Some residents vow to make Edgemont an incorporated village following recent petition's denial
For more than eight years now, Edgemont has campaigned to become its own municipality to essentially become Greenburgh's seventh village.
Some determined Edgemont residents are vowing to keep fighting after the decision by Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner to deny a petition to become an incorporated village.
For more than eight years now, Edgemont has campaigned to become its own municipality to essentially become Greenburgh's seventh village.
"It's not a political movement. It's a local volunteer-based civic approach to determining the community's best, self-governance and how we want to see Edgemont look for the next 20, 30 years," says Jon Lewis, of the Edgemont Incorporation Committee.
Not everyone, however, is onboard with the incorporation committee's efforts.
Some residents say they're concerned that an incorporated Edgemont would mean higher taxes and lost revenue for the Town of Greenburgh.
Carol Wilkerson reporting from Sunday
Supporters say it would be Edgemont's opportunity to elect its own mayor and board of trustees, and they want the matter put to a vote.
"Absolutely, we think residents of an area should be the ones to determine their form of local governance," Lewis says.
Feiner on Friday made what he determined to be the best decision on the incorporation petition.
"I found after reviewing the petition and reviewing the state law that they did not comply with the statute. If they did comply, I would have been required to schedule a referendum within 40 days," Feiner explained.
Feiner added that if Edgemont's hope of incorporation were to become a reality, the Town of Greenburgh would lose an estimated 20% of its annual income.
Petitioners have until the end of October to file the necessary paperwork that would send the issue to court for a decision to be made by a judge.
