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PV Board Weighs Pros and Cons of Disbanding Comprehensive Master Plan Committee
Former Councilman Ricci continues effort to rehabilitate Ingersol property
by Edward Paul Greiff
The pro and con arguments over disbanding the Comprehensive Master Plan Committee that took place during the Putnam Valley Town Board meeting held January 16, 2008 raised a pivotal question regarding municipal government responsibility - whose responsibility is it to ensure that the 2007-adopted Comprehensive Master Plan requirements are implemented as they were intended to be by the authors of the plan? Chazin and the Comprehensive Master Plan Committee or the Town Board?
Putnam Valley Supervisor Robert Tendy argued that it is the sole responsibility of the elected Town Board to legislate the appropriate laws to implement the Comprehensive Master Plan because only they can pass legislative laws that govern the Town and it is also a responsibility for which they are being paid. Tendy complemented Chazin and the Committee for the excellent job they did in developing the Plan, but now it is the Board's job to implement the adopted Plan and the Committee's work is done. Without a specific assignment he feels there is no need to continue the Committee. Councilmen Yetter and Cinque support Tendy's argument while Councilwomen Keresey and Whetsel support the continuation of the committee in an advisory capacity.
Advocates for continuing the Master Plan Committee argue that the talented group of volunteers has an intimate, detailed understanding of the research they went through and why they wrote what they did. They understand what is behind the intent of what they wanted to accomplish which may or may not have been articulated in such a way that it cannot be misinterpreted. And because of this, the committee members and others feel the committee should not be disbanded. They opined that the committee provides the checks and balances that are needed in government. The committee can also help expedite the passage of implementation laws because they can provide the necessary background information that will facilitate a better understanding of the intent of the law being proposed.
The debate was not settled and will continue at the next Town Board meeting.
Another debatable issue that generated some intense arguments is the question of whether or not additional commercial development in Town will help reduce Town taxes. Putnam Valley resident Chris Rosen has apparently done considerable research on this subject and is vehemently opposed to the idea that commercial development will reduce taxes, "It just isn't so," he says. "Provide commercial development to add services for the Town but don't think it will reduce taxes because it just won't."
Councilwoman Wendy Whetsel has previously stated that her research shows commercial development does not lower taxes and has advocated that, "We crunch the numbers before agreeing to any commercial development."
Along with the subject of reducing taxes, Legislator Sam Oliverio reported that once again the Putnam County Legislature will try to stir up a grass roots initiative in support of a reform in the State's method of property tax assessment. He said if it is going to happen it must come from local and county government because the state seems to have turned a deaf ear to the idea. Former Supervisor Sam Davis said there was an independent movement in Albany to continue to fight for property tax reform.
Former Councilman Dan Ricci continues his research on the historical significance of the Ingersol property at Croft's Corners. He is once again making an appeal for other volunteers to join him and help restore the Ingersol house back to its historic structure as the Inn at Croft's Corners. He has asked the Town to initiate the purchase of the property for one dollar from the County before the County puts the property on the open market. Legislator Oliverio said this would probably happen in the spring. The Town Board is actively pursuing this matter.
There was a sad note at the evening's meeting when the Town Board accepted, with regrets, the resignation of Sarah Seaboldt as she retires from her role in the Assessor's Office. She said that it is time for her to move on in life. The Board also accepted with regrets the resignation of Carol Hughes-DiMarco as she leaves her role as temporary assistant to Supervisor Tendy.
But there was also a happy note when the Board accepted the appointment of Beverly Kelly as Administrative Assistant to Supervisor Bob Tendy and to the Town Board. Supervisor Tendy has eliminated the position of Confidential Aid.
This was Putnam Valley Town Supervisor Robert Tendy's first official Regular Monthly Town Board meeting and as such his "Opening Comments" were designed to provide an insight as to how he intends to operate. He also promised to deliver a "State of the Town" message after he's been in office a few months.
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