LEWISBORO, N .Y. - Budget considerations dominated the discussion at the Monday, Oct. 28 meeting of the Lewisboro Town Board – with a specific focus on the Lewisboro Library and the Parks and Recreation Department.
Lewisboro Town Supervisor Tony Gonçalves noted that the Town Clerk Janet Donohue had delivered the preliminary budget to the board in advance of the meeting. The preliminary budget is also known as the “supervisor’s budget.”
In an impassioned pitch for the library budget, Library Director Cindy Rubino described public libraries as a central part of American life. “There aren’t many truly public spaces left in America,” Rubino said. “Most shared spaces require money. One place, though, remains open to everyone. You can stay all day [at the library] and you don’t have to buy anything.”
Rubino pointed out that today’s libraries offer more than just books. “We have 22 museum passes, fishing rods, ‘Discovery Backpacks’ for kids, language learning [programs], databases, video and music streaming services, e-books, audiobooks, [and a] remote printing service.”
All are highly popular. The library has also invested in more – and better – wi-fi hotspots as well as expanding its museum pass program. “Our digital materials and publicly access accessible wi-fi are [available] 24 hours a day, seven days a week from your home – or wherever you are,” she said. “And we still offer delivery servicing homebound residents.”
In addition, the library posted a whopping 66 percent year-over-year increase in participation for programs such as teen activities, book discussions, crochet, poetry and writing, walking, and other interests.
In comparison with other public libraries, the Lewisboro Library is an “association library.” This means that in addition to receiving funds from the town, the library must raise about $200,000 from fundraising to sustain itself. The preliminary allotment for the library in the town budget for 2025 is $621,159. This marks an increase of $77,000, or 14.17 percent, Rubino said.
“This investment is critical in allowing the library to return to pre-pandemic hours,” said Rubino. “Our budget has been low in recent years, as we reduced our hours in 2020 and have not restored them yet.”
Councilman Rich Sklarin expressed some concern over the library’s hours of operation, which are usually between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., with closures on Sunday and Monday. “The majority of the people who live in the town, pay the taxes and support what the town does can’t as a practical matter set foot into the library and avail themselves of what opportunities are there,” said Sklarin. “Why can’t you, for example, two days a week open at say 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.?”
Rubino noted that the library hopes to do that and has conducted surveys among residents to determine what those expanded hours will look like.
The Town Board next looked at the preliminary budget for the Parks and Recreation Department, which is currently set at approximately $1.52 million. The department currently relies on a mix of town funding, user fees, and donations via sponsorships.
“Every program that we offer is either at break even or at a profit,” said Recreation Supervisor Nicole Caviola. “We’re not going to run a program that we are losing [funds]. We may try it again another season and if we don’t see the numbers, we can change the day or the time and if it doesn’t work then stop it.”
Caviola said the Parks and Rec department has had success with what she called “one-off” events – such as Taylor Swift dance parties and Barbie pool parties. These have been extremely popular and have generated revenue for the department. In the upcoming year, the Parks and Recreation budget will be affected by a variety of factors, chief among them a boost in the New York State minimum wage.
“So, you’re going to see some jumps in the salary lines for counselors for camp and aquatics,” she said. The line item cost for lifeguards is also expected to go up, as is the cost allocated for any emergency repairs at the pool. At the same time the department has reduced certain costs, such as propane for its pool concession, which changes each year based on fuel prices.
In addition to a wide range of recreational programs for adults and children, the Parks and Recreation Department is the unit responsible for the town’s annual Pride and Juneteenth festivities, and fireworks on Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. For certain events the Rec team relies heavily on a force of volunteers, Caviola noted.
During the public comments period of the meeting, Goldens Bridge resident Barbara Mangione called for the town to institute 24-hour policing. Currently, the Lewisboro police follow a 16-hour schedule, from 7 a.m. through 11 p.m., with police calls after hours going to the State Police. This has historically been based on funding considerations.
“After yet another break-in over in Vista and you know multiple other issues across town, it’s clearly obvious that we need 24-hour coverage,” said Mangione. “We can’t depend on the State Police. They have a physical Building located in South Salem – but whatever cars they have are covering five or six different towns, including the highway [I-284]. The 15 miles from Golden’s Bridge to Vista will take at least 23 minutes on a day with no traffic and not hitting any lights.”
Night patrols are especially needed, Mangione said. “They also need a physical space – they’ve been in a crummy old trailer at Lewisboro Elementary School for many years now, which is not conducive to running an effective department,” she said.
“Thankfully, we have almost fully moved past the ignorance of the defund-the-police movement and normalcy is slowly returning,” said Vista resident Simone O’Connor. “I didn’t see it [the Police Department] on the agenda tonight but I’m hoping that we start doing some serious support things for them. Let’s keep Lewisboro the fabulous and safe town it always was.”
O’Connor also thanked Lewisboro residents for turning out on Columbus Day, October 10, for the Italian Heritage Day at the Horse and Hound Inn in South Salem. Among them were Deputy Town Supervisor Mary Shah and councilors Andrea Rendo and Rich Sklarin.
“With a great turnout but we will be able as of today to give not one but two scholarships out for $1,000 each to two individual students,” said O’Connor, “and if people keep donating, we could maybe make it three.”
Gonçalves noted that the Police Department budget will be the topic of a separate session scheduled for Monday, November 4, with additional departments to follow on subsequent dates.
Among other business, the Town Board set Dec. 9 as the public hearing date for a proposed override of the New York State’s tax-cap legislation. The state cap generally limits annual increases in jurisdictions’ local property taxes to the lessor of 2 percent or the rate of inflation. Local government boards must schedule a public hearing and pass a local law or resolution by at least a 60 percent vote to override that cap.
The Town Board also approved the following measures:
A resolution authorizing the map, plan and report for the proposed W.O.T.R. Sewer Project. This would be a new sewer district in the areas of Lakes Waccabuc, Oscaleta, Truesdale, and Rippowam, hence the acronym. The project would utilize Department of Environmental Protection funds provided by Westchester County.
A resolution approving the renewal of CRP Sanitation’s license to collect and dispose of refuse and recyclables.
The Town Board pended, for further discussion, a decision on a resolution establishing standard working hours for town departments.
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