By Mary C. Marvin

Mar. 16, 2016:  As we enter the spring season, activity is at a fever pitch in village hall, with many projects in various stages of execution.

The following is a status report on these activities and other issues that will occupy village government in the coming months.

FEMA Flood Mitigation Construction Project:  The village, in concert with the school district, signed an award letter with the lowest responsible bidder, Montesano Bros. of New Rochelle, and the documents are currently under review by counsel. Assuming legal compliance, we expect to execute the contract next week, followed by a pre-construction meeting during the first week of April.

Improved Street Lighting in the Business District:  Bids to install fixtures will be opened at 10:00 am this Friday, March 18. The lights and associated hardware will be delivered to village hall this week by the manufacturer.

The poles subsequently removed will be used as spare parts for the remaining, but now discontinued, "globe lights," many of which are now in disrepair.

Village Budget:  Per New York State Law, the village administrator must file a tentative budget with the board of trustees by March 20. The board then schedules multiple work sessions, which are open to the public, as well as a public hearing at the April 11 board of trustees' meeting, culminating in the adoption of a budget no later than May 1. Tax bills covering our fiscal year June 1, 2016, to May 31, 2017, are then mailed by June 1. Since the bill also includes school taxes, we deviate from the norm and divide the bill into two equal payments, with the second one due at year's end.

Downtown Improvements:  Crosswalk markings will be repainted, and the "bricked" intersections re-stamped. Additional crosswalks will receive the "brick" treatment, most notably the one adjacent to the soccer store, as the added demarcation increases visibly for safe passage.

PANGO:  The village completed a formal launch of the parking payment app in late February, and its usage has surpassed all projected goals. Staffers from PANGO will be in the village in the coming months to assist merchants and parkers with the installation of the system, which has proven to take less than three minutes. By no means a parking solution, it is an added non-coin option for parking patrons. (The app has proven most helpful to customers when errands take longer than anticipated, as they can now add time remotely from a store or medical office.)

Village Hall Front Walk:  Bids for the refurbishment of the entrance to village hall will be opened on March 24. The village worked closely with IQ-Architects, which just completed a very attractive downtown project in Larchmont, as well as consulting with village resident experts in landscaping, architecture, and historical compatibility.

Village Infrastructure Repairs:  The sanitary sewer lines in the business district, as well as locations adjacent to major trunk lines throughout the village, were televised and cleaned. Tree roots proved to be the major obstruction. Areas needing repair were identified and bids have been prepared for the anticipated excavation, removal, and replacement of what in some instances is 100-year-old clay piping.

As a prophylactic measure going forward, we plan to bid out a project to reline the old pipes, thus forestalling/preventing anticipated deterioration due to age.

Replacement of Village Street Signs:  With technical and financial assistance from The Bronxville Historical Conservancy, approximately twenty newly fabricated village street signs will be installed, replacing some of the temporary green signs currently interspersed throughout the village.

This spring will be phase I in a project to restore all of our distinctive signs to their historic authenticity.

Scout Field:  The Town of Eastchester recently received an intermunicipal agreement document from Westchester County committing the county to grading, topsoil, drainage, and an irrigation system to create a natural-turf soccer field.

Upon Eastchester approval, the village will then enter into a sub-intermunicipal agreement with the town to delineate our duties and usage schedule. The town, school district, and village government have worked together over the past year to formulate a comprehensive schedule beneficial to all.

Brick Road:  Again, with technical and financial assistance from our historical conservancy, the replacement bricks are now stockpiled here at village hall with an anticipated project start date of April 1.

Village Recreation:  As a result of the efforts of our new sports director, Jessica Watts, resident participation in our paddle program has grown significantly. We are particularly pleased that many new permit holders are youngsters, families, beginners, or residents new to the village, harkening back to the paddle demographics of old.

Trash Receptacles:  Also on the horizon are the purchase of more solar BigBelly trash receptacles for the business district. They are vermin-proof and hold seven times the amount of trash that a normal bin holds, thus lowering our manpower costs, especially on weekends.

Notice Boards:  The village will also be purchasing new and more vandalism-proof notice boards to be placed in both business districts.

Parking Kiosks:  We also anticipate the installation of three parking kiosks as a first step to rid the village of a sea of parking meters. Mindful of the lot's location near medical offices, a kiosk would be convenient to the back door of 77 Pondfield Road with no requirement that parkers return to their vehicles to display a receipt.

Please keep an eye out for all these changes as you travel the village, and tell us what you think.