COUNCIL OF GREENBURGH CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS
Minutes of December 14, 1999 Meeting
Adopted January 18, 2000
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 member civic groups have paid their 1999 dues:
Ardsley Estates Civic Association
Beaver Hill Association
Birchwood Civic Association
Broadview Civic Association
Downing NM Civic Association
East Hartsdale Avenue Civic Association
East Irvington Civic Association
Edgebrook Cooperative, Inc.
Edgemont Civic Association *
Edgemont Community Council, Inc.
Fort Hill Association
Fulton Park Civic Association
Glenville Community Association
Granada Condominium III Association
Hillcrest Park - Ardsley Civic Association
Hillside-Wyndover Civic Association
Juniper Hill Civic Association
Knollwood Manor Civic Association
Longview Civic Association
Lower Manor Woods Neighborhood Association Mayfair-Knollwood Civic Association
North Elmsford Neighborhood Association
Northern Greenville Civic Association
Parkway Gardens Civic Association
Parkway Homes Civic Association
Secor Homes Civic Association, Inc.
Southern Greenville Civic Association
Stone Oaks Condominium
The Colony at Hartsdale
The Cotswold Association, Inc.*
Westchester Hills Condominium
Winding Road Farm Association
Woodhill Civic Association
* Dues also paid for 2000.
To date, thirty-four civic groups have paid their 1999 dues. There is $962.72 in the treasury.
Minutes of the September 21, 1999 and November 16, 1999 meetings were read and approved with minor corrections that will be made prior to circulation.
MEETING DATE REVISIONS FOR 2000
CGCA meetings will continue to be held at 8 P.M. on the third Tuesday of the month with the following exceptions: April, May, November, and December meetings will be held on the second Tuesday to allow for holidays or school board elections. Meeting dates for these months will be April I 1, May 9, November 14, and December 12. CGCA Chairperson Danny Gold will include the list of 2000 meeting dates with the January packet.
CABLE TV
Danny Gold and Carol Wielk will re-tape a program on December 16 to replace their spring 1999 tape that was lost by the Town and never shown .... CGCA members agreed that the Town Board's April resolution to provide a "fair and even playing field" for local political candidates has not worked: the elected Town Clerk currently makes cable TV decisions which appear to be politically-inspired ......Sound problems continue to plague cable programming ..... The matter of cable TV monies (franchise fees) being used for general purposes was revisited. The supervisor claims that without the monetary transfer nutritional programs, etc. would have to be cut or taxes increased. The Town also receives $50,000+ annually for cable equipment but has been spent little of this money on acquiring equipment. Stephanie Bellino noted that the Town is looking for 600 - 1,000 square feet of space for a cable office.
Please refer to the following section (Supervisor's Goals) for more on cable TV.
SUPERVISOR'S GOALS
Since none of the goals suggested last year by the CGCA were chosen by Supervisor Paul Feiner (who had solicited suggestions from the public), there was a discussion as to whether or not the CGCA should provide goal-input this year. Because the supervisor asked Francis Sheehan to meet with him on December 23 to discuss goals for 2000, the CGCA agreed to format a list. Suggestions:
- Depoliticize cable access television by creating a seven-member decision-making board.
- At a minimum, double the current 20 hours of cable access television programs shown weekly on each cable access channel, and expand Channel 14 coverage to include Town-wide broadcasts of all televised Town/Village, and Planning and Zoning Board meetings.
- Accommodate requests for public access shows from Greenburgh residents in a timely manner.
- Restore the decades-old policy of holding public Town Board work sessions in the Town Hall Conference Room, and televise the work sessions using equipment installed in the Conference Room at taxpayer expense for that purpose.
- Preserve the 11-acre parcel of land on the Saw Mill River Parkway in Greenburgh as Open Space and establish walking trails on the property.
- 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, and Routes 100A and 100C.
- Post and keep regular office hours.
- Remove restrictions placed on CGCA members when they speak or ask questions at Town Board meetings (limiting their time, not answering their questions, etc.).
- Remove photocopy machine restrictions so that volunteer board and committee members as well as designated CGCA representatives may again freely copy Town-related documents to better assist the Town in drafting legislation and making decisions on applications.
- Refuse campaign funds from people or companies doing business with the Town or from people or companies with development projects being considered by the Town.
- Hold all Town Board meetings at Town Hall and conduct neighborhood meetings separately so live TV and Dial Democracy can be in effect at all Town Board meetings.
The CGCA reiterated concerns about the difficulty of measuring goals. It was also noted that the supervisor and other Town Board members have taken credit for accomplishments of others throughout the year - Glenville Woods, Gaisman, Crane's Pond, etc. Finally, the CGCA questioned the supervisor's "accomplishment" of a goal regarding the Master Plan when, in fact, the Master Plan is behind schedule, and the supervisor attended no Master Plan meetings over the past year.
STATE GRANT FOR SHCA
Carol Wielk announced that the Secor Homes Civic Association is the recipient of a state grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to conduct a land use study in the Town of Greenburgh. The purpose is to develop a report to the community that will enhance resident understanding of the site plan application process. The study will track the movement of applications for site development through the stages of review, approval and enforcement, as well as identify remedies available for redress, if required. The grant was made possible by NY State Senator Nick Spano and Assemblyman Richard Brodsky.
Pace University Law Professor John Nolon, an independent consultant, has agreed to work with SHCA on the project with the assistance of two of his law students. The study - which will encompass a review of two site plan applications - should commence in January 2000 and be completed by the end of March. SHCA will issue a report to the community as well as the funding agent.
Supervisor Feiner, in a December 7 memorandum to the Town Attorney, Deputy Town Attorney, Town Clerk, Building Inspector, and Town Board members, encouraged his staff and colleagues to "cooperate with Professor Nolon on this project." (A copy of the December 7 memorandum was distributed, as was Carol Wielk's December I letter to the supervisor announcing the project.)
