December 23, 2011
by Christine Yeres
THIS JUST IN: Word came from a spokesperson for Co. Exec. Astorino at 9:20 A.M. that he has signed the legislation to allow extension of the sewer district to Yeshiva, Random Farms, Riverwoods and Chappaqua Crossing.
Hershel Reich, administrator of Yeshiva, was uneasy when he heard an ambiguous message from County Executive Rob Astorino on his answering machine yesterday morning. Reich wonders now about the chances for admission of Yeshiva, Random Farms and Riverwoods into the Saw Mill sewer district, which the legislature voted on December 15 to approve. See Co. “Legislature approves admission of 293 New Castle parcels into sewer district,” NCNOW.org, 12/16/11.
At 10:15 a.m. on December 22, Astorino left Reich a message saying, “Obviously this is something I’ve supported. I sent this legislation down to the legislature over six months ago. They’ve tied it to some things in Yonkers which may or may not be able to happen because of the way the bonding is set up. We’ll try to work through those. I will continue to support this.”
“I appreciate what he’s done,” said Reich. “He brought it to the legislature, but I think he should make it happen now no matter how. We don’t want to take ‘No’ for answer at this point. Let’s make it happen. Let him sign it. People will be very upset if this doesn’t go through. It’s very important. It’s the whole community—not only people from here, but also our sister communities—the Yeshiva in Peekskill and one in Bedford Hills—hundreds of people will be upset.”
“The paramount issue is to preserve the water quality of the Croton Reservoir,” said Mark Tulis, an attorney who represents Yeshiva and Random Farms in the sewer diversion matter. “I can’t imagine that the legislature and the county executive won’t be able to work out what appears to be a technical glitch after 20 years of working at this.”
Astorino has until today to veto or approve.
Copyright 2012 NewCastleNOW.org