Village Says No to Planning

Last week, the Brewster village board of trustees voted to deny the village’s planning board’s request for $15,960.50 until they receive more information. The funds request from the planning board was intended to pay for the training and travel of three of its members.

Throughout the meeting, all six members of the audience—all whom appeared to be well versed village regulars—provided their opinions frequently. Although the agenda items were digressed from repeatedly, the meeting remained under the three hour mark; ending after two hours and thirteen minutes.

Village Trustees Christine Piccini, Yoshi Ito, and Mayor James Schoenig passed a resolution to add a second addendum to the Village of Brewster Waste Water Treatment Plan.

In reference to the village’s plan for phosphorus reduction, “the one thing that the village has that nobody has right now, is that back in 2000 and 2001 we did a water study in five locations,” said Todd Atkinson of J. Robert Folchetti and Associates. “So when we go to the DEC, we’re using actual numbers; everybody else [the other municipalities in the county] is using theoretical numbers.”

“We’ve always said that we were ahead of everybody on this,” said Schoenig. Atkinson added that the Village of Brewster is the only area in the county with “not only one, but two DEC retrofits.” Later, an audience member joined in on the conversation, adding that the Southeast town board is far behind the Brewster village in this process.

This renewed the discussion covered by the COURIeR last week, in that some politicians—including Southeast Supervisor Michael Rights, State Senate candidate Greg Ball, and Assembly candidate Steve Katz—believe the Village of Brewster should be dissolved and the town of Southeast consolidated.

“I think we should take over the town, to heck with this consolidation,” said one resident from the audience, followed by laughs. “Can we do that, I’ll second it?” asked another.

Other items of discussion included the signage permits for the Hill Neighborhood Association, possible rezoning of the Green Lot, and a visit from the state comptroller’s office. According the Schoenig, the comptroller representative was satisfied with the way the board was “doing right by the taxpayer.”