WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. Special to The CitizeNetReporter. July 20, 2006: At a Special Meeting of the Common Council this evening, the Council approved a site plan amendment allowing Louis Cappelli to add 56,000 square feet to his Ritz-Carlton 221 Main project, including 15 feet to the hotel podium portion, and in the process approved adding a restaurant, pool and health club to the mechanical level of the first tower now rising on Main Street, according to Suburbanstreet.com's Jim Benerofe who attended the meeting and briefed WPCNR on what transpired.
He said the Council also nominated Dennis Power to serve in the Common Council seat that has been left vacant by the death of Councilman Robert Greer June 27.
Mayor Joseph Delfino nominated Cass Cibelli, who will run against Mr. Power in a special election in November to complete the final year of the Greer term beginning in January. Cibelli did not receive a second, and Dennis Power was elected unanimously. No one however spoke publicly praising Mr. Power's return to the council and extolling Mr. Power's leadership qualities. The Mayor said he looked forward to working with Mr. Power. Power did not vote on the Cappelli project resolution, but was sworn in to the Council after the Cappelli vote was taken.
Mr. Power, never returned WPCNR's call Tuesday to answer the question of whether he would recuse himself from council votes involving issues before the Common Council that Westchester County has a stake in, and how he would not have a conflict of interest between county development ideas for White Plains and the city's best interest.
(Mr. Power works for the Office of Economic Development, reporting to Sal Carrera, and serves at the pleasure of Andy Spano, the County Executive. )
Power's appointment became certain Tuesday when Alexis Greer, Mr. Greer's daughter, withdrew her name from consideration for the interim seat.
Power is now a member of the Common Council through December 31, and should attend his first monthly meeting August 7.
