Mamaroneck REVIEW THE
August 19, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 34 | www.mamaroneckreview.com
Village Democrats look to strip mayor of power
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By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
and wanting more Tao Porchon-Lynch in the full lotus pose, or Padmasana. Porchon-Lynch, 98, was declared the world’s oldest yoga teacher by Guinness World Records in 2013. She spoke to At Home on the Sound members on Aug. 9 as part of its Remarkable Women Over 90 series. For story, see page 6. Photo/Teresa Kay-Aba Kennedy
Rye to battle county in court over lead agency By JAMES PERO Staff Writer After bringing its assertions to court, the city of Rye will attempt to wrestle control of any potential upcoming projects at Playland from Westchester County. The decision to file an Article 78 lawsuit on Aug. 10 comes
after news that the county— who entered into an agreement transferring management of the park to the private company Standard Amusements back in March—had declared itself lead agency in late April for the basis of overseeing capital investment projects in the park. “It was reckless of the county to try to sneak this through
without following the law,” said Rye City Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican. The finalization of the lawsuit brushed up against a tight filing deadline of Aug. 11; a date which marked the last day of a state-mandated, four-month statute of limitations to challenge any declaration of lead agency. According to Rye City Attor-
ney Kirsten Wilson, while Rye hasn’t yet pushed for an injunction—a move which would put a foreseeable stop on capital projects at the park until the litigation is resolved—the city is still mulling over its right to do so. Members of the Rye City Council have contended, in a COURT continued on page 11
A piece of legislation spearheaded by Board of Trustees Democrats will look to alter a perceived loophole, which they say allows the village of Mamaroneck mayor power to appoint members to land use boards without board approval. The proposed law, which on Aug. 15 was passed in a 3-2 partisan vote and had its first public hearing scheduled for Sept. 4, would reel in what Democrats feel is the unintended implementation of a statute known in village government as the “hold over” rule. “This power gives [the mayor] the ability to unilaterally appoint members of the land use boards without approval of [the] Board of Trustees,” said Trustee David Finch, a Democrat. “That ain’t right.” The “hold over” rule stipulates that the mayor has the power to appoint land use board members during vacancy, which can occur when a member of a land use board resigns or is removed from their position. Once the interim appointment serves out the remainder of the prior member’s term, the Board of Trustees must vote on whether or not to keep the hold over; this is where Finch says the issue arises. If the Board of Trustees’ vote
is not unanimous, the mayor’s interim appointment stays on for a full term. “It’s just not [a] good democratic process,” Finch said. “It doesn’t represent the wishes of the people.” According to Finch, Mayor Norman Rosenblum, a Republican, has made such appointments twice in the past—once in 2014 and once in 2015—after members of the planning and zoning boards stepped down just a month prior to their terms expiring. While Finch declined to say whether the mayor has forced resignations, as some on the board and in the community have accused him of, using the hold over rule to his advantage, the trustee said the process opens the door for malfeasance. “It’s not a good process and it is available for real abuse,” Finch said. For Rosenblum, however, the move to alter the law marks just another push by village board Democrats—who have been unable to regain the mayor’s seat from him since he defeated then Mayor Kathy Savolt, a Democrat, in 2009—to diminish his power. “It’s a continuation of the attempts by [Trustee Leon] Potok and Finch to destroy the office of mayor,” he said. “They are more POWER continued on page 8