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)

George Gretsas Contract a Honey. Tops $200G’s in Salary, Benefits.

Posted on June 22, 2004 by John Bailey

LIMITS. By John F. Bailey. June 22, 2004: The City of Fort Lauderdale made it official Tuesday that George Gretsas is coming on down. The public information office of Fort Lauderdale acknowledged that the “contract is fully executed” and Mr. Gretsas will be starting work in “The Venice of America” on August 2. Mr. Gretsas has signed a contract that he could not, in his right mind refuse.

THE $238,906 MAN: George Gretsas, officially now the New City Manager of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, announced this morning by that city. Mr. Gretsas is shown at the demolition of the old Macy’s in April, 2002. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

A copy of the contract released to the media, reveals that Mr. Gretsas is free to consult during his “time off” from his new City Manager position, with no restrictions on who he can consult for. In addition, he is guaranteed a raise each year, plus more merit raises if the City Commissioners feel he’s done a good job. Gretsas, should he run into problems and is dismissed gets a lucrative severance.

Mayor of the City of Fort Lauderdale, James Naugle, in a statement issued to WPCNR Tuesday evening expressed confidence in the city’s choice: “We look forward To Mr. Gretsas joining our City. Fort Lauderdale is a vibrant city and I am confident that someone of George Gretsas’s character will be a good fit.”

Making Half the President of the United States.

Gretsas’ contract is for three years from August 2, 2003 to August 2, 2007, and it automatically renews, unless the City Commission votes to remove him.

His total compensation and benefits pack for year is $238,906, which includes $180,000 in base salary with an automatic $5,000 raise in year 2 and another automatic raise to $185,000 in year 2, and $190,000 in year 3.

However, if Mr. G does a good job, the City Commission may consider him for a merit raise bringing him to $193,000 in Year Two in base salary, and as much as $205,000 in year 3.

He also gets a $590 a month car allowance, plus 8.060 FICA, $36,072 in pension contribution, $331 in life insurance, $2,636 in Disability Insurance, and $4,727 in medical and dental benefits. His total first year compensation package is $238,906.

Golden Parachute.

If things do not work out, Mr. Gretsas walks off with a generous severance. If he is fired the first year, he receives 10 months’ salary and benefits as a severance. If released in the second year, he gets 8 months’ salary and benefits, and if terminated in the third year and following years, he gets 6 months’ salary and benefits.

Free to Consult, Write, Teach.

The City of Fort Lauderdale is also very generous in not limiting what Mr. Gretsas can do in his spare time. A specific paragraph in the contract spells out that the City Manager has the right to teach, consult or write “during time off from working duties of the City Manager.”

The actual clause reads:

(D) City Manager agrees to remain in the exclusive emply of City and shall not accept other employment nor tobecome employed by any other City until his termination date as provided in this Contract. This paragraph shall not effect the City Manager’s right to participate in occasional teaching, consulting or writing during the time off from working duties of the City Manager.

The contract does not place any prohibitions on what firms, entities, and organizations the City Manager can teach, write and consult for.

Mayors’ Offices Silent.

As of this hour, the City of Fort Lauderdale has not released any statements regarding the announcement of the contract, and the City of White Plains has not issued any comments on when Mr. Gretsas’ last day of employment will be, what his accrued sick pay and unused vacation pay will be, or who Mr. Gretsas’ successor, if any, will be as the Mayor’s Executive Officer.

The official departure of Mr. Gretsas raises the question of whether Mr. Gretsas will bring members of the Delfino Administration with him to Fort Lauderdale.

WPCNR has not been able to reach Mr. Gretsas for comments on when he is leaving White Plains, who he might bring with him, or whether he will continue to consult for the City of White Plains after his departure.

Once Again Boston & NY Set Inning Record…Nauts Go 27, Beat Tide, 3-2

Posted on June 22, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESSBOX. From Kristen Zimmerman (Edited) June 22, 2004: On May 1, 1920, Joe Oeschger of the Boston Braves and Leon Cadore of the Brooklyn Dodgers dueled each other for 26 innings at Boston’s old Braves Field on the banks of the Charles River to a 1-1 tie.

Monday night, National Pro Fastpitch teams New England Riptide and the NY-NJ Juggernaut played 27 innings until Venus Taylor’s single ended the historic fastpitch marathon, 3-2, at 1: 00 AM Tuesday morning.

The longest professional ballgame, the Baseball Hall of Fame Library reports to WPCNR, was 33 innings between the Rochester Red Wings and the Pawtucket PawSox April 18, 1981. The Nauts-Riptide game is the second longest professional game…and the longest major league game.

