COUNCIL OF GREENBURGH CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS
Minutes of March 21, 2000 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 twenty civic groups have paid dues for the year 2000:
Beaver Hill Association
Birchwood Civic Association
Broadview Civic Association
East Hartsdale Avenue Civic Association
East Irvington Civic Association
Edgemont Civic Association
Edgemont Community Council, Inc.
Fort MR Association
Knollwood Manor Civic Association
Lower Manor Woods Neighborhood Association
Mayfair-Knollwood Civic Association
Parkway Gardens Civic Association
Parkway Homes Civic Association
Secor Homes Civic Association, Inc.
Southern Greenville Civic Association
Stone Oaks Condominium
The Cotswold Association, Inc.
Washington Avenue Civic Association
Winding Road Farm Association
Woodhill Civic Association
To date, nineteen of the thirty-four civic groups who were members in 1999 have paid dues for the year 2000. In addition, the Washington Avenue Civic Association has joined for the first time. There is $837.85 in the treasury.
Minutes of the February 15, 2000 meeting were read and approved for distribution.
WELCOME AND BEST WISHES TO CGCA REPRESENTATIVES
Lorrin Brown, President of the North Elmsford Civic Association, received a round of applause as he entered the room to attend his first CGCA meeting since being hospitalized.
Curt Constable, the new President of the Juniper Hill Civic Association, was warmly welcomed to his first CGCA meeting.
Madelon O'Shea, President of the Edgemont Community Council, was treated to a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday"
Irene Zuck, President of the Fulton Park Civic Association and regular attendee of CGCA meetings, is ill. CGCA members wish Irene a quick return to good health.
Jon Hammer, attorney, and in years past an active civic leader; community advocate and CGCA leader, is moving out of Greenburgh. CGCA members wish Jon well in his new home.
GREENBURGH CABLE ACCESS TELEVISION
CGCA TV Program. Now airing in the CGCA regular time slot is the program, taped in December, featuring Chairman Danny Gold interviewing Carol Wielk, President of the Secor Homes CA.
New Studio for Cable TV. Questions were raised about an article in today's edition of The Journal News regarding the leasing of space on East Hartsdale Avenue for use as a studio . for cable access television. CGCA members remain concerned about the number of uses proposed for the site and the fact that the Town Board has not discussed the hiring of additional personnel to star a new studio: Stephanie Bellino stated that it is likely that a lease will be signed at tomorrow's Town Board meeting; but she declined to discuss the matter further since it would be a violation of the terms of the lease.
Clarification of February 15 CGCA minutes. Last month Supervisor Feiner made a disparaging remark in public after noting that Stephanie Bellino had not returned a phone call. Stephanie stated that she was away from her office on business on the day the Town phoned her. When she returned later that day, she attempted to return the call and dialed the number she had been given: The phone rang and rang and no one answered. Later she discovered she had been given the Conference Room phone number.
GREENBURGH CAMPAIGN FINANCE COMMISSION
Mary Tobias, CGCA representative to the- Commission, provided an update. The Commission has met four times. At the tad meeting, held on February 18, Commission members heard about two previous local attempts at campaign finance reform - one at the County level and the other in Yorktown. Both failed to win the support of the elected officials. Commission members also discussed local issues,, unique to Greenburgh, including problems with cable access television, the Town's Ethics Code, the power of the incumbency, and the lack of press coverage of Greenburgh elections. The Commission looks forward to CGCA members attending the third meeting of the Commission.
