The Clerk's Corner

Summer news

2011-07-25T04:04:00.001-04:00

It's summer time and the weather is hot, well okay, IT'S BOILING!! We are having more than a heatwave, we're having a heat tsunami! I suppose though we would be complaining if it was raining or if there was a foot of snow on the ground so I won't complain. Speaking of the weather, the soaring temperatures like the one's we have had the last few days can be dangerous, especially for the elderly and children. With the heat many residents retreated in doors to their homes and air conditioners. Unfortunately though some in our community do not have air conditioners and which is why myself, Councilwoman Amelio and Director of Community Services Nina Marraccini are planning to collect donated air conditioners for these residents in the town's first ever AC/ drive. This plan is still in it's infancy stage but we are moving quickly to start the drive within the next few day.

In other news, the town board voted to approve my request to expand do park memberships to non-residents. After being inundated with requests from our neighboring communities to join the park, I spoke with some of the park membership and it was the consensus that allowing outside residents would be beneficial for a two reasons: First, it would increase the social climate at the park. Dog owners interact with other dog owners much like a club. By bringing in outside residents, we are increasing the size of the pool. Secondly, licensing your dog is required for membership in Harrison and that policy will still stand for non-residents. Each non-resident who applies for membership must show proof their dog is licensed with their own municipality in order to become a member. This policy has proven to be extremely effective. We have tripled the amount of dog licenses so far this year already. Our joining municipalities will should also see a rise in the numbers of their issued dog licenses. Every dog which uses the park is licensed and is therefore up to date with their vaccinations.

My office is going mobile once again with my Mobile Services Unit. We were graciously hosted by Trotta's West Street Pharmacy this past Saturday and I want to thank Neil and Allan for helping me bring my services to their great store. My next mobile location will be this Wednesday in West Harrison in Ma - Riis Park from 6:30 -8:30pm during the Concerts in the Park Series. I offer a wide variety of services during these visits so please be sure to come down. For the residents in the northern part of town, I will also be in West Harrison Park Thursday evening for their Concert in the Park series.

I hope to see you all these next few weeks and wish you all safe travels if you are headed for summer vacation. Talk to you soon!

I'm Back!

2011-03-22T22:48:00.004-04:00

Well it certainly has been a while since I last posted here. All because it has been a rollercoaster year for me. I want to thank all of you who have written and called with your thoughts and prayers for my recovery. I am lucky to be living in a community that is standing with me throughout this battle. Together, we will keep moving forward and keep working hard for Harrison.

Some things to blog about:
The first being the dog park gate. I know! I know! It is always broke! Believe me, I know! I spoke with the company and they believe the problem is being caused by lightning. I am not sue what the issue is I just want it resolved. Sooo, they are shipping a part from California (why are all the important parts always so far away???)and the problem should be resolved by next week. The gate is unlocked so just push and pull but just be sure to close it behind you!

The second is Meals on Wheels. Now come on, don't you have an hour to spare during the week. I mean really, one measly hour that's all it takes to be a volunteer for this worthwhile program. If you are interested in helping others in our community please call (914)670-3027 to sign up.

Wedding season is upon us, but before you ring the wedding bells and start throwing rice (is that still banned?) you need to get a wedding license. Don't worry! My office can help you out. To obtain a marriage license from my office the bride and groom need to present their current drivers licenses, social security cards, passports and birth certificates. Both bride and groom are required to be present at time of issuance. In order to accomadate people who work late I will be having a few flex hours during the months of April, May and June. Stay tuned as dates are posted. You must obtain a marriage license a minimum of 24 hours prior to the ceremony and a maximum of 60 prior to the ceremony. I recommend to each couple that they obtain a license about a week prior to the ceremony that way it is enough time to obtain the proper paperwork in case there is a problem and it is not too long of a strech for you to lose the document(believe me it has happened).

That's all for now. The next Town Board meeting will be April 7th. Hopefully I will be posting again prior to that. Talk to you soon.

For community updates check out the Harrison Government Channel 75. See the dates of government meetings, club events and important announcements concerning you as a resident.

Hail to the (New) Chief!

2010-03-25T18:31:00.000-04:00

Well, it is official: Harrison Police Captain Anthony Marraccini is now Harrison Police Chief Anthony Marraccini. In a vote of 3-2 this evening by the Town Board Anthony Marraccini was appointed the successor to Chief David Hall who retired on December 31, 2009 after 30 plus years of service to the community. Chief Marraccini brings an extensive and impressive resume of police work having served the Town of Harrison for over 20 years. I can say having worked for the new Chief for four years that he was an excellent choice and I have no doubt our community will not only be safe but our police department will flourish under his leadership. I was proud to not only be present to record the vote, but I was even further honored to administer the oath of office making him officially our new top cop. Congratulations Chief, I wish you and your men and women in uniform the safest and best wishes.

