Giddy Up: Leg. Meeting Turns Ugly with Tilly Foster Focus Again

For years, Tilly Foster Farm had been a site in Putnam County known for its bucolic setting and roaming animals.

Now, controversy and angst seem to be the most common themes attached to the county owned property.

At a July 15 Physical Services Committee meeting, tempers didn’t just flare, they erupted during a discussion about Tilly Foster and the aftermath of the country fair held by the county over the 4th of July weekend. Financials, while only preliminary, revealed the county could be in a hole for between $20,000 and $30,000 as a result of overtime costs for the sheriff’s department and highway department. Commissioner of Finance Bill Carlin said during the meeting the final number would not be available until the completion of the July 25 payroll.

While disclosing the financials, Carlin questioned why the county legislature even requested the information, noting the 43rd annual 4-H Fair coming up has never been scrutinized as long as Carlin has worked for the county. He said, “Are we going to be consistent with all our fairs, or are we going to just pick and choose which ones we like and which ones we don’t like.”

From there, things got heated and a collection of screaming matches ensued.

Legislator Sam Oliverio challenged Carlin’s assertion and said there’s no need to request financials for the 4-H Fair because it’s a historical part of the county, though he said the legislature has requested the information at some points.

He then repeated his disgruntlement with having the fair at Tilly Foster Farm in the first place.

“Why did we have this thing, I have no idea why we had this thing,” Oliverio said as a few residents applauded. “This was a propaganda, we didn’t need it, we didn’t need to lose almost $30,000, probably more.”

Some residents also spoke up against the carnival held from July 3 through July 6, noting it wasted taxpayer money, while tearing up the property of the farm.

Southeast resident and critic of the county’s handling of Tilly Foster, Ann Fanizzi said during the meeting many residents of the county did not approve holding the carnival and she has photos documenting the problems with the fields after heavy machinery and cars were on it.

“You’re playing games with the people’s property,” Fanizzi screeched. “And with the people’s finances.”

Southeast resident Katherine Dwyer was also critical of the fair on the farm, disappointed that garbage seemed to still be on the property days after the event was over and equipment still occupied the farm more than a week after the carnival ended.

“I’m very concerned that the idea is to have a carnival there every year,” she said. “That makes no sense.”

Another county resident, Thomas Maxson, wrote a letter to the county executive administration and the legislature in which he said he was greatly disturbed by the amount of overtime the fair cost. He added there has been damage to the grazing fields.

He said during public forums and meetings planning the farm’s future over the winter and spring, residents express many desires that did not include holding a carnival there.

“The July 4th weekend carnival was exactly what the participants in those meetings did not want – a money wasting boondoggle that flew in the face of the farm’s history,” he wrote.

Legislators on the Physical Services Committee defended holding the huge event at the farm, arguing it was a draw for many residents that would usually not venture to Tilly Foster and educated them on what the future holds for the property.

Legislator Ginny Nacerino, who was at the fair for part of the weekend, called the carnival “very successful.” She said the objection of the fair was to introduce the farm to “all the people” rather than just a select group. The costs associated with the fair were acceptable, Nacerino said, because they go toward the quality of life for county residents.

“I was able to speak with many patrons of the farm who were thrilled to death being there, thrilled to death at the changes,” Nacerino said. “And thrilled to death to the fact that in their whole life they had never been on that property and this was their opportunity to do so.”

Legislator Barbara Scuccimarra agreed with Nacerino, and said it was an “enjoyable experience for the majority of the people that went there.”

The total revenue from the carnival was $19,295 and the total expense of the carnival was $15,368, according to Carlin. The county is also expecting to receive a check from Homestyle Catering for $3,927 and another $500 donation, which Carlin said would go toward the overtime costs.

Prior to the meeting, fliers had been circulating around the county criticizing carnival and encouraging residents to complain to the county executive’s office and legislature. Overall, the discussion Tuesday night was uncivil far most of the meeting, with residents and county legislators and officials bickering back and forth.

Chairman of the Legislature and also of the Physical Services Committee, Carl Albano, at times seemed like an elementary school teacher in a rowdy classroom trying to restore order.

Carlin, though, foreshadow the ugly tenor of the meeting right from the start.

“I gave a pint of blood downstairs (referring to a blood drive,)” Carlin said. “I might as well give another one now.”