League of Women Voters of New Castle VOTERS GUIDE SPECIAL EDITION

May 13, 2011
from Sheila Bernson

Editor’s Note: The video of last Thursday’s Candidates’ Night is now playing on cable access TV and in “video on demand” on NCCMC’s site.  What follows are the written responses to the League’s questions to school and library board candidates.

Because of the extension of time given for candidates to come forward, the League of Women Voters of New Castle’s Voters Guide that was mailed to all Chappaqua Central School District households did not include all the contestants in the School Board and Library Board elections.  The following information was provided by the candidates to the League in response to the questionnaire that the League distributed to all of the candidates.

BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATES

Candidates for Board of Education:  There are 3 candidates for 2 openings on the Board of Education. The term is 3 years.

 

Questions asked of each Board of Education candidate:

((1) What experiences and skills do you have that will enable you to be an effective member of the Board of Education?

(2) What do you consider the main issue(s) facing the Chappaqua Central School District and how would you address it (them)?

(All information was provided by the candidates. Biographical information was edited for the Voters Guide; responses to Questions 1 and 2 appear exactly as submitted by the candidates. Responses were limited to 90 words for each question.)

Robert Fleisher

Occupation:  Principal investment activities and advisory work related to distressed real estate, community banks and specialty finance companies.
Education: Brandeis University, BA (1988); Columbia Business School, MBA (1992).
Interests/Community Involvement:  In my spare time I enjoy hiking and biking with my son and football catches and going out to Chinese food with my daughter.
No. of Years Lived in District:  6
Children in Chappaqua Schools or Date of Graduation:  2, as of the fall
No. of School Board meetings attended in last 2 years: 8
No. of School Budget meetings attended in last 2 years: 6-8

(1) What experiences and skills do you have that will enable you to be an effective member of the Board of Education?

(1) After starting my career as a pension consultant, I have spent the past 20 years working in financial services including significant work in investment management, building new businesses, budgeting, accounting and managing others. Throughout my career, I have had leadership responsibility for executing complex transactions with multiple parties. As a manager for much of that time, I have had to operate within a highly regulated framework and build consensus among groups of people with widely different opinions on the proper allocation of both human and economic capital.

(2) What do you consider the main issue(s) facing the Chappaqua Central School District and how would you address it (them)?

(2) Without meaningful change, the financial challenges facing the district will eat away at the foundation of one of its most valuable assets, the academic excellence of our schools.  The only way to make this a sustainable community is to find a way to work with all our constituents (students, school employees, parents, administrators and non-users of the system) to address these issues in a manner where we can all find enough common ground to move forward together. Need an ongoing two front strategy engaging Albany and local school employees.

Victoria Bayard Tipp

Occupation: Law and Mediation (currently not in practice) Past experience includes work in large NY law form on legal aspects of banking and international banking transactions, including restructuring of Argentine debt and other international project finance transactions.
Education: Harvard Law School, J.D., 1986; Barnard College, A.B., Political Science, 1983; United Nations International School, International Baccalaureate, 1979.
Interests/Community Involvement:  Chappaqua PTA: President, 2007-08; Vice President, 2006-07; Chair PTA District Cultural Enrichment Committee, 2003-04; Chair PTA Bell Cultural Enrichment Committee 2003-2004;  Chair PTA Grafflin Cultural Enrichment Committee, 2003-04. Citizens’ Non-Partisan Candidate Committee for the Chappaqua Board of Education, co-chair, 2008-09; 2009-10. Chappaqua Board of Education, co-chair, 2008-09; 2009-10. League of Women Voters of New Castle, Board of Directors 2004-06; Nominating Committee, Chair, 2008-09; Member, 2009-10.  Chappaqua Youth Soccer, team manager, 2008-09; Chappaqua Orchestra, Board of Directors, 2004-06.
No. of Years Lived in District:  11
Children in Chappaqua Schools or Date of Graduation: 4 children. 3 graduated in 06, 09 and 10; 1 in 8th grade at Bell Middle School.
No. of School Board meetings attended in last 2 years: 10
No. of School Budget meetings attended in last 2 years:  8

(1) What experiences and skills do you have that will enable you to be an effective member of the Board of Education?

(1) For many years, I have been actively involved in our community through several organizations.  Through the League of Women Voters, I examined town-wide local planning issues.  As Chappaqua PTA President I worked with the CCSD administration, Board of Education, PTA Executive Committee and members of our community.  I have been an advocate for effective communication, collaboration, and consensus building among many constituencies in our district.  As a result, I have gained extensive knowledge of our community and our school district’s educational philosophy, budget process and the many issues we face.

