RyeCity REVIEW THE
June 9, 2017 | Vol. 5, Number 23 | www.ryecityreview.com
Will the city purchase this stateowned land across from Rye Country Day School, and then relocate its DPW facility there? That seems to be the desire of the many residents to help reconfigure Disbrow Park to achieve additional field space. For story, see page 7. Photo/Andrew Dapolite
City GOP to run full slate, 2 incumbents By JAMES PERO Staff Writer A full Republican slate will feature two familiar faces and two newcomers, ready to go head-tohead against city Democrats with majority control of the City Council on the line. Complementing the top-of-theticket candidate, incumbent Mayor Joe Sack, will be current Councilman Terry McCartney—whose decision to run marks a reversal after publicly stating he would not be seeking re-election in a February interview—in addition to Elizabeth Parks and Susan Watson. The ticket was finalized at the city Republican Committee’s caucus on June 5 at the Damiano Center. McCartney, 54, told the Review
that his decision to change course on a re-election bid was driven by what he feels remains left to do in the city. “I decided there’s too much business to walk away from,” said McCartney, who is finishing up his first term in elected office. Among the items still left on McCartney’s to-do list, he said, are completing a master plan for Disbrow Park revitalization, the acquisition of a property next to Interstate 95, and seeing out a resolution to an ongoing legal battle with Crown Castle. McCartney, who is a practicing attorney, has also taken the lead on various legal issues surrounding the city, including litigation with Travelers, the insurance carrier covering the Rye Golf Club which paid out
$1.5 million to the city last year, and negotiations with Starwood Capital, the developers behind a revamp of Port Chester’s former United Hospital site. While McCartney originally cited the demand of his job—specifically the traveling that it entails—as GOP continued on page 8
Fire Department chief’s training called into question By FRANCO FINO Staff Writer A newly elected Rye fire chief does not qualify to hold the position, leading to concerns over his status as the department’s commanding officer during emergency situations. As part of a Freedom of Information Law, FOIL, request for training records that was submitted in April, the Review has confirmed that newly promoted volunteer Chief David Larr, who previously served as an assistant chief, does not have the requisite certification or qualifications to be in command of fire scenes. Larr was elected by the volunteers earlier this year alongside volunteer Capt. Dan Bochicchio, a member of the Milton Point Engine and Hose Company—one of Rye’s three fire companies—who was promoted to assistant chief. Larr’s records shows that he is not an interior firefighter, which is required to assume the position of chief, which has not yet been approved by the City Council and the public safety commissioner. The training records, which serve as a way to identify the qualifications of both paid and volunteer firefighters, also show evidence that Larr has a 19-year gap from 1996 to 2015 in which he was absent from the department and did not receive any training. Bochicchio’s records indicate that he has the training to be classified as an interior firefighter and has actively received training every year since 2012. Since joining the department in 1995, the volunteer has had a few absences in which he did not receive training, however.
John Castelhano, the president of the professional firefighters’ union, told the Review the news is a “big issue,” as Larr is currently in command during fire scenes despite never being officially approved as chief by the City Council and the city’s public safety commissioner. According to city Public Safety Commissioner Michael Corcoran, Larr has only been authorized to assist with commanding a fire scene while his training is under review by the state Public Employee Safety and Health Bureau, PESH. “He hasn’t been put in command by me,” he said. Corcoran added that after the state’s determination, Larr’s promotion is still subject to his own review. Originally, city officials had hoped the newly elected chief would qualify by state standards to be in command in order to finally rectify several violations that were ordered earlier this year by PESH, which provides policy guidance and conducts unannounced mandatory inspections for violations of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. In January, PESH, which covers all state and local government workplaces, determined the Fire Department was in violation of 19 serious procedural policy and operational standards, including several infractions relating to the chief’s training requirements. The training violations were prompted by former fire Chief Mike Billington’s lack of training. The department was also handed one minor violation not relating to training. “We’re hoping [the new chiefs]
INSIDE New wine bar set to open Story on page 9.
FD continued on page 10