CROTON UNITED ON THE ISSUE OF SECRECY CONCERNING "SOMETHING GOOD IN THE WORLD"

OCTOBER 30, 2014 - Several months ago an environmental education organization called Something Good in the World (SGW) approached the village and proposed moving its “Earth School” from the county’s Hilltop Hanover Farm to the Gouveia property (assuming the village acquired the property).  SGW’s Director,Barbara Sarbin, made a presentation to the Village Board on her organization and its plans.  So far, that all sounds perfectly reasonable.

Ms. Sarbin stated that she was a friend of Mrs. Gouveia and Mrs. Gouveia was favorably disposed to her proposal and, prior to Mrs. Gouveia’s death, it appeared that SGW was already working on the property.  When questioned as to what was happening on the property, Mayor Wiegman and Trustee Ann Gallelli denied any knowledge of SGW’s activities and indicated that it hadn’t even been decided that the “Earth School” was coming to Croton.

It was only after a Freedom of Information Law request produced an extensive file of e-mails between the Mayor, Ms. Gallelli and Ms. Sarbin that the truth was revealed.  Contrary to their public statements, for over a year the Mayor and Ms. Gallelli had been secretly working closely with Ms. Sarbin to promote her project.  Ms. Sarbin reported extensively on her activities, including the erection of new buildings on the property in violation of the Village Code, to her co-conspirators.  They, in turn, kept Ms. Sarbin fully informed of the progress of negotiations over the acquisition of the property – information that was denied to residents.

Most egregiously, the e-mails revealed that the Mayor, Ms. Gallelli and Ms. Sarbin, fearing opposition to the project, actively and successfully concealed their activities not only from the citizens of Croton, but also from the other three Village Trustees, all members of the Democratic Party, as are the Mayor and Mrs. Gallelli.  In fact, on more than one occasion, the Trustees kept in the dark by the Mayor and Ms. Gallelli took pains to reassure the public that no back room deals were being made, and ridiculed members of the public who suggested otherwise.  These same trustees now refuse to offer any criticism of their colleagues regarding these secret dealings. READ MORE HERE https://www.facebook.com/notes/croton-united/croton-united-on-the-issue-of-the-secrecy-concerning-something-good-in-the-world/359828400840864

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