Welcome to the Government Section

UPDATE: Assembly hopefuls Castelli and Harckham visit New Castle


Castelli, left; Harckham, right
UPDATE: February 8, 2010

by John Ehrlich

With the Special Election for the 89th State Assembly seat coming up tomorrow, February 9, New Castle has been much more than a mere whistle stop on the New York State Assembly main line.  Not only did it host the League of Women Voter’s Candidates’ Night last Thursday, but the two candidates, Bob Castelli and Peter Harckham, and sitting Assemblymen like George Latimer have been visiting town with pleasing regularity.

Read More

UPDATE: NewCastleNOW.org’s community survey results: Just the facts


Monday, November 30, 2009
by Susie Pender


The first NewCastleNOW.org community survey is over. It ran for ten days, from Friday, November 20 through Sunday, November 29 at 6:00 p.m. 526 participants responded to the four questions in the survey; 230 left comments as well.  Click HERE to view a bar graph of the results in a new window.

Read More

UPDATE: Board of Education submits its comments on DEIS

Tuesday, September 29, 2009
by Christine Yeres

Last Friday, the deadline for written comment on the draft environmental impact statement for Chappaqua Crossing, the Chappaqua Central School District’s board of education weighed in with a report on the impacts to the school district of the proposed 278-unit condominium development.  The Board of Education enlisted the help of Western Suffolk BOCES, or Board of Cooperative Educational Services, to examine the fiscal impact to the school district of added student population.  The resulting report lists costs associated with additional students in five scenarios ranging from five to 214 added students. 

Read More

DEIS hearing closed; written comment period continues until at least Sept. 18


See the July 28 hearing in video “on demand” on NCCTV’s website.
July 31, 2009
by Susie Pender

At least 130 residents and other interested parties turned out for Tuesday night’s town board meeting whose first agenda item was the continuation of the hearing on the draft environmental impact statement submitted by the Summit Greenfield developers in support of their proposal to build a mixed use commercial and residential project, Chappaqua Crossing, on the former Reader’s Digest property.

Read More

Millwood Matters

March 5, 2010
February minutes approved:

* Second Amsterdam Field
* Hearing on Tree Law Amendment
* Real Property Tax Issues

+ Plus ... Letter from June Farnham on proposed changes to Tree Preservation Law

Read More

Tree Law put on hold, sent for redrafting

March 8, 2010
by New Castle Town Supervisor Barbara Gerrard

I wish to let residents know that the Town Board will not be voting on the Proposed Tree Preservation Law this Tuesday, March 9.  Many comments have been received and we are continuing to receive more.  In order to give due consideration to the issues raised, we will close the Public Hearing and have the proposed statute revised to address various concerns.

Read More

Open Letter from the Millwood Fire Commissioners

February 26, 2010

Dear Neighbor,

We are writing to the community with several important updates regarding developments related to the new firehouse. These developments include public meetings to share our siting alternatives, presentation of a preliminary budget and a permissive referendum to purchase an additional property on Millwood Road.

Read More

Millwood Matters

February 26, 2010

County Legislator Mike Kaplowitz visits the Millwood Task Force meeting of Thursday, March 4. See inside for agenda.

Read More

Supervisor’s Report: Revised Tree Preservation Law


by Barbara Gerrard
February 23, 2010

Editor’s note: At the February 23 Town Board meeting, Supervisor Barbara Gerrard presented her Supervisor’s Report, which explained the reasons behind the revisions to New Castle’s Tree Preservation Ordinance. The board opened a hearing that night on the proposed revisions, heard comments from several residents, and continued the hearing over until Tuesday, March 9. In the meantime, they hope to hear comments from the Planning Board and Zoning Board. Conservation Board Chairman Alexandre Manz’s outline of changes follows Gerrard’s report.

Read More

Carbon monoxide detectors now mandatory in every household


Monday, February 22, 2010
by Russell Maitland


Governor David A. Paterson signed a bill into law, effective today, February 22, 2010, mandating that all residents within New York State have working Carbon Monoxide detectors. Known as “Amanda’s Law,” after a 16-year-old girl who died one year ago at a sleepover in the basement of a friend’s house, this law “will prevent future tragedies like the one that took Amanda Hansen’s life far too soon,” Governor Paterson said. “This legislation will create safer homes for New Yorkers.”  The Chappaqua Fire Department reminds all residents to comply with the new law.  Install these devices and regularly check to make sure they are working.

