ROTTERDAM Man in trouble for yard again Vehicles could lead to losing land BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
Rotterdam officials have sent a new warning to Michael Marotta, the owner of property in Pattersonville where unregistered vehicles and trailers were found parked this month and last. The town’s code enforcer cited eight unregistered vehicles and trailers on the property over the course of five visits, according to the certified letter sent to Marotta Wednesday. The vehicles must be moved from his five-acre property off Route 5S within five days or they will represent a violation of the town code, the letter states. Public Works Coordinator Michael Griesemer said the letter was sent after both residents and town workers reported the new accumulation of vehicles on the property less than two months after the county funded a cleanup of the site. He said the issue will land in Town Court again if Marotta doesn’t bring the property into compliance. “We’ll do everything we can in our code enforcement to get this property in compliance,” he said. Marotta’s lawyer, Frank Putorti Jr., said his client hasn’t received any correspondence from the town. However, he said the vehicles and trailers now on the property are all in working order and shouldn’t be deemed in violation of the local ordinance. “It’s all viable equipment,” he said. “I don’t know if there’s anything illegal about it.” For nearly two years, the town and the county have wrangled with Marotta over the use and condition of his vacant property, located near the Route 160 intersection with Route 5S. Both the county Health Department and Intermunicipal Watershed Board filed charges against Marotta, citing that the old machinery and vehicles stored on it could pose a threat to a sensitive recharge area of the Great Flats Aquifer. The town also cited Marotta for operating an illegal junk yard. Marotta entered into a plea deal with the town in April, agreeing to pay a $500 fine, admit he was running an illegal junk yard and clean the site. In exchange, the town agreed to drop the misdemeanor charges against him. It was unclear Wednesday if Marotta had paid the town fine. County officials were also successful in their lawsuit against Marotta, allowing them to clean up the property and then bill him for the cost. The cleanup cost roughly $15,000, a sum the county is attempting to recoup through a Public Health law that would allow them to seek bids to lease out the property for the exact amount of the outstanding debt. Putorti said Marotta has fi led a counterclaim against the county, alleging that the equipment and materials removed from the land were his personal property. He said the suit seeks damages that would cover the cost of what the county removed. “We don’t think they should be taking his valuable property and either selling it or disposing of it,” he said. “There was no reason for it.” County Attorney Chris Gardner said invoking the seldom-used law might not be necessary because Marotta owes “several thousand” in property taxes. He said the county will move swiftly to seize the land if the taxes aren’t paid by the end of the month. “The property, in our view, would probably settle the cleanup cost,” he said. “We’d be able to own it instead of leasing it for an indefi nite period of time.” Gardner said he’s also aware of Marotta moving vehicles on and off the property. He said local residents have complained on several occasions about Marotta moving more junk onto the property. “We’re getting to the end game now,” he said. PETER R. BARBER/GAZETTE PHOTOGRAPHER A tractor-trailer and four trailers sit on Michael Marotta’s property Tuesday on Route 5S in Pattersonville
County Attorney Chris Gardner said invoking the seldom-used law might not be necessary because Marotta owes “several thousand” in property taxes. He said the county will move swiftly to seize the land if the taxes aren’t paid by the end of the month. “The property, in our view, would probably settle the cleanup cost,” he said. “We’d be able to own it instead of leasing it for an indefi nite period of time.”
Isn't this nice? So Mr. Moratta owes several thousand in taxes and since he was a bad boy they just might come and take his property away from him! Gee, you don't ever hear of them going after Mr. Popolizio who is in the paper every year for back taxes and everyone knows he's a slum lord. Perhaps Mr. Marotta's land is more valuable, huh? Perhaps Mr. Marotta doesn't belong to the right political party, huh? This is disgusting in my view.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Bumble as you said in an earlier post lose one of your rights and more will follow. The city, county, or town should only be able to seize a property for the most extreme reasons and this ploy by Mr Gardner is a pile of bs.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
ROTTERDAM County to take title to Marotta parcels BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net.
