HARRISON TOWN CLERK DENOUNCES OBAMA REMARK

CALLS LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW SLUR INSENSITIVE
TO DISABLED AMERICANS’ CENTURIES-LONG FIGHT FOR RESPECT


HARRISON, N.Y. —Harrison Town Clerk Joseph Acocella recently denounced a remark made by President Obama during an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on March 19.
Obama, who was describing his bowling score to Leno and joking about his poor performance, said that even though he practiced in the White House, “it’s like — it was like Special Olympics, or something,” to a laughing studio audience.

“As a disabled American who has worked tirelessly to overcome challenges in today’s society, I was disappointed with President Obama’s remarks on the ‘Tonight Show,’” Acocella said. “The president is a leader who must serve all Americans, despite their race, religion, political views or disability. When you make a comment like he did, comparing his bowling score of 129 to that of the Special Olympics, it shows you do not understand the people you were elected to serve.

“People with disabilities have had to fight for centuries to prove themselves in a world that fears the uncommon,” said Acocella, who was born with Lumbar Sacral Agenesis, a condition that led to both of his legs being amputated at the age of 3. “The president’s insensitive remarks echoed just how uninformed he and others can be toward a group of individuals who have had to overcome life-altering obstacles. Our disabled population has already proven its true value to this society, and as a result, deserves the respect of all Americans, including its presidents,” he said.

Acocella went on to say that Obama “could learn a thing or two from the Special Olympics.”

According to published reports, immediately following the taping, prior to the show being aired, Obama phoned Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver to issue an apology.

Town Board on demand! Now you watch the fun from anywhere : )

This evening I announced that you may now watch the Town Board meetings whenever you want with Town Board on Demand. Click on the video section of my site where you can find the video of each meeting beginning with the January 7, 2009 meeting. This is by far one of the biggest steps taken to open up our government and bring it into the 21st century. I am pleased to offer this service. When I took office last January many residents - and non residents asked if it could be done. Over the year, I met with various vendors who would able to provide software to the town that would link the agenda with the video and so you can watch the meeting online and click on any agenda item and it would go to that point in the video. Unfortunately, this type of software is too expensive during this financial time. So, I met with our IT Department to find a solution for now that would still provide the meetings online. It will not be streamed live unfortunately, but rest assure I am actively pursuing that phase of the project. For now, expect to be able to view the meetings online beginning the day after the meeting starting in the afternoon. I hope you find this helpful. Please be advised Harrison residents can still watch the Town Board meeting on channel 75 at Noon, 6pm and 10pm every day. Happy watching!
p.s. people on my email list were the first to know about this advancement - are you on my email list??? Join today and be the first to know when it comes to your government. Visit my homepage at www.HarrisonClerk.com to join today!

I'm only as good as the technology.

Today, the hundreds of residents who are on my email list recieved a message notifying them of solicitors going door to door throughout the town. There is just one problem with the email - the solicitors came on Friday not today. So, you may have read the email and said "he's a little late to be notifying me". Allow me to explain. I actually sent the email Friday afternoon immediately after the solicitors' application was approved. However, the town servers went down and therefore they did not send the email out until this morning when they were restored. I, of course, would never send you information that late however, - I am only as good as the technology. Sorry for the confusion.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CLERK ACOCELLA ANNOUNCES

“RECORDS MANAGEMENT DAY” FOR THE TOWN OF HARRISON

Initiative will remove paper clutter and pave the way for savings on town resources


HARRISON, NY- Town Clerk Acocella announced this evening that January 23, 2009 will be the first ever “Records Management Day” in the Town of Harrison. Since taking office last January the Clerk, who also serves as the Records Management Officer for the Town of Harrison reviewed the practices of the departments for filing and retaining government records. Mr. Acocella saw room for improvement in several areas and is taking action to begin new practices and setting the tone for more efficiency in the future. “Every government document that comes through these halls is my responsibility, I do not take this job lightly and I intend to set out new initiatives that will save on time and resources in the future” Mr. Acocella stated. Acocella met with Clerks from around Westchester back in November to brain storm to find a solution for a growing problem that is also happening in the neighboring communities. “Everyone is out of space. There is just no more room to store these files" Mr. Acocella said. Records Management Day is designed for employees to report to work as usual but certain offices will be closed for the day so they can focus on going through old files, sort out duplicates they don’t need, prepare old files to be shredded and prepare archive files to be sent to the offsite facility for Town archives. “By the end of the day, each department should have a shred pile and an archive pile. The shred pile will conform to the NYS Records Retention Schedule which clearly outlines how long you must keep a document for. The archive pile will be logged into a computer database and sent to an offsite archives facility” Acocella stated.


