LWV of New Castle NY home page

LWV Westchester will host a Westchester County Board of Legislators roundtable discussion Wednesday, March 3, at 9:30 in the 8th floor conference room at the Michaelian County Office Building, 148 Martine Avenue at Court Street in White Plains. (You will need to show valid picture identification). As always, League events are open to the public.

Why is county government important to each of us? Our Board of Legislators allocates the money needed to operate county government and services and has oversight responsibility of the Executive branch. While two-thirds of the county government’s workload consists of delivering services and programs mandated by the state of New York, the other third is discretionary, funding labs & research, public safety, planning, transportation, health & mental health, services to children, the Westchester Library System, Parks, Recreation & Conservation, and Emergency Services.

We have the responsibility to influence how these funds are spent: they are our dollars.

Ken Jenkins is the new chairman of the BOL and other changes in legislative committee chairmanships have taken place as well. The League is very much a presence at all BOL meetings keeping a sharp eye, especially on budget issues and the housing settlement, which affects most of our towns and villages. By your presence at this discussion, it shows the legislators that we take an interest in what they do.

Adelaide DiGiorgi, President, LWVW

More League Comments on Chappaqua Crossing DEIS

Reader'sDigest October 2, 2009. With the close of the public comment period for the Chappaqua Crossing DEIS, Summit/Greenfield now begins work on the draft of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed redevelopment of the Reader’s Digest property. In it, they’ll be responding to questions and comments raised at public hearings held over the summer, as well as comments received in writing by the September 25th deadline. Under New York State law, a full review assessing environmental impacts must be completed before the New Castle Town Board can make a decision on Summit/Greenfield’s proposal for the site.

The League of Women Voters of New Castle presented comments on the DEIS at the public hearings on June 23 and July 28, and submitted additional comments on September 25th. Read the League's comments of September 25 (pdf).

The League raised a number of issues about Chappaqua Crossing including:

Environmental sensitivity of the property, with steep slopes, wetlands, and location in the New York City Water Supply Watershed;

Encroachment on the property caused by retaining wall and detention pond systems, and the creation of additional impervious surface;

Precedent set by a development of this size, and its consistency with the princples of the Master Plan;

Market for high-end age-restricted units; and the enforceability of the age restrictions;

Stormwater management and expansion of the sewer district; and

Impacts on taxes, traffice and the Chappaqua Central School District.

Read the League's comments from the July 28th public hearing

Read the League's comments from the June 23rd public hearin

Go to chappaquacrossingreview.mynewcastle.org on the Town’s website to read the DEIS and other documents discussing the proposal. Look for new reports from the Chappaqua Central School District on school impacts, HR&A Advisors on fiscal impacts, the New Castle Planning Board, and Town Adminstrator Gennaro Faiella.

The New Castle Town Board continues to solicit public input on the proposed redevelopment, although Summit/Greenfield is not required to address these comments in the draft FEIS. Send your comments to chappaquacrossinginput@mynewcastle.org.

For more information, contact Sheila Crespi of the Local Planning Committee asparks4@yahoo.com or 238-8994.

Changes Discussed for Intersection
at Routes 120/133

The NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) held a second community workshop on November 6, 2008, to discuss possible changes to the intersection at Routes 120 and 133 in Chappaqua. The current “Y” intersection has poor sight lines with multiple stop signs, and can back up with long delays at Quaker Road/Route 120.

DOT staff reviewed existing conditions at the intersection and outlined objectives for the redesign of the intersection – to improve safety, reduce traffic speed, reduce waiting time, and minimize impacts on surrounding properties.

Taking into account community input from a prior workshop held a month earlier, the DOT developed four possible alternatives for the intersection. These included two featuring a T-intersection – one with a stop sign and one with traffic signals – as well as a roundabout and a “no build” option.

According to the DOT, the T-intersection with a stop sign and or traffic signals would both offer improved geometry for the intersection, but the stop sign alternative would still present significant traffic delays while not addressing traffic speed on Route 133. A signalized T-intersection would slow down traffic and improve delays, but might not reduce the number of accidents. A roundabout would reduce traffic delays, slow traffic on all approaches, and reduce the number of accidents; but it would be the most expensive option to build and would present greater right-of-way impacts, as well as issues with the grade of the road. The “no build” alternative would improve signage and sight distances with some clearing, but most of the existing problems of the intersection would remain.

The DOT anticipates its next presentation on the intersection will be at a Town Board meeting in early 2009. It's not too late to contact the DOT with your feedback. E-mail your comments to Ken Forness, Project Engineer, at kforness@dot.state.ny.us; or to Theresa Dewey, Project Public Involvement Coordinator at tdewey@dot.state.ny.us. Write to them at NYS Department of Transportation, Region 8, 4 Burnett Boulevard , Poughkeepsie , NY 12603 .

