• To address the inconsistencies, the proposed amendments eliminate the provisions which are difficult to enforce regarding unreasonable or excessive barking and what constitutes a noise violation, and has replaced them with revised provisions to define “Noise Disturbance” and identify specific activities that are prohibited and specific activities that are exempt from the noise regulations.

• For enforcement purposes, it requires either sworn affidavits from two separate persons in two separate residences, direct observation by the enforcement officer or official, or that the noise level exceeds certain decibel levels as measured with a sound metering device.

• The revisions continue to permit the use of a sound metering dev ice as an alternative method of enforcement and sets specific decibel levels that cannot be exceeded in residential and nonresidential zones during day time and nighttime hours. The provisions were simplified. 

• The law identifies a number of noise making activities that are generally exempt from the noise regulations. However, there are limitations with respect to many of these ex emptions. In addition, a general provision has been included that the exempt activities cannot exceed the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommended exposure levels for occupational noise exposure.

• In the development of the law, Town attorney Eric Gordon explained that the Town may not apply the Town’s Cabaret Law to regulate live music.  A cabaret permit had been issued to the former Katonah Bar & Grill. 

• Since the Town no longer would have any permitting mechanism to evaluate potential impacts of such activities, the proposed law would fill a gap.

• In explaining her role should the law be adopted, Town Clerk Boo Fumagalli explained that she would be able to seek the input of the Police Department and Code Enforcement Officer on applications for live music.

• The proposed law would be limited to taverns or restaurants in non-residential zones for two or more instruments.  Those developing the law felt that applying the law to other entities would be an overreach and unnecessary.

• Con Edison confirmed that the restoration would be curb to curb (rather than only the southbound lane) running from Green Lane south to a bit short of Barker Street in Mt. Kisco

• To minimize disruption to the businesses and those traveling Route 117 during the day, work would be carried out from 8 PM to 6 AM

• The target dates are as follows, all dependent upon weather conditions and sufficiently high temperature to ensure proper curing:

• Promote and encourage street and highway traffic safety

• Formulate street and highway safety programs and coordinate efforts of interested parties and agencies engaged in traffic safety education

• Study traffic conditions on streets and highways, study and analyze reports of accidents and causes thereof, and recommend to the appropriate legislative bodies, departments or commissions such changes as deemed advisable in rules, orders, regulations and physical changes to the roadway, signage and other components of the roadway system

• Conduct meetings on a regular basis and invite to such meetings parties and agencies, public and private, interested in traffic regulation, control and safety

• Promote safety education for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians

• Obtain and assemble motor vehicle accident data, and analyze, study and consolidate such data to evaluate potential changes to the roadway system and for educational and informational purposes

• Coordinate and  direct  local  activities  related to the implementation of the state highway safety program, as approved by the governor or his designee

• Make reports/recommendations to the Town Board as necessary

• Provide a sustained and systematic mechanism and clearing house for considering concerns about traffic safety

• New STAR requirements for 2019

• To receive the Enhanced STAR exemption, you must enroll in the Income Verification Program (IVP). If you’re already enrolled in IVP, no action is needed

• If you qualify for the Low Income Senior Citizens exemption, you will no longer automatically receive the Enhanced STAR exemption. You must apply for Enhanced STAR separately

• The Town owns and maintains 33 miles of dirt roads, which are part of the Town's charm and rustic character. However, by their nature dirt roads provide a lesser level of service than a paved road

• The annual cost of regular maintenance of dirt roads is higher than that for paved roads, however, this comparison does not consider the cost of paving. We now spend $1.3 million each year on paving approximately eight miles of the Town’s 97 miles of paved roads. When factoring in paving costs, the cost of our dirt roads and paved roads is about equal

• The Town has a long standing policy to preserve and protect dirt roads as integral to the semirural character of Bedford.  This policy is carried in the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. “Strategy 8: Dirt Roads: It is the policy of the Town to avoid paving the existing dirt roads.”…  “These roads sustain Bedford’s rural character and serve as an effective traffic calming technique.”  It also is stated that the Town should “maintain dirt roads rather than pave them.”  

• Many of the Town’s large estates which maintain horses front dirt roads. Dirt roads are gentler on horses’ feet than paved roads. Many horses do not have strong enough feet to withstand the pounding on hard roads. Paved roads can also aggravate hoof problems.  Converting dirt roads to paved roads might lead to the disappearance of the horse farms and subdivision of the properties

• Even should the Town determine to change its policy, the cost of converting dirt roads to paved roads considerably exceeds the cost of our regular resurfacing of existing paved roads. Converting a road from dirt to asphalt would require drainage improvements and four to six inches of asphalt. In addition, regulations of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection would require that the Town secure a stormwater permit for paving more than one acre of dirt roads.  Meeting the stormwater permit requirements may entail installing catch basins, filtering mechanism and other drainage systems to attenuate the velocity and run-off from paved surfaces.

• For these reasons, over the years the Town Board has not considered it appropriate to pave our dirt roads.

• Federal law – the Federal Communication Act and orders of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) leave very little authority to municipalities in their review of applications for wireless facilities.  If the applicant proves that there is a deficiency in cell service and that the site which is proposed is the least obtrusive, then the municipality is hard pressed not to approve the application. The extent of the authority then is limited to “site plan review” such as the design, screening, tweaking location and similar matters

• Planning Board members provided instructions to Homeland Towers on the balloon tests, location of photographs to attempt to capture the visual impact

• Homeland Towers had engaged a professional photographer with experience and training in taking the photographs

•  The next steps (and the FCC has recently expanded what constitutes a need) There also are trade-off

• 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.

• 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.