The Herald Statesman from Yonkers, New York • 3

1 I I A SECTION Obituaries A4 Weather AS Almanac A8 Editorials A10 -Op-Ed All YK MV Gannett Westchester NewspapersFriday, October 5, 1990 A3 2nd Yonkers employee sues city COMMUNITY BRIEFS Hastings library director seeks wider range off patrons Consolidated with that of two other former city employees he is representing in a similar suit, Theresa Wai-vada and Anthony Suoui. Another former employee, Michael Starro, dropped his suit Partisan-politics harassment suits may be combined Tocco, 54, was demoted by DeLuca in January 1988 solely for political reasons. Tocco, a Democrat, had supported candidates in the 1987 city elections who had opposed several councilmen who won office with the backing of Republicans, Conservatives and the Teamsters union. Quite a few employees and former Jane Parmenter, the director of the Hastings-on-Hudson Public Library, sees a challenge ahead. While a number of the village's older residents use the library, Parmenter would like to encourage everyone; Item toddlers to the middle-aged, to use it as a resource.

I would like to see more age groups using the library. I see some children, but people in their 20s, 30s and 40s don't use the library a great deal, she said. employees of the city have contacted have me with regard to things that DeLuca, a Republican, was hired as city manager in January 1988 with the backing of the ruling GOP City Council majority. been done to them that they believe should be redressed in the courts," Hhmall said yesterday. He declined to say, however, whether other employees planned to sue.

Tocco again was hospitalised for a heart condition immediately following the abolition of his job, according to the suit He later was offered a position as a provisional labor supervisor at a salary of 36,000, nearly 20,000 less than he had earned as deputy commissioner. The suit cliarfees that Tocco's demotions violated state Civil Service and that the persistent harassment hurt his effectiveness in labor negotiations with the city. Tocco was vice president of Local 1897 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union, which, the suit charges, city officials were trying to Suozzi, a plaintiff in the related lawsuit, is president of the local. The lawsuits are based on a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the hiring and firing of lower- and middle-level public employees on the basis of political considerations is The.suit forther claims that DeLuca and others subsequently commenced a campaign of harassment against plaintiff Tocco attempting to force him into Tocco thus suffered a heart attack in June 1988 that required an extended hospital stay, his papers say.

Parmenter is tackling the'probletn by trying to reach more parents with small children. Beginning in November, the library for the first time will have programs with muiic and stories for children 18 months and up. A second program for 2- and 3-year -olds will begin in December. T.tka the earlier complaint, Tocco's suit names top city officials, including City Manager Neil J. DeLuca, as defen dants.

The city is being represented in the proceedings by noted criminal defense lawyer Barry Slotnick. Staff Writer Another Yonkers employee is suing the city, charging that he was intimidated, twice demoted and otherwise harassed because of partisan politics in City HalL The suit filed by Robert Tocco, formerly deputy commissioner of public works, claims that his constitutional rights to freedom of expression association were violated and that he was discriminated against in job practices on the basis of his political beliefk. Further, Toccos suit claims he suffered emotional and physical anguish, including a heart attack and persistent health problems, because of the demotions. The suit seeks a minimum- of $1 million in damages. Toccos lawyer.

Jay B. HashmaU, says his client's Case probably will be Neither DeLuca nor city Corporation Counsel Jamie Hastings could be reached for comment yesterday on the latest lawsuit DeLuca had dismissed the earlier complaint as absolutely ludicrous. The harassment against Tocco continued when he returned to work, culminating this June when he was notified that his job was being eliminated, the suit charges. According to the suit, Tocco could take a job as a carpenter his position with the city when he first was hired in 1968 or would be laid off. Also in November there will be a brown-bag book sale at which people can buy a bagftil of books for $1.

The new director replaced Ruth Imber, who retired three months ago. Parmenter, who lives is Scarsdale, was a reference librarian in White Plains for two years. She finds working in Hastings quite a contrast to her days at the state Supreme Court Library in Brooklyn. This is more fen and more of a challenge, she said. You are dealing with a wide variety of people with different outlooks." A scheduling conference mi the case next week has been postponed until Oct 23.

Papers filed Tuesday in U.S. Court in White Plains state, that Rights panels report cards due next month Zenkowich to opon east-side campaign office Voters in the 83rd Assembly District will be able to question Republican-Conservative candidate CAMPAIGN 90 Zenkewich at the opening Absences may damage some members reviews Staff Writer of his east-side election headquarters tomorrow. An election rally at the new headquarters, 565 Central Park just south of Yonkers Avenue, is scheduled from 1 to 3 p.m. I Refreshments will be I served. I Zenkewich is challenging Ini ll two-term Democratic incumbent Terence Zaleski and Right to Life Party candidate John J.

