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TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, MARCH, UH, NINTH.
IT'S, UH, ALMOST 7 45, UH, IN PM.
AND, UH, WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE ROLL
[ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
QUI, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, HONEY, MY PLEDGE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.WE HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN
[ MOMENT OF SILENCE In memory of the 947,625+ individual victims of COVID-19 who have died in the United States, 5,978,096+ deaths worldwide, each leaving family members and friends too soon In memory of Rose Fiorito, grandmother of Jonathan Perry, (who worked the front desk at Town Hall, greeting and assisting resident's for many years). Rose was very well liked and had developed friendships with many of the staff at Town Hall In memory of Warren G. Jackson, father of Commissioner Terrance V. Jackson of the Town of Greenburgh’s Department of Community Resources, passed yesterday morning (Tuesday, March 8th) after 92 wonderful years of life. This freedom fighter along with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy, an Olympic Trials high jumper, Successful Advertising, Public Relations, Marketing and Event Management entrepreneur (Circulation Experti, Ltd.), husband and outstanding father of three, did not suffer long and leaves a lasting legacy to remember and embrace. As a Greenburgh resident for over 35 years, Warren was also a co-founder, with Theodore D. Young, of the original Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast within Westchester County. A tribute to Laverne Clark, longtime resident, community leader, community activist and Valhalla UFSD School Board member]
MEMORY OF, UM, THE INDIVIDUAL VICTIMS OF COVID WHO DIED IN THE UNITED STATES.UM, 6,011,482 WORLDWIDE, 955,135 IN THE UNITED STATES.
WE ALSO, UM, UH, HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND MEMORY OF ROSE FIORITO GRANDMOTHER OF JONATHAN PERRY, WHO WORKED THE FRONT DESK AT TOWN HALL, GREETING AND ASSISTING RESIDENTS FOR MANY YEARS.
ROSE WAS VERY WELL LIKED AND HAD DEVELOPED FRIENDSHIPS WITH MANY OF THE STAFF AT TOWN HALL.
WE ALSO HAD, UM, SAD NEWS ABOUT THE PASSING OF WARREN JACKSON, FATHER OF, UM, COMMISSIONER TERRANCE JACKSON OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG'S, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES.
HE PASSED AWAY YESTERDAY MORNING AFTER 92 WONDERFUL YEARS OF LIFE.
UH, THIS FREEDOM FIGHTER, ALONG WITH THE REVEREND DR.
JOHN KENNEDY, ROBERT KENNEDY, AND OLYMPIC TRIALS HIGH JUMPER, UH, SUCCESSFUL ADVERTISING, PUBLIC RELATIONS, MARKETING AND EVENT MANAGEMENT, ENTREPRENEUR, CIRCULATION, EXPERTISE, HUSBAND AND OUTSTANDING FATHER OF THREE DID NOT SUFFER LONG AND LEAVES A LASTING, UH, LEGACY TO REMEMBER AND EMBRACE AS A GREENBERG RESIDENT FOR OVER 35 YEARS, WARREN WAS ALSO FOUND CO-FOUNDER WITH THE, WITH THEATER, WITH THE YOUNG OF THE ORIGINAL REVEREND DR.
MARTIN LUTHER KING MEMORIAL BREAKFAST WITHIN WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
AND HE'LL BE GREATLY MISSED, WAS AN EXCEPTIONALLY, UM, NICE, UM, MAN, UM, SOMEBODY WHO VERY TALENTED AND REALLY GAVE A LOT TO THE TOWN OF GREENBURG WHO WILL BE MISSED.
AND WE ALSO HAVE, UM, A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN MEMORY OF LAVERNE CLARK.
UH, LAVERNE, UM, WAS A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF THE TOWN, A COMMUNITY LEADER, A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST,
UH, SHE SPOKE OUT ON MANY, UH, MEETINGS OF, UM, OF THE TOWN BOARD AND REALLY CARED ABOUT, UM, CHILDREN, UH, STUDENTS, UM, AND, UM, HER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AS WELL AS, UH, THE TOWN.
AND I WAS GONNA RE-ASK JUDITH, UM, DEVILLE, UH, TO, UH, SPEAK, UH, AND TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF YOUR IMPRESSIONS ABOUT, UH, LAVERNE, WHO YOU WERE CLOSE TO.
SHOULD WE HAVE THE MOMENT OF SILENCE FIRST? OKAY.
WHAT ABOUT THE HEROES AND YOU UKRAINE? YEP.
AND I WAS ABOUT TO ASK, WE'RE GONNA DO THAT RIGHT AFTER, AND, YOU KNOW, A MOMENT OF SILENCE, UM, IN, UH, MEMORY OF, UM, UH, ALL THE VICTIMS OF, UH, THIS TERRIBLE TRAGEDY IN THE UKRAINE SENSELESS, UH, MURDERS AND JUST A TRAGEDY.
THANK YOU, JU ACTUALLY, WAR CRIMES IS WHAT IT IS.
DOES CAMERA GOT MOVED AND ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU, WHOEVER THE GENTLEMAN WAS THAT RAISED A VOICE ABOUT THE SENSELESS LOSS OF LIVES IN THE UKRAINE.
SO WE'RE JUST WAITING FOR A PICTURE TO COME UP.
WHILE WE'RE WAITING, I'M GOING TO BEGIN HARRIET TUBMAN ABOLITIONISTS WHO FOUGHT FOR
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FREEDOM JUSTICE, AND THE RIGHT TO LEARN TO READ SOJOURNER TRUTH FOUGHT FOR WOMEN'S RIGHTS.FRANCIS HARPER ABOLITIONISTS ORGANIZED WOMEN'S RIGHTS.
WELLS EDUCATOR, FENNY BARRIER WILLIAMS EDUCATOR AND ACTIVIST MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE, EDUCATOR AND FOUNDER OF BETHUNE COOKMAN COLLEGE IN FLORIDA.
MARY CHURCH, TERRELL EDUCATOR NANNY HELEN BURROUGHS, EDUCATOR ROSA PARKS CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS.
WHAT DID LAVERNE CLARK HAVE IN COMMON WITH THESE WOMEN LEADERSHIP? A VISION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
COMMITMENT TO INVOLVING HERSELF IN HER DAUGHTER'S PUBLIC EDUCATION EXPERIENCE THE COURAGE OF HER CONVICTIONS TO SPEAK UP AND OUT ON WHAT SHE BELIEVED CONSTITUTED INJUSTICE, AND TO BRING SOLUTIONS TO THE TABLE.
DEDICATION TO ABOVE ALL ELSE, QUALITY EDUCATION AND QUALITY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL CHILDREN IN THE VAL HALLA UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, A SPIRIT OF UNYIELDING DETERMINATION TO IMPACTFULLY, INFLUENCING DECISIONS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF CHILDREN AND HER COMMUNITY.
WHERE RENEE JE LIFE, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG EDUCATOR AND COUNSELOR IN THE VALLA SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR SEVERAL DECADES.
PLEASE COME AND JOIN ME, AS WELL AS ALICIA FORD.
ALSO A CIVIC ACTIVIST AND LONGTIME RESIDENT OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, AS WELL AS THE CIVIC ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT FOR PARKWAY HOMES FOR MANY YEARS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, NOELLE NOELLE, LAVERNE'S DAUGHTER AND HER GRANDDAUGHTER, PEYTON.
AND SON DERRICK, PLEASE COME UP FRONT AND JOIN US AS WELL AS NOEL'S HUSBAND.
YOU ARE ONE, COME ON, COME ON, COME ON.
AND, AND DEREK'S WIFE AS WELL.
WENDY AND WILL, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PARKWAY HOMES COMMUNITY WHO ARE HERE TONIGHT AT TRIBUTE TO LAVERNE, PLEASE STAND UP AND BE ACKNOWLEDGED.
UM, GOOD EVENING, SUPERVISOR, FINER TOWN BOARD MEMBERS, JUDITH BEVILLE AND ALL ASSEMBLED.
OKAY, MY NAME IS ALICIA FORD AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE PARKWAY HOME CIVIC ASSOCIATION IN GREENBURG.
AND LAVERNE CLARK WAS OUR CIVIC ADVISOR, WHO I HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM.
LAVERNE WAS MY RIGHT HAND, AND I RESPECTED HER VIEWS, AND I AM AT THE LORDS.
HERE WE ARE HERE TO RECOGNIZE, HONOR AND PAY RESPECT TO HER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, TO HER CIVIC ASSOCIATION, AND DEDICATION TO THE EDUCATION AND SUCCESS OF ALL HER CHILDREN IN THE VAL VALHALLA SCHOOL DISTRICT.
LAVERNE CLARK WAS CURRENTLY THE PRESIDENT OF THE VALHALLA SCHOOL BOARD FOR EIGHT YEARS AND WAS RUNNING AGAIN THIS YEAR.
LAVERNE HAD DOUBTS ABOUT RUNNING AS SHE STRESSED TO ME OVER AND OVER.
SHE WAS TIRED, BEEN FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT FOR TOO LONG AND JUST WANTED TO SIT.
BUT LAVERNE ALSO KNEW THAT HER PRESENCE AS PRESIDENT ON THE SCHOOL BOARD MEANT TOO MUCH AT THIS TIME TO STEP DOWN.
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AND THAT THE BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN AND PARENTS NEEDED HER LAVERNE'S.HEART WAS ALWAYS WHAT'S BEST, SORRY.
HEART WAS ALWAYS WHAT'S BEST FOR SUCCESS FOR OUR CHILDREN, AND HOW DO WE MAKE THIS WORK EQUALLY FOR ALL THE CHILDREN, NOT JUST THE SELECT FEW.
LAVERNE TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN OUR PARKWAY HOMES COMMUNITY THANK AND CIVIC ASSOCIATION, AND HAS BEEN ACTIVE SINCE SHE MOVED HERE OVER 36 YEARS AGO, LAVERNE INSURED AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD STARTED CHANGING THAT THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF WHAT PARKWAY HOMES REPRESENTED AND REMAINED THE SAME, MAINTAINING YOUR HOME PROPERTY AND ENSURING A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR ALL AND KEEPING US INFORMED VIA EMAIL AND SCHEDULED CIVIC MEETINGS.
LAVERNE WAS ONE OF MALE MANY TRAILBLAZERS TO RESIDE IN PARKWAY HOMES.
SHE WAS A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE AND A STAUNCH DEFENDER OF OUR COMMUNITY IN THE VAHA SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHERE OUR BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN WERE TOO OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND NOT TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT AS OTHER CHILDREN.
LAVERNE ENSURED THAT OUR CHILDREN WERE GIVEN THE SAME TOOLS TO SUCCEED IN LIFE.
SHE COULDN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW IMPORTANT EDUCATION WAS AND TO GET A COLLEGE EDUCATION.
LAVERNE'S FAVORITE QUOTE WAS, I NEVER FOUGHT A FIGHT THAT I COULDN'T WIN.
AND I LOVE A GOOD FIGHT, AND I DON'T MEAN A FIST FIGHT, BUT IF SHE HAD TO, SHE WOULD PROBABLY DO THAT TOO.
SHE WAS A FORCE TO RECKON WITH AND WAS VERY PROTECTIVE, FEISTY, DEMANDING, AND HUMBLE.
LAVERNE WAS A WORLD OF WEALTH.
FROM THE FIRST TIME WE MET IN THE EARLY NINETIES, WE HIT IT.
BOTH OF US MOVING HERE FROM NEW YORK CITY, WE'D HAVE CIVIC MEETINGS.
DIDN'T ALWAYS SEE EYE TO EYE, BUT NO ONE DOES.
BUT WE'D AGREED TO DISAGREE AND EVENTUALLY FIND COMMON GROUND.
LAVERNE WAS ALWAYS FRONTLINE WARRIOR.
LAVERNE ENSURED THAT THE VALHALLA SCHOOL DISTRICT FINALLY GOT REPRESENTATION IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH LEADERS THAT LOOKED LIKE OUR BLACK AND BROWN CHILDREN.
SUNDAY, MARCH 6TH, 2022 WAS A VERY DARK DAY FOR OUR PARKWAY HOMES FAMILIES AND HER BELOVED, THE HALL SCHOOL DISTRICT FAMILY.
I AM DEEPLY SADDENED AS I LOST A VERY GOOD SISTER FRIEND WHOM I LOVED.
WE LOST A GIANT COMMUNITY ACTIVIST.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP HER MEMORY ALIVE AND TRY TO PICK UP HER PLATOON.
I WANNA SAY THANK YOU LAVERNE CLARKE, FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE FOR ENSURING THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE REPRESENTED AND FOR MENTORING ME TO MAKE ME A BETTER PERSON.
I DEPENDED SO MUCH ON YOU, AND NOW I HAVE TO GO FORTH AND MAKE YOU OUT.
I CAN HEAR THE ANGELS SINGING.
YOU HAVE EARNED YOUR WINGS AND FULFILLED YOUR ASSIGNMENT, AND NOW YOU CAN TAKE YOUR REST.
UM, ON BEHALF OF THE PARKWAY HOME CIVIC ASSOCIATION, I WANNA EXTEND MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO YOU.
YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR MOTHER MEANT TO ME, NOELLE.
UH, AND ON BEHALF OF YOUR PARKWAY HOME CIVIC ASSOCIATION, WE THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR GRANDMOTHER AND YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW WITH US.
SHE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT AND GOD CALLED HER HOME 'CAUSE SHE WAS TIRED.
SO NOW WE HAVE TO CARRY THE TORCH, AND THAT'S OUR JOB.
LAVO CLARK SERVED ON THE VAL HALL SCHOOL BOARD FOR OVER 19 YEARS, AND SHE OVERSAW, AS WELL AS IMPACTED MANY, MANY CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TO THE VAL HOLLA SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AND ONCE AGAIN, SHE WAS A GIANT, SHE WAS A GIANT TREE THAT HAS FALLEN IN OUR FOREST OF MANY OTHERS.
AND THIS GIANT WAS ABOUT FIVE TWO.
AND IF SHE WAS 105 POUNDS ABOUT THAT, AND A GIANT IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TO PAY TRIBUTE
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TO LAVERNE CLARK.[ PRESENTATIONS Hannah Frank - Winner of NYS Art Contest on the Environment Veterans Advisory Committee (Hugh McAuley,Carmine DiPasquale, and Efrain Hernandez) - Memorial at DeSanti Plaza]
I'D LIKE TO, UH, RECOGNIZE HANNAH FRANK, WINNER OF THE NEW YORK STATE ART CONTEST ON THE ENVIRONMENT.AND, UH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT? YES.
UM, I ENTERED A NEW YORK STATE, UM, ART CONTEST, AND I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS TO DO IT AT FIRST, SO I WOULD LIKE TO PAY, CONTRIBUTE TO MY MOM BECAUSE SHE WAS THE ONE WHO PUSHED ME TO DO IT.
AND I'M GLAD THAT SHE DID BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IF I COULD WIN AND I DID BECAUSE OF HER.
SO I'D LIKE TO SAY, AND, UM, DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A ARTIST WHEN YOU GROW UP? UM, I DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE MY PASSION WHEN DOING THIS, UM, CONTEST, BUT NOW AFTER DOING IT, I'M THINKING ABOUT IT.
YOU HAVE, UH, ANY ARTWORK THAT YOU COULD SHOW US.
THAT COULD BE WORTH A LOT OF MONEY IN, IN 30 YEARS.
ARE YOU DONATED TO THE TOWN?
WE COULD BORROW IT FOR A LITTLE BIT.
IT SAYS WE ALL LIVE IN A WATERSHED.
I'M SURE THIS IS ONLY THE FIRST OF MANY MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE DURING YOUR LIFE.
AND WE'RE GONNA WILL FOLLOW YOUR, UH, YOUR FUTURE WITH THE GREATEST OF INTEREST, THEN WE EXPECT THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE A GREAT, GREAT SUCCESS.
NOT THAT WE EXPECT WE KNOW, RIGHT? WE KNOW.
DID YOU SIGN IT? IS IT IT SIGNED? VERY NICE.
WE WANNA, WE WANNA, DEFINITELY.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU THAT WHEN YOU WROTE, UH, WE ALL LIVE IN A WATERSHED, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU? UM, I REALLY DO ENJOY ANIMALS.
THEY'RE LIKE ONE OF MY PASSIONS BECAUSE, UH, MY FAVORITE ANIMAL IS SLOTHS.
SO WHEN DOING THIS PROJECT, I THOUGHT ABOUT THE ANIMALS THAT WERE ENDANGERED.
SO AS YOU COULD SEE IN THE CORNERS OF EACH, YOU COULD SEE FOUR DIFFERENT ANIMALS THAT ARE ENDANGERED IN OUR SOCIETY.
NEXT, UM, WE HAVE, UM, OUR VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UM, YOU AL CARMEN DE AND HERNANDEZ, AND THEY'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE MEMORIAL DE SANTA PLAZA.
UM, HUGH, JUST BEFORE YOU START, I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DID NOT WISH A HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOM.
UM, THERE SHOULD BE, THERE SHOULD BE A SMALL POWERPOINT.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO FOLLOW SOMEBODY, A YOUNG PERSON LIKE THAT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
UM, SUPERVISOR FINER TOWN BOARD, JU BILL, UH, UH, TIM, TIM LEWIS.
YOU KNOW, I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF YOUR OFFICIAL TITLE.
I CAN'T READ IT FROM HERE WITHOUT MY GLASSES.
UM, THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS ASKED, UH, AS COMPRISED AS YOU KNOW, UH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE AMERICAN LEGION, THE VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA, DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, ALL KIND, THE VETERANS GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE TOWN.
AND, UM, WE ARE WORKING, UM, CONTINUALLY WORKING WITH THE BOY SCOUTS.
ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE MOVING FORWARD TONIGHT IS A, UM, BOY SCOUT TROOP OUT OF ARDSLEY AND AN EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
UM, AND THE, WE DISCUSSED IN OUR COMMITTEE, AND WE ENDORSED IT DOWN BY THE HARTSDALE TRAIN STATION.
AS YOU KNOW, BACK IN 2000 AND UM, 16, WE, UH, DEDICATED THE NEW DESTI PLAZA.
THERE WAS AN EXISTING WORLD WAR I MEMORIAL PLAQUE DOWN THERE THAT'S ABOUT 102 YEARS
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OLD THAT WAS ON A BOULDER.AND, UH, WE TASKED THIS YOUNG, UH, SCOUT AND HIS TROOP WITH GETTING THAT BEAUTIFUL PLAQUE OFF THAT BOULDER, GETTING IT, UH, RESTORED AND REMOUNTED INTO SANTA PLAZA.
SO, UM, I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SAY THAT, UM, OUR COMMITTEE WORKING THROUGH, UH, JERRY BURNS IN TOWNSEND PARK WILL BE GETTING THAT OFF.
AND ACTUALLY, UM, THIS MORNING, JERRY, UH, BURNS AND THE TEAM REMOVED THAT PLAQUE FROM THE BOULDER.
AND IT WAS CRITICAL THAT WE DID THAT BECAUSE AS EVERYONE IN THE TOWN KNOWS OR DOES, IS GONNA FIND OUT SOON, THE CONSTRUCTION HAS STARTED ON THE HANDICAPPED ACCESS.
SO AGAIN, LET'S, I'LL JUST GO THROUGH THE SLIDES.
SO IF WE GO BACK UP TO THE TOP AND, UM, WE'RE GONNA REMOVE THE PLAQUE AND RESTORE IT.
THE YOUNG MAN'S NAME IS THOMAS, UM, SLO AND AGAIN, OUT OF LEY AND THE GOLDS ARE TO, UM, WHEN WE DEDICATED THE FEMALE VETERANS MONUMENT, UH, ON VETERANS DAY, THIS PAST VETERANS DAY, THE GARDENING, THE SHRUBS AND EVERYTHING WERE, WERE, UH, PLANTED AND SUPPORT THAT IN THEIR YEAR ROUND.
AND THEY HAVE SPECIAL MEETINGS TO TEACH THE VETERANS.
AND ANYWAY, SO THIS, THIS PLAQUE HAS BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME, OVER A HUNDRED YEARS.
IT'S GONNA GET CLEANED UP, IT'S GONNA GET MOVED AND PUT IN A GREAT PLACE FOR PROMINENCE AND A DIFFICULT TIME FOR THE WORLD.
WE TALKED ABOUT UKRAINE EARLIER.
IT'S EXTREMELY PROMISING, FULFILLING TO OUR COMMITTEE TO SEE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND RECOGNIZING THAT, UM, THE HORROR STORIES WE SEE ON THE NEWS EVERY DAY, AND THE, THE PICTURES IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT ARE COMING OUTTA THAT WAR ZONE ARE PALE IN COMPARISON TO WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR WORLD WAR I SOLDIERS.
THE BRUTALITY THAT WORLD WAR I SAW WAS, UH, UNFATHOMABLE.
SO AGAIN, UM, WE REALLY WANT TO THANK, UH, THE BOY SCOUTS FOR TAKING ON THIS EAGLE PROJECT, UH, PRESERVING IT, IMPORTANT PIECE OF TOWN HISTORY.
WE WANNA THANK JERRY BURNS OVER IN PARKS AND REC.
WE WANT TO THANK THE TOWN BOARD, UH, SUPERVISOR FINER IN PARTICULAR, AND THE TOWN BOARD FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR VETERANS ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND, UH, WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE CARM MIGHTY PASQUA.
AND PAUL FINER TOWN BOARD AND WELCOME EVERYBODY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO AFTER, AFTER SOMETHING LIKE YOU DID IT.
I PUT THAT FOR VERY GOOD WHAT YOU DID.
MY NAME IS CARMINE DIPA SQUAM.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK PAUL FINER AND THE TOWN OF GREENBERG'S BOARD.
AND FOR ALL THAT YOU DO, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO.
JERRY BURNS, UH, I DON'T THINK HE'S HERE TONIGHT.
OH, JERRY BURNS, PLEASE STAND UP.
JERRY, I WANNA THANK JERRY, JERRY BURNS FOR REMOVING THE A HUNDRED YEAR OLD WORLD WAR II COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE FROM THE ROCK AT THE HARTSDALE TRAIN STATION IN ANTICIPATION FOR ITS NEW LOCATION INCORPORATED INTO THE VETERANS HARTSDALE MONUMENT.
AND BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THE VETERANS ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO INTERVIEW WORLD WAR II VETERANS AND TRANSFER THEIR MILITARY EXPERIENCES ON FILM TO BE PRESENTED FOR ALL TIMES WORLD WAR II.
THE VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT WE KEEP RECORDING WHILE THE TOWN WAITS FOR THEIR NEW EQUIPMENT.
WHAT DOES THE TOWN BOARD THINK? THAT'S THE QUESTION.
CAN WE KEEP ON FILMING TILL THE NEW EQUIPMENT COMES? WE'LL BE VERY HAPPY.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR COMING TONIGHT AND THANK YOU FROM THE VETERANS' ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
MINE IS GONNA BE SHORTER THAN THAT.
I'M FRA HERNANDEZ AND I'M THE COMMANDER OF AMERICAN LEGION POST 4 58 AND LEY.
I WANT TO THANK PAUL FINER, THE BOARD.
JERRY, I WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU ALWAYS SHOW US, AND THANK YOU.
AND PLEASE CONTINUE WITH THAT 'CAUSE WE NEED IT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOOD EVENING.
'CAUSE AGAIN, ANY QUESTIONS? I I DON'T THINK YOU GET TO ASK ME QUESTIONS, RIGHT? NO,
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WE JUST, UH, VERY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND YOU KNOW, I AGREE, UH, WITH CARMEN ABOUT THE, THE TAPINGS AND I BASICALLY WOULD LIKE, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.CONTINUE TO DO THE GREAT JOB THAT YOU DO ADVOCATING FOR THE VETERANS.
[ SUPERVISOR & TOWN COUNCIL REPORTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS GOOD NEWS...The Town continues (since 2008) to have the highest possible bond rating from Standard & Poors (AAA) and (since 2010) (Aaa) from Moody's. Less than 1% of communities in the nation have this record of financial stability. Recently, on 3/23/2021, Moody's reaffirmed the Town earned Moody's highest rating and, on 03/26/2021, Standard & Poors once again reaffirmed the Town earned Standard & Poors highest rating. Any individual or group interested in a visit from the Town Board should email the Board at TownBoard@GreenburghNY.com ]
VERY, VERY BRIEF, UH, UM, ITEMS. UM, I WANTED TO MENTION THAT IF YOU HAVE A IPHONE, WHICH MOST PEOPLE HAVE, UH, WE HAVE A NEW APP CALLED FIX IT GREENBURG.AND, UM, IF YOU GO ON THE APP, AND LET'S SAY YOU SEE A POTHOLE OR A DOWN WIRE OR A TREE FALLING DOWN, YOU TAKE A PHOTO AND USING G P S, THE G P S SYSTEM IDENTIFIES THE EXACT LOCATION AND IT, AND THE COMPLAINT, UH, GOES IMMEDIATELY TO, UH, PUBLIC WORKS AND, UH, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL FIX IT, UH, YOU KNOW, WITHIN A DAY OR SO.
BUT, UH, IT'S A WAY THAT WE COULD TRACK COMPLAINTS, AND IT'S A WAY THAT CITIZENS, UM, WHO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS WITH THE TOWN, UM, COULD, UH, TAKE A PHOTO, UH, COULD TAKE A PHOTO, FILE THE COMPLAINT WITH THE RIGHT, UH, YOU KNOW, DEPARTMENT AND GET, YOU KNOW, GET ACTION.
I'VE GOTTEN LIKE VERY ADDICTED TO THIS.
I'M ON THE BICYCLE LIKE EVERY DAY AND I'M LOOKING FOR POTHOLES, AND IF I DON'T SEE A POTHOLE, I GET UPSET BECAUSE I WANT TO USE THE APP.
UM, SO, UM, UH, BUT IT, IT REALLY IS, IT REALLY IS GREAT.
WE ALSO HAVE ANOTHER, UM, WEBSITE THAT WE JUST STARTED.
UM, UH, THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UM, INITIATIVE.
UH, WE HAVE, UH, AT THE GREENBERG WEBSITE, WE HAVE A LINK.
UH, WE'VE IDENTIFIED ALL THE VACAN COMMERCIAL VACANCIES IN THE TOWN.
UM, SO IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY WHO IS LOOKING AT STARTING A BUSINESS IN THE TOWN, UM, AND THEY WANNA KNOW, UM, WHERE THERE'S VACANT, YOU KNOW, PROPERTIES, THEY COULD LOOK AT THE WEBSITE, THEY COULD SEE PHOTOS OF THE VACANT, UM, YOU KNOW, BUILDINGS, UH, CONTACT INFORMATION, THE LANDLORD, THE BROKER, PHONE NUMBERS, WEBSITES, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER WE HAVE.
