RyeCity REVIEW THE
September 30, 2016 | Vol. 4, Number 40 | www.ryecityreview.com
Payment for Playland likely extended again
ACES WILD
By JAMES PERO Staff Writer
Jade Iadarola serves against Harrison on Sept. 26. Iadarola had 10 kills, 10 digs and seven aces in the Garnets’ 3-0 win over the Huskies. For story, see page 15. Photo/Mike Smith
Future of Seaside Johnnies restaurant now uncertain By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The Rye Town Park Commission is considering reopening a new request for proposals to oversee and manage the park’s restaurant and snack and concession stands, according to commission members.
During the latest park commission meeting on Sept. 20, park commission officials were set to accept a proposal from Seaside Johnnies, the current restaurant tenant at the park, to contiunue to manage the park’s restaurant; however, after receiving a number of concerning emails from residents who felt
that they were not thoroughly involved in choosing a new operator, the commission did not reach a conclusion and tabled the resolution. “We shouldn’t do anything too quickly,” said Rye City Councilwoman Julie Killian, a Republican and member of the commission. “We may end up in the same situation that
we are in today, but at least we would have gone through the process more efficiently.” Initially, two restaurant proposals were submitted to the park commission following a request for proposals, RFP, sent out in late June; but Angelo JOHNNIES continued on page 10
An imminent extension by the Westchester County Board of Legislators on the fate of Playland’s pool casts a shadow of uncertainty over a $1.5 million payment from new park manager Standard Amusements. According to county Legislator Catherine Parker, a Rye Democrat, while the deadline for legislators to make a decision on the pool ends on Sept. 30, after press time, there is a possibility the date could be extended further. “We don’t want to demolish the pool, but we have some details to figure out if we’re going to rehabilitate it,” Parker told the Review. According to Ned McCormack, spokesman for Republican County Executive Rob Astorinio’s administration, with that potential extension for the pool could come yet another extension on an initial payment from Standard Amusements— the management company put in charge of operating the park— which is set to coincide with the county Legislature’s pool deadline. “All the parties are talking,” said McCormack regarding the prospect of another payment extension for Standard. “It’s likely that there will be another extension.” The extended payment—
which is the second contractual payment to the county as part of Standard’s deal to manage Playland, struck in May—was originally due on June 15, but was granted an extension to Sept. 30 from the county executive’s office on July 21, more than a month after the initial due date. Questions surrounding when Standard may make its initial payment have boiled to the surface over the past several months after county Legislator Ken Jenkins, a Yonkers Democrat, accused Standard of missing the $1.5 million transfer and breaching the contract. “That payment was not made,” Jenkins said. “I would question whether or not Standard is living up to their end of the bargain.” Both representatives of Standard and representatives with the county executive’s office have repeatedly refuted such claims. “There was no late payment,” McCormack said, adding that both parties have been in constant negotiations. “An extension was granted in a timely manner.” However, emails obtained by the Review through a Freedom of Information Law, FOIL, request, show correspondence between Associate County Attorney Tami Altschiller dated June 27—nearly two weeks after the payment’s due date— PLAYLAND continued on page 8
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