WPCNR White Plains Week News Roundup. By John F. Bailey. April 4, 2005: It was a week like all weeks in White Plains filled with shock, intrigue, innuendo, vicious rumor and behind-the-scenes maneuvers. Here’s the top stories for the week of April 4:
The Appellate Court Throws The Pinnacle for a Loss: The Appellate Court in Brooklyn threw out the F & J Food Corporation lawsuit, claiming their right of first refusal in the 240 Main Street deal was still in effect. The suit had been sold to the Ginsburg Development Corporation whose lawyers tried the action. The toss cannot be appealed without permission from the New York State Court of Appeal. This clears the way for Louis Cappelli to build affordable housing on the 240 Main Street site. The setting of a public hearing for April 21, is on tonight’s Common Council Agenda.
School Board Adopts 2005-06 Budget: The School Board voted to adopt a $154, 759,198 budget for the 2005-06 fiscal year at their March 28 meeting, according to Jackie Mackin of the Assistant Superintendent for Business office. The district received slightly more school aid from Albany than expected and two capital projects were retired. Despite the legislature increasing the amount the Governor cut state aid, overall, state School Aid to the White Plains City School District is down 3.2%.
Mackin said the Tax Rate Increase was 9.36%. The increase budget-to-budget was 7.61%.
Charlie Booth announced his retirement as Executive Director of the Thomas Slater Center. No procedure for selecting his successor has been outlined as yet. Mr. Booth said a meeting of the Board of Directors would make that clear this month.
Teen Drinking Aftermath: Police said the students caught about to start a drinking party during school hours on Saint Patrick’s Day were counseled at Eastview School, and police also disclosed that there had been beer on the premises on Baylor Circle where the party was about to begin when police intervened.
The Comprehensive Plan Committee met at White Plains High School with only 32 citizens attending. Susan Habel revealed plans to extend a trail down through Romar Avenue to Saxon Woods Park, stated there was a Master Plan for Delfino Park. Doris Sassower proposed building affordable housing townhouses on her estate at 295 Soundview Avenue (to the Comprehensive Plan Committee). Marc Pollitzer demanded the Committee consider rezoning of New York Presbyterian Hospital property in conjunction with plans for the St. Agnes Hospital site, and suggested any Presbyterian Hospital commercial medical ventures be taxed. The next meeting of the CPC is Tuesday evening at 7:30 at George Washington School to consider the infrastructure and city finances.
Theatre Manager Gets New Job: Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel said Kathy Davisson, formerly Theatre Manger for the White Plains Performing Arts Center was not working on any theatre business in her new position with Community Development Program. Habel said she was working with community groups to help them develop fundraising efforts. WPCNR asked if part of that effort was booking community groups into the Performing Arts Center for fundraising activities, and Ms. Habel said it was one of Ms. Davisson’s options in her new job. Asked if any of the other 15 individuals listed in WPPAC programs were being transferred to city departments, Ms. Habel said Ms. Davisson was the only one.
Theatre Impressario to be Renewed? With three months to go before the city has to tell Tony Stimac whether or not they are renewing Mr. Stimac’s $100,000 contract to run the White Plains Performing Arts Center for a third year, Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel said she had no knowledge of whether Mr. Stimac was going to be renewed. Asked if she thought the Performing Arts Center contract and the job Mr. Stimac had done warranted renewing, Ms. Habel said she had no statement to make on that at this time.
