| PROCESS, GOVERANCE AND MANAGEMENT |
| Administration: Who will run the day-to-day operations of our village? | .Most Westchester villages and towns operate with a professional village manager, appointed by the
governing body, to oversee all village services, contracts, and employees. The associated staffing costs were factored into the financial feasibility report. |
| Jons new Q | Blah blah |
| Zoning: What authority will we have over land use? | As an incorporated village, Edgemont’s governing body would be required to establish a zoning board and may also appoint a planning board; both would be populated by volunteer Edgemont residents. |
| Zoning: Could Edgemont secure zoning and planning powers without incorporating? | No. We are not aware of any statutory authority in New York allowing the appointment of advisory boards with authority to advise on zoning and land use matters in only certain portions of unincorporated areas of a town. |
| What are the methods of governing/electing? | A village mayor and trustees (consisting of Edgemont volunteer residents) will be elected within 60 days of incorporation; a nonpartisan nominating committee can endorse a slate. Terms are typically two or three years. |
| Building Department | The Village would likely establish its own building department managed by a building inspector, who would serve as the code enforcement official for the Village. |
| Justice Court | The Village would have the option, but not the obligation, to establish a justice court. |
| DEMOGRAPHICS, TAXES AND FINANCES | |
| Is Edgemont big enough to become a village? | Yes. With a population of about 7,500, Edgemont would be the fourth-largest of the seven Greenburgh villages. At almost $2.7 billion, our community's collective property assessment—which determines the amount of revenue raised per dollar of taxation—would be the highest of Greenburgh's villages, and Edgemont's per capita revenues would be among the highest in Westchester County. |
| Do we know if our taxes will change? | Because Edgemont's assessments have increased significantly in the past five years, Edgemont now pays 26% of the unincorporated area's taxes, but represents just 16% of its population. As a result, the EIC expects a new Edgemont Village to have sufficient revenues, even after transition costs, to comfortably operate a village without an increase in taxes. |
| Will Edgemont have debt obligations to Greenburgh? | Yes, the Village of Edgemont would likely retain an ongoing (but declining) obligation to pay some portion of unincorporated area debt service outstanding at the time of Edgemont’s incorporation, subject to negotiation between the Town and Village. The EIC has assumed the Village will remain obligated at Edgemont's current assesssment ratio of approximately 26%. |
| Will the Village be able to borrow on its own? | Yes. Edgemont’s school and fire districts borrow efficiently based on their high (AA) bond ratings, as do our neighboring villages. Similarly, the Village’s strong tax base and substantial property tax revenues will allow us to secure short and long-term financing, as necessary, on favorable terms. |
| Condo and co-op specific taxes: What is the impact of Homestead, if applied? | Homestead allows municipalities the option of reclassifying only those condos built after 1983 as single family homes. Homestead does not apply to co-op or rental buildings. The EIC has identified fewer than 50 condos in Edgemont (less than 7% of Edgemont’s apartment units) that could potentially qualify under Homestead. Click here to understand why the likelihood of exercising that option is extremely remote. |
| PUBLIC SAFETY, PUBLIC WORKS, AND PARKING | |
| Fire Protection/Greenville Fire District | As a village, we will continue to levy taxes for, and receive, fire/rescue and basic life support EMS services from the Edgemont's own Greenville Fire District (GFD),which will become a department of our village government. |
| Emergency Medical Services (EMS) | Edgemontwould likely contract with Greenburgh or a private provider for ambulance transport and paramedic services. The Edgemont Village Fire Department (formerly, the Greenville Fire District) will continue to provide first-responder basic life support EMS. |
| Police Protection | The Village will have the option of contracting with the Town of Greenburgh Police Department (which would include EMS); contracting with the Westchester County Department of Public Safety; establishing an Edgemont Village Police Department; or entering into a joint arrangement with neighboring municipal departments. |
| Public Works (road maintenance, snow and tree removal) | The Village of Edgemont would have multiple options for public works including potentially contracting with the Town, sharing facilities and/or services with other municipalities or developing the village's own, Edgemont-focused Department of Public Works. |
| Public Works (sanitation) | Edgemont could continue to receive sanitation services from the Town of Greenburgh via an intermunicipal agreement or secure a private hauling contract like many Westchester municipalities (such as the Town of Mt. Pleasant and the Village of Rye Brook). |
| Parking: What happens to the Hartsdale Public Parking District, priorities, and the spots within Edgemont's borders? | Upon incorporation, Edgemont has legal rights to Hartsdale Public Parking District land within the proposed borders of the Village. Such property includes a more-than-sufficient number of spots to meet our commuting demands. Alternatively, the Village could negotiate an arrangement with the parking district to guarantee access. |
