County Board Action on Monday

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From County Board of Legislators. June 5, 2007:


 


Legislation Passed


 


Additional Enforcement Power to County’s Human Rights Commission


Expanded penalties include allowing: the imposition of punitive damages up to $10,000 in “willful, wanton or malicious” discrimination cases; the Commission’s Executive Director to impose civil penalties in cases the Director initiates; the assessment of civil penalties between $50,000 and $100,000, payable to the county, for serious cases of housing discrimination; a successful complainant to recover costs of pursuing a discrimination complaint.


 


Plumbing and Electrical Licensing Boards


Clarified: that the county’s Plumbing and Electrical Licensing Boards can continue to assess monetary fines against individuals or entities that violate the county’s licensing laws but the licensing boards have no authority regarding criminal matters other than to refer them to the district attorney’s office.


The legislation also gave the Board of Plumbing Examiners the authority to grant reciprocal licenses to plumbers licensed outside of Westchester. Current law already gives the Electrical Licensing Board the authority to grant reciprocal licenses.


 


Health and Dental Care for Westchester, Putnam and Rockland Residents with HIV/AIDS


Using a federal grant of $273,940, the County Board authorized that the county contract with Westchester Medical Center to provide primary and oral health care services for Westchester, Putnam and Rockland residents with HIV/AIDS for the period from March 1, 2007 through Feb. 29, 2008.


 


Yorktown Community Center Lease


County Board approved 5-year lease (no cost to county) for space in the Yorktown Community Center to be used as a satellite office for Department of Senior Programs and Services. 


 


Amendment to the County Pay Plan


The County Board approved an amendment to the County Pay Plan proposed by the County Executive that deleted and added certain titles and changed compensation for several positions. The total cost of the amendment is $105,471, funds already included in departments’ 2007 budget. 


 


Mortgage Tax Receipts


County Board approved the semi-annual distribution to cities, towns and villages of mortgage taxes that amounted to over $35 million for the period from October 1, 2006 through March 31, 2007.


 


Bond Acts Approved



  • $3.1 million to upgrade the central heating plant at the Valhalla campus (Public Works)

  • $500,000 to replace obsolete computer equipment (Dept of Information Technology)

  • $1.2 million to upgrade desktop and laptop computers  (Dept of Information Technology)

Resolutions Passed


 


Indian Point License Renewal (16-0)


Entergy Corporation’s license to operate Indian Point 2 and 3 expire in 2013 and 2015, respectively. Entergy Corporation has asked the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to renew its license to operate the plants for another twenty years. The County Board’s resolution supports federal legislation (HR 2162-Nuclear Power Licensing Act of 2007) that would mandate that the criteria for a license renewal be the same as that required for a new plant.


 


Board of Legislators Staffing (16-0)


The resolution passed affirmed that as a legislative body, all BOL staff fall within the unclassified service category of the NYS Civil Service Law; deleted some staff titles; added titles that reflected current positions; adjusted salary levels for some titles; and, directed that the relevant county departments immediately effectuate the changes called for in the resolution.


 


Appointments approved to Westchester County Advisory Boards:


 


Women’s Advisory Board


×                       Judith Schwartz (White Plains) reappointed


 


Refuse Disposal District #1 Advisory Board


×                       Peter Ligouri (Greenburgh) reappointed as a town representative


×                       Rocco Circosta (Ossining) reappointed


×                       James W. Finch, Jr. (Mount Vernon) reappointed


 


Human Rights Commission


×                       Paul Ryan (Buchanan) reappointed


 


Fire Advisory Board


×                       David P. Klaus (Yorktown) reappointed


 


Hispanic Advisory Board


×                       Robin A. Bikkal (White Plains), reappointed as a member and chair


×                       Fernando Serratto (Ossining)


 


Domestic Violence Council


×                       Patricia Brimais (Chestnut Ridge)


×                       James Hoffnagle (Hastings-on-Hudson), as a representative from the County Probation Department


 


Citizen’s Consumer Advisory Council


×                       Paul Ryan (Ardsley), as Retail Food Merchant Representative


 


African American Advisory Board


×                       Claudett J. Stothart (White Plains)


 


 


For additional background information on any of the above items, please contact Betsy DeSoye at (914) 995-3277.

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Should Common Council Meetings be Simulcast/Captioned in Spanish.

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WPCNR MR. & MRS. & Ms. White Plains Voice. June 5, 2007: It struck me last night observing “Common Council Theater” on Channel 75, reporters cannot afford to cover council meetings because of the automatic $15 ticket you get with extraordinarily lengthy hot air sessions in the Council Chambers, that over 40% of the city residents are Hispanic, 37% are White and 27% are black. Yet, a Hispanic resident not understanding English perfectly, would not be able, watching the council meeting to understand the proceedings. Heck, certain commissioners who speak English cannot be understood. Therefore it occurred to me to run a flash poll: Should Council meetings televised by captioned/ or better yet have a running Spanish translation of what is being said.


