By Staff

April 16, 2025: The Bronxville Village Board of Trustees held its April meeting this week. Below are some highlights from that meeting:

Local News and a Few Upcoming Events

Mayor Mary Marvin reported that it's the 100th Anniversary of the Bronxville Women's Club, and they will have many events this year.

The Bronxville Library Fundraiser "A Night at the Races" is coming up on April 25th. CLICK HERE for tickets.

The Working Gardeners organization has donated dogwood trees to replace the dogwoods that were originally behind the Bronxville tennis courts. A dedication will be coming up.

The new Topps Bakery has opened. There was a wonderful open house with free coffee. We welcome them to the Village.

Mayor Marvin shared the sad news that the former Head of the Bronxville Chamber of Commerce and head of Park Sterling Realty, Leah Caro, passed away from cancer. There will be a Public Memorial Service on Saturday, April 26, from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m., at Fred H. McGrath & Son, Inc. in Bronxville.

Trash Pickup, Discolored Water, Drainage Improvements

Bronxville Administrator Jim Palmer reported the following:

-There will be no trash pickup on Friday, April 18th.

-Bronxville's water supply is operated by Veolia. Last week, the Village received complaints about discolored water. Veolia was contacted and looked into the issue, but the Village is awaiting an explanation. Palmer noted that this is the time of year that they undertake their hydrant flush, which stirs up turbidity, but he does not know if that is the cause of discolored water. He also noted that there is a water quality report on the Village website.  

-The Village Board met on April 1st with a consulting engineer to review plans for the improvements to the Crawford drainage basin to address flooding conditions in this area. A meeting is scheduled with the neighbors. Drainage improvements on Hamilton Avenue are also underway.

-Village roads have been paved and on-street dining commenced on April 15.

Trustee Reports: Farmers Market Opening, Memorial Day Grand Marshal Named, Tree-planting Project

Trustee Helen Knapp reported that the Chamber of Commerce has been doing great work and that the Easter Bunny was in town recently. She also said that the Bronxville Farmers Market is opening for the season on May 10th.

Trustee Mary Behrens reported that she and Mayor Marvin recently attended the Iona University Trustee Scholarship Award Gala in New York City. The honoree was Steven Corwin, CEO of NewYork Presbyterian Hospital. In 2021, NewYork-Presbyterian donated $20 million to Iona College to establish the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, a new state-of-the-art facility on the Iona Bronxville campus.

Deputy Mayor Bob Underhill reported that Dr. George Unis has been named Grand Marshal of Bronxville's 2025 Memorial Day Parade. Dr. Unis is a longtime resident of Bronxville and orthopedic surgeon. Underhill noted that Dr. Unis served as an orthopedic surgeon in the US Army and during the waning years of the Vietnam War and that "there couldn't be a more deserving person."

Trustee Bill Fredericks reported that this year's Bronxville Historical Conservancy Brendan Gill lecture featured historian and writer Doris Kearns Goodwin. He thanks the Conservancy for this outstanding event.

Trustee Fredericks also reported that the Conservancy has agreed to match a $75k commitment of the Village to a new tree-planting project. He noted that the Village has lost its tree canape over the years and that this project is part of a commitment to maintain the Village's landscaping for future generations. It is hoped that community members will also support this project.

Report of Village Administrator Jim Palmer

Bronxville Village Administrator Jim Palmer provided highlights of the Village 2025-26 Budget, which can be viewed on the Village's website and at Village Hall. Below are some budget highlights.

Revenue Sources

-The total Village Budget is just over $21 million, a 4.48% increase over 2023-24.

-The tax levy in the 2025-26 Budget is $13.0 million, a 3.07% increase from 2024-25.

-Some of the large non-property tax revenue sources are parking revenues (budgeted at over $3 million) and sales tax (budgeted at $1.7 million).

Expenses

-The main driver of the increase in expenses in the proposed budget is employee benefits.  

-Palmer noted that most of the Bronxville library's funding comes from the Village, which contributes $1.7 million to the library.

-The Village is budgeting more for retirement benefits (up over $100K) and worker compensation premiums.

-The Village's liability coverage is also increasing (budgeted at $400k), but the Village is still having discussions with a number of carriers to see if they can lower these costs.

-He noted that the Village does not control the police retirement system.

-The DPW budget remains steady.

-Palmer noted that the Village has debt "on the books" and that one of the bonds is coming off next year.

Tax Levy

The Village's 2025-26 Budget results in a tax levy of $13.035 million. The levy exceeds the Village's tax cap by $78,604. The Board voted to approve a "tax cap override."

Trustee Fredericks noted that the budgeting principles that guide the budget numbers are "real" and represent the Village's best good-faith projection.

Other items

The Trustees approved the purchase of two police cars.

The Village is joining 38 other municipalities to go before the Public Service Commission to try to reduce Con Edison rates.

The Board approved a motion to proclaim April 25th Arbor Day in the Village of Bronxville.  

The Board approved the purchase of a drone for the police department. This drone will be used to supplement the efforts of the police department.

Jim Palmer announced the appointment of Thomas Morzello as the new Assistant Village Administrator. He was previously in Scarsdale and Croton.

You can watch the full meeting HERE.