MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. (May 26, 2023) — New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson will become Executive Director of Sustainable Westchester effective January 2024. He will succeed Interim Executive Director Jim Kuster who has agreed to remain until Mayor Bramson completes his current term in office which ends December 31, 2023.
Bramson announced last December that he would not seek another term as Mayor, days after Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah announced she had wound down a Grand Jury investigation and would not bring criminal political corruption charges against Bramson. A sustained complaint based on an ethics investigation sparked by reporting by Talk of the Sound found that Bramson used his position to pressure the City Manager Charles B. Strome into appointing him New Rochelle Development Commissioner, a job worth an extra $2.75 million to Bramson.
Mayor Bramson has led New Rochelle for the last 18 years.
Bramson was instrumental in adopting New Rochelle’s first-ever sustainability plan, GreeNR, now undergoing a comprehensive update to emphasize resiliency and climate justice.
New Rochelle was among the first large communities in New York to adopt the State’s Stretch Energy Code and is presently the second-highest scoring large community in the State’s Clean Energy Communities program, Sustainable Westchester stated in a press release announcing Bramson’s hiring.
Bramson is one of the founding Board Members of Sustainable Westchester, an organization primarily filled with elected and appointed government officials from throughout Westchester:
- Warren Lucas, Supervisor, Town of North Salem
- Jason Baker, Director of Sustainability, City of Yonkers
- Bridget Gibbons, Director of Economic Development, Westchester County Executive George Latimer
- Joan Grangenois-Thomas, Trustee, Village of Port Chester
- Ken Jenkins, Westchester Deputy County Executive
- Sara Kaye, City Council Member, City of New Rochelle
- Shawn Patterson-Howard, Mayor, City of Mount Vernon
- June Wallach, Co-Chair, Town of Mamaroneck Sustainability Collaborative
“I am thrilled to join Sustainable Westchester as its new Executive Director,” said Mayor Noam Bramson. “Sustainable Westchester is among the most impactful public interest organizations in our region. It will be a privilege to advance such an important mission.”
“Westchester is one of the state’s foremost leaders in combating climate change and Sustainable Westchester is an integral part of this work,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer. “Noam’s leadership driving New Rochelle’s sustainability efforts has been exemplary.”
Sustainable Westchester describes itself as a hub of innovative climate tech programs and expertise designed to help local municipalities achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets mandated by New York’s landmark Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The nonprofit organization strives to improve clean energy solutions and promote equity and environmental justice within the communities it serves.
“Mayor Bramson’s vast experience in government and passion for leading impactful climate action initiatives will be of immense value to Sustainable Westchester as the organization continues to grow,” said Jim Kuster.
“Mayor Bramson’s demonstrated track record of building consensus, attracting investment, and prioritizing healthy environments perfectly positions him to lead Sustainable Westchester’s continued growth,” said Sara Goddard, Board Chair of Sustainable Westchester.
According to tax records on file with the IRS, Robert Elliot was paid a $75,000 annual salary as Executive Director in 2018.
In 2019, Elliot was paid $62,752 as Executive Director from January 2019 to July 2019. Steve Rosenthal was appointed Interim Executive Director and paid $37,179 in salary and additional compensation of $5,910 for the balance of the year, or $43,089.
The annual pay for the Executive Director position was $75,000 in 2018 and $105,841 in 2019.
By contrast, Program Director Daniel Welsh was paid an annual salary of 101,869 plus additional monies $14,728 in 2018 and $100,999 in 2019.
These figures are a far cry from the $2,750,000 above his current salary and pension package that Bramson sought when he used his public office to attempt obtain something of value (i.e., felony public corruption), the position of Development Commissioner which carried with it an annual raise of $100,000 a year for five years ($500,000) and a corresponding pension increase.
This article is based in part on a press release published by The Inside Press and reporting by Robert Cox on Talk of the Sound and Words in Edgewise (Substack).
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