RyeCity REVIEW THE
August 25, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 34 | www.ryecityreview.com
6 interested in Rye Town Park restaurant operation By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer
DATING WITH DISABILITIES Andrew Kranichfeld, a Westchester native, is working on a dating app called Love is Blind, which he hopes will help alleviate some of the problems that disabled people face when trying to find love. For story, see page 6. Photo courtesy Pinterest.com
City takes next step in locking into Playland litigation By JAMES PERO Staff Writer The Rye City Council took another step forward on filing an appeal that will pit the city against Westchester County in a struggle for a greater say in the future of Playland. This week, councilmembers, in an Aug. 22 vote authorized a new law firm—Sive, Paget & Riesel, P.C.—to take on the council’s appeal which is quickly approaching an October deadline. While the authorization doesn’t yet solidify an appeal of a decision rendered by a state judge in March, Rye City Attor-
ney Kristen Wilson said she fully expects the council to file in October. The March ruling saw the city lose its legal standing in a bout to win control over the environmental review of upcoming capital improvements at the park “As far as I know, we’re moving forward,” she told the Review. An appeal will seek to overturn the county’s declaration of lead agency under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, SEQR, last year and install the city as lead agent instead. Wilson said an appeal would also seek to regain the city’s legal standing in the matter which was stripped by the March decision.
Lack of standing, she said, could greatly harm the city’s future efforts if litigation were to resurface by setting a legal precedent that would prevent the city from suing over development matters at Playland Park in the future. Councilwoman Danielle Tagger-Epstein, a Democrat, who wasn’t in attendance for the Aug. 22 council meeting, said she would have “leaned towards yes.” Last month, the City Council voted 4-3 to draft the appeal that was approved earlier this week. Tagger-Epstein, who voted against having the appeal drafted by attorneys last month, said her change in attitude is the result of
increased confidence in the newest firm—which she said will be hired at a lower cost—as well as the prospect of potentially being able to regain legal standing in the matter. “I know that [Sive, Paget & Riesel, P.C.] have our best interest at heart and this is the only way forward to do what’s best for the future of the community,” she said. Councilwoman Julie Killian, a Republican, who stood as the only vote against the decision to hire a new firm, . said publicly that “I don’t think we should be PLAYLAND continued on page 8
The Rye Town Park Commission has sparked interest from at least six restaurateurs to run an operation at the park’s restaurant and beachside snack bar and beverage stand for the next decade. According to Rye City Councilwoman Julie Killian, a Republican and member of the park commission, after meeting with six companies during pre-proposal conferences, the park commission is expecting an equal amount of restaurateurs to submit offers to take over the park’s food operations for a period between 10 and 20 years. The deadline to respond to the official request for proposals, RFP, has been extended to Sept. 6. The RFP process comes as the park’s current deal with Homestyle Caterers, which operates the steak and seafood grill outlet known as the Ocean Grille, will expire in the coming months. Al Ciuffetelli, the owner of the restaurant company, agreed to terms with the park commission earlier this year to secure a one-year license agreement to run the grill outlet and operate a Nathan’s famous fast food chain at the north gate of the beach for the summer of 2017. Although not yet confirmed with the park commission, Ciuffetelli said he plans to continue his operation at the park for a longer term, granted the commission accepts his anticipated offer. As of press time, the park commission, which consists of members from the city and town of Rye, the villages of Port Chester and Rye Brook, and the Rye Neck section of the village of Mamaroneck, will not release the names of the other parties interested in the restaurant space. Additionally, it remains unknown whether or not Angelo
Liberatore, an operating partner of the Fort Pond Bay Company— which owns Half Moon in Dobbs Ferry and Harvest on Hudson in Hastings-on-Hudson—will submit an offer. Last year, Liberatore told the Review he was still interested in operating a restaurant out of the park after withdrawing a previous offer. At the time, Liberatore was one of only two responders to a request that was issued toward the end of 2016 in preparation for the departure of the park’s longtime former restaurant, Seaside Johnnies. Liberatore withdrew his offer after determining there wasn’t enough time to prepare for the upcoming season, which led the park commission to discard the RFP entirely and agree on a short-term deal with Ciuffetelli. The current RFP process is being implemented by the commission’s Restaurant Steering Committee and Tracy Lawler from the JGL Food Service consultant company. JGL, which is being paid $19,000 to conduct the RFP process, also selected Homestyle Caterers earlier this year. The committee is comprised of two commissioners, Killian and Port Chester Mayor Fritz Falanka, a Democrat, and two residents— one from the town of Rye, Dan Tartaglia, and the other from the city of Rye, Russ Gold. The park, which overlooks Oakland Beach and the Long Island Sound, is located off of Forest Avenue in the city of Rye. The 62-acre green space and beachfront offers seasonal swimming and yearround use for passive and semi-active events. Liberatore and Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman could not be reached for comment, as of press time. CONTACT: franco@hometwn.com