WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR MILESTONES. From the White Plains High School Hall of Fame Biography and remembrances from his friends, Peter and Susan Katz. January 7, 2010: The man known as “Mr. White Plains” died Thursday evening in the White Plains home in which he was born in 1913. Robert F. Ruger was 97 years old. His health had been deteriorating in recent months.   

Bob Ruger, a life-long White Plains resident, gave selflessly of his time and talent to help dozens of White Plains organizations grow and prosper and thousands of White Plains residents enjoy a better life.Photo by Peter Katz

Mr. Ruger lived and passed away in the same house in which he was born in 1913. A member of the Class of 1931, he was among the first to attend the “new” Highlands High School building for a full year. After graduating from Rutgers University, Mr. Ruger began a 40-year career as a representative with Dun & Bradstreet.

In 1969, as an Elder of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Ruger was chosen to make a round-the-world tour of mission activities. The trip stimulated his long-term interest in a church affiliated medical college in India.

Mr. Ruger served on the White Plains Common Council for 12 years (1976-1988). He was Council President in 1982 and 1983. He proudly displayed a custom license plate for his car which identified him as a councilman. For six years, he was Chairman of the White Plains Zoning Board of Appeals. He also served as Chairman of the city’s Traffic Commission for 26 years, resigning due to ill health in 2009, at the age of 96.

Mr. Ruger served in major leadership roles for a host of important local organizations, including Westco Productions, the White Plains-based theater company for which he served as President of the Board of Directors from 1992-2005, the White Plains Rotary Club, the Salvation Army, the YMCA, the Thomas H. Slater Center, the Westchester Drama Association, Senior Personnel Employment Council, the United Way and the Organization of People Undaunted by Stroke. He also was a member of the White Plains High School Tigers Fan Club.

Mr. Ruger served as President of the White Plains Beautification Foundation. He was honored at a testimonial dinner at the Crowne Plaza in November, 1987, and is a Marash Humanitarian Service Award winner. Westco Productions honored Mr. Ruger with a gala to mark his 90^th birthday in 2002 which was attended by several hundred friends and well wishers.

In 1996, he was inducted into the White Plains High School Hall of Fame.

 Susan Katz, (Left)  President of Westco introducing White Plains main man, Robert Ruger at a Westco Benefit honoring him in 2002 on his 90th birthday. To the right of Mr. Ruger are Jo Falcone and Charles Goldberger.

For his lifetime of community service and accomplishments, Mr. Ruger was known by his friends and associates as “Mr. White Plains.”

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michele Schoenfeld. January 6,2010 (Edited): The White Plains Board of Education has announced the district’s 2010-11 budget planning  process, combining the successful community-wide forums held last year with some new initiatives. President of the Board of Education, Donna McLaughlin, put the preliminary increase in expenses the district faces at $10 Million over the $185.7 Million 2009-10 budget.

White Plains Week, the WPCNR television program which closely follows the extraneous impacts on the school budget, estimates that the district is looking at a $17 Million budget increase that has to be raised through taxation, if preliminary assessment role estimates by the city assessor expected state aid cuts in next year’s state budget materialize.

            The district is seeking broad input from the community at various meetings scheduled for this purpose.  Two budget forums will take place at the High School, on January 13^th  and March 3^rd, at 7:30 P.M., in the B-1 Room. 

In addition, the Slater Center will host a meeting on January 20^th, at 7:30 P.M., Centro Hispano will be the host on February 24^th, at 7:30 P.M., and the White Plains Council of eighborhood Associations will host on February 9^th, 7:30 P.M., in the Assembly Room at Education House.

            Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher P. Clouet said, “We hope to work together with the community to develop a budget that maintains the high quality of education in White Plains and that is fiscally responsible and can be supported by the taxpayers in the May 18^th vote.”

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Responding to the unprecedented economic situation, Board President Donna McLaughlin stated, “Next year’s budget will be even more difficult to develop than the current year’s, with cuts in State Aid, a decrease in the STAR exemption, salary increases and increases in employee benefits.  This adds up to a potential increase of almost $10 million in expenditures for next year, without considering tax certioraris.  It is clear that we need to consider all options in order to hold this budget to an acceptable level.”

