By Stephen E. Lipken

At the Board of Trustees Organization meeting on December 4, Mayor Sarah Bauer administered the oath of office to Trustee Brigid Brennan, and Deputy Mayor Dana Post, who were re-elected in November. She then presented a Proclamation to Village Attorney James Staudt, who was recently honored by the Westchester Bar Association, for his service to the Village of Larchmont, proclaiming December 4, 2023, to be “Jim ‘What Would We Do Without Staudt?’ Day.” 

In her State of the Village address, Mayor Bauer noted marked improvements to the village’s infrastructure and the passing of a tax cap-compliant budget for the fifth year in a row with no fund balance needed. 

Additionally, Mayor Bauer spoke of the over $2 million invested since 2016 in “cleaning, maintaining, and repairing [the]sanitary sewer system,” and pointed out that because of the “increasing impact of climate change felt throughout the village, the board has tried to mitigate the flooding experience in the village,” lauding Trustees Dana Post and Peter Fanelli, who “have graciously stepped up to serve as flooding liaisons to areas impacted by such flooding with projects in the Pine Brook neighborhood earmarked for funding by the Westchester County Stormwater Advisory Board, providing a 50% funding match to the Village. We also continue to televise our stormwater pipes and line pipes in high flooding areas.”

Other business at the meeting included reminders from Police Chief Christopher McNerney that residents should lock their cars in light of recent larcenies and that use of leaf blowers is not permitted after December 15. He also informed the board that a new police officer, Keisel Pedro, was hired. 

Trustee Post announced the appointment of Dean Barnes as the new Chair of the Planning Board, and the appointment of new Planning Board member, Sarah Jones Maturo, and Alternate Member, Heather Mahland, effective January 1, 2024. 

Additionally, Stephanie Chaice was reappointed to the Traffic Commission, and Ian Post was appointed to the Budget Committee. 

Finally, the Memorial Day Parade is scheduled for May 23, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., and the Larch has been designated as Larchmont’s official tree.