Frequently Asked Questions by Residents

Last Updated 2009.07.27

Upcoming/Recent Events
Farmer’s Market Opened - Sat, May 30th, 7:00am to 1:00pm, Memorial Plaza

Q: Do you know you can watch Board Meetings, School Meetings, and a number of other events live and recorded?
A: They are available via the PCTV76 website.

Q: What's going on with the run-down home at 55 Pleasant Avenue?
A: The County is considering donating the above dilapidated home for rehabilitation for middle class housing as managed by A-Home, a non-profit. The house would include an accessory apartment as well. This is allowed under Village Zoning ordinances (section 185-31). Currently, it's not on Village tax rolls and is an eye sore. So, this could be a win-win situation. There has been some local neighborhood negative feedback due to flood control and house size issues. This project is still in the planning phase.

Q: What is the status with Verizon FiOS TV service?
A: The board has been negotiating with Verizon almost on a daily basis as reported by the Mayor, and has requested the same deal offered to neighboring municipalities. Verizon has been extremely slow to respond. The Village TV station and other services are based on the tv fees, so it's important they are not cut. Once Verizon offers a "fair" amount, they will be welcomed into the community. Keep in mind, Verizon FiOS internet costs more than Cablevision's so I'm not sure it'll reduce everyone's cable costs.

Q: What is the status of the Church Street sidewalks?
A: At the Mon 5/18 board meeting, the board has hired a traffic engineering company (Adler) to look into the feasibility of sidewalks on Chruch Street. At the end of June 09, Adler should have their initial report ready. Board had been looking into what options exists from a traditional sidewalk to path.

Q: How can I ask a question?
A: Send an email to Ben Serebin. My email address is: ben "the @ symbol" serebin "dot" com.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Village Board Work Session Agenda 3/30/09

[As received from Village announcements. As always, I'll post my comments from attending the meetings. I will not be able to attend this meeting though. -Ben]

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
VILLAGE OF PLEASANTVILLE
WORK SESSION
AGENDA
MONDAY, MARCH 30, 2009
80 WHEELER AVENUE
PLEASANTVILLE, NY 10570
7:00PM

7:00pm Miscellaneous Administrative Items

Proposal to Amend Vehicle & Traffic Law for Academy Street to One Way Monday to Friday 7:00am to 4:00pm from the current law One Way 7:00am to 4:00pm School Days to provide for the Day Camp Program at the Bedford Road School

Review of a Proposal from the RBA Group to Develop a Design Report based on the
NYSDOT guidelines with respect to the Memorial Plaza Intermodal Access Project.

Agreement with Westchester County for use of Retired Bee-Line Buses for Municipal Purposes

Review of Easement Agreement with MTA to install a Switch Pad in the Manville Parking Lot

Review of Professional Consulting, Inc.’s letter dated March 24, 2009 with respect to the Orbeak Lane Drainage
Improvement Project

7:30pm Presentation by Chase Bank/Debit & Check Cards
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Anticipated Vacancies- Various Boards and Commissions

[As received from Village newsletter. Made minor spelling corrections. -Ben]

Dear Pleasantville Residents,

The Village Board anticipates vacancies will occur on the following volunteer boards:

*Planning Commission: Two vacancies are anticipated. Appointments are for three-year terms.
*Board of Ethics- Two vacancies are anticipated. Appointments are for a two-year term and a three-year term.

Interested residents must send a resume to the attention of the Mayor and Board of Trustees c/o Village Hall, 80 Wheeler Avenue, Pleasantville NY 10570. Alternatively you may email your resume to jweintraub@pleasantville-ny.gov.

Thank you,
Patricia Dwyer
Village Administrator
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Tentative Village Budget Fiscal Year 09-10 - online now!

[As received from Village email announcement. Made minor changes to this. -Ben]

A consolidated copy of the Village's FY2009-10 tentative budget is now on the Village's website.

Please visit our home page at http://www.pleasantville-ny.gov.
The budget is linked under News and Announcements.

The Village Board has scheduled a public hearing on the budget on April 13, 2009 at 8PM at Village Hall. All interested persons are welcome to comment on and discuss the proposed budget.

