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General News: Village Future Focus at Board Meeting
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| Deke Hazirjian questioned the mayor's vision for the future. |
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| Mayor Gross responded to Hazirjian's challenge. |
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| Police chief Charles Williams (in black shirt) asked if consolidation of the DPW was being considered. |
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| John Wenz shared his thoughts on sustainability. |
July 22, 2008
Development and sustainability emerged as hot topics at Monday night’s village board of trustees meeting. The issues were raised by local businessman Deke Hazirjian, who restored two historic homes in the business district, converting them to mixed commercial and residential use.
At the meeting, Hazirjian said the village should be preparing for difficult economic times ahead and described his vision of an economically viable village in which residents could walk to local shops to get food and other basic supplies. He asked the mayor if he intended to pursue adoption of the county-approved draft master plan that calls for a mixed commercial and residential use to share the tax burden.
Mayor Gross explained that the village has been busy addressing other important issues, like an ethics law, and would work on the master plan “in due time.” Meanwhile, he said, the village has a code book to use as a guide. “It is up this board to review it (the master plan) to see what we would accept and what we will not accept,” Gross said to Hazirjian. The master plan was submitted to the board for review in July 2007.
Trustee Rick Gioia acknowledged that sustainability is an important issue and said that the board needs to start thinking seriously about the types of businesses the village needs. He pointed to the new food co-op as a positive example and said it should be encouraged to open in an existing empty storefront rather than converting another building to business use.
John Wenz, a village resident who also serves on the riverfront revitalization committee, spoke up to question the direction of village government. He dismissed many of the issues that the board has been dealing with, like giving out parking tickets at the riverfront, as “absurd,” when faced with the reality of skyrocketing taxes and long-term sustainability.
Wenz said consolidation of services with the town is a serious issue that could impact Cornwall-on-Hudson’s economic viability and said the community needs to come together to address it.
“It’s imperative that we have to stop bickering between the town and the village when it costs $4 for gas to go to the grocery store in Vail’s Gate or to go to Home Depot to buy some screws. We’ve got to start looking ahead, not looking backward to the way things used to be,” Wenz argued to the board.
Village police chief Charlie Williams also added his thoughts on consolidation with the town of Cornwall. He noted that his department is being scrutinized for possible consolidation but asked if the board had taken a look at the department of public works (DPW). He referred to a current request by the DPW to replace two aging dump trucks that could cost well over $100,000, far more, Williams said, than the cost of police department’s annual operating budget.
Mayor Gross said that when he polled the trustees two months ago, no one said anything about consolidation of the DPW with the town highway department. Trustee Mark Edsall then corrected the mayor, noting that he had earlier spoken against consolidation of those two departments but in favor of sharing equipment, a practice already in use among local municipalities, including Cornwall and Cornwall-on-Hudson.
Later in the meeting, Wenz criticized another village action, the hiring of a parking attendant to sell parking permits on Saturdays and Sundays at the riverfront. Wenz said an unofficial tally showed that 215 permits were sold in June and July at a cost of $5 a piece (ed: Correction. Wenz said that the total money collected was $215). He said the parking attendant was paid $900, creating a loss for the village.
Mayor Gross said that the village didn’t expect to make money on the venture but wanted to give people an opportunity to stay and enjoy the park if they didn’t have a permit. Wenz suggested a cast-iron box where people could purchase a permit on the honor system could achieve the same goal.
Comments:
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Uh, run this by me again, maybe I just don't have enough countin' toes: 215 tickets at $5 each is $1,075. If the attendant was paid $900, exactly where was the "loss for the village" created? Sounds like we made a big $175, though I do agree with Wentz that the riverfront park wackiness is "absurd."
"Let's spend a lot of effort and money attracting tourists, then we'll kick 'em in the slats when they get here." My wife and I recently spent a couple of hours driving around Cornwall and the Village with a young couple considering buying our house. We showed them the library, Sands Ring, took them to lunch at Painters, etc, and then went down to the riverfront, where they got out and walked their dog. I spent 20 minutes hoping the cops didn't show up and ticket the couple (we were in their car, not ours), which sure would have queered the deal...
posted by Stephan Wilkinson on 07/22/08 at 7:20 PM |
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Okay let's be realistic now. As a former CoH officer and long time resident of the area it is obvious that Mayor Joe has a vandetta against the police dept. because of the PBA's public support of the former Mayor Ed Moulton during the elections. Although I reside many miles away, it is still visible that Joe Gross and his recently elected cronies have done a lot of back room planning and failed to comply with the open meeting law. But none the less this too is only temporary. The dedicated officers of the Cornwall on Hudson Police Dept. need to be patient and realize that all the threats of consolidation will still have to be put to a public vote, and you can rest assured that residents of the Village of Cornwall on Hudson that have always supported the police department will again voice their opinion and cast a NO vote to consolidation, and I predict shortly thereafter a newly elcted person at the helm of the Village.
