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| Bovina News | ||
| April 8, 2008 – The fight against industrial wind turbines in our area is not over. | ||
| The Moresville project in
Stamford
and Roxbury is moving forward. If turbines are placed in Stamford
it is conceivable that they some day they could be placed in our backyard
along the Rose’s Brook ridge. The Alliance for Bovina and the other
area Alliances have been helping the Western Catskill Preservation Alliance
in its effort to stop the project.
Repeated here is the WCPA’s announcement of the DEIS hearings on May 7 and May 10. We hope to see at these meetings a very large showing of opponents to the project. The turnout for Saturday's meeting on May 10 should be parpticularly large. I urge you to find the time to attend. After all, the season is too young for mowing or gardening! Larry Karam Co-Director and Counsel, Alliance for Bovina
To Friends of the WCPA, This is a notification to all of our supporters that the Roxbury Planning Board has scheduled two open meetings for the public to express their view of the DEIS (Draft Environmental Impact Statement) for Invenergy's Industrial Wind Project. The first meeting will be on Wednesday, May 7, starting at 7pm. The second meeting will be on Saturday, May 10, starting at 10am. Both meetings will be held at the BOCES center in Grand Gorge (just off of Rt 23). These are obviously critical meetings where we are planning to make our case to the Planning Board. I am planning to make a presentation at both meetings. Everyone is welcomed to speak at the meetings to provide your feedback, comments and concerns regarding the DEIS and the project. I encourage you all do so. Here is the link to the DEIS: http://www.roxburyny.com/windproject/deis.html Following these meetings the Planning Board will consider all comments and will provide their consolidated DEIS comments to Invenergy. Invenergy will have a period of time to address the comments and to submit a final EIS. Once the EIS is submitted it will be up to the Planning Board and other key agencies to either Accept or Reject the EIS. We are really getting down to the wire on whether this project is going to succeed or fail. These meetings are likely the last time the public will be given an opportunity to challenge the project and the DEIS. Please try and attend one or both of these meetings. Thanks for your on-going support! Keep the faith. Ron Karam President, WCPA |
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| November 16, 2007 – ROBSON ELECTED TO BOVINA TOWN COUNCIL | ||
| Mary Joan Robson has been elected to the Bovina
Town Council by a decisive margin after the counting of 40 absentee ballots
on Nov 13th. Robson received 34 absentee votes for a total of 177 and edged
past incumbent Randy Inman by 22 votes, according to today’s Daily
Star.
The official results of the 2007 Bovina election, including the absentee vote, will be available next week. However, none of the other election outcomes are expected to change. We congratulate MJ on her successful campaign and wish her all the best
as she begins her four year term. Alliance for Bovina |
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| November 12, 2007 – Voting
Rights Decision Appealed by Board of Elections |
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| The Delaware County Board of Elections has
appealed an historic voting rights decision. On Nov 1st, three days after
the long anticipated decision by New York State Supreme Court Justice Michael
Dowd reaffirming the right of second homeowners to vote in Delaware County,
the Board of Elections appealed his decision to the Appellate Division,
Third Department which sits in Albany. Until such time as the appellate
court makes its ruling, Judge Dowd's ruling stands and a second homeowner
may register to vote in Delaware County. Although we are pleased with Judge
Dowd's ruling, and believe it is the correct interpretation of New York's
election law, the matter is not over. Should the Appellate Division agree
with Judge Dowd, the decision will have an even greater impact not only
in Delaware County but statewide.
From our informal canvassing of voters, and from feedback from other citizen groups in Delaware County, there should be a significant increase in new voters in the months to come. Although some are not eager to increase the voter rolls with second homeowners for obvious political reasons, we believe that given the decline in population in the area, and the potential loss of congressional representation, an increase in voters should be seen as a benefit to the area.
