New Bradley Administration to Shed 3 Commissioners, Mayor’s Develmnt Director

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. December 18, 2009 UPDATED Monday  1:30 P.M. E.S.T.: Reliable sources with first-hand knowledge of today’s events in City Hall have confirmed to WPCNR that the newly-elected Adam Bradley administration which takes office in two weeks, today informed five prominent members of the outgoing Delfino administration they will not be part of the new government.


Mayor-elect Adam Bradley returned WPCNR’s inquiry Friday evening and said he could “neither confirm or deny”   the communications by John Callahan to at least commissioners and Mayor’s aid that they were not going to have jobs in his administration. He said he was looking for cuts of $1 to $2 Million in the administration staff he has control over.


Leaving will be Commissioner of Finance, Gina Cuneo-Harwood, Commissioner of Recreation & Parks, Arne Abramowitz, Deputy Commissioner of Recreation & Parks, Debra Clay, and Melissa Lopez, Director of Economic Development and Coordinator of Public Information,


Commissioner of Building, Damon Amadio,  contacted WPCNR Monday morning to say he has not been informed of his status and how he fits into administration plans. He is as of Monday morning still the Commissioner of Building, Mr. Amadio says. 


Commissioners Cuneo-Harwood, and Abramowitz have personally informed colleagues they were given notice by Mr. Callahan Friday.


Mr. Abramowitz confirmed to the WPCNR source in a phone call that he and Ms. Clay had been told they were going. A member of Mayor Joseph Delfino’s staff confirmed Ms. Harwood’s being told she would not be part of the new administration coming in in January. 


With the four commissioners informed they were not returning, the city will save a total of $541,060 plus benefits. He appears to have $1.5 million so to go in administrative cutbacks.


“I’ve inherited Rome after Nero,” he said. “I was elected to make sure we have a lean government and a solvent government,  a cost-concious government and that’s going to be my mission. I intend to save $1 to 2 Million dollars in the administrative end, otherwise I have no credibility when I go to ask concessions from the unions.”


Noting the city was 25% over budget (an$18 Million deficit, according to Bradley’s estimate on a $158 Million budget)compared to New York State being 15% over budget, Bradley said he had no choice, saying the city was  on the bring of “financial disaster.”


Next week Mr. Bradley is expected to announce details about how his administration will start, and told WPCNR he would be announcing his Chief of Staff.


John Callahan of the Bradley transition team gave out the bad news to the Commissioners.


 

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Susan Katz, City Hall Personality for 29-1/2 Years Celebrates Retirement

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. December 18, 2009: Susan Katz daughter of the legendary Sonny Katz, the former City Marshall, was the focus of the annual Traffic Department holiday party Thursday morning as a steady stream of well-wishers from the Department of Public Works, Finance and other city hall employees dropped by to congratulate Ms. Katz on her retirement after 29-1/2 years.



Susan Katz in “traffic” with Commissioner of Traffic, Tom Soyk,left, and Commissioner of Traffic, Bernard Adler, with whom she worked in her first job in Traffic.


Ms. Katz said she enjoyed working with so many people she has met over the years, and noted that she had learned over the years “to appreciate people for the good things they have to offer,” to “look for the good in all of her co-workers,” as her beloved father had always advised her.


Ms. Katz joined the city in 1980 in the Alfred Del Vecchio administration in the Department of Recreation and Parks, where she created the Pops in the Parks Program and the Noonday Concerts that exist to this day, and most other concerts under the direction of then Commissioner, the late Joe Davidson. She counts those concert series are her greatest achievement with the city. She then moved over to the Traffic Department in 1983 under Traffic Commissioner Bernard Adler who joined the party for the festivities with current Commissioner Tom Soyk.


Ms. Katz, a lifelong resident of White Plains plans to devote full-time to her work as Executive Director of Westco Productions, and tutor in a literacy program, and another non-profit organization.


Ms.Katz lamented that as of December 28, City Hall will no longer have a Katz in it. It will be the first time City Hall will be Katz-less in 40 years.  

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Details from Bradley on His Administration Next Week. Inauguration Planned

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. December 17,2009: Judith Chriss, spokesperson for Mayor-Elect Adam Bradley, informed WPCNR today  Mr. Bradley would release details on how he planned to start his new administration, including including Commissioner and Deputy Commissionerships


 



Adam Bradley foreground with the Common Council that will begin his new administration January 1, shown Election Night. Left to right, David Buchwald, Beth Smayda, Thomas Roach, Benjamin Boykin, Dennis Power and Milagros Lecuona.


