By JEFF MORRIS
The Bedford Town Board held its annual reorganizational meeting, as well as a regular business meeting, Tuesday, Jan. 7.
At the end of the meeting, Supervisor Ellen Calves said she was looking forward to a presentation on the comprehensive plan, probably in early February.
Reorganization meeting
Among the items approved by the board were the 2025 fee schedules for summer day camps, pool memberships, facilities use and platform tennis court reservations.
Board member Stephanie McCaine, who is the board’s liaison to the Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee, said the parks department and the committee had given careful consideration to any rate increases, “trying to keep in mind not to make things cost prohibitive, but also to ensure that we’re able to continue to offer quality programming and access to the pools, and even enhance some of those offerings.”
McCaine said they hoped they were reasonable and rational increases that would allow people to continue to take advantage of the resources.
Superintendent of Recreation and Parks Chris Soi said increases in operating costs were a driver in increasing fees. He said the rate proposals kept all programs accessible and affordable but brought in revenue to help cover increasing costs in operations.
The proposed fees that were approved included a 10 percent increase from the 2024 camp fees for the Day Camp and Tiny Tot Programs, and a flat $100 increase for the Teen Travel program. There is also a 2.5 percent increase from 2024 fees for family, adult and child seasonal pool memberships, with no fee increases for guest and resident daily entry fees.
There are no increases for Bedford Hills Community House rental or Bedford Hills train station rental. There are also no increases to group use fees for park facilities or platform tennis reservations.
The board approved agreements for 2025 with Keane & Beane for legal services; James J. Hahn Engineering for engineering consultant; Rosemary Donnelly as court reporter; Precise Translations LLC as court interpreter; Kimley-Horn as traffic consultant; and McCue Studio Productions for video livestream support.
Calves noted that Steve Coleman has retired and the town is currently seeking a new wetlands consultant.
Among the appointments approved by the board for 2025 were James J. Hahn as stormwater management officer; Eric Gordon, Keane & Beane as town attorney; John Stockbridge as town historian; Nina Kellogg as deputy clerk; and Alexandra Whalen as registrar of vital statistics and Nina Kellogg as deputy registrar of vital statistics.
Regular business
After taking these actions during the organizational meeting, the board moved on to the regular business meeting.
The board accepted the retirements of James Whiting, recreation supervisor, effective Jan. 31; Robert Mascianica, deputy commissioner of DPW, effective Feb. 14; and Michael Mangione, mechanical equipment operator, effective Feb. 27.
“We are very sorry to see these three fabulous individuals move, but happy for them to move on in their retirement,” said Calves. “We will be looking to replace them with the best and the brightest that we can find.”
Committee and board appointments
Deirdre Courtney-Batson was reappointed to the planning board for a five-year term ending Jan. 20, 2030, but to a one-year term as chair, ending Jan. 20, 2026. Calves said Courtney-Batson agreed to stay on as head of the board for a year, but is interested in a succession plan in order to step down as chair. Similarly, Peter Michaelis was reappointed to the zoning board of appeals for a five-year term, but to a one-year term as chair, in anticipation of being able to end his time as chair of the ZBA.
Les Maron was appointed as an alternate member of the ZBA, with a term through Jan. 20, 2028.
Andrew Messinger and David Beckett were appointed to three-year terms as members of the Wetlands Control Commission.
Simon Skolnik, Dan Farkas, Janeen Sudaka-Karlsson and Anne C. Kronenberg were appointed to two-year terms as members of the conservation board, while Filippine de Haan Hoogland was appointed to a two-year term as an associate member.
Craig Intinarelli and Cynthia Filkoff were appointed to three-year terms as members of the Bedford Village Historic District Review Committee.
Appointed as members of the Katonah Historic District Advisory Commission were Matt Kendall, with a term through Jan. 20, 2029; Shelley Smith, with a term through Jan. 20, 2028; and Stephanie Bush, with a term through Jan. 20, 2027.
Amy Parsons and Shelley Smith were appointed to the Historic Building Preservation Commission with terms expiring Aug. 10, 2027.
Reappointed to the Veterans Committee with three-year terms were Clark Petschek, as a member and as chair; Steve Kucerak, John Quincy Lawton and George Rosamond as members; and Laurie Ciavardini as an associate member. Appointed as new members were Frederick Nagle and Larry Turner.