News: Rye City Finally Gives a Cr*p About Hen Island, Demands Clean-Up

In a remarkable turn of events, Rye City finally seems to give a cr*p about Hen Island.

In letters to Kuder Island Colony, Inc.(the cooperative that owns the 34 homes on the island) and the Westchester Division of Environmental Health, Rye City officials discuss actual and alleged health, environmental and building code violations on the island. For issues under their jurisdiction, the city has demanded remediation. Excerpts from the letter and the actual documents are below.

Attention to the Hen Island and allegations of leaking sewage into Long Island Sound has been brought to life by island homeowner Ray Tartaglione and Mr. Floatie, a seven foot turd that serves as the mascot of Tartaglione's advocacy group, Heal the Harbor. The island, sans its problems, is a remarkably beautiful place in Rye's Milton Harbor.

 

Still, Ben Minard, the president of Kuder Island Colony, issued fighting words about Tartaglione in an email to fellow Hen Islanders on April 14th. Tartaglione has had a contentious relationship and ongoing legal battle with fellow homeowners for years. In Minard's email he says:

"Today, we were notified that the City of Rye has issued a violation against Hen Island based upon their visit to the island on April 1st, 2009.  As you will recall from our shareholder meeting on April 7th, the Board informed you that the Island was under attack by Mr. Tartaglione and that he was making every effort to damage the Corporation and through it, you the shareholders. In support of that, I am forwarding to you for your review a copy (below) of the spiteful and scurrilous accusations that Mr. Tartaglione is making against your individual cottages.

On Wednesday evening, April 15th, members of the board will be at the Rye City Council meeting to represent us. Any of you who would be interested in attending, would be more than welcome, to support the Island and your corporation."

The First Letter to Kuder Island Colony

In a letter to Kudder Island Colony on April 8, 2009, Rye City's building inspector Vincent Tamburo itemized at least eight violations across many of the homes on the island. These violations, all under Rye jurisdiction, include fire code violations around the unsafe storage of propane tanks, structures in need or repair and possible structural issues with four of the homes. The letter concludes:

"You are hereby notified of the above conditions and are directed to correct them immediately. A follow up inspection will be necessary.

It is sincerely hoped that further action by this department will not be necessary and that you will cooperate in correcting these conditions."

The Second Letter to the Westchester Division of Environmental Health

In a second letter to Deputy Commissioner Leonard Meyerson of the Westchester Division of Environmental Health dated April 9, 2009, Rye's acting city manager Frank Culross forwards a three page list of "alleged violations... submitted to us by Mr. Ray Tartaglione". It references the April 8th letter (above) and notes that many of the matters are under the jurisdiction of Westchester County. The letter says "We respectfully request that your agency undertake a review of these matter under your jurisdiction and take whatever action you deem appropriated." 

The most serious allegations are under county jurisdiction including improper sewage controls, rodent infestations, lack of potable water and mosquito infestations. According to Tartaglione, Deputy Commissioner Leonard Meyerson has been completely unresponsive in the past.

Tartaglione told MyRye.com "Although the city of Rye has written violations that are very significant the sewage and potable water issues have not been addressed as of yet. I do commend the City for taking a giant forward step in rectifying the Hen Island conflict and hope that we can continue the forward motion. Hopefully Deputy Commissioner Lenny Meyerson and the Westchester County Department of Health will also reconsider their previous position. Should he refuse to do so, the city of Rye has the authority along with the laws and codes to force compliance should the health commissioner fail once again."

Read both letters yourself. What do you think? Leave a comment below.

Item number 10 on the city council agenda for Wednesday night (April 15, 2009) is an update on Hen Island. It is the council's chance to finally flush Mr. Floatie away (after proper and environmentally safe treatment, of course).

Comments

[Ray Tartaglione]

Chrissy Henn,
Boy! Do I know how to push your buttons...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy0aBtzUbXQ
You seem to get upset every time someone makes mention of Mayor French and his illegal building or tax issues. Could it be that you are upset because your Meadow Place neighbor and Mayor told you he would help you and not enforce the codes on Hen Island and now he ends up in hot water because of his actions.

As usual, if you can't attack the facts of the issue, you attack the person. "Nobody Cares" how tall I am except you. Buy me the shoes, I have a good place to stick them...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PElKxshhruw

[Chris Henn]

You are a lonely piece of sh-t Ray, for sure--check out Match.com--maybe you can find someone---and leave us tax payers in Rye alone--

Wear the elevator shoes on the first date--

Good Luck!

