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jayjay
Citizen Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 614 Registered: 6-2005
| Posted on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 - 8:30 pm: |
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I was watching a video of a recent planning board meeting and was stunned by a tactic of the VP who sits (not as Chair, mind you) on the board. It seems that someone was coming before the Planning Board to seek approval for dirt removal from a site upon which they wanted to build a house. Apparently they has previously sought Board of Adjustment approval from a setback requirement, which they were not granted. This then required them to come before the Planning Board since site-ing the house further back than they wanted, meant more excavation. Calabrese, upon hearing this, tells the atorney for the client, that he shouldn't have to do this. And then instructs the Planning Board attorney to write a letter to the Board of Adjustment, in essence telling them that they were misguided. In this move, he single handedly took control of the PB and the Board of Adjustment in one action, and courted favor with the developer of the site. The Chair of the Planning Board doesn't challenge his action. No vote is taken of the members to do this. He just does it. Forget about the fact that this builder will probably wind up building a house closer to the road than the surrounding homes. I don't know what happened at the next Board of Adjustment meeting. I suppose I'll have to stomach watching that. But I got furious at this power grab, and the inaction of the other board members who acquiesce to this. Perhaps there are MOL-ers who know more about this than I do. i would be interested in additional details.
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SOrising
Citizen Username: Sorising
Post Number: 340 Registered: 2-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 12:48 pm: |
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Which planning board meeting was this, jayjay? |
   
Spitz
Supporter Username: Doublea
Post Number: 1729 Registered: 3-2003
| Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 1:32 pm: |
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What the VP did is not only outrageous, it's also illegal. The Board of Adjustment is the body which makes decisions on variances to setbacks. They made their decision. The lawyer for the applicant was not even challenging or appealing the decision. If any neighbors in the surrounding area want to sue for the action taken by the VP, they would prevail. This action demonstrates once and for all that the VP feels he can rule on any matter in the town, and he is not bound by the applicable laws and ordinances. This is probably the most outrageous abuse of power that I've seen, not only in SO, but in any municipality across the state, and that's saying something. It's actually pretty frightening that one man thinks he can make the rules. The Board of Adjustment, if it's to retain any integrity at all, should disregard any letter sent to them by the lawyer for the Planning Board, and say that they acted within their jurisdiction.
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SOrising
Citizen Username: Sorising
Post Number: 342 Registered: 2-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 3:40 pm: |
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The VP will continue to act illegally until someone stops him. He's gotten away with bullying his way thus far, nothing will stop him except a force greater than he is, whether political or legal. And he likes doing business with other thugs, like the construction manager of Beifus who lied under oath to the planning board and was called on it by one planning member with integrity, Daniel Skrobe. Ellen Foye, the tax assessor of the town, may have tried to help him also. |
   
jayjay
Citizen Username: Jayjayp
Post Number: 615 Registered: 6-2005
| Posted on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 - 4:04 pm: |
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SORising- I think it was the 4/3 PB meeting. |
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