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Malta to decide on referendum
Real estate news By Dan Higgins
Saturday, October 13, 2007
The fight over the public's input into the proposed Malta Community Center expansion goes another round Monday morning. The Town Board will vote at 8:30 a.m. in Town Hall on whether to accept a petition demanding a December referendum on its decision to expand the center. The plan would see construction of a branch library, a gymnasium and larger classrooms for adult education at the facility off Route 9.
The board already voted to borrow $3.5 million for the $6.1 million project. The debt payments won't raise taxes in the foreseeable future. But if voters reject a referendum, plans would have to be canceled. The group circulating the petition said the public should have a say when millions of dollars are being borrowed. The issue has stirred up debate here over how to prepare the town for growth, especially in anticipation of a new, $3 billion computer chip factory proposed for Malta's Luther Forest Technology Campus, which would bring an initial 1,200 jobs and perhaps thousands more.
On Monday morning, the board will vote on what to do with a petition that has more than 400 signatures to hold a permissive referendum. Only 275 signatures were required. "If it's legally acceptable and the proper form, then we have to accept it," said Supervisor Paul Sausville. "But I'm inclined to respect the petition, to let voters have their say," he said. He said the plan is good enough to stand up to voter scrutiny. Town Board member Donna Gizzi said she's still not sure how she feels about letting the referendum go forward.
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