NEWS
INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF UPPER BROOKVILLE
Post Office Box 548
Oyster Bay, NY 11771
Tel: 516-624-7715
March 15, 2007
Lenice H. Hertweck, Mayor
Terry L. Thielen, Deputy Mayor
Antje Dolido, Trustee
Carl Doerge, Trustee
Francis Russo, Trustee
Dear Residents of Upper Brookville:
Nassau County has reviewed residential property assessments again. Once more their formula has changed and the most recent assessment will be based on ¼% of the value. Last year it was based on ½% of the value. For the Village, this means we must double the tax rate in order to generate the same revenue. The County has also increased most property assessments in the Village. Most of the real estate taxes paid by Village residents go to the school district. The next highest amount goes to the county and the smallest amount goes to the Village. Yet the Village provides more services to its residents than the County does. Any Village tax increases will be kept to a minimum.
The Village will provide the services it has always provided. However, the cost of these services has increased substantially. Fuel costs for our service vehicles have doubled. The cost of asphalt to repair our roads has increased 75%. The Police Department has negotiated a 6% salary increase, comparable to the Nassau County Police increases. Their health and pension benefits are increasing more than 10%.. Fire Companies no longer base theirs rates on the number of residences served but on the assessed value of the area covered. East Norwich Fire Company has more houses to protect in East Norwich but assessments are higher in Upper Brookville Now our Village bears a larger portion of the costs for Fire Protection. This is still less costly than if we had to staff and equip our own Department.
In previous correspondence I advised our residents that Federal and State mandates require the Village to institute measures for managing storm water run off and erosion control. The mandates are not funded by either State or Federal money and the Village has only until 2008 to comply with them. If the recent rain and ice storms in the Village are an indication of the severity of flooding and storm water damage, correcting the situation will put additional tax burdens on our residents, but we have no other options.
The Road Commissioner and I have been working with the County Department of Public Works to get financial support from them on the County roads which run through the Village. Wolver Hollow Road, Wheatley Road, Chicken Valley Road, Piping Rock Road are among them. Other major flood areas include Mill River Road, Ripley Lane, and Planting Fields Road. Senator Marcellino sponsored legislation so that the Village has access to $150,000 for work on Planting Fields Road. Senator Marcellino was also able to get the Village multi-modal funds in the amount of $50,000 for work on Mill River Road. This helps but our taxes will have to cover whatever the balance of costs may be.
Much of our current flooding problems are man made. The disturbance of slopes for building sites; raising the ground level to create artificial height for a residence; creating berms around properties; filling in land depressions; removing trees and brush; building circular driveways, tennis courts, courtyards and other impervious surfaces, all contribute to drainage problems. It has been necessary for the Village to amend the building and zoning codes to comply with the new mandates and protect the environment. If you plan work which requires earth moving, please check the code.
We are also addressing the issue of EXTERIOR LIGHT POLLUTION. Most outdoor lighting is decorative and unnecessary. Light pollution is lighting that is on when it needn’t be; lighting that’s excessively bright and unshielded; and lighting that spills over onto neighboring properties.. We need to reduce our wasteful use of electricity.
In our area, electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels. The Sierra Club and other environmental organizations have done extensive studies on the environmental impact of unnecessary lighting. An individual home owner using as few as six 100 watt exterior lights, which remain on overnight, will generate the following emissions per year based on the kilo-watt hour of energy required: 3.33 tons of Carbon Dioxide; 43.54 lbs. of Sulfur Dioxide; and 26.56 lbs. of Nitrogen Oxide. This is detrimental to the environment and adds to global warming. The loss of true nighttime darkness also alters the growth cycle of trees and affects the behavior of nocturnal creatures.
What can all of us do to help?
1. Eliminate light pollution on our own property.
2. Reduce the watts in each outdoor light fixture and reduce the number of fixtures.
3. Use light fixtures which have a cap or shield so stray rays will not be misdirected.
4. Install motion-sensors which turn on only when activated and which save energy.
Many individuals feel that exterior lighting discourages trespassing. The U. S. Justice Department’s studies over a period of 30 years concluded that there is no meaningful evidence that exterior lighting affects the level of crime. The impact of motion sensors, which suddenly activate well- placed fixtures, can be more effective
Your trustees and I are trying to maintain the country-like ambience of the Village of Upper Brookville and protect the environment. To do this, we need the cooperation and dedication of all our residents.
Sincerely,
Lenice H. Hertweck, Mayor