COUNCIL OF GREENBURGH CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS
Minutes of December 15, 1998 Meeting
The Council of Greenburgh Civic Associations seeks to provide information and advance the common interests of member civic groups in important Town affairs. The following groups paid dues in 1998:
Ardsley Estates Civic Association
Beaver Hill Association
Birchwood Civic Association
Broadview Civic Association
Cotswold Association, Inc
Downing Hill Civic Association
East Hartsdale Avenue Civic Association
East Irvington Civic Association
Edgebrook Cooperative, Inc.
Edgemont Civic Association
Edgemont Community Council, Inc.
Fulton Park Civic Association
Glenville Community Association*
Granada Condominium III Association
Hillcrest Park - Ardsley
Hillside Wyndover Civic Association*
Juniper Hill Civic Association
Knollwood Manor Civic Association
Knollwood Neighborhood Civic Association
Longview Civic Association
Lower Manor Woods Civic Association
Manor Woods Civic Association
North Elmsford Civic Association
Northern Greenville Civic Association
Parkway Gardens Civic Association
Parkway Homes Civic Association
Poet's Corner Civic Association
Secor Homes Civic Association, Inc.
Southern Greenville Civic Association
Stone Oaks Condominium
The Colony at Hartsdale
Westchester Hills Condominium
Winding Road Farm Association
Woodhill Civic Association
*1999 dues have also been paid.
Thirty-four associations paid 1998 dues and there is $650.08 in the treasury.
September's minutes were read and approved. October's minutes were not available. November's minutes were not distributed.
ANTENNA ADVISORY BOARD
Nextel/WFAS. A standing-room-only turnout of residents heard the beginning of the Nextel/WFAS case before the Zoning Board of Appeals on December 10. At the hearing AAB Chairperson, Catherine Lederer-Plaskett, showed a videotape taken during a van- trip through a portion of the Town identified on a map by Nextel, the cellular provider, as having poor cell phone transmission and reception - the so-called "white area." The video proved that cell phone transmission/reception is, in fact, very clear in the "white area." Catherine drove the van as AAB member Mary Tobias held a Nextel cellular phone, model i1000, used to call a phone in a residence that had a radio playing. Zoning Board of Appeals member, Francis Sheehan, rode in the van as a witness.
The radio programming was clearly transmitted to the Nextel phone in the van during the trip; both Catherine and Mary identified streets and landmarks. At one point during the trip - on the WFAS parking lot, located in the "white area" -- Catherine also used the Nextel phone to call ZBA Chairperson, Robert Nadel. Reception was very clear on both ends. In fact, Mr. Nadel was heard on the tape commenting about the high quality of the reception.
The Nextel phone was also used to make a call from Catherine's home - also in the "white area." Again, reception on both ends was clear.
At 11:30pm, the Nextel/WFAS ZBA case was adjourned until January 28. So far no special hearings have been scheduled.
1998 Amendments. The 1998 Amendments to the Antenna Ordinance were submitted to the Town in August, but the AAB is concerned that the Town will purposely delay passage. While Supervisor Paul Feiner said he's not in agreement with "all parts" of the proposed amendments, he also admitted that he hasn't read the amendments yet. AAB members have tried unsuccessfully to have the Town Board schedule a hearing on the amendments. At the December 9 Town Board meeting a motion was made and seconded to schedule a hearing. Then Nextel attorney Robert Gaudioso objected (because of "a lawsuit"). The Town Board then made and passed a second motion -- without acting on the first motion - to postpone the hearing.
The AAB continues to be concerned with Supervisor Feiner's ties to the cellular industry, and his campaign contributions from providers who have cases before the town. In addition, Mr. Feiner threatened to disband the AAB several times because of its insistence that no provider receive preferential treatment. There have also been rumors that the Town plans to hire a consultant to do AAB work in the future.
Reappointment of Francis Sheehan. AAB members appreciate the CGCA's support for the reappointment of Francis Sheehan to the AAB when his term expires on Dec. 31.
Newspaper articles distributed. "Changes suggested in cell antenna law," David J. Glenn, The Scarsdale Inquirer, November 27...... "Feiner accuses of helping donor," David J. Glenn, The Scarsdale Inquirer, December 11.... "Official accuses town of favoringlawyer," Jonathan Bandler, The Journal News, December 10.
SUPERVISOR'S GOALS: SOME SUGGESTIONS
Supervisor Feiner has announced that $5,000 of his salary in the coming year will be contingent on his successful completion of a number of goals. Since Mr. Feiner requested input from numerous quarters, the CGCA suggested the following goals (CGCA Chairperson, Danny Gold, will write a letter):
- Not to take campaign funds from people or companies doing business with the Town or from people or companies with development projects being considered by the Town.
- Resolve long standing issues such as adult use, gas station canopies, automobile front yards, and reassessment.
- Increase open space - not just preserve it.
- Improve the quality of life by decreasing traffic and development.
- Be responsive to citizens' concerns.
- Decrease traffic volumes at key intersections: Four Corners, Dobbs Ferry Road and Hartsdale Avenue, Routes 119 and 100B, Routes 119 and 9A, Route 119 and Taxter Road, Routes 100A and 100C.
- Refrain from lobbying the Planning Board, ZBA, and AAB on issues they are considering.
