Gas Leak at Crawford Park Could Be Costly

 Thank you to Rye Town volunteer media coordinator Dick Hubert for submitting information from the Rye Town Board meeting on Sept. 17, which was used to write this report.   

A gas leak in the pipe leading to the Crawford Mansion in Rye’s Crawford Park has forced Con Edison to shutdown the mansion’s stove, hot water and heating, Town Administrator Bishop Nowotnik reported recently. To make matters worse, Con Ed does not know exactly where the leak is in the 1,200-foor pipe that leads from Ridge Street to the mansion. 

The leak would require the town to dig up the old line and install new piping, which could cost $100,000, for which the town would have to issue bonds.

All parties who have rented the mansion have been notified of the problem and no one has canceled, Nowotnik said. The town is offering a $100 rental fee reduction for the inconvenicned.

“Con Edison engineering department is evaluating repair alternatives and we should have a plan very soon, say less than two weeks,” Nowotnik said. “The actual repair work should only take about 10 days or less from the time permits are pulled.”

Crawford Mansion Rental Income

Rental income at the mansion has decreased dramatically from last year, from $86,000 in 2012 to only $21,000 this year, Nowotnik reported. He listed the economy, increased costs to hold an event with alcohol and competition from other nearby venues as the possible cases. The Town Board asked Nowotnik to check rental rates at competing facilities.

The board discussed the park budget and pruning. They decided to deal with the most hazardous trees first and then evaluate what additional pruning may be required.