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Archives for October 2016

SEC Fines and sanctions Consolo and O’Connor Davies for Ramapo fraudulent filing

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Seal of the US SEC

Press Release from the SEC — Washington, DC Oct. 31, 2016

Firm and Partner Charges with Issuing Fraudulent Audit Reports

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that a New York-based audit firm and a senior partner agreed to settle charges that they issued fraudulent audit reports in connection with municipal bond offerings by the town of Ramapo, N.Y., and its local development corporation. The SEC’s order finds that PKF O’Connor Davies and Domenick F. Consolo allowed Ramapo to record a $3.08 million receivable in its general fund for a property sale that Consolo knew had not occurred. [Read more…]

New York religious property tax breaks soar heavenward

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Congregation V'yoel Moshe on Maple Avenue in Monsey (Photo: John Meore/The Journal News

Congregation V’yoel Moshe on Maple Avenue in Monsey (Photo: John Meore/The Journal News

Exponential growth: Ramapo

“Nowhere is the expansion of religious exemptions as pronounced as in Ramapo, a Rockland County town that is home to a rapidly growing Orthodox Jewish population.

“You could feasibly have a situation where there are no properties on the tax rolls,” West said of Ramapo. “If you do the math and extrapolate it out, there’s only so much land.” [Read more…]

Ramapo sets date for vote on changes to zoning law

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“Town officials have set a date to vote on a bundle of amendments to its zoning codes that currently fall short of state regulations, and will offer an opportunity for residents to sound off on the changes.

More than a dozen amendments to Ramapo zoning law came at the direction of the New York Department of State. The changes — which span from granting building permits and certificates of occupancy to the duties of the building inspector and maintaining detailed files — also follow a Department of State letter from July criticizing the town for failing to comply with state regulations. [Read more…]

CUPON This Week: Chestnut Ridge Mon, Hillcrest Tuesday

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The CUPON meetings start at 7pm and are in the Chestnut Ridge and Hillcrest Fire houses.

Chestnut Ridge (Monday Oct. 24) will have several speakers including Bill Weber and Tom DePrisco, and there will be a number of issues on the agenda.

Hillcrest (Tuesday Oct. 25), the agenda will include:

1)    Bluefield Extension; N. Main St. gas station; 974 N. Main St.; Slinjn Ave. and Pascack Rd. schools;

2)    Updates to Ramapo Building and Zoning regulations, based on NYS DOS findings;

3)    Elections – very important Ramapo and State Assembly candidates need our support!

4)    Block Busting meeting held with the Dept. Of State – report;

5)    Keep out Neighborhood Beautiful – status;

6)    ReclaimNY training meeting – report.

 

Neighbors tell court builder sneaked in extra apartment spots

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Townhouse unit with three entrances and three doorbells

Townhouse unit with three entrances and three doorbells–Viola Estates Site Report presented to the court

“The builder of Viola Estates stealthily built space for illegal accessory apartments in the basements and upper floors of townhouses contrary to site plans approved by the Ramapo Planning Board, an attorney for neighbors told a judge on Thursday.

The neighbors want the judge to close down construction of the 44-home development after they say an on-site inspection report they commissioned found unapproved space for accessory apartments, evidenced by separate multiple plumbing, gas and electrical systems, separate water heaters and boilers. [Read more…]

New York’s top court boots Alan Simon from Spring Valley, Ramapo bench

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Former Judge Alan Simon Photo: Journal News file

Former Judge Alan Simon Photo: Journal News file

Alan Simon, a former prosecutor and Ramapo town attorney, will lose more than $120,000 in salary and benefits

“New York’s top court Thursday removed Alan Simon as judge for Spring Valley and Ramapo based on charges of misconduct and improper behavior toward court personnel and lawyers.

The Court of Appeals decison upheld six misconduct charges brought by the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct in an April decision and its recommendation that the top court remove Simon from the bench. [Read more…]

Spring Valley: Condos push back on code violations

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Parkview Condos Spring Valley Photo: John Meore/The Journal News

Parkview Condos Spring Valley Photo: John Meore/The Journal News

The representatives of Parkview Condominiums in Spring Valley are threatening a lawsuit after the building inspector ordered removal of religious baths and synagogue.

“A condominium development has threatened to bring a federal civil rights lawsuit against the village over its order to remove religious baths and a house of worship from the Main Street housing complex.

Chief Building Inspector Walter Booker said in June that the owners of Park View had violated their village-approved site plan, and that the owners installed the baths and built the synagogue without permits. [Read more…]

Clarkstown cracks down on illegal housing

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“Just before noon on a recent weekday, Clarkstown Deputy Town Attorney Leslie Kahn and code enforcement officer Raymond Francis walked down the driveway of a single-family Colonial in a quiet cul-de-sac in north New City.

The pair was there to find out whether the owner, who didn’t live there, had complied with a court order to get rid of a pair of illegal basement apartments.

No one was home and they couldn’t get inside, but Kahn and Francis looked through the uncovered windows to see that it appeared that at least one of the tenants had moved out. There would be a follow-up visit on the pending case. [Read more…]

E. Ramapo: $58M bond would fix classrooms, more

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“Residents in the East Ramapo school district are being asked to approve a multimillion-dollar capital projects bond that will give some long-needed attention to aging infrastructure.

The $58 million referendum, scheduled to go before voters on Dec. 6, budgets money for replacing roofs, boilers, windows and HVAC units, as well as fixes to sidewalks, floors and bleachers, according to the ballot language recently approved by the school board.

Capital improvements are identified in the district’s new five-year strategic plan, and a team of state-appointed monitors in December 2015 recommended that old infrastructure be addressed in a report on the district. [Read more…]

Bill Weber for Ramapo Town Council

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Bill Weber election lawn sign

This November we have an unusual opportunity.  Samuel Tress, the convicted felon who was nevertheless appointed to the Ramapo Town Board has been forced to resign after a second conviction!  So there is now an open seat on the board.

We are supporting Bill Weber for that open seat.  Bill ran for Town Board last year on the Ramapo United/Reform Party ticket.  He brings a wealth of business experience and political insight that will serve him well as a member of our Ramapo town board. [Read more…]