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Critical Public Hearings: Pascack Ridge and Ramapo’s Northeast Strategic Plan on Wed Aug. 15 and Monday Aug. 19

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From CUPON

Below are 2 critical projects that will be enacted by the town of Ramapo’s elected Board if we do not express our concerns about them.

On August 15th a Public Hearing will be conducted on Pascack Ridge.  This proposal is to build approximately 290 housing units on the wooded property between Rose Ave in Spring valley, North Pascack Road, and Ewing Ave in Hillcrest. If you live or travel in this area, loss of the scenic forest, increased traffic, noise and congestion will become a way of life. [Read more…]

State hearing rips Ramapo for lackluster code, fire safety enforcement

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Gordon Wren inspecting housing

Gordon Wren Jr. Photo: Ricky Flores/The Journal News

“Ramapo officials and state code watchdogs came under criticism Thursday for lackluster enforcement and bending to special interests during a state Senate hearing in Newburgh.

Gordon Wren Jr., the county’s retired emergency services coordinator who chairs the grassroots watchdog group CUPON Rockland, led the critique along with state Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowski, and, to a lesser degree, Rockland Deputy Health Commissioner Catherine Johnson Southern, who oversees enforcement of the county sanitary code under the Rockland Codes Initiative.

The hearing was held in Newburgh Armory before the Senate’s Investigations and Government Operations Committee, which is chaired by Democrat James Skoufis, whose district includes Stony Point and Haverstraw. [Read more…]

Ramapo: Top officials get personal employee agreements with raises, perks

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Michael Specht Ramapo Supervisor

Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht Photo: Carucha L. Meuse/The Journal News

“Aside from increasing their own pay up to $20,000 a year, Town Board members have taken care of five top department heads, approving employee agreements for them with hefty time off and buybacks beyond their base salaries topping $157,000.

The multiple-year agreements include the potential for more than 70 paid days off a year, including 33 vacation days, 10 personal days, 18 sick days and 12 holidays, as well as 168 hours of paid compensatory time. [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…]

Grassroots groups fighting development in Ramapo

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Screen grab from LoHud video

Image from LoHud video of Local Activitists

“A year ago, a grassroots group called CUPON was formed by a Hillcrest resident who saw an urgent need to keep the area’s development in check.

Since then, that group has helped a handful of similar organizations spring up around Ramapo, a town with a long history of civic activism. They all share concerns similar to CUPON’s, which stands for Citizens United to Protect Our Neighborhoods. [Read more…]

Yeshivas fight back, claim county inspections ‘improper’, ‘draconian’

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A newly formed group of Rockland yeshivas has warned County Executive Ed Day that they believe his zeal for inspecting private schools violates the U.S. Constitution.

Members of what is being called the School Religious Freedom Coalition want a meeting with the state education commissioner to discuss a “reasonable” plan for carrying out fire and safety code inspections at local private schools.

Dennis Lynch, an attorney for the group, said organization members support the need for inspections and having safe schools for students but believe Day’s goal is to limit the growth of private schools. [Read more…]

Ramapo hires 2 fire inspectors, demotes Peltz

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Former Ramapo Fire Inspector Adam Peltz is demoted, sanctioned and yet kept on at $85,865 as the board creates a new position for him.

The town board hired new fire safety and building inspectors Thursday just as state officials were given authorization to inspect dozens of private schools.
Town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence and the Town Board voted Thursday to appoint Michael Lepori as fire inspector at a cost of $64,073, and Ian Smith as deputy building inspector at a cost of $74,173. [Read more…]

Ramapo asks court to shut Eckerson Lane yeshiva

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Photo of the Yeshiva on Eckerson Lane

Eckerson Lane Yeshiva Photo by Seth Harrison/Journal News

“The Town of Ramapo is moving to close a yeshiva on Eckerson Lane in Hillcrest for zoning violations. Residents say the town has been complicit in allowing these schools to operate for years.”

“Ramapo has asked a state court to shut down an Eckerson Lane yeshiva for overstaying temporary permits that allowed it to use a house and classroom trailers for students while building a more permanent school.

The yeshiva was opened three years ago by a congregation without approvals. But the congregation later received town permission to use a single-family house for classrooms and add modular trailers for additional students. [Read more…]

Ramapo fire inspector accused of negligence

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Photo of fire inspector Adam Peltz and Supervisor St. Lawrence

Ramapo Fire Inspector Adam Peltz Journal News file photo

“Ramapo’s embattled fire inspector faces demotion with a loss in salary and up to a 60-day suspension by the Town Board after he overlooked numerous fire and safety violations at four private schools that the state discovered during its own inspections.

The Ramapo Town Board is scheduled to vote Wednesday on the proposed resolution to disciplinary charges brought against Adam Peltz, a longtime town employee who also serves as a volunteer member of the Monsey Fire Department and its president. [Read more…]