Harrison REVIEW THE
June 23, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 25 | www.harrisonreview.com
Ethics change sanctions dual political positions
DRIVING TOWARD THE FUTURE
By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer
Harrison EMS unveiled its new ambulance earlier this month, with a different and potentially safer design than any of its three other ambulances. For more, see page 10. Photo/Thomas McAdam
Rye Brook Democrat to take on Gelfarb in District 6 By COREY STOCKTON Staff Writer A Democrat from Rye Brook plans on challenging David Gelfarb, hoping favorable voter registration numbers and a strong Democratic surge following last year’s presidential election are enough to seize the day. Nancy Barr, 57, told the Review that she will challenge her Republican opponent for Westchester County’s 6th legislative district seat in November. Barr said she decided to run after the Woman’s March protest on the weekend of the presidential inauguration. “I’ve been considering it for a couple of months,” she said. “I’ve been involved in a group called We Persist…. Several of us from the area went on the march in New York City and it just really ener-
gized us and it made us feel like there’s something we can do about what’s going on in the world.” A practicing attorney, Barr was also a past president of the Blind Brook Board of Education, having served on the board in that capacity from 2012 to 2015. She said that during her tenure on the school board, she tried to be hands-on, objective and transparent about the issues, adding that she doesn’t see the same degree of transparency from county government. She said that she also wants to bring more transparency and better communication to the Board of Legislators. “I certainly would want to bring more accountability to the people through getting more information out to the public in a more timely fashion about important matters like the county airport,” she said.
Last November, the administration of County Executive Rob Astorino, a Republican, announced that it would look to enter into a long-term lease agreement for the Westchester County Airport, which drew concern from residents in the communities surrounding the airport, including all of District 6, which encompasses all of the villages of Port Chester and Rye Brook and most of the town/village of Harrison. Barr said that the county, including Gelfarb, has been more open about the airport plans in recent months, but suggested that it was politically motivated. In speaking with the Review this week, Gelfarb said that he has long been focused on preventing the expansion and privatization of the airport, adding that he was the most transparent of any county legislator when
discussing that issue. “I have already organized and led four separate discussions on the airport deal,” he said. “There’s nobody more transparent.” Although Gelfarb, of Rye Brook, has held the seat for three consecutive terms, it is a heavily Democratic district by the numbers, with 12,300 registered Democrats to only 7,600 registered Republicans, according to GELFARB continued on page 8
In a 3-2 vote, the Town Council approved a change last week to a long-discussed law that restricted elected officials from holding leadership positions in any political party while also maintaining office. The move will put Harrison in line with other communities that already implement a similar policy on holding dual political posts for its elected officials. For more than three decades, Harrison’s ethics code mandated town officers and employees could not be district leaders, who are responsible for interviewing candidates during the nominating process for elections, for any political party or club. However, after gaining support from most of the Town Council, elected officials in the town—the mayor, the clerk and council members—can now hold dual political positions with the approval of the ethics change. Despite not voting in favor of the proposal, Councilman Stephen Malfitano, a Republican, said he is “absolutely in support of making the change,” adding that he couldn’t vote in favor of the change because of its timing. “It’s hard for any [political] party to argue against this, but it being in the middle of an election season creates the opportunity for politicization,” Malfitano told the Review. He further added that it’s counterintuitive for elected officials to not be part of the nominating process. Mayor Ron Belmont and Councilman Rich Dionisio, both Republicans who are up for re-election, as well as Councilman Fred Sciliano, a Republican, voted in favor of changing the law, which will not affect other Harrison employees or appointed officials. Echoing Malfitano’s sentiments, Councilwoman Marlane Amelio, a Republican who is up
At a glance In a 3-2 vote, the Town Council voted to change an ethics law granting elected officials the ability to also hold political leadership positions while in office The law change will still restrict appointed officials other town officers and employees from holding political leadership roles Councilman Stephen Malfitano supports the change despite voting against it
for election this year, said she could not vote in favor of the law change. “I’m just trying to avoid any misunderstandings and controversy,” she said. “Whenever there is something so highly controversial with the potential for misconception, I just feel it’s best to delay its passage.” Amelio, who is joined on the GOP ticket by Dionisio, Belmont, and Town Clerk Jackie Greer this year, added that she doesn’t believe the law change was driven by politics, however. On the other side of the political aisle, Town Council candidate Frank Gordon, the only true Democrat running in the upcoming election, said the decision will create an atmosphere for conflicts of interest. “It will allow for almost every decision made [by the Town Council] to be influenced by a party’s platform,” he added, explaining that elected officials who serve as district leaders will be expected to pursue the ends of their party instead of looking at the public’s interest first. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com