The 3rd meeting of the Commission was held at 7:30 p.m. on March 2 at the Rochambeau School in White Plains. Attending the meeting were David Gottlieb of The Scarsdale Inquirer and ten civic association representatives: Mark Baron (The Cotswold Association), Stephanie Bellino (Lower Manor Woods Neighborhood Association), Lorrin Brown (North Elmsford CA), Danny Gold, East Irvington CA and CGCA Chair), Del and Dinah Hillgartner and Ella Preiser (Beaver Hill CA), Robert Reninger (Broadview CA), Carol Wielk (Secor Homes CA) and Irene Zuck (Fulton Park CA). The civic leaders expressed a number of concerns; including: Supervisor Feiner's solicitation and acceptance of campaign contributions from developers and others who are doing business with the Town or who have lawsuits pending against the Town, the ineffectiveness of the Town's Ethics code, and the unfair way the incumbents used cable access television during the last election. Attendees raised questions about how much influence Mr. Feiner had in forming the Commission and noted that the' Commission's own announcement in The Journal News about the March 2 meeting appeared to indicate the Commission was under the control of Supervisor Feiner. Commission members appear to have gotten the message. After most civic leaders left, the Commission held a business meeting and established four subcommittees to review (1) Cable Access and Newspapers, (2) Ethics, (3) Public Financing, Contribution and Spending Limits and Disclosure, and (4) Legal Issues including model legislation and oversight board.
Copies were distributed of the March 10 article written by Davits Gottlieb in The Scarsdale Inquirer about the 3rd meeting - "Finance reform group IDs trouble spots." It was noted that there was a misstatement attributed to Chairman Danny Gold in the article and a correction has been sought.
The 4th meeting of the commission was held at 8:30 a.m. on March 17 at Rochambeau School. Westchester County Legislator George Latimer spoke about what went wrong with the failed previous attempt at campaign finance reform at the County level. Elizabeth Daniel, lawyer for the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU, distributed copies of information about public financing of campaigns in other localities and focused attention on areas that should be reviewed to determine whether public financing of Greenburgh elections is a viable option. Following the meeting, the Ethics subcommittee met.
On March 30, there will be meetings of the subcommittees dealing with Ethics and Cable television. A public hearing will be scheduled at 7:30 p.m. on May 2 at Town Hall for Greenburgh residents to discuss possible recommendations for campaign finance reform measures in fixture Greenburgh elections.
THE CGCA OPPOSES SUPERVISOR FEINER'S SUGGESTION TO HIRE A MEDIATOR
CGCA members discussed Supervisor Feiner's March 8 letter suggesting that the Town hire a mediator from the American Arbitration Association, at a cost of $70/hour to resolve land use concerns/disputes. Questions were raised about why the Supervisor was so eager to cede authority to an outsider, and whether he would prefer binding arbitration to resolve difficult issues with no recourse to the courts. It was noted that there is no guarantee that an outside mediator would be an expert in traffic, land-use or environmental law. Since the Town Board would hire the mediator, questions of fairness and influence could arise: The Supervisor's suggestion appears to be a means of absolving elected officials of their responsibilities and duties for which, it was noted, they are well paid.
Linda Cooper, Yorktown Supervisor and the new head of the Westchester County Municipal Officials Association, was asked in a newspaper interview last month what she thought of asking an independent body to come in and tackle local problems. She recommended that elected officials learn to understand the needs and perspectives of everyone involved rather than turning to an outside arbiter to resolve differences. CGCA members agree.
CGCA MEMBERS WORK WITH PLANNING BOARD TO REWRITE RULES
Because of time constraints,. only two members of the community were given the opportunity to speak at the February 16 public hearing about the proposed amendments to the Planning Board's bylaws. Following the meeting, CGCA representatives convinced members of the Planning Board that additional amendments were necessary. At the continuation of the hearing on March 1, a number of letters from civic leaders were read into the record urging the Board not to adopt a 7:30 p.m. starting time. The hearing was then adjourned for an indefinite period while a committee works to revise the existing bylaws. The committee, comprised of Planning Board members Frances McLaughlin, James Hubert and Thomas McNamara and community representatives Madelon O'Shea and Ella Preiser, met on March 21 and has scheduled a second meeting for April 10.
CGCA members questioned the attendance records of some Planning Board members. One member of the Board has attended only 5 out of 15 meetings and another member regularly arrives late to meetings. CGCA members urged the committee to add provisions to the Bylaws/Rules to address this problem. Poor attendance caused an embarrassing situation at the March 15 Planning Board work session. The Board could not grant an applicant final subdivision approval because only four members were present. Two of the members were newcomers to the Board who had riot received the complete file on the application and did not feel they had sufficient information to cast a vote. The applicant left in tears because her mortgage commitment was set to expire.
