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 COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. From the City Clerk. November 20, 2009: A Special Meeting of the Common Council will convene Monday at 6 P.M. to entertain resolutions extending the site plan of North Street Community, and to review the 2009-10 City Budget situation.

The agenda:

1.                  Communication from Corporation Counsel in relation to the scheduling of a public hearing for December 7, 2009 on an application submitted on behalf of North Street Community, LLC, on a request for a one year extension of a previously approved site plan and for an amendment to the site plan to increase the ratio of assisted living beds to independent living units and allow for an automated mechanized parking system in lieu of traditional self parking at 303-315 North Street.

2.                              Communication from the City Clerk transmitting a request submitted on behalf of North Street Community, LLC for a one year extension of a previously approved site plan for the Planned Senior Residential Development District at 303-315 North Street.   F/S AND REFER TO COMMISSIONER OF BUILDING, DESIGN REVIEW BOARD, COMMISSIONER OF PLANNING, PLANNING BOARD, COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY, COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS, COMMISSIONER OF TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC COMMISSION, COMMISSIONER OF PARKING, CONSERVATION BOARD, WESTCHESTER COUNTY PLANNING BOARD AND ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.

3.                              Communication from the City Clerk transmitting a communication submitted on behalf of North Street Community, LLC, submitting addendum materials in relation to an application for a site plan amendment for the Planned Senior Residential Development District at 303-315 North Street. F/S AND REFER TO COMMISSIONER OF BUILDING, DESIGN REVIEW BOARD, COMMISSIONER OF PLANNING, PLANNING BOARD, COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY, COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS, COMMISSIONER OF TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC COMMISSION, COMMISSIONER OF PARKING, CONSERVATION BOARD, WESTCHESTER COUNTY PLANNING BOARD AND ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.

4.                              Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains scheduling a public hearing for December 7, 2009 in relation to the application submitted on behalf of North Street Community, LLC (“Applicant”) owner of property located at 303-315 North Street (Section 131.06, Block 1, Lot 1.1) containing environmentally sensitive features for: (1) an additional one year extension of a previously approved amended site plan adopted by the Common Council by resolution adopted July 9, 2007, and extended for one year by a resolution adopted December 1, 2008, for a project known as the “North Street Community:” and (2) an amendment to the aforementioned previously approved amended site plan pursuant to Sections 5.8.3, 5.8.5.2, 5.8.8.8 and 8.5.4 fo the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains to (A) increase the ratio of assisted living beds to independent living units in the Planned Senior Residential Development District from 35% to 45%; and (B) provide an automated (mechanized) parking system in lieu of traditional self parking.

5.                  Communication from Executive Director, Urban Renewal Agency, in relation to the scheduling of a public hearing for December 7, 2009, on the Notice of Availability for Public Examination the Redeveloper’s Statement for Public Disclosure and the Contract for Sale of Land for private redevelopment by and between the White Plains Urban Renewal Agency, The City of White Plains and 4 Cromwell Place LLC, on the disposition of the reconfigured 4 Cromwell Place, located in the East Post Road Phase II Urban Renewal Project, WPUR-9B.

6.                              Resolution (1) authorizing publication of the Notice of Availability for Public Examination of the Redeveloper’s Statement for Public Disclosure and the Contract for Sale of Land for private redevelopment by and between the White Plains Urban Renewal Agency (“Agency”), the City of White Plains (“City”), and 4 Cromwell Place LLC (4 Cromwell Place LDA”), respecting disposition of the reconfigured 4 Cromwell Place, located in the East Post Road Phase II Urban Renewal Project, Project WPUR-9B, and (2) scheduling a public hearing thereon for the Common Council Meeting of December 7, 2009.

