WP Voters Decide $69.6 Million School Referendum — Richest Ever – 12 to 9 Today

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. October 17, 2006: Registered voters are called upon to decide whether they will choose to authorize spending $69.6 Million (White Plains biggest lump sum school district expenditure in history)  to build a new Post Road School on the Little League Fields between Sterling and Soundview Avenues over the next two years (for $38.7 Million), expand the library, add windows to the cafeteria, and put a three-story addition on Mamaroneck Avenue School for $4.6 Million; execute $17 Million of “infrastructure” repairs on the balance of district buildings, and install two synthetic turf athletic stadiums at Loucks Field and Parker Stadium for a cost of $9.4 Million.


 



 


School Referendum Polling Stations are located in the Battle Hill Fire Station # 5 (District 1), Church Street School (District 2), Rochambeau School (District 3), Highlands School (District 4), Mamaroneck Avenue School (district 5), and Ridgeway School (District 6). Photo, WPCNR News


 


The rationale promoted by the District for the expenditures is to prepare the district for an expected increased enrollment of 280 students by 2010 and keep White Plains school buildings up to standards and preserve them. Meanwhile, the strategic planning consultant, it was reported last night at the Board of Education meeting will begin talking with leaders of the community about long-term priorities for the district’s long-term planning beginning October 24.


 



 The Post Road School, on the other hand,  which has been in service since 1914, has been determined by the architectural firm of Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson to be obsolete and too expensive to renovate and expand, and has been recommended to be replaced with a new school on the same site. This is a procedure that KG & D recommended to the Pleasantville School District in replacing the Bedford Road School. 


 


However, citizens attending the tour of Post Road School Saturday morning learned from the Administrator of Buildings and Facilities for the district, that the conditions of flooding, ostensibly one of the key reasons Post Road School is deemed unsalvageable has existed for more than 15 years, and is blamed on overflowing city storm drains. (No comment yet from White Plains Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti on the storm drain situation on those streets.)  


 


At a cost of $29 Million to renovate Post Road School, it was decided by a citywide committee and recommended to the Board of Education that a new school be built on the site at a cost of $38.7 Million. The option not explored was building a new library, auditorium and classroom wing on the site for less money while expanding classrooms in the old building.


 


Since flooding problems can be eliminated by drainage systems below ground level, this option should have been explored years ago, but was not. The question arises, if this flooding has existed for years, why did not the school district make a concentrated effort to eliminate it years ago, why is it a sudden problem now?  Why have Post Road parents chosen Post Road – if it is so overcrowded and too small and such a slum?


 


In the matter of the infrastructure expenditure of approximately $17 Million, no second opinion on these infrastructure matters was sought. It is the architect’s recommendation that the school district is going on. However, the infrastructure improvements are not mandated by the state to be executed — it is a school district option. The infrastructure improvements  could be executed without  bonding on a once a year basis over the next five years at even with inflation  $3.5 Million a year (an approximate 3-4% increase in property taxes a year)  instead of bonded for with the added cost of debt service.


 


Mamaroneck Avenue School


 


The Mamaroneck Avenue School addition program of a three story wing to provide a new library, provide music and small group instruction rooms and place kindergarten all on one level, while improving the cafeteria (providing windows) and auditorium is being executed as an improvement to that school.


 


The Stadiums


 


On the matter of the athletic stadiums, the $9.4 Million consists of a lot more than just synthetic turf. It includes demolition of the Parker Stadium bowl, and replacement of the the old concrete bowl with metal bleachers and press box and seeding the hill, installing a walking track and synthetic turf.


 


The district rationale for this started out as a money-saving measure over maintenance of grass fields at Parker and Loucks Stadiums. There is also, they said, the added benefit of providing heavier use of fields for expansion of the school athletic programs and community recreation programs, with the prestige perk of attracting national events to Parker Stadium by expanding seating capacity with new metal bleachers, press box 10-lane track and lights are added.  


 


This latter enhancement of turning Loucks Field into a showplace has long been quietly pushed by athletic booster groups who have not been able to generate more than $200,000 in community donations towards it in 7 years of  fund-raising efforts. The community and corporate White Plains have not shown support for it. It is something that the school district feels would be “nice” to have.


 


WPCNR has heard excellent reviews on the state-of-the-art turf planned to be installed at Parker and Loucks Stadiums. It is soft, allows players to make true cuts on an even surface and is yielding as opposed to the hard-as-a-rock surface of first generation synthetic turf fields. The drawback according to Brad Fresenburg, a Missouri University  extension specialist is that synthetic turf generates temperatures twice as high as grass.  In The Columbia (Missouri) Daily Tribune reports Fresenburg as saying on a 98 degree day, surface temperatures on an in-filled field “top 170 degrees, compared to 105 degrees for natural grass.”  Fresenburg found that a firmly planted cleat in “in-filled” turf was harder to “twist free” of the surface, that he thought could lead to sprains. But, he found, “partially planted” cleats the resistance was similar to grass.


 


In the same Columbia Daily Tribune article, by Megan Means,  Michael Meyers of the Human Performance Research Center at West Texas A & M University, having conducted a long-term study on “in-filled” turf finds in-filled turf produced “more muscle injuries, injuries on hot days and noncontact injuries on artificial surfaces, while grass fields had more knee and ligament injuries, head trauma and injuries that cost playing time.”


 


The in-filled fields have to be disinfected from time-to-time because in-filled turf does not absorb and decompose bodily fluids, writes reporter Means.


 


The main question voters need to consider is how many more games and practices will the new fields accommodate. There are only 3 to 4 home football games a year for the varsity football team. There are of course other games played by the Junior Varsity and “feeder football” programs, lacrosse and field hockey as well as varsity boys and women’s soccer and community soccer.


 


Breaks Even on principle only after 18 years, Discounting Debt Service.


 


At a $9.4 Million expenditure next year with a field  life of 12 years before the synthetic turfs have to be replaced, you have a cost of approximately $800,000 a year ($9.4 Million) With the cost of maintaining two grass fields placed at over $500,000 for 12 years, it will take the district 18 years to get their money back on the principle alone, not to mention the debt service.  If you have to replace the fields in 8 years, you will be out, say $2 Million more after 8 eight years pushing the cost of break-even out to 22 years (2028).


 


Another way of looking at it is at $800,000 a year for the cost of the two stadiums, if you have 500 practices and games on the two synthetic fields over a year it is costing the district $1,600 a game or practice for that synthetic turf field. But, of course you are expanding your athletic venue usage.  No figures have been given as to how much more usage is expected per synthetic field. No revenue projections from rentals have been projected. 


 


( In contrast, Michael Lynch, Administrator of Buildings and Facilities for the district estimated the cost of maintaining Parker and Loucks Stadiums as grass fields to be $11,480 a year each. Double that and you get a cost of $22,960 a year to maintain those grass fields. Multiply that $22, 960  by 12 years, and you get $275,520 to keep the Parker and Loucks Stadiums grass, but of course you lose the multiple usage the artificial turf gives you.


