GALLELLI SAYS NO GOUVEIA DEADLINE, LETTER FROM GOUVEIA SAYS OTHERWISE, CALCUTTI & CHESNARD LETTERS

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TWO IMPORTANT LETTERS FROM THE 11/7/13 GAZETTE: 

1) LETTER TO THE EDITOR, TRUSTEE GALLELLI SAYS NO GOUVEIA DEADLINE, LETTER FROM GOUVEIA SAYS OTHERWISE. PER LETTER FROM VIRGINIA CALCUTTI 

To the Residents of Croton: 

Previously, a resident of Croton had asked at one of our Board meetings if there was a deadline for the Village to give Mrs. Gouveia a response as to whether or not the Village was prepared to accept her gift of the property located at 1300 Albany Post Road (9A).  Trustee Gallelli said "no, a date for a reply had not been requested."  However, when I spoke, I told Trustee Gallelli that there was a request from Mrs. Gouveia stating that she would like an answer at least by the end of December before she leaves for Florida if not sooner.   Again, Trustee Gallelli denied this.

On June 20, 2013 Mrs. Gouveia sent a letter to the Village Board advising them that she was in the process of complying with the Zoning Boards' directive to remove various outbuildings from her property). She also states that she was writing to the Board to request when she might receive an answer regarding the donation of her property (along with the additional one-million dollar gift to help maintain it). She stated, "I do hope to have an answer from the Village over the next few months (and, at the very least, prior to my leaving for my Florida residence in early December)."  Could that be why everything is in high gear right now.  You decide. 

With regards to the religious group that may want this property, I thought I heard at Monday's meeting that this came about a couple of years ago.  So, my question is this, "Is there a religious group interested at this time or is the Board still referring to a group being interested a couple of years ago.  I'm a little confused on this.

If you're interested, I asked for a breakdown of the Village Taxes and Mr. Zambrano responded as follows:  This was without a "FOIL" request. It made it a lot easier and I thank him for his fast response.

The property is made up of three parcels.  For 2013/14 the Village Assessment for all three total $63,935.  Taxes for all three total $15,762.55.

I went to the Town of Cortlandt and received the following information for the Tax Year 2013:  Croton-Harmon Schools $19,194.58 and the Croton Library $407.84.

General Town $437.02, Westchester County $3,002.21, County Refuse $322.68.  There is more info listed however, I was interested only in the taxes at this time.   You can go to the Town and request a breakdown of the taxes for 1300 Albany Post Road.  No charge.

You must remember that we will not have full access to this property should we accept it until Mrs. Gouveia passes away or vacates the property. That could be years (we keep saying around 20). We would only have limited access as dictated by Mrs. Gouveia.  It is my understanding that the  main use right now would be trails.

The Village says we have her term sheet.  Where is ours?

Virginia Calcutti 11/5/13

2) NEXT, DAN CHESNARD'S LETTER TO THE GAZETTE

To the Editor:

At last night's Village Board meeting (11/4/13), the topic of the Gouveia Gift was on the agenda.  And it should be clear to the Village Board that they should stop wasting time and Village Taxpayers money on this so called gift.

The public comments last night were 10 to 1 against the Village accepting this gift. What does it take to end this waste of time and money?

Dan Chesnard

HERE'S THE OCTOBER GAZETTE ARTICLE ABOUT THE ALLEGED RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION  http://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2013/10/highlights-101013-gazette-article-on.html