Town Council Approves Community Funding Proposals

Some testy exchanges between council members regarding the community funding budget and the most effective manner to fill a justice court clerk vacancy highlighted Tuesday evening’s
proceeding at the regularly-scheduled town council meeting. 

The main point of contention arose regarding the funds that would be earmarked for the Nyack Center’s Gang Prevention program.

Councilwoman Nancy Low-Hogan argued passionately that “there is a serious gang issue in Nyack that has to be addressed” and that “Nyack is in the town of Orangetown.”  She maintained that the agency should receive $5,000 of town funds and that other council members were being shortsighted in not fully appreciating the problem.

“Nancy, that is your opinion and you have one vote,” Councilman Denis Troy said.  

“We put four extra officers in Nyack on the weekends," said Councilman Tom Diviny. "The equities are there. You just didn’t get your way.” 

Supervisor Paul Whalen noted that upwards of $155,000 has been spent year to date in overtime pay for police officers in Nyack.

By a 4-1 vote, the Council designated $2,000 to the Nyack  Center.  The annual total community funding budget remains unchanged at $39,750.00.

The final breakdown of approved funding is as follows:

• Big Brothers Big Sisters - $1,000
• Camp Venture - $10,000
• Dowling Housing Corp - $1,000
• Headstart of Rockland - $8,000
• Home Aides of Rockland - $500
• Meals on Wheels - $10,000
• Nyack Center Gang Prevention - $2,000
• People to People - $3,000
• Piermont Historical Society - $1,000
• Rockland CC Sr. Citizens - $750
• Rockland County YMCA - $1,000
• RSVP - $500
• United Hospice of Rockland - $1,000
• Volunteer Action Center - $1,000

Another issue that was addressed was whether to fill the justice court vacancy with a full-time clerk or two part-time clerks working twenty hours a week. 

Whalen made the case for part-time employees citing the savings that would be realized without benefit packages or pensions.  He suggested providing the new employees with a six-month trial period and added that the discussion would be taken up again at the workshop meeting next week.

In response, Councilman Michael Maturo pointed out that town employees already are subject to a probation period.  He added that he opted for one full-time employee to fill the vacancy because he felt that the employee would have more commitment to the job and would gain experience more quickly.

Troy also supported a full time employee because this is “the last leg of enforcement” and fines need to be collected as efficiently as possible.  In addition, in return for a full-time employee, he wanted a commitment as to when they would catch up on the
outstanding tickets.

In other Council business:

• Nine tax certiorari settlements were unanimously approved
• Sidewalk improvements in the Pearl River business district in the amount of $11,200.00 were unanimously approved with the work slated for completion in March or April, 2012
• The New York State Champion South Orangetown Girls 10-year-old softball team was honored for compiling an 18-1 record against the state’s best completion and for being the first
  team from the league to accomplish the feat.
• Polls closed at 9 p.m. Tuesday on the primaries, including the Republican race between Whalen and Allan Ryff for Supervisor, which Whalen won. Results were expected to start coming in between 9:30 and 10 p.m. At 8:56 p.m., Whalen joked, "You have four minutes to vote."