Petition Update Addendum: Bypassed Process, Misplaced Priorities, and Citizen Accountability

Dear Supporters,

We are writing to share another concerning example regarding governance, oversight, and decision-making in our town.

Recently, while standing near the construction happening behind the library, my young son asked me why we had to stop and take pictures of the site. I told him that, unfortunately, it has become the job of everyday citizens to hold our town accountable when public officials deliberately fail to inform us about the true scope of work being done.

While neighboring communities are actively investing in public amenities—such as the Town of Irondequoit, which just held a groundbreaking for a beautiful, inclusive playground (read more about Irondequoit's project)—our own town administration has taken a starkly different approach. Our town was similarly awarded $1.2 million in grant funding to repair our public pool and build a new playground over two years ago. Yet, instead of putting those community funds to work, the administration has chosen to sit on them while focusing resources on their own building renovations and expanded parking. As a result, our playground was removed and our community pool has sat closed for over two years.

Because so many residents are kept unaware of town government actions, documenting what happens on the ground is one of the few remaining ways to provide transparency and inform the public.

This lack of transparency was again on full display at a recent meeting regarding the Town Hall site project:

• Unannounced Tree Clearing: An item omitted from the public agenda revealed that tree clearing and excavation behind Town Hall had extended much further west into the wooded area than originally reviewed. Several trees—which provided vital visual screening for neighboring residential backyards—were either cut down or severely damaged during utility work.
• Retrospective Information: The Conservation Board, despite its official project review role, was brought in only after the damage was done, with no logical explanation provided.
• Incomplete Plans & Double Standards: Approved site plans failed to account for work extending this far into the woods, and landscaping plans offer no adequate replacement trees or species diversity to restore the lost canopy. Town Hall site work continues to bypass the standard, proactive review practices strictly required for commercial and residential developers.

Town Hall, the library grounds, and our park facilities belong to the entire community, not just town administration. Advisory boards exist to provide expert environmental oversight before work begins, not to act as rubber stamps after decisions are finalized.

We will continue to document these developments, keep our community informed, and advocate for equal application of the rules, transparency, and true accountability in town government.

Thank you for your continued support and vigilance.