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Former city manager resurfaces in New Rochelle

[dropcap]S[/dropcap]cott Pickup is back to work, and it’s just down the Boston Post Road. 

Pickup, Rye’s former city manager, was recently hired as the deputy commissioner in charge of operations for the City of New Rochelle’s Department of Public Works.

He had been seeking employment ever since leaving his Rye post in July and selling his Osborn Road home soon after.

Pickup served as Rye’s top administrative official for a brief, yet tumultuous four-year period. That period was marred by several high-profile controversies, of which Pickup had involvement in.

Former Rye City Manager Scott Pickup has been hired by the city of New Rochelle as its deputy commissioner of the  Department of Public Works at a salary of $125,000.

He was promoted to city manager in 2010 after serving as assistant city manager upon joining the city in 2005.

But his legacy in Rye will likely be tied to the Rye Golf Club scandal, a financial theft considered to be the largest in the city’s history; it happened under Pickup’s watch where the city manager signed off on more than $2 million in purchase orders that are believed to be fraudulent. The club’s former general manager Scott Yandrasevich, who resigned from the position in early 2013, awaits trial on 11 felony counts related to the scandal.

New Rochelle City Manager Charles Strome told the Review that the former city manager was hired after an “extensive and thorough” search headed by DPW Commissioner Alexander Tergis. Strome said Tergis felt Pickup was the most qualified candidate, and he supports Tergis’ decision. Pickup’s hiring will command an annual salary of $125,000.

When asked about the controversy surrounding Pickup’s tenure in Rye, Strome said, Pickup was never charged with a crime and didn’t have direct involvement in the Rye Golf Club Scandal, so he has no qualms.

“[Scott Pickup] is highly-qualified with 20-plus years of experience that extends beyond Rye,” Strome said.

New Rochelle City Councilman Lou Trangucci, a Republican, said he didn’t know much about Pickup’s hiring and will meet with Strome soon to discuss it, but he said if Pickup wasn’t charged with a crime, he doesn’t see an issue.

Jared Rice, a Democratic New Rochelle City councilman, said he was assured by Strome that the hire was done with conformity with city standards and, “we have nothing to worry about.”

Former Rye Mayor Douglas French, a Republican who elevated Pickup to city manager upon taking office in 2010, said the fundamentals of the City of Rye are in terrific shape for the future following the recession thanks in large part to “Scott’s hard work and direction from a solid balance sheet and cost structure, to our downtown and infrastructure repairs and flood mitigation, to pattern bargaining and health reform.”

French expects Pickup to do very well in his New Rochelle position.

Pickup and Rye parted ways unceremoniously on the night of April 23 when Rye City Mayor Joe Sack, a Republican, announced that the two parties had come to terms on a separation agreement that would call for Pickup’s resignation effective that night. As part of the agreement, Pickup was demoted to an assistant to the city manager position and then barely visible in the final months of his 10-year tenure. He was allowed to collect on his $198,500 salary until his July departure and was also given a $59,000 lump sum payment from the city.

By staying on board in a non-essential role, the city afforded him the ability to surpass a July threshold that would allow him to begin to collect his state pension.

When reached by phone on Wednesday, Mayor Sack said after the strife of the past few years, the city has made strides toward stabilizing government. Sack and Pickup were embroiled in conflict, beginning in 2010, soon after Pickup’s appointment. Sack, at that time, was a sitting councilman and was at constant odds with the French administration.

“We’ve moved on, and our focus continues to be on looking forward to a brighter future,” he said.

After Pickup left Rye, his name quickly surfaced as a candidate for the village manager position in Mount Kisco. He was eventually passed over for that position.

Prior to joining Rye, Pickup spent time as an administrator in Scarsdale, New York, and Germantown, Ohio.

CONTACT: chris@hometwn.com