UH, THERE'S ALSO, UH, A LINK TO, UH, JOBS IN GREENBURG.
SO IF A BUSINESS IS, IT COULD BE A PIZZA SHOP, IT COULD BE A BANK, IT COULD BE, UM, A DELI.
IF THEY'RE HIRING, UH, THEY'LL, THEY'LL LIST IT.
AND I THINK THIS IS A, A GREAT ECONOMIC, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT, UH, INITIATIVE.
I WANT TO THANK GARRETT TO KAIN FOR AND, UM, AND RELA, UM, THE CONSULTANT THAT WE'VE USED FOR COMING UP WITH, UM, WITH, UH, THE IDEA.
IT'S, IT'S REALLY A GREAT WEBSITE.
I SEE, UH, GARRETT IS, UH, YOU KNOW, HERE AND HE DID NOT WRITE MY COMMENTS.
SO THIS, BUT YOU REALLY ARE DOING A GREAT JOB.
JUST WE WANNA MAKE SURE WE ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS AND COMMERCIAL OWNERS TO PLEASE, YOU CAN ADVERTISE ON THIS WEBSITE TOO, SO IT'S INTERACTIVE.
THAT'S WHY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE.
SO THIS IS A COMMUNITY WEBSITE.
IT'S, UH, GREENBURG ED.COM, THAT'S AN ACRONYM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND OPPORTUNITY, SO GREENBERG E D.COM.
BUT IT'S ALSO ON THE HOMEPAGE OF THE GREENBERG WEBSITE, SO, UM, SO YES, INDEED.
SO NOW WE'LL, UH, UH, START WITH, UM, THE, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS
[ To consider an Amended Site Plan Application and to hear a petition to extend the Consolidated Water District No. 1 submitted by Hackley School, located at 293 Benedict Avenue (P.O. Tarrytown, NY) (To be held over to March 23, 2022 meeting at applicant's request)]
AND, UH, THE FIRST, UH, PUBLIC HEARING, UM, HAS BEEN ADJOURNED TO MARCH 23RD.THAT'S, UM, UH, RELATING TO HACKLEY.
SO WE'LL GO RIGHT INTO, UM, THE HEARING THAT MOST PEOPLE HEAR ARE YOU WANNA ATTEND TO HEAR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC RELATING TO THE ELMWOOD PRESERVE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS, F A I S, WHICH IS POSTED IN ITS ENTIRETY AT THE FOLLOWING LINK, UM, GREENBERG NY COM, UH, 6 0 3 ACTIVE APPLICATIONS TOWN BOARD, AND IS AVAILABLE AT THE GREENBERG PUBLIC LIBRARY IN TOWN HALL.
SO, GARRETT, UH, PAUL, BEFORE YOU BEGIN THE PUBLIC HEARING, I, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY TO, UH, THOSE RESIDENTS WHO ARE VIEWING, UM, THIS MEETING FROM HOME, SEVERAL SUBMITTED COMMENTS TO BE READ, AND THEY'RE REQUESTED THAT THEY BE READ HERE AT THE PUBLIC HEARING THIS EVENING.
THEY SENT THOSE REQUESTS DIRECTLY TO ME AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL.
I FEEL THAT INTEGRITY IS MOST IMPORTANT, AND SO I ACKNOWLEDGED TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS BY GIVING MY WORD THAT I WOULD READ THEIR STATEMENTS.
HOWEVER, EARLIER THIS EVENING, A DECISION WAS MADE, UH, TO NOT HAVE THE STATEMENTS READ, BUT TO HAVE
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THEM POSTED ON THE WEBSITE.AND I JUST WANT TO SAY TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO WHOM I RESPONDED WITH THE STATEMENT, YES, I WILL READ YOUR COMMENTS.
I RESPONDED BEFORE I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS PRACTICE AND POLICY HAD BEEN CHANGED TO NOT READ THE COMMENTS AT THE MEETING.
SO ONCE AGAIN, MY INTEGRITY IS MOST IMPORTANT AND I WANT TO APOLOGIZE TO THOSE OF YOU TO WHOM I ACKNOWLEDGED AND RESPONDED BY SAYING, YES, I WILL READ YOUR COMMENTS AND I AM NOT ABLE TO READ THEM AS THIS IS THE TOWN BOARD'S MEETING, AND I HAVE BEEN ASKED NOT TO READ THE COMMENTS.
HOWEVER, THEY WILL BE POSTED ON THE WEBSITE.
AND IF ANY OF YOU WHO SUBMITTED COMMENTS ARE WATCHING THIS MEETING AND PARTICIPATING VIA ZOOM, YOU DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO READ YOUR STATEMENT VIA ZOOM.
UH, GARRETT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO OPEN UP THE, ACTUALLY DO WE HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING? YES.
OH, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION THIS STENOGRAPHER THAT'S, SHE'S GONNA BE ON ZOOM.
WHAT? GARRETT IS THIS STENOGRAPHER HERE BY ZOOM.
OH, THE STENOGRAPHER STENOGRAPHER'S ON ZOOM.
I, I I WILL CHECK THE, THE ROLL CALL THE LIST ASKED HER TO TAKE THE JUDI.
IT'S NOT OUR USUAL STENOGRAPHER.
JUDITH, COULD YOU DO THE ROLL CALL? I DID SEND A LINK TO THE ABSOLUTELY.
UM, BUT ARE MR RIGHT THERE? OH, OKAY.
OKAY, SO I WILL, UM, ASK CYNTHIA WHITE, MA'AM, YOU'LL RECEIVE A PROMPT TO, UH, JOIN AS A PAN PANELIST.
WE'LL, THIS WAY IF SOMEBODY IS SPEAKING TOO FAST OR WE'RE TALKING OVER EACH OTHER, YOU CAN, UH, ADVISE US.
[ ROLL CALL: Town Clerk]
WE'RE GOING TO DO ROLL CALL TOWN SUPERVISOR PAUL FINER.PRESENT COUNCILWOMAN GINA JACKSON.
COUNCILMAN FRANCIS SHEEN, PRESENT TOWN ATTORNEY TIM LEWIS.
ARE WE ALL SET FOR ME TO BEGIN? PAUL, DID YOU WANT TO, UH,
[ To hear comments from the public related to the Elmwood Preserve Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), which is posted in its entirety at the following link: https://greenburghny.com/603/_-Active-Applications---Town-Board, and is also available at the Greenburgh Public Library and Town Hall.]
DID YOU GET A SECOND ON THAT MOTION TO, UH, OPEN A HEARING? UH, OKAY, SO ANYONE SAY WANT TO SECOND? SECOND.GOOD EVENING SUPERVISOR, FINER TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THOSE VIEWING THIS MEETING IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE TIME TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC, I'M GOING TO KEEP MY REMARKS BRIEF PUBLIC HEARING THIS EVENING IS BEING HELD FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT OR F E I SS, WHICH WAS PREPARED AS PART OF THE CONTINUED ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT OF THE FORMER ELMWOOD COUNTRY CLUB ON DOBBS FERRY ROAD.
THE NEW YORK STATE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW PROCESS DOES NOT MANDATE THE HEARING AT THIS STAGE, BUT THE TOWN BOARD HAS ELECTED AS LEAD AGENCY TO HOLD ONE TO MAXIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.
AS WAS NOTED, THE F E I S IS POSTED ON THE TOWN WEBSITE AND IS AVAILABLE AS A HARD COPY HERE AT TOWN HALL AND THE GREENBERG PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE F E I S CONTAINS PLANS, STUDIES, VARIOUS INFORMATION ON FIVE F E I S ALTERNATIVES, TWO OF WHICH ARE ONE FAMILY RESIDENCE SUBDIVISIONS, AND THREE OF WHICH ARE TOWNHOUSE STYLE DEVELOPMENTS.
ALL VARY IN TERMS OF TOTAL UNIT COUNT, SITE LIGHT, OUT, OPEN SPACE, PARKLAND, AND OTHER ASPECTS AS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL IN THE F E I S.
I WILL NOW SHARE SCREEN, GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE ALTERNATIVES.
WHAT I WILL START WITH ARE, ARE WE READY? WE'RE READY WITH THE FIRST? NO, UH, JUDITH, WE'RE, WE'RE HERE.
JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW OF THE ALTERNATIVE.
SO THERE ARE TWO, AS I MENTIONED, ONE, FAMILY RESIDENCE SUBDIVISION LAYOUTS IN THE F B I SS.
ALTERNATIVE B IS ONE OF THEM, AND IT IS A 119 UNIT, ONE FAMILY SUBDIVISION LAYOUT.
THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT WOULD HAVE TWO CURB CUTS, UH, WEST OF THE,
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UH, TRANSMISSION LINES ALONG THAT CUT THROUGH DUBS FERRY ROAD.UH, THE FIRST, WHICH I HAVE MY CURSOR HERE, WHICH WOULD BE ACROSS FROM THE CHELSEA ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY, WOULD BE FULL MOVEMENT WITH THE LEFT TURN POCKET IN THE SECOND OPPOSITE WESTCHESTER VIEW.
LANE WOULD HAVE A RIGHT TURN IN AND RIGHT TURNOUT ONLY STYLE, ENTRANCE AND EXIT.
THIRD CURB CUT WOULD BE PROPOSED OFF OF DOBBS FERRY ROAD, UM, IN PROXIMITY TO THE EXISTING PARK ENTRANCE.
THIS, UH, DEVELOPMENT WOULD INCLUDE A FEE IN LIEU OF PARKLAND OF $8,640 PER UNIT, WHICH EQUATES TO, UH, ROUGHLY OVER A MILLION DOLLARS.
ANOTHER AL SINGLE FAMILY ALTERNATIVE, UH, LAYOUT IS PART OF THE F E I S IS KNOWN AS ALTERNATIVE H.
THIS ALTERNATIVE HAS 113 UNITS AS OPPOSED TO THE 119, WHICH WE JUST SAW, AND ALSO INCLUDES AN 8.6 ACRE PUBLIC PARK, UH, EAST OF THE TRANSMISSION LINE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IN HIGHLIGHT AND GREEN HERE.
UH, EVERYTHING I STATED PRIOR WITH REGARD TO THE CURB CUTS WEST OF THE TRANSMISSION LINES ARE THE SAME IN THESE PROPOSALS.
AND A CURB CUT HERE FACILITATING ACCESS TO FOUR HOMES, UH, IS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN WHERE MY CURSOR IS, AND THAT WOULD BE EAST OF THE POWER LINE.
AND IN THIS ONE, THE RECREATION LAND WOULD BE AN ALTERNATIVE TO, UH, A, A RECREATION FEE.
SO THERE WOULD BE NO RECREATION FEE IN THIS INSTANCE.
OKAY, I'M GONNA TRANSITION NOW TO THE THREE TOWNHOUSE STYLE DEVELOPMENTS, WHICH WOULD ALL BE MADE VIABLE VIA A REZONING TO A PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT.
THE FIRST OF WHICH IS ALTERNATIVE A.
AND THIS ALTERNATIVE IS PROPOSED AS 175 UNITS, AND THIS ALTERNATIVE HAS A PROPOSAL OF 14.2 ACRES OF PARKLAND DONATION.
THIS PROPOSAL WOULD HAVE TWO CURB CUTS.
UH, AND AGAIN, EVERYTHING I INDICATED WITH THE CURB CUTS FOR BOTH OF THOSE SINGLE FAMILY PROPOSALS ARE APPLICABLE IN THIS INSTANCE.
SO JUST TO RECAP, THE FULL MOVEMENT DRIVEWAY WHERE MY CURSOR IS HERE OPPOSITE THE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY AND A RIGHT TURN IN RIGHT TURNOUT ONLY DESIGNED DRIVEWAY OPPOSITE WESTCHESTER VIEW LANE, THIS TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE DESIGNED TO BE 55 PLUS, SO IT WOULD BE RESTRICTED IN TERMS OF AGE AND FROM A TAXATION STRUCTURE WOULD BE, UH, TAXED AS IN A CONDO STRUCTURE.
THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD ALSO HAVE SOME ONSITE RECREATION AMENITIES THAT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO, UH, THE OWNERS OF THE TOWN HOMES.
THE SECOND TOWNHOUSE, F E I S ALTERNATIVE IS KNOWN AS ALTERNATIVE G.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR IN LOOK AND FEEL AND DESIGN AS WHAT I JUST DESCRIBED PRIOR FOR ALTERNATIVE A WITH THE MAIN DISTINCTION BEING THAT THE 175 UNITS IN THIS INSTANCE WOULD NOT HAVE AN AGE RESTRICTION.
SO THESE WOULD BE ALL AGE AVAILABLE UNITS.
AGAIN, THIS ALTERNATIVE WOULD INCLUDE THE 14.2 ACRES OF LAND DONATION.
AND I DID FAIL TO MENTION WITH THE PRIOR ALTERNATIVE AND WHAT I'M GOING TO SAY FOR THAT AS WELL AS THIS.
UM, IN ADDITION TO THE 14 ACRE LAND DONATION, THE APPLICANT WOULD PROPOSE TO DONATE $1.5 MILLION TOWARDS PROGRAMMING AND DEVELOPMENT OF PARKLAND.
THAT COULD BE FUNDING USED FOR EITHER A MODIFIED ENTRANCE INTO THIS NEW PARKLAND, WHICH WOULD BE A NEXT AND MADE ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING PARK, OR IT COULD BE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF FIELDS OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE.
THE LAST ALTERNATIVE OF THE F E I SS ALTERNATIVES IS KNOWN AS ALTERNATIVE I, AND THIS ALTERNATIVE INCLUDES A REDUCTION IN DENSITY FROM WHAT I JUST DESCRIBED.
IT HAS 159 UNITS AS OPPOSED TO 175.
EVERYTHING THAT I'VE INDICATED THUS FAR WITH REGARD TO THE CURB CUTS WEST OF THE TRANSMISSION LINE ARE APPLICABLE.
THIS ALSO WOULD INCLUDE A 14.2 ACRE PARKLAND DONATION TO THE TOWN.
THIS DEVELOPMENT, UM, WOULD, WOULD, WOULD INCLUDE 15 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS.
AND THE MAIN DIFFERENCE, AND I CAN CYCLE BACK AND FORTH HERE, IS THE REDUCTION UNIT IN UNITS FROM ALTERNATIVES A AND G TO I
[00:40:01]
IS ESSENTIALLY THE REMOVAL OF THE INTERIOR UNITS AND PRESERVATION OF THE OPEN SPACE AT THIS HIGH POINT OF THE SITE.THE TAXATION STRUCTURE FOR BOTH I, AND I'M SORRY IF I FAILED TO MENTION THIS DURING G, UH, WOULD BE ATTACHED.
THEY WOULD, THE, THE, THE TOWN HOMES WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS ATTACHED ONE FAMILY RESIDENCES AND WOULD BE, UH, TAXED AS SUCH AT 100% VALUATION.
SO THAT WHAT I JUST SAID THERE WOULD GO FOR ALTERNATIVE G AND ALTERNATIVE, I JUST TO RECAP, ALTERNATIVE A WITH THE 55 PLUS WOULD NOT HAVE THAT TAXATION STRUCTURE AS IT AS IT IS CURRENTLY PROPOSED.
AND I JUST HAVE A FEW MORE REMARKS AND I WILL CONCLUDE FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THE F E I S COMMENT PERIOD, WHICH WILL BE A DATE SET BY THE TOWN BOARD.
THE TOWN BOARD AS LEAD AGENCY WILL MAKE A SERIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS, WHICH WILL LEAD TO ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVES BECOMING THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE, WHICH WILL BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LAYOUT AND SCALE OF DEVELOPMENT AT THE SITE.
THIS ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING STATEMENT WILL INCLUDE THE TOWN BOARD'S RATIONALE FOR ITS DECISION.
IT WILL INCLUDE MITIGATIONS AND SUCH AND CONDITIONING AS WELL.
THE TOWN BOARD'S DECISION WILL NOT BE MADE THIS EVENING AS IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE TOWN BOARD TO FIRST RECEIVE ALL THE COMMENTS TONIGHT AND THOSE THAT ARE ULTIMATELY SENT IN FROM THE PUBLIC AND VARIOUS INTERESTED AND INVOLVED AGENCIES SO THAT THE COMMENTS CAN PROPERLY, PROPERLY BE CONTEMPLATED IN ADVANCE OF THE TOWN BOARD'S.
FINAL DETERMINATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC INTENDING TO MAKE COMMENTS THIS EVENING OR WITHIN THE RECORD PERIOD, I BELIEVE COMMENTS REGARDING ASPECTS OF THE PROPOSAL OR, OR ALTERNATIVES THAT YOU FEEL ARE POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE ARE MOST HELPFUL, ALONG WITH SOME REASONING TO GIVE THE TOWN BOARD CONTEXT TO YOUR COMMENT, THE PUBLIC SHOULD, HOWEVER, FEEL ENCOURAGED TO MAKE WHATEVER COMMENTS IT FEELS ARE APPROPRIATE ABOUT THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES AND OR RESPONSES IN THE F E I S PRIOR TO HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC.
I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT MAY INTEND TO MAKE A FEW BRIEF COMMENTS.
I'M JONATHAN REBO FROM RIDGEWOOD REAL ESTATE PARTNERS, THE OWNER OF THE ELMWOOD SITE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING ME A MINUTE TO, UH, TO OPEN UP, UH, WANT TO THANK TIM AND GARRETT.
AND I THINK ON, ON THE ZOOM, ARE THE FOLKS FROM CHAZEN OR I THINK THEY HAVE A NEW NAME, BUT I STILL CALL 'EM THE FOLKS FROM CHAZEN.
BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOUR WORK SO FAR.
UM, WHEN WE EMBARKED ON THIS PROCESS FOUR AND A HALF YEARS AGO, FRANKLY, I DIDN'T THINK THAT WE'D STILL BE AT THE POINT WHERE WE'RE DISCUSSING WHICH OPTION WE PREFERRED, UH, OR, OR THAT EVERYONE WOULD PREFER.
BUT I ALSO DIDN'T THINK WE'D HAVE A TWO YEAR, UH, PANDEMIC AT THE SAME TIME.
UH, SO IT'S ALSO NICE TO BE BACK IN A PUBLIC SETTING AND A PUBLIC HEARING.
UM, WHILE I STILL BELIEVE THAT THE ORIGINAL 175 UNIT ACTIVE ADULT PROPOSAL IS THE BEST OVERALL PROJECT, I REALIZED THAT STUDYING AND EVALUATING ALL THE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES WAS A NECESSARY AND IMPORTANT STEP FOR YOURSELVES AND THE COMMUNITY.
WHATEVER THE BOARD DECIDES OVER THE NEXT MONTH OR SO, WE ARE READY, WILLING, AND ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT PROJECT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, MYSELF AND MY TEAM ARE HERE TONIGHT TO ANSWER AND RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
OUR GOAL WILL BE TO MAKE SURE THAT EACH ALTERNATIVE IS COMPARED NOT ONLY ON AN APPLES TO APPLE BASIS, BUT FOR THE BENEFITS THAT THEY EACH PROVIDE TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND COMMUNITY.
WHEN DECIDING ON WHICH ALTERNATIVE YOU PREFER, I ASK THAT YOU JUST NOT THINK ABOUT A PARTICULAR NEIGHBORHOOD OR ADVISORY GROUP'S OPINION, BUT WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS BEST FOR THE LONG-TERM COLLECTIVE GOOD OF YOUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY, WHICH CAN INCLUDE FULL TAX PAYMENTS, DOZENS OF ACRES OF OPEN SPACE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ADDITIONAL LAND FOR RECREATION.
AND IF YOU SO CHOOSE ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVES PROGRAMMING FOR A PARK.
I JUST HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS IF THAT'S OKAY.
UM, THE FIRST QUESTION IS, UM, DEVELOPMENT AT ELMWOOD REQUIRES SUBDIVIDING THE LAND AND UNDER THE TOWN CODE.
SUBDIVIDING LAND REQUIRES A TRANSFER OF LAND, YOU KNOW, TO THE TOWN.
THIS IS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT, IT'S NOT A GIFT, UH, FROM THE DEVELOPER.
UH, THE TOWN HAS THE RIGHT TO REQUIRE THAT THE LAND BE TRANSFERRED FOR OPEN SPACE PURPOSES.
THE QUESTION I HAVE IS AT ELM, WITH THE LAND PROPOSED BY THE APPLICANT ABUTS, UM, HUGE CON AT TRANSMISSION LINES, THE TOWN HAS APPRAISED THE LAND ABUTTING THOSE CON TRANSMISSION, UH, LINES ON DOBS STARRY ROAD, I BELIEVE IT WAS AROUND 75,000 OR 95,000 AN ACRE, YET THE APPLICANT IS SAYING
[00:45:01]
THAT IT SHOULD BE 120,000 PER ACRE.IF THE APPLICANT IS VALUING THE LAND MORE, THAT MEANS THE TOWN WOULD GET MUCH LESS LAND.
AND, UM, I'M WONDERING IF, UM, IT WOULD MAKE SENSE OR YOU WOULD OBJECT TO HAVING AN INDEPENDENT APPRAISER.
SO, UM, WE COULD GET THE PROPER AMOUNT OF LAND, UM, THAT WE'RE ENTITLED TO.
I, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH AN INDEPENDENT APPRAISER.
I'D ALSO TELL YOU THAT OUR ANALYSIS WAS DONE PRE PANDEMIC.
I THINK THE LAND IS PROBABLY WORTH MORE MONEY TODAY.
AND THE SECOND QUESTION THAT I HAD IS, UM, UM, AT LAST WEEK'S PLANNING BOARD, HEARING THE APPLICANT'S COUNSEL DELIVERED, UM, YOU KNOW, STATEMENTS SAYING HE WOULD NOT GIVE AN OPINION THAT TAXING TOWNHOUSES AS SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES IS LEGAL.
UM, IS THE, IF IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT YOUR COUNSEL WHO'S HERE WOULD GIVE US AN OPINION THAT IT WORKS LEGALLY AND THAT THE TOWN CAN ENFORCE AGAINST FUTURE OWNERS OF, UH, YOU KNOW, OF THE TOWNHOUSES? YOU KNOW, I'M JUST WONDERING IF, UH, SO A COUPLE, A COUPLE OF, UM, COMMENTS BEFORE THAT QUESTION IS ANSWERED.
NUMBER ONE, ONE I'M NOT GONNA ANSWER FOR DA I'M NOT GONNA ANSWER FOR DAVID.
YOU PROBABLY SHOULD NOT ANSWER THAT.
AND PERHAPS, AND ALSO THERE'S NO OBLIGATION BY THE WAY FOR, YOU KNOW, THE APPLICANT TO COMMENT.
I UNDERSTAND, BUT YOU MAY WANT TO COMMENT, BUT YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE SHOULD, I THINK YOUR MIC JUST WENT OFF, TIM.
SO MAYBE WE MIGHT WANT TO HEAR, YOU KNOW, FROM THE PUBLIC FIRST, I JUST WANT, I'M ASKING A QUESTION.
I WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION BECAUSE I FEEL THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO BE CERTAIN, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES THAT CAME UP IS, IS THIS GONNA BE TAXED A SINGLE FAMILY OR IS IT GONNA BE TAXED, YOU KNOW, LESS? AND HOW CAN WE BE CERTAIN THAT THE TOWNHOUSES WILL NOT SEEK TO CONVERT TO CONDOMINIUM OWNERSHIP IN THE FUTURE? UM, SIMILAR TO WHAT THE LANDING AND DOPPS FERRY, UH, YOU KNOW, DID, UH, WHICH WOULD REDUCE THE, THE TAXABLE REVENUE, YOU KNOW, TO ALSO, YOU KNOW, A CONCERN THAT MANY OF THE RESIDENTS WHO CONTACTED ME IN THE PS, UM, IN A FEW WEEKS HAVE IS, UM, WHAT'S TO PREVENT A DEVELOPER, UM, FROM CHANGING THE STATUS OF, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO SELL THE PROPERTIES CHANGING, CHANGING THE STATUS TO, UM, TO A, TO A CONDOMINIUM THAT WOULD, WOULD BASICALLY IMPACT, UH, IMPACT US FINANCIALLY.
SO, YOU KNOW, I'M WONDERING IF DAVID, IF YOU, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO JUST RESPOND TO THAT.
SO, SO MR. FINER, I, I THINK I, I COULD LET DAVID SPEAK FOR HIMSELF, BUT OUR POSITION IS, IS THAT THE TOWN NEEDS TO BE COMFORTABLE THAT THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH AND THE WAY THAT WE'RE SETTING UP THE COMMUNITY WITH DEEDED RESTRICTIONS, H O A DOCUMENTS, THAT'S THE MOST WE CAN DO.
YOU THE TOWN IS ASKING US TO SET UP THE DEVELOPMENT AS FEE SIMPLE, WHICH WE ARE WILLING TO DO BEYOND THAT, I THINK THE TOWN NEEDS ITS OWN COUNSEL TO DECIDE IF THAT STRUCTURE IS LEGAL AND ENFORCEABLE.
WE BELIEVE IT IS, BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA GIVE AN OPINION AND HAVE THAT ONE.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN COME BACK AROUND AND CHANGE.
WE WOULD NEED TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AGAIN.
IF WE WERE GONNA, TO YOUR SECOND COMMENT ABOUT CHANGING, UH, CHANGING FROM FEE SIMPLE TO CONDOMINIUM, WE WOULD HAVE TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD AGAIN.
UM, AND THEN TO THE FIRST ONE, YOU, YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO BE COMFORTABLE AS A BOARD THAT, THAT PROCESS IS, IS IS LEGAL AND ACCURATE.
ONE COMMENT ABOUT THE LANDING AND THE, I CAN'T HEAR, DID NOT HAVE AN OA DEBT.
AND, AND, AND AGAIN, THAT'S NOT REALLY ON THE RECORD BECAUSE NO ONE, THIS STENOGRAPHER CAN'T HEAR YOU, SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP YOUR VOICE UP.
I'M GONNA BE VERY BRIEF 'CAUSE I, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND, AND WE REALLY WANT THE PUBLIC TO HAVE A CHANCE TO COMMENT, BUT IF THE SUPERVISOR, DAVID DAVID, WE HAVE A NEW STENOGRAPHER, SO IF YOU COULD SAY YOUR NAME.
MR. MR. COUNCILMAN DAVID STEIN METZ FROM THE LAW FIRM OF ZIN AND STEIN METZ HERE REPRESENTING RIDGEWOOD REAL ESTATE PARTNERS.
GOOD TO SEE ALL OF YOU LIVE AND IN PERSON, UM, RESPONDING TO THE SUPERVISOR'S QUESTION.
