I am John Rossi – Running for Village Mayor
John Rossi
I entered public life in response to sexual assault and hazing events at a North Merrick High School as the Board failed to respond firmly and compassionately. I ran for the board to bring accountability to the district. I was elected and served for six years; I was Board President for the last two. I believe in service to the community, and have given both in the field as well as on governing boards – including time as your Village Trustee from 2017-20. I believe in the pledge, and legal vow required of public office, to support our National and State constitutions.
About John Rossi
A native New Yorker, John grew up in the suburbs of Long Island where he met May, his future wife, in High School. Married in 1981 the couple lived in Richmond Hill, Queens NY. Eventually, the couple purchased a home in the very community where each had grown up. John was an active member of the community serving on the board of the neighborhood’s civic association. John was also appointed by his parish pastor to serve on the Church and School’s finance council and also co-chaired a $3M capital campaign to construct a new parish Church.
While raising their children John attended graduate school at NYU earning his master’s degree in Telecommunications. In 1992 John left his 12-year career at the telephone company to start his own small business specializing in telecom consulting services. Thirty years later TeleTech Associates, Inc. is still very much in business supporting rural healthcare providers, schools, and libraries secure Federal funds for technology.
May has been a Registered Nurse since 2006. May has largely worked as a school nurse and until recently was a familiar face in the Rhinebeck schools working as a substitute nurse.
A Record of Integrity and Service
Board of Education – North Merrick Central School District 2004 – 2010
In 2003 the local school district was rocked by revelations of sexual abuse among High School football players at a sleepaway camp in Pennsylvania. This disturbing news motivated John to challenge a 30-year incumbent Board or Education trustee. Rossi won an upset election in May of 2004 and was re-elected in 2007. John served as Board president from 2008 until this retirement in 2010.
During John’s tenure on the Board he shepherded a sweeping upgrade of technology throughout the district linking buildings with fiber optic connections and advancing the migration of mobile devices for students and faculty. During John’s time as Board president he stewarded a new contract with the Teacher’s Union, oversaw an annual budget of $26M and district enrollment of 1,300 students.
Board of Managers – Lido Beach Towers Condominium Association 2013 – 2015
In 1995 the Rossi’s purchased a studio unit located in the Lido Beach Towers Condominium (Lido Beach, New York). Though generally used as office space for John’s business the studio unit was also rented to young professionals. In October of 2012 the 184-unit condominium was ravaged by superstorm Sandy. All residents were forced to evacuate and the condominium remained uninhabitable for six months. Restoration costs were in the millions.
Lido Beach Towers, like other New York State condominium associations, are obligated to conduct annual elections for Board of Managers (each Board Manager serves a three-year term). In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, the 184-unit owners voted to replace existing Board Managers. John was elected to the new Board and worked tirelessly with his four fellow Board members juggling lawsuits, revising assessments, negotiating with lenders and seeking government support (NY Rising). John was tasked to work with the NYS Governor’s Office of Recovery and he quickly organized a small committee of volunteers to pursue all avenues of Federal and State funding. The efforts of John and his committee secured $2M in grants. Though John relocated to the Hudson Valley he continued to assist and work with his condominium neighbors and fellow Board Managers. (Note: By the summer of 2019, the restoration was largely, and successfully completed).
Village of Rhinebeck Trustee 2017 – 2020
John’s public voting record as a Rhinebeck Village Trustee demonstrates consistent support for public safety and public health. John regularly supported the Village Fire, EMS, and Police departments. John has advocated for fairer employee wages yet was unafraid to argue against the substantial raises the Mayor and two Trustees sought for themselves. John was equally intrepid taking on the entire Board for the rights of the disabled and compliance with the ADA.
In September of 2017 the Board unanimously supported John’s public recommendation for a Grant Committee. For two and half years John chaired a small committee of volunteers and applied for 12 separate grants. The Village was awarded 4 grants which were used to: digitize hundreds of historic Village documents, expand the number of Village properties added to the National Register of Historic Properties, and install Electronic Vehicle (EV) charging stations. In addition, John made valuable contributions to the 2018 NYS EFC application which resulted in a $2.2M grant for the water main project.
From 2017 to 2019 John worked as Board liaison to the Planning and Zoning Boards attending many of the Planning Board’s twice-monthly meetings.
From 2019 to 2020 John worked as Board liaison to the Wastewater Department where he explored the benefits of biosolid composting, presented multiple capital improvement projects to the Board for approval and, in concert with Trustee Brant Neuneker, oversaw an engineering study contemplating the benefits of forging the Water and Wastewater departments into the Dutchess County Water and Wastewater Authority.
As residents know the winter Farmers Market, traditionally held in the Town Hall, ceased a few years ago. Around the same time the contract between the Village and the Farmers Market – for use of the Village’s municipal lot – was expiring. John recommended the new contract reduce the annual use fee to the Farmers while also expanding the contract timeline into the winter. The Board unanimously agreed with John’s farmer-friendly recommendations.