04/15/08 - Greenwich RTM Report - It's Not Easy To Give Money To The Town Of Greenwich (Updated)

"Looking a gift horse in the mouth"

Long Debate About Accepting All That "Free Money"

The RTM did it's due diligence and allowed the Town Of Greenwich accept a gift not to exceed $100,000 for the purpose of conducting surveys, preliminary engineering and preparing schematic plans for a new community pool in Byram.

Greenwich Boys And Girls Club makes offer to expand family swim in it's new pool.

One RTM member reports that it's only $20 for a membership that will allow year around swimming.

Byram RTM Chairman Robert McKnight ends up voting for the $100,000 gift that will improve Byram Park.

Please see:

04/12/09 - The Byram RTM Chairman Has Major Problems With Lin Lavery's Pool Donation Proposal (Updated)

===============================================

Please send your comments, news tips and press releases to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

04/12/09 - The Byram RTM Chairman Has Major Problems With Lin Lavery's Pool Donation Proposal (Updated)

Quote:

"The RTM ussually doesn't accept money that isn't there,"said Robert McKnight,"You are asking us to accept donations that have only been pledged."

Headline:

Robert McKnight Says "Where's The Beef" Lin

Story:

Last night the Byram Neighbourhood Association members started approaching the the District RTM meetings about the the Board of Selectmen authorizing the town yesterday to accept up to $100,000 in private donations for the design and engineering of a new community pool in Byram.

Monday the full RTM will vote on the proposal supported by Selectman Lin Lavery.

RTM District 4 (Byram) Chairman Robert McKnight asked the Byram Neighbourhood Association President,"Where's the money?"

The Byram RTM Chairman and other Byram RTM members went on to explain that the town has been put in awkward positions before. One of the examples mentioned was the sundial that was suposed to be a gift, but ended up being a taxpayer expense. The Byram RTM Chairman said did not think that the full RTM would accept pool committee's "gift of pledged money". McKnight said,"You have to have the cash if you want to get this thing passed."

"We don't even know who these people are!" remarked Mr. McKnight, referring to the six families who town officials said wish to remain anonymous.

Byram RTM Chairman McKnight strongly stated that group should "write a check and put it in an escrow account otherwise I predict that you will have serious trouble at Monday's night's meeting."

The project could cost between $5 million and $7 million, with private donors funding the pool and the town maintaining ownership and control.

Selectman Lin Lavery and the project's supporters want to replace a cramped residential-size pool at Byram Park with a larger 25-meter pool and better restroom facilities through a public-private partnership.

Some Byram RTM member's complained that the Greenwich High School swimming pool was originally to be a school / community pool when it came to the RTM for funding years ago, but the school district did not live up to the funding deal.

Byram RTM members said that when residents went for the Friday night community swim at the High School they were repeatedly not allowed to swim, because pool maintenance or competitions were scheduled during the community swim time.

Eventually, the community swim time was cancelled all together.

========================================

Please send comments to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

04/09/08 - Upcomming Events Via The Greenwich Post

Postings

Thursday, April 10

Go organic
Chip Osborne, co-chair of the Living Lawn and president of Osborne Organic, presents two programs, “Organice Lawns for Homeowners”, 9 to 11 and “School Practices Go Organic,” 1 to 4, Thursday, April 10, Greenwich; registration required; 869-5272, ext. 225.
Networking breakfast
Signature Cycles hosts the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce’s networking breakfast, 8 to 9:30, Thursday, April 10, Signature Cycles; $15 members, $25 non-members; add $10 if registering after April 8; 869-3500; Greenwichchamber.com

‘At Home’ tea
Meet Lise Jameson, exechutive director of At Home in Greenwich, at an introductory tea, 3 to 4:30, Thursday, April 10, 20 Bridge St.; 629-2822, ext. 3141.

‘Why People Are Poor’
The YWCA hosts a workshop titled “Why People Are Poor,” 1 to 4 and 6 to 8, Thursday, April 10, YWCA; free; 869-6501, ext. 104.
Battling underage drinking
Jeffrey Marx, journalist and author, speaks at the parents forum of the Greenwich coalition to Combat Underage Drinking, 7:30, Thursday, April 10, Cole Auditorium at Greenwich Library; info@gccud.org.

