(PICTURE: Rye City Hall by local artist Heather Patterson)
The city council's agenda for its meeting on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 is out. See you at 8:00pm in Council Chambers in City Hall. The Council will convene earlier at 7:30 pm and it is expected they will adjourn into Executive Session at 7:31 pm to discuss personnel matters.
Meetings are also aired on Cablevision Channel 75 and Verizon Channel 39. We'll also see you on the Internet (liveand archive). Office Hours of the Mayor on October 19th will be held from 7:00pm – 7:30pm in the Mayor’s Conference Room.
Let's check the batting order and highlights from the 17 agenda items.
- Doug's Details. Mayor’s Management Report - Finalize 2012 Budget Schedule and Topics; Legal Update; Update from the Government Policy and Research Committee on Prevailing Wage Standards
- Consolidation Coming? Discussion of amending the City of Rye Charter for the creation of a Public Safety Commissioner with the Fire Department reporting directly to the City Manager.
- IMA Lot of Water. Discussion of the “Development and Planning Standards” Intermunicipal Agreement Compliance for the Flood Mitigation Project at the Blind Brook Dam.
- Finger in the Dam? Discussion of a draft Resolution regarding flooding including preventative measures and flood consequences.
- RTP Takeover? Discussion of a draft Resolution to open Oakland Beach at Rye Town Park for public access during the off-season.
- Open Mic. Residents may be heard who have matters to discuss that do not appear on the agenda. Always a crowd pleaser…
- Borrowing from Peter to… Resolution to re-allocate $3,943.43 of the remaining 2002 Recreation Bond proceeds scheduled towards payment of 2012 Debt Service to use towards the 2011 final payment on the Rye Town Park roof project.
- Park or Poison? Authorization for the City Manager to enter into an Intermunicipal Agreement with Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. to allow access for a DEC-approved remedial investigation and clean-up.
- Fore! Consideration of authorizing the City Manager to endorse the implementation of an easement between the Apawamis Club and Henry F. Skelsey and the City of Rye.
- Law & Order. Consideration of proposed revision of the Rules and Regulations of the City of Rye Police Department.
The next regular meeting of the City Council will be held on Wednesday, November 16, 2011. A special meeting of the City Council will be held on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 8:00 pm for the presentation of the 2012 Budget.
Hey, today’s Halloween! Let’s listen in at city hall.
CRICKETS.
The sound after apparent long running wrongdoing by an elected official is revealed at the last city council meeting. The evidence provided is public records. They’re immediately called lies.
RUSTLING.
The sound of the sifting of public records and code definitions in search of exculpatory documents that required permits were obtained, construction work was legally inspected, appropriate fees were deposited, public record tax assessments were adjusted and increased property taxes based on improvements were collected. Long time observers know that while it’s common for official records to disappear from city hall, it’s somewhat less common for them to magically appear. Maybe today’s the day!
WHITEWASHING? – PART 1.
The sound of the rumored arrival of the slime team that has brought us – Schubert’s Pond – Hen Island Working Outhouses – and other fantastically inappropriate local municipal code shenanigans – in their standard shtick to attempt to recreate a “see-no-evil” back-story to absolve political class members who might do them favors from charges that any other non political class shlub taxpayer would face. Hint: watch carefully for upcoming dark arts uses of the word “repair.”
http://www.inspirational-short-stories.com/tom-sawyer-fence.html
SWEATING.
The sound of a local official thinking thru how these public records got out there to begin with – and recognizing that the ranks of Rye good government grassroots activists have grown and now encompass a much wider base. Calling local crimes “controversies” and having council cronies tell stunned prior supporters that “it’s too bad when good people sometimes need to get hurt” only tends to feed this. As does breaking clean-up pledges you made to get votes and diffuse political opposition.
But don’t change a thing – trust your advisers, breathe deeply, it will all be just fine.
Boooo!
Ted C,
I’ll bet you, the mayor being charged with building without permits will be discussed again @ the residents to be heard session. Has anyone seen this article from this week’s Westchester Guardian?
http://healtheharbor.com/news/Westchester-Guardian-Rye-City-Mayor-Charged%20-with-Building-without-Permits_102711.pdf
Some in Rye with much to hide now claim Tim Chittenden’s targeted FOIL’s are without merit. They might find today’s story below instructive – and disquieting.
“After leaving office, Mr. Corzine fought successfully in the N.J. Supreme Court to keep his gubernatorial emails out of the public eye. But that didn’t stop the Star-Ledger newspaper last year from publishing more than 100 from his first weeks in office, when the governor and his ex-girlfriend were engaged in “heated negotiations over a new state workers contract.” In one email Ms. Katz mentions an “erotic dream” she had about Mr. Corzine, in between other emails pressing him about the contract negotiations, politics and their former relationship.”
CORZINE AGONISTES – WSJ 11/2/11 – Holman W. Jenkins, Jr.
http://on.wsj.com/vWGqHM
Just watching the live “discussion” tonight between Mayor French and Joe Sack about Joe getting a look at ALL the legal billings – as he was promised.
Seems Mr. Pickup’s treatment of Tim Chittenden’s public records requests is not isolated to lowly citizen taxpayers but apparently now includes council members.
Mr. Sack just suggested that he could FOIL the information and Mr. French blows a small gasket.
Perhaps Mr. Sack should FOIL the request.
It could be a learning experience.
Mayor French refuses to address newly revealed apparent long secret uninspected and untaxed construction projects in his own home. Uses mayoral gavel to block speech. Directs investigator Tartaglione down to same city commission that refused to hold public hearing on Schubert’s Pond wetland destruction.
Call me crazy – but Thank You Mr. Tartaglione – you have no respect for the status quo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX9GTUMh490