march/april 2014 newsletter
DESCRIPTION
NYPD Columbia Association News & UpdatesTRANSCRIPT
Columbia Association of the Police Department, City of New York
COLUMBIA News
Affiliated with the National Council of Columbia Associations
In Civil Service, Inc. and the National Coalition of
Italian American Law Enforcement Organizations
Fraternity n Integrity n Charity
VOL.48, NO. 2 March—April 2014 SINCE 1932
ONLINE ISSUE
Our President’s
Message….
Hello everyone. It looks as though the cold weather has finally left us. The flowers are blooming and Spring is
in the air. Before you know it, it will be Memorial Day and Summer 2014 will be upon us. I hope everyone had a
joyous Easter with their families. I would like to wish a Happy belated Mother’s Day to all of the moms out
there. We have been extremely busy here at Columbia so I apologize for the newsletter being slightly behind
schedule.
Our 82nd Annual Dinner Dance was held on May 2nd at El Caribe in Brooklyn. Over five hundred people
turned out to support our organization as well as our honorees. Deputy Commissioner of Administration Cath-
leen Perez became the first female recipient of our Joseph Petrosino award. Commissioner Perez has been a tre-
mendous supporter of our organization as well as ALL fraternal and religious organizations in the NYPD. She
was truly honored to receive this award and gave a terrific acceptance speech.
Our Italian-American Achievement award was bestowed upon Lauren Simonetti from FOX Business News.
Lauren is a successful, Italian-Amercian, native New Yorker who takes pride in her ethnicity. She was thrilled to
be a part of our event. In fact, she spoke about it on-the-air with Rosanna Scotto & Greg Kelly.
Our prestigious Medal of Valor awards were given to some very worthy recipients this year. These awards are
named after Past President and Life Member Lieutenant Mario Biaggi, Patrolman Michael Melchiona of the New
York City Transit Police Department and Patrolman Arthur Pelo of the New York City Housing Authority Police
Department. I would like to personally congratulate all three of these award recipients; Sergeant Anthony Gulot-
ta, Detective Nicholas Romano, and Police Officer Stephen DiMario. Your courage under extreme pressure
makes each of you worthy of these prestigious awards.
The Columbia Association Philanthropist Award was bestowed upon James Conigliaro, founder and owner
of Cambridge Floral Design, a successful floral and hardscape company. James is a first generation Italian-
American with family roots in Palermo, Sicily and was honored not only for his success, but for his kindness and
generosity. He has been a true friend to this organization and is a truly deserving recipient of this award.
Our Columbia Association Entrepreneur Award was presented to Louis Bartolotta of AgustaWestland. Louis
presently holds the position of Senior Advisor, Commercial Business Unit North America, located at Agusta-
Westland’s facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Our next big event is our Annual Golf Outing. This year’s event will be held at the Pelham/Split Rock course
in The Bronx. This is always a terrific event so get your foursomes early. Administrative Guide 304-07,
“Function/Event Sponsored by a Department Religious, Line or Fraternal Organization,” provides guidelines for
the excusal of members of the service to attend this, and all events sponsored by a Fraternal Organization.
Lastly, do you think you have what it takes to be a Columbia Association delegate? We are always looking
for members in good standing to become delegates. Delegates are responsible to register members of their com-
mand and give said membership to their Borough Trustee. Becoming a delegate can lead to a position on the
Board of Officers. Do you have the time to dedicate to the Columbia Association? If you are interested in be-
coming a delegate for a command, please contact your Borough Trustee or any member of the Executive Board.
Richard Angeletti President.
