Democratic candidate for Yorktown Supervisor Jann Mirchandani, left; Republican Supervisor Tom Diana right
By Dan Murphy
On October 11, candidates for Yorktown Supervisor and Town Board held an in-person debate at the Community Theater. Overall, the debate was a civil exchange of views on the issues of the day affecting residents and taxpayers in town.
Town Supervisor candidates Jann Mirchandani and Tom Diana debated over the 9-month inability for the garbage and recycling to be removed reliably. Mirchandani explained how the cost for taxpayers to contract with a new hauler (Now CRP) have increased by 25%, as a result of the Town Board’s decision last year to hire a new company (Competitive Carting) who failed to deliver, and forgo their existing carting company (AAA).
Diana then attempted a political tap dance of sorts, claiming that he fixed a problem that he voted to create last year, when he voted to hire Competitive Carting. “The garbage situation is fixed for the next year. Not only did I fix it, I made it better.” …”I don’t know anybody else who could have done it in the timely fashion that I did, coming from a complete collapse of the garbage company (Competitive) that yes folks I voted for,” said Diana.
Mirchandani responded by reminding the community that “the original contract was improperly vetted. The company (Competitive) had a previous bankruptcy which was public record. Nobody on the board asked if they had the proper equipment. And when problems arose in January, and again in July and again in August, it is the Board’s responsibility to act in a timely fashion. Our town board is responsible for taking the lowest responsible bidder, not the lowest bid. And that is not what happened,” said Mirchandani.
Yorktown homeowners and taxpayers are now paying $600,000 more for their current garbage and recycling with CRP, who bid $4.3 Million on a one-year emergency contract in September. If the Town Board had accepted the original five-year contract with AAA, who bid $3.7 Million per year, they would have saved $600,000 in taxpayer money. Plus, the Town only has a one-year contract with CRP, and if costs rise, a new contract will cost more. With AAA, they had cost certainty and a reliable company. For Diana to claim that he “fixed” a problem that lingered for 8 month and had 1300 town residents and taxpayers complaining on Yorktown Trash Talk, and that the new contract costs an additional $600,000, is someone putting on a positive spin on a disaster created with his vote as a town board member last year with former Supervisor Matt Slater.
Supervisor Diana also announced at the debate that he will be proposing a Town budget for 2024 with a 0% property tax increase.
The four candidates for Town Board also exchanged ideas during the debate. They are: Republicans: Patrick Murphy and Ed Lachterman, and Democrats: Steve Shaw and Tom Marron. Republicans currently control all four seats on the board.
Town Clerk Diana Quast and her republican opponent Jenna Lennox-Belcastro also introduced themselves to the audience.
The debate can be viewed online at
https://www.facebook.com/anewdayforyorktown/videos/3604351709800986
