Why I agreed to carry petitions

February 1 2011
Letter to the Editor,
Why did I agree to carry a petition asking for a public referendum on a town board resolution passed on Tuesday Jan 25th 2011? When I saw the dollar amount on draft agendas of the resolution to transfer $ to a Community Center Capital Project more than double from $17,000 to $50,000 in less than 48 hours, I thought, don’t we already have plans drawn up to make improvements on this 100 year old building? The second draft agenda contained a resolution that was of more concern than the fee for an architect. The town board was prepared to vote to commit the Woodstock tax payer to $ 450,000 worth of improvements to the building that was built for summer services by the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Johns in the early 1920’s .
During the beginning of the 15 minute special town board meeting, it was apparent that something drastic needed to be done to raise community awareness to what was going to occur that night. Supervisor Moran presented the resolution and once he hastily read thru the first resolution, without taking a breath he called for a vote on the commitment of $450,000 to the Capital Improvement Fund. I interjected myself into the process by asking why the dollar figure had to be in the resolution if the purpose of the resolution was merely to create the account so that private donors would have a dedicated fund their donations could be allocated into. Jeff Moran replied that the $450,000 is a maximum or a cap to be spent on the improvements. Cathy Magarelli interjected that this resolution shows the private donors that the town has intent to spend money to renovate the town community center.
Here’s what I think. We, as taxpayers, are waiting with trepidation for the cost estimate for the renovation of another old building to improve the working condition of the police, court and dispatch. I’m not ready to commit via resolution monies from “general fund revenues “or “proceeds from the sale of bond anticipation notes, bonds not to exceed $ 450,000” for a community center. I am also; as I’m sure others are, waiting with a little impatience for a plan to be presented to improve the working conditions of the town clerk and other employees who currently work out of another aging structure at the Comeau offices.
I’m told it’s too late, the resolution has been voted on and it’s not possible to rescind. Sign the petitions calling for a referendum and send a message to the town board that we want the needs of the employees to be taken care of first.

Janine Mower
jmower@hvc.rr.com