Update From Senator Fernandez’s Office on Watershed 3
By Joyce Farrell
On September 23, the Board of Trustees of the Village of Pelham Manor welcomed David Montilla from New York State Senator Nathalia Fernandez’s office. Montilla gave an update on Watershed 3 and the wider stormwater watershed issues affecting Pelham Manor. He recently met with Village Manager Lindsay Luft to discuss the progress and to identify additional steps that can be taken.
Montilla stated that Senator Fernandez is committed to escalating the issue to NYC Parks and NYS officials. She has already been in contact with Jessenia Aponte, Bronx Borough Commissioner at NYC Parks, and will be in contact with NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue to request an expedited field assessment of the dual culverts and open channel in Pelham Bay Park. She will also be working with the NYS Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide any support necessary to move the project forward.
Potential funds have been identified that can be allocated towards the necessary renovations for the culverts and for addressing the back pitch. The NYC Parks Department first needs to complete its financial and field assessments so that it can provide an estimated cost for the project for the changes that are needed.
Fernandez’s office is working closely with the NYC Parks Department and NYS DEP to ensure that assessments are made and completed as soon as possible and will keep the Pelham Manor community informed about the progress.
Following Montilla’s report to the Board, Trustee Daniel McLaughlin urged residents to sign up for Village Alerts on the Village’s website. Those who have difficulty doing so, don’t have internet service, or would prefer text alerts can text 10803 to 888-7777 to receive them instead.
Trustee Timothy Case commented on the Village’s 9/11 Memorial Ceremony, which is organized every year by a committee headed by Joe Durnin, former Pelham Manor mayor. Trustee Case mentioned that the 25th anniversary commemoration of 9/11 is already being planned. Anyone who has contact information for family members of 9/11 victims from Pelham Manor is asked to email Joe Durnin at pelmayor@aol.com with the information.
Breda Bennet, Trustee and Police Commissioner, stated that the recent bicycle registration was successful; over 40 bicycles were registered. Anyone who had been unable to attend the registration day may stop by police headquarters to register their bicycles.
Police Chief Thomas Atkins reported to the Board that shoplifting continues to be a problem at ShopRite, but the department’s rapid response time often results in arrests, which are hopefully a deterrent. He also noted that some in the community have been victims of fraud and reminded residents that they should never give anyone personal information over the phone and never give anyone remote access to their computer or bank account. If a resident receives a call from someone claiming to be a bank representative, Chief Atkins advises that the resident hang up, call the bank, and report the call they had received. The bank can then check their account for fraudulent activity.
Additional crimes that have concerned residents recently are vehicle theft and burglaries. In response, the police department has increased patrols during the times that the crimes have occurred, continues to work with Westchester County’s Real Time Crime Unit (RTC), and has added overtime shifts. As a result, there were no such crimes during the week before the Board’s meeting on September 23. Chief Atkins reminded residents to lock their cars, doors, and windows, and to make sure that their alarms are working. If there is a crime in progress, residents are advised to call the police station directly at 738-1000 rather than calling 911, for a swift police response.
The Board then passed a resolution to use the 2023 adjusted base proportions, which modestly favors residential homeowners, rather than the 2024 adjusted base proportions, to determine how the taxes are allocated between homestead (one- and two-family homes) and non-homestead (commercial) properties for the next fiscal year.
Finally, the Board passed a resolution in opposition of a proposal by the NYS Office of Court Administration to centralize arraignments in towns and villages in Westchester County. The cities in Westchester are now using centralized arraignments; in the towns and villages, however, defendants are currently arraigned by local justices. If arraignments are centralized in Westchester, all defendants would be arraigned in one, central location, most likely the White Plains County Courthouse. This method has been reported to cause a delay in arraignments, resulting in the defendants being in custody longer, which is in contradiction to recent bail reform.
Visit https://vimeo.com/1012213854 to view the public commentary portion of the meeting in which several of the above items were discussed.