November 15, 2012 - WestchesterGuardian.com

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTTo Move or Not Move New Rochelle’s City YardContinued from page 8information. He added, “This isnot transparency in government.”Mayor Noam Bramson apologized,saying that he would “take responsibility”because he sought input, butthat it would not matter because heexpected everything to be presentedthat evening at the special meeting.City Manager Chuck Stromefollowed by explaining the threeoptions that needed to be consideredin moving the City Yard asthey related to the Echo Bay project:(1) construct a new City Yard onBeechwood Avenue, (2) modernizethe current Main Street site, or (3)do nothing for a few years. Stromerecalled that, back in February,2012, the City Council authorizeda bond resolution for the design ofa new City Yard at the BeechwoodAvenue site. Then, in April, aconsultant submitted preliminaryestimates of $16 million to renovatethe present City Yard and $13million to prepare the Beechwoodsite. Since that time, the estimateshave increased to $19 million for theMain Street site and $24.4 millionfor the Beechwood site. Stromesuggested not doing anything “is apoor option”.Former Commissioner ofDevelopment Michael Freimuthattended the City Council meetingto detail preliminary terms andconditions for the FCR Echo BayHISTORYTHE WESTCHESTER GUARDIAN THURSDAY, november 15, 2012Project. He had both positive andnegative comments. On the positiveside, Freimuth said FCR would payNew Rochelle $2.5 million for theproperty and $1 million for buildingpermit fees. FCR would also pay$18 million over 20 years in refusefees. According to Freimuth, a smallnumber of jobs would be createdand some sales tax revenue would begenerated. On the negative side, hesaid, FCR would ask for tax abatementsand a PILOT (payment inlieu of taxes), which is currentlycalculated to cover school costs foran estimated 22 students at the rateof $17,500 per student, increasingby an inflation factor each year. Thecost to New Rochelle of moving theCity Yard must also be considered.Mayor Bramson then askedthe Councilmembers how theywanted to proceed that evening.Councilman Lou Tranguccisuggested a “small discussion”.Tarantino quickly stated, “If ForestCity does not go forth, we wouldnot expend any funds.” But Stromebrought up the “up front payment”from the developer as a sweetener.Councilwoman Shari Rackmanasked if these numbers are accurate.She wanted to know whathappens if FCR’s environmentalremediation of Echo Bay costs $4million instead of the projected $3million. Freimuth responded thatremediation is FCR’s problem.Jack Reed and Louise BryantA Senatorial InquisitionBy ROBERT SCOTTThe year 1919opened withAmerican troopsbogged down inSiberia as part ofan allied intervention during thecivil war that followed the RussianRevolution.The Senate announced thathearings would begin on February11 to investigate Bolhevik propaganda.Sen. Lee S. Overman, aDemocrat from North Carolina,headed the subcommittee of theSenate Judiciary Committee, whosefive male members had an averageage of 61.The other committee memberswere Knute Nelson (R-Minn.),Thomas Sterling (R-N.D.),William H. King (D-Utah) andJosiah O. Wolcott (D-Del.).In New York, Jack Reed wasputting the finishing touches on hismanuscript of Ten Days That Shookthe World.To promote her book Six RedMonths in Russia and refute thelies being circulated by critics aboutthe new Russia, Louise Bryantwas about to begin a cross-countryspeaking tour on “The Truth AboutRussia.”Continued on page 10Rackman also wanted to know ifthe Beechwood Avenue site would“fulfill the needs of the City goingforward,” and asked if the Citycould repair or rebuild the presentCity Yard site on Main Street.Commissioner of Public WorksAlexander Tergis responded that abetter proposal could be made byusing more money.According to Trangucci, theproposed relocation of the City Yardto Beechwood Avenue would resultin a City Yard that is approximatelyhalf the size of the present yard. Henoted