The disputed activity currently occurring in Masullo Estates has seriously compromised the few working storm drains that exist within the subdivision.  

It's outrageous the Town is not more concerned since they claim to be so worried about providing us relief.  4 years and counting on drainage relief without a shovel in the ground...except the shovel that shouldn't be there causing additional harm!

I submit that the advancement of Helderberg Meadows will make Masullo Estates not even look like a problem!  Future generations in Rotterdam will be asking themselves how it occurred.  The answer to that, of course, is simple.  

Planning Commission.

I say boycott Heldeburg Medows as it is being developed. Make it almost impossible for them to sell even one home. Get the media's attenton and place articles in the paper. Picket the area with signs! Put stumbling blocks where ever and whenever a sale can be made. GET THE WORD OUT!!!

Michael, I thought that someone from the town was supposed to visit the property where all the cutting and damage to the drains were done first thing on Thursday. What happened did the Town Board pass the buck again even though they are the lead agency in this case. I think that it's about time someone contacts a lawyer as that's the only thing that some of the board members understand.

http://www.dailygazette.com

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ROTTERDAM MEETING

   ROTTERDAM — Rotterdam officials are to meet Monday at Town Hall to discuss engineering for drainage and a possible sewer district for the homes in Masullo Estates.
   Project engineer Brett Steenburgh is to discuss the timetable and cost projections. The meeting at 6 p.m. will provide residents with an opportunity to hear details, Supervisor Steve Tommasone said.
   The discussion comes nearly two months after a majority of homeowners in the development signed a petition to force a vote on the proposed “dry” sewer district. Town officials had originally intended to decide the matter without a vote.

There ya go Masullo residents. I would encourage all to attend...again!

Actually, there will be no discussion.  This is a presentation by Steenburgh to the Town Board during an agenda meeting.  Therefore, no public discussion.

I'm curious to see what will be presented.  Beyond that, I'm a little cynical by now.  Nothing says progress like another meeting.  Yippee!

Hang in there Michael. You have come this far. You can't give up now. Not that I think you are plannning to!

http://www.dailygazette.com

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ROTTERDAM
Masullo Estates project on agenda Engineer to discuss timetable final costs
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter

   Rotterdam officials are scheduled to meet today to discuss the engineering services needed to complete drainage work and a possible sewer district for the homes in the Masullo Estates subdivision where high water table problems are chronic.
   Project engineer Brett Steenburgh is expected to discuss the timetable and final costs to move the project forward. The meeting at 6 p.m. will provide residents with an opportunity to hear details, Supervisor Steve Tommasone said.
   “This is the full-blown package, which will have everything in it,” he said.
   The discussion comes nearly two months after more than half of the 88 homeowners in the development signed a petition to force a vote on the proposed “dry” sewer district. Town officials had originally intended to decide the matter without a vote among the Masullo residents.
   Tommasone said the vote will happen soon. However, he said, town officials must proceed as if the proposed dry sewer line will be included in the project, which includes a reconstruction of the pot-holed roads throughout the neighborhood.
   “This is more work that needs to be accomplished,” he said. “We have to have the engineering service to back up any action the board takes.”
   Town officials contend the sewer line could eventually be tied into an extension the developers of 261-unit Helderberg Meadows development will be required to install along Guilderland Avenue. Engineers speculate the connection could alleviate some of the drainage problems.
   However, the sewer line and road reconstruction are estimated to cost about $1.35 million. Residents would be required to foot the cost of the dry sewers, which would be bonded over 10 years.
   Residents have expressed skepticism over the project because it’s not clear how the sewer line will affect the neighborhood’s high water table problems. Some fear the sewer line may spur new construction in areas that were previously off limits because of the poor drainage.
   Some residents have contended there is evidence of this in recent activity on property owned by developer Carmen Masullo. Earlier this month, several East Lucille Lane residents complained of clearcutting and the open burning of logs sawed down on the property.
   “These are severe violations of state environmental law, as well as a serious undermining of the town’s governance,” resident Michael O’Connor told the Town Board during a recent meeting.
   O’Connor said Jim Green, also a resident of East Lucille Lane, worked through the Veterans Day weekend to construct a road to the back of Masullo’s property. In the process, he said, Green damaged some of the remaining drainage tiles helping to alleviate groundwater problems.
   Masullo had initially intended to develop the property, but had his plans halted by the town Planning Commission in September 2004 after concerns were raised about flooding and drainage. In January, the developer had a three-way subdivision of the land rejected by the Planning Commission after Green said he intended to develop the two largest pieces of the land.
   Public works officials visited the property earlier this month, but reported finding no evidence of wrongdoing. Tommasone also promised to visit the site with the town highway superintendent this week to determine if the drainage pipes have been compromised.
   On another topic, Tommasone said the town’s attorneys gave a new determination of the town law prohibiting open burns. He said the determination means that any open burning done without a permit from the local fire department will be deemed illegal and be subject to a citation.
   “It’s not going to happen any longer and if it does there are going to be violations written,” he said,

