Seven committees will steer review, proposals
By Laura Hand
Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 12:20 p.m.
Read more: Local, Politics, Community
Mayor-elect Stephanie Miner has set up a team to help her transition to Syracuse City Hall. Here is her release on how the work will be done, and some background on the leaders:
The committees will focus on thematic areas including:
• Economic Development and Job Creation
• Education and Youth
• Public Safety
• Community Development, Housing and Neighborhoods
• Sustainability and the Environment
• Government Modernization and Efficiency
• Arts and Culture
Serving as Co-Chairs of the Transition Team are:
• J. Patrick Barrett, Syracuse Executive Air Service, Inc.
• John Feinblatt, City of New York
• M. Catherine Richardson
Serving as Chairs to the seven Transition Committees are:
• Economic Development and Job Creation – Robert Doucette
• Education and Youth – Frank Price
• Public Safety – John Cirando
• Community Development, Housing and Neighborhoods – Phil Prehn
• Sustainability and the Environment – E. Chris Beck
• Government Modernization and Efficiency – Corey Driscoll
• Arts and Culture – Paul Mercurio
The Transition Team will deliver a report to Mayor-Elect Miner before she takes office on January 1. This report will provide recommendations on key issues in the city, reflecting the priorities Mayor-Elect Miner established during her campaign.
Those interested in serving in the new administration are requested to forward their resumes and cover letters to the Miner Transition Team at Post Office Box 11455, Syracuse, NY or via e-mail to minertransition@gmail.com.
Transition Team Chair Bios
• Transition Team Co-Chair: John Feinblatt
o John Feinblatt is the Criminal Justice Coordinator for New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. Prior to his appointment, he most recently founded and directed the Center for Court Innovation. He has also served as Director of the Midtown Court, Deputy Executive Director of Victims Services (now Safe Horizon), and a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society. Feinblatt earned a BA at Wesleyan University and a JD from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University.
• Transition Team Co-Chair: M. Catherine Richardson
o Catherine Richardson is a life long resident of the City of Syracuse who spent her legal career at Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC. She was president of the County and New York State Bar Associations and during her career as a business and healthcare lawyer served on numerable community boards. Catherine is now using her leadership skills on national and community business and civic boards.
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• Economic Development and Job Creation Committee Chair: Robert Doucette
o Mr. Robert Doucette is President of Armory Development and Management, Inc, a real estate development company. He specializes in urban projects and was one of the creators of the Armory Square district in Syracuse. He has also had experience as an administrator, lawyer and college professor. Mr. Doucette graduated from LeMoyne College, the Maxwell School of Public Administration and Syracuse University College of Law. He is married to Kathleen Cartin, has two daughters and resides in Syracuse.
• Public Safety Committee Chair: John Cirando
o John A. Cirando is a partner of the law firm of D.J. and J.A. Cirando, Esqs., located in Syracuse. He served as Chief Assistant District Attorney in the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office and was a member of the United States Army, Judge Advocate General Corps. He has been active both in local and state bar associations, serving as Chairperson of both the New York State Bar Association's Committee on County Courts and the New York State Bar Association's Public Relations Committee, and as Secretary and member of the Board of Directors of the Onondaga County Bar Association. He has taught as an adjunct professor of law at Syracuse University College of Law and authored the 2004-2005 Survey of Criminal Law in New York State for the Syracuse University Law Review. He is general counsel for Vera House, Inc., a not-for-profit that works to end domestic violence and sexual assault, and din 2005, received the Sister Mary Vera Recognition Award. He is currently serving as Secretary and member of the board of Trustees of Loretto Health & Rehabilitation Center. He received his B.A. from St. Bonaventure University and his J.D. from S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo, School of Law.
• Community Development, Housing and Neighborhoods Committee Chair: Phil Prehn
o Phil has worked as a community organizer with Syracuse United Neighbors (SUN) for 15 years. SUN is a grassroots community organization that has been working since 1977 to improve life for the residents of low-income neighborhoods in Syracuse. During his time at SUN Phil has worked extensively on issues of housing, community development and improving public services. Phil is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and lives in Syracuse with his wife Beata Karpinska- Prehn.
