Massena, New York Officials On The Fence About Purchase Of Property

In Massena, New York, local officials are rethinking their commitment to purchase some local properties. St. Lawrence County Treasurer Robert O. McNeil says he wants to meet with the village Board of Trustees to discuss the purchase of the former Slavin and Shulkin Furniture and Jewelry buildings. Back in March of 2009, the village committed to purchasing the group of buildings for $50,000 once the county foreclosed on the parcels for back taxes. The group of buildings was condemned back in 2003 due to safety concerns.

But now officials are considering backing out of the deal. According to local news sources, these concerns stem from “lower sales tax revenues, big increases in projected pension costs and the threat of substantial reductions in state aid.”

In addition, asbestos contamination and an underground oil tank are also problems at the site.

Asbestos exposure is conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. The disease typically lies dormant for up to fifty years before an individual begins to suffer from mesothelioma symptoms, and the majority of patients lose their battle with this cancer in less than two years following diagnosis.

According to Village Administrator Everett E. Basford, “I’m confident the village is well-positioned to be able to afford the $50,000 purchase in this fiscal period.”

McNeil added: “I think, rather than pour kerosene on a sensitive issue, it might be worth coming to a meeting to discuss it. We’ve worked with Massena very successfully on blighted parcels in the past. The time has come to do something with the building. My concern here is basically if we take title to the property and the village doesn’t take it, we’d be taking title to a condemned property. How do you market a condemned building?”

Source: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20100122/NEWS05/301229978