Putnam County Times
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We Bring All the News to You FREE PRST STD ECRWSS Local US POSTAGE Postal Customer PAID TIMESPUTNAM COUNTY’S LOCAL NEWSPAPER EDDM RETAIL This paper publishes official notices for Putnam County, Kent, Southeast, Brewster VOL. 157 NO. 44 P.O. BOX 608, MAHOPAC, NEW YORK 10541 845-628-8400 [email protected] WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 Election Results Tendy Defeats Levy 7,600-5,700 By Holly Toal being defeated by Tendy in the Putnam County will have September Republican primary. a new district attorney in 2016. “Justice, fairness and ethics In a high-profile race, current will be coming back to the DA’s Putnam Valley Town Supervi- office in Putnam,” said Tendy sor Robert Tendy defeated DA while celebrating his victory at Adam Levy, 7,621 to 5,756 (57 Char Steakhouse in Mahopac. to 43 percent). Levy was left with “We worked very, very hard – my the Conservative, Independence kids, my family, my friends… and Reformed Party lines after Continued on Page 11 District Attorney-Elect Robert Tendy celebrates his victory Nov. 3 at Char Steakhouse in Mahopac, with the support of many lawmakers and dignitaries, including Sheriff Donald Smith, and plenty of Fleming, McGlasson, area residents. Photo courtesy of Facebook. & Chin Win in Kent In Kent, Democratic Town Board were Republicans Jaime Put. Employees & Retirees Supervisor Maureen Fleming was McGlasson and Scott Chin with returned to office for a second 1,107 and 1,118 votes, respec- term, defeating challenger Conser- tively. They defeated Democrats vative Dennis Illuminate by a vote Dale Cusack and Nancy Sorbella, Fight Insurance Increase of 1,481 to 620 (70 to 30 percent). who received 937 and 938 votes, By Holly Toal gests tying an increase in health more time you give to the county, Elected to the Kent Town respectively. During a heated public hear- care contributions to years of the more you will pay.” He called ing last week on the county’s 2016 service, going by pension income. the system a “redistribution of proposed budget, county em- Under the proposed budget, perceived wealth, which is noth- ployees and retirees pleaded with contributions would increase to 8 ing more than socialism.” Incumbents Re-Elected the Putnam County Legislature percent for people with pensions Patricia Gormely, a public to reconsider increasing retiree between $0 and $9,999, and go as health nurse with 11 in the Putnam health care contributions to fill a high as 30 percent for people with County Health Department, called in Town of Southeast budget gap. (The budget was later pensions greater than $65,000. the proposal to increase health In Southeast, the incumbents 1,424 votes, and Edwin Alvarez, adopted by a split Legislature.) Former long-time legislator care contributions manipulative, made a clean sweep. Republican a Republican, earned 1,303 votes. “People plan for retirement Mike Semo spoke at last week’s rushed and undemocratic. County Legislator Joseph Castel- They defeated Democrat John – it’s a long process,” said CSEA hearing, urging the lawmakers “I feel ashamed for the coun- lano defeated challenger John Ri- Lord (1,162 votes) and Paul Jonke Labor Relations Specialist Glen to reconsider. “I believe some of ty government that it’s being ley, a Democrat, 789 to 476 (62 to (1,282 votes). Blackman. “To be told that in two you have misunderstood the role done this way,” she said, citing 38 percent). Town Board members “I feel so flattered and so ex- months your health insurance will you play in this issue,” he said. “I “unnecessary” spending on vari- Lynne Eckardt, a Democrat, earned Continued on Page 11 increase drastically doesn’t allow respectfully encourage you not to ous projects across the county. “I people to plan.” punish this relatively small group didn’t know the government had Finance Commissioner Wil- of employees.” to be in the business of golfing,” liam Carlin previously explained Former Assistant District At- she said. “Is running a farm a basic Williams is New that retiree health insurance is torney Christopher York explained government service?” the biggest cost issue the county that before accepting his position Legislators discussed the faces. In 2007, it cost the county with the DA’s Office years ago, proposed increases at a prior Audit Patterson Supervisor $2.7 million to cover retiree health he was told his health benefits Committee meeting, held Oct. 20. In the Town of Patterson, vot- Town Planner Richard Williams as insurance. That number rises to would be fully paid for by the “While tough decisions are ers opted to keep the Republican supervisor over Democrat Andrew $4.7 million in 2016, with taxpay- county. Then when it was initially not always