Maplewood Walk-Through Provides No Answers For Neighbors - Only Developer

Yes, it was a beautiful day. Sadly, the people that were in attendance truly believed that they were being part of an honest appraisal of the property sought to be purchased by the developers. They went there honestly thinking that they were going to experience an open dialogue with the Planning Board and the developer for the Maplewood assisted living facility. What they learned however, was that this was probably a well coordinated effort between the developer and the planning board to benefit the developer by learning, before a hearing, what the issues were of the surrounding community. You see, these residents have not had to deal with Town Hall or a developer before, so they went there with open and honest questions, but did not receive the same in return.

What they did receive was an opening salvo letter from Walter Simon, the chair of the planning board, prior to the meeting, instructing them of what they could and could not do during the walk-through. Equally disappointing was that not all of the Planning Board members were in attendance with this event being scheduled specifically for them. It begs the question why were they not there?* And what would be the purpose of having a walk-through with the public if the walk-through was for the benefit of the Planning Board and not the public? Could it be that this was simply smoke and mirrors and designed specifically for the Planning Board to provide the developer a way of finding out what all the neighbors’ issues are and have prepared answers before they make their pitch to the Planning Board or the Town Board?

Putting traffic aside momentarily, and it's difficult to ignore traffic because it is such a rampant problem throughout our town, another issue that is significant throughout the town is flooding. We’re now seeing flooding even during normal rain events. Claims that we are starting to see 500 year storms on a regular basis are being proven out more and more throughout the Town and yet the flooding issue is routinely ignored by the Town. This has a significant impact on how every roadway, general and rush-hour travel and traffic flow are affected. When the Bronx River corridor experiences flooding, it backs up into many of our neighborhoods as well as effecting Central Avenue. In fact Mr. Feiner and his Town Board recently purchased and demolished two houses for a cost of $400,000 to try to increase the space near the four corners and create a right hand turning lane to alleviate a little bit of the increased traffic congestion going from West Hartsdale Avenue onto Central Park Avenue southbound.

So if we can put traffic and flooding aside, what other issues will impact this neighborhood with this project? The Maplewood property where the assisted living facility will be placed must be excavated and leveled so that the building, which we were told will be three stories, can be built. This includes blasting and multiple pieces of construction equipment and worker vehicles for that and grading of the site. Many of the homes in the area are extremely old, some having been built in the mid 1800’s. Those homeowners are concerned that blasting will not only disrupt their lives but damage their homes. Mr Simon referenced the Town’s blasting laws to allay any concerns. However, we know from experience that these laws and the insurance company’s resistance to pay from technicalities will leave these homeowners in the lurch should their homes incur damage just as has happened throughout the Town in the past.

This project reminds us of an individual who goes house shopping looking for a new home. As you start look at homes, you find something you like about one and dislike about another. As you go around and you see what you do like you slowly begin to make your decision as to what to purchase. If you believe there is something about a particular home that you disliked and can't change it, you have to weigh the pros and cons and make a decision about whether to proceed or not. Sometimes it means walking away. This project is dependent on getting approvals from the town and all of its boards, and once they get those, the sale transaction will be made. This project, as almost all of the assisted living facilities in the Town, is too big for the property and the surrounding area and should be denied!

They claim the staff-to-patient ratio is 1 to 8 and there would be 26 to 28 staff on duty for a day shift. They claim that some of the staff might live in the neighborhood. While that's doubtful, anything is possible. They state there would be 15 to 20 people on the night shift and 12 people on the overnight shift. The traffic argument from the developer is that these people will not all be driving cars, will be using public transportation and shuttles to get to and from work – not affecting traffic much at all. They’ll also say that the residents won’t drive but they won’t mention their families and friends coming to visit them. Again, exacerbating the impact on traffic. The flooding issue will be addressed with water basin collectors. They don’t say what happens to the rest of the water when these basins are full. But, we know. DOT hasn’t weighed in on anything with Central Avenue and probably won’t. So traffic, water, right hand turns and everything else affecting this project will go unchallenged.

