Meeting Overview

TOWN O F ORANGETOWN
SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING
FOR A PUBLI C HEARING TO CONSIDE R THE PURCHASE
OF THE JOHN J. COLLINS PROPERT Y
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2003
The Specia l Town Board Meeting was opened at 8:12 p.m. Superviso r Kleiner
presided. Th e Town Clerk called the Roll. Presen t were:
Councilman Edwar d Fisher
Councilman Denis O’Donnel l
Councilman Denis Troy
Councilwoman Mari e Manning
Also present: Charlott e Madigan, Town Cler k
Eliot Tozer, Deputy Supervisor
Suzanne Barclay, Executive Asst. to Supvr.
James Riley, Town Attorney
Thomas O’Connell, Deputy Town Attorne y
Charles Richardson, Directo r of Finance
James Dean, Superintenden t of Highways
Kevin Nulty , Chie f of Police
Robert Simon, Receiver of Taxes
Mary McCloskey, Assessor’s Offic e
Richard Rose, Superintendent of Parks, Rec. & Bldg. Maint.).
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The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was led by Charlotte Madigan, Town cierK
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Councilman Fisher asked to address the people and the Town Board regarding a serious RPC
situation tha t was in the newspaper. Th e Journal News reported a patient from RPC wa s
missing and should have been supervised regarding his medications. Dr . Fisher’s concern wa s
lack of notification to officials that would be able to protect the citizens. H e will address this
matter in th e future when investigatio n is completed. However , officials wit h New York State
should be admonished for their lack of concern fo r the residents of Orangelown.
RESOLUTION NO. 587 OPEN/PH/ACQUISITIO N
JOHN J COLLIN S PROPERTY
Councilman Troy offered the following resolution, which wa s seconde d by
Councilman O’Donnel l an d was unanimousl y adopted:
RESOLVED, tha t the public hearing to consider acquisition of the John J. Collins
property pursuant to the following is hereby opened:
Authorize the Town Superviso r to execute and deliver a contract of purchase fo r
the acquisition o f certain real propert y cuirently owned by the Estate of John J. Collin s
and/or others on the north side of Clausland Mountain Road in th e Town of
Orangetown fo r a sum not to exceed $2,700,000 of which a sum no t to exceed $750,000
is to be paid directly by the Town of Orangetown wit h the remainder of the proceeds or
purchase price to be paid, credited, recognized or reduced in th e form of (i) a credit
from the Seller or reduction in the purchase price to the Seller representing the value of
certain land s of approximately four acres and buildings to be retained by Seller: an d (ii)
in th e form of a credit from Selle r or a reduction in the purchase pric e to Selle r
representing the purchase price of certain land s whic h are proposed to be conveyed to a
third party representing approximately two acre s along the eastern boundar y of said
premises; and (iii) by payments of the remaining amounts to be due and owing towards
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Resolution No. 587
the purchase price by the Stale of New York , th e County of Rockland, the Villag e of
Piermont and other governmental an d non-oovemmenta l entities. =>” –
Ayes: Councilperson s Troy, O’Donnell, Fisher, Mannin g
Supervisor Kleine r
Noes: Non e
Charlotte Madigan, Town Clerk , presente d the affidavit of publication an d notic e of posting,
copies are labeled Exhibit lO-A-0 3 an d made a part of these minutes.
Public portion :
Fred DeVan, Piermont Village Trustees, read letter from Ed Traynor, Mayor of Piermont, copy
is labeled Exhibit lO-B-03 , and made a part of these minutes.
Andrew Wiley, Pearl River, He is against the purchase of this property because of its loss in
taxes to Orangetovvn. Thi s lan d is protected already by the zoning, whic h the developers would
have to adhere to.
Jeff Berman, Blauvelt, Ope n Spac e Committee, read statement imploring the Town Boar d to
agree to purchase this extraordinary piece of property. H e was going to the Legislature to
address them tonigh t about this purchase and their contribution.
