SEA CLIFF MAYOR BRUCE KENNEDY - STATE OF THE VILLAGE ADDRESS
Welcome to the Sea Cliff Annual Meeting. Tonight is the night when outgoing Bord members say goodbye, new members are sworn in, and staff and volunteers are appointed. It's a night to recognize and thank residents for their community pride and spirit of participation. It is the volunteers on our boards and committees, and those who volunteer in the Village programs who really make Sea Cliff unique and wonderful. Life is busy for everyone but you are making the effort and giving unselfishly of your time and talent and we are all better for it.
Despite what is going on in Washington and Albany; in Sea Cliff, 2016 was a year of achievement and progress. In the face of the economic challenges, we were able to pass a virtually flat-line budget. Through a commitment to finding savings by streamlining systems and discovering new efficiencies we were able to live well within our budget this past year. We have new employees in the Department of Public Works, adding to our staff of hard working men who pick up our garbage & recycling, and maintain our streets, parks and buildings. Our Village Hall staff is a dedicated group of professional employees who work here because they love Sea Cliff and its residents. I consider myself lucky to have such a fine group of people representing myself and the Board on a daily basis. The creativity that exists here is boundless as evidenced by our non-stop events that surround the Arts. Concerts, photography, shows, art openings, dancers, and plays seem to be occurring constantly. Sea Cliff is full of painters, sculptors, actors, poets and musicians that keep us entertained and creative ideas alive. We have major projects that were begun this past year; which are slated to be completed this upcoming year. There are also several major projects that are currently in the planning phase. The biggest issue that we are dealing with right now is the planned redevelopment of Garvies Point in Glen Cove. This poorly thought out plan threatens the quality of life of Sea Cliff residents. Despite what the Mayor of Glen Cove says, this is much more than just a Glen Cove issue - it is a regional issue. The Village filed a law suit to overturn the approval of the Glen Cove Planning Board as well as to enforce an agreement reached by the Village and the City back in 2000 as it pertains to the waterfront development. The current plan is a loser, it will not benefit the residents of Glen Cove or Sea Cliff. Only the developer has something to gain from the current plan and the Board of Trustees are fighting on behalf of our residents to prevent this ill advised plan from going forward! The Board has been hard at work with this year's budget and preliminary numbers indicate that we may be able to once again pass a near zero tax increase budget. We will make our presentation at the Budget hearing in a few weeks. I would like to recognize and thank Trustee Elena Villafane who resigned due to a medical concern a couple of months ago. Elena has faithfully served the Village in multiple capacities over the years and was a strong member of the Board. I couldn't think of a better person to fill her seat than Robin Maynard and would like to congratulate her on her recent election, I would also like to congratulate trustee Kevin McGilloway on his re-election. These two individuals added to Trustee Lieberman and Epstein has established a very strong, diverse, and dedicated Board of Trustees that are committed to the service and betterment of our Village. Sea Cliff wouldn't be Sea Cliff without the scores of volunteers who are constantly at work around us. There is no compensation for serving on the Zoning Board, Planning Board, Architectural Review Board, Landmarks Commission. Yet, these individuals say yes despite the amount of hours and work required to carry out the trust we instill upon these individuals. The Committees and organizations that are dedicated to the betterment of our community are remarkable. The Mutual Concerns Committee, the Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts, the Good of the Village Association, the Beautification Committee, the Environmental Committee, the Civic Association, the Senior Action Committee, the Lion's Club, the Kiwanis Club, Sea Cliff Baseball, the Arts Council, the Landmarks Association, the American Legion Post, and the Sailing Club to mention a few! This is how you truly become a Sea Cliffian; you volunteer your time and talents to give back to your community. I would be remiss not to recognize two very important people who make my public service possible - My wife Robin and my son Alex - who tolerate my late hours, phone calls at all hours and disturbance to our family time. They know how much I enjoy being the Mayor and sacrifice quite a bit to allow me to do the job. It is springtime in Sea Cliff; flowers are blooming, leaves are budding, birds are singing and neighbors are emerging from their winter hibernation. As I see it, all is good in our Village. I see vibrancy, success and passion every place I look. Anything is possible in Sea Cliff because we have the faith, the will, and the heart. And for that, I thank all of you.
