PELHAM, N.Y. - Angie Swanson-Dumas slapped her forehead as the villages Board of Trustees debated whether to request historical status for a local bridge at Tuesday night's meeting. She opened her mouth in shock and shuffled in her seat as the board members asked questions and talked over each other.
The board ultimately decided to table a resolution that would submit a request to the State Division for Historical Preservation to seek eligibility for the Highbrook Avenue Bridge as a historical site.
Mayor Ed Hotchkiss said board approval of the resolution would be tantamount to board support for the bridge as a historical site. But Swanson-Dumas, a member of the Friends of Highbrook Highline, argued that the board needed to approve the resolution before it could weigh its options.
"Separating eligibility and the ability to get grants from the options makes no sense to me," Swanson-Dumas said.
The Friends of Highbrook Highline have sought funding for the bridge for the past year. Richard Seither, a member of the group, said at the meeting that certain funds can only be obtained if the bridge is eligible as a historic site, while still others mandate that the bridge actually be on a state or national register.
But Seither said the resolution in question would only be a first step.
"We would like to have an initial determination of eligibility for the bridge," Seither said.
The board members differed on the issue. Paul McGoldrick said he was uncomfortable with passing the resolution because he did not know if the Pelham community supports the plan. Theresa Mohan, however, said the board cannot determine what its options are for the bridge until eligibility is determined.
Several members of the board said they needed more information before they could vote on the issue.
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