EPOA Pushes For St. Paul's Decision
By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

Perhaps sensing the public's restlessness as they eagerly wait for more AvalonBay proposal details, the board of directors of the Eastern Property Owners' Association presented a timeline for the Mayor's Committee on St. Paul's and urged them to drop any de-mands for public space within the main building.

"We believe that if the trustees adopt both the format and the time schedule proposed we will stop all the sniping and public wrangling on the subject of St. Paul's and give the public an opportunity to state their views," said Dennis Donnelly, president of the EPOA, at the March 13th Board of Trustees meeting.

The EPOA board unanimously agreed that the Mayor's Committee should negotiate with AvalonBay for financial compensation in place of public space within the main building. That money should be earmarked for renovating existing community space on the St. Paul's property or placed in a reserve fund for future construction costs to rehabilitate the gym or Cluett Hall.

Donnelly sent a letter to Mayor Peter Bee asking the committee to reach an agreement with AvalonBay by June. The EPOA board has designated July and August as the time for discussion and debate as those who are for and against development argue their position.

In early September, once a specific proposal is offered to residents, Donnelly said the property owners' associations should hold a final poll. Those who are registered to vote in school board elections would be permitted to cast a vote at a voting machine set up at the high school. If the proposal passes, Donnelly said the Village would be able to go forward with their request for Home Rule legislation by November.

Obtaining the legislation and relief from Parkland designation from state legislators is one of the biggest and initial obstacles that will have to be faced. Senator Kemp Hannon has emphasized that he will only go forward in Albany to secure the necessary Home Rule legislation and relief from Parkland designation if he sees widespread public support for one proposal. Without the legislation, the land can strictly be used for public purposes only.

Second Deputy Mayor Thomas Lamberti, the newly-appointed chairman of the Mayor's Committee on St. Paul's, said his committee is meeting once a week in the hope of further expediting the process. They are currently reviewing two AvalonBay proposals: one with no community space, and the other which designates 12,000 square feet for the public. He said he will have an update at the Village's annual reorganization meeting to be held on Monday, April 7th in the Village Hall boardroom.