Politics & Government
Mayor Gearity's Roundabout Discussion Cost Taxpayers Over $70K
The entire roundabout project discussion came with the hefty taxpayer price tag of $70,700 in consultant fees + your right to vote denied.
THE OSSINING REFERENDUM MOVEMENT AND THE POWER OF YOUR VOICE. HERE'S THE WHOLE STORY AND WHY IT STILL MATTERS:
1. ROUNDABOUT IDEA BORN: VILLAGE CONSIDERS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A ROUNDABOUT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO HAVING A CONVENTIONAL INTERSECTION.
2. VILLAGES HIRES CONSULTANT: WITH THE HIRING OF MAZER CONSULTING, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE VILLAGE BOARD WERE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A ROUNDABOUT.
3. PUBLIC BECOMES AWARE: RESIDENTS, PROPERTY OWNERS AND BUSINESSES EXPRESSED MANY QUESTIONS & CONCERNS.
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4. PUBLIC QUESTIONING: RESIDENTS WANTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE COST, SAFETY, IMPACT & HOW THIS PROJECT FIT INTO VILLAGE PRIORITIES. NEVERTHELESS DURING THIS TIME, THE PROJECT CONTINUED TO ADVANCE.
5. RESPONSE FROM MAYOR & SOME VILLAGE TRUSTEES: THE VILLAGE USED A ROUNDABOUT IN GLENS FALLS, NY AS AN EXAMPLE OF A SIMILAR RECENT PROJECT, THEY FAILED TO HIGHLIGHT THE MANY DIFFERENCES IN THE PROJECTS, SUCH AS OSSINING'S UNIQUE HISTORIC DOWNTYOWN LOCATION, AND THE FACT THAT GLENS FALLS PROJECT WAS PARTIALLY PAID WITH GRANT MONEY.
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6. OSSINING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MOBILIZES CAMPAIGN TO PUT PROJECT TO A VOTE: RESIDENTS, & BUSINESSES DEMANDED THE PROJECT BE PUT ON THE BALLOT SO THAT ALL VILLAGE RESIDENTS COULD VOTE ON THIS IMPORTANT DECISION. THUS, THE REFERENDUM WAS BORN.
7. VILLAGE REFUSED TO ALLOW THE PROJECT TO COME TO A PUBLIC VOTE. RIGHT TO VOTE DENIED- DESPITE GATHERING OVER 1,500+ SIGNATURES TO SUPPORT PUTTING PROJECT ON BALLOT, THE VILLAGE USED TECHNICALITIES & ERRORS TO REJECT AND UNDERQUALIFY PETITION.
8. BUSINESS COMMUNITY THREATENS VILLAGE WITH LAWSUIT: VILLAGE BOARD THEN DECIDES TO DE-FUND PROJECT AND TABLES DISCUSSION.
TOTAL COST TO TAXPAYERS: $70,700*
*SOURCE: VILLAGE TREASURERS OFFICE, VILLAGE OF OSSINING, NY 2018
9. AWESOME RESIDENTS THEN SUGGEST THE CREATION OF A DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT WORKING COMMITTEE. THE VILLAGE BOARD THEN ACCEPTS THEIR RECOMMENDATION AND OFFICIALLY CREATES THE DDRWC WITH ASSISTANCE FROM VILLAGE STAFF. AFTER MUCH WORK, THE COMMITTEE PRODUCED AND SUBMITTED A REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