We believe Mr Feiner has already met with the developer as he does with all developers. He would have given them a few lame conditions to meet with the public and indicated that this project would get his approval once the Town Board becomes the lead agency. We also believe this to be a done deal, especially if the residents don’t get more vociferous with their protests and highlighted by the fact that he wasn’t at the walk-through. By the way, a requirement to build a sidewalk in front of the property will be enforced and Mr. Feiner will take credit for having a sidewalk (to nowhere) built on West Hartsdale Avenue. 

It’s these kinds of contradictions and lack of support from the town for its existing residents and taxpayers that make projects like this so frustrating and ultimately unwelcome. Greenburgh is changing as we become the assisted living capital of NY, where current Greenburgh residents cannot afford to move into the facilities once constructed. These projects, forcibly shoehorned onto inappropriately small pieces of properties need to stop. It’ll make for A Better Greenburgh.
* Planning Board member Hugh Schwartz was recovering from surgery.

Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr

The Year In Review Part 2

Each year Mr Feiner publishes his accomplishments for the year on various Feiner-friendly websites, sends out numerous email blasts and snail-mail mailings (the latter at a significant cost to the tax-payer). Coincidentally, we publish the “rest of the story” to quote the late Paul Harvey, as Mr Feiner, convicted of lying under oath in the Fortress Bible Church Federal discrimination case, can’t always be relied upon to present accurate and transparent information. Here’s Part 2 of our year in review. This year, Mr Feiner has changed his Accomplishment List to a Highlights List. Staffers have thrown around numerous thoughts as to why the change. Because short of slowing down the Edgemont community’s incorporation efforts, there haven’t really been many new accomplishments. Mr Feiner’s info is in blue, ours in black.

DISABLED

Metro North announcing plans to build elevator at Hartsdale train station- work to start in 2020. 

Whether or not MTA builds an elevator at any of their locations or not is totally up to them. While we’d prefer every site have everything it needs, this is an entity that usually asks for rate increases right after getting rate increases and cannot manage the money they have.

Reactivating disabled advisory committee. Why was this ever discontinued?

RECREATION- CRICKET!

Greenburgh opened up Westchester County's first cricket field at Richard Presser Park in Hartsdale.  Encouraging the county and other municipalities to recognize how much people love cricket. 

Hard to get excited about this when pedestrians are being struck at an alarming rate; our roads are in such disrepair; flooding is being ignored and traffic congestion is out of control as Mr Feiner and his Board green-light massive construction projects without accommodating any changes in our infrastructure.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The abandoned WESTHELP[sic] homeless shelter is now being renovated for affordable senior housing. It's exciting to see the WESTHELP [sic] parking lot fill [sic] of cars--contractors doing the renovations.  The affordable senior housing will open up in 2021. 

Wow! This condition was CREATED by Mr Feiner and his Board when they ignored repeated attempts by the County to renew the contract for WestHelp. He instructed Town employees to leave the facility open and unoccupied so as to condemn it and force it to be torn down by the County to build a new school for a handicapped school in Yonkers. The facility was supposed to be transitioned into a senior living facility. It's a shame that he is taking credit for a horrendous condition that needn't have happened. So he forfeited with a nod from his Board a guaranteed contract promising $1.2 million dollars a year for the Town.

NEW POLICE CHIEF AND COUNCILPERSON TRANSITIONS

A smooth transition of Police Chiefs--Brian Ryan is our new Chief, replacing Chris McNerney who now is Chief Investigator for the DA. 

We wish Chief Ryan well and thank Chief McNerney for his hard work.

EDGEMONT

NY Court of Appeals upheld my interpretation of Edgemont incorporation petition. Appellate division had previously found that the petition for incorporation did not comply with statute requirements. A second petition was filed. I found that the 2nd petition also did not comply with the statute. Those who filed the petition have filed a lawsuit which is pending. 

