THIS WEEK ON
PEOPLE TO BE HEARD
“THE TRISTATES’ MOST RELEVANT INTERVIEW PROGRAM”
YOU’VE GOT
JULIE KILLIAN OF RYE
CANDIDATE FOR THE 37TH STATE SENATE DISTRICT
INTERVIEWED BY
JOHN BAILEY, PETER KATZ AND JIM BENEROFE
IN CRYSTAL CLEAR VIDEO, HI-DEFINITION SHARP AUDIO ON
www.whiteplainsweek.com
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SEE HER SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7 PM ON CHANNEL 76 WHITE PLAINS CABLEVISION
OR
VERIZON FIOS CHANNEL 45 THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER COUNTY
WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. Special to WPCNR from the White Plains City School District. SEPTEMBER 7, 2016:
TIMOTHY CONN0RS (left) to Depart end of September. A new Interim Superintendent of Schools is being searched for to continue to substitute for Dr. Paul Fried, who continues on sick leave, the School District announced today.
MICHELE SCHOENFELD SAID THAT TIMOTHY CONNORS, WHO HAS BEEN THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT SINCE JUNE, WILL NO LONGER BE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT.
CONNORS HAS BEEN REPLACING DR. PAUL FRIED WHO MS. SCHOENFELD SAID IS ON SICK LEAVE.
SCHOENFELD TOLD WPCNR THAT THE BOARD IS NOW ACTIVELY INTERVIEWING FOR A NEW INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT WHILE DR. FRIED CONTINUES ON SICK LEAVE, WHILE STILL UNDER CONTRACT TO THE DISTRICT.
THE COMMON COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE A TEMPORARY SETTLEMENT OF THE FASNY LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS IN ORDER THAT THEY MAY REVIEW THIS ALTERNATIVE SITE PLAN AND SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICATION. THE SITE IS EXPLAINED IN DETAIL IN THE WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY IF YOU SCROLL DOWN THIS COLUMN
WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. Special to WPCNR from Peter Katz on the Scene. With Released Comments Provided by the French American School of New York. September 6, 2016:
Peter Katz reporting for WPCNR this evening, reports the Common Council approved the settlement of a lawsuit filed by the French American School of New York against the city, before an overflow crowd of persons attending the council meeting tonight at City Hall.
“Citizens to be Heard” the pre-council meeting feature was packed with speakers mostly against approving the settlement, Mr. Katz said.
Katz said the ordinances 76 and 77 items approving the settlement with the school were taken out of order and put at the top of the proceeding. Councilman Dennis Krolian proposed a motion to table Ordinance 76 and the Council voted 4 to 3 not to table. Krolian next proposed to table Ordinance 77, the Stipulation of Settlement, and again the Council voted 4 to 3 not to table.
Then the Council voted 4 to 3 approving the Settlement.
Voting to approve the Statement of Settlement were Mayor Roach, and Councilpersons John Kilpatrick, John Martin and Beth Smayda.
Councilpersons Nadine Hunt-Robinson, Dennis Krolian and Milagros Lecuona voted against approving settlement.
Mr. Katz said Mayor Thomas Roach, casting the deciding vote, said the settlement was not approving the amended site plan, that it was just putting the lawsuit “on hold,” while the new plan was considered. Mayor Roach, Katz reports, said that FASNY could have filed a new site plan at any time. Mr.Katz reports that the Mayor emphasized he had not made up his mind on the new plan FASNY will be submitting.
9 Weeks to the new plan
That new plan will be officially in about 9 weeks, if you go by the Stipulation of Settlement text, to wit:
After Judge Lefkowitz signs the Statement of Settlement, the city will have 14 days, to provide “an itemized list of documents and submissions necessary to make the Alternative Site Plan Application complete…FASNY will file its Alternative Site Plan Application for the site plan approval and a special permit within seven (7) weeks after this order is approved by the court.”
Next, Judge Joan Lefkowitz has to sign the Stipulation of Settlement. Mr. Katz there is no schedule as to when Judge Lefkowitz will sign the order, but Katz says the city has regular morning meetings with the judge.
Andrea Colombel, Board Chairperson of FASNY in a 10 PM news release from FASNY said, “We expect the judge to sign the agreement in the next few days which will give the Court authority to oversee the review process. We expect a timely and fair review and look forward to putting a shovel in the ground. FASNY is a wonderful school with a vibrant community which will contribute to the City of White Plains and its residents for many years to come,” she added.
