City Complies with Public Bid Opening State Guidelines. Releases Bids, Bidders I

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. March 31, 2006: Commissioner of Finance Gina Cuneo-Harwood handed over the Railside Avenue Land Auction bid information WPCNR was denied this week this afternoon. Executive Director of the Committee on Open Government Robert Freeman advised WPCNR yesterday that if the sealed bids on the Railside Avenue property auction were opened in public, they were public information and WPCNR and any citizen was entitled to see them regardless of whether bidders had been notified. Today the City released the bid sheet to WPCNR.


 



The sheet shows that one bidder, Joseph S. Petrillo of White Plains purchased 5 of the 8 properties for a total of $1,815,000. HCG Drywall of Scarsdale purchased one property for $345,995. S & J & J Holding  of White Plains acquired another property for $351,188, and Ricardo Tedesco and Frank D’Ambrosio (no address given) puchased another lot for $400,000. There were 10 separate bidders who participated  and submitted bids.  A total of $2,912,183 in winning bids was generated by the sale.  (BOXED BIDS Mark the Winning Bids) DocuPhoto by WPCNR News


Rental Masters of The Bronx, NY. submitted a $3,000,000 bid for the entire original nine lots, but was disqualified for not conforming to the guidelines of the bidding which forbid a total bid. The bid, according to Councilperson Rita Malmud, was also rejected because the city hopes to sell Lot 1 which was withdrawn from the sale to have an easement placed on it, meaning, Malmud said that a $3,000,000 bid would have valued Lot 1 at only $87,817.


Commissioner of Finance, Gina Cuneo-Harwood said that Lots 10 and 11 on the Commerce Ave and Railside Avenue connection sold for $450,150 and $365,000 previous to the Wednesday auction of Lots 1 through 9 respectively bringing the total generated by the Railside-Commerce land sell-off to $3,727,333. If the city sells off Lot 1 after the easement is applied to it that could push the total of land sale money over the $4,100,000 mark Cuneo-Harwood said today.



Key to Lots and Where they Are on Railside Avenue. DocuPhoto by WPCNR News



So Long, Woods. Railside Avenue Lots 2 through 9 alongside the Greenway. At end of street, the mound in the distance is the City Dump.  Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

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Legislature Agrees: $1.66 Million More School Aid, Plus $2.2 M In Cap Aid.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. March 31, 2006: White Plains will be receiving $1,658,731 in additional school aid, a 16.7% increase over the $10,120,000 in School Aid expected for the 2006-2007 budget. WP is also in line for an additional  $2,166,630 in capital funds and $183,600 in Pre-Kindergarten money in the budget expected to be passed by  tomorrow by the New York State Assembly and Senate. This windfall has been confirmed to WPCNR by Assemblyman Adam Bradley, speaking to WPCNR this afternoon.


 Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors told WPCNR the district is awaiting details on how the monies can be used in the current budget, but predicts if the school aid is applicable it would lower the present $165.8 Million Proposed Budget 1% or down to $164.1M. Connors said Terrance Schreurs, Assistant Superintendent for Business was woorking on the impact on the budget for discussion with the Board of Education Monday evening.


Assemblyman Bradley advised WPCNR that Governor George Pataki has 10 days to sign the budget or veto line items. However, Bradley said, he believed the Senate and Assembly had the votes to override particularly on the education issues.


 Mr. Bradley said the money for the increased school aid for White Plains and other towns in the 89th district and across the state came from the $4 Billion New York State surplus, which he attributed to the revived New York State economy.

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Mayor Delfino Proposes Budget with No Cuts — 9% Tax Hike.

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. MARCH 31, 2006: City Hall is proposing a $137 Million budget for 2006-2007 which at this time increases city property taxes 9% according to The Journal News. The news confirms what WPCNR reported earlier this week when Councilman Arnold Bernstein said at the Rocky Dell/ Reynal Park Neighborhood Association the city was looking at a “double digit” tax increase for residents. Mayor Delfino’s wish budget still must undergo the withering scrutiny of the Common Council in a series of budget meetings coming up, which as of last week, were not scheduled.


Paul Wood, the Mayor’s Executive Officer, is reported as saying there are no cuts in city services or programs, though community development funds have been cut previously, and departments, city Commissioners have confirmed to WPCNR have been asked to cut spending 10 to 15% for the rest of this fiscal year. 


