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. By John F. Bailey. July 23, 2009: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation  has informed  the City of White Plains it has to close, remediate  and “cap” 35 to 40 acres  of the 80-acre city dump off Gedney Way at an estimated  cost to the city of $10 Million.

 

 

 

 

The Commissioner of Public Works  Joseph Nicoletti estimated to WPCNR, that  the cost of  capping the dump with an impervious covering  (DEC-recommended)  and remediating the lingering TCE (TriChloroEthylene) contaminent the dump contains, would cost the city $8 Million to $10 Million. Added to that, he told WPCNR would be the cost of a storm water rentention system.

 

 

 

An Aerial View of the Dump in mid-2006 showing the composting operations ongoing at the time when the DEC and the city agreed the city would close the dump and clean up their composting operation and when the DEC wrote the city and noted the TCE contamination was leaking into the Mamamaroneck River. Photo by Carl Albanese.

 

 

A 2006 View of the Drain pipe leading from beneath the City Dump, believed to be the source from which the TCE contaminant is leadking into the Mamaroneck River, the body of water in the picture. Photo by Carl Albanese.

 

Nicoletti  said it was too early  to estimate the price of  the  construction of the complex storm water retention system needed to carry off and  mitigate the resulting storm water runoff off a 40 acre surface,  would cost in addition to the $10 Million cleanup.

The decision relayed to the Common Council tonight by Commissioner Nicoletti  comes after a three year analysis of the site conducted by the city with DEC oversight  at a cost of $1.2 Million. (This, WPCNR believes, is in addition to a $1 Million to upgrade the Dump Composting operation two years ago).

 

Nicoletti requested $250,000 more funding from  the council this evening to pay for creation of a Conceptual Closing Plan and a Final Closing Plan to determine how the cleanup will be executed.

 

 

 

Commissioner Nicoletti told the Common Council after the city Conceptual Closing Plan is approved by the DEC and the Final Plan submitted (anticipated by the first of the year) work would begin to close the dump in 2010. The type of surface to be installed has yet to be determined, Nicoletti told the council, but would be decided in consultation with the DEC as the Conceptual Closing Plan is developed.

 

Nicoletti said the the TCE (Tri Cloral Ethanol) pollution existing on the site dates back to prior the 1970s and lies beneath a layer of ash 15 feet below the surface, measuring about 50 feet square. He explained that the TCEs have been leaking into the Mamaroneck River and the soil of the dump for decades.

 

Speaking privately to WPCNR after the meeting, Nicoletti explained that the low levels of TCE on the site were apparently not considered a threat to public health by the DEC because the DEC at that time did not push the city to clean up the site. The issue surfaced again in the second term of the Delfino administration and came to a head three years ago when the DEC demanded the city proceed with a plan to close the dump.

 

Working  together the city and the DEC agreed on a series of new monitoring wells to measure the flow of the TCE’s into the Mamaroneck River and surrounding soils. That testing has now been completed.  The point, Mr. Nicoletti  said to WPCNR, “it’s a very low level. The DEC does not consider it a threat. It (the TCE), is not a threat. That’s why I pushed for these tests that show removal was not needed .”

 

Nicoletti said the standard applied to water was the water in the Mamroneck River had to be “drinking water standard” when it came to the levels of the pollutants and that was what was causing the problem. The levels are not drinking water standard.

 

Nicoletti told WPCNR removing the TCE is very expensive, involving digging an enormous hole and shipping the soil out to be cleaned.  (Such a process was recently conducted in Jamaica Queens ridding an industrial site  of a similar cleaning fluid toxins that were seeping into the city water supply. That  remediating was estimated at a cost of $4 Million.)

 

 

Nicoletti said the city might receive a $2 Million grant to defray some of the costs of the clean-up but that would be about it. He said municipalities are expected to pay their cost of a contaminated site clean-up.

 

Asked by Councilperson Thomas Roach how the TCE would be mitigated, Nicoletti said he preferred the use of placing iron bars into the middle of the TCE subterranean deposit,  because the TCE interacts with the iron and its toxic properties neutralize, he said. However, Nicoletti said the DEC would have to agree on that.

 

The unexpected City Dump “iceberg” on the sea of red ink the city  is now sailing is an additional burden  to be bonded for joining  the $14 Million new water tank at the reservoir (expected to be paid for by the Water fund).

 

Back Story

 

The final solution to the dump comes 7 months after the DEC had told the city it was going to have to take care of those TCE’s:

A press spokesperson from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation told WPCNR December 17, 2008, that the DEC had received completed test results of wells testing executed in spring 2008, and that the DEC team of technicians had determined that the TCE-contaminates found in the City Dump were still leaking leachate into the Mamaroneck River in a quantity that requires remediation.