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2009 Wrap-Up

2009-12-12T23:14:00.003-05:00

It has been a few months since my last post. I wanted to update you on a few things before we wrap up the year. First, I want to thank all you who have sent me your best wishes during my health ordeal. I am mostly working from home and will have to continue to do so until I am able to receive a kidney transplant. Hopefully that will happen in the new year. I want you to know that I am always able to contacted by email at jacocella@harrison-ny.gov or by calling my office at 914-670-3030. If you call my office, my assistants will be able to get a message to me. Please remember, I am still here to serve you no matter where I am. I look forward to helping in anyway I can.

Next, I want to remind all of our resident commuters that your commuter permit renewal letter was sent out this past week. Your 2009 commuter permit will expire on December 31, 2009. You MUST have a 2010 commuter permit displayed on your car by January 1, 2010. There is NO GRACE PERIOD so please, be sure to renew your pass ASAP. For your convenience, I have scheduled another set of Flex Hours on December 29th until 7pm. If you are unable to make it to the office during normal hours, the Flex hours should be able to help.

Lastly, I want to thank all of you who voted to return me to this wonderful job. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve you. I promise that for the next two years I will work day and night to make the Town Clerk's office the shining gateway to your government.

I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season. Feel free to reach out anytime if you should require any assistance.

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It's Great to be back and Live in Harrison!

2009-10-10T17:38:00.002-04:00

Well, it's been a while since I last updated this blog. As some of you (or all of you) may know I was first out on medical leave and have had an altered public schedule for the month of September. This was all due to being diagnosed with kidney failure in the beginning of August which came not as a surprise to me but rather, a disappointment. I have since been on dialysis three times a week which is why my public meeting times with constituents have been altered. I want to thank all of you who generously have sent your warm thoughts and prayers to me in the way of letters, cards and emails. I can not tell you how much your support has meant to me during my treatment process. So many have reached out to offer to do anything and everything for me to aide in my recovery. The outpouring show of support and generosity that has been demonstrated by the residents here the past two months is a testament to how truly "Great" it is to live in Harrison. It is only fitting to be celebrating our town this weekend and everyday for that matter. The Harrison Police Department hosted their annual open house today. It was a great day to share in the pride our men and women in uniform have in protecting our community. I want to thank Chief David Hall for a great day. Be sure to check out the fireworks tonight in West Harrison beginning at 7:30pm at the West Harrison Fire Department. Sunday, the Harrison PBA will host a Car Show in the train station parking lot from 10am - 4pm. Monday is the BIG DAY! The parade will begin at 10am down Halstead Ave following the carnival in Ma-Riis Park until 3pm. You won't want to miss out on any of these events. I hope to see you there!

Cramping the Style of Identity Thieves

2009-07-19T22:19:00.002-04:00

Today, we cramped the style of identity thieves everywhere by holding the first ever "Identity Theft Prevention Day" in town. I want to first thank the Harrison Police Department for being our gracious hosts and the Westchester County Department of Environmental Services for providing the mobile shredder.

I decided to hold this event after many residents asked me what they should be doing with their sensitive unwanted documents. Far too many times, we get something in the mail and say "I will look at this later" or "I should hold on to this". Meanwhile, "later" comes along in the form of a month, a year etc. and we never look at that document and have never needed it. Pretty soon our living and work environment is overcome by unneccessary paperwork. But it is paperwork we cannot just throw in the garbage. Many of it has our identity on it: names, addresses, social security numbers etc. You don't want someone picking that up and reading it. In fact, you don't want anyone getting that info. This is identity theft and it happens all too often around the world. By shredding your documents you are preventing the "dumpster divers" of the world from getting a hold of your bills, legal papers, credit card statements etc. In addition to shredding their documents today, I handed out a packet of information to each resident on way's to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft. To recieve your packet, please contact me at jacocella@harrison-ny.gov and I would be happy to email it to you.

I have also been asked if I would consider holding an "e-waste" day. This is where residents can drop off their old computers, televisions, printers etc. to be discarded. I am currently in discussion with Westchester County to hold one of these joint events later in the year and will keep you posted.