Barry. The district covers the southern half of Yonkers. John Zenkewich mmmrnm Gandolfo: Spano voted for cuts abortionfunding The Yonkers Human Rights Commission expects city officials to issue end -of-the-term report cards on its 14 members in four weeks, and most members hope attendance will count On Oct 31, commissioners, two-year terms expire and their reappointments are up to the City Council. As a final project, the commission is submitting a report on its members' attendance records hoping that those who have failed to attend regularly will not be reappointed. I hope theyll do the right thing, acting Chairwoman Joanne Gardner said last night at the commissions monthly meeting.

I hope they look at the people who have worked hard for the past two years and reappoint us. Last month commissioners were warned that attendance records would be reviewed and that those who have missed three consecutive meetings in accordance with the bylaws would forfeit their appointments. Three commissioners Nicholas DeVito, the Rev. Terso Vinci and Rabbi Irving Rosner were identified as foiling to meet the attendance rale. The commission decided last night not to act on the attendance report, since the terms expire at the end of the month.

The issue of attendance was discussed last month as a first step in cleaning house and getting on with business after three months of infighting among commissioners. SuSphMoMarfcVargari RIDING THE RAGE Donald Goodman of Beau- mortal Field In Mount Vernon. Goodman was foe mont, Texas, does his bull-riding thing In yester- winner of this event, having stayed on tie bull for days Black World Championship Rodeo at Me- at leasts seconds and showing good stylo. Staff Writer A challengers attempt to discredit state Sen. Nicholas Spanos pro-choice stance backfired this week, according to two New York womens advocacy groups.

Mt. Vernon man weighs in big on the comedy circuit Democrat Janet Gandolfo said yesterday that Spano, R-Yonkers, voted CAMPAIGN SO Now, Gardner said, all their plans to begin outreach programs into communities will have to wait until next month when they find out if theyll be around for the next two years. Tie commission, which sets policy for the citys human rights office, has spent much of the past year arguing over what is its true mission. Last month, they agreed that educating the public on civil and human rights should be a primary goaL one night stand-up comedy dubs. Ive worked a lot of them up and down the East Coast," DAmico said.

I've also done some television and advertising commercials. I warBig Bill on the Statewide Home Equity commercial." While D'Amico is pushing his own career, he is also looking for comedians to wow the audience at his dub. He moves gracefully onto the stage at the Shooting Stars Sports Bar and Comedy Club, stares the audience down for a few moments and waits for the bum to stop. Then Frank D'Amico makes a few fet jokes. Why not? This Mount Vernon mountain of a man weighs 430 pounds, isnt ashamed of it one bit and is fest moving up the comedy ladder as one of Westchesters fenniest fellows.

MAURY ALLEN 't Commission agrees with task force on police review hoard We hold amateur nights Thursday and Sunday, he said. I usually get up and do ten minutes myself. Then we give newcomers a chance to perform. All they have to do is tell us they are willing to stand up for ten minutes and well botfo them. Every once in a while, a guy just walks up out of the audience.

D'Amico, 34, a graduate of Mount Vernon High, was the hot act last Sunday night at the Yonkers club at 2500 Central Park Ave. next to Movieland along with Tommy DiNotte, Skip Palma, Carie Karavas, Phil Selman and Marty Braga. DiNotte hosted the show. Palma, a resident of Ossining, is a regular. Karavas does an Andrew Dice Clay satire; she calls herself Andrea Nice Day.

That mm big break nMHrnir The Yonkers Human Rights which ha spent much of the last year fighting for the authority to mediate complaints against po- lice officers, said last night it was satisfied with a task force's recommendation the! a Civilian e-; view board be formed. The wimumhmIiMiiii for Iniimll gallon Committee, made this week by the City Manager Task Force on Police Community Relations; has been attacked by several city councilmen who are proposing that an changes suggested by the task force be rejected. Councilman Peter Chema wants the review board recommendation eliminated to protect the rest of the report from attack. At its mouthty meeting lapt atyht, the commission said that while the city Hunan Rights Office will still be a place where people can go to file complaints against police offioers, the review' board would be another outlet to handle such for a state Senate amendment that 'would have limited Medicaid fending for abortions. Gandolfo, mayor of North Tarrytown, based her attack on a May 18 Senate transcript that records Spano as voting to cut Medicaid fending for abortions unless the womans life was in danger or if her pregnancy resulted from a rape.

The measure foiled by one vote. This shows his lack of credibility on the issue," Gandolfo said yesterday. "After making a public change of stance in January to fovor abortion, here he is voting in May against money to pay for a poor womans right to an abortion. Pro-choice advocates say that the transcript is inaccurate and that Gandolfo is the one who will lose credibility by not researching the issue more carefully- One of those is Carol Reichert, assistant executive director of the Family Planning Advocates of New York State. We were there in the gallery the day the vote was taken, she said.

