Also discusses Cold Spring trash, limits on comment
The Putnam County Legislature voted 6-2 on Tuesday (Feb. 1) to spend $400,000 in federal COVID-19 funds on asbestos removal and other upgrades at the Putnam County Golf Course, disregarding objections from two legislators and prompting an outcry from residents, who were barred from speaking until after the vote.
Legislators Nancy Montgomery, who represents Philipstown and part of Putnam Valley, and William Gouldman, who represents most of Putnam Valley, cast the two “no” votes at the 1 hour, 41 minute session in Putnam’s Old Courthouse in Carmel. Montgomery and Gouldman also were the only legislators Tuesday to wear masks. She is the Legislature’s sole Democrat; he is a Republican, like their seven colleagues.
Sparking more friction, Legislator Neal Sullivan of Carmel-Mahopac, who chairs the Legislature, announced a rule restricting members to one comment each per agenda item.
Controversy also arose when Montgomery requested that Putnam help pay for such necessities as the pickup of tourism-related trash and upkeep of two public washrooms in Cold Spring, which draws large crowds of visitors.
The assignment of $400,000 in American Rescue Plan Act money to the golf course was approved last week by the legislative Audit Committee, which sent the measure to the full Legislature for ratification.
Overall, Putnam expects $19 million in federal ARPA assistance. It received the first $9.5 million last summer.
As she had during the Audit Committee review, Montgomery questioned why Putnam is using ARPA money for the golf course, which made a profit in 2021 and also can tap a special account into which the county puts $250,000 yearly and whose balance remains obscure, though one county official estimated it at $1 million. “We are ignoring that fund” and instead taking money meant for rescuing an economic sector hit hard by COVID-19, she said. “So, we’re rescuing a golf course that’s already flush with money.”
Montgomery also noted that about three dozen residents wrote to legislators expressing concerns about the use of the $400,000.
“We’re not rescuing the golf course. We’re improving and fixing it,” Sullivan replied.
Gouldman argued that ARPA money could better go toward such projects as fixing three malfunctioning traffic lights in Putnam Valley and renovating the former Sheriff’s Department substation there so it can house other county services.
But Legislator Carl Albano of Carmel said the golf course work “is good use of the money. We want to keep the facility healthy.”
“We’re doing nothing wrong,” asserted Legislator Joe Castellano of Brewster.
“The golf course serves our community. It is not an elite course. It is the people’s golf course,” said Legislator Ginny Nacerino of Patterson. She and Legislator Paul Jonke of Southeast attributed much of the opposition from residents to allegations that Putnam is misapplying the $400,000. “There was a campaign to spin it that way,” said Nacerino, who described many letters as copied and pasted.
Stacy Dumont, who wrote a letter, contradicted Nacerino (who defeated her in the race in November to represent Patterson on the Legislature). “My letter was not copied and pasted,” Dumont said. “I don’t think it’s the right place to spend the money.”
Other residents (none from Philipstown) also blasted use of the $400,000 for the golf course.
“The optics are terrible,” said Judy Allen, of Putnam Valley.
“There are a lot of people in this county living very marginally,” said a Putnam Valley man, proposing that Putnam use ARPA funds “to help people in need.”
A Kent woman suggested the county “take a loan from people who use the golf course.” By using ARPA money, “you’re putting the needs of the few before those of the many. And that’s what hurts.”
Albano said allocation of the ARPA dollars would be discussed publicly. “And we’ll spend it wisely.”
In a Jan. 28 letter to Mayor Kathleen Foley of Cold Spring, County Executive MaryEllen Odell asked for “feedback regarding the possibility of partnering in ARPA-related projects … to aid the people of Putnam County in the pandemic recovery.” Nelsonville received a similar letter, although Supervisor John Van Tassel said on Monday (Jan. 31) that Philipstown’s version had not yet arrived. Odell instructed towns and villages to provide input by Feb. 28.
Montgomery said that although Odell’s letter did not go out to some communities until Monday, the county has known about its ARPA share since March 2021.
The issue of restoring the aid that Putnam once provided Cold Spring to help with trash pickup in busy tourism periods surfaced when the Legislature voted 7-1, with Montgomery the dissenting “no,” to transfer $7,103 for the county tourism bureau to fund a “Film Putnam” initiative and similar activities.
Promotion of Putnam as a filming location is already supported by other programs, she said, while tourism-related issues have been ignored, including those that involve health and safety, such as collecting trash generated by heavy tourism and helping maintain of the public restrooms in Cold Spring.
“We generate the most tourism and the most sales tax from tourism,” she said.