| Transition: When would Edgemont become responsible? Will police protection always be available? | If Edgemont incorporates, the Town is obligated to provide, without discrimination, all the services Edgemont currently receives today from the date of incorporation to June 1 of the following calendar year. (Note: if the Village does not secure its own police force, the Town is required to provide police protection indefinitely.) |
| CULTURE, RECREATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES | |
| Outdoor Pool: What are our options for pool access? | Under current law, without Town action Edgemont would lose access to the Anthony F. Veteran (AFV) pool. However, Edgemont residents have access to Westchester County pools, including nearby Sprain Ridge. |
| Greenburgh Parks and Recreation Programs: What are the changes in program access and prices for village residents for Greenburgh Parks and Rec Programs? | Just like the six existing Greenburgh villages, Edgemont will have access to all parks owned by the Town except, as discussed above, possibly AFV. Programs, including those administered by the Office for the Aging, are available Town-wide (some fees are higher for village residents). Edgemont Recreation Corporation sports teams will retain the ability to participate in Town of Greenburgh Parks and Recreation leagues. |
| Can Edgemont still access TDYCC's facilities and programs? | Yes, the Theodore D. Young Center (TDYCC) is available Town-wide (including to the villages) and offers social service and cultural programs, as well as indoor swimming and recreational activities. The Community Center is available to anyone, regardless of residence or ability to pay. Some program fees are higher for village residents. |
| Library: Will we continue to have access to the Westchester Library System, including the Greenburgh and Scarsdale locations? | Yes. Edgemont’s incorporation would not affect the rights of Edgemont residents to use the Greenburgh, Scarsdale, or other libraries in the Westchester system. Edgemont would be responsible for a pro rata share of related costs. Over time, Edgemont’s governing body could consider other approaches for delivering library services to Village residents, including potentially contracting with another village (e.g. Elmsford with Ardsley) or building and maintaining its own library. |
| Greenburgh Nature Center: Who maintains it and do we retain access? | GNC access and membership will remain open to all whether or not Edgemont incorporates. According to the GNC’s annual reports, more than 85,000 people from Westchester County and the New York metropolitan area are served annually in some capacity by GNC, with 45% of memberships from Greenburgh residents.If Edgemont incorporaes, the Town will remain the owner of the GNC property and, pursuant to a contract that runs through 2026, also remain responsible for providing a certain level of funding as well as maintenance and insurance. The Village of Edgemont could contribute additional funds if residents and the governing body chose to enhance the property or its programming. |
| Edgemont Recreation and Day Camp | We expect Edgemont Recreation and Edgemont Day Camp to continue providing programs to our children. If the Village of Edgemont elects not to retain access to AFV Pool, Edgemont Day Camp will have viable options for pool access and swimming lessons for campers, including at newly renovated nearby Westchester County facilities. |
| Crane's Pond: What's the deal with Crane's Pond? | The deal is: Crane’s pond is one of the few non-school open spaces in Edgemont. The Town will remain the owner and maintain responsibility for its upkeep. |
| NON-VILLAGE AND SPECIAL DISTRICT SERVICES | |
| Water and Sewer: What happens to the water and sewer districts and the cost for these services? | The special districts that provide water and sewer services to Edgemont, and maintain the associated infrastructure, will continue to supply those services at the same in-district rates in effect prior to incorporation. The budgets of these separate legal entities are taxed/funded independently of the Town. |
| Edgemont Schools: What impact will incorporation have on the school district? | Village incorporation has no effect on our school district’s boundaries as they are governed by New York State Education Law. Properties that lie within the Edgemont Union Free School District will remain within the district. Further, incorporation does not in any way affect the school district’s status as an independent legal entity with its own governance (school board) and authority to tax, spend, and borrow. School district facilities will remain available for use by Edgemont community groups, including Edgemont Rec and youth sports clubs. |
| Westchester County: Would there be any changes to County taxes or services? | No. The County is taxed separately, and Edgemont residents would retain access to all services and amenities including pools and parks. |
| MISCELLANEOUS | |
| Transition: Can the Town create difficulties for the Village between the vote and when we the Village takes full responsibility for services? | During the transition period, the Town is obligated to provide, without discrimination, all services we currently receive today. The Village can elect its own trustees, issue notes to begin incurring expenses, and negotiate for future services. |
| Adult Bookstores: Should we be concerned about adult bookstores? | We believe that any suggestion that incorporation will spur adult bookstores to move into Edgemont is unsubstantiated by market realities and the experience of nearby villages. |
| Affordable Housing: What are our obligations to zone for affordable housing? | No state or federal law mandates that a municipality maintain a minimum number of affordable housing units. Click here to learn more. |
