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TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, JULY, UH, 10TH AT, UM, SEVEN, UH, 40, UH, PM.
[ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
GONNA, UH, START THE MEETING WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE 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.
[ MOMENT OF SILENCE In memory of those killed in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion, and in memory of those who have perished due to the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023]
STANDING FOR A MOMENT, PLEASE.A MOMENT OF SILENCE IN MEMORY OF THOSE KILLED IN UKRAINE DUE TO THE RUSSIAN INVASION AND A MEMORY OF THOSE WHO PERISHED DUE TO THE TERRORIST ATTACKS BY HAMAS ON OCTOBER.
AND NOW, UH, TOWN CLERK WILL DO
[ ROLL CALL: Town Clerk Lisa Maria Nero]
A ROLL CALL.SUPERVISOR, SUPERVISOR FINER HERE.
COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON PRESENT, COUNCILWOMAN HABER PRESENT, COUNCILWOMAN HENDRICKS PRESENT AND DEPUTY TOWN ATTORNEY AND PARLIAMENTARIAN, MRS. AMANDA MAGANA PRESENT
[ PRESENTATIONS Congratulations to Town Assessor Edye McCarthy on being designated as an International Association of Assessing Officers (IAAO) Fellow, the highest title awarded to the best of the best of IAAO assessors who have dedicated their career to the development of the profession and made exceptional contributions to the Association and the assessment industry.]
UH, YOU KNOW, BEGIN THE MEETING BY JUST, UH, RECOGNIZING OR THANKING, UM, OR CONGRATULATING EDEDIE MCCARTHY.UH, SHE, UH, WAS DESIGNATED AS AN INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ASSESSING OFFICERS, UH, FELLOW THE HIGHEST TITLE AWARDED TO, UH, THE BEST OF THE BEST OF THE INTERNATIONAL, UM, UH, ASSESSORS AROUND THE WORLD.
AND, UH, THAT'S SORT OF THE EQUIVALENT OF THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR ASSESSORS OR THE ER PRIZE FOR, UH, FOR ALL RIGHT.
NOW, PAUL, LET'S NOT GET CARRIED AWAY.
I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE HER AND, UM, AND THANK HER FOR HER, UH, SERVICE, UH, TO THE TOWN AND, UH, TO THE INDUSTRY, UM, WELL DESERVED.
[ TOWN CLERK COMMENTS]
TOWN CLERK HAVE ANY COMMENTS? UH, NOT AT THIS TIME.[ To consider the Town of Greenburgh Proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Applications to be submitted to the Westchester County Urban County Consortium for Fiscal Years 2025-2027]
OKAY.NOW WE'LL HAVE THE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
UH, THE FIRST PUBLIC HEARING, UM, IS BEING ADJOURNED, UM, TO A SUBSEQUENT HEARING, UH, DATE.
AND, UM, ANY WRITTEN COMMENTS SENT TO, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS, UH, BY 6:00 PM THE DAY OF THE HEARING WILL BE FORWARDED TO ALL TOWN BOARD MEMBERS, UH, TO CONSIDER, UM, THE TOWN OF GREENBURG PROPOSED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT APPLICATIONS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY URBAN COUNTY CONSORTIUM.
UH, THAT'S GONNA BE ADJOURNED.
WHAT'S THAT? WHY IS IT ADJOURNED RIGHT OVER HERE? NO, I'M JUST SAYING OVER HERE.
NO, WHY IS IT TO COUNT? THAT'S NOT ADJOURNED.
SO THEN WE ARE OPENING UP THAT HEARING.
UM, NO, I JUST WAS SAYING IT SAID BE ADJOURNED.
SO, UM, ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK ON THAT? ONESO
WINSOME GORDON, GRANTS COORDINATOR, TOWN OF GREENBURG, OFFICE OF PHILANTHROPY AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS, AND ASSISTANT TO GEORGE CAMINA, PHILANTHROPIC COORDINATOR, TOWN OF GREENBURG SUPERVISOR, FINER MEMBERS OF THE TOWN BOARD, COUNCILMAN FRANCIS SHEAN COUNCILWOMAN, GINA JACKSON, COUNCILWOMAN HELEN HENDRICKS, COUNCILWOMAN JOY HABER.
LADIES, GENTLEMEN, RESIDENTS OF GREENBURG.
I WELCOME YOU TONIGHT, WEDNESDAY, JULY 10TH TO THIS PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER THE COMMENTS ON THE TOWN OF GREENBERG'S PROPOSED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS APPLICATION TO BE SUBMITTED TO WESTCHESTER COUNTY URBAN CONSORTIUM FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 TO 2027.
THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT IS A FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAM OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, HUD THAT PROVIDE FUNDS TO COMMUNITIES FOR NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION AND IMPROVEMENTS.
IT'S A REQUIREMENT THAT ALL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLACK GRANT FUNDED PROJECTS ACCOMPLISH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING
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NATIONAL OBJECTIVE.IT IS REQUIRED THAT IT BENEFITS LOW TO MODERATE INCOME PERSONS.
IT ELIMINATES AND PREVENTS SLUMS AND BLIGHT.
IN ADDITION, MEETS AN URGENT NEED OF RECENT ORIGIN.
WITH THIS IN MIND, THE TOWN OF GREENBURG HAS NUMEROUS MEETINGS WITH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THE TOWN DEVELOPED A SERIES OF PROJECTS TO ADDRESS THESE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS, THE NEEDS THAT AFFECT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OPPORTUNITIES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, COMPREHENSIVE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH DAYCARE SERVICES, SENIOR SERVICES AND INTERGENERATIONAL CARE CBG APPLICATIONS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE ONCE I SAY ONCE EVERY THREE YEARS.
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE DO NOT WANT TO, WE DON'T WANNA MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY.
SECOND, SO I NEED YOU TO SUPPORT IT.
WE NEED THE RESIDENTS OF GREENBURG TO COME OUT AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE WANT.
WE WANT CHANGES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT AS WE SUBMIT OUR PROPOSED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROJECTS.
THE TOWN HAS WORKED HARD WITH US TO HELP US TO COME UP WITH, YOU KNOW, IMPROVE RESOLUTIONS.
SO THE FOLLOWING ARE THE PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS, ENDORSING THE SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS FOR 2025 TO 2027, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING, SUBJECT TO THE PUBLIC HEARING TODAY ON JULY 10TH, AND SUBSEQUENT VOTE ON AUGUST 14TH, 2024 BY THE TOWN BOARD.
THESE ARE THE RESOLUTIONS, CL 1 8 14 24.
I'M SAYING THESE FOR THE RECORD.
BY LAW, THIS HAS TO BE RECORDED IN THE MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING.
SO IT MIGHT SEEM A LITTLE REPETITIOUS, BUT IT IS NECESSARY BECAUSE WE WANNA BE IN FULL COMPLIANCE.
CD 1 8 14 24 RESOLUTION, ENDORSING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR 25 27 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING FOR THE DOBBS FERRY ROAD SIDEWALK AND RELATED IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
THE TOWN OF GREENBURG IS REQUESTING $200,000 IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDS.
THE TOWN IS ALSO MATCHING IT BY 200,000.
OTHER MATCH INCLUDE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION GRANT FUNDS, $1 MILLION.
THE COST OF THE PROJECT WILL BE 1,400,000.
THIS IS OUR NUMBER ONE PROJECT, WHICH WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE FUNDED IN 2025.
THE NEXT RESOLUTION IS PH 1 8 14 24 RESOLUTION, ENDORSING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR 2025 TO 2027.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK RUN FUNDING FOR A 40 PASSENGER HYBRID GASOLINE, DIESEL, ELECTRIC BUS FOR SENIORS AND YOUTH AT THE THEODORE D YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER.
THE APPROXIMATE COST OF THE PROJECT WOULD BE ABOUT $400,000.
BUT THEN AGAIN, WHEN THE BIDS COME IN, THE PRICES COULD CHANGE A BIT.
AND THIS IS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025.
PH 2 8 28, 14 24 RESOLUTION, ENDORSING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR 2025 TO 2027.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING FOR THE LLOYDS BRONZE CHILDREN'S CENTER PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
PHASE TWO REQUESTED AMOUNT IS 137,500 FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK RENT FUNDS.
THE TOWN IS MATCHING AT 50 50 WITH ANOTHER $137,500.
THE TOTAL PROJECT COSTS WILL BE $275,000.
AND WE'RE REQUESTING THIS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 PH 3 8 14 24 RESOLUTION.
ENDORSING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION FOR 20 20 25 TO 2027.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING FOR GREENBURG PARKS AND RECREATION.
OLD TARRYTOWN ROAD PARK IMPROVEMENTS REQUESTED CDBJ FUNDS IS $200,000.
THE TOWN IS MATCHING IT BY $305,400.
THE TOTAL PROJECT COSTS WILL BE $505,400.
THE TOWN OF GREENBURG VALUES AND APPRECIATE THEIR NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS.
THEY ARE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY HELP TO ALSO REVITALIZE OUR COMMUNITY.
THEY MAKE GREENBURG A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
PH 4 8 14 2024 RESOLUTION ENDORSED ENDORSING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO WESTCHESTER COUNTY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 TO 2020 4 27, I'M SORRY, 2025 TO 2027.
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING FOR THE FOLLOWING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, UNION BAPTIST CHURCH.THEIR PROJECT IS REVAMPED AND RESTORE RESTROOM FACILITIES.
WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER THAT USED TO BE FORMALLY THE GREENBURG HEALTH CENTER PARKING LOT, REMODEL, PARKING LOT, ENTRANCE REMODEL.
THEIR SECOND PROJECT IS NEW WALK-IN EXAM ROOMS AND OFFICES.
THE LLOYD BRONX CHILDREN'S CENTER ELECTRIC INFRASTRUCTURE, WATERPROOF INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE COUNTY WILL NOT CONSIDER AN APPLICATION IF IT DOES NOT HAVE A VERY ACTIVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR GROUP.
WITH THIS IN MIND, I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOP ADVISORY GROUP.
LLOYD COURT IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
HE'S NOT ABLE TO BE PRESENT DUE TO AN EMERGENCY.
SHE'S CURRENTLY, UM, NOT AVAILABLE.
COUNCILWOMAN HELEN HENDRICKS, LIAISON TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS.
I LIKE COMMISSIONER GARRETT DAININ, COMMISSIONER OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION, GEORGE MINA, PHILANTHROPIC COORDINATOR, AND MYSELF, WINSOME GORDON.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I WELCOME THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
I AM ROSETTA GRIFFITH BULLOCK.
I'LL TRY TO BE AS ANIMATED AND HAVE A MEETING.
WE JUST WANNA TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OURSELVES.
I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO BE TAPPED BY LLOYD COURT TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE.
ALSO, I'M A RESIDENT OF, IT'LL BE 22 YEARS IN GREENBURG.
ORIGINALLY I'M A QUEEN'S GIRL, BUT I LOVE GREENBURG.
SO I AM A FORMER TEACHER IN HEMPSTEAD AND IN MOUNT VERNON, PRINCIPAL FOR X AMOUNT OF YEARS, WHICH I LOVED.
AND I'VE WORKED WITH MR. MR. NEWLAND ON, UH, SOME OF THE BOARD'S COMMITTEES FOR THE SCHOOL.
SO LET ME INTRODUCE THE REST OF THE COMMITTEE TO YOU TO TELL YOU JUST A, A LITTLE SNAPSHOT OF OURSELVES.
SO WOULD WE HAVE DENNIS COME UP? HE SAID HE IS GOING TO BE BRIEF
WE KNOW DENNIS, WE HAVE FAITH IN YOU.
SUPERVISOR, MAYOR, FINER COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, AND THE AUDIENCE.
I WAS HONORED WHEN LLOYD COURT, OUR CHAIRPERSON ASKED ME TO SERVE ON THE GREENBURG COMMITTEE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
UM, I'VE ALSO, UH, BEEN A LONG TIME RESIDENT OF GREENBURG.
MY FAMILY MOVED HERE WHEN I WAS SIX YEARS OLD, AND I WAS A PRODUCT OF THE VALLA SCHOOL SYSTEM.
UH, AND UM, AFTER I HAD, UM, GROWN UP AND GONE THROUGH SEVERAL, UH, SITUATIONS IN LIFE, I'VE DECIDED TO MOVE BACK TO GREENBURG.
AND I'VE BEEN LIVING HERE FOR 10 YEARS.
AS A RESULT OF MY PAST POLITICAL EXPERIENCE SERVING UNDER TWO DEMOCRATIC MAYOR SUPERVISORS IN THE TOWN AND VILLAGE OF, OF HARRISON.
UH, THE LATE JOHN OMO, UH, APPOINTED ME AS A DISTRICT LEADER AND APPOINTED ME TO THE CABLE TELEVISION COM COMMITTEE WHEN CABLE, YOU KNOW, FIRST CAME INTO BEING AND THE LATE CHARLES VALENCIA, WHO APPOINTED ME TO THE FINANCE AND BUDGET COMMITTEE AND PUBLIC RELATIONS AND CO-HOST OF HIS MONTHLY CABLE SHOW, THE MAYOR'S MONTHLY REPORT, I LEARNED HOW IMPORTANT THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY SERVICES ARE TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE RESIDENTS.
AS A HIGH SCHOOL SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER, I LEARNED IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CHILDREN AS WELL AS OUR ADULTS, WE MUST BE VISUAL IN CONTINUING TO UPGRADE OUR COMMUNITY CENTERS, OUR PARKS AND RECREATION AREAS, AND OUR HEALTH CENTER.
MY FAMILY FIRST, AS I MENTIONED, MOVED TO GREENBURG WHEN I WAS ONLY SIX YEARS OLD.
WE LIVED DOWN THE ROAD OFF HILLSIDE AVENUE IN THE EDGE ROCK, EDGEBROOK COOP COOPERATIVE, A APARTMENTS I ATTENDED, AS I MENTIONED, THE VAL HALLER, UH, SCHOOL SYSTEM.
AND, UM, I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH WINSOME GORDON LLOYD COURT,
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MEMBERS OF OUR COMMITTEE AND THE TOWN BOARD TO MAKE THIS PUBLIC MEETING A SUCCESS.AT THIS TIME, WE'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM MR. NEWLING.
SUPERVISOR, UH, MINOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
UH, JUST TO GIVE YOU A BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF WHO I AM, 46 YEARS AGO I MOVED TO GREENBERG.
I WAS A YOUNG MAN, AND, UH, I LIVED HERE.
I MOVED TO GREENBERG BECAUSE OF THE DIVERSITY, THE RICHNESS, THE QUALITY OF LIFE.
NEWLAND, HAD THREE CHILDREN, WENT THROUGH GREENBERG CENTRAL, SEVEN GRADUATED, AND THEY'RE ALL DOING VERY WELL.
I'VE ALWAYS INVOLVED IN THIS COMMUNITY AND IT'S ONE THING THAT I LIKE, UH, THIS TOWN FOR, UH, I, I STARTED MY INVOLVEMENT IN, UH, VOLUNTEERING AND WORKING WITH THE TOWN, GOING BACK FROM TONY, VETERAN ADMINISTRATION.
AND SHORTLY AFTER THAT, PAUL FINDER SUCCEEDED AS A SUPERVISOR.
AND THERE'S ONE THING THAT I ADMIRE IS THAT THE DEMOCRACY THAT WE HAD IN THIS TOWN, IT ALLOWS EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE.
SOMETIMES THERE ARE DIFFERENCES, POLITICS, WHATEVER.
BUT SOMEHOW I THINK WE AS A COMMUNITY CAN COME TOGETHER AND MAKE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, PLEASURABLE FOR EVERYONE.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY, MANY COMMITTEES, UH, ON THE TOWN.
UH, A FEW YEARS AGO I DECIDED TO RUN FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD, AND I RAN FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD.
AND I GOT ON THE SCHOOL BOARD AFTER MY LAST DAUGHTER GRADUATED.
AND I DID THAT PURPOSELY BECAUSE I RAN FOR THE BOARD, NOT BECAUSE WHAT I COULD GET OUT OF IT, BUT WHAT I CAN CONTRIBUTE AND WHAT I CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THIS COMMUNITY.
THEY, THEY DO NOT HAVE A LIMIT.
AND 20 YEARS LATER, I GOT OFF THE BOARD, CORRECT.
UH, IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.
I GET A CHANCE TO WORK WITH ALL THE COMMUNITY.
UH, PAUL FINER AND THE BOARD SUPPORTED OUR SCHOOLS.
UH, WE FORMED AN ALLIANCE WHERE WE WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY.
AND BELIEVE ME, WE WORK WONDERS.
UH, AFTER I GOT OFF THE BOARD, UH, I WAS ASKED TO JOIN THE BLOCK RAN COMMITTEE, WHICH I, WHICH I, UH, ACCEPTED.
AND I'VE BEEN ON HERE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE, WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A WHOLE LOT OF, UH, GOALS.
THE SIDEWALKS, AS YOU CAN SEE.
AND THERE'S MANY, MANY MORE PROJECTS TO DO.
AND THE IMPORTANT THING IS WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS, UH, UH, GRANT THAT DOESN'T INCREASE PEOPLE'S TAXES.
AND THIS COMMITTEE HAS WORKED VERY HARD.
WE LOOK FOR GOOD PROJECTS, WORTHY PROJECTS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
SO TONIGHT, I'M HERE TODAY TO, TO ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE, UH, PROJECTS THAT WE'VE PUT FORWARD.
AND I LOOK CLOSELY, UH, TO WORK WITH YOU GUYS AS LONG AS, UH, MY TIME PERMITTED.
CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME? SIR? SIR, SIR, I'M SORRY.
COULD YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME? OH, I'M SORRY.
LLOYD NEWLAND, 31 DUNNER AVE ROAD, WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK.
AND WOULD YOU SPELL YOUR LAST NAME? SO N-E-W-L-A-N-D.
AND FOR A POINT OF PROTOCOL DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING, IF THE COMMITTEE IS SPEAKING, THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT WHEN THERE IS PUBLIC SPEAKING, THERE IS A FIVE LIMIT, FIVE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
UM, EXCUSE ME, MADAM CLERK, SOMETHING SEPARATE.
I CAME TO YOUR OFFICE TODAY AND I EXPRESSED TO YOU YOU CAN'T DO THAT.
THERE'S SOMETHING I NEED TO CORRECT.
WHAT IS THAT? UM, THEY'RE ALLOWED AS MUCH TIME AS THEY NEED.
NO, YOU KNOW WHY? BECAUSE WITH THE, WITH THE, WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, IT'S IN THE APPLICATION.
WE HAVE TO INVITE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I KNOW THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE LONGER
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BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO SHOW THEIR INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT YOU REALLY CAN'T LIVE IN TO FIVE MINUTES WITH PRESENTATIONS.WE NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK RUN.
AND IF I'M WRONG, I APOLOGIZE TO YOU.
AND I'M SORRY THAT, THAT I'M SAYING SOMETHING NOW.
BUT THEY'RE USUALLY ALLOWED MORE TIME TO SPEAK WITH THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
AND I COULD BE WRONG AND I APOLOGIZE.
SO WHO NEEDS MORE THAN 10 MINUTES TO SPEAK? THEY REALLY DON'T.
THEN WHY ARE YOU MAKING AN ISSUE WITH THIS? BECAUSE WHAT IF SOMEBODY NEEDS A, IT'S A PUBLIC HEARING.
THEY GET FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK AFTER EVERYBODY ELSE SPEAKS.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE A SECOND ROUND AND THEY GET ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES.
COUNCILMAN TRUMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS VERY MUCH.
I, HOWEVER, FOR THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO HAVE TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE CASE YES.
FOR WHY THESE THINGS ARE GOOD THINGS, UH, THERE IS NO TIME LIMIT.
WHAT SOME THOSE THEN
YOU MADE YOUR POINT, BUT YOU KNOW IT.
I JUST WANT TO GO OVER THE PROTOCOL TO SHOW THAT WE DID WORK VERY, VERY HARD.
THERE WERE THREE MEETINGS THAT WE HAD INITIALLY.
WE HAD ONE ON JUNE 5TH, JUNE 24TH, AND ALSO A VIDEO CONFERENCE ON JULY 20, UH, JULY 9TH.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'VE BEEN IN CONTACT ON THE PHONE WITH EACH OTHER.
SO WE REALLY DO APPRECIATE, WANT YOU TO APPRECIATE THAT WE HAVE WORKED HARD WITH OUR PEOPLE WHO ARE ABOUT TO PRESENT.
AND I DO APPRECIATE WHEN YOU'RE SAYING THAT WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES.
BUT TRUST ME, THESE ARE DYNAMIC PRESENTATIONS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO SELL IT, I BELIEVE YOU DON'T HAVE TO SELL IT TO.
YOU'RE GOING TO, YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE IT.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WORK VERY HARD AND WE REALLY WANT, WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE GREENBERG WONDERFUL, WHICH IT IS.
AND WE'RE ALREADY PUBLICIZING AND ALL THE MAGAZINES, SO LET'S KEEP THAT GOING.
AND I HOPE COMMISSIONER GARRETT IS UP BECAUSE HE IS OUR FIRST PRESENTATION PRESENTER.
AS SOON AS HE TURNS ON HIS CAMERA, HE'LL SHOW UP.
AND YOU'RE ON COMMISSIONER GARRETT.
GOOD EVENING, SUPERVISOR FIGHTER MEMBERS OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.
WANNA THANK THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR YOUR, UH, EFFORTS AS VOLUNTEERS.
AND I WANNA THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THE CANDIDATE PROJECT THAT I'M ABOUT TO PRESENT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO WINSTON GORDON FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND SHARE SCREEN HERE.
SO I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION OF THIS CANDIDATE FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT.
THE PROJECT THAT I'M GONNA PRESENT IS KNOWN AS THE DOBBS FERRY ROAD SIDEWALK.
THIS PROJECT WOULD BENEFIT CENSUS TRACTED 1 0 9 0.03, BOTH BLOCK GROUPS ONE AND TWO, WHICH ARE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME BLOCK GROUPS.
IT WOULD ALSO BENEFIT, UM, CENSUS TRACT 1 0 9 0.03, BLOCK GROUP FOUR, WHICH IS OUTSIDE OF THE LOW TO MODERATE INCOME GROUP AREA, BUT IT'S PRIMARILY WHERE THE PROJECT IS.
BUT AS A WHOLE, THOSE THREE BLOCK GROUPS, UM, WOULD BENEFIT GREATLY FROM A SIDEWALK IN FROM ONE 19 ON DOPPS FERRY ROAD TO SORRENTINO PLACE, WHICH IS JUST BEFORE METROPOLIS COUNTRY CLUB.
UM, I WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR REPRESENTATIVES AT THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO GET A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THE TOTAL UNIVERSE OF POPULATION IN THOSE AREAS.
AND, UM, CAME TO THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS PROJECT BY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT STANDARDS WOULD BENEFIT, UH, A MINIMUM OF 52% OF RESIDENTS IN LOW TO MODERATE INCOME.
THEREFORE, RENDERING THE PROJECT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT ELIGIBLE.
I HAD THAT VERIFIED BY THE COUNTY.
UM, PRESENTLY, THERE IS NO SIDEWALK ON DOBBS FERRY ROAD, AND THAT'S THE BAND THAT I JUST DESCRIBED.
THERE'S NO SIDEWALK ON EITHER SIDE OF DOS FERRY ROAD.
AND THE PLAN IS TO PROPOSE A SIDEWALK ON THE SOUTH SIDE, AGAIN, ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF DOTS FERRY ROAD.
SO THAT'S THE NON, UM, CROSSROADS SHOPPING CENTER SIDE OF DOTS FERRY ROAD.
IT'S A SPAN OF ABOUT 3000 LINEAR FEET, SO JUST OVER A HALF MILE.
THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF DOS FERRY ROAD, LOOKING FROM A VANTAGE POINT,
SO LOOKING AT A WESTERLY DIRECTION, UM, I DID NOT PAY THE GENTLEMAN IN THAT PICTURE TO SHOW UP FOR THE PHOTO CREEPY DEAL.
UM, BUT IT, IT IS ROUTINE FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE, UH,
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TRAVERSED THIS QUARTER AS, AS MANY OF US DO, UM, TO COMMONLY SEE BOTH CHILDREN, SCHOOL CHILDREN, ADULTS, UM, WALKING TO PLACES OF BUSINESS, WALKING TO BUS STOPS, AND THEY'RE IN THAT SHOULDER UNPROTECTED.UM, THE BEAUTY OF THIS PROJECT IS THAT WE ARE WELL UNDERWAY.
UM, THANK YOU TO THEN CONGRESSWOMAN MOND JONES FOR PROVIDING A MILLION DOLLARS OF COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING.
UH, SO THAT FUNDING IS IN HAND AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THE NEW YORK STATE DOTI CAN REPRESENT THAT THIS SIDEWALK PROJECT HAS PRELIMINARY DESIGN, UH, APPROVAL FOR NEW YORK STATE DOT, AND WE ARE ON TRACK TO BE SHOVEL READY WITH THIS PROJECT IN MAY OF 2025.
UM, THE $1 MILLION THAT I REFERENCED WOULD BE SUPPLEMENTED BY THIS MUCH NEEDED $200,000 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUND IF WE'RE, UH, SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE IT AWARDED.
AND THEN WHEN YOU COMBINE THAT WITH THE, UH, LOCAL INPUTS, UM, THIS IS HOW A PROJECT TRULY GETS DEVELOPED WITH THE VARIOUS FUNDING SCREENS.
UM, THE LAST GRAPHIC I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU, UH, JUST PAINT A PICTURE OF HOW THIS, THIS SIDEWALK SPAN FITS INTO THE, UH, EXISTING SIDEWALK NETWORK AND THE NETWORK WHERE THERE ARE SIDEWALK NEEDS.
UM, SO I'M GONNA USE MY CURSOR TO, AND I HOPE THIS, UH, SHOWS UP FOR YOU.
UM, BUT AGAIN, THAT SPAN THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IS THIS RED, UH, HASH, AND THAT'S THE 3000 LINEAR FOOT THAT'S OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK SPAN, 3000 LINEAR FEET.