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Identity Theft Prevention Day

2009-07-06T13:17:00.001-04:00

The following release was issued early this morning:

"Town Clerk Joseph Acocella announced today that he will hold an Identity Theft Prevention Day on Sunday, July 19, 2009. The purpose of this event will be to help residents discard unwanted sensitive documents and to also share information on how to best protect yourself from this all too common crime. The Westchester County Shred Mobile will be on hand and Clerk Acocella will share safety tips on how to best file, share, and safeguard information about your identity. “Anything you don’t need, but wouldn't feel comfortable having someone else read, you should shred not just throw it in the trash” said Clerk Acocella. Identity thieves prey on dumpsters and garbage cans in search of documents that they can use to apply for credit cards, cell phones, loans, open bank accounts and utility accounts. These documents all have important information on them such as your social security number. “You just don’t want to give your identity away. That is why I am holding this event and have invited the County shred mobile to be present. This will give every resident the opportunity to discard any unwanted documents like personal bills, credit card offers, financial disclosure papers, investment papers, legal papers etc. If you have these documents, you don’t need them and you want to get rid of them, take advantage of this event and protect yourself” Acocella said.

Identity Theft Prevention Day will also help resident’s eliminate unwanted clutter from their home. “Far too many times, we files document after document and never retrieve that document again. Pretty soon, we have organized chaos around us in our own living space in the form of paperwork that we will never refer to again” Clerk Acocella said. Clerk Acocella first held this type of event with various town offices back in January. “The event was a complete success. We managed to clear out significant work space within each office and also organize our space more efficiently. Now, I am branching out and inviting our residents to do the same in their homes” Acocella concluded.

Identity Theft Prevention Day is free and open to all town residents. It will be from 10am to 2pm at Police Headquarters 650 North Street, Harrison, NY. The shred mobile is reserved for personal home documents only. Residents cannot submit work or business documents to be shredded. All documents being submitted for shredding must have plastic covers, clips etc. removed before hand. For questions please call Town Clerk Acocella’s office at 914-670-3030."

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Intoducing the NEW Ron Belmont Pool Complex

2009-07-04T13:21:00.000-04:00

Today, in a surprise announcement, the town's new pool complex in West Harrison was dedicated to Superintendent of Recreation Ron Belmont. On this Fourth of July, as we celebrate the birth of our country and the vision a few had 233 years ago, we also celebrate locally the vision one man has had for our community. Ron Belmont's hard work can be seen in the joy or town's residents have had participating in sports, programs and shows. Today, we see once again the result of Ron's work by officially opening the new "Ron Belmont Pool". This pool facility, which rivals any other of its kind, is a testament to Ron's leadership, vision and dedication to all of Harrison. I have been honored to not only work for Ron but now, work beside him for the future of Harrison. He truly deserves this honor. As a resident, I also would like to personally thank all the of town employees who joined Ron in the planning and building of this facility: Supervisor/Mayor Steve Malfitano who sparked this idea seven years ago, the entire Recreation Department Staff, Commissioner of Public Works Robert Wasp and his staff as well as Vito Forgione and his great landscaping work.
Congrautaltions Ron!
The new Ron Belmont Pool is now open seven days a week from now until Labor Day. The complex is located in West Harrison overlooking the lake. Residents are urged to visit this wonderful new facility equipped with a water park, two water slides, diving boards and a brand new concession stand. Bring the family and spend the day. Resident Recreation ID Cards are mandatory for any persons from kindergarten age and older. For information on how to obtain one please call 914-670-3035.

Remarks from today's Commencement Address at John A Coleman School

2009-06-30T23:39:00.003-04:00

It has been a while since my last post but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy. June has just flew by but before I wrapped up the month I gave the commencement address at the John A. Coleman school in White Plains today. I want to first thank the school for inviting me to speak and want to congratulate all the students. As I watched the students and saw all the smiles on their parents faces, I could not help but be overwhelmed with emotion.

The following are my remarks from today's commencement:

Begin 12:02pm

"Good afternoon Ms. Tomkiel, administration, faculty, friends, proud family,one of my consituents who always has an open door policy to yell at me - Dr. Picci, and of course, graduates.

