No. Castle Delays Windmill Water Bond Action; Committee Formed
North Castle officials have once again delayed a decision on whether to borrow up to $9.6 million to replace water mains in Windmill Farms until it can receive more feedback from a newly formed advisory committee.
A five-person committee met for the first time last Thursday with Water and Sewer Department Assistant Superintendent Sal Misiti and Town Attorney Roland Baroni in an attempt to gauge community sentiment. Last month, the town sent out a survey to all 379 homeowners that would help guide officials on how to address the development’s aging water system, however, just 53 percent of Windmill residents have responded as of last week, Misiti said.
“We’re trying another tact,” said town Supervisor Howard Arden. “We’re trying to fulfill the wishes of the residents. We’ll do whatever they want to do.”
Once a consensus is reached, the committee is expected to return to the board. There was no target date mentioned when that might occur.
While the town board must approve a bond to borrow the money that would finance the work, the cost would only be paid by Windmill residents, also known as Water District No. 2. It is projected that the first-year cost on a 25-year bond would be $2,903 per property owner.
One Residents of Windmill, Inc. (ROWI) committee member, Pete Coviello, said the committee was formed because there is a list of issues that residents want to understand before they make a nearly $10 million decision. Two of the issues identified earlier in the public hearing process were alternate funding possibilities and whether an arrangement can be worked out with Brynwood Golf & Country Club to help contribute to the cost. Brynwood is one of two outside users that buy district water.
“What we’re trying to do is be organized so that we can identify the issues, and at least at this point, talk about who’s going to focus and address each issue that’s been identified,” Coviello said. “I think that’s a smart way to go about it.”
One resident, Ed Woodyard, asked that the committee meetings be open to all Windmill residents. He said that the committee, which includes Coviello, Stuart Kovensky, Jan Bernstein and Robert Greene, does not represent all the water district’s residents.
“There are people outside of that group and members of the district that should be heard and should have some input as well,” Woodyard said.
Arden agreed there should be as much community involvement as possible and appealed to the committee at last week’s town board meeting to have forums available where the community at large can attend and participate.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/