JOHN DEGNAN
for SOUTHEAST SUPERVISOR
May 12, 2007
To: Village Residents
From: Mayor John Degnan
As we welcome spring to the Village of Brewster, there are many things we as a community can feel proud of, and many more things we can look forward to in the coming months and years. Our Village revitalization has been progressing, literally, from the ground-up. Our major infrastructure improvements are nearing completion, and have set the stage for attracting new businesses and new residential units – already in the works.
The Village Board and I acknowledge and appreciate the faith you have shown in the renewal of your village. Many of you have volunteered your time for various projects, and all of you have dug deeper in your pockets this year to ensure our water quality and services. These public services may not be glamorous, but without them, the rest of our revitalization would not be possible.
Having served this community for ten years as a board member, and the last year and a half as mayor, I would like to share the good news about the Village of Brewster.
When I assumed the office of the mayor, I pledged to work on the health, safety and welfare of our community. This report highlights the results of this work to date, and lays out the steps we will take on our road ahead.
Until recently our village water supply was being delivered to our taps in corroded, hundred year old pipes, compromising the quality of our drinking water, and putting us at risk of service interruptions. Today, we are benefiting from the completion of our totally reconstructed potable water system. We have replaced or rebuilt our four primary wells, and our pump house. In addition, we have replaced all our main and lateral pipes throughout the village. Not least, we have constructed a storage tank with a million gallon capacity, and installed water meters for all customers.
The Village’s new part time Litter Abatement Officer has been keeping Main Street and the surrounding streets looking great. Roger Benton fills five 30 gallon garbage bags per day, and has been instrumental to our annual East Branch River clean-up, a volunteer event that has removed almost ten tons of garbage. This hard work has getting us closer to beginning work on our river walk park on Marvin Avenue.
Dan Crawford and his team in our Highway Department have done an excellent job this year in consideration of all the construction taking place community wide. In addition to their routine daily tasks, they have modified their processes so all the debris and road sand they remove are measured and logged in compliance with state storm-water regulations. As a result, the Department of Environmental Protection has recognized the Village of Brewster’s leadership in environmental protection.
After ten years of negotiation, planning, design and construction, our entirely new waste water treatment plant is completed and in full operation. The plant meets a stringent set of parameters imposed by the State Department of Environmental Conservation. We have financed this crucial infrastructure enhancement with more than $40 million in grants. This community asset has become a regional example of exemplary public work, especially when seen in light of our historical pattern of failing septic systems which had become a major public health issue that has now been addressed.
In 2005, I partnered with the former Deputy County Executive Frank DelCampo to form Team Brewster. Since then, I have worked with his successor, John Tully to grow this grassroots effort to build a coalition of active individuals to address revitalization and quality of life issues in the Village of Brewster. We have monthly meetings attended by representatives from all levels of government, community organizations, church leaders, business owners and concerned residents. We have set plans and divided responsibilities to meet several worthy objectives. For example, Team Brewster garnered a $250,000 state grant for façade and streetscape improvements for Main Street. Former Congresswoman Sue Kelly was instrumental in our $575,000 appropriation devoted to replacing deteriorated sidewalks.
Yet, perhaps most important, Team Brewster has contributed significantly to improving communication and building trust among all members of our community. For example, our volunteers include social workers, churches and educators who have worked in many ways to meet the social, educational and spiritual needs of our bilingual residents. We remain committed to communicate our community expectations, and to better understand the needs and concerns of all our residents.
We have formed a Village Police Department with a concentration in community affairs outreach to improve quality of life community-wide. We have seven part time police officers who are current or retired from the job. Together, they have over 100 years service in the ranks. Our Police Department works closely with the State police and the Sheriffs Department to create effective protocols and lines of communication. Our monthly PD community affairs meetings are attended by a broad range of residents, and our officer presence on the streets has been widely welcomed. Our PD provides a Spanish speaking officer for translation. As a community, we are better equipped now to apply our laws fairly and evenly to all residents and visitors.
Learning from the successes of similar small municipalities in the region, the Village has just installed video cameras along Main Street to monitor activity in the public domain. This strategy has a track record of being an effective crime deterrent and provides evidence to assist in law enforcement.