UM, NO SIDEWALKS THERE PRESENTLY.
IN ADDITION, I JUST WANNA, UH, HIGHLIGHT A FEW OTHER IMPORTANT FACTS.
UM, THERE'S A 2000 LINEAR FOOT SPAN THAT GOES BEYOND THERE FROM SORRENTINO PLACE TO WEST HARSDALE AVENUE.
UM, THE PARTNERS AT METROPOLIS COUNTRY CLUB, WHO ARE SOON TO BE BREAKING GROUND ON A, UH, SENIOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, UH, HAVE AN OBLIGATION THROUGH THAT APPROVAL OF THE TOWN BOARD TO PUT IN A, UH, SIDEWALK WITH THAT SENIOR HOUSING.
AND THEY'RE WELL ON THEIR WAY TO GETTING APPROVALS FROM DOC.
UM, SO REALLY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A, A LARGER PROJECT, UM, IN REALITY SPANNING FROM ONE 19 ALL THE WAY TO WEST PARKSDALE AVENUE.
AND JUST TO CLOSE OUT, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER GOOD THINGS ON THE HORIZON.
UM, THIS YELLOW SPAN IS ACTUALLY EXISTING SIDEWALK THAT'S, THAT'S BEEN THERE FOR A COUPLE YEARS.
UM, BUT I KNOW AS SOME EBLASTS HAVE WENT OUT, UH, THE TOWN OF GREENBURG'S BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE AWARDED A COUPLE TAP GRANTS.
UH, SO THIS BLUE SPAN IS, IS ON THE HORIZON.
IT'S A 1600 LINEAR FOOT SECTION CLOSE TO THE, UM, GREENBURG HEALTH MOUNT VERNON HEALTH CENTER.
AND THEN LASTLY, UM, MANY HAVE, YOU KNOW, HEARD ABOUT THE WEST HARSDALE AVENUE SIDEWALK AT THE $5 MILLION TAP GRANT.
SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO, IN ADDITION TO SPEAKING ABOUT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PAINT, THIS PICTURE OF A LOT OF THESE GOOD IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE ON THE HORIZON AND THE BENEFIT, UH, OF THE PEDESTRIANS IN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
UM, I BELIEVE THAT, UH, CONCLUDES MY REMARKS.
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE KIND WORD FOR CONSIDERING, UH, THIS PROJECT.
AND AGAIN, THANKS TO THE TDAC COMMITTEE FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND, AND WISDOM FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU COMMISSIONER GARRETT.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR COMMISSIONER GARRETT? WELL, PERSONALLY, HOW MANY PEOPLE IN HERE ARE WALKERS? I'M A WALKER.
SO WE KNOW THOSE SIDEWALKS ARE WONDERFUL, BUT, AND I'M ON SOUTH ROAD.
THAT NEW SIDEWALK IS JUST WONDERFUL.
SO THE MORE SIDEWALKS WE HAVE, THE BETTER FOR OUR HEALTH, RIGHT? GARRETT? I MENTIONED FOR PEOPLE WHO, UM, ARE INTERESTED.
UM, THERE'S A SMALL STRETCH ON HILLSIDE THAT STILL HASN'T BEEN COMPLETED, AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT THAT SHOULD BE DONE PROBABLY WITHIN A MONTH, RIGHT? THAT'S SOME TIME.
THAT PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED FOR.
RIGHT? AND THEN THEY'LL ALSO HAVE THE CROSSWALK AND, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM, UH, GRANADA.
BUT I, I REALLY AM, UH, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL.
AND I ALSO WANT TO COMMEND, UM, WINSOME FOR HER ENTHUSIASM OF EVERYBODY, EVERY EMPLOYEE WAS AS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT AS YOU ARE ABOUT THE JOB WOULD, WOULD BE SO LUCKY.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE ENTHUSIASM AND PASSION THAT ALL YOUR, UH, MEMBERS OF YOUR BOARD HAVE, HAVE DONE.
LISTEN, WE WANT THIS TO GO THROUGH.
SO WE'LL SEE YOU WITH THESE NEW SIDEWALKS AND YOU'LL SEE US WALKING.
NOW, I JUST WANNA ADD REALLY QUICKLY.
SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE SIDEWALKS, WE HAVE TO GIVE THE CREDIT TO GARRETT, TO KAIN THE COMMISSIONER, BECAUSE HE'S THE WOR HE'S THE ONE THAT'S WRITING THESE GRANTS.
HE'S THE ONE UP ALL NIGHT, MAKING SURE THOSE GRANTS IN ARE ON TIME.
SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE RECOGNIZE, UH, COMMISSIONER GARY KING, HE'S THE ONE THAT DOES THOSE WONDERFUL GRAPHICS THAT MAKES IT VERY CLEAR TO UNDERSTAND HE DOES THE WORK.
SO WE, I MEAN, WE HAVE TO JULIE KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE'LL DOING ONE.
BUT HE GOES BEYOND BECAUSE HE ACTUALLY SLEEPS HERE,
[00:30:01]
LITERALLY SLEEPS HERE.SO ACTUALLY I HAVE TO GET THE CREDIT ACTUALLY SAY THAT HE DOESN'T SLEEP HERE.
HE'S HERE OVERNIGHT TO MEET A DEADLINE.
NOW WE HAVE COMMISSIONER TERRANCE JACKSON, WHO WILL GIVE US A RIVETING REPORT.
ALRIGHT, UH, THE PRESSURE'S ON.
GOOD RIVETING, RIVETING PRESSURE.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT SLOWLY
AND IT'S A JOURNEY YOU'VE BEEN ON BEFORE.
AND IT WAS CALLED THE LITTLE SCHOOL BUS
YOU MIGHT'VE BEEN IN KINDERGARTEN OR SO WHERE YOUR TEACHER WAS READING YOU.
THIS BOOK, THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS, DID AMAZING THINGS FOR YOU.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO DO.
NOW, THE THEODORE D YOUNG CENTER, A 55-YEAR-OLD FACILITY THAT DOES AMAZING THINGS.
IT IS A DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES, RESOURCES THAT ARE GIVEN TO THIS COMMUNITY, TO THE PEOPLE SO THEY CAN DREAM, THEY CAN ACHIEVE ALL THAT THEY WANT TO DO.
WHAT WE'RE PUTTING FORWARD MAY SEEM SIMPLE.
IT IS A BUS, BUT THIS ONE IS MAGIC BECAUSE IN THE DAYS AND TIMES THAT WE LIVE NOW, GASOLINE FOR WHAT IT IS, EXPENSIVE, TOXIC, AND OTHER THINGS, WE HAVE ALTERNATIVES, WHETHER IT BE HYBRID, WHETHER IT BE TOTAL ELECTRIC.
THESE ARE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE IN FRONT OF US THAT WE NEED TO STEP FORWARD ON SO THAT OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHTER FOR THE SAME KIDS THAT ARE RIDING THE BUS.
AND SENIORS AND SENIORS WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GO WITH THIS BUS, RIGHT? UM, THE THINGS WE DO, THE PLACES WE GO.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ALMOST 400 KIDS AT, UH, THE CENTER FOR OUR SUMMER CAMP.
I'M DOUBLING AS CAMP DIRECTOR THIS YEAR, SO EXCUSE THE OUTFIT.
AND THE HEAT IS GREAT, TRUST ME.
IT MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE FUN AND IT'S GETTING EVEN HOTTER
UM, BUT YOU'VE ALSO SEEN THAT AHA MOMENT IN A CHILD.
I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE IT ALMOST EVERY DAY BECAUSE OF WHAT WE DO.
AND IF WE CAN TAKE THEM SOMEWHERE TO SEE SOMETHING NEW, THAT'S GREAT.
BUT HOW ABOUT THIS? I EVEN GET TO SEE IT IN OUR SENIORS.
DO YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT A WOMAN THAT IS 105 YEARS OLD THAT COMES TO MY CENTER EVERY WEDNESDAY TO PLAY BRIDGE.
SHE ACTUALLY BROKE HER HIP LAST YEAR AND SHE WAS OUT FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS.
AND I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I SAW HER COME BACK WALKING UP THE STAIRS.
I WAS LIKE, NO, YOUR ELEVATOR ACTUALLY WORKS.
UM, BUT IT, IT, IT'S A JOB THAT IS AMAZING TO BE ABLE TO DO IN A TOWN THAT I HAVE LIVED ALL MY LIFE.
EVERY JOB I HAVE HAS BEEN HERE.
WHETHER IT BE AS A ENTREPRENEUR IN A FAMILY BUSINESS THAT RAN FOR 45 YEARS.
I WAS THERE FOR 20, WHETHER IT BE AT MERCY COLLEGE TRAINING STUDENTS, SOME OF WHICH NOW I EMPLOY TO BEING HERE.
IT'S STILL A MATTER OF OPERATIONS ORGANIZATION AND MAKING STUFF HAPPEN.
WHAT I'M ASKING YOU TO MAKE HAPPEN IS THE MAGIC BUS, SO THAT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND OLD PEOPLE CAN MOVE SAFELY IN ALL DIFFERENT WAYS.
I'M ASKING FOR THE SIZE OF THIS BUS BECAUSE WE DO CURRENTLY HAVE A 40 PASSENGER BUS THAT IS, UH, A GASOLINE BUS.
AND I MEAN, I, I PRAY EVERY DAY, BUT SOMETIMES THINGS HAPPEN AND THE BUS MAY BREAK DOWN.
I WANNA MAKE SURE I CAN TAKE ONE MORE BUS TO GO GET THEM.
I, I'M, I'M TRYING TO GET MY CDL, SO IF I HAVE TO DO IT MYSELF, I WILL
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SAFE IN ALL WAYS.
I REACH OUT TO THE BOARD, I REACH OUT TO THIS GROUP, PLEASE PUT THIS PETITION FORWARD.
[00:35:01]
BUS RIDE.AND YOU'RE SAYING THE MAGIC BUS SHOULD BE A GREEN BUS, UH, EITHER A HYBRID OR ELECTRIC.
IS THAT YOUR PROPOSAL? ABSOLUTELY.
A HYBRID OR ELECTRIC BUS WITH OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE TOWN, WE WILL BE ABLE TO ELECTRIFY THAT BUS, KEEP IT MOVING.
WE HAVE A GREAT PLACE TO PARK IT.
UM, EVERYTHING THAT'S NECESSARY.
AND IF YOU KNOW, LIKE THE 90 DEGREE WEATHER WE'VE HAD, IF EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE WORLD HAD ELECTRIC BUSES, THE WEATHER MIGHT HAVE BEEN 80
SO WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND HOW MANY, HOW MANY PASSENGER BUS, 40.
IT IS A 40 PASSENGER BUS THAT IS, WILL BE HYBRID OR ELECTRIC.
WE ARE ALSO, BY THE WAY, UM, I WAS SPEAKING TO THE COMMISSIONER OF PLANNING, UH, WE'RE PLANNING TO INSTALL, UM, ELECTRIC CHARGERS, UH, THROUGHOUT, UH, YOU KNOW, TOWN AND TOWN, UH, FACILITIES, UH, TO ENCOURAGE MORE ELECTRIC, UM, UH, VEHICLES.
AND THE TOWN HAS BEEN PURCHASING MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, YOU KNOW, AS WELL, IN ADDITION TO, UH, WHAT YOU'RE PROPOSING WITH THE BUS.
SO KEEP IN MIND A MAGIC SCHOOL BUS.
AND NOW WE WILL HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM TWO PEOPLE.
UH, COUNCIL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I'M THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE LOIS BRONZE CHILDREN'S CENTER.
AND I'M HERE WITH FRANCINE TAPLIN SHORES.
SHE'S OUR BOARD VICE PRESIDENT.
AND MRS. BRO'S DAUGHTER, I CAN'T HELP MYSELF.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK ON PHASE TWO OF THE PROJECT.
AS A BACKDROP ON THIS, THE EVENING OF SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2021, THIS, WE WERE HIT WITH HURRICANE IDA.
AS YOU CAN RECALL, SINCE THAT DATE, OUR CHILDREN HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A PLAYGROUND.
AND AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, PLAY IS A KEY PART OF A CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT.
THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PLAYGROUND IS UNDERWAY, BUT WE NEED TO ENSURE FUNDING FOR THE SECOND PHASE OF THE PLAYGROUND PROJECT.
THIS PART OF THE PLAYGROUND IS DESIGNATED FOR SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN WHO RANGE FROM AGE TO FIVE TO 12 YEARS OLD.
THIS PART OF THE PROJECT WAS REQUESTED PRIOR IN THE PRIOR CDBG, BUT DUE TO PRIORITIES AND AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS, IT WAS DEFERRED.
AS I SAID BEFORE, PLAY IS CRUCIAL IN IN, IN CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT.
NOW WE'RE ASKING FOR APPROVAL OF THIS PLAYGROUND IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO BE FINALLY COMPLETED.
THE REAL IMPACT IS THAT WE HAVE LOST THE CAPABILITY FOR THE CHILDREN TO PLAY.
WE MUST FACE THAT IT IS AN ACTIVITY WHERE CHILDREN SHOW THEIR REMARKABLE ABILITY TO, FOR EXPLORATION, IMAGINATION, AND DECISION MAKING, AND IT IS INTENSELY BENEFICIAL FOR THEM.
ACTIVE OUTDOOR PLAY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO A CHILD'S SOCIAL SKILLS AS IT OFFERS CHILDREN'S A CHANCE TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER IN WAYS THAT ARE QUITE DIFFERENT FROM INDOOR ACTIVITIES.
OUR COMMUNITY'S CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND STAFF HAVE WAITED A LONG TIME.
WE NEED AN OPTIMAL PLAYGROUND FOR OUR CHILDREN THAT WILL ALLOW THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE EQUIPMENT IN NEW WAYS.
CHILDREN NEED STRUCTURE TO CLIMB, CRAWL, STRETCH, AND EXERCISE, AND CREATE EXPRESSIONS FROM INSTALLED COMPONENTS THAT ENCOURAGE IMAGINATION.
THEY NEED THE OPEN SPACE TO ALLOW FOR FREEFORM PLAY.
SO TO SUMMARIZE, THE NEW PLAYGROUND IS NEEDED FOR THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WE SERVE.
I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND I YIELD TO RICHARD FAWN, OUR COMMISSIONER.
I'M NOT GONNA BE AS ELOQUENT AS, UH, THE PRIOR SPEAKERS.
I'M A COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, WANT TO TALK A MINUTE ABOUT THE,
[00:40:01]
THE PLAYGROUND AT THE LOIS BRONX CHILDREN'S CENTER, WHICH I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS IS RIGHT, A NEIGHBOR TO THE THEODORE YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER.THIS AREA IS THE PILLAR, AND THIS BUILDING IS ONE OF THE PILLARS OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
UM, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN I STARTED WORKING IN GREENBURG IN 1989.
DO A LOT OF WORK IN THE BUILDING, AND THAT WORK CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.
UM, THIS, THE PHASE ONE OF THIS PROJECT IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY.
I THINK, UH, GARRETT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD SHARE THOSE PICTURES THAT WE SENT, BUT THERE IS A CONTRACT CURRENTLY WORKING ON THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS, WHICH WE ANTICIPATE WILL BE FINISHED IN A FEW MONTHS.
THE SECOND PHASE OF THIS WILL BE THE CAP ON THIS STATE-OF-THE-ART PLAYGROUND THAT MS. MRS SUZETTE LOPA FROM WESTCHESTER COUNTY HAS DESIGNED.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROJECT.
WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT IT'S GONNA HELP THE AREA, THE CENTER.
YOU CAN KEEP TALKING, UM, RICH AS, AS HE'S PRESENTING, AS HE'S
SO HE'S GONNA SHARE WITH YOU A PICTURE RIGHT NOW OF THE CONSTRUCTION.
THIS WAS TAKEN THIS, THIS MORNING.
AND AGAIN, WHAT'S JUST THE COUNTY DID, PLANNING DEPARTMENT DID A BEAUTIFUL JOB LAYING THIS OUT.
AND WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU NOW, YOU PUT THE CAP ON.
AND AGAIN, THIS, UH, WHAT WAS ONCE, UH, I JUST NOT DOUBLE CLICK HERE.
DID YOU GET IT WAS ONCE THE UNION CHILD DAYCARE CENTER.
NOW THE LOIS BRONZE CHILDREN'S CENTER, AGAIN, HAS BEEN A PILLAR OF THE COMMUNITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
AND THIS WILL DEFINITELY KEEP IT GOING.
SO WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT.
AND ON TOP OF THIS, UM, IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET IS THE REDO OF THE EXISTING PARKING LOT IN FRONT, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT AT THE CAPITAL UH, HEARINGS.
THIS WILL REALLY CAP OFF, UH, PILLAR ON THE CAKE FOR THIS VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT COMMUNITY BUILDING.
I JUST WANNA QUICKLY APOLOGIZE.
I, I'M DOUBLE CLICKING ON THESE PHOTOS.
I'M ON A MACHINE THAT'S NOT ROUTINELY MINE.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS IS NOT WORKING.
IF ANYBODY'S GOT ANY QUESTIONS? WELL, I JUST HAVE A FEW WORDS TO SAY, UH, RICH, I'M FRANCINE SCHWARTZ.
I AM THE DAUGHTER OF LOIS BRONZE.
UM, AND I THINK THIS WORK, UH, GIVES HONOR TO, UM, NOT JUST MY MOM, BUT ESPECIALLY TO, UH, THE PERSON WHO ACTUALLY STARTED THE, THE WORK OF CARING FOR CHILDREN IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND, AND MY MOM ONLY FOLLOWED UP TO SUPPORT THE WORK THAT WAS ESTABLISHED ALREADY.
UM, IT WAS AN HONOR FOR, FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE WHO WERE INVOLVED AT THE TIME TO, UH, PAY TRIBUTE TO THE, UH, THE WORK THAT MY MOM DID WAS PRIMARILY HELPING TO RAISE FUNDS, A LOT OF FUNDS FOR THE, FOR THE CENTER.
BUT IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE NAME OF THE FACILITY IS.
WHAT MATTERS IS THAT WE CARE ABOUT OUR CHILDREN FROM THE VERY BEGINNING.
UM, THAT'S WHAT REALLY, REALLY MATTERS.
UM, AND BY DOING THIS, IT WILL JUST PROVE TO THEM THAT THEY LIVE IN A COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE WHO DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THEM, PEOPLE WHO DON'T NECESSARILY LIVE NEXT TO THEM, CARE ABOUT THEIR GROWTH AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT.
UM, IT'S, IT'S, UH, IT'S IMPORTANT AND IT'S CRUCIAL TO THEIR DEVELOPMENT.
I WORKED IN GREENBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR OVER 30 YEARS AS A PSYCHOLOGIST AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL.
SO I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY AND THE COMMUNICATION AND LEARNING THAT TAKES PLACE, NOT JUST IN THE CLASSROOM.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR ATTENTION.
AND I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE IN, IN YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS FOREVER THIS TIME.
DENNIS HAS SOME WORDS THAT YOU'D LIKE.
WE WANNA JUST SHOW YOU THE PLAYGROUND REALLY QUICKLY.
IS THAT, OH, THIS IS WHAT, UH, GARY
[00:45:01]
SAID.THIS IS WHAT GARY, NO, THAT'S SO THIS, YEAH, SO THIS IS THE NEXT ONE THEN.
UH, LET'S SEE IF THERE'S ANY IN HERE.
OKAY, SO WE'LL JUST, NO, THAT'S NOT, THAT'S NOT, NO, THAT'S NOT IT.
THERE WAS TWO, TWO EMAILS I SENT YOU.
AND THANKS FOR YOUR IMPROVEMENT,
ON THE SPOT,
THIS LOOKS MORE LIKE, IT LOOKS LIKE WORK BEING DONE.
THIS, THIS IS THE CURRENT WORK IN, IN BACK OF THE BUILDING.
YOU HAD TO HAVE SEEN THE PLAYGROUND AFTER THE DAMAGE DONE BY HURRICANE IDA.
AND I, AND I THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT UP FOR A GRANT.
SO WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST WE DO IS WE PRINT OUT THESE PICTURES AND MAKE THEM PART OF THE, THE RECORD FOR THIS MEETING.
I, I I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE A FEW COMMENTS AS A, UH, AS A FORMER SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER, UH, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, UM, I WAS A SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER FOR 21 YEARS PHYSICAL.
AND I, I OBSERVED THAT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GOES HAND TO HAND WITH EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND, AND LEARNING.
AND THE STUDENTS THAT I HAD THAT DID WELL IN, IN THEIR GRADES AND RETAINED IN THE CLASSROOM, MOST OF THEM WERE INVOLVED IN SPORTS IN SOME KIND OF PHYSICAL OUTLET.
AND THE OTHER THING IS, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT KEEPS CHILDREN FROM GOING INTO NEGATIVE SITUATIONS.
IF THEY CAN FIND A PHYSICAL OUTLET, IT GOES WITH THE, UH, WHAT I'M TRYING TO, UH, STATE IS STUDENTS NOT ONLY NEED TO BE STIMULATED MENTALLY, BUT THEY NEED PHYSICAL STIMULATION ADULTS TOO.
AND, UM, THAT'S WHY THIS PROJECT IS SO IMPORTANT.
CAN I JUST ASK YOU A, A QUESTION THAT I JUST THOUGHT OF ABOUT THE PLAYGROUNDS? I KNOW THE TOWN, UM, WE'VE, UH, APPROVED SOME PLAYGROUNDS FOR THE DISABLED O YOU KNOW, OVER, YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS.
AND I'M WONDERING IF, UH, THIS, YOU KNOW, PLAYGROUND HAS ANY, UM, UM, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO, UH, UH, AT LEAST SOME CHILDREN WHO HAVE DISABILITIES? WE WOULD HOPE.
IF YOU WOULD HAVE TO COME TO THE MIC, MS. SHORTZ, PLEASE.
MS. SHORTZ, PLEASE COME UP TO THE MIC FOR PLAYGROUND.
UH, I'LL SAY, UM, WITH, WITH ONE EXCEPTION, BECAUSE WE ARE MONITORED BY THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, SO WE'LL WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE ADD TO THAT GOES THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA.
MAYBE, UH, WHEN SOMEBODY COULD, WE COULD CHECK AND, AND IF THE PLAYGROUND DOESN'T HAVE ANY COMPONENTS FOR THE DISABLED, MAYBE WE COULD, UH, ADD YEAH.
SO IF YOU HAVE A DISABLED CHILD, THEY COULD ALSO ENJOY, UM, THE PLAYGROUND.
AT THIS POINT, THIS IS A GREAT SEGUE.
WE WOULD HAVE COMMISSIONER JOE LEGI SPEAKING.
WE HAVE, JUST REMEMBER IT'S ON THE LIST.
I'M THE COMMISSIONER OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
UH, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK THE TOWN BOARD FOR THIS, UH, CHANCE FOR US TO, YOU KNOW, GET A-C-D-B-G.
I'D LIKE TO THANK WINSOME GORDON, ESPECIALLY THE ANIMATION
[00:50:01]
IS AMAZING.I, I, I GOTTA BE HONEST WITH YOU, I'M AT THESE MEETINGS AND SHE IS THE DRIVING FORCE HERE.
WE'VE GOT A WONDERFUL COMMITTEE THAT WE'VE WORKED WITH TODAY.
I FOUND OUT THAT TERRENCE JACKSON WAS A FOOTBALL COACH AND HAD TO YELL.
UM, ON THE OTHER END, I WAS A BOXING COACH AND THEY LISTENED VERY CAREFULLY TO ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY LISTENED TO ME SO CAREFULLY, BUT THEY DID
UM, ANYWAY, OUR PROJECT IS THE OLD TERRYTOWN ROAD PARK IMPROVEMENT AND OLD TERRYTOWN ROAD IS RIGHT DOWN THE STREET HERE.
OLD TERRYTOWN ROAD IS A, UH, 0.55 ACRE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE GREENBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY MAPLE STREET APARTMENTS.
THIS PARK IS HEAVILY USED BY LOW TO MODERATE INCOME RESIDENTS AND IS ACCESSED BY, MOSTLY BY PEDESTRIANS WHO LIVE IN THE AREA.
THE PLAYGROUND AT OTR WAS BUILT WITH DIFFERENT COMPONENTS BETWEEN 1996 AND 2003.
THE EQUIPMENT IS NOW BETWEEN 21 AND 28 YEARS OLD, THOUGH EQUIPMENT IS 15 YEARS, IT WILL BE ANOTHER ONE TO TWO YEARS BEFORE THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETED.
SO AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S TIME TO REPLACE THIS EQUIPMENT.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME UP ON THE, ON THE, THIS IS THE PRESENT EQUIPMENT WE HAVE.
AND, UH, IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE SURFACING AROUND THERE, THAT'S ENGINEERED WOOD CHIPS THAT, THAT ARE DOWN THERE.
AND, UH, I'M GONNA, I'M GONNA READ A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.
UH, THE PLAN IS TO REPLACE BOTH THE TODDLER PLAYGROUND AND THE FIVE TO 12-YEAR-OLD PLAY STRUCTURE AS BOTH ARE AGING AND NEW, SAFER, MORE MODERN EQUIPMENT WILL BE INSTALLED.
THE AREA HAS HAD MAJOR FLOODING ONE TO THREE TIMES PER YEAR OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.
EACH TIME WE HAD TO REPLACE ALL THE ENGINEERED WOOD FIBER THAT WE USE AS SURFACING.
IT'S EXPENSIVE AND IT'S TIME CONSUMING.
THE NEW PLAYGROUND WILL HAVE RUBBERIZED SAFETY SURFACE, WHICH WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE FLOODING.
WE WOULD LOVE TO STOP THE FLOODING, BUT WE WANT THE PLAYGROUND.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE, THAT, THOSE ARE TWO PARTS I KNOW THAT, UH, DPW IS WORKING ON TRYING TO STOP THAT FLOODING IN THAT AREA.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE WANT A PLAYGROUND THERE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE TOWN HAS PROPOSED PUTTING $250,000 INTO TWO, UH, 2026 CAPITAL BUDGET.
AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT WILL PERFORM APPROXIMATELY 50 TO $60,000 WORTH OF IN-KIND LABOR FOR THIS PROJECT.