 


To date, Mr. Bradley has announced Ms. Chriss as his  Administrative Officer.  John Callahan,  formerly Corporation Counsel with the Sy Schulman administration in the mid-90s, will be his Corporation Counsel, and David Chong, former Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety in White Plains from 2001-2004, and until earlier this month, Commissioner of the Mount Vernon Department of Public Safety takes over the Department of Public Safety, replacing interim Commissioner Daniel Jackson, who is running the Department in lieu of Dr. Frank Straub’s abrupt departure last month.


 


Ms. Chriss told WPCNR today that no commissioners currently on staff have given notice they are leaving. All commissioners have been interviewed  by the Bradley Transition Team. She added that no commissioners or deputy commissioners have been informed by Mr. Bradley that they are not wanted in the new administration.


 


Ms.. Chriss announced today that Mr. Bradley will stage an Inauguration Ceremony at City Hall from 3 P.M. to 5 P.M., January 3. She said the public is invited and said the Mayor-Elect hopes it will be a great day to celebrate a new beginning in White Plains.


 


Previously new Mayors to this reporter’s recollection have been sworn in at a Common Council meeting the first meeting of the new term. The first Council meeting in January is January 4. Technically, Mr. Bradley becomes Mayor at midnight, December 31, according to the City Charter

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Democrats Dump Bill Ryan as Chairman of Board of Legislators. Ryan: It Was Time.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER.  December 17,2009 UPDATED  5:10 P.M.E.S.T.: Phil Reisman, the columnist for the Journal News, reported exclusively this afternoon that Democratic members of the Board of Legislators have voted to oust Bill Ryan of White Plains as Chairman of the Board of Legislators, replacing him with Ken Jenkins of Yonkers. The ouster carries with it a pay cut for Mr. Ryan and an increase for Mr. Jenkins, and comes within hours after Mr. Ryan called for a Charter Revision Commission to reorganize county government to make it more efficient.


The news of Mr. Ryan’s ouster was not promulgated by the County Board of Legislators Press Office.



Bill Ryan, in the County Chairman of the Board of Legislators Seat, July,  2009, on a Board webcast. WPCNR Photo Archive.



Ken Jenkins, County Legislator from Yonkers, Replaces Bill Ryan as Chair of the Board of Legislators. Shown July, 2009. WPCNR Photo Archive.


Mr. Ryan, speaking to WPCNR this afternoon on his denouement,  said he was not surprised since he has served three consecutive terms as Chairman of the Board of Legislators, and over the course of the year, other legislators had talked with him about the possibilities of someone else having an opportunity to serve as Chairman. Ryan said that in the final vote to replace him in favor of Mr. Jenkins that it was simply a choice between him and Jenkins.He said he did not campaign hard to stay on but  did make it clear that for the purposes of continuity with the new administration, he would be glad to stay on for a fourth term, “I wasn’t going to start and recite my accomplishments to them the Democratic legislators. So anyway, we do the vote. They felt three terms was long enough.”


Asked about what a Board of Legislators run by two legislators from the two most distressed areas of the county, Yonkers and Mount Vernon, would mean, possibly more county dollars and interests shifted there at the expense of other areas of the county, Ryan had this to say:


Ryan praised the choice of Lyndon Williams, the legislator from Mount Vernon as Vice Chair of the Board of Legislators, saying that Mr. Williams was “sensible to the need for balance” in matters, and that his background at Citibank and service on the legislature budget committee was very thoughtful and understanding of the problems the county faces. In the matter of Mr. Jenkins, Ryan told WPCNR, he thought he (Ryan) was the better choice to guide the legislature in its relations with the new County Executive, because of Ryan’s three terms as Chair and his knowledge of the system.


Asked if Mr. Jenkins supported Mr. Ryan’s legislation for a Charter Revision Committee to identify ways the county could achieve “the four key words, consolidate, streamline, efficiency and economy” Mr. Ryan said he (Ryan) had talked with 7 legislators who supported it and expected that the rest of the legislature was on board.


Ryan said he would be looking for additional employment starting in two weeks, since his salary will be cut in half. He said he would be President of the New York State Association of Counties in 2010, but that was not a paying position.