It is always an honor for me to return here to the John A. Coleman School. Looking back over the years, this school has changed owners, it has changed its name, and it has even changed its structure. But, I am relieved to know that the school has never lost it’s identity because it lives on through the perseverance of each parent, faculty member and student here - that is what we are celebrating today. Right here before our eyes, 62 children, part of the largest class ever, are taking far greater steps into the future then most other children their age will ever travel – that is what we are celebrating today. As I look around I see nothing but bold, smiling faces that are filled with the confidence to take on any challenge that lies ahead whether it be tomorrow or twenty years from now - and that too is what we are celebrating today. We can celebrate all this because we know what the John A. Coleman School has done for everyone here. Being born with a disability, I know as well as all of you that the biggest challenge in life is not your own but it is the challenge that others have in looking past your disability. Throughout the school’s history they always taught the “whole child” so when I left here twenty four years ago; I was prepared to meet that challenge head on. Now today, so are you. Over the past few years you all have learned from one another, collectively, you all have given each other hope when others had little, you have brought each other change when some exhibited the status quo, and now, in a few moments you will go your separate ways to share what you have learned with others in the world and you will teach them to look past the disability. There will be people in this world who say “no” – teach them to say “yes”, there will be people who say “It can’t be done” – teach them to say “It will be done” and there will be people who pretend they don’t hear you – make the “most noise”. Most importantly, like this school, never forget who you are. I congratulate you and wish you nothing but the best. God Bless you all."

End 12:07pm

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Remembering

2009-05-20T22:21:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday, I was asked to attend a barbecue in West Harrison for veterans from the VA Hospital in Montrose. The event was hosted by the Lion's Club and has been held every year since 1950. I have to tell you, never have I been so moved by these kind, gracious and appreciative gentlemen. These veterans have been living at the VA Hospital since they returned home from the war they were in. Most of the men I spoke with were in Vietnam. I sat and listened as they talked to me about their families, friends, growing up and the war. It was incredibly touching to hear their stories of sacrifice, courage and strength. Think about this; these men have given their lives even though they survived. Many of them of been in the hospital since it opened in 1947! This weekend, as we spend time with our families, and BBQ and go to the pool and beach let's not forget our men and women in the service both alive and the ones who passed. They are the reasons why we can call ourselves the land of the free and in return they don't ask for much. These gentlemen I met were so gracious just to chat and receive a hot dog at the barbecue. Hats off to the Lion's Club for doing this. God Bless America.

It's that time of year!

2009-05-02T01:46:00.001-04:00

The following was in the Harrison Report today:

It’s May, and that means that wedding season is upon us. If you or someone you know is getting married over the next few months, then there are a great many things to do: find a wedding hall, order the cake, make sure your gowns and tuxedos fit just right and, of course, try to figure out where everyone is going to sit.

But for the bride and groom, there is one other little thing that must be done before you walk down that aisle together – getting a license to do so! In this great state (as well as the other 49), you need a license to drive a car, go hunting, buy a gun and even catch a fish. Similarly, before you say, “I do,” you must first sign your name to it.

Our office can help; in fact, we take great pride in helping you begin the rest of your lives together.

First, there are a few things you need to know before you both come to my office together. While some couples call for an appointment, others just come in. Whichever you choose, keep in mind that if you decide to just walk in, we can only give out licenses between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday without an appointment.

Next, you need to prove you are who you say you are. The New York State Department of Health requires the bride and groom to establish proof of age and identity by submitting one of the following age-related documents to me:

• Birth Certificate

• Baptismal Record

• Naturalization Record

• Census Record

But that’s not all. You also need to produce one of the following identity-related documents in-person:

• Driver's License

• Passport

• Employment Picture ID

• Immigration Record

Our office takes this procedure very seriously in order to prevent marriage fraud, so be safe and bring as many documents as possible for proof of age and identity. If any of these documents are not in English, you must submit a certified translated copy, along with the original.

If either the bride or groom has been married prior, the previously married person is required to furnish a certified copy of the Decree of Divorce or a Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage. Check with your attorney if you do not have a certified copy. Also, although physical exams were once required, they are no longer part of the application process (I’ve been asked this question on occasion).

The New York State license fee is $40 payable by cash or check. The license is issued immediately upon my signature; however, the marriage ceremony may not take place within 24 hours from the time it is issued, and the license is only valid for sixty (60) days from that period as well.

I understand that nobody has a 9-to-5 schedule anymore. So, I am keeping the office open until 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, and will also be open from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sunday, June 7, for those couples who find these hours more accommodating for obtaining a license.

If you or your future spouse have any questions, feel free to call our office at 914-670-3030 and we will be happy to help you. Also, anyone with a business in town that specializes in services for wedding ceremonies, please send us your business card or info and we will include it in our Wedding Album — a project I am creating for display during license visits so that future couples can view some local recommendations.

Congrats and hope to see you soon!

Blood Drive this Thursday!

2009-04-20T16:18:00.001-04:00

The Harrison EMS, in partnership with my office for National Donate Life Month will be hosting a Blood Drive this Thursday, April 23, 2009 from 12pm to 5:30pm at EMS HQ's located at 2 Pleasant Ridge Rd Harrison (Police HQ Parking Lot). As I am sure you know by now, this area's blood supply is very low and therefore, it is important that we receive as many donors as possible. In order for this drive to be a success, we need a minimum of 20 DONORS! If you or somebody you know is interested in donating please call my office at 914-670-3030 or email me at jacocella@harrison-ny.gov and reserve a time slot.

