Scarsdale Trustees Laud Mayor at Final Meeting

With April here, Scarsdale's lawmakers will shift seats according to last month's election results—and mayor Miriam Levitt-Flisser will relinquish her seat at the village's helm.

Stepping into her role will be Bob Steves, who ran unopposed.

Here's what fellow lawmakers had to say at Levitt-Flisser's final legislative session last week (to read an interview with the outgoing mayor, click here):

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Stacey Brodsky:

"I did not serve with you during your four years as a trustee, but in your role as Mayor, I have seen you to be as passionate a public servant of Scarsdale as you are a citizen pledging allegiance.

"Whether you were presiding over a Fourth of July parade, a Memorial Day tribute, a tree planting on Arbor Day, or considering a revision to the generator law, you have shown great love of this community."

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Kay Eisenman:

"Mayor Miriam Flisser has worked hard for the community and has always striven to be open and communicative, answering all correspondence, phone calls and e-mails and while it is certainly true that you cannot please all of the people all of the time, she has shown unfailing commitment to her office and for that I think she deserves our heartfelt praise and thanks."

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David Lee:

"Your work on behalf of our Village as Mayor has been outstanding. You brought many strengths to your role as Mayor, but I would like to single out three that I think have been particularly important to your success.

"First, you hold great respect for the principle of open, responsive government. Second, you have brought enormous energy to your role. And thank goodness for that because, to keep up with the job, Scarsdale’s Mayor needs deep reserves of energy. And third, you have succeeded in harnessing the skills of the individual board members and our talented Village professional staff to get things done."

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Jon Mark:

"Mayor Flisser—you find yourself at the end of a long and busy road of civic volunteerism in the Village. In your past six years on the Board, the last two as Mayor, you have seen many important Village projects start – and stop – and start again. Coming to the end of your Mayoral term you can look with pride on the actual completion of a number of important infrastructure projects begun by prior Boards on which you served and which after many years have come to
fruition."

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And the mayor's own valediction:

"Considering the circumstances with which we worked, the accomplishments of this Village Board are quite remarkable: The Fox Meadow Drainage Basin project at George Field Park and Cooper Green alleviating flooding and protecting the Bronx River and its habitat; and the beginnings of a Sheldrake river project to follow.

"The Ardsley Road Pump Station project, ending "alternate day" water pressure problems, and allowing us to move on with the Reeves Newsom modernization by providing the water supply requirements during construction. The opening of the Public Safety Building for Police and Fire, and the beginning of the process for modernization of Fire House Number One.

"New legislation for permanent home emergency generators; and revision of the neighborhood Notification law for adding a home extension; beginnings of change in the building&engineering department. Upgrade of facilities for residents with disabilities, and the ongoing maintenance of a data base for first responders. 

"The expansion of Rain Gardens, the demonstration of Leaf Mulching and the beginnings of the process in all our parks. The publication of the Historical Resources Survey and the beginnings of Historic district evaluation. The Emergency Notification system, which sent 180,000 messages during the Hurricane crisis, and the beginnings of tech upgrades for the Village website and communication. The recent budget, called "heroic" by the Forum representative, and the beginnings of the Village-wide Revaluation process. 

"You'll notice that all of these items both include solid accomplishment, and require the continued diligence of the Village Boards to follow, and resident in-put and guidance.  I leave it to you, and I wish you the greatest success."