Kaci Clark, Juggernaut righty pitched 21 innings for the Nauts, throwing 218 pitches, 167 for strikes, and fanning 20 batters. She joins baseball immortals Bob Smith of the Braves (22 Innings), and Babe Adams of Pittsburgh (21), Rube Marquard of the Giants(21), Art Nehf of the Braves (21), Ted Lyons of the White Sox (21) Rube Waddell of the A’s (20), Cy Young of the Red Sox (20) and Brooklyn’s Burleigh Grimes(20), who have pitched 20 innings or more in a start before giving way to relief. Gina Oaks notched the win for the Nauts with 6 innings of scoreless relief. Photo by WPCNR Sports

In the bottom of the 27^th inning, Juggernaut centerfielder Venus Taylor scored shortstop Lyndsey Klein with a single to right for the 3-2 win against the New England Riptide. Klein went 4-for-10 on the night. The game that took place at Montclair State University lasted six hours and ten minutes. Gina Oaks earned the win going five innings, giving up no runs on four hits, and one walk, while Dana Sorenson took the extra-inning loss, pitching 13.2 innings, giving up 11 hits and one earned run.

New England took the lead in the 13^th inning when left fielder Ashley Moore scored on an error by Taylor. However, the lead didn’t hold as Juggernaut first baseman Kellie Wilkerson singled to center to score Oaks and even the tie at two in the bottom of the inning. Wilkerson led the Juggernaut offensively with six hits in 11 at bats and two RBI. The game would go 14 more innings before another run would score.

The Nauts jumped on the board right away when first baseman Wilkerson scored second baseman Carri Leto with a single to right in the first inning. Leto led off the inning with a single up the middle.

The Riptide scored their first run when right fielder Sara Jewett answered the Juggernaut’s offense in the first with a lead off solo homerun that cleared the scoreboard in left center. Second baseman Nicole Thompson led the Riptide at the plate, with four hits on the night.

Pitcher Kaci Clark started the game for the Juggernaut and pitched 22 full innings, giving up 10 hits, just one earned run and one walk, while striking out 20. Riptide starter Leigh Ann Ellis went 13 innings, giving up 12 hits, two earned runs, and one walk, while striking out five.

The Juggernaut is sleeping in this morning according to G.M. Ricard Perotty, but will be back in action tonight at 7:35 at Montclair State University Softball Stadium against the Riptide, before heading to Lowell for three more games with the Riptide in a home-and-home.

Nauts President and GM Richard Perrotty told WPCNR both ball clubs had numerous chances to win the classic. He reported that only 30 fans were left to see Venus Taylor’s winning hit that moved the Nauts to 11-6 in the National Pro Fastpitch standings 1 game back of the Texas Thunder. Perrotty said they had “No Doz Specials” in between innings, and had contests for fans who guessed the inning when the game would be over.

Latimer: Let’s Take a Close Look at the Olympics in NY

Posted on June 22, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR WESTCHESTER COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From George Latimer. June 22, 2004: Westchester County Legislator George Latimer has called for a study by Westchester County of the impacts of proposed plans for New York City to host the 2012 Summer Olympics, as those plans affect Westchester County,
its residents and taxpayers.

“We’ve seen much hoopla over the possibility of bringing the Olympics here”, Latimer said, “but we haven’t seen any analysis of the financial impact of public expenditures or use of facilities that may be targeted here in Westchester. I think we owe it to the taxpayers to let them know what they’re buying when they get behind the push for the 2012
Olympics.”

Latimer – a candidate for the NY State Assembly in the 91st A.D. in this year’s elections – elaborated that economic impacts studies by proponents highlighted the benefit to New York City’s economy. “Usually, these one-shot events include creating permanent structures, such as a football stadium on the West Side of Manhattan, that require long-term usage for viability. I just want us to do our due-diligence as Westchester officials, so in 8 years’ time we’re not facing expensive surprises”.

FLASH! Gretsas is Gone: Contract Fully Executed. He Starts August 2

Posted on June 22, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR CITY LIMITS. By John F. Bailey. June 22, 2004: Leslie Backus, the Public Information Director of the City of Fort Lauderdale advised WPCNR Tuesday morning that George Gretsas, the Mayor’s Executive Officer has signed his contract with Fort Lauderdale to become City Manager of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, beginning August 2. The Mayor’s Office had no information, when contacted, as to when Mr. Gretsas’ last day of employment was going to be, or whether a new Executive Officer was going to be appointed, or any information on the transition process.

GOING ON DOWN: George Gretsas, Executive Officer of the City of White Plains, left, shown schmoozing with City of Fort Lauderdale Police Chief, right, and City Commissioner, Cyndi Hutchinson, center, one of his primary advocates at a cocktail party reception in Fort Lauderale in May when Gretsas, the architect of the White Plains Renaissance, was interviewing for the City of Fort Lauderdale position. He signed the contract at the end of last week, and Ms. Backus, Fort Lauderdale’s information director, reports “the contract is fully executed,” this morning. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.