Keith Eddings article, in addition reports the city will take “an $8 Million Dip in reserves” on top of the $8.5 Million scooped out of the city fund balance for this year’s budget. The budget apparently in the hands of The Journal News before the Common Council has seen it, will be presented to the Council Monday. Mr. Eddings reports Rita Malmud, President of the Common Council as being unable to comment on the budget until “she has seen it Monday.” There was no report of how salaries of the Administration Cabinet will be increased which have ranged in the double digits as recently as last year.

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City Should Release Names of Bidders, Amounts — State Watchdog Says.

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. March 30, 2006: The Executive Director  of the Committee  for Open Government of New York State, Robert Freeman told WPCNR Thursday afternoon that the City of White Plains should have released all the names of the bidders on Railside Avenue properties and their bids, as requested by WPCNR today if the bids were opened at a public meeting. Declaring the bids public information, Freeman said “If the meeting where the bids were opened was a public meeting, they should release the names and amounts. I would ask for the bids.”


 


A WPCNR call to Paul Wood, Executive Officer for the vacationing-somewhere Mayor Joseph Delfino, at 5 P.M. today relaying this information, was not returned.


The city is keeping citizens in the dark about who bid on the Railside  property until after the sales are approved in flagrant disregard of open government principles.


 The city promised to release the information Tuesday.  


Told of the city’s rationale for not revealing the names and bid amounts of all bidders was that the winning bidders had not yet been notified, Freeman said that was no excuse for withholding the information requested by WPCNR, saying “If it was a public meeting they could have attended the meeting and would know anyway (if there bids were the highest).”


WPCNR asked Rita Malmud, Common Council President, who when the Mayor is away, is technically in charge of running the City of White Plains, if she would intercede and instruct Paul Wood to release the bids to WPCNR. So far, Ms. Malmud, who did not attend the public bid opening Wednesday morning, though opposed to the sales, has not responded to WPCNR’s request.


Rita Malmud, Tom Roach (both opposed to the sales) and Benjamin Boykin did not attend the public bid opening Wednesday morning. The other three members of the Council have not been reached by WPCNR.


 

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City Land Auction Realizes $2.9 Million in High Bids.

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. March 30, 2006 UPDATED 2:15 P.M.with Lot Identification Clarification Keyed to Map: Gina Cuneo-Harwood, Commissioner of Finance for the City of White Plains reports the auction of 8 Railside Avenue lots has generated total high bids on each property of  “a little more than $2.9 Million,” based on opening of bids Wednesday morning at City Hall The amount is a million dollars less than some common councilmembers told WPCNR they expected.


 


 


 


 Paul Wood, speaking with Ms. Harwood in a conference call with WPCNR noted that the $2.9 Million amounted to a 9% increase in the equivalent of city taxes needed to create the potential windfall. Wood objected to reporting the sale as below expectations,  saying a previous sale and an expected sale of a lot that was withdrawn could bring the Railside Avenue sell-off windfall to $4 Million.


 


WPCNR has also learned that one bidder bid for all the properties, but was rejected as being “non-conforming.”


 


Ms. Cuneo-Harwood said a total of 29 bids were received on the eight lots. Lot 1,  fronting Ridgeway Avenue, according to Councilman Benjamin Boykin (speaking at Ridgeway School Monday night), was withdrawn from the sale to be redrawn with a conservation easement, then reoffered for sale at a later date. She reports the number of bids as follows:


 


 


PARCEL  5 — 11 Railside Avenue – 7 BIDS


PARCEL 4 — 9 Railside Avenue – 5 BIDS


PARCEL  6–  15 Railside Avenue – 5 BIDS


PARCEL  3 — 7 Railside Avenue 4 Bids


PARCEL 7 – 17 Railside Avenue — 2 BIDS


 


PARCEL  8–19 Railside Ave.– 2 BIDS


PARCEL  9 — 21 Railside Ave.  2 BIDS


PARCEL  2  5 Railside Avenue– 2 BIDS


 



Parcels 3,4,5, 6 and 11  were the hot items in the two week bidding period that began March 16. Parcel 10 had previously sold for $450,150, Wood said. Wood pointed out that the approximately $3 Million the city stands to receive from the sales from these eight properties, did not count that $450,000 sale, and that $365,000 was expected from the eventual sale of Parcel 1, which could eventual reach the $4 Million mark, closer to what WPCNR has been told by councilpersons that they expected. Map, WPCNR News Archive


 


 




The Finance Department  has told WPCNR that one bid was made for all 9 properties, but was rejected as “nonforming.” Ms. Cuneo-Harwood said. 


