The Eastview Pump Station, built in 1888, located at the western end of the Upper Lake

Report from Board of Trustees Meeting on 1.17.23

ICYMI, you can watch Village Board meetings online.

• Retiring American Flags: Members of the National Junior Honor Society presented a proposal to the Board of Trustees to allow for a receptacle to be placed at Village Hall to collect American flags that need to be retired. U.S. Code stipulates that "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning." Burning a flag in a formal ceremony is not the only way to respectfully dispose of an American flag, but Scout Troop 22 regularly holds flag retirement ceremonies, and they want to offer that service to Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow residents. The National Junior Honor Society will collect the flags from the receptacle to be placed at Village Hall, and include them in the formal ceremonies they conduct every 6 to 8 weeks. The Village will be working with the National Junior Honor Society to facilitate the placement of the flag receptacle.

• Tarrytown Environmental Advisory Council (TEAC) Annual Report: Rachel Tieger and Dean Gallea, Co-Chairs of TEAC, presented their annual report to the Board of Trustees. The volunteer advisory group accomplished much in 2022, including organizing Earth Month activities and their annual Eco Fair, planting pollinator gardens at Sarah Michaels Park, Neperan Park, and other locations around the Village, conducting outreach about waste reduction and composting, and other activities to educate the community about caring for the environment and improving life in the Village. They have more planned for the coming year, including the activation of a Vine Squad to combat invasive plants in our forests and parks. Interested in learning more? Check out their website here, find their annual report here, or attend one of their monthly meetings at Village Hall on the first Thursday of every month at 7pm.

• Eastview Pump Station Grant Application Approved: The Board approved the submission of an application to the Restore NY grant program administered by Empire State Development to restore the Eastview Pump Station. Located at a major gateway to the Village on Neperan Road, the use of the original water reservoir pump house constructed in 1888 was discontinued in 1995, and the building has since fallen into disrepair. Over the past ten years, several major steps have been taken by the Village toward the restoration of the building including an initial environmental review of the building’s needs, the partial removal of hazardous materials, and the issuance of an Economic Development Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify a private partner willing to work with the Village on the building’s revitalization. Duncan's Abbey, a local craft brewer, won the RFP, and while work with the Village was stalled during the pandemic, owner Justin DiNino has continuing interest in partnering with the Village to restore the historic building. With challenging asbestos issues and a necessary roof replacement, this stabilization project is estimated to cost $2,150,000. The Village would commit to a 10% match for the grant funds which can be met by in kind or cash contributions. We will be posting a project page on the Village website. Stay tuned!

• Summer Fees for 2023: The Board of Trustees approved a new fee schedule for camp, pool and picnic pavilion rentals. The amended fees can be found in item 9 of the agenda. The amended master fee schedule can be found here. We are already looking ahead toward summer. Watch for announcements about camp and other fun activities soon!

Mark Your Calendars! The following dates have been set for some of the 2023 Village events:

• St. Patrick's Day Parade: March 12, 2023
• Annual Chamber of Commerce Street Fair: June 4, 2023
• Tarrytown Fire Department Parade: August 12, 2023

Board of Trustees Meeting Date Changes

• Wednesday January 25: The Board of Trustees has added an extra Work Session to its calendar. The normal Work Session in advance of the February 8 Board Meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 25th. The Board will be considering amendments to the ADU legislation and the request for home port status from the Fireboat McKean Preservation Project among other issues.
• Wednesday, February 1: The Board of Trustees is scheduling a Special Work Session to discuss 2023 Board of Trustees priorities.
• Wednesday, February 8: The February 6 Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees is rescheduled for February 8 so that Board members may attend the NYCOM legislative conference in Albany.

Upcoming Public Hearings

February 8: Zoning Code amendment to allow Accessory Dwelling Units in Single Family Residential Zones

The Board of Trustees will be considering amendments to the ADU legislation at a Work Session to be held on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. The public is welcome to watch the Work Session. The amended legislation will then be posted for review and open for public comment at the public hearing on February 8. Public comments can be sent in writing to the attention of the Village Clerk: kgilligan@tarrytownny.gov and/or you may attend the Public Hearing on February 8.

