Town Board: No To Shenorock Park District

The Town Board for Somers, NY has heard enough.  At the meeting on April 14, Supervisor Mary Beth Murphy said the Town would no longer facilitate efforts to create a park district -- a special tax district -- to clean up Lake Shenorock.  This is a turnabout from early March when the Town Board established procedures for the Town Clerk to oversee the signing of the petition.  [See March 17 post, Town Board Meeting Recap: Shenorock, Dog Park and Heritage Hills Water District.] There was no formal vote and the statement came during public comment, but the Supervisor expressed what is in all likelihood the unanimous view of the Town Board.
Town Board meetings in each of March and April featured two hours of rancorous debate by residents who favored and opposed the idea of cleaning Lake Shenorock and building a swimming beach at a cost of over $1.4 million, with the funds coming from an additional tax on those living in Shenorock district.  But the parties could not even agree on the geographic area of Shenorock, as some with pedestrian access to or views of the Lake were excluded but homes a half-mile away were included.
For several months, Supervisor Murphy and others on the Town Board encouraged compromise and "baby steps", including volunteer efforts to clean up the Lake.  Proponents of the Park District said over 400 owners out of about 800 owners in the hamlet were solid supporters of the idea and that the petition deserved an opportunity to be presented to the entire community.   The first petition submitted by the proponents was deemed flawed by the Town Board.  [see December 22 post, Back To Square One For Shenorock Lake.]  Opponents questioned the level of support, saying modest support had eroded amidst concerns about costs and benefits. Both sides accused the other of spreading misinformation.  Even if enough owners signed the petition, the Town Board had discretion to reject it, if the owners were not all benefited. To meet that subjective standard probably required overwhelming support by land owners in Shenorock.  In an email Supervisor Murphy said: "Given all the comments we have received I cannot envision a proposed district where, at least I, could make the requisite finding that everyone who is benefited is in the district and that everyone in the district is benefited."


The Town cannot prevent the submission of a petition.  But the Town Board is no longer interested in spending time on the issue and has no interest in owning the Lake and shoreline, even though taxes are four years in arrears.  Proponents say they have no immediate plans to submit a petition.  What seemed like a good idea with broad support when the engineers were retained by the Town in 2008, has dissolved into a civil war, nay an uncivil war among the residents.  Lake Shenorock was the center of the comnmunity up through the mid-70s.  Without collective community action, it may become a swampy eye sore.

Links
http://somersspectator.blogspot.com/2011/03/town-board-meeting-recap-shenorock-dog.html
http://somersspectator.blogspot.com/2010/12/back-to-square-one-for-shenorock-lake.html

Town Board Meeting Recap: Shenorock, Dog Park and Heritage Hills Water District

Here are some highlights from the Town Board meeting of March 10, 2011.

Shenorock Park District Procedures In Place

Over two hours of rancorous comment by Shenorock residents did not bring the two sides closer to compromise in the feud about creating a park district for Lake Shenorock to build a swimming beach and bath house. Opponents say the $1.4 million project is a luxury that residents should not be taxed to fund, noting that cleaning the lake of muck is a far cheaper first step. Proponents of the project say most residents want the project and want the matter put to a vote. The Town Board would love to see a compromise, but that is extremely unlikely.

As reported previously, the Town Board in December rejected as "flawed" the first petition to create a Park District. The Town decided that the best procedure would be for the petition to reside with the Town Clerk for approximately 60 days. The Town Clerk will oversee the signing process, verifying that each signer is an owner of land within the boundaries of the proposed park district. This is not a head-count vote. For the petition to succeed, 51% of owners as well as 51% resident owners must sign the petition The percent is determined by assessed value.

Dog Park

A group of residents has offered to fund the fencing costs of a dog park on Town-owned land. Fencing is by far the most expensive cost involved in building a dog park. The Town Board asked the Parks and Rec department to draw up plans for the Board to consider. Councilman Harry Bolton is the liaison. The location of the proposed dog park is on land near the Highways Department garage.

