WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS. By John F. Bailey. October 12, 2010:

Persons attending the Council of Neighborhood Associations Forum on Ridgeway Golf Club Tuesday evening in a straw vote called by County Legislator Bill Ryan in Questions and Answers  indicated more than half assembled preferred the club continue its use as a public course perhaps run by Westchester County or the City of White Plains.

Approximately 170 persons attended the Council of Neighborhood Associations Forum on Ridgeway Golf Club Tuesday evening at Ridgeway School.

In a second question posed by Mr. Ryan, whether the club should just be converted to open space should the city acquire it, about half of the group in a show of hands indicated they would like that too.

The anxiety over the uncertain future of the historic Ridgeway Golf Club which Robert Stackpole indicated to the group wants to sell the club by the end of this year, took flight about the room like an approach shot to a water and sandtrapped green and weaved and  twisted like an downhill putt on a fast green for two and a half hours, but when asked by a member of the audience what the Common Council process would be for appoving the Ridgeway purchase, none of the six members of the Council present stood up to explain their process.

 The stage was stolen at the end of the evening County Legislator William  Ryan of White Plains.

Ryan reminisced that in 2009 he had urged the county to “model this (county/city or county-only) purchase of Ridgeway) out to see if it made sense to add to the county’s golf courses,”  and urged that the county should revisit it, but cautioned, “Clearly the county is not in the best (financial) position.”

Ryan said he expected vastly curtailed budget items coming up in the County Executive Astorino budget scheduled for delivery November 1. Ryan said he did not know if the County Board of Legislators could be persuaded to acquire the club with White Plains help or without, given the budget conditions, and that “the taxpayer is mad as Hell.” The impression left was that Ryan might bring the issue to the county.

However, last Friday, County spokesperson Donna Greene when asked by the CitizeNetReporter if the county had an interest in obtaining the financially troubled country club, said. “No. Absolutely no interest.”

Voices from the Past:

In a meeting that brought out some old faces and a who is who of White Plains: the legendary Edward Steinberg, former Commissioner of Planning under Mayor Alfred Del Vecchio, expressed shock to learn that the city had given up the right of first refusal that had existed for many years. “When did that happen?” Steinberg said, then went on to say emphasizing twice that for future generations, “(city) failure to obtain this property would be a tragic missed opportunity.”

( It is WPCNR understanding, that the Delfino administration negotiated with the Ridgeway Golf Club that in turn for raising the Club assessment (due to renovation), it would give up the right of first refusal.)

The buzzing throng heard former Commissioner of Planning Michael Graessle  during the question and answer period estimate that 90 homes could be built on the property should it be sold to a real estate developer, and that he doubted whether 90 homes would generate over 300 children. Graessle earlier had listed some negatives weighing against the city acquisition of the property: the continuing budget problems of the city, how much the land would cost the taxpayers in financing, and that would have to be considered. Graessle took no position on whether or not to acquire the club.

Trust would not help with a golf course use.

The Associate Director of the Westchester Land Trust observed the Trust would not help the city acquire the land for continued use as a golf club, but would assist the city in creating an environmentally sensitive residential project or acquisition of the land for total open space.

William Cuddy of  CB Richard Ellis, in attendance, who represents the realtors handling the Ridgeway sale told WPCNR that since the CB Richard Ellis sale of the Hampshire Club in Mamaroneck, he has seen substantial interest in the Ridgeway Club among golf course companies.

Two speakers from Concerned Citizens for Open Space emphasized the city did not have the luxury of time to analyze the deal that it was essential a decision to buy or not to buy had to be made quickly otherwise the city would lose control of the property. One urged all to work together to acquire the property and not bog down in arguments about how the club would be used. This theme was echoed by Robert Stackpole – also noting how a Toll Brothers effort to build some 40 homes in Greenburgh is in its eighth year of negotiating with the  Town of Greenburgh in a costly, time-consuming process for that town.

Terence Guerriere, the President of the Gedney Way Neighborhood Association in response to arguments from a member of Westchester Hills Country Club who argued that roads, and pools, and a public course across the street would bring traffic and issues that would change the neighborhood substantially and hurt his country club, said he, Guerriere, was in favor of the city acquiring the club if it was “handled correctly,” without saying what that correct way was. Guerriere said that the city needed more public forums with the public like this one to explain what the city plans were.