The four options are pictured below:

Option 1 No Build:

No build

Option 2A T with Stop

T with

Option 2B T with Signal

T with Signal

Option 3 Roundabout:

Roundabout

League Comments on Millwood Firehouse DEIS November 5, 2008

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for a new firehouse #1 in the Millwood Fire District was the subject of a contentious public hearing on October 23, 2008. The DEIS had previously been adopted by the Millwood Board of Fire Commissioners in a 3-2 vote. Read more>>

CALENDAR

Feb. 4 Candidates Night Chappaqua Library. 7:30pm Robert Castelli and Peter Harckham are running for 89th Assembly District seat vacated by Adam Bradley. Bring your questions for the candidates. Details below. Download flyer.

Feb. 9 Special election for the above contest

Feb. 24 Board Meeting

Mar. 3 League Roundtable with County Board of Legislators. Details at left.

Mar. 17 Board Meeting

Each month the Board discusses areas of local concern, makes plans for future LWV events, and conducts League business. If you are a member or interested in what the League does, please join us.

Special Election Candidates Night Feb. 4 at Chappaqua Library 7:30pm

LWV of New Castle invites the community to Candidates Night at Chappaqua Library, 195 South Greeley Ave., Chappaqua, 7:30pm. After opening statements, candidates will respond to questions from the audience. Following the question and answer period, candidates will give closing statements.

This event is free and open to the public.

Discussion of 2010 New Castle Town Budget

Monday, November 9th - 7:00 p.m. New Castle Town Hall, 200 South Greeley Avenue, Chappaqua

Town Administrator Gennaro J. Faiella, New Castle's Budget Officer, has submitted the 2010 Tentative Budget in the amount of $34.8 million to the Town Board for its consideration. Join the League of Women Voters of New Castle for a forum with Town Administrator Faiella, who will provide an overview of the Budget process and discuss the revenue and expense factors that have influenced the decision-making. Questions from the audience are welcome!

The public hearing on the budget will take place on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 7:45 p.m. at Town Hall. The Town Board is scheduled to vote on the budget on Tuesday, December 8, 2009.

The program will be taped for broadcast on NCCTV -- Cablevision government channels 75 and 78; Verizon Channels 45 and 47. Video on demand at www.ncctv.org.

For more information, contact LWV of New Castle at lwv.newcastle@gmail.com or call Suzanne at 914-523-3229

LWV of New Castle Candidates Night Held October 21 Can Be Seen on ncctv.org through Election Day

Candidates for three offices took part in Candidates Night on Wednesday, October 21st at New Castle Town Hall, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of New Castle.

Candidates in the following races are:

New Castle Town Supervisor - Barbara Gerrard (uncontested).

New Castle Town Board - John Buckley (uncontested) and Robin Stout (uncontested).

Westchester County Legislative District #4 - Gregory Kane and Michael Kaplowitz are contesting the one position as Legislator in District #4. (contested)

The elections are on Tuesday, November 3rd. Visit www.smartvoter.org to find information on candidates.

For additional information, contact the New Castle League at lwv.newcastle@gmail.com.

County League Tappan Zee Bridge Study

TappanZeeBridgeTraffic

If you are interested in joining the Study Committee of the Westchester County LWV please contact Chairman Kristina McCarthy c/o the Westchester County League. Read more about the TZB on the county league website

The League of Women Voters of New Castle is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages citizens to play an informed and active role in government. At the local, county, state and national levels, the League works to influence public policy through education and advocacy. We do not endorse candidates. Membership is open to women and men who wish to participate in these efforts.

The League is part of a county, state and national organization, the League of Women Voters of Westchester, the League of Women Voters of New York and the League of Women Voters of the United States. More info about this league below

LWV Meetings: Board meetings are held on the second Wednesday morning of each month to conduct the business and planning of the League. All members are welcome to attend. Other meetings, to receive a report from a study group, or to inform the public about an election, or local issue, are usually held in the evening in a public building. Study groups meet at times agreed to by the participants, usually in the home of a member.

NCCTV: Many of the programs we host are available for viewing on NCCTV. LWVNC shows can be seen on channel 75 (community access station) and on channel 78 (government station). See www.ncctv.org for current schedules.

For more information, or if you are interested in attending events, please e-mail us at lwvnewcastle@optonline.net

Read pdfs of our newsletter, The Voter

Westchester County Needs Septic Management!

The League of Women Voters of Westchester and LWV New Castle have been collaborating to advocate for a Septic Management Plan for the county. Based on findings and consensus from one county study and two New Castle studies, oversight of these systems is essential to ensure proper functioning and long-term efficacy. See complete article on our Septic Management page

"A Drinking Problem

Nine million people drink water from the New York City reservoirs, including the Croton Reservoir; approximately 800,000 of these are Westchester County residents. Twenty thousand homes in Northern Westchester get their water from wells.

While these water supplies have been considered safe, they are threatened by malfunctioning septic systems, which are placed on the property of individual houses, housing developments and businesses; these systems treat the wastewater on the premises instead of sending it to a central treatment plant. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, failing septic systems are the second largest cause of water pollution - and this includes drinking water. The agency estimates that 168,000 viral illnesses and 34,000 bacterial illnesses result every year from contaminated drinking water. See complete article on our Septic Management page

Updated Jan. 28, 2010
by Valerie Castleman

Many thanks to Westchester Alliance for Telecommunications and Public Access (WATPA ) & the Westchester Library System (WLS) for hosting this site.