Meet the Candidate: Fred Sciliano

Candidate: Fred Sciliano

Age: 56

Political Affiliations: Republican/Endorsed by the Conservative Party.

Education/Professional Background: BS Civil Engineering Technology Fairleigh Dickenson University/Senior Vice President CW Brown Inc. in Armonk.

Patch: What is your platform for running for this position? What should voters know about you before making their decision?

Sciliano: I will work to restore Harrison’s prominence, keep taxes and spending in check, give residents the services they expect and address quality of life issues that affect our town.

Patch: What have you learned during your time serving on the town board? How does this make you a better councilman?

Sciliano: I always listen before reacting. It is important to hear from your constituents. You cannot make everyone happy with a decision. When deciding on an issue you have to look at the whole town and not just currently but what effect the decision has in the future.

Patch: You aren’t the loudest member of the town board during public meetings, what ideas and experience do you bring to the board that people should know about?

Sciliano: Early in my first term I did hear some criticism that I did not speak enough, but I think that has changed. I do not speak just to be heard. I do my homework and research on the agenda prior to the town board meeting. I speak with department heads ahead of time to answer any questions, limiting my comments. I speak in an open discussion and when specific questions are asked or if my professional experience helps explain an issue to my fellow town board members. I believe my years of volunteer service and my professional experience in engineering, construction and executive management allow me to be a well-rounded person and a compliment to the board.

Patch: Negotiations continue at this point between town leadership and local labor unions over possible changes to the healthcare aspect of their contracts. Will you continue to pursue these changes? What are your hopes, if any, for the renegotiated union contracts?

Sciliano: Both parties have to continue to negotiate and work together in a meaningful direction and trust one another in order for all to succeed. I sit on the board of directors for the Construction Industry Council of Westchester and have been involved with union negotiations. I employ union carpenters and laborers and have negotiated on the management side. I know from first-hand experience both sides know the difficulty of the economy and employee sustainability. If both parties work together for a common good, all win.

Patch: What plans do you have for possible senior living centers in Harrison? Some of Harrison’s seniors have struggled to keep up with increased taxes and are considering moving from the area, how do you fix this problem?

Sciliano: Having seniors remain in town is important to me and the town. I know of seniors who wanted to downsize and were able to sell their homes to downsize to either an apartment or into one of the co-op apartments that are at both sides of town. This enables either their family or other young families to remain in Harrison. There have been approvals and new applications for apartments in the downtown. This helps start the revitalization of the downtown. There is the possibility of developing senior housing in the town. I would support the idea without using federal or county funds and utilizing a public/private partnership.

Patch: What is your biggest strength as a town board member?

Sciliano: My strengths are my common sense approach to issues and my open door policy for residents to contact me. My 33 years of experience as a volunteer fireman and past chief, 15 years and past chairman of the Architectural Review Board, past president and founding member of the West Harrison Neighborhood Association, my engineering, construction and executive management experience give me great tools to serve as councilman.

My experience has saved the town consulting fees because I have assisted in writing specifications for certain construction projects and recommendations on energy-saving measures for the town.

Patch: What is your biggest weakness as a town board member, how will you address it?

Sciliano: I do not think this is a weakness, but I do get frustrated and believe my facial expressions show on cable during meetings when some residents speak out of turn, not on the specific subject or on public hearing at hand. Misinformation and unnecessary controversy is created, which I believe is not appreciated or should be tolerated. I do support public comment on items specifically on the agenda or at a public hearing. I have suggested that public comment not relating to the meeting be held at the end of the meeting where comments can be made an addressed.

Patch: What is one thing voters might not know about you that they should?

Sciliano: I want residents to know I have a deep commitment to the town and its residents. I work tirelessly behind the scenes to bring my professional experience to help the town and keep Harrison a great place to reside.

Fred Sciliano is an incumbent and one of four candidates running for two open seats on the Harrison Town Board. We will post interviews with all four candidates in the days leading up to the election.