New town planner Lincoln Daley (left) at meeting of the Millwood Task Force
August 8, 2008
by Gene Nadel
+ West End Tax Relief
+ Grant Money for Trailway Improvements
+ Millwood Task Force meets to talk taxes, firehouse, bike lane
New Castle residents living in the Ossining School District have long believed their school tax burden to be unfair.
Accordingly, those taxpayers were initially pleased to hear the announcement by town officials that a reply had been received from ORPS (the New York State Office of Real Property Services) indicating that the New Castle’s assessor has the authority to adjust the assessment of a particular property, class of property, or neighborhood provided that, if challenged, he is prepared to show how any change brings such assessment into line with those of other properties.
Under this interpretation the assessor has the flexibility to designate a specific “neighborhood” for special treatment which could allow some adjustment in the Town and County tax assessments for New Castle properties within the Ossining school district. If, however, the assessor believes that the properties in the designated neighborhood have already been assessed with appropriate recognition of all pertinent factors, then little or no change would result. This would depend on the validity of the current assessment roll and the extent to which comparative market values consider the school district issue.
Meanwhile, this does not really address the more serious school tax inequity which requires adjustment of the equalization rate between the New Castle and Ossining tax districts. Further discussion and submission of additional factual data will be required. NewCastleNOW.org will attempt, in future issues, to provide accurate information on all sides of the question. Constructive comments and suggestions from readers are always welcome.
Town Seeks Grant Monies to Help Finance Trailway Improvements
A grant application for $72,300 (representing 50% of the total estimated cost) was recently submitted by the Town to the Hudson River Valley Greenway to finance the cost of creating a pedestrian link between Westchester County’s North County Bike Trail and two Millwood parks—Warburgh Park to the west and Gedney Park to the east.
As outlined in the grant application, overall, the east/west link goes beyond the Millwood area, eventually connecting with the Chappaqua area as well as to the Teatown Nature Preserve, the Briarcliff/Peekskill Trailway and several other local parks and recreation facilities. Eventually this will be one of the few east/west pedestrian corridors through all of Westchester County. Linking to these other locations, helps create an interconnecting system that reaches the Old Croton Aqueduct as well as historic Ossining and the village of Croton-on-Hudson.
The application also notes that one of the main emphases of this project is to develop a blueprint for gaining public access through public utility property where security and safety are paramount. Throughout Westchester County, utility property holdings create an impediment to continuous pedestrian linkages. Identifying the issues and developing a strategy to address them will provide others with a blueprint for crossing these linear utility corridors.
It is estimated that once the project is approved, it is likely to take a year to eighteen months to complete.
Lively Discussions at Millwood Task Force August Meeting
Last night’s Millwood Task Force monthly meeting gave rise to some worthwhile discussion on a variety of local topics.
Tax Inequity
The response from ORPS (referred to in “West End Tax Relief,” above) to the New Castle town board’s request for an opinion raised a number of questions particularly regarding what can be done to help resolve this thorny issue. In addition to determining that further study and review would be appropriate, task force members concluded that a county-wide reassessment offered the most effective solution. This suggestion was previously supported by the Town of New Castle along with several other Westchester municipalities, but at the time, the support was not sufficient enough to force implementation. In view of current changing circumstances, MTF deemed it worth the effort to express its support and urge our elected representatives to carry the proposal forward.
Proposed New Firehouse
Heated discussions continue at the commissioner level with design questions yet to be resolved including size and location of certain meeting rooms, drive through bays, etc. An appearance before the New Castle planning board is now scheduled for October. The BOFC has embarked on a five year budget and financial analysis, covering 2009-2013. An integral part of this study will involve cost and debt service.
Bicycle Path along Pines Bridge Road
With plans by Westchester County for repairs and resurfacing of Pines Bridge Road already on the drawing board, the town suggested that, at the same time, the county install a bike path along the 1.73 mile stretch from Grace Lane to Warburgh Park. While coordinating such a project at the time of and as part of the repair work is certainly logical and sensible, who will pay for this work is a matter to be carefully reviewed before any approval.
Repairs on Route 133
Roadwork, repairs and tree trimming on the western section of Route 133 seem to have slowed significantly. This work should be concluded in the near future.
Town Administrator Jerry Faiella was present at the meeting and was very helpful in providing information and explaining a number of the current projects. He reported that work on the Amsterdam property ball field and the 9/11 Memorial at Gedney Park were moving ahead on schedule. He was accompanied by Lincoln Daley, the town’s new town planner, who was introduced to the Task Force. Daley announced that an update of the schedule for the planning board’s work on the Millwood Area Design Plan is expected to be issued in the next few days.
Town Administrator Jerry Faiella shows map of trailways
Copyright 2009 NewCastleNOW.org