These signs have been posted all over lot 14 during the past few weeks to inform customers of the parking situation . Allie Wenner
continued — “It’s a bit of a conundrum and a sensitive issue with us. I’m trying to have a conversation with Magley to bring as many viable, financially realistic options for the board to consider,” he said.
However, the business owners and trustees alike realize that based on their past experiences with Magley, the asking price may very well be higher than what’s really in their comfort zone. Trustee Harold Hopkinson pointed out at the meeting that this will be especially difficult for the village, which is already pushing the limit with its expenses.
“We are facing a budget where we are using up reserves. We don’t have a balanced budget- we haven’t had a balanced budget for a while. Whatever we do has to be in line with working out a balanced budget.”
Mayor Serafin says that if the offer is made, Magley can either accept or reject it. If he rejects the offer, the board is considering pursuing eminent domain, a process in which the government has the right to expropriate private property for public use, with payment of compensation. It’s a lengthy process, however, and could take up to a year. Porto attended the Jan. 22 meeting along with Nat Tobin, owner of the Manlius cinema. Both were disappointed with how long the process could take and Porto stood up and told the board how some businesses on the block are suffering after just two weeks of the parking lot issue.
“I know that the owner of St. Laurent Framing lost 75 percent of his business already. You cannot deal with [Magley]. You pay him now and you’re going to have to pay him more the next time, and more the time after that. That’s the way he works. I want something resolved. We have no parking,” Porto said.
Comments
CBogley 3 months, 3 weeks ago
Clearly the Mayor is hiding behind the real issue here. The parking lot used to be paid for by the town to accomodate the citizens and visitors to the area and as a result received the revenue from the sales of the local business owners and the taxes on the incomes of the shop owners and their employees. The town made more than they paid. Mr. Magley (not Magley as this rag refers to him) is a property owner that takes all of the risks of owning property used by the public. He is not a charity, he has to pay for repairs to the lot from his own pocket. In reality Mr. Porto wants to receive the benefit of the parking lot for nothing. Pretty generous on his part, don't you think. Having his customers park in Mr. Magley's lot is a form of theft, but I see no cry for protection of Mr. Magley's rights.
The name calling and false accusations of Mr. Magley and the view of his motives by his detractors is reprehensible and shows the small minded mentality of this paper and the Mayor and his government of Manlius, a nice town that is being impugned by it's leadership. Grow up and begin having reasonable dialogues with your citizens, not name calling and epithets. The rest of the citizenry should be suspicious of a government that attacks any of it's citizens this way. Shameful.
kdhughes 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Let's look at solutions -- perhaps if Manlius offered to plow the lot, Mr Magley could show his generosity.
Of course he has rights and responsibilities, but he has not shown a willingness to work things out for everyone's benefit, not just his. This issue is not about him.
Zorch 3 months, 2 weeks ago
Why should he provide free parking for everyone? Doesn't make sense.
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