Former Village Mayor James Purcell: Move the Y’s request for a second egress along and vote

By Nancy Kriz
MONROE — As the Village of Monroe Board of Trustees continues its review process of the South Orange Family YMCA’s request for a second egress to the facility in order for its $3.1 million expansion to become a reality, the village’s former mayor wants the community to know work on this request is has been going on during the last nine years and he’s encouraging talks to take place to find a resolution allowing the Y to move ahead with its plans.
“I want to clear the air and set the record straight,” said James Purcell. “I don’t want to see all the hard work we put into it (the Y’s plan) during my tenure, all for nothing. The Y is such a vital part of the community, it’s about the people, it’s not just a business, and it makes Monroe a healthy place to live.”
Beginning in the spring 2010Purcell said work to secure the Y’s egress, required for its expansion, dates back to spring 2010.
In August 2010, the Monroe Village Board began discussions about Gilbert Street Extension to see if the village still owned the property, he said. The concerns for the Heritage Trail crossing were brought up and the village attorney began research to determine if there were any liens or easements in addition to reconfirming property ownership.
Purcell said in October 2010, he, village Department of Public Works Superintendent Brian Smith, Orange County Planning Chair David Church, Orange County Head of Rails Kate Schmidt and Orange County Parks and Recreation Head Rich Rose began speaking about the possibility of a roadway/drive crossing the trail.
Church, Purcell said, told them he’d like to see this happen.
After a few years of inaction, the Y approached the Town of Monroe to see if it could build an access road adjacent to the Y near Orange and Rockland Road and Route 208. The idea included the town building more recreational space on that property. But given the many contentious issues facing the town and a heated political environment, that idea was shelved.
Purcell also spoke about comments he made at an October 2014 village board meeting about the village’s involvement with the town property near Orange and Rockland Road.
‘Help keep a viable business in the community’In comments made at the recent March 19 village board meeting, Purcell told trustees (Mayor Neil Dwyer was out of town) what he said at that time: “The YMCA is a tenant of the building which lies in the Village of Monroe. The Y is looking to expand its operation and will be coming forward to the Village of Monroe Planning Board. We are helping them in any legal way we can at no cost to the Village of Monroe. There have been many discussions about a roadway or driveway. There are many entities involved, Orange County government agencies, the New York State Department of Transportation and Village of Monroe agencies.”
He added in those written remarks: “There are legal issues the Village of Monroe attorney is reviewing. At the end of the day, if the Village of Monroe can help anyone in a situation at no cost to the taxpayer and keep a viable business in the community, it’s a great idea. We are talking to the entities involved about a road we own that is collapsed. We still own the right of way.”
Moving forward to 2015, Purcell said he, then-trustee Dwyer, Monroe Police Chief Alex Melchiorre and Smith met at the Y with Y CEO Ira Besdansky, his staff and Y engineers to discuss the driveway crossing over the Heritage Trail.
“Trustee Dwyer and Chief Melchiorre came to the location via (an) electric cart from the Monroe Police station to the YMCA building on the Heritage Trail so Trustee Dwyer could see the amount of pedestrian traffic and ask questions and update status,” Dwyer said in written remarks from the March 19 meeting.
Purcell further said in June 2015, he met with county legislators, officials representing the county’s Parks and Recreation Department, County Attorney’s office, County Department of Public Works, Rails and Trails office along with Y officials for more talks. It was determined that a county resolution giving approval would be needed.
June 2015In June 2015, the village trustees were updated in executive session about the project. Also present at that meeting was Besdansky and the Y engineer so the trustees could ask any questions they wanted about the proposed crossing, Purcell said.
When the county resolution was voted upon on Sept. 3, 2015, Purcell said he put a copy of that resolution in all the trustees’ mailboxes.
More meetings took place in February 2016, with the state DOT and its engineers, Besdansky and the Y engineer at the DOT’s Poughkeepsie office. They brought the county resolution with them.
Purcell said on June 21, 2016, the Y again came to a village board executive session to discuss the project, the status of the DOT application and project costs. At that time, the DOT had not made a decision on the application, which he admitted was the biggest holdup and something not in anyone’s control.
Purcell also said during a Feb. 20, 2018 village board meeting, he told the trustees that he would be meeting with the DOT in Albany at former State Sen. William Larkin’s office on March 8, 2018 to discuss the proposal’s status, determine any outstanding issues and how they could be resolved.
By this time, Dwyer had been elected the village’s new mayor. Purcell said he spoke to Dwyer and emailed him to advise him to be on alert for any communications from the DOT or the Y regarding the DOT’s approval or disapproval of the application.
Purcell added on his last day of office, there was no news.
DOT approvalBut, the DOT eventually approved the proposal.
The thinking was the DOT approval was the last piece needed in order for the village board’s approval of the use of the property.
Purcell said he was at a loss for words as to why the Y’s request has been stalled by the current board. He said Dwyer, current Trustees Debbie Berringer and Irene Conklin and former Trustee Wayne Chan fully knew what had been taking place. He knows Conklin and current Trustee Carey Alley have reached out to get more information.
“The reality is why haven’t they (the village board) suggested moving forward and putting it (the request) in the planning board’s lap?” Purcell said. “At the end of the day, the planning board is going to review, revise and get involved. The information has been provided, all the county and DOT approvals. I still don’t understand the holdup at this point. I don’t think they have fully explained to the public why is taking so long. It seems like they have not reached out to the planning board and ask them questions.”
Purcell said he’s frustrated that no one seems to want to recall the work that’s taken place over the last nine years, and he knows the Y is equally upset for the same reasons.
“The village board was supporting this road right up until the end of me being mayor,” Purcell said. “There’s timelines to show all the steps were taken properly to address the Y’s future. I think my successor has a true public safety concern, but that’s been vetted by many entities.”
He stressed he felt there needs to be better communication on two parallel tracks: the village board with the village planning board and the village board with Y officials.
“They (the village board) have not gotten back to them,” Purcell said. “It seems just like there’s no communication between the village and the planning board as was spoken about at the March 19 board meeting by the village planning board chairman.”
Purcell said he also believes the public is becoming increasingly frustrated, noting if the village moves ahead with a proposed building moratorium, the Y’s expansion would be stalled and that should concern people.
“Your guess is as good as anyone’s as to why nothing’s happening,” said Purcell. “That’s why the people are frustrated. The mayor’s got to lead. He’s the guy who has to make this happen. But it’s the whole board who votes. It’s up to the people in the community to make sure they come to the village board meeting and voice their concerns about the YMCA. It’s all about the people and community.”