Memo to the Community from the Town Board:
Residents today expressed frustration that the Orangetown Justice Court hearing scheduled for 9:30 this morning, January 26, 2017 was cancelled. Trial was to begin on the violation of Orangetown’s Performance Standards issued in July 18, 2016. We regret this cancellation was not clearly communicated in advance.
As was stated on the record in the Orangetown Justice Court this past Thursday, January 19, 2017, at the arraignment of Aluf Plastics (and all other Aluf defendants) on the 15 new Violations of Orangetown Zoning Code Performance Standards (issued in December, 2016), Deputy Town Attorney, Dennis D. Michaels, Esq., suggested to Hon. Richard C. Finning that, for purposes of judicial economy and practicality, the trial of the one old violation, dated 07/18/2106 (scheduled for this morning), be canceled, and that this one old Violation be grouped together with the 15 new Violations, which are now on a pre-trial discovery schedule, with a return to the Justice Court, for control purposes, on March 23, 2017, 9:30 AM.
The Town Attorney’s office believes this change will improve chances of a successful ruling with real impact on Aluf’s operations and hence the odor and related issues.
The Town Board reaffirms its strong desire to pursue all legal remedies to require that Aluf comply with all laws and regulations. The Town is moving forward with filing for injunctive relief in State Supreme Court. We have contracted with a local air quality testing firm, Lanagan Engineering. Samples were collected from the area surrounding Aluf on Thursday, January 19, 2017; results are due back in approximately two weeks.
Our website has been updated to include up-to-date information on the Town’s actions against Aluf Plastics.