He said he would, instead be paying partisan attention to his White Plains and Scarsdale constituency, and “be ever vigilant in protection our (White Plains/Scarsdale) fair share.”

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Arbitrator Awards Firefighters Parallel Wage Settlement with Police.

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. December 17, 2009: Joe Carrier, President of the White Plains Professional Firefighters announced to WPCNR today that Roger Maher, the  aribitrator handling the firefighter binding arbitration with the city has awarded firefighters a 3.75% in the first year (2008-2009) and 4% in the second year (2009-10).


Lieutenants will also receive a 1% differential in pay raising them from 18% to 19% higher than a beginning firefighter’s salrary, beginning in the second year  of this contract (the current fiscal year).


The city was also directed to pay  $50 per fire fighter  into the firemen’s welfarefund  which provides eye and dental coverage.


Mr. Carrier said “The decision is out and it’s final. It’s identical to that of the police department. Number 1, I’m glad it’s over, and Number 2, both sides (city and firefighters) spent a lot of money and we are in the same place we were a year ago. I am looking forward to working with the new administration and the new Commissioner of Public Safety.”


Carrier said the city scored some victories, too. “We did not get a third year at  4% .. We did not get an increase in the lieutenant’s differential from 18% to 20% as asked.  We respect the arbitrator’s decision.”


Negotiations for 20010-11, when the police and fire contracts are again up for renewal are expected to begin some time after  Mayor-elect Adam Bradley takes office in 15 days.

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Feiner Praises Ryan Charter Revision Commission Proposal

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. December 17,2009: Paul Feiner, Supervisor of the Town of Greenburgh welcomed County Chair of the Board of Legislators to the effort to downsize county government today, telling the CitizeNetReporter, Ryan’s introduction Wednesday of legislation creating a commission to review how the county government could work better was better late than never.


Mr. Feiner issued this statement to WPCNR:  I’m very pleased with Ryans proposed legislation. The consensus is developing that the county government needs to be leaner, more efficient and has not been working. A charter revision commission is an initiative that I have advocated for a long time.


Many people are complaining that Ryan waited till the end of his chairmanship to initiate the commission. I disagree with the criticism. Better late than never.

Tomorrow Joe Dioguardi and I are holding  a press conference at the county center at 11 to discuss other reforms and a petition drive to restructure the county government. The press conference will be held at the county center.


Sales tax: town revenue down 12.5%. 

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Ryan Proposes Charter Revision Commisson to Study Streamlining–Due March 2011

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 WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Tara L. Martin, Westchester County Board of Legislators (EDITE) December 16,2009 Updated 9 P.M. E.S.T.:Westchester County Board of Legislators Chairman Bill Ryan (D-WF, White Plains) today announced the launching of Westchester Renewed, a far-reaching initiative  creatiing a citizen-run Westchester County Charter Revision Commission to study and recommend how to make Westchester County more efficient and cost-concious.


The commission, assuming the legislature creates by passage of Mr. Ryan’s bill, will have until March 1, 2011 to make it’s report, and the County Board of Legislators will be required to act upon its recommendations within 3 months (approximately June, 2011), meaning any reform is at least 24 months away.


“It’s time to take a thorough look at how Westchester County government is running, how it operates and how it can be improved.  What steps should we take to right-size our government? How can we streamline its operation and make it more efficient and less expensive.  We need to come up with a revised Charter that reflects today’s realities and tomorrow’s hopes.” 


Westchester’s Charter Revision Commission would be made up of 31 members representing a cross-section of the county, reflecting the resident taxpayer, business, non-profit, labor and government sectors of the Westchester community. It would examine structural innovations for, and alternatives to the current form and structure of County government. Recommendations would be submitted to the Board of Legislators for implementation or, depending on what’s proposed, brought before voters in a referendum. 



