WPCNR  Common Council Chronicle Examiner. November 20, 2007 UPDATED 12:40 PM UPDATED 12 AM EST November 21, 2007:  Mayor Joseph Delfino received a request from the clergy of White Plains this morning, to take up the matter of establishing a warming shelter for the homeless on the streets of White Plains at three local churches and declined to put the matter on tonight's Common Council agenda. The Mayor told WPCNR he didn't realize the Clergy were ready to meet with them, and said a meeting for the clergy to relate their plan for housing homeless in a warming shelter had been tentatively set for Wednesday, November 28.

Rita Malmud, the Common Council President, could not be reached for comment this afternoon to see whether she was in agreement with this delay. Ms. Malmud this evening told WPCNR that no clergy involved with the warming shelter proposal had contacted her about putting the meeting on tonight's agenda (indicating she would have considered it if they had). Councilmen Glen Hockley and Thomas Roach said they would have been willing to hear the issue. But neither explained why they had not brought it up (since any councilperson can request an item to be put on the agenda).

White Plains Hospital Center presented lavish plans for a $50 Million and Up remodeling which would build a new 3-story entrance on Maple Avenue, a six-story patient care wing over the present entrance on Davis Avenue and a covered bridge leading from the Parking Garage on Longview top of picture to a new hospital entrance on Post Road. (Details below)

Melissa Lopez, spokesperson for the Mayor issued this statement explaining the delay:

The clergy is not meeting with the City at tonight's work session.  The Mayor's Office is trying to schedule the meeting for next week.  We have to find a date that works for all the parties involved.  Please note that the responsibility of this issue does not solely lie on the city.  It is a County issue.  We are trying to find the best suitable date to meet with the clergy and the Common Council.  This way we can listen to their proposal and answer their questions as it pertains to the city

However, questions on the legality of the warming shelter in relation to city zoning laws were discussed in October at a meeting held precisely because the clergy wanted to know what they could do under city zoning to establish such a shelter. At that time the Mayor said to come back with a proposal and the council would consider it under the condition that a special permit would have to be issued and it could not be located in the outer residential neighborhoods.

The question of the  establishment of a Warming Shelter for the homeless is was held back by the Mayor to discuss and act on the following agenda items:

 1.) the holding of a public hearing on the new local law on acceptance of flood plain maps and storm water runoff standards in order to expedite White Plains residents' access to flood insurance.

After the hearing in which Paula Piekos showed innumerable pictures of what she described as city condoning of storm water runoff at various construction sites around town, and Dan Siedel and Carey Gouldner congratulated the Mayor on the fast action in moving up the public hearing, the council voted to enact the local laws coming into compliance with Federal Emergency Management Administration flood plain rules. Dan Spencer o fthe legal department then took the notice and paperwork to a local Federal Express office to send the notice of passage to the Department of Environmental Conservation in Albany to start the ball rolling to get White Plains residents eligible to renew and purchase flood insurance 

2.) Discussion and possible passing of a home rule resolution requesting a 1/2% increase in the White Plains sales tax by the state legislature (delayed three months by the Common Council, over the election campaign;

In this matter, there was no discussion. Rita Malmud untabled this issue, and then asked to retable the the matter until December 3. WPCNR asked the Mayor why the sales issue was tabled for the third month in a row, the Mayor said he was in "negotiations" presumably with Assemblyman Adam Bradley whom the Mayor wants to sponsor the sales tax increase in Albany. But this could not be immediately confirmed, we will check with Assemblyman Bradley Wednesday.

Ironically, there would have been plenty of time to hear what the White Plains clergy had to present on the warming shelter issue had they been put on the agenda.

3.) Approval of a contract for the city's state lobbyist.

This was tabled until December 3.

4.) Setting public hearings for The Porter House and The Braxen Fox on requests to obtain a cabaret license.

This was done.

5.) Discussion of Avalon Bay proposal to add 14 units to their apartment complex. 

This portion of the agenda was conducted in work session chambers. Avalon Bay said they were seeking to add 14 more units to the apartment complex since acquiring the Peter Zheng property at 21 Barker. They would add a patio and barbecue area on the Zheng property. A one-bedroom unit would be made "affordable housing" out of the additional 14 units.

New barbecue and patio area is located above swimming pool at lower right of the site schematic.

6.) Setting a hearing date for renewal of The Chatter's Lounge liquor license was also executed.

7.) a presentation for expansion plans for White Plains Hospital Center.

The White Plains Hospital Center presented a preliminary design, not yet approved by their hospital board, which would establish a new front entrance to the hospital on Maple Avenue; creating the new entrance by demolishing Winslow Hall. They will add six floors on the Davis Avenue side, increase critical care units by four (while consolidating them into one space). An enclosed bridge will be built from the new parking garage being built at Maple and Longview Avenue.  The project is expected to cost more than$50 Million and the money is planed to be raised via fund-raising according to Jon Schandler, the hosptial CEO who made the presentation.

The number of beds in the hospital (277) will not be increased, because, Mr. Schandler said, the trend is towards short hospital stays and to return patients to their homes for recovery as soon as possible and that trend, he said was accelerating.