THAT, ALONG WITH THE $200,000 MONEY FROM THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT, WILL ALLOW US TO INSTALL A BEAUTIFUL NEW PLAYGROUND FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I'M THE PARKS AND REC COMMISSIONER, AND I'VE ACTUALLY LIVED IN TOWN NOW FOR 24 YEARS.
I DIDN'T REALIZE I LIVED HERE THAT LONG, BUT TERRANCE OF COURSE, LIVED HERE FOREVER, YOU KNOW.
UM, AND NOW I'M OPEN TO QUESTIONS.
SO WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH MATCHES, IT'S GENERALLY WE DO AN EQUAL MATCH, CORRECT.
200,000, WE GIVE 200,000, CORRECT.
ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING A $305,000 MATCH PLUS THE, IN THE LABOR AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
NO, IT'S ACTUALLY, AND IT, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO 305, IT'S GONNA BE REALLY CLOSER TO TWO 50 OR MAYBE A LITTLE LOWER THAN THAT BECAUSE WINSOME IS NEVER WRONG.
BUT IF I JUST SAVED YOU 50 OR 60,000, I'M SURE SHE'LL BE FINE WITH THAT.
UM, NO, IT TURNS OUT THAT WHEN WE GOT THE ESTIMATE FROM THE COUNTY, THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT DEMOLITION OF THE PLAYGROUND AND ALSO DOING SOME OF THE WORK.
AND SO THAT'LL, WE'LL SHAVE THAT RIGHT OFF THE TOP.
SO DO WE HAVE TO SUBMIT ANOTHER PROPO? DOES THE PROPOSAL HAVE TO BE MODIFIED? IF WE'RE REDUCING IT, WE, WE MIGHT HAVE TO MODIFY THAT LAST PARAGRAPH.
AND REMEMBER, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING, RIGHT? THE RESOLUTIONS ARE GONNA BE VOTED ON ON OCTOBER 14TH.
SO WE CAN MAKE, YOU KNOW, TWEAK THIS RIGHT.
YOU KNOW, TO MAKE SURE IT'S RIGHT.
I HAVE ONE QUESTION OR COMMENT.
ACTUALLY, WOULD WE HAVE BISHOP PRESTON IN THE AUDIENCE? AND WE WERE, THIS IS ONE, ONE OF THE ROADS THAT LEADS UP TO THAT WERE OKAY.
SO YOU WANNA COME TALK ABOUT THAT FOR A SECOND.
I WAS TRYING TO BE QUIET AGAIN TONIGHT.
UH, BISHOP WILBERT PRESTON, UM, UH, THE CHAIRPERSON FOR THE HOUSING, UH, UM, GREENBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY.
THIS, THIS, UH, PARTICULAR, UH, PLAYGROUND IS GREATLY USED BY, UM, THE HOUSE AUTHORITY RESIDENTS BECAUSE IT, IT CONNECTS TO THE PROPERTY AND IT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST USED PROJECTS WITH, UH, OUR FACILITY BECAUSE OF ITS CONVENIENCE.
AND, UM, A COUPLE, A FEW YEARS AGO, JAMES ROBINSON, WHO WAS A COMMISSIONER, UM, UH, WAS ABLE TO GET A, UH, UH, SOME TYPE OF COVERING FOR THE BASKETBALL COURT THAT BROUGHT IT UP TO STANDARDS THAT WE DON'T SEE EVERYWHERE.
[00:55:01]
AND, UM, THAT WAS A, I THINK IT WAS GIFTED TO US, AND THAT INCREASED THE USAGE OF THAT PARTICULAR PLAYGROUND.UM, AND RIGHT NOW THE GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY IS LOOKING AT RE UH, REDEVELOPING THAT WHOLE PIECE OF PROPERTY ABOUT ABOUT SIX ACRES OF LAND THERE.
AND WE ARE, WE ARE HOPING THAT IN, IN CONNECTION WITH WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO, OUR DREAM THAT THIS PARK BE UPDATED AND SAFE FOR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS AND ESPECIALLY OUR CHILDREN.
AND MAYBE ONE DAY WE CAN HAVE SOME LIGHTS BACK THERE SO THEY COULD PLAY AT NIGHT
BUT THE ROAD, THE DRIVEWAY WASN'T THERE A PROBLEM WITH THE ROAD? WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE
THERE IS A, UH, A SMALL DRIVEWAY THAT, UM, ACCESSES THE REAR OF THE PROPERTY AT, UM, AT, UH, MAPLE AVENUE.
UM, THE PROBLEM WAS THAT IT, UM, WE, THE UTILIZATION IS LIMITED BECAUSE THERE'S A FIRE HYDRANT THERE THAT, UH, WE PROBABLY IN THE FUTURE BE LOOKING AT TRYING TO GET THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE TOWN TO AGREE TO MOVE IT SO THAT IT CAN BE BETTER, BETTER UTILIZED.
BUT THE FLOODING HAS NOT REALLY BEEN A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE ELEVATION, UM, AS, AS FOR THE DRIVEWAY.
BUT, BUT THAT DRIVEWAY IS SOMETHING THAT WE KEEP, UM, A GATED BECAUSE, UH, OF THE LIMITED USAGE AND PART OF IT IS GATED AND PART OF IT IS ACCESSIBLE.
I HAD A QUESTION FOR WINSTON AND ALSO FOR YOU.
UM, IN TERMS OF, UM, UM, THE CDBG PROCESS, WE SUBMIT REQUESTS TO THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY MAY APPROVE SOME, BUT NOT ALL OF THE REQUESTS, ISN'T IT SORT OF A LIST? UM, WHEN WE APPROVE IT, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE GONNA GET IT UNLESS THE COUNTY APPROVES IT.
UM, SUPERVISOR FINER, THESE APPLICATIONS ARE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE.
WE'LL SUBMIT OUR APPLICATION TO THE COUNTY AND THEY'LL LOOK AT THE PROJECT AND BASED ON SOME OF THESE COMMENTS HERE THIS EVENING, THEY'LL REVIEW AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW AND THEY'LL DECIDE WHETHER IT'S WORTH FUNDING THE PROJECT.
KAI, THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD, UH, BISHOP PRESTON WAS TALKING ABOUT LIGHTS AT THE PLAYGROUND.
SO, UH, SO THE CHILDREN WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE MORE, UH, USE, I'M WONDERING IF, UM, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GIVING SORT OF THE COUNTY LIKE A LIST OF, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLE, UH, GRANTS, IF WE SHOULD ADD, UH, THE LIGHTING BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD REALLY BE A MAJOR QUALITY OF LIFE, UH, ENHANCEMENT FOR SOME OF THE CHILDREN.
YOU KNOW, WE MAY NOT GET AT THE FIRST ROUND, BUT IF WE PUT IT IN NOW, UH, MAYBE WE'LL GET IT.
AND IF WE DON'T GET IT, WE COULD CONSIDER IT AS A CAPITAL, UH, YOU KNOW, PROJECT, UM, YOU KNOW, IN THE COMING YEAR OR TWO YEAR OR SO.
UM, I MEAN, WOULD THAT MAKE ANY SENSE? UH, IF I MAY YES, GO AHEAD, ROBERT.
UH, TO, TO ANSWER MY STATEMENTS, I SHOULD HAVE, UH, THOUGHT THIS THOUGHT I WAS AT THE MIC.
UM, LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO GET A GRANT THAT, UM, PROVIDES FREE WIFI FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS, 131 FAMILIES AT THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY.
AND WE SET THE WIFI UP WHERE IT'S FREE ON THAT PARTICULAR PARK ALSO, SO IT'S FREE ACCESS TO WIFI WHEN CHILDREN ARE PLAGUE.
THEY CAN ALSO BE DOING THE HOMEWORK OR, AND OTHER THINGS.
FAMILIES COULD COME OUT, HAVE A, HAVE A PICNIC OR SIT OUT AND ENJOY THE AFTERNOON AND THE KIDS CAN BE ON ONLINE.
SO THAT'S A PART OF WHY WE PUSHING.
I JUST SORT FEEL THAT THE LIGHTING, I MEAN WE, UH, YOU KNOW, TODAY WHEN WE DO THE CAPITAL BUDGET, WE'RE GONNA BE ADDING LIGHTING FOR BROOK, UH, YOU KNOW, PARK, UH, WHICH A LOT OF THE LITTLE LEAGUE, UH, PLAYERS HAD ASKED FOR.
AND I FEEL THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT TO GIVE YOUNG PEOPLE ACTIVITIES TO, TO DO THE LIGHTING IS REALLY A GREAT, UH, QUALITY OF LIFE ENHANCEMENT THAT I THINK SHOULD BE, YOU KNOW, CONSIDERED.
AND IF I MAY, I JUST WANNA GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT A-C-D-B-G BLOCK GRANT IS.
CDBG GRANTS ARE, UH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS THAT ARE GRANTED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH HUD AND WESTCHESTER COUNTY ADMINISTERS THEM AND AWARDS THEM.
THEY'RE VERY, THERE'S, THERE ARE VERY HIGH BARS TO JUMP THROUGH, UM, IN TERMS OF WHAT HAS TO BE DONE.
SO I COMMEND WINSOME GORDON AND ALL THE COMMISSIONERS AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PULLED TOGETHER ALL THE COMMISSIONERS TO, UH, BRING THOSE GRANTS TO LIGHT AND LET US KNOW ALL ABOUT THEM.
I'M VERY HAPPY THAT YOU BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE LIGHTS AND ALSO BISHOP PRESTON BECAUSE WE CAN ADD ANYTHING THAT'S MENTIONED TONIGHT CAN BE ADDED INTO THE APPLICATION.
COUNCILMAN SCH, I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE MATCH.
YES, THE MATCH IS A LITTLE HIGH, BUT BY REMOVING $50,000 WORTH FROM IT, BY DOING IN KIND SERVICES, IT'LL REDUCE THE MATCH AMOUNT.
[01:00:01]
BUT IF WE LEAVE THE MATCH IN THERE, WE CAN ALSO PUT IN FOR THE LIGHTS, DEPENDING ON THE COST OF THE LIGHTS, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE.I, I JUST, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE NEGATIVE, BUT ALL THE LIGHTS THAT WE HAVE ON OUR PARKS AT NIGHT, OUR PARKS CLOSE AT SUNSET IF THEY ARE TO BE LEFT ON WE MAN THOSE PARKS.
AND SO WE DON'T HAVE PARKS THAT ARE LIT AT NIGHT UNLESS WE ACTUALLY HAVE PERSONNEL THERE, I THINK TERRANCE, CORRECT? THAT IS CORRECT.
SO IT'S A CONSIDERATION THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE BEFORE WE MAKE THAT KIND OF A STEP.
AND WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BECAUSE THIS IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SITE.
MAYBE THEY HAVE STAFF THAT COULD, UM, YOU KNOW, COULD ALSO WORK WITH US IN THE COMMUNITY CENTER, COULD WORK, YOU KNOW, COULD WORK WITH US.
WELL, LET'S TAKE A STEP AT A TIME.
AND
DO I HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THIS PROJECT? NOPE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, COMMISSIONER.
WE HAVE ONE MORE WONDERFUL PRESENTATION.
IF YOU NOTE THE LAST ONE, WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT ITEMS AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE VARIOUS PEOPLE COME UP AT THIS TIME.
UH, LET US HAVE, UH, MS. SHEPHERD A COME TO COME UP AGAIN.
WELL, THIS UPDATE IS VERY BRIEF.
UM, IT, THE, THE PROJECT FOR, I'M SORRY, YOU NEED TO IDENTIFY YOURSELF FOR THIS DRAWING.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS JOAN LEWIS SHEPHERD, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF THE LOYCE BROWN CHILDREN'S CENTER.
WE HAD THESE TWO NICE, UM, PROJECTS, UM, IN MIND REGARDING THE WIRING IN THE BUILDING AND ALSO WATER IN THE BUILDING.
AND, BUT IN TERMS OF COLLABORATION AND PARTNERSHIP, UM, THESE TWO PROJECTS ARE BEING REMOVED AS THE TOWN WILL BE WORKING WITH US TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
UM, COMMISSIONER RICHARD FRAN AND HIS TEAM CAME TO MEET WITH ME THIS MORNING, WALKED THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY AND ASKED ME TO IDENTIFY EVERYTHING THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT.
SO I, I'M JUST PLEASED TO SAY RICHARD FAWN AND HIS TEAM, UM, ARE ARE GOOD PARTNERS AND WE, AND THEY'LL BE WORKING TO RESOLVE SO THAT THESE TWO PROJECTS ARE NO LONGER NEEDED AS IT RELATES TO THE CDBG.
SO I WANNA THANK RICHARD, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE STILL ON THE PHONE OR IF YOU HAD ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT.
YES, UH, WE, WE WALKED THE BUILDING TODAY MYSELF, UH, ANTHONY GRAVES WITH BUILDING MAINTENANCE, UH, FRANK MODO AND LIZ GARRITY.
UH, WE WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE BUILDING.
WE OUTLINED SOME OF THE DEFICIENCIES IN THE BUILDING, AND WE WILL BE WORKING WITH THE, UH, LEWIS BROWN CENTER AND, UH, CEO JOAN SHEPHERD TO GET THESE THINGS CORRECTED.
NOT A LOT OF PROBLEMS, BUT NONETHELESS, THERE THINGS WE GOTTA TAKE CARE OF AND WE'LL GET 'EM STRAIGHTENED DOWN.
I'M SORRY, CAN I JUST GET CLARIFICATION? SO THE, THE TWO, THE TWO, UM, LINE ITEMS HERE IS GOING TO BE REMOVED.
THE REMOVING OF, OF, OF THE REQUEST.
SO THAT MEANS WE'RE ON THE ROAD TO PROGRESS.
OUR NEXT NON-FOR-PROFIT WILL BE OUR REVEREND WILLIAMS AND JEANS ONE.
FINER TO THE BOARD MEMBERS TO THE COMMITTEE.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY NAME IS LIN WILLIAMS. I AM THE PASTOR OF UNION BAPTIST CHURCH.
THIS IS MY 30TH YEAR AS A PASTOR THERE.
UM, MY, MY, OUR CAPITAL PROJECT IS MUCH SMALLER THAN THE TOWNS AND SO IS OUR BUDGET.
UM, UH, AS I SAT TONIGHT, I REALIZED THAT UNION BAPTIST CHURCH IS AN IMPORTANT INSTITUTION IN THIS TOWN.
WE ARE PROBABLY THE OLDEST INSTITUTION.
WE CELEBRATE 110 YEARS THIS YEAR AS A CHURCH IN THE FAIRVIEW AREA.
WE ARE ASKING FOR A GRANT TO UPGRADE AND TO REPAIR BATHROOMS OR RESTAURANTS.
BUT I I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT SISTER CASTLEBERRY USED THE FELLOWSHIP HALL ABOUT, WHICH I'M GOING TO PRESENT TO START HER DAYCARE CENTER.
[01:05:01]
AND TED YOUNG WAS A TRUSTEE AT UNION BAPTIST CHURCH WHILE HE ORGANIZED WHAT IS NOW CALLED THE TED YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER.SO IN A SENSE, WE ARE THE MOTHER AND WE DESERVE RESPECT.
I I THERE'S SOME, THERE'S SOME THINGS, I HAVE SOME STATS, BUT I, I WANT YOU TO KNOW, UH, THAT, UH, THE TOWN BOARD HELPED US, THE UNION CHURCH FAMILY IN 2009 WHEN WE MOVED INTO A NEW FACILITY, BRAND NEW STATE OF THE ART BUILDING AND DECIDING, UH, HOW WE WERE GOING TO PROCEED AS A CONGREGATION WITH THE CONSTRUCTION.
UH, WE HAD A MEETING TO DETERMINE WHETHER WE WOULD DEMOLISH THE OLD BUILDING AND BUILD BRAND NEW OR MAINTAINED THE ORIGINAL BUILDING AND ADD TO IT.
AND THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO VOTED DECIDED THAT THERE WAS NO WAY THAT THIS PREACHER WAS GOING TO COME INTO GREENBURG AND TEAR DOWN THEIR BUILDING.
SO WE, WE MAINTAINED THAT BUILDING AND WE ADDED TO IT.
WE PRIMARILY USE THE NEW BUILDING.
THE ORIGINAL BUILDING IS DEDICATED FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE.
IT'S DEDICATED FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE.
UH, LIKE I SAID, THE BUILDING, WE BROKE GROUND.
WELL, THE, THE, THE ORIGINAL BUILDING WAS, WAS ENTERED INTO IN 1929.
THE, THE BATHROOM, THE RESTROOMS IN THAT SECTION OF THE BUILDING HAVEN'T BEEN UPGRADED FOR 60 YEARS.
WE NEED TO REVITALIZE TO RESTORE AND UPGRADE THAT BATHROOM.
I, I DON'T WANNA BORE YOU WITH STATISTICS, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT KINDS OF ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE IN THE, IN THE GROVER JONES SENIOR FELLOWSHIP HALL.
NOW, THAT NAME SHOULD MEAN SOMETHING TO SOMEBODY HERE.
THE FELLOWSHIP HALL HAS A CERTIFIED COMMERCIAL KITCHEN, AND IT HAS BEEN THE PLACE WHERE NOT ONLY HAVE WE PREPARED MEALS FOR DELIVERY, BUT IT'S BEEN THE PLACE WHERE WE HAVE SERVED NEEDY, NEEDY FAMILIES, MANY OF WHOM WERE PICKED UP FROM HOMELESS SHELTERS AND BROUGHT TO THE FELLOWSHIP HALL FOR SIT DOWN MEALS FROM 2018 TO 2019.
PRIOR TO THE COVID PANDEMIC, WE SERVED 6,585 HOT MEALS IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL TO 1600 PEOPLE.
450 SENIORS, 700 ADULTS, AND 420 CHILDREN UNDER 17 YEARS OLD.
FOLLOWING THE COVID, FOLLOWING THE COVID, UH, WE RESUMED OUR FOOD SERVICE WITH DELIVERY ONLY, AND WE PREPARED THE FOOD IN THE GROVER JONES FELLOWSHIP HALL FROM SEPTEMBER TO NOVEMBER, 2020.
WE PREPARED AND DELIVERED 2100 HOT MEALS JUST FOR RECORD.
FROM JANUARY, 2021 TO JUNE, 2024.
WE HAVE PREPARED IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL AND DELIVERED 34,667 HOT MEALS TO SENIORS, NEEDY FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND ALL OF THE PREPARATION TAKES PLACE IN THE GROVER JONES FELLOWSHIP HALL.
IN ADDITION TO THE FOOD SERVICE MINISTRY, THE GROVER JONES FELLOWSHIP HALL IS THE WEEKLY MEETING PLACE FOR NARCOTICS AND ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, WHERE MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE GATHER THERE EACH WEEK, SEEKING THE SUPPORT THEY NEED TO LIVE A DRUG AND ALCOHOL FREE LIFE.
WE ALSO HOST MOVIE NIGHTS FOR SENIORS WITH FREE REFRESHMENTS.
THERE'S A FELLOW, THERE'S A STAGE IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL, WHICH HAS BEEN USED AND REMAIN AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY THEATER GROUPS AND PLAYS AND PRESENTATIONS AND POETRY NIGHTS.
AND YOU ARE ALL INVITED TO THE SUPER BOWL PARTY TO SAY YOU CAN'T LEAVE IT WHERE YOU WILL RECEIVE FREE REFRESHMENTS.
THIS YEAR, WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HOST, UH, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE YWCA, THE FREEDOM SCHOOL, A SIX WEEK EDUCATIONAL CULTURAL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM WHERE CHILDREN FROM GRADE FIRST TO FIFTH MEET EVERY DAY IN THE FELLOWSHIP HALL.
WE REALLY NEED HELP WITH, UM, THE, UH, UPGRADING OF THE FELLOWSHIP HALL.
AND SO THIS IS WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
THIS IS WHAT OUR PROPOSAL IS, AND I'M NEW AT THIS.
FIRST OF ALL, THE CONGREGATION HAS ALREADY RAISED THE AMOUNT TO MATCH WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR.
SO THAT MONEY HAS BEEN RAISED AND EARMARKED.
[01:10:01]
THE LEGACY LIVES CONSTRUCTION COMPANY INCLUDES A TOTAL RESTORATION OF BOTH THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S BATH RESTROOMS AND THE HALL SPACE BETWEEN THEM AND BRINGING THE RESTROOMS UP TO THE A DA REQUIREMENTS.UM, THE COST OF THAT IS $29,803.
IN ADDITION TO THE REPAIR OF THE RESTROOMS, WE DISCOVERED THAT THE, THE, THE SEWAGE PIPE, WHICH LEADS FROM THE CHURCH AND CONNECTS TO THE TOWN SEWAGE SYSTEM HAS COLLAPSED.
UM, THE BATHROOMS ARE DAN AND DREARY.
THE CEILING TILES ARE CONTINUALLY STAYING BECAUSE OF BLAB PLUMBING.
THE VENTILATION FANS DON'T WORK.
WE DO OUR VERY BEST TO KEEP IT CLEAN BECAUSE OF THE COLLAPSED PIPE TO THE SEWAGE LINE.
WE HAVE TOILET BACKING UP ON A REGULAR BASIS.
IT IS VERY MUCH IN NEED OF RESTORATION, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IS IT OKAY.
THE COST FOR THE REPAIR OF THE SEWAGE LINE BY THE, THE CATONA, THE KATONAH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC.
THE TOTAL COST FOR THE PROJECT IS $51,241, AND WE ARE REQUESTING A MATCHING GRANT AND THE AMOUNT OF $25,620.
THIS IS MY REPORT, AND IF THERE'S ANYBODY HERE WHO CAN GO AHEAD AND WRITE A CHECK FOR THAT
WELL, YOU'VE INVITED TO THE SUPER BOWL ANYWAY, SO THANK YOU.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, I WILL BE HAPPY TO TRY TO ANSWER THEM.
YOU WERE MENTIONING BEFORE WITH THE FIRST, UH, GRANT, UH, THAT, UH, YOU GET ASKING FOR CDGB, YOU KNOW, FUNDING, AND YOU INDICATED THAT THE CHURCH IS, UH, RAISING THE FUNDS FOR THE, THE, THE MATCH.
IS THAT WITH THE SECOND ALSO THE, THE CHURCH HAS ALREADY RAISED FUNDS FOR THE MATCH FOR ALL RIGHT.
SO IS THERE ANY MATCH THAT YOU'RE REQUESTING FROM THE TOWN OR IS THIS BASICALLY WELL, IF THE TOWN CAN WRITE A CHECK FOR $26,000, IT'S ALL MATCH IS 25, THAT'LL BE FINE.
WE DON'T CARE WHERE IT COMES FROM.
I'M OPTIMISTIC YOU'LL GET IT FROM THE COUNTY.
YOU KNOW, I CAN LEAVE TONIGHT.
IF I CAN LEAVE TONIGHT WITH THE CHECK, I'D BE VERY APPRECIATIVE.
JESSE, THE OFFICER AT THE DOOR THERE,
REVEREND WILLIAMS. WE ASKED YOU TO, TO GIVE US A DESCRIPTION AND HE DID.
NOW I WOULD LIKE, UM, BISHOP WOULD, PRESTON, WOULD YOU HAVE ANY OTHER WORDS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD? YOU WERE QUITE VOCAL BEFORE IN OUR OTHER MEETING.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE, ANY LIAISONS FROM ANY OTHER DISTRICTS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? ANYONE ELSE? COME RIGHT UP, SIR.
UH, MY, MY NAME IS WALTER SIMON AND I'D LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUESTS OF THE UNION BAPTIST CHURCH.
UH, MY CHURCH IS, IS IN A SIMILAR, UH, EXPERIENCE.
WE HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE, UH, OF V LOOKING OUT FOR GRANTS FROM THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS.
UH, I WAS, UM, A FOUNDER OF LIFTING UP WESTCHESTER SOME 43 YEARS AGO.
IT'S NOW, UH, ABOUT A $18 MILLION A YEAR NONPROFIT THAT WE WORK WITH.
UH, WE HAVE SHELTERS AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES FOR THE KIDS AND WE APPLY FOR, UH, THE TOWN OF WHITE PLAINS TO DO SOME WORK AT THE SHELTER WHERE WE HAVE, UH, THERE ASSOCIATED WITH OUR CHURCH AND, UH, CITY OF WHITE PLAINS GRANTED THAT.
[01:15:01]
WOULD HOPE THAT GREENBURG WILL OFFER THE SAME TYPE OF ASSISTANCE, UH, TO UNION BAPTIST CHURCH.IN FACT, WE'RE PARTNERS BECAUSE YOU SUPPLY SOME OF THE FOOD TO LIFTING UP WESTCHESTER AND GRACE CHURCH.
WE HAVE THE SAME GOALS AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING AND I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT IT AND I HOPE THAT THE TOWN WILL DO ALSO.
THROWING DOWN THE GAUNTLET QUESTION.
NOW THESE ARE, MY NAME IS JUDITH BELL.
NOW IT'S, UH, B AS IN BOY, EV AS IN VICTOR, ILLE.
AND I'M FORMER TOWN CLERK, FORMER ELECTED OFFICIAL HERE IN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
I AM JUST SO INSPIRED BY EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE PRESENTATIONS AND, UM, AS A RESIDENT OF THIS TOWN, UM, UH, FULLY SUPPORT EACH OF THE PROPOSALS.
AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ASK THE CEO PRESIDENT OF THE LOIS BRONZE CHILDREN'S CENTER, IF SHE MIGHT CONSIDER, UM, NAMING THE PLAYGROUND THE JUNE CASTLEBURY PLAYGROUND.
WE HAVE ONE MORE PRESENTATION.
WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM OUR WESTCHESTER HEALTH CENTER.
WHAT'S GOING ON? IS THIS LISA? MY NAME IS BARRY BOWEN.
DON'T KNOW WHY ARE YOU DONE? I LIVE IN HARTSDALE.
NO, ARE YOU SPEAKING ON, ON THE HEARING? UM, MR. V ON, ON ON THIS PROJECT.
RIGHT ON THE BLOCK GRANTS ON THE BLOCK GRANT.
