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General News: Mayoral Candidates Face off in Debate
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| Mayor Joseph Gross |
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| Mayoral candidate Peter Neuman. Photo by Julia Lawrence. |
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| Peter Neuman takes notes while Mayor Gross responds to a question at Friday's debate. Photo by Julia Lawrence. |
March 08, 2009
Cornwall-on-Hudson Mayor Joseph Gross faced his challenger, Peter Neuman, on Friday night in a debate that allowed each candidate to highlight their views of what the village needs while responding to critics of their track records and management styles.
Mayor Gross spoke first, pointing out the difficulties of his first two years in office as he tried to change a culture that had become entrenched during the 26-year term of his predecessor, Ed Moulton. He assured the public that he hasn’t been sitting idle at Village Hall, where there is a full plate of issues to address. He said he and trustee Barbara Gosda have come up with a long list of projects and issues they have been working on during the past two years.
Peter Neuman, a 70-year-old retired lawyer, noted that he lived in Cornwall for 31 years before moving to the village in 2007. He listed issues that he believes are priorities for the village, including a resumption of weekly recycling pick-ups and revitalizing the business district. He said that a community that controls its water will control its own destiny and that he would protect the water supply from outside communities that don’t follow the rules, a veiled reference to Kiryas Joel, which is trying to tap into the aquifer. He also stated his interest in creating a skateboard park and returning to the days of a free summer playground for village children.
Both Mayor Gross and Peter Neuman agreed that steps should be taken to improve the intersection of Duncan Avenue and Hudson Streets. Mayor Gross said he has written to several state officials asking for help for that intersection, along with intersections at Hudson and Academy Avenue and Hudson and Dock Hill Road, which he said have caused more accidents than Duncan Avenue. Candidate Neuman said he believes the village can come up with its own plan to improve the safety of Duncan Avenue, then take it to the Department of Transportation for approval.
The future of the view preservation law came up early in the debate and Neuman, who sued his neighbor to cut down trees that blocked his view of the Hudson River, said the properties with a view of the river pay higher taxes and the law was designed to protect those property values. Mayor Gross said he has always thought the law was problematic and opposed it when he was on the planning board in 1992. “It thought it favored one neighbor over the other,” he said, “it’s pitted neighbor against neighbor.”
A question about the future of the riverfront prompted Peter Neuman to endorse a proposal to get the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to return to the village a large parcel of land just south of the yacht club that could expand Donahue Memorial Park or be used for some type of development. He also said that the veterans shouldn’t have to pay to use the park and that a snack bar would take away from the place.
Mayor Gross agreed that residents should have priority access to the riverfront and described his intention to create a memorial in the park highlighting the battle to stop Con Edison from building a pump station on the face of Storm King Mountain 30 years ago.
One question asserted that village properties had fallen by 18 to 23 percent in the past year, which would impact the amount of tax revenue. Mayor Gross said he couldn't verify those figures and that he believes that the village has held its value more than most communities. He did say that he would like to do away with the tax penalty for improvements to a property. And, he added, if revenues do fall, the only answer is find ways to save on spending.
Peter Neuman said the bigger problem is how assessments are made in the village, with neighbors owning similar properties who often having very different rates. He also said that the yacht club’s assessment is too low and should be reviewed.
The management style of the two candidates was addressed halfway through the debate with Peter Neuman saying he would not micro-manage the village departments by demanding answers for every little thing. Mayor Gross countered that when he came into office he found there was no management of the departments and that he believes it is imperative for him to oversee the departments to whatever degree he thinks necessary.
Cost cutting was a topic the two candidates returned to several times. Mayor Gross said he thinks it would be difficult to reduce taxes without cutting services, but he does believe the village can make better use of resources. He pointed to a plan he supports to create hydro-electricity at the Black Rock filter plant as one example and to a recent change in telephone service providers that will save the village $7,500 a year. But, he added, the village is broke, with $1.5 million going to service the debt and said the village can’t provide services to please everyone.
Peter Neuman responded to the mayor, saying the village can’t afford to cut services and proposed reducing legal fees by cutting the number of meetings the village attorney attends. He also proposed hiring a grant writer who could help the village increase revenues by applying for state and federal funds. He said he was disappointed that the village is not getting any funds from the federal stimulus package.
Neuman rejected a suggestion that he has friends who want to develop the village or that he represents the village of Kiryas Joel. He said he once did work for Kiryas Joel about 15 years ago “and that was enough,” he said. Mayor Gross said that the village now has a way to deal with conflicts of interest with the new ethics law his administration adopted last year.
