When I decided to buy my house and move back here two years ago I made the choice to move back to Cornwall on Hudson, not Cornwall. To me there is more to this resistance to merging the towns than just resistance to change. I feel that the Village community has a closeness and familiarity to it that can not be found in the greater town of Cornwall. The Village has managed to maintain the same small town feel that it always had, while this has been continually be disappearing from the Town. The expansion of the school district and moving the highschool outside of the town boarders has also contributed to that. I believe that these are the "northwest areas" that were referred to - the recently developed Mt. Airy section?

If something needs to change about the budget and about COH then maybe times are changing. But I would personally prefer to see COH split completely from the town of Cornwall before it ever gets incorporated. My home is Cornwall on Hudson, it is a small Village, and hopefully we can actively work to over financial obstacles so that it can stay that way. You may see it as resistance to change, and that is fine, but there is just *something* about COH and that something was what drew me back home. Cornwall used to also have that something, but time and expansion have changed the town. I dont resist change, I resist allowing the Village to lost the charm that makes it a worthwhile place to live.

Mr. Wenz: I have lived here for over 68 years and I am very happy to say I live in Cornwall-on-Hudson. We tried consolidation in 1922 - it didn't work then, we don't want it now. If you don't value living in the Village, move to the Town. And that goes for anybody else who wants the Village and Town to consolidate. Bob Gosda

Mr. Gosda,
Please don't take offense. I apologize if you misunderstood my intent. I never said that I wanted the Village and Town to consolidate, as long as there's a sound strategy in place. I moved here because I like it here. And I'd like it to be my family's permanent home.
With all due respect, the world has changed dramatically since 1922. How do you propose that we accomplish maintaining the Village, going forward into the 21st century? That's the question I ask and I'd like our leadership to answer.
Cordially,
John Wenz

I think because I value living in the village so much, I want to see it sustain and move forward in a positive direction and that is exactly what John is saying. He is asking all of us to think, "How can we be stronger village?" Why is it so freightening to talk about sharing a DPW or police staff with the town? And why, when someone challenges the system, is the response "if you don't like it, move!" That does not move a dialogue forward and comes off as rude and mean- which I am sure you are not Mr. Gosda.

Tricia Haggerty Wenz

"...our Village?s priorities seem to focus more on maintaining ?control? of things like garbage trucks and fire sirens than they do on the substantive issues..." I find this quote very interesting. It seems to me that the only reason these things are even a point of discussion is because a few very vocal folks have made it the focus. I really couldn't care less about the garbage schedule. I expect my elected officials to determine what is best for the community and delegate it to the departments to take care of that schedule. If it means I have to wait a day or buy another can, so what? The only issue that I see with the fire whistle (which I personally love) is the hearing health of the kids in the CoH school because they are right across from it. There are too many folks that want their own way and are unwilling to compromise or adjust their lifestyle for the benefit of the community. I say get the hell out of the way and let the Board work on a fiscally sound and forward looking plan for the Village. I know the Mayor has the fiscal fortitude, but can the rest of us handle it?

Well said, Kate!

Not quite the dialogue I was hoping to provoke, but it's a start.
Hey Kate, "..get the hell out of the way..."?? Do we not, as taxpayers, have the right to ask what that "fiscally sound and forward looking plan" might be? Don't our elected officials have a responsibility to articulate it to the constituency? Do we have the right to ask questions and participate, or is this Like-It-Or-Lump-It-On-Hudson?
John Wenz

Take a deep breath... and a reality check. Then, have a look at what is overwhelmingly being discussed in this forum and in the Cornwall Local. Look at their proportion of coverage. It is village business, and village issues that fill their front pages (and substantiate their advertising revenue). Why is that? I would argue that it is because there is a passion among residents for the preservation of our identity and for the future well being of our village that doesn't seem to have a counterpart in the town. What other reason could there be? In light of this, villagers should take heart, and take pride in fighting for what is important. Our process of public discourse is vibrant, participatory and, in short, democratic. Where else would you want to live, or hope to have a stake in your community's future?

Sincerely,
Rick Gioia

I have to hand it to John that was a well thought out letter and I must say he is right. John wants us to open our eyes so we don't loose our village and he is right, cost will always go up and we will continue to feel the burden as taxpayers. But we have a problem, we don't have the traffic flow for successful commerce unless we allow high density housing and open up the river then there may be just enough traffic flow to clog our streets and just enough noise and pollution to change this area forever. Just take a look at the town and the traffic,noise and pollution ,it sure looks as if they are having problems with filling storefronts and they continue to build without a plan. So John asked the question for us. what is our course of action? Maybe we need to open a public forum to discuss this matter in order to gather ideas.
I also would hope that everyone realizes our mayor and the trustees have made this village government transparent and we are all realizing that we should start planning. Impressive letter John!

