THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

White Plains, 3 Towns, on Hook for $234.7 Million in N Cleanup

Posted on November 24, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE SEWER REPORT. By John F. Bailey. November 24, 2008 UPDATED 10:40 P.M.: White Plains Residents in the Mamaroneck Valley Sewer District in Westchester ( approximately east of Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains, according to White Plains Commissioner of Public Works ) may be facing an unspecified increase in their sewer taxes, in addition to a Westchester County property tax hike.

Those residents affected by the surprise sewer project, are receiving a public notice from Commissioner Tom Lauro of the Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities, informing them that Westchester County is being mandated by the state and federal government (with no financial aid for the repairs from either state or Washington) to execute $235.7 Million in sewer repairs to eliminate discharging nitrogen into Long Island Sound.

The Board of Legislators set a public hearing on floating a bond for that amount for Monday, December 8 at 10:30 A.M.

Senator Charles Schumer speaking in Purchase, New York, Monday morning said this was one infrastructure project that County Executive Andrew Spano said the county might receive infrastructure aid on as part of the Obama Administration “stimulus” package.

This additional burden on the taxpayer is brought about by the county agreeing to fulfill an agreement between the state of New York and the Federal Government executed in 1998. The County Board of Legislators was scheduled to conduct consideration of bonding for those improvements Monday afternoon.

White Plains Commissioner of Public Works, Joseph Nicoletti, queried about this by WPCNR Monday evening was unaware of the mandate. According to the public notice, the sewers in the Blind Brook Sewer District, the Mamaroneck Valley, New Rochelle and Port Chester sewer districts are affected.

White Plains officials were unaware of this mandate when asked about it Monday evening. White Plains residents served by the Mamaroneck Valley Sewer District may be expected to pay for any debt service incurred by the county to execute these repairs.

Monday evening the Board of Legislators issued this curt summary of the scheduled hearing:

The following public hearings have been set for Monday, December 8, 2008 at 10:30 AM:

BNR Consent Order

Proposed Consent Order with New York State concerning nitrogen reduction of sewage drained into the Long Island Sound, in ultimate compliance with the federal Clean Water Act. The legislation includes a bond act in the amount of approximately $235 million to fund the design and construction of improvements needed to upgrade the New Rochelle and Mamaroneck Sewage Treatment Plants. The agreement must be approved by the end of the year in order for the county to avoid having to pay heavy fines imposed by the state. (16-1; No: Maisano)

It is interesting to note this mandate was not mentioned in today’s report issued out of the County Legislature Budget and Appropriations Committee detailing the 2009 County Department of Public Works budget.

The complete consent order may be read at http://meetings.westchesterlegislators.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Download=Attachments&AttachmentID=1905&agencyname=westchestercounty

County Approves 6 Year CSEA Contract.

Posted on November 24, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Board of Legislators. November 24, 2008: The Westchester County Board of Legislators today approved a contract between the Civil Service Employees Union (CSEA) and the county that covers a six-year period beginning January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2011. CSEA employees will receive a 3% per annum retroactive increase for 2006, 2007 and 2008. There will be an increase of 3.25%, effective January 1, 2009; 4%, effective January 1, 1010; and 4%, effective January 1, 2011.

County Board Chair Bill Ryan (D-I-WF, White Plains) commented on the correlation between the quality of the county’s workforce and Westchester’s ranking as one of the most outstanding among the nation’s 3,000 counties.

“We appreciate the tremendous job our employees do handling all the county’s many functions,” said Ryan. “From taking care of our parks and recreation facilities, to caring for our county’s most vulnerable citizens, to ensuring the safety and security of our residents, county employees know their jobs and do them well and are the reason why the county runs as smoothly and as efficiently as it does.”

“I am happy to see the contract finally get resolved, it’s been a long — too long— time coming,” said County Legislator José Alvarado, Chair of the Budget & Appropriations Committee. “I know we all appreciate the efforts of our workforce and we’re anxious to see that they finally get the cost of living increases they have earned.”

Alvarado pointed out some cost saving measures that helped to offset the cost of the contract, particularly with regard to generic prescriptions and the requirement that new employees and their spouses complete a “Health Risk Assessment Survey.” By the terms of the contract, the failure of an employee and spouse to complete the survey and hear out the suggestions of a health coach will mean they are not in compliance. An employee or spouse not in compliance will be required to contribute 20% of the cost of the plan until they are in compliance.

“Our employees have been patient and we appreciate that,” said County Legislator Ken Jenkins, Chair of the Government Operations Committee which has oversight responsibility for labor matters. “I believe this is a fair agreement that balances our employees’ needs with the need of county government and taxpayers to control costs, especially in healthcare expenditures.”

Schumer Details Obama Administration Stimulus Package to WCA

Posted on November 24, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. November 24, 2008: Senator Charles Schumer today described the stimulus package that congress will be working to deliver when the Obama Adminstration assumes power January 20, and how it will work its way into Westchester County in an address to the Westchester County Association today at a meeting of the Westchester County Association.

Senator Schumer at Mastercard Headquarters in Purchase Monday morning, addressing the Westchester County Association.

He said the package would affect the county in five ways: providing sharply increased federal funding for infrastructure particularly for flood remediation for the Bronx River Parkway, the Sprain Parkway and the Sound Shore (that is mandated for the Blind Brook, Mamaroneck Valley, New Rochelle and Port Chester sewer districts according to the County Department of Environmental Facilities.

He promised there would be millions in additional loans for small businesses through the Small Business Administration for the county; sharply increased reimbursement for Medicaid for New York State; increased funding for the Federal Housing Administration that will be used to refinance homeowners facing possible foreclosure, and millions more in community development grants that can be used to rehabilitate homes foreclosed and shore up their values to stimulate the economy. He also promised funding and incentives for “green jobs” that would benefit the county.

Details in a later report.

County Starts Toy Drive for Foster Kids — Drop Off Locations Announced.

Posted on November 24, 2008 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Department of Social Services. November 24, 2008: When you open your gifts on the holidays, wouldn’t it be nice to know that someone less fortunate was sharing in your holiday cheer? There’s one easy way to make that happen: buy a gift for a foster child.

Gifts are being sought for more than 900 kids in private foster homes and residential facilities. The youngsters are all receiving assistance through the Department of Social Services and are some of the county’s neediest children.

“The economy may be looking bleak this year, but more than 900 children in Foster Care in Westchester are counting on us to make their holidays a little brighter and we just can’t let them down,’’ said Barbara Sabater of the Department of Social Services.
Unwrapped gifts for a child or a young adult from birth to age 21 can be brought to six locations throughout the county. Children with specific gift requests can also be “sponsored.” A holiday collection bin is located on the first floor of the County Office Building at 148 Martine Avenue in White Plains. Please bring your new unwrapped gift items and place them in the bin or bring them to the Department of Social Services receptionists at the following locations:

112 East Post Road, White Plains, 5th Floor

85 Court Street, White Plains

131 Warburton Ave., Yonkers

750 Washington Avenue, Peekskill

100 East 1st Avenue, Mount Vernon

One Stop Employment Center- 120 Bloomingdale Rd., White Plains

If you have any questions, please contact Barbara Sabater, Program Administrator, Department of Social Services, (914) 995-5545 or e-mail [email protected].