REFERRAL:

7.                  Communication from the City Clerk transmitting a communication submitted on behalf of Heyman Properties, LLC, One North Broadway, for an amendment to a previously approved site plan for approval to modify the formula by which the size of a sign for the retail space correlates to the linear feet of a tenant’s frontage, eliminating any uncertainty about the permitted signage should the space by divided into more than three tenant spaces.  F/S AND REFER TO COMMISSIONER OF BUILDING, DESIGN REVIEW BOARD, COMMISSIONER OF PLANNING, PLANNING BOARD, COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SAFETY, COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS, COMMISSIONER OF TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC COMMISSION, COMMISSIONER OF PARKING, CONSERVATION BOARD, WESTCHESTER COUNTY PLANNING BOARD AND ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER.

DISCUSSION:

8.                  Senior Center Catering.

9.                  2009/2010 Budget Update

10.              Entertainment of a motion to enter into executive session for the purpose of discussing termination of employment.             

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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By Town of Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner. November 19, 2009:  Rethinking Westchester Government held their first post 2009 election meeting on Thursday evening, November 19^th and decided that their next initiative will be to call for a Westchester County Charter Revision Commission to  redefine the responsibilities of county government and to consider transferring some of the current county government responsibilities to either the county or state governments.  The commission could also commission a study to determine the feasibility of eliminating county government –actions that Massachusetts took in the mid 1990s. Connecticut and Rhode Island also have no county government.

The group will hold their next meeting at Greenburgh Town Hall on Monday, December 7^th at 7:30 PM. Greenburgh Town Hall is located at 177 Hillside Ave, Greenburgh (off of exit 5, 287). At this meeting the group will finalize the proposal creating a county charter revision commission.

The meeting on Monday December 7^th is open to the public.  We plan to invite County Executive-elect Rob Astorino and members of the Board of Legislators to upcoming meetings.

Westchester County has the distinction of having the highest property taxes in the United States. A charter revision commission would be a positive next step that could lead to the end of this distinction.

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WPCNR  SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. November 19, 2009: Jim Hricay, newly elected Board of Education Member disclosed Monday that due to his being married to a White Plains school teacher, he would not be voting on matters pertaining to teacher contracts, nor participating in Executive Sessions on teacher negotiations. Hricay told The CitizeNetReporter when asked how his expertise (in municipal finance with the cities of Stamford and White Plains in budgeting) could contribute to economical functioning when he could not vote on the issues, said he could still make suggestions to other board members, but not on teacher negotiations.

BOARD OF EDUCATION  MEMBERS BASSANO, HRICAY, TAKE THEMSELVES OUT OF VOTING ON CERTIORARI AND TEACHER ISSUES, RESPECTIVELY.

At the time he ran for the Board position last spring, Mr. Hricay did not discuss the extent to which  he would have to recuse on such teacher issues. Peter Bassano, another Board member, also had a statement read by the clerk to the Board, Michele Schoenfeld, that he, Bassano would recuse himself in voting on certiorari (tax refund) matters since he is employed by a law firm in the certiorari practice.

Bassano and Hricay, unfortunately, are the only Board members with extensive  familiarity with municipal and labor experience, therefore become “advisory” sources in what appears to be a very limited and possibly ineffectual way. Other members of the Board can choose to ignore them in discussion and in votes on the two most sensitive areas the board has to deal with: the labor agreements with teachers, administrators, and labor and, in Bassano’s case, school acceptance of certiorari refunds. Mr. Bassano’s refusal to involve himself in certiorari matters has been known since Bassano came on the Board in 2003.

During the televised Board of Education meeting Thursday evening, the Board of Education approved $517,104.20 in certirorari refunds, (neglecting to announce the amount publicly),  $301,000 to JP Morgan Chase (4 Branches) and $106,000 to “North Broadway” according to district “back-up” material.

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WPCNR THE DEVELOPER NEWS. From the Office of Connecticut Governor Jodi M. Rell.Associated Press Reports November 19, 2009 (EDITED):  Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell announced Wednesday that Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) will relocate its global corporate headquarters from White Plains to Stamford, by the year 2012, moving millions of dollars in investments and 800 jobs from 1111 Westchester Avenue in White Plains to Connecticut.