SPRINGHILL SUITES HOTEL (ROUTE 119) COMMUNITY GIVEN OUTDATED DEIS TO REVIEW
The Town Board opened a public hearing on March 8 to consider the DEIS as well as an application for a special permit and site plan approval for the proposed 145-room short-to-moderate stay hotel at the Tarrytown border. During the hearing, CGCA members Madelon O'Shea and Ella Preiser learned that the copies of the DEIS which they had read in preparation for this meeting were not the latest edition. Town staff had called them to pick up their copies only two weeks earlier. Since the next Town Board meeting was to be held away from Town Hall, the applicant was willing to have the hearing adjourned for a month to April 12. However, Supervisor Feiner insisted on continuing the hearing on March 22 at the Housing Authority and initially suggested that Madelon and Ella put their comments in writing. Councilwoman Timmy Weinberg questioned if outdated copies were actually given to Madelon and Ella, even though the applicant had previously conceded the error while holding up the two versions of the DEIS for the Board to see. The Board agreed to accept verbal comments at the April 12 meeting.
The Planning Board also held a public hearing on this proposal At' their March 15 meeting Residents in the area stated that they were never notified of the meeting. The hearing was adjourned until the April S Planning Board meeting.
CGCA members questioned the need for seven hotels in the immediate area as well as the impact that the proposed building will have on the wetlands and the flora and fauna on the property. It was noted that major variances will be required, including a variance to allow vehicles to park only 5 feet from the front property line on Route 119.
COMMUNITY HELPS RE-WRITE "INCIDENTAL DINING" LAW
After a great deal of last minute input from community members Madelon O'Shea, Ella Preiser and Francis Sheehan, the Town Board on March 8 adopted legislation amending the Zoning Ordinance to allow bakeries, pizzerias, delis, and ice cream stands to have limited seating for on-site dining. The new legislation is far different from what was proposed last year by Stephen Lopez and John Lucido and what the Town Board appeared willing to approve at the previous meeting.
Members of the public raised concerns about fire safety and other issues at the February 9 public hearing. The Town Board adjourned the hearing until March 8 and promised that the issue would be discussed at a Board work session. On the February 23 agenda, Supervisor. Feiner announced that the fire chiefs had sent a letter "supporting" incidental dining. The letter signed by the fire chiefs, in fact, did not indicate their "support" of incidental dining in retail businesses but rather their position about fire safety concerns if the amendments were adopted.
The incidental dining issue did not appear an a work session agenda until March 7, the day before the Public Hearing. It was apparent that many of the issues raised at the February 9 hearing had not been addressed in the proposed wording. When Planning Board member Robert Nadel tried to- speak, the Town Attorney interrupted and advised the Town Board that public participation is not required during work sessions under the Open Meetings Law. After the Board finished discussing the issue, Madelon, Ella and Francis obtained copies of the document and individually reviewed the proposed wording. They faxed their suggested revisions to Acting Planning Commissioner Mindy Hartstein who included these major revisions in the legislation that was enacted.
GLENVILLE WOODS/ WYLDWOOD MEETING MOVED UP
On February 2, the Planning Board set a public hearing for April 5 on this application. Board members Frances McLaughlin and Blanche Alter planned to review the material and present their findings to the full Planning Board on March 29. Apparently pressure was brought by the powers that be. Although this application was not listed on the Planning Board's February 16 agenda, a vote was taken to set an earlier Public Hearing date - March 1. A number of substantive issues were raised at the March 1 hearing by members of the public, the Conservation Advisory Council and the adjacent property owner, the Bayer Corporation. The public hearing was adjourned until April 5, and the Planning Board will discuss this application - for subdivision, rezoning of 20 acres to a residential PUD, and possible purchase of 40+ acres of land by the Town for open space - at their March 29 work session as originally planned.
