Ossining Talks Briarcliff Little League, Ryder Use

OSSINING, N.Y.  – Matthew Lenaghan said he’s lived in the town of Ossining more than 12 years and he was very happy to finally hear some answers to his questions Tuesday night.

Lenaghan and nearly 100 other residents packed the Caputo Community Center Tuesday night to voice their concerns during an open town hall meeting in front of Ossining. Resident concerns ran the gamut from group homes to taxes. Town Supervisor Susanne Donnelly said town officials plan to host town hall meetings for the unincorporated residents of the town every six weeks to ensure officials are hearing concerns from the community. The next town hall meeting is scheduled for May 1.

“We will be sending updates about all of the issues discussed here,” Donnelly said during the meeting. “This is your meeting. This is your time to talk to us.”

Dozens of residents in attendance Tuesday came seeking answers on the town’s policies on the Briarcliff Manor Little League predominantly using Ryder Park in Ossining.  Donnelly said Tuesday the town of Ossining would discuss the issue at its next work session on April 3.

Lenaghan said he’s sent several messages to Ossining officials questioning the process on Ossining teams using Ryder Field and he’s glad town officials are taking notice.  

“The meeting was a very positive step for all of us,” Lenaghan said. “Obviously an issue of field usage is not one of life or death but it is important to us. We’re hopeful that our town government will actually pay attention to us. We just want to hear about the logic behind this process and we want to make sure they’ve taken a close look at our concerns.”

With Ossining’s JCYS Little League Baseball starting April 14, Lenagahn said he knows the issue of field usage won’t be solved this season and he’s OK with that.

“This may not affect my 12-year-old, but hopefully we’ll be in a better place by the time my 5-year-old wants to play,” he said. “At times that access to your town officials is hard and by having these meetings, they are giving people that access. Now we just hope something is done from here.”

With discussion on Ossining’s group homes also dominating Tuesday’s meeting, Donnelly said it was important to dedicate more time to the larger issues.

“We’re more than willing to dedicate entire meetings to these,” she said Tuesday, adding that Wednesday’s meeting on group homes was postponed to ensure residents didn’t have to attend meetings every night.

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