Unlike most counties in New York, Putnam does not return a portion of sales tax to the municipalities in which it originates.
“I don’t think it’s the tourism [bureau’s] job to supply port-a-potties or remove trash in Cold Spring,” Jonke told Montgomery.
“I’m not aware of the county taking care of bathrooms, anywhere, or garbage removal,” Albano added.
In other business, Sullivan revealed a new legislative meeting policy. “Everybody is going to get one chance to speak on these issues” coming before the Legislature. “Then we’re going to move on to the next item” on the agenda. “We’re only going to have one comment each.”
“We can’t follow up on a false claim that another legislator made?” Montgomery asked.
“No,” Sullivan answered.
“How is that democracy?” Montgomery questioned.
“There will be no crosstalk or commenting on other legislators’ comments,” Sullivan emphasized. “That has nothing to do with democracy.”
“We’re not here to debate the issues,” which should occur in committee sessions, Nacerino stated.
Albano agreed. “It’s amazing that when we’re in front of a camera, these questions come up,” he said, referring to the device that, with the legislators again convening in person, records formal monthly meetings (but not committee sessions). That monthly meeting “is the time to vote and make a simple comment” only — not to debate, he said.
The eight Republican legislators also gather before many meetings in a secret session as a caucus, where no publicly available minutes are kept and state law allows any topic to be discussed.
This amounts to a government subsidy for a business that serves a small but well off segment of society. I wonder how many members of the Putnam County Legislature play there or have friends and family who play there?
The legislators and County Executive MaryEllen Odell are frequent visitors to the golf course and the course has hosted campaign and publicity events for Odell. It’s petty corruption by people who have clearly lost any respect they had for themselves. Otherwise, how could they do it so openly?
As a retired business executive, what immediately comes to mind is who was responsible for performing due diligence when the golf course was acquired?
Inspections for contaminants, hazardous material and other safety issues should have been performed at that time. Obviously, something that should have been done, was not done, and suddenly there is asbestos contamination and the cost of remediation.
Is this why the project suddenly surfaced to the top at this time and was pushed to the very front? To cover up dereliction of duty by the legislature and county executive at the time Putnam County took ownership for the golf course?
Yes, Carl Albano, this must be done before spring or the golf course is off limits. However, last year the club made a quarter million dollars for the county. In addition, there is an emergency fund with $1 million available. Was this money put aside by the county when because someone knew that remediation work was going to be required?
Here is what Legislator Carl Albano had to say, as quoted from County Executive MaryEllen Odell’s press release last week:
“We moved a shovel-ready project — the $400,000 Putnam County Golf Course renovation plan— to the front of the line so that the work could be done in time to open the facility for the season and keep the public safe,” he said. “There had been water damage and, in investigating that, we found that asbestos abatement needed to be done.”
As I understand it, the asbestos remediation was only recently discovered at the time of the water damage. So beside failing to perform prudent due diligence when the golf course was acquired, I have to wonder if Putnam County will now face substantive litigation and damages from those exposed to the hazardous material.
They all tend to forget that they are fiscally responsible to the resident taxpayers of Putnam County. One way or the other, we are paying a half million dollars to remediate a problem that should have come to light through acquisition due diligence. Also, there may be fines and litigation settlements.
Finally, don’t forget that ARPA grant funds are paid for with the income taxes that we residents pay to IRS. It is not free money for you guys to frivolously spend on either pet projects or hopefully not to hide something that will haunt us in days to come, based on a twisting of the language of the grant requirements.
All I can say is this is not good, and someone needs to accept culpability. I suggest the vote be rescinded and the repairs and asbestos remediation begin immediately and paid from the emergency fund already establish for this purpose.
I’m thinking this $400,000 is a solid gesture by the Legislature to the middle class of Putnam — not everyone who plays golf is a hoity-toity snob. I’m picturing the firefighters, cops, electricians, retired teachers and MTA guys who were thrilled to golf during the shutdown and all used that public course. The Boy Scouts have a merit badge for golf. If “golf” or “tennis” (yes, public tennis courts may need repaving) conjure up images of people who don’t pay their fair share in taxes to use public parks and services, that’s not something I relate to.
Can investing in a public course be a fairly fine thing to do? Yes. Some spots on the rail trails that go through Putnam are quite shaggy — there’s a good public works project. Because I use the trails I’ll say that, but many others will think it’s a waste. [via Facebook]
The county says some of the money will be used to remove asbestos at the club. If anyone still has asbestos in their home in Putnam County, you should be ticked. You deserve remediation far more than a golf course. [via Facebook]