Category: Dan Natchez

Agostino A. Fusco

1. Freedom Of Information Compliance And Knowledge Ratings:

So Far Village of Mamaroneck Clerk
Agostino A. Fusco Has Not Provided
Any Public Records

Under Review; To date Village of Mamaroneck Clerk Agostino A. Fusco has only responded to two of the four Freedom of information requests that we sent him.

Fusco claims that he needs until a date in August to respond to ha June Freedom od Information request for a public document, while most of Westchester’s village and town clerks were quickly able to provide the document.

To date Mr. Fusco has failed to respond to a freedom of information request asking how much Mamaroneck taxpayers pay in salary, benefits and pension costs for his official position. Again this is something that most Westchester County clerks responded to quickly.

We asked Deputy Clerk Sally J. Roberts by email if she could explain why the Mamaroneck Clerk’s office was so inefficient when compared with other clerk’s offices in Westchester County, but she has yet to respond.

No wonder the single family homeowners in Mamaroneck often complain of a lack of accountability and transparency in thee village.

We are still waiting on Mr. Fusco so that we can complete our review.

2. Email Address For Filing FOI Requests

afusco@vomny.org

3, Mailing Address For Filing FOI Requests

Village Clerk
123 Mamaroneck Avenue
Mamaroneck, NY 10543

4. Experience:

Agostino Fusco did not provide a requested biographical information for this public service project measuring how well village clerks comply with New York States Freedom of Information Laws.

From the internet we learned Mr. Fusco attended Iona College (New Rochelle, New York) and Mount Saint Michael Academy (Bronx, New York)

Also from the internet we learned that Agostino Fusco and Carmela Fusco. purchased from Harold Smith a Single Family Home at 770 N. Barry Avenue for $499,000.

FIND THE DATA: Agostino Fusco Salaries

2011 $121,381

2013 $118,141

http://state-employees.findthedata.com/d/a/Agostino-Fusco

5. From The Village Website:

Frequently Asked Questions	Downloadable Forms	Miscellaneous Licenses
Fee Schedule	Budgets	Voters Registration
Document Portal	Birth & Death Certificates	Alarm Permit Application
Alarm Devices and Systems (Code)	Freedom of Information Requests	List of Boards & Committees
Financials	Board of Trustees Minutes & Agendas	Tax Bill Change of Address/Owner Form
Notice of Collection of Village Taxes	Procurement Policy	Permit Parking

6. Media Reports / Related Pages

MAMARONECK DAILY VOICE: Open Meetings Law Debate Needs Police Assistance

Stewart Tiekert’s comments to the Village Board of Trustees were cut short when Mayor Norman Rosenblum asked the officer present to get the speaker away from the podium after the time for public comment had passed.

While the board discussed a procedural change to how work session minutes would be accepted, Tiekert, who later left the podium on his own accord, chimed in. He didn’t object to the change, which now only requires the board to note the minutes exist rather than approve them with regular meeting minutes, but to how work session minutes have been kept by the village.

“He said they do action minutes, and they don’t do action minutes,” said Tiekert, of village clerk-treasurer Agostino Fusco. “They’re conflating approving them and taking them.”

Under the Open Meetings Law, all motions, proposals, resolutions and any other matter formally voted upon have to be recorded or summarized anytime a public body holds an open meeting…..

http://mamaroneck.dailyvoice.com/news/open-meetings-law-debate-needs-police-assistance/439815/

MAMARONECK REVIEW: Village to adopt towns’ rolls

…The Town of Mamaroneck finished a full-scale property revaluation at the end of August 2013 and the Town of Rye revaluated its properties more than seven years ago. Properties were reassessed at 100 percent value in both towns.

The Village of Mamaroneck has not conducted a revaluation since 1968 and is currently assessing properties using the New York State Equalization rate of 1.84 percent, according to Village Clerk-Treasurer Agostino Fusco.

The equalization rate is the ratio of the total assessed property value in the municipality to the property’s true market value. The rate is given to each municipality by the state to determine the market rate of homes in an area. If properties are assessed at 100 percent value, the equalization rate is not necessary.