Michael Marotta will lose three parcels he owns near Pattersonville to county foreclosure proceedings, but hold on to 5 acres in the same area, for the present, that Schenectady County cleaned up for him. Schenectady County Attorney Chris Gardner said the three parcels totaling about 7 acres are now in the process of being seized by the county for outstanding taxes. He said Marotta was past due on two years of taxes on the land and hadn’t paid this year’s either. Gardner said Marotta attempted to pay the back taxes on the land last month, but foreclosure proceedings had already begun. He said the county should officially take title of the land sometime over the next month and Marotta cannot challenge the seizure. “They’re too late now,” he said. “We’re all squared away to take title on three of the properties.” However, Marotta did pay back taxes on the fourth property. Gardner said the county will go forward with lawsuit against Marotta, intended to allow them to lease out the fourth parcel to recoup roughly $15,000 in fees incurred to clean up the property in May. “We’re getting toward the end game on this whole affair,” he said. “This is a very significant development.” For nearly two years, the town and the county have wrangled with Marotta over the use and condition of his vacant property, located near the Route 160 intersection with Route 5S. Both the county Health Department and Intermunicipal Watershed Board filed charges against Marotta, citing that the old machinery and vehicles stored on it could pose a threat to a sensitive recharge area of the Great Flats Aquifer. In response to the county lawsuit, Marotta filed a counterclaim alleging that the equipment and materials removed from the land were his personal property. He said the suit seeks damages that would cover the cost of what the county removed. Marotta’s lawyer, Frank Putorti Jr., did not return calls for comment Thursday. Gardner said Marotta still hasn’t paid $2,000 in fines set by the county. He said the county will discuss a settlement with Putorti that would involve his client handing over the deed to the land. “We will ensure the fourth parcel comes under our control,” he said.
The only thing I see wrong with this is that the only property that he's getting to keep is the property that tax dollars already paid to clean up. Let him keep one of the properties he's got his junk all dumped on.
I don't think that any government has the right to seize a persons personal property without due process and also giving that person ample time to pay the back taxes.
I think this is a disgrace! I never thought I would hear of such a thing in Rotterdam!!!
Watch out folks...it could be yours next....but it'll be covered under the name of EMINENT DOMAIN!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Both the county Health Department and Intermunicipal Watershed Board filed charges against Marotta, citing that the old machinery and vehicles stored on it could pose a threat to a sensitive recharge area of the Great Flats Aquifer.
I wonder if the Health Department and Intermunicipal Watershed Board would like to GUARANTEE there are no leaks, creeks or seeps from Schenectady International in the Junction.......
Oh, eminent domain wouldn't EVER happen to the 'big tax' payers(SI, GE, Knolls etc) now would it??????? We do like to have our bread buttered on both sides dont we..... >
As a society we are treading on VERY thin ice here.....are there smarter ways to do things,,, sure.....but just for the 'fireworks'--hhhmmm,,,shame shame shame.....
I wonder if Mr.Marotta is a 'Real ID' card carrier? We will have to check his lineage. Is he nothing more than an illegal alien? I'm sure all the GE execs will be first in line for that 'Real ID'/NYS Drivers license,,,what with all their world travels and all, with all those chemicals.......we are, baaaaa, going down a dark path........both parties pay taxes and 'live' on the aquifer.......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
We recently had a town elections in Rotterdam with all of the candidates expressing their interest in saving our aquifer. In December, I drove past the Rotterdam Mall (sitting on our aquifer recharge area) and to my surprise, a multi-story apartment complex is being built at this very moment. In the past, poor decisions were made to allow commercial development in this area and now were also allowing residential development. Just across the road, a short distance away, is where the actual pumping wells are located. One could almost throw a stone and hit a well. Where will all the polluted water go, with the expanded parking lots, and where does all the salt water from BJ’s, etc., go? My guess is into the Mohawk refill zone, possibly putting Schenectady and Niskayuna water in jeopardy. With the dysfunctional Rotterdam Planning Commission allowing apartments next to our waste treatment plant and Helderberg Meadows in wetlands with inadequate roads, etc., it’s time for Schenectady County to take control of the overlay zone before a disaster occurs. Areas in the East with severe water shortages, such as Atlanta and North Carolina, would do anything to have our abundance of water, and we are playing Russian Roulette with our aquifer just so some builder can make a quick million. Now is the time for the county to oversee this refill zone and purchase land as it becomes available to protect the water supply for our grandchildren. Wake up, Rotterdam and Schenectady County politicians. JOSEPH DAVIERO Rotterdam
I agree that they have to wake up, but I am totally AGAINST the Dems on the County Board taking control of it. Somebody has to start getting this stuff straightened out.
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