When Neuman’s proposal to fund the summer playground came up again, Mayor Gross said that he and the trustees expect the program to pay for itself. “I don’t think it is fair to expect people with no children to pay for other students,” he noted, “Riverfest, the summer playground, the 5K race, as nice as they are cost the village money and the village is broke.”
Neuman’s vision of the village future came through when he said he favored mixed use development, like the Burns & Whalen project on Hudson Street, that would have antique shops and boutiques on the ground floors and low-cost housing above that. Mayor Gross said he thinks the village already has a nice balance, though he would like to see a movie theatre once again at the Storm King Theatre building.
Looking back at the past year, Mayor Gross said that his attempt to open talks with the town about police consolidation issue was a bust and said he has focused instead on consolidation of operations within the village departments, like moving the water department into the department of public works. Peter Neuman said he thought the village’s overture to the town to discuss police consolidation was an embarrassment without a solid proposal for how to make the change.
Both candidates agreed that state and federal grants will be needed to pay for infrastructure projects. Peter Neuman said that he is willing to go to Albany and Washington to get the village its fair share. “The squeaky wheel gets greased,” he said, “and believe me, I can be a squeaky wheel.”
Mayor Gross said the village has put aside $5,000 for grant applications. “I think the federal government will realize we can’t do it on our own,” he said.
When asked how the village could go green, Mayor Gross referred to his “micro-managing” and said he would look under every rock to find savings. “Fuel is being wasted,” Mayor Gross said, “living simply, being frugal is the way to go.”
His opponent said that he would pursue the idea of using wind power and solar power as an alternative energy source.
Both parties also addressed the village comprehensive master plan. Mayor Gross said he was glad that the village had not acted more quickly to adopt the draft plan because the world has changed a lot in the past year. He said that he was looking at incorporating new ideas in the plan, like creating an agricultural zone in the village.
Peter Neuman said that action should be have been taken on the master plan, which was created by volunteers who put in a lot of time. He noted the problem of creating non-conforming lot sizes if some of the zoning proposals were adopted but said he looked at some aspects favorably.
As the debate wrapped up, each candidate was asked to name the two greatest threats and the greatest opportunities for the village. Peter Neuman said the village’s aging infrastructure posed a grave threat, along with possibility that people can’t afford to live here anymore unless taxes are brought under control. He said the greatest opportunities lie in making the business district more consumer-friendly and developing the riverfront with the right grants.
Mayor Gross said the greatest threat is posed to the water well field in Mountainville. Though he said he wasn’t at liberty to talk about it, the assumption is he is referring to effort by Kiryas Joel that Neuman mentioned earlier. He said a second threat comes from people who expect to be taken care of by the village. The mayor said the greatest opportunity for the village lies with its people who can step in to do their part, realizing that they can’t always expect the government to do things for them.
Peter Neuman said he is running for the office of mayor because he believes he can make a difference. He said he has met with state senate leader Malcolm Smith about the village and will keep pushing for aid. “I am willing to go anywhere, any time, so people don’t have to take it out of their pockets,” he said.
Mayor Gross said he is running because he saw that the village was vulnerable to commercial exploitation and that he wants to keep it the way it the way it is. He said the village needs to help the town and keep the blight of empty storefronts in the town from moving down to the village.
Peter Neuman said that people have noted that he is a rich man and that, indeed, he is – rich with a terrific family, great neighbors, and great friends. He said that will forgo a salary for the first two years in office so that the $18,300 salary can go into a contingency budget to pay for items like a free summer playground program for the people who can’t afford the tuition now charged.
Mayor Gross countered that he gives the village every nickel he is paid, plus. “I give it everything I’ve got,” Gross said. “It’s my life.” In closing he said that his government has conducted business out in the open with the best interest of the people at heart. “I can’t please every group,” he said, adding he is on the street to talk to people. He ended on a cautionary note about what the future holds. “People must be willing to accept we can’t live the way we want to – we’re in for hard times,” he said.
The debate was sponsored by the Cornwall Local and Cornwall-on-Hudson Elementary School prinicipal Ken Schmidt served as moderator.
Comments:
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As we go to vote next week we need to pick the person who will listen to the people?s wishes. From what I have read here Mr. Neuman wants to develop our riverfront.
Once we develop, it will never be the same !! Newburgh and Haverstraw are great waterfront communities but I personally don?t want to live in a town like that. This is why I bought in Cornwall on Hudson because it has the most peaceful beautiful setting on the Hudson.
Please protect our waterfront from development.