Mr Feiner’s sole responsibility is to sign off on the petition. He didn’t do that. He decided, along with Councilman Jones, to politicize the issue, publicly saying that they didn’t want it and would not work with the Village of Edgemont should the referendum pass – which would ensure the Unincorporated budget not lose as much money as it might. They are supposed to remain neutral. HE hired people who hired more people to dupe Edgemont residents into signing another petition to negate their original petition signature. But in Greenburgh, ethically challenged politicos never have their feet held to the fire, lose their jobs or go to jail. They just get re-elected. Shame on them.

POLICE AND COURTS

A shooting at an Ardsley Motel resulted in no fatalities of innocent bystanders or police. Our SWAT team responded quickly, a Greenburgh police officer who was shot at was wearing a bullet proof vest and is OK. Highlights the importance of being trained and prepared. 

A suspect in an FBI raid was killed and two SWAT Team officers were injured during the shootout at the Ardsley Acres motel. The FBI said members of the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force were at the motel assisting the FBI New Haven (Connecticut) Safe Streets Task Force. One of the SWAT Team officers who was shot, a Greenburgh police sergeant, was saved by his bulletproof vest. The other injured officer, a Dobbs Ferry sergeant, may have been struck by a ricochet. They were treated at a hospital and released.

We have saved over 12 million dollars so when we sell the current court house/police we won't have to borrow as much --enabling us to address infrastructure in an affordable manner. 

We had a hard time deciphering this sentence as we haven't saved anything until the building is remediated, which is almost a guaranteed necessity due to its age, and then sold. We think he meant that $12 million was put in a reserve fund from money already collected from taxpayers. But the $49 million dollar bond (or $37million) will still negatively impact the Unincorporated residents. Once the Greenburgh School Board puts their new bond up, it will be a double-whammy against the taxpayers.

Town hired CBRE and Lothrup to help us review real estate options and design. We hope to present the community with a proposed plan for the court house and police station in 2020. And, will be conducting tours of our existing facilities and community meetings before we finalize any decision. 

This is Feiner-speak for, “We’re moving forward with the construction bond for a new police station and courts, regardless. Rather than legally follow the process, we'll be doing what we want by getting everything in place.”

NYS STARTED TO REPAVE SAW MILL RIVER ROAD IN ARDSLEY

NYS started repaving Saw Mill River Road in Ardsley –a road fill of potholes. Work to be completed next year. 36 student interns had lobbied for the road repaving in 2018. NYS promised to repave Hillside Ave but the company went under so there were delays with the project. The state did start some sidewalk, drainage work and will complete the road repaving in 2021. 

Funny, the Village of Ardsley gets what the Village of Ardsley wants because their Mayor and Village Board actively petition other governmental branches when there is something they seek, such as sidewalks. While the Town relies on interns to do the heavy lifting, the public still mistakenly believes Mr Feiner and his Board are doing this. Just look behind the curtain periodically and you'll be very surprised and dismayed. As a side note, every time there is something close to home for the Supervisor or his Board, things get done. This time benefitting Mr Feiner and Ms Juettner.

RECYCLING and food scraps

We increased recycling of paper and plastics from every other week to every week. 

This is a good thing even if studies show that recycling costs us more than we’re saving.

We obtained a grant from NYS for $250,000 to purchase trucks to begin curbside recycling of food waste. Trucks to be ordered in 2020. Service to be offered to villages and unincorporated Greenburgh. 

The one grant doesn't include maintenance or replacement. So, the grant which we pay for with even more of our taxes, is not a freebie.

We have started seriously considering the possibility of opening up a food scrap composting site on Taxter Road ---currently food scraps from around the region are sent out of county. 

Apparently, Taxter Road needs more truck traffic as it is already used as a vehicular cut-through. Surely there are other places this can be done. Greenburgh needs more than just scraps.