I MEAN, I MAY GET MIXED UP, BUT SOMETIMES I DON'T.
YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE CHANGES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE WORLD TODAY.
GLOBAL WARMING TO EVERYTHING ELSE.
AND THE DESIGNS THAT YOU'RE CHOOSING NEED TO BE ONE.
THOSE DESIGNS THAT RECOGNIZE THE CHANGE IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE CHANGE IN PEOPLE'S HABITS.
PEOPLE USED TO DRIVE THE SHOPPING CENTER PRETTY MUCH NOW, MUCH OF THAT GOODS IS DELIVERED BY TRUCK, WHICH MEANS THAT THE DESIGNS THAT YOU'VE HAD FOR SIDEWALKS ARE SOMEWHAT OUTDATED AND IT HASN'T GENERALLY BEEN RECOGNIZED.
SIDEWALKS NEED TO BE SHARED BETWEEN PEOPLE THAT WALK THERE, DELIVERY VANS, PEOPLE ON BICYCLES.
AS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW PEOPLE TAKE THINGS OUTTA CONTEXT.
THEY RECENTLY CELEBRATED 50 YEARS OF BICYCLING ON THE BOXER PARKWAY.
WHAT THEY FAILED TO DO WAS TO HONOR PAUL FINER BECAUSE WITHOUT PAUL FINER, THAT WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED.
AND I'M VERY, VERY ANGRY THAT HE WASN'T HONORED PROMINENTLY FOR STARTING THAT PROJECT.
IT'S THAT PEOPLE TODAY LOOKING OUT FOR THEMSELVES.
BUT I REMEMBER THE PEOPLE THAT STARTED LOIS BROWNS.
I WAS IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY COURTHOUSE, SAW THE HONEST THAT SHE HAD THERE.
I REMEMBER THE STUFF WHEN IT STARTED.
MOST OF YOU DON'T, THE WORLD HAS RADICALLY CHANGED.
AND I JUST POINT OUT TO YOU THAT IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
'CAUSE I'M OVER THE HILL TO LOOK AT THIS STUFF.
IN THE LIGHT OF THE FUTURE, MY GRANDCHILDREN'S GENERATION AND NEW YORK GRANDCHILDREN'S GENERATION PUTS A LITTLE DIFFERENT SPIN ON WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO.
YOUR BASIC PROJECTS ARE EXCELLENT, ALL NEED TO BE DONE, BUT DONE IN THE WAY OF THE FUTURE.
HOW TO CONSERVE RESOURCES AND MAKE IT EASIER.
AS PEOPLE LIKE ME LOSE OUR ABILITY TO HEAR AND OUR ABILITY TO SEE, AND OUR ABILITY TO WALK.
[01:20:01]
YOU GO, YOU SEE RECOGNITION OF PEOPLE HELPING OLDER PEOPLE.I'M NOT USED TO PEOPLE HOLDING THE DOOR FOR ME.
I'M THE GUY THAT USED TO HOLD THE DOOR.
I THANK YOU ALL FOR DOING THAT AND I WISH YOU WELL BECAUSE YOU'RE IN CHARGE NOW.
MY GENERATION HAS TO GET OFF THE FIELD AND LET YOU TAKE, TAKE CHARGE.
WE HAVE ONE LAST PRESENTATION.
I WOULD CALL THEM A COUPLE, BUT IT'S, I HAVE ONE.
I WAS JUST, UH, SITTING AND UH, AND IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT, UM, WHILE WE ARE LOOKING AT THE CDBG GRANTS, WE MAY OUGHT TO CONSIDER, UM, ONE OF THE PROPERTIES THAT WE MANAGE AS THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ON NORTH WASHINGTON, UH, ROAD.
UH, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME SIDEWALK WORK BEING DONE THERE OR SLATED TO BE DONE.
BUT TO MY UNDERSTANDING, THE THERE'S AN AREA THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE DONE.
AND I THINK IF YOU RIDE, RIDE, UH, THROUGH NORTH WASHINGTON, NEAR WHERE NORTH WASHINGTON, UM, HOUSING AUTHORITY PROJECT, UM, PROPERTIES ARE, YOU'LL FIND THAT THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE WHOLE STREET.
AND I, UH, HAVE SOME, SOME UNDERSTANDING THAT IT'S GONNA BE COSTLY BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF ROCK TO BE, UH, EXCAVATED.
SO I, I WOULD HOPE THAT IN THE APPLICATION FOR THE CDBG GRANT AND FOR COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS, IS REALLY, UH, SPECTACULAR.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T, UH, TAKEN A TOUR, I INVITE YOU TO DO THAT.
IF YOU CALL ME, I'LL TAKE YOU ON THE TOUR PERSONALLY.
AND IT'S, THE PROPERTY IS LOVELY, BUT THE ENTRANCE TO THE PROPERTY IS NOT LOVELY.
THE, THE STREET THERE IS IN DISREPAIR THAT FROM, FROM NORTH WASHINGTON TO THE PROPERTY, IT BELONGED TO THE TOWN.
AND THAT, THAT STREET NEEDS TO BE REDONE.
THE SIDEWALK NEEDS TO BE REDONE BECAUSE BE, BE INSTALLED BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS THERE DO A LOT OF WALKING FROM THAT PARTICULAR PART OF THE, UH, THAT PARTICULAR PROPERTY DOWN TO THE SHOPPING CENTER AND OTHER AREAS AND DOWN TO THE FOUR CORNERS.
SO, SO IF YOU COULD ADD THAT TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING, IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED AND IT WOULD CREATE A GREAT LEVEL OF SAFETY FOR THE, FOR THE, UH, PEDESTRIANS THAT USE THAT PROPERTY.
YEAH, I'M GLAD YOU MENTIONED THAT.
YOU KNOW, HAL A, UH, TOOK ME ON A TOUR, UH, OF THAT LOCATION A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
UM, I DID SPEAK TO GARY DUANE, THE COMMISSIONER, UH, PLANNING, AND HE INDICATED THAT HE'S GONNA BE LOOKING AT, UH, YOU KNOW, EXTENDING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA BE REEXAMINING THAT WHOLE SIDEWALK, THE, YOU KNOW, UNFINISHED PORTION ON NORTH WASHINGTON AVENUE.
UM, BUT I THINK THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE TO ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, CONSIDER ADDING, UH, THE BISHOP'S SUGGESTIONS, UM, IN THE CDBG, YOU KNOW, REQUEST BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT NEAR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
AND THOSE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, INTERESTED IN WALKING, UH, TO CENTRAL AVENUE.
SO I THINK, I THINK IT WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT SAFETY IMPROVEMENT IF WE COULD MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THAT WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT ADDITION.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? GOOD EVENING TO ALL.
MY NAME IS
COULD YOU SPELL YOUR NAME PLEASE? THE TIME PLEASE.
SPENT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
I'M SORRY, YOU SPELL YOUR NAME.
SO DAAN HAD SPENT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS DOLLARS TO PULL UP THE CURBS.
THIS HAPPENED ABOUT, SIR, 5 6 8 AGO.
SIR, IS THIS ABOUT THE CDBG GRANTS? PARDON ME? BECAUSE THIS IS NOT PUBLIC COMMENT YET.
THIS IS ABOUT SPECIFIC TO THE CDBG GRANTS.
IS YOUR QUESTION SPECIFIC TO THAT? IF NOT, IF YOU SIGN UP, YOU'LL BE UP TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
IT PROBABLY WON'T BE LONG, MAYBE 10 MINUTES.
ARE THERE ANY MORE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE GRANTS? YES, SIR.
[01:25:01]
WHAT BISHOP PRESTON SAID, AND THEN MR. FINER AND ACTUALLY SAVED MONEY FROM THE GRANT BECAUSE THAT PROJECT WAS VOTED BY THIS TOWN BOARD FOR FULL COMPLETION FROM WEST HARTSDALE AVENUE TO CENTRAL AVENUE IN OCTOBER, 2022.THE EXPENSIVE ROCK EXCAVATION THAT YOU REFERRED TO, AS WELL AS THE RELOCATION OF A FIRE HYDRANT AT $7,500 WAS PART OF THE BID, THE LOW BID THAT YOU APPROVED, AND THE CONTRACTOR THAT DID THE WORK AT BOTH ENDS OF NORTH WASHINGTON AVENUE, BUT DID NOT COMPLETE THE JOB BY LEAVING OUT THE CENTER SECTION, WHICH IS THE FRONTAGE OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITIES PROPERTY.
SO, MR. FRYER, EVEN THOUGH WE MET AND WALKED THERE, YOU STILL HAVEN'T GOT THE STORY CORRECT.
AND I'M A LITTLE CONCERNED, AND THESE PEOPLE HAVE A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION ON ALL THEIR PROJECTS, AND I DON'T SEE ANY REASON TO TAKE THE MONEY FROM THE CBG GRANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT THE TOWN ALREADY RESOLVED TO DO.
SO WHY DON'T YOU ANSWER THAT ASPECT OF IT AND TELL ME WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT, BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY RESOLVED OVER TWO YEARS AGO TO DO IT.
ANY RESPONSE, THEN WE'LL MOVE ON.
UM, YOU KNOW, RICH FUND, UH, DID RESPOND, UH, TO ME AND TO THE TOWN BOARD ON THAT.
AND IF HE WANTS TO GIVE AN OPINION, HE CAN, OR, YOU KNOW SURE.
THE, THE TOWN ENGINEERS AT THE TIME PULLED THAT PORTION OUT OF IT 'CAUSE THEY NEED MORE GEOTECHNICAL WORK.
IT'S NOT, AND AGAIN, IF YOU TAKE A RIDE BY AND LOOK AT THE ROCK FORMATION ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THE ENGINEERS ARE RE-LOOKING AT THIS AREA.
WHEN WE HAVE AN ANSWER, WE'LL GET BACK TO THE TOWN BOARD REBUT
YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT, THIS IS NOT TAKES TWO YEARS RICH TO GET AN ANSWER.
THERE'S GONNA BE A SECOND ROUND, THERE'LL BE A SECOND ROUND.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
WE HAVE OUR WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY CENTER REPRESENTATIVE, MR. MR. CAPY.
I'M DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES FOR THE WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER.
COULD YOU SPELL YOUR LAST NAME FOR THE STENOGRAPHER, PLEASE? CAPA, C-A-P-P-A, UM, FORMERLY KNOWN AS GREENBERG HEALTH CENTER.
UM, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
WE'RE HERE TO DISCUSS SOME CRUCIAL ENHANCEMENTS TO WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER IN GREENBURG, WHICH STANDS AS A BEACON OF COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AT THE HEALTH CENTER, WE PROVIDE A WIDE ARRAY OF ESSENTIAL HEALTH SERVICES, INCLUDING PRIMARY CARE, OBSTE, TRS, PEDIATRICS, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH.
OUR FACILITY IS DESIGNED TO SERVE AS A ONE STOP HEALTHCARE SOLUTION, ACCOMMODATING DIVERSE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, THE CURRENT DESIGN OF OUR CENTER PARTIS, PARTICULARLY THE ENTRANCE TO OUR FACILITY, REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CHALLENGE AND HINDERS OUR OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, OUR FACILITY IS ON A VERY, VERY BUSY ROAD.
UM, IT NECESS STATES URGES CHANGES TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR OUR PATIENTS, OUR STAFF, AND THE COMMUNITY.
UM, WE ARE PLANNING TO, SORRY, I JUST LOST MY SPOT.
SO THERE WILL ALLEVIATE THE STRESS OF PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT OF OUR, OUR, UH, BUILDING.
THE PROBLEM THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING IS, BESIDES, THERE'S A LOT OF TRAFFIC ON THAT ROAD, PEOPLE ARE TURNING IN AND OUT AT THE SAME TIME CAUSING ACCIDENTS.
AND ANYONE THAT DRIVES DOWN THERE KNOWS THAT THAT IS A MAJOR THROWAWAY.
THROUGH THAT, THROUGH GREENBERG, WE'RE TRYING TO RESOLVE THAT.
UM, THE SECOND PART OF THE PROJECT, WE ARE GOING TO BE MAKING FOUR BRAND NEW EXAM ROOMS INSIDE OUR BUILDING.
WE'RE TRYING TO ENHANCE OUR CAPABILITY OF HIGH QUALITY ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE SERVICES.
UM, WE WILL, IT WILL ENABLE A BETTER MANAGEMENT OF PATIENT FLOW DURING PEAK TIMES AND PROVIDE SAFER
[01:30:01]
AND MORE WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY.IT'S, WE ARE CALLING IT, IT'S A WALK-IN.
IT'S BASICALLY YOU'RE ABLE TO COME RIGHT IN, BE SEEN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.
WE GET TO YOUR URGENT PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY.
THEN AFTER EVERYTHING IS SOLVED, WE ASK YOU TO, YOU KNOW, FILL OUT YOUR PAPERWORK AND THEN BECOME PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT WE WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO BE SERVED QUICKER, BETTER, AND SMOOTHER.
I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE TONIGHT IN, IN HOPING THAT YOU SUPPORT OUR PROJECT AND, UM, ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU GUYS IN ANY WAY WE CAN WITH THE COMMUNITY.
SIMONE, DID YOU WANNA SPEAK? COME COME.
WE STILL IN THE PUBLIC HEARING YOU HAVE A QUESTION.
I'M ONE OF THE ADMINISTRATOR AT THE GREEN AT WESTCHESTER COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER.
AND I'M ALSO THE THREE 40 B COORDINATOR.
MR. KAPA SAID PRETTY MUCH SAID EVERYTHING, BUT I'LL ADD THAT IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN THERE, I'VE WITNESSED FOUR ACCIDENTS AND ONE OF THEM WAS ACTUALLY VERY SERIOUS.
WHAT WE REALLY, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE THE ENTRANCE BIG ENOUGH THAT THERE CAN BE A MEDIAN, SO YOU HAVE A DESIGNATED ENTRANCE AND A DESIGNATED EXPERT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MS. WALKER.
SO WE ARE, WE ARE CLOSING OUR PRESENTATIONS UNLESS THERE'S ANYONE ELSE WHO HAS ONE LITTLE TIDBIT REGARDING THE GRANTS GOING, GOING, GONE.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THIS WAS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST INTERESTING HEARINGS THAT I'VE ATTENDED, UH, DURING MY TENURE.
I THOUGHT YOU DID A AMAZING JOB AND YOU HAVE FANTASTIC, UH, UH, PROPOSALS.
AND, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT AS A RESULT OF YOUR HARD WORK AND YOUR COMMITTEE'S HARD WORK, GREENBERG WILL BE A MUCH BETTER, UM, UH, PLACE AND BE ABLE TO DO A LOT MORE GREAT THINGS FOR, UM, FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
SO I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS IS A POSITIVE EVENING.
THAT MEANS EVERYTHING IS GOING FORWARD, CORRECT? I, I AM VERY ENTHUSIASTIC.
AND WE'RE GONNA CLOSE OUT, WE'RE GONNA CLOSE OUT WITH OUR WINSOME.
WELL, BEFORE WE CLOSE OUT, WE HAVE A PROCEDURAL MATTER.
WE ARE GOING TO BE CLOSING THE HEARING TONIGHT AND LEAVE THE RECORD OPEN FOR TWO WEEKS.
UH, IS ANYONE WANT TO SPEAK A SECOND TIME? WHO HAS ALREADY SPOKEN? THANK YOU.
UM, IF WE CAN HAVE MR. HOW SANDIS COME, I HAD LIKE TO RESPOND TO MR. F'S COMMENTS.
FIRST OF ALL, WHERE IS THE $70,000 THAT YOU VOTED FOR IN OCTOBER, 2022 FOR THE ROCK EXCAVATION AND THE REMOVAL OF THE FIRE HYDRANT? WHERE IS IT? I ALSO WANNA ADDRESS THIS IDEA OF ENGINEERS GAVE AN OPINION, THE SENIOR ENGINEER AT THAT TIME HAS LEFT THE EMPLOYEE OF THE TOWN, NUMBER ONE.
NUMBER TWO, IS THERE ANYTHING WRITTEN ON PAPER THAT IS THAT EXPLANATION OF WHY THE ROCK EXCAVATION WILL TAKE TWO YEARS EVEN TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT COULD BE DONE? AND IS THERE A CONCLUSION ON PAPER FOR A GEOLOGIST ENGINEER WHO HAS DETERMINED THAT THIS REMOVAL OF THE ROCK IS A PROBLEM? BECAUSE WHERE I LIVE ON NORTH WASHINGTON AVENUE AT 1 25, APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET AWAY FROM THE EXCAVATION, THAT ENTIRE 68 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX IS BUILT ON THE SAME TYPE OF ROCK AS YOU CLAIM YOU CAN'T REMOVE.
SO THE QUESTION BECOMES AGAIN, WHERE IS THE $70,000 THAT YOU VOTED TO PAY FROM THE ORIGINAL RESOLUTION, WHICH INCLUDED A SIDEWALK FROM WEST HARSDALE AVENUE TO CENTRAL AVENUE? AND WHERE IS AN ENGINEER ON PAPER WILLING TO BACK UP MR. F'S STATEMENT THAT IT
[01:35:01]
COULDN'T BE DONE THEN, BUT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IT STILL TWO YEARS LATER.IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK A SECOND TIME? ALRIGHT, YOUR WRAP UP SUPERVISOR, FINER MEMBERS OF THE TOWN BOARD.
I HAVE TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, FRANCIS SHEEN.
THE WORK THAT YOU DO ON THE RESOLUTIONS, ON THE NUMBERS, IT IS APPRECIATED.
COUNCILWOMAN JACKSON, YOU'RE A LIAISON TO DDPW AND YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THESE PROJECTS.
SEE, WHAT YOU DON'T REALIZE IS EACH ONE OF THOSE COUNCIL PEOPLE UP THERE, THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROJECTS AND THEY SUPPORT THE PROJECTS AND ALL THEIR HARD WORK IS APPRECIATED.
COUNCILMAN HENDRICKS, SHE'S LIAISON TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
SHE'S LIAISON TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
WE THANK THE THE TOWN ATTORNEY.
AMANDA, I THANK THE TOWN CLERK.
WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ALL THE INPUT THAT YOU'VE PUT INTO THE PROJECT.
AND I'M TELLING YOU, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN GREENBURG BECAUSE OF EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.
AND TO OUR WONDERFUL RESIDENTS, GREENBURG IS A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE BECAUSE OF ALL THE WONDERFUL SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE FOR OUR RESIDENTS.
I THANK THE ONLINE VIEWERS BECAUSE I KNOW ABOUT 30 PEOPLE ARE WATCHING ONLINE.
I THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND WE APPRECIATE YOU.
AND AGAIN, GREENBURG IS A GREAT PLACE BECAUSE OF ALL OF YOU.
I JUST, UH, NOTICED THAT, UM, UM, I HAD ASKED, UM, THAT, UM, UH, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE, DURING THE PRESENTATIONS, DR.
UH, MR. GOVERNOR, ED RAHI, WHO'S THE GOVERNOR OF, UH, THE ROTARY, IT'S ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS JOBS, UH, IN, UM, IN, IN THE REGION.
I THOUGHT WE CLOSED THE HEARING.
I'D JUST LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE CLOSE, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING AND LEAVE THE RECORD OPEN FOR SEVEN DAYS.
YEAH, AND I JUST WANT ALL IN FAVOR, AYE.
I HAD ASKED FOR AN ITEM TO BE, UH, PLACED ON THE, UM, PRESENTATIONS AND I TOLD, UM, UH, THE, THE GOVERNOR, UM, UH, ED ALI RAHI, WHO, UM, IS, UH, A RESIDENT OF THE NORTH ELMSFORD SECTION OF THE TOWN THAT WE WOULD, UH, UH, INTRODUCE HIM AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
I APOLOGIZE, THAT HAS BEEN A, UH, AN HOUR, UM, AND A HALF OF WEIGHT.
UM, SEE IT AS ACTIVE NOT ONLY IN ROTARY, BUT UM, IS ACTIVE, UH, IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
UM, THIS IS OFF THE RECORD IN IN, IN ELFORD.
THERE'S NO, DON'T GET A PUBLIC HEARING.
AND, AND ALSO, UM, NO, THERE'S ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING WAS A NEIGHBOR OF, UM, THE LATE COUNCILMAN, UH, KEVIN, UH, MORGAN.
UH, BUT HE'S DONE SO MUCH FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR OF, UH, ROTARY, UM, HE'S IN CHARGE OF ALL THE ROTARIES FOR THIS, UM, THIS AREA, INCLUDING BERMUDA.
SO I, I OFFERED TO VOLUNTEER MY SERVICES AND ANYTIME HE'S IN BERMUDA GOING TO BERMUDA, I SAID I WOULD CARRY HIS LUGGAGE FOR HIM AS A VOLUNTEER.
UH, BUT I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND, UH, FOR YOUR SERVICE.
AND, YOU KNOW, ROTARY HAS DONE A LOT OF AMAZING POSITIVE THINGS FOR THE TOWN.
THANK YOU EVERYONE HERE COMING AND RECOGNIZING I AM THE DISTRICT GOVERNOR FOR ROTARY INTERNATIONAL.
MANY OF MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE ROTARY IS ANOTHER HELPING HAND.
THE THING WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE SAME THING WE DO AS A ROTARIAN.
MY DISTRICT IS DISTRICT 7 2 30 IS START WITH STATEN ISLAND, MANHATTAN, BRONX, WESTCHESTER COUNTY, AND BERMUDA.
WE HAVE, UH, ALMOST 56 CLUBS ALL AROUND MY DISTRICT AND EVERY SINGLE CLUB THEY DO FOR HUMANITARIAN WORK.
WE PROVIDE, NOT INCLUDING THE FOOD OR EVERYTHING, WE ALSO EDUCATED EVERY SINGLE CLUB HAS TWO PROJECT EVERY YEAR TO DO.
AND MOSTLY THEY SUPPORT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE PEOPLE.
I'M REALLY APPRECIATE, I'M LIVING IN GREENBURG ALMOST 41 YEARS.
I'M A VOLUNTEER DEEPLY VOLUNTEER.
I, I AM, UH, AUXILIARY POLICE OFFICER HERE AS A LIEUTENANT.
I'M SERVING FOR TOWN OF GREENBURG.
I'M IN GREEN AND ALSO AMS FOR, UH, FIRE CHIEF AND MANY OTHER PROJECT, THE ONE WE HAVE, I HAVE INVOLVED IN GREENBURG.
THANK YOU SO MUCH HAVING ME AND RECOGNIZING ME.
[01:40:01]
GREAT.UH, NEXT, UH, WE HAVE A, A SHORTER
[ To consider an extension of the Finmore Sewer District in the Town of Greenburgh]
HEARING, UH, TO CONSIDER AN EXTENSION OF THE FINMORE SEWER DISTRICT IN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.THEN WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND, UH, PLEASE MENTION THANKS VINCENT FOR THE, UH, PROMOTION.
BUT, UM, THE MIC IS NOT ON MIC.
ALSO FOR THE RECORD, CAN WE PLEASE NOTE THAT PARLIAMENTARIAN AND TOWN ATTORNEY, MR. DANKO, HAS BEEN ON SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING? THANK YOU.
SO I'D LIKE TO, WE, WE MOVED TO OPEN THE HEARING ALREADY.
NO, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT WE OPEN THE HEARING.
UM, JAMES CAR IS GONNA ASSIST WITH THE, UH, PRESENTATION FROM MR. DAVID STEINMAN.
IF YOU COULD KINDLY PROMOTE HIM.
TAKING A VOTE TO OPEN THE HEARING.
DID YOU MOVE PAUL, YOU WANNA OPEN THE HEARING? I, I THOUGHT I I NO, DIDN'T MOVE TO OPEN THE HEARING.
YOU WANNA OPEN, I WANNA OPEN THE HEARING.
MAY I PROCEED MR. SUPERVISOR? YES.
MR. SUPERVISOR MEMBERS OF THE TOWN BOARD DAVID STEINMETZ FROM THE LAW FIRM OF ZAIN AND STEINMETZ HERE THIS EVENING REPRESENTING RIDGEWOOD ELMWOOD OWNER, THE OWNER OF THE FORMER ELMWOOD, UH, COUNTRY CLUB PROPERTY.
I'M JOINED THIS EVENING BY JAMES CARAS FROM JMC ENGINEERING AND PLANNING.
WE ARE DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO BE AS EXCITING AND STIMULATING AS THE LAST HEARING.
THIS IS A FA A FAIRLY MUNDANE REQUEST TO SIMPLY EXPAND THE EXISTING FINMORE SEWER DISTRICT, A TOWN SEWER DISTRICT TO INCLUDE THE ENTIRETY OF THE ELMWOOD PROPERTY.
A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY IS AND HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN FINMORE.
AND BASED UPON THE APPROVALS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM YOUR PLANNING BOARD, WE ARE REQUIRED TO EXPAND THE SEWER DISTRICT TO INCLUDE THE ENTIRE PROPERTY.
I FILED A PETITION UNDER THE NEW YORK STATE TOWN LAW REQUESTING, UM, AN EXPANSION OF THE SEWER DISTRICT.
WE SUBMITTED TO YOU THE MAP THAT'S ON THE SCREEN BEFORE YOU, UM, AS WELL AS SUPPORTING MATERIALS DESCRIBING THE AREA AND PROVIDING AN ENGINEERING REPORT AS WELL.
IT IS A TECHNICAL REQUEST, UH, BUT AS I SAID, IT IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO YOUR STAFF, REVIEWED BY YOUR STAFF.
AND WE ARE HERE BECAUSE IT IS A MANDATORY PUBLIC HEARING UNDER THE NEW YORK STATE TOWN LAW.
MR. CARRIS CAN ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS RELATIVE TO THE MAPS AND PLANS.
OTHERWISE, UM, WE'RE SIMPLY HERE TO OPEN AND HOPEFULLY CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING SO THAT WE CAN PROCEED WITH THE EXPANSION.
DOES ANYBODY WANNA SPEAK? SO, MR. GARRIS, DO YOU WANNA EXPLAIN WHY AND DO, I DIDN'T SEE A LETTER FROM OUR TOWN ENGINEER.
