Letter to the Editor: Waddington
Roger Sharlow's letter in last week's Advance News left out some very
critical components that the people of Waddington should have: THE FACTS. Mr. Shadow's
letter told how the Town Board met to discuss the results of the survey conducted by
Potsdam State University. He went on to state how the survey, characterized by some as
being "slanted", "created the forum for discussions regarding the
disposition of Leishman Point." As far as creating a "forum for
discussion", Acting Town Supervisor Bill Dalton's quote at the Town Board Meeting
spoke volumes about this "discussion forum" when he ended what the Ogdensburg
Journal's reporter called an "hour long debate" by saying: "We've pretty
much beat this horse to death." The Town Board then voted unanimously to sell
Leishman's Point as 16 one to two acre lots for luxury housing.
In reading the TOWN BOARD CREATED survey that supposedly led the board to its decision, it
is painfully evident what outcome the Town Board wanted before they even conducted the
"survey". The survey began by saying: "The town supervisor and councilman
are conducting a survey regarding the development of Leishman Point." So far, so
good. Next, the survey read: "After considering all possibilities, and the advantages
and disadvantages of each, it has been expressed to the board that the best use of
Leishman Point is as 16 residential building lots." This is where the Town Board
simply pulled a statement out of thin air and represented it as truth.
The board's survey told taxpayers: "It has been expressed to the board." How has
"IT" been expressed to the board? Even the town board's biased survey only
resulted in 285 of 750 townspeople (38%) supporting the board's proposal. I don't think
38% of the people is a ringing endorsement. Mickey Miller was one of the 750 people
surveyed, and he told the Town Board at their most recent July 14th meeting that their
survey "was a push poll, it was designed to get a specific answer." Mr. Miller
went on to say, how he was "very disappointed when I got the call. I felt there was
only one answer you could give." Thankfully, Roger Sharlow was there to correct Mr.
Miller when he pointed out how the survey "was a simple yes or no question, despite
the wording." Telegram to Mr. Sharlow: A reliable survey is all ABOUT the wording,
not DESPITE the wording.
When I received "the survey call", I was frustrated, but not surprised. The
young college student taking my survey response told me she did not have a way to gather
what people wanted to say, only how they wanted to vote. I have to wonder how many of the
98 (13%) undecided and 205 (27%) declined to participate people agree with Mickey Miller's
assessment that "there was only one answer you could give." Perhaps the ultimate
irony is the fact that the survey that MANY people cited as biased was conducted by the
Town Board, but was paid for by the Town Board's EMPLOYERS, the townspeople and taxpayers
of Waddington!
The survey next said that "it became clear in discussing the return of this property
over the years, the majority of citizens want it back on the tax roll as soon as
possible." Through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Tom Snider requested copies
of Town Board Meeting Minutes for EVERY time the Town Board discussed Leishman Point
"over the years" at a Town Board meeting. Through the FOIA, the Town Clerk is
legally required to produce copies of the minutes she takes at all Town Board meetings.
Since copies of each page cost 25 cents, here is another FACT that needs to be out in the
open as far as "discussing the return of this property over the years." Tom
Snider discovered that the Town Board discussed Leishman Point "a couple of
times" over the last 15 years. Tom told me he didn't recall if he paid more than 50
cents at 25 cents a page.
One last misleading thing of the Town Survey is the statement: "The Town Board will
reserve approximately 25% of the land at Leishman Point for public use." This sounds
generous. The FACT is that the Town was REQUIRED by NYPA to set aside 25% of the land for
PUBLIC USE. In the re-licensing agreement, NYPA directed that all the land on the right of
the road going up the Waddington Beach Hill Road be designated for "public use".
Therefore, in truth, the Town has decided to sell 100% of all the land available to it.
If the Waddington Town Board truly wanted to know the will of the majority of its
Townspeople they would have a Referendum, in November. The Townspeople could then exercise
their constitutional right and VOTE on what THEY want to do with THEIR LAND. The
referendum would allow the voters to choose between 2 OPTIONS.
OPTION 1: Do you support The Town Board's Proposed 16 one to two acre residential lot
development plan for Leishman Point
Or OPTION 2: Do you support a multi-use development of Leishman Point that incorporates
public, commercial, and residential use, or a combination thereof.
Mark Brady, Waddington
Originally published 08/03/2003
Ogdensburg Advance News
Used with permission