Regarding the Town Board’s request for a feasibility study on the project, Badalato said it would make no sense to spend $1,500 on a study without a commitment from the town to pursue “alienation” of the land – a process involving state Legislature permission to use public land for a private purpose.
Former Saugerties Planning Board member George Collins, a civil and environmental engineer, said he had assisted Barese in evaluating the environmental and development aspects of the project, including availability of electrical, water, gas and traffic. “I can say the project is feasible from an engineering standpoint,” he said. “I have been to a number of facilities in the region [as a member of a traveling softball team], and I can say this is a great location in terms of accessibility and infrastructure.”
Myers asked whether Collins had evaluated other sites. “Not to the detail we’re focusing on this property because it has so many benefits and pluses,” Collins said.
Game over?
During the period for board reports, Costello said he hopes the board has not closed the door on the proposed sports complex. “This project deserves more of our attention than it’s getting, and I share in whatever blame. Whether it’s a lack of communication or wrong consultants, we haven’t given this project the diligence and review that it deserves.”
If the sports complex is built someplace else, said Costello, “we will have to retrench and look at where we did well and where we did not do well and try to improve on it. If this goes to another community, not only will there be disappointment among us, but there will be disappointment among members of the community to see it someplace else.”
Councilman Jimmy Bruno said he does not have a problem with the project, and he would favor allowing a move for alienation of the property to go forward. He noted that he had expressed four reservations, and they had been answered.
Bruno said he was concerned about alcohol being served on town property, but Barese had agreed that “if push comes to shove, he won’t serve alcohol.”
Bruno had questioned whether the town would be compensated sufficiently for the alienation of town land, and “he said he would guarantee us the dollars equivalent to what we pay in taxes.”
Barese has not revealed who his financial backers are, Bruno said, but “he assured us that he would reveal his investors before we gave him final approval.”
Finally, “I felt the entire proposal should be put up for public referendum, and again he agreed to that. I just want the public to know, and I want Mr. Barese to know, that I don’t have a problem with going forward with alienation.”
Contacted several days after the meeting, Barese said he is not angry, but very disappointed in the town. The Town Board did not even place his proposal on the agenda for discussion.
In the meantime, “my phone is ringing off the hook,” he said. In addition to supporters, officials from other towns have contacted him asking for a proposal for a facility in their towns.
“I think a lot of people don’t understand what we are trying to do,” Barese said. “The people who do understand are supporting me.”
The complex, as proposed, would contain a pool, basketball courts, a track and space that could be used for a variety of sports. The space could also be used for concerts, shows and other civic events.