What do Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains think about that?

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Photograph of the Day — Longview Lot Closes

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WPCNR PHOTO OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Roving Photographter. June 5, 2007: As indicated by rather obscure signage last week, the Longview Avenue and Maple Avenue municipal parking lot which serves the Dickstein Center and White Plains Hospital Center closed Monday, signaling the beginning of constructing a 5-story, 657-space parking facility to serve the Kensington Senior Assisted Living project and White Plains Hospital Center, about to begin construction on Maple Avenue and Cromwell Place.


Commissioner of Parking Albert Moroni said, “Our plan from the start was for those folks who have permits to park in the Chester Maple garage. We reconfigured some of the spots in Chester Maple and took away some of the meter spaces and created more permit spots. The only other options for daily commuter types is The Galleria-Lexington West Garage. (4 long blocks away), On any given day, there are 800 spaces available.”



Longview Maple Municipal Lot yesterday.


Photo by the WPCNR Roving Photographer.


 

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Citizen Exposes 45% Increase in White Plains Train Station Commuter Parking Fee.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. June 5, 2007: At the Citizens to Be Heard portion of the Common Council meeting Monday evening, a citizen, Yonah Wolf got up and protested the newest rise in White Plains parking fees: the massive 45% increase in the annual Commuter Parking Permit from $569 to $825. Wolf said the increase was almost double what he paid two years ago (2004-2005, the year of the last increase), when he paid $450 for the same daily parking privilege. He protested this was a “tax” on those who commute to New York City every day, which he estimated at 8,000 persons.


Wolf expressed the opinion that the Council deliberately hid this increase by considering the fees at a Special Meeting just before the Memorial Day Weekend, which he described as “short notice.” Wolf also drew a dollars and sense picture for the Councilpersons, saying “the multi-hour meter rates are increasing by a similar margin.”  Wolf points out the fees were set in budget hearings, but voted on prior to Memorial Day weekend getaway Friday. His remarks:


 Good Evening Mayor Delfino, and Honorable Members of the City Council. My Name is Yonah Wolf, and I have lived in White Plains for just over 6 years. While I have been privileged to meet some of you at various events around town, this is the first time I am attending a Council Meeting. I am here tonight to express my disappointment with your recent decision to increase parking rates at our city’s meters and garages. While I understand that rates increase over time, I feel that this rate increase is grossly unfair in both the percentage of the increase as well as in the manner it was considered by the common council.

 With the new increase – the second increase since 2004, the cost of my Annual Daytime Parking Permit at the Transcenter will go up to $825, a 45% increase over last year’s cost of $569, and almost double the $450 I paid for  the 2003-04. In addition, the multi-hour meter rates are increasing by a similar margin. This is a tremendous burden for many of us who park in any of the city’s municipal lots – even more so to the many individuals who have two permits – one for parking near their home overnight, and one for parking near the train or their offices during the day. As of July 1st, someone with two-permits will now be paying for the equivalent of 3 spots for one car!

What this increase amounts to is a new tax on one of the fastest-growing segments of White Plains Residents – those of us who commute to NYC. While Metro-North would not provide specific figures, other sources and articles have put White Plains as the busiest station outside of Grand Central, and it is estimated that more than 8000 or so individuals travel from White Plains into NYC every day – a growing number fast approaching 15% of our population.

This convenience to New York City is one of two reasons that I chose to move here – the other being the socioeconomic and ethnic diversity of our residents. While the former remains true, the latter seems to be slowly slipping away, and if this trend continues, individuals of more modest means, such as myself, will be forced to leave and White Plains will ultimately turn into a haven for the wealthy.

 But commuters are only part of the picture. In addition, I feel that this decision will also have a negative effect on our city’s businesses as well.  As of July 1st, it will cost a full 50% more to park in our garages on an hourly basis and 100% more per hour to park at street meters. This rate will definitely have an impact on shoppers’ when they choose to shop here vs. in other locations in Westchester. Anecdotally, I know of many neighbors who don’t shop in White Plains anymore because every shopping center has a parking cost. As more people follow this trend,  our city’s coffers will be doubly-effected, both by lowered parking revenue as well as lower sales tax collections – not to mention the financial impact on our local businesses.

But I digress, the reason I am speaking here tonight, is because you chose to discuss this at a special council meeting with very little advance notice. As a taxpayer, I don’t think that I am off base in suggesting that a topic as sensitive as this should not be relegated to a last minute special meeting held on the eve a holiday weekend as this limits debate on the matter.

In conclusion, I realize that all that I have said to you tonight is moot, as the rate increases have already been approved, and it is unlikely that you will change your decision. However, I still feel the need to express my disappointment at your decision on the public record, as well as the manner in which it was made. I appreciate the opportunity to address you this evening, and I would greatly appreciate any comments that you have regarding my statement or your decision on the Parking increase.

Thank you.




 

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