Omar Herrera & Residents Calls For Accountability and Transparency from Current Administration Regarding Unanswered FOIL Request, Cameras Shut Off during Public Comment Section & 200 Main Street Developments

Ossining Trustee Candidate Herrera Calls For Accountability, Transparency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 1, 2014

CONTACT: Joseph Sgammato

Phone: (845)597-9050

Email: josephnsgammato@gmail.com

Ossining, NY – Ossining Village Trustee Candidate Omar Herrera and other advocates held a press conference today in Ossining to call for accountability and transparency from the Village centered around three key issues: a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request from this January; plans for the village-owned property at 200 Main Street; and the push to turn on cameras during the entire duration of Village board meetings.

“It’s time for our village leaders to start operating in full public view instead of hatching deals behind closed doors,” said Herrera. “Our residents and taxpayers need to have access to the information that will help them become partners with our elected officials in important decision making.”

In January, Herrera submitted a FOIL request with the Village planning board and clerk’s office in regards to the Village of Ossining Office of Economic Development and the Ginsburg Development Corp.  A letter of receipt was sent on January 30, 2014; the request, however, for documents has yet to be responded to. 

As required by the Freedom of Information Law, the head or governing body of an agency, or whomever is designated to determine appeals, is required to respond within ten business days of the receipt of an appeal. If the records are denied on appeal, the reasons for the denial must fully be explained in writing as required by law. 

Among the FOIL requests made by Herrera:

·        The Office of Economic Development and Ginsburg Development Corporation and any and all subsidiaries, affiliates, related entities, whether or not currently active and/or operating, and entities now or previously doing business as Cappelli Inc. or a related entity or operating, at any time, on behalf of The Ginsburg Development Corporation.

·        All agreements and drafts or agreements related to or concerning the fund, as well as all written communications, including emails and attachments, notes, memos, summaries, and proposals that concern or are related to such agreements and drafts.

·        Documents, including written and electronic communications and all attachments, reflecting all gifts, whether monetary or otherwise, incentives, rebates, or discounts, and the terms or conditions of such incentives, rebates, or discounts and timeline of decisions and/or processes made with funds for the Ossining Downtown & Economic Development Fund.

On June 11th 2014, three presentations were made to the Ossining Village Board on possible ideas for a project pertaining to 200 Main Street, widely known as the “Clock Building,” and understood to be the gateway to downtown Ossining. The three groups of potential owners were also seeking preferred developer status. However, Mayor Hanauer and most of the Village Board suddenly advocated the sale of this building to the Interoceanic Corporation for use as headquarters of its fertilizer company—which conflicts with the village’s comprehensive plan.

“The public have had no say in this deal and are barely informed about it,” said Herrera.

On Wednesday, July 2, the Village Board meeting will be held at 7:30 PM. Mayor Hanauer and the trustees are expected to vote on a resolution that would grant preferred developer status to the fertilizer company, allowing them 75-day exclusive rights to decide if they want to move forward with purchase of this building for their office space.

In keeping with the theme of transparency, Herrera is calling for the use video cameras at all Village meetings.  Currently, the cameras have been turned off during public comment section. 

“This wrongful practice of editing public dialogue needs to end,” said Herrera. “It greatly restricts the ability for the public to have full access to information, feedback, concerns and happenings about their community.”

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Media Contact:

Joseph Sgammato

(845) 597-9050

josephnsgammato@gmail.com

WATCH NEWS VIDEO HERE:http://www.fios1news.com/lowerhudsonvalley/node/54221#.U7OKWbEmWIB 

*Video Clarification & Correction: Documents Herrera IS AWAITING PERTAIN TO THE downtown economic development fund, not on 200 main street.