 


Mr. Lynch also said he would recrown and resod the grass fields once in the next 12 years for a cost of $44,000 for both grass field crowns, bringing the total estimated expenditure for maintaining two grass fields at Parker and Loucks as $320,000. Add say 60% inflation over 12 years and the cost comes to approximately $512,000 over 12 years as opposed to a $9.4 Million expenditure to build new stadia with artificial turf at Loucks and Parker, to increase usage of fields. If inflation is less, then maybe the stadium projects earn your money back in 16 years not 18.)


 


 


But if the voters feel these state-of-art facilities are prestigious and useful to the district and the city, now is the day to bring them to White Plains.



 


Mr. and Mrs. White Plains Deep Pockets.



 


The cost per year in new taxes for the $66 Million bond issue (over 25 years)  in addition to the ongoing automatic school budget increase of 8% is $66 next year, $64 in 2008-2009 and $71 in 2009-2010, with the cost of principle and debt service promised by the district to decline beyond 2010. How much it will decline has not been made public.

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State of the Art Turf Installation Cost James Madison University Under $1 M

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. October 12, 2006 UPDATED WITH PIX 4:35 P.M. E.D.T. UPDATED WITH MORE PIX AND ANALYSIS 6:40 P.M. E.D.T.: James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia just completed installation of a FieldTurf artificial turf football field at their football stadium this summer. Ty Phillips, Director of Facilities for JMU told WPCNR the entire installation was completed in three months and cost under $1 Million. He noted that the bulk of that cost though was not installation, but for demolition of the concrete base the rug turf which the new Field Turf  replaced, and for grading a crown for the Field Turf surface for television purposes. He says that if you did not have to do much excavating the cost would be way below that.


 



Bridgewater Stadium on campus of James Madison University. The gridiron was converted in the summer of 2006 to FieldTurf in just 3 months. FieldTurf is similar to the synthetic turf proposed for Loucks and Parker Stadiums at White Plains High School and Highlands Middle School. It’s a field that’s soft to fall on. Gives a true “cut” every time and the James Madison Facilities Director says the players love playing on it. Photo Capture from James Madison University website.





Phillips said the switch to Field Turf move was made by the university for safety reasons, he said it’s much easier on the joints of the athletes. He reports that using rug turf, which consists of a carpet on a layer of concrete, “it’s basically hard as a rock,” you can expect to lose an athlete a year one knee injury a year because of the way the rug turf grabs your ankles.  Phillips said field turf according to a study he’s seen is a “cheaper” and safer a playing surface than natural grass.  He said he expects the new FieldTurf to last 12 years and possibly 15 years.


 



 


A FieldTurf installation in Libertyville Illinois, showing how soccer and lacrosse markings (in orange) are integrated into the “blade” turf. Photo Capture from Libertyville High School site.


 


Phillips said lining of the fields most likely would have to be done at time of construction, and that he was investigating the use of using removable paint on lines of other field configurations for the other two FieldTurf surfaces on the James Madison University campus. White Plains is touting their fields which are comparable to FieldTurf as being used for field hockey, soccer and lacrosse in succession.


 


Phillips said he does not recommend a FieldTurf like surface for Field Hockey because the long blades of FieldTurf slow down the ball too much, and the rubber surface is too soft. Our Field Hockey Coaches don’t like it for Field Hockey he said. He did note that shorter blade lengths of FieldTurf fibre could be ordered depending on the nature of the sport.  He said his baseball field has a FieldTurf infield surface which the players really like. The White Plains Athletic Department should pay close attention to what kind of blade length is installed at Loucks and Parker as well as field marking if the district is serious about multi-sport use at Loucks and Parker.


 



 


 LOUCKS FIELD at Twilight Sunday afternoon. Note the bare turf on the “crown” of the football field. Photo by WPCNR News.


 



Loucks Field Renovation: two sets of metal bleachers seating 3,250 (not 2,500) with press box, lights,. locker rooms, artificial turf system and 10-lane track on the straightaway. Cost: $ 6 Million (Approximate)Photo, WPCNR News.


 



Loucks Field Bleachers (wooden) Sunday afternoon. They would be replaced by metal stands, handicapped accessible, with new locker rooms behind them. Photo, WPCNR News.


 


I asked about maintenance of FieldTurf: “Between natural grass and field turf it’s unbelievable. On FieldTurf, we run a groomer over the surface once a month, and magically that just helps to level the rubber pebbles (under the surface) because they tend to congregate to different areas and you might get a low spot. As needed you run a little rake machine over it, basically it’s like a lawn sweeper and it’s to pull up any debris, leaves or anything like that and that’s all you do. No trimming. No lines to paint. There’s really no maintenance.”


 



The architect,. Erik Kaeyer noted thes advantages to a new artificial turf field.


 Photo, WPCNR News.


 



 


Parker Stadium Proposal: New set of metal bleachers, seating 1,300 with press box, plus installation of synthetic turf and running track. Cost: $3.4 Million. (Approx.) Photo, WPCNR News.


 



Twilight for Parker Stadium. Seen Sunday afternoon. Highlands Middle School is just behind the ancient concrete and stone bowl. Photo, WPCNR News.


 



The majestic ancient sweep of Parker Stadium Sunday afternoon. The concrete and stone structure is said to be unsafe, the bleachers in need of replacing, and deteriorated stairs and locker rooms. The old structure is said to be impossible to make disabled accessible. It would be replaced by a metal bleacher structure with a press box. Artificial turf would be installed on the grass field with a rubber surface walking track. Photo, WPCNR News


 


 


Phillips said he has not reduced his maintenance staff, but has been able to shift them to remaining grass fields and other tasks as a result of the reduced maintenance on the football and other FieldTurf fields. “If we had the money, we’re probably get some more (FieldTurf fields).”


 


Phillips said after his football team has played three games at their stadium, that the players love the new field because it is softer to fall on than a grass field. He said there have been football injuries but none related to the new FieldTurf. Phillips added that track runners love the field for light workouts because it is easier on their joints. He noted that compared to a grass field, the new FieldTurf installations save him thousands of dollars in materials costs every year as well as worker hours grooming the fields.


 


Football players WPCNR has spoken to, like turf to play on because they cut better, but one reason given stadium upgrades is to attract events to the community in the case of the high school field and provide more usage of Parker and Loucks by the community and city recreation programs.


 


No longer money-saving, Superintendent, Architect Say.


 


The City School District, up until Saturday morning made the case for the artificial stadiums based on the extended use and cost savings the artificial turf surface will provide. However on Saturday, Mr. Kaeyer said that the district will not save money on going to the synthetic turf field, and the Superindent of Schools agreed, Mr. Connors saying the benefit of the aritificial turf fields at Parker and Loucks would be increased usage.


 


 


Stadium Construction Major Part of  “synthetic turf” Construction.


 


The major cost of the project, though appears to be in the stadium stand construction. The reasons given by the School District for the stadium reconstruction is the dilapidated condition of the Parker stands, the non-compliance with Disabled Americans access rules, and the “unsafe” condition. Of course, the reason the stands are dilapidated is the school district neglect of the concrete over the years.