IS THERE A LETTER FROM OUR TOWN ENGINEER HAVING NO OPPOSITION IN THE FILE? SO, UM, MAYBE AMANDA COULD SPEAK TO THAT.
I, I KNOW THAT BOTH YOUR, YOUR TOWN ENGINEER AND YOUR OUTSIDE CONSULTING ENGINEER HAVE ALL BEEN APPRISED OF THIS, UM, THE TOWN.
SO THAT THE TOWN BOARD IS AWARE THE TOWN, UH, PLANNING BOARD, I GUESS THE TOWN RETAINED THE SERVICES OF LABEL ENGINEERING AS OUTSIDE CONSULTING ENGINEERS.
UH, CHRIS LAPIN FROM LABEL HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THIS APPLICATION AND BEEN WORKING WITH JMC IS THAT IS ACCURATE.
UM, BUT IF YOU'D LIKE A MEMO FROM TOWN ENGINEER, WE CAN DO IT RIGHT FOR OUR FILE.
MEMBERS OF THE TOWN BOARD JAMES CAR FROM JMC.
UM, THE, THE MAP THAT YOU'RE SEEING ON THE SCREEN HERE DEPICTS, UH, THE ELMWOOD PROPERTY.
UH, THE PORTION OF THE PROPERTY IN DARK BLUE IS CURRENTLY WITHIN THE FINMORE DISTRICT.
THE LIGHTER BLUE AREA OF THE PROPERTY WOULD BE THE BALANCE THAT WOULD BE ADDED TO THE DISTRICT.
AND THEN THE RED AREA IS THE 14 ACRE, UH, PARK PARCEL LAND DONATION THAT IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROJECT.
UH, THAT WOULD MAKE UP THE BALANCE OF THE DISTRICT EXPANSION.
UM, WE ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY WITH THE TOWNS CONSULTING ENGINEER TO PERFECT OUR WATER AND SEWER MAIN EXTENSION APPLICATIONS FOR SUBMISSION TO THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UH, WE EXPECT TO, UH, MAKE THAT SUBMISSION SHORTLY, UH, AFTER THE ENDORSEMENT OF, UH, THE TOWNS ENGINEER.
AND, UH, THIS DISTRICT EXPANSION IS ONE PIECE OF THAT APPLICATION PROCESS, WHICH, UH, WE NEED TO COMPLETE.
JUST, JUST UNDERSCORE WHAT JAMES SAID AT THE END THERE, WITHOUT THE SEWER DISTRICT EXPANSION, WE CAN'T TAKE THAT NEXT STEP WITH THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
[01:45:01]
THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME.ANYBODY LIKE TO SPEAK NOW? THEN I'D LIKE TO MOVE NOW.
WE CLOSE THE HEARING AND LEAVE THE RECORD OPEN FOR SEVEN DAYS.
AND, AND DURING THOSE SEVEN DAYS, IF WE COULD GET A LETTER IN THE FILE FROM THE TOWN ENGINEER, MAKING SURE THAT DEALS WITH THE CAPACITY ISSUES AS WELL AS HIS, UH, NO OBJECTION.
NEXT WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND, UH, THE TOWN CLERK WILL CALL PEOPLE IN THE ORDER OF, UH, UH, THE REQUEST.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SPEAKING? COULD WE TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK? YES.
I WAS GONNA ASK THE SAME THING.
CAN WE PLEASE JUST THREE MINUTES PLEASE? THANK YOU.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU, CAN YOU, YOU WANNA TAKE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK? BREAK? I JUST NEED A FIVE MINUTE BREAK.
WHILE YOU WAITING, MICROPHONE? YEAH, YOU'RE DONE.
SO THIS IS GONNA BE A FIVE MINUTE BREAK, BUT IT WILL BE FIVE MINUTE KNOCK.
[ PUBLIC COMMENT Advance signup 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. There will not be a second five minute round. Any written comments sent to PublicComment@GreenburghNY.com by 6 PM the day of the hearing will be forwarded to all Town Board members in advance of the meeting for their consideration. Written comments will not be read at the meeting unless the original author is present to do so.]
AND, UM, WE'RE GONNA START WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE'RE GONNA BE, PEOPLE ARE GONNA BE CALLED IN THE ORDER OF, UM, THE REQUEST THAT THEY MADE THE REQUEST TO SPEAK.MAY WE HAVE WALTER SIMON, PLEASE.
SUPERVISOR FINER AND MEMBERS OF THE TOWN BOARD.
I'M SORRY, CAN YOU WAIT JUST A MOMENT PLEASE, WALTER? SURE.
I JUST WANTED TO OPEN IT UP FOR EVERYONE.
SO A CONTINUOUS FIVE LIMIT, FIVE MINUTE LIMIT PER SPEAKER WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED.
THE CLOCK WILL START WHEN A SPEAKER BEGINS, UM, AND WILL NOT BE STOPPED FOR ANY REASON UNTIL THE SPEAKER IS FINISHED OR FIVE MINUTES HAVE ELAPSED, WHICHEVER OCCURS.
INTERRUPTIONS BY TOWN BOARD MEMBERS, THE CLERK OR THE PUBLIC WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.
IF A SPEAKER INSISTS ON AN IMMEDIATE ANSWER, SHOULD AN ANSWER BE PROVIDED SHALL BE PART OF THE FIVE MINUTES COUNTED.
SUPERVISOR ER ARE MEMBERS OF THE TOWN BOARD.
MY NAME IS WALTER SIMON, MEMBER OF THE PLANNING BOARD AND THE PREVIOUS CHAIRMAN OF THAT BOARD, THE TOWN BOARD, HAS THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE PLANNING BOARD.
IT WAS SENT WITH THE UNANIMOUS CONSENT OF THE PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS.
IT IS PART OF THE OFFICIAL TOWN BOARD RECORDS.
THE FOLLOWING IS MY PERSONAL STATEMENT ALSO TO BE ADDED TO THE RECORDS.
I GREW UP IN A FAMILY THAT DID NOT HAVE ANY PHYSICAL POSSESSION OF WEALTH, BUT ITEMS INDICATIVE OF A LOWER INCOME WORKING CLASS FAMILY.
HOWEVER, MY PARENTS AND ESPECIALLY MY DAD TOLD ME AND MY SIBLINGS, THE MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSION THAT ONE HAS IS THEIR INTEGRITY AND GOOD NAME.
SO IN THAT SENSE, MY FAMILY POSSESS SUBSTANTIAL WEALTH.
BOTH OF MY PARENTS WERE TRUE TO THAT STANDARD.
AND IN THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, I HAVE ENDEAVORED TO DO THE SAME AS THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING BOARD, INTEGRITY AND MY GOOD NAME WERE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES DURING MY TENURE.
SIMILARLY, NOW, AS A MEMBER OF THE PLANNING BOARD, I AM PROUD TO SERVE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CURRENT CHAIRMAN SWARTZ AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING BOARD, LESLIE DAVIS, CURT DESAI, MICHAEL GOLDEN, TOM HAY, JOHAN SNAG, AISHA SPARKS.
I LIST THEIR NAME IN NO ORDER OF PREFERENCE, BUT SIMPLY ALPHABETICALLY.
I'M ALSO PROUD TO CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THE PLANNING BOARD BECAUSE AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A BODY, THE PLANNING BOARD ADHERES TO THE SAME PRINCIPLES OF INTEGRITY AND CARRYING OUT ITS LAND USE AUTHORITY WHILE FOLLOWING ALL APPLICABLE CODES AND LAWS.
THERE ARE SOME THAT MIGHT DISAGREE WITH THE PLANNING BOARD DECISIONS.
IN FACT, THE PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS DO NOT ALWAYS AGREE AMONG THEMSELVES.
NEVERTHELESS, OUR DECISIONS ARE BASED ON FACTS AND THE LAW, NOT THE WISHES OF APPLICANTS.
THE PUBLIC PERSONAL OPINIONS OR AGENDAS OR THE TOWN BOARD DECISIONS ARE BASED ON THE CODES AND RECOGNIZED GOOD PLANNING PRACTICES CONSISTENT WITH THE LAW.
IT SHOULD THEREFORE BE NO SURPRISE TO ANYONE THAT WHEN YOU SWART AND SNAG WAS ACCUSED BY THE TOWN ATTORNEY JOE DANKO AND COMMISSIONER GARRICK KING AS A ETHICS
[01:50:01]
CONFLICT, THE FORMER REQUESTING OPINION FROM THE ETHICS BOARD.BUT WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE OF THE TOWN BOARD? DID HE USE HIS LEGAL LE LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY AFTER RECEIVING THE FINAL DECISION OF THE ETHICS BOARD AND SCHEDULE A WORK SESSION WITH THE ETHICS BOARD AND AFFECTED LAND USE GROUPS OF THE TOWN PLANNING, ZONING, CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HISTORIC LANDMARKS COMMITTEE, AND PUBLIC HEARINGS? TO THE CONTRARY, THE TOWN BOARD MIMICKED THE STRATEGY OF SOME POLITICAL LEADERS AND DECIDED TO IGNORE PENDING RULING BY THE ETHICS BOARD, MAKE UP THEIR OWN RULE IN SECRET BYPASS PUBLIC INPUT AND DISCUSSION AND NOW PREPARE TO INSERT ITS OWN RULE.
THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION IS NOT ONLY POORLY WORDED, CONCEIVED IN AN UNETHICAL MANNER IN SECRET WHEN THE SUPERVISOR PAUL FINER WAS ON VACATION.
IT IS THE VOID OF PUBLIC INPUT AND VIOLATION OF THE STATE LAW ANDT CODES THAT MANDATES 30 DAY NOTIFICATION TO THE ETHICS BOARD OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE ETHICS CODE.
APPARENTLY THE TOWN BOARD IS NOT WELL ADVISED IN ITS OWN ETHICS CODE.
THIS RESOLUTION THEREFORE REQUIRES WITHDRAWAL.
FOR THE RECORD, I SUBMIT THE STATEMENT TO THE TOWN CLERK NEXT, WHO'S NEXT? THANK YOU.
MAY WE HAVE MR. HUGH SCHWARTZ? GOTTA LOWER THIS MIC.
HERE I AM VERTICALLY CHALLENGED AND THAT IS, UH, IS A CATEGORY BY THE WAY.
WOULD YOU STAND A LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MIC, PLEASE? YES.
I'M CHAIR OF THE, UH, PLANNING BOARD AND A 21 YEAR MEMBER OF THE PLANNING BOARD AND ALMOST A 30 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
THE FOLLOWING IS MY PERSONAL PER UH, PERSPECTIVE.
I SPEAK TONIGHT ABOUT THE PENDING RESOLUTION TB ONE.
THIS TOWN SUCCESS HAS BEEN BUILT ON THE CONCEPT OF OPEN GOVERNMENT, STRONG STAFF, AND THE HARD WORK BY VOLUNTEER CITIZEN MEMBERS OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES THAT CONDUCT A GREAT DEAL OF THE TOWN'S BUSINESS.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S APPARENTLY AN INCREASING LEVEL OF DISRESPECT AND LACK OF APPRECIATION FOR THIS VOLUNTEERS BY THIS TOWN BOARD EXCEPT MR. FINER, FOR EXAMPLE, REFUSING TO PAY FOR THE LAND USE BOARD'S ATTENDANCE AT A STATEWIDE PLANNING CONFERENCE, UH, WHICH OFFERS ENHANCED LAND USE, UH, TRAINING, IGNORING LETTERS ARE SITTING ON RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EX EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME, SENDING A WATERED DOWN A DU LAW TO THE PLANNING BOARD WITHOUT THE COURTESY OF SAYING IT HAD BEEN MODIFIED AND ALLOWING BOARD MEMBERS TERMS TO EXPIRE FOR MONTHS, EVEN YEARS WITHOUT REAPPOINTMENT.
BUT TONIGHT, BY INTRODUCING TB ONE, YOU HAVE TOPPED IT ALL WITH A DIRECT ATTACK ON MYSELF AND ON OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING BOARD, TRYING TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN GREENBURG, WHICH IS SUPPOSEDLY A TOWN IN INITIATIVE.
EVEN WORSE, YOU ARE IGNORING THE TOWN'S ETHIC CODE AND PROCEDURES AND REFUSE TO WAIT JUST ONE WEEK FOR THE WRITTEN OPINION OF THE BOARD OF ETHICS REGARDING THIS MATTER.
TB ONE IS A HASTILY AND POORLY CONCEIVED RESOLUTION, WHICH WOULD CIRCUMVENT THE TOWN'S CODE OF ETHICS WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE BOARD OF ETHICS.
THE LAND USE BOARDS OR THE PUBLIC, ITS LANGUAGE IS VAGUE, OVERLY BROAD, LEAVING ITS SCOPE OPEN TO INTERPRETATION.
PASSING THIS RESOLUTION IN COMBINATION WITH A LARGE NUMBER, UH, OF PENDING REAPPOINTMENTS IN OPEN SEATS ON THE VARIOUS BOARDS WOULD GIVE THE TOWN THE ABILITY TO UNDULY INFLUENCE THE LAND USE BOARDS, WHICH STATE LAW DESIGNED TO BE INDEPENDENT AND COULD EVEN TOTALLY AND QUICKLY RESHAPE THEIR MEMBERSHIP.
ALSO INCONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW.
ACTING ON THIS RESOLUTION TONIGHT ALSO VIOLATES TOWN LAW.
ALTHOUGH OUR ILLUSTRIOUS TOWN ATTORNEY WHO IS CONVENIENTLY ABSENT TONIGHT DOESN'T THINK SO.
FOR THE RECORD, MR. DANKO SUMMONED BOTH MR. SNAGS AND MYSELF TO DISCUSS A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST
[01:55:01]
UNDER TOWN LAW.WE MET WITH HIM AND EXPLAINED THAT OUR 5 0 1 C3 WAS ESTABLISHED PURELY TO FACILITATE THE FINANCING OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
DOES NOT ATTEMPT TO SET LAND USE POLICY AND WE HAVE NO PERSONAL FINANCIAL INTEREST WHATSOEVER.
FURTHER, WE ASSURED HIM THAT IF ONE OF OUR PROJECTS CAME BEFORE THE PLANNING BOARD, WE WOULD RECUSE OURSELVES.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS DID NOT SATISFY MR. DANKO, SO WE VOLUNTARILY SOUGHT THE OPINION OF THE ETHICS BOARD.
THE MEETING OCCURRED ABOUT FIVE WEEKS LATER, AMPLE TIME FOR ANYONE, INCLUDING EVERYBODY ON THIS BOARD WHO'S COMPLAINING THAT THEY DIDN'T GET A CHANCE BEFORE THE ETHICS BOARD ANY OF YOU COULD HAVE OPINED YOU HAD FIVE WEEKS.
IN FACT, MR. GARRETT DELAINE SUB SUBMITTED HIS VIEWS THE DAY BEFORE THE MEETING AND MR. DANKO ATTENDED ARGUING IN SUPPORT OF MR. DUANE'S OPINION.
THAT SAME NIGHT THE BOARD OF ETHICS RULED IN FAVOR OF MR. SNAGS AND MYSELF.
THEN A FEW WEEKS LATER, AN EXECUTIVE SESSION OF THE TOWN BOARD, AND YOU CAN SHAKE YOUR HEAD ALL YOU WANT.
IT HAPPENED WITHOUT MR. FINDER PRESENT.
THIS RESOLUTION APPEARED AND HERE WE ARE TONIGHT.
WHY THIS RESOLUTION? DO MEMBERS OF THE TOWN BOARD THINK THE BOARD OF ETHICS IS SO INCAPABLE OF RULING ON CONFLICTS OF INTEREST? OR IS IT THAT THEY BELIEVE THE CURRENT CODE OF ETHICS IS INSUFFICIENT TO ADDRESS THE PARTICULAR ISSUE? DOES TB ONE CHANGE THE CODE OR DOESN'T IT? IF YOU DO? IF IT DOES, YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURE TO MODIFY THE CODE.
IF IT DOESN'T, THE ETHICS BOARD ALREADY OPINED THAT OUR RECUSAL WAS SUFFICIENT REMEDY.
WHAT'S THE DESIRE OF THIS BOARD FOR THE LACK OF DUE PRO PROCESS? IT'S TOTALLY DISRESPECTFUL TO THE ETHICS BOARD, THE LAND USE BOARDS PLANNING BOARD IN PARTICULAR, AND APPEARS TO BE A PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE ATTEMPT TO SLOW DOWN THE EFFORT TO BUILD A MUCH NEEDED AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN GREENBURG.
DESPITE THIS RESOLUTION AND ACT ON REAPPOINTMENTS, I WOULD DEFEAT THIS RESOLUTION AND, AND ACT ON THE REAPPOINTMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN LONG EXPIRED.
THESE BOARDS NEED TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT AND NOT UNDER THE THUMB OF SOME OVERBEARING TOWN BOARD MEMBERS WHO SEEK TO CLANDESTINELY EXERT THEIR INFLUENCE.
I'VE BEEN ON ZOOM SINCE SEVEN 30 TONIGHT.
MR. BODEN, YOU'RE DISRUPTING THE MEETING.
WE'RE NOT DOING THIS MR. YOU'RE DISRUPTING THE MEETING.
THANK YOU MR. UH, TOWN ATTORNEY, IF YOU CAN CONTINUE PLEASE.
I, I'M NOT AT THE MEETING TONIGHT BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE COVID.
THANK YOU FIRST DEPUTY MAGNA FOR FILMING FOR ME TONIGHT.
JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT WALTER, I SORRY, BECAUSE SIMON, WE CAN'T HEAR HIM.
MR. SIMON, YOU'RE NOT A MEMBER OF THE BODY.
THIS IS THE MEMBER OF THE BODY.
CONTINUE, PLEASE, PLEASE, MR. DANKO.
SO THIS RESOLUTION THAT IS PROPOSED TONIGHT AND SCHEDULED TO BE VOTED ON BY THE TOWN BOARD IS NOT CHANGED THE CODE OF ETHICS.
IT IS SIMPLY A POLICY TOWN BOARD AND THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AND ANY TOWN BOARD THROUGHOUT THE STATE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO PASS A RESOLUTION WHICH CHANGES POLICY.
UM, I'D ALSO JUST LIKE TO CORRECT THE RECORD THAT I DID INVITE MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING BOARD TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE WITH THE TOWN BOARD AND, UM, THEY DECIDED NOT TO MEET WITH THE TOWN BOARD AND ALSO AT THE BOARD OF ETHICS MEETING ON MAY 16TH BEFORE, UH, THE BOARD MOVED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, I DID ASK FOR AN ADJOURNMENT TO ALLOW FOR COMMISSIONER DUANE AND THE TOWN COUNCIL THE CHANCE TO RESPOND AS WELL.
UH, I, UH, JOE, I, UH, SPOKE WITH LA SPIN TODAY, UM, AND, UH, MR. SPIN IS THE HEAD OF THE ETHICS BOARD AND, UM, HE INDICATED SPOKE HIM AS WELL.
RIGHT? AND, UH, HE INDICATED THAT, UM, IF, UH, THE BOARD WOULD, UM, HE SENT A, UH, AN EMAIL TO THE BOARD ASKING THAT WE, UH, HOLD OFF, UM, A VOTE UNTIL AFTER THE ETHICS BOARD COULD MEET THEIR MEETING, I THINK ON THE, ON NEXT, NEXT THURSDAY, I THINK THURSDAY NIGHT.
UM, AND HE ALSO INDICATED THAT IF THE BOARD WOULD, UM, UM, WOULD, UM, THE TOWN BOARD WOULD HOLD OFF FOR ONE WEEK UNTIL AFTER THE ETHICS BOARD, YOU KNOW, WOULD, WOULD RULE A LITTLE OVER A WEEK UNTIL AFTER THE ETHICS BOARD WOULD RULE.
HE WOULD PROVIDE ANY MEMBER OF THE TOWN BOARD AND PLANNING BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, GIVE THEIR OPINION.
[02:00:01]
KNOW, AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE, I'M GONNA MAKE A MOTION, UM, TO, UM, UH, ASK THE TOWN BOARD TO DELAY THE VOTE UNTIL, UM, THE NEXT TOWN BOARD MEETING BECAUSE I FEEL THAT ETHICS BOARD, UM, HAS MADE A REQUEST TO THE TOWN BOARD, UH, THAT WE NOT VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT.AND I FEEL THAT IF WE, UM, UM, DO NOT RESPECT THE WISHES OF THE ETHICS BOARD, WE'RE, UM, WE'RE BASICALLY INTERFERING WITH THE INDEPENDENCE OF THAT, OF THAT BOARD.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I REALLY, I'VE BEEN EMAILING THE TOWN BOARD ALL DAY AND, YOU KNOW, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A STRONG ETHICS, UH, CODE.
WE HAVE A STRONG ETHICS BOARD, AND WE WANT TO HAVE AN INDEPENDENT ETHICS BOARD.
AND I, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, IF WE DISREGARD THE ETHICS BOARD, IT'S THE SAME THING AS IF DONALD TRUMP DISREGARDING THE COURT.
THAT'S MY, WE, WE HAVE TO STOP.
WE HAVE WHY? WE HEAR FROM WE HAVE TO STOP BECAUSE WHY DON'T WE HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC? WE'RE HERE TO HEAR.
WE'RE GOING HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.
WE, WE WANNA HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC INSTEAD OF CONTINUE TO TALK.
WHO'S NEXT? LISA, WHO'S NEXT? WHO? I'M SORRY.
IF THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC COULD PLEASE RESPECT EACH OTHER'S WHO, WHO SPEAKING? WHO THE NEXT, WHO IS THE NEXT WEEK OF LISA PODIUM.
YOU ALLOWED THE TOWN ATTORNEY TO INTERRUPT, BUT THE SUPERVISOR CAN'T FINISH HIS THOUGHT.
HE DIDN'T INTERRUPT WAS FINISHED.
HE DID NOT INTERRUPT SPEAKING.
WE WANNA HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC.
I AM A MEMBER OF THE PLANNING BOARD.
FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO SAY I'M IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT FUNDING AND THE EFFORTS IN HANS GREENBURG.
WHAT I WAS, UH, PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT, UH, THE, THEY HAD AN EX A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE TOM BOARD AS A 5 0 1 C3, AND, AND THE TOM BOARD WAS IN FULL SUPPORT OF THE INITIATIVES OVERALL, I'M HOPING WE'RE ASPIRING TO GET TO THAT POINT.
I HAD A LITTLE BIT OF TASTE OF THAT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, BUT FOR SOME REASON, THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RESOLUTION.
UH, TOM BOUGHT ONE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE FALL OF LAST YEAR.
THE ACCESSIBLE VIABLE LIVING COMMITTEE ATTENDED THE PACE UNIVERSITY LAND USE LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE PROGRAM WITH COMMISSIONER GARRETT DUANE.
HE RECEIVED THE SAME INSTRUCTION THAT ALL OF THE ATTENDING A VL MEMBERS DID.
IN FEBRUARY, WE ANNOUNCED TO THE TOM BOARD THE INCORPORATION OF VIABLE LIVING INC.
A 5 0 1 C3, 5 0 1 C3, AND A MISSION CONSISTENT WITH THE 2016 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FEATURES TO BRING DIVERSE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING LIVING OPPORTUNITIES TO GREENBERG.
THE ORG WAS CREATED WITH THE ADVICE AND GUIDANCE OF LULA LEADERSHIP.
OUR PRESS RELEASE WAS CO-AUTHORED BY TOWN BOARD MEMBER ELLEN HENDRICKS.
WE SEEM TO BE IN SYNC IN FEBRUARY.
WE ALSO FIRST COMMUNICATED A DISCREPANCY IN THE PROPOSED A DU LAW AS IT WAS HEAVILY MODIFIED AND WHICH RENDERED IT INEFFECTIVE.
THE PLANNING BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION DOCUMENTED THE DISCREPANCY.
THE NEXT THING WE KNOW, THE NARRATIVE BREWING OF A POTENTIAL PERCEIVED CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND ETHICS VIOLATION, UH, VIA THE INCORPORATION OF, UH, VLI MANIFEST.
WE TOOK INITIATIVE OF GOING TO THE BOARD OF ETHICS AND THEY FOUND NO FAULT.
THE RESOLUTION ON THE TABLE TONIGHT SEEMS RETALIATORY.
IT SEEMS TARGETED, IT SEEMS SMALL AND BENEATH YOU, DO YOU ALREADY KNOW THE IMPACT WILL BE BAKED.
A VIOLATION OF CURRENT ETHICS CODE, UNDUE INFLUENCE, INTIMIDATION OF VOLUNTEER BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, COMPROMISING THE INTEGRITY OF THE SEAT THAT YOU SIT IN.
LASTLY, SABOTAGING THE MORALE OF VOLUNTEERS.
IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN HELP YOU PRIORITIZE MORE PRESSING ISSUES LIKE AFFORDABLE HOUSING? THE REASON WHY I ASK IS BECAUSE WE HAVE AN A DU LAW THAT'S BEEN SITTING WITH YOU FOR FOUR MONTHS AT THIS POINT AFTER WE RESTORED IT TO THE ORIGINAL INTENT AFTER IT WAS HEAVILY COMPROMISED TO MAKE IT BASICALLY PERFORMATIVE AND USELESS.
SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO GARNER THE TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP AND GOOD FAITH ASIDE FROM THE OVER HALF A CENTURY, UM, WORTH OF COMMITMENT AND DEDICATED SUPPORT THAT, UH, CHAIR FORMER CHAIRPERSON SIMON AND HUGH SCHWARTZ'S ALREADY OFFERED INTO THE TOWN.
WHAT CAN WE DO TO OFFER TO, TO GARNER GOODWILL
[02:05:01]
AND GET FULL SUPPORT OF YOUR EFFORTS TO BRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO GREENBURG? I, I, I DO IT.YOU, YOU HAVE GOOD COUNSEL OUTSIDE OF JOE DANKO.
YOU HAVE, UH, HALF A CENTURY WORTH OF EXPERIENCE JUST SITTING IN THOSE TWO SEATS ALONE.
YOU HAVE AN ENTIRE BOARD OF ETHICS THAT YOU APPOINTED THAT ADVISE YOU THAT IT ISN'T IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE TOWN TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS RESOLUTION WITHOUT HAVING THE APPROPRIATE, UH, CONVERSATIONS.
