By Stephen E. Lipken
Village of Pelham Mayor Chance Mullen called the Tuesday, June 11th Board of Trustees meeting to order, congratulating Boy Scout Woods Johnson upon receiving his Eagle Award. “That brings me to an update about the Highbrook Highline, building a fence around the entire property, and Capital Project for Young Avenue Field,” Mullen said, referring to Johnson’s Eagle Project.
“Young Avenue Field is a slightly more complicated situation. Underneath Young Avenue Field is an old railroad that collapsed with resultant sinkholes… Prior to being a field, the Village incinerated things. It is not contaminated...My intension is to move on that as soon as possible.”
“I received a letter from some individuals in our Village, asking that a rainbow LGBTQ Flag be flown, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. I have spoken to the Board about this and we will fly that flag outside of Village Hall next month,” Mullen continued.
“I do not view this as a political act but as an act of kindness and inclusion... For fifty years there have been two symbols, a rainbow flag and parade to go and be yourself.”
Then Vincent Spadafora proposed a “Giving Garden” on a 40 x 40-foot plot of Village land to raise vegetables for food pantries, with an expected yield of 300 pounds of vegetables per year, totally manned by volunteers. He noted that 1 in 5 people are “food stressed,” risking hunger; 33% children, 22% elderly. Projected site is Wolfs Lane Park, near Villaggio’s Restaurant using rain water, water truck or tapping a fire hydrant. Their proposed website is pcgg.org.
The Board passed Law No. 3 of 2019, Amending Chapter 19 of Village Code (Real Property Assessment) regarding Real Property Taxes Assessment of Converted Condominiums. Mullen explained that Town Assessor Michele Casandra recommended that the Village close a loophole whereby someone would open a rental building, convert to a condominium but pay lower taxes as a rental, unfairly shifting the burden on other taxpayers.
