Public Employee Press

Rodriguez names District Council committee chairs

By GREGORY N. HEIRES

The union's committees are resuming their meetings now that DC 37's headquarters has reopened.

The union suspended committee activities after Hurricane Sandy severely damaged the building. Because the union was operating in nearly 20 satellite offices around the city and lacked meeting spaces, committee activities were suspended during the eight months the headquarters was closed.

The committees will spend the fall planning for their programs in 2014.

In March, DC 37 President Eddie Rodriguez announced his appointments to the committees. The committee assignments coincide with the term of the union's elected leadership, which began a new three-year term at the beginning of the year.

"I think we have an enthusiastic group of people who look forward to overseeing the activities of the union's committees," Rodriguez said. "We did our best to select people by considering their interests, talents and work background."

The following elected leaders will serve as chairs of the union's constitutional committees: Local 1455 President Michael DeMarco, Credentials; Rodriguez, Ethical Practices; Local 1407 President and DC 37 Treasurer Maf Misbah Uddin, Finance; Local 508 President Peter Stein, Laws and Rules; and Local 384 Treasurer Deborah Lane, Election.

Standing committees

The following were appointed as chairs to the standing committees: Local 374 President Cuthbert Dickenson, Citizenship; Local 371 President Anthony Wells, Civil Service; Local 1482 President Eileen Muller, Disability Advisory; Local 1219 President Shirley Williams, Education; Local 420 President Carmen Charles, Health and Nutrition; and Local 2627 President Robert Ajaye, Housing.

Also, Local 371 Executive Vice President Yolanda Pumarejo and Local 1930 President Valentine Colon (co-chairs), Lesbian and Gay Issues; Local 1320 President, James Tucciarelli and Local 375 member Mike Troman (co-chair) Pensions; Local 371 Vice President of Legislation and Political Action Michelle Akyempong, PEOPLE (Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality, the political action fund of DC 37's parent union); Local 1359 President Dennis Ifill, Political Action; Local 1189 President Dr. Leonard Davidman, Professional; Tucciarelli, Site Inspection; and Local 957 President Walthene Primus, Women's.

Cultural committees

Rodriguez appointed the following as chairs of the cultural committees: DC 37 President and Local 1407 President Maf Misbah Uddin and Program Coordinator Bhagwatie Bwarika (co-chair), Asian Heritage; Local 1113 President Deborah Pitts and Retirees President Rochelle Mangual (co chair), Black History, Local 420 President Carmen Charles, Caribbean Heritage; Local 1322 President John Huber and Configuration Management Analyst Bernadette M. Enzmann (co-chair), Irish Heritage; Local 1455 President Michael DeMarco and Local 1322's Fred Ricci (co-chair), Italian Heritage; Davidman, Jewish Heritage; and Local 420 1st Vice President Isabel Figueroa and Local 1549 Recording Secretary Carmen Flores (co-chairs), Latino Heritage; and retiree Jacob Azeke, African Heritage.

Members who are interested in working on a standing or cultural committee should contact their local president or DC 37 Program Director Frances Curtis at 212-815-1502.

Sgt.-at-Arms

Rodriguez appointed Local 1070 Vice President Fausto Sabatino as the sergeant-at-arms chair.

The assistant sergeants-of-arms are Local 924 President Kyle Simmons, Local 461 President Franklin Paige, Local 1322 President John Huber, Local 374 Executive Board member Joseph Reece, Local 983 Recording Secretary Clarice Wilson, Local 1322 President Fred Ricci, Local 376 President Gene DeMartino and Local 3621 President Vincent Variale.

Under the DC 37 Constitution, the president is an ex-officio member of all the union's committees, except for the Election Committee.