  
  
  

I wouldn't get my hopes up too high that all the problems will be fixed in Masullo Estates. I'm waiting to hear if the town is going to fix the non functional storm water drainage system from Netherlands Village that dumps all it's storm water into Masullo Estates and has since Netherlands Village was built. The town has been avoiding this issue and has every right to fix it as there's an easement that runs between Netherlands Village and where it dumps it's storm water into the Thruway drainage system. Rotterdam has grown large enough where it warrants a town engineer or at least an engineer hired by the town to do the study and shouldn't be taking the word of the developers engineers as there is a conflict of interest there.

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Rotterdam has grown large enough where it warrants a town engineer or at least an engineer hired by the town to do the study and shouldn't be taking the word of the developers engineers as there is a conflict of interest there.

I have to agree with you on this shadow. There are water problems everywhere in Rotterdam and a town engineer should be a consideration.

Quoted from Shadow

I wouldn't get my hopes up too high that all the problems will be fixed in Masullo Estates.

I just returned from the meeting and unfortunately, must concur with Shadow's assessment.  

Despite my better judgment, I went to hear the details for the plan and timetable...exactly what we have been seeking for years now...I couldn't stay away.

Sadly, there was no plan presented.  Only a vague rehashing of the history getting us to this point.  It sounded as though there might be some sort of plan emerging at the end of January...maybe.  It's deja vu all over again.  I wish I had not attended because it only served to reinforce that the Town has not given drainage relief any consideration whatsoever since they pitched us sewers months ago.

I remain completely astonished at the Town's ability to seem confused by facts that have been on the record numerous times over the last year.  That in itself, is insulting.

The only positive thing that happened tonight was that the Town Board actually did let the residents ask some questions and express concerns, which normally is not the case at an agenda meeting.

Michael, as I'm sure you realize there is no one on the Town Board that knows anything about storm water, ground water, or drainage problems nor are they willing to educate themselves with said problems. The town doesn't have anyone in their employ that knows anything about water problems either especially the guy in charge of storm water management. This town needs to have an engineer from outside that understands water problems and the Town Board has got to stop listening to the developers engineers and take the building of homes in a know wet area very seriously or history is going to repeat itself when Helderberg Meadows is built. Doing work in a wet land can change the flow of ground water as well as storm water and people who presently don't have any water problems could end up with them later.

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Engineers speculate the connection could alleviate some of the drainage problems.

The words "speculate" and "could" would make me cautious before I agreed to a bond for the dry sewers. If the people in Masullo Estates agree to pay for the dry sewer line and it doesn't solve the water problem, than these people will still remain in the mess they are in PLUS be out the money they paid for the useless dry sewer line.

And is there a guarentee that Heldeburg Medows will not pose an additional water problem?

From what I am reading, this is nothing more than meer speculation.

Right on, Shadow...and JoAnn.  I'm convinced that this whole charade is now nothing more than an attempt to bring sewers into our subdivision to facilitate further development of lands now prohibited from such and to contribute to relieving the burdens from the Helderberg Meadows developers.

First we had to get in bed with Helderberg Meadows engineers to get any kind of drainage study done.  Then we got pitched sewers as drainage relief.  Tonight, we learn we're getting in bed with yet another primary land owner for supposed drainage/sewer easements.  It's all about building more homes.  No one seems to care about the suitability of the land or the inevitable adverse consequences down the road.

The best way to curb further development in Masullo Estates is to vote against the planned dry sewer project but that may hurt the residents in the long run if you ever decide that you want public sewers. In my opinion no further development in Masullo Estates should ever even be considered until such time as the water problems are totally eliminated. I've lived in the Masullo area for 57 years and watched the town let every developer who wanted to build a house in a wetland area do so without so much as an inspection being done to see if the homes were even built to code. Septic systems were put in with too little stone in the leach fields so the residents have had to replace the leach fields after only 10 years when they should last 30 years at least. Builders are allowed to bring in 5' of fill and block existing drainage paths so that the water table actually got higher. Many of the problems with water that this present administration is now facing were done by past administrations failure to hold builders accountable for their mistakes resulting in the water problems we see today. If the town doesn't change the way that they handle the high water table in this town there will be more developments just like Masullo Estates in the future, How long ago was Horizon Estates built and just look at the mess that they're going to have to deal with. $10,000 to $20,000 to put a french drain around every home with water in their basements at the owners expense. Do we see a pattern here?