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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-20-1997 MINUTES OF SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1997 AT 7:OO P.M. Those present: Teresa M. Robinson, Supervisor Gordon C. VanBenschoten, Councilman Donald N. Palmer, Councilman Daniel J. Carey, Councilman Fran Casullo, Attorney Absent: Ellard L Sovocool, Councilman Also present: Leland Cornelius, approximately 100 residents of McLean and Groton. Supervisor Robinson welcomed everyone. I hope everybody has signed in. If you haven't, please do. Meeting recessed at 7:08PM. Moved by Councilman Carey, seconded by Councilman VanBenschoten, that the Board go into executive session to discuss pending litigation. Ayes - VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson (Absent - Sovocool). This will only take about five minutes so don't ... Board meeting reconvened at 7:20PM. Motion by Councilman Carey, seconded by Councilman Palmer that the board meeting be reconvened. Unanimous. Supervisor Robinson said that we had a discussion on pending litigation and I will accept a motion. Moved by Councilman Palmer, seconded by Councilman VanBenschoten, that the Town Board does hereby desire to begin process of a proposed Local Law No. 4 for the year 1997 providing for a moratorium for the establishment of Adult Uses for a period of 120 days. Ayes - VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson. Moved by Councilman Carey, seconded by Councilman Palmer, to hold a public hearing on Monday, November 3, 1997 at 8:30PM regarding the adoption of Proposed Local Law No. 4 for the year 1997 which would provide for a moratorium for the establishment of adult uses for a period of 120 days. Ayes - VanBenschoten, Palmer, Carey, Robinson. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Is there any questions now? Does anybody have some statement or something they'd like to ask? NELSON WATERS- Would that also include the establishment of Sirens at this particular point to include them? FRAN CASULLO, TOWN ATTORNEY- There's a petition in there that would involve pre-existing businesses. LIZA MCELROY- Why is it only 120 days? SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Gives us time to work on this legally. COUNCILMAN CAREY- We also need time to amend the Land Use Code. It gives us time to re-work the Land Use Code. LIZA MCELROY- Will the business be closed during that time though? COUNCILMAN CAREY- I don't think so. 1 NELSON WATERS- Is there any way, anything that could be done to put them on hold? In a lot of communities throughout the country there's a thing that is known as, depending on where you may be, called the "Decency Factor". What we're dealing with here is, that within two blocks or less, we have a school; within two blocks or less, we have a church; within two blocks or less, we have a pre-school head-start program; within a circle of less than two blocks there's probably forty little children which have access to this building and to this particular thing. This is really what is going on. In about two blocks from there is where these two young ladies lost their lives, and just one year after this, with this going into operations, it's, excuse the term, but a kick in the guts to decent people. Also, please let me encourage or ask you to do this...I have been a councilor for delinquent youth in California for many years. I am also a pastor. But I am also a councilor for families, marital counseling and so on.I also have graduated from police academy, Stanislaw State, in California. So, I have some sort of broad base of understanding. To enact this Decency Factor for the protection of little children, of moms and daughters, any police department throughout our country is probably one of the best documented things that we may have in our country; that when we have this type of activity, the type of men that frequent these places, go there for very obvious reasons. Most police departments can tell you that these kind of men are going to seek and find release. That's just the way it is. Very obvious. And so it's this kind of thing that we plead, if there's any way, shape, or form, that this can be put on hold until this study is completed. And then, may I say, we appreciate that step. Or town needs people that's got back bone and guts to stand up and say, "wait a minute, this type of thing is going to be dealt with; we are going to do something that's right for our community." And from all that I understand, this was started under deceit and it was not open. For the most part we put a building permit.... there's all kinds of things that go on....a.. the property owners must be notified just to build a home, to start a little restaurant or something, there's so many things and our community didn't know about this until all of a sudden it was sprung on us. Within about two and a half blocks, at the mobile park, there's about another forty or fifty children there too. I just tell you this to help you to understand basically what we're feeling. We plead with you. Follow through with this. If there is any way that the attorney may be able to have something that he can help with too, to stop this thing even before. And give our community that respite before this other thing goes into enactment. That's my plea, and I trust I speak for many, many who could not be here tonight. Thank you. