GOSHEN – Orange County Executive Steven
Neuhaus Thursday expressed disappointment that Governor Cuomo vetoed legislation
that would have given the county more of a role in large land annexation
proposals.
The bill was aimed at the current Kiryas Joel annexation proposal for
507 acres of land in the Town of Monroe.
Despite the veto, Neuhaus said the county will continue with its own thorough
review and makes recommendations on the proposed annexation. “I
wish that the state responded over a year ago when I first asked to give
the county a formal, legally binding role in the annexation process,”
he said.
Had the legislation been brought up earlier in the year, Neuhaus believes
it would have passed.
“That said, Orange County, along with our local municipalities,
will continue to address this important issue,” he said.
“Our own independent study has found that the proposed annexations
from the Town of Monroe into Kiryas Joel are not in Orange County’s
best interests.”
