Village Residents OK Non-Binding Open Space Question
By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Loch Arbour residents voted last week to grant permission to its Board of Trustees to collect funds for open space, recreation and historic preservation, but not all residents are happy with the outcome of the 68 to 44 vote.
The vote was non-binding.
Leslie Tinkler was one of the residents who complained this week about the public question saying he finds the whole premise absurd.
Tinkler said a flyer promoting passage of the question , which was not signed, did not state that the referendum was non-binding.
People think its a done deal if they voted yes, Tinkler said.
Tinkler also takes exception to the figure included in the flyer stating that the fund would collect $74, on average, for each household.
I dont want to pay 74 cents, said Tinkler.
He believes the funds are, in reality, targeting the much-litigated beachfront property owned by Jack Kassin.
Trustee John Skrletts said the public question was a way to determine villagers thoughts about having an open space fund.
It was a way to get the pulse of the community, Skrletts said.
Skrletts said the fund is in line with the towns master plan and is necessary to apply for state grants.
Were a small community so anything we can do to defer costs, Skrletts said.
Skrletts said the board would have to introduce an ordinance to open the fund and set the open space tax rate.
Its part of the future plans to have funds available, he said.
They are entitled to their opinion, but in my judgment they are seeking vengeance, Tinkler said, The man (Kassin) owns the beach.
Kassin, he said, allows the village to use one third of his beach when the public beach is full.
Tinkler also said the towns listed on the flyer is misleading, because none of them are beach towns and have nothing in common with Loch Arbour.
He also rejects the idea that historic preservation is needed.
Are they going to take someones 200-year-old house.
What would we do with this historic house? he asked. This is nonsense.
And as far as the claim of recreational benefit, Tinkler said he believes it is not a top priority.
There is plenty of recreation in surrounding towns. I can walk to tennis courts.We dont need our own recreation in this community.
Who is the recreation for? he asked.
Regarding the idea that the vote was to test the feeling in the community for open space Tinkler said, I dont know how they can have a feeling with no facts.
As for the village acquiring more property Tinkler said they would then be faced with maintaining it.
When you own it, you have to maintain it, it doesnt run itself. We have enough trouble running the public beach.
Addressing a comment he heard from a resident Tinkler said people are afraid Kassin will sell his property and new owners would put up a high rise building.
But, said Tinkler, new owners would have to get approvals to build any construction on the beach.
Its unrealistic and unnecessary, he said of the open space fund.
Newly-elected trustee Jeff Gill said he is in favor of creating the account as an act of preparation.
I think its a good idea to be prepared in case something becomes available, Gill said.
He added that even though the referendum was non-binding residents did vote in favor of it.
The majority in town voted for it, he said.
Gill also said his understanding is that an open space account must be in existence in order for a town to receive Green Acre funding from the state.
Gill acknowledged that the purpose of the account is mainly to purchase beach front property.
It could be 10 years down the line, Gill said.
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