Sustainable Energy ESCO Finally Loses Power

Greenburgh residents received an email from Mr Feiner about one month ago stating that Sustainable Westchester, an Energy Service Company (ESCO) was shutting down – finally! Here's what he said:

Westchester Power will discontinue providing residents with renewable energy at the end of the year

Sustainable Westchester has informed us that the Westchester Power renewable energy program will be discontinued at the end of this year. This decision results from practical implementation challenges associated with recently-adopted State outreach and education mandates. Sustainable Westchester has concluded that these regulatory requirements cannot be met on a schedule consistent with the program’s continued operation.

Starting with this December’s utility bill, customers who take no action will be returned to [Con Edison/NYSEG] as their default supplier of electricity.

As an alternative, customers may select another Energy Services Company (“ESCO”) for electricity supply. 

We originally reported on this apparent scheme being pushed, no, rammed down our throats, without regard to what residents wanted or would actually save. In fact, Mr Feiner knowingly lied about the amounts that could be saved, saying residents could save upwards of "$400 – $600 per month! The reality however was far from that. Most months saw that the Sustainable Power ESCO was not saving residents money. Rather they were higher than ConEd's rates. Once we learned that we had been opted IN to the program, many residents went through the process of opting OUT, then contacted ConEd to put a lock on their accounts so operatives like Mr Feiner and others could not do this to us again.

Here's a few excerpts in blue from an earlier February 2, 2016 article:

He also recounts, “the Town Board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the Town Supervisor to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") affirming that the Town and Sustainable Westchester, Inc. agree to participate in a Community Choice Aggregation program ("CCA") to procure energy supply from one or more Energy Service Companies ("ESCOs") for the residents of the Town of Greenburgh.” Not only did this not happen, but it was reported in the Rye Record newspaper that they failed to do this, stating, “Failure to observe even the minimum outreach requirements imposed by the commission results in an inadequately informed customer base.”

In Mr Feiner’s email he repeats the same information multiple times, almost trying to convince everyone that this is a good deal. In fact, Ken Stahn of the Ardsley Road Civic Association, met with, studied, and presented his findings to the civic associations’ umbrella organization, the Council of Greenburgh Civic Associations, the Town Board and others. However, despite Mr Stahn’s pleas to slow down the process to acquire answers before jumping into this, he was summarily thanked and dismissed by the Town leaders. So while residents were sincerely trying to provide validation and correct the misinformation and contradictions, Town Hall was not listening – again! 

Sustainable Westchester has a cool sounding, environmentally friendly name that would evoke a feeling of energy conservation and environmental friendliness, the reality is that this is an experimental program being run by a group of attorneys from a hedge fund group looking to initially do their testing as a non-profit and if they are successful, change to a for-profit venue. With Mr Feiner and other elected leaders blessing this operation without answers to important questions, people may be lulled into a false sense of security. In fact, one of the active participants in this Opt IN scheme was former New Rochelle Mayor, Noam Bramson. He was mayor of New Rochelle until he retired from New Roc and joined Sustainable Power as their Westchester Executive Director. Nice gig if you can get it! Apparently, they decided to terminate this program due to new outreach and education requirements from the State Public Service Commission.

ABG, Ken Stahn and others have all questioned the logic of people having to opt-OUT of this scheme because Mr Feiner and his Town Board want it that way. What we and many others have been saying is that residents and taxpayers should have to opt-IN to this experiment. After all, government should not have the right to decide on what and how you spend your money. Opt-IN, not OUT should be the standard. Many of the community leaders that Mr Feiner has referenced that are participating in this experiment have been appointed to Board of Director positions on the Sustainable Westchester Board of Directors. Does this sound like a conflict of interest to you?

Mr Feiner stated that Sustainable Westchester is “leading the way...” and “Their application to form the first pilot community aggregation program has been granted, and the rest of the state is watching and waiting.” Mr Stahn had expressed reservations about being the first and that we have the ability and luxury of waiting until this model is proven and can supply real numbers instead of projected ones. He also stated that the falling costs of energy around the world is making the entire project even more suspect and asked Mr Feiner and the Board to not rush into anything. A three year minimum commitment is required of all residents. ALL residents, you may ask? Yes, Mr Feiner had signed up all residents in the Town to participate. They must opt-OUT to be excluded. How will you know?

Others continued to monitor and prove that Sustainable Westchester was a flop. The unfortunate result of this is that while Mr Feiner is quick to point at President Trump and the Republicans for rising prices, our own home-grown democrats have forced residents to pay more than they should have by being forced into this scheme! Just remember, the entire Town Board members ALWAYS voted in favor of having Greenburgh residents/taxpayers participate in this fiasco. Not one of them ever questioned the stupidity of this type of program. Thankfully, after ten years it'll finally go away – for now. It needs to stay away and stay out of our resident's way. If they want an ESCO, they can get it on their own. Only then will we get A Better Greenburgh!

Committed To Help Fulton Park

Two storms ago found residents packing a Town Board meeting to get answers to their flooding problems, which they would never get. What was available was a lot of hemming and hawing along with the admission from one tearful resident, “This was not the American Dream I signed up for!” Surely they cannot be the only neighborhood that is experiencing flooding in Greenburgh, are they? They’re not.

To career politicians such as Paul Feiner, Francis Sheehan, Rich Fon, Eyde McCarthy and others, all know that if they drag their feet long enough, those residents will eventually give up and/or move, taking a loss on the sale of their home just to be done with the corrupt, unresponsive and failed leadership that’s spearheading over-development in our Town at breakneck speed. All this while ignoring the antiquated infrastructure that is too overburdened to support the growth. Hence the flooding almost every neighborhood is experiencing.

Mr Feiner's patent line when he speaks to people who get flooded is, “I'm going to prove we're committed to help Fulton Park.” He rode his bicycle down Old Kensico Speedway recently and told it again. Having a good line of BS has paid off for him. On that day I told him no one in the neighborhood trusts or believe anything he says. After a little research, we found more neighborhoods that are flooding. Simply change the neighborhood from Fulton Park to the next affected neighborhood, i.e., “I'm going to prove I'm/we're committed to help Gibson Street,” or “I'm going to prove I'm/we're committed to help Babbitt Court” or “I'm going to prove I'm/we're committed to help Troublesome Brook residents.” You get the idea. Whatever lie is convenient at the time will be in play.

The Manhattan Brook has numerous choke points throughout its length, like this one below.