April is National Donate Life Month

2009-04-05T14:53:00.001-04:00

I would like to write about a topic that has affected my life in more ways than one. Organ donation may seem like an uncomfortable topic for some, because in many instances, it means death. But for those on the receiving end, it means life. In my case, it means both.

You see, when I was 11-years-old, I watched as my mother’s life was slowly being taken away, from complications associated with diabetes. Her kidneys shut down, and she was forced to go on dialysis three times a week. She was placed on a waiting list for a lifesaving transplant but, as she waited, her condition worsened. In June 1992, her transplant kidney came from an unexpected place — my father. He was a match for her, and the two were wheeled into surgery within days after.

Though the kidney transplant itself was a success, she unfortunately passed away the next day from heart complications. At first, I was very disillusioned about the whole organ donation process. There was my mother, a woman who waited and waited for a transplant and, when it finally came, she passed away.

Angry and confused, little did I know that just eight years later, I would be faced with the same circumstance in my personal life. It was August 1999, and I was about to begin my senior year in high school. At the time, I was working for the Harrison Recreation Department, enjoying the last few days of summer at the Brentwood pool, when I became ill. My own kidneys were shutting down and I needed a transplant of my own. I went from being at a high point in my life to all of a sudden being at my lowest. I surrounded myself with friends and family while I started dialysis three times a week and got on a waiting list for a kidney transplant — a transplant that had an estimated wait time of three years. I was a minor at the time, so the wait was a little shorter; however, not by much.

As I went through the year battling the most depressing time of my life, my community got me through. Friends and family were the ones I counted on the most, and they never let me down. In March 2000, I received news I never thought I would get: A transplant was available for me; it was a perfect match from Ohio. Unfortunately, that’s all I knew about the person — “a perfect match from Ohio.” I didn’t know if the person was a man or a woman, nor their background, nothing. Just that he or she was a young, perfect match who had passed away.

I began imagining who the person was. I knew that a perfectly healthy organ donor walked out of their house that morning in Ohio and, now, would be giving me a kidney in New York and a heart to someone else, and so on. I imagined his or her hand signing the organ donor card, no matter if was the day before or 10 years prior — that person chose to save lives by passing his or her own life on.

Right now, there are 98,000 people across the country waiting for an organ transplant to save their lives. Each day, 77 people get a second chance at life; however, 17 to 19 of them die because they are still waiting.

April is National Donate Life Month and the need is growing. You can save up to seven lives after you pass on by becoming an organ donor. Imagine — you can give a burn victim new skin, a blind person the gift of sight or a person on dialysis their freedom back.

It starts with you. It starts with life. I am proud to offer information in my office in Town Hall on becoming an organ donor, and I hope you will pick up a copy. Or feel free to visit my Web site at www.HarrisonClerk.com to sign up online.

I urge you to talk with your family about this lifesaving decision. After all, if organ donation didn’t save lives, you wouldn’t be reading this entry right now.

HARRISON TOWN CLERK DENOUNCES OBAMA REMARK

2009-03-20T12:00:00.000-04:00

CALLS LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW SLUR INSENSITIVE
TO DISABLED AMERICANS’ CENTURIES-LONG FIGHT FOR RESPECT

HARRISON, N.Y. —Harrison Town Clerk Joseph Acocella recently denounced a remark made by President Obama during an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on March 19.
Obama, who was describing his bowling score to Leno and joking about his poor performance, said that even though he practiced in the White House, “it’s like — it was like Special Olympics, or something,” to a laughing studio audience.

“As a disabled American who has worked tirelessly to overcome challenges in today’s society, I was disappointed with President Obama’s remarks on the ‘Tonight Show,’” Acocella said. “The president is a leader who must serve all Americans, despite their race, religion, political views or disability. When you make a comment like he did, comparing his bowling score of 129 to that of the Special Olympics, it shows you do not understand the people you were elected to serve.

“People with disabilities have had to fight for centuries to prove themselves in a world that fears the uncommon,” said Acocella, who was born with Lumbar Sacral Agenesis, a condition that led to both of his legs being amputated at the age of 3. “The president’s insensitive remarks echoed just how uninformed he and others can be toward a group of individuals who have had to overcome life-altering obstacles. Our disabled population has already proven its true value to this society, and as a result, deserves the respect of all Americans, including its presidents,” he said.

