First 100 days
MESSAGE from the Mayor A Fresh Start For Port Jeff When I ran for Mayor, I promised to bring fresh ideas, fiscal responsibility and strategic solutions to Port Jefferson. I also expressed my intention to put residents first, because when I was campaigning, I heard from so many who were unhappy with the direction the Village was taking. You told me you felt le out of the process, even ignored. Yet, one of Port Jeff’s greatest resources is our residents, who are intelligent, informed and passionate about doing what’s best for our community. That’s why, when I was elected, I made it one of my first priorities to meet with as many of you as possible. I asked to hear both your concerns and your ideas about how we can best improve our Village. These conversations have been enlightening and inspiring, and I hope we can continue having them, because I not only invite your input, I value it. As a Port Jeff native, with deep ties to our community, I share your passion for our Village. It is an honor to serve as your Mayor. It’s also a privilege to work alongside our deeply engaged Board of Trustees, department heads and staff, all of whom are dedicated to addressing your issues and needs. We face some serious challenges ahead and not every problem has an easy solution. Hanging flower baskets in downtown Port is one thing. Administering a plan that balances smart growth and open space is quite another. I’m confident that, together, we are capable of meeting whatever lies ahead. So I’ll make you another promise—your priorities and concerns will help form the roadmap we use to move ahead. I look forward to our continued collaboration and building on what we’ve already accomplished in these first 100 days.
Transforming
Promises into Policy Our conversations helped me prioritize several key success factors to ge ing Port Jeff back on the right track. The following is a look at how this administration has already begun to transform promises, based on those priorities, into policies.
R E S I D E N T S
F I R S T
PROMISE
To bridge the gap between village government and Port Jeff residents and make my administration more transparent, welcoming and inclusive
POLICY • Unlocked Village Hall • Ensured all BOT meetings now prominently displayed on Village Website • Every public meeting, including work sessions, now live-streamed and archived • Posted/printed Board meeting agendas now include detailed a achments • Moved BOT work sessions to the larger courtroom and changed time from 3:30pm to 6:oopm, so that more of you could participate • Invited residents to speak first at monthly public meetings • Mayor’s and Clerk’s offices, to welcome staff, residents and colleagues to pop-in and discuss issues important to them • Initiated revamp of Village Website, to make it more comprehensive and user friendly; more than 50 responses to the Request for Proposals have been fielded • Launched the “Make a Difference” page on the website, listing volunteer opportunities. We’ve had a robust response, but there are still openings. Find a commi ee right for you • Worked with the Business Improvement District to reestablish a Parking Commi ee that includes residents and merchants, to address our complex parking issues
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FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
PROMISE To end wasteful spending, institute a zero-based budget, create a sound 5-year Financial plan, establish a Finance Commi ee and a Board of Ethics, to ensure our tax revenues are spent wisely
POLICY • Proactively requested and awaiting a program performance and operations audit by the Office of the New York State Comptroller • Working with Clerk Sylvia Pirillo, RMC and Treasurer Stephen Gaffga, to implement zero -based budgeting • Appointed Kathy Goodwin, a former Village employee with deep experience in forensic accounting as Claims Auditor • Engaged municipal administrator Charlene G. Kagel, CPA, CGMA, to consult in prep of annual operating/capital budgets, advise on creation and implementation of policies/procedures and review/evaluate system of Internal Controls • BOT now receiving detailed, monthly accounts of all financial transactions and will be publishing monthly finanicials on the website • Tightened procurement process for greater transparency into how Village money is spent • Paying vouchers/invoices only with proper backup, and/or signed contract or BOT resolution • Created a Finance and Budget Commi ee via a BOT resolution • A 5-year financial plan is in the works • Treasurer replenishing fund reserves to reduce need to borrow for future projects • Treasurer collaborating with independent auditors to plug holes in our capital fund and address the adverse opinion we received, each year for the past seven years, making for an inadequate Capital Asset Plan
“The budget is the governing document for the entire Village. It tells you where the money is supposed to be spent and where it’s supposed to come from. No changes to the budget should ever be made without Board approval.” Stephen Gaffga, Treasurer.