PLANNING BOARD MEMBER INJURED
SUPERVISOR FEINER LAUGHS AT COMMUNITY'S
CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY
On March 1, Planning Board member Robert Nadel sustained a head wound when he tripped and fell on the rug in front of the Conference Room door at Town Hall. A call was placed to 911, and Mr. Nadel was transported to the hospital where he received 30 stitches.
That evening, a note to Supervisor Feiner was left on his secretary's desk urging removal of the rug and copy machine. While the rug caused Mr. Nadel's fall, the copy machine that the Town had placed in this narrow hallway made rescue difficult. The copier was removed. However, six days later when Mr. Nadel visited Town Hall, the rug was still in front of the door and blood was still evident on the floor. At the March 8 Town Board meeting, Francis Sheehan questioned why the rug and blood had not been removed. In addition, Madelon O'Shea called the Town Board's attention to the fact that persons using the Conference Room are in danger if the hallway is blocked and the other exits (to the offices of the Supervisor and his secretary) are locked. Supervisor Feiner actually laughed at the community's concerns at the Town Board meeting.
CGCA members applaud the residents and emergency workers who were so caring and helpful after Mr. Nadel's accident. A number of residents attending the meeting immediately rushed to aid Mr. Nadel. There was a quick response by members of both the Fairview Fire Department and the Greenburgh Police Department. Francis Sheehan administered first aid until emergency personnel arrived, then went in the ambulance to the hospital and stayed the 5+ hours with Mr. Nadel while he was treated. Francis then arranged for Ella Preiser to meet them at Town Hall in order to drive Mr. Nadel's car to his home. The following week, Madelon O'Shea drove Mr. Nadel to get new glasses and to. have the stitches removed.
Mr. Nadel's wound, which required the efforts of a plastic surgeon, is healing nicely. The rug and blood have finally been removed from the hallway. CGCA members noted, with relief, that the door to the Supervisor's secretary's office was unlocked during this CGCA meeting.
TOWN HALL/LIBRARY EXPANSION
Copies were distributed of the March 10 article in The Scarsdale Inquirer - "Plan would connect library, town hall" and Supervisor Feiner's letter to civic leaders about the report received from the Town's consultants, hired for $60,000, to study possible expansion to the current Town Hall and Library buildings. The proposed price tag would be $22.5 million. Poster board copies of the proposed floor plans were observed in the Conference Room. CGCA members questioned whether the Town Board has been discussing this proposal in Executive Session in violation of the Open Meetings Law.
CGCA members noted the inadequacies with other recent Town Board approved buildings. A garage was promised that would save the taxpayers money by prolonging the useful life of sanitation vehicles, but the new garage has been scaled back so much there is actually no room for the tricks: Similarly, the Town Board eliminated a large meeting room in the multipurpose center being erected at Veteran Park. Some who have seen the building state it looks like a factory and is an insult to senior citizens.
SEARCH FOR A PLANNING COMMISSIONER CREATES ANOTHER 'OPEN MEETINGS LAW' CONTROVERSY
Stephen Lopez's employment with the Town has ended. Deputy Town Attorney Mindy Hartstein has been appointed to the position of Acting Planning Commissioner until a replacement is named.
Residents on Supervisor Feiner's e-mail list received messages at 8 a.m. on March 1, stating that Saratoga Associates had been hired, at a cost not to exceed $10,000, to conduct a nation-wide search for a new Planning Commissioner. A question was raised about why the Town Board would decide to conduct a nation-wide search since an out-of-state person would not have expertise in New York State's land-use laws. CGCA members also questioned when the decision was made to hire Saratoga Associates. Steve Whitehouse from Saratoga was seen at Town Hall on February 29, following the Town Board work session. It appears that the. decision to hire Saratoga Associates was made in executive session in violation of the, Open Meetings Law, which prohibits a public. body from appropriating funds in executive session.