ASSISTED LIVING  DISCOUNTS

The Chelsea Assisted LIving Facility is offering discounts to Greenburgh residents--they hope to open in 2020 on Dobbs Ferry Road. They also have some affordable units for those who meet income guidelines. They expect to open in 2020. 

So instead of paying $8k a month rent, it will be reduced to $7k? The few affordable units allotted here won't make a dent in or for the Greenburgh population.

DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS

Brightview seeks to build independent living, assisted living facility at portion of Metropolis. Plan under review.

Maplewood is seeking approval to sell their swim and tennis club on W Hartsdale Ave to an assisted living facility. We are reviewing traffic, neighborhood concerns.

We created land use advisory committees around town involving residents impacted by proposed developments in the land use review early on. These land use committees also help us select the traffic and environmental consultants we hire to review the application.  We want the community to be involved in partnering with the town government.

This is pure BS. The neighborhood residents requested land use committees for Brightview (Metropolis CC), Maplewood, ShopRite & Sam's Club gas station developments but were refused by everyone at the Town!

SOME SMART PEOPLE—INCLUDING A NOBEL PRIZE WINNER

A Tarrytown man won the Nobel Prize in Medicine. Gregg Semenza attended Sleepy Hollow HS, one of the schools serving the Greenburgh community. No disrespect intend toward Gregg Semenza, but this really a a stretch by Mr Feiner.

GRANT FROM STATE FOR NEW AMBULANCE-ARDSLEY SECOR VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORP

Mayor Nancy Kabbolian and I met Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins two years ago seeking state funding for a new ambulance for the volunteer ambulance corp. Senator Cousins  recently announced that NYS will fund the new ambulance for the volunteers. 

Good for Ardsley-Secor Ambulance Corps. Keep in mind, these grant monies are grants that we all pay for.

VOTING

First time Early Voting was tried in Greenburgh during the town elections. Voter turnout was higher than usual in an off off year election. 

The verdict is still out as to whether this ploy to get early votes actually contributed to election fraud or not.

TECHNOLOGY

Progress  being made - implementation of a work order system in the Department of Public Works. Will enable the town to better track complaints and work requests. 

Perhaps Supervisor Candidate Lucas Cioffi was correct and Mr Feiner IS the bottleneck for all the work that is being or needs to be done in the Town. Mr Feiner’s goal to develop a system is 30 years overdue. You can’t say you’re a visionary with this kind of track record.

Town Board approved funding for enhanced social media initiative –want to get our message out to those who don’t subscribe to traditional media. 

We’re pretty confident that this isn’t about enhancing anything. This is to ensure Mr Feiner has a way to disseminate information of his choosingto residents of his choosingwithout having to share the lists he maintains. He had been able to do this until he was sued and ordered by the courts to share his list.

Taking steps to formalize an official Technology Committee that can help the town keep up to date with technology. 

Another committee that will be able to talk about something but impotent to act. Mr Feiner needs to be able to say, “I’ll turn that idea over to the Technology Committee to investigate and get back to me with a recommendation” – which will never actually happen. It's another black hole for Mr Feiner to use at his discretion.

HOT ASPHALT MACHINE ENABLES TOWN TO REPAIR POTHOLES IN WINTER

Greenburgh is one of the few communities around that has purchased a hot asphalt machine to repair potholes in the winter months. The asphalt companies don't operate in the winter months and most communities use cold patches to repair potholes. These pothole repairs don't last long. This investment enables us to repair potholes efficiently and for the work to last. 

We don't know enough about asphalt to know if this is a good thing or not. At face value, however, if the industry shuts down for the winter, there must be a good reason for it.