PAGE 2 Columbia News March—April 2014
Executive Board President Richard Angeletti (718) 822-5815
1st Vice President Emanuel Rossi (845) 902-0175
2nd Vice President Kendra Damante (718) 972-7871
Executive Secretary Louis J. Balsamo (718) 845-2201
Treasurer Anthony Burgio (212) 741-4851
Recording Secretary Christopher J. Pizzo (516) 318-3545
Corresponding Sec Anthony Quagliariello (646) 210-9170
Sergeant At Arms Salvatore Ferrante (718) 637-4151
Editor Andrew Carraro (718) 869-9988
Public Relations John DelGaudio (917) 757-1456
Financial Secretaries
Manhattan Louis Corrente (212) 477-9790
Brooklyn Vincent Aprea (718) 629-1220
Queens Matthew Cioffi (718) 476-7595
Bronx Steven Berger (718) 548-1250
Staten Island John Peruffo (718) 815-8608
Retiree's Nat Infurna (516) 747-1389
Trustees Manhattan R.J. Coleman (212) 258-2840
Manhattan Michael Alfieri (917) 575-0009
Manhattan Russ Marauro (212) 239-9801
Brooklyn Brett Raso (516) 476-2752
Brooklyn Michael Spezio (646) 634-7223
Brooklyn John Passarella (516) 512-7015
Queens Stephen Salazer (718) 533-2011
Queens Dyanne Marzano (718) 279-5200
Bronx Rocco Ruscitto (914) 755-0606
Bronx Richard Citarella (718) 292-6161
Staten Island Alessandro Pizzirusso (718) 876-8956
Citywide Michael Mongelli (516) 732-5961
Directors & Advisors Life Member Rep Phil Rapaci Sr. (718) 758-4475
Special Assistant to
the President Phil Panzarella (631) 965-7290
Travel. John Martini (718) 848- 1858
Health Dr. Brian Mignola (718) 816-9056
Health Dr. Joseph J. Ciuffo (718) 541-8962
Legal Stuart Salles (212) 267-9090
Legal James Moschella (212) 233-3800
Spiritual DC Msgr. Robert Romano (646) 610-6472
Spiritual Msgr. David Cassato (718) 259-9146
Past Presidents Anthony Cesarano (646) 529-4310
Frank Ventura (212) 610-6910
Paul DiGiacomo (212) 587-1000
Giovanni Porcelli (718) 702-2200
Stephen P. Chiarini (516) 887-5737
John Bucalo 631) 669- 9023
The
editOr’s
Spot
New York City Police Department
Columbia Association
Board of Officers wwwnypdcolumbia.org
Hello Columbia,
Attention. Below is a required posting of pro-posed by-law changes.
{Rev February 08, 2000}
Section 6:
Absence:
Upon failure of a board member to appear at more than three regular or special meetings within a calendar year, without a proper and reasonable excuse, such as sickness, working duty chart of the Police Department, absent from the city, etc., he shall be reported by the President to the Board of Directors at a board meeting for such action as they deem proper to take. {End of Rev.}
(Rev March 12, 2014)
Section 6:
Absence:
Upon failure of a board member to appear at more than three regular (3) or special meetings within a twelve (12) month period, without a proper and reasonable excuse to be deter-mined by the President, such as sickness, ab-sent from the city, etc., he or she shall be re-ported by the President to the disciplinary committee at a board meeting for such action as they deem proper to take. {End of Rev.}
Andrew Carraro Editor
PAGE 3 Columbia News March—April 2014
LEGAL
LINES Messages from your Columbia Association Attorneys Stuart Salles and James Moschella
My practice involves pension disability applications as well as Social Security Disability benefits,
some of my columns will report interesting cases in those areas.
There were three landmark cases decided by the New York State Court of Appeals involving two
officers seeking accidental disability retirement benefits and the surviving spouse of another officer who
made a claim for line of duty death benefits, all involving illnesses contracted by police officers having
worked at the World Trade Center and having been exposed to fumes and toxicants, etc. These three
cases all involved whether their disability and/or death was a result of a qualifying condition – which under
the law was presumed to be caused by his or her exposure at the World Trade Center - for benefits up-
grade.
Under the law, there is a presumption afforded to people exposed at the World Trade Center site,
that any illness contracted was a result of that exposure. The pension fund has the right to rebut that pre-
sumption. In all three cases, the Court of Appeals determined that the pension fund was incorrect in
denying the benefits as requested.
Ordinarily, in a request for accidental disability retirement benefits the burden is on the person
seeking the benefit to substantiate his/her claim. However, the legislature of the State of New York creat-
ed a new law which created a presumption in favor of these benefits for all police officers who performed
rescue, recovery or clean up operations at certain locations including the World Trade Center and the
Fresh Kills landfill.