Shelly Morgan, Tappan, questioned why Piermont was adding $50,000? Wha t will b e in it for
them?
Paul Prisco, Palisades, is in favor of the purchase of this property. Buyin g this property could
actually be a tax savings.
Jo Baer, Nyack, is in favo r of the purchase of this propert y futur e generations.
Tom Dinan, Pearl River, is in favo r of the purchas e of this property.
Amy Ffield, Uppe r Grandview, is in favo r of the purchase of this property because it is critical
for parkland .
Larry Vail, Tappan, Open Spac e Committee, is in favo r of the purchase of this property. Thi s
piece of property is number 1 o n the Open Spac e Committee’s list.
Jon Howard is in favor of the purchase of this property. H e feels this property is irreplaceable .
Sarah Tucker, read an e-mail i n favor of the purchase of this property.
W.T. DeBary, Tappan is in favor of the purchase of this property. H e settled in Orangetovvn
over 50 years ago and first remembers the site of the mountain. W e should save this
magnificent natura l setting .
Pam Cantor, Piermont, is in favor of the purchase of this property because it purifies the air,
which is polluted by the bridge.
Jakob Franke, Northvale, NJ, NYNJTC, in favor of the purchase of this property. I f this
property is sold to a developer, it would be like a hole in a donut.
Watson Morgan, Blauvelt, Open Spac e Committee, is in favor of saving this centeipiece
property.
Nicholas Christie-Blide, Tappan, is in favor of the purchase of this property. W e need this
property to help conserve water supply.
Micki Leader, Orangeburg, Open Spac e Committee, is in favor of the purchas e of this property.
This property is the headwaters for the Sparkill Creek.
William Ryan, S. Nyack, is in favo r of the purchase of this property. Thi s property is a key
location fo r the Sparkill Creek .
Dan Baisley, Blauvelt, new resident, is in favo r of the purchase of this property.
Margerita Bunge, Grandview, is in favor of the purchase of this property. Thi s is about leaving
a legacy to the next generation.
Jonathan Bell, in favor of the purchase of this property.
Donald Steinmaster, Uppe r Grandview, is in favor of the purchase of this property. I f
developed it would degrade the surrounding lands.
Mary McCloskey, Blauvelt, against the purchase of this property. Sh e reiterated what she had
stated in he r letter in the Our Town newspaper. I f the Town purchase s this property, it would
remove this property from the tax rolls. A 1 4 home limit would contribute to the tax roll. Th e
property is beautiful bu t you can only spend wha t you can afford .
Mary Dolan, Peari River, is in favo r of the purchase of this property. It is important to keep
open space, because it helps keep our water clean.
Betsy Brenner, Orangeburg, the Journal News press release has the assumption tha t we are
already committed to this purchase, which would negate a public hearing.
Eileen Larkin, Palisades, is in favor of the purchase of this property.
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RESOLUTION NO. 588 CLOS E PH/JOHN J COLLIN S
Councilman Troy offered the following resolution, whic h wa s seconded by
Councilman O’Donnel l an d was unanimousl y adopted :
RESOLVED, that the public hearing is hereby closed.
Ayes: Councilperson s Troy, O’Donnell, Fisher, Manning
Supervisor Kleine r
Noes: Non e
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RESOLUTION NO. 589 J:^^ (<e6c\a.\^m’)lo. o}Q3, ^/39|C^DESIGNATI0N OF LEAD
AGENCY/JOHN J COLLIN S
Councilman O’Donnel l offere d the following resolution, whic h wa s seconde d by
Councilwoman Manning and was unanimousl y adopted:
RESOLVED, tha t the Town o f Orangetown hereb y declare s itself Lead
Agency in this matter.
Ayes: Councilperson s O’Donnell, Manning, Fisher, Troy
Supervisor Kleine r
Noes: Non e
RESOLUTION NO. 590 J ^ ^C-^CIUVIU A Vb ^ H 3)a?)i) H SEQR A DECLARATION
JOHN J COLLIN S
Councilman O’Donnel l offere d the followin g resolution, whic h wa s seconde d by
Councilwoman Mannin g and was unanimousl y adopted:
RESOLVED, that a negative SEQRA Declaration is hereby adopted, copy is
labeled Exhibit IO-C-0 3 an d made part of these minutes.
Ayes: Councilperson s O’Donnell, Manning, Fisher, Troy
Supervisor Kleine r
Noes: Non e
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RESOLUTION NO. 591 T B DECISION/JOHN J
COLLINS PROPERT Y
Councilman Troy offered to table the following resolution, whic h wa s seconded by
Councilman Fisher and on a roll call motio n failed to carry as follows:
RESOLVED, that the Town Supervisor is authoriz e to execute and deliver a
contract of purchase for the acquisition of certain rea l property currently owned by the
Estate of John J. Collins and/or others on the north side of Clausland Mountain Road in
the Town of Orangetown fo r a sum not to exceed $2,700,000 of which a sum not to
exceed $750,000 is to be paid directly by the Town of Orangetown wit h the remainder
of the proceeds or purchase price to be paid, credited, recognized or reduced in the form
of (i) a credit from the Seller or reduction in the purchase price to the Selle r
representing the value of certain land s of approximately four acres an d buildings t o be
retained by Seller; an d (ii) in the form of a credit from Seller or a reduction i n th e
purchase price to Seller representing the purchase price of certain land s which ar e
proposed to be conveyed to a third party representing approximately two acres along
the eastern boundary of said premises; and (iii) b y payments of the remaining amounts
to be due and owing towards
Ayes: Councilperso n Troy , Fishe r
Noes: Councilperson s O’Donnell , Mannin g
Supervisor Kleine r
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RESOLUTION NO. 592 T B DECISION/JOHN J
COLLINS PROPERT Y
Councilwoman Mannin g offered the followin g resolution, whic h wa s seconde d b y
Councilman O’Donnell an d was adopted on a roll call a s follows:
RESOLVED, that the Town Superviso r is authorize to execute and deliver a
contract of purchase for the acquisition o f certain rea l propert y cuirently owned by the
Estate of John J. Collins and/or others on the north side of Clausland Mountain Roa d in
the Town of Orangetown fo r a sum not to exceed $2,700,000 of which a sum not to
exceed $750,000 is to be paid directly by the Town of Orangetown wit h the remainder
of the proceeds or purchase price to be paid, credited, recognized or reduced in the form
of (i) a credit from the Seller or reduction in the purchase price to the Seller
representing the value of certain land s of approximately four acres an d buildings to be
retained by Seller; an d (ii) in the form of a credit from Seller or a reduction i n the
purchase price to Seller representing the purchase price of certain land s whic h ar e
proposed to be conveyed to a third party representing approximately two acres along
the eastern boundar y of said premises; and (iii) by payments of the remaining amounts
to be due and owing towards
Ayes: Councilperso n Manning , O’Donnell , Superviso r Kleiner
Noes: Councilperso n Tro y
Abstained: Councilperso n Fisher
Councilman Denis Troy voted no on this resolution, as he would only commit to $750,000 for
the entire 42 acres of the Collins property including the house and surrounding 2 or 4 acres. H e
had prefen’ed tabling the resolution unti l this matte r could be decided rathe r than committing to
$750,000 for only part of the property.
RESOLUTION NO. 593 ADJOURNMEN T
Councilman O’Donnel l offere d the followin g resolution, whic h wa s seconde d by
Councilwoman Mannin g and wa s unanimousl y adopted:
RESOLVED, that this Special Town Boar d meeting adjourned at 11:13p.m .
Ayes: Councilperson s O’Donnell, Manning , Fisher, Troy
Supervisor Kleine r
Noes: Non e