 


The average bid of the eight properties was $362,000.


 


Take Out Bid Rejected.


 


The Commissioner said that one bidder bid for more than one property, but mentioned one high bidder bidding on multiple properties, did not get the high bid on all the properties they bid on.


 


Names of Bidders and Bid Amounts Delayed Pending Bidder notification.


 


WPCNR asked for the names of all bidders and the bids they made on the properties, but Mr. Wood and Ms. Cuneo-Harwood said that all high bidders had not been notified they were the successful bidders yet. WPCNR asked if some of the bidders were present at the bid opening, and Ms. Cuneo-Harwood said some were. WPCNR pointed out that if the high bidders were present  and the bids were announced, those “high bidders” knew they had the property. Cuneo-Harwood said that was not necessarily true, saying they could be disqualified, or something might go wrong with their bid check.


 


WPCNR suggested that by not revealing who all the bidders and their bids were at this time, before the sale, it allowed the city to select a lower bidder for some reason.


 


Wood said that it was not the City that decided on whom the property was sold to, that it was the Common Council decision to sell, and that the winners would be announced in the Common Council meeting agenda available perhaps Friday afternoon.


 


WPCNR has determined in a poll of Councilpersons that neither Rita Malmud, Tom Roach or Benjamin Boykin, or Glen Hockley or Arnold Bernstein  were present at the opening of the bids.  Robert Greer has not been contacted yet. Mayor Joseph Delfino has been reportedly on vacation this week , the location of which has not been publicly disclosed.


 


Wither the FOIA?


 


A FOIA request filed by WPCNR today for those lists of all bidders, WPCNR was told would be complied with  after the Common Council is scheduled to vote upon the sales Monday evening, April 3. Mr Wood, the Mayor’s Executive Officer has further said  he is compelled to respond to the request within “5 business days, so that would mean Wednesday.  But as I told you, we’ll be happy to provide you with the info three days early on Monday.”

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Archdiocese Summit on School, Parish Closings Closed to Media.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. March 30, 2006: Today’s quiet summit being held by the Archdiocese of New York at St Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers  to which Father Neil Graham of St. John The Evangelist School in White Plains (on the close list released Tuesday by the Archdiocese)was invited will take place behind closed doors. WPCNR was told moments ago by a spokesperson for  the Archdiocese of New York Communications Office of the Archdiocese that the conference was closed to the media.

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Bradley Explains Tax Cuts, Dollars for Westchester Campuses

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. From Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley, 89th District. March 30, 2006: Assemblyman Adam Bradley (D-White Plains) today announced that the Legislature’s bipartisan budget cuts taxes by $1.6 billion this year and $2.5 billion next year. The plan also rejects nearly $1 billion in tax increases the governor wanted to impose.The Assemblyman also announced that the Assembly and Senate have reached a bipartisan agreement on a comprehensive SUNY capital projects plan. This plan invests in capital improvements for SUNY Purchase and Westchester County Community College.

 


 


“I am very pleased to announce that the Legislature’s bipartisan budget agreement provides significant relief for the overburdened Westchester taxpayers,” said Bradley.  “Our plan will deliver much needed tax relief to those who need it most – homeowners, seniors and hard-working New Yorkers.”


 


Relief from high property taxes


 


The Legislature’s budget will provide Westchester families with significant property tax relief. Our plan increases and enhances the STAR program by delivering Westchester taxpayers an additional rebate:


 


o       an average basic STAR rebate of $532


o       an average Enhanced STAR rebate of $822


In addition, the budget provides a cost of living adjustment to Enhanced STAR, which will save eligible Westchester seniors another $373 – bringing the combined average Westchester Enhanced STAR savings to $3,934.


 


Meanwhile, the basic STAR savings in Westchester is estimated to be $1775, combined with the Basic STAR rebate of $532 for a total Basic STAR savings of $2,307.


 


“Westchester taxpayers need immediate relief from the burden of high property taxes and soaring housing costs – this historic budget agreement delivers just that type of relief,” said Bradley.


 


Rejecting the governor’s sales taxes on clothing


 


The Legislature’s proposal also rejects the governor’s extension of the state sales tax on clothing and footwear items priced under $110 – which is scheduled to expire on April 1.  Permanently eliminating the regressive 4 percent state sales tax on clothing will save Westchester shoppers $38 million a year, and make Westchester merchants more competitive with their Connecticut and New Jersey neighbors.