Normally, the burden is on the officer seeking the extra benefit. However, under this law, there is
a presumption that the officer is entitled to receive the benefit, switching to the pension system, if it
chooses, the opportunity to try to rebut that presumption. I quote the section of the law which states as
follows: “Notwithstanding any provisions of this code or of any general, special or local law, charter or
rule or regulation to the contrary, if any condition or impairment of health is caused by a qualifying World
Trade Center condition as defined in Section 2 of Retirement and Social Security Law, it shall be presump-
tive evidence that it was incurred in the performance and discharge of duty and the natural proximate re-
sult of an accident not caused by such members own willful negligence.”
The officer must have participated in the operations at any of the enumerated locations for any pe-
riod of time within 48 hours after the first airplane hit – or a total of 40 hours accumulated at any time
between September 11, 2001 and September 12, 2002. In those cases, there was no dispute that the offic-
ers had met the requirement and had worked at the location during the period of time. On all three cas-
es, the Medical Board recommended denial of the officer’s application.
Court proceedings ensued and ultimately the case went to the New York Court of Appeals for its
decision.
In all three cases, the Court of Appeals held that the Board of Trustees was incorrect in denying
their request for benefits indicating that the officers – and the spouse of the deceased officer, was able to
establish the officer’s exposure during the period of time working at the site and that the pension Board of
Trustees had not overcome the presumption and, therefore, the request by the officers was granted.
Any officer that has a question on the World Trade Center issues as raised in these three cases
can call me or email me. The telephone number is (212) 267-9090 or email: [email protected].
Stuart Salles
PAGE 4 Columbia News March- April 2014
Birth Announcements
The Columbia Association celebrates the births to the following members.
Lt John Guzzo DCMB
Wife Emily Guzzo
Baby Jane Victoria born 3-15-2014
6 lbs 12 oz. 19.7 in
P.O. Keith Guzzetta 108 pct
Wife Shari
Big bro Thomas
Baby Bella Rose born 4-6-2011
————————————————
Death Announcements
The Columbia Association Mourns The Loss Of:
۩Pray for the repose soul of
Life member Alfred J. Baffuto ۩Pray for the repose soul of
Life member Andrew C Mante ۩Pray for the repose soul of
Life member Richard J. Nicastro ۩Pray for the repose soul of
Active member Sgt. Paul Namorato ۩Pray for the repose soul of
Concetta(Jean) Milazzo, mother of Life Member Joseph Milazzo
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.
MEMBERSHIP: as of Mar. 31, 2014
Retired..........................352
Life..............................1052
2014 Dues is $25.00
Send check made out to Columbia Asso-ciation NYPD
Mail it to Nat Infurna
188 Brown St
Mineola NY 11501
DEATH BENEFIT: If you would like to donate your death benefit to the Colum-bia Scholarship Fund for a one time tax deduction send me a letter in writing of your intentions.
PRAYERS: Pray for Ret. Life Mem-ber Fred Cornicello who is sick in a rehab center and all members sick at home or confined to a nursing home. Also all members on patrol to keep them safe.
Until the next issue CIAO !!!!
Retired Desk
By
NAT
Infurna
Retired members
Financial secretary
PAGE 5 Columbia News March– April 2014
Meeting Montage
February 2014
Meeting Montage
March 2014
PAGE 6 Columbia News March –April 2014
Event Montage
Cigars under the stars
PAGE 7 Columbia News March –April 2014
PAGE 8 Columbia News March –April 2014
2014 schedule of events
General Meetings
May 27
June 24
September 23
October 13 *
November 25
All meeting are held at the
Italian Charities of America
83-20 Queens Blvd
Elmhurst, NY
*October General Meeting is held Post Columbus Day Parade
Events
June 6th
Annual Golf Outing
June 20th
Annual Fishing Trip
July 27th
Annual Lake George trip
Sept 21st
Anthony J. Venditti
Annual Motorcycle Run
See Flyer on Page 9
See Flyer on Page 10
See Flyer on Page 11
Flyer to Follow
PAGE 9 Columbia News March—April 2014
PAGE 10 Columbia News March—April 2014
PAGE 11 Columbia News March– April 2014