WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. July 24, 2006: As reported by WPCNR six months ago,  Mary Cavallero, the Chairperson of the White Plains Planning Board, a member of the Board for 17 years,  has resigned effective at the end of August, as she said she would.

Ms. Cavallero is the indefatigable, sharp-tongued, detail-oriented, issues-concious, fearless critiquer of sloppy site plans and relentless challenger of Gucci-shod multi-dollar-a-minute barristers' loosey-goosey interpretations of zoning ordinances. She is the leader of the Planning Board who took  sophisticated but ordinance-challenged architects "to school" monthly -- catching mistakes in math, interpretation and uncreative design.

She with Robert Stackpole, John Garment, Carols Roskol were the defenders of last resort of neighborhoods and residents' interests on many projects. She resigned in a letter to the Mayor as of July 1. Unlike certain persons in elected positions who miss things in site plans (like possibility of sewage catastrophes), Ms. Cavellero read every word of every proposal and studied site plans on her own time and raised hard issues no matter how rich, how well-connected the presenters were. Her letter:

July 1, 2006

Hon. Joseph M. Delfino

City of White Plains

255 Main Street

White Plains, NY 10601

Dear Mayor Delfino:

As you know, I announced at the December, 2005 meeting that serving on the Planning Board has become difficult as I have increased my teaching responsibilities. This purpose of this letter is to formally summit my resignation from the Planning Board, effective at the end of the August, 2006 meeting.

Over the last seventeen years, I have truly enjoyed serving the citizens of White Plains. White Plains is a wonderful city and my love for it has grown as I learned more about it.

I want to complement you and the members of the Common Council for not interfering with the work of the Planning Board. As a result, you have received our honest recommendations on all matters that are referred to us.

Sincerely,

 Mary Cavallero

cc: Hon. Members of the Common Council

     Eileen McClain