RyeCity REVIEW THE
Friday the 13th, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 20 | www.ryecityreview.com
Out of this world On May 9, visitors of all ages observed the Transit of Mercury from the Playland Boardwalk in Rye. The astrological event, in which the planet Mercury passes between Earth and the sun, occurs roughly 13 times per century. For story, see page 14. Contributed photo
Rye Town Park management search likely to be scrapped By aNGELa JOrDaN Staff Writer With an inability to come to a consensus and concerns over potential conflicts of interest, it seems the plan to seek out new management for Rye Town Park is going to fall by the wayside. The Rye Town Park Commission is still deliberating on the request for qualifications, RFQ, applications that were submitted almost two months ago, but the process likely won’t carry on much longer with some members of the commission disagreeing on how to move forward.
The commission is a sixmember committee of representatives from the town of Rye, the villages of Port Chester and Rye Brook, the city of Rye, and the Rye Neck section of the village of Mamaroneck, which establishes policies and regulations for Rye Town Park, a 62-acre park located at 95 Dearborn Ave. in the city. The park is a shared asset between the municipalities. In regard to the official status of the RFQ selection process, Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman, a Democrat, said it is still ongoing and that there is more to be discussed among
members of the commission. “We are going to set up a work session or discussion to review the various submissions, and determine if any of them are worth pursuing,” Zuckerman said. “Several members [of the commission] felt it would be unfair to dismiss some of the submissions without going over them and reviewing them first.” Port Chester Mayor Dennis Pilla, a Democrat and member of the commission, told the Review that the RFQ process has been “very broad and open-ended.” “[Zuckerman] suggested that the board have a formal dis-
cussion to discuss the RFQ responses,” Pilla said. “I’m going to say, ‘Send a thank you letter [to all the applicants], but frankly I think we have to take a step back before we invite anybody in yet.’” Pilla suggested doing a request for proposals for the restaurant, which overlooks Oakland Beach, since Seaside Johnnie’s lease, the current tenant, is up at the end of the year. Following that, Pilla mentioned then completing a master plan of the park with input from residents park continued on page 10
Advisory committee to recommend 4 FD positions When Castelhano joined the department 24 years ago, there were 17 paid positions and 120 The city Fire Advisory Com- volunteers, he said. The deplemittee will recommend the ad- tion in volunteer numbers is dition of paid positions to the yet another reason for Rye to department’s roster, according add more paid positions, Castelhano added. to one city councilman. “At what number [of volunCouncilman Richard Mecca, a Republican—who along with teers] do you decide to increase Kirsten Bucci, a Republican, the other side?” Castelhano said and several volunteer firefight- in regard to the declining numers in the department serves on bers among the volunteer base. According to Mecca, the the council’s fire advisory committee—said the group plans City Council will also look at to recommend to the Rye City restructuring the Fire DepartCouncil the addition of four ment by creating a public safety commissioner. paid firefighters. “We’re thinking about [add“It’s not a secret that those on the committee would like to hire ing] the position of public safety four more paid firefighters,” said commissioner,” Mecca said. Mecca, adding that such a pro- “Moving forward, that would be posal hasn’t been vetted by the very nice to have.” The position would take a City Council or city manager yet. “That’s pretty much where broader responsibility for disaster preparedness in the case we’re looking.” Adding professional firefight- of storms and would act as an ers to the department would overall supervisor to the fire debe welcome among the cur- partment on matters of training rent staff, which has repeatedly and logistics, Mecca said. If the position were to be urged the council to bolster its added, Mecca said, it would be roster over the past two years. “We’re cautiously optimis- down the line, as any alteration tic,” said John Castelhano, pres- of the department’s structure ident of the local firefighters’ would be required to go up for union, about the advisory com- a public referendum due to the mittee’s likelihood to recom- need to change the city’s charter. The position would also have mend more firefighters. According to Castelhano, to be verified by the county the department is currently at a through a civil service applicalow staffing point, with 17 paid tion process. Talks of adding staffing to positions and between 30 and 40 active volunteers, only 11 the city’s Fire Department have of whom are trained to fight indoor fires. FD continued on page 9
By JaMES pErO Staff Writer
INSIDE
Saltaire commands local dining scene Story on page 6.