The Year In Review Part 1

Each year Mr Feiner publishes his accomplishments for the year on various Feiner-friendly websites, sends out numerous email blasts and snail-mail mailings (the latter at a significant cost to the tax-payer). Coincidentally, we publish the “rest of the story” to quote the late Paul Harvey, as Mr Feiner, convicted of lying under oath in the Fortress Bible Church Federal discrimination case, can’t always be relied upon to present accurate and transparent information. Here’s part 1 of our year in review. This year, Mr Feiner has changed his Accomplishment List to a Highlights List. Staffers have thrown around numerous thoughts as to why the change. Because short of slowing down the Edgemont community’s incorporation efforts, there haven’t really been many new accomplishments. Mr Feiner’s info is in blue, ours in black.

TAXES WON’T GO UP…AND FINANCIALS

A tax rate reduction and a tax levy freeze in the 2020 town budget.
We have previously written about this. Returning Edgemont resident Lucas Cioffi, ran against Mr Feiner in this last election. One of his campaign promises was to have a two-year tax freeze if elected. A week after Mr Cioffi made that announcement, Mr Feiner started saying that he would promise a 1-year tax freeze. When asked about the tax levy, Mr Feiner was unable to answer the question. Part of the reason that he can do this – and why for only one year – is that there have been a number of people who have left the Town's employ and whose positions will not be filled.

We are tightening many of our management procedures. Department heads are being asked to develop step by step work plans so we can review tangible measurable goals. We are working with department heads on developing cost benefits for each new project. 

It's surprising to learn that these management principals – basic management principals – haven't already been implemented. After all, after ten terms as Supervisor and countless interns, citizens groups and advisors, surely someone must have told you how to do this?

At our last Town Board meeting the Board voted to install GPS systems in all town vehicles. 

Several vehicular points here. First, if there is a vehicle policy? Second, why weren’t GPS systems already installed? Third, If there is no policy, why did it take so long to develop one? Fourth, what was the cost to retrofit all of the Town vehicles? Finally, what happened to cause this decision to be made? Did someone go joy-riding with a Town garbage truck that was found abandoned somewhere because somebody forgot to lock the truck door or the yard's fence?

We continue to conduct independent reviews of different departments --looking for ways to make government more efficient. 
Who is conducting these supposed reviews? What have they found so far and how do we access this information? 

We implemented consultant recommendations dealing with the courts a few years ago and are implementing recommendations from DPW consultants--a work order system for DPW and a health and safety initiative for employees.

We'll be kind and just assume this is correct. Again, Lucas Cioffi had said that all the work orders should be able to be filed by residents online and then trackable by residents online to see at what stage their resolution might be. This was a great idea as Mr Cioffi highlighted (no pun intended) that the one choke point in our Town lies with Mr Feiner as people email him directly and only he knows what the constituent's issues are.

Maintaining Aaa bond rating by Moody's and Standard & Poor's --bond rating increased 3 times during my tenure to highest rating possible. 

Having a good bond rating is good if and when you float bonds – don't worry, one is coming to us soon to the minimum tune of $49,000,000 for a new court and police station. Mr Feiner backed off of this bond as the Greenburgh School District was trying to get the taxpaying public to buy-in to their $200,000,000 (principal and interest) Consolidation Bond. With the election looming, even Mr Feiner was nervous to propose it, stating openly that he was against the Consolidation Bond proposal. With the democratic change in the bail laws under the guise of reform, aptly referred to as “catch and release”, shouldn't the courts workload and demands be less? Maybe another already existing location could work instead of building something new.

We had two auctions of foreclosed properties-the last auction generated 2.7 million dollars.  We have started using a professional auctioneer to help us maximize revenues from auctions. 
The Town has maintained a lackadaisical approach to foreclosures with Mr Feiner's excuse being that he doesn't want people to be kicked out of their homes. That's understandable, however, we've seen the law ignored and foreclosures sit idle for IE., 7 years.

Forming committee to review proposed requests for proposals to maximize competition from bidders. 
Great, another committee so we can talk about something instead of dealing with it.

HISTORY--the Odell House and 9-11

We received a $600,000 grant from NYS to restore the historic Odell House on Ridge Road, Hartsdale.  We hope to turn the building into a museum. This house played a major role in the Revolutionary War.  At long last – we’re close to getting the Odell house transferred from the Sons of the American Revolution to the town. Last week the NYS Attorney General's office authorized the SAR to transfer the property to the town--which will happen in early 2020. 