easy, we as elected Party in office, electing current Falk, 926 to 894 votes. ers funding $3.9 million – or 84 proposed that county employees officials are encumbered to make percent – of the amount, which contribute to their benefits pack- these sound decisions based on covers 377 retirees. age, he supported the concept, the overall good of the people of Currently, “86 percent of our saying taxpayers shouldn’t have Putnam County,” said Legislator Oliverio Bests Annabi retirees pay 5 percent toward the to foot the bill. Ginny Nacerino, R-Patterson. contribution of their health insur- “I support that,” he said. “But “We simply cannot continue to ask ance,” said Carlin. In the proposed don’t touch the retirees… This is the taxpayers to pay 90 percent or for Put Valley Super budget, the administration sug- a system of punishment for the more of the differential.” In Putnam Valley, a former to 831 votes (63 to 37 percent). During that same meeting, long-time county legislator, Demo- “I want to thank each and Legislator Dini LoBue, R-Ma- crat Sam Oliverio Jr., defeated cur- every one of you for your support hopac Falls, voiced strong opposi- rent Town Board member and Re- and belief in my ability to govern,” tion to the rate increases. publican Jacqueline Annabi, 1,402 Continued on Page 11 “This is just not a fair way of doing this because our back is Celebrate against the wall now,” she said. “We (the Legislature) didn’t vet Dems and Reps this issue. We were surprised. This was put in the budget, it is booked as revenue, so now in order for Win in Philipstown Veterans’ Day us not to vote in favor of this, we In Philipstown, Republican to 58 percent). have to find $750,000. And I think Incumbent County Legislator Also in Philipstown, Repub- that’s disrespectful to this legisla- Barbara Scuccimarra held onto lican Town Clerk Tina Merando tive body. her seat despite a challenge by maintained her seat against Demo- Wednesday, Nov. 11 “To ask someone to make a Democrat Lithgow Osborne, with cratic challenger Ann McGrath- a tally of 1,644 to 1,202 votes (42 Continued on Page 11 Continued on Page 11 PAGE 2 PUTNAM COUNTY PRESS/TIMES WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015 Eckardt and John Lord for Town tifying efficiencies in government, conditional permit to open the Board and John Riley for District finding opportunities to share beach. This letter was dated more 7 legislator. services with the Village of Brew- than six weeks after my file went to Ann Fanizzi ster and the county that produce the county for review and printing, Carmel a cost-savings for taxpayers, and and three days after the deadline to Letters to the Editor eliminating wasteful spending. submit a grievance to the Board of Edwin and Paul are also men Assessment Review. who have worked tirelessly to bet- Subsequent to May 30, 2014 Dear Editor: ter the lives of those around them. and throughout the summer season Dear Editor: the supervisor, it has been a solid I was delighted and excited Edwin, an Army veteran who is a – Spur Beach closed. Although I am pleased the “yes” wall of Alvarez, Cullen and to hear about the plans to build member of the Brewster Elks Club Beals has suggested in the past recent decision by the Putnam Hudak – predictable and in unison Opportunity Park. This park will and chairman of the Southeast that his assessment was increased County Supreme Court resulted so evident in the deliberations definitely benefit all the children of Fireworks Committee, gets the due to the closing of Spur Beach in a $325,000 reduction in the as- surrounding the Lepler-proposed the town, but more importantly it importance of keeping traditional in the Roaring Brook District. sessment of my home imposed by Crossroads 312. will offer a place for children with values in the community. Nothing could be further from the the Town of Putnam Valley, I find While we condemn one-party special needs. Paul is devoted to bringing truth. Mr. Beals must think I am a it to be a somewhat pyrrhic victory. rule in less democratic nations, Too often I am saddened at the awareness of the special-needs mind reader and knew months be- After all, I am a resident we are perfectly content to one thought that most parents can just community. He is a board member fore that the Department of Health of Putnam Valley and the legal established here in Southeast and take their kids to the park to play, of the Hudson Valley Cerebral would close the beach. Look at expenses wasted by the town de- Putnam County, USA. And yet, but the parents with children who Palsy Association and a former the timeline and draw your own fending the gross over-assessment complaints abound; the most re- have special needs have no place board member of the Putnam Hos- conclusions.