FIRST OF ALL, MY CLIENT ANSWERED QUITE ACCURATELY FOR ME.
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT JONATHAN SAID.
MR. SUPERVISOR, ONE THING YOU ASKED, YOU POINTED SPECIFICALLY TO THE LANDING, AND THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DISTINCTION.
THE LANDING WAS APPROVED IN THE VILLAGE OF DOBBS FERRY, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, AS A FEE SIMPLE PROJECT.
AND THERE WAS NOTHING IN THEIR HOMEOWNER'S DECLARATION OR IN THEIR DEEDS THAT INDICATED TO THE BUYERS IN THAT COMMUNITY THAT THEY COULD NOT CHANGE THEIR FORM OF OWNERSHIP.
MR. REBO AND RIDGEWOOD HAVE AGREED TO SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT AT YOUR REQUEST.
HE HAS AGREED VOLUNTARILY TO MEMORIALIZE IN HIS H O A DECLARATION AND INDEEDS AND HOWEVER, WE IN CONJUNCTION WITH YOUR TOWN ATTORNEY, DETERMINE IT IS BEST FOR THE TOWN.
[00:50:01]
AND WE WILL DO THAT.SO THAT'S A BIG DIF DIFFERENCE FROM THE RESIDENTS OF THE LANDING WHO DID NOT BUY ON NOTICE OF A REQUEST TO RETAIN FEE.
SIMPLE OWNERSHIP THESE RESIDENTS WOULD.
BEYOND THAT, UM, AS, AS MR. GBO INDICATED, I REPRESENT JONATHAN AND RIDGEWOOD.
I CAN'T GIVE THE TOWN A LEGAL OPINION.
YOU HAVE VERY ABLE COUNSEL, YOU HAVE ASKED US TO DO SOMETHING THAT'S UNUSUAL AND NOVEL AND IT'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT MATTERS TO ALL OF YOU.
SO I WOULD COMMEND ALL OF YOU TO GET COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR REQUEST.
ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS WE WILL DO EVERYTHING THAT YOU REASONABLY ASK US TO DO TO ENSURE THAT THE TOWN GETS TO BE, IT GETS TO TAX THIS PROJECT THE WAY IT INTENDS TO DO.
SO IF, IF YOU CHOOSE AN ALTERNATIVE THAT IS A FEE, SIMPLE FORM OF OWNERSHIP, REMEMBER YOU HAVE MULTIPLE ALTERNATIVES IN FRONT OF YOU.
THAT'S ONLY ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVES.
UM, SO AL FLOREAL, ABBY RATNER, JOSEPHINE MOLINA, DAVID RATNER, MICHAEL AND MELISSA MARINO, CAROL, ELLA, ELLA AND EDWARD YOUNG.
PLEASE KNOW THAT YOUR STATEMENTS WILL NOT BE READ BY ME.
I HAVE BEEN ASKED NOT TO READ YOUR STATEMENTS.
AND IF YOU ARE LISTENING AND VIEWING THIS MEETING, UH, VIA ZOOM, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE YOUR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO READ YOUR STATEMENTS.
ALRIGHT, SO WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH MADELINE OCHE, CHAIRWOMAN OF THE HISTORIC AND LANDMARKS PRESERVATION BOARD.
MADELINE, ARE YOU THERE? ARE YOU HERE? OKAY.
AND AS WE'RE WAITING FOR MARILYN, UH, MADELINE.
MADELINE, UM, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA REMIND EVERYONE, YOU GET FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK, OBVIOUSLY YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THE FIVE MINUTES.
THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE WHO WANNA SPEAK.
THE TOWN BOARD HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMMENTS SO THEY HAVE A SENSE OF HOW SOME PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THIS APPLICATION AND IT'S REALLY JUST TO ENCOURAGE THE TOWN BOARD, YOU KNOW, AS TO WHAT YOU THINK IS THE APPROPRIATE ALTERNATIVE.
THE TOWN BOARD IS NOT GONNA MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT.
THEY'RE GONNA THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT YOU, YOU MAKE.
IT'S NOT A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION FOR THE DEVELOPER.
AND AS I MENTIONED, THE DEVELOPER REALLY DOESN'T HAVE TO RESPOND AND THE TOWN BOARD IS HAVING THIS PUBLIC HEARING AS A COURTESY TO THE COMMUNITY TO GET YOUR INPUT.
MANY OF YOU LIVE IN THE AREA, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THOSE COMMENTS JUST SO EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS PROCEDURALLY, UM, HOW THINGS ARE GONNA WORK.
SOME, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE MADE COMMENTS AS TO WHAT THEY WANTED.
SOME AGENCIES HAVE MENTIONED WHAT THEY THINK THE FINDINGS OR THE ALTERNATIVES SHOULD BE.
UM, ONLY THE TOWN BOARD MAKES THAT DECISION AND THE TOWN BOARD IS HERE TO SEE WHAT MANY OF YOU THINK.
SO WITH THAT JUDITH, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE READY TO GO IS MAD.
UM, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE HEAR YOU MADELINE.
UM, IT HAS BEEN THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE HISTORIC AND LANDMARKS PRESERVATION BOARD SINCE THE BOARD'S INCEPTION.
THAT LOCAL HISTORIC REQUIREMENTS GOVERN ALL TOWN PROJECTS THAT THE BURDEN TO PRESERVE LIES WITH THE LOCAL HISTORIC BOARD.
THE ANSWER TO THE H AND LPPS QUESTION IN THE ELM ELMWOOD, F E I S THREE C 15, HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES DEPENDS ON SHIPPO, WHEN IN FACT LOCAL LEGISLATION AND POLICY GOVERNED.
AND THAT IS TRUE WITH ALL PROJECTS WITH WHICH H AND L P B IS INVOLVED.
THEREFORE, THE ELMS ELMWOOD CONNECTIONS COULD SUBMIT A COMPLETE CHAIN OF TITLE GOING BACK CENTURIES AFTER ALL, GREENBERG WAS PART OF PHILLIPSBURG MANOR.
MERELY GIVING THE DATES OF THE GOLF COURSE CREATION DOES NOT GIVE THE HISTORY OF THE PROPERTY AND ITS SURROUNDS THE FACT THAT THE LAND WAS DISTRI DISTURBED TO LAY OUT.
THE GOLF COURSE DOES NOT PRECLUDE THE EXISTENCE OF ARTIFACTS WHEN NEW FOOTINGS AND NEW FOUNDATIONS MAY BE PLACED.
THE POLICY OF THE HISTORIC BOARD WHERE ARTIFACTS ARE UNCOVERED IS TO HAVE AN HISTORIC ANTHROPOLOGIST PHOTOGRAPH THE ITEMS IN PLACE AND COPY CATALOG THEM WITH THE AGREEMENT OF H AND L P B.
THE DEVELOPER CAN THEN EXHIBIT THE
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FOUND ITEMS ON SITE OR GIVE THEM OR SELL THEM TO A REPUTABLE MUSEUM OR COLLECTOR.UNLESS A BARRIER GROUND OR UNCOVERED THE DISCOVERY OF ARTIFACTS WOULD NOT PROHIBIT THE, THE HONOR SYSTEM PREVAILS.
WHEN NOTIFIED H AND L P B WOULD GIVE KUDOS TO THE DEVELOPER FOR FINDING AND PRESERVING PIECES OF GREENBERG HISTORY.
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TOWN'S H AND L P B ARE NOT ONEROUS.
WHY THEN DOES IT APPEAR THAT THE ELMWOOD CONNECTIONS ARE ATTEMPTING TO CIRCUMVENT THE REQUIREMENTS? REGENERON HAD NO ISSUE WITH WHAT H AND L P B ASKS.
IF ELMWOOD IS PERMITTED TO IGNORE THE H AND L P B POLICY, THEN OTHER LARGE SCALE DEVELOPERS WILL SEE A PRECEDENT AND IGNORE THE H N L P CONDITIONS AS WELL.
ON BEHALF OF THE HISTORIC AND LANDMARKS PRESERVATION BOARD, WE ASK THAT THE ELMWOOD CONNECTIONS BE REQUIRED TO AMEND THE F B I SS AND THAT THEY AGREE TO SUBMIT A COMPLETE CHAIN OF TITLE, THAT THEY AGREE TO HAVE AN HISTORIC ANTHROPOLOGIST ON CALL AND SUBMIT THE PERSON'S NAME, AND THAT THEY AGREE TO SUBMIT A PLAN FOR THE DISPOSITION OF ANY ARTIFACTS.
THANK YOU ALAN FISHMAN, YOUR HONOR.
UM, I HAD SHARED WITH PAUL SOMETHING I HAD WRITTEN AND APPARENTLY HE READ IT AND READ 99% OF WHAT I HAD WRITTEN AND DISCUSSED IT WITH THE PEOPLE UP HERE.
I DO WANNA SAY ONE THING THOUGH.
YOU'VE JUST BEEN TOLD THAT AND YOU SHOULD LOOK BACK ON THE RECORDS THAT YOU ASKED FOR FEE SIMPLE.
NO, THAT WAS DAVID'S IDEA TO COME UP WITH WHEN WE WERE BA AND HE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF FEE SIMPLE.
ALRIGHT, GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK NOW WITH RESPECT TO, UM, FINDING OUT WHAT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY WANT.
AND IF YOU LISTEN TO, UH, MRS. LIPSON, THEY'LL EITHER, YOU'LL FIND OUT THAT PRACTICALLY ALL OF THE PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TOWNHOUSES.
20, 40, 50 YEARS AGO, UH, MOST OF US PICKED AN AREA, MOVED INTO IT BECAUSE IT HAD SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
UM, PAUL FINDER LIVES IN THE TOWNHOUSE.
HE ONCE SAID TO ME A FEW YEARS AGO, HE LIKES TOWNHOUSES.
THESE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TOWNHOUSES.
IT WILL CHANGE THE CHARACTER OF THEIR COMMUNITY.
UM, INTRODUCTION TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT OUR FRIEND FRANCIS SPENT, UM, THE BETTER PART OF EIGHT OR NINE YEARS WORKING ON AND WAS LAUDED FOR.
UM, AND IN ESSENCE IT SAYS, THIS IS THE INTRODUCTION.
IT SAYS A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS STRATEGIC AND VISIONARY DOCUMENT THAT DESCRIBES A COMMUNITY'S DESIRED FUTURE FOR A PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY 20 YEARS IS BASED ON COMMUNITY DERIVED VALUES.
COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE DERIVED VALUES AND GUIDES, DECISION MAKING AND ACTIONS AFFECTING THE ENHANCEMENT GROWTH AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE, UH, COMMUNITY.
A COMPREHEN, A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS A POLICY DOCUMENT THAT DOES NOT IN AND OF ITSELF HAVE THE FORCE OF LAW.
HOWEVER, ONCE ADOPTED, WHICH YOU'VE DONE ALL POLICIES AND MUNICIPAL LAWS INCLUDING LOCAL ZONING AND REGULATIONS MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THE PLAN.
IT GOES ON IN BULLET POINTS BELOW IT, IT GUIDES DECISION MAKING TOWARDS THE ACHIEVEMENT OF COMMUNITY GOALS.
NOT YOUR GOALS, NOT YOUR GOALS, NOT YOUR GOALS, WHERE YOU LIVE, THEIR GOALS, WHERE THEY LIVE.
UM, IF I CONTINUE, AND I CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON IN THE INTRODUCTORY, UH, PARAGRAPHS IS A PLACE HERE IN DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT THAT COMPLIMENTS AND PRESERVES THE CHARACTER OF EXISTING RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE CHARACTER MEANS THE WAY IT LOOKS NOW CONTINUES TO IN PROCESS, ENCOURAGE
[01:00:01]
COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION IN PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING.IF YOU DON'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT SERIOUSLY NOT WHAT EACH OF YOU WANTS INDIVIDUALLY BECAUSE YOU'RE HERE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC, THEY ARE THE PUBLIC, IT'S THEIR COMMUNITY.
AND IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU WROTE AND YOU DO THAT, THEN IT REALLY MEANS FRANCIS, THAT YOU WASTED EIGHT OR NINE YEARS OF WORK EVERY FRIDAY AFTERNOON WITH A BUNCH OF PEOPLE.
AND IT'S A HYPOCRISY YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THROUGH.
THAT MEANS YOU'RE GOTTA FIND OUT WHAT THEY WANT, NOT WHAT YOU THINK YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE.
UM, THE ONLY OTHER THING I WOULD SAY IS, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT, GINA, I WAS SITTING ON THE MONT COMMUNITY COUNCIL, UH, BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHEN YOU CAME TO US AND YOU SOLD YOURSELF TO US WHEN YOU WERE TRYING OUT FOR THIS JOB, BASICALLY VOTE FOR ME AND WHEN I GET ON THAT BOARD, I'M GONNA VOTE FOR YOU, YOU SAID, AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT.
THOSE WERE YOUR WORDS REPEATEDLY.
YOU THEN CAME TO THAT GROUP AND I WAS SITTING THERE AND YOU SAID VIRTUALLY THE SAME EXACT THING.
SO WHAT IT AMOUNTS TO IS THAT IF YOU WIND UP VOTING FOR SOMETHING THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT COMMUNITY DON'T WANT, YOU REALLY BASICALLY ARE GIVING UP THE TENETS OF WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT HOW YOU WOULD HANDLE THE JOB IF IT WAS GIVEN TO YOU.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT A BUNCH OF PEOPLE THAT I KNOW FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS SITUATION, HOW IT CAN TURN OUT IN THEIR AREAS IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.
AND WHAT THEY'VE SAID IS THAT THEY WOULD BE ACTIVE IN TRYING TO FIRE YOU, HONESTLY.
THANK YOU MR. FISHMAN AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK, UM, CAN YOU COME UP AND SPEAK TO THE TOWN CLERK? I KNOW SHE HAS A LIST.
IF YOU CAN COME UP AND GIVE YOUR NAME TO THE TOWN CLERK.
BUT SHE HAS AN ORDER THAT SHE'S FOLLOWING.
I HAVE A REQUEST HERE, BUT THE PERSON DID NOT PUT THEIR NAME ON IT.
IT SAYS ELMWOOD COUNTRY CLUB HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
IS THAT YOU? OKAY, WELL THANK YOU SIR, BUT PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME SO THAT THE, UM, OKAY.
COULD YOU SPELL THAT? I KNOW THERE'S A STENOGRAPHER.
IT'S A B H E A R E A T H I SS U N D A R A M.
UH, I, I, UH, RIGHT NOW I'M LIVING IN YONKERS, BUT I'M BUILDING A HOME IN WORTHINGTON ROAD AND I'M GONNA MOVE SOON BECAUSE THE HOUSE IS GOING TO CLOSE SOON.
I'M STRONGLY OBJECT TO HAVE THE TOWN HOME IN NEARBY THIS, UH, UH, THE, UH, YOU KNOW, UH, ELMWOOD, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I'M LIVING IN THE DUNWOODY AREA IN YONKERS, ACTUALLY IT WAS LIKE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME ZONE AND, UH, AND RIGHT, UH, THE CITY OF YONKERS, WHAT HAPPENED, YOU KNOW, THEY CHANGED THE ZONING BY, UH, NEARBY THE CENTER PARK AVENUE AND THE CHANGE TO TOWN HOMES.
AND IT'S NOW, UH, AFTER LIKE 15, 18 YEARS NOW, IT'S BEEN, UM, THE, THE, UH, THE TOWN HOMES ARE NOT LIVING AS ONE OR, AND YOU KNOW, THEY ARE RENTING, UH, THE TOWN HOME AND ALSO THE WARNERS ARE KEEPING AS A, LIKE A SECONDARY HOME AND THEIR INVESTMENT PROPERTY IT.
SO I LIKE TO HAVE THIS, UH, DEVELOPMENT TO BE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME BECAUSE IF YOU, UH, ALLOW THIS TOWN HOMES IN HERE AND IT'S GOING TO AFFECT ALL OUR, YOU KNOW, SINGLE FAMILY HOME, UH, VALUE AND OUR LIFESTYLE, EVERYTHING GOING TO BE CHANGED IF THEY DEVELOP LIKE A 1 75 TOWN HOMES.
AND WHAT HAPPENED? OR THE, THE TRAFFIC AND IT, UH, I'M TELLING YOU, BECAUSE IF YOU DEVELOP LIKE A 1 75 TOWN HOMES AND IT'S GOING TO BE 500 CARS, HOW? BECAUSE THE TOWN HOMES IS EASILY TO BE RENTED.
YOU KNOW, YOU CANNOT CONTROL, UH, RENTING, UH, A ROOM OR, UH, ANYTHING IN THE TOWN HOMES BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO, YOU KNOW, COME THERE FOR, UH, IT'S A DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD.
IT'S NOT LIKE A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.
BECAUSE I SUFFERED LAST, UH, LIVES, UH, LAST 15 YEARS IN YONKERS.
UH, IN GREENBURG, YOU NOW EVERYTHING IS, UH, SINGLE
[01:05:01]
FAMILY HOME AND UH, IT'S ZONING ONLY FOR A SINGLE FAMILY HOME.THAT'S WHY I BOUGHT THE HOUSE, BOUGHT THE LAND, AND I'M BUILDING THE HOME.
AND JONATHAN TOLD, UH, TOLD HER THAT IT'S A DUNGEON OF, UH, ACRES GOING TO BE OPEN SPACE AND PARK AND UM, UH, IF IT IS A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, IT, THE WHOLE AREA IS GOING TO BE APART.
AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THE SINGLE FAMILY AREA, UH, THEY CAN BUILD ONLY, UH, A SMALL, UH, AREA, UH, FOR, UH, UH, HOUSE AND YOU KNOW, THE REST OF THE AREAS THEY, THEY CAN PLANT, UM, TREES AND IT'S GOING TO BE OPEN AND IT'S GOING TO BE PARK EVERYWHERE AS OF NOW.
UH, IN MY UH, LOT, I PLANTED 135 TREES IN THIS ONE YEAR BECAUSE I'M DEVELOPING IN THIS, UM, MY LOT AS A PARK, IT'S GOING TO BE SAME THING.
IF IT'S A SINGLE FAMILY HOME, IF, UH, TOWN, UH, TOWN HOMES, THEN IT'S NOT, THEN IT'S GOING TO BE CRAPPY AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL OUR SINGLE FAMILY OWNERS ARE GOING TO AFFECT ALL THOSE THINGS.
I, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE TAX CALCULATIONS, BUT YOU KNOW, FOR THE LIFESTYLE IT'S GOING TO BE CRAPPY IF IT IS TOWN HOME.
SIR, UH, COULD YOU PLEASE COME FORWARD AND, AND JUST UM, PRINT YOUR NAME, PRINT YOUR NAME HERE SO THAT WE MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT WITH THIS STENOGRAPHER? THANK YOU SIR.
DID I PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME CORRECTLY? STEVE? PERFECT.
STEVE FRAIN, 77 PARKVIEW ROAD, ELMSFORD, NEW YORK.
MY, I LIVE IN THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHT UP AGAINST THE, UH, THE COUNTRY CLUB AND MY PERSONAL OPINION IS TO HAVE ONE FAMILY ZONING, UH, LIKE WE HAVE NOW IN ALL DEVELOPMENTS SURROUNDING.
I FORGOT TO THANK THE, UH, PAUL AND THE BOARD ALSO FOR KEEPING US ABREAST OF ALL THIS BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS ALREADY.
AND I KNOW I'VE SENT PAUL A NUMBER OF EMAILS ALREADY 'CAUSE THE RUMORS HAVE BEEN FLYING AND UH, YOU'VE BEEN VERY GRACIOUS IN HANDLING THOSE EMAILS.
I HAVE MORE OF A QUESTION REALLY.
I DUNNO IF YOU CAN REALLY ANSWER THIS RIGHT NOW, BUT A NUMBER OF US ARE CONCERNED AT, WHAT ARE WE TALKING AS FAR AS PRICING FOR THE HOUSING THERE? MM-HMM.
IF IT GOES FOR THIS MUCH, WE, WE CAN BRING IN THIS TYPE OF TAX REVENUE.
AND WHEN WE SAY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IS IT REALLY AFFORDABLE? YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? I'M JUST, I'M JUST, IF ANY, I KNOW RIGHT NOW GIVEN COVID REAL ESTATE HAS ROCKETED, BUT DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WHAT, UH, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AS FAR AS THE PRICE OF HOUSING IN THIS DEVELOPMENT? YEAH, MR. FSIN, THEY DO, BUT WE REALLY WANT YOU TO GET YOUR COMMENTS OUT AND THEN I THINK THAT THE APPLICANT CAN ADDRESS ALL OF THE QUESTIONS AT ONE TIME.
PATRICIA, PATRICIA DE LA COEN.
PATRICIA, TAKE MY MASK OFF TO SPEECH.
SHOULD I STAND OVER THERE? NO, YOU COULD.
PAUL BOARD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING US IN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
UM, IT'S A VERY DEMOCRATIC TOWN.
WE'D LIKE TO HEAR WHAT EVERYBODY HAS TO SAY.
UM, AND WE'RE VERY LUCKY IN LIGHT OF THE UKRAINE TRAGEDY RIGHT NOW THAT WE CAN VOICE OUR OPINIONS.
UM, ABBO, I HAPPEN TO LIVE ON COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE, WHICH IS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE ABO HAS REALIZED, I GUESS YOUR DREAM OF A BEAUTIFUL AREA IN THE HAMLET OF WORTHINGTON.
I AM NOW, UM, 52 YEARS INTO MY 68 YEARS OF LIFE IN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
I PLANNED ON RETIRING IN GREENBURG.
I LOVE OUR DIVERSITY AND I LOVE EVERYTHING, UH, THAT WE OFFER HERE.
UM, YES, WE HAVE ALREADY LOST THE IDYLLIC SETTING OF THE ELMWOOD COUNTRY CLUB, WHICH I AM DIRECTLY BEHIND, WHICH NOW HAS BECOME PRETTY MUCH A NATURE PRESERVE.
[01:10:01]
I FEEL PROTECTED IN THAT THERE'S FENCING WITH BARBED WIRE ABOVE THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF COYOTES OUT THERE NOW.UH, AND I HAVE GRANDCHILDREN, SO I AM HOPING THAT WILL BE MAINTAINED.
I AM JUST HERE TO VOICE, UM, MY PREFERENCE FOR SINGLE HOUSING IN AND WITHOUT CHANGING OUR ZONING, I REALIZE THAT WE HAVE TO INCREASE AND WE HAVE ALREADY, YOU ALREADY OWN THIS LAND.
UM, BUT TOWNHOUSES WOULD COMPLETELY CHANGE THE WHOLE DYNAMIC OF THAT, OF THAT AREA.
WE HAVE PRIVATE HOMES THAT ARE, AS YOU KNOW, LEON TALLEY JUST PASSED AWAY AND HE WAS DOWN A LITTLE COUNTRY ROAD.
WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE THAT OWN PROPERTY AND BUILT AND ARE BUILDING BEAUTIFUL HOMES SUCH AS ABBO AND TO, TO RUIN THE LANDSCAPE, I BELIEVE IS RUINING A LANDSCAPE WITH TOWNHOUSES.
UM, IS, IS NOT SOMETHING I PERSONALLY AM IN FAVOR OF, AND I KNOW THAT MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS ARE NOT.
SO, UM, I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ME AND GOOD LUCK IN MAKING THIS DECISION.
YOU WILL PROBABLY HEAR FROM ME SOME MORE.
UH, ERIC ZINGER, 1 42 NORTH WASHINGTON NAV HARTSDALE.
GREAT TO BE BACK HERE IN PERSON.
I'M GONNA FOCUS ON TWO ASPECTS OF THE PROPOSALS CONTAINED WITHIN THE F E S THAT I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON.
THE FIRST IS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
IT IS A TRAGEDY THAT OF THE FIVE PROPOSED OPTIONS TONIGHT BEING CONSIDERED, ONLY ONE CONTAINS ANY AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS AT ALL.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM SHOULD HAVE SOME FORM OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING INCLUDED.
THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS PROPOSED IN GREENBERG IN RECENT HISTORY, AND THE IDEA THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE ZERO AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS IS UNACCEPTABLE.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE IS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN WESTCHESTER.
KEN, GINA, WHEN YOU DEFEATED ME IN OUR 2019 TOWN COUNCIL PRIMARY, ALL THREE OF US TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DURING OUR CAMPAIGNS AND HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS THAT WE PUSHED TO MAKE AS MUCH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AS POSSIBLE.
ELLEN, IN YOUR EMAIL TO DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT LEADERS ASKING FOR THEIR SUPPORT, IN YOUR RECENT, UH, CAMPAIGN, YOU WROTE THAT THE TOWN MUST RESPOND AGGRESSIVELY TO A GROWING HOUSING NEED THAT IS ENDEMIC TO ALL OF WESTCHESTER, NOT JUST GREENBURG.
I KNOW ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE TOWN BOARD CARE ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE SHOW THAT WITH OUR ACTIONS IN THIS PROPOSAL.
I KNOW THIS IS JUST AN F E I S AND FINAL PROPOSALS HAVE BE TIME TO BE ADJUSTED AND TWEAKED.
SO I URGE BOTH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF RIDGEWOOD HERE TONIGHT AND THE TOWN OF GREENBURG TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN IT'S TIME FOR FINAL SITE PLANS AND PROPOSALS, THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING BE A KEY COMPONENT OF THAT.
IF THAT MEANS OTHER SACRIFICES HAVE TO BE MADE, THEN SO BE IT PROPOSAL, A, THE DEVELOPER'S PREFERRED OPTION, AND SOME OF THE OTHER PROPOSALS CONTAIN 1.5 MILLION FOR DEVELOPING THE PARKLAND ADJACENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT THAT PARKLAND IS TO BE DONATED AS PART OF RULES REQUIRING OPEN RECREATION SPACE FOR NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS.
WE CAN FIND MONEY TO DEVELOP THIS PARKLAND IN OTHER LOCATIONS IF WE NEED.
THERE'S ALWAYS OPPORTUNITY TO FIND MONEY, BUT THERE WILL NOT BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY LIKE THIS TO DEVELOP A LARGE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS FOR A LONG TIME.
I'VE BEEN ON THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD FOR SEVERAL YEARS, BUT IN A WORLD OF LIMITED RESOURCES, I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER WHAT IS THE BEST APPROACH.
THE OTHER ASPECT I WANNA FOCUS ON TONIGHT THAT PAUL, THAT YOU MENTIONED EARLIER, IS THE PROPOSED TAX STRUCTURE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS G AND OPTIONS I ARE CONDOMINIUM PROPOSALS THAT WOULD HAVE CONDOMINIUMS TAXED LIKE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES OR FEE SIMPLE.