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Thank you. Anybody else? LOREN STANFORTH- Ithaca Journal. Does the moratorium start after the public hearing on November 3rd or does it start right now? ATTORNEY CASULLO- No. The date doesn't matter. 120 days from the date of this.....which would be after the public hearing and after a vote. LOREN STANFORTH- Excuse me, I couldn't quite hear you. ATTORNEY CASULLO- Its 120 days after the date that it's enacted. There's going to be a public hearing on November 3rd, I would imagine that there is going to be a vote on November 3rd. So it would be 120 days, if it's passed on November 3rd, from November 3rd. We have to follow the statutes with respect to adopting a local law, that's why we have to wait til November 3rd to hold a public hearing. DON MAYS- I request to have the attorney turn around and speak to the audience or go to the mike. ATTORNEY CASULLO- I can ... do that...but I'm sure you all heard me about the 120 days. Is there anyone who didn't hear me? SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Is there any other questions? 2 BILL DREW- Is there any other way around the 120 days, short of making it a law right now, like a change in zoning regulations? ATTORNEY CASULLO- No. Let me explain. A moratorium is a temporary piece of legislation, so to speak. What needs to happen, is in these 120 days, there's a meeting to amend the Land Use Development Code to include these types of activities. This will allow us to say, "Hey,stop, no more of these activities." Then it gives us time to amend the Town's Land Use Development Code to include and to regulate these kinds of activities. BILL DREW- But what happens to us in those 120..... ATTORNEY CASULLO- Nothing can happen. There are no more adult entertainment facilities that can now be established. There's some questions about the pre- existing one. But no more can happen. BILL DREW- But there is a possibility Sirens can stay open? ATTORNEY CASULLO- There's always that possibility. That's to be a decision for a judge to find. GEORGE STRANG- I live in McLean. It seems to me most of us are in agreement here that we'd like to see this thing closed down. It also seems to me that the more we can get them in court and the more money they have to spend, the less profitable it's going to be for them. And in the long run, eventually, they may just pull out because they can't afford to run it anymore. And that's something I think we all ought to consider. DON MAYS- I have a question that I'm a little confused about. The Certificate of Occupancy...and what was that...did they have to go in and get a building permit to do any building and that.... and a third question, is that right? Did they have to have a Certificate of Occupancy? GEORGE SENTER,CODE ENFORECEMENT OFFICER- No. DON MAYS- They don't. That's what I read in the paper on it, I thought that..... GEORGE SENTER- Yes, that's... I don't know where that information came from. DON MAYS- So they didn't have to do any building at all inside there? GEORGE SENTER- No... DON MAYS- And no reconstruction at all?......I mean put up a wall or put up a platform or anything like that... GEORGE SENTER- Last time I was in there it looked like a restaurant. DON MAYS- It hasn't changed any? GEORGE SENTER- ..............It's the same as it was before, when Dave Bail was in there. Looked the same...identical.... DON MAYS- And by the way, what type of food, we don't know yet, what type of food they're selling? GEORGE SENTER- They didn't tell me. They just said restaurant and bar like it always had been. DON MAYS- So you still don't know? GEORGE SENTER- No, I don't. DON MAYS- If they are serving it. GEORGE SENTER- I don't know. 3 DON MAYS- See that's the...so we don't know if it's restaurant, do we? GEORGE SENTER- She said in the paper she was serving cold cuts. DON MAYS- Yeah, well................. UNKNOWN- Does he have a liquor license? How can they call it a bar? DON MAYS - One thing we heard just recently though, is that there are activities taking place on the second floor. And from what I've heard from very reputable sources in the planning, that the second floor of that place had very wide gaps in it and that people had to hop from board to board to even cross it. GEORGE SENTER- The last time I seen it, it was the same way. DON MAYS- So, if they're having activities on the second floor, are they violating any ordinances or any building codes, or anything like that? GEORGE SENTER- There shouldn't be anything on the second floor of the building. UNKNOWN- There were Saturday night. There were flashlights up there. ATTORNEY CASULLO- Let me just say, that's a matter that needs looking into. NELSON WATERS- Can the public request inspections, and the people from the Town to go in to make sure things are..? ATTORNEY CASULLO- Mr. Senter has a certain set of rules that he has to follow. I'm sure one of them is that the public can't just demand to go in there and inspect the premises. He's got to have a legal, valid reason to do so. NELSON WATERS- And what would constitute a legal, valid reason? ATTORNEY CASULLO- Well, at this point, there's some reasons that I don't want to get into right now, but........ NITA BALDWIN- Why don't they have to do a fire safety inspection? It's a New York State law, isn't it? I work with Henry Slater.... ATTORNEY CASULLO- They did. NITA BALDWIN- ....and we do fire safety inspections all the time.... ATTORNEY CASULLO - They did. GEORGE SENTER- They did. NITA BALDWIN- Who did it? GEORGE SENTER- I did. NITA BALDWIN- Oh, I thought you said you hadn't been in the building. GEORGE SENTER- Not since they opened up. I was in there before that time. I did a fire safety inspection. NITA BALDWIN- Oh, okay. ELIZABETH SNYDER- Could a food service or a County Health person go in, unannounced, for either the bathrooms or kitchen? ATTORNEY CASULLO- I don't want to answer that, Mrs. Snyder, because, one 4 reason, when we're the Town of Groton, I don't want to speak for the County of Tompkins. To be honest with you, you're asking questions...if a county department could do that, I don't want to speak for Tompkins County. ELIZABETH SNYDER- I have a friend that works in that capacity, and I think she just drops in unannounced many times. They are allowed to correct the situation. She'll go back and and make sure meats and things are where they're supposed to be and the bathrooms are cleaned up ...and... they are allowed to reopen or if they don't they have to close. And I just thought that might be an avenue. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Any other questions? MELVIN MASON- ......for a judge to make the decision? ATTORNEY CASULLO- What I'm saying Melvin , is this, I'm just speculating here, I don't think this is the last time that this matter is going to go before a judge. That's what I mean by that. Okay? If I made myself unclear I apologize for that. It is just my speculation that before this is over with, the chances are very good that this is going to go before a judge again. MELVIN MASON - In which court? ATTORNEY CASULLO- The same one. BILL COLE- I was just wondering, do you think that we're all spinning our wheels here? This place is legally open and will probably remain open until they decide to close. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- I don't know what you mean by "spinning your wheel". If you're concerned about something, you are concerned about something. You can't give up, you have to keep working. NELSON WATERS- May I say something? We don't spin our wheels. It's not like the old proverbial "going against city hall". I have been involved in two particular things, not in this state, but California, where everything was "impossible". But because communities where totally committed and involved in it, the two situations were eradicated. The impossible situation, but when a community comes together, and we will be heard, and we will be in this thing for the long haul, it will be stopped. We can do it. I know that. I've been in two very difficult situations, and it takes just good decent people to stand up and say "no we've had enough". I say it's a fact. And if we want it out of there, we can get it out of there. And do it right and do it properly. BRUCE PERINE- Was a building permit issued? ATTORNEY CASULLO- No. BRUCE PERINE- About maybe six weeks prior to that place opening, I recall a contractor's pick-up truck parked out there, periodically, every morning when going to work. And I saw people going in and it looked like there was activity going on inside, construction activity. I just wanted you to comment on that. ATTORNEY CASULLO- I can't. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- I can't. I don't know what's in...... BRUCE PERINE- Was the Town aware that there was some activity, construction that........ ATTORNEY CASULLO- Was I aware? No. I guess Mr. Senter is saying that he wasn't aware. Was the Town Board? It's my understanding that they weren't aware either. 5 BRUCE PERINE- I mean clearly, I don't know if I was the only one or not, but there was clearly a contractor's truck parked out there almost every morning, off and on. (Other voices heard in agreement.) And I'm hearing there was no building permit. GEORGE SENTER- What did they do? BRUCE PERINE- Well, I'm not the building inspector. I know when I built my house, you came out and looked at my house, and you knew what I was doing. They apparently were renovating it, doing something in there........(several people speaking at once). UNKNOWN FEMALE- There was boards in there and there was saw horses and saws and things like that and hammers and nails, so you assume that they were doing a little more than just working with what was already there. DON MAYS - That brings my point right back again. They should have a building permit to do anything in there. George Senter should have checked that, and by the way, that has to give them a Certificate of Occupancy. And if they don't have that, they don't open. Period. And by the way, we go after the owner for that, not the tenant, the owner has to have that Certificate of Occupancy to rent. Period. Simple. And I think George knows that. GEORGE SENTER - If they have renovations in there, and I'm aware of it, Don, you're right. I wish somebody would have said something. I don't get out to McLean......