Mayor's Desk: Traffic Court Issues, Municipal AC to Be Replaced for $78,000

HEAT WAVE      

Please do pay attention to all the heat warnings every radio and TV station is issuing. According to the county’s Weather Advisory, the heat will continue at least until Saturday, with a slight chance of showers.  So – do be careful.

Just as a side note, the AC here in the Municipal Building has been overheating these past weeks, and finally shut down.  The basement floor stayed cool, the 1stfloor was “OK,” but the 2nd floor was at 80.

Everyone kept working.  Emergency repairs will be made on Monday – new central air conditioning units at a total cost of $78,500.  Aren’t you glad your home isn’t this large?

  
CONTINUATION OF SOURCES OF THE TOWN’S INCOME:

This is the final column on the “non-real-estate-tax” sources of our income.

The others have been sales taxes, mortgage fees, Building Dept fees and the importance of the Assessment Roll.  If you missed any, go to the town’s website: harrison-ny.gov.  All columns are posted there, as well as all Town Board Agendas and Minutes of all meetings.

COURT FINES AND FORFEITED BAIL        

Harrison is the busiest Court in Westchester County.  Not because we have so much criminal activity nor the worst drivers in the county. Rather, it is because so many major highways pass through our borders: I-95, I-287, I-684,  Hutchinson River Parkway.

State and County police patrol these roads and, when they stop an erring driver within our borders, the summonses are written for an appearance in Harrison’s court.  Our own police officers patrol our local roads for criminal activity as well as traffic violations, and those summonses also are answered in our Town Court.

Court is held twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesday Court sessions are for criminal cases, as well as Harrison and County summons.  Thursday is mainly traffic summonses from all three police agencies:  Harrison, County and State, as well as zoning code violations and civil trials. As many as 250 people might be in the Courtroom or hallway on a Court day,  defendants as well as the family or friends they bring with them plus, often, their lawyers.  Thursday is often less crowded but the arguments before the Judge are generally longer.  

I strongly urge you to avoid coming to the Municipal Building on a Tuesday or Thursday morning if at all possible.  Between the crowds and the security screening, the wait for entrance can be a long one.  We welcome your visit at any other time.

As you can see from the chart below, the revenue from fines and forfeited bail has increased substantially since 2000.  The reasons vary from increases in the amount of the fines, to increases in traffic, to increased enforcement.  Arrests of people transporting drugs from “A” to “B,”  on those major highways or going through town, have increased. Although the problem sometimes seems as if it will never end, we have continual search and enforcement of illegal apartments, and those owners are in Court on Thursdays.

Prior to 2007, the budget and the revenue were almost in balance. What was budgeted was almost in line with the amount received.  In the 2007 budget, the amount received was substantially under-budget, and that shortfall had to be included in the overall 2008 budget.

In 2008, revenues exceeded budget but then, in 2009, there was a major shortfall.  In 2010, budget and revenue were again almost equal. Why was there such a jump in expectations in 2009?  I don’t know the answer. The Town Board members cannot be experts in police and court matters, we rely on their advice and estimates when we set these numbers, although the final responsibility is ours.  Perhaps  drivers became more cautious and law-abiding, perhaps there were fewer arrests.  

Whatever the reasons, the Board was more cautious in 2010 and 2011, and reduced expectations.  Although the 2010 budget figure was still higher than income received in 2009, it was met.  So far in 2011, we are in line with the budget.

Traffic safety is something we all rely on.  We expect that cars will stop at stop signs. We expect that cars will stop for red lights. We expect that people will not speed on our local roads.  We expect that the driver in the car next to us is a licensed driver.

Unfortunately, all the above are not true. People ignore stop signs, jump red lights, and ignore the laws regarding licenses, insurance and registration.  Regarding that last point, our police officers are now equipped with a “gadget” that reads the license plate, and gives the officer the information on that vehicle: Does the license match the description of the vehicle?  Is it registered? Are there unanswered summonses against that vehicle?

This is another tool in our continuing effort for safety on our roads. Technology is giving us great tools, but it all comes down to people. There are people who obey the laws, and there are those who don’t. The ones who don’t, and get caught, contribute to our income.

QUALITY OF LIFE

Farmers Market in West Harrison on Saturdays from 8 AM until 2 PM. Ample parking on the adjacent Green.  Many of us are not growing our own tomatoes this year, and I can vouch that these are the best ever. As are the nectarines, and the corn, and melons, and cheeses, and breads – to name just what I have brought home.  Come join us. Eat well.

Concerts in the Park on Wednesday nights in Ma Riis Park across from the Municipal Building, and on Thursday nights on the Green in West Harrison.  

Concerts start at 7 PM, and end about 90 minutes later.  Bring your chairs, and snacks, and enjoy. Band names are listed on the town’s website: www.harrison-ny.gov

Passidomo Pool is an outstanding success this year.  So much so that we need to remind people of a few rules.  (1) You need a pass (in advance)to enter the pool area…family ($200)or individual ($125)  (2) You may bring guests with you, and pay the guest rate of  $20 per person, (child under 48”:$10), but no more than six (6) on any given day and you must stay with them.  (3) Non-resident grandchildren are guests. On many Friday nights, there is a DJ. Go to the website for further information: Harrison-ny.gov.