Pelham Supervisor: Tough Economic Choices Await In 2012

Sunday’s swearing-in-ceremony at the Richard J. Daronco Town House gave Pelham officials the opportunity to stand back and celebrate their achievements.

But newly elected town Supervisor Town Supervisor Peter DiPaola also used the opportunity to remind his peers and the public of the hard work that awaits the town board this year. With shrinking revenues and state imposed restrictions on spending hanging over municipalities like a specter, DiPaola said this year will be unlike any other.

“In this new economic climate, we’re going to have to make tough choices to make our town budget,” DiPaola said. “The work of the board members does not just consist of one meeting...we are prepared to work as hard as we have to continue to deliver to the people of Pelham the services that they have come to expect.”

DiPaola, who served as the mayor of Pelham Manor prior to joining the town council, is replacing Joseph Solimine as town supervisor. DiPaola has more than 20 years of experience in town politics and has served stints as the Pelham Manor’s mayor, commissioner of public works, and police and fire commissioner.

Other officials who were sworn in include:

• Town Justice Stephen Huff, who has served in the office for more than 30 years.
• Town Justice John DeChiaro, who is serving his first term.
• Town Councilman Blake Bell,  is serving his first term after sitting in the town clerk’s seat last year.
• Town Councilman Dan McLaughlin.

• Town Clerk Tim Case, who is filling the seat that was vacated by Bell.

Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino swore in DiPaola along with Bell, Case, Huff and McLaughlin. DeChiaro was sworn in by Judge Adolph C. Orlando of the state Court of Claims.

During the ceremony, DiPaola said that the town board was able to work through the difficulties caused by the state’s 2 percent property tax cap last year by working together with all the departments in the town to control costs. He said the town board will use that same thing this year.

“We’re going to have to deal with this cap the next budget year and if the economy doesn’t make a significant improvement, staying below the 2 percent cap will be even more difficult,” DiPaola said. “ But this is a challenge that our board is prepared to deal with.”