Alliance for Bovina |
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| November 7, 2007 – BOVINA “UNOFFICIAL” ELECTION RESULTS | ||
| Yesterday, 315 Bovina voters exercised their right to vote, an usually high turnout (only 136 voters turned out for the last election in 2005). About 40 absentee ballots will be added to the totals below on Nov 13th. Also, there are six provisional ballots that may be counted, depending on a court decision. The unofficial results, as reported in today’s Daily Star, are as follows: | ||
| • Town Supervisor
Tina Mole (R)......................................... 200 • Town Clerk/Collector Catherine Hewitt (R).......................... 209 • Town Justice John Way (R).......................................... 163 Scott Orr (I)................................................ 94 • Town Councilman (2) Randall Inman (R)................................ 149 Kenneth Brown (R)............................. 183 Mary Joan Robison (I)...................... 145 Carol Spinelli (I)....................................... 89 • Town Councilman (2-year) Evelyn Stewart (D).............................. 174 Brent Trimbell (R)............................... 121 John Chimento (I)...................................... 2 • Highway Superintendent Edward Weber (D).................................. 91 Robert Burgin (R,I)............................. 158 Bryan Trimbell (I).................................. 58 • Proposition Should a restaurant in a year-round hotel be allowed to obtain an alcoholic beverage license? YES…..137 NO..... 57
We owe all the candidates our gratitude for taking the time and trouble to run for office. Now, it is so very important for us as a community to support our newly elected leaders as they do the people’s business.
Alliance for Bovina
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| October 31, 2007 - Second Homeowners Win Voting Case and May Vote in Bovina | ||
| Voting rights for second homeowners in New
York State received a major boost today from the courts. In an important
written decision, Justice Kevin M. Dowd of the New York State Supreme Court,
6th Judicial District in Norwich, granted a petition filed on behalf of
eight voters from Bovina, restoring them to the Delaware County election
rolls. According to the court, the Delaware County Board of Elections did
not apply the correct legal standard when it removed the voters from the
rolls with the rationale that their residence in Delaware County was not
their primary residence. Furthermore, the court enjoined the Delaware County
Board of Elections from now on to allow residents with more than one home
to choose for themselves if they wish to vote in Delaware County.
Larry Karam, co-director and counsel of the Alliance, said: “Second homeowners care deeply about their communities, and shouldn’t face obstacles to community involvement. We were shocked when the Delaware County Board of Elections disenfranchised our members, and we’re grateful that our neighbors in Bovina and neighboring towns are now free to vote where they think it counts the most. Judge Dowd simply followed long established law in New York. Hopefully the Board of Elections will see that any appeal is a waste of time and tax payer dollars." The petition stemmed from a challenge to more than 10% of Bovina’s registered voters in March 2007 brought by Bovina resident Ed Rossley, who apparently believed that only full-time residents of Bovina should have the right to vote there. The voters in this case, many of whom had been living in Bovina for many years, all had residences in New York City or Rockland County as well. Today’s ruling followed long-established legal precedent in finding that dual residents, like these Bovina voters, have the right to choose either one of their residences as their electoral home, as long as they don’t vote elsewhere. According to Hall Willkie, co-director of the Alliance and lead plaintiff in the case, “For over 20 years I have felt this is my home. It was very hurtful to have that challenged and to be told that I don’t have the same rights as my neighbors. I am grateful that the court has backed me up and moreover that this decision is to be applied to second homeowners throughout the county. However, the lesson here goes beyond equal voting rights. We should all respect each other and encourage everyone to participate fully in our local community.” Tom Craveiro, co-director of the Alliance, said: “This decision comes at a critical moment just before the November 6th town and county elections. It’s very important that second home owners know they are secure in their right to vote here. In Bovina, where as few as 136 people vote in an election, every vote counts. I see a new political landscape emerging in upstate New York as second homeowners exercise more fully their voting rights.” The petitioners, Hall Willkie, Tom and Juliet Lauricella, David Hendricks, Stephen Robbins, Julianne Bond-Shapiro, and Maria and David Spry, were represented by Bruce Kraus. of the New York City law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP; Mr. Willkie was also represented by Peter Henner of Albany. Visit our web site http://www.allianceforbovina.org for more about this important decision. Judge Dowd's Decision on Voting Rights - click here The Alliance for Bovina |
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| October 26, 2007 - UPDATE ON THE PROPOSED AMAN RESORT IN BOVINA | ||
The proposed Aman resort was the subject of a public meeting on October 24th in the Community Hall. About 80 people turned out, including most of the candidates in the upcoming election. The speaker was Jim Thomson, Chairman of the Delaware County Industrial Development Agency and a consultant to the developer.