THIS IS A CONCESSION FROM THE DEVELOPERS BECAUSE CONDOMINIUMS IN NEW YORK ARE TAXED AT MUCH LOWER RATES THAN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY ARE ASSESSED, WHICH RESULTS IN LOWER ASSESSMENTS, LOWER ASSESSMENTS EQUALS LOWER TAXES.
I PUT CONCESSION IN QUOTES BECAUSE IT IS LUDICROUS TO THINK THAT THE SECOND THE INK IS DRY IN DEVELOPMENT BEGINS THAT THIS WOULDN'T BE IMMEDIATELY CHALLENGED IN COURT.
IN THE F E I SS, IT IS STATED THAT THERE WILL BE A VOLUNTARY OFFERING TO PAY TAXES AS PART OF A FEE SIMPLE STRUCTURE, WHICH WOULD BE ESTABLISHED THROUGH A DEED RESTRICTION AND OR COMPARABLE MECHANISM IN ITS POST F E I S RESPONSES TO COUNCIL, UH, CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL QUESTIONS.
THE APPLICANT STATES THE DEED WILL NOT CONTAIN SUCH AN OFFER.
APPLICANT'S COUNSEL STATED ON THE MARCH 20, MARCH 2ND, 2022 PLANNING BOARD HEARING THAT HE WOULD NOT GIVE A LEGAL OPINION THAT THE COVENANT WAS LEGAL AND ENFORCEABLE.
THAT'S BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT IT ISN'T.
[01:15:02]
THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN LITIGATED IN NEW YORK.I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REFERENCE NORTHFOLK MOTEL VERSE CHARLES GR, WHICH CONCLUDES THAT ORDINANCES CANNOT BE EMPLOYED BY A MUNICIPALITY TO EXCLUDE CONDOMINIUMS OR DISCRIMINATE AGAINST THE CONDOMINIUM FORM OF OWNERSHIP FOR ITS USE RATHER THAN FORM OF OWNERSHIP.
I'M NOT SAYING PROPOSALS, G AND I SHOULD BE SCRAPPED ENTIRELY, BUT THEY SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED WITHIN THE EXPECTATION OF A CONDOMINIUM TAX STRUCTURE.
THIS IS A NOVEL LEGAL APPROACH, AND THE DEVELOPERS MAY SAY ALL OF THE RIGHT THINGS RIGHT NOW UNTIL SITE PLAN PERMITS AND ALL THOSE THINGS ARE PROPOSALS, BUT WE KNOW, AND IT'S NOT A SECRET THAT THEY'RE NOT PLANNING ON BUILDING THE UNITS.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHO'S GONNA OWN THESE UNITS.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION IS GONNA DO.
THIS IS NOT ENFORCEABLE TO PROCEED DOWN THIS PATH WITH THE IDEA THAT THESE WILL BE TAXED AS FEE SIMPLE IS SIMPLY STICKING OUR HEAD IN THE SAND AND IGNORING REALITY.
ERIC, ERIC, DO DO YOU HAVE A SITE? DO YOU HAVE A SITE? THE CA YOU CITED THE CASE CASE THAT I CITED WAS NORTH FORK MOTEL V CHARLES GNI.
DO YOU HAVE, AND IT'S NOT AN ACTUAL REPORTER SITE? NO.
OR DO I WHAT? I'LL SEND IT TO YOU LATER, LIKE 1 5 80 SECOND 2 24.
IF YOU NOT THAT WE'LL GET THAT.
NOW MR. DIXON IS HERE, UH, FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, JUDITH, NOT FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND THEREFORE, THERE ALSO, UH, NICHOLAS, SAME THING.
IS ANYBODY ELSE HERE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK ON THIS, UM, TOPIC? WELL, I, I HAVE, OTHER THAN MR. COLTON AND, AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVEN'T SIGNED UP.
THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE HERE.
MS. WILKE, DID YOU SIGN UP? YES, SHE DID.
AND THEN, UH, I'LL, I'LL CALL THE NAMES OF EVERYONE WHO'S SIGNED UP.
THAT WAY WE CAN DISCERN WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SIGN UP.
PAUL COLTON, DOREEN LIPSON, BOB BERNSTEIN.
AND, UH, SOMEONE CAME, UH, AND FILLED OUT A TRAFFIC ON DOPER ROAD, BUT I DON'T HAVE A NAME.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING? PLEASE COME UP AND FILL OUT THE FORM.
GOOD EVENING, MR. FEINER, MEMBERS OF THE TOWN BOARD.
UM, I WASN'T PLANNING ON SPEAKING TONIGHT.
I SENT, UH, AN EMAIL TO ALL OF YOU.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO GET THROUGH IT NOW.
JUST, UH, SO THE PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE AND ANYONE WATCHING THE MEETING CAN HEAR MY OPINION.
UM, I WAS, UM, INVOLVED IN THE D E I S FOR THIS PROJECT, AND I SAT ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER GREENBURG RESIDENTS AND WORKED ON GIVING OUR INPUT AND SUGGESTIONS ON THE PROJECT AND WHAT WE FELT THE POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WERE AND WHAT, WHAT WERE THINGS THAT WE THOUGHT NEEDED TO BE LOOKED AT.
I WAS FRANKLY ASTONISHED TO SEE THAT THE F E I S CONTAINED, UH, MATERIALLY MUCH DIFFERENT PLANS THAN WHAT WAS DEFINED IN THE D E I S.
UH, WE SPENT, UH, MANY HOURS, UH, FORMULATING THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS, AND WHAT CAME BACK TO IN THE F E I S IS ALMOST NOTHING OF WHAT WAS SUBMITTED IN THE D E I SS.
SO BEYOND THAT, I, I REALLY, I I HAVE TO STATE THIS AS, AS FORCEFULLY AS I CAN.
I, I REALLY BELIEVE, AND, AND WITH, WITH ALL THE LOGIC I CAN SUMMON THAT IF YOU GRANT THESE ZONING CHANGES FOR THIS PARCEL, YOU, YOU'LL CLEARLY SET PRECEDENT AND OPEN THE DOOR FOR ALL THESE OTHER LARGE PIECES OF PROPERTY THAT WE HAVE IN THE TOWN.
THE NUMEROUS COUNTRY CLUBS, ALL OF WHICH WHO ARE, ARE IN VARIOUS DEGREES OF FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY.
THERE ARE SEVERAL DAY CAMPS AND OTHER DEVELOPABLE PARCELS, AND YOU'LL CREATE A TOWN FULL OF TOWNHOUSES.
PEOPLE WILL NOT WANT TO LIVE IN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG OF THE FUTURE IF IT IS A CONGESTED, CLUTTERED EXPANSE OF TOWN HOMES.
AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE VERY SAD.
I DON'T KNOW THAT I'LL STILL BE HERE WHEN THAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY NOT.
I'M SPEAKING STRICTLY TO THE FUTURE AND WHAT THE VISION YOU HOLD FOR THIS TOWN IS FOR THE FUTURE.
YOU HAVE A COMP PLAN, YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVE A VISION.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO CHANGE THAT, THAT VISION THAT YOU SO CAREFULLY
[01:20:01]
CRAFTED AND WROTE INTO THIS COMP PLAN.UM, THE, THE, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL.
I DON'T THINK THAT THIS, THE, THE, THE ISSUE OF THE PARKLAND IS, IS SO MUCH A RED HERRING.
THE, I DON'T KNOW WHO, WHO WANTS TO COME AND, AND, AND PLAY PADDLE TENNIS UNDERNEATH, UM, YOU KNOW, 200,000 VOLT POWER LINES AND BE COMFORTABLE.
IT'S A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION TO PUT YOURSELF IN.
I CAN'T IMAGINE PEOPLE WOULD WANNA LIVE IN HOMES UNDER ADJACENT TO THOSE POWER LINES.
AND I DOUBT THE DEVELOPERS CONTEMPLATING ON BUILDING ANYTHING NEXT TO THOSE POWER LINES, BUT FOR, FOR WHATEVER REASON.
UM, NOW I'LL, I'LL ECHO WHAT ERIC ZINGER JUST SAID.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ANY OF THESE QUOTE FEE SIMPLE PLANS WILL NOT BE CHALLENGED IN COURT DOWN THE ROAD.
UM, IT, IT'S, IT'S REALLY A SITUATION THAT'S PRETTY CLEAR TO ME.
YOU, YOU NEED SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ON THIS PROPERTY.
YOU, YOU, YOU DON'T NEED TO COMPLICATE THINGS WITH ALL KINDS OF LOOPHOLES TO CREATE MORE PROFIT FOR A DEVELOPER WHO IS GOING TO WALTZ AWAY FROM THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
THE MOMENT THE INK IS DRY ON THE, ON THE AGREEMENT, HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY INTEREST IN THE FUTURE OF THIS TOWN.
HIS COUNCIL HAS NO INTEREST IN THE FUTURE OF THIS TOWN.
THEY ARE INTERESTED IN ONE THING THAT'S MONEY AND THEY'RE TRYING TO MAXIMIZE.
YOU WANT TO MAKE MONEY, GREAT, GOOD FOR YOU, BUT I DON'T WANT YOU TO MAKE MONEY OFF THE BACKS OF ME AND MY NEIGHBORS AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
CAN I JUST ASK A FOLLOW UP QUESTION? YOU MAYBE, UH, MAYBE TIM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE COULD RESEARCH, UM, IF THE TOWN BOARD DECIDES THAT WE'RE GONNA DISREGARD THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN RELATING TO THIS PROPERTY AND ALLOW TOWNHOUSES, DOES IT HAVE ANY PRESIDENTIAL, YOU KNOW, VALUE IMPACTS? IF THERE'S, UH, OTHER COUNTRY CLUBS THAT GO OUT OF BUSINESS AND THEY WANT TO BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF WE TAKE AN ACTION ON THIS, DOES IT HAVE ANY IMPACTS ON THE OTHER COUNTRY CLUBS IF THEY GO OUT OF BUSINESS? MM-HMM.
AND WE'LL DISCUSS THAT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION AT SOME POINT BEFORE THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, MAKES A DECISION.
GOOD EVENING, MS. LIPSON, BE TOO SHORT.
DOREEN, I AM PRESIDENT OF THE WORTHINGTON WOODEN CIVIC ASSOCIATE.
GET THE TOP OF THE, THE TOP FROM THE TOP.
I'M PRESIDENT OF THE WORTHINGTON WOODLAND CIVIC ASSOCIATION, AND I WANNA THANK EVERYONE HERE THAT HAS COME TO VOICE THEIR OPINION.
WE HAVE SENT MANY EMAILS TO THE TOWN BOARD BECAUSE WE CARE.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE CARED ABOUT WHAT WENT ON IN FRANK'S NURSERY.
WE ACCEPTED BECAUSE IT WAS AS OF RIGHT TO HAVE, UH, AN ASSISTED LIVING.
WE KNEW THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THAT ASSISTED LIVING FIT INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
I NOW WANNA SPEAK ABOUT THREE MAIN POINTS.
SAFETY AND SETTING A PRECEDENT.
THE TWO REQUESTED ZONE CHANGES FOR THE THREE MULTIFAMILY TOWNHOUSE ALTERNATIVES WILL RESULT IN A DENSITY INCREASE BETWEEN 34% TO 55% MORE THAN THE TWO SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE ALTERNATIVES.
THE TOWN'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, THE CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL AND THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY'S PLANNING DEPARTMENT DO NOT SUPPORT INCREASED DENSITY IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
ON 3 22, THE COUNCIL OF GREENBURG CIVIC ASSOCIATION'S REPRESENTATIVES VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO SUPPORT SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTS ON THE ELMWOOD PROPERTY TRAFFIC.
THIS INCREASED DENSITY WILL RESULT IN SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN TRAFFIC ON DOBBS FERRY ROAD.
I'M SORRY, 175 IS MORE THAN 119.
AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT, THEN YOU HAVE FLUNK FIRST GRADE MATH.
I AM TELLING YOU 175, WHETHER THEY'RE TOWNHOUSES, WHETHER THEY'RE CONDOS, WILL BRING IN MORE TRAFFIC THAN THE 119 SINGLE FAMILY OR
[01:25:01]
THE 113.AS YOU KNOW, DOBBS FERRY ROAD, WHICH IS A STATE ROAD 100 B, ONLY HAS A SINGLE LANE EACH WAY, WHICH ACCOMMODATES THREE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH BUSES, PRIVATE CARS AND VANS, AND THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY BUS NUMBER SIX LINE.
IN ADDITION, THERE ARE ENTRANCES AND EXITS TO THE SPRINGBROOK PARKWAY, CARLSON'S NURSERY, THE CHELSEA ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY, THE GAME ON GOLF RANGE, LANDERS MANOR, WESTCHESTER VIEW, LANE NINE, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES.
WESTCHESTER VIEW LANE HAS 24 SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND 15 COMING IN ON THE PROCESS OF BEING BUILT ON DRAGO WAY ALL ACROSS THE STREET FROM ELMWOOD ON THE CORNER OF BURY ROAD.
AND WORTHINGTON IS THE FAIRVIEW FIRE STATION WITH EASTBROOK PARK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF ELMWOOD.
ALSO, THERE'S A DAY SCHOOL AND A DAY OR A DAY CAMP ON DOBBS FERRY ROAD RIGHT NEXT TO THE FIRE STATION, WHICH OPERATES ALL YEAR LONG.
THE NUMBER OF INCIDENCES MADE BY THE FAIRVIEW STATION NUMBER TWO IN THE LAST THREE YEARS ARE AS FOLLOWS, 1 2 20 19 1033.
THESE ARE THE, THIS IS THE DATA THAT I RECEIVED DIRECTLY FROM FAIRVIEW FIRE STATION.
THAT'S NUMBER TWO, THAT'S RIGHT ON THE CORNER, COMING OUT AND GOING TO HELP FAIRVIEW ONE AND DOING MUTUAL AID ALL OVER, UH, GREENBURG.
THESE NUMBERS WILL INCREASE BECAUSE OF THE ELMWOOD DEVELOPMENT AND COULD RESULT IN MORE SERIOUS OUTCOMES TO ALL GREENBERG RESIDENTS BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC JAMS. ALSO, THE POLICE E M T CALLS WOULD BE AFFECTED AS WELL, SETTING A PRECEDENT BY GRANT.
THESE, THESE TWO ZONE CHANGES, A PRECEDENT WILL BE SET, WHICH WILL ALLOW DOWN ZONING TO ANY LARGE PARCELS OF LAND, SUCH AS THE FIVE REMAINING GOLF COURSES IN GREENBURG OR ANY LARGE CAMP PROPERTIES SUCH AS MOHAWK OR HILLARD.
THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE ALTERNATIVES 119 OR 113 ARE ZONING COMPLIANT AS OF RIGHT FOR THIS PROPERTY.
OF THE 106 PLUS ACRES, ACCORDING TO THE TOWN ZONING CODE, ACCORDING TO THE C A C'S SECRET FINDINGS ON THE F E I S STATED 3 4 22 QUOTE.
THE CURRENT ZONING RULES EXISTED IN THE ZONING CODE WHEN THE APPLICANT BOUGHT THE ELMWOOD PROPERTY.
AMENDING THE ZONING CODE IS A LEGISLATIVE ACT.
THE TOWN BOARD HAS THE UNFETTERED RIGHT IN ITS DISCRETION TO MAINTAIN THE TOWN'S EXISTING ZONING AND IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO APPROVE THE APPLICATION.
AS THEY SAID, YOU CAN SAY NO GOODNIGHT.
I HAVEN'T BEEN HERE IN A COUPLE YEARS.
UM, SEVERAL RESIDENTS IN THE TOWN HAVE ASKED ME TO SPEAK ON THIS MATTER.
I'M SPEAKING TONIGHT AS AN INDIVIDUAL, UM, NOT ON BEHALF OF EDGEMONT OR, OR ANYTHING.
UH, BUT, UH, THE REASON, THE REASON I AGREED TO SPEAK ON THIS IS THAT, UH, THERE ARE ASPECTS OF THESE PROPOSALS THAT, UH, I DO HAVE STRONG FEELING ABOUT.
UH, I'VE READ THE F E I S AND I'VE READ THE COMMENTS.
AND IN PARTICULAR, I FOCUSED ON THE COMMENTS FROM THE C A C, UH, BECAUSE I THINK THEY FRAMED THE ISSUE CORRECTLY.
UH, UH, AND, AND, UH, UH, BASICALLY AS, AS DOREEN POINTED OUT, YES, UH, THE C A C MAKES TAKES THE POSITION THAT THIS IS A DISCRETIONARY ACT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO GRANT THE REQUEST FOR A ZONE CHANGE.
UM, BUT I WANNA PUT A LITTLE MORE MEAT ON THAT.
TALK ABOUT, UH, WHY YOU SHOULDN'T CHANGE THE ZONING.
AND THE REASON IS STEMS IN LARGE PART FROM THE COMP PLAN, WHICH YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO COMPLY WITH, BUT YOU DEPART FROM IT ALL THE TIME.
UH, ALL IT TAKES IS A MAJORITY OF YOU TO SAY THAT CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED AND YOU CHANGE THEM.
WHEN YOU DO THAT AND HAVE DONE THAT, YOU HAVE CREATED SITUATIONS THAT HAVE BECOME EXTREMELY CONTROVERSIAL IN THE TOWN.
YOUR LAND USE DECISIONS HAVE NOT GONE OVER VERY WELL.
THEY'VE RESULTED IN LITIGATION AND REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME OF LITIGATION, YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY ANGRY AND UPSET AND DISTRUSTFUL OF TOWN GOVERNMENT.
YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE THERE, THEY BOUGHT BASED ON ZONING THAT EXISTS, THEY BELIEVED THAT THE ZONING WOULD REMAIN
[01:30:01]
IN PLACE.THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO TO TO, TO HAVE THAT VIEW RESPECTED.
THEY HAVE VESTED OWNERSHIP INTEREST IN HAVING THE ZONING STAY AS IS.
NOW, WITH RESPECT TO THAT, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY THAT DEVELOPER WHO COMES FORWARD WITH A PROPOSAL TO DO SOMETHING GOOD MIGHT ACTUALLY BENEFIT THE BENEFITS, WILL OUTWEIGH THE DETRIMENT TO THE INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS.
BUT BEAR IN MIND, THOSE HOMEOWNERS BELIEVE THAT HAVING SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T LIKE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD COULD DEPRESS THE VALUE OF THEIR OWN HOMES.
SO YES, IT WILL GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DEVELOPER TO MAKE A LOT OF MONEY.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE, THE ONLY CASE I CAN RECALL IN THE YEARS I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THIS, WHERE THE DEVELOPER ASKING FOR THE CHANGE IS NOT REALLY THE DEVELOPER WHO'S GONNA DEVELOP THE PROPERTY.
AND, AND THAT IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT YOU NORMALLY HAVE.
BUT BE THAT AS IT MAY, A PROPERTY OWNER IS ENTITLED TO ASK FOR THIS AND MONETIZE THE RESULT, IF HE GETS THE RESULT HE GETS FROM THE REQUEST, YES, WHAT HE PAID FOR HIS PROPERTY WILL BE WORTH MULTIPLE, UH, TIMES THAT AMOUNT IF THE TOWN LEGISLATES THE BENEFITS HE'S SEEKING.
BUT YOU DO THAT IF THE BENEFITS OUTWEIGH THE DETRIMENTS, THE THE FEES FROM THE PROJECT, UH, WILL BE, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, FEES THAT THE TOWN WOULD NOT OTHERWISE GET.
BUT WHAT YOU CAN DO IS YOU CAN ENFORCE THE EXISTING ZONING, BUT I THINK YOU SHOULD DO SOMETHING ELSE.
I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING BOLD, SOMETHING THAT THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR, NOT JUST THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, BUT FOR THE REGION.
ERIC SPOKE ABOUT THE HOUSING SHORTAGE, THE FOR NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
YOU SHOULD, UH, AFTER YOU DISCLOSE THE HEARING ON THIS, INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TOMORROW IF YOU CAN, TO REQUIRE THAT ON ALL RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS IN GREENBURG OF FIVE UNITS OR MORE, THAT THERE BE A, AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SET ASIDE OF 20%.
YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T LEGISLATE THAT IN GREENBURG.
YOU'LL DO IT ONLY FOR MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING AND ONLY IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS.
BUT YOU SHOULD TAKE IT UPON YOURSELVES TO SAY IN GREENBURG, HENCE FORTH ANY RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES SHOULD HAVE AN AFFORDABLY SET ASIDE FOR 20% OF FIVE SUB, UH, FIVE UNITS OR MORE.
BECAUSE IF YOU DO THAT, YOU WILL BE DOING SOMETHING GOOD FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND YOU'LL BE DOING SOMETHING BENEFICIAL FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GONNA BE COMING TO THE TOWN FOR, SAY, TO SUPPORT REGENERON.
YOU KNOW, REGENERON IS COMING IN, YOU'RE TOUTING ALL THE BENEFITS, BUT YOU DIDN'T REQUIRE THAT REGENERON PUT IN A NICKEL TO SUPPORT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT IT'S GOING TO, THAT IT'S CREATION IS GOING TO INCREASE THE DEMAND FOR AND HOUSING ALL ACROSS THE BOARD.
BUT HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
AND YES, I THINK IT SHOULD BE APPLICABLE THROUGHOUT UNINCORPORATED GREENBURG.
IT SHOULD BE A MODEL FOR ALL AREAS OF THIS TOWN AND, AND, AND ALL AREAS OUTSIDE OF GREENBURG IN, IN WESTCHESTER.
THAT'S HOW YOU GET AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND THAT'S WHAT I SUGGEST YOU DO HERE.
I WOULD SUPPORT ONLY THE PROPOSALS THAT DO NOT CHANGE EXISTING ZONING THAT CALL FOR, UH, SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL HOUSING AND NO DOWN ZONING WHATSOEVER.
CAN I JUST ASK YOU A FOLLOW UP QUESTION? UM, IF THE TOWN BOARD WOULD FOLLOW YOUR RECOMMENDATION, UM, AND THIS APPLICATION HAS ALREADY BEEN SUBMITTED AND WE WOULD CHANGE, YOU KNOW, THE LAW TO REQUIRE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SINGLE FAMILY, YOU KNOW, HOUSING, WHICH, YOU KNOW, I THINK IS A VERY GOOD IDEA, VERY CONSTRUCTIVE AND, AND GOOD IDEA.
UM, THE QUESTION IS, WOULD IT APPLY TO AN APPLICATION THAT HAS, HAS ALREADY GONE THROUGH THE, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE REVIEW PROCESS? AS, AS FAR AS I AM AWARE, UH, THE ONLY TIME VESTED RIGHTS WOULD ACCRUE WOULD BE IF THERE IS AN APPLICATION, UM, AS OF RIGHT FOR SITE PLAN APPROVAL THAT'S BEEN FILED.
UH, ALL I KNOW OF HERE IS THAT THEY'VE MADE AN APPLICATION FOR A ZONE CHANGE AND HAVE PROPOSED VARIOUS THINGS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN, BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN AN APPLICATION.
NOW, IF THEY COME IN TOMORROW WITH AN APPLICATION FOR SITE PLAN APPROVAL, THEN, THEN THAT WE'D HAVE A DIFFERENT SITUATION, BUT THEY HAVEN'T, AND THAT WOULD REQUIRE A FAIR AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT TO, TO, TO DO, TO COME FORWARD WITH.
AND YOU HAVE THE RIGHT, THE LEGISLATIVE RIGHT TO SAY, NO, WE'RE GONNA REQUIRE AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SET ASIDE.
AND IT'S NOT PUNITIVE AS TO THEM, BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA REQUIRE TOWN WIDE AND IT'S A GOOD PUBLIC POLICY THING TO DO.
UM, THE OTHER POINT I I I WANTED TO MAKE AND DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO IS, UH, I AGREE THAT THE, UM, THE IN FEE SALE CON, UH, CONCEPT IS UNENFORCEABLE AND DO NOT,
[01:35:01]
DO NOT, UH, DO THIS IN, IN THE EXPECTATION THAT THAT WILL WORK.UM, THERE'S A VERY GOOD REASON WHY YOU CANNOT LEGISLATE AGAINST A STATE MANDATE, NOR CAN YOU CONDITION, UH, PEOPLE'S RIGHTS TO AVOID THAT STATE MANDATE.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE TOLD YOU HOW YOU CAN CHARGE, UH, LEVY TAXES FOR, UM, UH, LUXURY CONDOS ON THE SAME LEVEL AS SINGLE FAMILY HOMES THROUGH THE HOMESTEAD ACT.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO DO IT BACKDOOR WAY.
AND THE, AND STATE LAW ALLOWS FOR THE EXERCISE OF THOSE RIGHTS THAT I, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SITE, UH, THAT ERIC CITED, BUT THERE IS MORE RECENT CASE LAW ON THIS.
THE, THE, THE, THE, THE STATE IS NOT GOING TO PERMIT THE TOWN TO TRY TO BACKDOOR, UH, THAT KIND OF, UM, REQUIREMENT THAT THEY FOREGO THEIR STATE RIGHTS, THEIR STATUTORY RIGHTS.
IT CAN'T BE APPLICABLE TO NEW OWNERS.
YEAH, I JUST WOULD WANNA JUST SAY THAT I THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE DO HAVE A REQUIREMENT OF 10%, UH, AFFORDABILITY AND MULTI-FAMILY DWELLINGS.
AND I THINK AS A START, WE SHOULD, UH, BE CONSISTENT AND SAY WE WANT TO HAVE THE SAME, YOU KNOW, REQUIREMENTS, WHATEVER IT IS FOR SINGLE FAMILY OR MULTI-FAMILY, ALL, ALL, ALL DEVELOPMENTS.
AND THEN I THINK THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WE COULD DISCUSS THIS, UH, AT THE WORK SESSION ON TUESDAY, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
BOB, BOB, DO YOU HAVE SITES? DO YOU, DO YOU HAVE CASE LAW THAT YOU COULD SEND US? UM, I CAN, I DON'T HAVE IT WITH ME TONIGHT.
NO, NOT NOW, BUT I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU GET BACK TO YOUR OFFICE ON THAT ISSUE.
CAROL, PLEASE SPELL YOUR LAST NAME FOR THE SONOGRAPHER.
