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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

New Rochelle Fire Department Change of Command Ceremony - June 30, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, June 30, 2026

BodyNew Rochelle, New York

SessionMeeting Portal

DateTuesday, June 30, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 19:55

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:03

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

0:05

Welcome to today's change of command ceremony.

0:08

Please rise for the entrance of the official party today.

0:37

Please be seated.

0:43

Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Neuroshaw Fire Department, I once again like to welcome you to today's change of command ceremony, where Fire Chief Andrew Sandor will relinquish command to Fire Chief Joseph Sinatra.

0:56

My name is Christopher Battle.

0:58

I have the honor of being the narrator for this ceremony.

1:02

Before we get started, I would like to recognize the dignitaries that we have in this room, the elected state, city, and local officials.

1:10

Thank you so much for being here.

1:11

We appreciate it very much.

1:14

Today's color guard is being executed by the honor guard of the Neuroshaw Fire Department.

1:19

Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the presentation of colors and remain standing for the invocation.

3:05

Let us pray.

3:08

Lord, we thank you for giving us this wonderful day and allowing us to commemorate and honor Chief Sandor as he steps out in retirement after 30 years to Neurush Fire Department, and welcome in Chief Joseph Sinatra as he assumes command as the fire chief for the city of Neurochau.

3:29

Lord, please look over Chief Sandor as he makes this transition to this next chapter in his life.

3:34

For 30 years, he has given dedication to the city and its department.

3:39

Please you give him your wisdom and your guidance as he navigates his next chapter.

3:45

To Fire Chief Joseph Sinatra, Lord, please look over him.

3:49

Give him your strength as he will need it in those challenging times, and give him your patience as he will also need it in those challenging times.

3:57

Please give him the clarity when he needs clarity, and please give him peace when he needs peace.

4:02

Please look over the Neuroshaw Fire Department.

4:05

Bless the men and women that work for it that risk their lives every day to help the citizens of Neurochell.

4:12

Please look over our beautiful city of Neurochell and all the citizens that call it home.

4:18

In the Lord's name we pray.

4:20

Amen.

4:26

Please be seated.

4:50

I know that some of you have been to one.

4:52

If you're in the military, some of you may be this is your first ever change of command you've seen.

5:00

The tradition of the change of command ceremony goes back to the time of the Roman legions where the passing of the commander's baton occurred in front of the troops to signify the leader who would take them in the battle.

5:09

The primary purpose of a change of command ceremony is to allow subordinates to witness the formality of command change from one officer to another.

5:19

These ceremonies serve to reinforce the unique responsibilities that is inherent in command and the significance of the commander or the chief of department.

5:31

We are about to come to the ceremony's most solemn moment, the actual passing of command.

5:36

The flag of the United States of America is used to symbolize the authority and accountability of command.

5:44

Transferring the colors during this ceremony symbolizes the relinquishing of command by Fire Chief Andrew Sandor, and by accepting the colors, Fire Chief Joseph Sinatra accepts command and confirms his total commitment to the firefighters and staff that he will command.

6:01

The passing of colors to the senior deputy chief and to the union symbolizes the commitment of both the city and the union to the mission of the fire department.

6:11

So if I can have Chief Andrew Sandor, Chief Sinatra, Deputy Chief Scott Bradley, and firefighter Richard Barn Jorney up on stage, please.

6:40

Sir, I relinquish command.

6:43

Aye, sir, I accept, ma'am.

7:22

I suck.

7:48

Ladies and gentlemen, we're gonna have some comments by some officials.

7:51

I would like to welcome up the mayor of Neurishell, Mayor Yudir Ramos Herbert.

8:01

Good afternoon, everyone.

8:02

On behalf of the city council, and today I'm joined by my colleague Matt Stern.

8:06

But I know I speak for the entire council and really by extension all of our residents.

8:11

It's a bittersweet moment to say goodbye to Chief Sandor.

8:16

And I know we'll still see you.

8:17

I don't have the sense that you know how to sit still very well.

8:20

Um so I'm sure we'll still see you here in the community.

8:22

Um, but it's really exciting, Chief Sinatra, to welcome you and to see the leadership and the innovation and the forward thinking that you're gonna bring to this tremendous asset to our city, our firefighters, who are such a key component of public safety for us here in Urishelle.

8:37

As we continue to grow, we can't do it without you.

8:39

And the leadership that you're gonna bring is gonna help bring that city, our city rather, to this next chapter.

8:44

So we're so excited to see you and what you're gonna do to the for the fire department.

8:48

And to your lovely family, your wife and your children.

8:50

I want to proactively say thank you.

8:53

Um when dad and your husband is in this kind of leadership role.

8:56

I know it comes with a lot of great sacrifice.

8:58

I know you're holding down the fort quite a bit.

9:00

Um, and I know you're providing him with tremendous support that allows him to do the job.

9:04

And to the kids, your dad's awesome.

9:07

Like what a rock star.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural████████████████████████████████████████40%

Public Safety██████████████████████████████30%

Community Engagement██████████████████████████████30%

Summary of Proceedings

New Rochelle Fire Department Change of Command Ceremony - June 30, 2026\n\nOn June 30, 2026, at 1:15 PM, the New Rochelle Fire Department held a change of command ceremony at which Fire Chief Andrew Sandor relinquished command to Fire Chief Joseph Sinatra after 30 years of service. The ceremony included presentations of colors, an invocation, and remarks from city officials and the chiefs themselves. No votes or formal decisions were taken.\n\n### Ceremony and Speeches\n- Narrator Christopher Battle opened the ceremony and explained the tradition of the change of command, noting its origins in Roman legions and the symbolism of passing the colors.\n- Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert spoke on behalf of the city council, expressing gratitude to outgoing Chief Sandor and welcoming incoming Chief Sinatra. She thanked the Sinatra family for their support and described Chief Sinatra as a "real life hero."\n- City Manager Walfredo Melendez praised Chief Sandor as a professional and noted the partnership with the city. He expressed excitement to work with Chief Sinatra and build on Sandor's work, acknowledging the support of the chief's family.\n- Incoming Chief Joseph Sinatra thanked distinguished guests, families, and department members. He thanked Chief Sandor and previous chiefs for their foundation. His vision includes continuing to grow the department, delivering safe operations as call volume increases, building accountability, modernizing with technology and data, and strengthening partnerships with the union and city.\n- Outgoing Chief Andrew Sandor reflected on his 40‑year association with New Rochelle, thanked his wife Robin, children, and the fire department family. He highlighted milestones, expressed confidence in Chief Sinatra as a succession plan, and remembered fallen firefighters Frank Strollo, Andy DiMaggio, and Curtis Taylor.\n\n### Key Outcomes\n- The formal transfer of command was completed with the passing of the colors. Chief Sandor said, "I relinquish command," and Chief Sinatra responded, "I accept."\n- Chief Sinatra assumed command effective the following day (July 1, 2026).\n- Flowers were presented to the spouses of both chiefs in recognition of their support.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to today's change of command ceremony. Please rise for the entrance of the official party today. Please be seated. Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Neuroshaw Fire Department, I once again like to welcome you to today's change of command ceremony, where Fire Chief Andrew Sandor will relinquish command to Fire Chief Joseph Sinatra. My name is Christopher Battle. I have the honor of being the narrator for this ceremony. Before we get started, I would like to recognize the dignitaries that we have in this room, the elected state, city, and local officials. Thank you so much for being here. We appreciate it very much. Today's color guard is being executed by the honor guard of the Neuroshaw Fire Department. Ladies and gentlemen, please rise for the presentation of colors and remain standing for the invocation. Let us pray. Lord, we thank you for giving us this wonderful day and allowing us to commemorate and honor Chief Sandor as he steps out in retirement after 30 years to Neurush Fire Department, and welcome in Chief Joseph Sinatra as he assumes command as the fire chief for the city of Neurochau. Lord, please look over Chief Sandor as he makes this transition to this next chapter in his life. For 30 years, he has given dedication to the city and its department. Please you give him your wisdom and your guidance as he navigates his next chapter. To Fire Chief Joseph Sinatra, Lord, please look over him. Give him your strength as he will need it in those challenging times, and give him your patience as he will also need it in those challenging times. Please give him the clarity when he needs clarity, and please give him peace when he needs peace. Please look over the Neuroshaw Fire Department. Bless the men and women that work for it that risk their lives every day to help the citizens of Neurochell. Please look over our beautiful city of Neurochell and all the citizens that call it home. In the Lord's name we pray. Amen. Please be seated. I know that some of you have been to one. If you're in the military, some of you may be this is your first ever change of command you've seen. The tradition of the change of command ceremony goes back to the time of the Roman legions where the passing of the commander's baton occurred in front of the troops to signify the leader who would take them in the battle. The primary purpose of a change of command ceremony is to allow subordinates to witness the formality of command change from one officer to another. These ceremonies serve to reinforce the unique responsibilities that is inherent in command and the significance of the commander or the chief of department. We are about to come to the ceremony's most solemn moment, the actual passing of command. The flag of the United States of America is used to symbolize the authority and accountability of command. Transferring the colors during this ceremony symbolizes the relinquishing of command by Fire Chief Andrew Sandor, and by accepting the colors, Fire Chief Joseph Sinatra accepts command and confirms his total commitment to the firefighters and staff that he will command. The passing of colors to the senior deputy chief and to the union symbolizes the commitment of both the city and the union to the mission of the fire department. So if I can have Chief Andrew Sandor, Chief Sinatra, Deputy Chief Scott Bradley, and firefighter Richard Barn Jorney up on stage, please. Sir, I relinquish command. Aye, sir, I accept, ma'am. I suck. Ladies and gentlemen, we're gonna have some comments by some officials. I would like to welcome up the mayor of Neurishell, Mayor Yudir Ramos Herbert. Good afternoon, everyone. On behalf of the city council, and today I'm joined by my colleague Matt Stern. But I know I speak for the entire council and really by extension all of our residents. It's a bittersweet moment to say goodbye to Chief Sandor. And I know we'll still see you. I don't have the sense that you know how to sit still very well. Um so I'm sure we'll still see you here in the community. Um, but it's really exciting, Chief Sinatra, to welcome you and to see the leadership and the innovation and the forward thinking that you're gonna bring to this tremendous asset to our city, our firefighters, who are such a key component of public safety for us here in Urishelle. As we continue to grow, we can't do it without you.

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Meeting Transcript