AMENIA — The Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee’s (CPIC) draft plan and zoning law were agenda items at the Town Board’s meeting at Town Hall March 15.
To the chagrin of the full-capacity crowd, the board’s discussion of the two documents was almost nil and public comment on the issue wasn’t allowed until attendees and some board members lobbied for it.
Relationship with DDSO
For the past month, CPIC has often been mentioned in the same breath as the Taconic Developmental Disabilities Services Office (DDSO), which is located in the hamlet of Wassaic.
Residents have asked if the facility will change it’s format so hardened criminals or pedophiles can be housed there and if CPIC wants the facility to close so the parcel can be turned into housing or retail space.
Controversy starts with forum
Amenia’s first comprehensive plan was adopted in 1991.
Since 2003, CPIC has focused on revising the plan, as well as the town’s antiquated zoning law, both of which are currently in draft form.
At a CPIC public hearing held at Amenia Elementary School on Feb. 5, Amenia resident Rick Levin called the committee’s plan "amazing," but said he has some concerns about the DDSO.
Many a CPIC member said development of the property is crucial for Amenia’s future. If the location is developed, it may reduce taxes and bring about a "renaissance" in Amenia, as Levin put it.
However, Levin said that if the center changes its format and houses criminals, such as pedophiles, it may detract people from buying a home in the area and property values may plunge.
At the Town Board’s Feb. 15 meeting, Neila Cardus, regional coordinator of the Public Employee Federation, said she took issue with Levin’s comment, as well as CPIC’s description of the DDSO’s staff, clients and the residents who live on abutting properties.
The coordinator said pages 15 and 16 of the draft plan were particularly damning. The chapters contain the words "criminal action" and "delinquency," among others. She added that the change of format which Levin spoke of was wholly erroneous and news to her.
Former councilman:
something’s fishy
In an interview conducted on Friday, March 9, former councilman and Amenia resident Bill Carroll surmised there may be a conflict of interest and possibly collusion between CPIC’s chairman, Mark Doyle, his wife, Councilwoman Vicki Doyle and developer Alan Shope, who used to employ Mark Doyle at his Listening Rock Farm.
The farm lies on a 450-acre parcel that abuts the DDSO.
Carroll surmised that Shope wishes to buy the remainder of the state property so it can be developed.
Carroll also noted that Levin recently gave the town of Amenia a gift of $5,000.
Janet Reagon, Amenia’s supervisor, said Levin’s donation was used to lessen the costs of printing the draft plan and law, which are both huge documents.
Last week, Doyle said his ties with Shope were severed in 2004 when he was fired.
Additionally, he and his wife are "100 percent impartial" and their relationship would only constitute a conflict of interest if there was financial benefit involved.
He added that CPIC does not want to see the state facility closed.
However, the committee feels that dangerous criminals should not be housed there.
Public lobbies for comment
Last Thursday night, Reagon told the crowd that the board would not enter into a discussion on the draft plan and law it would receive from CPIC’s chairman that night because it had not seen the most recent copy.
Additionally, Reagon said the board would not welcome public comment on CPIC or the DDSO.
She did say, however, that there will be ample opportunities for residents to comment on these matters at a special meeting to be held tonight.
"We want your comments, but in a proper and orderly way," she said, adding that that wasn’t the case at the board’s March 8 meeting, when DDSO employees and Amenia and Wassaic residents spoke out against the committee.
Due to the allegations of conflict of interest against Mark Doyle, Attorney to the Town Michael Hayes researched the issue.
He said, in most cases, conflicts arrive, as Doyle said, when some financial benefit is accrued to an immediate family member, a member of the board "or whoever it may be," he said.
However, if the Town Board does want to pursue the issue, it can be deferred to the town of Amenia’s Ethics Committee.
An ethics review cannot be conducted just because a member of the public has suspicions about a person’s motives, Hayes said.
Audience members were allowed limited time (three minutes) at the podium after Councilman Wayne Euvrard said the board should hear what the people have to say.
"It’s certainly an agenda item," he said.
"Exactly what item?" asked Roger Russell, councilman.
"The CPIC meeting report," Euvrard answered.
DDSO employee Glenn Caldarelli said he was very upset with a recent Alan Shope letter to DDSO Director John Mizerack that was copied to a variety of people and publications, such as Gov. Eliot Spitzer, state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, the Town Board, The New York Times, The Harlem Valley Times and the Poughkeepsie Journal, among others.
The letter lambasted campus personnel for not being forthcoming about the future of the facility and chastised DDSO employees for their rude behavior at the March 8 meeting.
"If you exercise your right to public comment, you may be attacked personally," Caldarelli said. "The letter was very critical of my presentation. I’m accused of being ‘rude’ and referred to as ‘revolting.’ If I conducted myself in the manner I described, I apologize, but I definitely don’t see anybody rushing to apologize to me...."
"Excuse me, Mr. Caldarelli, your time is up," Reagon interjected as the crowd groaned disapproval. "We didn’t write that letter."
Amenia resident Tim Osborne, who took the podium next, accused the Town Board and CPIC of taking money from Shope.
"The Town Board of Amenia is for sale. There will be a going out of business sale soon and all are welcome to attend," he said.
"Not one dime," Reagon returned.
"I’m not against development, but I do have a problem with a plan that profits a few and hurts many," said Tara Osborne, a member of the Public Employee Federation who lives within a mile of the DDSO.
Wassaic resident Pat Nelligan wondered why the Town Board was ready to declare itself lead agency under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) process that night if it hadn’t seen the draft plan or law yet.
"Your whole point is that you haven’t seen it, so how can you declare lead agency? Thank you," he said.
Before Doyle presented the two drafts to the Town Board, he thanked all of the people who made the documents a possibility.
"They’ve been meeting every Monday night for the past two years, folks," Euvrard said.
Doyle thanked CPIC consultant Joel Russell for "working like a Trojan" and his wife, Vicki, "who walks and talks with the same dream."
"Dutifully yours, Mark Doyle," he read as he handed Reagon the two documents.
The board accepted the draft plan and law unanimously.
It will be available at Town Hall and digitally on Amenia’s Web site.
CPIC and the DDSO will continue to be discussed at the Town Board’s next meeting, which takes place tonight at 7 p.m.