Dist. 7 election
District 7/North Center members of the RTM hold an election to fill the two-year term expiring January 2010, 7:45, Thursday, April 10, Hayton Room at Town Hall; 869-7451; Stauftek@aol.com.

Celebrating Art/Place
Artists from Southern Connecticut and Weschester County, N.Y. celebrate Art/Place gallery 25 years after a fire that closed it down with a group show, exhibit opens Thursday, April 10 and runs through Saturday, May 3, The Greenwich Art Council’s Bendheim Gallery; 862-6750; Greenwicharts.org.

Friday, April 11

Rochambeau’s march
Greenwich resident John Savage presents a video titled “Rochambeau in Connecticut” about General Rochambeau’s march with the French to join George Washington against the British, 11, Friday, April 11, Greenwich Library; 622-7970.

State of the Town
First Selectman Peter Tesei and Director of Planning and Zoning Diane Fox talk about the Plan of Conservation and Development at a luncheon, 11:45 to 1:30, Friday, April 11, Milbrook Club; $45 members, $55 non-members; add $10 if registering after April 8; 869-3500; Greenwichchamber.com.

Saturday, April 12

Shays in Greenwich
Congressman Christopher Shays talks holds a community meeting, 9 to 10:30 a.m., Saturday, April 12, Town Hall Meeting Room.

Healthy Kids Day ‘08
The YMCA holds it’s annual Healthy Kids Day to promote healthy lifestyles for kids and families, 11 to 3, Saturday, April 12, YMCA; 869-1630, ext. 206; Ebruno@gwymca.org.

Live and learn dangerously
Matthew Oswald, Greenwich Eagle Scout, facilitates a Dangerous Boys Club event titled “It’s a Pirate’s Life for Me!,” 11:30, Saturday, April 12, Barnes & Noble in the Stamford Town Center; free; 323-1612; Crm2286@bn.com.

Bluebird talk
John Rogers, co-founder of the New York State Bluebird Society, gives a talk on the Eastern Bluebird, 3:30 to 5, Saturday, April 12, Audubon Greenwich; free; reservations required; 869-5272.

‘Young & Gifted’
Greenwich’s Eckart Preu, music director for the Stamford Symphony, will conduct a concert titled “Young & Gifted,” 8 p.m., Saturday, April 12, and 3, Sunday, April 13, Palace Theatre in Stamford; Stamfordsymphony.org.

Gloria
Randall Atcheson conducts the Stanwich Congregational Church choir and soloists in Vivaldi’s Gloria, 4, Saturday, April 12, Stanwich Congregational Church; free; 661-4420.

Eartha Kitt performs
Actress and singer Eartha Kitt performs at the 2008 Greenwich Music Festival, 6:30 to 10, Saturday, April 12, Greenwich Country Club; $100 for cabaret only, $300 for cabaret and dinner; 637-0854; Greenwichmusicfestival.org.

50th anniversary finale
The Greenwich Symphony Orchestra concludes its 50th anniversary season with concerts titled “Divine Arabesques,” 8, Saturday, April 12 and 4, April 13, Greenwich High School Auditorium; $30 adults, $10 students; 869-2664. Sunday, April 13

‘Tea for Tutus’
Beam & Barre of Greenwich sponsors a fund raising afternoon of dance, fashion and tea to launch the Classic Dance Theatre Company’s 2008 season, 5, Sunday, April 13, Italian Center in Stamford; reservations required; $60 adults, $30 children under 12; 978-0727; Classicsdance@hotmail.com.

09/10/04 - Andreoni Stands Up For Nathaniel Witherell

"For the life of me, why would I want to spend $46 million and then hand this building over to a private entity?"

Felix Andreoni, a District 4/Byram delegate to the RTM who has worked as housekeeping director at Nathaniel Witherell for the last three years, said during an informational session held at Greenwich High School last night.