By Danny Teigman
The document, according to its detractors, both residents and trustees alike, unnecessarily limits the free-speech rights of trustees, instructing them, for instance, to contact the mayor immediately following
any calls from the media. Or if a resident calls the trustees about a complaint, they must report the incident to the village administrator within 24 hours. The document, nevertheless, has been championed by the mayor, who has called these interpretations misleading.
But in one of his most vocal televised shows of disapproval during the board¹s general meetings since the new administration took office in April, Trustee David Penso said he was concerned over the power and authority outlined in the duties and responsibilities of the village administrator, which in an earlier May draft of the document stated that person would function as ³a leader and chief executive officer of the village.² He later cited a Herald editorial, written in June, which referred to the draft proposal as ³the height of government arrogance.²
Curran said that he was aware of Penso¹s concerns, and that his disapproval would be continuously addressed. Although no votes were taken on the measure, an additional late-evening work session revision tentatively removed an entire paragraph, deleting any suggestion that the administrator functions as the village¹s CEO. He stressed that although the newly elected village board continued to be operating efficiently, the need for a written set of rules to better guide village meetings was
essential.
³Obviously me and Trustee Penso disagree on this,² Curran said.
³...But it is good government to actually deal with something that needs to be done. The bottom line is in no way will this policy restrict or refrain access to any elected official.²
The idea for a codified set of rules first gained traction during the end of former Mayor Eugene Scarpato¹s administration, which in its closing months was marked by frequent board infighting and late-night
trustee and mayoral political grandstanding. According to Village AdministratorJohn Giordano, the document is an ³all-star list² of similar policies adopted by other villages and schools districts.
Other language defining board members¹ responsibilities and their relationship to the village administrator was also toned down. Rather than saying ³the board should never take action on an item without first hearing the recommendation from the administrator,² its latest version now says, ³the board, prior to taking action on an item, shall solicit the recommendation of the village administrator.²
But other language concerns, like the request that board members call department heads before they make any visit to a village facility, caused Deputy Mayor Bill Hendrick to refer to portions of the
document as ³crapola.²
By 1 a.m., the few preliminary changes made were taken under advisement by the mayor and an exhausted board. The board operating procedures will again be debated at the next village board meeting on Aug.6, but no date has been set for an official vote.
Despite a working dialogue, Penso still appeared skeptical over the document¹s potential passage. ³[The mayor and I are] just on divergent paths,² he said.
Curran stressed that as the board operating procedures are a draft document only, ³all of this is premature.²
Comments about this story? DTeigman@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 246.