 


At the Loucks Field the main rationale for upgrading to new stands, press box, lights, locker rooms is to host outside district events such as Loucks Games, state football and soccer championships, Empire State Games, and to accommodate bigger time events.


 


No estimate of future revenue from such a state-of-the-art facility has been projected.


 


 


The cost of the new stadiums with artificial turf at Parker and Loucks is $9.6 Million. In twelve years according to Mr. Phillips, of James Madison White Plains would have to replace the turf. Phillips estimate is four years longer than what White Plains has been told. Replacing the turf (installed at the cost of  approximately $800,000  ($667,000 at Parker; $772,000 at Loucks) today according to the Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson estimate,  would involve at least a $1 million replacement WPCNR reckons  in either 8 years or 12, depending on how much White Plains used the field. Phillips, the James Madison Facilities Director estimated a 12 year life to his new field, but he uses that only for football and practices.


 


On the Highlands Parker Stadium Project, site work for providing a foundation for the bleachers costs $830,962; Safety Measures/Walks and General, cost $661,000; The turf, $667,000; and the balance of the estimate is filled out with Player’s benches, grading and excavation, drainage basins paiting, for $400,000. The total cost of the Parker project is put at approximately $3.4 Million


 


On the Loucks Project, the turf alone is estimated at $772,000, with Bleachers adding $1.5 Million, new track, $600,000; Lights, $300,000; Site work, $846,000; plus Tennis court reconstruction for $543,918. The overall Loucks reconstruction is put at $6 Million.


 


The $9.4 Million on the stadiums is supposed to be spent within the next year with both fields ready for play by fall 2007.


 


If you take for granted that the cost of the two new synthetic turf fields over 12 years is approximately $800,000, ($783,000 if the cost of the stadiums stays at $9.4 Million)  this means that the district choses to spend $800,000 a year on increasing field usage. No number has ever been estimated as to how many more games would be played or needed for that matter.


 


 For the same $800,000 a year, about eight full-time teachers could be hired for a full 12 years.


 


The Grass Cost: $320,000 vs. $9.4 Million.


 


In contrast, Michael Lynch, Administrator of Buildings and Facilities for the district estimated the cost of maintaining Parker and Loucks Stadiums as grass fields to be $11,480 a year each. Double that and you get a cost of $22,960 a year. Multiply that by 12 years, and you get $275,520 to keep the Parker and Loucks Stadiums grass, but of course you lose the multiple usage the artificial turf gives you.


 


Mr. Lynch also said he would recrown the grass fields once in the next 12 years for a cost of $44,000 for both grass field crowns, bringing the total estimated expenditure for maintaining two grass fields at Parker and Loucks as $320,000. Add say 60% inflation over 12 years and the cost comes to approximately $512,000 over 12 years as opposed to a $9.4 Million expenditure to build new stadia with artificial turf at Loucks and Parker, to increase usage of fields.


 


You could install artificial turf at Loucks and Parker to increase your usage for the $772,000 cost to turf each field only, ($1,544,000)  thus getting your usage and spending far less money. Whether the bleachers would be required by the state  to be improved is in question.


 

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Estimating Explained at Post Road Tour. Estimate will be Reworked Twice

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. October 16, 2006: In a free form answering period before the tour, Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors, Erik Kaeyer, the architect and  the construction manager, Triton Construction, which worked together recently on the improvements to the Somers School District and other districts fielded questions from citizens concerned about the accuracy of the total costs.


 


 



Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors introducing the briefing Saturday morning prior to the Post Road School tour. Photo, WPCNR News.


 


Nicholas Andreadis, the construction manager CEO, hired to evaluate the original Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson  estimate, in response to one of the first questions said that when his firm went over the Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson original estimate, “We were relatively close to start with, within 1% or so. They were relatively accurate.”



Superintendent Connors addressed the needs of the district as a whole, explaining that the infrastructure improvements and design and construction on the four elementary schools, middle schools and high school were needed: “Just like your home, you can’t let it go. Even this building (Post Road School) and they are well-maintained. (Post Road) is considerably older. Renovating it is more expensive than replacing it. We’ve always invested in our schools and done it productively.”


 


Mr.Andreadis responding to a gentleman’s concern about contingencies and price escalations, said the costs of the work were based on the company knowledge of current market-based prices for similar projects, and 5% contingencies were built in.


Conners added that “we cannot do detailed design (and tight estimates) before (referendum) approval.”


 


He explained should the referendum be approved, detailed designs would be prepared by the architect, the Post Road and Mamaroneck Avenue school staffs consulted on finetuning the designs and then estimates would be prepared. Andreadis told WPCNR that after detailed designs were prepared, Triton would reestimate the project, based on the detailed construction designs (needed for contractors to make a tight budget call). and reestimate  again before going out for bid. Mr. Kaeyer explained that it would take 4 months for the State Education Department to approve the construction. The Post Road new school would begin in the fall and be completed in the fall of 2009 according to Mr. Andreadis. Connors said if the cost of the project grew beyond the cost of the bond the district would have to consider eliminating certain elements. Though it was not explained whether the district could decide to finance any cost overruns separately itself.


 


Andreadis told WPCNR, in his experience the three things that could have the estimates already in to not match the market and that would be contractor availability, time to execute the project, and unforeseen conditions. It was not clear to this reporter whether the storm drain problems would be eliminated by building the new Post Road School higher up the hill where proposed.  


 


Andreadis also told WPCNR his firm has a good track record on bringing in the estimated cost in line with contractor bids, because his firm bases it on a database of recent construction projects, and the latest established costs.


 


 


Mr. Kaeyer reiterated that it was not legal to do detailed construction designs delivering specific line-by-line estimates, in explaining why the line items were not detailed. However, the State Education Department Media Relations spokesperson, Tom Dunn, told WPCNR that the SED encourages school districts to get as detailed an estimate as possible to deterimine the monies needed before a referendum is put out. Dunn told WPCNR it is not illegal in any way to get detailed estimates.  


 


 


 


Peter Bassano, a member of the Board Education took the floor and said, the members of the Board “had all these same questions,” and formed a committee (the Capital Projects Committee) to go over the project. “We even stacked the deck, putting persons on the committee who were very vocally against the bond and made one one (Mike Graessle) the Chairman of the committee.” ( The one critic most vocal was left off of the committee though, the lawyer, Charles Lederman, who raised issues about Dammon House and backflow valves when the estimates were released.)


 


“They went through the pages like you wouldn’t believe,” Bassano said, “in unbelievable detail and conclude it is in the best interest of the district to replace it (Post Road School) on site.” Bassano attributed the high costs cited by some critics for individual items to the conditions where one window meant actually three windows or was much larger than a regular window, and that the cost of one valve was actually the cost for 20 valves.


 


Bill Pollak, another school board member, and Acting President said critics of individual items on the estimates “were fundamentally misleading.” He said it was standard practice. “At the end of the day, we think this (the capital project) is very important to protect the incredible assets we have.”