Additional meetings will take place in the community and any group or organization wishing to host such a meeting may contact the  Superintendent’s Office at 422-2033.   Discussions have also been  held with staff in each school building in the district to encourage open communication and solicit input on the budget.

          All residents are invited to attend these sessions, to participate in focused dialogue on spending efficiencies, areas of concern, budget priorities and creative ways to increase revenues.  A review of the district’s financial situation, the state’s and city’s financial constraints, and other issues relating to development of the budget will be presented.

            The district will also hold two Public Hearings:  the first on March 22^nd, on the Preliminary Proposed Budget, and the second on May 10^th, on the Board of Education’s Adopted Proposed Budget.

            The community is encouraged to visit the district’s website, http://www.whiteplainspublicschools.org    for  information on the budget.

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 WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CRONICLE-EXAMINER. Special to WPCNR By Peter Katz. January 4, 2010 UPDATED January 5, 6:00 P.M. E.S.T.:  A standing-room-only crowd packed the Common Council Chambers and flowed onto the stairway landing at City Hall Monday night for what newly-elected Councilman David Buchwald, speaking after being sworn in, noted was an historic event: the first Common Council meeting in White Plains’ history in which the Mayor and all six councilmen were Democrats.

Adam  Bradley Arriving for “Citizens to be Heard” in his first ever gaveling together of the Common Council Monday evening. Photo, Peter Katz

     Induction ceremonies for council members and some high level management personnel drew enthusiastic applause, with a contingent of law enforcement men and women adding boisterous cheers to the mix for the swearing in of David Chong as Commissioner of Public Safety.

     Councilman Tom Roach, who was reelected in November to another four year term, was sworn in by City Court Judge JoAnn Friia, as were newcomers Buchwald and Beth Smayda. Council members Ben Boykin, Dennis Power, and Milagros Lecuona continue their existing terms. Council President Boykin nominated Roach to be the new Council President for a two year term. There were no other nominations, and the vote for Roach was unanimous. Mayor Bradley swore in Roach as Council President. Roach noted that it was Bradley who got him involved in White Plains politics.

     After the Common Council voted to approve their appointments, Bradley administered oaths of office to Michael Genito as Commissioner of Finance, John Steward as Director of Information Services, and John G. Callahan as Corporation Counsel. Callahan also will serve as Bradley’s Chief of Staff.

The Common Council Monday night eliminated the job of Executive Officer in the Mayor’s office. Callahan will not be paid a separate salary as Chief of Staff. The Council Monday night set the Corporation Counsel’s salary at $185,000 a year, the Chief of Staff salary at zero dollars a year, the Director of Information Services salary at $130,000 a year, and the Finance Commissioner’s salary at $150,000 a year.

 The supporting material for the Common Council agenda did not include mention that the new Commissioner of Finance actually would be paid $170,000 a year, consisting of the $150,000 Finance Commissioner’s salary and an additional $20,000 for handling the duties of Budget Director as “Chief Financial Officer.”] 

The Mayor Comments on Dismal State of City Finance

Mayor Bradley, in a brief speech, said that in the few days he has been in office, he has already made over $500,000 in administrative savings in areas under his control. Callahan serving as both Corporation Counsel and Chief of Staff was cited as an example. Others are eliminating or not filling commissionerships and deputy commissioner positions.

 “Many of these things should have and could have been accomplished long ago, but I must move forward and make the tough decisions to protect White Plains taxpayers and its [the city’s] long term future,” he said.

Bradley again said that the city has a budget deficit of approximately $18-million and has almost no fund balance. “To put this into perspective, our budget deficit as a percentage of budget is almost twice as large as New York State’s. New York State’s deficit is $9-billion out of $132-billion, and ours in White Plains is $18-million out of $158-million,”  Bradley said.

WPCNR did the math, and we find that the New York State deficit is 6.8 percent of its total budget of $132-billion, while the White Plains deficit is 11.4 percent of the city’s $158-million budget.

Bradley hinted that there will be more cuts to come in the weeks ahead, saying, “My children and your children, when they become young adults, will have a City that is even greater than the one that I was raised in because of the difficult fiscal decisions this administration will make. I know that the Common Council and this administration stand united in solving the city’s dire fiscal condition, but that is not all that we will be doing.