Wendy Rosenbach, spokesperson of the DEC office in New Paltz, told WPCNR a final report is awaited from the city, but regardless of what that reports says, the DEC will require some form of cleanup of the contaminants, the extent of the remediation has yet to be determined. No other information was immediately available, according to Ms. Rosenbach, except that remediation will be required of the city.

 

Letter above from May 2006 — Telling city to close the City dump. Photos by Carl Albanese

WPCNR originally informed the public about the DEC negotiations with the city over the Dump in June 2006, and you can read about the history of the polluted dump that they said was not polluted at http://www.whiteplainscnr.com/article4714.html

The original story WPCNR filed covered the public display of photos of the dump by White Plains Carl Albanese, and was based on documents acquired from the Department of Environmental Conservation in New Paltz, by the former editor of White Plains Online, Don Hughes, also a White Plains City resident.

 

A $10 MILLION MIGRAINE THE CITY DOES NOT NEED

 

The city is also facing  a potential for a 3% to 4% binding arbitration settlement for its fire fighters union by January.  (Approval of the union counsel by the Common Council could not be passed tonight because of the absence of Councilperson Milagros Lecouna.)  The union settlement will set the precedent for the three other unions: police, teamsters, the Civil Service Employees Union.  Additionally the Red Sea is getting rougher as certiorari refunds continue to lower the city assessment role.

 

In other action, Thursday night…

 

$225,000 to WPHA for HUD “Green Tech” Grant.

 

The council indicated willingness to spend the $225,000 of the last $266,729 remaining in the developer-to put up a 25% “match” for the White Plains Housing Authority apply for a HUD grant of $1,780,000 to be used, if HUD approves the WPHA application, for installation of green technologies and money-saving improvements to Schuyler-DeKalb, and Lake Street WPHA buildings in the city. Mack Carter, the WPHA Executive Director, said the $225,000 would only be used if the grant was received. It apparently gives the city 94 points on its application of 110 points in the scoring of their grant application. The grant most likely would not be forthcoming until 2010. The second reading of the $225,000 transfer will be at the Common Council meeting of August 3, since Ms. Lecouna was not present, it could not be passed (requiring a majority at first reading).

 

Shinn-Yo-En to Expand Temple off North Street.

 

 

The temple Shinn-Yo-En, with visiting executives from San Francisco and Japan present, presented a plan to expand their building on North Street with a 980 sq. foot extension (shown at bottom left being added to the present temple, pic above left. The perspective from overhead is shown in the overhead view on the right. The Council does not have to approve the expansion, it being a religious organization. The addition will be used for a social area only with not classroom conversion options.

 

Rental Rates down in the downtown — Condos, Rentals outside downtown considered to develop affordable housing inventory.

 

Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel presented a survey showing how rental rates for studios, one bedroom and two bedroom had declined to basically be within reach of 100% of median income affordable housing clients.

 

Habel noted that developer Louis Cappelli had failed to provide the 13 affordable housing units in the downtown, based on the last agreement where Cappelli could meet his obligation if he made rental arrangements with other buildings in the downtown. It was pointed out that Bank Street Commons, One City Place,the Gramercy and AvalonBay had all refused to make units available to the Cappelli organization to fill the 13-unit gap in affordable housing units Cappelli owes the city.

 

Habel said the city needed to develop other buildings (including condominiums)  willing to lease out rentals for use by affordable housing clients, if they had units that were not filled. At the suggestion of Rita Malmud and Councilman Benjamin Boykin, Ms. Habel agreed that the city, given the decline in rentals in the downtown should concentrate on seeking units for clients earning 50% of median income ($80,000)

 

Hotel Tax Draft Issued

 

Corporation Counsel Edward Dunphy handed out drafts of the new City Hotel Tax legislation for Council comment. The city is attempting to get the 3% hotel occupancy tax (which the city will collect, Dunphy said) passed by the second quarter of the year (beginning October 1). A hearing is going to be scheduled for the September Council meeting.  Dunphy and the city financial departments are racing to decide the city departmental procedures on how the tax will be collected and to define the tax for the city hoteliers.

 

Cert Session

 

The Council wrapped up the evening with the obligatory Executive Session to approve a serious of certiorari settlements (refunds to property owners for past years over taxation).

