Editor’s note: This press release was provided by the Village of Pelham Manor.

Pelham Manor has made great strides against COVID-19. At present, there is one (1) confirmed, active case, according to the Westchester County portal. In recognition of this data, the Village has opened the playground equipment at Shore Front Park. Social distancing and mask requirements under the Governor’s Order are still in effect. Please note that the school district controls playgrounds on school property.

Over the holiday weekend, please remember to lock your car doors and your homes, as several municipalities nearby have experienced an increase in property crimes. If you are traveling, please take advantage of the Village’s “Dark House” list. Call 738-1000 to register your house with the Pelham Manor Police Department, and the department will perform a daily check on your home while you are out of town.

In accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order 203, the NYS Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative, the Village has undertaken a comprehensive review of current police force deployments, strategies, policies, procedures, and practices, and is developing a plan to improve such deployments, strategies, policies, procedures, and practices, for the purposes of addressing the particular needs of Pelham Manor and further promoting community engagement to foster trust, fairness, and legitimacy, and to address any racial bias and disproportionate policing of communities of color. Police Chief Carpenter, Village Manager Pierpont and the Board will give a detailed update at the September 14, 2020 Board meeting. New York State issued guidance on this matter on August 17, 2020, and the compliance date for submission of a plan under the Order is April 1, 2021. The Village is working collaboratively with Westchester County, among other entities, on this effort.

At the September 14, 2020 Board meeting, the Village will also discuss the County’s August 28, 2020 announcement regarding possible next steps for food scrap recycling. The Village Manager is securing more specific data from the County and other municipalities related to the announcement. As a reminder, the Village operates a robust waste management program and sends its non-recycled waste to a waste to energy facility (WTE) under a renewable resource program. Pursuant to a public/private partnership between the County and Wheelabrator, our trash is incinerated in a fully enclosed EPA and DEC regulated environment and converted into energy sufficient to power over 63,000 homes with electricity, https://www.wtienergy.com/plant-locations/energy-from-waste/wheelabrator…. Our trash does not go to a landfill. The Village has analyzed food scrapping as a possible waste disposal option since 2017. Pelham Manor has been an environmental leader on a host of initiatives, including organic waste recycling and LED light implementation, and remains committed to best environmental practices.

At this time, New York State has scheduled local village elections for Tuesday, September 15, 2020. Those will take place at 4 Penfield Place, in the Pelham Manor firehouse, from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Best wishes for the Labor Day weekend, and please stay safe.