(2) What do you consider the main issue(s) facing the Chappaqua Central School District and how would you address it (them)?

(2) We must maintain the academic excellence of our nationally recognized school system while developing a fiscally responsible budget.  This will require an examination of all areas of the budget for operational efficiencies, new uses of technology and partnering with other groups to find more economical ways to deliver a high quality educational program.  The Board must persevere in challenging unfunded mandates from Albany by encouraging the development of a citizens’ advocacy group, working with the School Boards Association, and partnering with other districts to move forward with a strong voice.

Karen Visser

Occupation: Former architect; currently caring for 3 young children.
Education: B.S Architecture/College of Engineering from The Ohio State University.
Interests/Community Involvement: PTA Secretary for Roaring Brook School, RBS grade level coordinator for Cultural Enrichment Committee, PTA committees; Class Parent; Parent Advisory Board for Amadeus Conservatory; former board member of Children’s Friends for Life (an AIDS organization); church volunteer. Enjoys entertaining, cooking, reading and traveling.
No. of Years Lived in District: 14
Children in Chappaqua Schools or Date of Graduation: 3 currently; 2 graduated in ’02 and ’06.
No. of School Board meetings attended in last 2 years: Approximately 6
No. of School Budget meetings attended in last 2 years:  Approximately 5

(1) What experiences and skills do you have that will enable you to be an effective member of the Board of Education?

(1) As an architect, I’m extremely well organized and have a high level of attention to detail. I have experience managing a wide range of projects. I’m able to keep rigorous schedules, budget and be fiscally responsible. My work experience has trained me to listen, identify and solve problems.  I am successful at implementing solutions by working and communicating with a diverse team of constituents.  As a longtime resident, and PTA officer, I believe my skills and knowledge of Chappaqua will bring a unique perspective to the Board.

(2) What do you consider the main issue(s) facing the Chappaqua Central School District and how would you address it (them)?

(2) The two mains issues facing the BOE are a fiscally responsible budget and maintaining out historical excellence in education.  In this economic climate, we need to make conscious and mindful decisions with fiscal discipline.  The BOE needs to find ways to streamline and be more efficient and to ensure our quality of education at a superior level. We need creative ideas to bring in resources that will supplement the budget.  The Board needs to be willing to listen and communicate openly with community members with and without children in the district.

 

LIBRARY BOARD CANDIDATES

Candidates for the Chappaqua Library Board:  There are 4 candidates for 1 opening on the Library Board. The term is 5 years.

Questions asked of each Library Board candidate:

(1) What experiences and skills do have that will enable you to be an effective member of the Library Board?

(2) What do you consider the main issue(s) facing the Chappaqua Library and how would you address it (them)?

(All information was provided by the candidates. Biographical information was edited for the Voters Guide; responses to Questions 1 and 2 appear exactly as submitted by the candidates. Responses were limited to 90 words for each question.)

Gerry Golub

Occupation: Retired Certified Public Accountant
Education: Baruch School of Business, graduate work in Finance and Investments;  Brooklyn College, BS, Accounting; Stuyvesant High School.
Interests/Community Involvement: Fire Commissioner, Chappaqua Fire District; Member of the Zoning Board of Appeals; Pollster at Elections.
No. of Years Lived in District: 40
How often do you use the library: twice a month
No. of Library Board meetings you have attended in last 2 years: 2

(1) What experiences and skills do you have that will enable you to be an effective member of the Library Board?

(1) As a practicing CPA, my career covered 46 years. I founded, led and managed the 5th largest accounting firm in New York, Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP (GGK). At my retirement, we number 625 people.  As a client advisor, I worked with strong business leaders and helped them run their businesses, face and solve the problems that confronted them. As the leader of my firm, I developed strong experience in operations, personnel matters and business problem solving.  These skills prepare me well to be an effective member of the Library Board.

(2) What do you consider the main issue(s) facing the Chappaqua Library and how would you address it (them)?

(2) Confronting the library today primarily is revenue generation. Residents’ feelings re taxes have caused leadership to do more with less.  Possible solutions to current problems…In lieu of raising taxes, we should be thinking through a fund raising effort from those residents who can afford to help.  Added funds are needed so the cuts in reference materials won’t be repeated next year.

Current challenges are a) finding more internal space for Children’s programs – reallocation of area used, b) controlling staffing costs – juggling hours and personnel, c) significantly impacting the budget—review of pension costs.