Apparently when the Army Corps of Engineers built the “brook’s” channel, flooding and water disbursement in the area was not as big an issue as it currently has become, but has been over-whelmed by various Feiner Town Boards’ actions. How did it become this bad so quickly? Simply, development. And in reality, over-development. Every project that his Town Boards approve sees an increase in water runoff that had previously been absorbed by grass, woods, open fields and even small lakes. More impervious space is the talk everyday as developers continue to pitch green roofs, water retention basins, dry wells and the like to get their project approved. And it works for them. While this happens individual homeowners are challenged by Mr Feiner’s boards for years to get their approvals.

Here’s a picture of the alleged pump that the Town brought to Fulton Park two storms ago, that just sat there and was soon after removed. 

 

 

 

When questioned prior to that about the pump, we were told that it was missing parts. Skip to the day before the Thursday’s storm (Wednesday) when we saw three Town trucks and the mysterious pump on it’s trailer sat at the non-existent traffic circle (sarcasm re: Westhab development) where Old Kensico Speedway and County Center Road intersect. Later that day the trucks and pump were gone.

On Thursday, at about 3pm, the storm began to pick up in intensity. Emails went out from neighbors asking for the pump, who naively believed, “I'm going to prove we're committed to help Fulton Park.” No timely replies. Now several days later, with even more debris collected at the vacant pump's staging area (see photo) the County committed to regular cleanups. Good. But here’s proof of a small part of the problem when a storm misses the schedule, promising us more of the same during the next storm. And this is after you cleaned out portions of the river off of County Center Road!

Several ideas have been suggested to all involved as to what to do by most of the people in the neighborhoods. If the plan is to respond with empty promises and false hope, and hope the residents get burnt out, fed up and move, then the plan is working! As my neighborhood has almost completely transformed itself with young families, they're hearing the empty promises that my neighbors before them also heard before they left.   

Francis Sheehan talks about 100 year and 500 year storms as though they are the exception, and of course climate change, but the narrative needs to change. Even Bill Gates has acquiesced. Mr Feiner came to Miguel's house to give the group your empty pep talk and asking for them to trust him has proven that he’s full of it – just like all of the homes are full of water.

BTW, Eyde McCarthy telling everyone to reach out to her to meet and possibly adjust their revaluations and then saying she's too busy is also frustrating. And, passing a resolution or law to perform revaluations every year overcompensated in the wrong direction as home values rise and fall and a true value is unable to be equitably established by doing it yearly. But this is just another knee-jerk reaction by Mr Feiner and his Town Board.

Passing the flawed bill that the Greenburgh Town Board adopted as legislation that would help victims of storms and other disasters obtain tax relief if they experienced significant property losses helps no one as was pointed out in the Town meeting awhile back. The first step is the Supervisor must declare a state of emergency. Did that happen Thursday or even Friday? No. Is that because it would change the bond rating of the Town or lose the classification as one of the best places to live?

Residents sent you a video of the water raging down our streets, until it got into their yards and homes. We all have videos, photos and damages. Please don't tell us what you've done. What residents have done is pay our inflated, reevaluated taxes all while losing value in our homes and the quality of life while you vote yourselves raises and heap praise on others. While the police department did nothing to close the road to help the neighborhood, the traffic division could have dropped off the road horses and we could put them up. After all, it's seems we have to do everything else. 

Unnecessary Law Averted... For Now

Appeasement is a difficult game to play, although Mr Feiner always seems eager to jump into that fray. His apparent knee-jerk reaction typically belies levelheaded thought and evaluation. And once again he has not failed to disappoint. Recently, a number of ecologically minded extremists approached him about all the noise caused by leaf blowers specifically being used by landscapers and other horticultural professionals. They even went so far as to complain that residential usage was a problem!

In the course of a normal fair weather week, we can hear leaf blowers being used, sometimes right next door and other times a block or so away. While the sound inconvenience is not too disturbing, we prefer it over the music and partying that takes place until 3am and that ever-present boom-boom-boom bass. But it must all somehow relate to perspective. We’ve also complained to Mr Feiner about speeding on our street as have others only to be ignored. And yet, here’s a problem that the self-proclaimed “problem solver” can actually do something about by picking up the phone and calling Police Chief McNerney and asking him to commit a few cops to traffic control to address speeding. Done. But, as a lame-duck who just won another primary, he’s content to write off the residents who complain about speeding on Town roadways for yet another unproductive term in office.

While we agreed with the apathetic few who voted in the Democrat primary, Tasha Young was not the right choice. Then again, many said they had to hold their nose to even consider voting for Mr Feiner, ultimately voting for the devil you know or the one you don’t. What a sad state of affairs when the only choices we have, given roughly 90,000 residents, are Paul Feiner and Tasha Young! And, where are the Republicans or Independents or any others and why aren’t they stepping up? According to Westchester County Republican Chair Douglas Colety, the Republican Party has written off the Town of Greenburgh. From their viewpoint, a Republican can’t win and they don’t want to expend Republican resources for an unwinnable race. Tim Hays, the Greenburgh Republican Chairman, who has admitted he likes the Democrat Supervisor, even accepted a position on the Town’s feckless Board of Ethics, ensuring at least one favorable vote should Mr Feiner or his Board members require it. It’s not that Mr Hays can’t know right from wrong. Rather, this Board, prior to Mr Hays involvement, has a history of non-decisions and ethically challenged decisions between right and wrong – always favoring the administration. And should they actually want to render a decision, it’s only a recommendation to the Town Board for them to ultimately impose judgement. Can you say fox in the hen house?

Lest anyone believe that all is well in Greenburgh, you only need to see our last two articles regarding the School District’s School Board fiasco. No, all is not well in Mudville in almost any direction you chose to cast a stone. But with his sense of pandering aside, Mr Feiner suggested a proposal that would allow leaf blower use for four days during certain hours, with an education component for landscapers and residents. He said it could be a one-year trial program. What this really translates to is that this is another unnecessary law being pushed by a group who have nothing else to complain about and creating a problem in search of a solution.
“I feel if we start with a compromise, it’s not going to be perfect, but we can work off that every year,” Feiner said at the May 25 Work Session. “Right now, I’m suggesting we have a draft that would be subject to a public hearing but I’m trying to figure out what could we do that where we might be able to at least make some progress where it’s better than now.”