Read More

Millwood Matters

February 12, 2010

Update on Millwood and West End
Excerpts from the Millwood Task Force Minutes for January 7, 2009

• Gene Nadel resigns from MTF
• MTF expresses disappointment at town decision to build second field at Amsterdam
• Stone for A&P wall the wrong color, sent back

Read More

State Assemblyman Latimer shares views on state budget, ethics and local taxes with Chappaqua Rotary


Former Mount Vernon High School classmates Assemblyman George Latimer and New Castle’s Deputy Town Administrator Penelle Paderewski
January 29, 2010
by John Ehrlich

New Castle is just now without Assembly representation in Albany, waiting for the outcome of the special election on February 9 to fill the seat vacated by Adam Bradley when he was elected mayor of White Plains in November 2009.

Read More

LWV of New Castle to hold Candidates’ Night for NYS Assembly seat


January 29, 2010

Candidates for the 89th Assembly District special election will take part in Candidates’ Night on Thursday, February 4th, at 7:30 p.m.

Read More

League of Women Voters sponsors speaker on local government modernization, Wed., Jan. 27


January 22, 2010
by Suzie Maltz

The League of Women Voters of New Castle has invited Noreen Fisher, the former Mayor of Scarsdale, New York, to speak next Wednesday at New Castle Town Hall at 10:00 a.m. on government modernization through consolidation and shared services. The event will take place in the assembly hall, 200 South Greeley Avenue, second floor, Chappaqua, New York.

Read More

Town prosecutor job open; deadline for application 9:00 a.m. Friday, Jan. 22, 2010

UPDATE: January 19, 2010

The town is seeking the services of an attorney admitted to practice in New York to serve as a part-time prosecutor in New Castle Justice Court. Duties include appearances in Justice Court two Thursday evenings a month with additional time, for prep and conferences, as necessary. Compensation is $6,000 annually. 

Read More

Gerrard, Stout and Buckley inauguration for new terms on town board


January 8, 2010
by Susie Pender

Editor’s Note: On Tuesday, January 5, Town Supervisor Barbara Gerrard and town board members Robin Stout and John Buckley were sworn into office for their new terms on the New Castle Town Board. County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz and Representative Nita Lowey attended and offered their congratulations to their fellow Democrats. Supervisor Gerrard and Councilman Stout delivered acceptance speeches on this occasion, which are reprinted in “Read more.” Visit our Photo Gallery for slide shows of the event.

Read More

Millwood Matters

January 8, 2010

Update on Millwood and West End
Millwood Task Force Minutes for December 3, 2009

Read More

Referendum on use of outside hearing officer defeated, 100 to 69


UPDATE: December 15, 2009
by Christine Yeres

The referendum on whether to alter town law to allow the New Castle town board to delegate its role as hearing officer in police disciplinary cases to an outside hearing officer, to be paid on a per diem basis, was defeated last night, 100 “No” to 69 “Yes” votes.

Read More

Supervisor Barbara Gerrard’s response to PBA opposition to Dec. 14 vote on referendum

Referendum today from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at town hall
UPDATE: December 14, 2009
by Barbara Gerrard

I question the Police Benevolent Association’s concern with the referendum on Monday, December 14, that would give the town board authority to appoint a Hearing Officer to hear evidence in disciplinary matters involving the police department.  Contrary to the impression given in the PBA’s letter to residents that I received over the weekend, the town board does not intend to create a staff position of “hearing officer.”  For the very few cases that arise, a hearing officer will be hired on a per diem basis.

Read More

Robo-receptionist answers calls to town hall after 1:00 p.m.

February 19, 2010
by Christine Yeres

A live receptionist who is a certified notary public will continue to answer the main number for New Castle Town Hall, 238-4771, from 8:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. But from 1:00 p.m. until town hall closes at 4:30 p.m., a recorded message directs callers to the various departments there. The robo-system – a cost-cutting measure by the town board – has been in place for close to a month.

Read More

On Tuesday, Dec. 15,  Board of Ed begins budget talk for a tough year

Meeting begins at 8:15 in the Academic Commons at Greeley
UPDATE: December 15, 2009
by Christine Yeres

Over the weekend, NewCastleNOW.org spoke with Board of Education President Jeffrey Mester about tonight’s budget presentation and the first of the board’s 2010-2011 budget discussions. Mester assigned approximate times for the main agenda items, stating that immediately following a brief presentation at 8:15 p.m. by Seven Bridges’ “Kids against Pollution” club members, the board would reveal the results of the two focus groups conducted last week.  Two groups of residents were queried on how the board can engage residents in helping to craft a budget for a year in which state monies will likely be less and local school expenses greater.