The Charter Revision Commission shall be composed of total of 31 members to be appointed as follows:


·         Each of the seventeen County Legislators shall individually appoint one (1) member to the Commission 


·         The Chairman of the County Board of Legislators shall also appoint one (1) additional member to serve as the Chairperson of the Charter Revision Commission


·         The Westchester County Executive shall appoint two (2) members to the Commission


·         The County Clerk, District Attorney, Chief Administrative Judge of the 9th Judicial District shall each appoint one (1) member to the Commission


·         By a majority vote of the County Board of Legislators, one (1) member shall be appointed from each of the following seven organizations: the Westchester County League of Women Voters, the Westchester Putnam Central Labor Body, the Civil Service Employees Association, the State Association of School Boards, Westchester County Municipal Officials Association, the Business Council of Westchester, and the Westchester County Association, and one (1) member from a non-profit agency providing services in Westchester County


 


Ryan said “The Charter Revision Commission should examine all the alternative forms (of county government)  and come up with a recommendation. If it recommends changing Westchester’s two-branch government (County Executive and the Board of Legislators), the people will have a chance to decide in a countywide public referendum.”


Ryan said other types of issues that could be considered include:


·         Consolidating/merging/eliminating various county departments and functions


·         Centralizing various services now handled by municipalities; consolidation of local functions and programs and regional service delivery as needed


·         Turning over certain discretionary county services to local municipalities and/or community based organizations


·         Reducing the size of the Board of Legislators; changing the form of the legislative body


·         The need for and composition of a Board of Acquisition and Contract


·         Establishing an Office of County Comptroller



The role and structure of the Board of Legislators should also be examined,  but could not be abolished, Ryan said: 


 “The county legislature is required under State Law,” Ryan said. “Because of this, abolishing it is not an option and certain of its functions and responsibilities cannot be altered. However, the size and composition of the legislature and the way it operates can certainly be changed if that’s deemed appropriate.”


Ryan also said that doing away with Westchester county government was not an option to be explored.


“Those who argue for this obviously know nothing about local, county or state government,” Ryan said. “New York is run through counties, Getting rid of Westchester county government would require getting rid of county governments throughout the state. Anyone arguing for that can speak to their state representatives. This Commission is designed to be productive, generating real options that could improve our government and deliver benefits to our residents and taxpayers sooner rather than later.  The Commission would not engage in meaningless exercises.”


Westchester Renewed will be independent of county government, except for the responsibility of county government to see to it that it has the resources it needs to function.  That includes reasonable funding for consulting and support services. 


The Commission will also review the work of Westchester 2000—an earlier citizen study on consolidation of government services—to see if any of its recommendations should be reintroduced. That group looked at Charter revision, although that wasn’t its primary charge.




 

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WP Nov Sales $$ Stabilize-off 7.3% for 09-10. Cty off 13% $61.5 M in Red Ink

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. December 16, 2009 UPDATED December 17,2009 6:30 P.M.: White Plains shoppers came within 1.7% of last year’s November spending pace in November, according to the  November statistics on sales tax furnished WPCNR by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Tuesday.


 


If the city’s December numbers match last year’s and sales tax collections match the first half of 2009, the city sales tax deficit will be $2.5 Million behind the 2009-10 city projection of  $47.3 Million.


 


The county news is not as good. Sales Tax collections for November throughout the county were down 4.5%, an improvement over the lacklustre 12.5% the county has run the first 10 months. If the county hits last December’s holiday numbers in December, the county will still finish the year with a $61.5 Million deficit in sales taxes, finishing at $416.5 Million when the county had budgeted to collect $478.2 Million in sales tax in 2009.


 


According to Westchester County Communications Director, Donna Greene, the disappearing $60 Million in county sales tax was covered by the infusion of increased federal medicaid reimbursement as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in 2009. In a statement Ms. Greene sent, she writes: The $60M has been offset by a combination of expense reductions and FMAP revenue. (Remember, the expense reductions have been ongoing the entire year.”


 


FMAP  is an anachronym for “Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentages.” In 2009, the New York State reimbursement was increased from 50% to 55%, allowing New York State to return money to Westchester  County for the County’s share of expenses.  Greene told WPCNR Thursday afternoon that the FMAP money was fungible and could be returned to the County General Fund, to be used as the county saw fit. 


 


Asked if the county could quantifiy “to the penny” how much FMAP money was used to fill the sales tax gap, and what savings paid the rest, Greene said that was not available at  the present time.


 


The appearance that White Plains is attracting retail shoppers at a pace double the rest of the county would appear to indicate that sales are off severely in the other major retail centers: Yonkers, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon and Port Chester.


 


 


 


If shoppers return to the White Plains malls in droves in December and match last December’s sales tax receipts ($4,287,434) the city will have  $22,879,003 in till towards the 2009-10 Sales Tax target of $47.3 Million.


