Details

Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 10 April 2018

Created: 10 April 2018

Last Updated: 10 April 2018

Hits: 3703

The Scarsdale Procedure Committee (PC) Chair Madelaine Eppenstein and Vice Chair Eric Cheng are asking for voters input on how to improve the non-partisan system’s governing document and the Citizen’s Nominating Committee processes.

According to the chairs, “The Scarsdale community’s non-partisan system of electing qualified candidates for village office, which has worked well over its long history, is governed by the Non-Partisan Resolution (NPR) – a living document that has been amended 41 times since its adoption, most recently in November 2012. The system establishes a method for selecting a slate of candidates for Mayor (every two years), Trustees (every two years, staggered terms) and Village Justice (every four years). Periodically, the community is asked to consider proposed changes to improve the system by means of one or more amendments to the NPR, which are ultimately submitted to the electorate for a vote. This is one of those pivotal opportunities for the public to weigh in and share their views as part of the review process.”

The Procedure Committee's mandate is to administer the annual non-partisan procedure for the election of voting members of the Citizen's Nominating Committee (CNC) and to publicly explore potential revisions to the NPR. The CNC in turn nominates a slate of non-partisan candidates to run for election to the positions of mayor, trustee and village justice that may be open in any given year. CNC members are elected by their neighbors to vet and select candidates for Village office as part of the non-partisan system.

Up to 23 members of the PC include a chair and vice chair, 10 members who are appointed currently by the president of the Town and Village Civic Club (a 501(c)(4) Village civic organization), 2 representatives designated by the chair of the Confederation of Scarsdale Neighborhood Association Presidents (SNAP), and the most recent retiring class of 10 voting members of the CNC.

Procedure Committee chairs Eppenstein and Cheng said, “All comments received from Scarsdale voters and community organizations during the month of April 2018, and any prior recommendations made, will be reviewed by the Procedure Committee during the month of May 2018. By June 1, 2018, the Procedure Committee plans to submit to the community, for public comment, any potential proposals to amend the Non-Partisan Resolution as part of the required 90-day public review period. At the end of this formal public review, the PC will propose amendments that, in the Committee’s judgment, should be presented to the electorate for a vote in the CNC election on November 13, 2018. The entire procedure for the amendment of the Non-Partisan Resolution is contained in Article IX of the NPR here. 

Email comments to: meppenstein@eppenstein.com.

The members of the 2018 Procedure Committee are: Charles Baltman; Sarah Bell; David Dembitzer; Eric Cheng; Madelaine Eppenstein; Timothy Foley; Jeff Goodwin; Mayra Kirkendall-Rodríguez; Eli Mattioli; David Peck; Richard Pinto; Pam Rubin; Greg Soldatenko; Jill Spielberg; Eve Steinberg; Nancy Steinberg; Michelle Sterling; and Bruce Wells.
For more information visit the Procedure Committee website at http://www.scarsdaleprocedurecommittee.org/

Details

Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 13 April 2018

Created: 13 April 2018

Last Updated: 19 April 2018

Hits: 8901

This statement was sent to Scarsdale10583 by Elizabeth M. Guggenheimer, 2018 SBNC Chair
As the 2018 School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC) has completed its nomination of Woodrow Crouch and Alison Singer for election to the Scarsdale Board of Education, I thank the members of the SBNC for their dedication, thoughtfulness, and diligence in performing this important civic responsibility. I also thank all of the applicants. Scarsdale benefits when many talented citizens are willing to present themselves to the SBNC each year, as well as from the efforts of an engaged SBNC.

Our community created the SBNC to nominate school board candidates who will work to maintain and enhance the quality of education provided by the Scarsdale schools. The SBNC is composed of 30 voting members (six elected from each of the five elementary school areas), a non-voting chair and non-voting vice-chair, and two non-voting appointees from TVCC and SNAP. Pursuant to its governing resolution, it judges and selects candidates “solely on their qualifications to serve the community.”

This year, the SBNC nominated Alison and Woody to fill the two seats that open and begin on July 1, 2018. The SBNC considered many more candidates than could be selected for the two available positions. All current SBNC members signed the nominating petitions.

The Candidates

The SBNC strongly endorses Alison and Woody for election to the School Board. They bring different professional and personal experiences and perspectives to our community. They share a deep commitment to maintaining the excellence of the Scarsdale schools and serving constituents with multiple points of view.

