Village of Pelham Newsletter
	Edward Hotchkiss, Mayor Robert Yamuder, Administrator	Village Hall                            Phone:  914-738-2015 195 Sparks Avenue             Fax:       914-738-7381 Pelham, NY  10803

     

RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS

4/30/12- Update Regarding Recent Robberies

The Village of Pelham Police Department has announced that they have arrested a suspect who is being charged with three recent robberies where residents were mugged while walking home from the train station.

While this news is reassuring, The Police Department does want to advise all residents to continue to use common sense while walking in the Village, especially at night.  A complete list of crime prevention tips are available on the Village website under the "Departments" tab.

If you have any questions regarding this incident, please contact Chief Joseph Benefico at 738-2000, or Detectives Rich Deere or John Hynes.

 

4/26/12- End of Loose Leaf Pickup: Monday, April 30, 2012

Pelham Residents, please be advised that loose leaf pickup season will end on Monday, April 30, 2012.  After this date, all organic waste must be bagged and put out at the curb for a Wednesday collection for both Area's A and B.  Please consult the 2012 Village of Pelham Sanitation Calendar for more information or call Village Hall for further guidance.
 

4/10/12- Update Regarding Recent Robberies

There was a robbery in the Town-Village of Harrison last night, reportedly with the same M.O. as all the other robberies posted below. The person was walking home from the local train station at night.

 This alert is also to remind you to continue to exercise caution when walking at night, particularly after the rush hour when there are fewer pedestrians on the street.

 Again, please do not hesitate to call the police at 738-2000 to report the presence of a suspicious individual or vehicle.

 

4/3/12- Update Regarding Recent Robberies

As you are aware, another resident was robbed on March 28, 2012 while walking home from the train station.  Since then, it has come to our attention that many residents had concluded from news reports that the crime had been solved. While an individual who had been detained in February on another matter was identified as a “person of interest,” the investigation continued, as did stepped-up patrols and other measures. When a suspect is charged, we will notify you.

 This alert is to remind you to continue exercising caution when walking at night, particularly after the rush hour when there are fewer pedestrians on the street. In the latest incident, as in the previous two, the victim started home by walking down First Street between Highbrook and Loring Avenues. If possible, you may want to avoid this area on your walk home. 

 Regardless of your route from the train station, you must be alert and constantly looking around and behind you. If you can’t find a neighbor to walk with, try to stay within sight of another pedestrian. If you see someone who looks suspicious and seems to be following you, immediately call the police and/or go to the closest house and ring the bell. If no one answers, make as much noise as you can until you are sure that you have been heard by others in the immediate area.

 Again, please do not hesitate to call the police at 738-2000 to report the presence of a suspicious individual or vehicle.

 

3/30/12- SPECIAL COMMUNITY MEETING ON RECENT ROBBERIES IN THE VILLAGE OF PELHAM- SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2012 AT 3:00 P.M. AT VILLAGE HALL.

The Mayor and Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting to discuss the recent robberies in Pelham. Representatives of the Pelham Police Department will be on hand to talk about the latest incident (see updated alert below) and progress on the investigation of these crimes.

The meeting will be held at Village Hall and is scheduled for Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.

 

3/29/12- Update Regarding Recent Robberies

On Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 10:55 p.m. a pedestrian was robbed, the third incident this year in which a resident mugged on the way home from the train station.  Police responded and got a description of the assailant.  According to Lieutenant DelGrosso, the description is similar to the suspect in two previous instances.

Once again, we remind residents to maintain their diligence and continue to take precautions when walking during the night-time hours.  Suggestions include walking in groups or pairs to and from the train station.  The Police have added additional patrols and are working in conjunction with the MTA Police and other agencies in an effort to apprehend this offender.

Separately, the Police are holding a suspect for attempting to steal property from a parked car at 2 a.m.  There has been a rash of such larcenies.  Police remind residents to lock their cars at all times.

 

3/9/12- Loose Leaf Pickup March 15- April 30, 2012

Pelham residents please be advised that loose leaf pickup season will begin on Thursday, March 15 and continue until April 30, 2012.  Leaves may be left loose at the curb for collection on a five day roving pickup schedule.  Please refer to the 2012 Village of Pelham Sanitation Calendar for additional information or call Village Hall at (914) 738-2015 for guidance.

 

Organic Waste Pickups- Wednesday, April 4, 2012

An important notice for Pelham residents: the Pelham Sanitation schedule for pickups of Organic waste has been changed.  Pickups for both Area's A and B will now take place on Wednesday's beginning on Wednesday, April 4, 2012.   If you have any questions, please contact Village Hall at (914) 738-2015.

2012 Village of Pelham Sanitation Calendar

 

2/2/12  Police Update on Recent Robberies

_____________________________________________________________________________

Sanitation Information:

More available under the "Services" link

Posted below is the 2012 Sanitation Schedules.

2012 Village of Pelham Sanitation Calendar

The next Bulk Rubbish collection:  Thursday, May 24 for Area A

                                                              Friday, May 25 for Area B

____________________________________________________________________________

State of the Village Report

October 1, 2010

Dear Neighbor:

This year, we find ourselves in the most fiscally challenging environment in memory, mandating difficult decisions. However, I am proud to report that the Village is functioning well, thanks to the dedication and expertise of our Village employees, as well as the efforts of my fellow elected officials and the many volunteers who serve on our land-use boards and other committees.

While the Village has traditionally been careful in stretching your dollars to provide vital services in an excellent fashion, the Board of Trustees has emphasized three philosophical principles. 

1. We are committed to addressing long-standing issues and not passing the responsibility to fix them to future generations. For example, we continue our focused effort to address perennial flooding, particularly in North Pelham, and to present the Village with well-researched options for the underutilized former B&W Railroad property in Pelhamwood.

2. We have been systematically incorporating appropriate business practices in the Village administration, including detailed plans for specific projects, codifying standard employee policies, increasing the frequency of financial reporting, and creating an annual strategic plan to establish priorities for addressing long-range projects and new initiatives.  We continue to follow the Comprehensive Plan adopted two years ago, ensuring we maintain continuity in practices from year to year and strive to be more efficient by using technology, bidding competitively and improving administrative processes.

3. We are pursuing solutions to our long-term challenges, including the high tax burden on homeowners.  We have reviewed all properties owned by the Village and determined that the land between 3^rd Street and Lincoln Ave. and between 4^th and 5^th Avenues could possibly serve the community better if it were sold for commercial development and added to the tax rolls.  We will soon issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) with various options to develop mixed-use residential / retail buildings. If done appropriately, this would significantly expand the tax base, increase the shopping population for downtown, and improve the appearance of the Village, while not materially increasing the demands on Village services and the schools.

 While striving to meet our obligations and plan for the future, we continue to be committed to listening to all members of the Village, balancing the needs of homeowners, commercial property owners and merchants and conducting Village business in an inclusive and transparent manner.  This includes televising all Board of Trustee meetings, posting minutes of Trustee and land use boards online, and providing emergency communications, as we did during emergencies such as the blackout in Pelham Heights last March.

Please feel free to view the rest of the 2010 State of the Village Report at the link below:

State of the Village Report for 2010

____________________________________________________________________________

Updated Comprehensive Plan 2008

The Village of Pelham 2008 Comprehensive Plan is now available for download. The plan, which was awarded the best comprehensive plan prize for 2008 by the New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association, has been updated with new color photographs and maps. We urge all residents to review the document, which describes the many advantages that the village offers residents and businesses—and also details our aspirations to create a more vibrant downtown for shopping, dining and recreation.

Pelham Comprehensive Plan 2008