Jason Tortorella Sworn in as Fire Captain
By Joyce Farrell
Deputy Mayor and Police Commissioner Bridget (Breda) A. Bennett announced at the Village of Pelham Manor’s Board of Trustees meeting on May 13 that it was National Police Week and recognized those working in the Village of Pelham Manor who work every day to keep the Village safe. She mentioned that two weeks previously, she and Sergeant Ryan attended the Pelham Together Spring Community Meeting discussing ideas to connect the youth more to the community. Pelham Together is compiling those ideas and coming up with plans.
On May 4, Trustee Maurice Owen-Michaane attended the Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony held at Christ Church for Luke Reische, who received a proclamation from the Board last fall.
Trustee Timothy Case represented Mayor Jennifer Monachino Lapey and the Board of Trustees at the Pelham Education Foundation Blue Ribbon Fundraising Campaign celebration held at the Pelham Town Gazebo. He noted that the Foundation “does a wonderful job raising large amounts of money that go right back to our schools to enhance the overall student experience.”
Jason Tortorella was sworn in as fire captain during the meeting by Mayor Lapey. Jason was hired by the PMFD on September 11, 2006, and has always been someone who rises to the occasion and gets the job done. Captain Tortorella will be attending First Line Supervisor Training Program with the FDNY in October. Besides his love for his job as a firefighter, his passion is coaching hockey, especially coaching his son.
Village Manager Lindsey Luft discussed a proposed amendment to the vehicle and traffic code which would add more than twenty Stop signs, reduce the overall Village-wide speed limit to 25 mph, reduce the school speed limit to 15 mph, codify the regulations for the parking lot at Village Hall, streamline the regulations around the school, particularly Prospect Hill, and confirm the authority of the local first responders. A public hearing for this proposed amendment was scheduled for the next Board meeting to be held on May 28. Mayor Lapey stated that the proposed amendment is an amazing step forward. She noted, however, that the Village doesn’t have jurisdiction over the state and county roads that run through its municipal corporate boundaries, particularly Boston Post Road, Pelham Parkway, and Shore Road but that the Village is in constant contact with federal, state, and county officials. Trustee Owen-Michaane urged the public to reach out to their county leaders and state senator to urge that they follow Pelham Manor’s lead to reduce the speed limit to 25 mph on the aforementioned roads.
Visit www.vimeo.com/945989544 to view the entire meeting.