Dozens of exasperated voices waited for hours in freezing conditions outside of the Coeymans Town Hall on Monday evening, December 11, 2023. They huddled in groups, some returned to their cars, others gave up and went home. One woman, determined to be there, drove for a full hour, from the other side of the Hudson River. Shockingly, it would be nearly 9p before most were allowed inside to observe and/or participate in a public hearing convened by the Coeymans Planning and Zoning Board.

“Town meetings serve as the foundation of American democracy. How is what happened on Monday night legal?”

Frustrations and resentment swelled knowing a majority of available seats inside were consumed, early on, by employees and/or supporters of Carver Companies. They had arrived at least an hour beforehand; ahead of Town officials, sooner than even the town’s live-streaming tech, to stake claim to available seats.

With a maximum capacity of 80 persons, police officers stood vigilant at the front door enforcing the law. The tactic effectively deprived all others of joining the meeting.

Those left waiting tried in vain to attend the meeting virtually by way of the VIMEO feed. Unfortunately, this technology did not work. The live stream webpage failed to launch and even those with a strong cell phone signal and fast download speeds could not connect to the VIMEO page.

Reasonable accommodations for all ensure fair and transparent participation, but, in this case, Planning & Zoning Board Chair Robert Nolan failed to take measures to improve the situation. Those left waiting outside did not get to observe any of the critical presentations and testimonials given by Carver Co.

Moreover, Carver’s reputation for bullying was made worse when none of his supporters volunteered to trade places with those left shivering in the cold. Extending said olive branch, especially this time of year, would have had a big impact on perceptions of the company. Instead, it reaffirmed the moral character of a company whose ambitions have forsaken any sense of self-control and community civility.

The site plan in question will be the source of our next CAC post. Members are still reviewing the VIMEO feed.

On Wednesday, October 4, Hudsonia ltd hosted a free workshop to identify and protect small streams and wetlands in the Coeymans neighborhood. Educators discussed the values of small wetlands and streams; how to find and identify them, even in their dry condition; threats to wetlands and streams; and effective regulatory and non-regulatory protections.

CAC members Barbara Heinzen and Sara Pruiksma joined Gretchen Stevens from Hudsonia for a walk through Joralemon Park.  They were part of a group of about 20 people, many of whom were from Bethlehem,  NY.   Gretchen took the group to see different examples of wetlands that a town might want to protect as New York State and Federal laws do not include smaller wetlands and vernal pools.  Importantly, she noted that a wetland does not always have water, but it can be identified by the types of plants that grow there, the nature of the saturated soil, and a thick matting of leaves that would have once been covered with water.

Gretchen Stevens also noted that Joralemon Park is an exceptional site for native plants and ferns of many kinds.  The people of Coeymans are lucky to have this treasure in their boundaries.

ENOUGH!

Let your views be heard – PLEASE Speak out at Coeymans Town meetings!

Meeting dates and times may be subject to change.
To verify, please visit the Town website or call Town offices at 518-756-6006
Email the Town of Coeymans Supervisor
or write to the Supervisor at 18 Russell Ave, Ravena, NY 12143
 

In winter 2023, Carver Companies cleared 25 acres of woodland
along Bronk Rd and Route 144, without a credible reason for doing so.  
The proposed rezoning is adjacent to that clearing.