Edgemont May Exit Greenburgh - What does it mean for public safety?

[x635 4,066]

I've been meaning to post about this for a while. Had it written, just had to hit submit. For those that aren't aware, there is something to watch in Greenburgh.

 

Edgemont, the unincorporated section of town that Edgemont School District and Greenville Fire District covers, is trying to incorporate as Greenburgh's 7th village. There's actually a strong chance it may happen. A large part of the residential taxpayer base is wealthy, and are not so much worried about the taxes as they are with the control over what goes on in their section of the town, such as developments.

 

Edgemont makes up 25% or more of the Greenburgh tax base, and is definitely the wealthiest section of town, with numerous million dollar homes. The population is roughly 8,000 in a dense 2.5 square mile district with a large commercial district (the ."Scarsdale" portion of Central Ave), along with large single family residential dwellings, apartment buildings, schools, and the Sprain Brook Parkway.

 

From the public safety viewpoint.....If Edgemont becomes a village, they need to create a police department or contract with one.  What could this mean for Greenburgh PD and their funding? As Greenburgh PD also provides EMS, Edgemont would also have to find an EMS provider.

 

From the firematic end, that portion of town is covered entirely by Greenville Fire District.  If Edgemont becomes a village, fire protection falls under the Village Manager, so it would become a fire department under the village. What could happen to Greenville Fire District?

 

They may be able to contract with Greenburgh and Greenville, but those who are leading this movement are so bitter about the Town that contracting with Greenburgh based services may not be an option.

 

 

[spike2231 38]

Greenville Fire District, as we know it, would by state law cease to exist. The commissioners would no longer be in charge, the village would now be in charge. Unless Greenville, Fairview, and Hartsdale became one, then the village could be part of that district simular to what happened in Pelham whe. The 2 villages became 1. The district folded

[INIT915 1,119]

7 hours ago, x635 said:

From the public safety viewpoint.....If Edgemont becomes a village, they need to create a police department or contract with one.  What could this mean for Greenburgh PD and their funding? As Greenburgh PD also provides EMS, Edgemont would also have to find an EMS provider.

They may be able to contract with Greenburgh and Greenville, but those who are leading this movement are so bitter about the Town that contracting with Greenburgh based services may not be an option.

 

Although I cannot speak to the fire side at all, Edgemont could easily continue using Greenburgh Town PD. Many villages in New York have agreements with the Towns that encompass them.

[FF1 172]

I think the whole point is that they do not want their current Town of Greenburgh services. 

[AFS1970 504]

Does Greenville FD cover any area outside of Edgemont? If so would they still end up covering that area? could a new village contract with the existing fire district much in the same way they could contract with town police or EMS?

[SageVigiles 1,194]

Just what Westchester needs, another jurisdiction.

[vtach39680 23]

Is it that they do not want to use greenburgh services or do they want the ability to have greater control of zoning laws in their area?  

[x635 4,066]

5 hours ago, vtach39680 said:

Is it that they do not want to use greenburgh services or do they want the ability to have greater control of zoning laws in their area?  

 

Zoning and development, and property tax assessments are two of the main factors driving this issue. For example, the town recently reassessed all the properties in the town for the first time in 60 years, resulting in a significant spike in property taxes for Edgemont residents. They believe they fund more then their share of the town budget, yet have less say in what goes on in Edgemont. There are also concerns about several apartment complexes being planned and are concerned about renters in the community.

 

The cost and delivery of services currently provided by the Town Of Greenburgh are also an issue, as they believe they would be better served at a lower cost by establishing their own departments. They do think the town and other municipalities are obligated to provide services to them for free or at a significantly reduced cost, or in the same manner as the other villages.