City, School District to Work to Consolidate Services

     “Today, I am announcing the formation of an Ad Hoc Committee chaired by Councilman Boykin, to evaluate City and School District shared services and cost savings. I have met with School Superintendent Clouet numerous times and I will be naming four additional members to this committee, and Superintendent Clouet will also be naming three members. I know that we as individuals, and the city and School District as a whole, are committed to working together to reduce expenses and mitigate taxpayer burdens,” Bradley added.

     Bradley also said that Councilman Power will be heading another Ad Hoc committee, this one dealing with ways to save energy and improve the city’s environmental footprint.

Appointments Approved

     The Council reappointed John Martin to the Board of Assessment Review. Reappointed to the Budget and Management Advisory Committee were Timothy Sheehan, Eleanor McDonald and Patrick Austin. New appointments were Council member Beth Smayda as Chair, Councilman Roach, and Richard Hecht as the replacement for David Corcoran who moved from White Plains.

     There were three quick public hearings on renewal of cabaret permits for The Porter House, The Brazen Fox and The Lazy Boy. Legislation for three-year renewals for those establishments will likely be on the February agenda.

Concern for Robert Ruger

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. January 4, 2010: The Board of Education approved financing $11 Million in energy improvements identified by the Honeywell Corporation, which would save the district $1 Million in energy usage annually. Construction and installation of the Honeywell-supplied equipment and modifications to buildings in the district is expected to begin in March or April.

Board of Education approving energy saving contract Monday night.

The board, in addition also approved expenditure of $57,000 in repairs to the unfortunate design of the electrical system at the new $38.5 Million Post Road School which keeps lights in halls and the cafeteria on 24 hours a day.

The contract with Honeywell guarantees  the district will save at least $1 Million in energy usage each year after the modifications are installed by  Honeywell, or Honeywell compensates the district for the difference below $1 Million.

According to WPCNR calculations the contract should break even in savings over five years. Seiler said the $11 Million will be financed, but did not at this time have a handle on what the debt service would be, and would pay out in fifteen years. The equipment had been identified as a result of an “Energy Audit” conducted by Honeywell and a performance contract evaluating firm, ECG, last year.

The Board also approved  a $57,000 contract with RLJ Electric Corporation to correct the electrical system installed at the new Post Road School which presently keeps too many lights perpetually “on” 24 hours a day, far beyond security needs. According to Fred Seiler, Assistant Superintendent for Business,

 Kaeyer Garment & Davidson has agreed to pay part of the $57,000 repair cost, Seiler said, but the reimbursement  has not been negotiated yet. Kaeyer Garment & Davidson designed and supervised the light system with the electrical contractors and the system wiring  installed has created a situation where too many lights have to be lit 24 hours a day in order to provide the minimum security lighting.

Seiler said he expected the work would begin in late February. He said  the work would consist of rewiring, an “improvement of energy efficiencies,” and”better use of lights.” The main problem that will be solved first Seiler said was the problem of the cafeteria lights which currently stay on all the time with the present electric configuration.

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. January 4, 2010 UPDATED 2;45 P.M. E.S.T. :  The day after Mayor Bradley concluded his Inauguration statements saying restructuring and consolidation of administrative staff was necessary in view of the city running an $18 Million deficit, a previous Deputy Commissioner let go by his administration it has been learned will be rehired for $48,404 less pay that the Deputy Commissioner was receiving in their previous position.

Personnel Officer for the City of White Plains, Elizabeth Wallace, reported to WPCNR today that Deborah Clay, the former Deputy Commissioner of Recreation and Parks who was told two weeks ago that she would not be a part of the new Bradley Administration, has been rehired beginning Tuesday as Deputy Personnel Officer replacing Kerry Oristano who left the city personnel Deputy Commissioner position to join the Rob Astorino County Executive staff as Human Resources Commissioner.

Oristano was being paid $108,446 as Deputy Personnel Officer according to the City of White Plains 2009-2010 budget. Clay before she was told she was being let was reportedly according to the budget earning $118,406 as Deputy Commissioner of Recreation and Parks. According to the backup material for this evening’s council the appointed position of Deputy Personnel Officer is to be reset at $70,000 effective today.

Clay is the second Mayor Delfino administration not expected to be part of the administration, to be rehired.The other was the Commmissioner of Building, Damen Amadio.