Orangetown Candidates Meet the Public in Tappan

Ten candidates for town elected offices in Orangetown gathered Wednesday night for a Meet the Candidates event organized by the Volunteer Fire Association of Tappan at the firehouse on Washington Street. 

The forum was different from the debate held Oct. 10 at Orangetown Town Hall, with the candidates asked to stick to sharing information and speaking about their views and answers to questions from the audience rather than debating one another. That led to very limited disagreement, and most of that was among the candidates for Supervisor and Receiver of Taxes. 

Candidates were given three minutes to tell observers about themselves to start the event. They also each had two minutes for a summary after the question and answer part of the evening. 

Another difference from the debate was the participation of two incumbents who are running unopposd, Oranetown Justice Richard Finning and Highway Superintendent Jim Dean, who were invited but did not take part in the debate at town hall. 

"As long as Jim and I can get our wives to vote for us, we should be good," Finning joked. "My wife's birthday is at the end of the month. She is uncommitted until she sees her birthday gift.

"The only promise I can give is I will fairly and efficiently adjudicate matters."

Dean was asked if Orangetown's drop-off center center could be open every Saturday instead of every other week by trading a weekday for it. He explained that it would be more expensive because staffing must be paid at time and a half on Saturdays.

Dean also spoke about the town's leaf removal program, which begins the first week of November, taking the opportunity to remind residents that leaves left for pick-up should not be left on paved areas.

The four candidates for two open Orangetown Council seats -- incumbent Republicans Denis Troy and Tom Diviny and Democratic challengers Annmarie Uhl and Dan Salmon -- were asked about solutions for the development of the Rockland Psychiatric Center property in Orangeburg.

"The good news is we still control the property," Troy said. "The bad news is what to do with it. There are still 60 buildings with asbestos and lead."
Troy pointed to the decision to hire the law firm Wilson-Elser to lobby for the town in Albany as a key turning point, especially in the town's pursuit of control of the remaining land still owned by the state. He said he was hopeful something could be done in the next two years. 

Diviny said the challenge is getting a developer to deal with the entire property, including the buildings that need $20 million in remediation, rather than just the more attractive land by the waterfront. He said the town is on the right path, but not ready to put out requests for proposals from developers.

"Governor Cuomo is actively involved in this," Diviny said. "He wants the development. He wants jobs created in the Hudson Valley."

Salmon said he understands it is a slow process dealing with the state Office of Mental Health, which still controls some of the land., He talked about looking at what has worked in other similar areas for development. Uhl made a similar suggestion, but added that the process needs to move faster.

"I'm tired of it," Uhl said. "It's been way too long. It has been 10 years now. We can't go without tax rateables there. We're hurting as a town and the schools are hurting, too." 

The council candidates were also asked about the possibility of consolidating the town's sewer department with the county. Diviny said they had looked into it, but it would not create any savings. Troy said he was also concerned about the town not controlling its own sewer department, especially after the recent $50 million investment.

Salmon acknowledged the large amount of agreement among the four candidates on many issues.

"Everybody wants the same things," Salmon said. "The difference is who is going to take you there. You cannot solve our problems with the same thinking that created them. I will bring that new thinking."

Salmon also stressed his business background, as did Walter Wettje, the Republican challenger to Orangetown's incumbent Supervisor, Democrat Andy Stewart. When asked about United Water's proposed desalination plant, both questioned the need for it.

Wettje said he wanted to see more information and that he did not think United Water's numbers added up. Stewart said he has been against the idea for a long time, in part because of the high costs that would be passed along to United Water's customers and because the available information has changed since the state told United Water to look for a way to provide more water.

They did disagree regarding Broadacres Golf Course. Stewart proposed closing the course last year due to annual deficits of approximately $300,000. He said that has gotten better due to some changes toward more efficient staffing, but the issue remains.

"It is something our auditors flag in their annual review of our books," Stewart said. "It impacts the town's financial standing. It's an issue we cannot run away from. It's uncomfortable because we love beautiful, green, open places. But that is not an excuse to turn a blind eye."

Stewart said the land has to be available for inclusion in any developer's plans for the RPC property. Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation Tuesday that gives the town the option of using the property for something other than park land in exchange for reserving park land near the water.

Wettje called for the town to look at more solutions to making Broadacres profitable, such as improved advertising and further consolidation of jobs of those working at the town's two golf courses. He said Stewart showed Broadacres to a developer as if to sell it off. 

Stewart responded by pointing out that the state told the town it had a developer who wanted to look at three sites, including Broadacres. 

"Walter helped with the the tour," Stewart said. "That's the way government happens. I didn't recruit a data center there and I didn't come out of the box (when first in office) saying close Broadacres."

When reminded they should keep things friendly after the exchange, Stewart and Wettje laughed and shook hands.

The two candidates for Orangetown Receiver of Taxes, incumbent Republican Robert Simon and challenger Chris Smith, a Democrat, also kept things friendly though with some disagreement. Smith once again brought up his proposal to make the position part time except during collection season. Simon has said that would not work.

There will also be a referendum on the ballot Nov. 5 to eliminate the Receiver of Taxes, consolidating the duties into the Town Clerk's office. Smith has strongly pushed for that change as a way to save money for the town since his campaign began. Simon has also supported the move, but he said it is important to be clear how much the town would actually save.

He questioned if the savings could really be $100,000 as initially suggested, estimating that the number would likely be close to $30,000. Orangetown Director of Finance sent a projection out to the members of the town board this week, but it has not been made public yet. 

"The town clerk, you would have to increase her salary," Simon said. "Also, the staff in the clerk's office would have to be compensated (for the additional work). It would probably be savings of $25,000 to $30,000, but I'm always in favor of saving the taxpayers dollars and cutting expenses."