Putnam Lake Park District Public Hearing Could be Held Next Month
A plan to create the Putnam Lake Park District could be the subject of a second Patterson Town Board public hearing in September.
Earlier this year, a public hearing was held on the controversial proposal to turn Putnam Lake into a taxpayer-supported park district. The debate centered around finances and access issues. Following the public hearing last winter, the town board decided to reevaluate the plan.
The plan calls for a revamp of the lake, which is currently managed by the Putnam Lake Community Council (PLCC) and financially supported by $190 annual membership fees.
The proposal calls for an annual budget of about $130,000. The first year’s cost to the average Putnam Lake homeowner would be $99.51. But for some Putnam Lake residents, that is too steep—especially when coupled with the Town of Patterson’s ability to decide the tax rate each year.
At the Aug. 15 town board meeting, Councilman Charles Cook discussed a series of proposed language changes in legislation to approve creation of the park district that will be subject to a second public hearing. But Town Planner Richard Williams requested that before the town board makes changes to the resolution and hold a public hearing the town board should first meet with the park district advisory board during a work session.
“I was just expressing my thoughts,” Cook said.
Councilwoman Ginny Nacerino agreed with Williams’ call to hold a work session on the proposal.
The board agreed to provide comments on what should be included in the legislation to create the district to Williams.
Supervisor Michael Griffin said he did not think there needed to be many changes to the legislation before it is put before residents in another public hearing. “I don’t see a lot of problems with it,” he said.
The town board could vote to schedule a public hearing on Sept. 26 when it meets on Sept. 12.