SO I'LL ASK THAT YOU TABLE IT AT THE VERY LEAST, UNTIL YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, TO CONSULT WITH YOUR OWN BOARD OF ETHICS.
WE'LL BE HAPPY TO ENGAGE WITH YOU TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF EXACTLY WHAT YOUR INTERESTS ARE AND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THEM, BECAUSE IT SEEMS AS IF OUR EFFORT TO BRING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO GREENBERG FOR SOME REASON, IS GETTING COMPROMISED EVER SINCE WE BROUGHT UP THE CONCERN REGARDING THE A DU LAW.
NEXT HONORABLE JUDITH PREVAIL.
I AM ADDRESSING THREE ISSUES THIS EVENING.
UM, ONE, UH, SIX WEEKS AGO I BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THIS BOARD A NEED TO, UM, REVIEW AND POSSIBLY REVISE, UH, RESOLUTION REGARDING, UM, THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANAGING AND CONTROLLING BAMBOO, UM, IN ON PRIVATE PROPERTY HERE IN THE TOWN.
AND I WAS TOLD IT LA TWO WEEKS AGO THAT SOMEONE, UH, BY, UH, GINA JACKSON, THAT SHE WOULD HAVE SOMEONE FOLLOW UP, UM, FROM EITHER THE DPW OR DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION.
THE OTHER POINT THAT, AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY FOLLOW UP, THE OTHER POINT, UM, THAT I'M HERE TO ADDRESS IS REGARDING A RESOLUTION, UH, TWO RESOLUTIONS THAT I SUBMITTED, UH, IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023.
UM, ONE WAS TO, UM, HAVE TO DO A COMMEMORATIVE STREET NAMING OF, UM, I THINK THE STREET IS GRAND STREET ON THE SIDE OF UNION BAPTIST, UH, TO HONOR, UM, REVEREND DR. LEWIS HUGHES, UM, WHO BASICALLY BUILT, HE WAS THE SECOND MINISTER THERE, BUT HE REALLY BUILT THE CHURCH FROM, FROM, UM, GROUND UP AND ALSO TO HONOR BARBARA WATSON PERRY, UM, WHO PROVIDED, UH, WHO, WHO WROTE A PROPOSAL AND WAS GRANTED THE FUNDS TO, UM, ADD THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE THEATER OF DE YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER.
SO THAT'S ALREADY BEEN DECIDED IN, IN 1972, SHIRLEY CHISHOLM, WHO WAS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN ELECTED TO CONGRESS AND THE FIRST WOMAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN TO SEEK THE NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES, FAMOUSLY SAID, IF THEY DON'T GIVE YOU A SEAT AT THE TABLE, BRING A FOLDING CHAIR.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT BARBARA WATSON PRAIRIE DID.
SHE, IN, IN TERMS OF, UM, TAKING IT INTO HER OWN HANDS TO WRITE A PROPOSAL TO THE STATE OF NEW YORK TO RECEIVE $3 MILLION TO BUILD THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE THEODORE DE YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER.
IN ADDITION, IF IT WERE NOT FOR BARBARA, THE THEODORE DE YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER MAY NOT BE AT, UH, AS IT HAS BEEN OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS, AND AUTONOMY DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE TOWN OF GREENBERG, BECAUSE THERE WERE EFFORTS TO ABSORB IT INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
BARBARA WATSON PERRY WAS THE FIRST FEMALE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF PARKS AND RECREATION, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN, UH, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
AND THEN SHE LATER BECAME THE FIRST FEMALE AND FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMISSIONER, UH, HERE IN THE TOWN OF GREENBERG.
UM, EVERYONE WHO I, EVERYONE WHO I PRESENT THIS ISSUE TO, RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, WHO KNEW BARBARA WATSON PRAIRIE.
UM, UNFORTUNATELY WE LOST HER, UH, UH, JULY, UM, UH, I'M SORRY, SEP IN JULY OF LAST YEAR.
[02:10:02]
UM, AND, UH, SHE HAD JUST TURNED 85.SHE WOULD BE TURNING 86 THIS YEAR.
AND EVERYONE WHO I'VE PRESENTED THIS, THIS IDEA TO OF NAMING THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE THEATER DE YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER, THE BARBARA WATSON PRAIRIE EXTENSION SAYS TO ME, JUDY, IT'S A NO-BRAINER.
WHY, WHY IS THERE ANY HESITATION ON THE PART OF THIS BOARD TO ASSIGN THE HONOR TO HONOR BARBARA WATSON PRAIRIE BY NAMING THE SECOND FLOOR, THE BARBARA WATSON PRAIRIE EXTENSION? SHE PROVIDED THE FUNDING FOR THAT SECOND FLOOR OF THE THEATER AT DE YOUNG COMMUNITY CENTER.
AND SO, AGAIN, THOSE ARE THE THREE ISSUES THAT I BRING BEFORE THE BOARD THIS EVENING.
UM, THERE HAS BEEN NO FOLLOW UP ON EITHER ONE OF THEM, AND I, YOU KNOW, I I JUST THINK THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW THAT AFTER SIX WEEKS, NO FOLLOW UP ON, UH, ON AN ISSUE WITH REGARDS TO, UM, THE, THE BAMBOO RESOLUTION THAT NEEDS TO BE REDRESSED AND ALMOST A YEAR, NO FOLLOW UP ON THE COMMEMORATIVE NAMINGS.
IF I COULD JUST RESPOND, JUDITH, REGARDING THE BARBARA PERRY, UH, NAMING, UM, THIS BOARD IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HOW THE COMMUNITY CENTER NAMES THEIR PARTS OF THEIR BUILDINGS.
THEIR ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH I'M A LIAISON TO, HAS DECIDED HOW THEY'RE GOING TO HANDLE THAT.
AND THEY ARE GOING TO NAME A WALL, NOT THE WHOLE FLOOR.
THAT IS THEIR DECISION, NOT OUR DECISION.
WE ALL UNDERSTAND, RESPECT HER LEGACY AND SUPPORT WHAT IT'S THEIR DECISION OF WHAT THEY WANNA DO.
SO I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU KEEP ADDRESSING IT HERE.
YOU SHOULD BE TALKING TO THE, THEIR ADVISORY BOARD BECAUSE, UM, IN, IN ALL DUE RESPECT TO YOU, JOY HABER, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE A NEW COUNCIL PERSON.
THE TOWN BOARD IS A DECISION MAKING BOARD.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE A DECISION OVER AND BEYOND JUDY AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
IF YOU COULD PLEASE ANOTHER TIME.
YEAH, I'LL SET UP A MEETING WITH YOU AND MYSELF AND AARON SCHMIDT.
I'LL TRY, WE'LL SEE IF WE COULD DO IT WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK.
AND NAMING A WALL AFTER BARBARA IS AN INSULT.
MS. ILLA, IF OF COMMENTS, YOU MAY SUBMIT THEM IN WRITING, IT DEMEANS HER SIGNIFICANCE.
YOU SHOULD DISCUSS IT WITH THE ADVISORY BOARD.
VERY LATE EVENING, UM, TO EVERYBODY.
UM, I THINK, SO I COME HERE TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE RESOLUTION THAT WAS SENT TO ME AND FOR WHICH I HAD A LOT OF CONCERN.
SO MUCH CONCERN THAT I EVEN WROTE DOWN SOME NOTES.
I'M SPEAKING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO VOLUNTEER LIKE I DO FOR THE TOWN BECAUSE WE CARE ABOUT IT AND PROVIDE INPUT WHICH THE BOARD CAN OR CANNOT RESPOND TO.
UM, AND HOW THEY VIEW THE BOARD'S RUSH TO MAKE A DECISION THIS EVENING IN SOMETHING WHICH JUST LOGICALLY COULD BE PLA COULD BE PUT OFF.
THE TOWN BOARD HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TONIGHT TO DISPLACE SOME DISCRETION ABOUT VOTING ON THIS TD ONE ISSUE.
UM, WHICH CLEARLY I BELIEVE REQUIRES SOME FURTHER THOUGHT AND COUNSEL FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED.
IT WOULD BE VERY EASY AND SIMPLE JUST TO SAY, LET'S WAIT A WEEK OR TWO UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO FEEL RESPECTED AND HEARD.
AND IF NOT, PEOPLE LIKE ME FEEL UNRESPECTED AND UNHEARD AND HAVE LESS INTEREST IN SPENDING OUR TIME TRYING TO ASSIST THE BOARD IN WORKING FOR THE TOWN.
YOU AS A BOARD HAVE THE ABILITY TO LISTEN TO OPINIONS FROM ALL OF YOUR ETHICS ORGANIZATIONS AND FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THIS FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
AND IF YOU TAKE THEM AND, AND YOU UTILIZE THOSE OPINIONS, AT LEAST AT THE END, PEOPLE WILL
[02:15:01]
SAY, WELL, THEY TOOK ALL THE INFORMATION THAT THEY HAD, THEY UNDERSTOOD ALL THE ISSUES, AND THEY HANDLED IT IN A RESPECTFUL WAY.REGRETTABLY, TODAY WE LIVE IN A CLIMATE WHERE ON THE FEDERAL, AND AS WE'VE SEEN MOST LATELY, EVEN ON THE STATE LEVEL, THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF OVERREACHING OF GOVERNMENT.
AND THE REASON THAT I'M INVOLVED AT ALL WITH THE TOWN IS 'CAUSE I BELIEVED EVEN THOUGH I CAN HAVE NO INPUT IN THE FEDERAL AND NOW NOT EVEN IN THE STATE, THAT THE LOCAL BOARD WHO ARE MY NEIGHBORS AND PEOPLE I SEE AT THE SUPERMARKET WOULD BE LISTENING TO ME AND WOULDN'T BE OVERREACHING.
IT'S THE FERVENT WISH OF PEOPLE LIKE ME, VOLUNTEERS THAT OTHER VOLUNTEERS BE TREATED IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER.
AND TO VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT WOULD BE EXTREMELY DISRESPECTFUL.
THE OTHER PIECE OF THIS FOR ME, WHO SPENT A LARGE DEAL OF MY LIFE IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES IS THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AN ENORMOUS ISSUE.
WE HAVE A FABULOUS TOWN WITH UNBELIEVABLE RESOURCES AND SERVICES.
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PURSUING AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAVE GOTTA BE SUPPORTED AND WORKED WITH, NOT DISCARDED.
YOU'RE DISCARDING PEOPLE WHO ARE DOING THINGS WHO BENEFIT THE PEOPLE WHO REQUIRE THE MOST.
SO IT'S MY HOPE THAT THE TOWN BOARD WILL FIND A WAY TO WORK WITH THESE PEOPLE AND COME TO A CONCLUSION THAT WORKS BOTH FOR THE TOWN BOARD AND FOR THE VOLUNTEERS WHO SUPPORT YOU WITH THEIR TIME AND EFFORT BECAUSE THEY CARE.
SO MINE IS NOT A, TO SPEAK TO YOU AT ALL ABOUT THE ISSUE.
MINE IS TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THE PROCESS AND WHAT IT MEANS.
I SPOKE TO THREE OR FOUR OTHER PEOPLE JUST LIKE ME, WHO HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING WITH YOU.
AND ALL OF THEM ARE APPALLED THAT THIS WOULD GO ON.
NOT EVEN TALKING ABOUT RIGHT OR WRONG, IT'S JUST A MATTER OF PURE COURTESY, CONSIDERATION, AND AN ATTEMPT TO SHOW PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THE TOWN AND WHO CARE ABOUT YOU, THAT MAYBE YOU CARE ABOUT THEM.
I'M, I PROMISE I'M NOT TRYING TO HOG THE MIC TONIGHT.
UH, IT'S JUST A PREACHER IN ME.
UH, BUT I, I WANT TO, UH, COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IN, UH, IN SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING WITH THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUES AND JUST GIVE SOME, UH, INPUT AND SUPPORT TO THEM AND WITH THE, UH, UH, PROBLEM THAT'S GOING ON WITH ETHICS.
UM, AND IT'S IRONIC THAT THEY ARE ADDRESSING AN ETHICS SITUATION WITH THEM.
AND WE LOOK AT THE BOARD, AND THAT'S A DOUBLE STANDARD OF HOW WE APPROACH IT, HOW WE LOOK AT THINGS.
UH, WE CANNOT HAVE RULES FOR THE DAY OR CENTER, AND THE SAME RULES DON'T APPLY FOR THOSE THAT ARE PRESENT IF WE WANT TO WORK IN, IN COOPERATION WITH EACH OTHER.
WE ALL HAVE TO PLAY THE SAME RULES, WITH THE SAME GAME.
IF WE ARE GOING TO GET A GOOD SCORE, A WIN.
AND, AND IT REALLY LOOKS BAD FROM THIS SIDE, FROM THAT TAKES PLACE.
UH, AND, AND IF, IF YOU INTERFERE AND THEN TELL US THAT WE CAN'T INTERFERE, THAT'S A DOUBLE STANDARD.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES SETTING DOUBLE STANDARDS FOR, FOR JUSTICE IN, IN OUR, UH, WORLD.
SO, SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO CONSIDER THAT.
UM, BUT I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT, UM, ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THE NEED.
I'VE BEEN, UH, FORTUNATE AND ENJOYED WORKING FOR THE LAST 24 YEARS ON AS THE, UH, AS A COMMISSIONER FOR PUBLIC HOUSING.
AND WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED A LOT OF THINGS.
WE, WE HAVE IMPROVED SERVICES.
UH, WE HAVE A DEVELOPMENT, UH, GREENBURG DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WHEREIN WE'VE BUILT AND SOLD HOUSES TO INDIVIDUALS, UH, FOR LOW, UH, FOR LOW INCOME INDIVIDUALS.
AND, AND IT'S JUST A JOY TO SEE THAT.
BUT OVER MY TIME, MY TENURE OF 24 YEARS, IT'S NOT THAT, UH, AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS, IS A, UH, RIGHT, BUT
[02:20:01]
EVEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE, IN THIS CLIMATE IS NOT JUST THE RIGHT, IT'S A LUXURY.AND MOST PEOPLE CANNOT EVEN AFFORD AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE, IN THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT ARE SET UP.
SO THE REASON I MENTIONED THAT IS BECAUSE WHEN IT COME TO SERVING THE LEAST OF US, THE POOR, THE NEEDED, IT SEEMS THAT EVERY TIME WE TRY TO PUT SOMETHING FORWARD, THERE'S A LOT OF HURDLES, A LOT OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO THAT REALLY HAMPERS THE ABILITY FOR US TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE THINGS THAT ARE SO GREATLY NEEDED.
AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A 10% SET ASIDE FOR, UH, NEW DEVELOPMENTS, BUT HAVE YOU TAKEN THE TIME TO LOOK AT HOW MANY UNITS THAT PROVIDE PER YEAR? MAYBE 1, 2, 3.
IS THAT SUFFICIENT FOR THE AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT WE NEED IN THIS TOWN? WE NEED TO LOOK AT, LOOK AT, UH, THE WAY WE DO AFFORD OR LOOK AT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
FOR INSTANCE, IF, IF WE GOING, IF THE TOWN IS GOING TO GET BEHIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WE NEED TO TAKE THE SAME APPROACH THAT WE HAVE TAKEN AND, AND, AND WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AS FAR AS FUNDING SOURCES AND, AND NOT JUST GET A PROJECT.
AND ONCE THAT PROJECT IS OVER, START LOOKING FOR ANOTHER PROJECT.
YOU NEED TO LINE THOSE PROJECTS UP SO THAT YOU CAN GET IN THE QUEUE WITH FUNDING, BECAUSE FUNDING COME OUT IN TERMS, AND IF YOU ARE NOT, IF YOU DON'T CATCH THE TERM CORRECTLY, YOU WON'T BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDING.
AND SO WHILE YOU'RE DOING ONE PROGRAM, YOU NEED TO BE LOOKING AT THE, AT, AT APPLICATION FOR THE NEXT PROGRAM, FOR THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE NEXT, UH, ROUND OF, OF FUNDING.
THAT'S THAT YOU CAN BE IN THE QUEUE TO RECEIVE THOSE FUNDINGS.
AND, AND THAT WAY YOU CAN CATCH UP ON SOME OF THE ARREARS THAT WE ARE, WE, WE ARE IN A DEFICIT THAT WE ARE IN FOR PROVIDING LOW INCOME AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND, AND START LOOKING AT WAYS NOT TO PUT HURDLES IN THE WAY, BUT WE NEED TO LOOK AT WAYS TO HELP EXPEDITE THE PROCESS THAT HOUSING CRISIS IS NOT GETTING BETTER.
IT'S GETTING WORSE DAY BY DAY, AND WE NEED TO ALLEVIATE AS MANY HURDLES AND AS MANY PROBLEMS AS WE CAN IF WE ARE GOING TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN AN EQUITABLE WAY, EQUITABLE WAY, AND HELP PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS LIVING IN SOMETHING THAT REPRESENT WHAT WE THINK OUR TOWN LOOK LIKE.
AND I'M SO PROUD OF MANHATTAN AVENUE.
IT LOOKS LIKE WHAT WE CAN DO IF WE PUT OUR MINDS TO IT AND, AND STOP ALL THE BACK AND FORTH AND PUTTING ALL KIND OF SITUATIONS IN THE WAY, THANK YOU.
AND I HOPE YOU CONSIDER MY RECOMMENDATIONS.
I SPOKE TO AMANDA TONIGHT REPRESENTING THE TOWN ATTORNEY.
AND SHE IS IN FACT, THE PARLIAMENTARIAN.
IT'S HER RESPONSIBILITY TO TELL ME TO SHUT UP AT THE RIGHT TIME.
THAT CAMERA STANDING IN THE AISLE OBSTRUCTS MY ABILITY TO TALK TO THE TOWN CLERK.
IT IS AT NO OTHER MEETING EXCEPT WHEN FRANCIS SHEEN IS THERE.
THAT MUST BE REMOVED FROM MY AND ANY OTHER BODY'S CONVENIENCE AS HANDICAP.
WHEN THE PRESENTATION CAME WITH PICTURES TONIGHT, AND GARRETT COULDN'T PUT IT UP, IT WAS NOT FRANCIS.
SHE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO DO IT.
I'M SORRY, MARY, PLEASE RECALL THAT YOU CANNOT CONDUCT PERSONAL ATTACKS AGAINST ANY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS.
THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL, THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TONIGHT.
WHEN GARRETT COULDN'T PUT IT ON, FRANCIS PUT IT ON.
IS THAT TRUE? IT'S NOT COLLECTION.
YOU CAN RUN A TAPE TONIGHT AND LOOK IT OVER.
IT'S NOT FRANCIS' RESPONSIBILITY TO COVER WHEN GARRETT CAN'T GET IT UP.
CAN'T GAR CAN'T DO HIS JOB, RIGHT? THEN MAYBE THIS BOARD NEEDS TO GET ANOTHER
YOU FIND THAT FRANCIS BIGGER PROBLEM.
YOU CANNOT INTERRUPT THAT WAY.
THAT IS AGAINST THE RULES OF THIS ORGANIZATION.
WE'LL, IF I DID THAT, IF I DID THAT, SEND YOUR TIME.
I'LL, YOU'D STOP ME, RIGHT? YES.
[02:25:01]
WELL, STOP HIM.TELL HIM TO TELL HIM NOT TO MAKE COMMENTS, BECAUSE WE IN THE AUDIENCE CAN'T MAKE COMMENTS.
MURRAY, I'M EXTENDING YOUR TIME BASED UPON THE OCCURRENCE.
IT'S ALSO WELL KNOWN AS DEMONSTRATED IN THE RECENT DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES THAT WHEN ONE INTERRUPTS THE OTHER, THERE IS A CHANCE TO RESPOND.
IN THE PAST, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE MADE COMMENTS FROM THE PODIUM WITHOUT GIVING WHOEVER THEY WERE ADDRESSING IT.
THERE WAS A CONVERSATION WHEN SOMEBODY RAISED AN ISSUE TONIGHT, SOMEBODY HAD A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO IT.
THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.
THAT CAMERA THERE OBSTRUCTS MY ABILITY TO TALK TO THE TOWN CLERK.
AND IT'S ONLY THERE BECAUSE FRANCIS UNION WANTS IT THERE.
THERE IS NO OTHER MEETING THAT HAS THAT CAMERA WHERE FRANCIS CHING IS THERE.
I'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR 30 YEARS.
IT OBSTRUCTS MY ABILITY TO TALK TO THE TOWN CLERK.
IT HAS NO FUNCTION IN THE TOWN.
IT SHOULD BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY AND NEVER PUT BACK AGAIN.
NOW, WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS FOR THE TO DO THAT? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOUR RESPONSIBILITY, YOU ARE ELECTED TO TAKE CARE OF US.
IF IT'S AN IN, IF IT HINDERS A HANDICAPPED PERSON, HALF CAN'T SEE, I GOTTA USE A MAGNIFYING GLASS WITH A LIGHT BEHIND IT TO READ THE LABELS ON MY PILL BOXES.
IT'S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO REPRESENT US.
AND IF SOMEBODY DOES SOMETHING HAS BEEN DESCRIBED HERE THIS EVENING, THESE ARE EXPERTS.
AND IN MY OPINION, THEY'RE VASTLY MORE UP.
THEY'RE HONORABLE MEN WHO KNOW THEIR BUSINESS.
WHEN I CHECK ON WHAT THEY DID AND WHAT THEY PROPOSED, I FIND THEY KNOW MORE THAN MOST OTHER PEOPLE.
SO THE QUESTION THERE, TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE TOWN, SOMEBODY'S PULLING A, UH, FAST ONE SOMEWHERE.
OH, BY THE WAY, THE AGENDA IS RUN BY SOMEBODY WHO HAS THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
IT IS NOT SHEEN'S RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE AGENDA CHANGED.
AND IF YOU QUESTION WHETHER THAT'S TRUE OR NOT, YOU'VE GOT EVERY SINGLE TAPE OF THESE MEETINGS THAT YOU CAN GO BACK AND LOOK AT.
EVERYTHING I SAY IS DOCUMENTED ON THE RECORD.
IF YOU READ MY CARD, IT SAYS, DON'T TRUST WHAT I SAY.
IS BELLA TOTH STILL HERE? I THINK HE LEFT, HE LEFT, HE LEFT THE FIRST REVEREND LANE COBB.
HOW SAMIS WHAT DID SHE SAY? I'M GOOD.
SHE, I'M NOT A GOOD PUBLIC SPEAKER.
I TAKE NOTES TO SAY, NEVERTHELESS, HERE WE GO.
JUST A QUICK THING TO THE TOWN ATTORNEY, A T THREE.
THIS IS A RESOLUTION AND IT SAYS, UH, TOWN NO LONGER HAS TO PAY INSURANCE COMPANY DOES, BECAUSE WE'VE EXCEEDED THE SELF-INSURED RETENTION.
I'M CURIOUS, HOW MUCH WAS THE SELF-INSURED RETENTION THAT THE TOWN HAD TO PAY? AND HOW MUCH DO WE PAY FOR THE INSURANCE POLICY? YOU CAN GET BACK TO ME ANOTHER TIME.
NOW, LET'S GO BACK TO TV ONE, WHICH IS THE BIG CENTER RING ATTRACTION.
IT DOES NOT IN THE ETHICS CODE.
IN FACT, IF WE HAVE TO GO TO THE ETHICS CODE, THE VERY FIRST CHAPTER OF THE ETHICS CODE IS LET'S AVOID EVEN THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY.
NOW, WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS A PROBLEM BETWEEN VARIOUS BOARDS.
[02:30:01]
BOTH BOARDS, THE TOWN BOARD IS AN ELECTED BOARD.THE PLANNING BOARD IS AN APPOINTED BOARD BY THE TOWN BOARD, AND THE ETHICS BOARD IS A BOARD APPOINTED BY THE TOWN BOARD.
MOST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE TOWN BOARD ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE FACT THAT I'M NOT AT ALL A FAN OF THE BOARD OF ETHICS.
BUT GOING BEYOND THAT, I HAVE TO BRING UP THE FACT AS MR. BOWDEN DID.
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE TO QUOTE HIM, THAT WE DO RECORD THESE MEETINGS.
SO WE HAD A TOWN BOARD MEETING JUNE 26TH, AND I WAS THERE AND SPOKE DURING PUBLIC COMMENT ON THREE TOPICS TOO.
FIVE MINUTES DIVIDED BY THREE TOPICS.
APPARENTLY THIS FOUND DISFAVOR WITH SOME PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM.
AND AS A RESULT OF THAT, THERE'S A THREAT AGAINST ME.
THIS IS GREENBERG, AFTER ALL, AND EVEN INTELLIGENT PEOPLE MAKE THREATS.
SO I URGE THE PUBLIC TO WATCH THE MEETING OF JUNE 26TH, GO TO THE ARCHIVE VIDEO, GO DIRECTLY TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
I BELIEVE I'M THE SECOND TO LAST SPEAKER DURING PUBLIC COMMENT AND SEE IF YOU THINK ANYTHING THAT I SAID WOULD GENERATE THIS.
AND THE THIS OF COURSE, IS I'M BEING THREATENED BY JANET LYNN, WHO PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW THAT IS THE WIFE OF MR. SCHWARTZ.
I WRITE ON BEHALF OF YOU, SCHWARTZ, TO ADDRESS YOUR DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS AT THE JUNE 26TH GREENBERG TOWN BOARD MEETING, ACCUSING MR. SCHWARTZ OF ETHICAL VIOLATIONS, WHICH STATEMENTS, AS YOU WELL KNOW OR SHOULD KNOW, LACKED ANY FACTUAL OR LEGAL SUPPORT.
THIS IS THE BASIS OF WHAT'S CALLED IN LAW A SLAP SUIT.
FORTUNATELY, NEW YORK STATE HAS AN ANTI SLAPP SUIT LAW, BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO THAT, AND WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO DO SO.
SO LET ME END, GO TO DOWN TO THE LAST PARAGRAPH.
AND I HAVE COPIES OF THIS FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS IT, OR I CAN EMAIL IT TO YOU.
MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS HAL MARK@AOL.COM.