Read More

UPDATE: Community comments on NewCastleNOW.org’s survey

November 30, 2009

Editor’s note: The first 148 comments were published in our Friday, November 27 issue. New comments submitted since that date start at number 149.

For your convenience, we have reprinted the preface and the survey questions below followed by a complete listing of all 221 comments received.

Read More

UPDATE: New Castle Planning Board comments on Chappaqua Crossing DEIS

Tuesday, September 29, 2009
by Christine Yeres

The planning board submitted its comments on developer Summit Greenfield’s draft environmental impact statement to the town board on Friday, September 25, the last day for written comment. In its first section, “Overall Development Concept,” the planning board touches on the affordable housing element of the project, the desirability of a town pool and library branch, and recommends “a less dense alternative” to the 278 residential units proposed.

Read More

How to save John Jay Homestead?


March 5, 2010
by Christine Yeres

Here’s the kind of sticky situation that representatives at every level of government face: What to fund, and where to find the money.  Newly-elected State Assemblyman Robert Castelli, who represents New Castle, is holding a press conference and rally today at 11:00 a.m. at John Jay Homestead in Katonah, home of one of the nation’s founding fathers and the first chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. His purpose: To save this historic site from Governor Paterson’s budget axe.

Read More

Castelli sworn in, calls for parties to work together or face “cold winds of change” in November


New York State Assembly-elect Robert Castelli is sworn in by former New Castle Town Supervisor and judge, Charles Banks.
February 19, 2010
by John Ehrlich

Robert Castelli, the underdog victor in the 89th Assembly District Special Election, took the oath of office Tuesday and called for cooperation among Albany legislators.  “The vitriolic comment needs to stop,” Castelli said, reminding the nearly 100 in attendance at Mt. Kisco’s American Legion Hall that “we are first neighbors.”  “Its not a Democratic job and not a Republican job. It’s the peoples’ job.”

Read More

Monitor sends county back to drawing board for specifics on affordable housing implementation plan

County must resubmit its plan by March 12, 2010
February 19, 2010
by Christine Yeres

Municipal officials across Westchester are beginning to wonder whether the federal monitor appointed to oversee the fair and affordable housing settlement is as flexible as he was portrayed by the legislators who approved the affordable housing settlement over the summer.  The terms of the settlement require 31 of the county’s municipalities to build 750 units of affordable housing and to “affirmatively further fair housing” in marketing them. 

Read More

Anti-Discrimination Center highly critical of county’s plan for fair and affordable housing

February 19, 2010
by Christine Yeres

On February 10, 2010 Federal Monitor James E. Johnson of Debevoise & Plimpton LLC sent the county his critique of its Implementation Plan, or IP, for the fair and affordable housing settlement county legislators agreed to last summer.  That same day the Anti-Discrimination Center— or ADC, the entity that brought the original suit against the county—released a document highly critical of the county’s IP, entitled “Prescription for Failure: A Preliminary Report on Westchester’s Attempt to Ignore and Evade the Requirements of the Historic Desegregation Order Entered in U.S. ex rel. Anti-Discrimination Center v. Westchester County, a/k/a Westchester’s ‘Implementation Plan.’”

Read More

Republican Castelli handily defeats Democrat Harckham for State Assembly seat


February 12, 2010


by John Ehrlich

In an astonishing upset, Bob Castelli, the Republican college professor from Lewisboro, handily defeated Democratic Westchester County Legislator Pete Harckham of Katonah in a special election for the 89th Assembly District seat held until recently by Adam Bradley, to whom Castelli lost in 2004. The seat has been occupied by a Democrat for the last 17 years.  Castelli garnered 55% of the vote to Harckham’s 45%. According to the Board of Elections’ still-unofficial tally of results, Castelli won with 6,732 votes to Harckham’s 5,430.  “It’s a shot across the bow to people like Sheldon Silver and all the entrenched bosses,” said Castelli in his victory speech Tuesday night.

Read More

Video of Candidates’ Night Now Playing on TV and on Your Computer

Tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 9: Special election for Bradley’s 89th district seat in State Assembly;
Use your usual polling places, open from 6 am to 9 pm.


