City Manager Calling it Quits in Peekskill
Embattled Peekskill City Manager Anthony Ruggiero, whose credentials to hold the position has been under fire by Mayor Frank Catalina and the Republican minority and some outspoken residents, is leaving under his own terms.
Ruggiero, who was hired in July 2013, informed Catalina Thursday afternoon in the mayor’s law office that he was taking a job with the City of Beacon and giving Peekskill his 60 days notice.
Catalina said he was aware that Ruggiero had interviewed for jobs in Beacon and Mount Kisco in the fall but was “surprised” by the timing of his departure, despite the fact Ruggiero’s contract stipulated that he relocate to Peekskill by June.
“I was surprised it was that job,” Catalina said of Ruggiero’s new role as city administrator in Beacon, which the mayor described as more like a chief of staff. “I’m happy for him. I’m happy for his family. I’ve known Anthony for 15 years. He had a good run in Peekskill. I wish him the best.”
Since Catalina became mayor in January 2014, he and Republican councilmen Joe Torres and Vincent Vesce have criticized the previous Common Council for hiring Ruggiero for $163,000 as city manager and violating the City Charter, which states a city manager must have at least three years’ experience as a city manager and reside in the city. Ruggiero lives in Fishkill and never served before as a city manager. Ruggiero worked for the city in planning for 13 years before being named city manager after he left six months earlier to become Putnam County’s commissioner of planning,
Last November, Catalina and his GOP colleagues insisted a written opinion from the city’s corporation counsel stating the Common Council violated the City Charter and New York Statutory and Common Law when they hired Ruggiero left the office technically vacant.
However, a resolution appointing Ruggiero as acting city manager that Catalina maintained had been agreed upon by the entire council in closed door discussions failed when the four Democrats abstained, thus keeping Ruggiero in the position.
At one point last year, Catalina asked Ruggiero to resign after they differed on several issues. Last September, Catalina and Torres pointed fingers again at Ruggiero for approving raises for two employees without informing the Common Council.
“We got off to a rocky start,” Catalina conceded. “He did some things that I questioned such as not recognizing the role of mayor in our government. I think it was disrespectful. We had to move forward with the city’s business. I think we came to have a very good working relationship since September.”
Ruggiero did not return a phone message seeking comment, but Councilman Darren Rigger said Ruggiero “faithfully served three city administrations under both political parties.”
“It’s a shame that a campaign of character attacks may have contributed to his decision to leave our city,” Rigger said. “At the end of the day, it’s the taxpayers who will suffer as we lose a phenomenal city manager who was well-liked by residents of the city. Moving forward we need to ensure that his replacement has the same level of integrity and is a professional and not a patronage hire. We have lost a number of very professional staff this year, including two corporation counsels. We must ensure that the taxpayers come first.”
Catalina said the council would discuss in executive session the best way to proceed in finding someone to replace Ruggiero.
“I’m assuming everyone wants what’s best for the City of Peekskill,” Catalina said. “It will not have an impact on city offices or city business.”
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
