Town approves tax exemption for neighboring first responders

By JEFF MORRIS

There was no fooling at the town board’s April 1 meeting, as it approved a tax exemption for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers who provide services to neighboring districts, and heard about the spring/summer Recreation & Parks offerings.

The town’s tax assessor, Harold Girdlestone, presented the case for a resolution that would extend a partial property tax exemption to firefighters and ambulance workers who live in town but serve in other communities.

As noted by Girdlestone, the town already provides a 10 percent real property tax exemption to volunteer firefighters and ambulance service workers on their owner-occupied primary residence, so long as they serve the Town of Bedford. Last year, the Real Property Tax Law was amended to allow taxing jurisdictions to extend this partial exemption relief to a “volunteer firefighter or volunteer ambulance worker who provides such volunteer services to a neighboring city, village, town, county, or school district.” 

The county recently adopted an amendment to apply this exemption to any person who serves in a volunteer fire company, fire department, or incorporated voluntary ambulance service located within the County of Westchester, and asked the town to do the same.

Supervisor Ellen Calves opened a public hearing, and said she had spoken with each of the town’s fire agencies and ambulance corps, who were all very much in favor. She said mutual aid results in benefits to the town by people serving in neighboring districts; similarly, there are those living in other towns serving in Bedford who would benefit from having this legislation passed in those towns. Calves noted that the issue was originally brought up when Town Clerk Allie Whelan and her husband were both serving in Bedford but living in another town; the measure went all the way to the state and got passed, though Whelan and her husband now live in town.

Town board member Stephanie McCaine said whatever the town can do to support those who volunteer was a “no-brainer.” With no further comments, the hearing was closed, and the resolution was passed.

Recreation programs

Recreation & Parks Commissioner Chris Soi said the department was “geared up and ready to go” for the summer. With spring and summer registration now live, the new brochure is posted on the Recreation & Parks homepage, which has been upgraded. “We’ve been going through a lot of steps in terms of getting all our information onto these sites, categorizing them and presenting them in a way that is accessible, easy to find, intuitive, and there’s a number of ways to access,” said Soi. 

Also posted on the homepage, the Bedford Recreation Newsletter is something they are putting out every two weeks, Soi said, as a summary of upcoming programs and events, and highlighted with the latest news. The page also has a calendar and contains links to the department’s social media pages.

The program brochure is downloadable, printable, and can be browsed online. It includes links to online registration, which is also accessible directly through a registration page, as well as links under individual event listings for events that require registration.

Some seasonal youth programs highlighted by Soi include Wild Discoveries and US Sports Institute preschool programs; youth tennis lessons with pros from Saw Mill Club; “Speak the Speech” workshop for ages 13-18, partnering with Katonah Classic Stage; a new “Spring Fun” Spring break program for kindergarten through fifth grade; and a new Bedford Summer Basketball League for boys and girls in grades five through eight at the Bedford Hills basketball courts.

Adult programs that are continuing include tennis lessons with pros from Saw Mill Club; pickleball lessons for beginners, intermediate and advanced players; adult health and wellness programs, including total body workout, Zumba, and community meditation. A new program is Wine 101, partnering with an area wine store, to teach basics as how to choose a bottle, exploring wine from regions around the world and wine pairings with food. Active adult and senior programs are also continuing, including a Zumba Gold program on Thursdays at 12:30 pm at Bedford Hills Community House, for which registration is required.

Soi said McCaine has helped organize a new 60+ programming task force that will work toward a survey and focus groups to refine senior programs.

Among upcoming events are the Spring Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12; the Flashlight Egg Hunt on Tuesday, April 15; Fishing Derby on Sunday, May 18; Open Mic Nights on four Wednesdays — April 23, May 21, June 18, and July 16; and a Summer Kick-Off on Friday, June 27. Friday Night Food Trucks are also returning to Bedford Hills Memorial Park, on June 13, July 11, and Aug. 8.

Soi noted that camp registrations are now open. He also highlighted ongoing interior and exterior repair and repainting of the Bedford Hills Pool House; upcoming repair and repainting of Bedford Village Pool House; purchasing of new pool chairs for Katonah and Bedford Village pools; and upcoming resurfacing of the Bedford Village Memorial Park tennis courts.