So, the real issue is what’s wrong now that we need to improve it? Are all neighbors using leaf blowers at all hours of the day and night that would warrant this? Of course not. Are cars and trucks speeding down our streets? Of course they are. Are any laws being written to address that? Of course not. There are already existing speeding laws but the police choose not to enforce them. Just like there are sound and noise laws that they will not enforce. If a street has a sign that says No Commercial Vehicles Except Local Delivery, does that keep tractor trailers from driving through our neighborhoods? Of course not. Are we writing laws to stop them? You guessed it, the simple answer is no. Why? Because they already exist but are not enforced.

Mr Feiner has openly developed a sanctuary Town for just about anything someone may want to do. It’s okay to dump refuse wherever construction crews, landscapers or residents (even non-residents) want to because they know they will not be caught and prosecuted and the Town will eventually pick it up and dispose of it at our cost. No policing and no confidence. We have single family residential homes being routinely used as multi-family, costing us more in resources at every level. No policing and no enforcement. We have unchecked trucks driving through our residential neighborhoods and all kinds of unchecked motorcycle and automotive speeding in those same neighborhoods. No policing and no enforcement. We have developers purchasing every piece of available and/or buildable land throughout the Town and promise Workforce, Affordable, Senior and Assisted Living housing until it comes time for them to challenge the Zoning code requirements to achieve their goals, discarding our residents’ concerns and feelings only to have Mr Feiner side with the developer and ignore the Comprehensive Plan (more a political statement than a plan). You’ll recall that the roadshows that were held all heard different residents state they wanted more open and green space, less impervious space, bike and walking paths and smaller buildings. In effect, they wanted to maintain and preserve the suburban feel for our Town.

Mr Feiner and his failed policies may be enjoyed by some progressives who wish to live in an urban environment. Most do not. Most moved to Greenburgh because they wish to have green space, with or without leaf blowers, bike paths, walking paths, green and open space and be able to ride a bicycle without fear of being struck by a car or truck. Our Town needs to change. Only then will we get A Better Greenburgh.

GCSD: Past Due

It’s tough to run a school district that burns through teachers and Superintendents faster than a McDonalds serving Big Macs, but Greenburgh needs a change - and fast! We continually witness failures of the district, spearheaded by Superintendent Chase and long time School Board members such as Terry Williams. Their costly agenda of campus consolidation and higher taxes offered nothing that could deliver an improved education for our children. Three of the seven Board of Education members have been Trustees for many, many years. The longest serving member is Terry Williams who is again running for re-election. The next longest is David Warner who was reelected to another 3 year term last year. The third long-serving trustee, Cora Carey, is last but not seeking re-election.

The district has gone through several Superintendents in a row who have had either legal or ethical issues or both. They have all failed the district and our students. Without orchestrating a solid and/or improved education, the ever-diminishing test results of the students highlights their failures.

The District’s website states that it’s vision is, “By 2021, we will be a world-class school district” and defines “World-Class” as a district that works, “To help our students compete and function as citizens in a global society, our efforts should include global elements, such as a world languages program and the Advanced Learning Program, and we should refine and expand existing initiatives such as our International Baccalaureate program.” Although this sounds impressive, it’s just a hollow statement. Just as impressive as this hollow statement is the failure of these oft-touted programs and their inability to take hold. How is this possible? We’ve been told by both students and parents that the IB program teachers were unprepared or unable to teach the required coursework–so they didn’t. In addition to this deficiency, the school was unable to offer college prep courses such as Physics and students were told to instead take two Chemistry classes.

English Language Arts has faltered despite knowing that immersion in English is a proven, successful standard adopted throughout the world for over a century - just not in Greenburgh! Similarly, math scores continue to tank, yet the Superintendent continues to insist that Greenburgh is a world class district! Incredibly, no child is ever left behind in the Greenburgh Schools. Each year they move up the grade ladder until they finally collect their high school degrees and graduate. This practice needs to end, no matter how catchy the “No Child Left Behind” jargon, or how convenient it is to graduate all of the students. Many staff have been intimidated and therefore go along with these practices, not wishing to fall out of favor with the administration which would jeopardize their livelihood. Could this be why we experience a high turnover of teachers in our schools?

There is a high turnover of mostly new teachers in our schools. We’re told that a toxic administrative culture and a lack of investment with the teachers are the primary reasons. Most schools and districts provide mentoring programs for new and young teachers so that they can better assimilate into the schools and develop into better teachers. Why hadn’t Superintendent Chase promoted this basic program? She had no problem promoting the sale of existing buildings and building new ones. But, buildings don't teach students, teachers do!

What of the Greenburgh Central School District's Board of Education under the leadership of President Antoinette Darden-Cintron? The reality of her leadership is that she has increased transparency and the responsiveness of the Board, something that has been a long-time struggle to attain. Now, when you send correspondence to the Board (emails in particular), you receive a response either the same day or the following day. I've even received phone calls from President Cintron-Darden! Kudos to her! Months ago, the School Board did not vote to renew the Superintendent's contract, in effect, terminating her employment as of June 30th of this year. 

Once the Superintendent learned (from Trustee Terry Williams?- if so that would be a violation of confidentiality rules) her contract would not be renewed she began shrewdly dragging her feet, thwarting efforts to return the students to full-time in-school classes. She has cleverly dodged questions about returning to classrooms full-time by saying she was following recommendations from the CDC, not the NYS Department of Education. We understand she’s upset and perhaps even want to get even: she'll be losing roughly $300,000 per year in salary and benefits. But there's no need to feel sorry for her: we’ve lheard she has been hired by another district.

It’s been said that education is the elixir of success. While there is certainly enough blame to go around, we must also blame ourselves. We forgot what our grandparents and parents expected our schools to offer us when we were children. Our children deserve a well-rounded education that will enable them to think for themselves, earn a living and be productive in the “real” world. Not only have we dropped the ball, but we have been lackadaisical about correcting the undesireable circumstances we’ve seen unfold over the years.

Parents and taxpayers must make it known to the Greenburgh School Board of Education that they have failed to earn our trust. President Cintron-Darden has worked hard to change that with the current Board. Terry Williams and David Warner have fought her tooth and nail. In fact, the Board is currently holding hearings to remove Terry Williams from his position due to his repeated violations of numerous Board rules and laws. If he fails to successfully defend himself against the charges, he will be removed. If he is victorious at the hearing and retains his position, he should be voted out of office by the taxpayers at the May 18th election. He’s dragging out the hearing, however, and the result may not be known before the May 18th election. Even if he wins his case, the unprecedented attempt of removal indicates that he has failed his responsibilities as a Trustee. We, the people, must make sure that he is not re-elected.