 


                                                        


 


A child tax credit for more families


 


The Legislature’s budget also contains a new child tax credit. The child tax credit is a maximum benefit of $330 for each child between 4 and 17 for every family in the state.


 


Bradley also noted that the Legislature also proposes to reduce the marriage penalty tax, which will save married couples $41 million annually when fully phased in.  The plan also includes:


·        an income tax credit for volunteer firefighters, which will save them $25 million when fully phased in


·         a tax deduction for New York State National Guard members called to federal service – saving them $1 million


 


 “I urge the governor to join the Assembly and Senate by ratifying our bipartisan budget agreement that provides more Westchester residents with meaningful tax relief,” said Bradley.


 


          Capital Projects Relief for Westchester Colleges.



 


“This is another victory for students following the recent bipartisan legislative agreement to reject the governor’s SUNY tuition hike,” said Bradley. “The agreement by the Senate and Assembly is a big step toward building upon Westchester’s world class institutions of higher learning.”


 


The bi-partisan agreement provides over $34.1 million to local colleges for capital improvement projects, including:


 


·         $6 million to SUNY Purchase for the Heritage Site


·        $8.1 million to SUNY Purchase for HVAC renovations – to rehabilitate the campus’ central plaza


·        $20 million to Westchester County Community College for additional Master Plan Projects


 


“These funds reinforce my commitment to strengthen and enhance Westchester’s institutions of higher learning.  There is no doubt that these fine colleges are in tremendous need of capital improvements and I am pleased that we have come together to meet the needs of Westchester’s higher education institutions,” said Bradley. “I strongly encourage the governor to support the bipartisan capital plan for SUNY and Westchester County Community College contained in the Legislature’s agreement.”


 


 


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White Plains St. John The Evangelist School Listed to Close by Archdiocese of NY

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. March 29, 2006: The Archdiocese of New York announced its lists of parishes and schools it is “realigning” Tuesday and White Plains St. John The Evangelist School is one of the schools planned to close. Father Neil Graham, Pastor of St. John The Evangelist Parish on Hamilton Avenue,  told WPCNR he has been invited to a meeting at Dunwodie St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers Thursday morning at 11.


 



St. John The Evangelist School on Hamilton Avenue, adjacent the TransCenter. St. John The Evangelist Parish is to the right. Photo, WPCNR News.


 


 He said he had no idea who was attending the meeting, who was running the meeting, or what agenda was to be discussed, but imagined it would be closing issues. Father Graham said he just learned his parish school was on the Archdiocese agenda to be closed Tuesday evening.





Father Graham told WPCNR in a telephone interview this morning the St. John school has had “very low enrollment and has already been supported by the Archdiocese for the last several years. We cannot complete with District schools.” Father Graham said that though his school ran a Pre-Kindergarten program, they could not complete with the full-day Kindergarten program run by the White Plains City School District.


 


Asked how many children attend the school, Father Graham could not recall the exact count of students, but confirmed it was less than 202, the last published figure for the school. Asked how many students attending the school lived in White Plains, the Father said he did not have a figure on how many students lived in the city as opposed to out of district attendees.


 



Another View. 170 Hamilton Avenue, an office building is slightly to the right of the church, out of the picture. Photo, WPCNR News


 


St John The Evangelist School provides a Pre-Kindergarten Class, Kindergarten and Grades 1 through 8. It employs 11 full-time union teachers, Father Graham said and some full time aids. The Father said the school would remain open through the end of this school year. When asked about the tuition the school charged, Father Graham said it depended on the number of students the families sent to the school and other factors, and therefore he could not name a figure. Asked how the tuition compared to other Catholic schools in White Plains, Father Graham said St. John was “competitive.”


 


A Last Appeal — Students Guaranteed Another Spot.


 


According to the official news release  by the Archdiocese,  St. John may have a last appeal, the release reports: “Parishes and schools under consideration (for closing) now have the opportunity to discuss the recommended  changes (with the Archdiocesan Realignment Staff) before final decisions are made (over the next several weeks).”


 


The release also states… “the final decisions will entail the establishment of new parishes, the building and expansion of existing churches and schools, mergers, and where appropriate, closings.” The Archdiocese assures “every child in a Catholic School that may close is guaranteed a place in a near-by Catholic school.”


