Village, Distinguished Elected Officials,
Praise Mayor Lorraine Walsh

By Stephen E. Lipken

Outgoing Larchmont Mayor Lorraine Walsh opened the November 21st Regular Meeting, turning the meeting over to Administrator Justin Datino, who recognized Westchester County Executive George Latimer, who thanked Walsh for her long years of service.  

Latimer emphasized Thomas Jefferson’s admonition that citizens should care enough about their government to step forward and help make important decisions.  He announced that Tuesday, November 22nd is Mayor Lorraine Walsh Day in Westchester County. Her name will be displayed on the County Center Jumbotron sign. Latimer then handed the Mayor a Special Proclamation.

Throughout the meeting, Walsh was praised for her fortitude in coping with Hurricane Ida, Pandemic, parking and Constitution Park, “with dogged determination to dig in and get her hands dirty,” according to former Trustee Carol Casazza Herman. 

Walsh was cited for her pioneer work in following Larchmont Environmental Committee guidelines to ban gasoline-powered leaf blowers; no other municipality would enact such legislation until passed by someone else.  Now other villages, cities and towns are following Larchmont’s lead.

Also noted was Walsh’s promoting businesses on Boston Post Road and Al Fresco outdoor restaurant dining.

As Mayor-Elect Sarah Bauer proclaimed Monday, November 21st as “Mayor Lorraine Walsh Day,” in Larchmont, Village Administrator Justin Datino remarked, “I can’t think of a better place to come to work, not from an ivory tower but from the trenches, especially on cold, rainy days, when we covered parking meters and signage.”

In other business, Walsh announced the appointment of Geoffrey Berman as a Volunteer Firefighter and Courtney Hewson to the Traffic Committee, plus an agreement with the Humane Society of Westchester as well as authorizing the Administrator to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), effective June 1st to May 30, 2025.

Reworking the Village Hall Parking Lot at estimated cost of $125,000 was discussed at the Work Session, with added lighting using standard telephone poles and restriping lot lines to maximize parking space.