CORA CAREY REAP-POINTED TO ARB
In a March 1 letter to Chairman Danny Gold; Supervisor Feiner announced that he "decided to reluctantly vote for'' Cora Carey's reappointment to the Antenna Review Board. In the letter, Mr. Feiner continues to accuse Ms. Carey of "spreading false rumors about the Town at televised Town Board meetings." It was noted that at the February 23 Town Board meeting numerous residents were offended by Mr. Feiner's accusations and urged Mr. Feiner to recognize Ms. Carey's First Amendment right of free speech. At the meeting, Ms: Carey reviewed the comments she had made at previous Town Board meetings, thereby refuting the Supervisor's claim that she was spreading rumors. Copies were distributed of an article discussing this matter in the March 3 edition of The Scarsdale Inquirer - "Feiner removes, then reinstates, ARB member."
Ms. Carey was re-appointed to the Antenna Review Board at the March 8 Town Board meeting. She addressed the Board and noted that Mr. Feiner's statement in The Scarsdale Inquirer accusing her of spreading a rumor about the Union Child Day Care Center was totally false.
FIRE DISTRICT ADVISORY COMMITTEE - NO COMMITTEE, NO REPORT
Last year Francis Sheehan resigned his position on the FDIC, citing the unrelenting interference of Supervisor Feiner that culminated in an ethical predicament caused by Mr. Feiner finking issuance of a fire district report to passage of Mr. Sheehan's proposed amendments to the Antenna Law.
At the March 10; 1999 Town Board meeting, the Town Board appointed a new Chairman of the FDIC. The community was told that an interim report, looking at possible merger of the Fairview., Greenville and Hartsdale fire districts; would be available in six months and -the final report would be ready within one year. Nothing has come forth. At the March 8; 2000 Town Board meeting, Supervisor Feiner was asked if the FDIC study had been completed. Mr. Feiner responded that "there is no committee and there is no report." CGCA members questioned whether pressure was applied to the new Chairman, thus causing the committee not to act.
MISCELLANEOUS
Adult Use. A question was raised about the status of legislation regarding adult use. At the present time there is nothing to stop someone from opening an adult establishment or converting an existing cabaret to a topless bar or nude juice bar in Greenburgh. The Town Board allowed the 6th moratorium to elapse last year. It was noted that the Town Board obviously does not share the community's concern that the Town currently has no legal authority to limit adult businesses from operating in our Town. The Planning Board is scheduled to discuss this issue at a special work session on March 29.
Alfred's - Laurel Ridge - Valimar. Because Halpern has had to spend so much money to clean up this site, he has requested approval to reduce the height of final grading on the property by 1 to 2 feet as a cost-cutting measure. At the March 15 meeting, the Planning Board approved the applicant's request. The Town Engineer agreed to this request because it will reduce truck traffic in the area by approximately 7,000 truckloads of fill. However, the Town Engineer objected to the numerous requests for changes and the amount of time required by Town staff to .re-review plans solely to save an applicant money.
Ardsley Requests Thruway Exit in Greenburgh. An article in the March 11 edition of The Journal News related that the Village of Ardsley has requested the NYC Department of Transportation to consider creating a northbound exit ramp off of the Thruway (Interstate 87) on Route 9A at either Secor Road or White House Road. CGCA members understand Ardsley's desire to minimize truck traffic within the Village, but expressed concerns about dumping truck traffic onto the residential roads in Greenburgh. Carol Wielk, President of the Secor Homes CA, will request further information from Town officials. Chairman Gold noted that there were interesting results last year when the DOT tracked truck traffic using license plates for the Route 9A Bypass study.
Juniper Hill CA Concerns - Bed and Breakfast Closed. Curt Constable noted that Juniper Hill residents are concerned about the number of trees felled and the disappearing green space in the area. Curt indicated that the illegal operation of a B&B in the Juniper Hill neighborhood has ended. The Building Inspector did, however, rule that the owner of the house could keep the second kitchen.