It is time we force the entire Board to step up their game and it’s time for us to do the same. Let’s stop lip-syncing the phrase, “For the children!” We cannot look to or imagine the future if we’re too focused on ideas of the past. It’s time we make a significant change and remove the long time trustees who have wallowed in their own self-grandeur and archaic functionality.

We need new ideas, new blood and new people to propel our children into the future, to repair and maintain our buildings and to become a school district that attracts people instead of repelling them. That’s the only way to get A Better Greenburgh School District!

Small Businesses Will Rebuild Our Economy, Not Politicians

Small businesses are what will help turn around our economy as President Trump leaves office and we exit the most robust economy in history. Promises by the newly elected have been made to wantonly return to the mantra of raising taxes again after a 4-year hiatus. However, the 2017 tax cut under President Trump had reinvigorated the economy and freed up billions in capital for private businesses to invest in growth, expansion, job creation and product development. 

So, even with proof that tax cuts, and not class warfare and pandering to keep taxing the rich (who are leaving our Town and State, see below), the elected officials continue to practice failed politics. This is the perfect time for them to recognize that deregulation, eliminating tariffs, fees and regulations and such will move our economy forward, providing real jobs with real salaries. Mr Feiner and his ilk continue to ignore what works and fall back into the same old rut they’ve been in during his lifetime tenure as Supervisor. In fact, the administration has proven to dislike the residents so much, that they’ve hidden their secret approvals for developers over the concerns of the citizenry.

Anyone who still believes Greenburgh residents (or New Yorkers) don't mind high taxes or heavy-handed governance should consider the obvious recent population estimates from the US Census Bureau or tour our Town and view the overabundance of vacated buildings displaying For Sale or For Lease signs throughout the Town. Residents are voting with their feet! Landlords are unable to sell or rent their spaces because of increased taxes. And yet Mr Feiner and his Board keep green-lighting developer’s proposals that seek first floor retail space with other renters above that. This is a failed model they simply ignore once a proposal hits Mr Feiner’s desk. They also insist on telling us that Millennials don’t own cars or drive, which is also simply is not true.  

According to a report entitled NYC, Downstate Suburbs Account for Most of NY’s 2018-19 Population Dip, by the Empire Center's E.J. McMahon, New York could be on its way “to its first population decline in any decade since the 1970s.” Its headcount fell by a whopping 126,355, or 0.65 percent, to a total of 19,336,776 over the year that ended July l, the estimates indicate - the biggest drop of any state, both as a percentage and in absolute numbers. 

Concurrently, over the decade, the state’s population plummeted by 41,326, or 0.21 percent, even as the nation as a whole grew nearly 7 percent. The big winners: low-taxing Florida and Texas, growing 16 percent and 17 percent, respectively, since 2010. COVID and the extreme local lockdowns from our democratic governor and mayors have surely helped drive New Yorkers to leave. 

As we’ve seen and participated in during the COVID pandemic, the newly expanded work-from-home models for employees mean many won’t return to their offices – and why should they? New York’s extremely high tax burden are among the nation's highest - and state lawmakers are now racing to make it worse. Make no mistake.This exodus promises grave consequences for Greenburgh due to New York withering tax base and a loss of two of its 27 US House seats. 

Get set for even less clout in Washington - and less funding from it. And, since Mr Feiner relies so heavily on grants to pay for many projects, except when he’s taxing Unincorporated Greenburgh residents to pay off his guilty-verdict fines, we don’t see much money coming through to us. Greenburgh and in particular Mr Feiner and his Board must change. Only then will we get A Better Greenburgh.

Should We Go With An ESCO After Losing Money For Two-Years

 A Message to All:

The Executive Board of the Council of Greenburgh Civic Associations (CGCA) urges you to watch and participate (via Zoom) in the meeting tonight, September 23, at 7:30 PM, regarding whether the Town of Greenburgh should join with other municipalities to purchase your electric supply through an ESCO (Energy Supply Company).

The current two-year contract with the ESCO Constellation will expire in December.  The attached table documents information from the last nineteen (19) Con Edison bills for five households that “opted out” of this contract.  As the table demonstrates, the latest cost per kWh (mainly for the month of August) was 5.4 to 5.9 cents.  That is considerably less expensive than the 7.709 cents per kWh those still enrolled in the contract are paying.

Based on the monthly information circulated by the CGCA, Supervisor Paul Feiner has had to acknowledge that the current contract has been costly to the nearly 12,000 residential and small business electric users that the Town Board enrolled in the “standard” option.  Under the current contract, unincorporated Greenburgh is only one of three municipalities participating in the “standard” option.  Twenty-three other municipalities, including five Greenburgh villages – Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington and Tarrytown – are enrolled in the “green” option.  The Village of Elmsford and the nearby Town/Village of Scarsdale do not participate in the current contract negotiated by Westchester Power.

Mr. Feiner is now considering enrolling unincorporated Greenburgh residents and small businesses in the “green” option of a new contract. Going “green” means obtaining electric supply from renewable sources – wind power, solar power, hydropower – rather than fossil fuels.  It costs more but it helps address climate change, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental issues.

At Mr. Feiner’s request, the CGCA reached out to the community (9/13/20) for advice on what action the Town should take.  One resident recommended the “green” option.  Every other response received to date recommended that any new contract should be on an “Opt In” basis.  More information was also requested regarding the future savings to lower-income families.

The Executive Board of the CGCA is making no recommendation but rather providing the following information so residents can better understand what is being considered and are in a better position to ask questions.

As noted, those who have not “opted out” of the current contract are paying 7.709 cents per kWh for electric supply.  According to Westchester Power, the average resident uses 669 kilowatt hours a month.  Thus the average bill for the month, including 4% sales tax, would be $53.63 for electric supply.  If you were enrolled in the “green” option, it would cost 7.959 cents per kWh and the average monthly bill, including tax, would be $55.38 for electric supply.

As the attached table indicates, Property # 1 and Property # 2 paid 5.5 cents per kWh.  This means an average monthly bill for 669 kWh, including tax, would be $38.27.  The savings for the “standard” option equals $15.36 which is 28.6% lower than the ESCO charged.  For the “green” option, the savings equals $17.11 and is 30.9% lower.  Even if one subtracts 64 cents for the monthly billing and processing payment fee, the monthly savings would be substantial.

