Hastings, Dobbs Ferry Move Forward with DPW Study

Would combining Department of Public Works forces save Dobbs Ferry and Hastings taxpayers money?

That's one of the questions the two villages are hoping to answer as they begin to undergo a feasibility study for a potential consolidation.

Both villages' Board of Trustees have accepted an inter-municipal agreement (IMA) that outlines how a $50,000 New York State grant will be utilized to analyze the facilities, equipment, services and manpower of both departments.

The two will also split the required $5,556 total match required by the grant.

Dobbs Ferry Village Administrator Marcus Serrano told the Board last month that the initiative came about with the state pushing for mergers and consolidations among municipalities.

"This grant will look at all functions of both departments," he explained.

Before the study begins, the villages will look to hire a consultant.

"There will be public hearings necessary as part of the review process," Serrano added. "This is really the first step of getting the project off the ground."

The two villages previously explored the viability of sharing a parks and recreation superintendent, though Dobbs Ferry Mayor Hartley Connett noted, "We didn't get there."

Hastings-on-Hudson Village Manager Francis Frobel told his Board last week that the parties involved in the study will be meeting over the summer and into the fall months.

"I expect the committee to meet in September," he noted, with a final decision regarding a consultant to be coming down the pipe around that time.

Connett added he believes any eventual agreement will have to involve Hastings agreeing to contribute to the new DPW facility's capital project.

"If it's done right, what's good for Hastings is good for Dobbs Ferry and maybe something could really happen here, he said.

The village administrator and manager worked together to draft a Request for Proposal as the villages agreed to work collaboratively on the study.

Frobel said if all goes according to plan, "We should begin this study in late October, early November."

Related:
Dobbs Ferry, Hastings Study DPW Merger
Hastings Will Not Share Rec Superintendent
Presentation on Joint Recreation Boss Monday


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