Letters to the Editor

Why Is a Park a Parking Lot?

Dear Editor,
Now that spring has finally arrived, thoughts turn to the great outdoors. I was hoping you could shed some light on a topic that has puzzled me for some time. My question is: Why does Rye Town Park become a parking lot on summer weekends? Shouldn't there be some limits put in place as to how many cars can be parked there at any one point and also limits on the places they can park?

It seems self-defeating to have such beautiful open green space taken up by hundreds of cars randomly parked all over the grass.

— Wendy Hyer Schultz

Permit Fees Out of Control

Dear Editor,
My husband and I are thinking about filling in our 50-year-old concrete pool for a number of reasons, including the astronomical costs of repair and renovation. Imagine my surprise, after contacting the Rye Building Department that a permit for this job cost $1,500. That is almost 20% of the actual cost of the job.

When I asked if there could be any flexibility with the cost, seeing as though we're not talking about knocking down a house here, I was told, via e-mail, that the demo fee is $1,500 for all demolition.  So regardless of whether you're knocking down a 4,000 square foot house, or a 100 square foot tool shed, the cost is the same.

One of the companies I contacted regarding the pool removal nearly groaned when I told the representative where I lived. He proceeded to tell me that pool removal permits in many other towns were about $50, and far easier to obtain. 

This little tale of woe of mine demonstrates, once again, how permit and other fees in Rye are not only high, but bordering on the surreal, and will no doubt continue to be so, as long as Rye citizens keep on forking over their hard-earned money.

— Darby Charvat

Flood Mitigation

Dear Editor,
I write concerning the flood problem in Rye and the efforts of the City Administration to deal with the two aspects of it: prevention and response.

We live (and have since 1973) on waterfront property in Indian Village. I think the response to the March 2, 2007 flood by the City and Con Ed was super!

Unhappily, I think the prevention part of the flood problem has been lacking. Basically, too many studies, reports and plans have been made and no action has been taken. To my knowledge, nothing has been done since at least 1973 that in any way lessened or was addressed to the flood problem.

I would suggest two things. First, the report (available on the City website) dated November 2001, states clearly that (i) we have a problem, and (ii) the land upstream, i.e., the Bowman Avenue Dam site is at least part of the solution. According to the report, Rye owns 11 acres at that site. It further states that in the event of a 100-year storm, Rye would have to “catch” about 1,700 acre feet (volume) of water upstream to avoid flooding in Rye, which means that the holding area would have to be an average of about 155 feet deep, accomplished either by excavation or retaining walls or both.  In addition, the City could buy additional acreage at that site, which would make meeting that capacity easier and also decrease additional water flow.

Second, if the upstream communities continue to ignore Rye, legal action could (and should) be brought either for a common law “taking” or for violation of Westchester County (or other) laws controlling downstream water flow.

All of this is expensive. So is a good school system, even if you do not use it.

— Bernard Althoff

Long-Term Costs of New Gym

Dear Editor,
Curiouser and curiouser grows the tale of the Milton Gym. An extra million or so out of the public's pocket piques anyone's interest.

First came the $22 million bond in 2002 for construction on the three elementary schools. Rye voted that if the money was spent well, Milton could fold a new gym into their plans. Millions were spent, and there wasn't enough left over to complete the project. Yet the notion of a new Milton gym persists. Like Alice down the rabbit hole, there are many questions that ought to be answered publicly.

* What's the rush? Which gym are we talking about — the existing one or a new one?

* Have all other solutions been explored? Milton's multipurpose room was intended to function for some gym programs, but in actuality is a uni-purpose room — the cafeteria. Couldn't a creative physical education program and dynamic administration techniques solve the space dilemma just as well as a new building?

* What's the cost? This has been presented as a one-off expense, but it's not. What's the maintenance? When plant square footage increases, are we required by law to increase staff hours, salaries, etc.?  How much green space does Milton lose — space that can never be reclaimed again?  What's the long-term cost when it comes to energy? With White Plains constructing a “green” elementary school — the energy costs will pay for themselves in a decade — why is Rye proceeding apace with an outmoded design?

* Where's the accountability? The last construction project at Milton ran into several hundreds of thousands of dollars in change orders. If this project proceeds, it will be the same firm, same supervision on site. Would anyone do home reconstruction this way? Isn't it prudent to put aside money for a rainy day?

* What does the community think, particularly those who live on Hewlett Avenue? Most puzzling is to hear board members imply that there must be parity when it comes to facilities for all three elementary schools. Now there's a slippery slope! From who or where did that directive come? Is it law? If not, why is this policy without community discussion?

* Then there are the questions raised by listening to discussions about moving money from one budget line to another. If our money is fungible, why not put it where our values lie?  What do we value: educational initiatives, small classrooms, emergency funds, or more buildings?  What kind of message does that send our children?

We have the potential to be an alpha school district, a leader in terms of program rather than a district that has such quaint goals as adding more AP classes. Why is a new gym for Milton School more of a priority than providing for the talented majority of students? The elephant in the room is we've already funded increase in the school's size and seen enrollment decrease.

It indeed gets curiouser and curiouser. The Rye City School District's leadership needs to take the time to listen to all of their constituents on this, as well as other projects and programs.

– Brook Packard