and my colleagues whenever we even have to contemplate a budget that exceeds the tax cap, not because the cap always reflects the real cost pressures municipalities face (it often doesn't), but because exceeding it still means a higher burden on all of us and our neighbors. As residents, Village taxes may only be about 20% of our total tax bills, but that does not make any increase feel smaller. We consistently do what we can to continue delivering the services that our residents expect, and in addition to continuing the high level of services, we also want to continue investing in our community. This is not about having the best of everything. It is about sustaining the quality and functionality of what makes Scarsdale work day-to-day. Think things like reliable infrastructure, well-maintained facilities, and community assets like our fields and playgrounds.

After tonight's work session, the tax levy we discussed in Scenario Four is expected to be approximately 5.8%. While the proposed increase is still a placeholder until the work is complete, and we expect this number to come down some, I want residents to understand why it is landing where it is and what we are doing about it.

As I noted, approximately five percentage points of this increase are driven by personnel expenses, including costs tied to labor agreements and payments into state retirement systems and other benefits. The remaining roughly 0.8 percentage points reflect other increases, such as inflationary pressures on supplies, materials, and programs, as well as investments we believe are important to the community. I want to now briefly discuss near-term budget discipline, medium-term structural work, and external partnerships and state advocacy.

Near-term Budget Discipline

First, I hope community members will watch our budget work sessions, including the one that just preceded this meeting. You will see that at least two of the scenarios presented, and in the scenario I believe we are moving forward with, staff and board members worked hard to find real ways to reduce the deficit. Just plugging a hole with property taxes is not an option for any of us. We are also continuing the work we do every year to find savings and hold the line where we can. In the proposed budget, our headcount is not increasing. In fact, the Village Manager has recommended a reduction in headcount by at least two part-time positions in the coming fiscal year, and after the scenarios are finalized, our unassigned fund balance is projected to be near the lower end of our 15% policy threshold. That is still a healthy position, but it reinforces why we need to be disciplined on both the spending and revenue sides of the budget.

Medium-term Structural Work 

Beyond this year's budget, we need to have a serious, holistic conversation with the community about services and structures. Previous boards have periodically examined potential service reductions or restructurings, and in most cases, the community has been clear. Residents value what the village provides and do not want those services reduced. That feedback matters, but at the same time, the added cost burdens we are all feeling make it responsible to revisit this analysis again – carefully, transparently, and with real options on the table. 

And I want to be very clear about something: we value our village staff deeply. We appreciate their professionalism, their dedication, and the work they do every day for our community. When we talk about controlling costs over time, we are not talking about layoffs or terminations. Any reductions we believe are possible or even hope to accomplish should be achieved through attrition, careful planning, and redesigning how work gets done, not by showing people the door.  But attrition only works if it is strategic. It cannot be a last-minute decision made only when a vacancy appears. It has to be part of a longer view. What do we want Village Hall and village staffing to look like five years from now? And how do we get there responsibly while maintaining core services? And if we are going to meaningfully reduce staff over time, the biggest driver will be decisions about what services we offer, how we offer them, and where shared or alternative approaches make sense. Technology helps, and we are investing in it because it can help us work smarter, improve service delivery, and reduce avoidable costs over time. But the hard look this year is not only at operations, it is at the services we deliver and the structure behind them, because that is where the real long-term savings and staffing flexibility will come from. 

External Partnerships and State Advocacy

We were also looking beyond our borders in two important ways. First, on shared services. Former Westchester County Executive George Latimer initiated work on a menu of services that could potentially be shared across municipalities throughout the county. Unfortunately, that work was never finalized. I have spoken with County Executive Ken Jenkins and expressed Scarsdale’s strong willingness to partner with him and his team to restart that effort, so we can explore opportunities to work more closely together and save money, not only for Scarsdale but for municipalities across Westchester County. 

