Residents to New Board: We'll Be Watching You

Almost two hours after he was sworn in with the rest of the new board, Joe Kenner smiled. The trustees had been cheered, scolded and admonished by voters, all in the same meeting.

But somewhere along the way, the two Democrats, two Republicans, one conservative and one independent on the board started to sound like they were all members of the same party, each sounding similar notes about reigning in spending and turning a more critical eye toward the village's affairs.

"What a difference an election makes, huh?" Kenner said. "We can actually have these discussions and debate these issues."

The small courtroom at 350 North Main Street was filled to standing-room-only capacity Tuesday night, with people packed elbow-to-elbow, some rising to the tips of their feet and jostling for position as the village's historic vote was consummated with oaths and promises.

The new trustees were sworn in to loud cheers and applause, and when it was all said and done -- after years of lawsuits, months of public service announcements and weeks of voter education efforts -- they took their seats and got down to business.

Although some lively debate followed -- particularly where it concerned a $39,000, last-minute bid to bus local kids on summer camp field trips -- the most contentious issues were raised by a handful of locals who took the podium after the new trustees were sworn in.

Describing a school district he said was "busting at the seams," academic performance that's "at the bottom of the rankings in Westchester County," and "a ballooning budget," resident George Ford echoed previous speakers as he warned the new trustees to bury partisan disagreements and work together to address problems in the village.

Ford urged the board to take measures to combat urban overcrowding, traffic congestion and "landlords who have taken advantage of Port Chester over the years." Without outright saying it, Ford railed against the practice of turning a blind eye to the village's illegal immigrant population, urging inspections of multi-family dwellings and lamenting the village's high taxes.

"Many people have come out tonight to show that it's time for this village to be turned around," he said. "We cannot afford to subsidize illegal activity and it's time that it stops."

Ford said he'd spoken to other residents about forming a citizen board to oversee the trustees, and said he'd lead efforts to pressure trustees to resign if they didn't meet the group's expectations.

Gadfly Bea Conetta said she wasn't happy with the federally-mandated vote, but said she's "glad Luis [Marino] is up there, that we got the desired result," referring to Marino's history-making campaign that made him the first Hispanic trustee member in the village's history.

"You fellas...you leave your party at the door," Conetta said. "You're no longer a Democrat or a Republican or a conservative or an independent. We expect you to only have us in mind on every decision."

Another long-time veteran of local politics, Goldie Solomon, urged the board to find ways to cut taxes.

But the loudest applause was reserved for Anastasia Marcos, a Port Chester High School student who will become a senior this fall. Marcos drew loud approval from the packed courtroom when she asked the board to "think about the children of Port Chester and the teenagers of Port Chester."

"Just because we're not adults yet...doesn't mean we don't have a voice, or that we don't think about or understand the politics of our village," she said. "I'd like you to keep us in mind, and just think about us once in a while."