Heritage Hills Water District

The Town of Somers, NY is thinking about acquiring the Heritage Hills Water and Sewer District from a private owner. The overwhelming consideration said Supervisor Murphy is whether the residents in that District would save money. The asking price for the plant and infrastructure is over $18 million. On the back of an envelope analysis, Richard Benedict, President of the Heritage Hills Society, thinks the deal makes sense because revenues are likely to grow. The service area includes the Heritage Hills condos, a shopping center, a school and any new homes built in the area, The Town will further study the financial issues involved using an outside consultant. The financial advisor for Somers is worried about lost property taxes as a municipal district is tax exempt. However, other water districts in Town already enjoy tax exempt status.

Prevailing Wage Law

In discussions about paving roads and repairing the library roof, Councilman Bolton commented that the prevailing wage causes the Town to spend significantly more money on work put out to bid.

Moment Of Silence

The Town Board observed a moment of silence to honor Joanne Garrity and Don Derr, both of whom passed away this month.

The video of the Town Board meeting is available at the Town's web site.

LINKS:

http://somersspectator.blogspot.com/2010/12/back-to-square-one-for-shenorock-lake.html

http://www.somersny.com/Pages/SomersNY_TownMtgVideos/TownBoard031011

Town Board Meets Thursday; Lake Shenorock On Agenda

The Town Board for Somers, NY meets March 3 for a regular work session. Among the agenda items is the Board’s discussion of procedures for a petition to form Park District for the Lake Shenorock community in order to revitalize the lake and create a swimming beach. As reported here in December, the Town Board recently rejected a petition because it was flawed. The lawyer for the Town suggested that specific procedures be adopted for residents to sign a petition.

Review a complete copy of the agenda here. Some, but not all, of other agenda items are set forth below:

A. PARKS & RECREATION:

1. Authorize the following per February 23, 2011 memos from Steven Ralston,

Supt. of Parks & Rec.

a. Going to bid for purchase of Clivus Multrum (or equal) composing

toilets for the Angle Fly Preserve.

b. Submission of the 2011 New York State Office of Children and Family

Services Program Grant Application.

c. Hiring of Karl R. Anderson Maintenance Laborer at an annual salary of

$32,054 Group 3 Step 1 of the CSEA Collective Bargaining

Agreement and Kathleen Mollaghan as a part time Intermediate

Clerk to work no more that 17 hours per week at an hourly salary of

$15.00 effective March 14, 2011.

B. TOWN BOARD:

1. Michael Barnhart – update on activities of Open Space Committee, Somers

Land Trust and the Angle Fly Preserve.

2. Shenorock Park – discussion re procedure for petition to form park district.

3. Alexan Somers Woods – discussion with consultants re: completeness of

DEIS.

4. Historic Properties Board – add citizen member to Board – discussion.

5. Improvement Bond – Highway and Major repairs.

6. Discussion of property known as 15.08-1-3.

LINKS

http://www.somersny.com/Pages/SomersNY_TownBoardAgendas/tbagenda3-3-11.pdf

Back To Square One For Shenorock Lake

The petition to create a Park District for the community of Lake Shenrock in Somers, NY was rejected by the Town Board at its December 9 meeting. The Town Board said the petition was "flawed". Proponents plan to try again in their effort to revitalize the Lake for swimming.

Read the story at NCNLocal.com: Shenorock petition thrown out.

See our earlier posts here and here.

A valid petition needs signatures by homeowners owning more than 50% of residential assessed value. Supervisor Murphy reported at the December 2 Board meeting that the Assessors determined that at least 48% supported the petition. More important, Town officials concluded that some signatures were in dispute. At that meeting, Councilman Richard Clinchy said the signature collection process was "chaotic" and "unreliable". Proponents strongly disagreed with Mr. Clinchy at the meeting. This post appears at the Facebook page of the United Owners Association:

The petition is scuppered, our Town Board is powerless, and the system has enabled a whining and ill-informed tiny minority to destroy efforts to enhance the neighborhood. Did one board member actually suggest we mail out a list of questions and answers? Unbelievable.

