The Social Contract

If you had to take European History, you may recall the theory of the Social Contract.  Enlightenment Era philosophers wrote about what we as individuals give up to live in a stable society.  The Founding Fathers were influenced by these discussions and sought to form a union that balanced what they considered to be their inalienable rights as white male property owners to “life liberty and the pursuit of happiness” with what they gave up to be part of a democratic republic.

In the 7th largest city in New York State, New Rochelle’s 70,000 residents have a lopsided social contract.  While we vote every four years for representatives to serve on City Council and as Mayor, it is our City Manager who, with little to no oversight, defines and decides how we live.  It is the City Manager who decides which of the City Council laws and appropriations are actually implemented.  It is the City Manager who brings forth the budget that gets adopted each year and who is praised for its efficiency, with no concern for whether or not the budget reflects the values of the community.

The Mayor and City Council are supposed to be the voice of the people in establishing the values and goals of the community.  However, our City Council and Mayor are part-time employees, with only the Mayor having a staff.  All the information our elected officials receive is filtered through the City Manager.   So how are the voices of the community heard and respected in this dynamic, and why do we have this form of government?

The City Manager Form of Government

The City Manager form of government is only about 100 years old.  It was designed to place “professional” staff in charge of the day-to-day administrative tasks of running a government, not elected officials who may or may not have the skill sets to effectively manage a city.   Much like the reform movement that gave us Civil Service exams, the goal was to elevate the business of running a municipality to a professional and merit-based staff. 

Meritocracy

When we look at New Rochelle and the way in which key Commissioners are hired, there is little transparency.  Despite “nationwide searches,” during the 26-year reign of the previous City Manager, the top hires were mostly white males promoted internally to senior administrative positions.

In 2018, when the long-term police commissioner announced his retirement, there was a nationwide search and meetings with various community groups to discuss what type of person should succeed him.  At the time, in public and private conversations, the then City Manager stated no one in the New Rochelle Police Department was suitable to become the next Commissioner, yet it was the long-tenured Deputy Police Commissioner, Joseph Schaller, who was hired.  The current Police Commissioner, Robert Gazzola, was also elevated to the position after serving as Deputy Commissioner, with no nationwide search or discussion with the community about the promotion of another career NRPD officer to the top post.

Highly Paid Professionals

People employed by the City of New Rochelle have some of the highest salaries in the state. In 2022, New Rochelle’s average salary was 121% higher than the USA average, and the median salary was 112% higher than the USA median. Yet, our city is constantly hiring outside consultants to make up for the lack of knowledge and expertise of the staff.  

For example, a consultant has been working with the city for nearly a decade to do the public outreach and reporting for the city’s federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).   Many who attended the recent public CDBG forum at Bethesda Baptist Church were underwhelmed by the numerous errors in the consultant’s presentation. 

The recent citation the City received with respect to the timely use of federal CDBG funds also calls into question the return on investment of our numerous consultants.

True, But Not the Full Truth

The 13 most highly-paid employees of the City of New Rochelle in 2022 were NRPD officers, each of whom took home more than $240,000.  The NRPD is stretched to the limit by the various building, sewage, utilities and road repair projects being done in the City, and many, including senior staff, are working, and getting paid for, a tremendous amount of overtime.  The previous City Manager consistently stated that the developers and utilities pay for the NRPD’s time.  This is true, but it’s not mentioned that the increase in their annual salaries impacts the City’s retirement obligations when these officers retire.  

Retirement and other benefit obligations have long been the rationale given by the prior City Manager at budget hearings for increasing taxes up to the permitted tax cap.  But we don’t hear about how the residents of New Rochelle are paying for the city’s massive redevelopment over the long term.

Approved vs. Implemented

Each year, and throughout the year, City Council members vote for items that have an impact on the city budget.  They are elected to make sure the values of the community are reflected in how monies are spent and laws are enacted, and they raise the concerns of their constituents.

But when it comes to certain projects, especially those that involve city-owned properties, the  actions of the city’s professional staff do not reflect the will of the Council.  Over the last 20 years, the physical deterioration of the Ward Barn, both Boys & Girls Club facilities, the Hudson Park Greenhouse, Wildcliff, and City Hall has occurred in plain sight of the public, despite votes by Council to improve and maintain these structures.