The New Rochelle City Council has appointed fifteen citizen volunteers to serve on the Citizens’ Panel on Sustainable Budgets. Tasked with analyzing service delivery levels and methods in the face of dwindling resources for 2013 and beyond, the panel will convene in February and work through July to produce recommendations in time for next year’s budget considerations.

The panel brings together citizens with experience in finance, administration and other relevant fields and will be chaired by resident Todd Kern. Members include Judith Berger, David Bieber, Michael Boyle Sr., Emily Bromberg, Kyran Cassidy, Matthew Costa, Michael D’Ambrosio, Jeffrey Hastie, Linda Kelly-Fauci, Bo Kemp, Martha Lopez-Hanratty, David Peters, Ann Rolett, and John Rorer. Additionally, pro bono consulting services will be provided by North Avenue Research, a team led by New Rochelle resident Mark Grotevant.

Selections were made from a strong pool of applicants in at-large and council district appointments. Mayor Noam Bramson will also serve on the committee along with two rotating members of City Council.

New Rochelle Resident Steve Mayo has filed a court action called an Article 78. Article 78 is a mechanism of New York Civil Law that allows a regular citizen like Steve to stop a government agency or officer from acting outside their jurisdiction. That is precisely what the Mayor and Council are attempting to do by flouting the law that prevents them from using illegal revenue sources like the Garbage Fee/Tax.

Upon filing the Article 78 action, Mr. Mayo said, “I’m just one taxpayer and taking on city government is kind of a David Vs. Goliath proposition but I believe that when taxpayers see how outrageous this fake ‘fee-tax’ is, this issue will gain attention and support. Then we can work together as an informed and mobilized citizen group to stop this ‘slight of hand’ type of accounting in our city budget.

Mr Mayo added, “The presumptuousness, the disingenuousness of the majority in masking their machinations is positively insulting, never mind being a textbook example of 'opacity in government.'"

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NOTE: New Rochelle citizens will gather at 10AM on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at New Rochelle City Hall to voice their outrage at the illegal and irresponsible garbage tax that will cost every New Rochelle home and apartment owner hundreds of dollars more in city taxes every year.

Shakespeare in his timeless tragedy Romeo and Juliet said, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet". In other words, regardless of what name you call something, it doesn't change what it is and it certainly doesn't change the way it smells. In the 2012 New Rochelle city budget, Mayor Bramson and the City Council hid a $223.00 tax for every single house and individual apartment in New Rochelle. They refer to this tax as a Garbage Fee but that doesn't change the way it smells or what it is…it stinks and it’s a tax.

The TV/Monitor South End pickup scheduled for Saturday, January 21 will continue as planned only as conditions permit. Residents with appointments are advised that pickup may be suspended due to adverse weather. Any remaining list locations will be addressed starting Monday, January 23. For more information contact the Department of Public Works at 235-5830.

Christmas Tree Pickup has begun in New Rochelle. Christmas trees must be stripped of tinsel and ornaments and must be placed at the curb by February 1.

For more information contact the Bureau of Streets and Highways at 235-4029.

NOTE: Plastic bags are not permitted.

With the municipal workforce and finances stretched to the limit, the City Council is set to approve the creation of a Citizens’ Panel on Sustainable Budgets to help determine optimal service delivery levels and methods for 2013 and beyond.

During the next six months, the18-member panel will review all facets of City operations and provide an analysis of current and alternative service delivery methods and revenue sources, along with recommendations that could help shape New Rochelle's 2013 budget.

"It is time for a fresh look at the fundamentals of local government," said New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson. "This publicly inclusive process will help set a long-term foundation for fiscal stability in an era of limits, while better advancing the priorities and expectations of the people of our community."

The Council-appointed panel will include at-large and district members. Those interested in serving should submit a resume to the City Clerk by January 17 for the at-large appointment or to their Council Member prior to the January 24 district appointment deadline.

At a recent New Rochelle City Council meeting, newly-seated Council Member Ivar Hayden caused New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson to visibly squirm in his seat by mentioning a recent New York Times article during a discussion of Forest City/Ratner's MOU for Echo Bay. For those who missed it, Times reporter Michael Powell documents the many crooked twists and turns by which various Forest City/Ratner projects have been advanced by corrupt politicians and the convictions obtained by the U.S. Attorney. Yonkers is up next.

A Developer Between Legal Clouds

Last week, the lobbyist Richard Lipsky stood in a courtroom to acknowledge bribe-making. His partner in crime, Carl Kruger, the former state senator and a Brooklyn Democrat, had taken his tear-soaked turn two weeks earlier. They face years in prison.