Council Observes Does Not Shine Light on Darkness

All members of the Common Council attended:  Benjamin Boykin, David Buchwald, Milagros Lecuona, Dennis Power,  Tom Roach,  and Beth Smayda.

Ms. Lecuona appearing  on the panel of speakers said she could not comment on the city’s position on the club because she could not reveal what went on in Executive Session. Lecuona did say to the public the Executive Session was the first time the council was told the city was considering purchasing the club. She said the club represented a great opportunity to acquire open space for the city, and raise property values in the Gedney Farms neighborhood. She said she could not comment on city plans for the property. (WPCNR was informed by a source close to the process that all members of the Council had been given a tour of the golf course property prior to the Executive Session October 7.)

In the question and answer period, a gentleman in the back of the room asked the members of the Common Council what the process (of acquiring the club) might be, what the step-by-step process was that the council would follow in making a decision on whether or not to buy the club.

No Councilperson on the floor, including the President of the Council answered the question. Once again, it was left to Coucilperson Lecuona on the panel to say that the council was prevented by the rules of executive session.

Mayor Adam Bradley and his Chief of Staff John Callahan did not attend the meeting.

A spokesperson from the youth bureau plugged the availability of White Plains Youth Bureau Youth Employment Services (call 914-422-1378, Extension 2154.

Dina Sciortino, The new Editor of  White Plains Patch, the America On Line news service about to debut in two months spoke to the group announcing the Patch News Service would go online “the last week of November.”

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. October 7,  2010:

White Plains Police and Fire Union Presidents, Jim and Joe Carrier, respectively are conflicted over the possible acquisition of Ridgeway Country Club by the city.

Both union heads told WPCNR Ridgeway acquisition would be possibly a positive development for the city. Each wondered about the city willingness to add the budget burden of  unanticipated debt and continue to compromise, in their view, the Department of Public Safety ability to do its job.

The Fire union head told WPCNR that the manpower cuts from layoffs which saved the city $2 Million at the cost of 21 police and fire positions, have resulted in a massive amount of overtime due to unusual fire activity.

The union Presidents were interviewed by WPCNR considering their organizationss are currently in dispute with the city and are without contracts, and public safety manpower is being stretched thin (in their opinion) by refusal to fill vacancies in the departments.

The fire union president, Joe Carrier warned the city has depleted its overtime budget ahead of schedule due to the 12-hour Bengal Tiger Fire July 7 and other fires the first three months of year, warning of budget problems in the current balanced city budget.

Joe noted the Bengal Tiger blaze of July 7 and other fires in the city  had cut deeply into the $462,000 allocated to the Department of Public Safety overtime budget for 2010-11 (the current budget)  with only 3 months into the budget year.

WPCNR is checked with Commissioner of Public Safety, David Chong on the actual pace of the  overtime drawdown. Commissioner Chong said the overtime cost for the quarter had not been compiled yet.

As background, police and fire negotiations are currently stalled. The White Plains police and fire unions are currently without a contract with the city and at their lowest levels in 25 years.

Acquisition of Ridgeway Annual Cost Could Approach Safety Savings.

If the city spends  upwards of $15 Million  to buy Ridgeway Country Club(the club is for sale for $13.5 Million) through a bond issue over 10 years, the cost of the club purchase per year is equivalent to the $2 Million the Common Council cut in the round of 21 police and fire layoffs last spring.

There is the scenario that if  the city acquires the club for less than the $13.5 Million, the cost of the bond  would not cost as much as the police and fire layoffs, however,  the city is planning improvements to the club should they acquire it,  which would have to be financed as well.   

Overtime Savings Threatened by Lawsuits.

The unions  are additionally embroiled in a federal lawsuit with the Bradley administration over whether the city has the right  to charge retirees joining the city police and fire departments before1996 for portions of medical premiums (15%) going forward, those charges are currently on hold due to an injunction issued by the court, and an additional legal dispute over the adoption of  24 hour shifts for the fire bureau and 12-hour shifts for police patrols without Common Council approval.

Of course, without the new shift rules now in effect which supposedly save the need for overtime, police and fire overtime costs might be expected to increase substantially.

