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The Supervisor's $15 Million Wish List


I wish to state from the outset that the task of developing a comprehensive Town Recreation Master Plan and evaluating current and future needs, was essential to meet the growing and changing demands of a rapidly changing town as was the estimate of the funding required.  That said, the process toward arriving at its elements and decisions was corrupt (the MSA President, Chaired both the Rec. Committee and the public sessions) and corrupted by officials beholden to those who sought to solidify their power and influence over the process for their benefit.  The means used to arrive at their ends demonstrated an astounding display of dishonesty, subterfuge and contempt for the people of Carmel as the ultimate decision makers.  Are we shocked?

I am going to write more extensively on the Wednesday night's Work Session entitled "The Supervisor's $15 Million and Counting Wish List." This sum over a ten-year time horizon projected by the Supervisor - maybe more, maybe less, maybe never  - was in today's dollars, exclusive of costs for road improvements, additional staff and operation and maintenance of the parks and not counting an inflation rate of conservatively 3%.  No discussion by the public; no referendum promised by Councilmen DiCarlo so that all the people of the Town could vote on what will be one of the largest outlays of taxpayer dollars in memory.

And what are the hardworking, tax strapped residents of Carmel/Mahopac who last year swallowed an 8% tax increase, going to get for subsidizing at their expense sports associations? These fields of dreams (baseball, soccer, lacrosse)  numbering five: Sycamore Park; Camarda Park; James McDonough formerly Crane; Baldwin Meadows and the Mahopac Airport Athletic Complex, will be under the control of the MSA and one under the CSA and it is they that have decided at what location, how many fields and which sports activities. Not the public.  The Town's Recreation Department under Gilchrist has become a lapdog - the goffer of the sports lobby and Ward & Associates, the company engaged by the Town for $55,000+  over two years ago,  the designated veneer applier of impartiality provided the pretext of pseudo-statistical data all slickly bound in two books to fool the public.

Any company with even a smidgen of integrity would have disclosed that the 478 survey returns out of 14,000 + mailed, was an invalid sample from which to make any decision and strongly recommend a re-survey. The public was cheated from knowing and understanding this vital piece of information from which purportedly decisions vital to their purse would be made.  Even Camarda dismissed the numbers and compared his 2,500 return with the laughable 478.  Instead Ward & Associates become co-conspirators in the charade with the Town Board and the MSA, to obtain what were pre-determined results.  The survey was filed in the circular file by DiCarlo and I was scolded by the principal for bringing the whole matter up at several Town Board meetings last year. 

Where is the Town going to get this money? They are probably counting on one time rec fees from the 1,300+ senior housing units to come on line - some $5,000, I believe which would cover about $6m of the $15m.   360 units of Stoneleigh Woods and The Retreat; 150 Hillcrest Commons; 120 Putnam Community Foundation and of course 300 of Camarda's Fairways attached to the hotel and from small-time operators now grabbing every single piece of Hamlet property near Putnam Plaza.  You can see the signs.

Debt and tax increases as far as the eye can see.  Even if they bond some of it, the debt service will eat into everything.  There will be a job for Finance Consultant Carey for years to come. He is going to earn every single dollar he makes.  And let us not forget there is an RFP for a new police station. 

Don't despair,  there is at least one additional source of funds for one of the projects: Baldwin Meadows - the 15-acre field, clear cut of trees and perversely considered "Open Space."  The $300,000 contributed by taxpayers remaining from the Mahopac Activities Coalition efforts to bridge the deficit gap in the Mahopac school budget a couple of years ago.  Remember, Barbara Nackman reported that it was in an escrow account.  Well David Furfaro, MSA President and Rec Commission Chairman, stepped up to the plate and in a grand gesture of generosity, offered the town board the $300,000 for the Baldwin Meadows project estimated at over $600,000 but Furfaro says "his boys" can do it for $300,000. What's wrong with this picture? The Board questionned the Furfaro offer but Ravallo detected even more serious legal problems lurking and said that he wished to discuss the whole issue "in camera" with the attorney after the meeting.  Another secret meeting.

But there is another, unforeseen problem. Seems the town doesn't even own the 15 acres that Peter Iovino ala Camarda donated as part of his residential project.  It was news to everyone. The conveyance of the property has been delayed because the bank refuses to release it from its mortgage encumberances. 

Oh and there is more.  The ball fields at Meadows are only a place holder for bigger things to come: a swimming pool at the site which Ward & Associates Rep priced at easily $3 to $4 million.  However, there is a little matter of utilities and they hope to piggy-back on the Union Place project for connections. 

Senior citizens are getting their piece of the taxpayers check: a senior center at Sycamore Park is planned, leveling the grade so that the seniors can access this inaccessible site.  Price tag - $4.5 million.  Ravallo didn't like the design or the site.  Just getting there is a trip.  Was this the seniors' choice? Who knows?

Not one mention.  Not one nickel for an arts or performance center.  The Arts Council, homeless, since the fire, left to fend for itself.

One final touch: there is going to be a doggie park about an acre at Sycamore and  Jim Gilchrist, Rec Director, will be in charge of the poop collection. 


 



 

The Big Apple is one step closer to becoming the "Green Apple" after the City Council voted last week for zoning changes that will bring more trees to our streets!

When we asked New Yorkers like you to sign on in support of this measure, the response was amazing. More than 1,500 of you signed our petition for a greener New York in a matter of hours. Thank you for your part in helping make this victory possible!

The zoning change calls for one tree to be planted for every 25 feet of street frontage, and will result in approximately 10,000 new trees being planted each year. These trees will clean our air, cool our streets, and keep us healthier. When we're thinking about how to make this city a more sustainable place to live, trees are a no-brainer.

Best of all, the City Council didn't stop at street trees. They also passed measures to promote green streetscapes, increase the amount of open space and permeability - important for making sure sewage and other polluted water doesn't get into our rivers and oceans, and create a permanent Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability to keep the city's green initiatives on track.

Want to know what you can do next to help New York add one million new trees by 2030? Find out how to get involved by visiting www.milliontreesnyc.org, where you can:

  • Request a city street tree or street tree planting permit;
  • Recommend a place to plant a tree in your community;
  • Volunteer to participate in a neighborhood tree planting event;
  • Learn how to properly plant and care for trees in your neighborhood.

But be sure to take a minute to enjoy this victory - and congratulate yourself for your efforts!



 

Subject: Letter to the Editor (Another Scary Precursor to Patterson Crossing)

In my August 2007 Letter to the Editor, I attempted to put a face to concerns of opponents of the proposed Patterson Crossing, by encouraging readers to view the construction at The Retreat site for senior housing by Pulte Homes in Carmel. Likewise, the I-287 blasting accident last October is indeed another scary precursor to Patterson Crossing.

Your April 14th article relating residents’ experiences encountering fly rocks from this I-287 mishap was chilling to someone whose residence is within 500 feet of the proposed Patterson Crossing. Although the I-287 terrain is very similar to the Patterson Crossing site, it is not adjacent to the densely populated Lake Carmel Park District, which is comprised of many converted summer homes built to yesterday’s codes.

We, along with fellow residents, have experienced water issues of major concern, prompting us to take conservation measures, not allowing for the luxury of power washing construction dust from our homes weekly. Since this proposed site requires the blasting of steep slopes, were just one blast to go awry compromising wells, we could be faced with total loss of water, not just an inability to power wash our homes.

I urge our elected officials and public agencies taking part the in the SEQRA process to closely examine this issue of blasting so perilously close to our residences, along with the many other major concerns accompanying said project, so as to guarantee we residents are not placed in harm‘s way.

Joan Castiner

Lake Carmel NY 10512