It seems clear that the proposal for an Aman Resort in Bovina has broad support among residents. Aman would become an important member of our community and would remain so for many years to come. Now is the time to get this long-term relationship off to a good start. Also, it is a great opportunity for our town to work together for a common goal. Jim Thomson prepared a fact sheet about the project. It can be seen on our web site http://www.allianceforbovina.org where you can also see more on the upcoming election.
The proposed Aman resort is the impetus for a referendum on the Nov 6th ballot that would allow alcohol sales within hotels in Bovina. Thomson stressed this is key to the project moving forward. The Alliance for Bovina encourages a YES vote for Proposition #2 “YEAR-ROUND HOTEL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE” Voters who cannot make it to the polls in Bovina have until October 30th to ask for an absentee ballot by mail, or until Nov 5th to get their absentee ballot in person. Call the Delaware County Board of Elections for details at (607) 746-2315. Alliance for Bovina |
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| ELECTION UPDATE FROM THE ALLIANCE FOR BOVINA – Oct. 17, 2007 MEET THE CANDIDATES NIGHT | ||
| This past Saturday night,
Oct 13th, the Bovina Historical Society hosted a very informative forum
that showcased local candidates on the Nov 6th ballot. About 125 people
attended. Once all the candidates had introduced themselves, questions
from the audience were read by Gary Simmons, a terrific moderator, and
the candidates responded. The discussion focused on those running for Town
Council seats. It was during the question and answer period that the very
real differences between these candidates became clear and the main issues
of this election emerged. The main issues were:
• WHETHER TO ALLOW TRAILER PARKS • PARTICPATION OF 2nd HOME OWNERS IN LOCAL GOVERNEMENT • AMAN RESORT AND ALLOWING LIMITED ALCOHOL SALES • OPEN AND TRANSPARENT TOWN GOVERNMENT • PROMOTING AGRICULTRAL DIVERSITY The Alliance’s Position: The Alliance for Bovina endorses the three candidates for Town Council who demonstrated they are well-prepared, energetic and ready to provide proactive, representative leadership. They are Carol Spinelli, Mary Joan “MJ” Robson and Brent Trimbell. See below our comparison of the candidates for town council, issue by issue. Trailer Parks - As with the wind turbine debate, we sense another stormy political fight emerging over trailer parks. Currently, our 15 year old zoning laws are under review and Town Council and Planning Board members have said they would like to see that trailer parks be allowed in Bovina. Presently, trailer parks are prohibited in the entire town by our Zoning Law. Mobile homes, a related matter, are prohibited from the hamlet only. Incumbents Ken Brown and Randy Inman stated they favor trailer parks in Bovina. Challengers Carol Spinelli, Mary Joan (MJ) Robson and Brent Trimbell said they oppose trailer parks. Spinelli said that mobile homes in trailer parks depreciate in value and would be counter productive to anyone who wants to invest in their future. She unveiled a proposal by the SUNY Delhi to build one "affordable" house per year in Bovina. The Alliance urges voters to say no to trailer parks in Bovina by voting for Spinelli, Robson and Trimbell. On a related issue, most felt that the Zoning Law needs some revision particularly for outdated provisions. Standing out was Trimbell who said we should be enforcing the existing Zoning Law which has a long history of poor enforcement. He cited instances, which are now becoming known, of homes existing where none should be since they have no certificate of occupancy or building permit. The Alliance believes Trimbell identified an issue where new leadership can make an important difference. Prior Council Experience - Both Brown and Inman relied on their prior Town Council experience as the main reason why they should be reelected. However, that prior experience reminds us of two recent and troubling issues. Neither Brown nor Inman said publicly that they would listen to the majority when it came to the industrial wind turbine issue. This only fueled speculation during the debate and helped increase tension and suspicions. It was only at his final vote that we learned Brown would vote with the majority of residents. Even with over 75% of the town against him, Inman still voted in favor of industrial turbines for Bovina. Similarly, the Town Board offered no rationale for banning the smaller, residential turbines. It did no research on this less intrusive and more environmentally friendly form of energy generation, made no findings relative to the pro’s and con’s of small wind generating systems, and offered no reason banning them along with industrial wind turbines. There can be no blame on opponents of industrial wind turbines, or the Alliance for Bovina, for the Board’s inexplicable banning of small turbines. The Alliance believes that although the incumbents may have years of experience on the Town Board, during the wind debate they were clearly out of step with the majority of residents. The