COUNCIL OF GREENBURGH CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS
Minutes of August 17, 1999 Meeting
The Council of Greenburgh Civic Associations seeks to provide information and advance the common interests of member civic groups in important Town affairs. Of the 34 member groups, the following have paid their 1999 dues:
Ardsley Estates Civic Association
Beaver Hill Association
Birchwood Civic Association Broadview Civic Association
Downing Hill 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
Hillside Wyndover Civic Association
Juniper Hill Civic Association
Knollwood Manor Civic Association
Longview Civic Association
Lower Manor Woods Civic Association
Mayfair-Knollwood 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
The Cotswold Association, Inc.*
Westchester Hills Condominium
Woodhill Civic Association
*2000 dues have also been paid.
To date, thirty-two groups have paid 1999 dues. There is $988.62 in the treasury.
Minutes of the July 20, 1999 meeting were read and approved.
AUGUST 31: CGCA PRIMARY DEBATE
The primary debate sponsored by the CGCA will be held in Town Hall on Tuesday, August 3 1. CGCA Chairperson, Danny Gold, will write a letter to all candidates, confirming the date and including the rules. All Democratic candidates have notified Danny that they will participate. The CGCA is unsure if Conservative candidates plan to attend, though Republicans also running on the Conservative line would like to debate. Republican participation depends on the Conservatives' response.
Each candidate will get equal time to introduce himself/herself, explain reasons for running, and respond to questions. Danny Gold will be the moderator. CGCA Vice-Chairperson, Cleo Oliver, will be the timekeeper and will organize a refreshment table. There will also be a table for candidates' literature. Carol Wielk will issue a press release and post on the Grassroots for Greenburgh website; Ella Preiser will design a flyer for posting in Town Hall and at local businesses. Town Clerk Alfreda Williams will be sent a copy of the debate rules.
PUBLIC ACCESS TV: THE PROBLEMS CONTINUE
There was a lengthy discussion about the continuing problems with the Town's public access TV programming. There have been audio problems during off-premises Town Council meetings, the CGCA's water filtration program, and, on occasion, The Three Cs. At times it's been virtually impossible to hear anything being said. In addition, the CGCA program in which Carol Wielk was interviewed, taped this spring, has still not been shown. (Danny Gold suggested the show be done again.)
LAND SWAP PROPOSAL BY THE COUNTY
Town Supervisor Paul J. Feiner notified Danny Gold about Robert Martin's proposed County land swap, and encouraged Danny to attend a related County meeting and protest the deal, which would swap open space land in Elmsford (near Antun's restaurant) for land in New Rochelle. Danny followed through, as did County Legislator Tom Abinanti. While there was to be a vote on August 16, there's been an adjournment. The Village of Elmsford knew nothing of the proposed swap.
MASTER PLAN COMMITTEE
The next meeting will be held on August 23. There's grave concern that the committee is not going in the direction originally intended. Communication from the committee or its members to Saratoga Associates goes through Planning Commissioner Steve Lopez, and is often delayed for weeks. Issues of wetlands and steep slopes are troublesome: one developer wants to build on all usable land, leaving tiny unusable parcels for open space at Glenville Woods. There may be no real progress until after the November election.
LEATHER STOCKING LANE
Trucks were on the premises recently with their licenses covered. When residents called the police, the police said they could not respond because they were "busy elsewhere." For the test to check the quality of fill, residents asked for a deep core; instead, four holes were dug, each approximately 4 - 4 1/2-feet deep. There was no shoring to protect workers. Land owner Patricia Catalan directed the DEC where to dig. It was reported that a DEC representative asked neighbor Sally Ballera to accompany him on the site - after which Catalan wanted Ballera arrested (there was no arrest). Witnesses included Jean Hiltz and Stephanie Bellino. Things are now in the hands of the District Attorney; there's been no dumping as of August 3.
Timothy Hiltz has written seven letters to The Journal News, but his letters have not been published.
ACCURACY OF CGCA MINUTES
Ella Preiser wrote to Supervisor Paul J. Feiner about his repeated displeasure with CGCA minutes. The August 17 letter stresses that CGCA minutes are accurate reflections of the issues discussed at monthly meetings, and encouraged the supervisor to value volunteers. Copies of the letter (attached) were distributed and discussed, after which a motion was made, seconded, and unanimously passed supporting the letter's contents.
MISCELLANEOUS
Planning Board Chairman Stanley Samuels resigns. Chairman Samuels will be moving to New York City. A new chairperson and a new Planning Board member will be needed. The availability of the new member's position should be publicly announced.
