By Carol P. Bartold     

Nov 11, 2015:  The Bronxville Board of Trustees November 9 meeting proved a forum not only for acting on village infrastructure issues above and below ground, but also for pointing out how an above-ground decision can affect the infrastructure not readily visible.

Street Lighting:  As a first step to improve street lighting in the downtown business district, the trustees adopted a resolution to award a contract for street lighting fixtures to Woodlawn Electrical Supply of Yonkers. Lighting improvements will be installed on Pondfield Road beginning at Meadow Avenue and on Kraft Avenue to Sagamore Road and Kensington Road.

Village Administrator Jim Palmer explained that Woodlawn Electrical Supply will replace forty existing globes at $2,154.50 each. Ten "teardrop" lights, at $5,219.50 each, will be installed at crosswalks. The improvement project will change the nature of the lighting from incandescent to more effective and energy-efficient LED lighting.

"Depending on the bid for the installation," Palmer said, "we may be able to purchase some additional lighting."

Cablevision:  Mayor Mary Marvin reported that Cablevision has installed underground high-speed Internet capability along Kraft Avenue and Park Place. "We have asked for years for this upgrade," she said, "because many of our landlords had a great deal of trouble renting their second and third floors because of the lack of good Internet service."

Marvin noted that residents and businesses along Kraft Avenue are pleased with the improved service.

Parking Meters:  The trustees adopted a resolution to modify certain parking meters in the business district from a sixty-minute limit to a ninety-minute limit. Meter time limits will be increase on Park Place; the east side of Parkway Road, adjacent to Leonard Morange Square; the west side of Parkway Road; People's United Bank Plaza; Pondfield Road, in front of the U.S. Post Office; the west side of Pondfield Road from the Kraft Avenue intersection south to Cedar Street; the east side of Pondfield Road from Tanglewylde Avenue north to Valley Road; Studio Arcade; and Valley Road.

According to Jim Palmer, the change "follows meetings we've had with members of the business community and chamber of commerce. They brought to our attention that sixty minutes is not sufficient for them to transact the business that they need to do."

Sewer Cleaning:  As the village continues its long-term, intensive sewer-cleaning project, Mayor Marvin stated that village officials have begun a discussion about replacing the type of sewer grates currently in use.

"We were expecting to find tree roots and cracked pipes," Marvin said, "but we're finding more obstructions caused by garbage in our sewers." At the October meeting, she related that crews had found a bowling ball in one of the sewer pipes.

Leaf Removal:  Jim Palmer urged residents, and the contractors they hire for leaf removal, not to pile leaves on roadways or around fire hydrants. He pointed out that putting leaves on roadways for collection is a code violation.

"In a rain, any leaves that have been pushed to the gutters will be washed into our storm sewer system," Mayor Marvin said, "and the pipes we have cleaned will be filled with leaves."

The Bronxville Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, December 14, at 8:00 pm in the trustees room at Bronxville Village Hall.

Pictured here (L to R): Trustee Anne Poorman, Mayor Mary Marvin, and trustess Bob Underhill and Guy Longobardo.

Photo by Carol P. Bartold