I have been wondering about an incident that occurred concerning my resignation that has recently become troubling.
I would like to clarify that my resignation was accepted by Mayor Hanauer on September 20th via email. I was asked to put my resignation in writing and I did so; dated September 20th.
I then received a phone call asking if I would change the date to the 22nd. The explanation was vague and unclear. Having trusted people I worked alongside over 3 years, I did change my resignation date and failed to look into why. I take the blame for not doing my due diligence and secondly for not being a cut throat politician.
I have since learned that if I resigned on the 19th, my seat would have been up for election THIS November. Although by resigning on the 20th the cut off date was missed. I question why I was asked to change the date? Was it because no one really could really clarify the cut off date and wanted a cushion?
Why was the manager's office involved in politics in the first place? Who asked innocent people to deliver the message by phone?
Why did none of my colleagues step up to the plate and talk about the ethics of asking a Trustee to change their original date?
When I was first elected into office I expressed that both my Dad, a Republican, and my Godmother, a Democrat, would want just three things from me should I run for office: to preserve my ethical standards, my principals, and most important serve the people.
I am more than disappointed at the conduct displayed regarding this issue. I am sad to say I did not live up to my principals. I wonder who else did not. At least now I can sleep at night!
Janis Castaldi
Former Village of Ossining Trustee
I received an email from then Village of Ossining Trustee Janis Castaldi the evening of September 20, 2011. I read it and responded at 11:00. The text of the e-mail indicated her desire to resign from the Village of Ossining Board of Trustees. Since I was the only indicated recipient on the email, I communicated the information from the e-mail to the other Village Trustees and to the Village administrative staff the following day. I was subsequently informed by Village counsel that the Village Charter, which governs in these situations, indicates that any such resignation is to be tendered to and is subject to the acceptance by the Board. Ms. Castaldi clearly indicated her desire NOT to be contacted. So I was hampered in my ability to inform her of the procedural requirements of our Charter. William R. Hanauer, Mayor Village of Ossining
In an effort to respect her wishes, we asked a staff member with whom Ms. Castaldi was already communicating about other Village-related matters, to have her prepare a resignation letter in hard copy, directed to the entire Board, so that her resignation would comply with the requirements of the Village Charter for the Board to act upon. Ms. Castaldi dated her letter September 22, 2011 to conform with its date of submission, and immediately upon receipt of same, a Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees was scheduled and held and her resignation as Village Trustee was accepted by the Board. These are the simple facts of the process by which Ms. Castaldi’s resignation was offered and accepted by the Board of Trustees in the Village of Ossining. The information concerning the procedures for the appointment and election of her successor were researched following her resignation. The initial question of when the newly appointed trustee would run for election was ultimately found to be a decision of the Board of Elections of Westchester County, and that decision was communicated by the Board of Elections to the Village of Ossining on September 26, 2011. William R. Hanauer, Mayor Village of Ossining