ELEANOR, THOUGH I KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE,
UH, I'M CAROL WILKE, PRESIDENT OF THE CCO HOMES CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
UM, CCO HOLMES IS PLEASED TO SUPPORT ITS SISTER ORGANIZATION, THE WORTHINGTON WOODLAND CIVIC ASSOCIATION, OF WHICH DOREEN IS THE EMINENT PRESIDENT, AS WELL AS ITS CONSTITUENT ORGANIZATION, THE COUNCIL OF GREENBURG CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS, AS THEY BOTH SEEK TO PROTECT THEIR RES UH, RESPECTIVE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES FROM A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WOULD UNDERMINE THE CONCEPT OF A SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING AND BURDEN THE UNINCORPORATED TAXPAYER WITH ADDITIONAL TAX LEVY, WHICH MAY WELL RESULT FROM A PROPOSED UNPROVEN AND UNKNOWN LEGAL, UH, FATE.
AND THAT'S A GENERAL STATEMENT YOU'VE OBVIOUSLY HEARD, UH, TONIGHT.
THE MORE SPECIFICS, UH, REGARDING THAT, EVEN RECENTLY BEFORE THE TOWNS PLANNING BOARD, THE APPLICANT'S OWN ATTORNEY, AS PEOPLE HAVE POINTED OUT, REFUSED TO SUPPORT THE LEGAL UNDERPINNINGS OF A FINANCING PLAN UPON WHICH THEIR WHOLE APPLICATION RELIES, UH, AND TONIGHT'S COMMENTS FROM THE DEVELOPER AND, UM, HIS, UH, HIS LAWYER, NOTWITHSTANDING, IT APPEARS, AT LEAST FROM MY EYE, THAT THE TOWN BOARD FEARS OR WISHES TO WARD OFF A POTENTIAL LAWSUIT, UH, FROM THE APPLICANT WHOSE LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES ISSUED FORTH A FEBRUARY 9TH, 2022 LETTER TO THE TOWN COMPLAINING ABOUT ALL SORTS OF DELAY, BAD FAITH, AND CITING LEGAL DECISIONS MEANT TO SUBDUE ANY TOWN EFFORTS TO FOLLOW ITS OWN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND LISTEN TO ITS CONSTITUENTS.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THE APPLICANT, WHO WILL NOT EVEN BE, UH, THE DEVELOPER, BUT PLANS TO FLIP THE PROPERTY AS WELL, YOU'VE HEARD OVER AND OVER AGAIN TONIGHT, COULD HAVE BEGUN THE BUILDING PROCESS SOME YEARS AGO BY CONFORMING TO THE TOWN'S COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO BUILD 119 SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES.
INSTEAD, THE APPLICANT WANTED TO A BIGGER BANG FOR HIS BUCK AND DECIDED TO GO FOR BROKE AND PUSH FOR MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE ZONING CHANGES, AND WHICH WOULD PARTLY EVISCERATE THE TOWN'S HIGHLY REGARDED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
THE TOWN FOR ITS PART FAILED WHEN IT ACCEPTED AN F E I SS, WHICH WAS SO DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE, UH, D E I S, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY SUBMITTED, AND WHICH HAD THE
[01:40:01]
BENEFIT OF THE REQUIRED INVOLVEMENT OF THE APPROPRIATE AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY.NOW, THE COMMUNITY AND THE TOWN ARE FACED WITH FIVE DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES TO RUSH THROUGH THE REVIEW PROCESS IN ORDER NOT TO INVITE ADDITIONAL WRATH OF A PROFIT SEEKING APPLICANT.
THIS IS NO WAY IS, THIS IS NO WAY TO TREAT A COMMUNITY, UH, OR IT'S PLANNING OR ZONING AUTHORITIES.
I ASKED THE TOWN BOARD TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY TONIGHT, WHICH YOU APPARENTLY HAVE, AND TO ITS OWN HIGHLY REGARDED CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL, BOTH OF WHOM HAVE PREPARED, THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED ARGUMENTS OF WHY THE TOWN BOARD SHOULD CONFORM TO ITS OWN POLICY AND PROCEDURES, AND MAINTAIN SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING AT THE ELMWOOD PRESERVE AND SEEK, AS YOU MAY, TO INCORPORATE ADEQUATE, NOT TOKEN, BUT ADEQUATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS.
AND CERTAINLY IN ALL DEVELOPMENTS GOING FORWARD.
AND I'M REALLY VERY PLEASED TO HEAR OVER AND OVER AGAIN THE MANY PEOPLE WHO CAME UP TO ADVOCATE, ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT'S, THAT'S, THAT'S AN ENLIGHTENED COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S A GOOD COMMUNITY.
AND AS YOU WELL, YOU MAY WELL BE ADVISED, YOU CAN START THIS PROCESS WITH THE MASTERLY COMMENTS AND ALL OF WHICH YOU RECEIVE FROM THE TOWN'S CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL ON MARCH FOUR, UH, 2022.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL 16 PAGE SUMMARY, WHICH ADDRESSES ALL THE KEY ISSUES.
UH, AND I HOPE YOU ALL GIVE IT A REALLY GOOD READ.
JUST, MY NAME IS ALAN STERN AND I LIVED IN GREENBURG FOR 47 YEARS.
ME AND MY WIFE CAME FROM THE BRONX.
OUR CHILDREN WENT TO, UH, GREENBURG SCHOOLS.
UM, I LIKE TO SAY THAT DOREEN, UH, STATED ON MOST OF MY OBJECTIONS, I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT IT.
THE ONLY THING THAT I WANNA MAKE SURE ABOUT IS THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION THAT WILL HAPPEN IF THEY HAVE A A HUNDRED, A HUNDRED NEW HOMES, UH, ON THE TWO LANE ROAD.
OKAY? NOW, WHEN YOU GO TO WORK AT SEVEN 30 OR EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING, IT TAKES 15 OR 20 MINUTES TO GET BY.
IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL, ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC, IT MAY TAKE A HALF HOUR AND THEN COMING HOME TAKE A HALF HOUR.
SO I, I, THAT'S MY OPINION THAT I, I REJECT ALL THEIR, ALL THEIR OPTIONS.
CAN I JUST CLARIFY, EXCUSE ME.
CAN I JUST CLARIFY, MR. STERN? MR. STERN, YOU SAID YOU LIVED HERE FOR 47 YEARS.
MR. BYRNE, YOU WROTE GERARD BYRNE HERE, SO I DID THAT FOR THE PUBLIC RECORD
G E R A R D, BYRNE, B Y R N E.
AND, UH, I WOULD LIKE TO JUST SHARE WITH THE BOARD THAT, UH, THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT AND THE PARKS AND REC ADVISORY BOARD, UH, WERE INTERESTED IN AGENCY, UH, TO THIS PROJECT.
UM, I HEARD A LOT OF WONDERFUL COMMENTS TONIGHT FROM THE COMMUNITY.
JUST WANNA SAY, UH, I GREW UP OFF OF DOBS ROAD, MOVED TO THE COMMUNITY IN 1958.
UH, WENT TO COLLEGE IN, UH, 74, CAME BACK IN 86.
UH, THIS AREA AND COMMUNITY IS VERY DEAR TO ME.
UH, ALSO WHEN IT WAS A COUNTRY CLUB, I CADDIED AT THAT SITE FOR FIVE YEARS.
I KNOW ALMOST EVERY INCH OF THAT AS A CADDY.
AND ALSO WHEN I WAS ABLE TO PLAY GOLF WHEN MY BALL SPRAYED ALL OVER THAT GOLF COURSE.
BUT, UH, AS FAR AS TONIGHT, UH, THE PARK AND REC ADVISORY BOARD, I HAD A PRESENTATION, UH, FROM GARY DURAIN, COMMISSIONER OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING.
AND THEY GOT TO SEE AND HEAR OF THE FIVE ALTERNATIVES AND ALSO, UH, HAVE SOME OF OUR ANSWERS, QUESTIONS.
UH, THEY'RE NOT READY TO TAKE A POSITION ON THIS, UH, BUT BEFORE THE, UM, UH, RECORD IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PRE, YOU KNOW, A RECOMMENDATION ALONG WITH ME
[01:45:01]
AS A PROFESSIONAL WITH THE DEPARTMENT.AS YOU KNOW, UM, EAST BROOK PARK IS A 42 ACRE, UH, PARK, PARK LAND, WHICH BORDERS THIS, UH, PROPOSED, UH, PROJECT.
SO IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO US.
UH, I CAN SAY I THINK IT'S OPTION B, WHICH IS FOR THE 119 HOMES, UH, AND TO GIVE MONEY IN LIEU OF LAND, WHICH, UH, STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GIVE LAND.
AND THEN IF WE DON'T SEE IT SUITABLE THAT WE CAN HAVE THE OPTION OF TAKING MONEY IN LIEU OF, IS THAT WE, I KNOW PERSONALLY I WOULD OBJECT TO THAT AND WOULD ASK THE BOARD TO CONSIDER ONE OF THE OTHER FOUR.
SO HOPEFULLY BEFORE THE RECORD'S CLOSED, WE WILL COME BACK WITH A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ADVISORY BOARD.
AND THEN, UH, I WILL AS A COMMISSIONER, PARKS AND RECREATION.
THERE ARE NO FURTHER REQUESTS FOR, TO SPEAK ON THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
DID THE APPLICANT WANT TO, UH, RESPOND TO ANY QUESTIONS OR NO? IS THERE ANY, IF YOU COULD RAISE YOUR HAND, ANYONE ON ZOOM? BISHOP PRESTON WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.
PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR THE STENOGRAPHER.
UH, BISHOP WILBERT PRESTON, UH, W I L B E R T P E R S T O N I, I WAS NOT GONNA SAY ANYTHING ON THIS MATTER.
UM, BUT AFTER, UH, MR. ZINGER AND ADMITS SOME THINGS THAT IS DEAR TO MY HEART.
AND, AND, AND THEN I THINK THE GENTLEMAN FROM, UH, THE, THE ATTORNEY THAT CAME UP SOMETIME, I FORGET NAMES, FACES I KEEP UP WITH.
I, I'M, I'M REALLY, UH, REALLY CONCERNED, UH, ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AS MANY, MOST OF YOU KNOW, I AM THE CHAIR OF THE GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY.
AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS NOW OF REDEVELOPING ALL OF OUR FEDERAL, UH, HOUSING PORTFOLIO.
AND IT WAS, UH, ASTONISHING TO ME AFTER WE STARTED FIVE SCATTERED SITES, WE CALL THEM, WE FOUND THAT THERE ARE, UH, AN, UH, INORDINATE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING MARKET RENT FOR PUBLIC HOUSING.
UM, AND THE REASON AFTER WE FOUND THAT OUT, WE STARTED INTERVIEWING PEOPLE AND FIND, TO FIND OUT WHY ARE YOU STILL LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING, PAYING, UH, WHAT MORE THAN WHAT A HOUSE PAYMENT WOULD BE? AND, AND IT WAS, UH, SURPRISING TO, TO KNOW THAT ONE OF THE TWO FACTORS IS THE, THE FIRST ONE I LIKE REAL WELL, BECAUSE THEY SAID, WELL, PUBLIC LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING, WE LIKE THE SERVICES.
ALL WE GOTTA DO IS CALL FOR A LIGHT BULB, CALL FOR THE GRASS TO BE CUT, CALL FOR SOMEBODY TO COME DO A, B, C, D.
THE SECOND THING IS, THERE IS A, UH, AN AREA OF INCOME THAT HOUSING, THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DOES NOT MEET.
AND MOVING FROM A, FROM PUBLIC HOUSING OR LOW INCOME HOUSING.
AND THERE IS NO AREA THAT CAN BE PURCHASED, NO, NO HOUSING THAT CAN BE PURCHASED.
WHAT WE WOULD CALL MAYBE, UH, WORKFORCE HOUSING OR SOMETHING ALONG THAT AREA.
WE JUMPED FROM, FROM LOW INCOME HOUSING TO SOMETHING LIKE BEING BUILT MILLION DOLLAR HOUSING.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD THAT? THEY HAVE TO MOVE UPSTATE, MOVE DOWN SOUTH, DIFFERENT THINGS.
AS A PASTOR, I'VE LOST A, A GREAT NUMBER OF MEMBERS WHO RETIRED AND COULD NOT AFFORD TO STAY HERE AFTER WORKING HERE 30, 35 YEARS.
SO, SO THE, THE, UM, THE, THE CONCEPT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS REALLY, REALLY, UH, A DEAR TO ME.
I'VE BEEN FIGHTING, I, I'VE BEEN HERE TILL 12 UNTIL 12 O'CLOCK AT NIGHT FIGHTING FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UH, WHEN I THINK, IS THAT HAL SIMON? IS THAT YOUR NAME? I'M, I'M BOB BERNSTEIN.
WHEN MR. BERNSTEIN MENTIONED THAT, AND THIS IS SOMETHING I MENTIONED, UH, TO PAUL, I MENTIONED IT TO SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT WHY ARE WE STUCK ON 10% SET ASIDE FOR THESE DEVELOPMENTS WHEN WE CAN GET MORE AND WE NEED MORE.
AND I THINK IT'S DISINGENUOUS FOR THE BOARD MEMBERS, MR. FINE, OR ANY OF ANYONE ELSE TO SAY THAT WE WANT MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
BUT YOU DON'T PUT A ME A MECHANISM IN PLACE IN PLACE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND BY OFFERING A, SOME LEGISLATION THAT WILL DO WHAT MR. BERNSTEIN SAID, I AM 110% BEHIND THAT BECAUSE
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10% OF SET-ASIDES OF READ OF NEW DEVELOPMENT IS NOT TOUCHING THE NEED.LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
ON YESTERDAY, THE GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY OPENED UP THE, THE APPLICATION FOR LOW INCOME HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPENED AT NINE O'CLOCK.
BY 1134, WE HAD 2001 APPLICANTS.
WE HAD 2001 APPLICANTS AND TWO HOURS AND A HALF THE PORTER SHUT DOWN BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE APPLYING AT SUCH A RATE THAT THE PORTER COULD NOT HANDLE IT.
WE HAD TO GO BACK WITH THE PROGRAMMER AND REPROGRAM SOMETHING, WHATEVER THEY, THOSE TECHNICAL PEOPLE DO, SO THAT PEOPLE COULD BE PUT ON WAITING ON A WAITING, UH, ON ON WAIT CALL WAITING UNTIL THEY COULD GET SOMEONE TO, UH, GET A POSITION TO ELECTRONICALLY APPLY.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS DESPERATELY, LEMME SAY THAT AGAIN, DESPERATELY NEEDED IN THIS AREA.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHY WE ARE STUCK ON 10%.
SOME OF THE RESPONSES THAT I'VE GOTTEN IS THAT OTHER TOWNS HAVE 10%.
MY RESPONSE TO THAT IS, SO WHAT, WHY CAN'T WE SET A PRECEDENCE AT AT LEAST 20%? I WOULD RATHER HAVE 25% BECAUSE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, PEOPLE WOULD NEED TO HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS.
THEIR NEEDS ARE NO MORE, LESS URGENT THAN THE PEOPLE THAT ARE GONNA AFFORD MILLION DOLLAR HOUSES.
SO IS ANYBODY ELSE WHO HASN'T SPOKEN ALREADY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? NO, WE HAVE CLIFF.
YEAH, SO PAUL, AS YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE DO ATTEND THERE, THERE ARE SOME SPEAKERS, UH, ON ZOOM THAT HAVE JUST INDICATED THAT THEY'D LIKE TO SPEAK THERE.
I'M SORRY, YOU SAID THERE ARE SIX? UH, 2 0 2.
SO CLIFF ABRAMS, THIS IS, HEY CLIFF, IF YOU UNMUTE, YOU CAN SPEAK PLEASE.
I MEAN, I AM ON THE C BURDEN CONSISTENT OF RACISM HOUSING COMMITTEE.
AND BEFORE I BECAME ON THAT OVER A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, I CAME TO GARY.
I SAID TO GINA, I SAID, HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THE 10% SET ASIDE, HOW DO WE KNOW IF THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE RULES? AND GARY AND GINA WAS SUPPOSED TO GET BACK IN TOUCH WITH ME ON THAT.
AND STILL TO THIS DAY, I DON'T KNOW WHO FOLLOW UP TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPOSED TO GIVE 10% IS GIVEN 10%, EVEN THOUGH I FEEL IT SHOULD BE, AS BISHOP WAS TALKING ABOUT, SHOULD BE AT LEAST 20.
CLIFF, CAN YOU SPEAK JUST A LITTLE BIT LOUDER? 'CAUSE I CAN BARELY HEAR YOU AND WE HAVE A STENOGRAPHER, SO JUST TO HEAR ME.
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? BETTER WE HEAR? YEAH, AS MUCH BETTER.
WERE YOU ABLE TO HEAR WHAT I SAID EARLIER? NO, WE DID, BUT A LITTLE BIT LOUDER WOULD BE BETTER.
SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO KNOW LIKE THIS BOARD HERE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE Y'ALL SAY ONE THING ABOUT HOW Y'ALL ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
'CAUSE I WAS HEARING ERIC AND OTHER PEOPLE SAYING THAT, HOW YOU WAS TALKING ABOUT IT.
BUT NOW I WANT Y'ALL TO SHOW, I WANT TO KNOW HOW AND WHO FOLLOW UP TO MAKE SURE THE 10% IS BEING FOLLOWED.
AND THAT, AND I ASKED THAT QUESTION OVER TWO YEARS AGO AND NEVER GOT AN ANSWER.
SO MAYBE GINA OR MAYBE KEN OR KEN, LIKE SAYING A LOT OF STUFF, MAYBE THEY COULD SPEAK ON WHO FOLLOWED THROUGH OR MR. FINDER, MAYBE YOU WHO FOLLOWED THROUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT THE 10% IS BEING FOLLOWED.
AND HOW DO THE RESIDENTS KNOW THAT YOU'RE FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THAT? FRANCIS ALWAYS FIND OUT, HE'S ALWAYS ON HIS LAPTOP.
MAYBE HE COULD TELL HIM, I'LL WAIT TILL MY PUBLIC COMMENT, COME TO SPEAK ON WHAT I REALLY WANT TO TALK ABOUT.
[01:55:01]
OKAY, THANK YOU.DO HAVE
AND I AGREE THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN LOW INCOME AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AS MR. PRESTON SAID, WORKFORCE, YOU HIT THE MUTE BUTTON COMING IN, HANG UP THESE PROPERTIES, THESE AREAS, INCLUDING PARKWAY HOMES AND PARKWAY GARDENS.
THERE'S NO PROTECTION AS IN HISTORICAL LANDMARKS.
AND THEN WE COME HERE, RIGHT? AND YOU'VE GOT ALL THIS RHETORIC ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOMEOWNERS ARE GONNA BE AT RISK.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT, IT IS A PROBLEM WITH TRAFFIC.
THERE'S ALSO A PROPERTY VALUE.
THERE'S ALSO A PROBLEM COMMUNITY.
YOU DON'T TAKE A CITY RESIDENTIAL
IT JUST, THE DYNAMIC WHOLE COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY WHEN SOMEONE IS GOING ON THEIR PROPERTY ON THE NOTION THAT IT'S ALWAYS GONNA BE ZONED THAT WAY.
SO THERE IS OTHER LAND IN GREENBURG THAT THE TOWN CAN LOOK AT MAKING AFFORDABLE OR LOW INCOME.
THE TOWN CAN INVEST IN ITS OWN COMMUNITY.
THE TOWN CAN TAKE THE RESOURCES THEY'RE GIVING TO OTHER PEOPLE AND PUT IT BACK IN THE COMMUNITY AND CREATE CO-OP SITUATIONS FOR PEOPLE.
THEY, SO THEY CAN OWN SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, OR LOW INCOME, AFFORDABLE TOWNHOUSES WHERE PEOPLE CAN OWN SOMETHING.
BUT AGAIN, THIS COMMUNITY IS NOT THE ONLY COMMUNITY AT RISK.
PARKWAY HOMES AND PARKWAY GARDENS IS AT RISK.
AND WHATEVER THEY CAN DO HERE, THEY ARE GONNA SET A PRECEDENT AND THEY'RE GONNA COME OVER THERE.
SO I REALLY HOPE YOU REALLY THINK ABOUT THAT.
PEOPLE ON THAT BOARD THAT OWN THEIR HOME, YOU ASK YOURSELF, WOULD YOU WANNA HAVE THAT? AND IF YOU'RE HONEST WITH YOURSELF, YOU ARE ALSO A RESIDENT OF GREENBURG.
YES, YOU ARE THE BOARD, THE POLITICS, BUT YOU ALSO LIVE THERE.
SO AGAIN, YOU SHOULD LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENS BETWEEN LOW INCOME AND AFFORDABLE INCOME AND LOOK AT WAYS THAT YOU CAN GO TO YOUR GOVERNMENT ABOVE YOU GET MONEY AND INVEST IN YOUR COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THAT COMMUNITY, THAT WANNA LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY.
FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN THERE FOR 35 AND 40 YEARS THAT WANNA RETIRE IN THAT COMMUNITY.
AND FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY THEY FIRST BOUGHT INTO.
BECAUSE THIS IS JUST UNREASONABLE.
NOBODY ELSE? ANY OTHER SPEAKERS? I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER REQUESTS.
SO WE NEED A MOTION TO, UM, CLOSE THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING AND LEAVE THE RECORD OPEN UNTIL, UM, APRIL 8TH.
APRIL 11TH, WHICH I THINK IS ON CONSENT WITH THE, UM, THE APPLICANT WHO'S CONSENTED TO THAT.
IT'S APRIL 8TH, WHICH IS 30 DAYS FROM TODAY.
OR 30 DAYS LEAVING THE RECORD OPEN.
AND THAT GIVES ENOUGH TIME FOR THE PLANNING BOARD, UM, TO GIVE THEIR COMMENTS AND ANYBODY ELSE, AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO PROVIDE COMMENTS TO THE BOARD AND THOSE COMMENTS WOULD BE DELIVERED IN THE SAME MANNER TO THE TOWN CLERK OR TO, UM, THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER FOR THE RECORD.
GARRETT, HOW DO YOU WANT THAT TO BE HANDLED? YES, GOOD QUESTION.
I RECOMMEND THAT COMMENTS BY EMAIL COME INTO PLANNING@GREENBERGNY.COM.
AND COULD WE ALSO PUT ON, YOU KNOW, THE WORK SESSION AGENDA FOR, UH, TUESDAY, MR. BERNSTEIN'S, UM, SUGGESTION
[02:00:01]
THAT, UM, UM, SET ASIDE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BE REQUIRED FOR, UM, UH, SINGLE FAMILY, YOU KNOW, HOMES THAT ARE CURRENTLY NOT, UH, NOT UH, COVERED BY OUR EXISTING SET ASIDE.MAYBE WE COULD PUT THAT ON FOR A TUESDAY.
SO DID YOU MAKE THAT MOTION? MOTION? WE WAIT FOR A SECOND.
OKAY, NEXT, UH, WE HAVE, UH, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING.
UH, PAUL DID, YOU DIDN'T CLOSE THE HEARING, YOU JUST MADE A MOTION.
THAT MR. BERNSTEIN'S RECOMMENDATION BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA FOR TUESDAY.
YEAH, THAT WILL JUST BE PUT ON THE AGENDA FOR TUESDAY.
YEAH, I DON'T THINK THAT WAS A MOTION.
I THINK IT WAS JUST, WELL, YOU DON'T NEED A MOTION FOR THAT.
THE MOTION WAS REALLY TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, BUT THAT WAS A COMMENT THAT PAUL MADE.
ALRIGHT, SO, AND WE DID GET A SECOND FROM ALAN, SO WE NEED A SECOND TO CLOSE THE HEARING.
[ PUBLIC COMMENT Advance signup via PublicComment@GreenburghNY.com is required. A continuous five minute limit per speaker will be strictly enforced. The clock will start when a speaker begins speaking and will not be stopped for any reason until the speaker is finished or five minutes has elapsed, whichever occurs first. Interruptions by Town Board members, the Town Clerk or the public will not be permitted. If a speaker insists on an immediate answer, should an answer be provided, it shall be part of the speaker's five minute allocation and not be interrupted. Any questions or comments on agenda items or any other topic should be raised during this extended time period for the public to address the Town Board Department Heads have the option of leaving the meeting following Public Comment. There will not be a second public comment period at the end of the meeting. Any written comments timely sent to the PublicComment address will be forwarded to all Town Board members in advance of the meeting for their consideration.]
WE'LL HAVE, UH, THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING.ANYBODY LIKE TO COMMENT ON ANYTHING? YES.
UH, OUR FIRST REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, OUR FIRST REQUEST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IS HOW SAM ALRIGHT.
BE BEFORE WE ACTUALLY HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE A HIGHLY UNUSUAL SITUATION IS THAT WE ARE, WE WILL ENTERTAIN COMMENTS ON ANY OF THE RESOLUTIONS.
WE, UH, UH, WE'RE ENTERTAINING COMMENTS ON THE RESOLUTIONS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA.
UH, BUT WE'RE HAVING A SPECIAL MEETING ON TUESDAY, UM, FOR ANOTHER MATTER.
AND I'M GOING TO SUGGEST THAT WE HOLD OVER THE RESOLUTIONS AND ACTUALLY VOTE ON THEM NEXT TUESDAY, UH, BECAUSE OF AN ISSUE THAT WE HAD WITH A SERVER TODAY, WHICH KEPT US FROM MAKING SOME, UM, SOME, UH, CHANGES.
AND SO, UM, SO THERE'LL BE NO VOTES ON ANYTHING TODAY.
WE, WE, WE WON'T BE VOTING ON ANY OF THE RESOLUTIONS, BUT WE'RE ENTERTAINING COMMENTS 'CAUSE THEY ARE POSTED UP ON THE WEBSITE.
I'LL TELL YOU IN ADVANCE THAT, UH, THE CL CL ONE IS GOING TO BE MODIFIED IN THE WOR WORDING A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S GONNA STILL BE THE SAME, SAME RUN ON P W ONE.
UH, THERE'S GONNA BE RE REMOVAL OF ANY REFERENCE TO THE, UH, BILLING INTERVAL BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HIRING, UH, HIRING A COMPANY TO PROVIDE SOFTWARE.
WE NEED THAT SOFTWARE TO DO THE WATER BILLING.
UH, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE TIED TO WHATEVER DURATION IS.
UM, THAT'S GONNA BE SEPARATED OUT.
SO THAT WOULD BE AN AMENDMENT.
AND SECOND ON PW TWO, IT SAYS THAT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $35,000.
UH, BUT WE'RE GOING TO KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL TOTAL VALUE OF THAT CONTRACT IS, UH, WHEN WE DO THE ADDITION.
AND ON, UH, EIGHT, UH, TI ONE, TB ONE, WE ARE, UH, GOING TO BE VOTING ON THAT AS WE DISCUSSED AT THE WORKSHEET, UH, AND, UH, ON THE, THE WORK SESSION, INCLUDING THE, UH, SLIP SHEET, WHICH IS POSTED ON THE AGENDA, UH, POSTED ON THE WEBSITE.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION, TIM? YES.