Yours truly,
Patricia Dwyer
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Monday, March 23, 2009

Village Board Regular Board Meeting Agenda 3/23/09

[As received by Village email announcement. As always, I comment on the meetings I attend. I attended this meeting, so look at the comments for my meeting feedback. -Ben]

REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
VILLAGE OF PLEASANTVILLE
VILLAGE HALL
80 WHEELER AVENUE - 2ND FLOOR
MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2009
8:00PM

Announcements:
Change in Village Court hours from 7:00pm to 6:00pm beginning May 5, 2009

Congratulations to Yvonne Van Cort and Roy Solomon on being named “2008 Business Persons of the Year” by the Business Community

Scheduled Meetings: All meetings are held at Village Hall, 80 Wheeler Avenue, 2nd Floor, Pleasantville, New York

Work Session, Monday, March 30, 2009 at 7:00pm

ANNUAL ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING Monday, April 6, 2009 at 7:30pm

Regular Meeting, Monday, April 13, 2009 at 8:00pm

Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Village Budget, April 13, 2009 at 8:00pm

Resolutions:
Res. No. 2009-29-Approval of Pre-Check Register
Res. No. 2009-30-Approval of Minutes/March 9, 2009
Res. No. 2009-31-Authorization to sign Service Agreement with O’Connor Davies Munns & Dubbins for Annual Auditing Services
Res. No. 2009-32-Authorization to Respond to Westchester Municipal Officials Association Survey Re: Potential Interest in a County-Wide Revaluation
Res. No. 2009-33-Authorization to Sign Prisoner Transportation Agreement
Res. No. 2009-34-Approval to Increase Local Retirement Payment for Edith Fuhn
Res. No. 2009-35-Approval of Unpaid Internship/Senior Citizen Programs & Services
Res. No. 2009-36-Designating Village Board as Lead Agency for Intermodel Project and Authorizing Preparation of Environmental Assessment Form
Res. No. 2009-37-Authorization to Set Public Hearing for Fiscal Year 2009-10 Tentative Village Budget
Res. No. 2009-38-Approval of Budget Amendments
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Village Board Work Session Agenda 3/23/09

[As received by Village email announcement. See comments for my notes when I attend the meetings. This meeting I attended. -Ben]

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
VILLAGE OF PLEASANTVILLE
WORK SESSION
AGENDA
MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2009
80 WHEELER AVENUE
PLEASANTVILLE, NY 10570
7:00PM


7:00pm Miscellaneous Administrative Items
Review of Records Storage Proposal from William B. Meyer
Soldiers and Sailors Fieldhouse Project Update
Review of Village Code Section 155-10/Removal of Snow and Ice
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Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Village Election Today!!! / Free Parking for Election

PARKING FOR VILLAGE ELECTION
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
7:00am to 9:00pm
80 Wheeler Avenue, 2nd Floor

30 minute free parking is being provided for in the Wheeler Avenue Permit Parking Lot (behind Lucy's) right side only. Entrance to the lot is from Wheeler Avenue.
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Village Board Work Session Agenda 3/16/09

[As received from Village newsletter. I did not attend this work session otherwise I would post in the comments about it. -Ben]

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
WORK SESSION
AGENDA
80 WHEELER AVENUE, PLEASANTVILLE
MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009
80 WHEELER AVENUE
PLEASANTVILLE, NY 10570
7:00PM


7:00pm Executive Session
Assessor Re: Certiorari Update


7:30pm Miscellaneous Administrative Items
PCTV Budget Proposal Fiscal Year 09-10
Beautification Budget Proposal Fiscal Year 09-10
Library Director Budget Discussion
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Monday, March 9, 2009

Village issues on YouTube by Peter Scherer (running for mayor)

[As posted on Yahoo groups relating to the Pleasantville election. -Ben]


Dear Friends,

Below is a link which was forwarded to me to a series of videos on YouTube in which Peter Scherer discusses different issues around the Village, including: Verizon FIOS, MLA, street signs, and the ConEd facility on Manville Road.

http://www.youtube.com/user/schererformayor

I hope you find these useful in assessing the candidates for Mayor. The election is Wednesday March 18. Please make sure you vote!

John Dieffenbach

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Journal News Editorial Board Interviews the Candidates

[As posted on Pleasantville Yahoo Groups. -Ben]

Dear Friends,

As you may know, we have a Village Election March 18. For the first time in about two decades we have a contested election for Mayor.

Trustee Peter Scherer is running against Mayor Bernie Gordon, who is seeking a third term.

Two seats on the Board of Trustees are also up for election: Jonathan Cunningham is seeking re-election and Steve Lopez is seeking a first term.

Below is a link to a website that has a video recording of the interview with Bernie and Peter before the Editorial Board of the Journal News on Monday March 2.


