Be In The Know: Dobbs Ferry
The second part of a miniseries on where to look for public information in the Rivertowns
by Kris DiLorenzo
Dobbs Ferry — Rivertowns residents may not be aware of how much information is available about what’s happening, or has happened, in their villages, so the Rivertowns Current is bringing you a primer on how to stay informed and engaged locally.
Here’s a summary of how to stay well-informed about Dobbs Ferry.
DOBBS FERRY
Village website: https://www.dobbsferry.com/
Board Meetings:
Board meetings are held in the Board Room on the second floor of Village Hall, 112 Main St. All are welcome to attend.
To join the email list to receive the agenda for upcoming meetings, contact Village Clerk, Liz Dreaper, at ldreaper@dobbsferry.com.
The agenda is available prior to each meeting. Minutes are available once they’re approved, but there usually is a time lag before they’re posted on the website.
Meetings have a “Courtesy of the Floor” portion where residents may speak. They may submit questions in advance but must be present to talk about the topic.
Real-time board meetings are available through the Zoom link provided in any emailed board agendas, and broadcast on public access TV: Channel 75 (for Optimum customers) or channel 46 (for Verizon customers).
Meetings are also streamed live on the Village’s YouTube channel, where a selection of archived board meetings is available for viewing.
Board of Trustees:
Meetings are on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month.
Workshop (discussion) meetings are at 6:30 p.m., and regular meetings are at 7:30 p.m.
The agendas for these meetings are usually posted on the village website on the Friday before. Emailed agendas contain links to relevant documents and a Zoom link for watching the meeting. Current agendas and agendas dating back to 2016 are online.
Meeting minutes are posted online (although 2024 minutes have not been posted to the village website since Jan. 9). Minutes dating back to 1873 are archived as well.
You can also view videos of Board of Trustees meetings dating back to 2021.
Planning Board and Architectural and Historic Review Board (AHRB):
The Planning Board ensures compatible land use. It reviews site plans of property owners planning to build or alter a structure, or subdivide the property. The board grants the approvals and permits necessary to build, excavate, connect with sewer lines, and cut trees; it also issues special use permits. The board makes recommendations to the Village Board.
The Planning Board and AHRB meet as one entity, on the 1st Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
Agendas (current and archived) for these meetings are available online, as are minutes (older meetings may be listed as separate entities)
You can watch videos of combined meetings dating back through 2023; a selection of earlier videos is also available on YouTube. Videos of AHRB-only meetings from 2018-2022 are available for viewing, and an incomplete selection of older videos is available for viewing on YouTube.
Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA):
The ZBA is a semi-judicial body which interprets zoning ordinances and makes judgments. They may grant "variances" modifying the use and restrictions of an ordinance if strict interpretations result in unusual constraints or unnecessary hardships for a property owner. The ZBA also may administer provisions of an ordinance involving special permits for certain land uses.
Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 8 p.m.
Agendas dating back to 2017 are archived online.
Minutes from 1927-2020 are archived online. There are no more recent minutes posted.
Who’s who in Dobbs Ferry
Search the Staff Directory to find the right person/department
Village History
Please see our recent announcement about the next phase of the Rivertowns Current!