General News: Where's the Village Plan?
June 27, 2010
To the Editor:
It’s true, and understandable, that everyone’s frustrated over the costly DPW situation. When village workers are back in the building after any necessary remedial actions have been taken, residents are sure to then begin debating the large amount of money the closing cost us all, and whether it was unavoidable (worth it).
That’s natural and understandable.
What is almost shocking, and not understandable, is the sad fact that neither of the local news organizations in attendance at last week’s trustee meeting had anything to say, not one word that I’ve read, about the future of the place we call home. Only about ‘mistakes’ of the past.
So the vast majority of villagers, those who were not able to attend, have no idea that there were a number of impassioned pleas, from Jeff Small and Andrew Maroney, who served with me on the village master plan committee, myself, and other residents, to complete what I’ve come to call a ‘Citizens’ Master Plan’.
This document was the result of broad research, vigorous discussions, and a democratic committee vote on each issue during a score of open meetings, and was then honed as we heard from all interested citizens (and there were hundreds) at each of three public meetings. The process took more than two years of hard work by a panel of 10 residents, and was then presented in draft form to Mayor Joe Gross and Trustees, nearly three years ago.
The document, which has been gathering dust on the mayor’s desk ever since it arrived there, was submitted to the Orange County Planning Board, which essentially suggested some re-emphasis on, and relocation of, certain matters, i.e., affordable housing and open-spaces, and recommended it be approved.
But not by the Gross administration, which has for some time now, said simply that the village cannot afford the money needed to complete the plan. Cannot afford to raise funds to pay for its own future.
When we’re finished toting up the cost of the DPW building closure, we’ll probably learn that that entire action, questioned by many concerned residents, was a far greater expense than would be whatever steps must be taken to finalize the ‘Citizens’ Master Plan’: one small step forward for Cornwall-on-Hudson.
Another question remains. Why did the local news people ignore such a significant matter?
Lee Murphy,
Chair, Village Master Plan Committee
Cornwall-on-Hudson
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