Katz interviewed John Botti of the French American School who told him the school as a gesture of “good faith” has already filed in court a conservation easement that will guarantee public access to the lands reserved for the nature conservancy.
In a statement issued at 10 PM this evening, The French American School Chairperson of the Board, Ms. Andrea Columbel had these comments on the conservancy:
“As a matter of good faith to resolve the dispute, FASNY has already recorded and created a 51-acre publically accessible Conservancy on part of its land with plans to create east-west and north-south pedestrian and bicycle paths for neighborhood residents, as previously proposed. Known as “Parcel D,” the land has frontage on Bryant Avenue, North Street and Hathaway Lane.
“It has just become the largest private conservation easement in Westchester south of Interstate 287, and the first in the City of White Plains. The conservation easement assures that the property cannot be developed, and will ultimately be open to the public. The conservation easement, which is the largest in White Plains, will include miles of bike/pedestrian trails safely connecting the neighborhood.
“The reduction in conservation easement from the 78 acres offered by FASNY in the original plan reflects the 35 percent reduction in the size of the school buildings and the 33 percent reduction in the student population under the Alternative Plan.
“We are deeply appreciative for the continued and growing support we have received from thousands of residents and businesses across White Plains. We look forward to moving forward and putting this unfortunate delay behind us,” Colombel said.
The terms of the proposed Stipulation of Settlement, according to the FASNY news release include that:
Under the proposed Stipulation of Settlement, the Common Council would agree that this plan presents a potentially reasonable alternative for resolving and settling the outstanding litigation. The Council would also agree to provide the Alternative Plan a diligent and fair review in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, mutually agreed to milestones, Court-ordered oversight for the review process, and the staying of all litigation until the Alternative Plan is determined by the city under its normal public review procedures.
“We are gratified that the Common Council has approved the settlement agreement. Tonight’s vote is long overdue and represents a win-win for the City and the FASNY community. All parties can now put aside costly litigation and concentrate on obtaining final approvals for a compromise school plan,” said Andrea Colombel, Board Chairperson of FASNY.
WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. From The Gedney Association September 7, 2016:
The Gedney Association has shared a sampling of letters questioning why the city is considering settling the FASNY lawsuit tonight
Dear Representatives of the People of White Plains,
Wondering why there has been such a faux pas made on your part not to notify your constituents in an timely and fair manner of the above cited meeting…
I respectfully and firmly request that you postpone your vote on this action in order to give your White Plains constituents enough time to review and challenge the ongoing threat to their community from FASNY.
As you all know, the citizens of the city of White Plains are notified by the mayor of any changes to our garbage/recycling pick up due to holiday or storm. This is done in a timely fashion in order to keep us informed.
No such courtesy of keeping us, your constituents, informed has been extended to us, the citizens of White Plains, about this important meeting tonight to vote on this incredibly inappropriate project.
No notification until the last minute about a crucial meeting is also inappropriate and unfair to your constituents. The decisions made at this meeting will impact hundreds of White Plains families, their livelihood and the living conditions for their families for many many years, no, more accurately, indefinitely.
Many people from FASNY who will not be personally impacted by this inappropriate development obviously have known, in advance, that this meeting would address this issue and vote. They will be prepared. What about your neighbors and fellow White Plains taxpayers? Not so much… This might be called an unfair advantage.
I truly question how you, my representatives, in good conscience, can proceed with this meeting.
My other question to you, my representatives, is who are you supporting and protecting during this never ending nightmare? If you, in good conscience, can enumerate a strong list of positive benefits that would out weigh the multiple negative effects of this inappropriate project, please let us, your constituents, know what they are. We can find no redeeming features at all. Not one…
Most sincerely,
Your constituent,
Joanne T. Dunphy
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Settlement?
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To the Mayor and Common Council
Please tell us that the article in White Plains Patch quoting a Gedney resident: David Kohl? Who he? — I’ve lived in Gedney farms for 13 years and never heard of him prior to his efforts as a paid media consultant for FASNY or met him at any community function — was just an inflammatory PR ploy and speculation.
What is white Plains Neighbors ACT if not an active publicity arm created for FASNY? It was formed in Dec 2015 by FASNY to advocate for them; it does NOT REPRESENT this community! Just Google it for the true picture!