 


WPCNR asked the Triton estimator if the estimates were essentially “ballpark” estimates. He said, “No, not ballpark. They are market-based.”


 


No questions were asked about how much the cost to taxpayers of the bond would decline after 2010. Others complained about the escalating cost to taxpayers.


 


The question of what the school district would do if the referendum did not pass tomorrow did not come up.

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Drain Backups Flooding Post Rd School for Years-Classrooms, Libe, Lab Too Small

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WPCNR School Days. By John F. Bailey. October 16, 2006 UPDATED WITH TOUR PICTURES 11:53 A.M. E.D.T. More Pictures Added 12:15 P.M. E.D.T. UPDATED WITH ENROLLMENT GROWTH CHART 6:00 P.M. E.D.T.:  Citizens attending a tour of Post Road School, hosted by the School District learned Saturday that flooding into the lowest level of the school below grade, was cited as a main reason why the school needs replacing, but when questioned, the Administrator of Facilities and Operations for the district, Mike Lynch said the flooding has been going on in Post Road School for at least 15 years.  A spokesperson for Westchester County Department of Communications today said that neither the County Department of Public Works nor the Environmental offices had ever been notified of this problem by the School District.  The City Department of Public Works Commissioner has not been made available to comment on the condition of the city storm drains.


 



Timothy Connors, Superintendent of Schools, leading a Post Road Autopsy Saturday morning. Mike Lynch, Administrator of Buildings and Facilities explains that city storm drains on Sterling and Soundview Avenues backup into the Post Road ground floor — five times in the last year. Photo, WPCNR News.


 


Visitors were shown the cramped computer lab, a library too small to house the student population, the  cramped, boxy classrooms from the distant past whose layout no longer fits the open classroom style of today that “eats” space with computer installations and the break-away-into-groups teaching modes. The Principal of Post Road, Laura Havis noted that the classrooms no longer fit the state standard size requirements. 


 


The City School District hosted a public briefing and tour Saturday morning at Post Road School to show the public how the 90 year old building has deteriorated, is obsolete and needs to be replaced with a new school built adjacent to it.


The Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors, the architect  Erik Kaeyer of Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson, and construction manager, Nicholas Andreadis of Triton Construction answered questions from less than 10 citizens on the condition of the school, the estimates of construction. Then attendees were taken on a tour of the building.


 


 


City, County Storm Drains Backup Flooding school for years.


 


The flooding Lynch told the group comes from the city storm water drains running down Sterling and Soundview Avenues, and from the County storm water drains on Post Road. Because the school is located at the foot of the hill, the overflow backs up and bubbles up into the boilerroom, first floor classrooms, and even through the water fountain drains. 


 



Cracks and corrossion at base of wall and floor on Post Road first floor hall, adjacent boiler room. Photo, WPCNR News.


 



Room 7 — adjacent to the boiler room, wall on Sterling Avenue side leaks at base and at windows when storm drains cannot handle the flow. All storage, the instructor says is to the center of the room as  a result. Photo, WPCNR News


 


Lynch told this reporter that nothing has been done by either the city or the county to fix the overflow problem in the fifteen years he has been in charge of buildings for the district. The school district has not undertaken any major fixes to relieve the flooding condition either.  In the hour and a half briefing, questions were raised primarily about the estimating of the project.


 



Cramped Boilerroom makes repairs to pipes very difficult. Storm water backs up into the room out into the halls. Photo, WPCNR News.  


 


Replacement of school Due to Rising Enrollment by 2010


 


The Superintendent said that the need to replace Post Road school comes from the addition of 280 students (based on 2005 birthrates), expected to join the district in the year 2010. The additional building of 6 extra classrooms in the new school will bring the capacity of Post Road School up to 600, (currently  Post Road serves approximately 493 students) on a level of the other five district elementaries (in addition to 9 more classrooms which will be leased to BOCES), otherwise he said class sizes would increase. The physical layout of the school was also deemed inadequate and crowded.


 



Enrollment Chart Comparisons showing how Post Road School presently compares to the other White Plains schools in number students and project enrollment as of 2010. Chart was presented to the public prior to the tour. Photo by WPCNR News.


 


The Tour


 


As the tour began Superintendent Connors drew the crowd attention to the narrow hallways, the cramped staircases as being not wide enough to accommodate the elementary school children, and particularly disabled students, (no ramps).  He showed the small classroom dimensions that have existed at Post Road School since 1914, that the architect and the school district agree are too small and no longer adequate.



A Fourth Grade Classroom at Post Road, choc-a-block to the brim. It is home to 20 students. Not all classrooms are this small, but it demonstrates how today’s classroom standards and teaching styles are not met by the Post Road layout. Photo, WPCNR News.


 



Connors Starts the Tour. Notes narrow hallways. Photo, WPCNR News



Narrow Stairs — Not Handicapped Accessible — are obsolete — causing crowded, unsafe conditions. Photo, WPCNR News


 



 


Narrow hallway with students expected to hang coats, backpacks on hooks in corridor, as there is no room for cubby space in the smaller classrooms. Waterfountains back up during heavy rains. Photo, WPCNR News.


 


The library was described as too small, and unnavigable for disabled students, it being split between two floors without an elevator, while lacking storage space. There was also a limited number of computer stations. The library does not provide the media center spaciousness that school libraries today need to accommodate the new information age adequately.


 



The Post Road Library, lower level. Superintendent Connors explains the limited space the library provides for book storage and media center layout. Photo, WPCNR News.


 



Library Reverse Angle from upstairs level, showing what the district feels is limited book space and areas for students.  Note bucket for catching ceiling leaks directly above the genetleman in the red sweater. Photo, WPCNR News.


 



The Library Upstairs. A drawback, according to the superintendent is lack of workstation space as well as lack of handicapped access to the second floor. Photo, WPCNR News.


 


The computer lab had a lot of computers  jam-packed into its claustrophobic “square” room. Computer terminals were touching one another and students, when seated would be elbow-to-elbow. The computer information teacher explained how the cramped computer staging, restricted his ability to move from computer station to computer station quickly due to the close configuration of the seating.


 



Jampacked Computer Lab, makes maneuvering of students and teachers difficult, according to Computer Lab Instructors shown at right. Room, based on WPCNR experience is claustrophobic. Photo, WPCNR News


 


The auditorium was another area that was pointed out as being too small to accommodate the entire school population of 493 students (as of September). It appeared to this reporter more of a setting than a performance center. The superintendent pointed out the coffin-like teacher workroom space that has to serve all the faculty.


 



Auditorium, inadequate for school population of close to 500 children, according to the Superindent of Schools (Center of Picture). Photo, WPCNR News


 


 


 


Christian Reyes, the head custodian  at Post Road School was saluted by Superintendent of Schools Connors for keeping the school looking excellent despite his never-ending battle with flooding from the city and county sewers. Mr. Reyes has done a superb job because the school on Saturday morning looked bright a cheery despite its cracks on the joints of the ground floor. There were no odors and the classrooms I saw were brightly lit, but jam-packed with “stuff.”