According to the CGCA’s understanding, any new contract the Town participates in would be for the “green” option and would be offered on an “Opt Out” basis.  Savings of 10% on their electric bill would be promised to “x” number of lower income residents and the Town could be eligible for up to $250,000 in grant money for sustainable projects.  Westchester Power plans to go out to bid this month for a new contract, with a starting bid lower than 7.65 cents per kWh.

If you wish to participate in tonight’s Town Board discussion on this matter, see instructions below:

PUBLIC DISCUSSION Advance signup via PublicComment@GreenburghNY.com is required. Please mention ESCO or Sustainable Westchester in the subject line or the body of the email. Sustainable Westchester 100% Renewable ESCO

Ella Preiser, CGCASecretary

Edgemont Victorious Against Town For Referendum

The New York Supreme Court has ruled that the Edgemont Incorporation petition is legally valid and overruled Supervisor Feiner's decision to deny the petition. This is the second time that the Edgemont group has been forced to sue Mr Feiner, a Democrat, because he allowed his own prejudice to get in the way of making a simple decision: did their petition meet the rule of law standards? We believe it did.

The court ordered an election to be held within 40 days. However, this is the same thing that occurred over a year ago when Edgemont prevailed in the courts initially to subsequently lose on appeal by the Town. We are not alone believing that the Town will appeal the decision again. This is a strategy that worked for them before so we're sure, sadly, it will be done again.

While we wish to see the law upheld and support Edgemont's right of self-destiny, we are also concerned should the incorporation pass for several reasons. First, everyone against the incorporation has said that the canyon this will leave in the Town budget could be as much as $17 million dollars. Second, the Edgemont leadership has stated that they wish to contract services such as police, sanitation and highway maintenance with the Town. This would provide needed revenue and avoid the laying off of Town employees. Mr Feiner, Mr Jones, a Democrat, and possibly the rest of Mr Feiner's Board, all Democrats, have vehemently and repeatedly claimed that they have no desire to contract these services with them. This is an obvious and egregious display of a lack of concern for the rest of the Greenburgh Unincorporated residents!

Time will tell how this will all play out. We're unsure of what was different between the first and this latest petition submission and the court cases. All we know is that when Mr Feiner and his Board, all Democrats, try to restrict the public's exercising of law, it's time for them to go. Only then will we get A Better Greenburgh.

ESCO Probably Costing You Money Instead Of Saving It

From Ella Preiser,  Communications Administrator, Council of Greenburgh Civic Associations

A Message to All:

At this time when so many people are out of work and small business owners are concerned about their survival, some Council of Greenburgh Civic Associations (CGCA) representatives are deeply troubled that the Greenburgh Town Board has not taken the opportunity to inform people about a possible way to save some money.

The CGCA urges you to check your monthly Con Edison bill.  If the bill indicates your electricity supplier is Constellation and your supply cost is 7.709¢ per kWh, you were probably enrolled in this ESCO (starting January 2019) by the Greenburgh Town Board.  If enrolled, you have been paying considerably more than those of us who “opted out” of this ESCO.  Please review the attached table which provides information on the kWh costs per billing cycle for seven different property owners who did “opt out.”  These figures were taken from actual Con Edison bills.  The first five properties are residences. Properties #6 and #7 are small businesses.

For anyone who isn’t familiar with the “history” of the Town’s involvement with this ESCO, attached is information you may find helpful.  At the very least, skip to the last lines of the document below which illustrates the cost savings ($37.15 and $115.53) for a single month for two different properties.  Paying the higher price could be very costly over the two-year contract.

The Greenburgh Town Board is not alone.  Twenty-six other Westchester municipalities participate in this CCA.   The concept was good but it is not working to the advantage of electricity users.  The ESCO named Constellation is raking in millions of dollars from residents and small business owners.

If you are paying too much, contact the Town Board for an explanation of why they did not keep you informed.  Feel free to pass this message on to your neighbors.

Stay safe and well.

Ella Preiser, CGCA Secretary

First Document:

First CCA Contract – How it began – Modest Savings

In 2015, the Town Board discussed with residents the possibility of participating in a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program.  The concept was simple and good – if a large number of users joined together to purchase huge numbers of kilowatt hours of electricity, they could negotiate a cheaper price. Supervisor Paul Feiner issued an email blast 9/29/15 claiming that participation in a CCA could reduce our Con Edison bills by “hundreds of dollars.”  

In January of 2016, the Town Board passed a local law granting Westchester Power authority through a CCA program to procure electric supply from an ESCO (Energy Supply Company) for a two-year contract for all unincorporated Greenburgh residential and small business users who did not “Opt Out.”  The program began with June 2016 meter read dates at a fixed cost of $0.0738 per kWh for the “Basic Supply Option” or $0.0768 for the “Green Option.”  The cost was subsequently increased for residential users to $0.0770 per kWh for the “Basic Supply Option” and $ 0.0800 for the “Green Option.”  There was no penalty to “Opt Out.”

In April 2018, residents received notice from Westchester Power that the rate of the soon-to-expire contract would “remain in place until your January 2019 meter read date.”  No approval for this extension was given by the Town Board. Once again residents were made aware they could “Opt Out” of the program without penalty.

Resident Ken Stahn had opted out of the program. Despite his repeated requests to the Town over the two-year period, no information was provided to the thousands of residents and small business owners the Town Board had enrolled in this ESCO. Thus, unincorporated Greenburgh electricity users had no way of knowing whether they were actually saving money and/or whether they should take advantage of the “Opt Out” provision.   The Council of Greenburgh Civic Association (CGCA) was asked to get involved.  Following a unanimous vote at the June 19, 2018 CGCA meeting, a letter was sent to Supervisor Feiner seeking information.  

The CGCA received a response.  In an email blast on July 24, 2018, Mr. Feiner reported that over the 25-month period from June 2016 through June 2018, residents in the “Basic Supply Option” had saved an average $7.78/month, residents in the “Green Option” saved $6.00/month, small business owners in the “Basic Supply Option” saved $2.01/month, but it actually cost small business owners in the “Green Option” 22 cents a month.  

However, for the very first time the public learned that only 52.67% of the savings actually came from the supply cost per kWh that had been negotiated.  Much of the total savings (47.33%) came from a $1.20/month billing and processing payment charge to each customer and sales tax avoidance (3% for residential and 7.375% for small businesses) on the delivery portion of the monthly bill. Savings from avoiding these two charges had never been mentioned earlier.  And, these two savings were not unique to the ESCO in which the Town enrolled users, but rather were available to any customer enrolled in any ESCO.  

