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North Castle Town Clerk Alision Simon Gets A Five 5 Star Rating For FOI Compliance


1. Freedom Of Information Compliance And Knowledge Ratings:
FIVE STARS: Our Freedom Of Information Requests for access to public documents were responded to and filled in three days by a very couteous and helpful Town Clerk’s Office in North Castle.


http://nyfoi.org/index.php/2016/06/23/north-castle-town-clerk-alison-simon/
2. Email Address For Filing FOI Requests
3, Mailing Address For Filing FOI Requests
Town Clerk
15 Bedford Road
Armonk, NY 10504
4. Experience:
Town of North Castle Communications Coordinator
March 2013 – Present
My position as Communications Coordinator for the Town of North Castle has provided me with the following:
  • Tools to communicate with the public on behalf of the Town Government. I have helped to update the Town’s website for ease of use and create the social media formats Facebook and Twitter. I have also updated the Wampus Park Bulletin Board for the posting of pertinent, timely events and information,
  • Insight into the role of Town Clerk, including an awareness of the Clerk’s overall function and day to day responsibilities,
  • A working awareness of how information is disseminated to Town residents,
  • Existing working relationships with the Town Supervisor and Board Members, Town Administrator, Planning Board Director, Recreation Supervisor, as well as the Deputy Town Clerk, Town Hall staff and many volunteer Board and Committee members,
  • Work on the North Castle Forward interactive website for communication between the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee and Town residents has provided an increase in awareness of the diverse concerns of residents in North White Plains, Armonk and Banksville,
  • I am currently devising a strategy to create residential email lists for each of the three hamlets in an effort to insure residents receive pertinent information regarding their specific locations.
Law Degree and Experience
  • My degree and work in Law fromThe Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law – JD, 1992 – has taught me the importance of adhering to existing procedure and protocol. I am able to understand complex legal issues, communicate on par with the Town Attorney and share these concepts in language understandable to all Town residents. My legal experience will enable me to understand procedures pertaining to local government and elections.
Communications Degree and Experience
  • My background and degree in Communications – Boston University, College of Communication – BS, 1988 – has enabled me to research, understand and clearly communicate important, relevant information to the public in an unbiased, concise manner,
  • Reporting on topics of local interest has provided knowledge and awareness of many facets of the community. I researched and wrote articles on such topics as Zero Waste Day, North Castle’s Budget and Finance Advisory Task Force, North Castle’s Sales Tax Receipts, The Hiring a Town Administrator and Road Work Repairs. I wrote features on local residents, Officer Frank and Charitable Foundations,
  • Most importantly, my experience and training as a journalist has taught me how to keep my personal opinion out of the reporting and communication of information, a tool clearly required in the position of Town Clerk.

ARMONK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

September 2014 – Present
Working in membership development, communication and financial organization for the Armonk Chamber of Commerce has enabled me to build relationships with many business owners and learn their thoughts for the future development of our Town.
  • Working in membership development, coordination and communication and financial organization for the Armonk Chamber of Commerce has given me insight into many area businesses and has enabled me to build relationships with many business owners and learn their thoughts for the future development of our Town.

PERSONAL TIES TO THE COMMUNITY

  • My strong personal ties to the community stem from my 12 year residency and the fact that my husband David and I have raised four children in Byram Hills School District,
  • We have been members of the Town Pool and have watched the Armonk community grow into a flourishing locality complete with excellent restaurants and shops. We have participated in many of the local parades and memorials, each of which helps maintain our “Small Town” feel, and we have enjoyed our Town’s advocacy of the arts; from Library events to local theatre presentations and, of course, the annual Art Show,
  • I have maintained active ties in the community through my participation in the Byram Hills PTSA, Byram Hills Boosters and the Pre-School Association. I have been class parent, team parent and class room volunteer along with so many other community volunteers,
  • I have a vested interest in the future development of North Castle as I have seen the area grow grown and change since the 1960s. I was born and raised in Westchester County and attended Edgemont High School. I have fond memories of family trips to Armonk for “a day in the country” and a stop at Schultz’s Cider Mill for fresh donuts,
  • I care deeply about the future of North Castle and want to help guide the growth of our Town while helping to maintain it’s unique and distinct characteristics.
5. From The Town Website:

Welcome to the Town Clerk’s Office!

