At the Town Board work session on Tuesday, March 8, 2005, the four Town Councilmembers, working together with a representative of the Library Board, agreed upon the wording of a resolution setting the date of the library referendum. That resolution would have provided an opportunity for all eligible voters to vote by absentee ballot if needed.

Before the town board meeting the following evening, the resolution was revised to exclude a provision calling for two days of voter registration prior to the referendum.  That revison was made without the knowledge or approval of any member of the Town Council or the Library Board.  It is that change that Supervisor Feiner now claims could prevent disabled, military personnel and other residents who will be out of town from being heard on May 10.

It has always the goal, of the Town Council and the Library Board to open the referendum to all eligible voters and count all votes cast. 

The Supervisor claims to be offended about the possible disenfranchisement of disabled voters and others who may need to vote by absentee ballot.  He also seeks to place the blame for this problem on unidentified members of the town board and the library board.  Mr. Feiner has been working to prevent voters from voting on the library referendum this May.  I view this most recent controversy as a last desperate attempt to achieve his goal.  He has even gone so far as to encourage lawsuits against the town which would negatively impact all taxpayers throughout Greenburgh.

Instead Town Councilmembers have been working hard over the past few days to solve any potential voting conflicts.  Amendments will be proposed at Tuesday night’s special Town Board meeting to clarify any possible discrepancies regarding absentee ballot voting.

I remain committed to holding the library referendum on May 10 and to encourage all eligible residents to vote.

Councilman Steve Bass