Mamaroneck REVIEW THE
January 29, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 5 | www.mamaroneckreview.com
HCZMC discusses village development By James Pero Staff Writer
Whiteout Winter Storm Jonas dropped up to 25 inches of snow in some areas of Westchester on Saturday, Jan. 23, nearing record marks for accumulation. As soon as the storm subsided, residents and municipal crews worked hard to clear the roads and cars. For coverage, see page 10. Photo/Andrew Dapolite
Rate hikes for new Mamaroneck Avenue meters imminent By James Pero Staff Writer According to village of Mamaroneck officials, metered parking rates around the village are slated for price increases following the introduction of modern meters. The impetus behind such rate increases will offset credit processing fees, which are attached to the new meters being piloted in the village’s business district along Mamaroneck Avenue and parking lots in the vicinity that accept the use of cards. Village Manager Richard
Slingerland said that whether the village opts for single or multispace meters in the end, rate increases are inevitable. “Whether we go with one or the other, we’re going to have charges for credit processing,” he said. “We’re going to have to increase our rates villagewide to cover all of those additional expenses.” Which type of meter would yield the largest increase also remains to be seen, according to the village manager. “We’re doing all the calculations and rates now,” he said. Though the increases may be imminent, the village has yet to
officially propose a specific rate hike. Increases totaling a quarter were suggested during a recent work session of the village board. Slingerland said the rate increase will be substantial enough to offset a potential village revenue loss as a result of installing new meters. According to Mayor Norman Rosenblum, a Republican, the village board will also hear the opinions of the Chamber of Commerce and other volunteer village boards and commissions in the months to come. In the end, however, the final decision will come from the Board of
Trustees, the mayor said. Data will be collected and analyzed to help board members make a final decision on which meters to implement, according to a recent resolution passed by the village board. The discussion of increased meter rates has come in preparation of the imminent budget season which will begin in March. No rate increases will be instituted until then, according to Slingerland. He said the increases will likely be all at once, when they do come in. CONTACT: james@hometwn.com
Decades of wear and tear aren’t the only thing weighing on the village of Mamaroneck’s sewer lines. According to a recent meeting of the village’s Harbor Coastal Zone Management Commission, an influx of new development has compounded the village’s problems. Clark Neuringer, chairman of the harbor commission, says despite the increasing concern of pollution caused by the village’s degraded sewer lines, new developments continue to be approved. “I’ve been living in the village for 40 some odd years,” Neuringer said. “My understanding is that [this problem] has been going on for 15 years, maybe longer.” Currently, the village—in addition to 11 other Sound Shore-area municipalities across Westchester—is embroiled in a countywide lawsuit which alleges that villages, towns and cities across the county are operating in violation of the EPA’s Clean Water Act for polluting the Long Island Sound. The lawsuit, filed by the environmental advocacy group Save the Sound, alleges that waste water has been entering coastal waters via sewer drains that have become porous after decades of neglect. According to the group, some sample sites have been failing the EPA safe-swim criteria
by as much as three times the legal limit of fecal contaminants. According to Neuringer, while neglect is the root cause of widespread pollution, he says that development in the village—which he claims has been increasing—are exacerbating it. “It’s clear to any reasonable observer that developments have been increasing in the village,” Neuringer said. “The question that ought to be asked is: If there are pipes that are polluting our waters, why would you add additional development?” According to Village Manager Richard Slingerland, a comprehensive study carried out in partnership with Westchester County in 2007 is the latest reference available for those looking to quantify the scope of the village’s sewer problems. In this report—called the Savin report—various areas in the village were studied, including homes near Rushmore and Frank avenues that reported severe flooding, in addition to pump stations at Cove Road and Edgewater. Findings in the report show significant infiltration issues in addition to broken pipes, corrosion, offset joints, grease and other issues in both the Rushmore and Frank Avenues’ areas of study. Additionally, the study notes that the Cove Road pump station had seen its inflow increase hczmc continued on page 8
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