RyeCity REVIEW THE
February 17, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 7 | www.ryecityreview.com
Ex-golf club members sue city over greens By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer
School district finds new superintendent in Chappaqua By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer The Rye City School District Board of Education has found its man, naming Dr. Eric Byrne as its next superintendent. Byrne, who has been serving as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction at the Chappaqua Central School District for six years, will formally be appointed to the position at the next board meeting on Feb. 28, and he will officially take over as superintendent on or around July 1. “It’s an honor and privilege to
have been selected as the finalist for the position,” Byrne said. “The reputation of the Rye City School [District] is quite incredible, and I look forward to working with their terrific faculty and strong administrative team.” Byrne began his career in education as a science teacher in the New York City public schools. He received his doctorate and a master’s degree in education from Fordham University; he also received a degree in natural science from Fordham. “After a rigorous selection process, the choice was clear,” said Board of Education Presi-
dent Katy Keohane Glassberg. “Dr. Eric Byrne’s background and experience as a leader in curriculum development and implementation is extraordinary.” In October 2016, Byrne was appointed as the acting superintendent of the Chappaqua school district for a brief stint, following the resignation of former Superintendent Lyn McKay, who stepped down while wrestling with the sexual abuse scandal of teacher Christopher Schraufnagel; Byrne served in that capacity until January 2017. He also previously served as principal of Chappaqua’s Roaring Brook El-
ementary School. As for the Rye district, Byrne said it would be premature to highlight a blueprint for the future; however, he said he will begin an “extensive entry process” once appointed. He added that, as part of that process, he will meet with stakeholders groups, administrators and teachers to devise a comprehensive plan. “First, I want to take a look at what’s happening in Rye; see the strengths and opportunities for the district, and then we’ll have a much better sense of a plan,” SCHOOL continued on page 8
The city will challenge a lawsuit from six former Rye Golf Club members seeking membership reimbursements, according to a City Council member. On Jan. 31, John and Marjorie Lyons, of Larchmont; Mark and Silvia Lederman, of Larchmont; and Stephen and Deborah Chapin, of Mamaroneck, who are all couples that didn’t renew their membership with the club in 2016, filed the lawsuit against the city, claiming the club failed to uphold contractual obligations. The suit, which accuses the golf club of negligence and breaching its contract, is related to damage incurred to the club’s greens in the summer of 2015, in which the groundskeeper, Chip Lafferty, misapplied tainted pesticide from Tesenderlo Kerley Inc., TKI. At the time, the club was forced to close a majority of the city-owned golf course during peak season. According to Stephen Florek, an attorney representing the six plaintiffs, they are demanding full reimbursement for the membership dues—estimated at $8,500 per couple—and compensation for several other consequential damages, including attorney fees, expenses incurred as a result of the club’s actions, negligence and breaching the contract agreement. For residents, a comprehensive membership costs $4,500
per year and includes access to the club’s pool; an individual daily golf membership costs $3,100. For non-residents, the comprehensive membership costs $8,000, as of press time. Golf club policy dictates that memberships are strictly nonrefundable. However, the plaintiffs are contending that the incident falls outside the scope of the membership agreement. “My clients did not get what they paid for and had to make alternate arrangements; for that, our argument is that the suit goes way beyond the [club’s] refund policy,” Florek said. But according to City Councilman Terry McCartney, a Republican and liaison to the Rye Golf Club Commission, the city will challenge the plaintiffs’ claim that the incident warrants different treatment for falling outside the scope of the contract. “They all agreed to a very strict no-refund policy when they signed the membership application, and we’re going to hold them to that agreement,” the councilman said. “We’re confident that we can defend ourselves vigorously.” McCartney added that the city is not worried about more members joining onto the lawsuit, as the golf club added a provision in its 2016 membership agreement in which members had to sign a release form waiving their rights to file a lawsuit against GOLF continued on page 9
INSIDE City wary of potential Starwood traffic Story on page 9.