Village Manager Richard Slingerland said if the village does adopt the towns’ tax rolls, the Rye Neck section of the village will use the Town of Rye’s assessments and the remaining portion of the village will adopt the Town of Mamaroneck’s assessments….

http://hometwn.com/village-to-adopt-towns-rolls/

LARCHMONT GAZZETTE: Second Flood Relief Effort Launched: How to Help

For the second time in less than a month, local government and community organizations are mobilizing to help Mamaroneck and Larchmont residents whose homes and possessions were damaged by flooding. This time, though, the devastation is even more widespread than it was in early March, and many more people are likely to need much more help. Volunteers are eager (even overeager) to pitch in, and a Thursday morning meeting on April 19, conducted by David Currie of the Westchester-Putnam United Way, got the organizational ball rolling.

Among the many at the meeting were NY Assemblyman George Latimer, Mamaroneck Village Treasurer Agostino Fusco, and representatives of Mamaroneck Cares, Habitat for Humanity, Furniture Share House, Mamaroneck Chamber of Commerce, CAP Center, Mamaroneck Schools and the Washingtonville Housing Alliance…..

http://www.larchmontgazette.com/2007/articles/20070419floodhelp.html

DAILY VOICE: Mamaroneck Voters Re-Elect Mayor, Councilman In Close Challenges

It was close for most of Tuesday night, but Village of Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum, 72, was re-elected to a fourth, two-year term.

Rosenblum, a Republican, is a contract administrator for Safe Flight Instrument Corporation.

Unofficial returns from the Westchester County Board of Elections had Rosenblum leading Democrat Daniel Natchez by 53 to 47 percent — a margin of less than 200 votes.

Natchez, 71, is president of an environmental waterfront development design consulting company. Natchez, a former village trustee, has said hasty development can harm the village.

A village trustee race was even closer: Seeking re-election was Republican-Conservative Louis Santaro. Unofficial returns showed Santaro leading Democrat Thomas Burt, 51 to 49 percent — by a margin of just 58 votes.

Town of Mamaroneck incumbents were unopposed on Tuesday. Town Supervisor Nancy Seligson, a Democrat, was re-elected. Also unopposed in elections for Mamaroneck Town Council seats were Democrats Thomas Murphy and Abby Katz….

Please Read More Here:

http://mamaroneck.dailyvoice.com/politics/mamaroneck-voters-re-elect-mayor-councilman-in-close-challenges/600991/

Is it Legal? Email Abuse by Mamaroneck Mayor uncovered for a Second Time

Animal Defenders of Westchester (ADOW) and other animal advocates are requesting the attorney general investigate Mamaroneck Mayor Norm Rosenblum, for using his name and mayoral account to send residents a hate-filled, factually incorrect ‘sample letter,’ complaining about deer, that they should sign and forward to the DEC and state officials.  The sample letter, as sent out by “Mayor Norman S. Rosenblum” reads as follows:

Please Read More Here:

http://www.all-creatures.org/adow/pr-20150125.html

LARCHMONT GAZETTE: Mamaroneck Dems Call for Village Attorney to Resign

Today the Village of Mamaroneck Democratic Committee calls upon Christie Derrico to resign her position as Village Attorney. Ms. Derrico has recently announced her intention to run for Village Justice. Her candidacy poses conflicts with her staying in her current position. The position of Village Attorney requires that the attorney be a nonpartisan counselor who can give the Village Board legal advice without personal or political considerations coming into play.

Said Village Democratic Chair Elsa Puerto Rubin, “By appearing on the Republican and Conservative ballot with Trustee Ybarra and the other Republican/Conservative challengers, Ms. Derrico has put herself in a position that could create conflicts of interest as well as the appearance of impropriety which all lawyers are ethically bound to avoid.”

Ms. Dericco’s appointment to the position of Village Attorney created much controversy in December because it was a violation of Village law. The Board of Trustees had to amend the law in order to allow the hiring retroactively.  Then the Village was required to pay $5,000 to the former Village Attorney to settle her claims against the Village.

“A well-respected and experienced lawyer was fired to put Ms. Derrico on the payroll. Now we find that the Village Attorney’s position was not the job Ms. Dericco desired after all.  She can’t have it both ways, she must resign” stated Village Democratic Vice Chair Elizabeth Saenger…..

