White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Corcoran Dropped From Recreation Advisory Board

The Big Extra Filed by John F. Bailey, 2/25/02, 12:15 PM, Updated 2/26/02 8:30 AM: Candyce Corcoran the city’s “designated volunteer” who attended virtually every major Recreation Advisory Committee meeting and function, has been unceremoniously dropped from the City Recreation Advisory Board, without explanation, while all other Board members were unanimously reappointed.

Ms. Corcoran’s two-year term has expired, and the Common Council did not vote to reappoint her to the Board. Michelle Schoenfeld, Clerk to the Board of Education, has been appointed to fill her vacancy, according to Benjamin Boykin II, Common Council President, Friday.

Council Does Not Give Her a Vote of Confidence.

“I could not find enough Democratic votes on the Council to reappoint her,” Councilman Boykin told WPCNR Friday. Mr. Boykin would not elaborate on why the council majority felt Ms. Corcoran’s services were no longer desired on the committee.

All other members of the Recreation Advisory Board had their terms extended. They include: Steven Brown, Bill Campbell, Christine Eifler, Larry Geiger, Marie Gomez, Eli Schoenberger, Chuck Stogel,and Richard Sanchez.

Asked what Ms. Schoenfeld brings to the Recreation Advisrory Board, Mr. Boykin said she was appointed to “provide more liaison with the School Board.” Mr. Boykin declined to say who nominated Ms. Schoenfeld to serve on the Board, saying it would become clear at the Common Council meeting next Monday. It should be noted that Mr. Geiger is also a member of the Board of Education.

An Extraordinary Procedure

Bill Campbell, a member of the Recreation Advisory Board, said it was unheard-of for Recreation Board members, (many of whom have served for years), to be abruptly dropped from the roster without first being told why, and given an opportunity to participate appropriately.

“Generally, they tell you what the problem is, either attendance or not producing anything for the committee," Campbell said Monday. "They will ask you if you want to continue. They explain the problem to you. They did it with me.”

Campbell said, “She (Corcoran) was a very productive member of the Advisory Board. They always tell you precisely what the problem is. I don’t know what they told Candy. They should have told her. I don’t see why she was not reappointed.”

Corcoran in shock.

“I am in disbelief,” Corcoran told WPCNR. “I’m hurt. Everyone knows they can call me up and whenever a volunteer was needed, I was there. I don’t understand this.”

Corcoran has been perhaps the most visible recreation supporter in the city. She has organized the Little League Parade for three years, and represented the League on the Recreation Advisory Board. In her position on the board, she organized White Plains Future Stars Track organization, and most recently, was the resident expert for the Advisory Board on the contents of the Recreation Master Plan for the city. Susan Habel, Commissioner of Planning, personally congratulated Ms. Corcoran on her knowledge of the Recreation Master Plan.

Privately, prominent members of the committee who are Democrats and members of the Democratic Party and certain members of the Delfino administration, speaking on condition of anonymity, are shocked at her abrupt departure, saying it smacks of partisan politics at its worst.

Corcoran was the Republican candidate for County Legislature in District 5, who ran unsuccessfully last November.


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