Issues discussed:

Parking
Planning for Pleasantville’s Future
Taxes
Verizon FIOS
Merging Services (Police Dept., Sanitation, Recycling)
Improving transparency and communication of Village government
Traffic studies

www.lohud.com/editorialspotlight

Click "On Demand" and choose the “Pleasantville” video to watch the editorial board interview.

---------
Posted better link as per John.

Here is an easier link to the Journal News Editorial Board session with the Pleasantville Mayoral Candidates Bernie Gordon and Peter Scherer.

Note that this link take you to the page with Peter’s profile and statement. There is a link to Bernie’s profile and statement from there. (See: More Pleasantville Mayor candidates)

http://www.nyjnews.com/candidates/village/view.php?id=47

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There is also a debate Tuesday night, though I don’t have details. If someone does could you share them with the group? Thanks.

John Dieffenbach
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Village Board Regular Meeting Agenda 3/09/09

[As received by Village email announcement. -Ben]

REGULAR MEETING OF THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
VILLAGE OF PLEASANTVILLE
VILLAGE HALL
80 WHEELER AVENUE - 2ND FLOOR
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2009
8:00PM

Scheduled Meetings: All meetings are held at Village Hall, 80 Wheeler Avenue, 2nd Floor, Pleasantville, New York

Work Session, Monday, March 16, 2009 at 7:00pm

Regular Meeting Monday, March 23, 2009 at 8:00pm with a Work Session at 7:00pm

Resolutions:
Res. No. 2009-20-Approval of Pre-Check Register
Res. No. 2009-21-Approval of Minutes/February 23,2009
Res. No. 2009-22-Approval of Unpaid Internship/Police Department
Res. No. 2009-23-Approval of Temporary Parking Rules & Regulations at Pleasantville High School
Res. No. 2009-24-Authorization for Village Clerk to Advertise and Invite Bids for Bedford & Pleasantville Road Streetscape Improvements
Res. No. 2009-25-Authorization for Village Clerk to Advertise and Invite Bids for Janitorial Services
Res. No. 2009-26-Accepting Donation to Senior Citizen Programs & Services
Res. No. 2009-27-Approval of Budget Amendments
Res. No. 2009-28-Authorization to Sign Stipulation of Settlement Jackson & Wheeler vs Village of Pleasantville;TOMAS LLC vs Village of Pleasantville
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Village Board Work Session Agenda 3/09/09

[As received by Village email announcement. -Ben]

WORK SESSION
AGENDA
MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2009
80 WHEELER AVENUE
PLEASANTVILLE, NY 10570
7:00PM

7:00pm Miscellaneous Administrative Items

Traffic Engineer Proposal/Church Street

Request for Removal from Refuse District Maher Funeral Home

Request to Continue One-Way Traffic on Academy Street to Accommodate Summer Camp at BRS
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Village Board Work Session Agenda 3/02/09

[As received by email announcement from Village. -Ben]

BOARD OF TRUSTEES
WORK SESSION
AGENDA
MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2009
80 WHEELER AVENUE
PLEASANTVILLE, NY 10570
7:00PM

7:00pm Executive Session
Jackson & Wheeler Litigation

7:30pm Drazen Cackovic/Record Storage Facility Feasibilty Study

8:30pm Professional Consulting, Inc./Water Main Replacement Project for Bedford Road, Broadway, Bedford Terrace, Hays Hill and Greenmeadow Road

Professional Consulting, Inc./Recommendation of Award for Boundary & Topographic Utility Survey/Church Street

Miscellaneous Administrative Items
Pleasantville Ambulance Corps Request to Use Memorial Plaza For a Training Drill/April 26, 2009
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The Dunkin Donuts Corner (SPECIAL FEATURE) - Updated Last 2008.10.07

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Regular Announcements Below This - Scroll Down
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Tue 10/7 Update
Last week, Dunkin Donuts decided to hang up a traditional Dunkin Donuts sign violating the Signage Ordinance and the Architecture Review Board's agreement with the Donuts Donuts franchise owner, TBG. Numerous complaints were lodged with Village Hall and they demanded TBG immediately remove the illegal sign which they promptly did. TBG complained that the wood curved sign was taking too long, hence they broke the rules to advertise Dunkin Donuts.