Please Read More Here:

http://www.larchmontgazette.com/politics/mamaroneck-dems-call-for-village-attorney-to-resign/

Charles Goldberger Appointed Village Attorney for Mamaroneck

Charles Goldberger, of counsel in the White Plains-based law firm McCullough Goldberger & Staudt, LLP, has been appointed Village Attorney for the Village of Mamaroneck, NY. The Village Board of Trustees unanimously approved the nomination that was effective immediately.  Mayor Norman Rosenblum selected Goldberger for nomination after reviewing the credentials of four other law firms that had expressed interest in the position……

Please Read More Here:

http://www.mgslawyers.com/news/2012/03/charles-goldberger-appointed-village-attorney-for-mamaroneck/

NEW YORK TIMES: For Mamaroneck Yacht Club, a Decade of Clashing Views on Preserving Vistas

….But that violates the letter, or at least the spirit, of the waterfront plan, said Dan Natchez, president of the Shore Acres Neighborhood Association. Why, he asked, should the yacht club be offering overnight accommodation “if these clubs were established to benefit the local community, if that is why the zoning exists as it does?”

Yard signs declaring no “Condos on Our Creek” line South Barry Road, the main access point to the club (and one that becomes quite busy during weddings and bar mitzvahs there).

Ms. Rosenshein bristles whenever she drives past the signs. “They’re not condos,” she said. “They’re rentals, and they’re not being built on the creek.”

The opponents fear a domino effect. If Mamaroneck Beach & Yacht Club builds residences to be used for eight months, another club or boat yard might attempt development that is even more permissive, and before long, no maritime users will be left. They point to the nearby Hampshire Country Club, whose current owners have begun pressing the village to allow the construction of 121 condos on a section of the property, which would keep its golf course intact, or else they would begin plans to replace the entire course with 106 single-family homes.

Keith Waitt, left, with his neighbor Dan Natchez, is concerned that the club’s expansion would affect his property’s views of Mamaroneck Harbor, seen in the background. CreditBenjamin Norman for The New York Times

As for the Rosensheins, their adversaries say their promise of closing the homes in the off-season is not to be believed. They cite a history of what they call untrustworthy behavior, including the illegitimate creation of a breakwater for the marina without a permit and the fact that of the roughly 150 events held at the club a year, many appear to be for nonmembers. The 1985 waterfront plan allows for at most 20 percent of income from events, but the club’s tax returns show the catering business brings in millions more than memberships do.

Ms. Rosenshein said she had all the necessary approvals for additional events, and she held up the club’s success six times in court as evidence that it was operating aboveboard. After settlement of the most recent lawsuit, the club is waiting for final approval from the village board; it already has preliminary approval.

“Any community that doesn’t grow will die from atrophy,” said Mayor Norman Rosenblum, who supports the plan….

Please Read More Here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/05/nyregion/for-mamaroneck-yacht-club-a-decade-of-clashing-views-on-preserving-vistas.html?_r=0

TOWN OF RYE DISSOLUTION STUDY

The links above will give you all the information one might need to evaluate the Dissolution of the Town of Rye, its varying impacts on the successor communities, and the options available for the sharing of services.

If you have any questions, please communicate them to your respective Steering Committee member in your community.  The steering committee members are:

Town of Rye

• Gary J. Zuckerman- Supervisor
• Debbie Resiner, Town Confidential Secretary

Village of Port Chester

•   Dennis Pilla – Mayor                            
•   Christopher Steers, Village Manager          

Village of Rye Brook

•   Paul Rosenberg – Mayor                       
• Christopher Bradbury, Village Administrator

 Village of Mamaroneck

•   Norman Rosenblum- Mayor
• Richard Slingerland, Village Manager

http://www.townofryeny.com/town-of-rye-dissolution.html

Also:

Public Meeting on Rye Town Dissolution Feasibility Study and Village Alternatives Analysis to be Held Sept. 10

Opportunity to Learn about Project and Provide Feedback

Town of Rye, NY – August 2, 2011 – A public meeting will be held on Saturday, September 10 for residents and taxpayers to learn about – and provide feedback on – a recently-initiated study of dissolution of the Town of Rye and an analysis of associated village governance and service alternatives.  The community forum will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Village of Port Chester Senior Community Center, 222 Grace Church Street, Port Chester, NY.

A joint Steering Committee of Town of Rye, Village of Port Chester, Village of Rye Brook and Village of Mamaroneck representatives was formed in 2011 to begin the process of analyzing the potential benefits and drawbacks of a range of structural and governance alternatives for increasing government efficiency and promoting taxpayer savings. There are four key objectives for this study:

1. The study will analyze the feasibility of potentially dissolving the Town of Rye’s government in order to eliminate an administrative level of government and, in so doing, possibly generate property tax relief for residents;
2. The study will analyze alternative forms of government, particularly separate coterminous town/village options in Port Chester and Rye Brook, as a means of improving cost effectiveness and enhancing shared services;
3. The study will consider governance and service options for the Rye Neck section of the Village of Mamaroneck that is within the Town of Rye; and
4. The study will evaluate potential shared service alternatives between and among the Town of Rye and Villages of Port Chester, Rye Brook and Mamaroneck.

