The Edgemont Community Council, Inc.

Due to the inclement weather, tonight’s December ECC meeting has been rescheduled to tomorrow, Tuesday 12/3 at 8PM in the EHS Faculty Lounge.

The Edgemont Community Council will hold its December 2019 meeting tomorrow, Monday, December 2th at 8PM in the Edgemont Junior Senior High School Faculty Lounge.

The agenda can be found on our website.

Please note that the forecast calls for inclement weather. If the District cancels school, we’ll have to reschedule our meeting.

As always, ECC meetings are open to the public.

In light of the recent tragedy on Underhill/Fort Hill, Police Chief Ryan is going to attend Monday’s ECC meeting to discuss the ongoing safety initiatives and answer any questions.

For more information about the accident, see the following Scarsdale Inquirer article:
https://www.scarsdalenews.com/news/edgemont_hartsdale/pedestrian-hit-killed-at-fort-hill-underhill-roads-nov/article_74790832-11a8-11ea-afae-0fd5ac9886d7.html

Supervisor Feiner made several mentions recently of working with the ECC on the Fort Hill/Underhill sidewalk and safety issues. To keep everyone as informed as possible, please see below for an update on the ongoing conversation.

From: robert bernstein <rbernstein@rbblegal.com>
Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at 11:25 AM
To: Paul Feiner <pfeiner@greenburghny.com>, Victor Carosi <VCarosi@greenburghny.com>
Cc: Town Board <TownBoard@greenburghny.com>, Richard Fon <RFon@greenburghny.com>
Subject: Re: RFP for engineer

Dear Supervisor Feiner:

The mission of the ECC is: “To determine community opinion on civic matters, coordinate community action thereon, and to plan and promote the general welfare of the Edgemont community.” It is not to do the actual work of the Town.  We’re happy to provide input, but drafting RFPs and selecting engineers is not what we do.

Nor do we think it’s appropriate for the ECC to take on that task. The Edgemont community entrusts some $16M in annual property taxes to the Town of Greenburgh with the expectation that the Town will fulfill its responsibilities under NY Law, including (but not limited to) those relating to pedestrian safety. (The ECC itself has no taxing power or authority to enact or enforce laws.)

We believe the ECC, long ago, established that a sidewalk along the entire length of Fort Hill Road, from Ardsley Road to Underhill Road, and along Underhill Road itself, would improve the welfare of the community by enhancing its safety. While it sadly took a tragic incident to spur the Town into action, we are pleased that this project has finally garnered your attention.  

As to the actual handling of the project:  we believe that’s the job of the Town. With your access to vast resources, we are confident that the Town’s appointed professionals can expeditiously (yet transparently) put together an RFP, secure the necessary outside expertise, and commence design work.  We certainly do not want to stand in the way of that process.

However, in addition to the sidewalk, there are other steps that can be taken immediately to make the intersection at Underhill and Fort Hill safer.  For example, there is no crosswalk to allow pedestrians coming down Underhill Road (where there is no sidewalk) to cross Fort Hill Road (to where there is a sidewalk). The lack of any crosswalk presents a hazard for many residents who walk down and/or across Underhill Road to get to the bus stop on Fort Hill.  To do so, they need to deal with cars coming down an “S” curve on Underhill Road, as well as cars coming north on Fort Hill to access Central Avenue.  A crosswalk should be installed there as soon as possible. I believe Chief Ryan and the Town Engineer can recommend exactly where on Fort Hill that crosswalk should be installed, and what signage, striping and/or lighting is needed to make it visible.

Indeed, the Town has done this before without outside help.  For example, a decade ago, when my neighbor in Greenridge was hit by a car crossing East Hartsdale Avenue from Club Way, the Town at my request, with the full support of then Chief Kapica, using its own resources, installed a raised crosswalk and appropriate signage shortly thereafter – and no one’s been hit since.

We also believe there are other areas of unincorporated Greenburgh — both inside and outside of Edgemont — that also deserve an immediate focus as to pedestrian safety in terms of sidewalks, crosswalks and improved lighting. We implore you to develop a multi-year plan that uses objective criteria to prioritize needs, as opposed to reacting to tragedies or responding to the loudest or most politically active voices.  The dangers on Underhill Road and Fort Hill have been known and discussed for years, with no action taken by the Town to address them. If the Town lacks the inside expertise to develop such a plan, then you should hire appropriate experts (rather than asking citizens to do the work).