Second CCA Contract – Huge Loses

Although the savings had been modest, the Town Board nevertheless voted to continue participation in the CCA for another two-year contract.  Beginning with the January 2019 meter read date, all residential and small business owners were enrolled for electric supply in the “Standard Option” at a cost of $0.07709 per kWh with the ESCO Constellation unless they “Opted Out.” 

Resident Ken Stahn, who had opted out again, noted each month his Con Edison per kWh costs were lower than the 7.709¢ per kWh costs charged by the  ESCO in which the Town had enrolled residential and small business owners. Mr. Stahn’s continued requests to the Town to provide information to the public were ignored.

Finally, on October 15, 2019, Westchester Power was invited to make a presentation at a Town Board work session.  At that meeting it was revealed that the Town had enrolled a total of 11,777 unincorporated Greenburgh residential and small business owners in the ESCO Constellation.  At the meeting, there was brief acknowledgement that the default Con Edison price for electric supply was at a historic low, but more time was spent blaming higher bills on Con Edison delivery charges.  Praise was given for the metric tons of carbon saved – although Greenburgh deserved little credit since few were enrolled in the “Green” option. It was stated electric supply costs would probably increase next year and reference was made to saving money regarding a Community Solar Project.  The need for a public update was mentioned, but there was no follow through. 

Some CGCA representatives who had opted out of the CCA contract felt the Town Board should inform the public about the higher costs to them.   Data was collected from the actual Con Edison bills of eight properties – five residential and three small businesses – from different areas.  Seven of those properties had opted out of the CCA contract but one business was enrolled.  The data revealed that the seven properties that had opted out had saved between $50 and $700 over the 12 billing periods starting in January 2019.  The one business property enrolled by the Town in the ESCO actually paid more than $1,000 in additional costs over the 12-month period.  Rest assured, that business promptly opted out when presented with this information!

At Mr. Stahn’s request, the Town Board invited Westchester Power to make another presentation at its March 10, 2020 work session.  The representatives again acknowledged that Con Edison default rates were at historic lows. The presentation included a slide showing that those enrolled in the ESCO paid $1,133,210 more for supply, with the additional monthly costs being between $5.71 and $6.92 for residents and between $4.46 and $10.07 for businesses.  However, it was emphasized that those enrolled still had savings over the past three years.  Also emphasized was the amount of carbon saved, likely Con Edison cost increases later in the year, the community solar project and how helpful Westchester Power could be to utility users.  

Ella Preiser, Dorrine Livson and Ken Stahn attended the meeting.  Two tables were presented showing the data collected for the eight properties. Westchester Power representatives were dismissive of the data provided because it contained actual (four-decimal place) per kWh supply costs and did not include a small “Merchant function charge.” They emphasized Con Edison’s rates were unpredictable and the bill was difficult to read.   The Town mentioned the need to provide information to the public.  The next day (3/11/20) at the regular Town Board meeting, Mrs. Livson mentioned the more than one million dollar cost to Greenburgh users and tens of millions to other Westchester County electric users. She asked the Town to release such information.  The Town once again remained silent.

At the April 22, 2020 meeting, held via Zoom, Mrs. Livson again asked the Town Board to inform the public about the electric costs.  The Board agreed to invite Westchester Power to the first work session in May.

ARE YOU PAYING TOO MUCH?

See the attached table which has been revised and lists the one-decimal place costs Con Edison recommends to compare ESCO charges. To determine if you are paying too much, examine the electric supply page on your Con Edison bill and compare the cost per kWh with those shown on the table for the seven properties.  

Contrary to the information presented on March 10, it may be costing you far more than the $6 to $10 per month Westchester Power mentioned.  Just as an example, following is computation illustrating the cost differences of recent bills for Property #5 (residential) and Property #6 (business).  As you can see Property #5 saved $37.15 in just one month and Property #6 saved $115.53 in one month.

1374 kWh @ 7.709¢/kWh = $105.92 + 4.24 (4% sales tax) = $110.02           

1374 kWh @ 5.100¢/kWh = $  70.07 + 2.80 (4% sales tax) = $  72.87

4086 kWh @ 7.709¢/kWh = $314.99 + 26.38 (8.375% sales tax) = $341.37

4086 kWh @ 5.100¢/kWh = $208.39 + 17.45 (8.375% sales tax) = $225.84

                                                                                               

Also note:  Westchester Power cannot rely on 47% savings from other sources on this contract.  The $1.20 per month billing and processing fee remained at $1.20 for businesses but was reduced to 60¢ per month for residents in 2019 and is now 64¢ per month.   Since last spring, the monthly bills no longer mention sales tax avoidance (now 4% for residential and 8.375% for small businesses) on the delivery portion of the bill. 

PETITION to Keep Greenburgh Green and Residential

PETITION to Keep Greenburgh Green and Residential

Unincorporated Greenburgh officials are currently considering an application by a developer to build senior housing pursuant to a zoning technique known as a Floating Zone. In essence, this allows commercial buildings in residential areas, as well as density bonuses to maximize developers’ profits. Adoption of Floating Zone legislation would be the most significant change to our Zoning Ordinance in decades. The impacts on the integrity of our neighborhoods and the overall character of our community, including the environment, traffic, demographics, and schools have not been considered adequately. 

Residents, not developers, should decide the future of our Town. To achieve this goal, we the undersigned residents of Unincorporated Greenburgh ask the Town Board to take the following steps: 

1) Reject the concept of Floating Zones and immediately adopt a moratorium on accepting applications for developments pursuant to Floating Zones, including but not limited to housing for seniors, solar farms and self-storage facilities. 

2) Appoint a Land Use Committee consisting of residents who will study how to implement the goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan that pertain to providing adequate housing for the Town’s senior population. The Committee should determine the need and recommend appropriate locations and criteria for such facilities. 

3) Refrain from considering any changes to the Zoning Ordinance until the above issues have been thoroughly studied, the Land Use Committee has issued its report, and the public has had an opportunity to weigh in on the matter. 

We want the Town to follow the 2016 Comprehensive Plan: protect our residential and green spaces, encourage community-friendly commercial development in areas already designated for such use. 

Dora T. Ashley 

Carol Allen 

Elaine Taylor-Gordon 

Christopher Henry 

Aparna Rao 

Please join us and sign the petition online: https://www.change.org/Keep_Greenburgh_Green_and_Residential

Sign the Petition

Keep Greenburgh Green and Residential

CHANGE.ORG

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.

