Urbana residents force vote
BY MARY PERHAM THE LEADER

HAMMONDSPORT - Enough residents in the town of Urbana questioned a deal to buy lakefront property for a public park that they have forced a public vote.

A public referendum on a $500,000 bond for lakefront property in the town of Urbana is slated for early May.

Residents recently presented the Urbana town clerk with more than 100 signatures requesting a public vote for the town to borrow $500,000 to be used toward buying nearly 7 acres of land from businessman Michael Doyle.

In late January, the town board approved the deal, which carries a total price of $1.1 million. The remaining cost is coming from private donations.

The town intends to turn the land into a public park. But some residents question the deal, since the town attempted earlier to acquire a total of 11 acres at the site for $1.3 million. The agreement also turns over the lands where the town barns are located to Doyle, something some residents object to.

"There are so many reasons we're against it," said Richard Falvey Sr., of Hammondsport. "To start with, we're paying a million for half of what we wanted?"

Falvey said he favored the town's original offer, and had considered donating to a fundraiser for the park.

The fundraiser was held more than two years ago, after voters turned down a $1.3 million bond, 421-378.

The bond was necessary for the town to go forward with eminent domain proceedings, after negotiations with Doyle fell through.

A vote several years ago on a similar bond passed, but time elapsed before the board could complete the remaining work.

Falvey said the property is currently assessed at $200,000.

But town Assessor Dave English said the land was not included in his recent property reevaluation.

"It was under eminent domain, and the town already had the appraisers' price," English said. "If the town got it, there'd be no point in assessing it. And if they didn't, the assessment would have depended on the use."

English said the land should have been assessed when it was abandoned about 10 years ago by the B&H Railroad.

Elizabeth Makarick, o f Hammondsport, said she supported the original purchase even if it meant an increase in her taxes.

"(The site) doesn't have any lake access, or not much," Makarick said. "It's the last little stronghold for fishing and boating. And we purchased less land for the same amount? I just want it up for a vote again."

The residents presented two petitions to town officials.

One calls for a vote on the land and the other calls for a

vote on the bond.

Town Supervisor Richard Gardiner said the two petitions offset each other, since voting down one resolution makes the other useless.

Gardiner said residents should realize the $600,000 in donations raised for the park will be returned to donors if the project fails.

Falvey said he didn't care if the money is returned.

"It was never ours to begin with, so we don't have it to lose," he said.