Re "Ramapo blasted in draft audit," Sunday article:

The state Comptroller's audit of Town of Ramapo finances revealed gross financial mismanagement. As the supervisor and council members pursued local development corporation projects, they failed to fulfill their responsibility to voters, taxpayers and residents.

Unfortunately, the town's LDC plans don't end with the ball stadium and Elm Street housing project. When the Town of Ramapo along with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission purchased the Braen Stone property last fall, the supervisor claimed that all of Torne Valley was now protected. But he omitted mentioning that the Ramapo LDC was working on building a hotel in Torne Valley opposite the recreation center and the Hamlets, 158 townhouses on the steps of Torne Mountain. Ramapo does not need to go into the hotel business when its own business is in such disarray.The Hamlets would place low-income housing on land requiring extremely expensive site preparation due to the rugged nature of the terrain. It would amount to high-cost low-income housing, a contradiction.

All those affected by Ramapo need to be very concerned about the situation. Town finances must be returned to sound practices and town business needs to return to its primary purpose, serving those who live and work here and not an LDC.

Patsy Wooters
Suffern
The writer, chair of Torne Valley Preservation Association, is a candidate for Ramapo Town Board on the Preserve Ramapo line.

Sept. 25, 2011

Re "Ramapo blasted in draft audit," Sept. 18 article:

I hope others read about the New York state comptroller's draft audit findings and some eyes have been opened. Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence is a three-headed individual. He is Ramapo's supervisor, the head of the so-called Ramapo Local Development Corporation and the acting head of finance for the town. What ever happened to the system of checks and balances in government? The local development corporation is formed to circumvent Wicks Law and then St. Lawrence criticizes Wicks Law as being a burden to taxpayers.

Then he claims the town is short $1.8 million by under-estimating golf course revenues. With an average round of golf at the course at $50 (residents pay less, non-residents pay more), that would mean the budget overestimated 36,000 rounds would be played. How can any estimation be off by 36,000?

And what about the illustrious Ramapo Town Board, which claims they were never given all the financials details of the stadium project by St. Lawrence yet the still voted to allow the spending of funds as the stadium had already been built to a certain point. Contrary to voter wishes, they just figured, we might as well go ahead and let him build his dream anyway.

Wake up and get out and vote. Let's get some change in office — let's elect people who follow the voters' wishes. How can one person hold all three positions? No wonder St. Lawrence gets to do what he wants.

John McRory
Airmont