Dan Dustin, the lone Republican on the Colonie Town Board, said there is a lack of transparency with the current review process of the town’s Comprehensive Plan.
Dustin said his main gripe with the process is that nobody seems to know about it. He said a Comprehensive Planning Committee has already held three secret meetings, with members using written and e-mailed comments as a form of public comment.
`As a Town Board member, I didn’t even know it was established,` he said. `You would expect it to be approved by the board.`
Town Supervisor Paula Mahan formed the Comprehensive Planning Committee, which is tasked with general planning of the town and has been meeting since earlier this year.
Dustin said that when he finally learned heard about the committee, he e-mailed his concerns to Mahan but did not get a response until 10 days later.
Mahan said Dustin’s press release on the review process was nothing but political posturing.
`I really don’t have time for these political games,` she said. `Dustin was quick to talk and has no basis of doing so. That e-mail [press release] contains a lot of political overtones.`
Mahan said the review committee spent its first three meetings collecting feedback on the state of Central Avenue, receiving comments on the review process, discussing high-tech industry, and generally getting to know one another before they start working together.
`This is a big town,` she said. `When in the beginning of the process, we need to have time to get things started.`
The 12-member board is made up of heads of several departments within the town, residents and a business person to provide advice. The members are: Building Department Director Mike Rosch and Planning and Economic Development Director Joseph LaCivita, both of whom are co-chairs of the committee; Senior Resources Director Christine Cary; Director of Community Services for the Division of Youth Services Alicia Osur; Department of Public Works Director Jack Cunningham; as well as Jack Fahey, Gary Rinaldi, Kathy Ordway and Ralph Schimmel, all of whom are Town of Colonie residents.
Dustin said he is also concerned about the lack of involvement of local business organizations, such as the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Colonie Chamber of Commerce; the environmental community; and the senior community.
Chris Hawvard, executive director of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission, said the organization would love to be a part of the review process, but added that Pine Bush officials didn’t have any concerns about it.
`We are interested,` he said. `But we’re not necessarily opposed to the process. At this point, I don’t have any expectations the town is trying to hide something from us. People have felt it’s not transparent, but it’s too early to say.`
Ed Neary, executive director of the Beltrone Senior Living Center, said Beltrone would like to be involved in the process, but the town has indicated that Carey is representing senior citizens.
`If that’s the way it is, so be it,` said Neary. `I feel confident with our relationship with the Senior Resources Department.`
He said being at those review committee meetings would allow for more fluid feedback, as opposed to just being able to comment on the minutes.
`I don’t think it’s as good of a process as if you were there,` said Neary.
Mahan insists that the review process has not changed from 2005 and that nothing can be decided on before presenting the plan to the Town Board. She said as the review goes forward, people will be kept informed, and the Planning Board will be in the know.
`The business community is a huge part of the process,` she said. `We certainly invited the [Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Colonie Chamber of Commerce] to review our findings and make suggestions.`
She added that residents can also go to the town’s website and submit an e-mail suggestion to [email protected], or they can mail in written comments to the Town of Colonie Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, c/o Town of Colonie Building Department, 347 Old Niskayuna Road, Latham, 12110-2290.
Colonie resident Helen Romano said she is unsatisfied with the current process and said it isn’t nearly comparable to the one in 2005, when the town’s Comprehensive Plan was last created.
`The town did a really thorough job when the plan was implemented in 2005,` she said. `We put a lot of input into the meetings when they first happened.`
She said she was pleased by the amount of effort to make the town aware of what was going on in 2005 by holding workshops, discussion groups and meetings at The Crossings.
If people didn’t know to look on the town’s website, she added, they would have no idea what is going on with the review process this year.
There will be a public Comprehensive Planning Committee Meeting on Sept. 13 at 3:30 p.m.
Romano and Dustin are also taking issue with the afternoon schedule.
`Who’s going to go to a meeting at 3:30 in the afternoon?` Romano said. `People have work.`
She asked why the meetings couldn’t be held in the evenings, like those of other departments.
`She [Mahan] campaigned on transparency,` Romano said. `This isn’t transparency. Not by a long shot.`
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