Rye Brook Board Lauds Police for Novack Case, Sets Hearings for Home Improvement Amnesty and Stop Signs on Whittemore

At its meeting Tuesday, the Board of Trustees passed a resolution to hold a public hearing on Sept. 14 about modifying the local law regarding stop signs, to address those on Whittemore Place.

According to Village Administrator Chris Bradbury, a resident reported that one stop sign on Whittemore Place at Irenhyl Avenue was faded. The highway department replaced that sign.

Bradury said reportedly there used to be stop signs at each end of Whittemore Place at Irenhyl Ave and at Woodland Avenue; however, the village code does not mention any stop signs existing on Whittemore Place—including the one on Irenhyl Avenue that was replaced.

The hearing will be on a local law to amend the village code to include both signs and that the additional sign be added at Woodland Avenue.

An additional public hearing will most likely happen in September on the which allows homeowners to come forward and legalize additions and/or modifications to their home for which they did not receive prior approval.

Currently, the amnesty program is set to expire Nov. 15.

The board approved a resolution to draft legislation that would extend the program until the end of the fiscal year, May 31, 2011.

The legislation will be presented at the next board meeting when a public hearing on the extension will also be set. According to Bradbury, 13 homeowners have used the amnesty program since last it was put into affect last November.

The Board of Trustees also approved a request to refer a request for a five-year extension from the Reckson Executive Park at 1110 King Street to the planning commission. In August 2005, Reckson was approved to extend its existing site by building 280,000 square feet of office space on the 31 acres of property at the rear of the site. The plan for the site has not changed but Reckson wants time to market and find tenants for the site.

The board requested draft legislation for adoption of a hotel room-use tax to be considered at the next meeting, Sept. 14.

Finally, the trustees approved the adoption of a Comprehensive Financial Policy Document. The document puts together all the financial policies that are in place.

Also at Tuesday's meeting the trustees recognized the Rye Brook Police Department for its work in the investigation of the murder of Ben Novack Jr. in a hotel room last year.

Feinstein, who read a proclamation at the meeting, credited the small police department with doing an incredible job and said the accolades besotted on the department by various state officials have been tremendous.