Please don't get personal and defensive, Rick, but your response is accurate as well as wonderfully poetic. But it avoids my question. I'd like to hear something substantial, not just "take a deep breath" rhetoric. Nor do I seek to incite a bunch of mud-slinging. As a Village Trustee, I'd expect that you should have some sense of vision for our future.

Let me use some recent history to illustrate my question another way: The Mayor and Trustees set their own agenda, right? In 2008, the Board decided to take up the question of police consolidation with the Town for reasons of fiscal efficiency. After a lot of emotional debate and not much real fact-finding, the issue was dropped. We succeeded in avoiding an important examination of a very sensitive subject. The solution, ultimately, was found by making small cuts in services and adding a small increase in taxes. I don't see this strategy as either objective, thoughtful, or creative, nor was much courage shown on the part of our leadership when faced with the prospect of a real significant discussion and debate.
So how long do we continue down this road, cutting services and increasing taxes? Is that what Kate Benson means by "fiscal fortitude"? As John Buescher and others have suggested, maybe we need to have a selfless dialogue to examine our future as a community. After all, the Village is part of the Town. Is it truly in our best interest, in today's world, not to act as a community?
Please don't let this deteriorate into mudslinging. As President Obama said, we can no longer avoid the tough questions. What do you think, Rick?
Sincerely,
John Wenz

John, I wouldn't characterize my response to your letter as mudslinging, and this comment now does not come from a personal or defensive place. However, there are many points you are addressing with which I would take issue. To hypothesize a 'zero position' scenario, in terms of the existence of a village/town with distinct services in such a small region might be an interesting theoretical exercise, but is irrelevant as a reference point if it discounts the fact that this place has its own history and it own evolution. The mandate to pursue consolidation comes from the state, for the most part, and will undoubtedly return to us at some point. But, as the saying goes, it takes two to tango.

The characterization of Mayor Gross' vision of our commercial base, is way off the mark, and perpetuates a distortion initially made by Mr. Hazirjian. Joe has simply illustrated our current business district reality. Have you walked Main St. in the town lately, including the ghastly Cornwall Plaza? Main St. has been struggling to some degree for as long as I've lived here. The town, though, rather than focusing its efforts to revitalize Main St., did the all-too-typical American thing: let the center die and build outward, like a nautilus shell. The result today is a sad picture of Main St. The only thing missing is tumbleweed. And the outward expansion hasn't exactly been a silver bullet, either. The monstrosity of the senior housing complex lumbers along, years behind schedule. It is a scar on the town. Do we really want KJ to come in and do the same to us?

By comparison, our business district is in proportionally better shape. Barbara and I went out to Drew's for dinner last night and had to search a bit for a parking spot. The steam on the windows of 2 Alices on any given winter weekend indicates the relevance and popularity of that business. We have an emerging food co-op that CHOSE to locate in the village, adjacent Studio 208 - yet another new and emerging village business. The mayor and board have been encouraging and enthusiastic toward these enterprises. And in keeping with the spirit of the 'vision' which Joe Gross made clear, they are thriving WITHIN our existing Business District.

As far as school tax and the town assessor are concerned, that is not within our control, nor is it a problem unique to this community. The riverfront has existed since the Con Ed days in a natural and rustic state. I would hazard to guess that most village residents prefer it that way. We are beginning the design phase for Donahue Park as we select a consultant, to be paid for through secured grants. I'm sure Simon Gruber could use the Baymen's assistance in sifting through the stack of RFQs in the Mayor's office! I've always been in favor of a composting toilet down there, and I'm sure one will be included in the overall layout. I'm not sure we need a playground there. We need to be careful not to compromise the simplicity of the park, for that is its great virtue. Anyone in that spot is there for the river, and the panoramic views. Too much clutter would, in my opinion, diminish it.

And John, what leads you to conclude that we don't have a plan for a sustainable future? Surely, you've attended enough village meetings to know the debt burden we currently struggle under. We've just finished a very difficult budget for '09-'10, and we're keeping our fingers crossed that we will pass another year without further bonding; getting us one year closer to paying down our debt. I'm not sure how many residents fully appreciate the fact that, of our total General Fund operating budget of $3.5 million, we will make interest payments of roughly $107K on our outstanding bonds. That's pretty equal to the fire department's entire annual budget! This doesn't include the debt we're carrying from the Black Rock filtration plant construction project. The interest payments ALONE on those serial bonds total $190K. For that amount, we could cover our yearly expenses for garbage pick up and snow removal, and still leave enough for summer playground! This, in following the state's lead, is what led us to explore consolidation of village and town police, and it's the reason we will continue to seek value and efficiency in village operations. The degree to which we can cut fat from our budget, and control spending is a constant focus for the board and mayor. I wouldn't characterize this as avoiding reality, as you suggested.

You also heard me when I voiced my opinion that the Master Plan needs the certification of a professional municipal planner. The reason for this is for our own protection. Zoning changes carry the greatest legal ramifications, and we referenced the sad tale of the town of Montgomery to substantiate this belief. Of course, this will also cost money -- 20 or 30K, if I'm not mistaken. Where this money will come from is unknown at this point. Your equation of 'no change' somehow equaling life in a vacuum only sensationalizes the overall issue, and takes a machete to the concept of preservation. The ideal I hope we're all striving for is balance, and from that -- sustainability.

Lastly, John, I'll repeat what I said at the Master Plan public meeting: "You get what you pay for". Our fire dept. is a point of pride for the village, made up of neighbors who volunteer their time and efforts. Our DPW sup't, Dave Halvorsen, has profiled the town's DPW as being at capacity for the services it is able to provide. It's not simply as though we fold, and they take over. A diminishing of quality could easily and would probably result.

I hope this wasn't too poetic or rhetorical.

Sincerely,
Rick Gioia

THAT'S what I meant by fiscal fortitude...(thanks, Rick) And, no, JW, I do not want to live in Like It Or Lump It on Hudson, I think we've been there and done that, as the saying goes. What I meant was, there are folks that, for selfish reasons, want to divert attention from what is important to picayune details of little substance. I encourage participation in the community and if you have a legitimate concern then by all means speak up. But the trash collection schedule and the fire whistle that have consumed pages on this website? Come on, stop trying to micro-manage by complaint, it's at the point of being ridiculous. As far as the police consolidation issue, as Rick Gioia mentioned, this was something that the state had sent down the pike and it was held as a consideration, the fact that it was stonewalled just attests to the power of the blue wall. There is no openness there, and openness is what we expect from our government officials. The current administration is working to amend years of Like It or Lump It.

John, while we are on the discussion of change About the yacht club and its taxation rate I would assume that you would know the outcome if the club was valued in the millions I would venture to guess in order to stay afloat it would have to open a public restaurant or the membership dues would skyrocket would you say that would be a fair assessment?

Rick,
My intent was not to debate anyone, but to get a feel for where our elected officials and the candidates see this place in ten or twenty years. I'm concerned, mostly, about my own family's future in the context of our home.
You seem very passionate about preserving things generally as they are. Therefore, I can understand why you would not want to examine the full realm of possibilities.
So would it be fair to say that your vision for the future of COH is to preserve things the way they are, making only small adjustments, and supporting it primarily through residential property taxes as is now the case?
If I've read you correctly, then I thank you for stepping up and making your opinion known. If I haven't gotten it quite right, I hope you'll clarify. Whether I agree with you or not is irrelevant to this discussion.
Thanks,
John Wenz

John,
As an elected official, I would not truly be representing the interests and concerns of all residents if I were not open to examining the "full realm of possibilities". Having said that, however, you are right that I'm generally a preservationist, as it pertains to preserving the character of the village. I campaigned last year along those lines, and have periodically written editorials through the years espousing this, so I don't think I've ever misrepresented myself in this personal philosophy. I have to assume that enough villagers shared that philosophy that they chose to elect me as trustee.

I guess I've just seen too many solid, historic communities sell out to commercial interests that ultimately and irrevocably diminish or destroy the very thing on which they're trying to capitalize. I've also seen success stories, where appropriate commercial interests integrate in an organic way. Let's shoot for that! I think the secret is not to impose a new and grand plan, but rather to allow genuine and relevant businesses to flourish within our scale. Personally, I'd love to go back to the future, and see the Storm King Theatre reopen as an art house cinema. The demand is huge. Downing Film Center in Newburgh is thriving in a shoebox space. Barbara and I frequently drive all the way to Pleasantville, to the Jacob Burns Film Center, to see the films that aren't distributed to multiplexes. I would encourage the members of our Planning and Zoning boards to visit this location, and to see how a theatre with four screens can pack people in with NO dedicated parking lot! After observing this, I can't imagine the parking dilemma that the Planning board fears would materialize. And just watch as other businesses spring up around it; maybe in the vacant barber shop or in the former Crafter's Den. I'm sure the mayor and board would enthusiastically support Mr. Yannone, were he to decide to go through with this plan.

I understand and appreciate, John, your equal passion to find a way to make this place work.

Onward,
Rick Gioia

Rick hit it on the head with preservation. John, I believe majority in the village do not hold your views with growth and that is one reason we had a change in course 2 years ago I really think you should lay your views on the table for a sustainable community lets talk about ideas as Rick mentioned Storm King Theater. As for as blight we already have approval for storefronts and condos in the old dpw lot and that is not smart growth it diminishes character and puts storefronts in sight when others are empty. Poor choice for the village! Just take a look at the town and CVS drug store. The old store still sits empty and causes blight. That is moving foreword some would say.

Rick,
I?m very disappointed with the way my letter was presented here. The headline leads one to believe that my focus was to make a case for merging Village and Town in some fashion. That was NEVER my intention. Sure, I presented that idea as one option, but I also suggested that there are other options including raising taxes and cutting services.
My intent was to solicit the vision of our future from our currently elected officials and our candidates. If you re-read my letter carefully, you?ll see that very clearly. You also might realize that we share many of the same priorities.
You see, I?m very concerned for my family?s long-term future here. Now I understand that ?quality of life? means different things to different people. But property taxes now are high enough, and that?s largely because of New York State?s broken system. But we also need to collectively address this issue in the Village, Town, and School District in every way we can, otherwise it?s bound to affect the quality of life for us all. You?re probably not fighting over-assessment, like many of us who have bought homes since our current Town assessor was hired, so this isn?t a big priority for you. But for many of us, it is. Put those taxes on top of a mortgage, and it equals a lot of money every month- and ours is a low, fixed rate note! Frankly, I and many in your constituency, are starting to question the value of what we?re getting for what we pay to live here. It?s not about selling out to some commercial developer. It?s about sustaining this place as a nice place to live, and that includes how much it costs- for both current and future residents.
I?ve hosted visitors who say that this place is nice, until I tell them what I pay in taxes. Then they say ?It?s not that nice!? There are many, many Cornwall and COH couples who say that as soon as their kids are out of school, they?re moving out. There are many older folks who are struggling, and it?s only getting worse.
Like I said, quality of life means different things to different people. My family and I love many things about this community- most of all, our neighbors. But when I see yet another small Village tax increase with service cuts, and I expect a big school tax increase and possibly an elementary school closing, I begin to weigh my options.
So what I?m trying to do, for the benefit of myself and those who share my concern, is to try to get a feel for where things might be headed. Now that it?s election time, I challenge you and all of our elected officials and the candidates to offer us your vision and to participate in a thoughtful, objective, and creative dialogue on how the whole community- Village, Town, and School Board, might work together to make this an even better place to live. We need to put aside the territorial differences and self-interests and hope for more than just the same old thing.
Thanks for your input,
John Wenz

John,

As you first anti-consolidation response let me say this - I realize you were just throwing the idea out there and were not taking a stand for consolidation. However, as a lifetime resident of the Village I feel passionate about it enough to have such a negative response.

Can I ask what happens in the future as costs rise, the recession continues, and the state budget continues to erode? Once we merge, after the budget as a consolidated town has been reached, does anyone think that taxes will cease to rise and services will be plenty? I don't think any one is under that illusion.

As an example - One thing that has come up is having the DPW mechanic work on the fire trucks. He has already stated he does not have any extra time. One of the main arguments supporting consolidation is merging services. However, how many jobs and how much money will this really save if the same areas and number of residents need to be serviced? Are we going to spread thin all of our municipal employees? Will this include our police department, or will it be limited to the DPW? What will merging do to property values in a time when they are already dropping?

Do people expect to eliminate the Village tax and thus save on taxes as Village residents? If that is the case does anyone expect that the taxes of Cornwall as a whole wont go up, and after a short time we will be paying the same taxes anyway?

In my opinion Cornwall would breaking even or achieving a minimal gain. I don't feel that losing the identity of the Village is worth it. We did not ever create two redundant municipalities. The areas were here, settled, developed an identity, and have slowly been evolving as townships over time. As a resident of the Village of Cornwall on Hudson I do not feel that the short term relief in rising property taxes will offset the loss of history and culture that would result from a merged township.

