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Concerned Citizens for Open Space will meet January 22 to form Open Space Referendum Committee to advance open space initiatives.

Mayor's Office says commits to sending Rod Johnson City Environmental Officer to meeting.

Referendum Committee is seen as vehicle to form proactive policy for the city and voters to endorse in fall election.

Community groups, citizens sought to form ad hoc coalition.

By John F. Bailey

CityLine: January 5, 2000 -- City Hall and the Mayor's Office

Concerned Citizens for Open Space will meet January 22 to form an Open Space Referendum Committee, and is inviting the community to participate, WPCNR has learned.

The meeting is scheduled for 7:45 PM at the Memorial United Methodist Church, 250 Bryant Avenue in the Fireside Room.

The objective of the Committee, according to advance publicity on the meeting is to explore how to create a referendum in the citywide election next fall on open space acquisition to preserve the city's disappearing natural resources.

Paul Gallay, Executive Director of the Westchester Land Trust, will speak on how a city wide referendum might be structured to advance the cause of open space acquisition in White Plains.

Mayor's Office will send Environmental Officer.
Administration says it is preparing formal Open Space policy.

Late Friday Paul Wood, Economic Development Officer and spokesman for the Mayor's Office told WPCNR, the City Administration was developing a policy statement to meet the desire for Open Space in White Plains. Wood hoped it would be ready in time for the January 22 meeting. "We're working on it," Wood said.

This evening, George Gretsas, the Mayor's Executive Officer, told WPCNR that what he called the City's "Open Space Initiative" would most likely be ready in February, and would not be presented at the CCOS meeting, though Rob Johnson, from the White Plains Planning Department was expected to attend the January 22 CCOS meeting.

Wood indicated the city welcomed the opportunity CCOS has afforded the community to address open space ideas.

The objective of the Referendum Committee, according to advance CCOS publicity is to explore how to create a referendum in the citywide election next fall on open space acquisition to preserve the city's disappearing natural resources.

Head of Westchester Land Trust to speak, explore options referendum offers.

Paul Gallay, Executive Director of the Westchester Land Trust, will speak on how a city wide referendum might be structured to advance the cause of open space acquisition in White Plains.

WPCNR has learned CCOS plans to form an Open Space Referendum Committee composed of diverse citizens and groups. According to Alan Teck, CCOS President, CCOS will not spearhead the Committee and simply seek support for CCOS positions. Instead, he sees his organization acting as a participant to achieve a coalition of consensus on what the city should do to move aggressively to preserve and acquire remaining open tracts in the city.

Teck has said publicly that he hoped that a position pushing either a referendum on a city policy towards Open Space Acquisition could be forged by formation of such a committee with the interaction of citizens and groups.

Issues the referendum might call for, in his opinion, are a city bond issue, a referendum on a positive city policy on open space, or a resolution by the Common Council budgeting money for acquisition of park property.

Teck has also said he is hopeful that in an election year that candidates running for city office would take positions supporting a proactive city policy.

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