 


In January to June of 2009. the city collected  $21,947,874 in sales tax.


 


If the city runs even with that January to June pace, the city will collect $44,826,877 in sales tax for the year, a projected budget deficit on sales tax receipts of $2,473,123. The important factor is that retail sales do not fall off the next six months to the pre-holiday season doldrums. Citizens should cross their fingers that the buying doldrums that began in July, do not return.


 


The city deficit at this time if city sales tax collections have indeed stabilized and will continue on last year’s pace amounts as follows, figures come from Commissioner of Finance Gina Cuneo-Harwood’s figures she told the White Plains Common Council November 23:


 


$2.473 Million in lost Sales Tax (as of Dec. 15)


1.2    Million in lost Mortgage Tax


400,000 in Parking Revenues


500,000 in lower Fines & Forfeitures


$6.9 Million in fund balance


$3 Million in Labor Settlement


 


Total City Deficit: $14,473,000


 


Worse News for the County


 


Despite comments in a letter from County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz sent the Journal News Monday and published today (Tuesday) that “sales tax for 2009 is running over $45 Million less than last year,” the deficiet is a lot more  more – about $61,483,764 behind sales tax projections – a figure estimated by this reporter in August and September, and pointed out to the county by this reporter at the time.


 


The county however has not good news according to the November  County sales tax. In November, through eleven months of the fiscal year, the county, according to the state Department of Taxation & Finance has collected $375,507,685.61in sales tax. The county expected to collect $478.2 Million.


 


If the county matches last December’s sales tax collection of $41,008,551.17, the county will receive a total sales tax handle of $416,516,236, creating a revenue deficit this year of $61,483,764. 


 


The County Board of Legislators Monday night saw fit to cut County Executive Andrew Spano’s budget by $1 Million.


 


 


Details on how the sales tax shortfall in the current budget is being addressed by the county as this year’s budget was not detailed in the county news release trumpeting the Board of Legislator’s approval of the 2010 budget last night. The county is addressing the possibility of the deficit continuing into next year.

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Wood’s Skills Admired.

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.WPCNR MILESTONES. By Duncan MacRae. December 15, 2009: I am saddened by the passing of Paul Wood, the City of White Plains Executive Officer. 


 I knew Paul for some time and had numerous dealings with him regarding labor relations and various employee issues confronting the city.


He was always responsive, but not afraid to say no when “no” was appropriate.  I will miss his great personality and the touch of his Boston accent.  I will miss his ability to see the big picture unlike so many in government who are out there.  I admired  his ability to deal with citizens and workers with a tone that was not acerbic and gave every interest it’s time to talk.


He has made a lasting impression on me.  I have been dealing in labor relations for some thirty five years in White Plains and have never met an individual that could so captivate and impress you and get you to go to his side.


To say he was remarkable would be an understatement.


I miss you, dear friend.


 God bless you


 


 

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Tribute to Paul Wood

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WPCNR MILESTONES.By Carl Albanese. December 15,2009:


In honor of Mr. Paul Wood, Executive Director City of White Plains.

For the many residents or anyone who ever hade the wonderful opportunity to know Mr. Wood at a city meeting or in the Mayor’s office you would come to respect this man for his unique gifted personality.

A guy regardless of his, yours, or the Mayor’s position on policy always welcomed and respected you and treated you with the highest level of consideration and respect.  To Mr. Wood it didn’t matter who you were, walk in the halls of City Hall, the Mayor’ s office and Mr. Wood welcomed you and received you with dignity and his personality first.

Not because of his position, because of who he represented, but because that was just Paul. Mr. Wood had karma of kindness, consideration, soft-spoken voice, receptive, with a remarkable level of patience and cooperation.

A man of great character, enjoyed a laugh, smiled and shared that with you.

If there ever was a guy you would want by your side, loyal and dedicated it was Paul. Passionate about his role and contributions he made to the city and to Mayor Delfino.  A protector, a defender, a devoted Executive Director to the city and always in my opinion worked for the quality of life and improvements of White Plains.

He will be dearly missed, never forgotten and always remembered for who he is.

A really great guy I was able to stand in City Hall with after a battle shakes hands with and thank.

Thank you Mr. Wood for serving our city.

To Mr. Paul Wood and his family, we honor you.

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