Urbana park faces possible legal challenge
MARY PERHAM THE LEADER

HAMMONDSPORT - A resolution approving the purchase of lakefront property for a park was questioned last week at the regular meeting of the Urbana Town Board.

Councilman Paul Martuscello said the Dec. 28 resolution to purchase the 8- acre lot from B&H Railroad might not be valid because of threatened legal action.

The town received some $900,000 in private donations for the land, which is expected to become the Glenn H. Curtiss Memorial Park.

Resident Terry Bretherton told the board he filed the complaint with the town in early December before the sale was completed. Bretherton is questioning the validity of the deed that dates back to the 1800s.

"And if that's not a threat, I don't know what is," he said.

Former Town Supervisor Richard Gardiner said later town officials dismissed Bretherton's complaint because it is based on ownership that has not been challenged for more than 100 years.

"There has been no history of complaints. And if it is challenged, the owner would remain the same any way," Gardiner said. "So it didn't make any difference."

The board agreed to refer any questions on the sale to the town's newly appointed lawyer Bill Reed before approving the Dec. 28 resolution and minutes.

New town Supervisor Gordon Lanphear said future work and clean up for the park will be done by volunteers, with expenses paid from remaining donations and grants.

"We are not in a position to spend town money on this," Lanphear said.

Lanphear said plans are for the park to become a walking trail.

Other action by the town board included:

•Agreeing to schedule a joint meeting with Hammondsport Village trustees. The meeting was requested by trustees last week as a way to find common ground. No date has been set.

•Agreeing to send unofficial town meeting minutes for publication in the Courier Advocate. The board turned down the Courier's request to edit the minutes.

•Agreeing to receive regular reports on the current budget.