Building Department Escrow Glitch
A memo to the Board of Trustees (BOT) from Daniel Segal, Director of Planning and Development and Brittanie O’Neill, Land Use Board Coordinator/Secretary dated September 23 outlined a request for $55,000 of additional funding due to “consultant services and for staffing coverages.” See HERE. The BOT approved the request in a 5-0 vote at the Regular Session.
As part of obtaining a permit, applicants must work with the Building Department and, in some cases, establish escrow accounts. The money held by the Village is estimated to be the amount required for Village consultants to review the specific project rather than having taxpayers bear the burden for residents who are making changes to their property. As the application moves through the land use process, the consultants submit bills to the Village and are paid from the applicant’s escrow accounts.
Evidently, due to the turnover in staff in both the Building and Planning Departments, applicants were prematurely and erroneously refunded their escrow funds. With the discovery of an outstanding invoice summary from AKRF (the outside planning consultants) Segal and O’Neill set about to review all of the paperwork related to this oversight. What started as almost $90,000 has been whittled down to the $55,000 request for outstanding attorney and consultant bills along with part-time staffing.
Applicants are being contacted to request that they pay the Village back for the incorrect refunds they received. If an application is still in process it is anticipated that the Village will get paid back. If a Certificate of Occupancy has already been issued there is no legal requirement for an applicant to pay the Village back.
Segal and O’Neill have already instituted new procedures to prevent this from happening in the future.
“Not a Cut Through”
At the BOT Work Session Trustee Lou Young outlined what he says is the next step to slow down traffic on Mamaroneck Avenue near Mamaroneck Avenue School. With the continued closure of the Waverly Avenue Bridge through November he said this was an opportunity to take action to stop cars from cutting across Waverly Avenue to get to I-95 North.
Young outlined several ideas including reversing the direction of Waverly Avenue and posting “no through traffic” and “no thru trucks” signs. Specifically, Young asked the BOT to formally adopt a policy to discourage traffic from “cutting through” the Village. Interim Village Manager Chuck Strome stated that such a policy would not be enforceable.
Another idea from Young was to have Village staff study Washingtonville traffic. Strome explained that would require a detailed traffic study that Village staff do not have the expertise to do. The Village would have to hire a consulting firm and suggested AKRF, which has already done significant work in the area. Any comprehensive strategy would be recommended by the professionals. Strome will ask AKRF to find out how much a study would cost.
Young also urged the BOT to pass a resolution asking NYS DOT (Department of Transportation) to install an additional access ramp to I-95 North. He wants to call on the Town of Mamaroneck and Village of Larchmont to join with the Village of Mamaroneck to find an additional entry onto I-95 North that would keep traffic away from the Village. There was not much optimism that the other municipalities would provide any significant cooperation, but a draft resolution will be prepared that will also include the policy of discouraging “cut throughs.”
Speed humps on some Washingtonville streets were discussed with Strome pointing out that first the Village needs a policy that incorporated input from residents. Temporary speed humps might be a viable option as they are movable and could be tested in various locations to evaluate the impact. Any installation would also have to be coordinated with Con Edison, first responders and residents. The Traffic Commission is working on the issue and will provide a recommendation that includes specific locations.
Police Chief Sandra DiRuzza agreed that “no through traffic” signage would be helpful and that speed humps were a great idea.
New Trucks for Parks Department
It’s time to replace two 2008 service vehicles for the Parks Department. The cost for the new vehicles is approximately $130,000 before any proceeds from the sale of the old ones. Trustee Nora Lucas asked if the Village could use ARPA funding and was told that there could be as much as $1.5 million left from the federal grant which had to be contracted for or spent by 12/31/24. Interim Village Manager Chuck Strome will have staff prepare a report for the Work Session on October 15th outlining the remaining available funds and what they may be used for.
Interim Help for the Building Department
Responding to the many emails from frustrated residents, many of whom have waited months to get their projects and/or building permits, the Village will contract with LaBella (see Proposal HERE). Interim Village Manager Chuck Strome described the situation as an “emergency” especially after the recent resignation of the Building Inspector. The BOT passed the resolution to have Strome enter into an agreement with LaBella 5-0.
Flood Update
Mayor Sharon Torres reported that work was ongoing on the various projects currently underway. Village Engineer Gino Frabasile explained that river maintenance was ongoing with Village personnel cleaning out debris and blockages from the rivers. The Florence Park project is on time and on budget and should be completed by 11/1. The Village is working with Con Edison on the Wood Street and Jefferson Avenue drainage areas. The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) home elevation grants are also in process for 13 residents who will apply to elevate their homes.
Nostrand and Howard Avenues Pocket Park
Trustee Young reported that the Committee for the Environment (CFTE) has cleared and restored a parcel of Village land on the river as part of the Greenway project. CFTE is asking the BOT to designate it as a formal park which would allow the Village to put up signage, benches and garbage/recycling containers. Kate Dehais from CFTE said that a bench in memory of Assistant Village Manager Dan Sarnoff could be placed in the park. The matter will be scheduled for discussion at a future Work Session.