- Not run for other offices while serving as Town Supervisor.
- Post office hours.
- Decrease certiorari impact.
- Televise conference room work sessions.
- Inventory the number of trees preserved and the number uprooted by development.
- Decrease the number of non-conforming uses.
- Hold all Town Board meetings at Town Hall and conduct neighborhood meetings separately - so that live TV and Dial Democracy can be in effect at all Town Board meetings.
There was also agreement that the supervisor's salary should not be contingent on any involement he may have with the Greenburgh Central 7 School District. CGCA members agreed that the supervisor's school district involvement should be as a volunteer only.
PROTECTING THE BUFFER
It was agreed that Town officials not make decisions where there are conflicts. A case in point is Town Engineer Brett Auerhan's decision to allow the buffer to be removed at Westchester View Lanes - a subdivision where Mr. Auerhan had been the developing engineer prior to his employment with the Town. Although CGCA member Carol Wielk had been assured earlier by Supervisor Feiner that the WVL buffer would be protected, it was removed. Carol distributed a December 9 letter from Mr. Auerhan. The CGCA agreed that because of Mr. Auerhan's previous involvement, he should have recused himself or been recused by the supervisor because of a conflict of interest. At a follow-up meeting last week in which Mr. Feiner planned to discuss the issue, the supervisor seemed distracted and put off the discussion of the matter for yet another meeting.
Numerous trees were also reportedly cut down on Hawthorne Way, which the Town said was acceptable because the property there is less than an acre.
"THEY'RE DUMPING ON US."
An article in December 11's The Journal News about a 2 1/2 story landfill dump on Leather Stocking Lane was distributed and discussed. A resident of the area made an impassioned plea against the dumping at today's Town Board work session. Town Engineer Auerhan approved the dumping without a permit, allowable under the law, he said, because the property is less than an acre. Neighbors have been in touch with the Department of Environmental Conservation because the landfill is not clean.
In a similar matter, the DEC determined that polluted fill had been used at Worthington Ridge. The developer was fined.
9A MULTIPLEX
A public hearing was held before the Town Board on December 9. There appears to be an insufficient number of parking spaces for the project, although no one is willing to admit it. The Town's Legal Department is looking into the parking issue. The record will be closed in January.
The developer will comply with the Code with regard to lights: the height has been reduced to 14 feet, the maximum height permitted. There will be a total of 81 lights, with shadow boxes; there are currently only 7 lights on the property.
An article in Sunday's The Journal News rated local theaters - and gave the Hawthorne multiplex (a "sibling" cinema) a poor rating for its limited parking.
A December 9 letter from the law firm of Veneziano & Chapman responding to issues raised at the November 23 Town Board Public Hearing was distributed and discussed. Unfortunately, questions remain unanswered.
MISCELLANEOUS
Councilman Les Adler informed the CGCA that neither he nor members of his law firm have appeared before Greenburgh Town Court in the last 15 years. At the Council's November meeting, misinformation was provided implying impropriety in Mr. Adler's chairing a Town Justice selection committee. A letter of apology was sent.
There was a discussion about Supervisor Feiner's constant attempts to influence various Town Boards.
A traffic light will be installed on Route 119 near the new Bed, Bath & Beyond.
Adult Use. Instead of addressing the issue, the Town Board recently passed another year's moratorium.
Open space. The Master Plan meetings this fall were poorly publicized and attended. Phase 2 is expected to be over by the end of March. The Town's commitment was questioned. Volunteers Madelon O'Shea, Ella Preiser, and Carol Demas have taken representatives from Saratoga Associates on tours of Edgemont, North Elmsford, and Taxter Road.
Millennium Pipeline. The committee seems to be moribund.
Car repairs continue in Downing Hill area.
Concern expressed about the Supervisor's time spent running for Congress.
There was a discussion about taping conference room meetings, including those of the CGCA. The October CGCA meeting is currently being shown on public access TV, featuring Planning Commissioner, Stephen Lopez, and Town Attorney, Frederick Turner.
Home Depot. May be on the Mt. Pleasant Planning Board's January or February agenda.
347 Central Avenue. The Edgemont community will be adversely affected by traffic generated from new apartments proposed for the area behind Treasure Island. On December 2 the Planning Board recommended approval of the project for 40 units (reduced from 47 proposed earlier). Supervisor Feiner has aggressively lobbied the Planning Board on behalf of the developer who now believes no variances will be required - even though the document submitted by the applicant indicates otherwise.
Stickley Furniture. The issue has been put on hold because residents refuted Town Engineer Auerhan's statement that there are no flooding problems in the area.
CVS. The company wants to build a freestanding facility at Routes 100A and 100B (Dobbs Ferry Road and Hartsdale Avenue), and move out of the shopping center on Knollwood Road. Representatives were at the Town Board work session today. While the intersection will be widened, there are several new developments and proposals for the area that will drastically tax the road.
Supervisor's recommendation: Planning Board and ZBA meet more often to reduce backlog of cases.
The CGCA urges that Town Board meetings be held in Town Hall, not in neighborhoods. Informal "neighborhood meetings," however, are encouraged.
Planning Commissioner's November 23 letter to the CGCA regarding "the process" is inadequate.
The meeting adjourned at 10 PM.