Second, we are working with organizations, like the Westchester Municipal Officials Association and the New York Conference of Mayors, as well as with our elected representatives at the state level, to advocate for greater state support for local municipalities. This year, through sustained advocacy, we have seen small increases in state funding to local governments, and that is progress, but even with those improvements, it does not come close to keeping pace with the rising costs associated with pension obligations, health insurance, prevailing wage requirements, and other state mandates that continue to drive municipal budgets across New York. 

Over the past five years, more than a third of the growth in our expenses has come from employee benefit costs alone, including pensions and health insurance, much of which is driven by state systems, rather than decisions made by this board. And I think it's important to note that our total FTE count has not grown over the past five years. We will continue working with our partners and our elected officials to ensure the state understands the impact these costs have on communities like ours. None of this works without an honest partnership with the community. At the end of the day, these choices belong to all of Scarsdale. Our fiscal foundation is strong, and we intend to keep it that way. That is why it is also our responsibility to do the analysis, present real options, and make tough decisions when they are needed.

Thank you.

Manager’s Comments

You may notice that our Village website, scarsdale.gov, has a fresh new look! We've recently worked with our vendor civicplus to update our pages and menus to be more user friendly and visually appealing to the public. We even have new photographs on the home page that really highlight the beauty of the Village. Please check it out and let us know what you think.

I also wanted to mention that attached to the Manager's comments section of the agenda tonight is the draft Annual MS4 report prepared by Superintendent Coleman. This report is an annual requirement by the DEC which must be filed April 1^st and included on a Village Board agenda prior to filing. The attached report includes different categories and minimum standards for stormwater that are monitored and reported throughout the year.  I want to thank Superintendent Coleman, Village Engineer David Goessl, and our consultants who make sure we are always timely and comprehensive with this annual report. If there are any questions about the attached draft report, I am happy to share them with Superintendent Coleman so we can address them in our annual filing. If there are no questions on this topic, that will conclude my Manager's comments this evening.

Mayor's Comments 

This is a special evening because we have a guest who is not a stranger to anyone, but I will ask him to come speak at the end of my mayor's comments.

Before I turn to other matters, I want to take a moment to recognize the extraordinary work of our village staff during this week's storm. Eighteen inches of snow and sustained winds made for one of the more significant weather events we have seen in some time. I had the opportunity to visit with members of our highway crew as they worked around the clock, and I want to tell you what I saw. I saw dedicated professionals who never stopped working, never stopped moving, and they kept our roads passable for emergency vehicles throughout the storm. They plowed ahead for ambulances, and they are continuing to work through sidewalks, pathways, and crosswalks. The condition of our roads today is a testament to their efforts and skills. As I said to them yesterday, they have a bit of a public relations problem. They make it look easy. I assure you it is anything but, but we must not confuse competence, training, and efficiency with ease. My sincere thanks to Superintendent Coleman, Deputy Superintendent Seifert, and Highway Foreman Cipriano, and to every member of the team for another job exceptionally well done. This board and this community are grateful for you. And of course, as is always the case when Scarsdale faces a challenge, our police department, fire department, and ambulance corps were there keeping us safe. Thank you to each of them as well.

Immigration enforcement has weighed heavily on communities across the country for some time now, and Scarsdale is no exception. Recent events have brought those concerns into sharper focus, and tonight I want to speak directly to where this village stands.  Let me tell you what we have done and what we are doing. I want to start with something I said at the Stand Up, Stand Together Interfaith Rally on January 28th, because it speaks directly to what follows. I said that our Constitution does not say certain rights belong only to citizens. It says “persons”. And that everyone who lives here, works here, visits here, or simply passes through is entitled to constitutional protections envisioned by our founders. That principle is not abstract. It is reflected in the policy I am about to describe.  That order will be available on the Scarsdale.gov website tomorrow under SPD News on the department’s page.   Here is what that policy establishes, clearly and in writing:

• Scarsdale Police Officers do not stop, question, or detain individuals based solely on immigration status.
• We do not honor civil immigration detainers without a judicial warrant, meaning that the department will only honor a warrant signed by a federal judge, and will not honor an administrative document signed by an immigration official.
• We do not allow federal civil immigration authorities access to our facilities or to individuals in our custody for civil immigration enforcement without that same judicial warrant.
• We do not use village resources to build or assist any registry based on race, religion, ethnicity, or national origin 
• We do not delay release from custody because of immigration status.

