Some Bedford Nonresidents Eligible for Summer Day Camp

The Bedford Town Board unanimously voted to make children who are students in either the Bedford Central School District or the Katonah-Lewisboro School District, but who are not residents of Bedford, eligible to register for the town's summer day camps.

This would allow children who go to school together a chance to play together during the summer.

This change is expected to affect only a handful of children, said William Heidepriem, Superintendent of Recreation and Parks. A few parents who live within the school districts but not in the town call each year to ask that their children be allowed to join the camps. "Over the years, the town board has been sympathetic to the situation," he said. "It is a handful of households that are affected."

Councilman Francis T. Corcoran said that allowing a limited enrollment of nonresident children was reasonable and practical. "This way does not place too large a burden on the town," added Town Supervisor Lee Roberts.

The board also voted to approve easements to the town in the Twin Lakes subdivision. Jeffrey Osterman, Director of Planning, noted that one easement would allow the town to put a pipe into the lake that would act as a dry hydrant for fire fighting. Other easements would allow better sight lines at street intersections.

In other business, the board voted to approve a renewal of the cabaret license of MoonRocks, a club on Adams Street.

Board members also approved a request to renew the contract for management of the town's recycling center. Department of Public Works Commissioner Kevin Winn said that Rogan Brothers, which manages the center would renew their contract for the same price  and had been providing a good level of service. Winn told the board that two bids for a pacing contract had been received; one for $513, 957.60 from ELQ and one for $628,000 from Petrillo. The Board voted to award the bid to ELQ.

Public hearings

Before the meeting started, two public hearings were held.

The first concerned changes to the town code regarding dog control. The board voted to change the code to allow the banning of dangerous dogs or dogs whose owners have been in violation of rules from the dog park at Beaver Dam Road.

Dangerous dogs would be those that met the definition of the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, which licenses dogs in New York. There have been no major problems at the dog park, Lee Roberts said.

The second public hearing concerned parking along Railroad Avenue. The board voted to change 12 parking spots along the street to nonresident spots, which would allow for more permit parking.

At the beginning of the board meeting, Councilman Peter A. Chryssos noted that Supervisor Roberts had finished her term as president of the Westchester Municipal Officials Association, a group made up of officials from the towns and cities in the county.

"It was a job well done," he said. Roberts was presented with a bouquet of flowers from the other members of the board in appreciation of her work.

Editors note: this article originally stated that some non-resident children would be eligible for both the day camps and pool, however the board voted only to make non-resident children eligible to register for camp, not the pool. We apologize for the error.