Rye Town Park Celebrates Retiring Commissioner’s 13 Years of Service
Tuesday, May 18th, 2021 marked Rye Town Park Commissioner Benedict “Benny” Salanitro’s last Commission meeting, after an impressive 13 year tenure. Salanitro has served the Rye Town Park Commission with honor and distinction since 2008; and his leadership and breadth of knowledge and experience have shaped improvements, upgrades and new construction that have made the Park the heart and the pride of the communities that surround it. As such, the Commission celebrated his valued service with a proclamation declaring Tuesday, May 18th, 2021 as “Benedict ‘Benny’ and Franca Salanitro Day,” in honor of Benny and his wife.
Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman, who serves as President to the Rye Town Commission, took time to reflect on all that Salanitro has accomplished, saying “Benny has generously and selflessly shared his time, wisdom, guidance and expertise with his fellow park commissioners and the many and varied stakeholders of Rye Town Park for thirteen years.” During that time, Benny served on the Park’s Parking Solutions Committees, and provided critical guidance on a wide array of capital projects such as the Seawall Reconstruction Project.
Salanitro’s work didn’t stop there: he was integral to both the Tower Building and the Bath House roof replacement projects, installation of accessible ramps, improvements to the pathway and gave valued guidance on the Park’s ongoing bathroom project. Zuckerman asserts, “Benny has been a singular asset to the Park Commission, and we want to ensure his legacy is celebrated by everyone who visits the Rye Town Park and enjoys its beautiful grounds and facilities.”
“As the longest serving member of the Rye Town Parks Commission, Benny’s knowledge about how to run a park is unparalleled. The commission is losing a huge amount of institutional knowledge, and one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet,” added Paul S. Rosenberg, Mayor, Village of Rye Brook . “It was an honor and a pleasure to serve on the commission with Benny!”
Salanitro has long been dedicated to improving public works in an array of local municipalities. He began his career in 1985 when he interned and then worked full time as an Engineer for the New York City Department of General Services in the Bronx. In 1987, he brought his wealth of engineering expertise to his home county, being appointed as Junior Civil Engineer for the Village of Mamaroneck. In 1993, he became the first Superintendent of Public Works for the Village of Tarrytown; followed by becoming Scarsdale Village Engineer in 1999. He was then promoted to Superintendent of Public Works, a position from which he retired in 2018.
Salanitro has demonstrated true leadership in the public engineering profession. He has served as President of The New York Metro Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA NY), and as President of The Westchester County Association of Municipal Public Works Administrators (WCAMPWA). He also served on the New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) Public Works planning committee; and was Chair of the Westchester County Refuse District Advisory Board.
The Rye Town Park Commission invites members of The Town of Rye and City of Rye communities to acknowledge May 18, 2021 as “Benedict ‘Benny’ and Franca Salanitro Day,” in honor of Benedict Salanitro and his family: his wife, Franca; and their children, Benedict “Benny”, Vincent and Rosella. Zuckerman concludes, “It would be a beautiful day to visit the Park and reflect on all this dedicated municipal officer has accomplished on behalf of everyone who walks along Oakland Beach, past the peaceful duck pond and on the rolling green fields of this jewel in the local landscape.”
