The Charter Revision Commission (CRC) had scheduled a meeting at the Mayor’s Conference room for July 13, 2010. Public notice was not made. Perhaps the lack of public notice was the reason even Chairman Julius Walls did not attend the meeting “allegedly” called in his name. Unbeknown to those not seated about the room in their capacity as members of the board of the CRC, a meeting attended by Mr Walls took place July 22, 2010, but no quorum was present. It was at that meeting that a meeting to take place on July 29 was specifically mentioned by Yonkers Corporation Council giving voice to that date. In fact, notice of the July 29 meeting to take place at the Mayor’s Conference room was noticed on the City of Yonkers website two days prior to its taking place, yet on July 28, 2010, the City of Yonkers website deleted reference to the CRC meeting slated for July 29, 2010. Without notice, the CRC met on July 28, 2010. Besides those on the board of the CRC, only Yonkers City council President Chuck Lesnick was in attendance.
At that undeclared meeting, Mr Lesnick submitted a letter to the CRC which may be seen and read on the F.O.I.L. Yonkers website, or read a replication of that letter herein:
“It has come to my attention that the Charter revision Commission has proposed a change to the charter regarding succession to the office of mayor. This new proposal would, in effect, alter, negate and void the right of the City council to participate [in] this most important decision.
“The Mayor’s proposal to the Commission creates the possibility for the mayor to “personally pick” who succeeds him without any consent of the city’s legislative branch - the people’s representatives. Further, the list of potential successors to the mayor includes only non-elected political appointees. The first on the list is Deputy Mayor, a position not even subject to the confirmation hearings of the Commissioners of the departments.
“I have looked at other cities in the county and the big five cities in the state. In those cities either where a city council president exists, the city council president succeeds as acting mayor until the resulys of a special election for the office f mayor are later determined. Therefore, it is established principle and law that in time of either a mayoral absence in office or succession thereof, municipal government continues with an elected official, and not a political appointee, in the role of mayor.
“When the strong mayor form of government was creaed the charter provided that the other city wide elected official the city council president, become the mayorin the Zaleski years because he and his Charter revision commission did not like the council president at the time, they proposed the charter change that exist today. Charter Commission should not look at the personalities of the incumbents but rather what is good for the city in the long run.
“This current language also provides the mayor with great power over the City Council and further allows the executive branch to designate who shall serve within the legislative branch of government”
It is unknown still whether Mr Lesnick’s letter was accepted for inclusion in their effort to change the Yonkers Charter.Another meeting, also not declared, is scheduled for Monday, August 2, 2010.
A public hearing is said to be scheduled for August 16, 2010 but has yet to be divulged. Neither the time and place for the August 2, 2010, and the August 16, 2010 have been divulged.
Every meeting, inclusive of July 13, 22, 28, 2010 that were held noticed except amongst those in attendance. The “declared” publicly noticed meeting of July 29, 2010 did not take place and notice that it was supplanted by a meeting the day prior which was not given public notice.
Mr Lesnick had no qualms engaging his office to give notice of a public hearing noticed in a public notice 6 days prior to its being called for a Friday afternoon at 4:00 pm to members of the city unions who were unaware of its taking place only 4 hours prior to its being called into session. Interested Yonkersites and media who receive such notice by placing their email addresses with the City Clerk’s email list were not notified. It has become evident that if it suits Mayor Amicone, Mr Lesnick will insinuate himself upon his behalf yet when it suites the public good to become aware of the conduct of the CRC, who have to date operated behind closed doors, Mr Lesnick is not to be found.
On the so-called importance of changing the Yonkers Charter regarding the issue of succession to mayor in light of death or absence, one must deduce Mayor Amicone is gravely ill or intends to abdicate the office of Mayor of the City of Yonkers. There is no other rationale to place such importance on an issue of no immediate relevance.
The the calendar snapshot taken from the City of Yonkers website today, August 1, 2010 proves it it too late to call 24 hour advance notice to the August 2, 2010 meeting spoken about by the CRC. It is also the calendar that changed to its present form to hide mention of the July 29, 2010 meeting that was supplanted by an unnoticed July 28, 2010 meeting. Click on the calendar to enlarge the image.
The video showing Corporation Counsel mentioning the Thursday, July 29, 2010 meeting is seen below. Film courtesy of and by Martin McGloin ©.