 

Thomas Payne

Occupation: Sales for Hewlett Packard
Education: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY), BS in Computers and Systems Engineering
Interests/Community Involvement:  Birchwood Swim and Tennis, Board; New Castle Softball League; Golf; Water sports; Snowboarding.
No. of Years Lived in District:  4 (in July)
How often do you use the library: family uses it frequently
No. of Library Board meetings you have attended in last 2 years: none

(1) What experiences and skills do you have that will enable you to be an effective member of the Library Board?

(1) I have served on several boards, including the Rensselaer Entrepreneur Network, Turtle Bay Association, the Friends of Dag Hammarskjold Plaza and Birchwood Swim and Tennis. I believe my background in business and technology, along with my experiences in high school and college working in libraries, will allow me to make valuable contributions to the board. The fact that my two young boys enjoy the library will also help me represent their perspective.

(2) What do you consider the main issue(s) facing the Chappaqua Library and how would you address it (them)?

(2) While budgets shrink and roofs leak, I believe libraries face the challenge of maintaining their relevance in the world of Google and Wikipedia. Our library has done a wonderful job of embracing technology, but I believe we must do more. Pam Thornton notes that while we adopt technologies like e-books, the fact that they return themselves automatically puts $50,000/year of late-fee revenue at risk. I look forward to helping the library come up with new models that will help us maintain the level of service that our community deserves.

Ellen Smithberg

Occupation:  Attorney
Education:  New York University Law School; Vassar College; Hunter College High School.
Interests/Community Involvement: Served on board of the Chappaqua Children’s Workshop; helped fundraise for the battered women’s shelter with adult pottery class at the town art center; run every year in the Chappaqua 10K race.
No. of Years Lived in District:  21
How often do you use the library: bi-weekly
No. of Library Board meetings you have attended in last 2 years: none

(1) What experiences and skills do you have that will enable you to be an effective member of the Library Board?

(1) I have been a lawyer for 30 years with the state, and am now retired, so I have time to devote to the board. I have been a regular user of the library for the past 20 years and am an avid reader.

(2) What do you consider the main issue(s) facing the Chappaqua Library and how would you address it (them)?

(2) The main issue facing the library is providing adequate services given current budget constraints. I would to explore ways to raise funds through possible contracting with food providers, and coordinating fundraising opportunities with the Friends of the Library.   

Vincent C. Travagliato

Occupation: Estate planning attorney (solo practitioner in Chappaqua)
Education: Fordham School of Law, JD, cum laude, 1993; Pace University, BBA, Public Accounting, summa cum laude, 1988(Lubin School of Business Valedictorian)
Interests/Community Involvement:  Home improvement; basketball; head coach of 4th Grade Boy’s Little League Baseball Team.
No. of Years Lived in District: almost 9
How often do you use the library: every other week, with spurts of intense usage
No. of Library Board meetings you have attended in last 2 years: none

(1) What experiences and skills do you have that will enable you to be an effective member of the Library Board?

(1)

1. As a former CPA with 5 years experience, I can constructively analyze and contribute to the dialogue on the budget and current shortfall.
2. With 17 years experience as an estate planning attorney, I can think creatively about fundraising, including the use of philanthropic techniques, to help address budget issues and do a capital raise, if needed.
3. I am a solo practitioner leveraging new technology and am thus comfortable with the new media and technology (e.g., eBooks) growing in importance to the Library and its patrons.

(2) What do you consider the main issue(s) facing the Chappaqua Library and how would you address it (them)?

(2)

1. How to maintain the current high quality of the services within the same or a reduced cost structure and I think the solution is to think creatively about fundraising (without soliciting) and revenue raising activities.
2. Better leverage the existing footprint of the building through creative architecture and continued migration to new e-media which can take less space than certain of the “old” media.
3. The interior seems tired and a remodeling in line with increased use/importance of new media should be considered.                                                                                   
_________________________

Editor’s Note: Although the League of Women Voters “Voters Guide” interviews of the candidates for board of education and library board positions are listed in alphabetical order, on Tuesday’s ballot, their names, according to District Clerk Theresa Markley, will appear as follows:

Board of Education Candidates:

Victoria Bayard Tipp
Karen Visser
Robert Fleisher

Library Board Candidates: 

Thomas Payne
Vincent Travagliato
Ellen Smithberg
Gerry Golub

To determine ballot order, names are drawn randomly by the District Clerk.