These are not aspirations. This is how the Scarsdale Police Department has been conducting business for years, and our policies are being strengthened and memorialized. These orders govern how every officer in this village must act. The order reflects our values as a community as well as our commitment to following the law at every level. Everyone in this community can call on their police department without fear. That is not a political position. That is sound policing.  Our job, as a Village Board and your government, is to govern, and governing can at times mean more than local action. I had the opportunity to speak at length with Assembly Member Amy Paulin recently on this matter. She understands where I stand, where this board stands, and where this community stands in regard to proposed legislation at the state level, such as the Bivens Act and Sensitive Location Protection Act. She will continue to be a strong advocate for everyone in our community and will stay in close touch as this issue develops. I have also been in contact with a representative from Governor Hochul's office. In our conversation, I made clear the position of the village and asked to be updated on any developments. State Senator Shelley Mayer knows our position on this matter as well. We are in regular contact, and she hears from us directly. And I am pleased that Congressman George Latimer is with us tonight. George fights for this community every day, in Washington and right here in our district. He knows who we are. He knows what we believe. And there is no better person to have in our corner right now. That is how policy changes at higher levels of government, through consistent, direct engagement with the people who write the laws.  And I want to close by saying this: the residents who have shown up, written letters, and spoken at this podium did so because they care deeply about this community and about all of the people in it. That kind of civic engagement is not new to Scarsdale. This village has a long and proud tradition of residents who volunteer, advocate, and hold their government accountable. That tradition makes us stronger, and it is something to be celebrated. So does a police department that holds itself to the highest standards and a board that is committed to making sure our practices always reflect our values. That is Scarsdale at its best, and I will once again introduce someone who certainly does not need an introduction. Congressman, the floor is yours whenever you are ready.

Congressman Latimer's Report

Congressman Latimer thanked the mayor and board for the opportunity to speak and complimented the Village's handling of the recent snowstorm. He discussed the federal government's budget process and the partial shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security. Congressman Latimer explained the impact of the shutdown on various federal agencies, including FEMA, the Coast Guard, and TSA. He mentioned an upcoming roundtable discussion on tariffs and their impact on the business community. Congressman Latimer encouraged the Village to submit requests for federal funding for important projects and offered to assist the village in navigating the federal funding process and working with federal representatives.

Manager’s Comments

As we continue through this snowy winter and begin to see increased roadway wear, I wanted to highlight that New York State has a pothole reporting line, administered by the Department of Transportation. Residents are encouraged to report potholes on state roads by calling 1-800-POTHOLE (1-800-768-4653) or submitting a report online through the New York State DOT website. State roadways in our community include Route 22, Weaver Street, and Palmer Ave. Prompt reporting helps ensure repairs are made as quickly as possible and allows crews to prioritize areas experiencing the greatest impact. More information about this program will be in this week's edition of Scarsdale Official. 

Mayor’s Comments

Okay, before we begin, I want to recognize a few February observances that are meaningful to many in our community. February is Black History Month, a time to reflect on black history and celebrate the many contributions of Black Americans to our country. February is also American Heart Month, a reminder to focus on cardiovascular health and look out for one another. Looking ahead on the calendar:

• Valentine's Day is this Saturday, February 14 
• President's Day is Monday, February 16 
• The Lunar New Year begins on Tuesday, February 17. To everyone celebrating, I wish you a happy and healthy New Year. 
• Ramadan is expected to begin at sunset on Tuesday, February 17, with the first day of fasting on Wednesday, February 18. To everyone observing Ramadan Mubarak, wishing you a month of reflection, compassion, and peace. 
• Ash Wednesday is Wednesday, February 18, marking the start of Lent for many Christian residents

Scarsdale is strongest when we show respect for each other's traditions and take the time to learn from them. Thank you.

