Tuckahoe Board Welcomes New Faces, Talks Budget

The Tuckahoe Village Board met last Monday to discuss the village’s proposed budget, make appointments to the Planning and Zoning boards and to get an update on the Yonkers Avenue Repair Project.

New mayor Steven A. Ecklond and new trustee Greg Luisi officially began their duties as public officials, as Monday’s meeting was their first such meeting as members of the Village Board.

Here are some highlights:

Budget Update

Treasurer John Pintos was the first to address the board on the tentative village budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. He began by citing the 6.86 percent increase of the village tax rate, which equals  $437 per $1,000 of taxable assessed valuation.

Like other municipalities, the village has been hurt by declining property values, which has affected the amount of tax revenue it can generate.

“It seems to me that what really hurts is the decrease of the assessment role,” Mayor Ecklond.

The village will also lose money as a result of losing a tenant in Village Hall. Ecklond said not having a tenant on the third floor would amount to a $200,000 annual loss in revenue.

“We made a pretty strong pitch for the Tuckahoe school board administration to relocate their office [to the 3rd floor],” Ecklond said. “Unfortunately, I received a notice from them today that they’ve declined our offer.”

The trustees passed a motion to keep the public hearing open until they vote to pass the budget on April 25.

Appointments

The Village Board also made several appointments. Former trustee Clare Gorman was appointed to the Planning Board. Ecklond said he is confident Gorman’s environmental consciousness will have a positive effect on the Planning Board.

Ann Marie Ciaramella was reappointed as chairperson of the Planning Board, and Nicholas DiSalvo and Ronald Gallo were appointed to the Zoning Board.

IMA with Westchester County

During the meeting, Tuckahoe Housing Committee chairman Jeff Zuckerman addressed the board and emphasized the importance of applying in a timely manner for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), which help to provide funding for the village's upkeep.

The village has scheduled a May 9 public hearing to decide whether or not to enter into an inter-municipal agreement with the county for the CDBG funding. The agreement would require the village to advance fair housing.

Zuckerman said he feared the May hearing may be too late because there is a June 1 deadline to apply for CDBG funding.

If the board doesn't vote to enter into an IMA with the county at the next meeting, the village will not meet the  CDBG grant deadline.

“We’re dead in the water without some CDBG money,” Zuckerman said.

License Approvals

Tuckahoe Police Lt. Raffaele Stabile, standing in for Chief John Costanzo, was asked by the board to comment on the records of several village establishments requesting the renewal of limited cabaret licenses, which allow certain businesses to provide entertainment. Based on his recommendation, the board approved licenses to Stephen’s Green, Angelina’s, Mamma Assuntas, The Quarry and An American Bistro for a timeframe of six months each.  

The board did not approve granting a peddler’s license for the sale of hot dogs and other items on Garrett Avenue. Ecklond cited litter issues while Giordano welcomed future petitioners to make their case before the board.

Departmental Reports

Department of Public Works Superintendent Frank DiMarco updated the board on the status of the Yonkers Avenue repair project and said his team has conducted electrical services to the buildings in the area, adding that Cablevision and Verizon have also completed their share of the project.

DiMarco said he will meet with Consolidated Edison to schedule a date for the removal of three utility poles to allow for connections via an underground conduit, at which point DPW can clear shrubs and trees to repair sections of damaged road. He will also speak with the Army Corps of Engineers to deliver an accurate time frame to residents of Lake Avenue and Armour Villa by the end of the week. 

The next Village Board meeting will be held on April 25.