Districts 17 & 20 Residents Petitions to Move from the Unincorporated Area to Briarcliff Manor

folder Project Downloads - resources, documents, and presentations

pdf Proposed Annexation of ED 17 & 20 TOS Findings March 2014 (155 KB)

pdf February 4th Town Hall Meeting 17/20 Powerpoint (4.87 MB)

pdf Town of Ossining Response to Village of Briarcliff 1-31-14 (112 KB)

pdf Letter from Village of Briarcliff to Town of Ossining, 1-14-14 (261 KB)

Video of the Public Hearing held on 12-12-2013

pdf Town Clarifications to Village of Briarcliff Manor Powerpoint (2013-12-19) (3.56 MB)

pdf Town Annexation Presentation - 12-12-2013 (3.28 MB)

pdf Briarcliff Manor Presentation 12-12-2013 (1.56 MB)

pdf Annexation Steps (2013-11-27) (1.31 MB)

The duly prepared transcript from the Town of Ossining/ Village of Briarcliff Manor Public Hearing on the proposed annexation of Election Districts 17 and 20 from Thursday, December 12th, 2013:

pdf Transcript from Public Hearing- 17/20 Proposed Annexation (2.73 MB)

17/20 District Annexation

We are in receipt of petitions submitted by a group of residents living in the Unincorporated Area of the Town who are interested in becoming a part of the Village of Briarcliff Manor. Annexation is a lengthy process that can become quite costly. It is important that you, the residents of the entire Town of Ossining, have all the facts so that you can participate in this process where and when you are permitted by New York State law.

The submission of signed petitions effectively presses the “start” button on an entire process, and does not simply put item on the ballot (as has been implied by some). Over the next few months, we will keep you updated as to the step we are on and the cost of the consequent action as we proceed.

In a nutshell, the steps (dictated by law) are as follows:

  1. Petitions are received by the impacted municipalities (in this case, the Town of Ossining and the Village of Briarcliff Manor). Completed.
  2. Both municipalities must do a complete analysis of how the change will impact all members of the overall community, including all the residents of the Unincorporated Area, and the Town of Ossining residents in the Villages of Briarcliff and Ossining.
  3. A letter will go out to each resident in district 17 and 20 to announce the Public Hearing including all voters and/or property owners.  The Village of Briarcliff Manor and the Town of Ossining have decided to have one mailing which both municipalities will split the cost.  Completed – Cost $572.59 x 2 = $1,145.18
  4. The two municipalities will hold a joint public meeting for anyone who wishes to speak or ask questions and for the Boards to receive information on whether annexation would in the overall public interest and not harmful to any segment of the community.
  5. Each municipality will determine whether or not they believe the proposed change is in the best interest of all the impacted residents and in the overall public interest.
  6. If there is agreement by both municipalities that the annexation is in the overall public interest, without causing harm, then a referendum will be held by the people in 17 and 20. If both Boards agree that annexation would not be in the overall public interest then the matter dies.
  7. If the Boards disagree then the Board that determines that annexation would be in the overall public interest has the option to present then the matter to the NYS Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, which appoints an evaluator to do an in-depth financial, legal and structural analysis of the impact of annexation on all stakeholders. The analysis must also determine whether the remaining areas of the Unincorporated Town of Ossining would be able to continue to sustain necessary municipal services if the annexation were to proceed.
  8. If the Appellate Division determines that the proposal is indeed beneficial for the districts requesting the annexation without harming any district within the overall community, the Town schedules a vote. Only residents in Election District 17 and 20 are permitted to vote on the measure.

FACTS and FIGURES You Should See:

  • In Election District 17, there are 540 Registered VOTERS. In Election District 20, there are 550 Registered VOTERS, combining for a total of 1090 Registered Voters.
  • The petitions had 275 valid signatures, which represents 25% of the VOTERS in those two districts.
  • There are 4,209 Registered VOTERS in the entire Unincorporated Area of the Town of Ossining. The two districts (17 & 20) represent 25.9% of the Registered VOTERS in the Unincorporated Area of the Town of Ossining.
  • The Taxable Value of all properties in the Unincorporated Area of the Town of Ossining is $49,600,032. The Taxable Value of all properties in District 17 & 20 is $16,705,798. This represents 33.4% (or roughly, 1/3) of the value of the Unincorporated Area.
  • The remaining districts in the Unincorporated Area DO NOT automatically become part of the Village of Ossining in this case of 17 & 20 annexation. Should this be something that people who reside in those districts wish to effectuate, they should contact the Town Board via the Supervisor’s Office as soon as possible.
  • The remaining Election Districts in the Unincorporated area are Districts 13, 14, 24, 25 and 28.

To answer some of the questions that have been asked:

  • School Districts will not change.
  • Since NYS law does not allow for removal of or change in special districts in the case of annexation, and NYS Comptroller opinions have upheld the strict application of this law over the past three decades, residents of Election Districts 17 & 20 will continue to pay the Town of Ossining  (notwithstanding that Briarcliff will collect taxes for these services in their General Village taxes, thus resulting in a double tax for a single service) for:
    • Mid Hudson EMS District.
    • Refuse (garbage pickup) and recycling special district.
    • Sewer special district charges, including the existing debt for the North State Road sewer lines.
    • Lighting special district.
    • Fire protection district.
    • Water
  • Post Offices will not change.
  1. Petitions are received by the impacted municipalities (in this case, the Town of Ossining and the Village of Briarcliff Manor). Completed
  2. Both municipalities must do a complete analysis of how the change will impact all members of the overall community, including all the residents of the Unincorporated Area, and the Town of Ossining residents in the Villages of Briarcliff and Ossining.
  3. A letter will go out to each resident in district 17 and 20 to announce the Public Hearing including all voters and/or property owners.The Village of Briarcliff Manor and the Town of Ossining have decided to have one mailing which both municipalities will split the cost.Completed – Cost $572.59 x 2 = $1,145.18
  4. The two municipalities will hold a joint public meeting for anyone who wishes to speak or ask questions and for the Boards to receive information on whether annexation would in the overall public interest and not harmful to any segment of the community.
  5. Each municipality will determine whether or not they believe the proposed change is in the best interest of all the impacted residents and in the overall public interest.
  6. If there is agreement by both municipalities that the annexation is in the overall public interest, without causing harm, then a referendum will be held by the people in 17 and 20. If both Boards agree that annexation would not be in the overall public interest then the matter dies.
  7. If the Boards disagree then the Board that determines that annexation would be in the overall public interest has the option to present then the matter to the NYS Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, which appoints an evaluator to do an in-depth financial, legal and structural analysis of the impact of annexation on all stakeholders. The analysis must also determine whether the remaining areas of the Unincorporated Town of Ossining would be able to continue to sustain necessary municipal services if the annexation were to proceed.
  8. If the Appellate Division determines that the proposal is indeed beneficial for the districts requesting the annexation without harming any district within the overall community, the Town schedules a vote. Only residents in Election District 17 and 20 are permitted to vote on the measure.