CGCA RE: NEXTEL/WFAS DECISION: APPEAL!
Judge Brieant's decision in the Nextel/WFAS case was discussed. The judge ordered the Town to approve four cellular antenna sites Nextel claimed are alternatives to the WFAS site. The ZBA, after extensive hearings, determined that one site - Con Edison tower K-45 - is a reasonable alternative to the WFAS site, and the CGCA agrees. The additional three sites demanded by Nextel (Bell Atlantic's 313 Central Park Avenue monopole, the Atlantic/Sprint monopole at 440 Saw Mil River Road, and Con Ed's K-36 tower) are 'throw-ins', covering substantial areas unrelated to the WFAS application.
Judge Brieant ruled that, "there is no reason for the process of hearings before the Zoning Board of Appeals to delay the elimination of Plaintiffs gap in service... " This clause - which both Plaintiff and the Town agreed should be removed - was removed, then reinserted by the Judge. The clause would set a very dangerous precedent: if there's no reason for the ZBA to conduct hearings for use variances, area variances, and special permits in this case, the decision will be used by other applicants wanting to install cellular antennas throughout the Town. Cellular providers will simultaneously file applications with the Town and the court, and refer to this decision. The order will lead to "antenna farms" throughout the Town, make WFAS applications appealing to other cellular providers, and limit the Town's ability to enforce its permit application process, public notice procedures, zoning board jurisdiction, and SEQRA compliance.
The CGCA regrets the Town's not appealing an earlier ruling by Judge Brieant, requiring the all-volunteer ZBA to hold three meetings in four nights solely for the purpose of hearing the Nextel/WFAS case since federal telecommunication law is not intended to provide preferential treatment to personal wireless service providers.
The Town's ZBA acted properly and must be supported. If Judge Brieant's decision is unchallenged, cellular providers will be rewarded with carte blanche antenna sitings without regard to variances needed, etc. The CGCA urges the Town Board to appeal Judge Brieant's decision and hire private counsel specializing in federal appeals.
CGCA members asked Danny Gold to write to the supervisor about the matter.
MISCELLANEOUS
Leaves, leaves, and more leaves. Leaf piles remain all over Town; a suggestion was made to hire temporary help to remove them in season.
Automobiles in dealers' front yards. The Town appears to be doing nothing to resolve this long-standing issue.
9A Multiplex to open Wednesday, December 15. Traffic, lighting, and noise problems in the future? Construction dust, odors and noise plagued surrounding neighborhoods throughout the development.
Town Board work sessions continue in auditorium - to disadvantage of public. While Town Board work sessions have traditionally been held in the Conference Room, they've recently been moved to the auditorium. Microphones are not used and it is difficult for the public to hear. Board members frequently engage in side conversations and whisper on the dais. The Town Board has, so far, refused to videotape these sessions and has even ceased audio-taping the work sessions. (See Supervisor's Goals, above.)
Town Board member, Les Adler, apologizes to CGCA. A December 10 letter from Board member Adler was distributed which said, "At the last [December 81 Greenburgh Town Board meeting, I mistakenly stated words to the effect that Francis Sheehan was in charge of the Council of Greenburgh Civic Associations. That was clearly incorrect."
Judges to earn $10,000 more a year - after election. The two recently elected Town judges will each earn $10,000 more a year for an additional (third) weekly session of court, although during this fall's campaign the third day was proposed as a "free" addition,
Local newspaper coverage of Town issues abysmal. Press-release, puff articles abound.
Fairview Greenburgh Community Center re-named Theodore D. Young Community Center.
Top level personnel changes. The CGCA discussed The Scarsdale Inquirer November 19 article "By 'mutual agreement' with town, Two key administrators are leaving." Town Attorney Frederick Turner and Planning Commissioner Stephen Lopez will be leaving in January, although Commissioner Lopez will continue as a part-time consultant for the Town until a new commissioner is hired. In addition, Fairview Greenburgh Community Center Commissioner Barbara Perry will retire this spring.
Land swap (land adjacent to Antun's in Elmsford for land in New Rochelle) is a grave concern to CGCA members. Danny Gold will notify our County Legislators about CGCA concerns.
Planning Board wants to begin meetings at 7:30 PM. Some members of the Planning Board want meetings to start earlier. Some residents and CGCA members believe the current starting time, 8 PM is more convenient, and an earlier start will preclude community participation. Suggestions made: better organize meetings and the process or hold public hearings first.
Westchester Meadows. Alice Moroney has written to Planning Commissioner Lopez about traffic concerns that have not been addressed in the FEIS.
Hampshire Management. On December 9, the ZBA adjourned for all purposes the hearing on the shopping center's request to modify or remove a number of the conditions imposed in a March 1999 decision granting a variance that would permit expansion of the Service Merchandise store and construction of a Trader Joe's. CGCA members support the position of residents of The Colony.
Distributed:
- November 30 letter about recycling from Angelika Noetzel; December 6 response From Supervisor Feiner
- "Unincorporated tax rises 2.86%," The Scarsdale Inquirer, December 3
- "A few watchdogs ask many questions," TSI, December 3
- "Paul Feiner wants to censor letters to the editor," (letter to editor), TSI, December 3
- "Supervisor defends his record on open government," (letter to editor), TSI, Dec. 3
- "Greenburgh's newest resident comes from Russia, with love," TSI, December 3
- "Bypass would be detrimental to Mt. Pleasant," (letter to editor), The Journal News, Dec. 8
- "For Pleasantville wine makers, prosperity is a family affair," TJN, December 7
The meeting adjourned at 10:30 PM.