Wed 9/10 Update
On Monday, 9/8 the Pleasantville Board of Trustees announced the following proposed amendments to the introductory local law 2008-181 which to summarize the major points improves upon the definition of what a restaurant is, prohibits drive-throughs for non-bank establishments, adds a new formula fast food establishment definition and restricts their establishment, and clarifies and restricts 1st floor permitted uses for professional services (e.g. legal services, architectural, brokerage firms, accounting, etc) in the central business districts. Public comment is open now. You can read the original document on the Village's website. Next public comment meeting is on the agenda for the Mon, October 27th meeting. Please provide feedback to the trustees and village administrator before then as well.

- Ben Serebin, Pleasantville Resident
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Hello Everyone,

The vast majority of the people I speak with are upset to hear about the planned Dunkin Donuts across from the Jacob Burns (2nd Dunkin Donuts in Pleasantville), so I realized it would be good if I had a special section dedicated to it. I'll update this area with Dunkin Donuts related issues which includes the business moratorium and ordinance changes.

This issue was caused by a ruling by the Pleasantville Building Inspector (Mike Testa) on 11/28/07 due to the lack of definition of the current zoning for a bakery (section 185:11, no definition of bakery), simplistic definition of a fast food restaurant (more than 8 seats with ready to consume food), "one hundred feet of the intersection" of any business street as per section 185-22 section 12 (a) [4], and "lack of applying the interpretation or conflict of the zoning and ordinances, the more restrictive language should apply" (section 185-59 section B). His consultation of a dictionary for defining what a bakery is should have been targeted to the board of trustees for clarification especially since most people would probably classify Dunkin Donuts as fast food (since the company labels it as such and so does the franchise owner). In essence, the application was a technique of a wolf in sheep's clothes. Challenges via a Zoning Board Appeal in section 185-55 or an article 78 to applications are required within 30 days, which was not available to me since I became aware of this after that period.

There is a solution that we can promote to prevent uncontrolled increases of fast food businesses and franchises in Pleasantville, and it's called Business Formula Ordinances (BFOs). To summarize the explanation of this, it means that each business would need to be to a certain degree unique and could not be cookie cutter like, e.g. same trademark, signage, tables, lighting, menus, uniforms, etc. The BFOs can be as restrictive (e.g. no businesses sharing trademarks, menus, signage, etc) or accommodating as desired (e.g. capping the # in an area or entire business district, such as up to 5 business allowed in the village sharing trademarks, menus, signage, etc). Traffic safety should also play a role in approving businesses in Pleasantville.

Read the following PDFs or websites just by clicking the links:
Original Building Permit Application filed by T.B.G. Food Acquisition Corp (aka Dunkin Donuts owner Manhattan based private equity firm The Beekman Group L.L.C.) on November 25, 2007. There are mistakes on the application and the identity of the signature of the owner is unknown even to Mike Testa (building inspector).

Background on The Beekman Group Private Equity Firm and TBG as per Westchester County Business Journal interview with John Troiano and Peter Marrinan. Peter has attended at least one Pleasantville meeting. Or read it on the Westchester County Business Journal website.

The Examiner Article of March 10, 2008 announcing the Pleasantville Downtown Business Moratorium and "know your Neighbor" highlight of Ben Serebin.

The New York Times Article on May 25, 2008 "Punching a Hole in Paradise" about the planned Dunkin Donuts and use of Formula Businesses. Interview with Mayor Bernard Gordon and Pleasantville Resident Ben Serebin. Or read it on the NY Times website.

Pleasantville Zoning Map of Business Districts (A1 & A2) Affected by Business Moratorium.

[Provided to Pleasantville Board of Trustees during May 19, 2008 meeting & Westchester County Legislator John Nonna who was present]
List of some Municipalities that have Implemented Formula Business Ordinances (e.g. Port Jefferson NY, Fairfield CT, Bristol RI, Chesapeake City MD, Nantucket MA, Portland ME, Ogunquit ME, Coronado CA, Pacific Grove CA, San Francisco CA, Sanibel FL, Sauslito CA, & York ME to name a few.

Formula Business Ordinance upheld by California Court of Appeals

[Provided to Pleasantville Board of Trustees during May 19, 2008 meeting & Westchester County Legislator John Nonna who was present]
Port Jefferson, NY (on Long Island) Business Formula Ordinance (BFO) Code (I've provided the exact sections that discuss the BFO.)

City of Portland, ME's BFO Code. This is a good example like the Port Jefferson, NY code.

Pleasantville, NY Local Law code for Signage as of Jan 2008

Dunkin Donuts Website Press Release announcing that Dunkin Donuts received the award of "Best Fast-Food Coffee" - maybe they are a fast food franchise company?

-Ben Serebin, Pleasantville Resident
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