 



Christian Reyes, Head Custodian of Post Road School, the man with the difficult job of keeping Post Road School looking as clean as it does, despite coping with floods, mildew, and collateral damage. Photo, WPCNR News.


 


The Chronic Flooding.


 


Mr. Connors upon entering the ground level of the school turned the tour of the subterranean depths of Post Road School to Michael Lynch, who said “The storm sewers hit us this building hard. The storm drains back up. Once last month and four times in the last year.” Because of the chronic funding, Lynch said the school custodial staff is routinely treating the ground floor for “cracks and mold.” Lynch said the storm water drain back up is so serious, the water fountain drains backup. The water fountains at Post Road School, according to the custodian, Mr. Reyes, the fountains drain into the city storm water drains. He also said that during a really heavy storm the sanitary sewers back up too into the toilets. “We have trouble with those, too,” he said.


 


A Post Road teacher, showing off her ground floor level classroom (Room 7), adjacent to the boiler room mentioned how her classroom floods at the windows and through the wall at the base of the class room where wall meets floor, from the storm drain backups. Lynch, showing the boiler room said the boiler room is very small, making pipe replacements difficult, causing repairmen to stand on existing pipes to make repairs in some cases. He showed a sump pump installed to take care of the chronic flooding with a trip switch that triggers the sump pump, when water reaches the tripper.



In courtyard, between Post Road main building and cafeteria/Gymnasium, storm drain backup freezes in winter perpetually creating ice conditions. Reyes said the school put in a drain to prevent the water collecting, but it has not worked.  Photo, WPCNR News.


 


 


 Flooding is more serious on the Sterling Avenue side, as opposed to the Soundview side, Lynch said. Asked afterwards how long the flooding condition had existed, Lynch said, the flooding was happening fifteen years ago when he joined the School district.


 


WPCNR has placed a call to the Mayor’s Office to get Commissioner of Public Works, Joseph Nicoletti’s reaction on the alleged storm drain situation affecting the Post Road School, and contacted the Westchester County Department of Communications to get the county reaction as to why the Post Road  storm water sewers which the School District pointed out are the county responsibility, backup, and if the School District has ever asked for them to address the problem by increasing storm water drain capacities.


 


Donna Greene spokesperson for the Westchester County Department of Communications responded to WPCNR’s question this afternoon, writing,


 


“John, I checked with both  (Westchester County) DPW and Environmental Facilities. Neither has any indication that it ever heard from the school district about this.”

 

 



Post Road School Saturday Morning. Photo, WPCNR News

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Saunders Stops Tiger Comeback, 23-20. Howard, Robles Bring Tigers Almost Back!

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. October 14, 2006– Supplemental Coverage, October 15, 2006 10:30 P.M. With Pix.: Saunders defense batted away three Mike Howard passes from the Saunders 28 as time ran out this afternoon to halt a last ditch Tiger drive for the winning touchdown after a 38 yard touchdown run across the field  broken field run by Ronnell Rock with 1:45 to go in the game took the lead, putting Saunders ahead 23-20.



OVER THE MIDDLE IN TRAFFIC-IT’S A FOOTRACE: With a  minute and change, Mike Howard, starting his first game as quarterback  nearly brought the Tigers back to win it. He hit Matt Robles (Number 26) in traffic (above) over the middle with a 40 yard pass and run on 3rd and 10 from the Tiger 20, and Matt bursting tackles got it down to the Saunders 41 before he was caught from behind. A Robles run got it to the Saunders 33, and Howard hit Savaughn Green on the far side line on 3rd down for a first down on the Saunders 28 with 43 seconds to go. A Pass to Jim Briggs on the far right sideline was batted away. A pass to  Savaughn on the left side line was batted away. A pass back over the middle to Briggs was short, but Briggsie was pushed no call. On 4th from the 28, a pitch to Matt on the half back option did not connect and the Tiger comeback was stopped. Photo WPCNR Sports.


The Tigers had taken the lead midway in the 4th quarter, 20-17 on a 5 yard run by Mr. Robles, after Matt had taken the Jet Sweep to the left side for 27 yards, setting up the Tigers with a first and 10 on the Saunders 10. Matt lugged to the 5 then the Tigers parted the Saunders line for the go-ahead touchdown with Robles lugging it in for a 20-17 lead with the point at 9:20 to go in the game. 



Mr. Robles being hauled down on the sideline after a 27 Yard Rumblin, Stumblin, Thumpin run to the Saunders 10 in the 4th Quarter to set up the Tiger lead TD. Photo, WPCNR Sports



Mr. Robles Stampedes In for the Go-Ahead TD after setting the Tigers up with his run to the 10. He is inbetween Number 77 and  Paris Young (66) Photo, WPCNR Sports.


The Tigers  Bobby Thompson and Savaungh Green stopped Saunders on the next series on third down at the Tiger 15 on a great defensive stop on the right side on Ronnell Rock as he tried to turn the corner. A field goal attempt from 35 yards just  missed tying the game.


Just One More First Down…


On the ensuing Tiger possession, starting with 5:26 to go,  the Tigers were called for two false starts (their first false starts since the first quarter), contributing to their having to punt it away. The punt by Howard from his own 15 gave Saunders the ball at the White Plains 40 with 2:40 or so to go.  On their second play,  Rock ran the option to the left slipped around left end and diagonaled it through the secondary with exeptional speed for the go-ahead touchdown. A desperation shoestring tackle on Rock at the 2, just missed.


White Plains lead 13-3 at halftime on a 1 yard touchdown run by Mike Howard and a Howard to Bobby Thompson pass in the left corner of the endzone. Saunders scored two touchdowns in the 3rd quarter to take the lead, 17-13 going to the 4th quarter on the passing of  Arthur Muller.


Running Brilliance Early


Arthur Muller, the Blue Devil QB and Ron Rock the tailback gave notice on the Tigers they’d be trouble all day. With the Tigers electing to kick and defend the  South goal, Saunders tool the ball first, and Muller blasted up the middle for 10 yards and a first down.  James Bryant intercepted Muller on the Tiger 22 to end that drive, and the Tigers went 3 and out. Mike Howard punted 45 yards to the Saunders 29 and the Blue Devils drove from there 50 yards in 11 plays, aided by a pass interference call setting up a first down on the Tiger 28. 


The Tigers held, culminating in an unusual (for high school) field goal attempt by Dan Pitturro, who kicked a 37 yard field goal, which just cleared the crossbar inside left upright for a 3-0 Saunders lead at 3:18 of the first quarter. (Someone should call the Jets and the Giants).  Saunders recorded 4 first downs in the first half.

The Tigers take command the first half.

Taking over on their own 35 the Tigers went for 4th and inches on their own 45 and Mike Howard got the first down. From there, On 2nd and 5 from the 50 Ray Mitchell raced for 15 yards on the Jet Sweep around right end. Three plays found the Tigers facing another 4th down on the Saunders 35 and Howard stepped back into the button hook pocket got plenty time and lofted one on the money to Joe Petit for a first down on the Saunders 15.



