In August of 2008, an alert resident wrote a letter to the Irondequoit Post about a July Town Board meeting that she had attended, where the agenda stated that there would be a resolution authorizing a purchase order for "expert services related to negotiations regarding the Kings Park property", and about 2 hours into the Town Board meeting, this resident found out it was for leasing space for the senior center at Kings Park.
In September 2008, there was a Town Board meeting where residents spoke at public input about their concerns over leasing, and gave ideas for relocating the senior center. The above resident spoke about needing to know more and learn more about this - more community input.
That never happened.
In November, the Town Board unanimously passed a resolution to lease space at Kings Park for the senior center for a temporary lease of 5 years maximum, with 1st year costs over $400,000, and a $1.2 million dollar price tag for the full term of the lease. For a temporary solution until a permanent facility was decided on.
Critics argued that Pinegrove could be renovated for half that amount, using CDBG funds, and Pinegrove could be temporarily used until a permanent facility was agreed upon.
Supervisor Heyman then said, numerous times, to the media, that CDBG could not be used for Pinegrove.
Articles where she states that CDBG cannot be used for Pinegrove:
That was a false statement. CDBG CAN be used for Pinegrove. Their own 2009 Budget Analysis states it, as well as the CDBG site.
(In the article, the reporter stated that "Every other school building from that era has been torn down." That is false. There are 4 school buildings from this era in West Irondequoit that are still being used. 2 are used as day care centers and have many children in them, 1 has been converted to a church and then there is Pinegrove.)
She tried to lie to the residents about CDBG funds for Pinegrove, but the residents had to double check "facts" by their own Supervisor. I find that sad.
What is also sad, and pathetic, is that almost 40 residents had to gather 1,952 signatures to FORCE the Town Board to have a vote on this issue.
From the time of the submitted petitions to the February 24th vote....no community meetings were arranged so the residents could speak out on the issue and gain more knowledge. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. They had over 2 months to hold public hearings (as they are supposed to do when using cdbg funds) but never did. They don't want you to be informed or ask questions. That was made clear on many occasions.
So, the Town went on a mailer-fest, with false information on the fliers stating things like the Pinegrove building was unsafe, and there was no room for parking or expansion. You can view the mailers here and here. Automated calls, letters sent from the Supervisor to absentee voters, press conferences with Joe Morelle offering OUR tax money in the form of a state grant, to buy "Yes" votes.
Unbelievable.
The Town Board and the Supervisor repeatedly told the media, and residents at Town Board meetings that the WISD owned the land around Pinegrove, which was another lie, because documents obtained from the County showed quite clearly that the Town owns 1.9 acres. At the last Town Board meeting in February, Stephanie Aldersley told residents that the Town only "owns the building and 5 ft. around it".
You can view all of that misinformation spread by the Town Administration here.
Recently, the town has contacted Labella Associates to conduct a feasibility study for Pinegrove. You can read that here.
Labella wants $34,000 to conduct this study, and that's just an estimate, it could be more.
My questions are:
You mean to tell me that the Town never did a "feasibility" study before this?
Why did they pay Tim Poley thousands upon thousands of dollars for "consultant services"?
Supposedly, he was very familiar with Pinegrove, submitting appraisals for the property in 2003, and another report on Pinegrove in 2006, according to this letter:
You can review the FOI request and information about all the money paid to Poley here, and here,
Labella Associates should be paid out of the CDBG funding, the residents should not be stuck with this bill. Make sure that the residents of Irondequoit are not being stuck with this bill! I can just imagine her "blaming" the "small group of people" again for this. It seems that's all that ever comes out of their mouths - "It's just a small group of people."
I'm sorry, but over 2,800 residents wanted more information by voting "NO". That's not a small group. If you look at the blog above this one.....the person who wrote this letter wants to "reach" the "vast majority of residents...not involved and not informed and did not vote."
(Oh yessssss. Please do that. I'd love to put some more of your "facts" up on this blog for posterity.)
A very nice resident has offered his services, plus commitments from Home Depot and Target to renovate Pinegrove.....for FREE! It could be done by the end of March.
Instead, here is what the Supervisor said:
"I can't tell you we'll be investing to that level in Pinegrove," Heyman said, "but I feel uncomfortable reaching out to the business community when we do have funds and staff that could do some of the work."
Yes, you've HAD FUNDS AND STAFF to fix up Pinegrove......for many years. You let it sit there and rot (like you're now doing with the libraries) to necessitate a move. It's obvious.
I would say I was surprised......but I'm not. Not with this crew running the Town.
It's business as usual.
Methinks the only "small group of people spreading misinformation" are the ones at 1280.
Remember that Supervisor Heyman said that CDBG cannot be used for Pinegrove, but now she might want to use it for Pinegrove. Maybe. Well, not really, but if she has to...maybe just a smidgen of cdbg. (They'd have to do renovations anyways, since they would still own the building even if they did relocate...and if WISD buys it? School taxes will surely go up for renovations.) Remember that the Supervisor, Debbie Evans, and Stephanie Aldersley told you that the Town doesn't own the land surrounding Pinegrove, they can't enlarge the footprint, and the Town only owns the building and 5 ft. around it, and then read the article where the Supervisor states that the Town has always claimed they owned 1.9 acres.
They lied.
