Letters to the Editor: You, too, Can Contribute to the Perpetuation of Good, Clean Village Government

The following letters were received by Scarsdale10583.com this week: The spectacle of this year's presidential campaign, and the disgraceful, nonproductive, inefficient, partisan manner in which the federal government has functioned the last eight years, in particular, is deplorable. And although state government inefficiencies may not have the same consequences on our personal life as do those in the federal government, the political infighting that takes place in Albany, other state capitals, and many municipalities is not much better.

For this reason alone, I have been most impressed by the benefits residents in Scarsdale have experienced as a result of our nonpartisan governmental structure. I especially appreciate that our system has established a process in which the office seeks the candidate, rather than the candidates seek the office. This has given distinction to the office so that our elected Village office holders are willing to accept long hours and arduous responsibilities and to serve without remuneration. And I appreciate, as a Scarsdale resident of 46 years, that we have exemplary quality services such as recreation, police and fire protection, sanitation, and public works. Unlike so many other municipalities, our Village has been free of charges of graft, misuse of funds, and corruption in office. Perhaps that's why we are one of very few villages in New York State with an AAA bond issue rating from Moody's.

When my family first moved to Scarsdale, like so many young fathers I got involved with coaching sports teams and serving as a mentor to Cub Scouts. More recently, I realized that I had a community responsibility to contribute to the perpetuation of what I strongly believe has been good clean Village government. I chose to do this by offering myself as a candidate to run for the Citizens Nominating Committee (CNC).

I was exceedingly impressed by the talent, quality and dedication of CNC members with whom I served. They were genuinely interested in identifying the most qualified candidates for trustee, and during the period of time I served, for mayor and Village judge.

Each candidate for trustee and the other open positions came before our committee and told us what qualities and special skills they would bring to the office. Each candidate was encouraged to inform us of civic work they had done and were most proud of. Each candidate was asked to tell us his or her understanding of the role he or she was seeking and how the candidate would approach the time commitment necessary to devote to that role.
The CNC reviewed each candidate's statement and interviewed his or her references. In addition, to learn as much as we could about the candidate, we contacted the organizations, councils, and committees on which the candidates serviced. Starting in December we began deliberations on the pros and cons of each candidate.

Often, it was difficult to prioritize who amongst the very qualified candidates we, as a nominating committee, ultimately recommended for the various positions. As part of this process we, at times, took into consideration the composition of the current trustees. For example, if the current composition of the Village trustees included several attorneys, but no trustee with financial or environmental expertise, and we were considering a candidate with strong financial or environmental expertise that, at times, influenced who we recommended as a new trustee.

I have always found politics to be distasteful. For this reason I felt most privileged to be a part of and to contribute to Scarsdale's nonpartisan governmental system. If you, like me, appreciate competent administration of government, and are prepared to devote five stimulating meetings this fall (that's right, CNC members will complete their work within a 4 to 5 week period, maximum) in to the perpetuation of our very special nonpartisan system, then I enthusiastically encourage you to get involved by offering yourself as a candidate for the Citizens Nominating Committee. Not only will you find it to be a terrific way to meet other great Scarsdalians, but you will also find it to be an extremely satisfying experience.

Here is how to obtain forms to become a CNC candidate:

1) On line go to www.scarsdaleprocedurecommittee.org
2) At the very top of the page that opens up, click "Forms"
3) Half way down the page that opens up, click both "Download this revision" lines
4) Once you complete the election forms, submit them on or before Sept. 30, 2016.

By John Baer
14 Colvin Road, Scarsdale

To the Editor: I am a member of the Scarsdale Procedure Committee, which supports Scarsdale's non-partisan electoral system, and I am writing to urge all eligible residents of our community to consider standing for election to the Scarsdale Citizens Nominating Committee.

The CNC is composed of 30 residents, six from each of Scarsdale's five neighborhood school districts. The CNC meets between early December and late January to nominate candidates for election to local office, including our Mayor, Village Trustees, and Village Justice. CNC members are thus afforded a first-hand opportunity to consider and evaluate potential candidates for important local positions and to impact the effectiveness of government and the quality of life in our wonderful community.

