Speed Humps
At the Work Session, the BOT considered a request from the Traffic Commission to install speed humps in Washingtonville as recommended in a 2019 study done by AKRF, the Village’s Planning Consultants. Trustee Leilani Yizar-Reid presented the Commission’s request as a pilot program. This request came from residents concerned with speeding and Trustee Lou Young thought humps would help with overall traffic issues related to drivers using Washingtonville as a cut-through.
Yizar-Reid circulated a map showing the recommended locations: a total of ten speed humps with two humps on each Waverly and Center Avenues, as well as on Madison, Washington and Grand Streets. See map HERE. The map is part of a memorandum from AKRF (See HERE) outlining implementation of the recommendations from a 2016 study by Provident Design Engineering (See HERE).
The BOT and Interim Village Manager Chuck Strome discussed the issues with this idea, including cost and the need for a Village policy outlining such things as how a residents request humps on their street and what percentage of the street’s residents must agree to them. Other municipalities that employ humps to slow traffic have policies and include the costs in their annual capital budget.
The BOT asked Strome to get cost information. Later, at the Regular Meeting, Traffic Commission member Tina Maresca told the BOT that the Commission never intended this to be a pilot program. The Commission requested that the speed humps be permanently installed. She cited other pilot programs that were never evaluated afterward.
After the meeting, another Traffic Commission member Robert Stark informed The Mamaroneck Observer that he is a member of the Commission’s subcommittee on speed humps and has researched the policies of other municipalities. The Commission is working on a policy for the Village for presentation at a later BOT meeting.
Chicken Coops
An item was placed on the Work Session Agenda by Trustee Lou Young regarding chicken coops in residential districts. Young stated he wants to “start the ball rolling” to deal with this issue. According to a confidential memo prepared by Deputy Attorney Mary Desmond (see HERE) and included with the backup for the meeting, there are some Village residents who currently have chicken coops.
Desmond stated that after a review of the Village Code the only animals allowed in residential districts are “a reasonable number of customary household pets.” Complaints have recently been received from neighbors about the chickens.
Evidently prior Village officials erroneously advised some residents that they may have chickens on their property. The legal memo concludes that the Village Code must be enforced as written unless the Board of Trustees (BOT) changes the law to allow chicken coops in some or all districts. Because residents were given incorrect advice, the BOT may choose to change the law before the current prohibition is enforced that would require the chickens be removed.
Young asked for public input and to also investigate how other nearby municipalities handle the matter. Acting Village Manager Chuck Strome agreed that finding out more information from other communities would be helpful. Trustee Nora Lucas pointed out that some deeds/neighborhoods specifically prohibit chickens. Mayor Sharon Torres asked the Village Attorney to look at legislation in other communities to see how the issue is handled.
Community Fridge
Trustee Lou Young also added the Community Fridge to the Work Session Agenda stating that “this got lost.” He said it was approved by the BOT quite some time ago although the minutes do not reflect a vote. He wanted to ascertain where we are and get it back on track. Deputy Attorney Mary Desmond reported that she had prepared a draft license agreement, but the process stalled without a Village Manager. Some open questions persisted such as the location, vermin control and overall upkeep of the site. Mayor Sharon Torres had questions including whether or not there would be a shed for the fridge and how to handle vermin. She also asked about the ownership of the property where it would be located. Acting Village Manager offered to meet with the principals of Grassroots Grocery, the proposer of the fridge. See prior article HERE.
Comments