Mayor: Harrison Prepared For a Storm

Hurricane Earl

As I write this (Wednesday morning) the prediction is that Earl will pass well to the east of us, and our area will have just a damp and cloudy day on Friday, with heavy swells in the sound. The Labor Day weekend has been saved! Given the reliability of forecasts, however, and that a hurricane's path and strength are always subject to change, with Hurricane Fiona close behind, we are reviewing our emergency planning and preparing for problems.  If the storms come close to us, our plans will be set. 

The March storm was a test of that planning. What we learned then is that the town's plans worked fairly well, but there were glitches. Public Works Commissioner Robinson and Police Chief Marraccini coordinated services, sent staff to streets needing help or to ring doorbells to give updates on problems on those streets. We coped with the physical aspects of the storm—streams and catch basins had been cleared days earlier—workers were able to get to various areas and our coordination with the county and Con Ed was constant. Yes, it took too long to clear the trees, and too long to restore power and phone service to all residents. However, those were issues that were outside of our control. 

The major glitch was that we could not communicate with all of you. Without power, you did not hear the radio and TV reports.  Without phones, we could not alert you to the problem areas to avoid, or about the distribution of ice for your freezers. We tried using the county's reverse 911 phone system, but—in the most severely affected areas—there wasn't any phone service. 

In this age of cell phones every house can be alerted if we have a cell phone number for your house. I had asked for those numbers after the March storm, and some people did respond. But—not enough people.  Not everyone. Consider: we can only reach you in an emergency if you help us prepare for that emergency. All numbers will go into a database that is available only for emergency calls, not for any other purpose. 

So, help us to help you. Please e-mail your cell phone number, or numbers if you choose to give us more than one, plus other contact information. Emergency events are rare, but they happen quickly. There won't be time then to reach you.  Please send me your contact information, particularly your cell phone numbers.  Think like a Boy Scout and "Be prepared." 

Send your e-mail to: mayorwalsh@harrison-ny.gov

Or phone: 914-670-3009

The More Things Change 

The current phase of the work on I-287 is almost complete but there will be further construction, centering around Exit 8. The sections that are completed are a pleasure to drive, which almost compensates for the tension of driving on the areas under construction, or hearing the grinding noise late at night as bridges are destroyed or roadbeds scraped for new pavement. The proverb is that "progress always has a price." Safety is very important, and the new roadways and bridges are indeed much safer, particularly the area around Exit 7. Some work remains, such as the installation of the fence on either side of White Plains Ave, but that will be completed soon. 

The next phase is scheduled for "kick-off" on Tuesday, Sept. 7. It will reconstruct the area around Exit 8. Two particular changes need noting. During the construction period, the White Plains Avenue bridge will become one-way going south.  Northbound traffic, entering the West Harrison area or going into downtown White Plains, will be detoured onto the Anderson Hill Road bridge.  The timing of the traffic lights will be altered. The other notable changes will be permanent ones:  traffic going into White Plains from I-287 using Westchester Avenue, Exit 8, will go under the White Plains Avenue bridge, and traffic coming out of White Plains from Bloomingdale Road onto I-287 will enter I-287 before the White Plains Avenue bridge.

I have seen the maps that detail these changes but, as a non-engineer looking at what is there now, I can't see how they will do it. Ramps will have to fly over or go under other ramps to merge with the appropriate roadway.  It will be interesting to watch, and hopefully not too inconvenient to live through. The construction period is estimated to be two years. 

Budget - 2011

As promised, I have had several 2011 budget worksheets, together with the history of prior years expenditures, posted on the town's website. court clerk, recreation and public works. These have had preliminary review, although there will be many more discussions. Other worksheets will be posted after the initial review process is completed. At some point, there will be public work session with the entire Town Board reviewing all budget documents.

Editor's Note: This column was written entirely by Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Joan Walsh.