Archive for February 2, 2009

What About Section 16? Again?

By Bob Steiner

According to the advance agenda notification for the Edgewood town council meeting on Wednesday, Feb 4, one of the the items to be discussed is property acquisition. For a variety of reasons such discussions are held in a closed session. The mayor, town council members, and staff “retreat” to an adjacent room where the  matter is considered without  potential “discordant” input from the audience.  Ultimately. if a decision is made in the “back room” to recommend purchase of real property, the matter would be scheduled as an agenda item for a “forthcoming” council meeting and the transaction would be voted on by the council. While the procedure described does not really bother me, recent actions by the town cause me to want to “view” any potential real estate transactions with a critical eye.

Specifically, the area known as section 16 was designated as the eventual location for the Edgewood town’s municipal complex shortly after the town was incorporated in 1999. Over the years a 12 acre parcel of land was purchased to be the nucleus of the center and options to purchase adjoining property were negotiated with other entities, including the state land office. Extensive planning for roads and buildings at the site have been developed.

»» What About Section 16? Again?