I'LL NOT CONJECTURE THE REASON FOR YOUR MEAN SPIRIT AND BASELESS ATTACK ON MR. SCHWARTZ.
ASSUMING THAT THIS LETTER CORRECTS ANY MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE FACTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE HAD, I REQUEST THAT YOU PUBLICLY WITHDRAW YOUR DISPARAGING DEFAMATORY STATEMENTS AND APOLOGIZE TO MR. SCHWARTZ AND MR. SNAGS.
IF YOU REFUSE TO DO SO, MR. SCHWARTZ WILL CONSIDER ALL POSSIBLE FUTURE ACTIONS INCLUDING LITIGATION BASED ON YOUR INTENTIONALLY OR RECKLESSLY FALSE ACCUSATION.
THERE'S NO APOLOGY FORTHCOMING FROM THIS PERSON.
IN FACT, I'D BE HAPPY TO MEET YOU IN COURT IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO.
THE OTHER ASPECT IS WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THERE'S NO TIME THE TOWN BOARD HAS TO MEET WITH THE BOARD OF ETHICS.
WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BIG QUESTION IS IN MY HAND.
I HAVE THE OPINION VERY SIMPLE WHAT THEY DECIDED.
IN FACT, I WAS SO ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT POSTING THIS OPINION THAT THEY'VE EVEN VOTED ON IT BECAUSE IT'S ADOPTED AT THE JULY 18TH, 2024 MEETING.
ANYONE ON THE TOWN BOARD WANNA KNOW WHAT THEY DECIDED? BE HAPPY TO SHOW IT TO YOU.
THE BOARD OF ETHICS HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS, AS DOES THE PLANNING BOARD.
AND I'M NOT QUESTIONING THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I'M NOT QUESTIONING HOW THE PLANNING BOARD CONDUCTS ITS PLANNING BOARD BUSINESS, BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
CLIFF HAVENS, UM, LIFELONG MEMBER, RESIDENT OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
YOU KNOW, UM, I'M A COMMISSIONER ON THE GREENBURG HOUSES AUTHORITY.
I HOPE I DON'T GET IN TROUBLE FOR SAYING THAT OR GET CENSOR.
UM, I AM A, UM, DISTRICT LEADER 46.
I HAVE MY OWN 5 0 1 C3 COMPANY.
IT'S THE REASON WHY I'M GOING THROUGH ALL OF THIS
[02:35:01]
BECAUSE THIS BOARD HERE, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS.SEE, WHEN YOU'RE CEO, YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND MAKE DECISIONS AND YOU COULD TAKE THINGS PERSONAL.
BUT WHEN YOU ARE ELECTED OFFICIAL BY THE PEOPLE, YOU SHOULD RESPECT THE PEOPLE.
I REMEMBER MY SON, HE WAS LIKE NINE YEARS OLD.
HE SAID, DAD, I SAID, WHAT'S UP, SON? HE SAID, HELP ME UNDERSTAND.
I SAID, HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT HE SAID.
WHAT'S FUN ABOUT BEING IN LINE FOR A HOUR FOR A FIVE MINUTE RIDE?
RIGHT? AND I USE THAT TO SAY THIS.
THE BOARD HERE SAY THAT THE ADVISORY BOARD AT THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMITTEE RESOURCE, THEY ALWAYS SAY T-D-Y-C-C VERSUS THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMITTEE RESOURCE AT TDYC, THE BUILDING.
SEE, THEY DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU THAT.
I KEEP ON SAYING I'VE BEEN SAYING IT FOR 20 SOMETHING YEARS.
TELL THE TRUTH, PUT IT UP THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY RESOURCE SO PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY WON'T STILL THINK IT'S A COMMUNITY CENTER.
SEE, BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY CENTER, THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
BECAUSE IT WAS A FAIR GREENBURG COMMUNITY CENTER.
NOW, THEY AIN'T ABOUT US NO MORE.
SO THEY SAYING THAT THE ADVISORY BOARD OF THE DEPARTMENT, COMMUNITY RESOURCE HAVE A SAY ON BARBARA PERRY, YOU KNOW, I RESPECT YOU MUCH JOY.
YOU KNOW, AND THIS, THIS GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.
SO THEY SAY THAT OUR ADVISORY BOARD THAT THEY APPOINT, THAT THEY APPOINT GOT LAST SAY ON MS. PERRY WHO PICKED THE SECOND FLOOR, WHO, THE JAZZ CONCERT THAT THEY NAMED AFTER SOMEBODY IN FROM GREENBURG.
THIS WOMAN DID FAMILY SERVICE, SHE DID EVERYTHING RIGHT.
BUT THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO SAY WHAT OVER THEM.
BUT I'M WANTED HIM A RIGHT SERVICE.
HIM A RIGHT COMMITTEE TOO, RIGHT?
BUT THIS BOARD DID SAY, I, I CAN'T VOTE NOW.
I WENT THROUGH THE PROCESS TO INTERVIEW, BUT THEY, SO THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE SAY THAT, HEY, CLIFF SHOULD BE ABLE TO VOTE.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN ON IT FOR THREE YEARS.
I, I, THEY HAD A BAR OUT AT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
I DID AN HONEST DISCUSSION ON RACISM IN GREENBURG.
I STARTED THAT, YOU KNOW, AT THE LIBRARY WITH THE, WITH THE LIBRARY.
YOU KNOW, JOAN, UM, UM, UM, LYNN GOODMAN, THE CHAIRPERSON CAME IN.
SHE READ WHY I SHOULD BE A VOTING MEMBER.
BUT THEY SAID NO, BECAUSE A PERSON PERSONAL, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T TAKE PERSON.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T BE PERSONAL.
YOU AIN'T GOT TO LIKE ME BECAUSE I, I DON'T, I DON'T NEED Y'ALL TO BE MY FRIENDS.
BUT Y'ALL NEED TO BE FAIR THOUGH.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T SAY THAT THE, THE ADVISORY BOARD OF THE DEPARTMENT COMMITTEE RESOURCE CAN MAKE A DECISION.
BUT THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CAN'T MAKE A DECISION.
THEY CAN'T SAY THAT I HAVE A RIGHT TO VOTE.
BUT Y'ALL SAY I CAN'T BECAUSE YOU ARE JUST LIKE ME, BECAUSE I ADVOCATE FOR MY COMMUNITY.
OH, ANOTHER THING, I GOT A COMMUNITY CENTER WALL.
THEY GAVE ME $15,000, RIGHT? I DID A MERL DOWN THERE.
I GOT MINISTER FARRAKHAN ON IT.
SO WHAT THEY DID, THEY TOOK THE 15,000, THEY CLAIMED THEY ALL ABOUT CHILDREN, BUT THEY TOOK THE 15,000.
THEY AIN'T HURTING ME BECAUSE THE COUNTY STILL GAVE ME MONEY.
THIS YEAR, I, JOY, I WANNA SHOW YOU THE THINGS WE DID.
WE, WE WITH TO BROADWAY PLAYS.
WE WENT TO HIBACHI, WE DID A LOT OF THINGS WITH THE 15,000.
IMAGINE WHAT WE COULD HAVE DID WITH THE 30,000 AISHA SPARKS.
I PROMISE I WON'T LONG AND I WASN'T PLANNING ON SPEAKING.
UM, BUT IT WAS IN MY HEART TOO.
UM, MY VOLUNTEER JOURNEY STARTED WITH THE TOWN WHEN I BECAME A MEMBER OF THE A VL COMMITTEE, WHICH HELPED TO WRITE THE A DU LAW.
AND WE WERE VERY, VERY EXCITED TO HAND THAT OVER, AND WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE REALIZED BY NOW.
AND THEN SUBSEQUENTLY, I WAS APPOINTED BY
[02:40:01]
THE BOARD TO BE AN ALTERNATE PLANNING BOARD MEMBER.AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT VOLUNTEER JOURNEY.
UM, LEARNING SO MUCH ABOUT LAND USE AND EVERYTHING.
UM, I FEEL THE NEED TO SAY THAT FROM AN UNBIASED, AND THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION, UM, I THINK THERE MAY BE A MATTER OF MISCOMMUNICATION.
I THINK THAT THE PARTIES REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE TOWN BOARD IS TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT, SO THAT WE CAN ALIGN THE LANGUAGE IF THIS TB ONE DOES HAPPEN, TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE SPEAKING TO THAT CONCERN.
BECAUSE WHAT WE DON'T WANNA DO IS LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD WANT TO VOLUNTEER.
AND THEN FROM MY PERSONAL READINGS AND BEING SORT OF CLOSE TO IT AND, AND UNDERSTANDING SOME OF THE TIMELINE OF ACTIVITIES THAT HAPPENED, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE CONCERN IS A PERCEIVED CONFLICT OF INTEREST, RIGHT? AND ONE THING I'VE LEARNED ALREADY, JUST ON MY TIME ON A PLANNING BOARD, IS THAT WE HAVE TO DO A BALANCE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS AND THE LAW, RIGHT? SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T, THEY'RE NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT, BUT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW IT.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT THIS TB ONE ISSUE, I'M SAYING TO MYSELF, OKAY, PERCEIVED CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND, UM, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SORT OF, YOU KNOW, THE EXPEDITION OF WHAT WE'RE DOING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
AND FOR ME PERSONALLY, I JUST SEE THE AFFORDABILITY, UH, THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, UH, PROPOSALS AND LAW A PRIORITY.
UNLESS THERE IS SOME OTHER MAJOR IMPACT OF THIS PERCEIVED CONFLICT THAT I'M NOT AWARE ABOUT, MAYBE I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THAT MYSELF.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, I, I DO BELIEVE IT'S A MISCOMMUNICATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY IN DOING THIS TONIGHT.
AND I, MY RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD IS THAT WE TABLE IT.
AND I'M NOT SAYING FOREVER, BUT JUST SO WE CAN HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING FROM, FROM BOTH SIDES, RIGHT? BECAUSE WE ARE A TEAM, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT, IN MY OPINION, WITH ALL OF THE FACTS THAT ARE OUT TODAY, IS TO HOLD OFF FOR ANOTHER WEEK OR SO.
AND THEN AGAIN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PERCEIVED CONFLICT OR PERCEPTION OF THINGS, UM, TO BE HONEST, WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE, UM, ACTIONS THAT WERE BEING TAKEN, MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, DOES THE ETHICS BOARD NOT HAVE ANY WEIGHT IN ANYTHING? LIKE, IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THEY MADE A DECISION, AND THEN THAT DECISION WAS BEING SORT OF IGNORED.
IT SEEMED, I'M NOT SAYING IT DID, IT JUST SEEMED LIKE THAT.
SO, SO IN ORDER TO NOT HAVE A PERCEPTION THAT THE BOARDS THAT THE TOWN BOARD PUT TOGETHER DO NOT COUNT OR DOES NOT MEAN ANYTHING, OR THEIR DECISIONS DON'T MEAN ANYTHING, I THINK IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF BOTH PARTIES TO HOLD OFF FOR ANOTHER WEEK OR SO UNTIL MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THE TEAMS, THE PARTICIPANTS COULD GET TOGETHER, HAVE A CONVERSATION.
WOULD THAT HURT? IS THERE ANY REASON NOT TO, IS ANYTHING BEING AVOIDED BY VOTING TONIGHT? IS MY QUESTION TO THE BOARD? UM, YEAH, I THINK, I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
ARE THERE ANY MORE SPEAKERS? I LIKE, DO YOU, IF YOU'VE ALREADY SPOKE, THERE'S NO SECOND ROUND.
I, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO MAKE THE COMMENT THAT OUR LAST SPEAKER, I THOUGHT, REALLY, UM, BROUGHT HOME SOME ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK COM COMMUNICATION AND MISCOMMUNICATION HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH THIS WHOLE SITUATION.
WE REALLY CAN'T RESPOND TO THE DETAILS OF HOW WE UNDERSTAND HOW THIS HAS GONE DOWN.
JUST AS THE ETHICS BOARD, WE'RE SORT OF SILOED.
AND SO MAYBE IT DOES MAKE SENSE TO TAKE THE TIME.
I KNOW WE SAID WE WERE GONNA VOTE ON THIS TONIGHT, BUT I THINK THAT, UM, MAYBE WE SHOULD CONSIDER HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS, EVEN THOUGH IF THOSE CONVERSATIONS WERE PRESENTED TO US AS A POSSIBILITY, WHICH YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THOSE WERE NOT, WE WERE NOT GIVEN THOSE OPPORTUNITIES NECESSARILY.
SO I, I, I WOULD LIKE TO ACTUALLY TO,
[02:45:01]
TO PUT FORWARD THE MOTION THAT WE DO TABLE IT.I JUST THINK FOR THE, FOR PEACE AND COMMUNICATION, MY OPINION.
SO YOUR, I I DEFINITELY WOULD SECOND THAT.
AND, UM, I SHOULD MENTION AGAIN THAT THE ETHICS BOARD, UM, CHAIR INDICATED THAT, UM, UM, HE WOULD WELCOME THEIR MEETING NEXT WEEK, UH, THEIR MEETING NEXT THURSDAY.
SO HE SAID THAT IF THE BOARD TABLES IT, YOU KNOW, OR, UH, DELAYS THE VOTE THAT, UH, THE ETHICS BOARD WOULD REEXAMINE, YOU KNOW, INVITE ALL, YOU KNOW, ANYBODY FROM THE TOWN BOARD COULD SPEAK AT THE MEETING.
UH, ANY CITIZEN CAN SPEAK ANY PLANNING BOARD AND MOTION THE TABLE IS NOT THE TABLE.
WELL, I, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT VOTE.
YOU KNOW WHAT? I, I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE DISCUSSION.
UM, AND YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE, SOMEBODY SHOULDN'T HAVE MADE THE MOTION OF THE TABLE.
OKAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THAT'S WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
WE'RE MOTION OF THE TABLE IS NOT, WE'RE ERODING DEMOCRACY.
AND THAT'S THE, THAT'S THE WHOLE, UH, POINT OF, UH, OF WHAT THIS TB ONE IS.
IT'S AN EROSION OF DEMOCRACY, JUST WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
SO I SECOND ON THE MOTION FOR ON THE MOTION FIRST, PLEASE.
UM, SO YOU COULD CALL THE MOTION, UH, UH, MADAM, IF THE MOTION IS THE TABLE, I VOTE NO, NO.
SO I, YOU KNOW, I'M SITTING HERE QUIET AND, AND, AND, AND I, AS I SIT HERE QUIET AND MR. SIMON, I SEE THAT YOU, YOU KNOW, WE APPEAR TO BE VERY UPSET, AND I SEE A LOT OF YOU WHO ARE SITTING THE THING UPSET ABOUT THIS, BUT THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WAS SAID TONIGHT, AND A COUPLE OF WORDS THAT WAS THROWN OUT WAS BEING FAIR, BEING RESPECTFUL, MAKING SURE THAT WE COMMUNICATE.
UM, AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS TO SEE, I KNOW YOU HAD A CONVERSATION WITH, UM, THE CHAIR OF THE ETHICS BOARD.
UM, I WAS JUST CURIOUS TO UNDERSTAND HOW COME WHEN OUR TOWN ATTORNEY ASKED FOR US, FOR OUR OPINION TO BE READ INTO RECORD, OR TO, TO GET, TO BE READ INTO RECORD, IT WAS DENIED.
AND NOW THE SAME CHAIR IS ASKING US TO, TO, TO, NOT TO DELAY IT, BUT THEN GIVE US THE PROPER OPPORTUNITY.
AND THEN YOU'RE ASKING US TO BE FAIR.
AND THEN THERE'S A PICTURE BEING PAINTED THAT WE ARE THE BAD PEOPLE.
LIKE WE'RE THE DOING WHAT? LIKE WE'RE DOING SOMETHING WRONG.
FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS NOT AN ETHICS CODE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO CHANGE.
IT IS A TOWN CODE, TOWN CODE, TOWN BOARD CODE POLICY, TOWN POLICY, THANK YOU FRANCIS TOWN POLICY THAT WE'RE TRYING TO CHANGE, NOT AN ETHICS CODE CHANGE.
AND WHEN WE GOVERN AND YOU DON'T LIKE IT, OR YOU DON'T AGREE WITH US, WE'RE THE ENEMY.
IT'S ABOUT HAVING, WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE.
WE CAN AGREE TO DISAGREE, TELL THE TRUTH.
YOU ASKED TO TELL THE TRUTH, AND I'M TELLING THE TRUTH.
WE, I'M TELLING WE DIDN'T INTERRUPT ANY OF YOU.
AND THIS, I'M TELLING YOU, WE DID NOT INTERRUPT ANYONE WHO SPOKE, EXCUSE ME.
IF EVERYONE IN PUBLIC COULD PLEASE RESPECT THE DECISION OF FIVE MINUTES THAT YOU HAD PREVIOUSLY WHERE YOU WEREN'T INTERRUPTED AND YOU WERE ABLE TO SPEAK, AND YOU CAN ALWAYS SUBMIT EMAILS OR WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE OR ADDRESS IT IN ANOTHER MEETING, THANK YOU.
SO I'M NOT UNDERSTAND WHERE THE LIE IN THAT THIS IS A TOWN BOARD POLICY AS OPPOSED TO IT BEING AN ETHICS POLICY.
SO I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE, WHERE THE LIE IN AT, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT THIS IS.
THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAS JUST BEEN SAID.
I'M LYING BECAUSE I SAID WHAT WE'RE PUTTING FORTH IS A TOWN CODE OR TOWN POLICY, NOT AN ETHICS BOARD POLICY.
SO THAT, THAT, THAT IS WHAT, THIS IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
ELLEN, YOU HAD SOMETHING TO SAY? YES, I'D LIKE TO, I'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING.
ALL OF US, ALL OF US ALONG WITH YOU, BELIEVE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND TO CAST IT AS, AND TO CAST OUR DECISION TO, TO NOT HAVE THE POTENTIAL OF A, UM, UH, OF HAVING SOMETHING MISCONSTRUED OR MISREPRESENTED.
WE, WE ARE, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT EVERYONE HAVING A LIVABLE LIFE JUST AS YOU ARE.
SO, AND, AND TO SAY THAT WE'RE DISCARDING PEOPLE WHO REQUIRE THESE THINGS, THAT IS A TERRIBLE ACCUSATION.
AND I TAKE GREAT OFFENSE AT IT, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT AT ALL WHAT WE ARE DOING.
AND I THINK I SPEAK FOR EVERYONE HERE.
AND THE, THE, THE THING THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IS NOT
[02:50:01]
SPECIFIC TO THIS BOARD, BUT SPECIFIC TO ALL BOARDS, NOT SPECIFIC TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CURRENT BOARD, BUT THE MEMBER, THANK YOU, THE MEMBERS OF ALL BOARDS GOING FORWARD, WHERE MAYBE, YOU KNOW, I, I KNOW ALL OF YOU AND I THINK YOU'VE GOT A GREAT DEAL OF INTEGRITY, AND I DON'T DISCOUNT THAT AT ALL.BUT WHO KNOWS WHO'S GOING TO BE ON A BOARD GOING FORWARD AND, AND WE DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN TRUST THAT THERE'LL BE NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW THAT ON LAND ISSUES.
SO WE ARE TRYING TO CLARIFY SOMETHING, EXCUSE ME, LAND USE ISSUES, EXCUSE ME, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, PLEASE RESPECT THE FIVE MINUTES THAT YOU WERE GIVEN BEFORE.
AGAIN, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, YOU CAN SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENT AND EMAIL AND ADDRESS IT AT A FUTURE DATE.
I DON'T WANNA KEEP REPEATING MYSELF.
I DO NOT WANNA ASK DETECTIVE MARINO.
I I JUST DON'T WANNA GO THERE,
DO YOU WANNA SPEAK FRANCIS? ALRIGHT, SO WE HEARD, WE COMMENTS, WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT, THIS IS A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT? IT'S NOT A FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO BE ON TWO DIFFERENT ENTITIES.
ONE WHICH IS GOING TO GO OUT AND TRY AND PROMOTE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND THEN COME BEFORE THE PLANNING BOARD.
AND THOSE, SO SAME PEOPLE VOTE ON THAT PROJECT, OR THEY MIGHT RECUSE THEMSELVES, BUT THEY MIGHT NOT, ONE OF THE SPEAKERS SAID, THIS IS JUST LIKE THE SUPREME COURT.
THE SUPREME COURT RECUSING THEMSELVES WHEN THERE'S A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, A CLEAR THEY DON'T HAVE TO, RECUSAL IS A PERSONAL ISSUE.
YOU NO ONE CAN FORCE YOU TO RECUSE YOURSELF.
BUT THAT ONLY BECOMES A REMEDY WITH THE ETHICS BOARD IF THERE'S SOME KIND OF A FINANCIAL SITUATION THAT'S INVOLVED.
IF THIS BOARD DECIDES THAT WE WANT TO APPOINT FOUR MEMBERS OF ONE FAMILY ON A SEVEN MEMBER BOARD, WE CAN DO THAT.
IS THE ETHICS BOARD GOING TO RULE THAT? WE CAN'T.
THERE'S NO FINANCIAL BENEFIT, BUT WE THINK THAT'S WRONG.
WE GET TO DECIDE THE STANDARDS FOR WHO GETS APPOINTED TO THE BOARD.
THE ETHICS BOARD CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM US.
NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE TRY AND SAY THAT THIS IS AN WE'RE CHANGING THE ETHICS CODE.
IT'S NOT AN ETHICS ISSUE WHEN IT WE'RE NOT TALKING NECESSARILY COULD BE FINANCIAL.
WE THEN THE ETHICS BOARD WOULD HAVE A SAY, BUT WHO WE APPOINT OR WHAT WE THINK ARE INCOMPATIBLE COMMITTEES TO HAVE THE SAME PERSON ON IT WHERE SOMEBODY WORKS WITH A DEVELOPER TO TRY AND HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
AND THEN THAT WILL, THAT'S THAT SAME PROJECT COMES BEFORE THE PLANNING BOARD WHEN THERE MIGHT BE SOMEBODY ELSE WHO'S INTERESTED IN THAT PROJECT, BUT IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
HOW OBJECTIVE IS THAT PLANNING BOARD MEMBER GOING TO BE? IS THAT AN ETHICS VIOLATION THAT WE THINK THAT I DON'T, EXCUSE ME.
SO I WOULD EXPECT THAT YOU RESPECT EVERYONE'S TIME TO SPEAK RIGHT
ANYBODY WHO WANTED TO SEE THIS RESOLUTION, IT WAS ON THE LAST TOWN BOARD MEETING.
THIS IS NOT, THIS IS NOT A RUSH TONIGHT.
YOU'RE ASKING, WHY DON'T YOU WAIT FOR THE ETHICS BOARD? I COULD TELL YOU WE WERE VERY OFFENDED WHEN WE SEND OUR TOWN ATTORNEY TO THE ETHICS BOARD MEETING TO SAY, SUPERVISOR FINER SUBMITTED SOMETHING THE MORNING OF THE MEETING, WE DIDN'T GET A CHANCE TO SEE IT AND RESPOND TO IT.
SO WE SENT OUR TOWN ATTORNEYS TO THE MEETING AND SAID, THE TOWN COUNCIL WOULD LIKE TO OPINE ON THIS.
AND HE WENT TO THAT MEETING, EXCUSE ME.
HE ASKED FOR IT TO BE ADJOURNED SO THAT WE COULD ALSO RESPOND.
HE'S NOW ASKING US TO HOLD OFF SO HE COULD RESPOND TO OUR RESOLUTION.
BUT WE SENT OUR TOWN ATTORNEY AND YOU TALK ABOUT RESPECT.
[02:55:01]
READ TO YOU AN EMAIL THAT THE CHAIR OF THE ETHICS BOARD WROTE.AND I AM TAKING THE POSITION AND THE OPINION OF OUR TOWN ATTORNEY AND OUR FIRST DEPUTY TOWN ATTORNEY WHO ALSO GETS DISRESPECT.
YOU KNOW WHAT, DON'T TELL ME ABOUT OTHER ATTORNEYS AND OUTSIDE COUNSELS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE GOOD COUNSEL.
WE HAVE GREAT COUNSEL, BUT APPARENTLY THERE'S NO RESPECT.
THIS SAYS, WHILE I PERSONALLY DO NOT HAVE A RECOLLECTION OF THIS, I HAVE BEEN ASSURED BY MR. SCHWARTZ, THE PERSON WHO APPEARED BEFORE THE PLANNING BOARD, THE, UH, ETHICS BOARD, THAT THE TOWN ATTORNEY JOE DANKO DID REQUEST AT THE MAY MEETING THAT WE ADJOURN THIS MATTER.
HE DIDN'T BELIEVE JOE DANKO, OUR TOWN ATTORNEY.
MATTER OF FACT, HE SAID IT NEVER HAPPENED.
AND THEN HE HAD TO PUT OUT A, A, UM, WHAT DID HE CALL IT? A FRACTION, A CORRECTION, RIGHT? BECAUSE HE BELIEVED NOT OUR TOWN ATTORNEY, BUT MR. SCHWARTZ, THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT.
WHEN WE HAVE A TOWN ATTORNEY WHO'S NOT BELIEVED, NOT BELIEVED, HE WILL THEN CHECK WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE ETHICS BOARD TO SEE WHAT THAT RECOLLECTION IS.
FORTUNATELY, HE'S A MAN OF CHARACTER.
HE APOLOGIZED AND SAID THAT THERE'LL BE A CORRECTION.
BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT OUR TOWN ATTORNEY ASKED TO APPEAR IN THE MINUTES OF WHAT HE SAID.
BUT IT DID NOT APPEAR IN THE MINUTES.
WHERE'S THE RESPECT? I SAW HOW OUR FIRST DEPUTY TOWN ATTORNEY WAS TREATED AT A PLANNING BOARD MEETING WHERE SHE WANTED TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH THE PLANNING BOARD, BUT THE CHAIR WOULDN'T ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN BECAUSE SHE HAD A DIFFERENT OPINION AND SHE WOULD'VE SHARED THAT WITH THE REST OF THE PLANNING BOARD IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WHERE'S THE RESPECT? WHEN WE HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION AND WE THINK THAT IT'S INCOMPATIBLE TO CREATE THIS NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION, WHETHER YOU GET MONEY FROM IT OR NOT, NOT-FOR-PROFIT DOESN'T MEAN NOBODY MAKES ANY MONEY.
