Openly Trying To Discredit Residents

The last Town Board meeting devolved toward the end of the second public comment session as Board members ignored the speaker to use their electronic devices. Ironically, the Town Councilman, well-paid as part-time employees and vested for life after 5 years, have decided to limit public comment by ending the meetings with a self-imposed and arbitrary ending time of 11PM. Apparently holding open meetings or having open government meetings is also a part-time thing when the Town leadership incompetently decides to do whatever they want. If the meetings started on time, ABG would agree to the 11PM curfew. Since, however, Mr Feiner and his Board have turned the first hour and sometimes two into a campaign circus, it defies logic, decorum and protocol to censure our residents by ending the meetings at 11PM.

Many residents spoke at the first public comment session from the podium and complained there was no money appropriated in the capital budget for sidewalks. Fulton Park Vice President Tom Bock said he too, was dismayed there was no money for sidewalks in the capital budget. He also stated the speeding on Old Kensico Road has increased now that the Town leveled and paved the street. Mr Feiner then went on a rant about this street in particular needs sidewalks and deflected the conversation around sidewalks and not of speeding cars and trucks. He spoke of the state’s sidewalk program along Central Avenue and wondered aloud if he could use those funds to build the sidewalks. He also asked Mr Bock if he would want to reach out to the residents on Old Kensico Road or want the Town to do so. Town Attorney Tim Lewis said there would be legal issues such as the need to shovel snow off of the sidewalk in the winter, removing plants upon installation, etc. Recognizing there are legal considerations that would need to be addressed, Mr Bock requested the Town query the residents as to the viability of a sidewalk. Mr Bock’s concern for the safety of pedestrians on the street with the increased speeding was genuine.

Several days later a letter was sent out by Mr Feiner. ABG believes it was crafted in hopes of trying to discredit Mr Bock. This is a ploy often utilized by Mr Feiner when a community leader goes against him. This letter was completely disingenuous and entirely misrepresented Mr Bock’s argument – about speeding and enforcement. In fact, if you watch the exchanges between Mr Bock and Mr Feiner, at no time did Mr Bock request sidewalks. Rather, he was seeking solutions for the increased speeding on his street. It was Mr Feiner who chose to bring up sidewalk installation on Old Kensico Road. So we wonder if speeding will continue as police cruisers continue to drive with the flow of traffic and write zero tickets for fear of offending area residents? It’s all about safety.

Here’s the text of Mr Feiner’s letter with subsequent comments in blue to his points:

Dear Old Kensico Road Neighbor:

This note is being written as a follow up to the recent Greenburgh Town Board meeting. A resident of your street, Tom Bock, approached the Town Board and suggested that we fund the construction of a sidewalk on Old Kensico Road. NOT TRUE. MR BOCK APPROACHED THE BOARD AND EXPLAINED THAT SPEEDING HAS INCREASED WITH THE NEWLY PAVED ROAD. The benefit of a sidewalk: pedestrian safety. CORRECT.

In the event that the town is able to construct a sidewalk on Old Kensico Road, residents would be responsible for clearing snow from the sidewalk during winter months and would be subject to fines if the sidewalks are not maintained. In addition, bushes, trees, walls, obstructions would be removed from the town right of way. CORRECT I checked with the Town Attorney who advised that in most cases the town owns 25' of the property next to the road. NOT TRUE. THE TOWN OWNS 25FT FROM THE CENTER OF THE ROAD INTO THE PROPERTY FOR A TOTAL OF 25FT.

We are researching whether the town can legally construct new sidewalks in residential neighborhoods without imposing a fee on the homeowners who live next to the sidewalks. NOT TRUE. MR FEINER SPOKE ONLY OF STATE FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT AT THE TOWN BOARD MEETING AND NEVER SUGGESTED RESIDENTS OF OLD KENSICO ROAD PAY FOR THE SIDEWALK. I would appreciate it if you would complete the following survey and return it to rne. THIS IS NOT AN ACCURATE SURVEY. We will try to be responsive to neighborhood concerns. NOT TRUE. HE SEEKS ONLY A ‘NO’ RESPONSE TO BE ABLE TO DENY NOT WANTING TO HELP THE RESIDENTS.

Feel free to contact rne anytime I can be of help.

LIMITED SURVEY RESPONSES:

( ) Yes! I would like a sidewalk in front of my house on Old Kensico Road. 

( ) No. I don't want a sidewalk.

( ) Yes ( ) No I would only support a sidewalk if the cost of the sidewalk is paid for by residents who live all over the town.

( ) Yes ( ) No I would support a sidewalk if a special sidewalk district is created - and residents of Old Kensico Road are asked to absorb the costs of the sidewalk.

Watch the exchange at:
http://greenburghny.swagit.com/play/05082013-689 and advance to the time 45:22.

 Mr Feiner’ survey would have been more meaningful, helpful and honest if he included several real considerations as part of his survey, something along these lines:

(Please check as many as applicable)

Want/ Don’t want a sidewalk:

( ) Yes, I would like a sidewalk either in front of my property or opposite mine.

( ) No, I don’t want a sidewalk.

( ) Yes, I am willing to investigate a sidewalk district and once the information of that is gathered, sit down at a community meeting to discuss it and then make a determination.

( ) Yes, I am willing to keep it clean from snow and debris as long as the Town maintains the sidewalk.

Funding A Sidewalk

( ) Yes, I am willing to contribute if it is paid for by a town-wide assessment.

( ) Yes, I am in favor of seeking County, State and/or Federal funds to build a sidewalk on our street.

( ) Yes, I would like a sidewalk as long as the Town allocates funds yearly for the maintenance of it in the budget.
( ) No, I don’t want to contribute as my taxes are high enough and I shouldn’t have to “pay per project”.
( ) No, I don’t want yet another taxing district in the Town.

( ) No, I don’t believe the residents should fund this sidewalk

( ) No, I don’t believe the residents of Old Kensico Road should fund this sidewalk.

As you can see, there are far too many questions that should be asked about this proposal from Mr Feiner that were not. Old Kensico Road residents should not be forced to pay for a Town sidewalk as it is not for their use only and not owned by them, but rather, benefits all in the Town. The letter sent was eerily similar to the referendum Mr Feiner offered during the last election ensuring a “Yes” vote for GameOn 365’s illegal lease. Crafted for adishonest reason will generate dishonest results that Mr Feiner will use any chance he gets.

It’s a shame that Mr Feiner put political capital ahead of public safety simply to “best” a concerned resident. Is it any wonder that residents refuse to attend Town Board meetings and even speak? It’s these kinds of actions that distinguish themselves, separating the good leaders from the bad. We seem to be in a morass of bad leaders. This was a poorly veiled attempt to discredit Mr Bock and the safety issue he continues to raise on Old Kensico Road. Unfortunately for pedestrians, while Mr Feiner may think he has won, ABG believes Mr Bock is in the right and will prevail. Let’s pray no one gets struck and injured or worse by a car or truck in the meantime.