New Castle Town Supervisor’s Report, December 8, 2009

December 11, 2009
by Town Supervisor Barbara Gerrard

Editor’s Note: NewCastleNOW.org has added subtitles to the supervisor’s text to identify the following subject areas:

• Monday’s referendum on police hearing officer

• For the 2010 Budget, a 2.37% tax increase

• Town will keep two garbage collections

• Police overtime hours mentioned at public hearing incorrect

• No town hall expansion in capital budget

• Second field at Amsterdam gets green light

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Monday’s referendum on police hearing officer

On Monday, December14th, there will be a special referendum on the issue of whether the Town Board may appoint an independent hearing officer to hear a case governing a disciplinary matter involving a police officer. Current law, the Westchester County Police Act of 1936, requires the full Town Board to convene for such adjudications. In my 10 years on this Board, there were only 2 incidents where such a hearing was to be held. Eventually one was settled, obviating the necessity to convene that hearing, but the other matter became a scheduling nightmare. 

In addition to the five Town Board members, there is the individual officer, who is usually represented by counsel, as well as at least one representative—usually counsel—for the Town Board. In that one particular case we spent three months trying to come up with an agreeable date, only to have an essential party have to cancel at the last minute and re-schedule once again. 

The proposed hearing officer would only be engaged for the sole purpose of hearing the testimony. The Town Board would retain the obligation of making a determination of the appropriate disciplinary action necessary. This process is commonly used in disciplinary proceedings involving employees other than police, and this exact same referendum was passed in Mamaroneck earlier this year in recognition of the increased efficiency and appropriateness of having the disciplinary matters handled expeditiously. 

Accordingly, such hearing officer, if approved in the Referendum, would only be appointed to act on a particular matter (and as I say, it is not something that happens all that often), and then would be paid on a per diem basis. Qualifications to be a hearing officer include a working knowledge of the New York State Taylor Law, Westchester County Police Act, Town Law and the Civil Service Laws.

For the 2010 Budget, a 2.37% tax increase

I would now like to turn to the 2010 Budget which we will be voting on later this evening. 2009 has been, as everyone is well aware, a very challenging year, and 2010 is shaping up to be even more difficult for governmental agencies across the State and the country. 

We note the jurisdictions around us have struggled as well—although we know figures in some jurisdictions have not been finalized, Mt. Pleasant is looking at an 8.5% tax increase; Greenburgh a 6.9%; Eastchester 15%; North Castle 6.4%; and homeowners in the unincorporated sections of the Town of Ossining, as well as those in the villages of Ossining and Briarcliff Manor, are facing an 18.6% tax increase. 

The impacts of falling sales tax revenues and mortgage recording tax revenues have been staggering, and only compounded by the huge increase in health and pension benefit costs—$800,000 alone for New Castle—before one even begins the arduous task of establishing a workable and reasonable budget. With that in mind, the Town Board again wishes to acknowledge our Town Administrator, Mr. Gennero Faiella, the Deputy Town Administrator, Penny Paderewski, Sheila Doughtie, our Comptroller, and the entire staff, for their cost cutting efforts, and creative and productive suggestions for ways to “do more with less.” 

In addition, I would like to acknowledge the hard work and determined efforts of my colleagues on the Town Board—- they have been tireless in their efforts to work through these challenging circumstances. Ultimately, as a result of cost cutting, attrition, eliminating of 7 positions—4 part time, 3 full time—we have collectively produced a 2010 budget with a 2.37% tax rate increase—- one that results in an annual tax increase for the average assessed property in New Castle of $45.30. 

Town will keep two garbage collections

And that has been accomplished without the proposed decrease in garbage collection—we have decided not to reduce the number of weekly collections—one for recycling and two each week for garbage, based on the public’s input and concerns. Each of us has spent the last several months speaking with friends and neighbors about this issue. And we would like to thank each and every one of you who took the time to send us individual e-mails—I remind you all of our e-mail addresses are available at our Web site,http://www.mynewcastle.org” title=” http://www.mynewcastle.org”> www.mynewcastle.org—- we responded to as many as possible, but know that we read each and every one. We value your opinion—not anonymously, but directly to your elected officials. We make ourselves available to you and you should avail yourselves of the opportunity to let us know your thoughts.

Police overtime hours mentioned at public hearing incorrect

We will continue in the coming year to review staffing issues in all departments. We wish to correct a misconception that was brought up at the public hearing on the budget two weeks ago. An individual read a certain number of hours of overtime for 2008. That number was incorrect. And our new Police Chief, appointed earlier in 2009, has already begun better staffing procedures, reflected in the number thus far for 2009 of a little over 4,000 hours. While still a large number, we congratulate the Chief, and recognize that his department is continuing to exercise better controls on this difficult issue. We anticipate overtime for 2010 will continue to decrease significantly. We do take exception, however, to a local newspaper that erroneously picked up the larger number—and compounded the error by saying it was for 2009. We would all appreciate any journalists contacting the Town—either Mr. Faiella, or one of the Town Board members, before taking a number mentioned by a resident and not double-checking the accuracy before issuing an Editorial chastising New Castle. [Editor’s note: The reference to “local newspaper” is to The Examiner.]

No town hall expansion in capital budget

You should know that in the 2009 capital budget there were funds set aside for a possible expansion of Town Hall—our facility is cramped and the section of the building occupied by the police department is particularly inadequate. Nonetheless, the poor economy and the crushing mandates from all jurisdictions above us, make such an expansion unrealistic. The Town Board will look to other, more creative and economical means of providing sufficient accommodations for various departments.

Second field at Amsterdam gets green light

Lastly, despite the economic concerns just expressed, the Town recognizes the terrible constraints on our many residents whose families take part in New Castle sports and recreation and who rely on our playing fields. The Town fields are well-maintained and a source of pride, but some other fields which we use because the Town does not have enough of its own, are not always suitable for play. Accordingly, in our capital budget for 2010, we have decided to construct the second field at Amsterdam park. This second field was always envisioned, and in fact the engineering work and environmental review are already complete. We strongly wish to do what we can to improve the playing conditions for the various non-school sports teams in Town.

We wish all our friends and neighbors very Happy Holidays!

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara S. Gerrard, Supervisor