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Village complies on state deadline
By Paul Crossman
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
According to Deputy Commissioner Joseph Rabito of the New York State Office of Community Renewal, after nearly a year of discussion, Valatie Village Mayor Gary Strevell has finally signed the Memorandum of Understanding about appropriate use of the Senior Center. The MOU was returned just in time, as Friday was the deadline set before the OCR promised disciplinary action.
“At this point the Village Board is left with no choice but to agree, under duress, to the terms demanded by (the state). I cannot in good conscience allow Valatie taxpayers to be at risk,” Strevell said in a press release.
Far from being upset at how long it took to get the village in compliance, Rabito and the OCR are just happy to see the issue finally closed.
“I’m just glad that the MOU was signed and returned and that we finally had a meeting of the minds,” he told the Register-Star. “They’ve committed to remaining in compliance.”
Councilwoman Helen Schneider favored getting the center into compliance and echoed Rabito’s sentiments: “I’m just glad that the mayor has done the right thing for the village of Valatie.”
Strevell assured the residents of the village the center had been consistently used in the manner was set out in the state grant.
He said other centers have received similar grants but officials there experience no repercussions when using centers for government and community purposes.
“For instance, the Catskill Senior Center is a local example of this since their center was funded through the same grant program,” the mayor said. “A quick internet search...will reveal that they are allowed to operate under a different standard which the state is now requiring of Valatie.”
The regular meetings of the Catskill Village Board are held at their senior center, he claims, adding the facility is even available for the general public to rent when available. The mayor also questions why Valatie should be forced to sign an agreement saying they will not use the center for village government when other centers have no such limitations.
“Naturally, I have only wanted that Valatie have the same rights as other communities to utilize this taxpayer-supported space for other public and community uses when the building is not being used for senior programming.”
But Rabito of the state said the situation with Catskill is not special treatment and now that the issue has been brought up he plans to look into it just as thoroughly.
“I am going to go down there personally,” Rabito told the Register-Star, “and make sure that Catskill is held to the same standards as Valatie.”
Strevell also blamed Kinderhook Supervisor Doug McGivney, who according to Strevell, has chosen to work for his own good rather than for the village and the town, even going so far as to try to get the grant revoked.
“Residents have been exposed to potential financial liability because Mr. McGivney chooses to play political games instead of working for the common benefit of all the residents of the town of Kinderhook,” Strevell said.
But McGivney refutes the attacks and says he did not demand Valatie’s name removed from the center.
McGivney says offered help.
“That offer [of help] was conveyed to Mayor Strevell by Mr. Rabito. Mayor Strevell never contacted me. Mr. (Patrick) Grattan did contact me to explore ideas, but there was no follow up. I did not want the Valatie taxpayers to return the $400,000, and stated such.”
Grattan is a candidate for Kinderhook supervisor.
McGivney said he is unhappy with the allegations and plans to write a full response via blog at dougmcgivney.blogspot.com. Strevell’s text can be found at www.valatievillage.com.
Regardless of the stones thrown, village resident Sean Mortons is glad the matter seems to be at rest, and the village no longer risks paying back the $400,000 grant.
“I certainly am happy the mayor signed,” said Morton. “I hope it signifies the villages wish to comply.” But he said he suspects this may not be the end of the issue.
“If we sign [the MOU] and then don’t comply, we’ll be right back at square one.”
To reach reporter Paul Crossman call 518- 828-1616, ext. 2266 or e-mail pcrossman@registerstar.com
“At this point the Village Board is left with no choice but to agree, under duress, to the terms demanded by (the state). I cannot in good conscience allow Valatie taxpayers to be at risk,” Strevell said in a press release.
Far from being upset at how long it took to get the village in compliance, Rabito and the OCR are just happy to see the issue finally closed.
“I’m just glad that the MOU was signed and returned and that we finally had a meeting of the minds,” he told the Register-Star. “They’ve committed to remaining in compliance.”
Councilwoman Helen Schneider favored getting the center into compliance and echoed Rabito’s sentiments: “I’m just glad that the mayor has done the right thing for the village of Valatie.”
Strevell assured the residents of the village the center had been consistently used in the manner was set out in the state grant.
He said other centers have received similar grants but officials there experience no repercussions when using centers for government and community purposes.
“For instance, the Catskill Senior Center is a local example of this since their center was funded through the same grant program,” the mayor said. “A quick internet search...will reveal that they are allowed to operate under a different standard which the state is now requiring of Valatie.”
The regular meetings of the Catskill Village Board are held at their senior center, he claims, adding the facility is even available for the general public to rent when available. The mayor also questions why Valatie should be forced to sign an agreement saying they will not use the center for village government when other centers have no such limitations.
“Naturally, I have only wanted that Valatie have the same rights as other communities to utilize this taxpayer-supported space for other public and community uses when the building is not being used for senior programming.”
But Rabito of the state said the situation with Catskill is not special treatment and now that the issue has been brought up he plans to look into it just as thoroughly.
“I am going to go down there personally,” Rabito told the Register-Star, “and make sure that Catskill is held to the same standards as Valatie.”
Strevell also blamed Kinderhook Supervisor Doug McGivney, who according to Strevell, has chosen to work for his own good rather than for the village and the town, even going so far as to try to get the grant revoked.
“Residents have been exposed to potential financial liability because Mr. McGivney chooses to play political games instead of working for the common benefit of all the residents of the town of Kinderhook,” Strevell said.
But McGivney refutes the attacks and says he did not demand Valatie’s name removed from the center.
McGivney says offered help.
“That offer [of help] was conveyed to Mayor Strevell by Mr. Rabito. Mayor Strevell never contacted me. Mr. (Patrick) Grattan did contact me to explore ideas, but there was no follow up. I did not want the Valatie taxpayers to return the $400,000, and stated such.”
Grattan is a candidate for Kinderhook supervisor.
McGivney said he is unhappy with the allegations and plans to write a full response via blog at dougmcgivney.blogspot.com. Strevell’s text can be found at www.valatievillage.com.
Regardless of the stones thrown, village resident Sean Mortons is glad the matter seems to be at rest, and the village no longer risks paying back the $400,000 grant.
“I certainly am happy the mayor signed,” said Morton. “I hope it signifies the villages wish to comply.” But he said he suspects this may not be the end of the issue.
“If we sign [the MOU] and then don’t comply, we’ll be right back at square one.”
To reach reporter Paul Crossman call 518- 828-1616, ext. 2266 or e-mail pcrossman@registerstar.com
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stonepound wrote on Oct 9, 2009 10:20 PM:
People make fun of Gov. Paterson rug, but here is a republican, Mayor Strevell of Valatie that wasted $400,000 in tax payers dollars.
That is 40 rugs by my count. "