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Letters to the Editor: Who Should Fix C of O Mistakes?

March 10, 2010

To the Editor:

I am somewhat confused by messages coming from this (Cornwall-on-Hudson) administration.

On the one hand, they insist that in the absence of a certificate of occupancy, they must obey the law, regardless of cost and inconvenience, and immediately order the DPW building be vacated though it has been safely occupied for years. On the other hand, they abdicate their obligation to enforce the law regarding the seemingly improper issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the new kayak business where the property owner has apparently incurred no cost or inconvenience, saying instead that if an individual member of the public wants to enforce the law, he or she can do so by going to the ZBA.

That places the burden for law enforcement in the wrong place. It costs hundreds of dollars for a member of the public to go to the ZBA and most members of the public will not have legal "standing" to even do so in any particular case. For example, as a resident of Weeks Avenue, I would not have the authority to initiate the ZBA proceeding.

Does the village really want to say that if they make a mistake, they will either leave correcting it to the work of others or will otherwise just ignore it? Is it only the alleged mistakes of prior administrations that they care about?

Howard Protter
Cornwall-on-Hudson




Comments:

Mr. Protter,
I find this administration in the village to be much like the Obama administration. Will just do things and then if a problem comes up will just blame it on the Bush administration...Much like Joey Barbi and Mr.River Rock blaming everything on the previous administration in this village!


posted by Tom Murphy on 03/10/10 at 5:49 PM

We have a building inspector who is in (2) days a week. Two. So far it seems that two projects have completely monopolized his time with no end in sight to the mud slinging. Enough. There are many projects and residents who require the attention of the building inspector who is here to serve ALL of the community.


posted by Regina McGrade on 03/12/10 at 8:21 AM

Mr. Murphy,

Can we keep national politics out of it?

Lets make a deal, you refrain from making comments like the one above, and I'll refrain from posting the undeniable laundry list of problems and challenges left behind by the the Bush Administration.

Agreed?


posted by Ted Warren on 03/12/10 at 9:59 AM

I agree! I'm tired of hearing negativity towards our Mayor and the board they are giving themselves for the benefit of our village and when they uncover something from the past we have a group of people that turn it around and point fingers. Enough already !!!


posted by ralph coyont on 03/16/10 at 8:50 AM

Hey Ralph,

Challenging and asking questions keeps people honest. That's a great process. Due to family considerations I cannot make it to board meeting on Monday nights. That doesn't mean I don't care what happens in our village.

I would like to know the hiring process used for the Building Inspector and if he was vetted first. Having done building inspections myself I know the scope of their duty. To issue a C-of-O to the Old Storm King theater was NOT within the scope of the building inspector. This sends red flags up all around me. Do you realize how many Building Inspectors have been caught up doing illegal things from taking bribes to doing the dirty work of others. I am certainly not accusing our building inspector of anything like that. I just hope he was vetted properly because I see the issuance of a C of O to the Old Storm King Theater
by our B.I. to lie outside his scope of duty. That worries me. Honest mistake? Maybe. But, IMO, a mistake nonetheless. What is our planning board for?


posted by P W on 03/23/10 at 11:13 AM

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