No response - yet - from the Town regarding the appointment "process" used for Town Boards and committees.
Several Town staffers leaving. Town staffers moving on include Samantha Holland, Secretary to the Zoning Board of Appeals; Ann Povello, Personnel; and Bob Styloski.
Flood Prevention Law. Ella Preiser and Madelon O'Shea have been working with Town Attorney Mindy Hartstein, who was commended for her efforts.
9A Multiplex. The Masters building has now been tom down.
Laurel Ridge. Construction crews have dug up to Hillside Avenue; if there's a heavy rain, Hillside Avenue may be compromised.
Area Code Split? Hopefully, no. A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously passed to keep 914 as our area code and not to have two area codes for Greenburgh. A letter will be written to the supervisor.
The Clintons of Edgemont? It's a real possibility!
The meeting adjourned at 9:50 P.M.
These minutes were approved on November 16, 1999.
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Ella Preiser August 17, 1999 Supervisor Paul Feiner Re: Accuracy of CGCA Minutes Dear Supervisor Feiner: In two of your recent letters to Danny Gold, Chairman of the Council of Greenburgh Civic Associations (CGCA), you expressed displeasure with the CGCA "minutes." As one of the CGCA representatives who volunteers to take the minutes of CGCA meetings, I personally wish to respond to your conunents. Mr. Feiner, I am at a loss to understand your June 18 statement: "It is very frustrating when the minutes of the Council misrepresents [sic] my views. " You do not seem to understand the purpose of "minutes" of a meeting. The minutes of a meeting are the record of what was discussed or what action was taken at a meeting. The minutes of a meeting are NOT meant to "represent" or "misrepresent" your views. You appear to be "frustrated" by the fact that CG-CA members discuss issues that you would prefer they not discuss and then memorialize those discussions in the minutes. As the person who 'look" the minutes of the May 25, 1999 CGCA meeting, I take umbrage at your July 2 statements: "I read your most recent minutes of the May 25" meeting and feel that the charges against the town are inaccurate or consist of half- truths. This has been a pattern in the past. " Your statements appear to be just one more in a long series of attempts to denigrate the CGCA and/or its membership. 1 . The May 25 minutes contain no "charges against the Town." The minutes do, however, reflect concerns of CGCA members on a number of issues. 2. 1 take responsibility for the contents of the May 25 minutes. The minutes accurately reflect the issues discussed at the May 25 meeting. These minutes were read and approved on June 15, 1999 as accurate by numerous members who had been in attendance and participated at the May 25 CGCA meeting. 3 . If you believe that there are inaccuracies or half-truths about certain issues, why are you unwilling to specify what is inaccurate or a half-truth? Your sweeping general allegations do little to achieve your July 2 statement: "It would be terrific if the relationship between the town and Council would be better. One of the CGCA goals is to obtain and disseminate information concerning Town affairs that is of common interest to our member associations. One way of achieving that goal is through dissemination of CGCA minutes. 1, as well as other volunteers who take the minutes, work very hard to ensure that the brief wording in the minutes accurately encapsulates the gist of CGCA discussions. The CGCA does not circulate minutes until they have been approved by formal vote. The CGCA sends you a courtesy copy of our minutes so that you will be kept informed of the concerns of our membership. I understand that you then circulate copies of CGCA minutes to all department heads. I applaud you for that effort. On a number of occasions department heads have written to Chairman Gold to clarify issues that were raised in CGCA minutes. CGCA members appreciate this information, and Chairman Gold religiously sends copies of this correspondence to all CGCA representatives. The CGCA does its part in trying to disseminate only accurate information. When mistakes are made, and they will happen since we are comprised of fallible human beings, we do the utmost to issue corrections. The minutes report on specific issues. If you have problems with specific wording in CGCA minutes, feel free to notify us of the specifics. It is most unprofessional when the Town Supervisor makes sweeping general allegations in an attempt to denigrate volunteers in this Town! To quote your July 2 letter, "This has been a pattern in the past. " On another matter, in your letters of June 18 and July 2 and numerous times at Town Board meetings when I have addressed the Board on behalf of the CGCA, you have stated your desire to attend CGCA meetings. As the records will show, I have responded to you publicly on numerous occasions that CGCA meetings are open to all residents of the Town. Since you are a resident, you are welcome to attend. However, you may not attend a CGCA meeting to pontificate or act as "big brother." As you note, Mr. Feiner, "Cooperation is a two-way street. " A little respect for the volunteers of this Town who serve on the CGCA might go a long way toward encouraging cooperation. Sincerely, /signed/ Ella Preiser |