Town Considers: Time to Dredge the Duck Pond?
by Harriet Kline
(June 12, 2003) At its June 11 meeting, the Town Board took
care of a number of routine salary authorizations
and money
transfers
for
capital projects, tabled a decision to hire construction
management services for the Volunteer Ambulance headquarters,
and then took up the issue of the Larchmont Gardens Lake.
Gardens Lake Proposal
 Gardens Lake (lovingly known as the "Duck Pond")
was an artificial lake initially built by the WPA. It now
serves as a retention basin for runoff from northern parts of Westchester County.
The County is currently planning to spend $250,000. to install
a sediment collection capability. Councilwoman Phyllis Wittner
proposed that the
Town piggyback on the County's plan and improve the Lake's
water quality by seeking federal EPA monies at this time.
She estimated
that the dredging would cost $790,000. The grant application
would be for $400,000 of that cost. Monies for the rest would
presumably
be borrowed at some point in the future, if and when the
grant was approved.
The possibility of the dredging grant brought on much Board
discussion as to the future of this Larchmont landmark. There
were many questions: When will we
have to dredge again (the Town dredged the Lake in 1987)?
How will the dredged material be disposed of? If we place
it on the perimeter
of the lake, how much water will diminish? Do we really want
to maintain this property as a lake? What if we do nothing?
Councilman
Ernie Odierna was particularly concerned with the long-term
benefit and cost of the dredging proposal.
In the end the Board resolved to go ahead with the grant
application process but suggested that it may choose to withdraw
the
application on the basis of additional information and discussion.
Weaver Street Accident
The Board heard E. Reidy of 33 Weaver Street relate
the tale of yet another automobile accident on June 6, presumably
caused by a driver disregarding traffic
signs and making an illegal turn from the Ferndale Shopping
Center onto Weaver Street. "The
car landed in my
front porch no more than 10 feet from where my daughter and
I were sitting in our living room," said Mrs. Reidy.
She also indicated that a
similar accident occurred about a year ago with a car landing
in her neighbor's front yard. Mrs. Reidy produced photographs
of the
accident and proposed that the entry/exit to the shopping
center be closed.
The Board was very sympathetic and promised to (1) improve
traffic sign enforcement at the site and (2) bring the matter
to the attention
of the Town Traffic Committee.
Free Concerts
The Town has scheduled a number of free summer concerts
in Memorial Park: Mondays July 7, July 14, July 21 and July
28.
The next meeting of the Town Board is scheduled for Wednesday
June 25.
|
