Cornwall ~ A Designer Community

Cornwall ~ A Designer Community

By Blithesome Spirit

In a conversation with a dear friend she noted that the Cornwall we have today is not the Cornwall she knew from years back.

At one time the majority of the resident knew each other. This is no longer the case.

With the advent of new housing construction and the influx of the people it brings Cornwall has become a transitional community where people come, get what they need in terms of housing or education for their children, and then move on once the taxes become unbearable.

What we then have left are the old-timers, and their numbers are dwindling fast. Pictured is The Reserve subdivision located near Mt. Airy Road. When completed it will contain more than 400 housing units on lots no larger than 1/3-acre. We will also have to pay the bill for educating all of the children in the complex.


With the change in demographics we have also seen Cornwall become more fractionalized. Cornwall has become a designer community which seems more intent on reflecting the latest fads in lieu of capitalizing on its unique qualities which characterizes its strengths.

But moving on ...

On the whereabouts of the tap to the Catskill Aqueduct

In the past two weeks I've received a number of inquiries as to the whereabouts of the Catskill Aqueduct tap that provides much of Cornwall's water (see the related story).

From Five Corners in Vails Gate head west on Route 94. After passing under the New York Thruway turn right on Riley Road and you'll notice what looks sort of like an abandoned railroad grade, with no track.

All that you see is a grass covered berm with a flat top. What you've just seen is the aqueduct that carries water from the Ashokan to the Croton Reservoir.

As it heads toward the Hudson it drops deep underground and can't be seen from the surface. If you look carefully you'll see little white signs proclaiming 'No Trespassing' and 'Property of NYC Water Authority.'

On the need for a longer school year

I know this won't make me too popular with teachers, but there really is a need for a longer school year (currently is is only 180 days).

Here are some examples of how other countries handle educating their children ... According to the World Education Encyclopedia published in 1988, Japan's students are in school an average of 243 days a year; Israel's, 216. Germany requires an average 240 school days a year and England 192. The United States is toward the bottom of the 38-country list with 180 days on average, identical to Belgium, Portugal, Spain and Zambia.

Will we ever extend the school year here in New York?

I dare say you stand a better chance of seeing pig fly while playing the saxophone before this occurs.

NYSUT (New York State United Teachers'), is one of the two most powerful unions in the state and contributes millions of dollars yearly to legislators who are willing to do their bidding, and an extended school year is not one of their priorities.

While I'm on the subject of the school district ...

I'd like to offer some advice for those "lucky few" who are invited to serve on the school district's budget advisory committee.

When you receive your invitation run, don't walk, to the nearest incinerator and pretend you never saw the correspondence.

Contrary to the spin put out by the School Board the district will be operating in the red by the end of June (we will have an article on this next week).

Since approximately 97% of the budget is driven by contractual expenses and state mandated programs, there is really very little that can be discussed.

What would probably be more productive would be a discussion on ridding the district of unnecessary staff (administrators in particular), and in exploring ways to economize on employee benefit programs.

And finally, a few words on a truly marvelous lady ...

Believe it or not, the Town of Cornwall has a Board of Ethics. In theory their mission is to keep tabs on local government so as to keep them honest.

Unlike other municipalities Cornwall's Board of Ethics is impotent. It can't do anything unless the Town Board directs them to do so.

Over the past decade much of the ills that have befallen Cornwall were caused by members of the Town Board. Needless to say, the offending parties were never willing to permit the Board of Ethics to look into their misdeeds.

The long-time chairperson of the Cornwall's Board of Ethics is Maureen Shinners. For those who don't know Maureen she is a class act. Maureen is honest to the core and her dedication to the principle that there must be honesty and integrity in local government is unsurpassed.

Maureen's term on Cornwall's Board of Ethics expired in December and she has decided not to seek reappointment.

Frankly, I can't blamer her.

Maureen had fought for years to strengthen Cornwall's Code of Ethics. The problem though is that the politicians didn't want to hear her ideas. They didn't want to have anyone looking over their shoulder to make sure they did the right thing.

Cornwall has had its share of flim-flams over the years, and they will happen again.

With Maureen's departure there will be a void that cannot be replaced by simply making a political appointment to fill her seat.

It's just too bad Cornwall Supervisor Dick Randazzo and the Town Board can't appreciate the significance.