“Speak Out” with Assemblywoman Sandy Galef Presents Roundtable on Sharing and Consolidating Services

May 29, 2009

Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, Chairman of the Westchester County Association Alfred DelBello, and Cortlandt Town Supervisor Linda Puglisi at the Roundtable in February.

On February 12, 2009 Assemblywoman Sandy Galef hosted a dialogue with officials from each of the towns within her district, as well as representatives from Putnam and Westchester County Executives’ offices. Assemblywoman Galef will be broadcasting February’s discussion on her cable television show “Speak Out with Sandy Galef.” The special will air in four parts consecutively from June to September.

The Roundtable, which was co-moderated by Assemblywoman Galef and Chairman of the Westchester County Association and former Westchester County Executive Al DelBello, focused on ways for local municipal leaders to deliver services for less through sharing and consolidation. The roster for the roundtable included: Putnam County Deputy Executive John Tully, Senior Assistant to Westchester County Executive Karen Pasquale, Briarcliff Trustee Robert Mayer, Buchanan Trustee Sean Murray, Cortlandt Town Supervisor Linda Puglisi, Croton Mayor Greg Schmidt, Kent Town Supervisor Katharine Doherty, Nelsonville Trustee Anthony Merante, Ossining Town Supervisor Catherine Borgia, Ossining Mayor William Hanauer, Peekskill Mayor Mary Foster, Philipstown Town Deputy Supervisor Richard Shea, and Putnam Valley Town Supervisor Robert Tendy. The panel members shared their experiences with sharing and consolidation. They discussed what they had achieved in their municipalities, how they are currently working on consolidating services, and what obstacles they have faced while cutting costs and streamlining services for their constituents.

“In light of these difficult economic times it is important that counties and municipalities operate more efficiently and deliver services for less through sharing and consolidation,” said Galef. The Assemblywoman sent out a questionnaire last fall on sharing and consolidation of government services, and her constituents responded with overwhelming public support for sharing services to cut costs. Recently, Galef has formed a shared services task force with community residents and members of her legislative district to more deeply explore the possibilities of cost-cutting alternatives in government structure and operations.

Tune in to cable television on the following days and times to learn more.

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