that the new report does notdelve into the costs of remediatingthe Beechwood site or that additionalpolice and fire services wouldbe needed. As a result of the bondingand the insufficiency of the PILOT,the City would incur an additionalfinancial burden of $900,000 peryear. Trangucci observed that theCity will see no positive financialbenefit until the bond debt ispaid off. Finally, Trangucci wantedto know who determined the $5million land value of the presentCity Yard, which he asserts shouldbe valued at $10 million. Freimuthresponded by saying the value isbased on unit housing costs in thearea.At that point Mayor Bramsonsaid the Council did not have tomake a “judgment on Echo Bay,”but it had to make a decision onthe City Yard. Trangucci disagreed,advising that each decision wasdependent on the other and couldnot be considered independent ofthe other. Councilman Jared Riceasked about the size reduction ofthe City Yard at Beechwood andwhether service would improve.Strome and Tergis side-steppeda direct response with a commentabout the present City Yard’s operationalinefficiencies and opined overthe prospect of sewer and drainwalls that are “ready to collapse.” Adiscussion of grants and fundingsources for remediating problems atthe present City Yard followed.Councilman Ivar Hyden asked,“Shouldn’t we have this (financial)information before we move theCity Yard?” Strome basically ignoredthe question and responded, “Bondsmust be issued this year” to movethe City Yard. When CouncilmanBarry Fertel wanted to know whatwould happen if the City Yard wasnot moved now, Tergis said maintenancecosts would go up.As the session ended, Bramsoninsisted that a choice between developmentand fiscal responsibility was“wrong, wrong, wrong.” He saidhe viewed development and fiscalresponsibility as moving in tandemalong the same track and direction.He said he has never seen aperfect development and insistedthat a decision must be made onNovember 13 th .Peggy Godfrey is a freelance writer,a community activist, and formereducator.Three of the five members of the Overman Committee in 1919 duringhearings: Senator Josiah Oliver Wolcott (D-Del.), Chairman LeeSlater Overman (D-N.C.), Senator Knute Nelson (R-Minn.)Page 9Rdg Plyhs Westchester Guardian nov_Layout 1Ann Hampton CallawaySings the Streisand SongbookFri, Nov 16Multiplatinum selling singersongwriterand actress,celebrating one of America’smost enduring artists,Barbra Streisand.Doyle Coffin ARCHiteCtUReSinGeR SonGwRiteR SeRieSRock SeRieSRock SeRieSUnderwritten byRidgefield PrimePartially Underwrittenby Albano Appliances,Best Cellars andHB GroupCLARKCONSTRUCTIONCOMEDY SERIESBroadway & CaBaretSerieSDoyle Coffin ARCHiteCtUReSinGeR SonGwRiteR SeRieSBroadway & CaBaret SerieSKarla Bonoff andSteve ForbertSaturday, November 17A night of hits including All Mylife, Personally, Someone tolay Down Beside Me andRomeo’s tune.Musical Box: The LambLies Down on BroadwaySunday, November 18A CAn’t MiSS SHow!Peter Gabriel-era Genesis Re-creationShow under the lamb liesDown on Broadway.Video Games Live withTommy TallaricoSaturday, December 1Featuring the Western Connecticut YouthOrchestra and The Ridgefield Choralethe excitement of a rock concertmixed with video games, special fxand audience participation!Food Network StarChef Robert Irvine LIVE!Sunday, December 2Please join us in the lobby at 7:15pmfor a wine tasting from Best Cellars!ViP tickets Available! includes backstageaccess and special cookingdemonstrations!SinbadThursday, December 6Partially Underwritten by Gardella'sElite LimosineHe doesn’t deliver punch lines –he slam dunks them!Debbie Gravitte & FriendsAll-Star Holiday ShowFriday, December 14Celebrate the holidays withDebbie and her friends, includingsome broadways pals fromthe hit show Phantom of theopera and more!Eric HutchinsonSun, December 16With Special Guest Jessie Payowith his chart topping hitwatching you watch HimThe RidgefieldPlayhouse80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, CT • (203)438-5795www.ridgefieldplayhouse.org