Mile Howard Driving across for the Tigers first Touchdown for a 7-3 lead. Photo, WPCNR Sports.




On 4th down on the 15, Saunders was called for pass interference giving White Plains drive life at the Saunders 7. Mike Howard punched the ball in on 2nd  and goal from the 1 foot line. He converted the PAT and the Tigers had taken the lead 7-3 at the 8:17 mark.

Tigers take 13-3 lead on turnover and drive.

With Saunders facing a 2nd and 1 at their 40 on the next series, Matt Robles stripped the ball from Muller and recovered giving White Plains the ball on the Saunders 38.

At 3rd and 7, Howard in his very first start hit another big play completing to Bobby Thompson on another pass in the left flat (in traffic) who took the ball to the Saunders 20. A QB draw by Howard put the ball on the 13, but it White Plains was called for a hold. Starting with 2nd and 28, Howard again drilled Bobby Thompson on the left sideline at the 13. After an illegal procedure penalty moved the Tigers back to the 18. Howard hit his third big clutch completion hitting Savaughn Green on the far left sideline with a perfectly leading  pass  over right shoulder at the 12 on the sideline, and Shifty took it for a first down to the 7.

On third down, Matt Howard using a little button hook drop back,  found Bobby Thompson in the corner of the endzone on the leftside for a 5 yard touchdown pass, floating it high and over the defense, for a 13-3 halftime lead. The Tigers had 7 first downs to Saunders’ 4 in the first half, which seemed very long.



Blue Devils come back.



The Tigers started with the ball in the second half at their own 16. They could not move and on 4th down, Mike Howard punting, shanked the kick and Saunders covered it on the White Plains 25. However, Mike was flat on his back. It appeared he had been hit, kicking the football (which was not blocked).  White Plains Athletic Director Nick Pinero told WPCNR after the game, the referee asked the other officials if they had seen contact with Mike after the kick (which would have resulted in a penalty and a first down), but the other officials said they had not.

Saunders then scored in two plays. Morrell ran to the Tiger 15, and Ron Rock took a pitchback on the halfback option and swooshed around left end for 15 yards and a touchdown as the Tiger defense was completely deked. The point made it 13-10 at the 9:51 mark.

Tigers try to answer. Blue Devils do.

Ray Mitchell delivered a terrific kickoff return to the Saunders 46. But The Tigers could not move it on three runs.  With 4th and 2 on the Saunders 38, Mike Howard tried to sneak it but was turned aside and Saunders had held and had the ball back, and started to move.

A White Plains false start made it 1st and 5 on the Devil 43. Then the Devils began to tear the Tiger line asunder.  Kish Newton ran for 13 yards to the Tiger 46, with Bobby Thompson saving a touchdown. On 3rd and 4 from the Tiger 40,  Arthur Muller zipped a pass to Matt Johnson over the middle for 9 yards for another first at the Tiger 32.

The Tigers tried to make a stand for the lead. They almost did.

George Don Pierre sacked Muller in the backfield. Matt Robles knocked away a TD pass in the endzone. Another pass to the goalline was knocked away. It was 4th down. But this time it would be a  52 yard field goal for Pitutto and the Devils coach elected to pass instead.



Mike Howard (15) Tipping ball away on 3rd down at the Tiger 5 late in the third quarter to break up a first down bid. On 4th down Saunders converted to keep the drive alive for the go-ahead in the 3rd. Photo, WPCNR Sports. 



On the 4th down play, Muller looked left from the shotgun formation, and slyly to his  right and fired one to the near sideline in the flat to Frank Morrell in front of the Tiger defender for a first down at the 14. It was a huge play.

Ron Rock slipped around right end again on the halfback option on the next play and got to the 5 yard line. On third down at the 5, Morrell snuck for at first and goal on the 4. The Tigers stopped him on the next play but then Morrell swept around left end after swaying the Tiger Dee to the right, and Saunders took the lead with 1:19 to go in the 3rd quarter. Piturro added the point and the Tigers were behind 17-13.


Robles to the Rescue.

On the kickoff. White Plains started from their own 36. After securing a first down on the Saunders 47, Howard on 3rd and 3 at the Devil 40 passed to Savaungh Green on the sideline left for a first down on the Devils’ 37, for his 4th big conversion of the day. On the next play Matt Robles  broke around left end on the Jet Sweep rumbling, breaking tackles and getting down to the Saunders 10.
Matt lugged it to the 8 to the 5 then the final 5 yards to give the Tigers the lead 19-17. Howard added the point and the Tigers had 9:20 to go to protect the win, leading 20-17.

They stopped the Devils on the next series when a 33 yard field goal attempt to tie by Pitturro went just wide left. It had the distance.  Christian Arrango and Joe Freitas stopped Muller on 2nd and 5 at the 15. Bobby Thompson and Savaughn Green turned aside Ron Rock on 3rd and 5, forcing the 3-point attempt.


One First Down Away.

The Tigers took over with 5:46 to go and needed one first down. They could not get it thanks to an illegal procedure (motion) flag. The first one occurred on first down at the WP31, making it 1st and 15. Howard ran for 2. Another run did not gain anything. Then another illegal motion put the drive back further and a pass on 3rd and 13 on the WP 28 did not click. White Plains had to punt away. Howard’s kick off the side of his foot blooped out to the 40, another short punt. Giving Saunders the ball at the White Plains 40 with 2:38 to go.

Two plays was all it took. A run for 2 took it to the 38, then Ron Rock, running the option got the end to commit too soon and he scampered around left end into the secondary that was nowhere to be found. There seemed to be nothing but blue shirts and no tacklers. Rock blew past the Tigers and was to the 10 before you knew it. You sensed something very bad was about to happen. At the 10 eluded at least two tacklers and was flying down the sideline the final 10 yards. A desperate try at a shoestring tackle missed and Rock was over the goalline for the improbable. It was suddenly 23-20, Saunders with 1:44 to go.


But don’t turn your sets off there.

Mike Howard and Matt Robles game the Tigers a chance to win.

On 3rd and 10 from the White Plains 20, Mike hit Matt Robles in traffic over the middle and Matt took the ball up the seam between a posse of Devils all had the angle on him and in a horse race caught up to Matt at the Saunders 41 with a minute to go.



CAUGHT! With a Minute to go. Howard has just connected with “Shifty” Green at the Saunders 28 for a 3rd and 10 conversion to keep Tiger hopes alive. Savaungh is in a heap on the sideline after taking the ball over his shoulder. The Tigers could not move any farther. Photo, WPCNR Sports.



The Tigers ran two incomplete passes, and Howard connected with Savaughn Green on the left sideline on 3rd and 10 for a first down on the Saunders 28. There were 40 seconds to go. Three passes failed due to excellent pass coverage by the Blue Devils, including one push that was not called  apparently the backjudge feeling the ball to Jimmie Briggs was uncatchable. The final play for the Tigers did not unfold as planned a pitch going array  Saunders took over on downs and ran out the clock with 23 seconds to go.

