By Staff

Jan. 22, 2025: The Village of Bronxville held its first Trustees Meeting of 2025 on January 13, 2025.  Below are the key items from the meeting.

The Mayor's Report

There was a grand Christmas Eve celebration in front of the Reformed Church. Hundreds of residents attended. Then, on the 26th, the Village had a Menorah lighting in Leonard Morange Park.

Mayor Marvin also spoke about the ECAP Martin Luther King Breakfast Fundraiser at the Reformed Church. County Executive Ken Jenkins was the keynote speaker. The Bronxville Rotary paid for all the food for the event. The money raised goes to children in need. You can see pictures from the event here.

Mayor Marvin also requested a moment of silence for the people in California facing the wildfires.

Marvin also noted that this year's Bronxville Library fundraiser will be on April 25, 2025.

Steven Shallo, the Deputy Village Administrator, is taking a new job in Scarsdale. Mayor Marvin, Jim Palmer, and the Trustees thanked him and wished him well.

Village Administrator Report

Village Administrator Jim Palmer reported the following:

-The new refuse schedule is on the village website

-Christmas tree collections are underway. The trees will be converted into mulch, which is distributed in the spring

-Please maintain sidewalks in front of your property

-The Village Court Clerk Kelly Glover retired last week. A new Court Clerk has replaced Glover. Palmer presented a resolution to approve this new hire.

-A report about the Village MS4 program (Municipal Storm Sewer System) is on the village website.

-Palmer presented a resolution to increase the number of police officers in Bronxville from 17 to 18.

Other Items

Trustee Mary Behrens reported that the new village website will launch shortly and that the Village has a new monthly newsletter that you can sign up for on the village website.

Trustee Bob Underhill appointed two new police officers - - Officer Samantha Pena and Officer Sydney Newbury. Both officers come from the New York Police Department. Underhill also noted that Officer Kevin O'Shea will also join the police force, and that the Village is awaiting final approval from the county.

Underhill expressed appreciation to the Bronxville Police Chief for his hard work vetting the department's new hires.

Trustee Helen Knapp presented a resolution to authorize the creation of a capital project of $35k to do an engineering assessment, design specifications, and management services for a solar installation on top of the DPW Building. This resolution was approved. After these actions are completed, a decision on whether to proceed with the solar project will be made. As currently contemplated, the potential solar project would provide renewable power generation for the DPW and other municipal buildings in the Village. A grant application for up to $125,000 to help fund this potential project has been submitted.

Village Administrator Jim Palmer presented the following resolutions:

-Authorizing moving forward with the Bronxville Library workroom renovation project and providing funding. This is the workspace for the library staff, which hasn't been upgraded in an estimated 30 years. The renovation will include replacing the flooring and adding a new worktop station, ceiling fans, and additional networking outlets. The low bid for this project was $179,630. This project will be partly funded by a $55,000 New York State Library Construction grant. The remaining amount will be funded by the Village and the Bronxville Library Fund Balance.

-Authorizing the retention of OLA consulting engineering firm to design, bid and oversee construction services related to replacing the library boiler and heating system.  The cost for these consulting services is $49,700 which will be funded by the Bronxville Library Fund Balance. The Village has also received a State Grant of $100,000 to help fund the new system, which will be a gas-fired burner. This project will include running new gas lines.

Palmer then presented several items for approval:

Environmental Resolutions

-Environmental compliance resolution for the water pump purchased.

-Environmental compliance resolution for the vacuum truck purchased.

Bonds

-Authorization of a $80,000 bond for the new water pump.

-Authorization of a $426,000 bond for the recent downtown pedestrian improvements. The total cost of the downtown improvements is $700,000. This project is being partially funded by a $150,000 State Grant as well as the bond. Paving will be done in late winter or early spring. Plantings will be done in the spring.