Postponed: Supporters of Ossining Boat Club Delay Rally

All has been relatively quiet since a pre-Thanksgiving peaceful rally at the library on the controversial matter of the precarious fate of the Ossining Boat and Canoe Club.

Over Thanksgiving, the “Engel Park feasibility study” (see attached document) was posted on the Town’s website offering a timeline of what’s transpired on the riverfront from Hurricane Sandy until now. Meanwhile, supporters trying to save the OBCC, and at least regain access to their building, have been shoring their strength for tonight’s Town Hall meeting with this matter on the agenda.

“Paint the Town Red,” announced their flyer, for a support rally they intended to start at 6:30 p.m. outside the Ossining Public Library before the 7:30 meeting inside. 

__ UPDATE: With a big snowstorm underway, the rally has been called off. The Town Hall meeting has now been postponed as well. ___

__

Trustee Meaddows Ryan offered this update back in early December, "To quote one of our supporters: 'I see the feasibility study has been posted online on the Town's website. This has nothing to do with feasibility. It is, plain and simple a development plan.'"

The last four pages of the 17-page Powerpoint presentation show an architect’s renderings of the building proposed to replace the clubhouse, planned to house a restaurant as well as the boat club.

“What is truly egregious here is the manner in which the public opinion and community voices speaking out against this project continue to be summarily dismissed," Ryan continued, as clubmembers were upset over a two-month delay for a public meeting on the matter. "Rest assured this is not over by a long shot, and that the fight for preservation of OBCC will only get stronger in the face of such disregard. 

Supervisor Susanne Donnelly said, on the contrary, that the Town and the club are working together. Faced with electrical violations that had the place padlocked last year, Donnelly said they have limited access to correct violations, which they are working to do. "Town continues to work with OBCC concerning the violations on the building," the study says, adding:

"The first phase of the Feasibility Study is being completed and we are in the process of reviewing the findings and recommendations with the members of OBCC who are on the committee and the residents of Ossining."

At 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, in the midst of quickly-accumulating snow, the Town of Ossining issued this update:

The Town Hall Meeting scheduled for this evening (Tuesday, January 21st, 2014) has been postponed due to the weather.

It is essential that all residents of the Town of Ossining have the opportunity to attend these meetings and discuss issues that are relevant to them.

The new date for the Town Hall Meeting will be February 4th, 2014, 7:30PM at the Ossining Public Library. Tentative schedule will remain the same:

• Election Districts 17 & 20- Questions and Answers
• Update on Feasibility Study at Louis Engel Park
• Update on 507 North State Road

However, as always, these are your meetings! Please come and ask any and all questions you may have for the Board.