Five Islands Park Renamed Joseph E. Curtis Park; Budget Discussed; PVC External Gas Pipes Approved
By Stephen E. Lipken
Usual procedure is to name a landmark after a deceased citizen, such as re-naming Brick Park after the late Joseph A. Trotta in Pelham. But at New Rochelle City Council Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting on Tuesday, June 8 it was decided to re-name Five Islands Park for Joseph E. Curtis, who is very much alive.
Joining the Rotary Club in 1975, Curtis received the Service Above Self and Paul Farris Fellow, the highest award given to a member. A former Rotary Club President, Curtis is in the Rotary Club Hall of Fame.
When privately-owed Five Islands was acquired by the City in 1970, Curtis became directly responsible for coordinating a community driven master park development plan.
Curtis retired as Commissioner of Human Services on January 1, 1989.
Earlier the meeting recessed for a prolonged Executive Session in which Louis Cappelli and Joseph Apicella, Senior Vice President, Cappelli Enterprises attended. Learning of this, resident James O’Toole spoke out against their attendance at Citizens to Be Heard that evening in Council Chambers.
“Why were they in Executive Session privately,” O’Toole asked. “Shouldn’t their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) be made public? This is their 14th extension. Where are the Kohl’s and Target stores promised for North Avenue? Huguenot Avenue is now a dump—is Cappelli trying to get [portions of] North Avenue blighted in order to acquire the property by Eminent Domain?”
Finance Commissioner Howard Rattner presented the Budget Report for the first five months of Fiscal Year (FY) through May. There is a variance of $34 million in revenues, or 32 percent of Budget estimate. This total is about $500,000 or one percent greater than the amount realized for the same period in 2009.
“Sales tax revenues increased by three percent; final mid-year reconciliation occurs in July. Mortgage tax income continues to be sluggish. Revenue derived from parking violations is 25 percent less, a $300,000 shortfall. Position vacancies have slowed down considerably and we have saved $1 million dollars. Health benefits savings amount to $100,000.
“However certioraris grow substantially. We used up our allocation equal to the full year 2009, a $250,000 to $400,000 shortfall; fifty small claims from 2009 are still outstanding,” Rattner averred City Manager Charles B. Strome III pointed out that New York State (NYS) has developed a Retirement Incentive Program applying to non-uniformed personnel (excluding Police and Firefighters) which the City must tap into by end of August.
Councilman Richard St. Paul questioned the 25 percent drop in parking violation income; Strome suggested that three Community Service Officers (CSO) recently hired might bring the number up. He also warned that if hiring freeze continues and more employees left, services might be reduced.
There was some good news as Council approved codes to install Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipe to conduct gas from the main conduit to the meter, saving homeowners a substantial amount of money over iron pipe.
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