Karen Schaack
posted by Karen Schaack on 03/08/09 at 4:31 PM
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I find it interesting that Peter Neuman even though thoughtful is considering to forgo pay as mayor I really find that a little underhanded sounds like a buy, especially so close to an election. Most would elect to announce after in office not before. WOW
posted by j b on 03/08/09 at 6:48 PM
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I attended the debate and Peter was talking about developing the recreational aspect of the riverfront, not business development. When I negotiated the Deeding of the riverfront property to the Village in 1981-2 with Con Ed, we agreed the property would only be developed as a passive park. This is embodied in the deed, and so it has been and will remain. Ed Moulton
posted by edward moulton on 03/08/09 at 7:46 PM
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Actually, Ms. Schaack is right - Neuman said that the land could be used to expand the park or for some kind of development. I have the same objection Ms. Schaack has to that kind of thinking and those ideas for the Cornwall waterfront. I have learned that people try to hide their true intentions, and it is imperative that we consider carefully where the real motivation lies. Burned once, you learn to listen carefully and do a little reading between the lines.
posted by Catherine Paull on 03/08/09 at 9:49 PM
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Re: Karen Shaack & Catherine Paull's assertion that Mr. Neuman wants to develop our waterfront. What he really said if you had listened closer was that he would try to acquire the 48+/- acres on the other side of the Cornwall Yacht from the Palisades Interstate Commission. If that were possible development of that area behind the Yacht club NOT Donahue Park could possibly be developed bringing ratables into the village coffers. Also, Mr Cumming to assert that Mr Moulton knows deeds are meant to be broken and isn't that what he used the zoning board for is patently false and libelous in my opinion. I almost bought the house that Mrs Paull bought on Grandview. There was a lot directly across the street part of Mr Duggans property but a separate lot. I went to the village and got a copy of the view preservation law. I gave it to my attorney to find out if a house could be built on that property. He assured me one could so only buy the house knowing that that property could be developed thus I would lose my view. I acted accordingly and didn't buy it. Mr. Moulton's new home you might not like but I assure you he did nothing illegal. Its ashame that a man who dedicated 26 years to running this village is maligned this way.
posted by P W on 03/09/09 at 3:38 AM
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Bill Cumming I also have to address your post re: the summer camp. Firsty are you aware that Mr Gross hiked the fee for the kids summer camp 200%. That is why Mr. Neuman brought it up. He received negative feedback from the parents who were shocked at the huge increase. Your statement " Its not our job to raise her kids" really hits home to someone with kids. Sure times are tough so we'll take it out on our children. I didn't think that 200% increase fair and didn't sign my kids up either. Sure punish the kids to save a few bucks. What I did like was Mr Neuman wanting to install a skateboard park for the kids as he mentioned many places that have one such as Washingtonville. Kids today love to skateboard. What a great idea and high time. The children are an integral part of our community whether you like it or not. We should help our kids and raising the camp fees 200% doesn't do it.
posted by P W on 03/09/09 at 3:59 AM
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Be careful about the skateboard park ... make sure you talk to Washingtonville. Nobody uses it there! The kids still go into the parking lots etc and skate there!
posted by D P on 03/09/09 at 9:54 AM
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If P Welsh is talking about 48+acres between the yacht club and 218 , that is still the Riverfront isn?t it?
Building any Luxury hotels or conference center in that area will change our quaint town FOREVER.
This it the beauty of the village .No thru traffic . You come here to go home. Home Sweet Home. And if we dislike to traffic flow on Hudson street now, what do you think it will be like if you develop the 48+ acres? There must be another way. Think of the Nyack waterfront, ruined forever by those eyesore luxury condos.
posted by Michele Janke on 03/09/09 at 11:13 AM
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Anyone who is interested in what the deed on Moulton's property said can find out by doing a little research. It's an interesting bit of information for the inquisitive mind. Some of you would be mightily surprised.
posted by Catherine Paull on 03/09/09 at 4:39 PM
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BTW - I was never concerned about development of the property across the street from my home on Grandview Ave. And I would never have considered requiring my neighbor to cut down (or "top") their beautiful trees.
posted by Catherine Paull on 03/09/09 at 4:40 PM
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Mr. Cumming,
First no one threatened you with libel. It was an opinion (as I stated) if you would reread it. No one was threatened. I don't know what good it does to tear apart a man who gave 26 year's of his life to running this village as Mayor.
Secondly I sent my kids to Sportsplex because I can afford it. Mr Neuman, good man that he is, understands there are parents many of them single parents who could not afford a 200% increase in the summer day camp for village kids. Would it be so bad that the village make day camp affordable for the kids? A 200% increase in one year is a might steep.
As far as development of the land behind the Yacht club. As Mr. Neuman said if would be a real longshot to get that land back from the Palisades Interstate Commission so I believe that point is beating a dead horse. I too enjoy the serenity down there.
posted by P W on 03/09/09 at 4:59 PM
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Michele Janke,
Who said anything about hotels or conference centers. Egads not I that's for sure. If that was the case I think 100% of the village would be against that. No one would want that kind of development here. I believe maybe a restaurant and dock would be nice but as I said in my above post the chances on the village getting that land back are slim to none.
