Mamaroneck REVIEW THE
May 20, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 21 | www.mamaroneckreview.com
Out of this world On May 9, visitors of all ages observed the Transit of Mercury from the Playland Boardwalk in Rye. The astrological event, in which the planet Mercury passes between Earth and the sun, occurs roughly 13 times per century. For story, see page 13. Contributed photo
Former leaf composting site may get park treatment By JAMES PERO Staff Writer One man’s trash could become another man’s treasure, as village of Mamaroneck officials move to repurpose a former leaf composting site into a public park space. According to Village Manager Richard Slingerland, though the property has already been fully remediated from its former use as a leaf composting site, there are limits to what the village can do. Because of its classification as a hazardous site by the New York state Department of Envi-
ronmental Conservation, DEC, the village is prohibited from building any structures on the central part of the 7-acre property due to concerns about a “capped” area that may still contain toxic waste. Slingerland said the site— which was always villageowned—was the subject of a large-scale remediation about 30 years ago after hazardous chemicals were illegally dumped onto the grounds that were intended for leaf composting. The cost, he estimates, was around $4 million, 75 percent of which was paid for by the state. The concern, according to
Slingerland, is that any large structure created there may puncture a capped area—which was sealed off following the site’s remediation—and create an environmental hazard. Now, the village Board of Trustees, in tandem with the Recreation Department, Planning Board and Committee for the Environment, will mull over a number of different uses for the site. Among them, according to a recent memo from the village manager, are a dog park, public trails and pathways, ball fields and various other recreational uses.
Before the village can begin repurposing the site, however, it must be approved for use by the DEC’s brownfields division, a segment that regulates the transformation of sites that contain hazardous materials. According to Slingerland, the village is currently assessing proposals from three engineering firms to assess the site and verify whether or not it’s fit for public use. Slingerland said he hopes that the process of approving a firm and assessing the site will begin before the end of the month. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
$133M school budget passes, endorsees win seats By SARAH VARNEY Education Reporter Unofficial election results for the Mamaroneck Union Free School District budget and Board of Education trustees are in: the budget passed easily and the two candidates endorsed by the Committee for the Selection of Mamaroneck School Board Nominees will take their seats on June 30. The $133 million budget passed overwhelmingly with 1,037 votes in support of the budget and just 197 against. The budget will fund the addition of one elementary teacher, an expanded dual language program at the Mamaroneck Avenue School and the introduction of an eighth-grade exploring music course at Hommocks Middle School. Sari Winter and Rina Beder will replace James Needham and Nancy Pierson on the board. Most trustees on the board serve one or two three-year terms. Winter received 1,001 votes, Beder got 958, and outside candidate Michael Rosenbaum received 314 votes. Rosenbaum congratulated both Beder and Winter on their victories although he did imply that the endorsement of the selection committee provided an advantage that wasn’t available to him. “It just doesn’t seem democratic to me,” he said. He pointed out that the 24-member committee, which has been picking candidates since 1946
was unlikely to have a number of Hispanic members relative to the number of community members of Hispanic descent in the district. But he added, “Both winners are qualified and I congratulate them.” This election marked the first time a school board race in Mamaroneck had been contested since 2012. Rosenbaum’s decision to enter the race was based on issues and his general perception that the Board of Education was exhibiting little leadership. The decision whether or not to allow an onsite medical center at Mamaroneck Avenue School was one example of a lack of leadership, he said. In addition, he saw the board’s decision to OK a budget that included reductions in funding for the summertime Co-op Camp as parsimonious. Winter and her husband have three children. Two of them are enrolled at Murray Avenue School and a third will start kindergarten in the fall. Her family has lived in the district for six years. Before the move to Mamaroneck, Winter taught English at area schools including the LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts in New York City. Beder has two sons, one of whom graduated from Mamaroneck High School a year ago and another who will graduate budget continued on page 8
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