The new deal in Monroe
By Claudia Wysocki
MONROE — The packed audience at the Town of Monroe meeting Monday night basically told the two new councilmen they have taken back their town.
The new councilmen, Tony Cardone and Mike McGinn, were sworn in to office to begin their four-year terms.
The meeting was held on the third floor of the Town of Monroe Arts & Civic Center, and from the beginning, the evening was one of surprises.
That means the day-to-day operations of running the town falls to the town board member elected by his peers to fill in.
Councilman Gerard McQuade Jr. had held that position last year. But on Monday, McQuade joined McGinn and Councilman Rick Colon to unanimously select Cardone.
The longtime Monroe businessman took over the supervisor seat and handled the re-organization meeting.
He and McGinn asked McQuade and Colon a number of question regarding how issues are handled. As a result, some appointments were held up and other issues tabled for discussion at a later time.
Here’s some of the changes made Monday:
Nugent, they said, brings experience in a variety of municipality issues.
Peter Tilem, the present town attorney, finally picked up his papers, put his coat on and left.
There were guards at the town meeting’s which residents told the board members were not needed.
The new board members said they are looking into the fact of a town security guard carrying a gun.
Town Clerk MaryEllen Beams also noted she doesn’t need the security guards in the newly rented town hall located at 1465 Orange Turnpike.
The board decided to review where the guards are needed, such as the town courts.
One was a cost involved in the venue change which will include equipment installed at the theatre.
In the past, the public was only allowed to speak at every other town board meeting, and then have those comments limited to items appearing on a particular meeting’s agenda.
Cardone said the public will be allowed to address the town board at every meeting.
The board appointed Bill Brown Jr. as deputy highway superintendent of the town highway department.
Planning board member Gary Abrignani was re-appointed to the town’s planning board.
Several of the town boards will have a change in personnel and others, such as the Ethics Board, is now filled. Vacancies on some boards will be advertised in the newspaper.
Board members also said they considered it a conflict of interest for relatives of town board members represented a conflict of interest.
The town’s decision to purchase the building in 2013 was a defining moment in the civic life of Monroe. Opposition to the purchase led to the creation of the political organization, United Monroe. The election of Cardone and McGinn was the latest example of United Monroe’s political strength.
And while Doles has said he would sell the building if someone would make an offer, nothing has come of that. To date, anyway.
At Monday’s meeting, McQuade noted that residents are enjoying the movie theater, which most recently has been screening “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”
According to a report by Comptroller Peter J. Martin, number of tickets sold through during the 32 weeks the movie theater has been open is 28,892 with total sales of $264,863.
“Since introducing the $5.00 ticket resident attendance has increased dramatically,” Martin noted. “The holiday weekend brought 4,419 town residents to the theater.”