SEA CLIFF VILLAGE BOARD ANNUAL MEETING, 4.6.15
MAYOR EMPHASIZES INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN STATE OF VILLAGE ADDRESS
April 10, 2015 -- In his "State of the Village" report at this past Monday's Sea Cliff Village Board Annual Meeting, Mayor Bruce Kennedy focused most of his remarks on the capital improvement projects that have either been completed or undertaken over the past year.
With the installation of the Sea Cliff Avenue sewer line nearly complete, a spur will now be installed under Roslyn Avenue, extending southward to 15th Avenue. The new line was made possible, the Mayor said, as a result of the overall project coming in under budget which, even with the extension, will cost $100,000 less than what was originally anticipated. He said that businesses on the cross street had expressed a desire for a hook up and it would be particularly helpful for the firehouse to be able to connect as well. Roslyn Avenue, after the excavation, will be fully repaved, "curb to curb." Under the weather and so keeping his remarks relatively brief, the Mayor also highlighted the other projects and renovations that have been completed this past year, and offered a preview of upcoming work. Those that have been completed include the Scudder's Pond restoration and the renovation of the interior to the Stenson Memorial Children's Library. The latter, he said, would serve as a model and inspiration for future renovation and restoration projects, in particular the "Phase II" renovation of Sea Cliff Village Hall, which will involve waterproofing the building with a new roof and pointing of the brickwork as well as renovating and waterproofing the downstairs court room, "so that this room becomes a place of pride for us." Funding for that project is being provided through a grant from NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Additionally, Mayor Kennedy said that extensive road surface replacement would be carried out this year on many of the streets throughout the village. "It is required," he said, "and we have the money." The Mayor concluded saying that the Village is an excellent financial shape, and that he foresees "a rosy year ahead." On April 14 at 7 pm, the Village Board will hold a Public hearing on the budget and tax levy for the 2015-16 fiscal year, which the Mayor said would be "well within the tax cap." He added, "We saw significant savings from this past year, that will be applied to this year's budget." OUTGOING TRUSTEE CAROL VOGT RECOGNIZED FOR SERVICE TO VILLAGE Both Mayor Bruce Kennedy and newly sworn in Deputy Mayor Edward Lieberman paid tribute to outgoing Trustee and Deputy Mayor Carol Vogt, who did not seek election to a fourth term this past March. Both emphasized how working with the Trustee, a retired history teacher, was a great learning experience. Mayor Kennedy, who had served with Trustee Vogt on the Planning Board for a number of years, before being elected to the Village Board six years ago, acknowledged that while the two of them have different styles, they share similar goals. "Carol and I ultimately have the same vision to serve our community and people," the Mayor said, "We just have different ways of going about it." Later in the meeting, following his appointment by Mayor Kennedy to replace Ms. Vogt as Village Deputy Mayor, Trustee Lieberman said that Trustee Vogt was a model trustee. "Carol has been my mentor," he said. "She was a history teacher and she taught us well." Trustee Vogt, in her remarks, connected her work as a Trustee to her work for many years as as a high school United States History teacher, relating how she had always explained to her students on the first day of school that the extent to which the United States succeeds as a country is "directly proportional to the extent to which its citizens take responsibility and get involved in their nation and their community." She said that she believes it is "central to the way this country works and the way this community works." Speaking to the scores of people in the audience, most of whom would be sworn in that evening to serve the village in some capacity, she said that although she was stepping down as trustee, she promised to stay involved and volunteer "for this village that we care so much about." "I leave knowing that the Village is in very good hands, with Mayor Kennedy, Trustees Epstein, Lieberman, McGilloway and Villafane, supported by you and the wonderful village staff." Ms. Vogt was later sworn in to serve as an Alternate Member to the newly formed Tree Commission. IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RUN A VILLAGE - SWEARING IN CEREMONIES Mayor Kennedy and Trustee Edward Lieberman, who each won re-election to two year terms last month were sworn in to office by Village Justice John Reali. Newly elected Trustee Dina Epstein was out of town and will be sworn in upon her return. Additionally, Justice Reali administered the oath of office to Acting Justices Susan Katz Richman and Charles Parisi who were each re-appointed by the Mayor to one-year terms. Mayor Kennedy then swore in dozens of employees and volunteers to a variety of positions. See the list to the right. The meeting concluded with a reception that featured refreshments and sweets served by the Sea Cliff Civic Association. |
APPOINTMENTS MADE AT APRIL 6 ANNUAL MEETING
Marianne Lennon Village Clerk Patricia Guy Deputy Village Clerk, Deputy Court Clerk Kathy Mackney Court Clerk Barbara Murray Deputy 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 Vilage Justice (1 year) Charles Parisi Acting Village Justice (1 year) James Mozer Architectural Review Board (3 years) Davis Digiovanni Architectural Review Board (3 years) Paul Anderson Architectural Review Board (3 years) Bruce Treiber Planning Board Chairperson/Landmark President (1 year) Tim Driscoll Planning Board of Appeals (5 years) Andrew Janusus Planning Board of Appeals (4 years) Tom Powell Delegate – Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee (1 year) Jean Davis Village Historian/Landmark Preservation (1 year) Pricilla Waltz Village Co-Historian (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 Howard Aranoff 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) Leslie Guerci (3 years) Paul Anderson (3 years) Member – Youth Board (1 year) Brian Ciampa Alex Kennedy Tree Committee Cecelia Wheeler Russell Gorog Rennee Swanson Ken Krumenacker – Alternate Carol Vogt – 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 Lee Janelli Carol Mutee Frank Murray Christina Scott Tom Blackburn Kenny Krumenaker Bob Murphy Robert Osmers Jonathan Pilliod Jeanne Pilliod Peter Vollmer Liz Luciano Charles Hansmann Tom Oswald Claudia Moyne Members—Village Bulletin Staff Barbara Murray – Managing Editor Frank Murray Carol Griffin Margaret Malone Suzanne Bohn Dan Maddock Meaghan Murray Members—Board of Assessment Review Phil Como, Chair Barbara Sinenberg Steve Tandy Ralph Hochberg Jonathan Waechter Members- Examining Board of Plumbers George Coyle – 2 years Richard Scott – 3 years Members – Library Board – 5 years Jennifer Scheffel Roseanne Gertler Members – Museum Board – 3 years Bruce Treiber John Laruccia Jackie Warren Members – Waterfront/Environment Committee (1 Year) Tom Powell, Chair Debra Dumas Claudia Moyne Lisa DiBeneditis Martine Reed Kristine Livadas Barbara Karlowich Carol McGill John Stalzer Andrea King Members – SC Beach Event Coordinating Committee (1 year) Justin DiPietro – Chair Jenna Dipietro Members – Sailing Club – (1 year) Joe Roman |