,
Nothing has changed about the situation that led to a defeat to the plan to close an important thoroughfare and destroy a neighborhood — the street is still a main artery, the property is still heavily wetland, the greater Gedney, North Ave, Havilands, Highlands, Hillair Circle, Carhart, community is opposed. A slightly smaller FASNY doesn’t mitigate any of these issues!
You are our elected representatives. JUST SAY NO!
Elaine Taylor Gordon
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What a Tangled Web…
To the mayor and council:
We are at a loss to understand your lack of transparency regarding the “Stipulation of Settlement” and what appears to be our city government caving to intimidation while totally ignoring so many of the long time residents/taxpayers of White Plains and working behind our backs with a small but obviously influential pro-FASNY minority.
Those of you supporting the “Stipulation of Settlement” are the city’s own worst enemies.
You had a winning case and now it appears some of you are betraying those of us you were elected to represent.
The situation is a disgrace and the way in which it was done is totally distasteful.
At the very least please have the decency to table any vote on this so-called “Stipulation of Settlement” due to inadequate notice to the majority of the public whom you were elected to serve.
Frances & George Jones
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Dear Mayor Roach and members of the White Plains Common Council,
Over this holiday weekend I received word that on the Tuesday following Labor Day the Common Council will consider a proposal made by the French American School of New York to stipulate to discontinue, without prejudice, its lawsuit against the City of White Plains. According to published sources, the proposed stipulation was provided to members of the Common Council on Thursday evening, September 1, 2016.
I urge you to table any vote that might come before the Common Council on this matter on September 6th.
The residents of White Plains elected you to serve the City.The City of White Plains gains nothing by rushing this proposal to vote on such short notice. There is something rotten in the City of White Plains when a vote related to a development project that could affect thousands of White Plains resident gets placed on the agenda for a meeting of the Common Council with only one business day’s notice to the constituents you were elected to serve.
The appearance of impropriety is staggering.
Claudia G. Jaffe, Esq.
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Dear Mayor Roach and Members of the Common Council,
We are writing to each of you about the proposed Stipulation of Settlement with The French American School of New York.
We find it hard to understand that after more than 5 years of evaluating this proposal, much of it with public discussion and input you would hold this most important meeting tonight without ample time for the public to comment.
The entire SEQRA process is predicated on comments from the public.
Please allow time for public input by the people who would be most affected by this project and who should be able to review the Stipulation in a more through manner.
Residents should be afforded the same courtesy FASNY was clearly afforded.
Thank you.
Garry & Donna Klein
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Dear Mayor Roach and Members of the Common Council,
We are writing to each of you about the proposed Stipulation of Settlement with The French American School of New York.
We have learned that you will vote on this proposal tonight at the monthly Council meeting. This time frame does not give the public adequate time to review the proposal, as well as prepare remarks although FASNY has had more time to do so.
Each of you was voted into office with the presumption that you would work on behalf of White Plains residents.
By not supporting the residents of the City you are violating your oath of office.
Please allow time for public input by the people who would be most affected by this project and who should be able to review the Stipulation in more than a perfunctory manner.
Residents should be afforded the same courtesy FASNY was clearly afforded.
Midge and Richard Sanchez
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Dear Mayor Roach and members of the Common Council-
Once again, we are faced with yet another ridiculous plan by FASNY to undermine the quality of life of the people of this city. Their attempts to shove their plans for the Ridgeway Country Club site before our city government indicate their complete disregard for the laws of and concerns for the citizens of this city who elected you to serve our best interests and safety. Please vote against any
New plans for their use of the site for their school campus.
Be assured, we the citizens of White Plains and residents of the south end of the city will not stand idly by if Fasny attempts to undermine the quality of our neighborhood because you failed to act in our interest.
Laurie Kimmelstiel
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To the Mayor and Common Council:
POSTPONE ANY action on the FASNY agenda item. It is the least you can do, as elected officials and representatives of the residents of White Plains, after springing this on the public
ONE day before the Labor Day weekend.
It is a disgrace for the mayor and his staff to be negotiating all summer behind closed doors with the litigating party and then picking the worst possible time – the Labor Day weekend – to announce it and bring it before the Common Council and the public.
Where is the open government and transparency promised to the residents and voters at election time?
Carry Kyzivat