Written by
Michael Wooten
TOWN OF PENDLETON, N.Y. -- The State Comptroller's Office recently completed an audit that strongly criticizes the Town of Pendleton for purchasing 96 acres of land in 2007 for $187,000, because the land is not being used as intended.
About 20 acres of the plot, which is located off Beach Ridge Road, was to be used by a local soccer organization to build a dozen youth soccer fields. The remainder would be used for recreation purposes.
However, during 2 On Your Side's visit to the land, our crew found only wildlife and standing water.
The Comptroller's audit found the money was essentially wasted, because development will be difficult due to wetlands on the property.
Before the purchase, the Town learned nearly 20 percent of the property was designated wetlands; leaders still went ahead with the purchase. The audit claimed much more than 20 percent is now wetlands, greatly diminishing any potential development on the site.
2 On Your Side reached out to the town attorney but was unable to reach her. In the written response to the Comptroller, the Town defended the property purchase.
"The primary purpose of the purchase was to secure parkland (not soccer fields) for the Town," the attorney wrote to the Comptroller.
But 2 On Your Side found a town newsletter from 2007, in which the supervisor wrote that the property would be "used for recreation" and that "Northtowns Soccer is interested in putting a state-of-the-art soccer complex on part of the property - about 20 acres. The rest will be used for future recreation needs."
If you look today, there is no recreational activity on the property.
The Comptroller concluded that Pendleton's Town Board should consider selling the property and use the money to purchase more suitable land.
In the audit, the Comptroller also raised concerns surrounding the purchase price and the studies performed. You can read the entire audit and the Town's response by clicking here.
WGRZ