We have initiated a property inspection program through the Building Department, Code Enforcement Department and the Village Police Department. We have not only responded to written complaints, but generated a random list of all properties to inspect for fire, safety and code issues. Of the 743 dwelling units in the Village, we have already inspected more than 200 units, and we will diligently continue this process. We have written code violations, pursued resolution in court, and followed up with confirmation of compliance.
In 2006, we met with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, since the Federal Government is the only branch of government empowered to enforce immigration laws. The Special Agent in charge insisted that they would only pursue illegals who commit serious crime. Clearly, the federal government is not ready to help in dealing with the inherent social and economic pressures facing small communities like Brewster. Nonetheless, we have been proactive, studying how other municipalities have tried to cope with the impact of failed immigration policy.
We have met with other public officials, non profit and social service organizations to explore the options for enhancing our existing outreach and social services to the transient and needy in our community. The Village already hosts a number of these social support systems, and has proposed partnering with the Town to take this issue in new directions. For example, we will investigate using vacant property for a center, and leveraging private funds to support it.
The Village has taken the position that our local public, social and law enforcement policies should not focus solely on one group of people within our community. Our policies for enhanced quality of life are applied to all members of our community without regard to race, ethnicity or creed, so that we can ensure the health, safety and welfare of all. Faced with many challenges, including illegal immigration, our daily community life can only be enhanced by harmonious, humane approaches that remain within the law.
The new budget has just been approved, and I am pleased to report that the Village is fiscally healthy. Although the Town has again raised our assessed values, the Village has kept the tax rate in this new budget lower than last year. Due to our efforts to control our own cost of services, our bond rating has jumped a full three grades to xxx, which means that our interest rates for all our long term bonds is much lower.
Partnering with the Industrial Development Agency and Putnam County, we have applied to become a New York State Empire Zone. This will provide the Village with substantial benefits – at no cost to the residents – including the creation of new jobs and incentives for new businesses. We are awaiting State approval this summer for our Empire Zone designation.
We have all been pleased to see our train station’s $4 million facelift, with added parking, a special pick-up and drop-off point, a pedestrian safety area at the intersection, new lighting and traffic signals and beautiful plantings. On behalf of the community, I would like to thank Senator Vincent Leibell for his work with Metro North Railroad in making this project a reality.
The Landmark Society, with the help of former Assemblyman Will Stephens, and with work provided by Sheriff Don Smith’s Community Work Program, has completed a dramatic upgrade to both the interior and exterior of the Walter Brewster House.
Recently, the village partnered with the Putnam Community Foundation to acquire the big, yellow, partially occupied building at 50 Main Street. The Foundation has purchased and will renovate this building for senior housing units, offices to relocate Village Hall, and retail space for a bank. This project represents a big lift for Main Street merchants, and will bring new residents and vitality to our community.
When my administration began, it was evident that our office systems and procedures needed an overhaul, and the local laws needed reorganization and registration renewal. As part of my commitment to good governance, I am proud to say that all village laws have been reviewed and registered accurately with the Department of State. Through the efforts of village attorney Gary Kropkowski, local business owner Jack Gress and village consultant Denis Castelli and Village Trustee Yosh Ito, a new book with up-to-date information will soon be available in print and online. Our Village office computer systems and procedures have been updated, and we have welcomed Peter Brewster Hansen as our new Village Clerk. Special thanks go to Barbara Jewel and Joanne Weiland for maintaining their professionalism in the midst of dramatic changes this past year.
Last, but certainly not least, I feel it is important to point out that the current Village Board of Trustees has worked very well together. They have made sound decisions in the best interests of our community. Comprised of both Republicans and Democrats, the Board members do not let partisan politics cloud their decision-making. I am proud of our team efforts in serving the Village, and present for your consideration our future plans.
We have many things to look forward to. Our works in progress, include:
Over my years of service to the community, I have partnered with all levels of government, community organizations, state organizations and private businesses to build up and revitalize the Village of Brewster. I will continue to advocate and negotiate for all our residents, so that we may thrive and enjoy a healthy, safe and prosperous community.
As you can see from this report, we have been doing the hard work that needs to get done to revitalize our village from the ground-up. Step by step, and in solidarity, we will continue to make great progress. Thank you for your faith and contributions, and don’t forget to pass along the good news about the Village of Brewster!
Mayor John A. Degnan
May 12, 2007