Katelyn Tuohy Awarded Key to the County

Published

6 years ago

December 18, 2018

Rockland Report Editor

During a ceremony in the Library of North Rockland High School in Thiells, NY, County Executive Ed Day presented North Rockland High School student athlete Katelyn Tuohy with the Key to the County Award.

“The Key to the County is awarded to a person who makes a special contribution to Rockland. We have given keys in the past for acts of love, acts of heroism and selfless acts of service and leadership,” said County Executive Day. “This Key is being given to recognize Katelyn’s tremendous accomplishments that have brought pride to the people of Rockland County.”

The Key is presented to a person who makes a tangible, positive impact on the county as a whole and the citizens who live here. Katelyn’s success has brought immense pride to the people of Rockland and put the County on the map in regard to High School Athletics.

“Katelyn just won her second consecutive Nike Cross Nationals title. We will be cheering you on next year when you attempt to become the only runner to win “N-X-N” three times. She’s also been named Gatorade Female Cross Country Athlete of the Year and Gatorade Track and Field Athlete of the Year. The first person to win Top Athlete in two sports,” said Day.

Katelyn was joined during the ceremony by her teammates from the North Rockland girls cross-country team as well as the entire track and field and cross-country teams from her High School. On November 3, 2018, North Rockland girls won the Section 1 Cross-County Championships in Wappingers Falls.

“One thing that all the news stories don’t often mention is the importance of teamwork. Each of us is supported by those around us. As County Executive, I have all of County Government behind me, working together and pushing us all towards success,” said Day. “You have the same thing here at North Rockland, parents, teammates, coaches, teachers, administrators and board members all supporting you and helping lift you to even greater heights.”

The first Key to the County recipient was Grace VanderWaal, the Suffern teen who won the America’s Got Talent contest. The second was presented to Millicent “Ivey” Mackle of Pomona, who took a stand against hate in her community. The third was presented to William V. Harris IV, known as Billy, who helped apprehend a suspected terrorist in New York City. The fourth was presented to Cole Donnellan, who started the nonprofit Pegleg22 which raises awareness about veteran suicide and performs acts of service for veterans.

“As you all enter into track season I urge you to take the moments you can and appreciate what you have here; enjoy each other’s company. What’s happening here in North Rockland is remarkable, and I truly look forward to seeing what happens next. Particularly in another year and a half in a little town called Tokyo. Katelyn, you and your teammates have given us all reason to celebrate. On behalf of the people of Rockland, I hereby award you the Key to the County,” concluded County Executive Day.

Häagen-Dazs “Free Cone Day” from 4 – 8 pm

Published

6 years ago

May 14, 2019

Rockland Report Editor

Find a location near you

Rockland Store

HÄAGEN-DAZS SHOP- Palisades Center
1000 Palisades Center Drive
West Nyack, NY 10994

“We Want a Contract!” By County Executive Ed Day

Published

6 years ago

March 2, 2019

Rockland Report Editor

“We Want a Contract!” By County Executive Ed Day

It’s time to settle. I am actively working with my administrative teams to review the 2019 financials and look for any financial opportunities that may result in potential modest increases on the base and/or lump sum payments to avoid contracts remaining unsettled.

I wanted to communicate and ensure transparency regarding union negotiations and where they stand to date. Most of our union contracts were expired as of 2017 and some as early as 2010. Understanding the magnitude of having outstanding contracts and the impact on the employees, I put aside $4 million in the 2018 budget to try and settle some of these union contracts.

In 2018 our Department of Personnel, on average, met monthly with union negotiators and offered operational proposals with monetary increases and lump sum payments. Not only did the Personnel Department meet with them repeatedly but so did I; it was that important to me. Some of the union contracts settled based on these offers. Other unions, despite being offered increases on their base pay and lump sum payments, left these offers on the table and some
did not even present these offers to the membership.

Since those offers were given, some unions have declared impasse and the New York Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) mediator made detailed mediator recommendations with lump sum payments to membership. Those recommended offers were all declined leaving unsettled contracts for another year. In all cases, these lump sum payments were significant and would also have counted towards pensionable earnings. To state or imply that either my
administration or I have not negotiated in good faith is pure fiction.

I have once again included money in this year’s budget (an additional $1.5 million) to go towards contract settlements but need to ensure fiscal responsibility is achieved at the same time; it is a balance. We finally have a positive fund balance but the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) recommends
that the General Fund maintain an unrestricted fund balance of no less than 2 months of operating expenditures to be truly financially healthy. That’s between $50 and $90 million in the bank, nowhere near the $6.3 million we currently have. While these are positive signs, we still have a long way to go until we reach full
financial strength.

That said, I want to ensure that our hard-working and dedicated employees receive a fair contract. They have been critical to the modernization of County government and serving the public. But we will not spend money we do not have and will remain fiscally responsible. That has been the credo of this administration and as much as I want to see our employees get the raises they deserve I will not jeopardize our financial progress.

I want to do right by our employees, but there must be a balance between their needs and the need to safeguard taxpayer dollars. I sincerely hope that we can soon reach agreements with all of Rockland’s unions, and I look forward with working with them on fair settlements.