Irvington Alerts
From the Mayor's Desk...November 12, 2024
In this newsletter I am providing a preview of a significant change in Village government management and an opening date for leashed dog walking in Matthiessen Park.
Prospective Change In Village Government Management
We are very fortunate to have some highly competent people doing the day-to-day work for the Village and its residents. Our Village Administrator, Larry Schopfer, is one of them. Larry has been with us for 32 years, starting as Clerk Treasurer before taking on the Village Administrator role. The Village Board may chart the course of the Village, but it is the Village Administrator, effectively our chief operating officer, who ensures that things get done. The volume and complexity of the work done by the Village Administrator is astounding. During my two terms as Mayor and several years as Trustee, I have had the privilege of working with Larry, so it is with regret that I announce his future retirement as our Village Administrator. Larry has graciously given us a year of notice to find his replacement. The Board has begun to prepare for this transition and we will keep the community informed as we go forward. Although I will do so many times again in the next year, I want to thank Larry Schopfer for his professionalism and dedication to Irvington.
Leashed Dogs in Matthiessen Park to Begin Shortly
On October 9 the Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee (“RPAC”) held a hearing regarding the Village Board’s proposal to open Matthiessen Park to dogs walked on leash. The Board had put forth the following rules: (i) all dogs must be on leashes of no more than 6 feet at all times and no one may walk more than two dogs at a time; (ii) unless otherwise noted by the Village, dogs may be walked during all regular park hours of operation; (iii) dog owners must properly clean up and dispose of all waste produced by their dogs (the Village will install a station with bags and a specific waste basket for this purpose); (iv) all dogs walked in the park must be licensed and vaccinated for rabies; (v) the Recreation and Parks Dept. may establish paths and areas specific to dog walking and in any event no dogs are permitted inside the fenced children’s playground; and (vi) owners and their dogs not following rules or dogs exhibiting aggressive behavior can be reported to the Recreation and Parks Department 591-7736 or Irvington Police Department 591-8080. RPAC reported to the Village Board on October 21 that the community was supportive of the Board’s proposed use of the park and that RPAC viewed rules (i), (ii) and (v) as the most important.
With the support of the Village Board, I requested Maureen DePaoli, Superintendent of Recreation and Parks, to prepare for leashed dogs in Matthiessen Park under the rules above. Superintendent DePaoli has informed me that the official opening day for leashed dogs in Matthiessen Park will be November 18, 2024.
Regards,
Jon Siegel, Mayor
jsiegel@irvingtonny.gov
Prospective Change In Village Government Management
We are very fortunate to have some highly competent people doing the day-to-day work for the Village and its residents. Our Village Administrator, Larry Schopfer, is one of them. Larry has been with us for 32 years, starting as Clerk Treasurer before taking on the Village Administrator role. The Village Board may chart the course of the Village, but it is the Village Administrator, effectively our chief operating officer, who ensures that things get done. The volume and complexity of the work done by the Village Administrator is astounding. During my two terms as Mayor and several years as Trustee, I have had the privilege of working with Larry, so it is with regret that I announce his future retirement as our Village Administrator. Larry has graciously given us a year of notice to find his replacement. The Board has begun to prepare for this transition and we will keep the community informed as we go forward. Although I will do so many times again in the next year, I want to thank Larry Schopfer for his professionalism and dedication to Irvington.
Leashed Dogs in Matthiessen Park to Begin Shortly
On October 9 the Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee (“RPAC”) held a hearing regarding the Village Board’s proposal to open Matthiessen Park to dogs walked on leash. The Board had put forth the following rules: (i) all dogs must be on leashes of no more than 6 feet at all times and no one may walk more than two dogs at a time; (ii) unless otherwise noted by the Village, dogs may be walked during all regular park hours of operation; (iii) dog owners must properly clean up and dispose of all waste produced by their dogs (the Village will install a station with bags and a specific waste basket for this purpose); (iv) all dogs walked in the park must be licensed and vaccinated for rabies; (v) the Recreation and Parks Dept. may establish paths and areas specific to dog walking and in any event no dogs are permitted inside the fenced children’s playground; and (vi) owners and their dogs not following rules or dogs exhibiting aggressive behavior can be reported to the Recreation and Parks Department 591-7736 or Irvington Police Department 591-8080. RPAC reported to the Village Board on October 21 that the community was supportive of the Board’s proposed use of the park and that RPAC viewed rules (i), (ii) and (v) as the most important.
With the support of the Village Board, I requested Maureen DePaoli, Superintendent of Recreation and Parks, to prepare for leashed dogs in Matthiessen Park under the rules above. Superintendent DePaoli has informed me that the official opening day for leashed dogs in Matthiessen Park will be November 18, 2024.
Regards,
Jon Siegel, Mayor
jsiegel@irvingtonny.gov