Future of South Avenue green space uncertain

Village officials in Brockport voted to take a piece of property at 52 South Avenue off the surplus list but couldn't come to a consensus on declaring the property "a park."

At the May 15 board meeting, Trustee Carrie Maziarz made a motion to declare the property a park. The designation would be necessary to protect the village for insurance purposes against liability and to comply with municipal laws. "We need to designate this area a park and keep it as green space," she said.

Trustee Maria Castaneda questioned the cost to the village and cited the example of Sagawa Park, which was dedicated to the village but comes with an annual stipend from the owner for its upkeep.

"Once the property is dedicated a park it is no longer under the jurisdiction of the village," Mayor Mort Wexler said. "We were concerned at the last meeting about moving our assessment duties 150 down the road and losing that autonomy but we are now looking at dedicating property and losing our autonomy to Albany." As parkland the property would come under the jurisdiction of the state legislature, Wexler said.

"I'm not in favor of dedicating this as a park," Castaneda said.

Maziarz pointed out that if the property wasn't dedicated, the village could be liable for any injury that might occur there.

"Why are we so concerned about losing autonomy over one piece of property as opposed to all the properties in the village," Maziarz said, referring to the village's vote to turn assessor duties over to the Town of Sweden.

Trustee Mary Jo Nayman said she had walked the property, seen the historic tree and agreed it was a "nice" area. "But we have 8,000 taxpayers in this 2.1 square mile village and with the economy the way it is and will be in the future, I find it difficult to take this piece of land forever off the tax roll," she said. "We need to keep something for a rainy day. We could be in deep trouble if this piece of property is tied up."

Nayman agreed that it could remain open space for now. "I think the South Avenue residents should continue to enjoy it as long as they can but if we have to revert it to revenue at some time I think we need to reserve that option.

Maziarz disagreed saying that there are 8,500 residents in the village and not all are taxpayers. "This property could only house two homes at most, and residents in that area deserve a park."

Wexler said a vacant lot is not a park. "This property hasn't been vacant that long and maybe six, seven or more years down the road, a future board might need that revenue and the taxes it could generate if sold. As far as this board is concerned, it will stay green space but not with a park designation," he said.

South Avenue resident Bob Canham, who had presented a petition to the board to remove the property from surplus, asked the board again to consider not only keeping 52 South Avenue as green space but to take it out of danger for the future. "Don't let your original vision go through your hands for a short term budget fix," he said. "Don't pass it off on future boards."

Maziarz and Trustee David Wagenhauser voted to designate the property a park, Wexler, Castaneda and Nayman voted against the designation.

May 21, 2006