UM, YOU KNOW, MR. SAM SENT US AN EMAIL, UH, EARLIER, UH, TODAY SAYING THAT, UM, SINCE THE BOARD HAD ADDED FUNDS TO, UH, EITHER THE CAPITAL BUDGET THAT THE, THE CAPITAL BUDGET HEARING SHOULD HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, REOPENED IN HIS OPINION, UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THERE'S A $500,000 ADDITION TO, UH, YOU KNOW, ROAD RESURFACING MM-HMM.
[02:05:01]
ADDITION TO ROAD REP PAVING.WE KEPT THE RECORD OPEN FOR SEVEN DAYS TO SOLICIT COMMENTS ON THAT TUESDAY, WHICH WAS WITHIN THE SEVEN DAYS.
WE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL WHAT THE ADDITION WAS.
MR. SAMIS COMMENTED TO US WITHIN THE SEVEN DAYS AND EVEN AFTERWARDS, AND WE HAVE ENTERTAINED WHAT HE HAS WRITTEN AND COMMENTED ABOUT EVEN AFTER THE SEVEN DAYS.
SO HE OBVIOUSLY HEARD WHAT THE CHANGES WERE, HE COMMENTED ABOUT THEM AND SO TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING SO HE COULD SAY THE SAME THING THAT HE SAID BEFORE, UH, DURING THE PUB WRITTEN PUBLIC COMMENT.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULD HAVE TO DO THAT PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN.
I'M JUST DON'T HOW HE ALSO IS APPARENTLY WANTING TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
THE ONLY ISSUE THAT I HAVE IS I DON'T THINK THE HEARING REALLY IS NEEDED, BUT I'M SAYING IF, IF WE'RE PASSING A CAPITAL BUDGET AND HE'S RAISING A, A LEGITIMATE LEGAL ARGUMENT, WHICH I DON'T KNOW IT IS, BUT IF IT, IF THERE IS EVEN LIKE A GRAY AREA WHERE HE COULD BE RIGHT.
AND WE'RE NOT GONNA BE VOTING ON THE CAPITAL BUDGET, YOU KNOW, TODAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE, YOU KNOW, IF WE, I UNDERSTAND UNLESS PEOPLE SPEAK THEN, THEN WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT THE WHOLE CAPITAL BUDGET CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T DO IT CORRECTLY AND YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A GRAY AREA, I'D RATHER ERR ON THE SIDE OF BEING A LITTLE BIT MORE CAREFUL THAN NOT CAREFUL.
I I WOULD BE VERY HAPPY IF THE BUDGET WOULD PASS TODAY, BUT WE'RE NOT PASSING IT TODAY.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEING HELD OVER FOR A WEEK, YOU KNOW, IF WITH ALL THE PRICES GO, YOU KNOW, SKYROCKETING, UH, IN TERMS OF, UH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET ANYTHING, ANY, YOU KNOW, ANY ANYTHING DELIVERED RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S BACK LOGS, SO THERE'S REALLY NO URGENCY.
UM, AND, UH, A WEEK OR TWO DELAY ON ANYTHING.
SO AGAIN, I, I THINK WHAT WE'RE HEARING WITH RESPECT TO MR. SAMIS IS THAT HE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD AND WE DID HEAR HIM AND WE KNOW, WE KNOW WHAT HIS ISSUE IS AND HE'S GONNA SPEAK TONIGHT.
SO EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT IN THE RECORD, WE STILL KNOW WHAT HIS ISSUE IS, BUT THE BOARD ALWAYS HAS THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING IF THEY THINK IT'S, BUT DO YOU FEEL THERE'S ANY LEGAL, DID YOU FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE EMAIL THAT I GOT FROM HIM TODAY THAT WE ALL GOT FROM HIM, HE'S CLAIMING THAT THERE'S A LEGAL ISSUE ON WHETHER OR NOT WE'RE COMPLYING WITH YOUR STATE LAW RELATING TO APPROVING THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
I'M WONDERING IF THERE'S ANY POSSIBILITY THAT HE COULD BE CORRECT.
NO, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LEGAL ISSUE.
THEN, THEN THAT, THAT, THAT'S THE QUESTION.
I, I HAVE THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT LEAVING OUT ANYONE.
NICHOLAS PER PERROS, HOW DO I PRONOUNCE THE LAST NAME? IS NICHOLAS STILL HERE? YES.
NICHOLAS, HOW DO I SAY YOUR NAME PLEASE? PARAIS PRAS.
UM, CLIFF ABRAMS. DOREEN LIPSON.
AND IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? STEVEN RABBEL ON ZOOM.
MICHELLE BROWN ON ZOOM AND MICHELLE BROWN.
SHOULD WE TAKE THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE AUDIENCE? OKAY.
THESE ARE, NO, OKAY, THESE ARE NO I KNOW, BUT SHOULD WE BE DOING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE SO THAT WE DON'T KEEP THEM LATER? YEAH.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SHOULD DO THE PEOPLE WHO MAYBE PERHAPS JUDITH, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE, LIKE MR. DIS DIXON, MR. RIGHT.
SO THEY LIPSON MR. COLTON, MR. ZINGER, I'M GETTING NODDING HEADS FROM THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE.
SO, UM, IT IS THE REQUEST OF THE BOARD THAT WE CALL ON, UH, INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE PRESENT IN THE ROOM FIRST FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M GOING TO BEGIN WITH JAMES DIXON.
AND YOU STILL NEED THE REPORTER? NO, NO, WE FINISHED? NO, YOU'RE DONE.
VERY PURSU TO THE TOWN BOARD'S RULES.
THIS IS A THREE MINUTE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.
IS THAT CORRECT? IT'S A FIVE MINUTE, IT'S A FIVE MINUTE COMMENT.
FINER MEMBERS OF THE TOWN BOARD.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO, UH, ADDRESS
[02:10:01]
YOU TONIGHT.THIS CONCERNS THE ITEM THAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, THE $500,000 THAT WAS ADDED TO, UH, ROAD RESURFACING.
UH, MR. FINER MADE MYSELF AND MY, UH, I LIVE ON SPRINGWOOD AVENUE IN ARDSLEY, UH, P O ARDSLEY, IT'S UNINCORPORATED GREENBURG.
UH, MR. FINER MADE US AWARE OF THAT ITEM, UM, AND ALSO THE CONCERN THAT, UH, IT MAY BE USED IN ORDER TO EXPAND SPRINGWOOD AVENUE OR, OR, UH, WIDEN IT.
AND, UH, I SENT TO THE BOARD, OR ACTUALLY MR. PRIEST SAID TO THE BOARD A VIDEO THAT WE DID A WALK DOWN OF THE STREET TO SHOW THAT, UH, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S VERY UNNECESSARY TO DO THIS OR CONSIDER, UH, RE WIDE WIDENING SPRINGWOOD AVENUE OR EXTENDING IT INTO AN AREA THAT, UH, IS ANOTHER PRIVATE ROAD AT THE END OF SPRINGWOOD AVENUE.
AND THAT, UH, IT WOULD JUST BE WASTEFUL TO SPEND THE MONEY THAT WAY.
THE ROAD IS A DANGER TO PEOPLE, WHETHER OR NOT THE TOWN ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ROAD.
IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT ON THAT ROAD, PEOPLE WILL LOOK TO THE TOWN FOR A REMEDY.
THE TOWN CAN AVOID A PROBLEM NOW BY SIMPLY REPAVING THE ROAD.
YOU NEED TO CONSIDER IT AND YOU NEED TO CONSIDER WHAT WE'VE BROUGHT TO THE TOWN IN PREVIOUS CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'VE HAD, THAT THE TOWN HAS MAINTAINED THIS ROAD FOR OVER 40 YEARS THAT WE'RE AWARE OF.
THE OLDEST RESIDENT OF THE SIX RESIDENTS ON THE ROAD HAS TOLD US THAT THE TOWN HAS MAINTAINED THE ROAD FOR 40 YEARS.
MY VIDEO DEMONSTRATES AND ILLUSTRATES FOR YOU DOZENS OF PATCHES ON THE ROAD THAT WERE PLACED THERE BY THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
NOT ANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ALONG THE, THE ROAD, THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
AND I HAVE PERSONALLY LOOKED AT EVERY DEEDED FOR THE SIX OWNERS OF THE, OF THE PROPERTIES.
NONE OF US IN NONE OF OUR DEEDS DO WE HAVE OWNERSHIP OF THE ROAD.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE DEEDS DON'T EVEN MAKE MENTION OF A PRIVATE EASEMENT IN ORDER TO USE THE ROAD.
I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY CLEAR AND EVIDENT THAT SPRINGWOOD AVENUE IS A PUBLIC ROAD, AND THE TOWN NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT AND REMEDY IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
COULD I ASK YOU A QUESTION? YES, YOU CAN.
DOES, DOES YOUR DEEDED STATE IN IT THAT IF THE ROAD IS IMPROVED BY ANYBODY, THAT YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR HALFWAY ACROSS THE ROAD IN FRONT OF YOUR PROPERTY? SO MY DEEDED STATES AS PART OF MY DRIVEWAY IS, IS, UH, AN, UM, AN ENCROACHMENT UPON THE ROAD WHEN THAT WAS ORIGINALLY GIVEN TO THE OWNER BEFORE ME, AS PART OF THE COMPROMISE FOR THE ROAD, FOR THE, FOR THE ENCROACHMENT HE AGREED TO MAINTAIN, TO, UH, PAY THE TOWN.
IF THE TOWN DOES COME AND PAVE THE ROAD FOR THAT PORTION, THAT'S ONE HALF OF THE WAY FOR THE ENTIRE WAY, UH, THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE ROADWAY, UH, ONE HALF OF IT ON OUR SIDE OF IT.
I'LL LIVE BY THAT, COME AND DO THE WORK, AND I WILL LIVE BY THAT BECAUSE IT IS PART OF MY DEEDED.
AND, AND MR. LEWIS KNOWS THIS, HE'S READ THIS, RIGHT? IT DOESN'T MAKE ME THE OWNER OF THE ROAD.
IT GIVES ME AN EASEMENT ON THE ROAD AND RESPONSIBILITY THAT WAS, THAT WAS IN, UM, AS PART OF A COMPROMISE FOR AN ENCROACHMENT ON THAT ROAD.
BUT IT DOES SAY IF THE ROAD IS IMPROVED, DOESN'T IT? NO.
IT SAYS IF THERE'S ANY WORK DONE ON THE ROAD, INCLUDING REPAVING, I BELIEVE, UH, I I I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT SHEET AGAIN.
YEAH, I THINK, I THINK WE CAN LOOK AT THAT BECAUSE IF IT SAYS, IF IT SAYS IF THE ROAD IS IMPROVED RATHER BY PUBLIC PRIVATELY OR BY A MUNICIPALITY, THAT WOULD MEAN THAT IT WAS UNAPPROVED WHEN YOU BOUGHT THE, WHEN THE PERSON WHO HAS THAT DEEDED BOUGHT THAT HOUSE.
I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THAT'S A FAIR INTERPRETATION OF IT, MR. SHEEN.
I JUST DON'T, AND, AND I THINK THAT WE WOULD, I I, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE, WE CAN DIFFER OVER THAT, BUT I THINK THE POINT OF IT WAS NOT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT IT WAS UNIMPROVED, THE, THE ROAD, I MEAN, MR. FINA SAW IT.
YOU WERE ALL INVITED TO COME AND SEE IT, BUT NONE OF YOU CAME.
THERE IS A PORTION OF THE ROAD THAT'S A GRASS FIELD THAT IS UNIMPROVED.
I WILL, I WILL ADMIT TO THAT BEING UNAPPROVED, BUT THE PORTION IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND THE OTHER SIX HOUSES, THE OTHER FIVE HOUSES ON THAT STREET IS IMPROVED.
COME OUT AND SEE IT FOR YOURSELF PLEASE.
I INVITE YOU TO COME OUT, I INVITE YOU TO, TO SEE THE VIDEO.
DID YOU LOOK AT THE VIDEO WE SENT?
[02:15:01]
UH, I GOT SO FAR AS IT WANTED ME TO READ A PRIVACY STATEMENT.THEN I, I STOPPED, I HAD PRIVACY STATEMENT, PRIVACY STATEMENT IN ORDER TO, TO, TO, TO, YOU KNOW, SIR, I WILL, I WILL COME OVER AND SIT WITH YOU AND SHOW YOU THAT VIDEO IF YOU'D LIKE
MY, MY MY MY POINT IS, IS SIMPLY THAT, AND ALSO THERE WAS A RELIANCE WHEN YOU DID APPEAR BEFORE US ON A NEW YORK STATE DOCUMENT STATING THAT THE THE ROAD IS A PUBLIC ROAD.
BUT IN THAT DOCUMENT, WHICH YOU CLAIM TO BE ACCURATE, IT SAYS THAT THE ROAD IS UNPAVED AND YOUR DEEDED SAYS THAT THE ROAD IS IMPROVED.
THE TOWN DOESN'T ACCEPT ROADS UNLESS THEY'RE IMPROVED, WHICH MEANS TO ME THAT IT WASN'T IMPROVED AT THE TIME THAT THAT DEEDED WAS TRANSFERRED.
BUT I, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS I'M SURE GOING FORWARD.
AND SO, UM, BUT, AND I, AND I WELCOME HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
AND IT SHOULD ALSO BE POINTED OUT WHEN I VISITED, UM, WE RECENTLY DID THE CURB, RIGHT? THE CURB SEEMS PRETTY NEW.
AND THAT WAS DONE BY THE TOWN YES.
WITH WITHIN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AS WELL AS SEWERS, AS, AS WELL AS ALL THE PATCHING.
AND YES, THERE IS A PORTION OF SPRINGWOOD THAT IS COMPLETELY UNIMPROVED.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO PUT SOME MONEY UP TO PRESERVE SOME, SOME LAND, PLEASE IT, IT'S A, IT'S A BRAMBLE WHERE DEERS LIVE AND UH, WOULD BE VERY NICE FOR THE TOWN TO TAKE CONTROL OF THAT AND PROTECT IT.
SO MR. DIXON, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, REALLY DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, UM, DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.
AND WE'RE GONNA WORK THOSE OUT.
AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT BECAUSE THE TOWN BOARD MEMBERS, SOME OF THEM DIDN'T ATTEND ON SATURDAY, THAT IT WASN'T BECAUSE THEY DID NOT UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE OR THEY DON'T APPRECIATE THE ISSUE, THEY JUST RECEIVE RELATIVELY SHORT NOTICE.
WE CERTAINLY, CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND AND THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS, BUT THAT, BUT THAT INVITATION REMAINS OPEN.
PLEASE CONTACT MYSELF, MR. PRIEST, ANYONE OF THE RESIDENCE, WE'D BE HAPPY TO, WE WALK THE ROAD WITH YOU.
AND, UH, IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT PRIVACY NOTICES, I CAN MAKE THE, UH, VIDEO AVAILABLE TO YOU ON A MEDIAN THAT YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT ON.
AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND THE NEIGHBOR'S UNDERSTANDING AS WELL.
GOOD EVENING, UH, BOARD MEMBERS, PAUL FINER.
I LIVE ON 23 SPRINGWOOD AVENUE.
UM, I WANNA POINT OUT THAT AS LONG AS I'VE LIVED THERE AT 14 YEARS, UM, THAT I HAVE PERSONALLY WITNESSED THE TOWN OF GREENBURG COME AND REPAIR THE STREET OF POTHOLES.
THEY FILLED IN THE PAVEMENT, CLEANED IT UP.
THEY'VE REPAIRED SEWER, UM, SEWER AREAS THAT NEEDED, UH, BLACKTOP, UH, REINFORCEMENT, UM, HAVE PLOWED THE STREETS, HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THE LEAVES, UH, BRANCHES, UH, AROUND THAT WERE, UH, FALLEN DOWN BY STORMS. THE TOWN HAS CONSTANTLY MAINTAINED THE STREET FOR THE 14 YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN THERE.
UM, IN THE VIDEO THAT MR. DIXON DID MAKE FOR YOU GUYS, UM, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE ALL THOSE IMPROVEMENTS THAT THE TOWN HAS MADE AND, UH, ALL THE MAINTENANCE THEY HAVE PERFORMED THROUGHOUT THE TIME.
THE IDEA OF EXTENDING OUR STREET, I HAVE NO OBJECTION TO IT, HOWEVER, YOU WILL SPEND A LOT OF MONEY DOING IT.
YOU WILL HAVE TO DO A LOT OF EARTH WORK TO LEVEL OUT THE STREET, BECAUSE AFTER YOU GET PAST OUR BLOCK, PAST THE DEAD END, THERE IS A GRASSY AREA THAT SLOPES THAT IS A DESCENDING SLOPE.
YOU'LL HAVE TO PERFORM ALL SORTS OF RETAINING BALLS, BRIDGING PAVEMENT, AND ALL SORTS OF CONSTRUCTION.
THAT, THAT'S NOT REALLY IN MY EXPERTISE TO TELL YOU, BUT I COULD ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU IT WOULD BE THREE OR FOUR TIMES THE BUDGET YOU'RE PROPOSING.
OUR SMALL PATCH OF STREET WILL NOT COST THE TOWN A LOT OF MONEY.
MAYBE NOT EVEN 10% OF THAT $500,000 THAT YOU'RE PROPOSING.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT YOU COULD PROBABLY REPAVE THE WHOLE STREET IN LESS THAN $50,000, AND IT WOULD SAVE A LOT OF HEADACHES.
IT WOULD INCREASE THE SAFETY THAT WE'RE ACCUSTOMED TO AND COULD FREE THE TOWN OF FUTURE LAWSUITS IF SOMEBODY GETS HURT ON THAT STREET.
I REALLY DON'T HAVE, UH, ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY REGARDING THIS.
UM, IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME, I'LL TAKE THEM.
NO, I JUST WANNA SAY, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR MEETING WITH ME ON SATURDAY, AND, YOU KNOW, AFTER LOOKING AND WALKING THE UN, UH, YOU KNOW, THE AREA THAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE EXTENDED, I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE BIGGEST WASTE OF MONEY THAT I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY EXPERIENCES IN, IN PUBLIC,
[02:20:01]
UH, YOU KNOW, SERVICE.UH, IT BASICALLY WOULD CONNECT, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, SPRINGWOOD TO, UM, CHESTNUT, A ROAD THAT BASICALLY ISN'T, IS A PRIVATE ROAD.
AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST, I JUST THINK IT'S A, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE MON, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS COULD BE PUT TO MUCH BETTER USE.
AND I WILL DEFINITELY FIGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, AS HARD AS I CAN IF, IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, PURSUED.
BECAUSE I DON'T WANNA SEE THE TOWN THROWING OUT MONEY.
UH, AND THIS IS DEFINITELY A TOTAL WASTE.
SO THE SUPERVISOR IS CREATING A FIGHT AND THEN SAYING HE'S GOING TO FIGHT.
NO, I SAID I'M GONNA FIGHT WASTING MONEY.
WE SAID, WE SAID AT THE WORK SESSION VERY CLEARLY, AND PAUL, YOU ACTUALLY STATED AS WELL THAT MONEY IS NOT EARMARKED FOR ANY PARTICULAR ROAD.
IF YOU LOOK IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET AND IT WAS YOUR CAPITAL BUDGET, YOU DON'T SPECIFY STREETS.
IF WE NEED THE MONEY, AND THERE ARE OTHER STREETS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, UM, THAT HAVE ISSUES SIMILAR TO THIS.
BUT IF WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ON A STREET, THERE'S NO WAY THE RESIDENTS WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFORD THAT INITIAL SURGE, EVEN IF IT'S IN A DEEDED OF WHAT IT WOULD COST TO MAKE THE ROAD SAFE AS FAR AS HIM THEN WRITING TO YOU THE NEXT DAY, THE NEIGHBORS AND SAYING, THIS IS WHAT THE TOWN BOARD'S DOING AND TARGETING YOUR STREET.
WHEN THE DAY BEFORE AT A WORK SESSION, WE MADE IT VERY CLEAR AND THE CONTROLLER MADE IT VERY CLEAR.
THIS IS NOT EARMARKED FOR ANY PARTICULAR STREET, BUT THE SUPERVISOR WROTE TO ALL OF YOU ON THAT STREET AND SAID, THE TOWN BOARD WANTS TO OPEN THE ROAD.
THE TOWN BOARD WANTS TO MAKE THE ROAD SAFE.
IF IT'S A TOWN ROAD, THAT'S OUR POSITION AS IT NEEDS TO BE SAFE.
IF IT'S A TOWN ROAD, SUPERVISOR IS SAYING, WE WANT TO OPEN UP THE ROAD, IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE IT SAFE, WELL, THAT'S UP TO THE ENGINEERS.
OKAY? ACTUALLY, UH, MR. MR. FINER WAS NOT THE ONE WHO CONDUCTED THAT.
WHY IS THAT STOP THAT CONVEYED THAT MESSAGE.
IT WAS, UH, MR. LEWIS, BECAUSE IT'S UNINTERRUPTED.
WELL, IT WAS MR. LEWIS THAT WROTE TO US, UH, THREATENING THAT IF THE TOWN WAS CONSIDERED A PUBLIC ROAD, THAT THEY WOULD OPEN IT UP.
I JUST HAVE TO CLARIFY SOMETHING.
I WAS TOLD THAT THE FIVE MINUTES WERE FIVE INTERRUPTED MINUTES, UNINTERRUPTED MINUTES, UH, ON FIVE UNINTERRUPTED MINUTES.
IF THE PERSON SPEAKING ASKS QUESTIONS OF THE BOARD, THEN THE CLOCK CONTINUES TO RUN ON THAT PERSON'S TIME.
BUT NICHOLAS DID NOT ASK YOU ANY QUESTIONS.
YOU STARTED SPEAKING, THEREFORE, I STOPPED THE CLOCK BECAUSE IT WAS NOT NICHOLAS THAT MADE THE REQUEST FOR YOU TO SPEAK.
HE ACTUALLY, AT THE END OF HIS COMMENT, SAID IT WOULD NOT BE FAIR TO NICHOLAS TO RUN THE CLOCK WHEN HE DID NOT SAY TO YOU, COUNCILMAN SHEEN, AND ASK YOU A QUESTION.
NICHOLAS, AT THE END OF YOUR COMMENTS SPOKE, DID YOU SAY, IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? I ASKED IF THE THE BOARD HAD ANY QUESTIONS.
WHEN YOU ENDED YOUR COMMENTS, DID YOU SAY, IF WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR YOU? I DID, UH, SAY THAT IF COUNCIL HAS ANYBODY THAT'S, HE DID SAY THAT.
HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT HE WAS DONE.
AND SO THE RULES ARE, AND IT'S ON THE, I'M JUST WANNA BE, I WANT TO TREAT EVERYBODY FAIRLY.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE THAT COME UP NEXT, THEY'RE GONNA SAY, WHY DON'T YOU DO THE SAME FOR ME? OKAY.
THEN TO TREAT PEOPLE FAIRLY, YOU NEED TO NOT INTERRUPT THEM.
YOU NEED TO NOT SPEAK ON THEIR TIME.
HE, HE, HE, AT THE END OF HIS STATEMENT, ANYBODY CAN REPLAY THIS AND FIND THAT.
HE ASKED, DID WE HAVE ANYTHING, UH, ANY QUESTIONS ASKED.
SO TO, TO TREAT PEOPLE FAIRLY.
SO YOU LET THE CLOCK RUN TO TREAT PEOPLE FAIRLY, THE CLOCK SHOULD RUN AND THERE SHOULD BE NO INTERRUPTION OF THE SPEAKER UNTIL THE FIVE MINUTES HAVE RUN OUT.
THEN, THEN ANYONE ELSE SHOULD SPEAK.
BUT TO BE FAIR TO EACH SPEAKER, THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN THEIR FULL FIVE MINUTES.
THAT'S NOT WHAT IT SAYS ON THE AGENDA.
THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN THEIR FULL.
THAT'S NOT WHAT IT ON MINUTES.
I INVITE ANYONE I INVITE ANYONE TO SAY THAT.
OKAY, LET'S JUST MOVE ON BECAUSE WE NEED TO FOLLOW THE RULES ON AGENDA.
LET'S, YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THE RULES TOO, FRANCIS.
I JUST WANTED MOVE THE AGENDA.
[02:25:01]
NOW, I MEAN, I, I DIDN'T, UH, UH, SET THE RULES.NOW, PAUL, IF YOU WISH TO USE ALL YOUR FULL FIVE MINUTES, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU LET THE CLOCK RUN THE FULL COURSE OF FIVE MINUTES.
I HAVE ONLY A COUPLE OF VERY QUICK THINGS THAT I WANTED TO PRESENT TO THE BOARD.
UM, GOOD EVENING TOWN BOARD, PAUL COLTON, SEVEN PRIMROSE AVENUE.
UM, WE'VE HAD A VERY ROUGH WINTER IN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
THE ROADS, AS YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN, ARE IN NOT GREAT SHAPE.
UM, I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF REQUESTS I'D LIKE TO MAKE MINE.
COULD YOU PLEASE, WHEN THE WEATHER PAVING SEASON STARTS, HAVE THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TAKE A LOOK AT HARTSDALE ROAD BETWEEN DOBBS FERRY AND ROCKING CHAIR? THERE IS A STRETCH OF HARTSDALE ROAD THAT IS SO BAD THAT I ACTUALLY HAVE TO DRIVE IN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE TO AVOID THE POTHOLES.
AND I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE THAT PAVED AND NOT JUST COLD PATCHED, BECAUSE THE COLD PATCHING DOES NOTHING.
THAT'S IT ON THAT, UM, I WANTED TO MENTION ONE THING TO YOU FOLKS THAT I THOUGHT WHOEVER WANTS TO CARRY THE BALL CAN, I THOUGHT WAS VERY INTERESTING IN THE NEW YORK TIMES, UH, SOMETIME IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, THEY HAD AN ARTICLE ABOUT A SYSTEM IN FRANCE THAT IS DEALING WITH LOUD MUFFLERS.
APPARENTLY IN FRANCE, IT'S, WE'RE, WE'RE IN THE STATES, WE, EVERYBODY LIKES TO SOUP UP THEIR HOT RODS AND MAKE THEIR CARS VERY, VERY LOUD, AND MOTORCYCLES TOO.
AND APPARENTLY IN FRANCE, THEY HAVE A BIG, BIG PROBLEM WITH THE SCOOTERS AND OTHER MOTORIZED BIKES THAT, UH, THE OBJECT IS TO MAKE THEM AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE.
THEY'VE COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF A SYSTEM TO AKIN TO OUR RED LIGHT CAMERAS THAT I, I CAN'T, I'M ONLY SPECULATING ON THE DETAILS.
