Letter to the Editor: Why I’m voting YES for the ward redistricting resolution
October 28, 2011
by The Rev. Dr. Joel Clark Mason
Months ago in March for the second time the property where I live was severely damaged by water run-off from the Temple construction site that crossed Town property.
Who do I contact at the town to report this? Who is my representative? No one in particular I guess. So I made sure that the Town Supervisor was apprised of the situation. I even sent her video evidence of the damaging run-off caused by uncontrolled water flow from Town property onto mine.
Her response, “I’ll have a town engineer look into it.” Short answer—nothing was done to fix the channelization on Town property. Costs for repairs was around $15,000.
Six months later Irene comes through and again my home was adversely affected by uncontrolled run-off through Town property. Then the rain storm that followed again caused significant damage to the property and house so much so that my wife and I had to vacate the premises for repairs to be made.
Again the Supervisor was apprised of the situation but this time fire department volunteers also looked into the situation. One physically went and got a town engineer to come look at the problem (remember? back in March the Town Supervisor assured me that a town engineer would look into it) and all agreed that there are significant problems with run-off from Town property relating to the storm system put in at the Temple. Word from the Town Supervisor—“Something will be done immediately.” Costs of those repairs, so far $30,000 and still counting/mounting (three water heaters, one furnace, two electrical services, removal of mud and cleaning of basement).
Finally in mid-October a backhoe went up the trail to begin working on filling the channels dug by water run-off. Only eight months and $45,000 in damages after first making the Town Supervisor aware of the problem. Is she my representative? If so, then she’s not terribly effective.
I cannot help but believe that if I had a person representing me from my Ward, my neighborhood, this problem would have been addressed quicker and much more efficiently.
Why am I voting ‘yes’ for the Ward redistricting referendum? Because I have learned first hand how ineffective and unresponsive our current form of government is to individual needs.
Who is my representative? Who is yours? With the Ward system in place I know who to go to when an issue arrises that affects me or my neighbors. I know who to go to when an issue arises that affects New Castle: my Ward representative and I’ll know that my voice and my concerns will be heard and acted upon in a timely manner.
The Rev. Dr. Joel Clark Mason
39 Morton Place
Chappaqua, NY 10514
_________________________
The two-part proposal will appear in the November 8 referendum as a single statement to which voters will answer Yes or No. It will read as follows:
“That a) the number of at-large seats on the Town Board be increased from four to six;
and
b) that these six members of the Board be elected as representatives of each of six wards respectively of the Town of New Castle, to be defined in accordance with the laws of New York State, Town Law, Article 6, Section 85.”
From NCNOW.org’s archives (newest to oldest):
Letter to the Editor: Why I’m voting YES for the ward redistricting resolution, October 28, 2011, by The Rev. Dr. Joel Clark Mason
Letter to the Editor: Vote “No” to referendum on representation by ward, October 28, 2011, by Robin Stout
Letter to the Editor: Nov. 8 Referendum—Vote YES for Democracy, October 28, 2011, by Penny Vane
Letter to the Editor: Why I’m voting YES for the ward redistricting resolution, October 28, 2011
Letter to the Editor: Ward system is not in the town’s best interest, October 24, 2011, by Dr. William H. Flank
Letter to the Editor: The wheeling and dealing of Yonkers ward system? Not for New Castle, October 24, 2011, by Betty Weitz
League info forum for referendum on elections by ward draws a curious crowd, October 21, 2011
Candidates’ thoughts on the proposed referendum on representation by ward, NCNOW, October 21, 2011
Letter to the Editor: I will vote No on the proposed referendum to institute a ward system, October 21, 2011, by Rob Greenstein
See also Sewers issue surfaces in League forum on ward system referendum, 10/21/11.
Manny Areces’ website with info on the proposed referendum: http://ncreferendum.com/
To see Gerrard’s entire statement click HERE
For background, see:
Letter to the Editor: League urges a “No” vote on ward system referendum, NCNOW.org, September 23, 2011, by Sheila Bernson and Jennifer Mebes Flagg
League of Women voters opposes ward referendum, but will hold forum on Oct. 17, NCNOW.org, September 23, 2011, by Christine Yeres
Letter to the Editor: The proposed referendum to change the structure of town board elections, NCNOW.org, September 19, 2011, by Rob Greenstein
Non-partisan group proposes expansion of town board from 4 at-large members to 6, NCNOW.org, July 1, 2011, by Susie Pender
To The Rev Mason - with all due respect sir I live in Chappaqua and share several of your frustrations. I went to the town several times for variance relief due to an old dated septic system. They offered only the names of a few engineers and septic companies to contact. Because of the topography and nature of my land I could not relocate the septic field and was forced to dig out and then truck in material to replace the tank and field. The total cost was $50k including replacing landscaping ruined by the trucks and back hoe.
During the recent storms you mention, I too had a flooded basement and my house was one of the last to get power restored - 6 days. Because of where I live in Chapp and the way in which the power lines are strung we seem to be the first to lose power and the last to get it restored. This happens every year. I call the town and nothing has changed.
My point is that I live in Chapp (with the majority of residents). I am not in Millwood or a West Ender yet I too share your frustrations and feel that the town sometimes does not hear me. I also want sewers. And I have a representative that you seem to think you need. So the answer is NOT a ward system that will get you a seat on the board. That will further divide the town.
Property rights supersede the negative impacts of development on neighbors. Many of us in town have to deal with increased flooding that has resulted from increased development (larger buildings, larger parking lots, and more driveways) around us. I doubt a change in how we are represented at the municipal level will fundamentally change property rights. As for the town property stormwater mitigation, that’s a cost that all of us taxpayers will have to cover and so I am glad that town officials are prudent and take the time to consider how best to address these issues cost effectively, spreading the costs over several years.
