Meeting Overview

TOWN OF ORANGETOWN

REGULAR TOWN BOARD MEETING

JANUARY 29, 2001

The Regular Town Board Meeting was opened at P.M. Supervisor Kleiner presided. The Town Clerk called the roll. Present were:

Councilman Robert Bergman

Councilman Edward Fisher

Councilman Dennis O’Donnell

Councilman Denis Troy

Also present:

Charlotte Madigan, Town Clerk

Eliot Tozer, Deputy Supervisor

James K. Riley, Town Attorney

Thomas O’Connell, Deputy Town Attorney

Teresa Kenny, Deputy Town Attorney

Brian Shortt, Confidential Assistant to Supervisor

Charles Richardson, Director of Finance

James Dean, Superintendent of Highways

Robert Beckerle, Dir., Dept of Environmental Mgt. & Eng.

Kevin Nulty, Chief of Police

John Giardiello, Director, OBZPAE

Richard L. Rose, Jr., Supt., Parks-Rec & Bldg. Maint.

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The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was led by the Town Board.

* * *

ANNOUNCEMENT: Comprehensive Plan Meeting, Tuesday, January 30, 2001,

7:30 P.M., in Town Hall, New Court Room.

Public Portion: (Expected to include a discussion of Ryerson Estates).

DISCUSSION: Pearl River Downtown Revitalization issues:

1. Approval for diagonal parking from Rockland County Highway Department
2. Creation of a capital projects account
3. Retention of O & R. Utilities to relocate electric wires
4. Traffic Calming strategies required (Traffic Advisory Board to be consulted)
5. Secure engineering drawings from Town Engineer for diagonal parking.
6. Grant permission to Charles Richardson, Director of Finance, to attend the New York State Government Finance Officers Association Annual Conference and Training session, March 28-30, in Albany, New York, at a total cost of $640.00, to be charged to accounts A/1310/0441 and A1310/0480.
7. Accept Regular Town Board minutes of January 16, 2001, and Special Town Board minutes of January 15, 16, and 22, 2001, and Audit minutes of January 22, 2001.
8. Set date of February 13, 2001, 8:00 P.M., for a public hearing on Rockland Consortium of Towns and Villages Community Development Block Citizen Viewpoint on 2001 Block Grant Funds.
9. Appoint Michael Yannazzone to the position of Deputy Superintendent of Highways with a $2,400.00 stipend.
10. Authorize the Town Clerk to advertise for bids for one (1) New Heavy Duty Four Wheel Drive Truck with Accessories. Bids are to be received by 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, February 22, 2001, and be publicly opened and read aloud at 11:00 A.M. A report of all bids received and recommendation concerning the award is to be made at a regular Town Board Meeting.
11. Grant permission to Richard Rose, Superintendent of Parks, Recreation & Building. Maintenance to attend the 2001 New York State Recreation and Park Society Conference, in Ellenville, New York, March 18-21, at no cost to the Town.
12. Authorize the Town Clerk to advertise for bids for Turf Equipment for Blue Hill Golf Course. Bids are to be received by 10:30 A.M., February 21, 2001, and be publicly opened and read aloud at 11:00 A.M. A report of all bids received and recommendation concerning the award is to be made at the regular Town Board Meeting of February 26, 2001.
13. Authorize the Town Clerk to advertise for bids for Chemicals and Fertilizers for Blue Hill Golf Course and the Parks Department. Bids are to be received by 10:30 A.M., February 21, 2001, and be publicly opened and read aloud at 11:10 A.M. A report of all bids received and recommendation concerning the award is to be made at the regular Town Board Meeting of February 26, 2001.
14. Approve Certificate of Registration (Plumber’s License) for 2001 for Kevin Stokes, Excavating, Inc., Chestnut Ridge, NY.
15. Adopt Police Regulations for a six month trial period, installation of “No Standing” signs on the east side of North Middletown road from the Clarkstown town line to New York State Route 304 entrance ramp.
16. Adopt Memorializing Resolution opposing the pardon of Susan Rosenberg.

Memorializing Resolution in Opposition to Pardon of Susan Rosenberg

Whereas, the Town of Orangetown and Rockland County suffered a great loss on October 20, 1981 with the murder of two police officers, Sgt. Edward O’Grady and Patrolman Waverly Brown, and a security guard Peter Paige, and

WHEREAS, the community feels that every perpetrator of this horrible crime should be brought to justice and receive a just punishment, and

WHEREAS, Susan Rosenberg was implicated as a collaborator in this crime, but never tried, and in prior actions of the terrorists, known as the Weather Underground and the Black Liberation Army, and

WHEREAS, she was arrested in 1983 with 14 automatic weapons and hundreds of pounds of explosives, and

WHEREAS, in the interest of judicial expediency, the U.S. Attorney decided to not prosecute her for charges related to the Brinks robbery and instead she was tried and convicted only for weapons possession charges, and

WHEREAS, President William J. Clinton elected to pardon Susan Rosenberg in 2001 against the pleas of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the families of the murder victims, and

WHEREAS, Orangetown residents, particularly those who serve in law enforcement, are shocked and upset by the decision of the President to grant this pardon,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Orangetown, through this memorializing resolution, respectfully requests that Rockland County District Attorney Michael Bongiorno and all other appropriate officials review this case and determine whether prosecution of Ms Rosenberg for her role in the Brinks robbery, or any other action, would be possible and appropriate at this time, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Clerk is authorized to transmit certified copies of this resolution to:

President George W. Bush

United States Attorney General-Designee John Ashcroft

United States Attorney for New York Mary Jo White

Rockland County District Attorney Michael Bongiorno

Rockland County Town Supervisors

Rockland County Village Mayors

12. Adopt Memorializing Resolution regarding security issues and the Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center at Rockland Psychiatric Center.

WHEREAS, the Town of Orangetown has been the host to the Rockland Psychiatric Center (RPC) and the Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center (RCPC) for decades, and

WHEREAS, the Town has grave concerns over the security of the facility, and

WHEREAS, the Governor of New York State in his Executive Budget, has indicated he will close the Middletown Psychiatric Center and move those patients to RPC, and

WHEREAS, the consequent increase in patients may exacerbate the existing problems, and

WHEREAS, the Governor’s plan also calls for the consolidation of both RCPC and RPC into one location, and

WHEREAS, this Town Board of the Town of Orangetown is concerned that this consolidation could be detrimental to the care of the children at RCPC,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Town Board respectfully requests that the decision to move patients from the Middletown facility be reconsidered in light of the difficulties the Town of Orangetown is already experiencing with the existing population, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Board respectfully requests that prior to any final decision being made, the Governor, the Mental Health Commissioner, and their appropriate deputies meet with the Town Board to discuss the implications of this decision, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Board respectfully requests that before any consolidation of RPC and RCPC is implemented, a thorough analysis be conducted on the impact such consolidation would have on the well-being and rehabilitation of the children at the facility, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Clerk is authorized to transmit copies of this resolution to the following:

New York State Governor George Pataki

New York State Mental Health Commissioner James Stone

New York State Senator Thomas Morahan

New York State Assemblyman Sam Colman

New York State Assemblyman Alex Gromack

Rockland Psychiatric Center Director James Bopp

New Business

13. Adjournment ____________P.M. in memory of Hugh Drain, Pearl River, New York.

RTBM – 01/29/2000 Page 4