Comprehensive Plan. In January, the consultant indicated that the Phase II report would be ready in a month. There appears to be no action. It was noted that Phase II of the plan was originally scheduled to be completed by May 1999.
Fortress Bible Church. At the March 7 work session, the Town Board received preliminary information about yet another church and school that wishes to locate in Greenburgh. The Fortress Bible Church has outgrown its facility in Mount Vernon and seeks to build a 14,600 square feet, 500-seat sanctuary and a religious school for 150 children on the vacant 6-acre parcel on Dobbs Ferry Road near the entrance to the Sprain Brook Parkway. The proposal will require site plan approval from the Town Board.
Leatherstocking Lane. Last month at the Town Board meeting, in response to a question from Jean Hiltz, Al Regina acknowledged that there is run-off and an erosion problem on the Hiltz's property as a result of the enormous landfill that the Town allowed on the next door neighbor's property. The problem has been ongoing for over a year. Since the ground was frozen at the time, Mrs. Hiltz was informed that nothing could be done until a thaw occurred.
Reception for Newcomers. The CGCA will again have a table and welcome newcomers to Greenburgh at the reception to be held at Anthony Veteran Town Park on April 26. The CGCA's goal is to encourage new Greenburgh residents to join their neighborhood civic group.
Solomon Schechter School. The public hearings and comment period have been closed on the DEIS for this proposal to build a middle/high school on East Hartsdale Avenue. Residents and the Planning Board have raised a number of areas of concern that require further study: traffic volume, traffic safety, road improvements, sidewalks, landscaping, flora and fauna, as well as timing of construction and bonding to ensure road improvements will be made. It was noted that the DOT has no plans to improve the Route 100A/100B intersection before 2003-4. The applicant must prepare a final EIS that responds to all previously raised questions. The Town Board has promised that it will hold a public hearing on the FEIS.
West Nile Virus. CGCA members again request that the Town Board not hold outdoor meetings in the parks this summer. In addition to the usual problems, - heat, humidity, insects, allergens, limited seating, and lack of live cable coverage or "Dial Democracy" - residents attending the Town Board meetings will now face the threat of being bitten by mosquitoes carrying the potentially fatal West Nile virus. Recent news reports indicate that mosquitoes carrying the virus have survived last fall's aerial spraying and the cold of winter. A dead bird infected with the virus was found in Bronxville.
ZBA - New Secretary. Elizabeth (Liz) Curry has been hired as the new secretary to the ZBA. Ms. Curry is a paralegal who worked part time in the legal department and for the ZBA- Community members are pleased with the choice. Ms. Curry has been very professional, pleasant and helpful.
ZBA Meeting Cancelled - No Quorum. For the first time anyone can remember, on February 17, a Zoning Board meeting was cancelled because there was no quorum. Cases on the February agenda will be heard at the March 23 meeting.
"Give Blood, Save a neighbor." Cleo Oliver, who works for the New York Blood Center, distributed literature that encourages residents to donate blood. Walk-in donors are welcome at the Elmsford Donor Room, 525 Executive Boulevard, Elmsford on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12 and 7 p.m. and on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 7:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment for a different time, call 1-800-933-2566.
Articles Distributed. In addition to the articles mentioned above, copies of the following newspaper articles were distributed:
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Editor M. Paul Redd's column "M. Paul Tells All" in the March 9 edition of The Westchester County Press urging black Democratic District Leaders to vote against Les Adler for County Court Judge since Mr. Adler did not support a black for Town Judge in Greenburgh last year.
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Supervisor Paul Feiner's letter in the Sunday, March 5 edition of The New York Times, "A Quaint Riverfront Inn Would Help Fill a Void" and a letter in response by Hartsdale resident Lisa K. Blackman, "Let Paul Feiner Look Closer to His Home" published on March 12.
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Reporter David' Gottlieb's articles in the February 18 edition of The Scarsdale Inquirer - "Traffic engineer raises concerns on school plan" about the public hearing on the Solomon Schechter DEIS and "Board to ponder permits for 'incidental dining'" about the public hearing on the proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance.