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Can you spot the 4,239 things wrong with this article?

The Chronicle > News
Sharing the water wealth: County proposes regional loop
Published: November 13, 2009
Chester — Hudson Valley has long been known for its abundant water supply. It has enough to supply New York City. Right?

Actually, in recent years Goshen, parts of Blooming Grove and Chester, Middletown and Washingtonville have all had water problems. With the economy creeping back up, and developers showing their wares again, the county is proposing countywide improvements in infrastructure (including “water loops”) for both water and sewer services for the 816 square miles for which it has primary responsibility.

In last year’s State of the County speech, Ed Diana said, “The best and the only way to achieve the goals in the (county’s) master plan is to develop regional water and wastewater systems.”

In September, the county planning commissioner, David Church, presented the legislature’s Physical Services Committee with a draft of the water authority’s new master plan.

It is a massive document with a wealth of information, maps and resources about the county’s water resources, collected and reviewed in a series of regional seminars of the Moodna Basin. But some legislators are wary of towns giving up home rule to the county about a resource they hold near and dear. Church gave them assurances the water authority will not plan any changes to a municipality’s water system without their full participation and agreement.

He cautioned that a list of municipalities have been desperately asking for help with shared water projects. “Don’t doubt for a minute that moving forward this is going to be important,” he said. “You need it to survive. You can’t live without water, and right now a bottle of water costs more than a bottle of gasoline.”

He presented the water master plan for their review, and given its size, predicted it need a month or two for study. After that it will be posted online and presented at public hearings and possibly a public information session.

The water plan is a part of the county’s new Master Plan that concentrates on aquifer protection, sewer provisions and affordable housing, but it can and probably will be reviewed and voted on separately.

Concerned about the potential for abuse of power, legislators asked county attorney David Darwin if the water authority had the legal right to impose their decisions on a municipality. He said “Yes, but they wouldn’t do that.”

Further, they have the ability to bond without legislative approval. Delving into the voluminous document (available now at http://waterauthority.orangecountygov.com) critics found the standard — but also disturbing wording that they do have the authority to do whatever is necessary for the health and welfare of residents, and to override a municipality if necessary.

Even legislative Chairwoman Roxanne Donnery was skeptical, recalling fees her own district in Highland Mills were charged for a water loop to provide for Woodbury.

“We were taxed without receiving any benefit,” she said.

Sheila Conroy, a former supervisor of Woodbury who is a member of a citizens committee arguing against the amendment agreed, said that when she was supervisor it became very difficult to balance the budget because of hidden fees — including a lawsuit Woodbury was not even aware they were involved in.

“We don’t need a water czar,” she said.

But from the county’s perspective, there is great pressure to centralize for the sake of efficiency and cost savings.

They have an overwhelming responsibility to account for welfare of the county’s citizens. Poor functioning of sewer and water plants puts their citizens at risk. Even routine maintenance is made easier when one of these water loops makes it possible for a town to borrow from a neighbor while their own tank is repaired. But many think that upgrades can be made without a new document that gives belt and suspenders to the powerful authority the county already has.

“Don’t doubt for a minute that moving forward this is going to be important,” he said. “You need it to survive. You can’t live without water, and right now a bottle of water costs more than a bottle of gasoline.”’

David Church, planning commissioner

“This sets a legal precedent and we have to look at it carefully,” Donnery warned.

Another legislator said he would want it in writing that the county would not take any action without participation and agreement by the municipality. Sheila Conroy, Robert Fromaget of Democratic Orange; Lorraine McNeill, former Woodbury councilman; and Jonathan Swiller, chairman of OCEAN are calling for an oversight committee such as Rockland County has found to be helpful. Fromaget pointed out in particular that even the mayors of Washingtonville and Blooming Grove disagreed with the water and sewer figures in the plan that might justify creating a loop to the already stressed Cornwall wells.

A presentation on the Moodna Creek Conservation and Management Plan will be given at the Blooming Grove Town Hall at 7 p.m. on Nov. 30. The water authority has given Nov. 30 as a deadline to submit questions and comments.