It's interesting how Mr Feiner has bent over backwards to tranquilize the Hartsdale community after there was talk of incorporation by them, contingent with the Edgemont incorporation. So much so that he purchased two homes costing about $400,000 for a possible Central Avenue project. Now the Town will also be on the hook to demolish and provide any asbestos and other remediation before they can do something with the property. We do want to see the Odell house preserved but given the Town's track record as a landlord (WestHelp is one that comes to mind), we're not sure this is the best direction for this historic property.

We started the 9-11 Living History stories--video interviews of those impacted by the 9-11 tragedy. The interviews air on public access TV and can be accessed on the web. The 9-11 living history stories is modelled[sic] after the Veterans living history initiative (about 150 veterans of World War II, the Korean conflict have each participated in half hour interviews). We have no issues with this.

PEDESTRIAN AND MOTORIST  SAFETY

New sidewalks completed at Columbia Ave, Fair Street, Lawton, a small portion of N Washington Ave and Glendale Road. Construction of new sidewalk to begin shortly on Central Ave between Marion and West Hartsdale Ave.  About six miles of new sidewalks have been built or funded in recent years --with more to come! In April the town received some more good news: We received two grants (from NYS and from CDBG) totaling $1.2 million dollars to build a new sidewalk on Hillside Ave and on Old Tarrytown Road.  Residents will be able to walk from Route 119 to the Parkway Gardens/Homes neighborhood and from Town Hall to Knollwood Road! 

While these sidewalks are good to have, the Town only recently began seeking grant monies for sidewalks even though the money has existed for years! The sidewalk policy has been all new construction developers add a sidewalk at that property. This is a good idea for new construction but does nothing for roadways that will never have new construction. While walking on Hillside as well as Old Kensico Roads can be terrifying, especially in the dark, we're told we have to accept something as better than nothing. Tell that to the person recently struck by a car on Old Kensico Road.

5 different pedestrian accidents around town. Town Board includes substantial funding in 2020 budget for pedestrian safety improvements. 

Specifically such as what? 

We also are studying the possibility of either building a sidewalk on Ft Hill Road or making road one way ( a suggestion raised by residents). A community meeting has been scheduled with a local Edgemont civic association in January to discuss plans to hire a traffic consultant to review options. 

Mollifying the Edgemont community seems to be Mr Feiner's main focus since turning down their Incorporation petition; as well as placating the Hartsdale community.

There are other safety concerns on streets around town. We will use funding that has been approved by the Town Board for digital speed boards and other traffic calming devices. 

We don’t need digital sign boards and have no idea what traffic calming devices are, but what we need is police enforcement. Currently, the police department is not doing traffic enforcement on local roads. 

The town has offered to pay for a traffic light on Central Ave in front of Sacred Heart Church if NYS allows us to install a light at this location--where there was an accident earlier this fall. NYS said they don't have funds in their budget for the safety improvement. 

This location has literally been an accident waiting to happen – and it finally did. This is on Mr Feiner and his 30 years in office focusing on giveaways and vote purchasing rather doing what the Town needs.

Starting to review need to improve traffic flow on E Hartsdale Ave. Board agrees to study upgrading of traffic lights. Sensors, synchronizing lights to reduce congestion and to increase traffic flow. 

What does “starting to review” mean? This is a not a DOT controlled road. As the top elected official in the Town, he should have been all over this for years! It wasn't until the Hartsdale Neighbors Association starting pushing for changes in that area coupled with Edgemont's Incorporation did Mr Feiner agree to evaluate the area.

We enhanced crosswalk at Edgemont and Ardsley Road. Enhancement completed just a week ago.