Among the changes the Board of Trustees is considering:

• Specifying by Resolution that the Accessory Dwelling Unit local law is a Pilot Program that will be reviewed after the installation of 10 units or one year, whichever comes first.
• Restricting the number of bedrooms in the smaller residential zones (R-5, R-7.5, and R-10) to one bedroom ADUs only. Two-bedroom ADUs would be permitted in the single family residential zones with larger lots (R-15 and above). The drafted legislation already restricts new construction of detached accessory dwelling units to the larger residential zones (R-15 and above). The Zoning Map highlighting single family residential zones can be found here.
• Clarifying enforcement mechanisms for owner occupancy, and including procedural requirements (such as an owner's affidavit) not just as part of the application process, but in the law itself.
• Inserting clarifying language that multi-family homes that have been grandfathered into Single-Family Residential Zones are not eligible for an ADU.
• Additional mechanisms for plan review are being considered.

For more answers to questions about Accessory Dwelling Units, please visit the Q and A page or find more resources on the Task Force page on our website.

Information about the Fireboat McKean Request for Home Port Status

The Board of Trustees is currently considering a request to respond to the application of the Fireboat McKean to the National Historic Preservation Review Board for historic preservation status with Tarrytown Marina listed as its home port. The Fireboat McKean Preservation Project hosted two meetings on January 10, 2023 at the Tarrytown Senior Center to explain their project and request to berth in Tarrytown. We have posted the video of the meetings and the presentation on the Village website, along with answers to questions that have arisen. The Board of Trustees is seeking comments from the public as it considers how to respond before February 6th. The Board of Trustees will deliberate at the January 25th Work Session.

Want to learn what's on the docket for the Board of Trustees? You can sign up to receive agendas in your inbox here.

Con Ed Updates

Main Street: The gas main work has now moved to the section of Main Street between Kaldenberg and South Washington Street and we expect this section to take 2 to 3 weeks.

For anyone hoping to shop on Main Street, the best places to park are the South Washington Lot and the Neperan Lot. A map of public parking areas in the Village can be found here.

There will be no Saturday work on Main Street unless there is a gas emergency.

The gas main work on Main Street will continue until April. We recognize how disruptive this is for our downtown residents and businesses. The Village negotiated with Con Edison to ensure the holiday season was not disrupted for downtown. The replacement of gas mains is disruptive, but it is necessary, and Con Ed has been required by the Public Service Commission to complete it for the health and safety of all.

Service work and service switch-overs from the old main to the new main will take a few weeks in each section. Parking in each section will be prohibited where the contractor is working, and will be restored in that section as the contractor moves to the next section. Parking for service work will be blocked off a few spots at a time where the service crews are working. 

E. Sunnyside: The work will be moving further up the street into the Irvington neighborhoods for the next two weeks. Deertrack Lane will need to access residences from the Taxter access route. The progress is slow because they have been hitting a lot of rock.

Long term: We expect the sequence of gas main replacements to continue in the following neighborhoods (after Main Street is complete):

• Neperan between Hamilton and Broadway
• Franklin Street
• Miller Park

Home Heating and High Bills

In 2018, the Village enrolled in the Westchester Power program administered by Sustainable Westchester. The program helps Westchester municipalities leverage their collective purchasing power to provide residents and small businesses with a vetted default electricity supply alternative to confusing private solicitations, and offers stable fixed rates, insurance against fluctuating energy pricing and a no-contract, no-fees format.

The program goal is to increase the use of clean renewable electricity in a cost-effective, consumer-friendly way. However, savings cannot be guaranteed since utility rates are variable and not known in advance.The program is opt-out, which means residents are automatically enrolled unless they opt out of the program. Tarrytown residents are automatically enrolled in the renewable supply option which means that 100% of the delivered power is matched with NY State hydropower Renewable Energy Certificates (“RECs”). The majority of participating municipalities have chosen the 100% renewable power supply product as the default option, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change.Check out this FAQ if you are new to the program.

In the most recent contract update in November, the volatile energy markets resulted in a higher energy supply price than in the original contract. One advantage that the Westchester Power program offers is that the prices are fixed for the duration of the contract. In the first contract, that meant that though the Con Ed supply prices fluctuated, and sometimes beat the fixed price Westchester Power prices, residents saved money over the course of the contract. With the new contract, the higher fixed price has not yet realized cost savings. On the 5th of every month, Greenburgh posts an analysis from Sustainable Westchester comparing Con Ed supply prices with Westchester Power. Please see here the most recent analysis and below:

December 2022 Residential Rate

Below is an approximate electricity cost comparison for a hypothetical Greenburgh resident in December who consumed 500 kWh of electricity for the month

• For a Greenburgh resident on the ConEd supply, that customer would have been charged roughly $56.95 electricity supply
• For customers enrolled in Westchester Power under the 100% Renewable fixed rate, the charge would have been roughly $76.40
• Al Westchester Power Standard user’s charge would have been $66.80

What does this mean for Tarrytown residents?