            “For months I have worked with Starwood executives and my economic development team to make this deal – and the jobs and investments it brings – a reality for the people of our state,” Governor Rell said. “I am thrilled to see a company of Starwood’s stature make the business decision to move here and invest here. It is a triumph for Connecticut – and it speaks volumes about what our state has to offer businesses.”

Starwood has headquartered on White Plains Miracle Mile since 2001, and takes 800 jobs out of  the Westchester economy. The Governor cited major advantages Connecticut gives companies over New York State in announcing the shocker of the move.

In an announcement, Reader’s Digest of Pleasantville, New York, in a news release said it would move 525 of its employees from its now-rented Chappaqua Headquarters to White Plains in the downtown.

            “This project exemplifies the economic development philosophies I have championed,” the Governor said. “Not only does it add to the state’s employment base, it is a responsible and environmentally sensitive use of an existing structure in the heart of a downtown district with access to Interstate 95 and the Metro-North commuter rail line. New jobs, open space preservation, transit-oriented development, ‘green buildings’ – all of these goals are embodied in this one project.”

            The company’s move from White Plains, New York, to Stamford’s waterfront Harbor Point development is planned for January 2012. Harbor Point is already home to major employers such as Pitney Bowes and Deloitte & Touche. The company’s new headquarters will be certified under the “LEED” (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards program.

            Starwood Hotels & Resorts is one of the world’s leading hotel and leisure companies, with 982 hotels in nearly 100 countries and nine renowned brands including Sheraton, Westin, St. Regis and W Hotels. Plans call for Starwood to partner with the landlord to invest $40 million into renovating the existing facility.

            The company, which plans to occupy 250,000 square feet of space by January 2012, will create more than 800 full-time Connecticut-based positions within two years. Newmark Knight Frank’s Neal Golden, Ross Perlman and John Goodkind represented Starwood Hotels in the transaction.

            “After an extensive search for new office space for our worldwide headquarters, it became clear that this particular space in Stamford was an ideal choice,” said Frits van Paasschen, President and CEO of Starwood. “Not only did the State of Connecticut provide meaningful incentives that translate to a savings of 20 percent per year in rent, but we will also have the opportunity to design office space that reflects Starwood’s leadership in global hospitality, design and brand-building, as well as our commitment to the environment and our communities.”

            The Department of Economic and Community Development will assist the project with a $9.5 million loan and up to $75 million in Urban and Industrial Site Reinvestment Tax Credits. In addition, Starwood expects to receive up to $5 million in sales tax exemptions on building materials through the Connecticut Development Authority. The exemption is subject to approval by CDA’s Board of Directors.

            “Starwood’s decision to relocate its headquarters to Harbor Point validates our decision to invest in the redevelopment of Stamford’s South End as an ideal ‘smart-growth’ community,” said Carl R. Kuehner, President and CEO of Building and Land Technology. “These kinds of developments have been at the top of Governor Rell’s agenda and we very much appreciate the efforts of state and local officials who worked with us to make this happen.”

Mayor Dannel Malloy of Stamford told The Stamford Advocate, Stamford had been working on convincing Starwood to move for three and a half years. He indicated more major tenant signings would be forthcoming for the Harborpoint development, promoting Stamford’s “work force, strong tax base, transportation system. Malloy saluted Stamford’s Economic Development Director, Michael Freimuth, for his work in luring the hotel giant.

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2009. Special to WPCNR from the Westchester County Board of Elections. November 18, 2009 UPDATED 9:35 A.M.: White Plains “write-in” candidate for Mayor,  Councilman Glen Hockley now is reported as of Thursday morning by the Board of Elections as having received 1,791  votes as a “write-in” candidate in the November 3 Mayoral election in White Plains,  over 3,987 votes behind  Adam Bradley, the Democratic nominee, who also enjoyed the Republican, Working Families, Conservative, Working Families and Independence Party lines.

Yesterday as of noon, the Board of Elections Nardava Ford had told WPCNR Mr. Hockley’s write-in total was 583 votes, but had not made clear his write-ins were still being counted. By the end of the day, Mr. Hockley’s total has now reached 1,791.