Alliance believes that Mary Joan “MJ” Robson, Carol Spinelli and Brent Trimbell have taken positions which reflect the views of the majority on current issues and that this is more important than board experience. Aman Resort - All candidates were in favor of the resort and the related partial lifting of the alcohol ban. Everyone agreed that roads, fire and emergency, and increase in tax revenues were issues to be addressed. Inman and Brown said they were waiting for the October 24th presentation by Jim Thomson, Delaware County head of the IDA, for more information. However, it was Spinelli who emphasized that Bovina should be proactive and not sit back. She told us that she has already had discussions with Thomson concerning a number of issues including the tax benefits to Bovina citing specific amounts Bovina was expected to receive. She favors a PILOT program for the resort which she said is common and necessary to attract this type of development. The Alliance finds that Spinelli and Robson demonstrated a well-informed, professional approach to the proposed Aman Resort and are best prepared to represent our town's interest in this historic project. Open and Transparent Town Government - Brown and Inman maintained that the Town Board has been open and transparent. Most who attended the wind workshops and related town board meetings would disagree. For example, board minutes have not been available consistently in the library nor are they as complete as other towns’, board agendas have not been available prior to the day of meetings, and recommendations and offers for website development have been rejected or just postponed. The Alliance supports Robson and Spinelli who said there needs to be better communication and that they were in favor of creating a town website, making better and timely board minutes (especially since many cannot attend weekday board meetings) and by having advanced posting of meeting agendas. Voter’s Rights - Who gets to vote in Bovina is not determined by town government but rather the Delaware County Board of Elections and the Courts. There is presently a lawsuit brought by several Bovina citizens who were denied the right to vote by the BOE. This was the result of a challenge to 42 Bovina voters by another Bovina resident. Brown and Inman were silent on this issue. Stewart said it should be left to the Board of Elections. However, Mary Joan “MJ” Robson, Carol Spinelli and Brent Trimbell clearly stated that if the voter is otherwise eligible they would want second homeowners to vote if they had that much interest in Bovina that they bothered to register to vote and take part in town politics. They said that paying taxes should justify the right to vote for part-time residents. Although the Court will decide who votes and who does not, the challengers’ attitudes on this issue reflect their position on having a more inclusive town government, one which includes full and part-time residents. The incumbents never said if they favored a more inclusive town government, particularly when given the opportunity by the question on voting and residency. The Alliance believes that part-time residents have the right to participate fully in local politics and that the time has come for town government to openly encourage their right to do so. Robson, Spinelli and Trimbell are out in front of the incumbents on this important issue and we urge voters to support them. Candidate’s Residency - It is widely known that Mr. Inman is moving to Virginia. Responding to a question on this issue, he offered no assurances of his intention to serve out his term if elected. There are many qualified and interested citizens waiting to take their turn as Town Council members. The Alliance believes he should not seek reelection and we hope he withdraws from the election (his name cannot be physically removed from the ballot at this point) before November 6th. Our Conclusion - Although we respect the time and effort put into their tenure as Town Council members, from everything that has happened over the past two years, and from everything we heard on Saturday night, we do not believe that Brown nor Inman gave any compelling reason for their reelection other than having been council members for a number of years. Experience is valuable but sometimes that very experience shows us why the candidate should not be reelected. There also comes a time when fresh ideas and new experience are needed. That time is now. Carol Spinelli and Mary Joan “MJ” Robson and Brent Trimbell have made a compelling case for their election to the Bovina Town Council. The Alliance for Bovina |
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| October 16, 2007 - Email News: CHIMENTO WITHDRAWS, ENDORSES TRIMBELL | ||
| FROM JOHN CHIMENTO - I MUST
WITHDRAW FROM THE ELECTION AND I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT BRENT TRIMBELL
Dear Bovina Voter: It is with deep regret that I must withdraw from the race for Bovina Town Council. As you know, I was unable to attend last Saturday's Meet the Candidates night because of family matters and it now appears that I will not be able to serve a full term on the town council. It would be a disservice to you if I ran for office knowing that most likely I would have to leave my seat to someone appointed by the Town Board. You should know that, by law, my name will still appear on the ballot this Nov 6^th but I ask you to pass over it and vote instead for Brent Trimbell. *BRENT TRIMBELL* is on the ballot for Member of Town Council (two year vacancy). Many of us have watched Brent grow up in Bovina and we know him to be an able, out-going person. He will bring a fresh, young perspective to the council and he is to be commended for taking a serious interest in town business at such an early age. Brent has clear, constructive positions on important issues before the town. * Brent: opposes trailer parks in Bovina. * Brent: supports amending the ban on alcohol sales to allow liquor to be sold at the proposed Aman Resort. * Brent: will encourage second homeowners to participate in town government, including voting in local elections. Brent will be an energetic, thoughtful town councilman and I am pleased to vote for him on Nov 6th . I will also be voting for Carol Spinelli and MJ Robson, two independent candidates that will help bring the Town Board back in touch with the people. Remember, the two incumbents, Ken Brown and Randy Inman, said last Saturday night that they want trailer parks in Bovina. Surely they are out of step with the majority of us. Finally, thank you for your support early on in this campaign and for your understanding now. Please participate fully on Election Day - it's our privilege and responsibility. Sincerely John Chimento - Voters Choice Party October 16, 2007 |
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| This Saturday - October 13 - 7pm - Meet Bovina's Candidates | ||
| The Bovina Historical Society is sponsoring "Meet
the Candidates" at the Bovina Community Hall, this Saturday, October
13, at 7:00PM. Invited to participate are the candidates for Town Council
(3 open seats), highway superintendent, town justice and the remaining
unopposed positions. The public will be asked to submit written questions
to the Historical Society at the beginning of the event. The questions
will be posed to the candidates who will be able to answer if they choose. Not only is this an historic event due to the number of challengers for some of the most important positions but the only event, thanks to the Historical Society, where you can hear the candidates' positions on key issues for Bovina including (hopefully) the Aman resort development, taxes and the town's real estate revaluation, trailer parks in Bovina, the town budget, and last but not least our road maintenance. Find out why the incumbents feel they've done a good enough job to keep their positions. And find out how the challengers can do a better job if elected. While not a debate per se the Historical Society plans for a comfortable and conducive atmosphere so that all candidates can weigh in on the issues. We hope to summarize the night in a posting on www.allianceforbovina.org shortly after the event so stay tuned and visit our new and revised website. We are confident that the Historical Society will conduct a fair and balanced discussion and we thank them for organizing the event. The Alliance for Bovina urges you to vote on November 6th. The Alliance for Bovina. |
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| October 4, 2007 - ELECTION UPDATE FROM THE ALLIANCE FOR BOVINA | ||
| Here are some things which you might want
to know concerning the November 6th election:
1. Meet the Candidates night is October 13, 2007, 7pm, in the Community Hall. The Historical Society will take your written questions and read them to the candidates. Each candidate will be able to provide their answer to any question. Please attend and support the candidates. Whether you are a voter or not, this is a great opportunity to find out about current issues in the community. 2. These are some of the major issues we expect to be covered that night: the proposed Aman resort and referendum on the ballot to partially lift the alcohol ban; a town wide tax revaluation which will change many of our tax bills; changing the zoning law so as to allow trailers in the hamlet of Bovina; land purchases by the watershed in Bovina; and various issues concerning the highway department, the state of our roads and a new town garage. 3. A recent letter to the Editor of the Daily Star (Oneonta) http://www.thedailystar.com/letters/local_story_270034510.html praising" Randy Inman neglected to mention that Randy and his family are moving and yet he is still running for re-election. If he gets reelected, then when he moves (his farm is up for auction this Saturday) the Board will decide who it wants to fill his seat. This effectively takes it out of your hands. Here is Larry Karam’s response to Rama's letter:
Larry Karam |
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| September 26, 2007 - ELECTION UPDATE FROM THE ALLIANCE FOR BOVINA | ||
| This November 6th Bovina voters
have a number of important choices on the ballot as several town offices
are up for election (including a majority of the Bovina Town Board seats)
and there will be an historic referendum.