• Treasurer working on comprehensive list of all Village assets, so they can be properly depreciated for insurance purposes and removal of adverse opinion • Reversed a past practice: Any change to Budget must now be approved by Board of Trustees, as per generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) • Provided proper documentation to secure grant monies that have been held up
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SMART GROWTH
PROMISE To balance our needs for housing and parking while addressing density and flooding. To protect our environment and quality of life while preserving our historic charm and maritime character
POLICY • Re-engaged Civil Engineer Roger Corcella, to bring back value engineering, oversee large projects and to prevent expensive change requests/cost overruns. Corcella built many projects for PJ, Rocketship Park, Harborfront Park and our Village Center, to name a few • Appointed Andrew P. Freleng Director of planning and enviromental services. This key position, le vacant too long, is crucial to keeping us on course. The Director will ensure future projects align with the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, address Village Code inconsistencies and prioritize healthy, sustainable growth • Dusted off the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, our blueprint for managed growth; talking with founding commi ee to evaluate how it addresses our current and future environment • Appointed municipal a orney James Burke, Land Use A orney. Burke was a former PJ Trustee and Planning Board Chair • Pursuing targeted grants to offset costs of upgrading our infrastructure
SAFETY
PROMISE
To improve public safety in the Village, addressing everything from Code enforcement and emergency preparedness to road/traffic issues
POLICY
PORT JEFF ALERT REGISTER HERE FOR INFORMATIONAL UPDATES
• Reintroduced the Village’s 2016 Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan; handed out copies to Board, requesting feedback and updates • Convened an Emergency Management Task Force, to include Fire Marshals, Code enforcement, DPW, Parks, IT, Communications, and Administration • Called for regular Emergency Response Drills, to ensure the Village’s readiness in a disaster • Collaborated with Code enforcement team, to increase presence of Code Officers throughout the Village and address strategic Code reform • Worked with Suffolk County Police Department, to add Village administrators and Code enforcement to its alert distribution system • Working with Highway Department, to replace/repair sidewalks, employ traffic-calming measures near School District facilities and created a Code Enforcement facebook page collaborating with SCPD to communicate accurate and timely updates.
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ETHICS
PROMISE
Residents and merchants should be able to trust that all services provided by Village employees are carried out fairly under the law, without favor or personal interest
POLICY • Appointed ethics a orney, Steven Leventhal, Esq, to spearhead initiatives to improve and enforce the Village Ethics Code and help avoid violations • Conducted an Ethics workshop for all Village officials, Board members and employees led by A orney Leventhal to ensure that all are aware of the ethics laws and have an understanding that even the perception of a conflict can trigger legal ramifications. • Started updating the Village Ethics Code, a guide for Village officials, Board members and employees to avoid anypotential ethical lapses between public responsibilities and personal interests
B U I L D I N G S T R O N G E R C O M M U N I T Y R E L AT I O N S H I P S
PROMISE To encourage be er communications and greater collaboration between the Village of Port Jefferson and its community partners, including the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County Police Dept., MTA/LIRR, National Grid, LIPA, Stony Brook University, Mather-Northwell, St. Charles Hospital, Suffolk County & New York State
POLICY • Created a Power Plant Working Group, consisting of residents with Energy and/or Board experience, to review the future of the power plant • A ended standing meetings and strengthening collaborations with the Chamber of Commerce, Business Improvement District, Civic Association, Historical Society, Port Jefferson Arts Council, LISEC, Port Jefferson Union Free School District, Stony Brook University and others • A new lease agreement with the Town of Brookhaven for continued use of Centennial Park Beach • Entered into an agreement with Stony Brook University to recruit student interns. They will assist Village departments in need of extra resources and students will gain valuable career experience
Centiennial Park Lease Agreement Signing National Grid Facility
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RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
PROMISE Address discrepancies in the Village’s HR systems, recruitment and search process, formal hiring practices and inconsistent succession planning
POLICY • Appointed Clerk Sylvia Pirillo,RMC as Village Clerk, who has decades of experience in municipal administration • Engaged Alan Schneider, an expert in Civil Service operations to consult on best practices, identify best solutions for hiring the most qualified candidates and evaluate staff for promotion or corrective guidance • Appointed Jennifer Buetow, Esq., part-time prosecutor, to work with the Village Court and ensure fair verdicts that prioritize corrective action over a revenue-focused approach • Separated function of Village Prosecutor from Director of Building and Planning, to eliminate conflicts of interest • Promoted long-standing employee Kelly Reilly to the title of Village Tax Receiver
Annual Safety/Sexual harassment training(Nov 1, 2023)
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