• Sustainability and the Environment Committee Chair: E. Chris Beck
o Dr. Eckardt C. Beck, Managing Partner at Synapse Partners, LLC headquartered in Syracuse is the Executive Director and Founder of the not-for-profits Universal Brownfield Revitalization Corporation and co-founder of CuseCar, as well as founded, chaired and served as CEO of numerous environmental public companies. He received the President’s Distinctive Service Award for Chairing the National Toxic Strategy while serving as Assistant Administrator in USEPA running the National Water and Waste Programs and Chaired the Environment Committee for the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development where he collaborated with the Ministers of the Environment from 21 countries.
• Government Modernization and Efficiency Committee Chair: Corey Driscoll
o Corey Driscoll is the Community Relations Associate for Syracuse University, serving as a liaison between the University, neighborhood organizations, the business community, and the community at large. She graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY and earned a Master's in Public Administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany.
• Arts and Culture Committee Chair: Paul S. Mercurio
o Paul Salvatore Mercurio grew up near New York City and has lived in both Boston and Seattle. After receiving his Masters in Landscape Architecture from the SUNY School of Environmental Science and Forestry, Paul decided to buy a house in Syracuse and be a part of the local renaissance. He has been involved neighborhood revitalization, 40 Below's many events, and serves on the board of Slow Food CNY and Syracuse Grows.
Mayor-Elect Miner Transition Team Co-Chairs
• J. Patrick Barrett
• John Feinblatt
• M. Catherine Richardson
Mayor-Elect Miner Transition Team
1) Economic Development and Job Creation (Chair: Bob Doucette)
1. Larry Bousquet
2. Bruce Conner
3. Darren Price
4. Randy Crawford
5. Steve Dorsey
6. Len Montreal
7. Claire Fisher
8. Jud Gostin
9. Darlene Kerr
10. David Mankiewicz
11. Rob Simpson
12. Anne Sheridan-Smith
13. Dale Sweetland
14. Eugenia Brieva
15. Dave Nutting
16. Mary Beth Primo
17. Steve Compagni
18. Greg Lancette
19. Peter Georgianna
20. Ben Walsh
21. Gabe Rosetti III
2) Education and Youth (Chair: Frank Price)
1. John DeMott
2. Neil Driscoll
3. Duane Kinnon
4. Lena Kochian
5. John Lacey
6. Linda LeMura
7. George Mezey
8. Mary Nelson
9. Dr. Cynthia Kirby
10. Bill Towsley
11. Kim Boynton
12. Steve Aiello
13. Tim Jennings
14. Maureen Fellows
3) Public Safety (Chair: John Cirando)
1. Helen Hudson
2. Barbara Humphrey
3. Frank Sardino
4. Vito Sciscioli
5. Marsha Weissman
6. Dan French
4) Community Development, Housing, and Neighborhoods (Chair: Phil Prehn)
1. Kevin Agee
2. Christine Capella-Peters
3. George Curry
4. Frank Lazarski
5. Nancy McCoy
6. Phil Prehn
7. Kerry Quaglia
8. Dominic Robinson
9. David Rufus
10. Kathy Goldfarb-Findling
5) Sustainability and the Environment (Chair: Chris Beck)
1. Joe Heath
2. Chuckie Holstein
3. Rachel May
4. Dr. Neil Murphy
5. Josh Stack
6. Anastasia Urtz
7. Ed Bogucz
8. Paul Thompson
6) Government Modernization and Efficiency & Finance (Chair: Corey Driscoll)
1. Tim Feng
2. Zack Glick
3. Paul Kronenberg
4. Anita Murphy
5. Jonnell Robinson
6. Kathy Ruscitto
7. Dr. Debbie Sydow
8. David Smith
9. Dr. Mike Kelleher
7) Arts & Culture (Chair: Paul Mercurio)
1. Richard Destito
2. Leo Crandall
3. Chris Fowler
4. Briana Kohlbrenner
5. Steve Susman
6. Seth Marcel
7. Eileen McAndrew
8. Joan Hillsman
9. Stacy Schaefer
10. Ed Zacholl