The Envelope Please

So, as far as we can tell, here are the results:


Town Councilman

James Skoufis - 944
Frank Palermo - 906
Ralph Caruso - 827
George Pedersen - 791

Yes, Ralph beat Georege. Amazing!

For the uncontested seats (except by write-in)
John Burke - 1050
Pete Stabile - 1064
Dwsiree Potvin - 1049
Carol Herb - 1164

We don't have the write in numbers yet.

David Levinson 1355 (unconfirmed)
David Hasin 970 ( appx, unconfirmed)

Some Legislature Contests

Roxanne Donnery 1750

Townsend is reported to be 13 votes ahead of Kemnitz.

Castricone beat Spencer.

Hines Beat Randazzo and Fromaget

In Monroe, Sandy Leonard won but her team-mates Weeks and Martin lost.

Caruso Made The Last Minute Flyers Run On Time

Whew! Just made it. The last minute flyer from Caruso has shown up.

Interestingly, there are no out-right lies in it.

Instead it merely hints strongly at some back room manipulation and has a somewhat bizarre opinion regarding the KJ Pipeline.

Since it's a bit hard to read we have reproduced the text in the first post on this thread.

The hint of backroom manipulation: The Republicans ran no one against Burke. The Democratic Committee (including Burke) was very muted in its comments about Ralphie. Was this a quid pro quo? We R's won't run anyone against our pal Burke, you D's put up some sacrificial lambs for council seats and Burke and Caruso will sail in on a shared victory?

Just conjecture, but with this cast of characters you never know what deals were struck.

As to that "bizarre opinion." that John, Ralph and George will "rigorously and relentlessly oppose the 13 mile pipeline." I'd certainly love to hear from (my supposed doppleganger) the Pieman on that one. Fighting the Pipeline has long been his balliwick.

Score the Snore

So, if you were one of the 50 or 60 folks who showed up, how do you rate the debate?

Early word has that the major fireworks weren't between Frank and Ralph, as was expected, but between James and Ralph -- and that Ralph doesn't fare so well when he is on the receiving end.

Some other points from our staff on-scene:

Everyone wants to have automated garbage collection.
F and J would like to either end the village or find a way to merge it into the town. G is against merger and for he village and R is still saying that all services should be run by the town and the village should transfer them back.

Frank was pretty much laid back. George was pretty much asleep (we think he was added to the ticket to make Ralph look exciting). James was a spitfire who repeatedly tore into Ralph and Ralph let us all know that he is a notary public.

There was consensus on many issues. One of the few splits was in answer to the question "Did you read KJ's amended FEIS on the pipeline?" Frank - yes; James - yes; George - no; Ralph - I didn't read it all, but I looked at it.

Also "How can Woodbury be made a better place to live?" Frank - keep our businesses strong; James - strengthen businesses and have a plan for smart growth; George - improve our parks; Ralph - elect me.

Most curious answer: George suggests that we may have to cut services and raise tax revenue - but not by raising taxes.

Funniest answer(s): Ralph tied with himself for this one:
1) "I've always supported full disclosure." (this was shortly before he explained that Republican Committee meetings were open except for all the ones that aren't)
2) When James challenged him about all the former Republican Town Board members who have reported that whenever they voted in ways that Ralph didn't like the Brilliant One would call the next day to ream them out: "I think that my opponent has been lied to - but I can tell you for a fact that I don't call people to yell and scream at them. I never do that."

High point of the evening: The Junior Peewee Pop Warner Cheerleaders singing America.

Low point: Everything after that.

Degrade Debate

The Pieman emerges from his slumber to inform us that there will, in fact, be a debate.

All four candidates for town council seats - Ralph, Frank, George and James - have agreed to meet on Wednesday, October 28th, 7:30 PM at the Central Valley Elementary School.

The debate will be sponsored by OCEAN and moderated by Gerri Gianzero.

The Pieman asks that people come at 7 PM to write out their questions for the candidates.

Black Ball

OK

Here's our latest experiment.

No doubt it will fail as miserably as all the others.

Who are you against (primarily for Town Board) and - now here's the tricky part - why?

The goal (ha ha ha) is to be specific.

"Because he's a back-stabbing, mother-jumping, horse-stealing son-of-a-bitch" doesn't quite explain the animus.

The goal is to convince others that the candidate that you are denouncing is bad, bad, bad. Simply heaping denunciation upon insult upon invective may not accomplish that goal.

All that being said, we turn from Scylla to Charybdis. Getting specific may invite law-suits.

sooooooooooooooo, stick to what is on the record, or, if you are saying that you are a witness to some bad act, step forward and give your name (like that's gonna happen).

Oh, I already see that this ain't gonna work out.

Well, let's give it a shot and then try something else.

What "Signed" Means

Primary election time is fast upon us.

Here, at this spot, on this thread, at this post, your Uncle invites signed endorsements, denunciations and general comments about the candidates (there ain't many).

The one rule, comments must be signed, with real names even.

Anonymous, pseudonymous or any other kinds of mouses will be deleted.

If no one steps forward, okeleydokeley. We'll try it all over again for the general election.

Let he amongst you who knows his own name cast the first ballot (shes too).

Election Connection

There's chat going on further down the blog on the upcoming elections so I thought I'd supply a little conversation nook up here so everyone can follow along.

Oh, That Water Master Plan

Water-plan foes make case
Say county could force municipalities to connect
By Chris Mckenna
Times Herald-Record
HIGHLAND MILLS —

Could Orange County force municipalities to connect their water systems if they don't want to?

Three people who believe it could made their case to local officials at the Woodbury firehouse Thursday night, the latest rumblings of opposition to a proposed plan for the county's public water supplies.

The part attracting criticism is a recommendation for 19 intermunicipal pipe connections, which are intended to let well-supplied towns sell water to needier neighbors and steer development to areas the county has marked for growth.

The county Water Authority, which developed the plan, insists these links would be strictly voluntary, and says it will help any communities that want to build them.

But critics fear the authority could push forward without consent.

On Thursday, three opponents who studied the plan and its supporting documents laid out their findings in a PowerPoint presentation to 11 invited officials from the eastern part of the county.

They argue the authority could seize local water systems through eminent domain and tax the whole county for its costs, using a countywide water district created years ago but never used.

They also claim some wording in the documents betrays a forceful intent.

"The Legislature has no control over this authority," said Sheila Conroy, a Woodbury Planning Board member and former town supervisor. "It's only answerable to the executive branch of government."

Conroy gave the talk with Jonathan Swiller, leader of the OCEAN citizens' group; and Robert Fromaget, a Blooming Grove resident and county Legislature candidate.

Authority leaders responded Friday by repeating the pipe links are merely suggestions and wouldn't be forced on anyone.

"The authority is there for the purpose of trying to facilitate the interconnections so that everybody has a sufficient supply of potable water," said Marcia Jacobowitz, chairwoman of the five-member authority board. "This is not something that would be mandatory."

County Planning Commissioner David Church, who serves as executive director of the authority, said the notion of seizing water systems through eminent domain is "so far-fetched I never asked anybody if we could."

He emphasized that the authority can amend its proposal in response to public input. For instance, it could consider stating that no connections would be forced through eminent domain, Church said.

It's already reconsidering some population projections that Fromaget questioned.

"We're professional and humble enough to admit that if we're wrong, we'll correct it," Church said.

cmckenna@th-record.com



Pipe connections
The Orange County Water Authority has suggested connecting local water systems in 19 places as part of an overall plan for meeting water needs as the county population grows.


The most immediate connections it suggested are:


• Town of Wallkill and Village of Goshen


• Middletown and the Town of Wallkill


• Villages of Kiryas Joel and Monroe


• Villages of Monroe and Harriman


• West Point and Highland Falls


• Washingtonville and Cornwall-on-Hudson


• New Windsor and the City of Newburgh


To read the full report, go to: http://waterauthority.orangecountygov.com/

The Pieman Predicts

The Pieman is usually quite plain-spoken; however UB World Headquarters, nestled away in the swamps of Woodbury Falls, has now received the following rather cryptic email:

Unc,

As important as Woodbury Town Election, the KJ Pipeline and all the other things that we have been focused on are, they are small potatoes compared to the Orange County Water Master Plan.

This is the big one and it can have profound negative effects on all of Orange County. I'll have a lot more for you within a week or so.

Swiller