Records Management Day will be Phase I of what Clerk Acocella is calling “Operation Good Housekeeping”. Phase II will come later and address accessibility issues the town is currently facing with the records they have at an offsite facility. “The goal is first get rid of the clutter. After we do that we can begin to search for a program that will digitize our remaining documents so all we have to do is point and click from our office computers. This is by far the boldest step taken to eliminate the waste, build better practices and save on future resources and I am proud the departments are standing with me on this very important issue" Acocella stated.


The following offices will be closed or have limited service on Records Management Day 2009. Please contact each office before Jan. 23rd for details on schedule:


Assessors Office – limited service

Mayor’s Office – limited service

Building Department

Purchasing Department- limited service

Engineering Department

Benefits Office

Law Department

Comptrollers Office – limited service

Town Clerk – limited service

Veterans Day

Statement from Town Clerk Joseph Acocella regarding Veterans Day:


My Friends,

Today, we celebrate, we honor and we remember the men and women in uniform who have given so much of their lives so that we can live ours freely. We salute these veterans who know all too well the sound of the call of duty from our country. Today, I had the honor of sitting with many veterans from many different wars who recalled the moments of their lives when it was uncertain if it would be their last. Veterans Day is a day to recall those memories not because they are sad, but because they are who we are. Those are the memories who define who we are as a nation, a state and as a community.

Everyday we see these men and women in the deli, in the dry cleaners in the post office. They don’t ask for much, only that you stand and recite the pledge of allegiance, that you bow your head when the sound of taps are being played and that you say “thank you” to the ones who have fought and continue to fight for you.

Let’s not just honor these men and women today, but everyday because every day that you live free is day that a soldier did their job.

Thank You

Remembering a Friend

I want to let you know that the Board this evening adopted a Resolution to re-name the Bruce Avenue Library to the "Richard Halperin Memorial Library". The Town lost a great friend in June, Richard Halperin was a member of the Zoning Board and a dedicated public servant of the Town of Harrison. We all in Town will miss him and will always remember him for his dedication to the residents and family. This Resolution is a proper tribute to Richard so that people of Harrison will always know the kind of man he was. A fund was also started in Richards name to raise money to renovate the library. If you would like more information on how you can donate, please call my office at (914) 670-3030.

It's been a while since my last post. Let me update you. I have been working on an AWESOME project for the town that is going to be great when it is done. It involves the new camera and sound equipment for the Council room. This week, four mounted robotic cameras were installed in the council room and new microphones were also installed. This new equipment was provided to us by Cablevision. We also have a new control room adjacent to the dais which will be used to control the equipment - instead of cramming it all into my office ; ) I also recieved a new laptop which will control the Channel 75 community bulletin board. The board will be undergoing construction until I build the pages so hopefully, by Monday the Channel will be up and running. I should probably post pics of what the old system looked like and what the new system will look like so you can get a better idea of what changes are being made. I got some feedback this evening from residents who watched the new system in action. Allow me to address their comments. Some said the picture was too dark. The lighting in the room is the next to go. We have to put better light fixtures in the room and especially over the podium to increase the lighting for the cameras. Some said the sound was a little off. Yes, since this was the first night the microphones were being used it will take sometime to set the volume at the right levels.

Tonight was a good test run but I assure you, it will get much better and we are definately moving into the 21st Century with this equipment. Feel free to drop me an email at JAcocella@harrison-ny.gov or call my office at (914) 670-3030 with your feedback.

It's Gonna be a "Great" Weekend ; )

Well, it's finally here. The weekend is upon us. But this is no ordinary weekend for us because this weekend we will celebrate living in this great community. Lot's of festivities are planned over the next three days so let's get into it. First, I am sad to say the fireworks have been cancelled for tomorrow night due to the on going construction on Lake Street. No worries, there is still plenty to do. The Police Department Open House is tomorrow from 10am - 2pm. This is alway's a good time. Bring the family and tour Police Headquarters, check out the inside of a police car, fire engine or ambulance. There will also be a live K9 demonstration as well as plenty of food and giveaways. The County police helicopter is also expected to drop in. On Sunday, stop down at the southbound side of the train station for a car show sponsored by the Harrison Police Association. You can check out the nice rides from 10am - 4pm. And finally, Monday is the big day! The "It's Great to Live in Harrison" Day parade kicks off at 10am and will continue down Halstead Avenue into Riis Park followed by the festival. Lot's of community organizations will be sponsoring booths so be sure to patron them and support your community.

As for me, I will be around. If you see me, be sure to say hi and feel free to start up a chat. I am always interested to hear what's on people's minds. The weather is supposed to be great so, whatever you end up doing - enjoy it.

Have a "Great" weekend!