Having served two three-year terms on the CNC, once in the 1990s and again a few years ago, I can say on the basis of personal experience that participating in the CNC, though entailing a small time commitment, is one of the most interesting, enjoyable and rewarding activities available to civic-minded Scarsdale residents.

For those interested in standing for election to the CNC, nominating petitions and biographical data forms are available online at www.scarsdaleprocedurecommittee.org. The forms are also available at the Scarsdale Library and Village Hall.

Eli R. Mattioli
50 Drake Road
Scarsdale, N.Y. 10583

To the Editor: Elections are moments for accountability. Scarsdalians deeply concerned about a host of controversies, including but not limited to the Ryan reval, are now also taking a critical eye to all of our institutions to determine if they are still achieving the best possible process and outcomes for Village residents, or if they need to be reformed to better meet the needs of today.

On the comments on this site and elsewhere, the Citizens Nominating Committee and the 86-year Non-Partisan tradition for village elections have come in for their share of criticisms. This level of scrutiny is both reasonable and itself part of the long tradition of Village civic life. But I hope those who are the most concerned will accept this piece of friendly advice: the swiftest way to reform the CNC is to run for the CNC.

I mean that sincerely, and not as some trite "get in the arena" challenge. The processes observed by the CNC derive from four sources: the binding Non-Partisan Resolution; the CNC Rules of Procedure which must be adopted via vote at the open-to-the-public Opening Meeting, and which therefore are open to amendment every year per parliamentary procedure; past best practices memorialized by past CNCs and Procedure Committees; and informal tradition. Whether the Rules of Procedure are amended in any year, whether the advice of this year's Procedure Committee will be accepted by this year's CNC, and whether "the way things have been done " continues to be the way the way things will be done depends entirely on who's in the room making those decisions.

Even the provisions of the Non-Partisan Resolution are far from chiseled in granite. The resolution itself has been amended 41 times, or roughly once every 2-3 years, and ratified by Village-wide vote. The drafters of the amendments have been the members of the Procedure Committee, which is open to all volunteers but draws most of its members from last year's graduating "class" of the CNC -- another reason to get involved.

Even the staunchest defender of the Non-Partisan system must concede that one particular measure, it has too often missed the mark -- though not from lack of trying! The resolution sets the goal for CNC elections as being a competitive race for every open seat -- at least 4 candidates for every school district. Every year, the Procedure Committee tries valiantly to recruit candidates and bends over backwards with flexibility to provide competitive and meaningful elections. Every year, too few Village residents answer the call. How can we possibly expect our institutions to improve if we can't even find twenty engaged candidates?

If this is to be the year of reform, it should also be the year when more residents than ever download a petition, find 10 friends to vouch for us, and stand for election on November 18. The only way we're going to change the game is if more of us get in the game.

Tim Foley
73 Brown Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583
646-229-1379

From the Procedure Committee: Calling all Eligible Scarsdale Residents: The CNC Needs You!

The Procedure Committee of the Citizens Nominating Committee currently is seeking candidates for the upcoming CNC election. Applications can be found here and are due September 30, 2016.

Under Scarsdale's nonpartisan system of government, the CNC interviews potential candidates for open positions in our village. From this pool, a slate representing the Scarsdale Citizens Nonpartisan Party is selected to run in the village election in March. This year's CNC will select candidates for three open trustee positions and village mayor.

Becoming a member of the CNC is a small commitment, with a big reward. You spend 5-6 evenings in December and January (1 Sunday evening and 4-5 Wednesday evenings), with 29 other village residents for three years. This is a great way to get involved in our community, meet new people, and help our village government run.

All that is needed to participate is a biographical form and a nominating petition with 10 signatures of registered voters from your elementary school area. These two forms can be downloaded at: www.scarsdaleprocedurecommittee.org. Hard copies also can be obtained at village hall and the Scarsdale Library. Filing instructions are on the forms. The deadline for filing is September 30, 2016.

The nonpartisan resolution requires people to have lived in Scarsdale only two years before serving on the CNC, so this is a great opportunity if you are new to our town. It is also a perfect civic-minded activity for anyone who is now with an empty nest, or for someone who is looking to get more involved in our community.

All eligible Scarsdale residents are encouraged to consider this important and unique opportunity. Please contact Max Grudin, CNC Procedure Committee Chair, at mgrudin@gmail.com if you have any questions.