https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Boyhaven-deal-with-Milton-in-question-12861381.php
Boyhaven deal with Milton at risk
Board inaction could lead to development of property instead of park
Published 5:19 pm, Tuesday, April 24, 2018
MILTON - The town's $1 million deal with the Twin Rivers Council of the Boy Scouts of America for the 300-acre Boyhaven park might fall through if the Town Board doesn't act Wednesday night.
Larry Woolbright, chair of the town Planning Board, who is heading up the purchase, said the Boy Scouts Council has told him it needs approval of a contract between the town, the anonymous donor who is giving $500,000 to the town for the park and the council by the council's next board meeting on Thursday.
"I've been told if we don't have a closing schedule approved, the Boy Scouts will be going with a developer," Woolbright said.
The town agreed to buy the property on Middle Grove Road and Route 29 in July 2017 after the council decided to sell, a decision it came to after years of declining membership and underuse of the park. Aside from approval of a bond for the additional $500,000 to buy the property, the town has not moved on the agreement. If it falls through because of town apathy, Woolbright said it would be devastating as many in the community have demonstrated support for preserving the wooded acres that feature trails and a swimming lake.
"It will be a tragedy for the town if it goes to development and not a town park," Woobright said. "I'm not optimistic."
Mark Switzer, executive and CEO of the Twin Rivers Council, said he and the council board are committed to the deal with the town and will not kill it. But he did say he needs a closing date from the town by Thursday.
"At our last board meeting, we asked for a closing date," Switzer said. "If I don't walk in to our next board meeting on Thursday with a closing date, it is a concern."
Woolbright has been told that town park employees, whose are led by Buildings and Grounds Supervisor Jason Miller, are resisting adding to their workload.
After working on it for more than a year, under the direction of the supervisors and the town board, Woolbright said he won't be happy if the deal dissolves.
"I would feel that I had been misled, lied to and stabbed in the back," Woolbright said. "The money is in the bank. The board only needs to approve the contract and schedule a closing."
Supervisor Scott Ostrander did not return a Times Union phone call on this matter Tuesday afternoon.
