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.

Hits: 0

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. Letter from The Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities. December 11, 2009: The Commissioner of the OMRD has forwarded a letter to service organizations claiming that only $1 Million of some  $35 Million in Governor Paterson’s cuts will directly affect services. Here is the text of that letter:

I want to take this opportunity to update you on OMRDD’s Deficit Reduction Plan (DRP) which is required in accordance with budget-related Legislation that was passed on December 2, 2009.  The actions called for in this DRP are expected to generate current year State fund savings of $2.7 billion, of which the OMRDD “Aid to Localities” share is estimated to be approximately $35 million.  

The Governor has made it clear that the actions taken by the Legislature still fall short of the $3.2 billion needed to fill the current-year gap by $500 million.  So far, approximately $30 million in additional savings has been assigned to OMRDD to help close this gap. Again, OMRDD was given the flexibility to manage this additional reduction and as a result will be able to do so without reducing payments to providers which could have impacted current services.

In summary, OMRDD has been given a current fiscal year savings target of approximately $65 million of which only about $1 million has the potential to impact current services.  In addition to minimizing the potential impact on current services, our DRP does not change my commitments for current projects or new services.

While this is extraordinarily good news for the current State fiscal year, we remain very guarded. The Governor had previously projected a two-year, $10 billion gap, and we still don’t know the impact of these current year actions on next year’s budget.  Obviously, we still have a long way to go.

Thanks again to all who helped inform our thinking and decision-making throughout this arduous and nerve-racking process.  The partnership that OMRDD has with you, families, individuals with developmental disabilities and providers must remain strong especially in these strident times. All of us will need to continue our advocacy as we move into the next budget cycle, to do what is right in support of the people with developmental disabilities that we serve and those in need of services.

Sincerely,

Diana Jones Ritter

Commissioner

Hits: 0

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. December 7, 2009 UPDATED 9:25 A.M. E.S.T.: Alan Vianti, the neutral arbitrator assigned the binding arbitration procedure agreed to by the White Plains Police Benevolent Association and the City of White Plains in their year-old labor dispute, handed down a decision Monday deciding the White Plains Police, based on settlements around the region are entitled to a 3.75% retroactive increase in the previous 2008-09 salary year and 4% across the board in the current salary year now underway  (2009-2010), WPPBA President Jim Carrier told the CitizeNetReporter today.

Carrier said this morning, the police will again be without a contract as of July 1, 2010, meaning the new Bradley administration will be negotiating with the police again within weeks of taking office.

WPPBA President, Jim Carrier announced a binding arbitration award of 3.75% and 4% for the Police Monday covering 2008-09 and 2009-10 to WPCNR.

Carrier also said that the raises are across the board, all salary levels, and that the arbitrator rejected the city request for a freeze at the current entry level for all subsequent new hires.

Carrier also told WPCNR, the arbitrator rejected the city request that the number of years of service required to reach the maximum level of pay at a position be increased from 3 to 5 years. The arbitrator limited the union request for supervisors’ raises to 1% additional (the union had requested 2%), and detectives’ raises to 1% (again 2% was requested). Assorted other city demands were rejected by the arbitrator, including police demands for longevity increases.

The 3.75% and 4% raises are the same pay increases the Common Council rejected one year ago, leading to binding arbitration. It is expected that White Plains Fire Fighter raises will parallel that of the police award. The Fire Fighters are also in binding arbitration, being evaluated by a different neutral arbitrator, Roger Maher.

The 3.75% and 4% pay increases usually set the pattern for other city contracts coming up, with the Teamsters and the CSEA. The Police contract is for two years, meaning the new Adam Bradley administration taking office in January, will have to being negotiations anew with the Police and fire unions within weeks after taking office.

Jim Carrier, of the WPPBA, noted that the second year of the new agreement expires in sixth months, meaning the new Bradley administration will be conducting negotiations on a new contract within months, even weeks of taking office.

The settlement was not anounced to the public by the Mayor at Monday evening’s Common Council meeting, even though the meeting was televised and the award information was given to this reporter earlier in the day.

Asked if he had any comment on the possibility of layoffs in the months ahead due to city’s running a deficit, Carrier said he had no comment.

Joe Carrier, the President of the White Plains Fire Fighters, told WPCNR that Roger Maher, the independent arbitrator considering the fire fighter demands, has not notified him of his decision yet, but expected a decision from Maher shortly.

Hits: 0

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. December 4, 2009: The $38.5 Million “green building, eco-efficient, energy-saving” Post Road School opened to rave reviews in September with no reported glitches. However, the security lighting system in halls and stairways and entrances cannot be controlled efficiently due to flaws in the electric system controlling the lights.

Neighbors may be wondering why the new Post Road School has blazed like an airport terminal all night long 7 days a week these past three months. Fred Seiler confirmed the problem with the lighting to WPCNR Thursday.  The school according to Assistant Superintendent for Business, Fred Seiler, has too many lights that are security lights which cannot be dimmed and are not motion-sensitive, and apparently, (it is not quite clear why), cannot be turned off individually.

Seiler confirmed the electrical-design perpetual lighting problem  in the new school Thursday afternoon to WPCNR, after a parent contacted WPCNR complaining about the waste and how long it has been literally going on.