The Steering Committee issued the following statement: “We encourage residents to attend this important forum.  We have a strong commitment to engaging the public as we undertake this examination of dissolution and shared services.  The September 10 forum offers an excellent opportunity for residents and stakeholders to learn more about the study approach and offer feedback about which services are most important to them.”

The meeting will include a brief overview presentation by the study consultant, the nonprofit Center for Governmental Research (CGR).  Community members can meet the CGR project team leaders, and learn more about the study’s methodology, timeframe and objectives.  The meeting will also provide the public an opportunity to comment on the study.

CGR will also outline a newly-launched project website, which will be a key vehicle in facilitating public engagement as the study process unfolds.  The website www.cgr.org/ryetown will offer access to meeting information, reports and key data components as they become available.  By going to the website, community members will also be able to email comments to the Steering Committee.

In addition, they can sign up to receive email “alerts” when any significant new information is posted to the website.

Tentative September 10th meeting agenda:

• Introduction – Steering Committee Members
• Project Overview – CGR
• Website and Methods of Public Input/Information – CGR
• Comments from Public

Steering Committee Members

Joe Carvin, Supervisor, Town of Rye

Bishop Nowotnik, Purchasing Director and Confidential Secretary to the Supervisor, Town of Rye

Dennis Pilla, Mayor, Village of Port Chester

Christopher Russo, Village Manager, Village of Port Chester

Joan Feinstein, Mayor, Village of Rye Brook

Christopher Bradbury, Village Administrator, Village of Rye Brook

Norman Rosenblum, Mayor, Village of Mamaroneck

Richard Slingerland, Village Manager, Village of Mamaroneck

Daniel Sarnoff, Assistant Village Manager, Village of Mamaroneck

About the Center for Governmental Research (CGR)

CGR is a 96-year-old nonprofit, nonpartisan, independent consulting organization with significant expertise conducting local government consolidation and shared service studies and developing implementation plans. CGR is headquartered in Rochester, NY and in July was engaged by the involved municipalities to serve as study consultant.

http://www.village.mamaroneck.ny.us/Pages/MamaroneckNY_News/I01772728

7. Notes

This Ratings Page Has Been Updated With Additional Information

About Mamaroneck, New York

Mamaroneck is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 18,929 at the 2010 census. It is located partially within the town of Mamaroneck and partially within the town of Rye. The portion in Rye is unofficially called “Rye Neck”. The Rye Neck Union Free School District contains the Rye Neck portion of Mamaroneck and part of the city of Rye.

Originally the farming community of Mamaroneck was located on two sides of the Mamaroneck River. In the 1890s the two areas surrounding the river were joined into one commercial village, Mamaroneck, which was incorporated in 1895. The east side of the village lies in the town of Rye and is known as Rye Neck. Some controversy surrounded the incorporation of the village, but the State Appellate Court approved the village’s election status. The population of Mamaroneck village in 1895 was 1,500.

Along with the other shore communities of Westchester, Mamaroneck was at one time the location of summer residences for wealthy families from New York City. Summer residence neighborhoods included Greenhaven, Orienta and Shore Acres. The local railroad from New York City (now Metro-North) began to serve the village in 1848. Currently the village of Mamaroneck is a commuter town for individuals working in Manhattan. A harbor on the Long Island Sound supports facilities for pleasure boating and is the location of Harbor Island Park, a large public park with beach and sporting facilities.

The main commercial streets in Mamaroneck are the Boston Post Road (U.S. Route 1) and Mamaroneck Avenue, the site of several annual parades. Local industry is centered on Fenimore Road.

Other areas of the town include Heathcote Hill overlooking the harbor, Harbor Heights to the northeast, Old Rye Neck (settled in the 1880s), Rye Neck (settled in the 1920s and 1930s) and Washingtonville, better known as “The Flats”, due to the flat, low-lying topography of the area.

The Mamaroneck Methodist Church, St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church Complex, and Albert E. and Emily Wilson House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places…..

Please Read More Here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamaroneck_(village),_New_York