Supervisor's E-Newsletter
August 2021

Summer -- Not Over Yet!

The days of high heat and humidity remind us that summer is still here. I hope you have been able to enjoy summertime and enjoy all that our beautiful community has to offer including the refreshing Hommocks Pool. The current sign-up system for swimming reservations at the Hommocks Pool will continue into the fall due to the evolving COVID-19 situation.

We are lucky that Hurricane Henri took a turn to the east and spared us severe wind damage, but the rain did cause minor flooding in some flood-prone areas. The Town received 4.63 inches of rain in just 24 hours. The Town Highway Department, along with other emergency response departments, was prepared and available throughout the hurricane. They did a great job keeping residents safe while they closely monitored the roads.

Camp Rockingstone

Camp Fun

Many Larchmont/Mamaroneck families enrolled their children in Town camps this summer. Camp Rockingstone (ages 3-6) and Hommocks Camp (1^st - 6^th graders) provided fun activities despite the challenges presented by a continuing pandemic. Every summer, I enjoy sharing photos taken by the Recreation Department staff of the campers and camp activities.

Hommocks Camp

Outdoor Events to Come

The summer concert series is over, but there is an additional movie night on Friday evening, September 10^th. Also, please save the date of Saturday, October 2^nd for the Fourth Annual Food Truck Festival to be held in Memorial Park from 12pm to 4pm and the Town's Annual Fall Cleanup at Hommocks Conservation Area from 12pm to 2pm. Email sodierna@townofmamaroneckny.org to inquire or volunteer for the Cleanup.

Census Data

The 2020 Census data has been released and the population of Westchester County reached a high of 1,004,457. The population of the unincorporated area of the Town of Mamaroneck also increased by 7.3% to 12,850 people. Both the Villages of Larchmont and Mamaroneck saw increases in population as well. In fact, Larchmont had the second highest percentage increase in population in all of Westchester County. Their population increased 13.1%. A more thorough Census count helps Westchester County qualify for additional state and federal funding that is based on population, and can be used for our schools, infrastructure, roads, hospitals, fire departments and after school programs. See the interesting additional statistics below regarding the unincorporated area of the Town of Mamaroneck (does not include Villages):

First-Ever Town Repair Cafe

Repair Cafes have taken off all over the world since they started in Holland in 2009. There are several ongoing Repair Cafes right here in the Hudson Valley area. The Repair Cafe concept started as an environmental initiative to reduce the wastestream by fixing repairable items instead of throwing them away. It’s evolved to include the benefit of creating community as neighbors gather to help neighbors repair typical household items such as clocks, wooden objects, electronics, pottery, clothes and old jewelry. The Repair Cafe also allows neighbors to share skills and techniques to help people repair a beloved item that you just cannot discard. Volunteers are needed to make this a success.

September 11^thMemorial Ceremony

The Town of Mamaroneck, along with the Village of Mamaroneck and the Village of Larchmont, will hold the annual September 11^th Memorial Ceremony on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 5:00 PM.

The ceremony will be held at “Girl Scout Rock” in Memorial Park on Myrtle Boulevard and is an opportunity for the community to gather together in a cooperative spirit of support and remembrance. Participants will include members of the Fire and Police Departments of the Town of Mamaroneck and Villages of Mamaroneck and Larchmont, the Mamaroneck EMS and Larchmont Volunteer Ambulance Corp, Veterans, members of the Clergy, local Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, and public officials. All in the community are welcome to attend.

The Girl Scouts created the September 11^th Memorial which lists the names of those Larchmont-Mamaroneck community members who were lost on that tragic day. Hundreds of people have attended this event which has been hosted in Memorial Park since 2002.

Note: The location is on Myrtle Boulevard between Chatsworth Avenue and Baldwin Avenue, opposite Billy and Pete’s Restaurant in Larchmont.

Girl Scout Rock, Memorial Park, Town of Mamaroneck

Our Town Needs You!