Bob

Robert B. Bernstein, Esq.

From: Paul Feiner <pfeiner@greenburghny.com>
Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at 12:05 AM
To: robert bernstein <rbernstein@rbblegal.com>, Victor Carosi <VCarosi@greenburghny.com>
Cc: Town Board <TownBoard@greenburghny.com>, Richard Fon <RFon@greenburghny.com>
Subject: RFP for engineer

When it comes to safety we should work together.  I like your idea to hire an engineer to study the Ft Hill corridor and to make  safety recommendations and to help design a sidewalk.

The town can issue the RFP and hire the consultant. Or, if you prefer – you can draft a proposed RFP and participate and help select the engineering consultant. I think it’s very important for the ECC and residents of the Edgemont community to have confidence in the review, study and in the consultant we hire.  I believe this is one of the most important safety initiatives we can work on and implement.

PAUL FEINER

Hopefully everyone already received this info, but it’s worth a re-read with freezing temperatures coming again tonight. Also, please find a clarification from Victor on the construction work done on the Pipeline last year.

Hi Bob,

Please see below updated information concerning the Town water project along Underhill Road and a few side streets.  I have learned that our mailings did not yet reach the residents currently served with temporary water.  With freezing temperatures forecasted, we want residents to be aware of a preventative measure they can take to lessen the chances of the outside hose freezing, resulting in no water to their home.

Would you please post this as appropriate.

UNDERHILL AREA WATER MAIN PROJECT

November 8, 2019

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE 

The heavy construction for the water main cleaning and lining project is complete.  New fire hydrants are installed along with new water valves and connections associated with the project.  The water main disinfection process is underway.  Chlorine is introduced into the pipe and water samples are drawn over a period of time for bacteriological testing.  Many bacteriological sample are taken from multiple points within the system.  By Tuesday, November 12 the Town Engineering’s are expecting to receive the sample results.  Should all samples test negative, the engineers will request approval to activate the pipes from the Westchester County Health Department.  Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the temporary water services should be removed during the week beginning November 18^th.

COLD WEATHER NOTICE

Unseasonably cold weather is forecast for this upcoming week. Drinking water is currently supplied to your home through an above ground network of temporary water pipes and hoses due to the current water-relining project. The very cold temperature may freeze this water causing you to be without drinking water.

To prevent your drinking water from freezing in the outdoor pipes, you must keep a cold-water faucet flowing in your home when outside temperatures drop below freezing (32° F). Without a small flow, the water will freeze in the outside pipes and you will not have any water. Just turn a cold water faucet on so only a small stream, about the width of a standard pencil, flows. That is enough to keep the water from freezing. Please note that we are not billing you for water during this time and you can turn the faucet off when the outside temperature rises above freezing. Just remember to turn it back on, especially overnight, when the temperatures fall below freezing.

Our contractor is working quickly to restore normal service to our customers and we do anticipate most customers’ service will be restored within the next few weeks. We ask for your patience and cooperation while this work is being conducted. If you have any questions, please contact the Bureau of Engineering at (914)-989-1583.

In the event of a water emergency, you may contact the Town of Greenburgh Water Department at (914)-989-1900, or the Greenburgh Police front desk at (914) 989-1700.

Victor G. Carosi, P.E.

Commissioner of Public Works

Hi Bob,

In follow up to my attendance at the ECC meeting Monday, November 4, I did  discuss past work along Pipeline Road with my staff.  This was related to the ECC question about gravel placed in the shoulder area.  The Town Highway Department did install a perforated drain pipe along a portion of the shoulder area of Pipeline Road last year to capture water runoff that was impacting the roadway.  The perforated pipe and gravel are installed to capture seepage of water and direct that water into the storm drain system.  The Highway Department did this to alleviate the icing conditions.  Regarding any manhole work, the crews did not install any new manholes, but did make repairs.

Victor G. Carosi, P.E.