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Minutes of the Combined Caucus/Council Meeting . <br />8-13-07 <br />Page 15 <br />Mr. Saponaro stated that what he brought up on the floor of the Finance Committee was that he <br />does not see the purpose of spending $750,000.00 on this property at this stage. Mr. Saponaro is <br />looking for more clarification as to why we would think that this is such a key parcel that we need <br />to purchase at this time. Mr. Saponaro does not see the big picture in this one. <br />Mrs. Cinco explained that a lot of our properties we bought that was brought up and what we have <br />done with the golf course, this is a good move. In talking with our building director and with our <br />service director, it is available now, it is a good price with the real estate market being as it is. We <br />have the money and we do want to develop and have control over development at that corner. <br />Mr. Saponaro stated that this is not a corne'r property. Mr. Marquardt added, it's Stabiles. <br />Mrs. Cinco indicated that it is preventing that other corner property owner from going further. <br />In the absence of Mayor Rinker, Mr. Buckholtz commented that as far back as the beginning of <br />doing SOM Center Road and the underpass located where it is with some of the funds received <br />from the state in terms of the underpass leading to parkland which would be on the west side of the <br />street, we took a portion of that property. It was always the plan that we would control that piece <br />of property. That was the whole idea of making a lookout point, looking over, they diverted the <br />water to make the waterfall. Tom Cappello and John Marrelli was there for a lot of this. Doug <br />Metzung was there night and day. Wanda's property is on to the north and there is a large chunk <br />of property on the other corner. This was just a very interesting and key park-like property that we <br />had talked about always getting. It was just a matter of when and how and working out a deal. It <br />is Mr. Buckholtz's understanding that Mr. Brett and the Mayor have been hammering out a deal <br />with Dr. Stabile for quite a while. <br />Mr. Brett clarified that the Assistant Law Director has been working out a deal, negotiating with <br />the Mayor's supervision. <br />Mr. Buckholtz stated that the only difference he sees is that we had discussed about paying it out in <br />sections at one point. Is that still happening? <br />Mr. Brett replied that it is not. To avoid the complexity that was posed by that, we felt a direct <br />purchase was most beneficial for both parties. <br />Mr. Saponaro stated that his question is, to what end? What is our goal here? Are we going to <br />keep purchasing property because we think it would be great in the future, we want to stop people <br />from developing property? Mr. Saponaro understands that there are some certain key locations <br />based on what City Architecture may say towards the center of town where we may want to look at <br />residential property and see if we can help develop a walking downtown area. 2020 has looked at <br />that, Mr. Saponaro is all a part of that. But this property is $750,000.00. We are building a police <br />station right now. We have got other expenditures. Because we have the money does not mean we <br />should spend it. The voters are going to be questioning why we are spending money on this <br />property. The other properties are understandable. Mr. Saponaro does not see the benefit of