I would like everyone to know that Marotta is alive and well and hauling semi's and leaving them on his property in Pattersonville. These trucks could be filled with anything, no one knows what is sitting on our aquifer . He went to court in Rotterdam, plead guilty and was given until July 14th to clean it up (again) unless he could get a special use permit from the town planning board. With his 30 year history of violations, and this being the 2nd cleanup by the county at the site, the first was an abandoned house , lets hope the planning board uses common sense.
County officials funded a $15,000 cleanup of the property last summer and have since filed a lawsuit against Marotta to recoup the cost under a seldom-used provision of public health law. If successful, the county would assume control of Marotta’s land and then lease it to a third party until they could recover their money. County Attorney Chris Gardner said the case should be resolved or go to trial later this month. He said the county is also intending to seize three of Marotta’s other properties near the blighted land for unpaid taxes. “We’re going forward with our actions,” he said Thursday.
This is an article from the March Gazette. Did any of this take place? I was under the impression that Marotta would lose access to his property until the county recovered their money.
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
The county is going to court May 5th to put the leasing in motion. I was told the land was seized except the part where Marotta trucks now sit. I don't know if this action has been completed and if he can get the property back. In the past when under fire he has turned the land over to a second party and then purchased it back for a dollar a year later ( or his wife did). Its all in the county court records.
Gee, I thought Chris Gardner was on top of this. I thought he was going to be the savior of the county and handle this problem once and for all. He's the guy ya gotta contact.
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
Last week Gov. David Paterson came to the aid of Schenectady by vetoeing a bill that would have required it to once again use arbitrators in police discipline cases. He now has a chance to lend further assistance with three other pieces of legislation — not by vetoeing but by signing them. One would extend the life and raise the bonding limit of the Metroplex Development Authority. Schenectady, especially its downtown core, has been rejuvenated in recent years, with new businesses, aesthetic improvements and events that have brought back people and provided a sense of hope. It is doubtful that this would have happened without Metroplex, which receives roughly $6.5 million annually in sales tax revenue. Back in June, some last-minute political gamesmanship on the part of Schenectady’s Republican representatives in the state Legislature, and brinksmanship on the part of the Democrats who control the county Legislature, seemed to put Metroplex’s future in jeopardy. But a compromise was reached and a bill passed. Paterson should sign it. As he should a bill pushed by local officials and sponsored by Sen. Hugh Farley that would toughen penalties for those who do things to endanger or harm drinking water supplies. The current pitiful penalty, $200 per violation, has made it easy for scofflaws like Michael Marotta, owner of an illegal junkyard in Pattersonville, to defy Rotterdam and county officials. The law’s prescribed penalties — fines of up to $1,000 per day, reparations for damages and jail in the most extreme cases — would go a long way toward protecting our precious aquifer and other drinking water supplies around the state. The last bill is not locally generated, but would also be very helpful to this area with many historic buildings. It would raise the value of tax credits for restoration of these properties, both commercial and residential, most importantly in poorer neighborhoods. Other states have made good use of these tax credits to spur economic development, and New York could, too. All the governor has to do is sign the legislation — and make it three for Schenectady.
Mr. Marotta of Rotterdam Jct. was given month to clean his land according to the Gazette.
The Gazette went on to say:
Quoted Text
Meanwhile the town’s Planning Department has thrown out Marotta’s application to build a small contractor shop and equipment storage yard on the property. Town Planner Peter Commenzo said Marotta or a representative of his failed to attend two planning board meetings in August. County Attorney Chris Gardner said three of Marotta’s four parcels have now been seized at foreclosure,. He said the county took title to nearly 7 acres about a month ago, but decided against auctioning the property until the final parcel can be acquired. That would be the fi nal five acres Marotta still holds.
ROTTERDAM Marotta property put up for sale; county sees issues Attorney: Legal problems unresolved BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net.
After more than three years of legal sparring with Rotterdam and Schenectady County, Michael Marotta has put his remaining property in Pattersonville up for sale, asking $435,000 — 10 times its assessed value. Century 21 is advertising the 4.7 acre property along Route 5S as "prime" for real estate or commercial development. An online advertisement lists the land as cleared and "perfect" for a new home or business. Assessment records list the property’s value at $39,579. It’s zoned for agricultural and business uses. But there are a number of hurdles before anyone could get approval to build on the land. Because the property is located within Great Flats Aquifer, any potential development would need approvals from Rotterdam’s Planning Commission, the Town Board and Schenectady County’s Intermunicipal Watershed Board. Any prospective buyer will also need to factor in a claim the county has against Marotta. County offi - cials are trying to recoup more than $17,000 incurred when they hired a private contractor to remove old vehicles and assorted junk from the property nearly two years ago. County Attorney Chris Gardner filed for summary judgment in the case this month. However, Marotta’s attorney recently withdrew from the case, leaving Marotta with 30 days to find new representation. “I don’t think he has marketable title,” Gardner said after learning of the sale. “There’s still a lot of liens and judgments that have to be cleared.” Marotta has satisfied his most recent legal battle with Rotterdam, which cited him for violating an ordinance governing the outside storage of junk and vehicles. In January, the court found that Marotta had satisfied an order to clear the property and conditionally discharged the violation. In the past, the town had discussed purchasing the property from..............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar01002
ROTTERDAM Marotta ordered to pay for cleanup BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
Michael Marotta will need to reimburse Schenectady County for the 2007 cleanup of his once junkstrewn property in Pattersonville, a state Supreme Court justice ruled Friday. Judge Richard Aulisi granted the county’s motion for summary judgment, meaning Marotta will need to fork over the $15,457 that was spent to remove junked vehicles from his property off Route 5S. In his three-page ruling, Aulisi dismissed Marotta’s counterclaim and determined his case “failed to raise material issue of fact” with regard to the county’s attempt to recoup the cost of the cleanup. County Attorney Chris Gardner said the ruling will give Marotta about 45 days to pay back the money or else face the possibility of foreclosure on the property. He said the ruling ensures Schenectady County will recoup the money invested in clearing a property located over a sensitive recharge area of the Great Flats Aquifer. .............>>>>.................>>>>.............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01202&AppName=1
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