As 2016 comes to an end, we have wonderful things to celebrate in Harrison. Moody’s Investors Service has announced that it has upgraded Harrison to a rating of Aaa (Triple A), the highest attainable rating offered. This Triple A rating is a first for the town/village of Harrison. The rating report indicates that Harrison has a healthy financial position supported by conservative budgetary management; a sizeable and affluent tax base with ongoing commercial and residential development; a continued growth in reserve with strong budgetary flexibility; very strong liquidity levels; strong budgetary performance; and a manageable debt burden with an average pension liability.
The current outlook reflects the expectation of continued, strong financial performance and stability in the local economy. An upgrade in a bond rating has the potential to positively impact a government’s ability to borrow money. This can result in lower interest rates and, ultimately, to a decrease in bonding costs associated with capital improvements.
In other great news, Wegmans Food Markets has signed an agreement with Normandy Real Estate to purchase a 20-acre lot located at 106-110 Corporate Park Drive at the Platinum Mile. The supermarket chain operates most of its stores in upstate New York and New England. The Harrison project includes a 125,000-square-foot store, to be built on the site that currently houses a vacant office complex, and reflects the importance of repurposing outdated buildings. The key benefit of repositioning existing properties is that new uses will bring energy and income to our community. This new retail use will serve to enhance our municipality and I believe we are on the right path for the future.
The newly upgraded town website is a good place to start when looking for information on a subject from a past town board meeting, applying for a building permit or signing up for one of our many recreation programs. Although our improved website will still provide visitors with familiar links, the new format will allow users to access information in a more efficient manner. Having an effective search function, enabling site users to search past meeting minutes and agendas for items of interest, is an important objective. New content will be added on a regular basis by department heads, and the site will continue to evolve. Please be sure to visit the site at harrison-ny.gov and take a look at the new features.
Members of the Jewish community will soon begin the celebration of Hanukkah. This holiday pays tribute to the resilient spirit of the Jewish people. The message of Hanukkah serves as an example to us all that, when we stand together, we can conquer any problem and overcome any setback. It is my hope that the Festival of Lights offers comfort to all and encourages not only our nation, but our cities, towns and villages to draw together and celebrate the bonds of community.
On behalf of the entire Town Council, I wish all Harrison residents and their families a very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. May the spirit of this joy-filled time of year be with you and your loved ones throughout the holiday season.
