Procedure Committee Weighs Changes to Nominating Process

This update was submitted to Scarsdale10583 by Max Grudin who chairs the Procedure Committee for the Citizen's Nominating Non-Partisan Party.

Following the much-discussed, contested Village election in March, the 2016 Procedure Committee began its work in early May. The Committee seeks to build on the increased engagement of the election and capture feedback from the Scarsdale community to review what, if any, changes should be made to the Scarsdale electoral process.

The Procedure Committee is an appointed committee of 22 members. It consists of members from each neighborhood in the Village and the ten retiring members of the CNC. It has the responsibilities of setting the schedule for the CNC election, recruiting residents to run for the CNC in each neighborhood, and initiate changes to the Procedures that govern the election. This year's Committee is led by Chairman Max Grudin and Vice Chairman Dan Finger.

Grudin said: "The last election has triggered an active discussion in the community. Our goal is to review and address the issues that have been raised. At the same time, we want to balance that with the long successful tradition of the Non-Partisan system."

At the initial meeting of the Procedure Committee on May 2 the Chairman and Vice Chairman asked each member for their thoughts on the election process and for proposals to improve the Procedures.

During the meeting a number of structural changes to the CNC process were discussed. They include:

• Respecting the contributions and experience of first term Trustees by giving them either preference in the selection process or ensuring their re-election (barring dereliction) by restoring a long-held policy of the CNC.
• Having longer interviews with Trustee and Mayoral candidates and allowing questions from individual members of the CNC. Others suggested that candidates be asked questions about issues facing the community, which would be a major change in formal Procedure.
• Providing stronger guidance to the Chair and Vice Chair of the CNC, which they would communicate to the voting members.
• Building greater awareness about the Non-Partisan system through publicity and public meetings.
• Including non-US citizens who are residents of the Village to vote for in the CNC election, although they are not permitted to vote for Trustees and Mayor because the election rules are governed by the State of New York and the U.S. Constitution.
• Having more than one candidate for each vacant position.

These recommendations will be discussed in more depth at upcoming meetings of the Procedure Committee and must be approved by a majority of the members. Any changes in formal Procedure would then be presented to the entire Forum and members of the public.

By way of background, the contested election in March was not the first in Non-Partisan history, although it was the first in which a write-in candidate prevailed. In 2012, long-time resident Harry Reynolds ran for the Village Board, challenging the CNC process. In 2011, Sharon Lindsay ran a write-in campaign for mayor, challenging the Citizen's Non-Partisan candidate Miriam Flisser, who was elected.

In 1999, Dr. Flisser, Robert Harrison and Jeff Zock ran the first successful challenge to the Citizen's Non-Partisan party, electing Mr. Zock as Trustee. Dr. Flisser and Mr. Harrison were both elected Trustee in subsequent elections.

Members of the community are invited to contact members of the Procedure Committee with feedback and suggestions.

Please contact members of the Procedure Committee with comments.

Edgewood: Elissa Bookner, Charles Chestnut, Linda Killian, Eli Mattioli, Ed Morgan and Matthew Martin. Fox Meadow: Max Grudin, Joan Mazur Kapner, Mary Louise Perlman and Bruce Wells. Greenacres: John Baer, Barry Klayman and Carrie Fishman. Heathcote: Laurent Mintzer, Daniel Finger, David Irwin, Amy Cooper. Quaker Ridge: Diane Chesler, Mary Beth Gose and Michael Gorelick.

Submitted by Max Grudin, mgrudin@gmail.com.