Acocella went on to say that Obama “could learn a thing or two from the Special Olympics.”

According to published reports, immediately following the taping, prior to the show being aired, Obama phoned Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver to issue an apology.

Town Board on demand! Now you watch the fun from anywhere : )

2009-01-23T00:19:00.003-05:00

This evening I announced that you may now watch the Town Board meetings whenever you want with Town Board on Demand. Click on the video section of my site where you can find the video of each meeting beginning with the January 7, 2009 meeting. This is by far one of the biggest steps taken to open up our government and bring it into the 21st century. I am pleased to offer this service. When I took office last January many residents - and non residents asked if it could be done. Over the year, I met with various vendors who would able to provide software to the town that would link the agenda with the video and so you can watch the meeting online and click on any agenda item and it would go to that point in the video. Unfortunately, this type of software is too expensive during this financial time. So, I met with our IT Department to find a solution for now that would still provide the meetings online. It will not be streamed live unfortunately, but rest assure I am actively pursuing that phase of the project. For now, expect to be able to view the meetings online beginning the day after the meeting starting in the afternoon. I hope you find this helpful. Please be advised Harrison residents can still watch the Town Board meeting on channel 75 at Noon, 6pm and 10pm every day. Happy watching!
p.s. people on my email list were the first to know about this advancement - are you on my email list??? Join today and be the first to know when it comes to your government. Visit my homepage at www.HarrisonClerk.com to join today!

I'm only as good as the technology.

2009-01-12T11:56:00.000-05:00

Today, the hundreds of residents who are on my email list recieved a message notifying them of solicitors going door to door throughout the town. There is just one problem with the email - the solicitors came on Friday not today. So, you may have read the email and said "he's a little late to be notifying me". Allow me to explain. I actually sent the email Friday afternoon immediately after the solicitors' application was approved. However, the town servers went down and therefore they did not send the email out until this morning when they were restored. I, of course, would never send you information that late however, - I am only as good as the technology. Sorry for the confusion.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2009-01-07T21:15:00.005-05:00

CLERK ACOCELLA ANNOUNCES

“RECORDS MANAGEMENT DAY” FOR THE TOWN OF HARRISON

Initiative will remove paper clutter and pave the way for savings on town resources

HARRISON, NY- Town Clerk Acocella announced this evening that January 23, 2009 will be the first ever “Records Management Day” in the Town of Harrison. Since taking office last January the Clerk, who also serves as the Records Management Officer for the Town of Harrison reviewed the practices of the departments for filing and retaining government records. Mr. Acocella saw room for improvement in several areas and is taking action to begin new practices and setting the tone for more efficiency in the future. “Every government document that comes through these halls is my responsibility, I do not take this job lightly and I intend to set out new initiatives that will save on time and resources in the future” Mr. Acocella stated. Acocella met with Clerks from around Westchester back in November to brain storm to find a solution for a growing problem that is also happening in the neighboring communities. “Everyone is out of space. There is just no more room to store these files" Mr. Acocella said. Records Management Day is designed for employees to report to work as usual but certain offices will be closed for the day so they can focus on going through old files, sort out duplicates they don’t need, prepare old files to be shredded and prepare archive files to be sent to the offsite facility for Town archives. “By the end of the day, each department should have a shred pile and an archive pile. The shred pile will conform to the NYS Records Retention Schedule which clearly outlines how long you must keep a document for. The archive pile will be logged into a computer database and sent to an offsite archives facility” Acocella stated.

Records Management Day will be Phase I of what Clerk Acocella is calling “Operation Good Housekeeping”. Phase II will come later and address accessibility issues the town is currently facing with the records they have at an offsite facility. “The goal is first get rid of the clutter. After we do that we can begin to search for a program that will digitize our remaining documents so all we have to do is point and click from our office computers. This is by far the boldest step taken to eliminate the waste, build better practices and save on future resources and I am proud the departments are standing with me on this very important issue" Acocella stated.

The following offices will be closed or have limited service on Records Management Day 2009. Please contact each office before Jan. 23rd for details on schedule:

Assessors Office – limited service

Mayor’s Office – limited service

Building Department

Purchasing Department- limited service

Engineering Department

Benefits Office

Law Department

Comptrollers Office – limited service

Town Clerk – limited service

Veterans Day

2008-11-11T14:00:00.000-05:00

Statement from Town Clerk Joseph Acocella regarding Veterans Day:

My Friends,

Today, we celebrate, we honor and we remember the men and women in uniform who have given so much of their lives so that we can live ours freely. We salute these veterans who know all too well the sound of the call of duty from our country. Today, I had the honor of sitting with many veterans from many different wars who recalled the moments of their lives when it was uncertain if it would be their last. Veterans Day is a day to recall those memories not because they are sad, but because they are who we are. Those are the memories who define who we are as a nation, a state and as a community.