I'M ASSUMING THAT IT HAS SOME SORT OF VIDEO MONITORING AND SOUND MEASUREMENT, UM, SYSTEM SO THAT IT CAN CORRELATE WHAT IT SEES WITH THE LEVEL OF SOUND SO THEY KNOW WHEN THE OFFEND THEY CAN IDENTIFY THE OFFENDER.
I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE VERY INTERESTING TO MAYBE BROACH THIS WITH, UH, UH, SUPERVISOR LATIMER.
SEE IF WE CAN GET SOME, SOMETHING STIRRED UP ON THE STATE.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY IT'S A STATE ISSUE.
UM, THESE RED LIGHT CAMERAS AND SPEED CAMERAS ARE ALWAYS CONTENTIOUS, BUT THIS PROBLEM OF, UH, BREACH OF THE PEACE BY OLD CONSTANT RACING UP AND DOWN OUR STREETS, MAKING JUST A HELLACIOUS RACKET IS JUST INFANTILE.
AND IT, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE SOMETHING ANY OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS ARE ABLE TO REALLY CONTROL.
I MEAN, THEY CAN CATCH SPEEDERS, BUT THE, THE MUFFLER DEAL IS SUPER POPULAR THESE DAYS AND COMPLETELY OUTTA CONTROL.
I HEAR THEM RUNNING AROUND ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL NIGHT LONG.
MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE STATE COULD LOOK AT AS A, A MEANS OF ENFORCEMENT.
I, AGAIN, DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW IT WORKS, BUT THEY'RE DOING IT IN FRANCE.
YEAH, WE WOULD NEED PERMISSION FROM THE STATE.
THE STATE DOESN'T ALLOW, UH, TOWN TO ALLOW SOME CITIES TO HAVE.
COULD YOU JUST, I'M JUST, UH, EMAILING THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS ABOUT HARSDALE ROAD.
COULD YOU JUST, UH, TELL ME THE SECTION THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAID FROM, FROM DOBBS FERRY ROAD TO JUST PAST BONNIE BRIAR? OKAY.
TO ROCKING SHARE? YEAH, ALMOST TO ROCKING SHARE.
JUST FOR THE RECORD, JUST FOR THE RECORD, IT'S, IT'S, UM, COUNTY EXECUTIVE LETTER, SORRY, COUNTY EXECUTIVE LAM.
AND I DON'T WANNA SAY COUNT GEORGE
I'D SUGGEST YOU WRITE A LETTER TO OUR STATE DELEGATION.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT IS, IT'S A VERY EXPENSIVE, UH, FIX TO DO.
SO IT, IT, WELL, IT'S INCOME, IT'S REVENUE GENERATING, ACTUALLY.
YEAH, THERE'S, BUT WE'LL TALK NO IDEA.
I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE SYSTEM IS, WHAT THE COSTS ARE, YOU KNOW, UH,
[02:30:01]
MUNICIPALITIES GENERALLY HAVE FARMED ALL THIS STUFF OUT TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR, UH, WITH THE, THE CARROT BEING YOU GUYS KEEP THE MONEY JUST DOLL OUT THE FINES.ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT NO, IT'S, LOCAL ROADS ARE ALSO ON THE, LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE SPRAYING, UH, MOTORCYCLES.
IS THAT KIND OF A NOISE? I I DON'T THINK I, I'M ASSUMING THAT IN EUROPE THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS ON LOCAL STREETS, BOULEVARDS, LOCAL AREAS.
I DON'T, I DON'T THINK IT'S, UH, HIGHWAYS.
IT'S NOT REALLY PRACTICAL, BUT, OKAY.
I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING.
WE GOT A FEW MORE SPEAKERS, RIGHT? YES, WE DO.
AND SO FOR ALL OF THE, UM, PUBLIC INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE BE SPEAKING DURING PUBLIC COMMENT, PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU ENGAGE THE BOARD IN QUE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, THAT WILL CONSTITUTE PART OF YOUR FIVE MINUTES.
UM, ERIC ZINGER, I'D LIKE TO DIRECT SOME COMMENTS DIRECTLY TO GINA, IF I CAN BACK AND LET GO.
UH, WELL, SHE ASKED ME A SPECIFIC, MADE A SPECIFIC REQUEST TO SPEAK AT THE END.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHETHER I, DAD, NO.
DO YOU WANNA SPEAK NOW, CAROL? SURE.
UH, CAROL WILKE, SEEK A HOME CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
PAUL COLTON, WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HIS ISSUES, AND THEN THE PAVEMENT.
I, I WALK AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS I CAN.
AND, UM, CERTAINLY ON JEAN JENNIFER, I'M NOT TOO SURE ABOUT BARBARA.
UH, WE HAVE SOME BIG POTHOLES.
SO CAN I JUST PUT IN A PLUG FOR, UM, THE PUBLIC WORKS TO KIND OF LOOK AT THAT.
AND ON GENE LANE, THERE'S, IT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF GENE LANE, THIS'S, YOU KNOW, INCREASING POTHOLE, IT'S GONNA GET WORSE AND WORSE.
SO, UH, I'M, I'LL TAKE MY BICYCLE AND USE THE FIX OF GREENBERG, BUT YOU COULD ALSO USE THE APP, UH, AND BASICALLY JUST TAKE A PICTURE AND OH, RIGHT.
IT'S A, IT'S A REGULAR APP FOR ANYTHING.
IT'S JUST, WE JUST LAUNCHED IT ON OH, WITH THE, YEAH.
GREENBERG, YOU MEAN GO ON THE GREENBERG SITE? RIGHT.
IF YOU GO ON THE GREENBERG WEBSITE, FIX IT GREENBERG, RIGHT? THERE'S AN APP, AND THEN BASICALLY YOU JUST TAKE, UH, OH, REALLY? PHOTO, IT'S, IT, IT'S FANTASTIC.
OH, AND IT, SO IT DEFEATS THE PURPOSE IF YOU'RE ASKING IF EVERYBODY ASKS US TO TAKE A PICTURE TO PUT IT ON, BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA PUT IT ON FIX AT GREENBERG ANYWAY.
AND IT, AND IT'S THE APP IS FIX AT GREENBERG.
AND I CAN DOWNLOAD, DOWNLOAD IT FROM THE GREENBERG.
OH, THAT'S THE WEBSITE LAUNCHED IT, UH, SAW LAUNCHED YESTERDAY.
OH, WELL THAT'S WHY I HAVEN'T SEEN, IF YOU GO ON THE GREENBERG WEBSITE, UH, THERE'S A LINK, YOU KNOW.
OH, THERE'S, IT SAYS HOW YOU, IT EXPLAINS HOW OH, GOOD.
IT'S IN, ITS, IT'S IN INFANCY BECAUSE WE JUST YEAH.
YOU'RE SAYING JEAN LANE? JEAN.
JEAN AND WHAT ELSE? BARBARA? UH, AND, UH, JENNIFER, I SHOULD LOOK AT BARBARA, BUT I, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING ON BARBARA.
YEAH, I'LL ASK IF THEY, IT'S A PART OF THE COLD TOMORROW.
I SAY THAT'S, HE CAN ASK, HUH? DOESN'T MEAN, WELL, THEY USUALLY, THEY FIX A REAL, I SAID THAT'S GOVERNMENT AT IT.
BEST I'M GONNA SAY, I'M, I'M GONNA SAY YOU GET V I P TREATMENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ERIC, SINGER.
SO I JUST WANNA FOLLOW THE RULES.
SO BEFORE I BEGIN, SHOULD I STAY HERE AND WAIT TO DISCUSS MY QUESTIONS OR SHOULD I WAIT? AND THOSE WILL BE ADDRESSED AT THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT.
THEY'LL BE ADDRESSED AT THE END.
SO THEY'RE GONNA BE ADDRESSED.
COUPLE OF THINGS I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.
I KNOW YOU'RE SHAKING YOUR HEAD, GINA, BUT YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS WITH ELMWOOD, UM, WE'RE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HEARD TONIGHT, THIS SHOULD BE THE IMPETUS THAT GETS US TO FINALLY ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, THERE SHOULD BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL DEVELOPMENTS, NOT JUST MULTI-FAMILY.
COVID ISN'T OVER, BUT IT'S IN THE REAR VIEW.
SO INSTEAD OF SCHEDULING MAYBE THE FIFTH OR SIXTH PUBLIC HEARING ABOUT PUPPY MILLS, LET'S MAKE THIS A PRIORITY FOR 2022, RIGHT? I THINK EVERYONE AGREES AFFORDABLE HOUSING
[02:35:01]
SHOULD BE A PRIORITY FOR 2022.LET'S GET THIS LEGISLATION PASSED SO THAT SINGLE FAMILY HOME DEVELOPMENTS REQUIRE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I WANNA TALK ABOUT THE KRISTEN LINE, UH, STEIN LAWSUIT.
ONE THING I'D LIKE TO REQUEST OF THE TOWN BOARD IS THAT WHEN THEY'RE APPROVING THESE EXP EXPONENTIAL EXPENDITURES FOR OUTSIDE COUNSEL, THAT WE SPECIFY THE TOTAL AMOUNT SPENT ON THE CASE, NOT JUST WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL LAWYER.
UM, TONIGHT ON A T TWO, WE HAVE A RESOLUTION FOR 25 K FOR OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR THAT CASE.
UM, NOW WHAT ISN'T NOTED IS THAT WE'VE ALREADY SPENT 150,000 FOR, UH, COUNSEL WITH TOMI AND 50,000 FOR P**S.
SO IT'S A TOTAL OF 225,000 ALREADY.
WE'VE DEFINITELY DONE A GOOD JOB RECENTLY, AND THIS IS A RECENT CHANGE AND I APPRECIATE IT AND THANK YOU OF SAYING WHAT WE'VE SPENT PER LAWYER.
SO ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURES ON TOP OF THAT ARE NOTED SAYING AN ADDITIONAL 25 K FOR A HUNDRED K TOTAL.
AND I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IMPROVEMENT.
AND ONE REQUEST THAT I'D LIKE TO ADD ON TOP OF THAT IS THAT WE INCLUDE, YOU KNOW, FOR THE SAME LAWSUIT WHERE WE HAVE THREE OUTSIDE COUNSELS BEING HIRED, MAYBE LET'S SETTLE THAT WE GROUP THOSE EXPENDITURES TOGETHER.
I WANNA TALK ABOUT MARIJUANA FOR A SECOND.
THE TOWN APPROVED RETAIL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES AND WHAT WAS UNDOUBTEDLY THE CORRECT DECISION.
UM, SO I KNOW THAT, UH, THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL UPDATES ON THAT AT THE STATE LEVEL.
AND NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS THAT THE RESULTING DISPENSARIES WILL BE SET TO OPEN IN THE STATE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
THAT MEANS INSIDE OF NINE MONTHS.
THAT MEANS WE NEED TO HAVE A ZONING DISCUSSION.
AND I'D LIKE TO KNOW AND ASK THE TOWN BOARD WHERE WE ARE WITH THOSE ZONING DECISIONS WHEN PUBLIC HEARINGS WILL BEGIN SCHEDULED.
IF THERE'S ANY OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO, UH, PARTICIPATE IN THE DRAFTING OF THAT LEGISLATION PRIOR TO PUBLIC HEARINGS AND WHERE WE ARE IN THAT WHOLE DECISION.
UM, I WANT TO TALK AS WELL JUST BRIEFLY ABOUT THE GNET CO, UH, LAWSUIT REGARDING THEIR FOIA FOR POLICE DISCIPLINARY REQUESTS.
UH, GNET IS SUING THE TOWN FOR NOT RELEASING POLICE DISCIPLINARY RECORDS.
UH, LARGELY VILLAGE HAS COMPLIED WITH THAT.
IRVINGTON VILLAGE HAS COMPLIED WITH THAT.
DOBBS FERRY HAS COMPLIED WITH DOS.
AND MANY MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN WESTCHESTER HAVE COMPLIED.
GINA, YOU WERE THE CHAIR OF THE GREENBERG AGAINST SYSTEMIC RACISM COMMITTEE, AND IN YOUR FINAL REPORT YOU INCLUDED STATEMENTS SUCH AS IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT FOR TRANSPARENCY PURPOSES AT THE END OF EACH CALENDAR YEAR, G P D PUBLISH ALL COMPLAINTS RECEIVED FOR THE PRIOR YEAR IN AN ANNUAL REPORT, WHICH GETS POSTED TO THE G P D TOWN WEBSITE.
SO, IN LIGHT OF OUR PLANS TO PUBLICLY POST RECENT COMPLAINTS, I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT OUR REFUSAL FOR, UH, GNET CO'S FOIA REQUEST FOR PAST DISCIPLINARY RECORDS.
I'D LIKE TO HEAR WHETHER YOU AGREE WITH THAT DECISION AND WHETHER YOU THINK THAT MAYBE THAT SHOULD BE REVIEWED.
SO, MR. ZINGER, WITH RESPECT TO OUTSIDE COUNSEL, I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE TOWN DOES HAVE INSURANCE FOR THOSE FEES.
WE HAVE $150,000 SELF-INSURED RETENTION OR DEDUCTIBLE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THAT'S NOT CHARGED TO THE TAXPAYERS ONCE THE, UH, EXPENDITURES REACHED THE THRESHOLD.
SO WE'RE OVER 150 K ALREADY AND WE'RE OVER MARCH HUNDRED 50 K.
AND ALSO, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT, IS THAT INSURANCE FREE? NO, THAT INSURANCE IS NOT FREE.
AND I ALSO JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT WITH RESPECT TO THE DISCIPLINARY RECORDS, THERE'S AN AMBIGUITY THERE.
IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP THE RECORDS, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO CLARIFY THE AMBIGUITY, AND THAT'S WHAT LED TO THAT DECISION, WHICH IS BEING LITIGATED.
SO I JUST WANT ALL OF THE RECORDS SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC.
THERE SHOULD BE NOTHING HIDDEN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
IF WE'RE ASHAMED OF SOMETHING OR WE'RE TRYING TO HIDE SOMETHING THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
AGAIN, I WAS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE THAT WORKED ON THE SCOPING, THE SCOPING DOCUMENT, WHICH LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR THE ELMWOOD SEKER.
WE DISCUSSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THAT DOCUMENT, I WANT YOU TO KNOW IN THE D E I S, THERE'S A STATEMENT BY ME, COMPLETELY IGNORED BY RIDGEWOOD.
WHEN I ASKED ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHEN THE F E I S CAME OUT, WELL, THREE NEW ALTERNATIVES ARE IN THERE.
AND WE, WHEN I SAY WE, THE COMMUNITY IS INTERESTED IN HAVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX, WE
[02:40:01]
WANT RESIDENTIAL HOMES, SINGLE FAMILY HOMES VERSUS TOWNHOUSES.WE WOULD BE EMBRACING AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THIS DEVELOPMENT.
WE WILL HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY IGNORED TODAY.
WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING THROUGH THE, UM, PEOPLE SENDING ME EMAILS ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT.
I SENT OUT AN EMAIL TO PEOPLE AND I HAVE OVER, IT WAS COMING IN OVER 60, 65 RESPONSES.
I WOULD SAY UNA, I CAN'T SAY UNA.
I WOULD SAY, UH, OVER 60 OF THOSE PEOPLE SAID THAT THEY WOULD ACCEPT A AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THE ELMWOOD DEVELOPMENT.
BUT NOWHERE WERE WE EVER GIVEN A CHANCE TO EXPRESS OUR OPINIONS.
IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN LEFT OUT OF THIS, ESPECIALLY SINCE GRAYBAR CAME.
UM, RIDGEWOOD CAME IN AND GAVE A PRESENTATION AT A WORK SESSION.
WE WEREN'T ALLOWED TO OPEN UP THE D E I S.
BASICALLY WE WERE TOLD TO SHUT OUR MOUTHS AND GO AWAY 'CAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO SUE OR THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE LITIGATION AND WE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT.
NOTHING THAT WE DISCUSSED ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING WAS IN THAT DOCUMENT.
IT'S JUST NOT FAIR THAT THE COMMUNITY IS BEING LEFT OUT OF ANY DECISION THAT IS GOING TO IMPACT US THE MOST.
WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE TRAFFIC.
WE'RE THE ONES THAT ARE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE SAFETY ISSUES.
WE ARE GONNA, WE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE DENSITY.
AGAIN, THE COMMUNITY WILL EMBRACE AFFORDABLE OR WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THE ELMWOOD DEVELOPMENT.
I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH EXCEPT THAT WE JUST ARE, AT LEAST I AM.
AND I KNOW OTHER PEOPLE ARE BESIDES BEING FRUSTRATED, I AM SO ANGRY AT THAT APPLICANT FOR WHAT HE DID TO US AS A COMMUNITY.
I AM SO ANGRY THAT HE SHUT US OUT OF THIS WHOLE PROCEDURE.
UH, MANY OF US, PAUL COLTON, MIKE BIRDIE, CAROL TERRITORY, MYSELF, WE SPENT HOURS, WE SPENT DAYS WORKING ON THIS, TELLING US A FOUNDATION WAS GOING TO BE LAID FOR THE WHAT IS GOING TO EVER BE IN THE F E I S.
WHATEVER WE SUGGESTED OUT THE WINDOW, ALONG COMES THE, THE APPLICANT TOTALLY DISREGARDS, THIS IS YOUR DOCUMENT.
HELP US, MAKE HIM SEE OR HELP YOURSELVES TO SEE THAT WE ARE WILLING TO WORK WITH THE TOWN.
FROM DAY ONE, WE SAID WE WERE WILLING TO WORK WITH THE TOWN.
IT'S JUST NOT FAIR THAT WE ARE HAVING DOORS CLOSED IN OUR FACE.
MICHELLE, ARE YOU STILL THERE?
I GUESS A LOT OF US ARE FIGHTING FOR WORKFORCE HOUSING AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BUT THE LINKS SILENT AND, HUH? THIS IS INCREDIBLE.
UM, I WAS, I I WANTED TO SPEAK ABOUT A SITUATION THAT HAPPENED WITH A LONG TIME RESIDENT.
UM, HIS CLIFTON, EARL ABRAMS, UM, VERY DISTURBED BY THIS.
HE'S OF BERG MOST OF HIS LIFE.
HE'S ADVOCATED PEOPLE, ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN MARGINALIZED, REGARDLESS OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, DOESN'T MATTER.
HE'S BEEN THERE IN THE TRENCHES FIGHTING.
CLIFF EARL ABRAMS IS ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
GREENBERG HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE.
AND IN ORDER TO BE A VOTING MEMBER ON THE GREENBERG HUMAN RIGHT HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE, AND ALSO ANY OTHER COMMITTEES, UM, YOU HAVE TO GO PUT A RESUME IN, HAVE THE, UM, YOU KNOW, UH,
[02:45:01]
THE PERSON THAT'S IN CHARGE OF THE ACTUAL MEETING, WHICH IS THE CHAIRPERSON, YOU KNOW, SPEAK ON YOUR BEHALF AND YOU GET AN INTERVIEW BY THE TOWN BOARD.THIS IS WHERE IT GETS DISTURBING DURING AN INTERVIEW.
AND I'M TRYING TO FIND THIS OUT BECAUSE I KNOW NOWHERE IN WRITING THAT TELLS YOU THE PROCESS.
I'M GETTING BITS AND PIECES OF WHAT THE PROCESS IS BECAUSE I MYSELF AM THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, JOINING, UH, AS A VOTING MEMBER, UH, A CLOSED DOOR WORK SESSION.
I GUESS THEY DO THIS FOR EVERYONE.
AND
HE'S AN ASSET TO THE ASSET TO BEING, UM, A PART OF THE, UH, RESOURCE ADVISORY BOARD THAT, AGAIN, CLOSING HIM.
SO I'M LEONARD TALK ABOUT HER 'CAUSE I WAS NOT THERE.
BUT HE IS HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IN FACT HAPPENED, WHAT I KNOW TO BE, BECAUSE I SAW AN EMAIL, THE CONVERSATION COVER HUMAN RIGHTS DID NOT COVER ON THE RESOURCE, UH, CENTER THAT HE WANTED TO BE ON THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR.
IT WENT TO, IF CLIFF IS SUBMITTED, IF CLIFF IS FOR EVERYONE GREENBERG AND TO HAVE A TIMBER, KEN JONES, BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT GONNA SUPPORT YOU ON ANY BOARD YOU GO INTO.
THEN TO GET EMAILS FROM THE TOWN SUPERVISOR THAT ASKED HIM BASICALLY TO READ ABOUT FARRAKHAN CONVERSATION, MINISTER FARRAKHAN NAME FOR WHATEVER REASON, BECAUSE CLIFF LISTENS TO SOMETHING HE SAYS OR THINKS HE'S SUFFICIENT, AGREES WITH SOMETHING HE SAYS, DOES NOT
IN THIS EMAIL, I ASKED MR. FINER IF HE THOUGHT THAT CLIFFTON WAS ANTISEMITIC.
I ALSO HAVE TO FIND WHAT WAS THE WORKING DEFINITION THAT GREENBERG IS GOING ON FOR ANTISEMITISM AND ANTI-BLACK IS, HE NEVER ANSWERED THAT.
BUT WHAT HE DID TELL ME WAS NO ONE ON THE TOWN BOARD WILL TOLERATE ANY FORM OF HATRED, ONE OR RACIST STATEMENT.
AND THIS AN THIS CAME FROM ME SAYING TO HIM THAT ISRAELI RABBI I KNOW, AND, AND PLEASE FORGIVE, I'M PRONOUNCING NAMES IMPROPERLY.
UM, RABBI
OKAY, MS. BROWN, I'M SORRY, BUT WE GOTTA STOP YOU BECAUSE, UH, I KNOW YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE IT, BUT THE, UM, THE TIME HAS, YEAH, FIVE MINUTES IS UP.
SO WE HAVE TO GO ONTO THE NEXT SPEAKER.
I CAN'T SEE, AND I DIDN'T HEAR IT.
YEAH, I'M SORRY, BUT I AM WATCHING THE CLOCK.
AND WE, AND WE DID GIVE YOU FIVE MINUTES, SO WE JUST HAVE TO, UM, OKAY.
WE HAVE A, A ANOTHER SPEAKER JUST WANNA, AND WE CAN MOVE ON.
BUT MY POINT IS THIS REAL QUICK.
YEAH, WE UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT.
WE UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT, WE UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT, BUT WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.
WE ALL LIVE IN THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER.
WE HAVE THE NEXT SPEAKER, UH, CLIFF ABRAMS. YEAH.
AND WHILE CLIFF IS COMING ON, MS. BROWN, I ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT YOU'RE, UM, THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE WAS FADING IN AND OUT.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A CONNECTION ISSUE, BUT WE DID HEAR THE MAJORITY OF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THAT FOR FUTURE COMMENTS THAT MAYBE YOU WANT TO BE POSITIONING YOURSELF DIFFERENTLY OR IN ANOTHER LOCATION.
AND WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR CLIFF.
RIGHT? CAN I HEAR HER? CAN, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE HEAR YOU FINE.
YOU KNOW, KEN, YOU COULD'VE LET HER, I MEAN, TIM, YOU COULD'VE LET HER FINISH HER LAST DATE.
YOU KNOW, IT TOOK NO MORE THAN FIVE SECONDS, YOU KNOW? SO ANYWAY,
[02:50:01]
THE TOWN BOARD TALKED WITH FALSE TONGUE.FRANCIS, YOU SAID WE WAS MOVING FORWARD, BUT DOES, BUT THOSE WORDS IS LIKE SAND IN THE HAND.
THERE'S NO TRUTH OR MEANING TO IT.
THE BOARD IS TRYING TO MAKE ME GO AGAINST MINE ACTIVISM, BELIEF.
I DON'T HAVE TO BELIEVE WHAT THE BOARD OR THE A D L BELIEVES OR SAY BECAUSE I WON'T BOW DOWN TO KEN JONES, WHO COULDN'T WAIT TO TELL ME THAT HE COULDN'T SUPPORT MY ACTIVISM.
THEN I HAVE A MEETING ON FEBRUARY 22ND, AND THE TOWN BOARD PITCHED ME IN A CLOSED SESSION AND SAY TO ME, NOT WHAT I DO, OR, WELL, HOW I'M A QUALIFIED, THE FIRST ST.
FRANCIS GO TO HIS LAPTOP AND SAY, YOU SAID THAT THAT MINISTER HEIM AND THE TOP JEWISH REV BIAS SAID, HAVE A DEBATE.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT? THEN HE GOES TO HIS LAPTOP NOW HE SAID HE WAS GOING MOVE FORWARD, MOVE FORWARD, BABY.
WE'RE GOING GO AHEAD AND TRY TO, TO DO THE BEST.
THEN HE GOES TO, THIS IS A CLOSED DOOR SESSION.
THEN HE GOES TO HIS LAPTOP AND SAYING, OH, YOU SEND AN EMAIL TO ME SAYING AS A WHITE MAN, I SHOULD BE QUIET WHEN IT COME TO BLACK ISSUES AND CULTURE.
YES, I JUST SAID THAT THE SAME WAY.
I CAN'T SPEAK ON JEWISH, ASIAN OR ITALIAN ISSUES.
AND I KEEP MY MOUTH SET AND I LISTEN AND TRY TO LEARN SOMETHING.
FRANCIS, YOU NEED TO PRACTICE THEN MR. FINE, SEND ME AN EMAIL.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE TO EXPRESS OPPOSITION AGAINST ANY WORDS OR HATE FROM ANYONE.
WHEN ANY WORDS ARE HATE RY RACISM IS EXPRESSED.
WE ALL NEED TO SPEAK OUT LOUDLY AND CONDEMN THEIR REMARKS.
ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO CLEVERLY CONDEMN ANY OF OFFENSES, HATEFUL CONDUCTS, SUCH AS THE COMIC MADE BY MINISTER GON FARHAN OR THE RABBI YOU MENTIONED.
HE DIDN'T WANNA MENTION THE RABBI'S NAME YUSUF.
HE'S THE CHIEF RABBI OF ISRAEL.
BUT THE A D L SAY THAT WHAT HE SAYING WAS UNACCEPTABLE.
BUT WHEN MINISTER FARRAKHAN, HE'S A MINISTER, JUST LIKE HE'S A RABBI.
WHEN HE SAY THAT THE BLACKS ARE MONKEYS, OH, IT'S ACCEPTABLE, BUT MINISTER FARRAKHAN SAY SOMETHING.
THEN MR. FINDER SENDS ME AN EMAIL SAYING, GOOGLE THE THING THAT THE A D L SAID ABOUT MR. SO FARRAKHAN, THE A D L DON'T REPRESENT ME.