Make no mistake, Saunders showed terrific heart in coming back in this game and making big plays. It was the first time Saunders had beaten White Plains since probably the 1920s.

White Plains had 6 first downs in the first half, Saunders, 4. In the second half White Plains rolled up another 7 first downs to 8 for Saunders, rolling up 14 first downs to 12.

This was a very long game. In the first half, unofficially I counted 50 plays over 24 minutes, an average of  2 per minute (including clock running between plays). The second half got in even more plays…64  (including Kickoffs)  in 24 minutes, an average of 2 and a half plays a minute (including running clock time).  There were passing plays that cut short the time expired, but the math does not compute.  Over the whole game I count on my scoresheet 114 plays, that is 2.3 Plays a minute of playing time (48 minutes).


While I am at it. The football officiating this season has been the worst I have seen in six years of reporting Tiger football. They do not know the rules. They do not know where to position themselves to call the plays, and they throw too many flags for both sides. At this point of the season there are simply too many false starts being called. Pass interference calls are extremely judgmental. If high school football wants to emulate the NFL, where virtually every game turns on key penalities, they are certainly headed in that direction.



MikeHoward Debuts at the Helm. Photo, WPCNR Sports




Welcome Mr. Howard.

Mike Howard guided the Tigers to three sustained drive touchdowns and unofficially I have him for 6 huge 3rd down or 4th  down conversions on passes. He ran the offense with poise, did not make any turnovers or interceptions. His handoffs were crisp, and he showed a lot stepping in for his first starting assignment. According to Nick Panero, White Plains Athletic Director, Paul LaBarbera the regular quarterback injured his shoulder last Sunday at home and could not play.

Howard stepped up big time, getting used to his receivers in a hurry and showing a nice touch on his passes. In fact on the last series a strong 15 knot wind that had not been there the entire game was  blowing  in his face, floating his passes and blowing them back short. Otherwise, he might very well have pulled off the comeback with the Tiger receiver crew. But the hit with Robles was a terrific bullet pass under pressure to give his team a chance.  The Tigers (1-4), play Lincoln next week.

The Tigers never quit.



BOOM-TIDDY-BOOM! The White Plains High School Marching Band in support of the traveling Tigers. Photo, WPCNR Sports



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Free Flu Shot for Seniors Oct. 17 at Sterling Glen

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WPCNR STAT. From Sterling Glen. October 14, 2006:  Sterling Glen of Rye Brook, a distinctive independent living senior residence, is providing a flu shot clinic on Tues., Oct. 17 open to seniors age 65-years old and older. The clinic is open from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Sterling Glen of Rye Brook, 1200 King Street, Rye Brook. There is no charge for this service as the shots are covered by Medicare, although a Medicare card and insurance information are necessary. RSVP by Thurs., Oct. 12.

 


Sterling Glen of Rye Brook is dedicated to providing health information and services to their residents and the public. For more information about this clinic or to RSVP, please call (914) 939-2900.


 

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County Approves Sweetheart Lease on Board of Elections Property for Senior Housi

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Board of Legislators. October 13, 2006:County Board Chairman Bill Ryan announced that at its meeting on October 5, the County’s Board of Acquisition & Contract (A&C) authorized the county’s Planning Department to enter into a lease with a corporation formed by HANAC, Inc. and Bluestone Organization for the purpose of constructing affordable senior rental housing on county-owned land at Court and Quarropas Streets in downtown White Plains.  Authorizing the lease is the first step toward implementing the County Board’s 12-5 vote that approved the project at its September meeting.




Ryan, who sits on the three member A&C Board, said he was pleased to see the project move forward. The project had been delayed for too long by a small minority of legislators led by George Oros (R-Cortlandt) and Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh) who opposed this plan for affordable housing for moderate income seniors. Ryan said their delaying tactics only served to increase the cost of construction due to the escalating prices of building materials. “Building affordable housing is difficult and expensive enough without adding unnecessary costs,” Ryan said.


A signed lease with the county will enable HANAC/Bluestone to proceed with applying for the necessary building permits and approvals from the City of White Plains.  Ryan noted that it was important to keep the momentum going on the approval process. “I’m hopeful the political squabbling is over and that this critically needed housing for moderate income seniors moves forward on a fast track,” Ryan said.


By the terms of the lease, HANAC will pay $1,560,000 to the County as a one time rental payment. The term of the ground lease is for 65 years, with three consecutive options to renew for a term not to exceed ten years each. HANAC will pay to both build and maintain the project.  In addition, HANAC will set aside a million dollars in a reserve account to ensure a quality environment for the residents.

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Office of Official Counsel to Probe Dennis Power on Possible Hatch Act Vio.

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2006. October 13, 2006: The White Plains Republican Committee announced Thursday evening in a news release that the U.S. Office of Special Council, at their behest has “agreed to open an investigation to determine whether or not Mr. Power, the Chief Assistant to the County Executive, was violating federal law by running in a partisan election,” specifically violating the Hatch Act. 



Dennis Power, Candidate for Common Council and Assistant to the County Executive. Photo 2005, WPCNR News Archive.


The investigation was initiated by Brian Maloney, the Chairman of the White Plains Republican Party August 18 and 19, when Maloney asked the OSC, an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency to examine Mr. Power’s duties with the county and his political appointment to the Common Council. On September 21-22, the news release reports  the Federal Agency “agreed” to investigate.


According to the news release received 6:15 P.M. Thursday evening, The Office of Special Counsel “will attempt to complete its inquiry as soon as possible.”  (Mr. Power, a Democrat, is running against Cass V. Cibelli, the Republican Candidate in a Special Election November 7 to determine who will fill the remaining full year remaining in deceased Councilman Robert Greer’s term.) Alexis Greer, the deceased Councilman’s daughter had expressed interest in the seat, but was told, the news release alleges that Democratic supporters of Mr. Power had “made it clear that her nomination would not go forward.”


The Republican Party is also, the release reports, preparing a separate lawsuit with State authorities, the statement says, to “compel Mr. Power to either resign from his County employment,” which Maloney judges to present “conflicts with his duties and responsibilities as a Common Council Member.” The release notes that “if the Office of Special Counsel and the Merit Systems Protection Board determine that Mr. Power violated the Hatch Act, they may direct that the violation warrants dismissal of Mr. Power from employment; thereafter the employing agency (Westchester County) must either remove Mr. Power or forfeit a portion of the federal assistance equal to two years salary of the employee.”


The news release says the OSC investigation revolves around Federal Law 5 U.S.C. & 1502(a):


a State or local officer or employee may not: (1) use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with or affecting the result of an election or a nomination for office; (2) directly or indirectly coerce, attempt to coerce, command, or advise a State or local officer or employee to pay, lend, or contribute anything of value to a party, committee, organization, agency, or person for political purposes; or (3) be a candidate for elective office.