(several people talking at once). SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Are there any other questions? UNKNOWN- There wouldn't have been much incentive for any of us to say anything because we would have assumed that there was a legitimate business moving in there, in a building that really was a beautiful building at one time, and it really needed to be occupied by a legitimate business. We had no incentive to report any construction activity in there. LIZA McELROY- I would just like to have it known for the record that the owner, Mr. Bail, has not made himself present at any of our Town Meetings or expressed any concern for the way that his decisions have affected the community. And I hope that people can see the petition thing passed around here, will really support us in bringing his attention to this problem. FRAN CASULLO- I can tell you this, I've spoken with his attorney, he is certainly aware of the problem. LIZA McELROY- Well, I think we will have to continue to.... FRAN CASULLO- That's your prerogative. LAUREN STANFORTH- Would a revision of the Town's Land Use Codes, would that have any impact on already existing businesses, like Sirens? Do you have any idea about that yet? SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Well, hopefully it would, but what we want to do, is go ahead, and we don't want this to happen again. We wish it didn't happen in the first place, but it has, and we have to work on that. BRUCE PERINE- Most of us know what the Elm Tree looked like previous to the Sirens moving in there. Can not the town go in and inspect the building now, and see if there were changes? I think that a reasonable person should be able to tell if there has been construction additions to that building. Can we not , from the Town, have the authority to do that? UNKNOWN- Seeing that you've got a lot of people who saw the contractor in there working? 6 UNKNOWN- Is that not grounds enough? UNKNOWN- Shouldn't Mr. Senter be the one to do this? ATTORNEY CASULLO- He would.. CLARA TRAVIS- I've been in the building several times since it was closed and I would definitely know what was there since it was closed a few years ago and what's there now. I'd be happy to go look. UNKNOWN- I'll volunteer to go if we have to go. I'd be more than happy to do that. BILL DRAKE- I have a question myself. Renovations inside that, if they were not structural changes, would it be absolutely necessary that they have a Building Permit to do so? ATTORNEY CASULLO- I have to tell you this, Mr. Drake, these are issues that I talked to about with Mr. Senter. We're in the process... some of your points, Mr. Perine, your points are well taken. It's something that we're taking under consideration, formulating a plan, so to speak, as to what our next move is. Implementation of a moratorium is one of those strategy that we are trying to do. And I've sat down and talked with Mr. Senter before and will do so again. We'll look at all avenues that we can to explore the situation. There are issues that you have brought up tonight that, quite frankly, I am aware of, we've thought of, and we just have to take it one step at a time. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Another thing, if you do know of something, or there is something, don't keep it to yourself, let us know. There is some distance between us over here, and we don't see all the things that you might see. UNKNOWN- You don't want to see some of the things that we see! SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- That may be true, but we still sympathize with you. BARBARA PATTERSON- I would like to know, when Enfield was going through all this, with their thing over there, why wasn't the law changed and amended at that time to protect the people in this town? SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- That's a good question. That's a very good question. I don't have the answer, but it's a very good question. SUE WOLF- I know it's getting late but, if there is more lights upstairs and things like that at night, would like a snap-shot of that, would that be something that could be used or....I know here-say isn't good enough, and lots of times the police aren't able to get over there. Lots of times they go and it's a more difficult situation, because there's so few. I just wondered, is there anything at all if things are taking place......I thought this was nude entertainment, but in my old mind I did not understand the extent of nude entertainment, until my daughter enlightened me a bit, and it makes me very angry, upset and ill. And if things are going on upstairs that are totally, you know, worse than inappropriate as to going on downstairs, what can we do? Is there anything at all? Do you, or does the attorney, does anyone know of anything that can be done. Some of us are out there just about every night, at least for awhile, being safe and staying within the lines. But we're letting people know that we don't approve. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- I think that's up to the powers that be and I don't want anybody getting in trouble. SUE WOLF- I just said standing there across the street, if you happen to have a camera and see a light upstairs, because we all know that nobody's supposed to be up there, in the dark. I just wondered if that was an appropriate avenue. UNKNOWN- ......law and Noise Ordinance. We have the Noise Ordinance in our town, I do believe, and a reasonable time of night when music and everything should be decent by about eleven o'clock. 