Everyday we see these men and women in the deli, in the dry cleaners in the post office. They don’t ask for much, only that you stand and recite the pledge of allegiance, that you bow your head when the sound of taps are being played and that you say “thank you” to the ones who have fought and continue to fight for you.

Let’s not just honor these men and women today, but everyday because every day that you live free is day that a soldier did their job.

Thank You

Remembering a Friend

2008-10-23T23:36:00.007-04:00

I want to let you know that the Board this evening adopted a Resolution to re-name the Bruce Avenue Library to the "Richard Halperin Memorial Library". The Town lost a great friend in June, Richard Halperin was a member of the Zoning Board and a dedicated public servant of the Town of Harrison. We all in Town will miss him and will always remember him for his dedication to the residents and family. This Resolution is a proper tribute to Richard so that people of Harrison will always know the kind of man he was. A fund was also started in Richards name to raise money to renovate the library. If you would like more information on how you can donate, please call my office at (914) 670-3030.

It's been a while since my last post. Let me update you. I have been working on an AWESOME project for the town that is going to be great when it is done. It involves the new camera and sound equipment for the Council room. This week, four mounted robotic cameras were installed in the council room and new microphones were also installed. This new equipment was provided to us by Cablevision. We also have a new control room adjacent to the dais which will be used to control the equipment - instead of cramming it all into my office ; ) I also recieved a new laptop which will control the Channel 75 community bulletin board. The board will be undergoing construction until I build the pages so hopefully, by Monday the Channel will be up and running. I should probably post pics of what the old system looked like and what the new system will look like so you can get a better idea of what changes are being made. I got some feedback this evening from residents who watched the new system in action. Allow me to address their comments. Some said the picture was too dark. The lighting in the room is the next to go. We have to put better light fixtures in the room and especially over the podium to increase the lighting for the cameras. Some said the sound was a little off. Yes, since this was the first night the microphones were being used it will take sometime to set the volume at the right levels.

Tonight was a good test run but I assure you, it will get much better and we are definately moving into the 21st Century with this equipment. Feel free to drop me an email at JAcocella@harrison-ny.gov or call my office at (914) 670-3030 with your feedback.

It's Gonna be a "Great" Weekend ; )

2008-10-10T17:08:00.002-04:00

Well, it's finally here. The weekend is upon us. But this is no ordinary weekend for us because this weekend we will celebrate living in this great community. Lot's of festivities are planned over the next three days so let's get into it. First, I am sad to say the fireworks have been cancelled for tomorrow night due to the on going construction on Lake Street. No worries, there is still plenty to do. The Police Department Open House is tomorrow from 10am - 2pm. This is alway's a good time. Bring the family and tour Police Headquarters, check out the inside of a police car, fire engine or ambulance. There will also be a live K9 demonstration as well as plenty of food and giveaways. The County police helicopter is also expected to drop in. On Sunday, stop down at the southbound side of the train station for a car show sponsored by the Harrison Police Association. You can check out the nice rides from 10am - 4pm. And finally, Monday is the big day! The "It's Great to Live in Harrison" Day parade kicks off at 10am and will continue down Halstead Avenue into Riis Park followed by the festival. Lot's of community organizations will be sponsoring booths so be sure to patron them and support your community.

As for me, I will be around. If you see me, be sure to say hi and feel free to start up a chat. I am always interested to hear what's on people's minds. The weather is supposed to be great so, whatever you end up doing - enjoy it.

Have a "Great" weekend!

Helping Man's Best Friend

2008-09-25T23:33:00.001-04:00

HARRISON TOWN CLERK JOSEPH ACOCELLA
RALLIES FOR MAN’S BEST FRIEND

Clerk calls on local communities to join him in “starting the trend”.

HARRISON-NY. Town Clerk Joseph Acocella held a meeting today at The New Rochelle Humane Society animal shelter along with officials from the New York State Humane Association (NYSHA) and The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The topic of discussion ranged from dog licensing to puppy mills. “This was a healthy conversation that many communities should be having” said Acocella. Mr. Acocella licenses dogs as part of his role as Harrison Town Clerk, but it was not until he met with members of NYSHA and HSUS a few weeks ago that he learned the true importance of his work. “Man’s best friend is in trouble. As human beings, we owe it to them to take action” Acocella said.