While we are asking our municipal governments to be fiscally conservative why don't we ask the school board and the administrators to do the same? Cornwall spends an incredible amount of $ per child and for what? My kids' chemistry teacher wasn't even available for after school help. I have NEVER heard of a school district where the teachers did not have to provide time for extra help at least two days a week. We have a TV in every classroom, for what? so they can watch videos? Other schools have 3-5 departmental TVs that are signed out on a schedule. For pete's sake, the Inauguration, an event that would have MERITED school wide TVs, was not even an item at the high school! There is a Computer lab aide who don't know &#*% about computers - this person is a space saver to keep the position in the budget, what a waste of (our) money! Someone pointed out to me the relatively small percentage of our students that go on to Ive League schools. What exactly are we paying for? Superintendent's days? Puh-leeze!
Sports? What percentage of the students are served by this program? What about the arts and letters kids that aren't the sports type? In European schools the focus is on academics and if you want sports you join a civil club or community team. I wouldn't mind the taxes so much if I thought ALL of our students actually were 'learning to succeed' (the schools' motto, in case you didn't know) but somehow I feel like we are not getting our money's worth in this area.

COHES and the middle school watched the inauguration. Why didn't the high school get to?

That is exactly my question. One would think that with a student population so close to voting age and much more aware of politics in general that it would have been the order of the day. (Hey DP, I think we just agreed on something! cool, eh?)

Congratulations to all on an excellent and vitally needed discussion about the future of our Village. Indeed, this thread is arguably more informative than the public meeting on the Master Plan, which seemed to be mired in turf wars over sirens, trees, and department budgets. I happen to agree with Mr. Wenz that we ought to think about where we are headed in much more sweeping terms.

In my view, the Master Plan is perhaps the most important document the community can create because it truly is a formative opportunity, akin to asking an adolescent to write what he or she wants to be when they grow up. Not coincidentally, those parameters will provide the benchmarks against which all future ordinances and decisions will be measured ? or tested, if it comes to that.

As I said at the public meeting, I believe the most important thing to do is to recognize the implications of whatever course we chart for the future. In order to do that, we should learn what we can from the past, have the courage to evaluate the present rationally, and look as far into the future as we dare. ?Preservation? is laudable but the concept begs the most important question: just what are we preserving? And why? On the other hand, neither should we promote development without a clear purpose, lest we risk the blight which we all oppose.

As relative newcomers, we see the same precious assets which Henry Hudson himself saw as the precursors to our Village: a compact, level plateau nestled between mountain and river. But because the Village is ?off the beaten path,? the local merchants that bound it together from the beginning have given way to the bigger-box stores a short ride away. The consequences have been that the daily commerce which once knit Villagers together is gone, leaving the Village center to evolve into a dense residential area lacking any meaningful nucleus. Meanwhile, the riverfront has fallen almost completely into disuse. The losses of these two centers of commerce and of the resort trade once central to the Village economy all have combined to shift the burdens of Village services almost totally to residential taxpayers. And now, taxes are out of hand and getting worse.

To me, that leaves us at the crossroads which Mr. Wenz has outlined. Our current budgetary pressures highlight the importance of establishing the sense of direction which is the Master Plan?s purpose. As I observed at the public meeting, if we are to remain the bedroom community we have become, we don?t need the focused services which a Village government typically is formed to provide. Put another way, if the Village didn?t already exist, there is no credible scenario today under which a Village government would be formed to address our community?s needs. So, whether microscopically in budget terms or macroscopically in the Master Plan, the question then becomes whether there is any value in keeping the Village government, that is, whether the benefits are worth the costs. And it?s not all-or-nothing; the cost/benefit evaluation of departments can be done on a case-by-case basis. That would be a Master Plan for the Village as a species of exclusive, expensive residential community, not-unlike a gated waterside development with private services and commensurately high common charges.

On the other hand, if we are able to envision a future where we again walk to local shops, or where there is a recreational or other business thesis for some of the waterfront, or where we see a ?green? or other economic engine in the Village which is compatible with our lifestyle ? in other words, if we revitalize the Village in a viable, sustainable form ? then there may be justification for staying the course and maintaining Village services and government, because there will again be a Village as there once was, with an economy in need of support and able to pay its share of the costs for that support. Otherwise, we should have the courage to recognize the implications of remaining a purely residential community and adjust our levels of government and services accordingly toward the end of reaching a rational balance between taxation and governmental value.

One way or the other, that overarching vision is what the Master Plan must be about.

Jon Chase

Bravo, Jon. Excellent!

How can we invite our neighbors to participate in this, the most important discussion? Enabled and encouraged, perhaps, by one of our elected officials? He with enough fortitude to step up to this challenge faces a difficult road, but will ultimately earn the respect and admiration of the entire community.

John Wenz
Cornwall-on-Hudson

Jon Chase,

I have to tell you that has been the single best post I've read on this site. I agree with you 100%. Seems many can't see the forest through the trees.

Thank you both for the kind words.

With a village election little more than a month away, what better opportunity could there be to raise these questions to the candidates, hear what they say, and vote on their positions?

There will be a candidates' forum at Munger Cottage on March 6. Let's get out and press the questions.