→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.

School Board Questioned On Spending, Denies Tenure

At a previous Greenburgh School Board (GSD) meeting, there was a discussion of temporary construction fixes that would be needed at the Woodlands High School for those staff members who moved there from the Mansion. The operative word is “temporary.” In fact, GSD Board members asked the administration and Michael Falcone, the Director of Facilities, for a tour of the Woodlands High School. They wanted to see for themselves how $247,000 was being spent on “temporary” fixes.

Two School Board meetings ago, the public had been inquisitive. By asking the right questions, we learned that there was quite a bit of unused funds available for repairs that could be moved and used for repairs. Once the discovery of funds was broached, the Board decided to go to Executive Session.  

With a walk-through finally scheduled on December 13, 2019, about a dozen or so Board members and members of the public were escorted through the high school and were shown various spaces that were to be used for “temporary” occupation by the staff that relocated from the Mansion and mostly to the high school. 

During this temporary move tour, Assistant Superintendent Mary O’Neil repeatedly stated that as a temporary location, they couldn't know how long preparation could take. Each instance that was mentioned about the temporary move, prompted Ms O'Neil to seemingly add more time to the length of time the administration would stay in the high school, stating it could take up to two years before the Mansion, vacated under Superintendent Chase's say-so, could be remediated and returned to use. Most of us got the impression that they were not discussing anything as temporary.

At the most recent School Board meeting, one taxpayer/resident stated that since there were adequate funds within this years budget to fund the move out of the mansion, the budget should be frozen at the current level and that same amount of money should be devoted to capital repairs in next years budget. It’s interesting that there was enough money to fund the move but during the entire Consolidation Bond push by Dr Chase, Terry Williams and David Warner we were constantly told there was no money to do repairs. Then we learned that there was money! Why the subterfuge?

Another resident questioned how they could have spent $247,000 dollars moving the Administration staff out of the mansion? The same resident asked why it cost $7000 to paint the Principals office. Finally, Mr Falcone was asked if the Mansion has been adequately winterized so the pipes don’t freeze? Mr Falcone responded that the cost to paint the principals office included eight rooms and was done by a contractor who is paid by the hour. It seems contractors are used for almost everything that is done at the schools – probably the most expensive way to go for repairs. Mr Falcone did say the Mansion has heat and is okay in that regard. Are we are fully heating an unoccupied building and for how long?

In fact, in questioning Mr Falcone about a maintenance staff, we learned that there is only one person in that position and he could use more people. He also stated that he is teaching this person the various systems. Consequently, he can only get so much done during the course of a day. If Mr Falcone, and more importantly the District schools, need maintenance people, why is the School District not hiring them? 

Also at this same meeting, another resident brought to light that during the Consolidation Bond initiative the public was told of the horrible conditions of our school buildings. After the bond was defeated, the public is still waiting to learn of the plan to proceed with repairs to those buildings. Rather than be forthcoming and address that, Dr Chase sought to dramatize the need to move out of the mansion because of a leaking roof, stating it was unsafe and uninhabitable. Yet after jettisoning the Early Childhood Classes to the Jackson School, the staff continued to work in the Mansion for another month! So what is the real condition of the Mansion, how badly does it need repair and why is nothing – once again – being done to retard further deterioration and repair the building? 

One resident asked for several clarifications. The first was of a rumor that Dr Chase was under investigation and if so, for what? The second was why are there signs in RJ Bailey School instructing students not to drink the water? Third, how many meetings has Dr Valenti missed as he was presented for tenure that night was not present? We’d think that for such an important milestone he would have been present! Fourth, when were the roof repairs going to be done? Finally, and most importantly, what is the plan for improving the low scores of our students based on the middle school assessments?

A PTA President asked why has the PTA been asked to help fund school field trips? The resident asked because there appears to be grant monies available that only the district can access. Is there a budget for school field trips? And why is there junk behind one of the schools? The common theme here is that so many questions are being asked over and over again by residents without concrete answers being provided by either the Superintendent or those elected to represent us. While the Superintendent and some on this Board still mistakenly believe that they Bond failed because they failed to adequately present their consolidation case to the public, that’s definitely not the case. The residents spoke very clearly but they still aren’t listening. It’s important to understand what the Boards actions, not words, are showing us.

The Government Relations Committee reported that they will draft a letter to Paul Feiner regarding the need to avoid removing any taxable parcels of land from the tax rolls when the Police Headquarters and Town Court are moved. Removing a large parcel from the tax roles would have a negative impact upon taxes received by the school district. What they are really saying is that the proposed bond that Mr Feiner will be pushing soon to replace the Police Station and Courthouse for $49 million dollars will have a negative impact on the community. But they didn’t have any qualms about proposing the $114 million dollar Consolidation Bond, did they?

There were other items discussed at this latest meeting. But between the High School walk-through and the the Board meetings, we see more duplicity than honesty. For instance, a large band rehearsal room is to be converted into a new office for the principal so he can meet with students and families privately. Mr Falcone said they would be building several walls to divide the space. A resident asked why folding walls would not be used since this was a temporary solution? We were told the Principal needs soundproof walls for privacy. During our walk-through, we saw many rooms that could be set up and used for meetings, temporarily, if privacy was truly the goal. Or, he could ask another employee to adjust their schedule to permit their office to be used for a meeting. Again, this is temporary fix, isn't it? When asked to see plans for this temporary office, Ms O'Neil said the process is that it goes out to bid, plans are drawn up and then the process continues. It was suggested that they have it backwards. Draw up plans (non-architectural would be fine), present it to the public, and then proceed. Perhaps there‘s a resident who is an architect and willing to donate plans at no cost to the district?

What we were being shown was not a temporary fix. No timeline or proposals for repairs have been offered. There was some good news at the last School Board meeting. In one very significant and positive move, the Board voted three to two against granting tenure to Dr Valenti. This Board and the Administration that works for them may be starting to listen to the residents and taxpayers. This vote against tenure for Dr Valenti is promising, a sign that necessary changes are starting to occur. This Board has to change or be changed. Only then will we get A Better Greenburgh School District.

Greenburgh Election Results

The race in Greenburgh results are as follows:

For Supervisor:
28-Year incumbent Paul Feiner received 10,974 combined votes (68%).
Challenger Lucas Cioffi received 5,190 votes (32%)

All other Greenburgh seats were unchallenged, including Ken Jones* and Gina Jackson for Town Board. For Town Clerk was incumbent Judith Beville.