Woodrow Crouch worked at the New York Power Authority (NYPA) for 30 years, where he managed major engineering and Woody Crouchconstruction projects and collaborated with colleagues, residents, politicians and unions, and he continues to work in the industry. He served as president and chaired the construction committee of the US Committee on Large Dams and is a licensed Professional Engineer. He holds a BS from the US Merchant Marine Academy and MS from Columbia University.
Woody and his wife Mary have lived in Scarsdale for 40 years, where he has served as president of the Drake Edgewood Association, chaired SNAP and the Edgewood Athletic Association, coached, and was on the board and treasurer of IHM’s religious school. He currently is a merit badge counselor for Scarsdale Boy Scouts Troop 2 and a board member and past board chair of the Sturge-Weber Foundation. Five of his grandchildren now attend the Scarsdale schools.

Alison Singer is president of the Autism Science Foundation, dedicated to funding innovative autism research and supporting the needs of people with autism. She worked for 15 years in communications, including at NBC, where she engaged in team-oriented work to produce news programs and in business negotiations and personnel matters. Alison holds a BA in Economics from Yale University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Alison SingerAlison and her husband Dan have lived in Scarsdale for 18 years, and their two daughters attended the Scarsdale schools. She chaired the SBNC Administrative and Joint Committees and the Parent Committee of the high school speech and debate team. She served on the School District’s Committees on Special Education and Preschool Special Education and the search committee for the Director of Special Education and Student Services.

The School Board Nomination Process

The SBNC nomination process involves several stages. In January, the SBNC heard current school board members’ views on the role and responsibilities of board members and the School District’s opportunities and challenges. SBNC members sought potential board candidates. Each interested applicant submitted a biographical form and then presented orally to the SBNC in February or March.
Pursuant to rules of procedure, committee members conducted due diligence by contacting dozens of people outside of SBNC familiar with the applicants, presented confidential due diligence reports, shared relevant factual information and experiences, focused on the many positive attributes of this year’s candidate pool, and listened to one another carefully.

Discussions and deliberations regarding candidates are confidential in order to encourage people to apply, protect the privacy of candidates and references, allow for candid discussion among SBNC members, and select nominees based on their qualifications.

The committee discussed fully and candidly the qualifications of all proposed candidates before there was any vote, and it voted by secret ballot to fill each vacancy. This year’s SBNC members devoted an estimated 1,600 total hours (an average of 50 hours per person) to their charge. The process was serious and deliberate, with respect for differing opinions.

For more information about the SBNC and its procedures, visit the “About Us” and “Join the School Board” pages of www.scarsdalesbnc.com.

Please Participate

Scarsdale is fortunate to maintain a nonpartisan election process for the Board of Education that selects candidates based solely on their qualifications to serve, not on their campaigning abilities or positions on specific issues. Informed and engaged residents willing to serve on the SBNC and the School Board, along with voter participation, help to ensure the highest quality school board leadership. Please consider serving or suggesting other school district residents to fill future vacancies.

Finally, please remember to vote on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 on the school budget and in the school board election.

Details

Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 03 April 2018

Created: 03 April 2018

Last Updated: 03 April 2018

Hits: 5980

New York State law requires government officials to be sworn in on the first Monday in April so the Village of Scarsdale didn’t let an unexpected snowstorm interrupt the ceremony.

Village Manager Steve Pappalardo and Village Clerk Donna Conkling were at Scarsdale Village Hall at noon on Monday April 2 to swear in the three newly elected Village Trustees. As their families, well-wishers and Village staff looked on, Justin Arest, Lena Crandall and Jane Veron each took the oath of office and vowed to uphold the U.S. Constitution during their two-year terms.

Pappalardo joked, “You get sworn in today, and then you can swear at us for the next two years!”

Ha!

It was a proud moment after a toughly contested election.

Best of luck to our volunteer trustees.

Lena Crandall is sworn in by Donna Conkling.Justin Arest is sworn in by Donna Conkling.Jane Veron is sworn in by Donna Conkling.Village Manager Steve Pappalardo and Village Clerk Donna ConklingPappalardo and VeronLena Crandall and her boys.Justin Arest and family.Jane Veron and Andrew FeldsteinMayor Dan Hochvert and Dara GruenbergDeb Pekarek and Jon Leslie