Letters to the Editor, Sept. 19

McCown responds to Pound Ridge Supervisor Hansan

To the Editor:

I write in response to Mr. Hansan’s letter last week. Once again, he fabricates lies as a distraction to avoid providing residents with the transparency they deserve about critical town matters.

To clarify, my small claims court action against Diane Briggs related to her Nov. 4, 2023 PRDC Instagram posting had nothing to do with the Pound Ridge Party, the town, or anyone else. Her libelous statement reinforcing slander spread by PRDC members had no relation to campaign issues. I will not repeat the libel and slander here, but will provide all documents related to both — including a screenshot of the post the PRDC later deleted — to anyone requesting them. The supervisor’s statement, “Twice, the judiciary confirmed his accusations had no merit,” is not true. I filed an appeal, but it never occurred.

The supervisor continues to play “look at this, not that” to distract attention from matters of importance to every taxpayer. He doesn’t want you to question eight years of failing to timely file annual financial reports with the OSC (average 17-month delay peaking at 27 months), which kept residents in the dark. He doesn’t want you to read the incriminating OSC audit report and management letters from the independent auditor highlighting significant accounting and control deficiencies. He doesn’t want you to be made aware of the cost taxpayers incurred by his failure to manage and respond to financial requirements and challenges. 

Costs include:

— 9.11% school tax increase levied without a fight from their supervisor and Town Board

— $252,087 in excess interest resulting from four years of failure to produce current financials that would have also locked in municipal bonds at lower rates 

— $2 million spent on 7 Old Pound Road property for an unsuccessful wastewater project, equating to over $1,000 per average residence.

Supervisor Hansan misleads and withholds information from residents.  Peter Avellino, Ron Asaro and I are fully committed to serving on the Town Board with full transparency to residents, getting the town back on track utilizing our expertise in fiscal responsibility and strong governance to shape the future of Pound Ridge together.

John D. McCown Candidate for Pound Ridge supervisor

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Pound Ridge needs a full-time assessor

To the Editor:

Wow! Someone has sold the Town Board and supervisor a bill of goods. Recently, the town posted a new job description for the assessor’s position. It would make the job a part-time, remote position. Reportedly, the candidate they have in mind is a full-time assessor in a large municipality down county. If this is accurate, the candidate oversees many thousands of parcels, including large commercial properties and residential properties. This person would be adding oversight of approximately 2,000 more parcels to his workload in a community distant from his primary office and home.

Assessment of residential properties is not something that can be done from behind a desk. An assessor must get out and see the property, the condition and evaluate any mitigating factors such as land configuration and neighborhood. I know this. I was an assessor for both a city and a town in Westchester. I also worked in the Pound Ridge assessor’s office for seven years. I am a member of the Institute of Assessing Officers. 

This candidate’s first allegiance will be to the municipality that pays his full-time salary and benefits. 

The argument advanced by board member Dan Paschkes is that this will save the town money. That is questionable. Initially, there will be a cost saving on salary and benefits. However, it is doubtful that this part-time person will be able to add to the assessment roll at the same level a full-time assessor can. Mr. Pashkes suggested technology will alleviate some workload. Online assessment aids such as Google, Pictometry and the Westchester County Tax Parcel Viewer are updated annually at best. This will not capture new or partial construction.

The assessor’s position by law is a six-year appointment. If this is a disaster, what recourse does the town have? 

This proposal is ridiculous and a disservice to the property owners. We need a full-time, in-office assessor not beholden to another municipality.

Michele C. Jordan Pound Ridge