A regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Cortlandt Town Board was conducted on Tuesday, July 15, 2003 in the Vincent F. Nyberg meeting room of the Cortlandt Town Hall, One Heady Street, Cortlandt Manor, NY (10567) with the following elected officials and appointed staff in attendance:

LINDA D. PUGLISI Supervisor

Supervisor Puglisi called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by scouts from the following troops:

Brownie Troop #2386 from Van Cortlandtville Elementary School,

Junior Scout Troop #1347 from Copper Beach Middle School,

Senior Scout Troop #2050 from Walter Panas High School.

Supervisor Puglisi reported on her meeting last evening with T. Wood, Town Attorney, and several tenants from the Amberlands complex to discuss the landlord’s proposed large hike in rent. The Town Board is very concerned about such a large hike and will do everything they can to assist the tenants. A Public Hearing will be scheduled to establish an Emergency Tenant Protection Act and also the Tenant Landlord Advisory Board.

This will enable the Town Board to mediate with the landlord and work on the tenants’ behalf.

Through all of the proceedings dealing with the proposed Hollowbrook Golf Course Town Board members have been under the premise that the course is privately owned and will be open to the public. She said that was made perfectly clear last night to the partners at a joint meeting with Planning Board members.

The economy in the Town of Cortlandt is doing very well. Town taxes have not been increased for twelve years; forty-five million dollars worth of capital improvements have been done during this twelve-year period of time. There are sufficient funds in our savings account, (approximately Twelve Million Dollars) that can be utilized for emergencies that may arise or special projects that may come up. We are also able to hire. This summer we’ve hired about two hundred young people to assist with the camps, pool, lake and help with some of the other projects.

On a roll call attendance taken by Town Clerk Jo-Ann Dyckman, all Town Board members indicated their presence with the exception of Councilmember Cerreto whose absence was due to military service.

Supervisor Puglisi noted that Councilman Cerreto is still in Iraq defending our nation and it is her belief that he will be there for several more months.

Councilmember Sloan referred to his discussion at last month’s Town Board meeting regarding group homes. The Town Attorney had been requested to issue a Freedom of Information request to the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. That has been received and it itemizes fourteen current applications within Westchester County for group homes. Three of those fourteen are in Cortlandt. There is no other community in Westchester that has more than one group home. The only group homes that are south of Route 287 are in the cities of New Rochelle and Yonkers. He said this is regrettably a problem that we’re going to see again. One of the reasons is that the state, in supporting the acquisition of these homes, pays only up to a certain amount, $47,500.00 towards buying these homes. This lets out communities like South Salem, Chappaqua and lets in areas like Cortlandt. As we get other requests the Town will take certain steps to make it known that we don’t care to be victimized by this type of economic opportunity

Councilman Sloan underscored the Supervisor’s remarks about the Hollowbrook Golf Course, saying what was proposed by the owners last night clearly represents a change of use, something that will not be tolerated by the Town. The Town expects a significant portion of access to the Hollowbrook Golf Course for our citizens. That is how it was originally proposed.

Councilmember Lindau concurred with the Supervisor’s remarks about Town taxes and she feels it is due not only to the board but also to the Controller, as well as staff.

A new agreement will be signed with the cable television company in September and approximately a month after the signing senior citizens will receive a discount of eleven to twelve percent on their basic cable service.

Councilmember Farrell reiterated what the Supervisor and Councilmember Sloan said about the Hollowbrook Golf Course, saying the board was very disappointed that the developer changed his mind at the last possible moment and now tends to have a private golf course that would largely be beyond the reach of the average Cortlandt resident. He’s proposing a $25,000 initiation fee and $7,000 a year dues and that’s not what the Town Board was supporting. He said he’s still not certain that the developers will change this – they’re suggesting that economic conditions in the wake of 9/11 have something to do with their change of plans. The Town Board will not stand for this, it’s not acceptable. This will unfold over the next few months and hopefully all entities will come to some meeting of the minds, but Councilman Farrell said he is not of the mind to compromise.

Councilman Farrell referred to the many people in the audience, saying it is his understanding that they are present to discuss the high rent increase at Amberlands. He said he doesn’t feel it’s fair for a landlord to take advantage of people and to impose rent increases that are so out of line with cost of living increases. He said he does not want Cortlandt to be the kind of community that is exclusive, less diverse, to have housing that is unaffordable to working people. Anything the Town Board can do to create a climate where everyone can afford to live here, to raise their families here the board is one hundred percent in favor of.

Councilmember Sloan moved that the minutes of the regular meeting of June 10, 2003 be accepted as presented by Town Clerk Dyckman, seconded by Councilmember Lindau with all voting AYE.

(A complete transcript of the following Public Hearing is on file in the Office of the Town Clerk.)

Supervisor Puglisi reconvened the Public Hearing at 7:50 p.m.

T. Wood said this proposal would add to the Zoning Ordinance of the Town Code various definitions which have been reviewed by the Planning Board and the Zoning Board and have really come up over the last few years under our Zoning Ordinance as areas that needed further clarification. The Town Board wishes to discuss a few more of these so this evening they are going to adjourn the Public Hearing until August for consideration of the amendments with the exception of two definitions. Those are definitions with respect to "contractor’s yard" and "contractor’s yard in residential zones". It is his understanding the board will adopt those two definitions this evening.

