The incorporation effort is just getting started.
Dear Edgemont Residents:
On Tuesday, in an unsurprising decision, Town Supervisor Paul Feiner rejected Edgemont’s petition for incorporation. Many Edgemont residents have asked: so, what happens now?
Immediately, we will file an “Article 78” which refers to the legal procedure for challenging the determinations of administrative agencies, public bodies, or officers. We believe legal action is warranted because 1) the petition does, in fact, meet the requirements of Village Law and would have been approved under any law-abiding and non-prejudiced supervisor; and 2) the Supervisor should be held accountable for his flawed and meritless rejection of the petition.
Simultaneously, we will commence a new petition with a goal of a comparable or greater number of signatures. We believe that presenting Supervisor Feiner and the court with yet another valid petition will further demonstrate the community’s strong support for a referendum on Edgemont’s incorporation.
Both the Article 78 legal filing and the commencement of the new petition are time-sensitive actions. A bill has been submitted to the New York legislature that would render village incorporations more difficult by affording town supervisors greater discretion. Based on Mr. Feiner’s vehement opposition to Edgemont’s incorporation (apparent through both words and deeds, see sidebar), we believe the Town of Greenburgh would likely support such a bill. Therefore, we must act expeditiously.
Mr. Feiner’s rejection of the petition was an expected part of the Edgemont incorporation process. The EIC remains committed to seeing that Edgemont residents have access to clear information on the merits of incorporation and enjoy their legal right to vote on whether or not to become a village.
We appreciate the support from so many residents who have volunteered hours and offered donations through edgemont2017.org.
-The EIC
Click here for new internal Town emails of Paul Feiner and Town employees meeting and working specifically to oppose incorporation.
Click here for State Controller opinions on using Town resources and employees to oppose incorporations.
The Town has been very responsive to the opposition on the petition but failed to respond to our Freedom of Information requests(and continues to fail), against the written advice of the Committee for Open Government.