7 SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- You're still getting the noise. UNKNOWN- I know, we're all getting the noise. And as soon as we go inside, the noise gets louder. REV. LESLIE SMITH- It's not just the noise, it's the announcements of what is to come..."this lovely here, and da-da-da" and it's very inappropriate especially during the work week and school nights. My five year old daughter had the suggestion in that you build a fence all around the entire building with gates and lock...... We all feel like there has been pollution to our environment at this point. And our residents feel like they are vulnerable, because we are vulnerable. There are many people coming to our community, drinking, before they arrive or once they get into the parking lot. As you've heard, the noises that come from the Elm Tree are inappropriate, and other pollution. The activity of some of the patrons, as they are coming and going, is repulsive and uncalled for. I'm wondering if the Town of Groton can offer the residents of McLean a little more sense of security, a little more sense of compassion than what we have experienced to date. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Are you talking about, what in particular.. REV. LESLIE SMITH- Law enforcement would certainly be appreciated on a regular basis. Is there any reason why there couldn't be temporary police......for twenty days? Is there any reason why you couldn't set up to check out the alcohol intake. Those that are driving. That certainly is an issue. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- I've spoken to both the Sheriff's Department and the State Troopers about just exactly what you're talking about. REV. LESLIE SMITH- Maybe you need to think about hiring some extra, so that we can feel protected. A little bit more secure than we do at this point. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Can I tell you one thing that I heard from other people going through the town? It's very dark over there at night. Your pickets, sometimes they don't see them,.....what I'm saying is that it's very dark. And I came through there the other night and if it wasn't for the car lights picking up the poster, I wouldn't have seen you there. ELAINE BURUI- I agree whole heartedly with you, but the public protestors are not going to go away, so we need another solution. We need to have some lighting there. It would be really nice if the Elm Tree would light their parking lot really well, and then perhaps people coming by could see us. Also, I'm really concerned that these patrons, coming in drunk, are going to fall in a hole. Because they go way to the back of the parking lot to park as far as they can go. I think we need more lighting. I try to help it with my flashlight, but I can only do so much. So it would help the Elm Tree and it would help light us. JOHN DUFREANE- Well, we have stop signs in McLean. And if these people who can't see these people outside, knew enough to stop for all the stop signs we've got in McLean, it wouldn't make one ....of a difference. A lot of people can't read anymore I don't believe. You've got five stop signs in the square. You got three stop signs up by the school. I cross kids, helping the school crossing guards, and you have to almost fight with these people to stop. I think that something ought to be done with all that. Haul some police around there and get some of these people that break the law.....and then we can see all of what's happened out there. If they stop, they'll see us all because that's where we are. GINNY ROBINSON- When you talked to the Sheriff and the State Troopers, did they tell you, "oh well, you're at the corner of the county, we only have so many people, and you're at the corner of the county"? SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- The second part they did, yes. They didn't say that we were at the other end of the county, they just said that they had few people. 8 MERT WEBB- I feel very disappointed in our State Troopers and our Sheriffs Department. I'd like to see just one D.W.I. written over there. We don't see them check anybody and night after night they're over there. And you're telling me that we haven't paid enough to our Sheriff and our State Police that we can't get one arrest out of that? That's certainly a terrible thing to say of our law enforcement people if we can't get one single arrest, not one! UNKNOWN- I'd like to pick up on what Mert said, by the way, that's a non- alcoholic bar, so they probably think they can't enforce that because they aren't going to be drinking there. However, Saturday morning, when I went to photograph a wedding, I stopped at the Elm Tree in the parking lot and photographed the beer cans and whatever else was there. I've got that on film.......they bring the booze there. By the way, we're going to say, look, our value of our houses is going down, so the Town of Groton, by the time they get most of our taxes next year, we're going to fight that. You might want to think about that as you plan your budget for next year. BILL TRUE- It would be nice to hear some support from some official government body in our struggle. All we're hearing are that things are going on, and maybe there's some legal reasons why the board can't make a statement of support, but I think that at least a resolution supporting our stand in McLean would make us all feel better. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Well, I think that we've gone to quite a bit of trouble to help you and to back you, and I'm sorry if you don't see it like that, I guess you're not looking at the right picture. UNKNOWN- We live in McLean. It's hard to look much beyond that. ANOTHER- And it's not you helping us, we're all part of one town.... SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Well, certainly is, and that's the way we, you were acting and trying to act, as part of the Town. CLARA TRAVIS- Quite frankly I can't accept that we're causing trouble. Look what you've caused us. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- I beg your pardon, you misunderstood me. I said, we are taking your troubles and trying to help. UNKNOWN- No, you're not taking our troubles. You gave us the troubles. Who ever is on that board, gave us the troubles. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- On which board, are you talking about, sir? UNKNOWN- I'm talking about the Planning Board, the Zoning Board, who ever made the decision to have this business in McLean, because somebody pulled the wool over their eyes. And by the way, if they can't own up to it now, they probably won't be re-elected....it's just too bad. So it is your problem you gave us. CHARLES FROST- You can see the frustration that's building up here, the anger. We do really want something done. My question is, we don't want to get started in nasty rapport among everybody here, but you can see how this is spilling over into the community. A lot of people are very, very angry. My question is, let's go to worst case scenario, if this thing gets in, and we can't stop it, is there any recourse we have in getting our property reassessed because it's certainly going to be a downer. It's certainly not going to improve our community or our property. And I get to pay taxes on something that's not worth what I'm paying for. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- You'll always have that, you'll always have that. CHARLES FROST- Can we get the Elm Tree reassessed? 9 SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Isn't the Elm Tree an historical site? UNKNOWN- Well it used to be. I talked to Dorothy Ostrander and she told me that as far as anything that she had in her records, she didn't know if she could get designation. That doesn't mean that it isn't. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- I just wondered if it had been declared one. UNKNOWN- It should be, it's been here longer than anything or anyone.......what 1790 something or.......... BRUCE PERINE- Has the Town entertained, or looked at alternative ways of fighting this. That's a historical building, and let's say we have to fight the folks who own this place, we could run into some significant legal expenses. I don't know what the asking price was, can not the Town just buy that building? Maybe that's the easiest way out of this. If we're talking thousands of dollars in legal expenses, maybe this is an out of the box. Let's just try to get out of the box. There's a special assessment we can tack on the folks in the Town of Groton, and let the Town buy the building as an historical site. And we would boot them out of there. I guess I'm suggesting there's other avenues other than legal to combat this. Maybe if we just sit down and discuss this, there may be other ways to skin this cat. GEORGE SENTER- That might be the cheapest way....(several people talking).... BRUCE PERINE- Is the Town legally authorized to make an offer on that building? Could we make an offer on it, I don't know, the attorney is here.. ATTORNEY CASULLO- Not at this point. To answer your question, Mr. Perine, could the Town right now entertain the purchase of it, no....no..... BRUCE PERINE- Eminent domain? ATTORNEY CASULLO- No, no. But to answer your first question, do we explore different alternatives, not have we explored them, we continue to explore them. UNKNOWN- Are you talking the Town of Groton, or the Community of McLean? ATTORNEY CASULLO- Town of Groton. The moratorium was something that we developed over this past weekend. We're going to enact that. I'm sure you're probably aware there's a ZBA meeting scheduled for Thursday night. That's another plan that ...that we're coming before the ZBA at their request. I'd like to hear what they have to say, then make some more decisions after that meeting. UNKNOWN- Will the Town be negotiating an out of court settlement with these people? ATTORNEY CASULLO- I'm not going to comment on that. UNKNOWN- Does the Town Attorney represent the citizenship of McLean or just the Town Board? ATTORNEY CASULLO- I represent the Town of Groton. If you're asking me, have we even discussed an out of court settlement, no, I mean we've been in court not out of court. I have not had any discussions of any kind, along those lines. SUPERVISOR ROBINSON- Is there any other business? There being no further business, Councilman Carey moved to adjourn meeting, seconded by Councilman VanBenschoten at 8:08. Ayes: Unanimous. 10 Colleen D. Pierson Town Clerk 11