We added a crossing guard to Ardsley Road/Fort Hill Road--making it safer for children to crossduring school hours. 
Again, placating Edgemont in hopes that they will drop their movement to Incorporate this time under the guise of “for the children.” For the uninitiated, Mr Feiner is very much about quid pro quo and should be impeached.

We awarded the bid for a traffic light at Ardsley Road/Sprain Road. We expect installation to be completed in the spring of 2020. This location will be much safer.

We selected a consultant to review the proposal to revitalize the 4 corners in Hartsdale--and will address stormwater[sic], traffic issues. 

A review should indicate that there are both flooding and traffic issues at that location. The irony, and ultimately failure, of the study is that it will focus in that one specific area while the problem exists due to local, County and State government failure to address it for the entire Bronx River corridor. Again, why fix it when we can talk about it. Public Works Commissioner Victor Carosi sits on the County Flooding committee chaired by County Legislator Alfreda Williams. Ask any of them and they will say that they haven't met and done anything to even begin to address flooding. Go take a look at any section of the Bronx River and you'll see the entire river is clogged with debris and overgrown vegetation. Maintenance is not sexy so no one addresses it.

Building a sidewalk, installing lights  or enhancing crosswalks takes a lot of work. Our town professionals have to coordinate with other government entities if work is going to take place on state or county roads. We have to coordinate with Con Ed -moving utility poles. We need to make sure that we're in compliance with ADA requirements dealing with the disabled and have to make sure that the work we do does not create drainage related problems.  The crosswalk light fixtures took months to arrrive[sic] at Edgemont and Ardsley Road. After we awarded the bid for a traffic light on Ardsley Road/Sprain we were advised that it takes 4-6 months for the special fixtures to arrive.  Most people are not aware of all the details that go into designing and implementing safety improvements. 

It sounds like he's describing them doing jobs, which they get paid very well to do, including excellent benefits.

→Guest Editorial←

A year ago the Greenburgh School District began a campaign to push a bond whose total cost would have exceeded $200,000,000. There were several factors in addition to the excessive costs that contributed to the bond not passing. Please keep in mind we usually vote with the education of our children as the primary goal in mind. Education is the best investment a parent and a community can make.

If you are one of the residents who found their tax dollars disappearing without an adequate explanation, the information we’ve ascertained and included in this article should provide clarification.

Over the years, the Greenburgh school district has neglected the buildings that house the staff and the students. Sadly, on the first day the GSD staff was to report to work for the 2019-2020 school year, the Warburg mansion was declared unsafe for staff and children to occupy. The district had the entire summer to deal with building maintenance, but neglected to do so, hence, the week before school begins we found the sky is falling and so is the roof.

The slate roof which was known to be left in disrepair, was not covered, or protected, nor was there any effort to preserve it. The leaky roof now has contributed to “structural damages” yielding the building uninhabitable. Paint and plaster has fallen onto the floors and the mansion is no longer usable. Although the district is aware of the need to repair the building, as of this time plans to repair the mansion are not yet in the works. The slate roof sits uncovered, exposed to rain, ice, wind and further deterioration. To anyone who owns a car, if you do not change the oil, the life of the car is always shorter. Is this punishment for voting “NO” on the bond: no action to preserve, nor maintain? 

We were told repeatedly that the district didn’t have money for maintenance, but they suddenly have a quarter million dollars to fund a move into the high school. The locksmith costs are $34,577.40. for high tech security locks for the new offices. Other expenses the public should be aware of includes wiring for phones and computer system ($26,300) and shades for the director’s office ($8,652). The list is long and may eventually exceed $300,000!

In the interim, the administrative staff has moved to Woodlands High School. This is supposed to be a temporary move, but a price tag so far of $267,346.79 makes us question the fiscal responsibility of making this a temporary move. How can the district find money to repair the roof? Has the school district been spending money in this reckless manner all along, instead of maintaining the buildings?

As a taxpayer eager to support the education of our children, I find the lack of maintaining the district office and surrounding schools appalling. Let’s stop the wasteful spending.

Happy New Year