A Risk Not Worth Taking
GOP Caucus Raises Serious Questions
About Proposed New Home For BOE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 13, 2007

Contact: George Oros
Tel: (914) 995-2828
oros@westchesterlegislators.com

The Republican minority of the Board of Legislators has demanded County Executive Andrew Spano and his administration fully disclose any risks to the public involving the abandoned warehouse at 450 Saw Mill River Road in Ardsley that has been proposed as the new home for the Board of Elections.

Minority Leader George Oros and fellow Republican legislators Ursula LaMotte, Jim Maisano, Suzanne Swanson, Gordon A. Burrows and Bernice Spreckman penned a letter to Spano and Budget Chair Michael Kaplowitz after learning about some potentially harmful issues with the building, including asbestos, mold, lead paint and a buried oil storage tank.

"There are a lot of things wrong with this building," Oros said. "The location is bad enough, but all these possible health risks should force the county executive and his advisers to look elsewhere."

"We have to look for a better place," Burrows said. "This building is old and in terrible shape. We'll be wasting millions of dollars to fix all the problems. It's not worth it."

In its letter, the GOP raised questions about an underground 20,000 gallon fuel oil storage tank, a 100 gallon diesel fuel oil spill that occurred last August at 444 Saw Mill River Road, documented asbestos-containing materials on the property, the presence of lead-based paint and a reported abundance of mold.

“The County is not spending the taxpayers money wisely by trying to ignore the age and condition of the oil tank,” Swanson said.

"No matter which way you look at this, it's a mess," Maisano remarked.

Meanwhile, the Republicans also raised their collective eyebrows at recent published reports that stated the property is owned by Ardsley Partners III. One of the firm's principals is Jon Halpern who, according to The Journal News, “has been a major donor to county Democrats and served on the ‘gala committee’ of a Spano fundraiser in 2005.”

The letter requests that all these issues be discussed in the Budget and Appropriations Committee prior to the final vote.

Click here to view letter.