Spano was there and he voted no. We heard that very clearly. Gandolfos wrong. Shes barking up the wrong tree, said Polly Rothstein, director of the Westchester Coalition for Legal Abortion, which endorsed Spano last week. Spano wouldnt have voted to cut Medicaid, and he didnt Spano also confirmed yesterday that he voted no on the legislation.

Gandolfo had sought the coalition's endorsement in her bid to oust Spano from the 35th Senate District seat The district includes parts of Yonkers, Mount Vernon, Greenburgh and Mount Pleasant Also in the race is Right to Life Party candidate Terrence J. Dwyer of Valhalla. Reichert said she and two other members of the advocacy group were present when the 2 a.m. roll-call vote was taken. Records of the state Catholic Conference, an antiabortion lobbying arm for the Roman Catholic Church, also show Spano voted against cutting Medicaid fending for abortions, according to spokeswoman Kathleen Gallagher.

Gandolfo countered that the transcript was accurate. This is the official record. Those who take the records are trained to accurately copy the record, she said. I find it a little unbelievable that an error could be made in such a transcript Gandolfo said she received a copy of the transcript from the state Democratic Committee. The only person who can change the transcript is the Senate's official stenographer, Pauline E.

Willi-nn, according to Senate prom officer William Stevens. Williman will listen to the tape today and make her decision, Stevens Senate officer. Journal Clerk Joseph Cornell, is satisfied that, in a tape of the vote, Spano can be heard voting no, Stevens said. The disputed transcript was not discovered until this week, Spano supporters said, because the amendment was withdrawn after the vote and put aside meaning it was not an official vote in Senate records and so Spano did not receive a transcript of the roll call. Frank D'Amico Comedians are always looking for that one big break that will get them a headlining spot in a Las Vegas or Atlantic City hotel a shot on Johnny Carson or a comedy special on Showtime.

"Im young. I got plenty of time. I'm enjoying what I'm doing now, DAmico said. On the small stage at Shooting Stars, a club that can -pack in up to 175 people, each of the young comedians performs with enthusiasm in the show that showcases their budding talents. We get quality acts here, said Paul Hichak, the club spokesman.

They know a booking agent might be in the audience and could change their lives. As one of the part owners of the dub, which offers four comedy nights of professionals and amateurs, Monday night football and a Wednesday Ladies Night, D'Amico slips from fet jokes to philosophical jokes. Why do they lock the bathroom in a service station? Ip asks. Do they think youll sneak in there to dean it?" He waits for his laugh. His timing is perfect Then he adds, They always give you a key.

Its attached to a tow truck. About three years ago, urged on by his fellow truck drivers and union pals, he stood up at a comedy dub and told fet jokes. If you go out and put a lot of energy into a show, the audience gives you that energy back. I like to go up there and flop around, he said. D'Amico said he was influenced greatly by comedian Jackie Gleason, a guy he calls his hero and role model He made a big guy like me feel good about myself.

I used to watch him on television all the time. He always made me laugh. I decided I wanted to make other people laugh, he said. Years ago, comedians would learn their trade in the vaudeville circuit or working the Catskill Mountains hotd rooms. All of those outlets are about gone.

Comedians have turned to But resident Mel Ellen told the group the task force was a Map in the feee to the eoamdaskm." He said the city in the original charter gave the commission the authority to mediate police com-:" plaints and the review board would usurp that authority, In a 21-page report subudtted this week, this -task force outlined nearly a dosea In the police department including the formation of a civilian review board. On Wednesday. Vice Mayor Edward f. Fagan i Jr. said.

he plans to introduce a-resolution at -Tuesdays City Council meeting to reject the entire report because he opposes tbs board idea. Chema announced his propoealto "taafawwlil Ow rest of fee report yesterday in response to Fa fftft! IftOhltlflB. v' A majority of the council have indicated that they oppose a civilian review baord, but support other etanents of the task force report All of the biggest and best comedy stars of the day, Carson, Jay Leno, George Carlin, Joan Rivers, started in places like Shooting Stars. D'Amico is already bigger than any of them. All he has to do for super stardom is get better than any of them.

He talks about being so big he has his own zip code or weighing himself on a truck icale or cutting his smoking down to one cigarette after every meal, 10 times a day. You got to put your emotions into comedy, he said, as he sat at a back table at the busy dub. Sure I'm fet. I go with it. I'm also fenny.

He began telling jokes a kid at home, later In school and still later on his job as a truck driver and former Teamsters union shop steward. Fat chance. Maury Allen it a staff writer and columnist for Gannett Westchester Newspapers..