WPCNR notes for the record that after unsuccessfully running for Mayor of White Plains in 2005, (when no other candidate would step forward), Mr. Power was offered his present position of Chief Assistant to the County Executive at a salary of $76,000 a year in early 2006. Upon the death of Mr. Greer in June, Mr. Greer was appointed to Mr. Greer’s vacant seat, when he was already on the Westchester County payroll.


Mr. Maloney is quoted in the news release as saying “(d)espite Mr. Power’s self-serving statements to the contrary, it is impossible to credibly assert that his nearly six figure IDA financed salary is not and never will be a factor in his deliberations as a Member of the Common Council.”


WPCNR notes that Mr. Power, as a member of the White Plains Common Council avocated strongly for the Westchester County senior housing project at the Board of Elections parking lot a month ago before the County Board of Legislators, supporting a county project.


Mr. Power had received a legal opinion from Charlotte Indelicato,  the County Attorney, on the propriety of his serving as a Common Council member and as an Assistant to the County Executive. Ms. Indelicato advised Mr. Power she saw no conflict as long as he recused himself in matters involving the county regarding the city, to wit “Situations may arise before you as a member to the Common Council where you may wish to recuse yourself in order to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.”


Ms. Indelicato had written Power that in her opinion he was not in violation of the Hatch Act when running  for the Common Council, to wit:


NO. Since no federal monies are spent to finance in whole or in part, your position as an Assistant to the County Executive or any of the activities you perform in your employment with the County, the Federal Hatch Act does not impose any restrictions on your political activities or your political activities as a candidate for public office…Furthermore, there is no conflict of interest or incompatibility of offices for you to be.”


Ironically, Ms. Indelicato may have to defend that opinon.


The Office of Special Counsel was not available for comment late Thursday evening.

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City Updates: Pinnacle Gets Time. Tratoros Case Continued.

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WPCNR CITY UPDATES. October 12, 2006: The Common Council decided to give The Pinnacle six more months to secure grants from New York State to assist Ginsburg Development Corporation in the building of its approximately $17 Million affordable housing project at 240 Main Street.



In the continuing matter of Michelle and William Tratoros, both accused of endangering the welfare of a child, (their daughter), that case has been continued to November 21 in City Court. Ms. Tratoros, President of the White Plains Board of Education has not attended Board of Education public meetings since the week she and her husband were charged. William Pollak has been handling her duties as Acting President, and it is not known to what extent Ms. Tratoros has been participating in day-to-day Board of Education matters privately since the September 1 incident.

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County Signs Diesel Emissions Agreement with EPA

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Environmental Protection Agency (Edited) October 12, 2006:  Leading the way to cleaner air and healthier communities, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has brought the counties of Nassau, Putnam, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester together with New York City, the New York State Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration to sign an unprecedented agreement detailing the specific projects and innovations they will employ to reduce harmful diesel pollution.   

 


Demonstrating its leadership in environmental stewardship, Westchester County has specified its commitments to fighting diesel emissions.  The five New York counties’ efforts will reduce diesel emissions, which have been identified by EPA as a contributing factor in respiratory problems, asthma and other ailments.  New York City has already employed many of its own measures and has offered to assist the counties in any way that it can.  In addition to national regulations aimed at drastically cutting pollution from diesel engines, EPA provides monetary and technical assistance to help local and state entities implement programs designed to slash diesel pollution.


 


 


EPA Regional Administrator Alan J. Steinberg, the County Executives of five metropolitan area Counties, New York City and top environmental government leaders entered into the milestone agreement unveiled today in New York City.  The innovative and comprehensive agreement presents decisive actions such as retrofitting, retiring and replacing polluting engines, creating cleaner fleets of municipal vehicles, adopting cleaner fuels, designing and enforcing measures to reduce engine idling, and investing in pollution reduction technologies.


 


“If all politics are local, so are many sources of air pollution,” said EPA Regional Administrator Alan J. Steinberg.  “By signing this Statement of Intent and committing to a plan of action, these counties along with New York State and New York City are taking the initiative in combating diesel pollution.  President Bush and the EPA are committed to making that black puff of diesel smoke from diesel engines something you only read about in history books.”


 


“We in Westchester have been committed to doing our part to reduce the pollutants from diesel engines and we are proud to be part of this regional effort,” said County Executive Andrew J. Spano.  “We are presently testing four hybrid buses that produce fewer emissions, and based on the results we will determine whether to procure hybrid vehicles for our future Bee-Line bus purchases.   In addition, we will continue to use ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel on these buses and all county vehicles, and we will continue to help our local municipalities and school districts to obtain this ultra-low sulfur fuel for their operations.”



 


Westchester County’s initiatives include:


 



  • The County will implement the provisions of Act No. 19-2006 effective September 1, 2006. This act requires the use of ultra-low sulfur fuel and best available retrofit technology for all diesel-powered on-road and off-road vehicles owned, leased, and/or operated on behalf of the County.  

  • The County will continue the diesel engine retrofit program to include an additional 78 buses, bringing the total to 162 buses by the end of 2007.

  • The County will undertake an evaluation of the four demonstration hybrid buses recently introduced into service. Based on performance, the County will consider procuring hybrid vehicles for its 2008 bus procurement.

  • The Westchester County Airport, through its ISO 14001 Certified Airport Environmental Management System, will undertake a base-line emissions audit during 2006.

 


The New York State Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration have also stepped up their efforts in environmental protection, and have committed to helping the counties find ways to fund the ambitious measures they are pursuing.


 


Commissioner Emily Lloyd of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection said, “The Bloomberg administration is very pleased to be able to cooperate with surrounding counties and our federal and state partners to help reduce emissions from diesel equipment.  Under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the City has dramatically enhanced its diesel emission controls by implementing six local laws that decrease emissions from construction equipment, sightseeing buses, school buses, sanitation trucks and the City’s own fleet of on-road diesel vehicles.  We share these goals with the surrounding counties and pledge to work hard for cleaner air for everyone.”


 


“Governor Pataki and the New York State Department of Transportation have long supported programs to protect air quality throughout New York State.  This new collaboration will build upon the Department’s strong environmental record by improving the air we breath in the New York City metropolitan area,” State Department of Transportation Commissioner Thomas J. Madison Jr. said.  “This initiative encourages our partners to embrace clean fuel practices and technologies, and will enable NYSDOT and the transportation sector to help significantly reduce diesel emissions.”


 


“We strongly support the eligibility of diesel retrofits and other cost-effective emission reduction activities under the congestion mitigation and air quality improvement program (CMAQ) program,” said Federal Highway Administration Division Administrator Robert Arnold


 


The New York Metropolitan Air Quality Initiative is a stellar example of the work being done as part of a broader Northeast Diesel Collaborative- an EPA lead partnership of private, non-profit and government groups working together to reduce diesel pollution throughout the Northeast using a variety of strategies, including: public education; linking and expanding the scope of existing programs; creating new partnerships, programs, regulations, and agreements to reduce emissions; and demonstrating new technologies. 


 


For the complete text of the agreement and for more information about how to reduce diesel emissions, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/region02/air/nymaqi.pdf and http://www.northeastdiesel.org

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