North Castle Supervisor Assesses His First 60 Days

ARMONK, N.Y. – Howard Arden issued a report on his first 60 days as North Castle supervisor Tuesday, identifying the key issues he has worked on.

Brush pickup following the snowstorm in October was the first issue he tackled after starting in January and he said, while only 10 percent of the debris had been picked up then, cleanup is now 85 percent complete.

“I hired outside crews to supplement the town workforce and monitored the progress by visiting neighborhoods in which we were working,” he said. "Once all the brush is taken care of, the town will return to its regular maintenance schedule.”

Arden worked with Bob Greene, the Planning Board chair, to rectify the Armonk Square project, which had been held up by an Article 78 proceeding filed by Michael Fareri, an adjoining property owner.

“A settlement was negotiated between the parties,” Arden said. He said construction of the supermarket set to replace the A&P is proceeding.

Ehrman Pool members have appeared at many recent town board meetings to call for town takeover of the pool, which is facing financial difficulties after a $3 million reconstruction project. The board recently announced a private buyer has been found, although it will not announce who it is.

“The board will likely pursue a referendum if the private buyer does not purchase the pool,” Arden said. The referendum would authorize town purchase of the pool."

While Arden said brush pickup and Armonk Square are two of the most difficult issues he’s faced so far, he said hiring a town administrator, negotiating union contracts and overseeing the CVS issue are the key issues he’ll work on during the next 60 days.

Last week, CVS announced site plan changes to the old A&P property that will require town zoning approvals.

“We will follow the law and do whatever is best for the people of North Castle,” Arden said of how the town sees the CVS issue being resolved.

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