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Advocate for Spruce trees says Public Works Commish. has conflict of interest
By Francesca Olsen
The county attorney’s office and the county Department of Public Works are continuing to work on the final acquisitions for the rehabilitation project on county routes 7 and 7A in the town of Copake, county engineering director Dean Knox reported Monday at the board of supervisors Public Works/Solid Waste committee.
There are only three or four acquisitions of property needed before the county can continue with the project, which would reconstruct Route 7 from Route 23 in Craryville south to the intersection with Route 7A, and Route 7A from the intersection south to the hamlet of Copake.
Copake homeowner Susan Winchell-Sweeney’s 45 Norway Spruce trees have repeatedly come into debate concerning the project; the county has offered Winchell-Sweeney about $16,000 for the approximately 10 by 100 feet of property the trees are on.
The trees must be removed to improve sight distance at the intersection of routes 7 and 7A, according to Commissioner of Public Works David Robinson.
“This isn’t the only temporary or permanent easement that’s needed,” he said, mentioning a potential agreement with the Taconic Shores Homeowners Association, along with easements required for other projects.
Winchell-Sweeney is a holdout property owner because, through obtaining documents via Freedom of Information Laws (FOIL), she has found several inconsistencies with the project and the county’s reasoning for the removal of her trees.
Winchell-Sweeney e-mailed the Register-Star on Aug. 27 and identified Robinson as a former employee of the Clough, Harbor and Associates engineering firm. Clough, Harbor and Associates is the design consultant engineering firm that was hired to design the highway and bridge rehabilitation projects, “and is the firm responsible for identifying all these ‘hazards’,” she said.
Robinson told the Register-Star he “absolutely was” an employee of Clough, Harbor and Associates (for 17 years), but that this “has nothing to do with any temporary easements, permanent easements, or any other acquisitions for this project.”
Robinson said several engineering firms do work for the county on multiple engineering and highway projects, including Creighton Manning Engineering in Albany and Ryan-Biggs Associates in Troy. “My allegiance right now is with the county,” he said.
During the August meeting of the Public Works/Sold Waste committee, most of the discussion surrounded Winchell-Sweeney’s property; committee chairman supervisor John Rutkey, R-Greenport, suggested that Robinson and Winchell-Sweeney meet before the next meeting to discuss the issues raised.
Winchell-Sweeney was not at Monday’s committee meeting, and said that Robinson did not contact her until Sept. 18. Robinson said he has not met with Winchell-Sweeney yet because their schedules have not allowed it.
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com.
There are only three or four acquisitions of property needed before the county can continue with the project, which would reconstruct Route 7 from Route 23 in Craryville south to the intersection with Route 7A, and Route 7A from the intersection south to the hamlet of Copake.
Copake homeowner Susan Winchell-Sweeney’s 45 Norway Spruce trees have repeatedly come into debate concerning the project; the county has offered Winchell-Sweeney about $16,000 for the approximately 10 by 100 feet of property the trees are on.
The trees must be removed to improve sight distance at the intersection of routes 7 and 7A, according to Commissioner of Public Works David Robinson.
“This isn’t the only temporary or permanent easement that’s needed,” he said, mentioning a potential agreement with the Taconic Shores Homeowners Association, along with easements required for other projects.
Winchell-Sweeney is a holdout property owner because, through obtaining documents via Freedom of Information Laws (FOIL), she has found several inconsistencies with the project and the county’s reasoning for the removal of her trees.
Winchell-Sweeney e-mailed the Register-Star on Aug. 27 and identified Robinson as a former employee of the Clough, Harbor and Associates engineering firm. Clough, Harbor and Associates is the design consultant engineering firm that was hired to design the highway and bridge rehabilitation projects, “and is the firm responsible for identifying all these ‘hazards’,” she said.
Robinson told the Register-Star he “absolutely was” an employee of Clough, Harbor and Associates (for 17 years), but that this “has nothing to do with any temporary easements, permanent easements, or any other acquisitions for this project.”
Robinson said several engineering firms do work for the county on multiple engineering and highway projects, including Creighton Manning Engineering in Albany and Ryan-Biggs Associates in Troy. “My allegiance right now is with the county,” he said.
During the August meeting of the Public Works/Sold Waste committee, most of the discussion surrounded Winchell-Sweeney’s property; committee chairman supervisor John Rutkey, R-Greenport, suggested that Robinson and Winchell-Sweeney meet before the next meeting to discuss the issues raised.
Winchell-Sweeney was not at Monday’s committee meeting, and said that Robinson did not contact her until Sept. 18. Robinson said he has not met with Winchell-Sweeney yet because their schedules have not allowed it.
To reach reporter Francesca Olsen call 518-828-1616, ext. 2272, or e-mail folsen@registerstar.com.
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gavdar wrote on Sep 22, 2009 1:24 PM: