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WPCNR Common Council Chronicle Examiner. Special  from a WPCNR Correspondent. February 24, 2011 UPDATED 11:28 P.M.:

Acting Mayor Tom Roach supervised his first WhitePlains Common Council work session this evening at City Hall and a WPCNR observer describes the meeting as a totally different atmosphere from previous meetings chaired by former Mayor Adam Bradley. The correspondent said it was efficient, friendly, there was discussion and a positive atmosphere was very present

Acting Mayor Tom Roach chaired his historic first work session of the Common Council Thursday night. (Photo, courtesy, Carl Albanese)

Two key issues surfaced:

In discussion of cities, parks and recreational facilities. Commissioner of Recreation and Parks Albert Moroni and Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti outlined the deteriorating condition of many White Plains pools, parks and facilities, saying that it would take millions in expenses to make necessary repairs.

Carl Albanese described their presentation:

“White Plains Acting Mayor Honorable Thomas Roach today held his first official City Common Council work session meeting.  Acting Mayor Roach’s long-standing commitment to public open spaces throughout our city addressed the long over due need to restore our public parks, community swimming pools, baseball parks, public spaces and continues his long standing commitment to the preservation of open public spaces.

Collectively working with Commissioner Albert T. Moroni Recreation & Parks, Commissioner Bud Nicoletti DPW, the Common Council, the administration outlined an ambitious restoration plan to repair the most needy public park open space facilities in preparation for the upcoming spring and summer fun.  Plagued by the cities fiscal financial handicap in search of capital revenue the administration struggles to find the last remaining cash piggy bank to fund these necessary open space initiatives.”

The Council all appeared in agreement that White Plains should ban smoking in the city-owned public parks.

Dennis Power the Councilman strongly advocated for a total ban on smoking. Councilman Benjamin Boykin noted that there might be some legal issues about the city ability to do this.  Councilwoman Milagros Lecouna said the city should proceed with caution and look at certain designated smoking areas in the parks away from where children play as an example,rather than an outright ban. Commissioner Joseph Nicoletti observed that it was his opinion that the Council could pass ordinances on what is or is not allowed in the parks because many cities apparently do this across the nation. Lecouna urged public hearings on such a proposal.

There was no announcement of a date for the special election. The thinking is that the election may be set as early as April 4, (a Monday), just 37 days after the Bradley abdication, and two weeks before the holiday period of April 18 through 24. Religious observances for many residents of the city begin. The White Plains Schools are closed between April 18 and 22. The latest the city can do the Special Election is April 25, sixty days from February 25, the day Adam Bradley resigned.

WPCNR BACKROOM BULLETIN. Special from a WPCNR Correspondent. February 23, 2011 UPDATED FEBRUARY 24,2011, 9:45 a.m.:  UPDATED 11:20 A.M. EST UPDATED FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2011:

The Democratic Party Nominating Committee recommended City Council President Tom Roach tonight as their choice to run for Mayor in the Special Election to be held in April to complete the two years and seven months left in Adam Bradley’s unexpired term.

John Callahan, Acting Mayor Roach’s Chief of Staff, said as of 11 A.M. Thursday morning, a date has not been determined yet for the Special Election. He told WPCNR it had to be within 60 days of the day the previous Mayor, Adam Bradley, resigned. Callahan also said the election did not have to be on a Tuesday. The the sixtieth day after February 25 is April 26. This would indicate the election could be held any day before that date.

Bill Ryan, the County Legislator, and Benjamin Boykin, were rejected.

Mr. Ryan and Mr. Boykin now have the choice of attempting to bring around District Leaders to vote for their candidacy instead March 10.

The late Councilman Robert Greer took this come-from-behind route to the Mayoral nomination in 2001.

Rounding up district leaders in key population-weighted districts, he ousted Mr. Ryan, the nominating committee pick at the time for the actual nomination to run for Mayor against Joseph Delfino  in 2001, when Ryan was the choice of the nominating committee. Then, Greer wrested the nomination from Mr. Ryan in a squeaker of a vote which was by secret ballot. Ryan was so shocked, he left the meeting abruptly.

It is possible that Mr. Ryan, and Mr. Boykin, and any other Mayoral hopeful could run as a Republican. Wednesday evening, the Republican Party invited candidates from any party persuasion to be interviewed by their nominating committee.

The WPCNR Correspondent explained: “It was made clear that there is no process for a Mayoral Primary under the 60 day law time frame – it is up to the District Leaders by vote to select the Democratic Mayoral candidate. Chairwoman, Liz explained any candidates name to run for the office can be submitted by any DL, I guess submitted and second at the March 10th meeting, then voted on that night by District Leaders.

Attempts to hear Mr. Ryan and Mr. Boykin speak, according to WPCNR’s observer, were also voted down by the district leader membership, because, “tonight was a nominating night.”

According to the observer, “Neither of them attempted or requested to speak. A District Leader from the floor proposed and asked if they were going to speak tonight as candidates or are “we going to hear from any possible candidates who are considering running so we can know their issues tonight. Chair Liz Shollenberger clarified this was not a night to hear from candidates but that opportunity will happen at the March 10 Committee Meeting, then a vote will be taken by the District Leaders to confirm the Democratic Mayoral Candidate at that meeting.

Paul Schwarz, a district leader has informed WPCNR that “anyone who left early (from Wednesday’s meeting, would have missed it (Ryan, Boykin rebuttals).   At the end, the last ten minutes, first Ben (Boykin), then Bill (Ryan), and last Tom(Roach) – each of the three praised the other two warmly, but specifically advocated for themselves, spoke of their own background and experience, and superior qualifications for the job.  Each was clearly a “campaign” speech to the group that will decide on the 10th.” (WPCNR has confirmed that our correspondent did leave the meeting early.The correspondent’s information on the nomination, the procedures, is correct.WPCNR regrets the misleading impression there were no rebuttals allowed.)