 

 

 

 

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WPCNR GREEN NEWS. July 22, 2009: Dan Rather, CBS News Anchorman, legendary national convention reporter, Vietnam correspondent, the man on the scene where news was from the 50s to the 80s, introduced the unique audio Bronx River Walking Tour today at Kensico Plaza, Mr. Rather generously donated his prestige and talent to creating the  26 historical audio history lessons which starting today can be heard at various twists and turns  on the Bronx River Walkway at each of the 26 stops. The project was conceived by Friends of Westchester Parks, headed by Liz Bracken-Thompson of Thompson & Bender who hosted the Opening Day Ceremony.

Liz Bracken-Thompson, Weschester County Executive Andrew Spano, Mr. Rather, County Legislator Ken Jenkins, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, Joe Stout today at Kensico Plaza

Doing a “twist” on the statement that “history is another country,” Mr. Rather said that in America, “our country is its history.” He agreed to give his voice to the 26 key historical stops, including stops along the underground railroad during the Civil War, and key battle sites of the Battle of White Plains in 1776, (just down the Walking Path from Kensico Dam), because of his love for history. He congratulated County Executive Andrew Spano for Mr. Spano’s appreciation of parkland and the county’s history.  Mr.Rather’s narratives create, for the first time, an historical destination in White Plains.

Executive Spano, Mr. Rather and Ms. Bracken-Thompson open the Bronx River Audio Tour today.

HOW THE TOUR WORKS: CALL UP DAN!

At each of the special signs along the walkway beginning at Kensico Dam and winding down the Bronx River Parkway rural walking and bike path, citizens wanting to learn the significance of each of the sites call a telephone number to listen to Mr. Rather’s familiar, urgent, and compelling narrative detailing the history of each of the 26 stations on the Walking Tour. Or, you can download all the audio to your IPOD.

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey. July 21, 2009: The White Plains Performing  Arts Center will run a fall season of productions, according to John Ioris, Chairman of the White Plains Performing Arts Center Foundation, which manages the theatre on a long-term contract for about another two years. Ioris said subscribers should be receiving notifications of the new fall season within a week. The schedule is being put together by Jack Batman, former Artistic Director.

 

 

Mayor’s Fairwell Tour Kicks Off October 9 With Fundraiser for WPPAC, As Advertised on WPPAC website.

 

Ioris confirmed that the major fall fund-raiser for the WPPAC would be “Tribute to the Mayor” featuring Mayor Joseph Delfino under whose administration the White Plains Performing Arts Center was created.

 

 

 

Ioris told WPCNR  “half the schedule has been set and the balance of the schedule has not been decided.”

 

Ioris said that Jack Batman, whose contract as Artistic Director expired in June, is working with the theatre on a consulting basis, organizing the fall productions. Ioris said the new fall series of productions “we need to get mailed and selling quickly,” saying he expected the schedule out next week. He declined to name the first productions because rights had not been secured as yet.

 

Mayor Joseph Delfino, the incumbent Mayor who is leaving office in 163 days after eleven years, 6 months and 21 days in office, will be honored for his achievements in a fall fundraiser for the benefit of the financially-in-need WPPAC October 9, as part of a continuing fund-raising effort for the theatre, Ioris said. 

 

Ioris told WPCNR the Board of Directors has not decided how the proceeds from the “Tribute to the Mayor” will be used. Ioris said several uses of the funds raised are being considered: setting up an endowment for the theatre, funding the present schedule,  programming, or purchase of equipment for the theatre.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. July 20, 2009 UPDATED July 21, 2009: The Board of Education appointed Raymond A. Salvestrini, Jr., from the Danbury Connecticut school district,  as the new Coordinator, Athletics and Physical Education, replacing Nick Panaro, Director, Scholastic Athletics and Jody Cole, Director,  Health & Physical Education, both of whom retired at the end of the last school year.

 

The appointment consolidates control of scholastic athletic and health education curriculum under one individual, undoing the splitting of the positions four years ago based on the recommendation of former Athletic Director, Mario Scarano.

 

 

Ray Salvestrini, Jr. –New White Plains Coordinator of Athletics and Physical Education after his appointment by the Board of Education Monday Evening.

Photo, WPCNR SPORTS

 

Mr. Salvestrini was previously Athletic Director of Danbury School District ( home of recently retired Superintendent of Schools, Timothy Connors). In May he was named Connecticut High School Athletic Association “Athletic Director of the Year.” Salvestrini was appointed Athletic Director in Danbury, coming from Ridgefield High School, in 2001. Salvestrini resigned last Thursday to accept the White Plains position.