Mr. Acocella called on local municipalities around Westchester to increase their involvement with their local shelters in order to promote pet adoptions, increase dog licensing and finally put an end to the ongoing exploitative practices of puppy mills. “If we truly take a second, and look at the whole picture we see one that is not that pretty. Shelters are overcrowded in some areas, dogs are not being licensed although it is the law, and puppy mills are flourishing. These are all problems which have direct correlations with one another. We need to start the trend in Westchester that can potentially influence other areas of New York if not the country” Acocella said.

Mr. Acocella will continue to work with The New Rochelle Human Society animal shelter as well as the New York State Humane Association and the Humane Society of the United States in order to increase awareness of these problems. For more information on how you can help, please visit www.NRochelleAnimalShelter.org or call Mr. Acocella at (914) 670-3030.

Remembrance, Healing and Praise.

2008-09-11T13:08:00.002-04:00

My Friends,

Today is seven years since the September 11th attacks. This is a day of continued remembrance for the people we lost. It is a day of continued healing for ourselves and a day of continued praise for our men and women who put on a uniform and run towards danger day in and day out.

Seven years ago, our lives were very different. At 8:46 a.m. on September 11, 2001 our lives changed forever. Now, we sometimes grow agitated over those changes. Perhaps, for example, you have been forced to put up with time-consuming security demands at an airport, sporting event or concert. But I ask you to ask yourself, how has your life really changed since September 11, 2001? Perhaps you fly an American flag now everyday to show your pride in your country. Perhaps you talk with your family more frequently than ever before because you know that time is precious, or perhaps you thank a Police Officer, Firefighter, EMS worker or soldier when you see them.

When I think of September 11th I think of the song "Hands" by Jewel. There is one part which says:

"I will not be made useless
I won't be idled with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
for light does the darkness most fear
My hands are small, I know...
but they're not yours they are my own
and I am never broken" .

We live in a small town, yes, we have small hands, but those are the hands that will keep the memories of the innocent victims strong. Those are the hands that will keep our country's patriotism alive, and those are the hand which will rebuild those towers. So, I ask you, what will you do with your hands on this seventh anniversary? Post your answer here or call in to the "Harrison Live" radio show at
(914) 636-1460 today between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. where I will be a guest.

May God Bless America.

Community Meeting Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008

2008-09-08T22:30:00.004-04:00

There will be a community meeting on Tuesday evening, September 9, 2008 at 7:30pm in the High School auditorium hosted by the Harrison Police Department. The topic of the discussion will be the recent criminal activity which has occurred in town. I will be attending and urge all residents to do so as well. For information, please contact my office at 670-3030.

Got paper?

2008-08-27T23:47:00.003-04:00

Today I attended a conference in upstate NY to discuss our archives. As the Clerk, I am the custodian of all town government archives. Needless to say, this is incredibly big responsibility as well as amazing part of my job. However, the current practice of our preservation and storage of archives can not continue. Since January I have met with representatives of NY State Archives, representatives of corporations who specialize in archive management as well as other Town Clerk's throughout the state. Over the course of the next few months I will present a phased plan to the community for our town archives. It is imperative that we take action now to preserve our history for our future.

Statement regarding County Executive Andy Spano's plan to increase certain fees in County Clerk Idoni's office

2008-08-20T21:58:00.001-04:00

ACOCELLA BLASTS SPANO OVER CLERK-FEE HIKE
Calls on County Government to stop bullying taxpayers

Harrison, NY – Town/Village Clerk Joseph Acocella today blasted Westchester County Executive Andy Spano's proposal to raise user fees associated with County Clerk Tim Idoni's office. "It is not only outrageous that the County Executive has proposed this, but it demonstrates how out of touch the leaders in our county government are with their constituents" Acocella said. The County Board of Legislators is considering approving this request, which would be yet another burden on Westchester taxpayers. Mr. Acocella stated, "to start raising fees in this economic climate is a slap in the face to the taxpayers. Everyday I speak to residents, some of whom are even losing their jobs, about the hardships placed on their families by ever increasing taxes. Westchester residents are fed up and they expect and deserve a better solution. Instead of bullying the taxpayers and adding money to an already bloated budget, county officials should be finding ways to cut costs."

Mr. Acocella also called on County Clerk Timothy Idoni to oppose the proposed increase. "Where is the County Clerk? These increases would affect his office and we have not heard from him. He may not have a vote but he does have a voice," Acocella said. Mr. Acocella is urging all Westchester residents to write their County Legislator and tell them to vote against these increases. "Make no mistake, this is a tax hike. The County has obviously proven they cannot be trusted to find economic solutions on their own, therefore, we must take action before they have the opportunity to increase our taxes again for the same services," concluded Acocella.

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