The Office of the Town Clerk, established in North Castle in 1736, is the gateway to government and the hub of the Town’s administrative system. The Clerk’s Office interacts with residents, professionals and all Town Departments with regard to actions before and directed by the Town Board.
Role of the Town Clerk:
  • Prepares and publishes Town Board agendas and supporting documentation. Submissions for Town Board agendas must be received by the Town Clerk by 12:00 noon on the Tuesday of the week preceeding the meeting. If the item is complex and requires study, it should be submitted well in advance of this deadline. Items may be deferred to a future meeting by the Town Supervisor.
  • Attends all Town Board meetings, records minutes and oversees video distribution of Town Board meetings, publishes legal notices, receives and opens bids for the purchase of Town materials, equipment and service providers.
  • Manages active and archival Town records and responds to Freedom of Information Law Requests (FOIL) and general inquiries. Maintains records of adopted Town laws, budgets, contracts, bonds, and deeds.
  • Improves communications and access to Town Government via the Town website, live and on-demand video streaming and e-communications. Improving the appearance and content of the Town website was a joint effort initiated by the Town Clerk and the Communications Committee. The Clerk’s Office managed the bidding, vendor review, coordination of the design and content development with Town Departments, Board and Committees.
  • Records and issues birth and death certificates for those who are born or die within the Town limits.
  • Issues licenses and permits.
  • Coordinates primary, general and special Town elections and referendums; acts as liaison to Westchester County Board of Elections.
The Communications Committee is an advisory committee appointed by the Town Board. The Committee works to improve communications concerning Town government, programs & services, and community events. The group is comprised of residents, Town Clerk Alison Simon and Technical Specialist Jon Rick.
The Committee is charged with:
  • Advising the Town Board concerning new technologies related to the Town website and other platforms of electronic messaging.
  • Managing technical matters and programming development for NCTV cablecasting and web streaming.
  • Increasing the presence and variety of communications throughout the community.
Meetings are usually held on the first Thursday of the month, 9:30am to 11:00am in Hergenhan Recreation Center.
Anyone with an interest in improving communications and promoting community resources and events is encouraged to submit a volunteer service application. For more information, contact Alison Simon at townclerk@northcastleny.com or (914) 273-3321.

Staff Contacts

NameTitlePhone
Alison SimonTown Clerk(914) 273-3321
Barbara PesqueraDeputy Town Clerk & Deputy Registrar(914) 273-3321
Rita RossIntermediate Clerk(914) 273-3321
Betty SanchiricoSenior Office Assistant(914) 273-3321
6. Media Reports
DAILY VOICE: New, Returning North Castle Officials Are Sworn In
North Castle town officials, both those beginning their time in municipal office and those who are returning, were sworn in on a chilly Monday evening before relatives and community members.
“We should be very happy that we have such high-quality people serving our community,” said Town Justice Douglas Martino, who administered the oaths of office.
The newest face to town government is Alison Simon, who was sworn in as town clerk. Simon, who ran unopposed on both the local Republican and Democratic tickets, succeeded Anne Curran.
Simon thanked her precedessor, who was seated in the audience, and described her as a mentor. She also noted that Curran presented her with a list showing every clerk in the town’s history since it was incorporated in 1736…..
Please Read More Here:
7. Related Pages:
7. Notes
This Ratings Page Has Been Updated With Additional Information
About North Castle, New York
North Castle is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 11,841 at the 2010 census. It has no villages.
Population: 11,841 (2010)
Zip code: 10504

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