Residents of Poets Corner,
On March 1st, the Hartsdale Neighbors Association held an informational meeting regarding “What the Edgemont Incorporation means to the residents of Hartsdale and the rest of Unincorporated Greenburgh”. Several members of the PCCA Executive Board attended the meeting to hear what the Hartsdale Neighborhood Association had to say. Both Paul Feiner, representing the Town of Greenburgh, and members of the Edgemont Incorporation Committee (EIC) were on hand to give their viewpoints.
The following summarizes some of the factual points that were discussed during the meeting.
An explanation of how the incorporated (currently 6 villages including: Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Hastings, Irvington, and Tarrytown) and the unincorporated areas of Greenburgh (currently includes Hartsdale, Greenville a.k.a. Edgemont, Fairview, and other areas) participate in the Town’s Tax Structure.
Edgemont has notified the Town that it intends to have a referendum on incorporation. This was formally acheived on February 27, 2017 when the EIC presented Supervisor Feiner with a 1,455 signature petition.
Should the referendum go through and Edgemont does incorporate, the Town Unincorporated Budget would be reduced by approximately $17.5 M. This represents approximately a 22.3% reduction in funding available for the remaining unincorporated areas of the Town.
Intuitively, this would lead to a reduction in services or an increase in taxes for the remaining unincorporated residents of the Town, or most likely some combination of both to off-set the $17.5 M reduction to the tax base.
Incorporation can be unilaterally accomplished by the Edgemont residents. The rest of the unincorporated residents (including Harsdale) do not vote and do not have veto power.
If Edgemont goes through with the referendum, a simple majority is necessary to effect incorporation.
The estimated timeline for all this to happen and take effect would be June 2018 at the earliest.
These were the salient points. What is not included is the rhetoric, political or otherwise, that is also taking place throughout the Town regarding this very sensitive topic..
The PCCA Executive Board will be organizing a General membership meeting some time in April to present the facts, answer questions,inform, and discuss the ramifications of the potential Edgemont Incorporation. Look for an invitation to be sent sometime in the beginning of April.
As a reminder, PCCA remains apolitical and will only take positions that will benefit the residents of Poets Corner.
Sincerely,
Nat J. Federici / Mona Fraitag
PCCA Co-Presidents