Village Board Supports Merchants Association:
Considering Financial Contribution
by Judy Silberstein
( November 20, 2002
) The Village Board will be studying its budget this
week to see if it can find some financial support for
the fledgling Larchmont Retail Merchants Association.
A contingent of merchants from the newly instituted
group appeared before the Board on Monday, November
19 to outline their ambitious plans for the holiday
season and to make an appeal for a contribution from
the Village budget. (See
New Merchants Association.)
The organization has already raised over $23,000 which
will be sufficient to fund a program that includes:
white lights and garlands for every participating business,
a weekend and Thursday evening shuttle bus to take shoppers
around the Palmer and Post shopping areas, promotional
posters, and media advertising. However, they are asking
for a $3000 Village contribution as a show of support
to the business community and to allow the group to
continue with its plans for the rest of the year once
the holidays are over.
The Association has already received considerable moral
support from the Trustees. Liz Feld and Chris Verni
have been sitting in on some of their meetings and Marlene
Kolbert has been conferring with them about a shuttle
service. They are also working with Chairwoman Marge
Piccone and the rest of the Beautification Committee
to deck the business district planters with hearty seasonal
greens and other decorative vegetation.
In an hour-long presentation before the Board, LRMA
leader Eric Newland made his pitch and bantered good-naturedly
with Mayor Ken Bialo. The group was looking for an immediate
yes vote on the money and a go-ahead on plans for some
stores to sell holiday food from the sidewalks.
But the Mayor said, “It isn’t going to
happen tonight.”
The Mayor recommended that the group get with the Village
attorney, police chief, and other Village entities to
get the requisite permissions to use the sidewalks.
He also wanted to know how much additional Village help
was needed for the holiday beautification efforts. Who
was paying for new dirt and plants? Who would water
and maintain the planters?
He went on to caution that, “We may have to cut
our budget, not expand it.” Neighboring communities
with earlier budget deadlines have been discussing large
budget increases necessitated by falling revenues and
rising costs for pensions, benefits, insurance and other
items. “The numbers are astonishing,” said
the Mayor. Any new budget requests must be considered
in that context, he suggested.
The Board did offer immediate moral support. “To
the extent that I can offer my own vote,” said
Trustee Kolbert, “I will pledge that.” Later
she added, “I am willing to vote for financial
assistance. We have been after the merchants for years
to do something to beef up the business district. After
many years, this group has taken the ball and run with
it. If they need a little financial help, I believe
we should provide it.”
The Mayor declared the Association’s efforts,
“well done” and Trustee Feld enthusiastically
praised Eric Newland’s ideas and efforts. Money,
though will take longer.
“My guess is you will have some support,”
concluded Mayor Bialo, “But we’re going
to have to do some noodling about this.”
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