For newly named Ossining village Manager Linda Cooper, promoting economic development “without overwhelming the community” is the order of the day.
But the soon-to-be former Yorktown supervisor, often a proponent of slow growth while serving in that capacity, said the extent she participates in discussion about policy will be determined by the village government.
“Policies are determined by the elected village board,” she said. “It remains to be seen what my involvement in issues on development will be.”
Cooper is currently in her twelfth year serving as supervisor of Yorktown. She announced in February she would not seek re-election this November.
Cooper will take over the Ossining administrative position at the end of September, which will require the Yorktown supervisor’s position to be filled temporarily until the winner of the November election is sworn in next year.
The previous Ossining village manager, Linda Abels, resigned.
Cooper, a Republican, lives in Yorktown near the Ossining border and has an Ossining postal address. Her salary will be $160,000 per year.
In Ossining, debate over the pace and size of development in the village is often heated. The largest project is the 150-unit Harbor Square condominium project, a joint effort by developers Martin Ginsburg and Louis Cappelli.
Cooper believes the optimal way for Ossining to grow is by incremental steps rather than leaps and bounds.
“We”™re not interested in big box, we”™re interested in mom and pop,” she said.
She said any talk of growth and development in Ossining should begin with restoring Main Street to its former glory, perhaps through the adaptive reuse of old or vacant buildings.
Ossining Mayor William Hanauer agrees.
“Our downtown suffered from urban renewal, but we are changing that and focusing on it now, and that”™s a focus she will adopt and run with,” he said.
Hanauer, a Democrat, said any past views Cooper expressed on development in Yorktown will have no bearing on her job as village manager.
“I think our understanding with her is that the board sets the policy and she executes it,” he said.
Regarding the Harbor Square riverfront project, Hanauer said it is “going to go ahead very soon” and Cooper”™s involvement with that is to “facilitate an already-approved project.”
Not all village residents approve of the project, however.
“The majority of people I have spoken to are against this development,” said Ann Perron, former longtime head of the village Republican Committee. “I believe in well-planned development, they”™re not doing that in Ossining.”
Two federal lawsuits challenging the development are still open, though officials with Cappelli Enterprises Inc. insist the project will begin in the fall.
Perron also criticized the administration for appointing village Attorney Richard Leins as interim village manager until Cooper takes over, saying it is a conflict of interest.
Hanauer said the arrangement was perfectly legal.
While Perron said she was glad to hear that Cooper “had been slower to go into development” in Yorktown, she also criticized Cooper for leaving her post in the middle of budget season.
But Cooper said she will bring the departmental budget recommendations to the town board before leaving, and will help her eventual successor with the transition throughout the month of September. She begins in Ossining Oct. 1.
“They will be well positioned to bring through a budget,” Cooper said.
Cooper said she had been applying for several positions since her resignation, and the Ossining one instantly appealed to her.
“It”™s a great match,” she said. “It”™s a great community that I look forward to help bring into the next generation.”
Hanauer characterized Cooper as hard working, creative and enthusiastic.
“One thing we”™ve been looking for is that dynamic force to add to a proactive board as part of the leadership team,” he said. “I think she”™s very prepared for the debate. She went through the comprehensive plan in Yorktown and we are doing that now.”
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