 


No plans to Close the Parish


 


St. John the Evangelist parish is not on the list of parishes to be closed at this time.


 


Asked if he had any idea whether St. John itself would be closed and possibly sold, Father Graham said, “that would be unthinkable.”  He pointed out the school building is used extensively and that the parish has eight services every weekend, including services in Spanish and Haitian, and that the building is used for religious education classes and meetings during the week.


 



The complete St. John The Evangelist Block at Hamilton and Lex in White Plains. Entrance to school and its parking lot is to left, church is the gray building in center of picture. Photo, WPCNR News.


 


The Archdiocese news release notes in referring to closed schools, “In order to continue excellence in Catholic education, several of the closed schools will be used for new and creative purposes, such as to allow for the expansion of a nearby Catholic high school, to establish a atechetical center for a local community, and to develop a Catholic academy school.”


 


The complete news release and list of closings may be found at http://www.ny-archdiocese.org

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Councilman Boykin Distributes Foreclosed Properties List

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WPCNR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS. March 29, 2006; UPDATED March 30, 2006: WPCNR has obtained a list of foreclosed properties which Councilman Benjamin Boykin has released privately: Here are the properties the city is attempting to possibly put back on the tax roll. Councilman Boykin contacted WPCNR last night to make clear that 1.) Not all lots are possible to be developed; 2.) Some the city is going to keep.


 


 


09/11 Newcomb Place                         To be dedicated municipal use for


                                                                        Public Works- April 3, 2006


Along Bronx River Parkway


Purdy Avenue


89 Stevens Street


West Post Road                                               Sold/In contract


121 Fisher Avenue                                           Sold/In contract


82 Sunset Drive                                                Sold/In contract


128 Woodcrest Avenue


14 Hilltop Drive


16 Hilltop Drive


20 Hilltop Drive


22 Hilltop Drive


24 Hilltop Drive


26 Hilltop Drive


5 Sunset Drive


7 Sunset Drive


9 Sunset Drive


11 Sunset Drive


13 Sunset Drive


Harmon Street                                                  Sold


Cummings Avenue                                            Dedicated for municipal use


Railside (Lots 1 – 9)                                         Bids due 5:00 pm, March 28, 2006


16 Railside                                                       Sold/In contract


15 Commerce                                                  Sold/In contract


49/55 Waltons Stevens Avenues                       Sold


Rosedale                                 


North Kensico


Ridgeway-Havilands Properties

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Board of Education Adopts $165.8 M Budget. Sets 5-Steps to Decide on Big Bond

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michele Schoenfeld. March 29, 2006, UPDATED 4:20 P.M.: Michele Schoenfeld, Clerk to the Board of Education told WPCNR today that the Board of Education has approved a School Budget for 2006-2007 of $165.8 Million to be put before the voters May 17 with no changes from the budget since the last meeting of the Annual Budget Committee. The School District Report Card communication, required to be sent to voters before the district budget vote was not finalized. The Board, in addition, formulated an action plan to decide on the bond amount the district hopes to put before voters in October. As part of the action plan, WPCNR has just learned that the Board of Education will be selecting members of the community to serve on a Committee to evaluate the options and submit a recommendation on what projects to execute as part of the bond issue.  the schools. The Board has decided to proceed in 5 steps:


 


The Board considered a resolution stating their current position on the facilities and infrastruction bond issue of $66.7 Million the Board has been grappling with the last three months. No action was taken according to Ms. Schoenfeld, and the resolution is being amended. She told WPCNR “The Board will consider a (bond) referendum in October and prior to determining the scope of the bond the Board will take the following five steps:


1.) Hire a Construction Manager to review the proposed costs of improvements


2.) Interview a Strategic Planner to review overall direction of the district.


3.) Form a Committee to review the scope of the work, including alternatives to building a new Post Road School.


Michele Schoenfeld reported to WPCNR Wednesday afternoon that the Superintendent of Schools will convene this Committee that will evaluate the various projects recommended by the District architects. The members of this committee, she said  will be selected by the Board of Education.


4.) The Committee will report and make a recommendation to the Board of Education by early August.


5.) After the Committee Report is received, the Board will be able to frame the scope of the work (amount to be bonded).


Ms. Schoenfeld said that if the Committee fell behind schedule, and the Board did not feel it had enough to set the amount to bond,  the Board would postpone the bond referendum until December.

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