IT JUST MEANS AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO, THERE'S NO PROFIT FROM IT, BUT SOMEBODY CAN GET PAID.
WE LEARN ABOUT THIS FROM PLANNING BOARD MEMBERS THAT ARE THERE IN A PRESS RELEASE.
THAT'S HOW I LEARNED ABOUT IT.
THAT'S HOW I LEARNED ABOUT IT.
THAT'S HOW I LEARNED ABOUT IT.
THAT'S HOW I LEARNED ABOUT IT, WAS A PRESS RELEASE.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE NOT PERMITTED TO SPEAK AT THIS TIME.
SO IT DOES YOU WELL IT, SO ARE YOU.
AND SO ARE YOU, AND SO ARE YOU JOHANN.
SO ARE YOU, SO WE CAN DO THIS.
SO WHAT I'M VOTING VERY DISGUSTING.
WHAT I'M VOTING HORRIBLE IS WITH THE OPINION OF STAFF.
THIS WAS NOT ORIGINATED BY THE BOARD.
THIS WAS ORIGINATED BY STAFF, BY STAFF WHO'S CONCERNED.
AND WE SUPPORT OUR STAFF AND IT MAKES SENSE WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS, WHICH BASICALLY WASN'T EVEN GIVEN THE LIGHT OF DAY BECAUSE MR. DUQUE, WHO EVERYBODY PRAISED HERE TONIGHT ABOUT HOW GREAT HE WORKS AND ALL THE THINGS HE DOES, AND HE HAD A ZONING BOARD MEETING THE SAME NIGHT, AND THERE WAS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION NEEDED FROM THAT.
AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM AN EMAIL, FROM MR. SCHWARTZ, IT'S BECAUSE THE MR. DENKO RAISED IT SO LATE.
THE ETHICS BOARD DISMISSED THE REQUEST TO ADJOURN.
SO LET ME JUST, SO WHEN YOU SAY WE'RE RUSHING, THIS IS AN ETHICS CODE VIOLATION.
THIS IS A VIOLATION OF FIRST AMENDMENTS.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS BEING DISCARDED IN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.
WE ARE DISCARDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I CHALLENGE ANYBODY ELSE TO TELL US WHO HAS DONE AS MUCH AS WE HAVE DONE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THERE WAS A LAWSUIT, A FEDERAL LAWSUIT, MANY MUNICIPALITIES AROUND US, I'M NOT GONNA NAME THEM, BUT MANY OF THEM WERE, UH, REQUIRED TO INCREASE THEIR FAIR AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
YOU KNOW, WHICH MIN MUNICIPALITY DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE WERE DOING OUR JOB, THIS BOARD, THIS TOWN, AND WE'VE CONTINUED TO DO THAT.
HOUSING AUTHORITY KEEPS COMING IN ASKING
[03:00:01]
US THE SENIOR HOUSING, HOW DID HAD IT HAPPEN? IT HAPPENED WITH THIS BOARD'S APPROVAL.AND NOT ONLY APPROVAL, BUT ALSO WORKING WITH THEM WHEN THERE ARE TECHNICAL ISSUES THAT WOULD'VE PREVENTED THAT FROM BEING BUILT.
OUR STAFF WORKED WITH THEIR ENGINEERS TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WILL THROW OUT, YOU'RE LYING.
YOU'RE THIS, YOU'RE THAT YOU'RE RUSHING.
UH, WHY DON'T YOU GIVE RESPECT? WELL, RESPECT HAS TO BE EARNED.
AND IF WE READ THE EMAILS AND ACCUSING, LISTEN, HAL AND I HAVE OUR ISSUES.
TRUE, BUT I AGREE WITH HIM A HUNDRED PERCENT ABSOLUTELY.
PARTICULARLY SOMEBODY WRITING TO SOMEBODY WHO GETS UP AT THAT MICROPHONE AND EXPRESSES A DIFFERENT OPINION THAN YOU SCHWARTZ.
AND THE LETTER SAYS, YOU KNOW, I COULD PURSUE LITIGATION AGAINST YOU.
IS THAT RESPECT, BY THE WAY? THAT'S NOT RESPECT, THAT'S INTIMIDATION.
SO I I I SAY THAT WE MOVED THE AGENDA.
WELL, I, I WANT TO COMMENT ALSO.
I, FIRST OF ALL, I BELIEVE THAT THIS LEGISLATION IS PROBABLY THE WORST RESOLUTION THAT I'VE, UH, HAD A CHANCE TO VOTE ON SINCE I'VE BEEN AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AS EITHER COUNTY LEGISLATOR OR, OR A TOWN SUPERVISOR.
FIRST OF ALL, I BELIEVE THAT ALL OF US IN GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT.
AND I FEEL THAT THIS, UH, LEGISLATION WILL DISCOURAGE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION, WHICH IS REALLY AGAINST EVERYTHING WE SAY WE'RE, WE'RE FOR.
I ALSO AGREE THAT WE HAVE TO DO MORE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UM, AND I ALSO WANT SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT THE FAIRVIEW EMPOWERMENT GROUP HAS DONE FOR THE TOWN DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS.
FEW YEARS AGO, THEY ORGANIZED, UH, FOR THE FIRST TIME, UH, UH, AND GINA, YOU WERE INVOLVED IN THAT, UH, FUNCTIONS IN THE PARK INVOLVING, UH, THE COMMUNITY, GETTING PEOPLE TO GO TO PARKS THAT WERE UNDERUTILIZED.
THAT WAS A REALLY FANTASTIC INITIATIVE.
UM, THEN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, THEY EXPANDED THE INITIATIVE AND DECIDED TO ORGANIZE MOVIES AT TRAVIS PARK AND ME PARK, WHICH ALSO BROUGHT PEOPLE TO THE COMMUNITY.
ANOTHER GREAT INITIATIVE THIS YEAR, UH, THE FAIRVIEW EMPOWERMENT GROUP DID ANOTHER FANTASTIC THING.
WE HAD OVER A HUNDRED RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN, UH, WHO BASICALLY, UH, GOT, UH, ITEMS REPAIRED FOR FREE BECAUSE OF THEIR NO, BECAUSE, BECAUSE OF THEIR WORK.
UM, SO MY FEELING IS THAT WE HAVE BEEN LACKADAISICAL ABOUT OUR EFFORTS TO PROMOTE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
UH, ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I REMEMBER PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY COMPLAINED BECAUSE THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, OTHER COMMUNITIES REQUIRED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENTS.
AND THEY SAID, OH, THE TOWN BOARD SHOULD ACT.
WE PROMISED THAT WE WERE GONNA TAKE ACTION.
NOTHING'S HAPPENED IN A, IN A, IN A YEAR WHEN BISHOP PRESTON, UM, AND THE GREENBERG HOUSING AUTHORITY, UH, CALLED ON THE TOWN BOARD TO APPROVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT YOU WERE WORKING ON, IT TOOK ABOUT EIGHT YEARS.
UH, YOU KNOW, SO THE THING IS, WE DIDN'T REALLY EXPEDITE THE PROCESS.
AND IF THIS RESOLUTION HAD NOT BEEN APPROVED WHEN BISHOP PRESTON, OR WHEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS COME TO THE TOWN WITH PROPOSALS THAT COMMIT THIS GROUP, THE FAIRVIEW EMPOWERMENT, THE NOT NOT-FOR-PROFIT GROUP COULD WORK WITH THE DEVELOPERS AND, UM, FACILITATE.
CAN WE, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE NOT HERE TO HAVE A DEBATE ABOUT WHAT I WANNA SAY SOMETHING, I, WE LET FRANCIS SHA TALK FOR A HALF HOUR, AND I'M GONNA, AND I'M GONNA FINISH.
I HAVE MAYBE ANOTHER TWO MINUTES OR THREE MINUTES TO TALK.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THIS, UM, UH, RESOLUTION WOULD'VE ENABLED US TO GET MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE THEY WOULD'VE WORKED HARD AND HELP, UH, POTENTIAL APPLICANTS.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT IF WE HAD, UH, FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS MADE AND DELAYED, WE COULD HAVE MET WITH AN ETHICS BOARD.
THEY COULD HAVE PUT IN CRITERIA, AND, UM, AND THEY COULD HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY COULD HAVE HAD CONDITIONS AND CRITERIA.
THEY WOULD'VE, WE COULD HAVE COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAVE SATISFIED SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS, BUT ALSO SATISFIED SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE RELATING TO, UM, ETHICAL, YOU KNOW, ISSUES.
I INDICATED THAT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT TOWN BOARD
[03:05:01]
MEMBERS SHOULD INTERFERE WITH THE ETHICS BOARD.I FEEL JUST LIKE A COURT, IT SHOULD BE INDE INDEPENDENT.
NO, BUT, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? BECAUSE WE'RE, WE VOTED ON SOMETHING BEFORE THERE WAS AN ETHICS BOARD, UH, UH, YOU KNOW, DECISION.
THEY WROTE TO US, THEY ASKED US FOR AN OPINION TO WAIT.
THEY SAID THEIR MEETING NEXT WEEK, COULD WE DELAY? AND WE REFUSE TO DO THAT.
UH, THE SECOND THING THAT I FEEL IS THAT THIS RESOLUTION, IF THE BOARD WANTED TO PURSUE IT, SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AS A LOCAL LAW.
UM, RATHER THAN, NO, NO, WE'RE NOT.
LET ME GIVE YOU MY OPINION WHY I VOTED AGAINST THIS.
I VOTED AGAINST THIS BECAUSE IT'S, THERE'S NO ENFORCEMENT OF A RESOLUTION.
A RESOLUTION DOESN'T HAVE THE FORCE OF LAW LIKE A LOCAL LAW.
THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PUBLIC HEARING.
AND, UM, I ALSO FEEL THAT IF WE DECIDE, WELL, YOU KNOW, CAN DECIDE IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY MAKE IT, WE CAN DECIDE, DOES NOT COMPLY WITH IT, WE'RE EXPRESSING, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS BECAME CRAZY.
BUT BESIDES THAT IS IT BECAME, UM, THIS, THIS RESOLUTION, THIS RESOLUTION TO AVOID CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
HOW IT BECAME THE ANTITHESIS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT IT IS.
NOTHING TO DO WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
WELL, WE'RE TRYING DO IS AVOID ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
AND LOOK, I I THINK THAT THAT, THAT THIS GROUP HAS WORKED VERY HARD.
I AM, I'M APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE HARD WORK THAT THE A VL HAS HAS DONE AND, AND THE RULINGS OF THE PLANNING BOARD.
BUT THERE, THERE, I THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM.
AND I, AND I, AND REALLY I THINK JOHAN SNAGS WAS BEING VERY JUDICIOUS IN HOW HE PRESENTED IT.
AND AISHA SPARKS AS WELL, SAYING, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE HERE THAT IS, THAT, THAT SEEMS RELATED.
SO A, IT'S NOT AN ETHICS ISSUE VIS-A-VIS A FINANCIAL ISSUE ALONE.
ITS CONCERNS FOR THE, THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY IF IT, AT THE VERY LEAST.
SO LET'S, LET'S BRING IT BACK TO THAT.
AND, AND ALSO TO SAY THAT MR. SUPERVISOR, THAT WE DID THIS UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS WHEN YOU WERE AWAY.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION THREE TIMES.
EVERYBODY HEAR ALL COMMENTS, ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAD TO, YOU SAID THAT YOU, THE CONVERSATIONS WERE, I OBJECTED TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE INFORMAL, SAY AN INFORMAL, PLEASE DON'T AN ME, PLEASE SPEAK ONE AT A TIME WITHOUT TOWN BOARD, WITHOUT THE PUBLIC.
I APPRECIATE, SORRY SAMANTHA, I JUST DIDN'T WANT THE SUPERVISOR TO CONTINUE.
MOST NARRATIVE TO THE CONSTITUENTS.
NO, I, BUT WE CAN MOVE ON WITH THE MEETING.
I'VE OBJECTED TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A LAND USE COMMITTEE THAT MEETS WEEKLY.
AND BASICALLY IT'S NOT PUBLIC WORKS WITH DECISIONS IN PRIVATE, AND I DON'T LIKE THAT.
AND I'M NOT INVITED, ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN A COMMITTEE THAT DEALS, EXCUSE ME, AMANDA, PLEASE.
OKAY, SO LET'S MOVE AMANDA, WE CAN MOVE ON TO TV TWO.
[ TB 1 - 7/10/2024 Resolution of the Town Board of the Town of Greenburgh prohibiting members of the Town's boards and committees that render decisions on land use applications from being directors, officers or key persons or related parties of organizations whose primary function involves land use initiatives that may come before said boards and committees (Held over from June 26, 2024 Town Board Meeting)]
ON TV ONE.ONE RESOLUTION, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG, PROHIBITING MEMBERS OF TOWN BOARDS AND COMMITTEES THAT RENDER DECISIONS ON LAND USE APPLICATIONS FROM BEING DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, OR KEY PERSONS AND RELATED PARTIES OF ORGANIZATIONS WHO PRIMARY FUNCTIONS INVOLVES LINE LAND USE INITIATIVES THAT MAY BECOME, THAT MAY COME BEFORE SAID BOARDS OR COMMITTEES.
WHO? LISA, YOU WANNA RECORD THE VOTE PLEASE? PLEASE.
PAUL, UM, SUPERVISOR SAID NO, EVERYONE ELSE SAID YES.
[ TB 2 - 7/10/2024 Resolution authorizing the Town Supervisor to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) between the Town and Sustainable Westchester, Inc. to continue participating in a Community Choice Aggregation Program (“CCA”) for the residents of the Town of Greenburgh]
UH, RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TOWN SUPERVISOR TO AND TO MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE TOWN AND SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATING IN A COMMUNITY CHOICE AGGREGATION PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG.WELL THIS HAS TO BE CONDITIONED ON US GETTING RIGHT? YEAH.
GETTING THE LETTER STATING THE OUTREACH THAT WE SAW THOSE EMAILS TODAY.
[03:10:01]
I RECEIVED A EMAIL FROM NOLAN.YOU RECEIVED THE EMAIL TODAY? YEAH.
THAT'S NOT EXACTLY THE SAME AS PUTTING IT INTO THE RESOLUTION.
SO WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? AND SO WE DON'T HAVE TO, SORRY TO BUT IN, WE DO HAVE TO ADD THAT PROVISION TO THE CONTRACT AS WELL.
SO IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO VOTE AS AMENDED, JUST ADD THAT PROVISION.
WE ALSO HAVE TO ADD IN, UH, ANY AMENDMENTS HAS TO BE DUE, UM, PURSUANT TO A DULY ADOPTED, UM, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN BOARD, RIGHT? CORRECT.
AND ALSO NOTIFICATION TO TOWN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
THOSE ARE THE THREE CHANGES IF YOU'D LIKE TO VOTE.
AMENDED ON THOSE THREE CHANGES AND CORRECT.
ADDED INTO CONTRACT AND ALSO CORRECTING THE NUMBER OF MAILINGS, I BELIEVE.
'CAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT NUMBER OF MAILINGS.
OKAY, SO, SO WE GONNA DO, JUST SO THIS IS CLEAN, PAUL, WOULD YOU MOVE IT AS I MOVE SUBMISSION? ANY SECOND? SECOND.
[ TB 3 - 7/10/2024 Resolution of the Town Board of the Town of Greenburgh adopting the 2024 Capital Budget and the 2025-2026 Capital Plan]
TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG ADOPTING THE 2024 CAPITAL BUDGET AND THE 2020 5 26 CAPITAL PLAN.WELL, WELL I'LL SECOND IT BUT FOR, SO WE CAN HAVE A DISCUSSION, BUT BECAUSE THE CONTROLLER WAS OUT THE LAST TWO DAYS, THE TOWN COUNCIL DID NOT GET TO PUT TOGETHER A LETTER TO GO INTO THE CAPITAL BUDGET THAT GETS PUBLISHED.
SO I'LL EITHER HOLD THIS OVER OR IF THE BOARD IS AGREEABLE THAT WE ADOPT IT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING.
ONE, WE'RE GONNA PUT IN THE INFORMATION ONCE WE GET IT BACK FROM, FROM UH, I THINK IT'S BOND COUNCIL, UH, REGARDING HOW MUCH IT'S GONNA COST.
AND SECONDLY THAT WE INSERT LETTER REGARDING, YOU KNOW, THE CHANGES IN THE BUDGET FROM THE TOWN COUNCIL.
IF THAT'S AGREEABLE TO EVERYBODY.
[ TB 4 - 7/10/2024 Resolution ratifying a Supplemental Memorandum of Agreement between the Town of Greenburgh and Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 1000 AFSCME, AFL-CIO to recognize, incorporate and include a title of Office Assistant - Financial Support in the current agreement]
[ TB 5 - 7/10/2024 Resolution ratifying a Supplemental Memorandum of Agreement between the Town of Greenburgh and Civil Service Employees Association (CESA) local 1000 AFSCME, AFL-CIO to reassign and ratify the title of Building Plans Examiner to group XII in the current agreement]
FOUR UH, SOLUTION WAY WE WERE VOTING ON THAT.TB FOUR RESOLUTION RATIFYING A SUPPLEMENTAL MEMO OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AND CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION LOCAL, UH, 1000 AF UM, S-C-M-A-A-F-L TO RECOGNIZE, INCORPORATE AND INCLUDE A TITLE OF OFFICE ASSISTANT FINANCIAL I SUPPORT.
I BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT WAS, THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CHANGED.
I THINK THE CSEA WAS ASKED US TO HOLD THIS OVER.
SCA ASKED TO HOLD THESE OVER TO THE FIRST TIME.
[ AT 1 – 7/10/2024 Resolution authorizing settlement of property damage claim/litigation matter, Claim File No.: 96/21C, by Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America a/s/o The Preserve at Greenburgh, for an amount not to exceed $2,500]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SETTLEMENT OF PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIM LITIGATION MATTER BY TRAVELERS CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA AND THE PRESERVE AT GREENBERG FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 2,500.[ AT 2 - 7/10/2024 Resolution approving the retention of Anthony G. Piscionere, Esq., of Piscionere & Nemarow, P.C., to represent The Town of Greenburgh In The Matter of Lakiesha Walker and Otte Armstrong v. Town of Greenburgh, et al., to be paid directly by the Town’s insurance company]
RETENTION OF ANTHONY PISSY OWNER, UM, TO REPRESENT THE TOWN OF GREENBURG IN MATTERS OF LAKEISHA WALKER AND O OTTO ARMSTRONG VERSUS TOWN OF GREENBURG TO BE PAID DIRECTLY BY THE TOWNS INSURANCE COMPANY.[ AT 3 - 7/10/2024 Resolution authorizing the retention of the firm of Morris DuffyAlonso Faley & Pitcoff, as Interim Outside Counsel for the Town regarding preceding notice of claims/litigation matters and subsequent notice of claims/litigation matters against the Town, assigned by the Town Attorney, at a cost not to exceed $25,000]
RETENTION OF THE FIRM OF MORRIS STUFFY ALONSO LEY AND PITCOCK.AND INTERIM OUTSIDE COUNSEL FOR TOWN REGARDING PROCEEDING NOTICE OF CLAIMS LITIGATION MATTERS AND SUBSEQUENT NOTICE OF CLAIMS LITIGATION MATTERS AGAINST THE TOWN ASSIGNED BY THE TOWN ATTORNEY.
THE REQUEST NOT TO EXCEED 25,000.
[ AT 4 - 7/10/2024 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Board of Managers of Edgemont at Tarrytown Condominium for property located at 175-569 Martling Avenue. The Town’s share of the refund is $1,784±; the County’s share is $13,359±; the Saw Mill Valley Sewer District’s share is $2,004±; the Tarrytown Union Free School District’s share is $84,452±. Refunds from all sources total $101,599±]
AUTHORIZING TAX SURGERY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER BOARD OF MANAGERS OF EDGEMONT AT TARTAN CONDO FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1 75, UH, 5 6 9 MARTIN AVENUE FUNDS FRONT MARLENE AVENUE REFUNDS FROM MORAL SOURCES 1 0 1 5 9 9 I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND.[ AT 5 - 7/10/2024 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Board of Managers of Carrollwood Condominium I for property located at Carrollwood Drive. The Town’s share of the refund is $799±; the County’s share is $5,815±; the Saw Mill Valley Sewer District’s share is $942±; the Tarrytown Union Free School District’s share is $37,838±. Refunds from all sources total $45,395±]
AUTHORIZING TAX TERTIARY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER BOARD OF MANAGERS OF CAROL WOOD CONDO.UM, UM, THE REFUNDS FROM SOURCES 45,395.
[ AT 6 - 7/10/2024 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Board of Managers of Carrollwood Condominium II for property located at Carrollwood Drive. The Town’s share of the refund is $774±; the County’s share is $5,793±; the Saw Mill Valley Sewer District’s share is $868±; the Tarrytown Union Free School District’s share is $36,842±. Refunds from all sources total $44,277±]
TAX TERTIARY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER BOARD OF MANAGERS OF CARWOOD CONDO TWO FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT CARWOOD DRIVE, UH, REFUNDS FROM WALL SOURCES 44 2 7 7 I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND.[ AT 7 - 7/10/2024 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner Kaufman Tarrytown Company LLC-Lyceum Building Company for property located at 35 North Broadway. The Town’s share of the refund is $947±; the County’s share is $6,544±; the Saw Mill Valley Sewer District’s share is $1,139±; the Tarrytown Union Free School District’s share is $44,642±. Refunds from all sources total $53,273±]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TAX TERTIARY SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER KAMAN COMPANY, UH, LICENSE BUILDING COMPANY FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 35 NORTH BROADWAY REFUNDS FROM ALL SOURCES 53,273.[ AT 8 - 7/10/2024 Resolution authorizing tax certiorari settlement with petitioner DCD Realty Holdings LLC for property located at 480 South Broadway. The Town’s share of the refund is $1,044±; the County’s share is $7,335±; the Saw Mill Valley Sewer District’s share is $1,205±; the Irvington Union Free School District’s share is $48,773±. Refunds from all sources total $58,358±]
AYE.RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TAX HONOR SETTLEMENT WITH PETITIONER DCD REALTY HOLDINGS FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT FOUR 80 SOUTH BROADWAY.
UH, UH, REFUNDS FROM, UH, SOURCES 58 3 5 8 I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.
[ CL 1 - 7/10/2024 Resolution scheduling a Public Hearing for 7:30 PM, Wednesday, August 14, 2024, to consider an Amended Site Plan Application by Game On Golf Center, for property located at 701 Dobbs Ferry Road (P.O. White Plains, NY)]
RESOLUTION SCHEDULING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR SEVEN 30 TO CONSIDER AN AMENDED SITE PLAN APPLICATION BY GAME ON GOLF CENTER FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 7 0 1 DO ROAD I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND.[ CD 1 - 7/10/2024 Resolution awarding supplemental services for the Odell House-Rochambeau Headquarters to Abbott & Price, Inc., for an amount not to exceed $75,970.08]
SUPPLEMENTAL SERVICES FOR THE ODELL HOUSE CEBO, UH, HEADQUARTERS TAB AT PRICE FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 75,970.AND EACH SENTENCE, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND.
[ CD 2 - 7/10/2024 Resolution authorizing change orders in connection with the Odell House-Rochambeau Headquarters Phase 3 Permanent Stabilization and Exterior Envelope Construction Project, for an amount not to exceed $101,482.78]
ORDERS IN CONNECTION WITH ODELL HOUSE, RUSSIAN[03:15:01]
BOW HEADQUARTERS PHASE THREE PERMANENT STABILIZATION AND EXTERIOR ENVELOPE CONSTRUCTION FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 1 0 1 4 8 2 78.[ CR 1 - 7/10/2024 Resolution accepting on behalf of the Department of Community Resources a $500 donation from The Westchester Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority to help support the programs at the Theodore D. Young Community Center]
ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES OF $500 DONATION FROM WESTCHESTER ALUMNI CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA, THAT, THAT A SORORITY, UH, TO HELP SUPPORT THE PROGRAMS OF COMMUNITY CENTER? I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT CR ONE SECOND.[ LB 1 - 7/10/2024 Resolution authorizing Fiscal Year 2024 Library Budget Transfer, in the amount of $200,000, to pay for the balance of the Canopy Project]
RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZING FISCAL YEAR 2024 LIBRARY TRANSFER IN THE AMOUNT TO 200,000 TO PAY FOR THE BALANCE OF THE CANOPY PROJECT.[ PR 1 - 7/10/2024 Resolution authorizing the execution of a $15,904 grant agreement between the Town of Greenburgh and the County of Westchester for transporting seniors]
AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF 15,000 9 0 4 GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AND THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER FOR TRANSPORTING SENIORS.I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT SECOND IN FAVOR, AYE.
[ PR 2 - 7/10/2024 Resolution authorizing the execution of a $9,304 grant agreement between the Town of Greenburgh and the County of Westchester for transporting seniors]
AUTHORIZING THE EX EXECUTION OF A 9,000 3 0 4 GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AND THE COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER FOR TRANSPORTING SENIORS.[ PO 1 - 7/10/2024 Resolution authorizing the Town Supervisor to execute a Radio License Agreement with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE TOWN SUPERVISOR TO EXECUTE A RADIO LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.[ PO 2 - 7/10/2024 Resolution authorizing the Town Supervisor to execute a Radio License Agreement with Westchester County]
THE TOWN VISOR TO EXECUTE A RADIO LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH WESTCHESTER COUNTY.[ PW 1 - 7/10/2024 Resolution awarding an extension of the 2023 contract for the Milling and Resurfacing of various streets in the Town of Greenburgh awarded to Montesano Bros., Inc., the lowest bidder, for an additional year, in an amount not to exceed $3,200,000]
RESOLUTION AWARDING AN EXTENSION OF THE 2023 CONTRACT FOR THE MILLING AND, UM, RESURFACING OF VARIOUS STREETS OF THE TOWN OF GREENBURG AWARDED TO MONSANTO BROTHERS THE LOWEST BIDDER FOR AN ADDITIONAL YEAR, AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 3,200,000.I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE ADJOURN SECOND.