Post Road School, Sterling Avenue entrance. Wednesday 11:30 P.M

According to Seiler the district became aware of the problem when the school opened in September and they have had “many discussions” about how to fix it. It seems the lights cannot be turned off individually. The lights in question are the main entrance interior lights, the three hall levels and the stairwells. Individual classroom lights are motion sensitive, and even dim according to the amount of light coming in the windows, as well as being switch-controlled.

New Post Road School, Wednesday Evening 11:20 P.M. Soundview Parking Lot.

Post Road School Cafeteria, Soundview Avenue side. 11:35 P.M. Wednesday Night.

Seiler said the problem stems from a misunderstanding between the architect, Kaeyer, Gartment & Davidson which called for the lights (which Seiler said were too many), and the way in which the electrical contractor wired the lights. “People say, well why don’t you just turn them all off,” Seiler explained, “but that’s no good either , because then you have no security lighting, at night.”

Seiler said the project for rewiring the lights has been put out to bid. He said he had no idea how much it would cost.

Parents familiar with the problem contacted WPCNR complaining about the problem. One said the lights have been on for months and they considered it a waste of money.

Seiler said the school district did not have an idea of how much the 24 hour lighting has eaten up in additional electricity bills.

Hits: 0

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Transition Office of the County Executive Elect, Rob Astorino. December 3,2009: Westchester County Executive-elect Rob Astorino (R-I), who promised to attract to his administration the “best and brightest Westchester has to offer” to reduce the cost of county government, today announced two senior administration appointments, Kevin J. Plunkett as Deputy County Executive and Robert F. Meehan as Westchester County Attorney.

Kevin Plunket, left, newly appointed Deputy County Executive with County Executive Elect, Rob Astorino, and member of the Astorino transition team, Kay Karsky. WPCNR NEWS ARCHIVE

Mr. Plunkett currently serves as Chairman of the Astorino Transition Committee and Mr. Meehan is the Mount Pleasant Town Supervisor.  These appointments are the first announced by the County Executive-elect, who takes office on January 1, 2010.

“Kevin Plunkett and Bob Meehan will bring to these positions a wealth of experience in government and sound public policy judgment,” County Executive-elect Astorino said. “They are  highly skilled and accomplished professionals who will be great assets to Westchester County government.  I have known Kevin and Bob for more than two decades and they will be indispensible to me as I work to move this county forward.”

Kevin J. Plunkett – First Deputy County Executive

Mr. Plunkett is a partner at the law firm of DelBello Donnellan Weingarten Wise & Wiederkehr, LLP, which is based in White Plains, NY. He has a distinguished public service resume: Mr. Plunkett is a Member of the Governor’s Judicial Screening Committee for the Second Department. He is a Board Member of the New York State Thruway Authority; a Member of the Taconic State Park Recreation and Historic Preservation Commission; a Member of the Board of Visitors at Pace University Law School, and Chairman of the Greenway Conservancy for the Hudson River Valley, Inc. Mr. Plunkett has served as counsel to many Westchester County communities.

Robert F. Meehan- County Attorney

Mr. Meehan has served as the Mount Pleasant Town Supervisor since 1990. He was admitted to the New York bar in 1974 and has extensive experience in municipal and related areas of law. He received his B.A. from Fordham University and J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law. He has served as a Law Clerk to Supreme Court Justice Richard F. Kuhnen and as the Mount Pleasant Town Attorney prior to being elected Supervisor. Mr. Meehan has extensive community and public service credentials. He is a current member and past President of the Westchester/Putnam Town Supervisors Association and the Westchester Municipal Officials Association.

“I am honored to have been chosen to serve as Deputy County Executive,” Mr. Plunkett said. “County Executive-elect Astorino and I share a vision of a more efficient Westchester government that puts taxpayers and economic growth first. Westchester is facing many challenges, and we are assembling an outstanding team to meet those challenges head on.”

“I have known and worked with Rob Astorino for 25 years,” Mr. Meehan said. “I am thrilled that he has asked me to serve in this capacity.  There are many critical legal issues before this county, and I am grateful for his confidence in my abilities to manage them.” 

Hits: 0

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. Special to WPCNR from New Jersey Business. November 20,2009: Shoppers in the Northeast averaged $356.81, of which $124.39 was spent online, according to the National Retail Foundation. Black Friday 2009 came in with lower than average spending, with sales figures about even with 2008’s poor performance, according the National Retail Federation. New Jersey Biz  (www.njbiz.com) reports the trade association said 195 million shoppers hit stores and Web sites over the holiday weekend, based on a survey conducted from last Thursday through Saturday.

The 2009 holiday weekend generated $41.2 billion in sales across the country, nearly flat with $41 billion spent over the 2008 Black Friday weekend.

The number of shoppers increased from 172 million during the 2008 holiday weekend, though the average spent was $343.31 per person over this year’s Black Friday period, down from $372.57 last year. Shoppers in the Northeast averaged $356.81, of which $124.39 was spent online.

Tracy Mullin, chief executive of the National Retail Foundation, said “They (retailers) know they have their work cut out for them to keep people coming back through Christmas.”