LET THE PUBLIC'S VOICE BE HEARD!

An Open Letter - October 25, 2006

The public deserves the opportunity to have their voice heard regarding the Poughkeepsie Town Board's October 25 adoption of a local law permitting a $150,000 Town donation to Locust Grove, under the guise of protecting open space. Parcel #3 of the Locust Grove Land Acqusition Project represents two thirds of the total acqusition project and is comprised of 21.22 acres currently owned by Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery . This parcel contains a deed covenant and conservation easment running with the land which protects approximately half of the parcel as permanent open space and strictly limits any new development on the remaining half to approximately three quarters of an acre. With this recent action, the Town will be donating $150,000 taxpayer open space dollars to a private entity to protect  approximately 20.5 acres of land already protected as open space. Reportedly the county will also kick in $150,000 to protect this same acreage of already protected open space. Shouldn't we be spending our open space tax dollars more judiciously? It seems very easy for the Republican majority on the Town Board to give away money which is not their own to a private entity to protect already protected open space. Stay Tuned for further developments - the Town still has to approve the "development restriction" and the County has to approve their contribution before the Town can donate a dime October 25, 2006 Ginny

October 27, 2006

Dear Councilman Baisley,

I do realize that several members of the current board did vote for designating both the Cider Mill and the Fort Homestead Local Landmarks which adds a local layer of protection against demolition for these landmarks and I thank you and them for that.

However, this Resolution was just Councilman/Lawyer Krakower and the Republican Majority's sneaky underhanded way of donating $150,000 taxpayer dollars to a Private Non-Profit Organization - under the guise of protecting open space.[or as in Councilman Krakower's own words "Creative Funding"] - The Town did not donate a dime to save the Cider Mill and has not donated a dime to save the Fort Homestead - Yet you Councilman Baisley said WE saved the Cider Mill and the Fort Homestead and WE should save this at the October 25, 2006 Town Board Meeting regarding the Locust Grove donation and this was also broadcast on Cablevision News on October 26, 2006.

This is an outrage Councilman Baisley - Your words when spoken in discussion regarding the Locust Grove donation resolution were misleading and lead the public to believe the Town has put in money for the Cider Mill and the Fort Homestead when indeed they have not. The Board Members who voted for this Locust Grove Donation to a private entity should make the donation out of their own pockets.

Virginia A. Buechele

The October 25, 2006 Resolution