Meeting records from the September 2010 meeting of the New York State Civil Service Commission obtained by Talk of the Sound reveal that the CSC gave the City School District of New Rochelle just six weeks to select a new security administrator to replace Rolf Koehler from the Eligibility List created by the City of New Rochelle on May 12, 2010. The school district refused to select anyone from the list. After the deadline passed, school officials engaged in repeated efforts to violate New York State law and the thumb their nose at the ruling of the New York State Civil Service Commission. Those efforts continue to this day.
In that same meeting the Commission approved another waiver for Bruce Daniele contingent upon the City of New Rochelle offering an open, competitive exam for the position of Director of Security. The test is scheduled for February 2011. Daniele has been receiving his New Rochelle police pension for several years without waiver in violation of the State’s “211 law”. Koehler has been doing so since 2001.
Daniele, Bruce 5 New Rochelle, City of – City School District Director of Security Competitive 07/01/2010-06/30/2012 $111,800 Yes Limited Approval
The State Commission approved the request for the limited period of 07/01/10-06/30/11. The limited period of approval through 06/30/11 was granted with the stipulation that the City of New Rochelle Civil Service Commission conduct an examination to determine if there are any qualified non-retirees available for appointment. Approval through 06/30/11 will also avoid a disruption in the School District’s security force throughout the 2010-2011 school years.
As the records show, the CSC noted that they had given the City School District of New Rochelle an extension for Rolf Koehler until 10/31/2010 for the express purpose of giving the district time to select from the eligibility list created by the New Rochelle Municipal Service Commission knowing at the time that Rolf Koehler was not on the list created by the City of New Rochelle on May 12, 2010.
Koehler, Rolf 6.75 New Rochelle, City of – City School District School Security Officer Competitive 07/01/2010-06/30/2012 $47,389 Yes Limited Approval
The State Commission approved the request for the limited period of 07/01/10-10/31/10 and disapproved the request thereafter. Approval through 10/31/10 will provide time for the appointing authority to make a permanent appointment from the eligible list. This is not a determination on Mr. Koehler’s continued employment, but rather the appropriateness of collecting pension benefits and a salary as a retired person.
The City of New Rochelle’s Municipal Service Commission was under the control of Mayoral-appointee Domenic Procopio for years but after Talk of the Sound disclosed in an exclusive report that Procopio had been receiving illegal tax exemptions for years on a rental property he owned on Pinebrook Road, the City Council approved a change to the City Code which took away Procopio’s power to appoint the director of the Municipal Service Commission and instead have the civil service department under the authority of City Manager Chuck Strome.
The Eligibility List established by the City of New Rochelle reads as follows:
Date List Established: 12-May-10 Expires: 12-May-11 Position: School Security Officer #63-128 #2284
Dennis Ferry (100)
Vincent Mirabile (100)
Joseph L. Rundinelli (100)
Paul J. Sarachelli (100)
James M. Carello (90)
Jose A. Llamas (90)
Wayner O. Preston (90)
Adam J. Libertella (80)
Imam Sabrie (80)
John F. Earvin (70)
Nelson-Ness Matos (70)
Simora L. McKenniss (70)
City Manager Chuck Strome is the head of the agency responsible for the Eligibility List and, under New York State law, insuring that the list and only the list is used in selecting a candidate for the position. It has been seven months since the list was posted yet no one on the list has been contacted and offered the position for which the City of New Rochelle held a test in February, 2010.
How can New Rochelle do that???
How can New rochelle official’s d what they want like that???
There has to be some oversight dept or commision?
Right???
After looking at the video that you have made available in this sight , I still can’t believe the city can operate like that without any recourse.
I would like to add ,If it wasn’t for this talk of the sound ,Issues like this would slide right threw
without anybody knowing of it’s ilegality.
Good for you Bob!!!