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'Elementary, my dear Watson'
Dear Editor:
At last Thursday's monthly Philipstown Board Meeting, several concerned constituents voiced their concerns regarding what they consider to be the mismanagement of our Town. At said meeting, a gentleman spoke, who has in recent months, publicly voiced his concerns regarding the following issues: the threat of a cell tower near his bucolic Garrison property and the fact that he didn't have access to the GarrisonVolunteer fire department's detailed list of expenditures (among his many complaints regarding the alleged lack of financial disclosure, was the fact that said Fire Department had purchased a new boat to be used for the purpose of fighting fires from the Hudson River.)
After the apparent withdrawal of the cell tower threat, he began complaining about the passing of the Butterfield Library referendum, which as we are all aware, was passed because the majority of voters at last fall's election were in favor of it. The New York Supreme Court has now shown our community on two separate occasions, that it agrees.
Most recently, this same individual has made clear his opposition to Vincent Tamagna, and his support for Glennon J. Watson, L. S. and what appeared to me at Thursday's Town Meeting, to be Philipstown's current status quo. As many of your readers are aware, Mr. Watson is a local businessman who is currently participating in the writing of and implementation of our local zoning laws.
If I had the space, I could give your readers several full pages as to why I feel people are concerned with Mr. Watson's involvement, but space here is limited and I'll just give one example as to why I personally feel that Mr. Watson should not be allowed anywhere in the vicinity of where our codes and laws are being discussed and implemented
In a letter dated April 18, 2005 to Phililpstown Wetlands Inspector David Klotzle, Mr. Watson respectfully submitted on behalf of his client Stephen G. Wallis a letter that contained the following: This Statement is submitted in support of the application of Stephen G. Wallis to the Town of Philipstown for a Freshwater Wetlands/Watercourse Permit to allow the following activities within or within the 100 foot buffer of New York State Wetlands No. OL-2:
"Construction of a driveway, including the installation of fill and culverts across the 100 ft. buffer and within the actual wetlands; construction of a well within the 100 ft. buffer; construction of a dwelling within the 100 ft. buffer; construction of a portion of a septic system within the 100 ft. buffer and within the actual wetlands; The activity will not result in the degrading or pollution of waters."
It's time for big changes here in Philipstown;. please get involved and find out for yourselves what's really going on around here. If you're just listening to other's opinions, you're doing yourself a great disservice.
Russ Cusick
Philipstown
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