Legislature Expected to Dissolve WPPA by End of Next Week. City in Money.
WPCNR Parking Zone. By John F. Bailey. THE PARKING AUTHORITY’S LAST STAND: Tim Sheehan, at far head of the table leans into his agenda and convenes the apparently last meeting of the White Plains Parking Authority Monday night. Photo by WPCNR News.
Common Councilwoman Rita Malmud, observing the meeting, said Ted Peluso, Eileen Earl, architects of the city parking authority takeover, presented their case for why it made sense for the city to absorb the Parking Authority at this time.
She said Corporation Counsel Edward Dunphy presented a 9-page document explaining his lreasons why the city was legally entitled to turn over Parking Authority funds and the fund balance regardless of whether the legislature dissolved the Parking Authority or not.
He also, Malmud said, was “optimistic” that legislation introduced in Albany dissolving the WPPA was expected to be passed by the end of next week, safely assuring the $7-1/2 Million Parking Authority fund balance would transfer into the city’s fund balance on the 2004-2005 books, shoring up the city’s financial position for the keen eye of the bond rating agencies.
Ms. Malmud also reported there were no details provided or timetable on how the city’s new Department of Parking would “transition” into effect as of July 1.
She also noted to WPCNR that the Parking Authority Fund balance would simply become part of the city’s fund balance, and according to her recollection this would add up to a total city fund balance of $24 Million (both designated and undesignated). She said it was explained that the $7.5 Million would not be dedicated to use only for the Department of Parking to meet its budget, that the Department of Parking would simply draw on the city fund balance.
She said it was unclear whether the White Plains Parking Authority Board would ever meet again.
Andy Spano Opens Kensico Dam Road in September
WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. (Edited) June 11, 2004: Westchester County Executive Andy Spano, supported by County Legislator Robert Astorino, Mount Pleasant Supervisor Robert Meehan and North Castle Supervisor Jack Lombardi, announced Monday that West Lake Drive will reopen starting Sept. 4 to accommodate morning and evening rush-hour traffic. Motorists will be subject to passing police checkpoints, the cost of which will be deducted from the county New York City water bill.
The road, which runs over the top of the Kensico Dam in Valhalla, will be open to passenger vehicles weekdays between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. It has been closed to traffic on and off since Sept. 11, 2001 and is currently closed at the request of New York City Department of Environmental Protection, which has raised security concerns about the dam and the Kensico Reservoir. The closing of the roadway has been a major inconvenience to Mount Pleasant and North Castle motorists and emergency responders and has been a point of contention between the Spano administration and NYC’s DEP.
“New York City DEP has failed to be responsive on a host of security issues and has failed to follow through on other things they said they would do to secure the dam,’’ said Spano. “We are very frustrated with DEP’s lack of responsiveness, and have decided to do what is best for our communities given that the DEP has not provided us with sufficient information to warrant keeping this roadway closed.’’
As an example of the DEP’s lack of follow through, Spano said that the DEP has ignored the county’s request to have a bomb blast effect study of the dam done by the Federal Bureau of Reclamation to show whether the dam needs to remain closed. The decision to reopen the roadway during certain hours was made after a meeting June 11 that included Spano, County Legislators William Ryan, Richard Wishnie and Robert Astorino, Meehan, Lombardi and local police, fire and emergency services providers.
County Legislator Astorino, who represents the towns of North Castle and Mount Pleasant, said that reopening the road for limited times during the day will provide tremendous relief to residents in his district. More than 6,000 cars a day use the roadway a day, he said.
“Opening Westlake Drive is the right move. It will immediately alleviate the enormous traffic burden in Valhalla and North White Plains, as well as other arteries like Nannyhagen Road in Thornwood and Bear Ridge Road in Pleasantville,’’ said Astorino. “More importantly, police, fire, and ambulance personnel will be able to get to emergencies faster. We’re still demanding New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection provide better and more visible security at all locations of the dam, including the reservoir. I’m certain the road can be open and the dam can be safe and secure at the same time.”
Spano said that county police will set up a checkpoint at the dam to monitor vehicles during the hours that the roadway is open to traffic. Vehicles larger than passenger vans will not be allowed to use the road even during these hours. He estimated it would cost several hundred thousand dollars a year to provide this police protection, but said that the county planned to deduct the cost from money it paid the New York City DEP for water it provided to the Grassland Complex in Valhalla, which this year is expected to amount to about $486,000.
Spano said that the county would use the summer, when traffic flow was lighter due to school closings and vacations, to develop a plan for re-opening the road, which will include police patrols, a checkpoint and barriers. He estimated it would take about 60-75 days to prepare.
“We will use this time to prepare a plan for securing the roadway during the hours it will be open,’’ he said. “Given the DEP’s lack of action, we really have no choice but to move ahead on our own. We cannot allow this situation to go on indefinitely as it continues to be a real hardship to so many of our residents.’’
Gretsas Start Date in Fort Lauderdale Not Confirmed. No WP Transition Process.
WPCNR City Hall Spin. June 14, 2004: Speculation in White Plains on when the Mayor’s Executive Officer would leave to begin his new assignment with Fort Lauderdale as City Manager continues, since the City of Fort Lauderdale does not have a start date for him yet. Mr. Gretsas appears to have vanished around city hall and has not been seen around City Hall. Rick Ammirato, a press aid said Mr. Gretsas would be leaving in “three weeks,” but did not have a definite date. Leslie Backus, the Public Information Officer for the City of Fort Lauderdale reported this to WPCNR today, when asked for a copy of Mr. Gretsas’ contract with Fort Lauderdale:
“I’m copying Harry Stewart, (Fort Lauderdale) City Attorney, for his reply regarding your request for Mr. Gretsas’ contract. Mr. Stewart can forward the document to you. (Harry, please copy me on your response.)
As far as I know, Mr. Gretsas’ starting date has not been established. I do not know the level of Mr. Gretsas’ involvement with transition plans.” (From an e-mail from Ms. Backus)
Meanwhile in the big house at 255 Main Street, the Mayor’s office, after a week has not announced the date of Mr. Gretsas’ departure, even though there have been two news conferences at which the Mayor could do so. The Mayor has not announced his successor, or whether a national search is going to be conducted for a Gretsas successor, or whether the position will remain unfilled. Speculation on potential heirs to the Gretsas power position include Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel, City Corporation Counsel Edward Dunphy, and Gretsas aide, Paul Wood.