Ossining Appoints New Village Manager

OSSINING, NY — Mayor Victoria Gearity and the Board of Trustees approved hiring Karen D’Attore as Village Manager at its meeting Wednesday. She replaces Deborah McDonnell, who leftin early April.

In appointing D’Attore, the board members highlighted the Ossining resident’s breadth of experience in both the public and private sectors, along with her background in affordable housing development, local government, and nonprofit management.

In her new role, she is the village’s chief administrative officer, officials said.

She will be responsible for managing a $50 million budget, 172 full-time staff members, and the day-to-day operations of village government, which include overseeing labor relations, project management, grant programs, code enforcement, and agreements with New York State, Westchester County and the Town of Ossining.

D'Attore is moving into a revolving-door post.

McDonnell had been appointed 21 months ago to replace Abraham Zambrano, who held the post for a year, replacing Richard Liens, who held the job for six years.

“As we move forward on so many exciting fronts, Karen is the right person at the right time for this vital position,” said Gearity in a press release. “Throughout her distinguished career, Karen has proven herself to be a highly competent manager with the right balance of leadership, vision, and people skills--she has the ability to get the job done.”

D’Attore most recently served for four years as executive director of IFCA Housing Network, an Ossining-based nonprofit that develops and manages quality affordable housing in the region and helps people with financial self reliance programs so that they can maintain their homes. IFCA is also a pioneer in the development of transitional housing for the homeless as it now maintains 16 units through Westchester County’s Emergency Housing Apartment Program (EHAP). Through her work with IFCA, D’Attore understands the building permit process, code enforcement, Section 8 housing, and administering federal and state grant programs.

Prior to her work with IFCA, D’Attore was the director of development at Open Door Family Medical Center, a health care network that serves the needs of nearly 55,000 people each year in Westchester County by providing affordable, accessible and efficient health care and wellness programs regardless of their ability to pay for such services.

Throughout her professional tenure, D’Attore also served as a consultant to the United Nations Food Program and the Friends of the World Food Program, and for 10 years was an account director with BBDO, a global advertising firm based in New York City.

Karen is a resident of the Unincorporated Town of Ossining and currently serves on the Ossining Town Council, a position she has held since 2016. Karen will resign from her position on the Town Council as she accepts the appointment to become Village Manager. She will bring with her an in-depth knowledge of the inter-municipal partnerships between the Town and Village. Her professional relationships with Town officials will serve the people of Ossining well in her new role.

The board members said they have made affordable housing and community revitalization key priorities for the village.

The village has just begun its Little Big Picture Campaign, an anti-littering program aimed at cleaning up Ossining’s downtown business district and promoting economic development while tapping into the majestic backdrop of the Hudson River.

“Karen has a unique set of skills that will be a good complement to the Village’s current areas of strength,” said Village Engineer Paul Fraioli, who has served several times as interim manager. “We are excited to have her on board.”

D’Attore’s two children grew up in Ossining and are graduates of the Ossining Public School District.

Ossining Village Hall is at 16 Croton Ave. The Village Manager’s office can be reached at 914-941-3554.

SEE ALSO:

• Ossining Loses Village Manager
• Village of Ossining Manager Departure Statement