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At least 2700 Ossining citizens signed a formal petition in accordance with New York State’s Permissive Referendum Law opposing a bond resolution to build a roundabout/traffic circle smack dab in the middle of the Village's Historic Downtown Business District.
It would cost an estimated $600,000. Allegedly, this petition had some legal imperfections and it was initially rejected by the Ossining Village Board.
Subsequently, this body read their re-election tea leaves and came up with another proposed official resolution on its agenda for a special legislative meeting of March 22nd. It would revoke/rescind the one they voted for last month for the roundabout. In essence, it would create a cooperative climate for community “buy-in” for this and other future bonding projects.
Earlier this week, however, the Village Board dropped the revocation resolution and decided to simply table it such that the original roundabout bond resolution is still alive and kicking. In my view, tabling this matter is an unfortunate and sad departure from their straight forward and corrected reaction to the petition.
This walk-back is disconcerting. It diminishes the confidence the community has in the Board’s desire and ability to abide by the will of the people.
In any event, I look forward to a town hall meeting the board has scheduled for April 6th at the Ossining Public Library for further talks on this issue. I hope that it will lead to a series of round-table meetings comprised of representatives of the Village Board and of such organizations as the Greater Ossining Chamber of Commerce the Historic Preservation Commission, the Environmental Advisory Board, other “land use” boards and others that may wish to participate.
These meetings should be held at a neutral location such as the General Electric, Maryknoll and Mariandale complexes under the guidance of a competent external facilitator and recorder. This was the way consensus was achieved in the most recent Ossining Master Plan. It worked then and it can work now.
Miguel Hernandez
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