Let the voters decide
Town Supervisor Edward Brancati has reiterated his interest in acquiring the property off Route 22 in Goldens Bridge that former Town Supervisor Edward Mahoney famously (or infamously, depending on one’s political bent) sought for playing fields, a community center and even a state police barracks. Mr. Brancati, though, has a different vision for the land. He wants to buy it in order to swap it for land owned by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that is closer to the shopping center in Goldens Bridge. His goal is to re-create the hamlet center that was destroyed when the state bulldozed through it in the 1960s to make room for Interstate 684.
It is an interesting and bold proposal, and a difficult one that will undoubtedly face the red tape inherent in dealing with the DEP if that agency is even willing to trade parcels. But it should also face the voters.
The proposal is only in its infancy at this point, but Mr. Brancati’s call for an eventual permissive referendum is cause for concern. A permissive referendum bypasses a public vote, instead allowing the Town Board alone to decide to spend a large chunk of taxpayers’ money. Mr. Brancati said purchasing the property would cost nearly $2 million — that’s almost 20% of the town’s total operating budget for this year. Such a large capital expense should not be left solely up to five Town Board members. Other nearby town governments share this view.
Two bordering towns in Connecticut, Ridgefield and Wilton, have town regulations that call for officials to take a proposal that requires borrowing money to a public vote — even for sums far lower than this one. The Town Board should consider adopting a similar regulation and adding it to the Town Code — or at least apply the practice when, and if, the Town Board is ready to buy this land.
One of the roles of Town Board members, as representatives, is to devise and develop proposals and plans that they believe are in the best interest of residents. For larger projects, it needs to be up to the people of Lewisboro to ultimately decide if that is the case.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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