THEY REPRESENT THE JEWISH RACE.
I'M TRYING TO GET ON A GENERAL ARREST COMMITTEE BECAUSE I REPRESENT EVERYBODY.
SO THEN I LOOK HERE BECAUSE THE TOWN BOARD AND, AND, AND AGAIN, KEN JONES COULDN'T WAIT, YOU KNOW, THAT, HEY, I'M IN A BACK ROOM ALL BY MYSELF AND HE WANT TO YELL OUT LIKE, NO, YOU DIDN'T SUPPORT THE TOWN BOARD WHEN PEOPLE WAS PICKING UP THE SIGN AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE COUNTDOWN.
BUT YET I HAD TO TELL 'EM I DON'T WORK FOR THE TOWN.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, I TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD.
I INITIATED THE, ON THE DISCUSSION ON RACISM DURING THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE, THAT THE HOMETOWN BOARD WAS THERE.
I INITIATED A PAID AFRICAN FLAG THAT WAS RAISED UP AT THE TOWN HALL THAT THE HOMETOWN BOARD WAS THERE.
SO I WANTED TO KNOW, THEN I ASKED THE TOWN BOARD, WELL, WHAT IS, UH, YOUR FINDING? AM I ON COMMITTEE OR NOT? DID THEY EVEN THOUGHT THEY HAD A RESPECT ACT AND EITHER LET ME KNOW.
SO I HAD TO FIND OUT BY THE CHAIRPERSON LYNN GOODMAN, A JEWISH WOMAN WHO SAID TO THE TOWN BOARD AT THE LAST TOWN BOARD MEETING THAT CLIFF ABRAM GOT THE INTEGRITY, I GOT THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR HIM AND HIS OPINION, AND HE MADE A LOT OF PROJECTS THAT WE WORK ON WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK LIVES MATTER.
THAT KEN JONES GOT HIS FACE OUT AND HE DIDN'T SUPPORT IT WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED, UNTIL THEY MADE IT A THREE PART PROJECT.
THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU WANT TO BE, HE WANTED TO BE ABOUT.
SO YOU KNOW WHAT, THIS TOWN BOARD HERE YOU'RE TALKING WITH FALSE TONGUE.
[02:55:01]
IS IT WROLD? RABEL.HI STEVEN, COULD YOU PLEASE SPELL YOUR LAST NAME FOR ME? SURE.
UH, A LITTLE BIT OF A STRANGE SPELLING.
UH, SO, UH, IF, SORRY, I I JUST HAVE A QUICK CLARIFYING QUESTION AND I I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE IF I, I HEARD CORRECTLY, WILL THE BOARD BE VOTING ON ANY RESOLUTIONS TONIGHT? OR WAS THAT THAT NON VOTE STATEMENT ONLY PERTAINING TO, I THINK YOU MENTIONED PUBLIC WORKS AND THE COMPTROLLER? NO, WE'RE NOT VOTING THAT.
UH, WHAT I WOULD REQUEST THEN IS TO RECONSIDER WITH REGARD TO RESOLUTION CD ONE.
UH, IT'S A SIMPLE SITE PLAN REFERRAL TO THE PLANNING BOARD.
UH, MY CLIENTS, UH, HAD PLANNED BASED ON COMMENTS FROM STAFF ON, ON BEING WITH IN FRONT OF THE PLANNING BOARD ON MONDAY NIGHT.
UH, SO OBVIOUSLY IF THAT VOTE IS MOVED TO TUESDAY, THAT COULD COST US SOME TIME.
UH, AND I, I AGAIN APOLOGIZE, I DIDN'T QUITE CATCH THE CRASH FOR THE NON VOTE.
UH, BUT I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY REASON WHY THE REFERRAL COULD NOT BE MADE.
I DON'T HAVE AN ISSUE OF THAT IF WE VOTE ON IT AS AMENDED.
SHOULD WE DO THAT NOW? IS THAT A CLOSE? WELL, AFTER A PUBLIC COMMENTARY, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO, WE HAVE NO FURTHER REQUESTS.
THEN I'D LIKE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
UH, JUDITH, THERE ARE TWO, TWO SPEAKERS.
ERIC'S WAIT, A I HOPE HE'LL FORGIVE ME.
HOUSE SAMIS AND WHO ELSE? GARRETT, COLBY, JENKINS AND COLBY.
SO HOUSE SA WELL, I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS.
AS JUDITH CAN TESTIFY, WHAT I SENT HER FOR HER TO READ WILL NOW BE THROWN OUT THE WINDOW ENTIRELY.
BASED UPON WHAT I'VE LEARNED TONIGHT.
I REALLY DIDN'T INTEND TO SPEAK ABOUT THE TOWN BOARD'S RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE CAPITAL BUDGET, BUT THE COMMENTS THAT THE TOWN BOARD MEMBERS, CERTAIN MEMBERS HAVE MADE, AS WELL AS THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAME FORTH FROM SPRINGWOOD AVENUE TO TESTIFY HAVE PRETTY MUCH MADE MY CASE.
MR. SHEEHAN, YOU REFERRED TO A WORK SESSION TWO WEEKS AGO, TWO WORK SESSIONS A WEEK AGO, AND BECAUSE IT WAS DISCUSSED THERE, YOU THINK THAT HAS THE SAME POWER AND EFFECT AS WRITTEN DOCUMENT? I BELIEVE WHEN YOU CITIZENS ARE GIVEN A PUBLIC HEARING TO TESTIFY ON A PIECE OF LEG LEGISLATION BEFORE THE TOWN OF ONE INVOLVING CONSIDERABLE TOWN DOLLARS, $20 MILLION, IN FACT, THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO SEE THE DOCUMENT THAT THE TOWN BOARD IS VOTING UPON.
IN FACT, IN THE RESOLUTION, THE RESOLUTION REFERS TO A PROPER PROPOSED CAPITAL BUDGET WHILE THE BUDGET THAT APPEARS ON THE TOWN WEBSITE REFERS TO THE REC RECOMMENDED CAPITAL BUDGET.
YOUR STORY THAT THE SERVER WAS DOWN TODAY IN NO WAY IN ENTITLES YOU TO TAKE TWO WEEKS TO PRODUCE A CAPITAL BUDGET THAT YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE ON, YOU DON'T WAIT TILL THE LAST MINUTE.
THE ARGUMENT ALL ALONG HAS BEEN THAT YOU HAVE NOT PROVIDED MR. ZINGER DOCUMENT TO THE PUBLIC.
I'M SORRY, HAL, I HAVE TO INTERRUPT YOU, MR. COLTON.
SO COULD YOU, COULD YOU COME? ALL RIGHT, MRS. YOU CAN CONTINUE.
DO YOU PLAN ANY OTHER INTERRUPTIONS? NO.
NOW THERE ARE, AS THE PUBLIC HAS LEARNED TONIGHT, THERE ARE ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE NOT ADDRESSED IN YOUR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
AMONG THEM ARE, IS IT OR IS IT NOT A PRIVATE ROAD? YOU HAVE NOT MADE A DETERMINATION ON IT.
AND WHATEVER DETERMINATION YOU MAKE, IT SEEMS TO BE CHALLENGED BY THE RESIDENTS THEMSELVES, IS THIS ROAD THAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT AND THE MONEY THAT YOU'RE ALLOCATING FOR IT, SHOULD IT BE IN THE A BUDGET OR THE B BUDGET? MOST OF THIS ROAD IS LOCATED HARDLEY, WHICH WOULD SEEM TO SAY THAT IT SHOULD BE IN THE, A BUDGET AND NOT AN UNINCORPORATED EXPENSE ABOUT THE AMOUNT THAT YOU WANTED.
ELLEN, AM I BOTHERING YOU? SORRY IF I'M INTERRUPTING YOUR CONVERSATION.
[03:00:01]
NO, HOW WE HAD A CLOCK ISSUE.SO WE WERE ADDRESSING THAT CLOCK ISSUE AND, AND WE WERE TRYING TO, LET'S JUST, AND TELL ME TO STOP.
WHEN I HAVE YOUR INTENTION, WE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION NOW.
SO IS IT IN THE A OR THE B BUDGET? DON'T YOU WANNA RESPOND ABOUT THAT? THE $500,000 THAT YOU HAVE CREATED A NEW BUDGET LINE IS COOLED ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.
WHAT YOU DID NOT TELL THE PUBLIC IN YOUR FEW TO DEAL WITH WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, WHETHER YOU WERE ALREADY ALLOCATED $2 MILLION FOR ROAD SURFACING, RESURFACING, THAT SEEMS TO HANDLE THE PROBLEM THAT THE RESIDENTS FEEL THAT THEIR ROAD JUST NEEDS TO REP PAVED.
HOWEVER, YOU CREATE A $500,000 BUDGET, MR. SHEHAN, BECAUSE YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT EXTENDING IT, WHICH THE RESIDENTS DON'T WANT.
IN FACT, IN ALL THOSE COMMUNICATIONS TO YOU, I PROPOSE THAT YOU REDUCE THAT $500,000 TO $50,000, WHICH WILL COVER THEIR PAVING NEEDS.
AS THE RESIDENTS TESTIFIED, THE TOWN HAS DONE A GREAT JOB ON IMPROVING THE LOCATION OVER THE YEARS.
NEW CURBING EVERYTHING THAT THEY ASKED FOR.
SO IS THIS A PRIVATE ROAD OR A PUBLIC ROAD? I KNOW MANY OTHER PRIVATE ROADS IN TOWN, WHICH WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THE SAME SERVICE.
SO ARE YOU GOING TO CREATE A PRESIDENT HERE WHERE ALL PEOPLE WITH PRIVATE ROADS SHOULD BE RELIEVED OF THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PAVE IT, RELIEVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PLOW IT, RELIEVE THE VENUE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CURBING? OKAY.
AS I SAY, PROBABLY I COULD HAVE MADE THE BEST CASE JUST BEING SILENT AND LET PEOPLE JUDGE FOR THEMSELVES THAT THE TOWN BOARD HAS NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE VOTING ON FOR.
ONCE I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MR. FINER, THIS IS A CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE YOU'RE PROPOSING AND YOU'RE FOOLING NO ONE WHEN YOU'RE SAYING IT'S A GENERAL ITEM, YOU KNOW DAMN WELL IT'S SPECIFIC TO SPRINGWOOD ROAD THAT YOU DISCUSSED YOURSELVES IN THE WORK SESSIONS.
MY ARGUMENT ALL ALONG HAS BEEN IS THAT YOU HAVE FAILED TO PRODUCE A DOCUMENT THAT IS THE ACTUAL CAPITAL OF BUDGET THAT YOU INTEND TO VOTE ON, AND YOU CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING PREMATURELY ON THAT BASIS.
SO WHETHER THERE WERE STILL MINUTES LEFT IN THE SEVEN DAYS THAT YOU HAD AT THE FIRST WORK SESSION, YOU STILL HAD KEN JONES MY ANNOYING YOU, UH, WOULD YOU STOP THE CLOCK? I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE FULL TOWN BOARD'S ATTENTION HERE.
WELL THEN IF THE TOWN BOARD DOESN'T PAY ATTENTION, WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF HAVING PUBLIC COMMENT? NOW, THE, SO HERE WE HAVE A SITUATION WHERE YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND PROCEED WITH ANOTHER $500,000, WHICH NEITHER THE RESIDENTS OR THE TOWN SUPERVISOR FEEL IS NECESSARY.
AND AGAIN, I REPEAT, YOU ALREADY HAVE $2 MILLION IN WHAT IS CALLED YOUR RECOMMENDED CAPITAL BUDGET TO DO ROAD RESURFACING.
STOP MAKING THIS NONSENSE JUST BECAUSE SOMEHOW IS CONVINCED YOU THAT THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING IN THE REMAINING SECONDS HERE.
I WOULD ALSO ADD, YOU KNOW, ALL THIS EMPHASIS ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NONSENSE.
WHAT THIS TOWN NEEDS IS LOW INCOME HOUSING.
THOSE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN C V SS AND THE SUPERMARKETS EARNED NOW, THERE WERE $15 AN HOUR.
THAT WORKS OUT TO ROUGHLY 17, 18, THE THIRD AFTER PAYING RENT AT WORK.
I'M SORRY, I DON'T HAVE IT IN MY DISPOSAL SO I WON'T ANSWER IT.
THERE'S, UH, COLBY JENKINS, AND THEN WE HAVE
BEFORE THAT I DO WANNA ADDRESS THE REASON WHY IT'S IN THE B BUDGET IS BECAUSE THE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT B BUDGET MEANS.
AND SECONDLY, NOWHERE ON PAGE 18 OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET WHERE IT DISCUSSES THE ROAD IMPROVEMENTS AND THE $500,000, DOES IT MENTION ANYWHERE ABOUT A PARTICULAR STREET OR EXTENDING A ROAD OR ANY OF THAT? THAT MONEY IS NOT EARMARKED.
YOU CAN SPEND FIVE MINUTES TALKING ABOUT IT IF YOU WISH, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE IT IN
[03:05:01]
THE CAPITAL BUDGET.CAPITAL BUDGET SIMPLY MEANS THAT SAYS THAT THERE'S $500,000 FOR ROAD, UH, ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, AND WE STATED AT THE WORK SESSION THAT THAT MEANS WE CAN USE IT FOR ANY ROAD THAT WE WISH TO FIX.
ARE YOU ALL ABLE TO HEAR ME? YES.
TOWN BOARD SUPERVISOR AND TOWN BOARD.
I'M, UM, AM I UNMUTED NOW? YES.
FIRST OF, I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I DID HEAR, UH, A LOT TONIGHT, AND ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE ON A LOT OF TOWN BOARD MEETINGS DUE TO SCHEDULING, UM, I SEE THAT A LOT IS A LOT OF GROWTH AND I'VE ALSO SEE A LOT OF STAGNATION OF WHERE WE DEFINITELY CAN CONTINUE THE PROCESS OF GETTING BETTER.
UM, WE, THE NEED OF OUR COMMUNITY, WE HEARD IT FROM SO MANY ON TONIGHT, SO MANY THAT WERE PASSIONATE ABOUT, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE KNOW THEY SET ASIDE WITH THE 10% IS SO MINIMAL THAT IT'S LEADS TO ROUGHLY ONE TO TWO APARTMENTS.
UM, BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF UNITS THAT ARE PER BUILDING, 20% LEADS TO THREE, MAYBE FOUR APARTMENTS DEPENDING ON, SO AGAIN, IT'S NOT SUFFICE, IT'S NOT SUFFICIENT, IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
AND WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS WORK WITH GOVERNMENT, OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, OTHER MUNICIPALITIES, AND MIRROR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE TO BRING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND LESS STOP RUNNING AROUND IN A CIRCLE AND JUST LET'S TRY TO GET IT DONE.
WE HAVE ABLE BODIES, ALL OF OUR TOWN BOARD MEMBERS, WE VOTED YOU ON FOR A REASON BECAUSE WE TRUSTED AND BELIEVE THAT YOU ALL CAN GET THE JOB DONE.
WE SHOULD NOT BE CHASING YOU ALL DOWN EVERY TOWN BOARD MEETING SOMETIME.
I TRULY FEEL BAD BECAUSE EVERYBODY KEEPS YELLING ABOUT THE SAME THING, EXPECTING A DIFFERENT RESULT, AND WE JUST NEED TO REALLY WORK TOGETHER MORE TO GET THINGS DONE MORE EFFICIENTLY SO THAT THEY CAN BE DONE.
WE KEEP THINKING THAT THIS, ALL THAT WE'RE DOING, YES, IT IS FOR US, BUT IT'S FOR OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN, AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
THE BIBLE SAYS A GOOD MAN LEAVES AN INHERITANCE NOT FOR HIS, JUST HIS CHILDREN, BUT FOR HIS CHILDREN'S CHILDREN.
SO WE HAVE TO REALLY START KEEPING THE FOCUS ON THAT.
THIS IS WHAT WE, THE LEGACY OF WHICH WE WANT TO LEAVE BEHIND FOR OTHERS TO BE ABLE TO REAP OR HARVEST FROM THE SEEDS THAT WE HAVE SOWN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE NEED TO KEEP THE FOCUS ON THAT FIRST AND FOREMOST.
AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE TO FIGHT HARDER AND HARDER FOR THIS AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WE CAN'T JUST LET, UM, UH, PEOPLE COME IN AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, AND THEN THEY'RE NOT GIVING US NOTHING.
WE HAVE LEARNED THAT LESSON THROUGH, UP AND DOWN ONE 19.
WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYTHING FROM THESE CAR DEALERSHIPS.
NOT EVEN PARTITIONS, NOT EVEN OUTSIDE, UM, UH, SCHOOL CENTERS DURING A PANDEMIC, NOT EVEN MASS OR HAND SANITIZERS.
DID THEY GIVE, THEY DIDN'T EVEN GIVE A LOANER CAR WHEN OUR, WHEN OUR COMMUNITY'S CARS WERE UNDERNEATH WATER DURING THE HURRICANE.
SO WE HAVE TO DEMAND MORE, BUT WE HAVE TO ALSO WANT MORE.
SO MOVING ON FROM THAT, AND I, AND I THANK YOU ALL FOR HEARING IT AND HEAR IT AS NOT AS, UM, ANGER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT AS A PASSION AND A LOVE FOR MY COMMUNITY, WHICH WE ALL HAVE, RIGHT? WE ALL HAVE THAT
[03:10:01]
GIVEN.WITH THAT BEING SAID, MY SEGUE INTO WHAT I'M HEARING ABOUT MR. INGRAM'S, I MEAN, I'M DISTURBED MYSELF BY IT.
THE GENTLEMAN HAS A WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
AND LAST I HEARD WE SHOULD LAST.
I BELIEVE WE SHOULDN'T BE TYING HIS BOW TIE TO FARRAKHAN'S BOW TIE.
AND JUST BECAUSE I HEAR, LET ME JUST SAY THIS.
THAT DID NOT STOP ERIC ZINGER FROM DONATING TURKEYS WHO IS A JEWISH MAN WHO DID, DIDN'T STOP HIM.
ONE TIME WHEN I CALLED HIM TO DONATE TURKEYS TO MY BAPTIST CHURCH, HE DID JUST THAT.
NOW, NOW, NOW TYING TO HIS BOW TIE TO FARRAKHAN DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE.
I MYSELF HAS BEEN, UM, VISITED CHURCH, UM, CLIFF'S CHURCH.
THEY JUST DID A NAME, NAME A NAME CEREMONY FOR HIS PASTOR.
SO I JUST SAY THAT WE HAVE TO SOMETIME BE CAREFUL WHO WE THINK THAT WE'RE TINY PEOPLE WITH AND THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING, BECAUSE THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE SO.
WE HAVE TO KNOW THAT I, I WANNA WRAP IT UP WITH THIS.
YEAH, YOU GOTTA, YEAH, PLEASE.
BECAUSE WHEN WE HAVE A WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SERVE IN THESE CAPACITIES.
WE'RE ALL GONNA DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DIS.
WE CAN DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A WILLINGNESS TO SERVE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SERVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
I THINK MS. SWAN IS THE LAST SPEAKER.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? YES.
GOOD EVENING, TOWN SUPERVISOR PAUL, FINER COUNSELOR, TIMOTHY LEWIS, COUNCILWOMAN AND COUNCILMAN AND MADAM TOWN CLERK JUDITH.
BILL, I PRAY ALL IS WELL WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.
UNLIKE IN THE UKRAINE, YOU KNOW, EVEN RACISM IS GLOBAL.
THEY WON'T EVEN LET THE BROWN AND BLACK PEOPLE OUT.
I WONDER IF THEY'RE GIVING THEM GUNS TO BE ABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.
WHAT I'M CALLED, WHAT I AM SPEAKING ON IS, UH, COUNSELOR KEN JONES.
I SENT YOU BACK IN DECEMBER 14TH, 21 OF LAST YEAR, UM, TWO CASE NUMBERS OF POLICE REPORTS THAT I WANTED YOU TO LOOK INTO BECAUSE YOU WERE THE LA LIAISON TO THE GREENBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY AND IT DEALT WITH THEM.
UH, WELL, YOU DIDN'T ASSURE ME, BUT YOU, ON THAT DAY, YOU ASKED ME TO SEND THE FILE TO YOU IN A P D F AND WHICH I DID.
THEN JANUARY 6TH, 22ND, I DIDN'T HEAR FROM YOU.
THEN JANUARY 20TH, 22, I DIDN'T HEAR FROM YOU.
I DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM YOU.
YOU TAKE NOTES SO ARTICULATELY ON THE DAY, BUT I WONDER, WHAT DO YOU REALLY DO WITH THEM? BECAUSE EVIDENTLY, THE NOTES THAT YOU TOOK THAT EVENING AT THE TOWN BOARD MEETING, YOU DID NOT ADHERE TO THEM.
THEN ON FEBRUARY 7TH, THIS PAST MONDAY, UM, MICHELLE BROWN ACTUALLY SENT YOU AN EMAIL INQUIRING ABOUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO GHOST US, PLEASE LET US KNOW AND DIRECT US IN A RIGHT DIRECTION IN WHICH YOU CAN POSSIBLY HELP.
THE ONLY REASON WHY WE CALLED ON YOU IS BECAUSE FIRST, I HAD REFERRED THIS TO TOWN SUPERVISOR PAUL FINER, UH, REFERRING TO THE FALSIFIED POLICE REPORT THAT THE GREENBURG HEIGHTS L L C MANAGEMENT TEAM HAD, UH, UH, WRITTEN UP ABOUT ME.
I HAVE JAMAICAN ANCESTRY BLOOD IN MY BODY.
SO FOR THEM TO GO OUT AND MAKE AN ALLEGATION FOR ME TO TELL SOMEBODY TO GO BACK TO JAMAICA IS A DERELICT AND A VERY, VERY HORRIFIC STATEMENT TO MAKE AGAINST SOMEONE AND TO MAKE ME OUT TO BE A CRAZY
[03:15:01]
WOMAN, LIKE I WAS ACTING CRAZY.I HAVE A SLIP DIS AND I SUFFER FROM HYPERTENSION, AND I HAVE NO CARTILAGE IN MY KNEES.
SO HOW DANGEROUS A PERSON CAN I POSSIBLY BE? I'M ASKING FOR MY NAME TO BE EXPUNGED.
I WANT THE LAST NAME, SWAN, S W A N N, EXPUNGED FROM CASE 2 0 2 1 0 0 7 8 7 8.
I ACTUALLY HAVE AN EMAIL FROM PAUL FINER ASKING THEN THE, UH, POLICE CHIEF CHRIS MCNERNEY TO CLEAR MY NAME.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY I GAVE IT TO YOU.
CAN KEN, BECAUSE YOU ARE THE LIAISON TO GREENBERG, AND EVIDENTLY YOU DID NOT BRING BACK THE REPORT BECAUSE NOTHING HAS BEEN SAID OR NOTHING HAS BEEN MENTIONED, AND YOU HAVE NOT CREATED NOT ONE PAPER TRAIL.
BUT BELIEVE ME, I HAVE MY PAPER TRAILS.
SO IF YOU COULD ANSWER WHY YOU HAVE NOT RESPONDED, OR IF YOU COULD POSSIBLY GIVE ME A CALL, MY NUMBER IS ON EVERY DOCUMENT IN WHICH THAT I HAVE SENT TO YOU, AND YOU KNOW WHO I AM, KENNETH.
AND I THINK IT'S BEEN VERY DISRESPECTFUL IN THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE RESPONDED TO MY REQUEST WITHOUT EVEN SAYING IN THE FIRST OPENING ACT OF SAYING, NO, MS. SWAN, I CANNOT HELP YOU OR MS. SWAN, LET'S LOOK INTO THIS OR DIRECT ME.
OH, I HAVE ONE MORE THING TO SAY, MS. SWAN.
I JUST SAID, I JUST SENT YOU AN EMAIL, MS. SWAN, I JUST, I JUST SENT YOU AN EMAIL.
UH, PUT YOUR, IF YOU WILL JUST, UH, GIVE ME, UH, YOUR PHONE NUMBER.
UH, WE'LL GET TOGETHER AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT AND WE'LL MOVE IT FORWARD.
MY E MY TELEPHONE NUMBER IS ON EVERY CORRESPONDENT THAT I'VE SENT YOU.
9 1 4 5 6 4 7 9 0 SE 9 1 4 5 6 4 7 9 0 7.
OKAY, THEN I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WAY TO YOUR, PAUL, PAUL, BEFORE YOU ADJOURN THE MEETING THERE, THERE WAS A LOT OF, THERE WAS A LOT OF SIDEBAR TALKING GOING ON, UM, WHEN YOU, WHEN THE BOARD WAS DISCUSSING, UM, THE, UH, THE END OF THE HEARING.
SO I, COULD YOU PLEASE RESTATE, UM, YOU CLOSED THE HEARING AND YOU LEFT THE RECORD OPEN FOR HOW MANY DAYS, PAUL? UNTIL APRIL 8TH.
PAUL, I NEED FOR ONE PERSON TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION, RIGHT? REPEAT.
I JUST NEED FOR ONE PERSON TO ANSWER UNTIL WHEN? PAUL, APRIL 8TH.
WHICH IS 30 DAYS, WHICH IS WHAT THE PLANNING BOARD ASKED FOR.
WE, WE HAVE THE, THE, THE RESOLUTION, RIGHT? SO YOU GONNA MAKE A MOTION? UH, MS. JEN, I SEE MS. JENKINS HAS RAISED HER HAND, BUT I BELIEVE THERE'S ONLY ONE SPEAKING OPPORTUNITY, UH, PER MEETING.
UH, SO I JUST WANNA NOTE THAT TO MS. JENKINS, RIGHT? UH, MS. WEEMS EMAILED ME INDICATING SHE WANTED TO SPEAK, SO I SENT HER THE LINK AND, UM, SHE, SHE, SHE, UH, IS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING ON.
SO, UM, IF SHE COMES ON IN THE NEXT 30 SECONDS, I'LL LET YOU KNOW, BUT I BELIEVE SO.
WE'RE ABOUT TO MOVE ON AS AMENDED.
[ CD 1 - 3/09/2022 Resolution of the Town Board of the Town of Greenburgh referring an Amended Site Plan Application of Scarsdale Golf Club, located at 1 Club Way (P.O. Hartsdale, NY), to the Planning Board for review and recommendation]
ONE.RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, REFERRING TO THE AMEND SITE PLAN APPLICATION OF SCARSDALE GOLF CLUB LOCATED AT ONE CLUB WAY TO THE PLANNING BOARD FOR REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION AS AMENDED.
WOULD LIKE TO MOVE? AYE, ADJOURN THE MEETING.
LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT NOT ONE OF MY QUESTIONS WAS ANSWERED.