On August 14, 2009, an arbitrator ruled that the Village of Mount Kisco did violate its agreement with the Mount Kisco PBA when it paid its police officers their $975 uniform allowance on September 12, 2009 instead of September 1, 2009.
The decision by the arbitrator, required because the union filed a demand for arbitration, concluded that there is no appropriate remedy because of the de minimis nature of the violation did not call for a remedy. “De Minimis” means that the matter is minimal in difference that the law does not take it into consideration. The arbitrator ruled that the damages, if paid to PBA members, would amount to somewhere between $0.50 and $2.50 per PBA member.
Granted, there was a violation by the Village of Mount Kisco and, even though the village has apparently made the uniform allowance consistently on the first payroll check after September 1, the union did not waive this violation. The bigger question is why is the PBA’s representatives, the New York State Union of Police Associations (”NYSUPA”) filing grievances that are either unsuccessful (see posts from March 31, 2009 and August 1, 2009) or have no appropriate remedy because of the de minimis nature of the complaint. This is another arbitration that cost the village and the taxpayers money to defend. Money that could have been better spent elsewhere, including on a higher uniform allowance for the Village’s police officers.
The trains are less crowded, the pool is empty and there is less traffic as many Mount Kisco residents take their vacations during the two weeks before Labor Day. There is also fewer blog posts as many bloggers take their vacations as well.
Mount Kisco, as a village in Weschester, receives sales tax allocations from the county on a per capita basis. As a result of the sales tax collection and allocation by the county on our behalf, the Village of Mount Kisco does not receive the sales tax revenues from Target, T.J. Maxx and the other large stores in the village. Only cities, such as White Plains and Rye, get to keep their sales tax without sharing with other municipalities.
The Village’s final quarterly payment for the 08/09 fiscal year was $297,003 bringing the fiscal year’s total sales tax revenue just shy of the Village’s 08/09 budgeted amount of $1,300,000 by $22,028. These sales tax revenues are less than the amount collected in 07/08 budget. The cause of the budget shortfall is lower spending by consumers as a result of the poor economy.
The Mount Kisco Village Board, reacting to the slower economy and lower sales tax revenue, lowered the Village’s 09/10 budget by $50,000 to $1,250,000 for the 09/10 fiscal year. Of course, the Village Board then had to lower spending by $50,000 to avoid raising property taxes. This means that library hours must be limited and large raises cannot be given to Village employees. The Village of Mount Kisco needs to tighten its belt just like its residents.
The Saint Francis AME Zion church will hold its annual Fellowship Fun Day on Saturday, August 29, 2009 from 8:30 to 5:00 in its parking lots on Kisco and Hillside Avenues. The event will include gospel music, activities for children and merchants. This event is open to the entire community. Hillside Avenue will be closed between Kisco Avenue and Mountain for this event.
John Hall was in Mount Kisco last Friday to discuss and listen to businesses and residents on health-care reform. An article discussing the issue can be found at the following link:
http://www.rollcall.com/news/37893-1.html
This is a national debate that effects everyone locally.
The Mount Kisco Recreation Commission announced its fall programs and mailed its brochure to Mount Kisco residents. An online version of the brochure can be found at the following link:
http://www.mountkisco.org/departments/recreation/2009081813239.703
The brochure includes programs for preschoolers, youths, adults and seniors. In the fall, there is even a program for dogs as the annual Dog Swim, the last event held at Memorial Pool, allows the dogs to use the pool on September 20 from 1:00 to 2:30.
Some interesting programs include AYSO soccer, flag football and fall baseball. Sign up early to ensure the success of these programs.
On August 12, 2009, Judge John Donohue proceeded over the Mount Kisco Justice Court. The listing of cases on the calendar included 33 cases. Of the 33 cases, over half of the cases were from charges that originated in 2008. Two of the cases were three years old, including one that involved the dumping of PCBs on a property next to a residential neighborhood.
If violations are not efficiently resolved and if fines are not appropriately levied against violators, it lessens the impact of the charges and the chance for compliance by other property owners. Both the Mount Kisco prosecutor and the Mount Kisco judges need to work more efficiently to resolve these cases. Cases that are in court for three years, especially those involving toxic substances, need to be resolved. Mount Kisco’s public safety requires more attention to these matters.
In July, the Mount Kisco Fire Department answered 30 calls. Even though July was a busy month, it was better than the month of June when the Mount Kisco Fire Department answered 54 calls, including 27 calls by the Independent Fire Company. In addition to answering calls, the Mount Kisco Fire Department sponsored a blood drive on August 5 for the New York Blood Center.
To find out more about two of Mount Kisco’s fire companies, use the links posted on the front page of mountkisconews.com. Please support the volunteers that serve Mount Kisco as firefighters. When you hear that fire horn, say a thank you for the men and women who sacrifice their time for our safety.
As reported here earlier, Joan Donohue, wife of Judge John Donohue, submitted a letter to the Westchester Board of Elections challenging the petitions for the Mount Kisco judicial race submitted by Peter DiChiara. This was just a step by Joan Donohue to eliminate a candidate in the Democratic Party primary and competition for her husband John Donohue.
Even though Peter DiChiara had more than the required 114 signatures on his petitions, several of those signatures were from voters that had signed a petition for other candidates. With those signatures eliminated, Peter DiChiara was only four signatures short and off of the Democratic Party ballot.
With no other candidates, other than those supported by the Mount Kisco Democratic Committee, running in local races, it was refreshing that there would be at least one local race. The action by Joan Donohue is not surprising since she was Democratic chairperson in 2005 and was responsible for obtaining the Mount Kisco Justice Democratic nomination for her then-Republican husband.
As reported here and in the The Examiner and The Journal News, the Mount Kisco Public Library opened with praise from its users. Strangely, The Journal News article featured a picture and comments from a family from Chappaqua. Nevertheless, the Mount Kisco residents that are paying for and primarily using the library seem satisfied.
The library is open five days a week, closing only on Friday and Sunday. The hours are:
Monday and Thursday from 10:00 to 6:00; Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:00 to 8:00 and Saturday 10:00 to 4:00.
