Board Agrees on Camp Changes, Disagrees on Police Contract

by Judy Silberstein

(December 15, 2004) The Village of Larchmont Board of Trustees unanimously approved changes for Flint Park Day Camp at their meeting on Monday,

Also on the agenda: The board honored the MHS Girls' Field Hockey Team and swimmer Kaitlyn Ferguson (above) for their recent state championships.

December 13, but at least one trustee broke ranks on the question of the still unsettled police contract.

Flint Park Day Camp Changes

Parents wishing to send their children to Flint Park Day Camp next summer will have to start thinking extra early this year – in January rather than March – and will have to pay attention to numerous changes designed to make the process easier, fairer and more predictable. Bruce Habig, head of the Larchmont Recreation Committee, appeared at the meeting to describe all the changes and get board approval.

Dates for Early Registration: Parents have from Monday, January 24 until Friday, February 4 to appear at Village Hall to sign their children up for the summer day camp. If they can’t make it during the day, there will be one evening of registration on February 7 during the same time as the board meeting, which starts at 7:30 pm.

Camp Size: The camp is being expanded to accommodate 240 children, more than in the past. Last year was the first year that children had to be turned away, and given increased enrollments at Chatsworth School, that may be true again this year. If more than 240 children sign-up, there will be a lottery for slots. The committee hopes that the early registration will allow parents who do not gain a place for their children enough time to locate alternative summer programs.

Late Registration – Only if Space Permits: If fewer than 240 sign-up during the early registration period, the Recreation Committee will continue to accept registrations on a first come - first served basis.

Registration Forms & Immunization + Payment: To register a child, a parent must complete a camp form that includes immunization history. The forms will be available in advance at Village Hall so parents can fill in the information at home. Payment is due at registration time, except for families who are in need of scholarships.

Hours & Cost: Camp fees are going up by $50 this year to cover increases in expenses. For children entering Grade 1, camp lasts from 9 am to 1 pm and the fee is $385. For those entering Grades 2 through 8, camp lasts from 9 am to 3 pm and the fee is $455.

The Recreation Committee will be using multiple ways to get the word out to parents about the various changes – including fliers in children’s backpacks, school newsletters, a sign at the Larchmont Post Office, and perhaps the most effective, word of mouth.

The board agreed to all the changes, although Trustee Liz Feld expressed concern about the $50 increase. “This is not an inconsequential amount of money, especially in January after the holidays. I think people are going to be pretty shocked,” she said. Trustee Marlene Kolbert pointed out that scholarships have always been available for families in need. “I don’t believe there was a single child who needed a scholarship who was turned away last year," said Mayor Ken Bialo.

Police Contract

A discussion of the police contract was not on the agenda, and police officers were not in the audience as they have been at earlier meetings, but Trustee Liz Feld brought up the subject in response to numerous queries from residents about the stalled negotiations. She reported that people have been asking, “What’s going on between the police and the board?” (See: Second Contract Offer from Village Nixed by Police: PBA Declares Impasse.)

“I don’t necessarily share the view of the rest of the board,” said Trustee Feld. She was referring to views expressed by Mayor Bialo in Larchmont Notes, the Village newsletter recently sent to each household. He wrote, “The Board has put on the table proposals that it believes are fair to our officers and fair to our residents…”

“I wanted to be on public record that the board can do better,” said Trustee Feld. She later elaborated, “There are long term issues the board needs to address, like the cost of maintaining a police force of this size with the rising cost of health benefits, but I don’t think we should bring this contract to a grinding halt while we address these. We’re losing some of our most respected officers, morale is low, and residents are not happy."

The other trustees declined to enter into the fray. “Anybody who has called me, I’ve told I would not make any public comment on the contract,” said Trustee Marlene Kolbert. “In my days as president of the Mamaroneck School Board I negotiated school contracts and that was always our policy,” she added.

Both Trustees Feld and Kolbert remained hopeful that the police and Village could reach a settlement without having to go through mediation or arbitration.

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