GREENBURGH REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE
FEINER AND TOWN BOARD VIOLATE OPEN MEETINGS LAW
Contact: William H. Pohlmann
Telephone: (914) 997-2407
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 23, 1999
Greenburgh Town Republican Chairman Bill Pohlmann blasts Paul Feiner and the all-Democratic Town Board for the clearest violation of the Open Meetings Law that he has ever witnessed. The Greenburgh Town budget for 2000 (over 48 million dollars in appropriations and taxes) was passed in clear violation of the Open Meetings Law. Forget for the moment that the budget was passed without reasonable notice and opportunity for review by the public, and that fact was noted at the Town Board meeting last night. The crucial fact is that since Paul Feiner proposed his Town Budget for 2000 for consideration by the full Town Board in late October there have been no public work sessions on the budget, and there was absolutely no discussion by members of the Town Board on the Budget at last night’s public hearing.
On but a very few occasions last night members of the Town Board responded to a question by the public. Never however, did the members of the Board ever discuss this budget among themselves or with department heads or with the comptroller, and yet when Paul Feiner spoke it was clearly evident that the Board was unanimous in its approval of the budget and that they would adopt it. Never was there a presentation made by the various department heads of their particular budgets as was done in the years before Paul Feiner. In essence, board members must have agreed to this budget after private discussion and in violation of law. There is no other explanation. And with three lawyers on the Board that is absolutely shocking.
Paul Feiner’s "Problem Solving" and "Talking with Timmy" and a veritable host of other democratic shows are rarely off the air. And recent Town Board resolutions have only served to further restrict access to the airwaves by those espousing a political viewpoint other than that held by all the Democratic Greenburgh Town Board. Again, this is not an issue where a majority (by virtue of their election victory) can and should be allowed to prevail. Free speech is too precious a right to lose by remaining silent. On both of these issues the Republican loyal opposition remains united and resolute.