The city met the terms of  last year’s binding arbitration award to the police and fire fighters of 3.5 and 4% raises for 2008-09 and 2009-10, by eliminating  21 police and fire uniformed personnel,  cutting police department uniformed strength from 225 officers to 206, and fire bureau from 169 to 152 by eliminating 9 fire fighters and refusing to fill 9 vacancies. The layoffs and the hiring freeze on filling vacancies resulted in a savings of $2 million for the city

Jim Carrier, Police Union President,  said the city-contemplated purchase of Ridgeway Country Club for $13.5 Million, that the city could finance over 10 years according to city Commissioner of Finance, Michael Genito, might be a very good thing for the city.

Joe Carrier, of the fire union though pointed out that the city fire bureau is down to 8 fully staffed fire apparatus, with one rig is consistently idle. He pointed out the fire bureau was at its lowest manpower in 25 years. At times, the city is down to 7 rigs. He predicted that with the unexpected early depletion of the overtime budget that the ability to staff the city fire equipment would get worse (if overtime had to be restricted).

The speculative numbers.

It should be pointed out that the city has not divulged a figure they expect to pay for the Ridgeway Club. That being said, WPCNR had a mortgage broker in White Plains, Bob Meyerson run some costs for us:

The new Ridgeway purchase should it come to pass – if the city bonded for $15 Million over 10 years as Mr. Genito indicated to WPCNR at the current 2.55% municipal bond rate, the property would cost the city $1,700,953.92  a year in debt service. (The figures were prepared for WPCNR by Robert Meyerson of White Plains, a mortgage broker.

 Meyerson also told WPCNR that if the city took a 15 year bond out for a $15 Million Ridgeway purchase, it would cost the city, $1.3 Million a year for the debt service. 

Genito said if the Rye city Golf Club model was used, he expected the new Ridgeway Country Club acquisition would be paid for in fees by the members, and be self-liquidating.

WPCNR assumes the city would bond for more than the $13.5 million price the country club is asking because of the city desires to make improvements in the club. Some of those improvements WPCNR has learned may include two more swimming pools, and the possibility of athletic fields.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From White Plains Department of Public Safety. October 7, 2010:

While WPCNR was keeping vigil at the Executive Session of the Common Council Monday evening, a cacaphony of sirens shrieked outside city hall converging on the center of town. Afterwards, WPCNR learned there was an loud noise which sent people out into the street in the vicinity of Trump Tower and Martine Avenue.

Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong reported to WPCNR this morning that

“(We) believe it was caused by a blowback of one of the rooftop generators located on roof of City Center. No danger to the public, no damage.  Information passed to Buildings Department for follow-up.”

In the ongoing investigation for the cause of the July 7 Bengal Tiger 12-hour blaze that gutted half a block on East Post Road, Commissioner Chong advised WPCNR a report is expected at the end of this month.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. October 5, 2010:

The City of  White Plains is considering purchase of the Ridgeway Country Club, having spent two hours and 45 minutes discussing the possibilities in an marathon Executive Session of the Common Council Monday evening.

WPCNR has learned that councilmembers have toured the Ridgeway Golf Club recently in anticipation that the city might purchase the golf club.

Reliable sources speaking in confidence to WPNR advised that that financial projections on how the Ridgeway Club would work under various scenarios were shown the Common Council in the Executive Session Monday evening.

Two detailed  color charts were shown the Common Council depicting how the city might reconfigure the club. One possibility disclosed to WPCNR was to add two swimming pools to supplement the one outdoor pool the club now has to serve the city population.

WPCNR discovered last night tha City Chief of Staff John Callahan was  city manager in Eastchester for nine years, when that city ran Lake Isle Golf Club (and still does). Callahan revealed to WPCNR his son was Deputy Manager of the Lake Isle Golf Club, indicating Callahan could contribute expertise to crafting how White Plans might run the Ridgeway Golf Club should the city be successful in purchasing it.

Another resource the city WPCNR discovered the city can rely on for golf tips  is City Financial Officer Michael Genito who during his employment in Rye was very involved in making the City of Rye acquisition of Rye Golf Club  successful to the point where it makes money. Genito, asked by WPCNR how the Rye Club handles members said that Rye requires citizens to be members, that walk-ons could play, but members receive preference, and walk-on residents who are not members  pay considerably more.