Sean Kelly
posted by gone2nc868 on 07/22/08 at 9:51 PM |
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Actually, Steve, the unofficial numbers are as follows: It has cost us $900 to date, and we've sold 43 tickets worth $215. Net loss $685. Assuming you sold a day pass to each of the unfortunate individuals who received tickets, adding 5 bucks for each, you still would have a net loss of $630. The worst part of this initiative is that it's not about raising money to improve and maintain the park. The purpose here is to chase people away. Having done some traveling, the places I've enjoyed have been hospitable to both residents and visitors. I'm sad that our beautiful little Village wants to be unfriendly. I don't know about you, but I didn't grow up in a waterfront community. If our Village's attitude was common, most of us would never have been able to visit a beach or a river or a lake when we were kids.
By the way, I hope you're not moving out because of this kind of stuff.
John Wenz
posted by Capt John on 07/22/08 at 10:02 PM |
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Short term memory... For those of you with your panties all up in a bunch; harassing and ticketing at the waterfront has been going on LONG BEFORE Mayor Gross. Inviting people to stay with the purchase of an inexpensive day pass is so much more hospitable than the previous treatment. And hopefully it will project a friendlier face to newcomers. And, perhaps an added bonus, it will drive away the slobs that leave their dog crap and trash all over the place (unless of course they own a parking sticker, in which case a tar and feathering is in order)
As for the PD consolodation, the residents that always supported the Police department (I was one) have seen the next generation of officers and unfortunately the rapport with the community has taken a down turn... I wonder what exactly it is that they are dedicated to? I would take my chances with consolidation.
posted by kate on 07/23/08 at 12:36 AM |
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Short-term memory, Kate? I've lived here since 1971, how about you? I think of the parking stickers as a recent development, on my timeline...
posted by Stephan Wilkinson on 07/23/08 at 8:43 AM |
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I wouldn't call patroling the waterfront "harrassing". We all moved to this village for the same reasons: its beautiful and safe. If keeping it that way means ticketing people who don't belong, then thats the way it should be. The rapport with the community has taken a down turn because the officers aren't "allowed" to do their job. The people and especially parents in the community won't let them.
posted by DP on 07/23/08 at 9:10 AM |
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That's fine, DP, if you want to "keep out people who don't belong," whatever that means, but then why are the Town and Village expending so much time and effort on trying to turn them into tourist destinations?
You can't have it both ways.
Oh, and by the way, we didn't all move here "for the same reasons." Speak only for yourself.
posted by Stephan Wilkinson on 07/23/08 at 9:50 AM |
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The Village police Department does an excellent job. I am disgusted with the board!!! They spend HOURS talking about what color to paint the cross walks so they are more visable!!! Its a freaking State road. The State will not let you change the color! They then have a "study" done by the county that Barbara is so proud of. To sum it up the study indicates there is plenty of parking. Yet Deke, who has spent thousands and thousands of dollars improving buildings in our Village and has litterally put his money where his mouth is, has to listen to people complain that one of the business is creating a parking problem. You can not have it both ways. If there is plenty of parking then allow business to open and loose the requirement for off street parking. if not and you want business to come and the Village to thrive then, add additional public parking. This Village board spends lots of time spinning its wheel and getting nothing done. The New sign for the Village Parking lot is lovely!!! You needed a committee to get that accomplished!
posted by Surfmom on 07/23/08 at 10:46 AM |
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I don't know which way I want it - I just want a beautiful neighborhood, happy people and a police department that can do their job without the unappreciate people out there who think they know everything.
posted by DP on 07/23/08 at 12:12 PM |
Comments:
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If consolidation is something that Mayor Joe is "honestly" looking into to save money, than it should be every department not just selecting one dept such as the police dept.And the public should be given factual information not false or untrue as Joe Gross provided to the Record several weeks ago. I don't recall seeing a correction or public comment that Mayor Joe provided inaccurate costs to make his case a more marketable idea to the residents. Bottom line is: If you can not provide fact and back up your ideas with true proven data, then sit back and let the professionals such as the CoH police dept. do their job. By sitting back and watching you may learn something...
posted by gone2nc868 on 07/23/08 at 8:16 PM
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The police force for the most part is doing a fine job and it would be a shame to give the control and our safety to the town.
Everyone has an agenda or vision. Id rather stick to the ones with vision as they are forthright. We all know what kind of trouble we can get into when just a select few make decisions.
posted by jcbike1 on 07/24/08 at 7:04 AM
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