Text Box: Resident Howard Gruenspecht asked some tough financial questions of the town council at its Mar. 12 meeting. He first inquired about the total amount of money the town possesses. Clerk-Treasurer Cathie Polak responded that the approximate amount was $600,000. Mr. Gruenspecht said that he did not think that the accumulation of financial reserves is in the best interest of the town. Mayor Beers replied that the town’s goal is not to accumulate funds, but to spend them on needed expenses. Although the town has a $600,000 reserve at present, she said, in reality it is about to embark on a six-figure street repair project. Mr. Gruenspect then asked about the monthly rent charged by the town to the Irish Inn for lease of the parking lot adjacent to it. Ms. Polak replied that it was $300. A spirited but friendly exchange followed in which Mr. Gruenspecht questioned whether this was a reasonable fee for a lot that had a market value of $300,000, whether the current use of the lot benefits all of the residents of the town, and whether a better use of the lot would be to sell it, since a residence could be built on it. Mayor Beers noted that only half of the lot owned by the town was actually rented, that the fee assessed had risen substantially, and that the original fee was decided based on the results of a survey conducted by the Clerk-Treasurer. She stated that renting the lot does indeed serve a purpose in the town by reducing the number of cars parking on town streets. The owner of the Inn has offered to buy the land from the town; the town has declined because of its desire to keep the land as open space. Councilwoman Arber added that she would not like to see any commercial structure built on the rented land, and the mayor said that she personally would not like to see a residence built on this land. Councilwoman Long added that the town purchased this land decades ago as a buffer to prevent the amusement park from expanding. Councilmember Macy stated that he personally had reservations about the lease issue when this decision had been made. However, he supported the lease arrangement after weighing all of the issues involved, including the benefits to town safety as well as assistance to someone who had invested a sizable sum in improvement of the Inn. Mr. Gruenspecht stated that he believed that the people of the town would prefer that businesslike transactions be conducted in a businesslike manner, and that he was not assured by the conversation he had just heard that this is what transpired when the lease arrangement had been established. He expanded these comments in a later interview by saying he did not consider it businesslike to charge a rent unusually low compared to the value of the property and that since the Inn is a for-profit business, it should pay fees comparable to what it Text Box: TOWN RESIDENT ASKS TOUGH QUESTIONS By David Chitwood Text Box: would pay elsewhere for rental of a property of equal value. He pointed out that if the town charged full market rent, or sold the property, taxes could be lowered, and that in the present instance, town taxpayers were in a position of subsidizing a business they had no stake in. Mr. Gruenspecht concluded by stating, “Don’t put me down as a dissatisfied citizen.” The Mayor and Council stated that they wished more residents would attend council meetings and provide their opinions. Text Box: YARD SALE FOR COMMUNITY CENTER The Cabin John community is holding a huge yard sale on Saturday, April 21 to benefit the Clara Barton Community Center. It will take place from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at the center, located at 75th St. and MacArthur Blvd.