ON THE BALLOT Three of four town council seats are being contested Town Supervisor Referendum to allow sale of alcohol in hotel restaurants in Bovina BE SURE TO VOTE There are only 397 registered voters in Bovina and candidates have won office with as few as 99 votes. Your vote really matters, so please be sure to vote. If you are not yet registered to vote in Bovina, please check our web site www.allianceforbovina.org for voter information. If you think you will need an absentee ballot, this is easily arranged by calling the Delaware County Board of Elections at 607 746-2315. Call now to give yourself plenty of time for mailing. Alliance for Bovina |
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| September 10, 2007 - Email News: Judge considers voting rights for 2nd homeowners in Bovina | ||
| In a complaint brought before
the New York State Supreme Court by Hall Willkie, co-director of the Alliance
for Bovina, and seven other Bovina residents, the court is considering
if people with more than one home in New York State have the right to vote
from whichever home they choose.
The complaint stems from a challenge by Ed Rossley to over forty (about 10%) of Bovina's voters in March 2007 which lead the Delaware County Board of Elections to remove some voters from the rolls that they considered not to be "full-time residents" of Bovina. The eight plaintiffs argued that the residency criteria used by the Board of Elections was arbitrary and asked to be reinstated. After hearing arguments from both sides on Sept 7th, Justice Kevin Dowd said, "What I'm thinking is that they should be allowed to vote in Bovina." Dowd said that he was strongly inclined to rule in favor of Willkie and the others. His decision will likely have far-reaching political consequences. A written opinion is expected within a few weeks. Read the Daily Star article here for details of the Sept 7th hearing. NEW WEB SITE FOR THE ALLIANCE FOR BOVINA Please visit our informative new web site http://www.allianceforbovina.org for the latest news about Bovina, voting rights for second homeowners, local elections and more. The Alliance for Bovina |
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| 3 Independent Candidates Enter Race for Town Board Seats | ||
| Mary Joan ("MJ") Robson, John Chimento and
Carol Spinelli have entered the race for the three open board seats in
Bovina which will be decided on November 6, 2007. Other positions will
see similar challenges. Many have not seen so many battle for so many open
seats and positions in Bovina's recent history. |
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| Bovina Town Board | ||
| Bovina's town board consists of four seats which are currently held by
Chuck McIntosh, Randy Inman, Ken Brown and Evelyn Stewart. Except for McIntosh,
the terms for other three seats will be over and the seats open for the
election in November. Along with the Town Supervisor, the four council
members form the 5-person Town Board.
The board seats held by Inman and Brown are "at large." This means that the two candidates with the highest votes wins the two seats. MJ Robson and Carol Spinelli are running for these seats against Inman and Brown. This is now a 4-way battle for 2 seats. Stewart was appointed by the board to fill the seat left by Roger Brain's passing this year. This seat is not "at large." This will be a 3-way race with Stewart being challenged by Brent Trimble and John Chimento. Most recall that incumbents were rarely if ever challenged. No doubt there is a strong feeling that Bovina should have a new board. Many other towns in our area are seeing contested seats for the first time in years. The three independent candidates in Bovina who are challenging the incumbents are part of this movement to bring a new perspective to town government. Robson, Spinelli and Chimento, all registered Republicans, are running as independent candidates seeking support from voters regardless of party affiliation. The Daily Star reported these comments from the three. Carol Spinelli, says, "It's became clear that the current town board in Bovina is out of touch with the majority of residents. People here are eager for a more open, inclusive and active town government that really represents our common goals. They are looking for leaders who are willing to talk with them about their concerns. Too often people are afraid to speak up at town meetings." Spinelli is a prominent real estate broker and has lived in Bovina for 30 years. John Chimento feels there is a need for more accountability from local officials. Chimento explains, "It's not been very clear what goals our town government has set for itself in the past. As a town board member, I would work to set measurable goals so that we as a board can report back to residents about what has been accomplished." Chimento is a retired graphic arts teacher and has lived in Bovina for 40 years Mary Joan ("MJ") Robson wants to engage more people in the town's business. She says, "We have seen that the great majority of people in Bovina generally agree on a common vision for the future as expressed in our Comprehensive Plan. This is clear from polls that have been taken. People who live here have so many skills that could be useful to the town and I want to help them get involved in addressing the issues we face together. In the past, only a few people have dominated decision making but the time has come to change that." Robson is a retired public health nurse and her family has been in the Bovina area for generations. The Alliance for Bovina |