I agree with you completely how Nyacks waterfront was ruined by those Condos. Definitely in your camp there. If we got the land back even a beach front area would be nice.
posted by P W on 03/09/09 at 5:14 PM
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Allow me to paraphrase; "I'll give you $36,000 if you elect me the Mayor".
As far as summer playground, when I was working with the drama club at the village school, everybody had to pay a fee to participate in order to help defray some of the expenses. Scholarships were available for those who could not afford the fee. Mr. Neuman doesn't have to wait to get elected Mayor to help with summer playground, he can start a scholarship fund right now, that is, if he really is concerned about the single parents with few resources for enriching their children's lives.
posted by Kate Benson on 03/10/09 at 12:02 AM
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A quick note about the view preservation law -- it's intended to protect public views.
posted by Jeffrey Small on 03/10/09 at 9:29 PM
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<<A quick note about the view preservation law -- it's intended to protect public views.>>
But it has been used to protect the private views of certain individuals (at great cost to neighbors and damage to the environment). Funny how that can happen.
posted by Catherine Paull on 03/11/09 at 2:25 PM
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I believe that my comment has been edited, either that or I posted somewhere else and lost my thread; The most telling comment for me was Peter Neuman expressing that the view preservation law is for high end homeowners to protect the value of their properties. That pretty much shows where his priorities lie. Jeez, now I have to start copying my posts so I know what the hell I've written...
posted by Kate Benson on 03/12/09 at 12:21 AM
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ok, ne'mind, it's just the paranoia kicking in... my comment was not edited; it was in my reply to Pat Welch's letter to the editor. Not that it matters to anyone but me, but my friend says that if you can remember it eventually you haven't lost your mind...
posted by Kate Benson on 03/12/09 at 12:27 AM
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Catherine Paull,
You say you were never concerned about the development across the street property from your property on Grandview Ave. Why then may I ask did you sell it immediately after Mr Moulton built his house?
I also must ask. Why do you post 5 times on this thread when you don't even live in Cornwall on Hudson anymore?
Please since you are NOT living in our village or even our town anymore maybe your concern should lie where you now reside.
posted by P W on 03/12/09 at 5:47 PM
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Bill, it's your razor sharp wit that keeps me coming back! But be careful; I consider myself a liberal, a conservative one; or maybe I'm a liberal conservative, I don't know, I even tried out the green party for a while but they're just as crazy as the other ones... I digress, sorry...
Now, Pat, anyone can post on this blog as long as they sign up.
Free speech and all that
posted by Kate Benson on 03/12/09 at 8:28 PM
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Kate Benson is right, Mr. Neuman's own comment says all one needs to know: he believes that the view preservation law is for high end homeowners to protect the value of their properties. It's clear exactly who will and will not benefit if he is elected.
In case all don't know, Moulton's home was not across from my home; it did not impact my home directly and it had nothing to do with my move, which did not take place "immediately after" it was built.
I do hope to return to Cornwall on Hudson, and have many friends who remain in the area. The village is a special place, and you are all in a unique position to preserve what makes it that way. Mayor Gross is your best bet, and I pray you all have the wisdom to see it.
posted by Catherine Paull on 03/12/09 at 10:19 PM
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Catherine Paull,
To quote you "Anyone who is interested in what the deed on Mr. Moulton's property said can find out by doing a little research."
You lost your case with Mr Moulton because the law was on his side. Case closed.
Also to quote you "I have learned that people try to hide their true intentions, and it is imperative that we consider carefully where the true intention lies".
Oh pray tell us all how do we divine where Mayor Gross's true intentions lie. I think it would raise a few eyebrows if we all looked up what he pays in taxes on his house and then take a drive by it. Mayor Gross also stated at the debate that he would like to stop penalizing those who do improvements on their homes. This couldn't have anything to do with him being a building contractor, could it?
You see Ms Paull, if you want to opt for conspiracy theories you might do well to look at both sides of the coin.
posted by P W on 03/13/09 at 6:46 AM
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Yes Kate free speech is a great thing, just a might interesting how often Ms. Paull posts here about our village candidates when she can't even vote in the election.
Also Kate the Drama Club at COH still charges a fee for drama. I really don't see how that has anything to do with the village raising the summer camp fees 200% the first year Mayor Gross took office.
There are less fortunate kids who get a free lunch at school too. Do we take that away from them because their family is in financial distress? I guess there is and always will be a certain amount of meanness in this world.
posted by P W on 03/13/09 at 6:53 AM
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