To the Editor:
Dec. 2, 2015: On December 8, 2015, Dennis Winter will be running for re-election to the Town of Eastchester Board of Fire Commissioners. Dennis has served as the board's chairman for the last three years and, under his leadership, the board has achieved many significant accomplishments. These have included:
Adoption of a 2016 budget with no increase over the current $16.5 million dollar property tax levy.
Reduction of the fire district property tax levy in 2015.
Major restorations at two district firehouses.
Increase in the district's insurance service office rating that places the fire district within the top 2% of fire departments nationwide; this rating should result in lower insurance premiums for homeowners within the Eastchester Fire District.
Restructure of the district's administrative office and appointment of a new treasurer and auditor.
I believe the fire district election is especially important this year and encourage you to vote for Dennis on Tuesday, December 8.
His opponent is Cara Piliero, the former district treasurer, whom the board placed on administrative leave in 2013 after discovery of serious accounting irregularities. The board's investigation of these irregularities found that Ms. Piliero, as treasurer, billed health insurance premiums to some but not all of the retired firefighters required to pay such premiums, thus costing the fire district an estimated $800,000 in uncollected premiums; that she failed to bill two fire commissioners who had previously been firefighters for their percentage of health insurance costs, as required; that she paid one retired firefighter an extra $235,200 in disability payments over 13 years; and that the QuickBooks records were improperly maintained. Despite this history, Ms. Piliero now seeks election to the Eastchester Board of Fire Commissioners.
Dennis is committed to the safety of this community and the sustainability of the Eastchester Fire District. His leadership has been forward-thinking, well-informed, vigilant, and transparent. He has worked hard to make the fire district accountable to Eastchester taxpayers.
Dennis's value to the district has been recognized by many, and particularly by those who have had the opportunity to work closely with him. He has been endorsed by three of his fellow commissioners and the chief of the department, Michael Grogan.
Your vote is critically important in this year's election.
Peter Incledon
Commissioner, Eastchester Board of Fire Commissioners
Town of Eastchester resident since 1994