In addition to our individual interviews with the three mayoral candidates, we attended the forum at The Osborn earlier this week at which they spoke and got into debate on several topics.
By Paul Hicks and Tom McDermott
In addition to our individual interviews with the three mayoral candidates, we attended the forum at The Osborn earlier this week at which they spoke and got into debate on several topics.
How will you as mayor assume a leadership role, moving the City away from the current atmosphere of finger-pointing and personal attacks within the Council and, at times, with residents?
Jovanovich: The current toxic nature requires leadership. Everyone should assume that all seven Council members are stating positions with good will. This really isn’t a partisan town. The mayor sets the tone. I’ll strive to ensure in my actions, thoughts and words, goodwill towards others.
Sack: Leadership is our most important need. There other substantial issues, but it’s hard until you right the ship. If you crave affirmation, this is the wrong business for you. It is part of the deal; you need a thick skin. When I came to the City Council, Steve used to call me before meetings. French and Jovanovich haven’t called me in years. We need more communication. The old adage is, “Keep you friends close and your enemies closer.”
Silberkleit: I am running because we need to be speaking as people. I’m one of the people. Also, I’m a teacher. I want all the people to speak to me.
Is there a need to strengthen the ethics evaluation in City government?
Silberkleit: Absolutely, starting with many checks and balances is important. We need to look at what happens in a more transparent way, communicating with the people of Rye better.
Sack: Yes, ensure that there are no conflicts of interest. The police uniform bid was awarded to someone with ties to Rye Police Department. At a minimum it had the appearance of a conflict. I was literally laughed at, but nobody’s laughing now. The head of that company was arrested days after the award [for falsifying a warranty document].
Jovanovich: During the Council’s uniform contract debate this year, Joe said that it was a “possible” conflict of interest for a member of the Auxiliary Police to get a contract. In 2008, an active police officer won a contract and Joe voted for it. In the Dapolite affair, Joe accused all six of us of lying. You can’t lead the City if you accuse your colleagues of unethical behavior.
The City Council has adopted the Sustainability Committee’s plan. What parts of the new plan would you like to implement soon?
Jovanovich: There are some green initiatives in the valuable report that could be implemented in the short term. One worth considering is switching some City vehicles to alternative energy use. For environmental protection, we need to enforce existing laws and codes. We also need to assure that political parties have no say in who is appointed to City commissions. Some of the green initiatives would not cost taxpayers much. Changing vehicles to use natural gas or electric makes sense to do.
Silberkleit: Flood mitigation is important. The water table changes with bigger homes.
Sack: I trust Sara Goddard and am impressed by her work and don’t consider myself to be an expert in this area. They’ve done a terrific job and we’ll take their recommendations.
Problems persist with Rye Golf Club. Whitby Castle operations are running huge deficits. What should the City do now?
Sack: The buck stops with the City Manager, who should involve the Golf Commission more in the operations. The contract with the pool company is the latest problem, and the Commission has given the City Manager a vote of no confidence. The recent disclosure of a possible $650,000 catering loss is a surprise; why do we have to read about it? An interim club manager is needed as soon as possible, and we definitely need to do an RFP to outsource catering. The hits just keep on coming.
If the City Manager is replaced – not saying he should or shouldn’t be – he needs to be held accountable. The new City Council and Mayor need to have a conversation. I like Scott personally; he’s done a good job keeping the budget under the tax cap. We need to have a competent general manager and a sense of urgency about finding one.
Jovanovich: Too much time and concern is being spent on who has power over Rye Golf Club. In addition to finding a good manager, we need to concentrate on closing the deficit at Whitby Castle operations by finding a firm that knows the restaurant business. I agree with Chris O’ Brien [Golf Commission member], we should RFP catering at the Castle. A City employee runs Whitby, and a City employee should not be in the restaurant business.
We should also look closely at reducing pool fees from the current $1,500 for a family membership to attract new and younger members who might grow into golfing members over time. We’ve lost sight of the reason to own Rye Golf, which is affordability. That’s in the $600-$800 range for families.
Silberkleit: I would have caught that stealing. I don’t know the protocol, but I love looking at the books. One hundred percent of money should be used for the taxpayer. Rye Golf Club is public. Rye is not all wealthy. I hope the Commission takes a fresh look at people who want to be part of the public facility. Open it up and let people afford it. Look at the revenue that could be brought it.
The City has made a number of staff cuts in the past five years, mostly to keep taxes low. Do you think we need to bring back the Assistant City Manager position?
Jovanovich: We got through the recession without raising taxes primarily by cost cutting and staff reductions at City Hall, eliminating the position of Assistant City Manager and reducing the pay for the City Manager position. If we have the funds, we should hire an Assistant City Manager as well as an internal auditor, especially in light of the Rye Golf Club financial problems, which started back in 2006.
Sack: The City Manager needs to be held accountable for the many problems and the lack of urgency in dealing with them. With a new Council, it could lead to replacing him. I don’t like how the question is raised as in the context of an excuse. I’m open to having a discussion about it; it will be in our budget talks. The Council should have more say in filling new positions. The City Charter should be amended to allow Council members to request documents and other information that are now only available to the mayor.
Silberkleit: Why point fingers? I believe in “Trust, but verify.” We should protect our money, spend it wisely, and look at the recent problems as a learning experience.
What is your vision for Rye and what are your priorities?
Silberkleit: Teaching was my first job. A job teaching art opened and I had no experience at that. But, I took art in college, so I just did it, and I was a great teacher. People ask me, “How do you know you’ll do a good job?” Put me in and I’ll do a good job. I have ideas.
Sack: Restoring faith in government is number one, two, and three. Overall, we have to limit taxes, maintain essential services, and listen to the community. We’ve got to stop the decline of infrastructure and resolve union contracts.
Jovanovich: Infrastructure repair; it’s crumbling. We have 100 year-old sewers. Roads need fixing. One big difference between me and Joe is that he voted to halve the bond last time when I felt it could have more in it.
We have to pursue the same resolute path on union negotiations. I’m for Christian Miller’s “Big House” plan [which changes attic space allowed in determining total square feet allowed]. Let’s stop arguing about funding the Library; my opponent wanted to slash the Library funding due to its having an endowment. We have to continue funding Rye Rec and stop the losses at Whiby Castle.
