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Putnam Valley Completes Controversial Organization Appointments at January Town Board Meeting
by Edward Paul Greiff
 | | Attendees of the January Town Board meeting entertain themselves while Town Board spends 1½ hours in Executive Session. |
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Twenty minutes into the Putnam Valley January 17, 2007 Town Board meeting the Town Board went into Executive Session and left the crowded Court Room of over seventy-five residents and a Deputy Sheriff to entertain themselves.
Most of the audience was there to either support or not support the reappointment of John Zarcone Jr. to another five-year term on the Town's Planning Board. Both sides were emotional in their opinions. An hour and a half later the Board emerged from its closed-door executive session and Supervisor Davis invited, over the objection of some board members, anyone in the audience who has not previously had an opportunity to speak out on this "important matter" the opportunity to do so. He asked for the comments to be brief and civil.
The first woman to speak, a thirty-year resident of Putnam Valley, praised John Zarcone and said he was a good friend to her family and that he was an honorable attorney she has known for twelve years. She said Mr. Zarcone had fought hard to keep developers from overrunning the town and that the Board should vote in favor of his reappointment.
Patty Villanova said she was fearful and worried about Mr. Zarcone being reappointed to the Planning Board. She felt there were less controversial and more qualified people that could be appointed to the board.
Mary Beth Becker mentioned the contentious relationship Councilwoman Keresey has had with Mr. Zarcone and felt the Councilwoman should refrain from voting on this issue. She added that because of the nature of this "intimidation" she did not feel Mr. Zarcone was the proper choice for the Planning Board. Ms. Becker pointed out the proliferation of attorneys the Town has on the various boards and stated tat what the Town does not have is an architect on the [Planning] Board. She pointed out that the great communities across the country all have been influenced by an architect's vision in the planning process.
David Gordon responded on behalf of Priscilla Keresey as to why she did not have to recuse herself when it came to voting on the Zarcone decision.
Other members of the audience voiced their opinions before the Town Board cast their votes; Supervisor Davis and Councilwoman Whetsel voted against the appointment, Ricci, Tendy, and Keresey voted in favor of the reappointment.
Upon hearing the decision, Mr. Zarcone thanked, and shook each Board members hand. Mr. Davis called for a five minute recess while just about ninety-five percent of the audience put on their coats and prepared to leave.
Appointments were also made for the other agenda items tabled from the January 3 Organization meeting. The first order of business was the setting of Mr. Davis' salary as Chief Financial Officer. Councilman Dan Ricci said it should be $1 a year because he did not believe Supervisor Davis did a good job. Councilman Tendy said he did not like the idea of "playing with peoples' salary, but Mr. Davis does do the job, perhaps he did not do it to our liking this year but it is his job to be the Chief Budget Officer, and Mr. Davis has indicated a desire to change the process this time and it is a lot of work. I would be inclined to keep the salary at what it is." The Board voted in favor of Supervisor Davis being compensated at the budgeted rate of $7,000; Councilman Ricci voted against this decision.
Once again a discussion ensued regarding the appointment of a Town Attorney. It was not a question of whether or not David Gordon was doing a good job, but whether the Town can afford two attorneys at $48,000 each or would the Town be better served with one attorney at $80,000. Attorney Gordon was reappointed as Town Attorney with the provision that the Board will advertise for one attorney that can do the work of both David Gordon and Bill Zutt. Supervisor Davis opposed the decision to look for one attorney and reminded the Board that either party in an employee contractual arrangement can terminate the contract by providing thirty days written notice.
Irv Sevelowitz was reappointed as the Fire Prevention Inspector at a salary of $5,250.
Ambulance Corps President Giles Spoonhour reported the Putnam Valley Ambulance Corps responded to 648 during the 2006 year.
Fire Chief Bruce Johnson reported the PVVFD had a record year with 430 calls.
The Town Day committee reported that it is trying to schedule Town Day for sometime in the fall and is tentatively looking at September 15.
Three and a half hours after the evening's meeting began it was time for Public Comments and Putnam Valley resident Russ Messina, who waited all that time, was not to be denied his turn at the podium. Mr. Messina admonished Supervisor Davis for not doing the job he was elected to do. Davis responded by inviting Mr. Messina to sit down with him and review his accomplishments for the year.
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