Please consider volunteering for the Town. The Town is looking for qualified residents to sit on the following committees or commissions.

Coastal Zone Management Commission
Traffic Committee
Housing Authority

All adult Town residents of the unincorporated area are eligible to serve on the Coastal Zone Management Commission or the Traffic Committee. For the Housing Committee, adult residents of the Town (including the Villages of Larchmont and Mamaroneck) are eligible. Please contact Supervisor Nancy Seligson by email supervisor@townofmamaroneckny.org with a letter of interest and a resume.

Upcoming Town Board Meetings

All Town Board work sessions and regular business sessions are now being held in person and the public is welcome to attend the meetings. As always, you may also watch Town Board meetings on LMC Media (channel 76 for Optimum customers or channel 35 for Verizon customers) or watch online. The following times are subject to change. Please check the Town website.

Wednesday, September 1, 2021, the work session begins at 5:00 pm, the regular session begins at 8:00 pm.
Wednesday, September 22, 2021, the work session begins at 5:00 pm, the regular session begins at 8:00 pm.

Feedback Requested on New York's Marihuana Regulation & Taxation Act

Come to the Wednesday, September 1 or Wednesday, September 22 Town Board meetings to express your opinion on the decision of whether the Town of Mamaroneck should opt out from the sale and on-site consumption of marihuana in regard to the recent New York State marihuana legislation, Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA).

Under the MRTA What Can Local Municipalities Control?

Local municipalities have been granted little control under the MRTA. Essentially municipalities have two options:

Ban retail dispensaries and on-site consumption establishments within their jurisdictions by opting out of the MRTA.
Set parameters in which these types of businesses could function within their boundaries. If such establishments are allowed within a municipality, a municipality may pass regulations governing the time, place and manner of the operation. Municipalities will receive 75% of the sales tax related to the sale of marihuana in the municipality.

What Does it Mean for a Municipality to “Opt-Out”?

Local municipalities have the right to opt-out of the MRTA, which means that retail dispensaries and on-site consumption establishments may not be established within their boundaries. In order to opt-out, a municipality must pass a local law to that effect prior to December 31, 2021.
If a municipality opt-outs of the MRTA, it still has the ability to opt back in at a later date.
If a municipality does not opt out before the December 31, 2021 deadline, then the municipality does not have the ability to opt-out in the future and is required to allow licensed retail dispensaries and on-site consumption establishments indefinitely.

What Restrictions does the MRTA Impose and What are the Benefits to Municipalities?

The MRTA calls for the creation of a Cannabis Control Board and Office of Cannabis Management that would function in a similar manner to the New York State Liquor Authority. These agencies would set the rules for operation and permitting requirements for marihuana related establishments.
These two agencies do not have members appointed yet. It will take time before they will be able to promulgate rules or regulations. As a result, it is expected that marihuana related establishments will not be operational until late 2022 or early 2023.
A local excise tax will be imposed on the sale of cannabis products by a retail dispensary. The tax will be 4% of the product’s price. This tax is distributed to local governments based on where the retail dispensary is located. The municipality in which the sale takes place will receive 75% of the taxes collected and the County government will receive the remaining 25%.

Where is the Town of Mamaroneck in the decision making process?

The Town Board has not made a decision yet. Before making the decision, we want to hear from residents of the Town about what they think and feel about the sale of marihuana. Please come to the September Town Board meetings (Wednesday, September 1 or Wednesday, September 22) to share your feedback during the Citizen Comments portion of the Town Board meeting at 8:00 pm in the Town Center Court Room, or
Residents may also provide feedback directly to Nancy Seligson, Town Supervisor, via email at supervisor@townofmamaroneckny.org . All email submissions should be submitted by close of business Wednesday, September 22.

More information regarding the MRTA can be found on the Office of Cannabis Management’s website.

The Town of Mamaroneck is committed to fostering welcoming communities and an equitable, diverse and inclusive society.

Supervisor's E-NewsletterAugust 2021