Bronxville Trustees: Solar Energy Systems Law Passes, Police Officers Promoted

Police Department Promotions

Members of the Bronxville police department and their friends and family turned out in full force on Monday night as the Board approved two promotions at its monthly meeting.

Officer Alton Gray, who joined the department in 1992 and Detective Bart Sandarciero, a department member since 2002, were both appointed to the position of sergeant, effective September 20 and September 21 respectively. Both will have an annual salary of $109,189. The newly appointed sergeants were sworn in by Deputy Mayor Glenn Bellitto.

The vacancies came as a result of the retirement of two sergeants, said Police Chief Christopher Satriale, who gave a brief introduction of each officer. Satriale also noted that the promotions had been delayed several months in an effort to save money.

In addition to the appointments, various members of the department were honored with awards, including the meritorious police duty award and the department excellence duty award for their work.

Mayor Mary Marvin called the entire force very qualified and skilled with "incredible community connections."

Solar Energy Systems Law Passes

The Board opened the public hearing for the proposed law addressing solar energy and renewable energy system installations in the village. The law sets guidelines for putting in solar energy systems such as solar panels and other renewable energy sources like wind turbines and water geothermal systems, while still keeping in line with the look of the village and the overall effects positive.

Patrick Gasparro, a Tuckahoe resident and owner of Nature's Cradle in Eastchester was the only person from the public to comment at the hearing.

He first suggested additional ways the Board could encourage people to use the alternative systems, including offering classes and installing solar panels on municipal buildings or the library. He also expressed the need to look at the panels as beautiful and not something to be restricted. 

"Even if they were ugly, we should still install them because of their inner beauty," he told the Board.

Gasper also addressed what he felt to be restrictions with section three of the law, which includes information about where and how high freestanding equipment can be placed on a person's property. (To read the full law, click here.)

Mayor Marvin called the law a "balancing act" and explained that in a community where people often live close together, one person might like the panels and another might not.

The mayor also said that Bronxville is one of the first communities to draft such a law and that the County government recently sent a letter—which Village Administrator Harold Porr read out loud—applauding the village's efforts.

Village attorney James Staudt noted that the law had been worked on for some eight months. Once the public hearing was closed, the Board voted and unanimously approved the law.

Public Hearing on Dog Noise

The Board set a public hearing for a proposed revision to the village code regulating noises made by dogs and other animals.

According to the proposed ordinance, which can be found in village hall (and soon online), the animals cannot "cause unreasonable noise including, but not limited to, any sound that is plainly audible at any location within any residential receive property." This includes: after 7 a.m. and before 10 p.m. for more than 10 continuous minutes or before 7 a.m. and after 10 p.m. for more than five minutes.

The hearing will take place at the next Board meeting on October 12.

Metro North Study Comments

Back in 2009, the village conducted a study of the noise and vibrations along the train tracks. According to Porr, the study found that the noise surpassed standards that Metro-North said they would not exceed after the third track was put in around 2003. After presenting the results, Metro North contested the findings of the village-hired engineer, he said today. 

At Monday's meeting, the Board approved a contract with Tectonic Engineering & Surveying Consultants for no more than $1,500 to respond to Metro North's comments.

Serial Bond Approvals 

The Board approved issuing a number of serial bonds for various improvements, including the acquisition of equipment such as police cars and parking meters in the amount of $211,797 and the acquisition of traffic signal installation for $176,078, among others.

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be on Tuesday, October 12. Note: This was changed from October 11,