[Chris Henn]

Why would anyone run for office in Rye, Ray, when they know you are going to put your parade in front of their home?

Hen Island, (Kudor Colony) is in compliance.

I am telling you Ray those elevator shoes will solve all!

Admit you have a Napoleon complex and let us in Rye go about our business.
Happy Easter Ray!

[Chris Henn]

Ray Tartaglione is what is feared in politics--an uneducated man with a lot of money and way to much time on his hands...

[Equal Protection Under The Law]

As Tyler Durden always says, presented without comment.

http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2012-14-06/month-fascism

Pretty scary stuff considering this is America.

[Robert Zahm]

@ EPUT - Of course I do. But I'll only open a message from someone whose e-mail address I know.

Mine is ROBERT_R_ZAHM@yahoo.com

[tedc]

Princess Miranda – that was like super good philosophy type stuff you said. Awesome, fer sure.

But why don’t certain people just FIX things out in your despoiled watery private paradise and stop wasting money?

(Cue Music, Roll visuals from HTH Photo Gallery, Senatorial Voice-Over Begins:

“-Comprehensive engineering and construction studies of 3 islands - $25K
-Potable water wells drilled and lined on each of 3 islands - $30K
-Potable water sealed well water holding tank & equipment - 3 islands - $15K
-Sanitary sewer septic field engineering studies for 2 islands - $10K
-Sanitary sewer holding tank engineering study of 1 island - $5K
- Legally permitted & inspected group sanitary sewer installations – 3 islands - $75K
-Demolition of multiple illegal non conforming sewage pits and outhouses - $10K
-Removal of all the illegal demolished systems & materials from the islands - $10K

-Subtotal of all of the above - $180K

-Spent by islanders on lawyers and fees fighting to prevent the above to date - $450K+

-A newly clean, safe and legal Hen Island environment for all Rye Residents and Visitors -
PRICELESS.”

[Equal Protection Under The Law]

@Robert Zahm

Do you have an email address I can send to?

[Robert Zahm]

@Turd - Kicking - Miranda -
I've stated what I believe and my actions align with those beliefs. Until you have the courage to actually use your real name (there couldn't be more than one of you, could there? So much creativity...), there's little further value in responding to your assertions about me. After all, the issues are:
1. Is there a problem on Hen Island?
2. Should Hen Island be inspected again, but by the State?
It remains unclear to me why someONE is so hopped up about an inspection if there is nothing to hide and/or if action has already been taken to remediate whatever problems existed. Far more productive would be eliciting an agreement with the real cause of your "pain" (Ray T) to drop his vendetta if the outcome of the inspection is clean or has only minor points. But heck. Bits are cheap. And apparently so is your time given how unproductively you use it. Mine’s not. So by for now – and Easter break.

[Miranda .]

Hi, My name is Miranda. Most Americans think I'm a finalist on American Idol, even the ones who live in the Sound Shore Community, and PLEASE don't confuse me with Rihanna because I'm SO sick of that. Everywhere I go, Americans ask me "Are you Rihanna?!!" and I say "no I'm Miranda, haven't you ever heard of me????" and Americans respond "OOOHHHHH, the one on American Idol, right?" and I "say yeah, that's me."
Anyway, besides being a great singer I'm also a history buff especially, American History. I get all my facts off the Disney Channel because I was told American History is a fictional story. It's make believe and I do find my self saying to myself "that really didn't happen, it's just a movie". I guess that's why it's on the Disney Channel, it's fiction. Just like "Finding Nemo". I know all that "American Revolution" stuff didn't happen because America today isn't anything like it was back in the days of Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin. No REAL human being would ever say stuff like "Those who give up their liberty for security deserve neither.". What idiot would say that? How can I watch the Disney Channel if Al-Qaeda is going to fly a plane into my house? How can I feel safe in my RYE resident when there are CRIMINALS roaming Hen Island every summer? The only way I can be seen by millions of Americans on American Idol is if the gov't rounds up all the bad guys and detains them indefinitely especially the bad guys on Hen Island. Some ill-informed poster on MyRye is claiming Hen Island has rights. Well, maybe if Hen Island was on the Disney Channel but this isn't the Disney Channel, this is RYE 2012. Rights are some fictional concept they used to talk about in 1776 but even back then they knew it was all BS. You know, fictional stuff. Anyway, I hope you're all rooting for me and keep watching American Idol 24 hrs a day.