Supervisor Murphy plans to meet with leaders from both sides of the issue in January.

Shenorock Park District Informational Meeting

A Special Informational Meeting to discuss the proposed Shenorock Park District is scheduled for Thursday, October 21, 2010 at the Somers Middle School Auditorium from 7 PM to 10 PM. No official action will be taken by the Town Board at that meeting.

At the October 7 Town Board meeting, Supervisor Murphy invited people to submit in advance questions to her by email. She will distribute them to the proper town officials -- such as engineers and legal counsel -- so that more considered responses at the meeting on October 21 can be made.

Town Board Meets Thursday October 7

A regular work session of the Town Board for Somers, NY is scheduled for Thursday. The agenda is here. Among the agenda highlights are the Board's consideration of the Shenorock park district proposal. [See related story -- Can Lake Shenorock Be Saved (Part II)?]

Can Lake Shenorock Be Saved (Part II)?

The "park district" proposal for Lake Shenorock in Somers, NY is entering its next phase, but not without opposition. The agenda for Town Board meeting for Thursday, October 7 includes formal acceptance of the petition requesting the special district and scheduling an informational meeting for October 21.

As reported here in the Somers Spectator in July, Lake Shenorock was once a focal point for family recreation for the Shenorock community of about 650 homes. The lake then fell into decline and disuse for a variety of reasons. Hoping to rejuvenate the lake for recreation, the United Owners Association of Shenorock (UOA) wants to rebuild the beach area and dredge part of the lake for swimming. That takes money, estimated at $1.3 million. The UOA wants to create a park district so that Shenorock homes can be specially taxed to cover the cost. Since at least June, the UOA has led the petition drive to collect signatures of homeowners who hold 51% of the assessed value in order to put the issue before the Town Board. UOA has a Facebook page

Opponents say that the project will cost much more than estimated, resulting in bigger tax bills and that the beach project mostly favors those who live near the lake. There is a blog -- No to Shenorock Park District. Several residents spoke against the park district during public comment at recent Town Board meetings. The opponents have gained traction. As many as 16 households withdrew support for the park district causing the UOA to collect additional signatures for the petition.

What happens next? Once the petition is submitted, the Town must determine whether the petitions satisfies the legal niceties. Then, the Town is required to hold a public hearing. To declare a park district, State law says the Town Board must “find” that all the property owners within the proposed district are benefitted by the proposal. Most councilmen seem to favor holding an informational session before convening the formal public hearing. As noted by Supervisor Murphy at the September Town Board meeting, the Town will "continue to have a dialogue about it until everyone is satisfied that the issues are properly vetted." Whether the Board adopts this course will be decided on Thursday.

Can Lake Shenorock Be Saved?

Swimming, boating and fishing were once popular pastimes on the approximately 14-acre Lake Shenorock. It was a beautiful spot full of family activity. Swimming stopped in 1977 and fishing is in decline. Some residents of the 650 home community want to revitalize the lake by having the Town designate the area a “Park District”. That designation would allow the Town to tax Shenorock residents, with the funds collected dedicated to improving and maintaining the lake and its beaches. Estimates are that the tax would be about $200 to $400 per year. Crest Drive resident Anne Corneck wrote a wonderful recollection of the “good old days” in and about Lake Shenorock. Her reminisces can be found here.

LoHud has a July 26, 2010 article about the efforts of the United Owners Association of Shenorock to revitalize the lake. The United Owners of Shenorock apparently hold title to this community resource but have no money to maintain it. Hence, its desire to have the Town declare it a Park District. The organization has a Facebook page with information and commentary.

The task is not impossible. The residents at Lake Lincolndale, an approximately 20-acre lake in Somers, have banded together and maintained the swimming beaches for a number of years. The web site is here.