 

The following is a biography of Mr. Salvestrini, from Who’s Who in Ridgefield, detailing his early career

 

 

Chip Salvestrini has made his mark in two different aspects of Ridgefield athletics: as player and administrator. Before graduating from Ridgefield High, Mr. Salvestrini established himself as one of the school’s best all-around athletes, earning eight varsity letters in three sports. He was a two-year starter in basketball and a three-year starter in baseball, where he was named to the All-Western Connecticut Conference team as a junior and senior. But football was Mr. Salvestrini’s favorite sport, and also his best.

 

An intimidating offensive and defensive lineman, Mr. Salvestrini was twice chosen to the All-WCC team. As a senior, he received honorable mention All-State and made the All-(New York) Daily News team. Mr. Salvestrini continued his football career at Yankton College in South Dakota. A defensive tackle, he was named to the All-Conference team as a sophomore, junior and senior. Mr. Salvestrini received All-American honorable mention honors as a senior, when he was chosen one of the top 100 defensive tackles in the country. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers, but didn’t make the final roster. After playing minor league football with the Long Island Giants and New Jersey Rams, he was signed to a free-agent contract by the New York Giants in 1977. He attended training camp, but was cut before the season started. His administrative path started at New Milford High School, where he became athletic director after two years as head football coach. Two years later, Mr. Salvestrini was named athletic director at Lehman College in the Bronx. In 1993 he returned to his roots, replacing Bob Mark as athletic director at Ridgefield High. During his tenure, Mr. Salvestrini has helped expand the high school athletic program, making it one of the state’s most ambitious. Several club teams such as boys volleyball and girls golf became official varsity sports, and club programs were started in other sports.

 

 

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE.  By John F. Bailey. July 17, 2009: For the first six months of 2009, the  Westchester County share of sales taxes it collects  is down $23.3 Million from the 2008 sales tax pace off 12%. If the trend continues, the cumulative effect of a 12% annual decline could mean the county faces a  $44 to $46 Million decline in sales tax for the year, and as high as $57 Million by rough WPCNR estimates of the present trend.

 

COUNTY SALES TAX

COLLECTIONS JAN TO JUNE 2009

 

$205,972,196.12

 

County’s Share (79%)

 

$162,718,034

 

COUNTY SALES TAX

COLLECTIONS JAN TO JUNE 2008

 

$235,448,377

 

County’s Share:

$186,004, 217

 

SALES TAX SHORTFALL:

JAN-JUNE 2009:

 

(-$23,286, 183)

 

COUNTY BUDGETED

 SALES TAX COLLECTIONS 2009

$478,000,000

 

Projection Shortfall

if sales tax continues to be OFF 12%

2009:

 

(-$57,360,000)

 

 

 

 

 

 Westchester County, according to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance figures released to WPCNR, was down 12.52% in sales taxes collected the first six months of the fiscal year. From January to June the county collected $205, 972,196.12  contrasted with $235,448,377 in 2008.

 

Of this $205,972,196,  according to Donna Greene, Westchester County Communications Director, the county gets to keep approximately 79%.

 

That 79% works out to $162,718,035 for the County Government, the balance of $43,254,161 going to communities  who do not collect their own sales taxes (the county does it for them).

 

Ms. Greene  issued this statement on how the county is attempting to compensate for the erosion of sales tax revenue as we write:

 

“For the 2nd quarter of 2009 (April May June) our sales tax revenues (the portion the county government keeps)  were $79,639,549 This is down ($12,127,070)  from $91,766,619 in 2008

 

Clearly sales tax revenue is down from where we had hoped. However, it is difficult to annualize these numbers and say if we are down X in the first 6 months we are down 2x in 12 months.

 

Having said that, we of course have to make adjustmens along the way to our 2009 budget.

 

So far the following:

 

1. We have $30 million in FMAP money (this is Federal Medical Assistance Percentage — from the federal stimulus program) … essentially more of our Medicad costs are being paid for by the feds.

 

2. Back in March a $7 million savings plan was implemented by the County Executive

 

3. We are continuing to slow down the filling of vacant posiitions and we will continue to look for ways to save money in every budget line possible.

 

Obviously, none this is easy, but it is essential.”

 

The savings and Federal Medical Assistance Percentage detailed here total $37 Million in hard cash, WPCNR notes,which would cover the $23 Million shortfall that already exists. Should the county economy remain on its 12% decline pace, the sales tax deficit would reach $46 Million by the close of the fiscal year.

 

Because the county has budget $478 Million in sales tax in its $1.7 Billion budget, if that $478 Million is off 12%, the sales tax shortfall actually could amount to $56 Million in funds that are not going to come in.

 

Should the county economy pace of purchasing deteriorate, the year-to-year sales tax deficit would grow beyond the $46 Million figure, assuming the county remains at its present level of consumption.