Supervisor Puglisi said the Zoning Board of Appeals had asked that the Town Board define this for them so that they will have a very firm definition when those issues come before them.

There was no one additional who wished to speak and Councilmembers Lindau and Farrell moved that the Public Hearing be adjourned to August 12, 2003, at 7:54 p.m. with all voting AYE.

Councilmember Lindau then moved for adoption of the following resolutions, seconded by Councilmember Farrell:

There was no additional discussion. All voted AYE.

Supervisor Puglisi told the Amberlands’ residents present that all of the issues will be addressed. Initially the rent hike will be addressed. She recommended that a list of complaints be compiled so they can be addressed at the appropriate time once we get through the rent hike issue.

Councilman Farrell said some of these issues could be investigated by Code Enforcement.

Supervisor Puglisi said if there are health issues, the W. County Health Department can be involved. She said she understands that there is a garbage container in one of the fire lanes and that is illegal and will have to be corrected immediately.

She said a group of residents should be selected to represent the other residents on a Tenant/Landlord Advisory Board to be selected, perhaps one for each building.

Councilmember Farrell moved that the following monthly reports be received and ordered filed, seconded by Councilmember Sloan, all voting AYE:

Councilmembers Sloan and Lindau moved that the following documents be received and ordered filed and the resolutions be adopted, as indicated:

Discussion: Supervisor Puglisi stated there are two large developments on the Town’s borders; Chapel Hill and Woods III. There have been ongoing issues about the traffic from those developments which uses our suburban roads, particularly Lafayette Avenue. Now that Chapel Hill has been constructed, it is found that the developer is putting directional signs up on Lafayette Avenue and that is not acceptable.

Discussion: Councilmember Sloan commended the people involved in preparation of this excellent document, notably Peter McMillan, Melissa Hoffman and T. Wood.

There was no additional discussion. All voted AYE.

Councilmember Lindau moved that the following documents be received and ordered filed and that the resolutions be adopted, as indicated, seconded by Councilmember Farrell:

Discussion: Supervisor Puglisi said these Public Hearings will be given the appropriate legal notification in the newspapers and they will be held in the Vincent F. Nyberg Meeting Room on August 12, 2003 at 7:30 p.m.

There was no further discussion. All voted AYE.

Councilmember Lindau then moved that the following documents be received and ordered filed, seconded by Councilmember Farrell :

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There was no additional discussion. All voted AYE.

Councilmember Farrell moved for adoption of the following resolutions, seconded by Councilmember Sloan:

Discussion: Supervisor Puglisi reported there are about thirty applicants for this position.

Discussion: Supervisor Puglisi said this is for two seasonal employees to assist the Town with various projects.

Discussion: Supervisor Puglisi explained this removal because the Town is considering adding additional members to the Advisory Board.

There was no additional discussion. All voted AYE.

Councilmember Sloan then moved for adoption of the following resolutions, seconded by Councilmember Lindau:

Discussion: Supervisor Puglisi said everybody goes to this wonderful feast on the banks of the Hudson River. It’s for a good cause and a lot of fun with families.

There was no additional discussion. All voted AYE.

Councilmember Lindau then moved for adoption of the following resolutions, seconded by Councilmember Farrell:

Discussion: Supervisor Puglisi said we didn’t have any data on this item to corroborate a vote. It is still under consideration.

There was no additional discussion. All voted AYE.

Councilmembers Lindau and Farrell moved for the adoption of the following resolution:

A polled vote of the board taken by Town Clerk Dyckman resulted in the following:

Councilmember Sloan No,

The motion was declared adopted.

Councilmember Lindau then moved for adoption of the following resolutions, seconded by Councilmember Farrell:

* *

There was no additional discussion. All voted AYE.

Councilmember Farrell moved that the following items of business be added to the agenda, seconded by Councilmember Sloan with all voting AYE:

Councilmembers Farrell and Sloan moved that the following items be received and ordered filed and the resolutions be adopted:

Discussion: Councilmember Farrell said it saddens him to have to take this drastic action, however, the property has been allowed to deteriorate to the condition where it creates an unsafe situation, inviting squatters, animals and danger to the neighborhood. The property owner still has the opportunity to meet with our DOTS personnel to discuss plans to bring this property back to a safe condition. Barring that, the Town has no option but to proceed.

Supervisor Puglisi said the owners will get notice from the Town and she is hopeful they will come forward and clean the property up expeditiously.

Discussion: Supervisor Puglisi said the Co-chairs of this committee, Ray Reber and Councilwoman Ann Lindau, sent this letter which was copied last night to the Planning Board and it is very helpful.

There was no additional discussion. All voted AYE.

Councilmembers Farrell and Lindau moved to adopt the following:

A polled vote of the board taken by Town Clerk Dyckman resulted in the following:

Councilmember Sloan Recused,

The motion was declared adopted

Councilmembers Farrell and Sloan moved to adopt the following:

Discussion: Supervisor Puglisi said this appointment will be for a three month period to assist with some of the workload.

There was no further discussion. All voted AYE.

Councilmember Lindau moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:40 p.m., seconded by Councilmember Farrell. All voted AYE.

Respectfully submitted,

JO-ANN DYCKMAN,