• Communications Committee to meet and in consultation with Mr. Singleton develop a list of recommended priorities in the negotiations with Verizon.
• 
  
• Evaluate whether Verizon is meeting its obligations under the present franchise agreement; including whether it is providing credit for basic service on FIOS bills.
• 
  
• Provide a report/recommendations to the Town Board ahead of the Board’s April 2 meeting.

• The purpose of the increase is to repair the County’s “structural budget deficit” of $60 million which absent the adoption of his proposal would result in reduction in County services, further “one shot” measures such as sale of County assets and other cost reduction measures. The County has been dipping into its Reserve Fund to fund operations, a fiscally imprudent use of Reserve Funds.

• The proposal would stabilize County property tax rates. If the increase is adopted, the County would freeze County property taxes for two years (i.e., 0% increase for each of the two years).

• The sales tax increase would be shared with towns and villages and school districts as follows: 70% to the County; 20% to towns and villages and 10% to the school districts.  There is no action required or requested on the part of the Town of Bedford or any other municipality to receive the additional sales tax revenue.  He noted that such additional revenue may enable a municipality to moderate property tax increases which otherwise might be required, however, he was hesitant to estimate the increase in sales tax revenue to Bedford, stating that such revenues are difficult to predict. 

• The sales tax increase would “sunset” on December 31, 2021.  Mr. Latimer would need to seek re-authorization from the State legislature before the end of the 2021 legislative session should he wish to have the increase remain in place, which he stated he expects would be needed to correct the County’s structural budget deficit.

• Exemptions for food, clothing and medications are set by the New York State legislature.  

• If the proposal were adopted, it would become effective at some time later in 2019, the implementation of which will depend upon the date of adoption.

• In response to Town Board questions regarding whether there would be a loss of sales to New Jersey or Connecticut, Mr. Latimer stated that studies have shown that except for large ticket items, such as cars, consumers tend to shop closer to home and are not likely to change their shopping patterns based on a 1% increase in the sales tax.

• In response to anticipated concerns about the regressive nature of sales-taxes in general, Mr. Latimer pointed out that the revenues from the proposed increase would be used to fund essential programs and services that would benefit lower-income residents throughout Westchester. The current sales tax presently for four Westchester cities is at or higher than the 8 3/8% proposed rate proposed and would not change: Yonkers (8 7/8 %) and Mount Vernon, New Rochelle and White Plains, each at 8 3/8%. In these municipalities, where the majority of Westchester’s lower-income residents reside, the sales tax would remain unchanged.

• Shoprite alone is giving away 6,200 reusable bags. 

• DeCiccos and Key Foods are giving away 1,000 reusable bags each.  

• Taste a variety of apple ciders handcrafted by Thompson Cider Mill

• Get a free movie ticket for a future visit to the Bedford Playhouse

• Learn more about air source heat pumps, geothermal heating and cooling systems, and saving energy

• Meet the contractors: Bruni & Campisi, Heathy Home Energy & Consulting, Inc. and Dandelion Energy.

• The first calls for restoration of Aid and Incentives to Municipalities for the Town (AIM), for increased funding the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPs) (NYS funds for local road projects) and to retain funding for the Local PAVE-N and Extreme Winter Recovery (EWR). In particular, the Governor’s proposed budget would result in a loss of $79,494 in AIM funds to the Town of Bedford.  At a time when our Town like so many others in New York struggle to sustain services to its residents, AIM funds are more critical than ever. We ask that the budget include such funds. New York’s roads have been deteriorating at an alarming rate. These include our local roads. We need the funds.

• The second calls for funding for the concrete portion of I-684 running through Bedford.  This is the only section of I-684 which is the original road bed completed in the late 1960s.  So it’s 50 years old. And it’s in terrible shape. We’ve been asking for over two decades, yes, two decades that the State fix it. It is dangerous. 

• I presented the Town Board’s resolutions on February 8 at a special budget forum in Greenburgh hosted by all of the New York State Senators representing Westchester County.  I will keep you posted whether we are successful in our efforts regarding the state budget.  

• The need to resolve inconsistencies between sections of the Town Code, which create confusion for our community as well as enforcement concerns.

•  Response to advice from our Police Department and Code Enforcement Officer personnel that use of noise meters for residential noise complaints typically is impractical.

• Creation of a clear definition of what constitutes a noise disturbance and need for a balance to ensure that valid complaints are addressed but invalid complaints are not.

•  Need to address concern from both businesses and residents alike that there be a fair, clear and simple method for permitting live music (more than one performer) in restaurants and taverns in non-residential areas to provide that reasonable noise regulations are being observed. 

• Need to address certain provisions of the Town Code regulating dog barking due to concerns with respect to enforcement of these provisions.

• The price secured shall be guaranteed for a term not less than one year, or more than three years. 
• A customer may “opt out” at any time without penalty or charge.
• The electricity supplier is determined as having the creditworthiness and overall financial capability to meet its obligations under its contract with Sustainable Westchester and the Town of Bedford.
•  The Memorandum of Understanding is substantially the same as to form and content as that which the Town entered into previously and is subject to final review by the Town Attorney.
• Execution of the 2019 Electrical Service Agreement in the form attached to the Memorandum of Understanding as Exhibit 1, shall be subject to attorney final review.

• If your car is already stopped, and you don’t have anywhere to pull over, simply stay put until the emergency vehicle goes around you

• If you are blocking the route of the emergency vehicle, and you are able to pull ahead and over into a clear area, use your turn signal to indicate your intentions and proceed at a safe speed

• If you are on the crest of a hill or a bend of a curve, proceed through until oncoming traffic is visible for the emergency vehicle behind you

• Never slam on the brakes and stop in the middle of the road when you see apparatus approaching

• Make no sudden moves

•  If an emergency vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction, you should pull over and come to a full stop

• You have no idea if the emergency vehicle is proceeding down the road or are planning on turning into a driveway or intersection right in front of you

• Do not tailgate, “draft,” or follow a responding apparatus closely, not only is this illegal, you run the risk of a collision as vehicles pull back out into traffic after the emergency vehicle goes by

• You are not required to slow down or pull over for emergency vehicles that are responding in the opposite direction on a divided highway or interstate

• When a driver pulls over and then drives on the shoulder at a slower speed, they lengthen the distance in which the emergency vehicle must navigate before fully passing the vehicle. A vehicle travelling at 20mph on the shoulder is covering 29.3 feet every second and that adds to the passing corridor. This also provides less room for the emergency vehicle to pass and navigate oncoming traffic if they haven’t fully pulled over.

• When you see a personal vehicle operating a flashing blue or green light, those are volunteers responding to a call, they do not have the right of way like emergency vehicles do. These flashing lights are known as courtesy lights and we ask that people pull over if safe to do so, but you are not obligated to do so. These volunteers must stop for all traffic control devices and obey all traffic laws when responding.