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| Superintendent of Highways | ||
| There is now a 3-way race for highway superintendent, the highest paying position in Bovina at $38,000 per year. Ed Weber is the current highway superintendent and is seeking re-election. Running against him are Bob Burgin, also a member of the highway department, and Byron Trimble. | ||
| Other Positions | ||
| Tina Mole's term is up and she is running unopposed
for Town Supervisor. |
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| Running unopposed for town clerk is Catherine Hewitt. | ||
| Scott Orr is running for re-election as Bovina's town justice. Running against him is John Way. | ||
| The Alliance's Position: | ||
| The Alliance for Bovina believes Bovina's government, including the Town Board and Planning Board, can be more transparent, inclusive, open to suggestions and more active in unifying the community. So far these issues appear to be in the platform of independent candidates Robson, Chimento and Spinelli, as reported by the Daily Star. The Alliance would like to hear from the other candidates as to their positions on the issues. | ||
| Referendum To Allow Alcohol Sales in Bovina | ||
| Today, Bovina's ban on all alcohol sales make it one of the few "dry" towns in the area. But now a referendum is on the November 6th ballot to lift at least a part of the ban so as to permit the service of alcohol in hotels in preparation for the development of the Aman Resort at the Gerry Estate. | ||
| At the recent Fire Department's chicken BBQ a petition was circulated by some on the Town Board which would place on November's ballot a change in the law so as to allow alcohol to be served in hotels with a full-service restaurant. In addition, the new law would allow for the sale of packaged beer to be consumed elsewhere. 70 petition signatures are needed to get the change on the ballot. It is expected that 70 signatures will be obtained and that Bovina voters will vote to pass this on November 6, 2007. | ||
| The wording on the petition, which follows the proposed law, reads as follows: | ||
| YEAR-ROUND HOTEL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE. SHALL THE OPERATOR OF A YEAR-ROUND HOTEL WITH A FULL-SERVICE RESTAURANT BE ALLOWED TO OBTAIN A LICENSE WHICH PERMITS THE YEAR-ROUND HOTEL TO SELL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FOR A CUSTOMER TO DRINK WHILE THE CUSTOMER IS WITHIN THE HOTEL. IN ADDITION, UNOPENED CONTAINERS OF BEER (SUCH AS SIX-PACKS AND KEGS) MAY BE SOLD 'TO GO' FOR THE CUSTOMER TO OPEN AND DRINK AT ANOTHER LOCATION (SUCH AS, FOR EXAMPLE, AT HIS HOME.) | ||
The Aman Resort at the Gerry Estate would encompass three towns due to the where the land is located: Bovina, Andes and Delhi. However, the estate house is situated in Bovina making Bovina's alcohol ban a potential problem for the developer without amending the law. Expected tax revenue from the project could have a significant and positive impact on Bovina's revenues but only if the development moves forward. Lifting the alcohol ban as proposed would seem to be crucial to the development. Fact Sheet Aman Resort at Broadlands Bovina, New York (PDF) Click here... The Alliance for Bovina |
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| The Alliance's Position: | ||
| The Alliance for Bovina favors the amendment to lift the alcohol ban in the way proposed. The service of alcohol in hotel restaurants would not only help these businesses but would also generate tax revenue for Bovina. The Alliance asks all voters to vote to lift the ban on November 6. | ||
| July 2nd, 2007 - Email News: New Update: Denial of Bovina's Citizens' Right to Vote | ||
| The New York Times' "Escapes" section last week noted the rise
in "second homeowner" voter registration but did not provide
a correct interpretation of the law according to a New York State Board
of Elections Commissioner, Douglas A. Kellner, and attorney Bruce Kraus,
both of whom responded with this "Letter to the Editor:"
Published: June 29, 2007
As we stated last week, we are expecting a legal challenge very soon as to those who have been denied their right to vote in Delaware County. If what Kellner and Kraus describe in their letter is recognized by the Court in the upcoming challenge, one may register to vote in Delaware County, assuming other qualifications are present, without having to show tax returns with a Bovina address, and other such documentation, which the Delaware County Board of Elections has thus far insisted from certain Bovina citizens. The Alliance for Bovina |
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