WestCop (Westchester Community Opportunity Program), the organization that has taken over the Community Opportunity Center in Tarrytown, has some ambitious plans for the COC. The county-wide social service agency’s early efforts since May have been aimed at refurbishing part of the Wildey Street building’s interior, according to Gordon Albert, one of the facility’s two site administrators.

However, WestCop is gearing up now to implement a series of activities and programs.

“We have transferred a substantial amount of our resources into Tarrytown, both personnel and funding,” said O’Dean Mangum, a WestCop administrator.

Six people have been assigned to the COC staff, and more will be added as WestCop initiates programs. From the time it took over to September 30, the end of its fiscal year, WestCop has budgeted $144,000 to operate the COC.

The Village of Tarrytown is contributing $34,000 to the COC’s operation and Sleepy Hollow is providing $10,000, amounts similar to what the villages had allocated in past years when the COC was self-managed. The money will be paid on a quarterly basis, according to village officials, who will also seek accountability as to use of the funds.

“We expect to implement a youth summer enrichment program July 12,” Mangum said.

There will also be an eviction prevention program whereby “individuals who are in arrears in rent or mortgage payments, due to illness, job downsizing, and other factors, “will be receiving aid,” Mangum explained. “Before the end of the summer, we will also have a home energy assistance program, and summer youth employment program. We hope to employ between 15 and 25 youths between the ages of 14 and 21.”

Albert said WestCop will be assessing the communities’ needs and identifying programs that will do the most for the local population that is in need of those services. Many of those programs will be activities that are already within WestCop’s umbrella of services, Albert noted. He and co-administrator, Kristen Lanza, are charged with moving the programs forward.

WestCop has slated an impressive list of future activities it wants to establish at the COC. These include after school tutorial and homework help, senior services, English as a second language, job readiness training, tenants rights, and health and nutrition programs, among others.

“The board will be moving as expeditiously as possible to implement our programs and services, Mangum stated. He said he was “keeping the board members apprised as we move forward as to what programs and activities we hope to organize prior to the board’s approval.”

The COC’s new governing board has been only partially named, and includes Jim Hart, Tarrytown’s Treasurer, Lois Bronz, who recently retired after a long tenure as a County Legislator, Maureen Barbelet, John Savage, a WestCop official, and Audrey Savage. The full board is expected to be named by the end of the month. An Advisory Board will also be established.

After the Boys and Girls Club left the COC facility more than a year ago, its funding, already diminishing, dwindled even further. After months of negotiations, WestCop, agreed to take over management of the facility. The details of the rescue effort reportedly were in dispute by some of the former Board members who resigned.

“We initiated a lot of community services with limited resources, “ Don Whitely, the last board chairman, said.

Whitely said he “looked forward to seeing the COC grow and expand its services to the community.”