Castelli, left; Harckham, right
Monday, February 8, 2010

[Editor’s Note: Last Thursday’s League of Women Voters Candidates’ Night with candidates Robert Castelli and Peter Harckham was lively and well-attended. Some of the questioners declared themselves Tea Party members.  To view the 30-minute event on your computer, click HERE and choose thumbnail on far left.  See NCCTV television channels and times in “Read more,”  as well as a list of the eight questions the candidates were asked.

Read More

Developer’s Chappaqua Crossing team speaks about future of Reader’s Digest


January 29, 2010
by Christine Yeres

A team familiar to New Castle residents spoke in White Plains on January 14 to the Commercial and Investment Division of the Westchester-Putman Association of Realtors about the future of the Reader’s Digest site, now called Chappaqua Crossing.

Read More

“State of the Town”

A look around New Castle

January 1, 2010
by Christine Yeres

Editor’s note: NewCastleNOW.org editors have prepared this “State of the Town” list to bring the community up-to-date on this first day of the new year on some of the more pressing issues of this past year either resolved by the town board or still outstanding.

Read More

New Castle Town Supervisor’s Report, December 8, 2009

December 11, 2009
by Town Supervisor Barbara Gerrard

Editor’s Note: NewCastleNOW.org has added subtitles to the supervisor’s text to identify the following subject areas:

• Monday’s referendum on police hearing officer

• For the 2010 Budget, a 2.37% tax increase

• Town will keep two garbage collections

• Police overtime hours mentioned at public hearing incorrect

• No town hall expansion in capital budget

• Second field at Amsterdam gets green light

Read More

Public hearing on 2010 town budget


November 27, 2009
by Christine Yeres

At Tuesday’s town board meeting, Town Administrator Gennaro Faiella began by outlining the board’s proposed 2010 budget, then Supervisor Barbara Gerrard opened the public hearing on the budget. Six residents addressed the board and administrator chiefly on police overtime expense and burdensome taxes. The town board members offered no comments in response.

Read More

In work session, town board members debate what residents want in 2010 budget

November 20, 2009
by Christine Yeres

On Tuesday, November 24, residents are invited to offer their comments on the proposed budget during a public hearing at 7:45 p.m. at town hall. Town board members will vote to approve a final budget two weeks later, on December 8. At last Tuesday’s work session, board members were still struggling to decide whether to commit the town to once-a-week garbage collection in order to bring a 4% tax increase down to 1.5%, and whether to whittle that 1.5% increase down to zero by using more reserve monies.

Read More

League of Women Voters of New Castle Candidates Night

County affordable housing settlement and town budget are the big topics

October 23, 2009
by Christine Yeres

Sporting a League of Women Voters “NOT for Women Only” button, moderator Harry MacLaughlin, co-chair of the Bedford-Lewisboro-North Salem League of Women Voters, welcomed the audience and candidates to New Castle’s town hall Wednesday night for the League’s Candidates Night. 

In opening statements, incumbents in the three uncontested elections for town board, Supervisor Barbara Gerrard and board members John Buckley and Robin Stout, explained to an audience of about 40 people that the economy was the number one issue for the board. Gerrard is running for her second two-year term as town supervisor; Buckley and Stout are both running for their second four-year terms. The two other board members, Deputy Supervisor Elise Kessler-Mottel and Michael Wolfensohn, are in the middle of their four-year terms. The supervisor is paid $32,865 per year; board members are each paid $10,250 per year.

Read More

School Board President Jeffrey Mester responds to questions . . .

. . . about the district’s comments on the Chappaqua Crossing DEIS
October 9, 2009

Read More

Town board and planning board discuss comments submitted on Chappaqua Crossing DEIS

October 9, 2009
by Christine Yeres

The official comment period on the Chappaqua Crossing draft environmental impact statement ended Friday, September 25. The New Castle town board and planning board met this Tuesday, October 6, to discuss the submissions. The highlights of their discussion included:

• Move some town offices to Reader’s Digest campus

• Create a northbound left turn lane at Route 117 and Roaring Brook Road

• Traffic and parking capacity

• Impact of Westchester County affordable housing settlement

• Effects on school district; click here to see separate article in today’s edition of NCNOW.org.

Read More

Supervisor Gerrard’s update on Westchester County affordable housing settlement

October 9, 2009
by Christine Yeres

Supervisor Barbara Gerrard announced at the joint meeting with the town and planning boards on Tuesday, October 6, that she had attended both a Municipal Officials luncheon and a Council of Governments meeting to which County Executive Andy Spano had invited every jurisdiction in the county to discuss the new affordable housing settlement between Westchester County and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD.  See the county’s fact sheet on the settlement by clicking here.

Read More