It is up to you! There is no penalty for changing your mind.

Residents who want to opt out can visit the Westchester Power web page and fill out the applicable online form on the Sustainable Westchester website at sustainablewestchester.org/wp/conedenergychoices/, email

westchesterpower@sustainablewestchester.org, or call Sustainable Westchester at (914) 242-4725 ext. 111 for live assistance.

Want to enroll?

Residents who are not currently enrolled in the program (including those who have previously opted-out of the Westchester Power electricity supply in the past) still have the ability to opt-in and participate, as the current contract price is locked in until October 31, 2024.

Want to change supply options?

For residents already participating in the program at either the 100%

Renewable or Standard Supply fixed rates, you can change your supply option at any time. Whether you want to move into the 100% Renewable supply to maximize your clean energy impact, or switch to the Standard Supply for a better financial option, the choice is yours.

Relief programs for those struggling with high heating costs:

Sales tax removed for all heating bills in Westchester County

The sales tax suspension on heating bills will be in effect through February 28. Sales tax is 4% in Westchester for most residents. The sales tax on heating bills should be taken off automatically. Those who are still being charged sales tax should call the county at 914-995-2900.

Home Energy Assistance Program:

Eligibility for this program depends on a number of factors including income.There is an emergency HEAP benefit for those who are threatened with imminent shut-off. For information about eligibility and how to apply: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/

Westchester County also has information about the program; https://socialservices.westchestergov.com/temporary-assistance/home-energy-assistance

Con Edison Energy Affordability Program

Con Edison provides a discount if you qualify for other forms of government assistance. For more information about their program: https://www.coned.com/en/accounts-billing/payment-plans-assistance/help-paying-your-bill.

There are also utility sponsored programs and other assistance available. Please check out https://www.dps.ny.gov/winter for more information.

VOTE FOR TaSH!

You have less than 24 hours to nominate TaSH for Best of Westchester!!! Voting ends 5pm on Friday, Jan. 20. If you kept thinking to yourself, "Oh right, I meant to do that!" Now's the time! We'll make it easy. Just click on this LINK and write in "The TaSH" where it says Farmers Market and Produce. If we make it to the finals, there will be another round of voting in February / March. We are truly grateful for your support and we promise it takes less time to vote than it does to inhale the monkey bread from Wave Hill Breads (so you know it's fast).

Every Household Can Order 4 Free COVID Tests

Sign up here to get yours: https://www.covid.gov/tests

Metro North Cares Program

MTA Metro-North Railroad announced the rebrand of its “Call Ahead” program to “MNR Care,” a customer assistance program that will serve Metro-North riders with mobility disabilities who need assistance accessing or navigating the railroad system. The program was rebranded to align with the Long Island Rail Road’s LIRR Care program. The on-call service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays, to help customers, including those with mobility disabilities, who require assistance to board and/or exit from a Metro-North train. 

Customers can use the service when traveling to or from any station on the Metro-North system. Customers can request assistance by contacting Metro-North ahead of their travel, by dialing 511, 212-532-4900, or 877-690-5114 for Connecticut riders. A Metro-North representative will then contact train crews to notify them to be on alert for customers requiring assistance. This helps train crews know to be ready to find a customer who needs assistance on the platform and deploy the bridge plate if needed. At Grand Central Terminal, courtesy wheelchair assistance is provided upon request. 

County Tax for Home Heating Suspended for Three Months

From the Examiner: "Westchester County officials announced last week that the county portion of the sales tax on home heating sources will be suspended for three months in hopes of giving beleaguered homeowners a break on energy prices amidst skyrocketing costs.

County Executive George Latimer said the 4 percent exemption will be in effect for three months, from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28, through the heart of the upcoming winter season. If a homeowner needs to fill a 250-gallon tank with heating oil at about $6 a gallon, for example, there would be a savings of about $60 with each delivery, he said."