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APPOINTMENTS MADE AT APRIL 4 ANNUAL MEETING
Marianne Lennon Village Clerk Brian S. Stolar Village Attorney John Mirando Director of Public Works Patricia Guy Deputy Village Clerk, Deputy Court Clerk Kathy Mackney Court Clerk Paula Guidone Deputy Village Treasurer Karen Schenck Tax Clerk Nancy Eder Building Department Coordinator Lorraine Baker Secretary to the Zoning Board Carl Rumatoski Fire Prevention Officer, Plumbing Inspector and Dog Control Officer Sara Reres Museum Director Erinn McDonnell Grant & Contracts Coordinator, Community Development and Sec. 8 Administrator Karen Montagnese Senior Outreach Worker Ted Kolakowski Parking Violations Officer, Dog Control Officer Tillman Brown Parking Violations Officer, Dog Control Officer Susan Katz Richman Acting Village Justice (1 year) Charles Parisi Acting Village Justice (1 year) Chris Zeppier Architectural Review Board (3 years) James Mozer Architectural Review Board Chair (1 year) Bruce Treiber Planning Board Chairperson/Landmark President (1 year) Nick Virgilio Planning Board (5 years) Vincent LaManna Planning Board Alternate (1 years) Noel Griffen Zoning Board of Appeals (5 years); Chairperson (1 year) Tim O'Donnell Zoning Board of Appeals (5 years) Tom Powell Delegate – Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee (1 year) Jean Davis Village Historian/Landmark Preservation (1 year) Naomi Curtis Village Co-Historian/Landmark Preservation (1 year) Members – Veteran’s Committee ( 1 year) Scott Whitting, Chairperson Ted Kopczynski Phil Como Ernie Franck Members – Service Award Commission (1 year) Timothy O’Donell Ernest Longobucco Peter Hayes Members – Community Development Advisory Board (1 year) Laurie Petroske Jack Pierce Members – Newsletter Committee (1 year) Robert Lafferty Landmarks Preservation Commission Leslie Guerci Chairperson (1 year) Allison Frankel (3 years) Robert Kenney (1 year) fill N. Curtis Term Robert Lafferty (3 years) Tree Committee Cecelia Wheeler Russell Gorog Rennee Swanson Ken Krumenacker – Alternate Members – Senior Action committee Jean Stratford – Chair Alice O’Donnell Joyce Kaufmann Debbie Pierce Genevieve Woods Maureen Maddock Ann Costagliola Dan Maddock Phil Como Carol Mutee Frank Murray Tom Blackburn Kenny Krumenaker Bob Murphy Robert Osmers Jonathan Pilliod Jeanne Pilliod Peter Vollmer Liz Luciano Tom Oswald Claudia Moyne Members—Village Bulletin Staff Barbara Murray – Managing Editor Frank Murray Carol Griffin Suzanne Bohn Dan Maddock Members—Board of Assessment Review Phil Como, Chair Barbara Sinenberg Steve Tandy Ralph Hochberg Members- Examining Board of Plumbers Glen Bunce - 3 years Members – Library Board – 5 years Katherine Klotz Ron Doering Members – Museum Board – 3 years Elizabeth Azzarello Geri Soloman Kathleen DiResta Members – Waterfront/Environment Committee (1 Year) Debra Dumas, Chair Claudia Moyne Martine Reed Annabel Delfin John Stalzer Greta Gorda Jason Wolner Lisa Spina Members – SC Beach Event Coordinating Committee (1 year) Justin DiPietro – Chair Jenna Dipietro Members – Sailing Club – (1 year) Joe Roman |