Asked how White Plains might finance acquisition of a facility such as the Ridgeway Club that might cost as much as $15 Million, Genito said  that such a  bond to buy the club could be financed over 10 years given the current low interest rates. Genito told WPCNR he felt any bond for such a club could be self-liquidating through fees.

WPCNR for purposes of estimating city costs figured that the city might spend at least as much as the public asking price and then some. Bob Meyerson, the White Plains mortgage broker, ran some scenarios for WPCNR as to what a $15 million bond purchase would cost the city.

Meyerson said a 15 year,$15 Million bond (paid off in 2025)would cost the city $107,453 a month for 180 months, costing the city $4,341,630 in interest.

Councilwoman Beth Smayda, an MBIA expert in municipal finance, told WPCNR  after the that the term of how long the city could finance a facility purchase through a municipal bond depended on the state finance law which defines the “asset life” of types of acquisitions.

Mr. Callahan, the Mayor’s Chief of Staff told WPCNR after the Executive Session that the city had exploratory talks with the Ridgeway Club before last Wednesday when availability of the Club was announced, but Callahan said it was “not much before” last Wednesday when the city first started its explorations in considering if the city could acquire the club.

Mayor Bradley, asked by WPCNR if the Executive Session proved favorable said the reports of the departments on acquiring the club and the city being able to afford were “favorable.” Asked  after the public council meeting if the Mayor had begun serious consideraton of purchasing the club before last Wednesday, said he had “hard rumblings (the club was for sale).”

Callahan told WPCNR there was no timetable or deadline the city had been given by the management of the property being considered  when the city had to make an offer.

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT, By John F. Bailey. October 4, 2010:

 As reported by  the city news roundup show White Plains Week Friday evening, the city of White Plains is definitely in the market to acquire Ridgeway Country Club in the heart of the Gedney Farms neighborhood. The city administration in a whirlwind of activity since last Wednesday several days has analyzed the feasibility of acquiring the sprawling pristine 1923-vintage 18-hole golf course for the city, according to Mayor Bradley moments ago.

Mayor Adam Bradley speaking exclusively to the White Plains CitizeNetReporter after WPCNR posted the City Clerk’s notice of the special executive session to “discuss the sale or acquisition of land” tonight at the White Plains Common Council meeting, said  when he learned that Ridgeway Country Club came back on the real estate market priced at $13.5 Million last Wednesday, he put the wheels in motion.

The published price to acquire the club is approximately $7 Million less than it was offered when put on the market in 2008.  The Mayor told WPCNR he directed his Chief of Staff John Callahan to have key city department heads to look into the feasibility of the city acquiring Ridgeway Country Club immediately. He told WPCNR he had gotten “most of those (department head) reports back.”

The Mayor told WPCNR the city has a stable debt ratio compared to most municipalities; that present  interest rates for borrowing to buy were very attractive for the city. He said “This is a huge opportunity. If we don’t move fast, the city could lose this unique opportunity.”

He said any possible city acquisition of the club would enhance real estate values in the Gedney Farms neighborhood, preserve open space, and preserve  the area from further development. He noted that possible acquisition of the Ridgeway Country Club would provide unique recreation opportunities for White Plains residents. The club includes 8 tennis courts, banquet facilities, an 18-hole golf course, an outdoor swimming pool, among other assets.

The mayor noted that city-owned country clubs are profitable in Rye and Eastchester and saw Ridgeway as beging operated like those two model operations. He noted to WPCNR,”What’s the first thing you hear about the advantage of living in Eastchester? The Lake Isle Club.”

The Mayor said he did not know how present members in the club would stand should the city acquire the club. He said he would not put the city in a bidding war for the property.

According to the 2010-11 current budget the city has $102.2 Million in debt and a $155.5 Million city budget. Of the debt, 57% is tax-supported and 43% is self-liquidating. “Indebtedness projected from 2010-11 through 2015-16 is based on the adopted Capital Improvement Program and shows an expected increase in self-supporting debt in relation to tax-supported debt. As a result, the City’s reliance on the property tax to fund future debt service payments will decline accordingly.

The 2010-11 city budget notes that the city has $604 Million available when the state constitutional debt limitation was computed on June 30, 2010.

Should the city acquire the club, it would take the club off the property tax roll, and the city would have to pay taxes on it to the county. but presumably that would be paid for by city profits from the club.