 Manager’s Comments

With the winter break coming up for many, I wanted to remind the community about the Dark House program through our Scarsdale Police Department. If you plan to be away, you can register to have the Police Department check on your home by contacting 914-722-1200.

I'd like to turn over the remainder of my time to Fire Chief Christopher Mytych with some important information on home heating safety for the winter.

Scarsdale Fire Chief Mytych's Report

Since the onset of freezing temperatures on January 24, the Fire Department has observed a 56% increase in emergency responses compared to the same period last year. Frost heave in soil and thermal contraction of underground metal pipes have resulted in a higher number of water main breaks and natural gas leaks. Inadequately insulated plumbing has also given rise to several water conditions in homes and businesses throughout the Village. 

Of greater consequence is the heavier burden placed on stationary and portable heating equipment during this cold spell. Heating is the second-leading cause of home fires, injuries, and fatalities. I humbly present the following home heating safety tips to carry us through the remainder of this winter season. 

• Never use your oven to heat your home as this increases the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning and burn injuries. 

• Heating equipment, fireplaces, and chimneys should be cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional to ensure proper function and venting. Malfunctioning or poorly vented fuel-burning appliances may introduce smoke or carbon monoxide to living spaces. 

• Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters, or central heating equipment according to State and Village codes, and manufacturer’s instructions. 

• Keep anything that can burn, including furniture, storage, children, and pets, at least three feet away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater. 

• We recognize that some residents may supplement central heating with portable electric space heaters. 

o Purchase a heater with the seal of a qualified testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek (ETL). 

o Choose a heater with a thermostat, overheat protection, and tip-over protection. 

o Plug portable space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Never use an extension cord. 

o Remember to turn portable space heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed. 

• Regarding the use of fireplaces, please consider the following. 

o Be certain the damper or flue is open before starting a fire. Keeping the damper or flue open until the fire is out will draw smoke out of the house. 

o Use dry and well-aged wood. Wet or green wood causes more smoke and contributes to soot buildup in the chimney. 

o Use a high-quality grate or fireplace and irons, which prevent logs from rolling out and help protect the firebox floor. 

o Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy metal, wire mesh, or heat-resistant glass screen to block embers and sparks from entering the living space. Last month, our members responded to a fire caused by embers that migrated between a gap in a mortar joint between the firebox and hearth during normal use of a fireplace. Though a screen was in place, a defect that developed over time allowed the fire to escape the confines of the fireplace. 

o Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Make sure it is completely out before going to bed or leaving the house. 

o Put ashes in a metal container with a lid. Place the container outside at least 10 feet from your home. This past Sunday, our members responded to a fire caused by ashes that had inadvertently been discarded in a combustible container inside the home. Though the fire burned through the adjacent floor system, the residents safely evacuated and called the Fire Department immediately upon detection. 

Before I close, I’d like to acknowledge the efforts of my staff, our career and volunteer firefighters, as well as our partners in public safety, Chief DelBene and David Raizen. I’d also like to thank Superintendents Coleman and Gonnella, and their staff. While we often associate a safe and reliable water supply with the conveniences of household hygiene, this system, coupled with Fire Department personnel and equipment, silently protects our residents 24 hours a day. 

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t remind our residents that the keys to a successful operation begin with those reporting the emergency. Early detection and early notification lead to early intervention by the Fire Department. Smoke and carbon monoxide will not wake you from your sleep. Please ensure that you have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home and call 911 to report all emergencies. 

I also encourage our residents to contact us by phone at (914) 722-1215, or by email at fire@scarsdale.gov, with any non-emergency questions or concerns. We are happy to offer complimentary home fire safety surveys as well.