Ground Report

 

Dobbs Ferry Democratic Committee

January 10, 2008

Minutes

 

Attendees: Laurel Levine, Jane Morgenstern, Paul Sterne, Paul Kaplan, Betty Silverman, Teresa Walsh, Randy Klipstein, Suzanne Berger, Joy Haber, Donna Cassell, Bradley Bolke, Charlotte Frankenthaler, Larry Dengler, David Koenigsberg, Paula Dambroff.

Guests: Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, Mary Jane Shimsky,Herb Rosenberg

 

A quorum being present, Chairman Randy Klipstein called the meeting to order at about 7:59PM.

 

Reading of the minutes from November 29, 2007. 

Motion to adopt the corrected minutes was made by Larry Dengler and seconded by Suzanne Berger.  The minutes were approved unanimously.

 

Treasurer’s Report – Paul Sterne reported that the bank account had a balance of $1,688.50.  He also reported that we were now filing electronically and the next filing would be done on Jan. 15th

 

No announcements.

Guest Speaker Richard Brodsky spoke about the political situation in Albany.  He explained his position on and progressive taxing, user taxing, congestion pricing, and the NYS budget delays.  He took questions from the floor.  There was a discussion on the pros and cons of shared services.  Paula Dambroff asked for his help on problems associated with the refurbishing of the Ardsley Bridge.  David Koenigsberg mentioned the grant for shared services study and money for the Waterfront Park seawall.  Mr. Bodsky told them to speak with his  Mary Jane Shimsky and he would look into it.  

 

Unfinished Business

A.   Discussion on Discussion – Randy suggested that Trustee Reports during meeting be replaced with an Open Discussion.  He said that it maybe one or two of the Trustees should be invited to speak at each meeting.  District Leaders should also speak on issues of concern to the community.  Additionally, DLs should be conduits between the Trustees and the community by relaying Trustee answers back to the community.

 

B   Open Discussion

Trustee Koenigsberg reported: 1) the Board was working on town administration issues and hired Don Marra to as a consultant; 2) He announced that the Police Union, after first supporting the study, now opposed the idea of shared services with Greenburgh.  However, he said that the village would continue in its efforts to secure a grant for this study;3)  the village is looking into instituting a leaf blower law similar to the one in Hastings; 4) the village is also considering a moratorium on new building pending the adoptions of new zoning code; 5) there will be a work session on the proposal for 2 Ashford Ave. 6) Cabrini has approached Greenburgh to acquire 27 Mains St for affordable housing.  7) Mayor Sesskin proposed a dog run at Waterfront Park; 8) Trustee Manley announced that Marie McKeller wrote to the CAB that she will contribute $1 million for a walkway along the water front.

Heb brought up the recent trend of foreclosed properties being turned over the not for profit agencies for affordable housing and subsequently being taken off the tax rolls. He expressed the need to monitor this.

 

Trustee Dengler spoke further regarding the moratorium on new building.  The BOT needs to decide which properties are affected and when it will be put into effect. 

 

Trustee Dengler brought up the public relations problems with the appointment of Don Marra as a consultant.  There was a discussion regarding the many reasons for this need of this appointment and the best way to communicate this to the public.

 

Bradley expressed a need for a better local television station.

 

C.     District Leader Openings –

D – Bylaws Revisions 

E -Committee Internet Presence Postponed

 

F   NYS Presidential Primary – Randy announces that the last day to register for the NYS Presidential Primary was Jan.12^th.

  Larry reported that the Concerned Families of Westchester approached him regarding the possibility of the DF Democratic Committee cosponsoring a political debate.  He made a motion to contribute $50 to cosponsors a debate between representative of the Democratic presidential candidates.  Jane Morgenstern seconded it.  The motion carried unanimously.

 

G   Update on Town & County Items – Suzanne Berger:  1) Janet Jordan, Family Court Judge and James Hubert, County Court Judge were inducted.  2) there will be a Westchester County Committee victory breakfast on Feb./24,details will be e-mailed.  3) On January 31 the Greenburgh Democratic Committee will hold a tribute party to thank Alfreda Williams, Eddie Mae Barnes and Steve Bass for their service to the town.

 

New Business

      Suzanne brought up the e-mail sent by Allegra Dengler regarding the appointment of non-Democrats to the Party’s ticket and to the BOT.  She suggested we might need to create a policy on this for the future.  Randy will put it on the agenda for the next meeting.

 

Motion to adjourn was made by Charlotte Frankenthaler, seconded by Paul Kaplan was carried unnanimously.  .

 

Adjournment at 10:02PM.

 

Respectfully submitted by Donna Cassell, Recording Secretary