* Jones currently has two ethics complaints pending against him.

Feiner’s Follies

During the 28 years of the Paul Feiner Administration, the residents of the Town of Greenburgh have been subjected to his mis-management and incompetency during that entire time and paying dearly for it. We’ve listed a wide collection of costly events from Mr Feiner.

Law Suits Verdicts Against The Town

• Fortress Bible Church discrimination lawsuit where Mr Feiner and his Board (at the time) $6.5 million award, which we are still paying.

• Cotswold Tree Damages. Found that the Town under-insured; Monetary award of millions; the Husband was killed and his wife was permanently disabled.

Pending Law Suits

• S&R Development Estates LLC has filed 7 lawsuits since 2007, against  the Town of Greenburgh for illegally blocking the development of a multi-family affordable & low income residential property for $26 million. This all came about due to an error on the Zoning map. The property should have been shown as being in a Residential district. Instead it was mistakenly shown as being in the Central Ave. commercial district where multi- family housing is permitted. When the mistake was discovered, Paul Feiner ordered the map to be corrected without following the legal procedure which required a Public Hearing. S&R purchased the property relying on the fact that it was zoned for multi/ family use.

• Argonaut Insurance Co., Wants to be released from covering the $26 million Dromore Road suit. They claim that they were not the insurance carrier when the basis for the initial suit (2007) took place and should be released from paying any fines since they were only retained in 2015. Actually, Argonaut maintain that Mr Feiner and Mr Sheehan acted intentionally, and as a result Argonaut should be released from coverage because public policy doesn’t allow for insurability of “intentionally caused harm.”  In other words, this isn’t an accident like a tree falling on a car: Argonaut is alleging that Messrs Feiner and Sheehan deliberately changed the maps to screw S&R and therefore they violated the insurance policy. This has happened before with the $6.5 million fine in the Fortress Bible Church. Because Mr Feiner was found guilty of lying under oath and destroying evidence in Federal Court, the insurance company only had to pay one million dollars of the entire amount. 

                  

• Ferncliff Cemetery is suing Mr Feiner and the Town for $76 million, contending that the twelve acres is actually property for cemetery burials. The Town has claimed that that property was not part of the original Ferncliff purchase and subsequently cannot be used for cemetery burials.

         

Land Use Decisions

• Shelbourne Assisted Living Facility. Disregarding the Town Zoning Ordinance re: Assisted Living and has a 3000% variance allowed - distance of more than 1 mile to State road instead of 200 ft.

• Deli Delicious Restaurant

  Appointed a tenant of the Deli Delicious owner to the Zoning Board of Appeals when the      

  property owner was seeking variances from that Board.

• Frank’s Nursery. Allowed uncollected taxes for 6 years before Town foreclosed on property. Tried to lease the property to GameOn Sports Complex – Illegal according to State and County law. He attempted to sell property without clear title. Also contracted to sell property to GameOn with a 13 year installment plan, and a way “out” if hazardous materials remediation costs exceeded a certain amount.

• WestHELP – Westchester Community College Property off of Knollwood Road. The Town was receiving $1.2 million per year for housing for homeless women and children.

Mr Feiner arranged a deal with the Valhalla School District to pay them $650,000 a year for school-age children to attend Valhalla schools. State Comptroller found the deal illegal. No children attended the Valhalla schools and a law suit was filed by private citizens to have that money returned to the Town and won. Another deal was made with the Mayfair Knollwood Civic Association to pay them $100,000 for their approval of this arrangement. The deal was found to be illegal.He also allowed the contract to lapse in 2011 causing the Town to lose over $8 million to date and forcing the property to fall into disrepair due to lack of maintenance.

• Tarryhill Housing on Old Tarrytown Road.The Town did not do its due diligence in allowing this affordable housing project to be sold to owners whose objective it is to turn the property into non-affordable housing per Wall Street Journal article.

Land Use Committees

Paul Feiner promoted the idea that land use committees would allow neighborhood residents to have input regarding proposed development in their communities. 

We have now been informed by the Commissioner of Community Development & Conservation that the rules have been changed and that land use committees will only be used when a Zoning Change is required for the project.

When a project (i.e. The Jefferson) was proposed in Mr. Feiner's “backyard”, he made sure that an outside independent consulting firm was hired to study all aspects of the proposal.

Without a land use committee, this procedure will not be followed.

There are currently 4 land use applications submitted to the Town that should be allowed to have land use committees formed to have input from the neighborhood residents that will be impacted by these developments. These are:

• ShopRite Super Market - MutliPlex theater/ Master's Shopping Center property on 9A. Mr Feiner favors allowing large tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles to use the adjoining Old Country Road. This project will impact the safety of 215 families in the Westchester Hills Condominiums and some residents of the Beaver Hill area.

• Sam's Club – 9A across from MultiPlex/Master's Shopping Center. They are seeking to install 7 underground gas tanks with 14 gas pumps in a FEMA-designated flood zone near the Saw Mill River. It would would eliminate 100 parking spaces and increase congested traffic flow for the area. This proposal was previously rejected by the Town's Zoning Board of Appeals. 

• Metropolis Country Club – Dobbs Ferry Road.They are seeking to change the Zoning Code for an Independent Living/Assisted Living/Memory Care Facility to allow for a 60% increase in density.They also want to introduce “floating zones” which could set a precedent to allow commercial entities in all residential districts.

• Maplewood Swim & Tennis Club – West Hartsdale Ave.They seek to build an Assisted Living/Memory Care Facility.They also wants a variance of 50% for the length of the building from 300 ft. to 450 ft. Neighbors in several neighborhoods nearby have expressed concerns involving increased traffic and safety on already heavily travelled roads.

         

All of the residents from these areas should be given the same opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns about these forthcoming developments, just like the residents of East Irvington (solar farms), Worthington-Woodlands (Elmwood CC), Hartsdale (4 Corners) and Ardsley (The Jefferson).

Dial Democracy

This was the brain child of Paul Feiner that allowed residents to call in to Town Board meetings during Public Comments and Public Hearings to voice their opinions, concerns and ask questions when they are unable to attend these meetings in person.

For some unknown reason, this important social media tool has been discontinued for the past decade despite the urging by citizens to restore it.

In fact, Dial Democracy should also be allowed during Public Hearings at the Planning Board and Public Hearings involving variances at the Zoning Board of Appeals. It’s what will make for A Better Greenburgh.