​Cazenovia Voices Update – Village Planning Meeting Outcomes

Cazenovia Voices Community Update — Welcome if you’re new!
Every day more neighbors are joining this mailing list. If this is your first update: this coalition is responding to the lack of transparency around Madison County’s plan to purchase Reisman and Sigety Halls on the former Cazenovia College campus for the Sheriff’s office and emergency services. 

We are working to ensure that decisions about the heart of our village happen with residents, not to us.

Call to Action - Village Working Session Outcomes
Email our leaders now; they are paying attention.
What we witnessed at last night’s Village working session makes it clear: if the sale of Reisman and Sigety Halls to Madison County moves forward now, residents will lose their ability to shape what happens at the heart of our village. The Village Attorney confirmed that once the County owns these buildings, they may choose whether or not to follow our zoning. That means our community risks losing leverage before we’ve even had a chance to plan together.

This is the moment to act. If everyone receiving this update writes today, we can send a united message:

1. Tell the Village Board, Mayor Wheeler, and Town Supervisor Reger to urge the County to look for another site. Cazenovia is not the right fit - for reasons of safety, equity, historic preservation, and community trust that we’ve been raising for weeks.
2. Insist - Pause, Plan, Protect. Before any sale, the Village must launch a professional, community-driven planning process that allows residents to access information, weigh options, and shape the next phase of development.

Email addresses are listed at the bottom of this memo. Share your voice!
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Here is a sample email - adjust it to share your voice, your concerns:

Subject: Pause the County Sale & Begin to Plan with Community

Dear Mayor Wheeler, Village Board, and Supervisor Reger,

I am writing as a concerned resident to urge you to act immediately regarding the proposed sale of Reisman and Sigety Halls to Madison County.

Last night’s Village work session confirmed two alarming facts:

• Once Madison County owns these buildings, they may choose whether or not to comply with Village zoning. That means if the sale goes forward now, residents will lose leverage over how the core of our village is used.
• The process so far has been withheld from the public and now it feels rushed. Brainstorming zoning uses without a comprehensive planning process is inadequate and we need more time for community understanding.

For the sake of safety, equity, and trust in local government, I urge you to:

1. Tell Madison County that Cazenovia is not the right site for this use and encourage them to seek another location.
2. Pause any sale or rezoning until a professional, community-driven comprehensive planning process happens.
3. Ensure all planning documents and communications are shared openly with residents.

Cazenovia deserves a transparent process where residents have a real voice in shaping our future. Please take immediate steps to protect our community.
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Two letters from our coalition have already been cited by the Mayor & 9 Fresh as influencing their thoughts.

• This letter from Deb Alden
• This letter from Bill Bullen

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Preston Gilbert’s Protest
Many folks from our Coalition were present and vocal. Professional planner Preston Gilbert, with 45 years of planning experience spoke up strongly at the meeting. He warned that the Village is "spinning our wheels" by brainstorming uses with the developer without first undertaking a true comprehensive planning process with the community.

In a reflection today, he noted, "I am convinced that the best thing we can do now is a broad coalition building effort supported by an equal education and consensus building process.  Essential to get to shared goals is trust. We can do it. Last night was the result of a failed planning process and lack of clear goals." 

Preston has shared two documents with us to help folks understand what is possible:

1. His statement outlining his qualifications and concerns.
2. An executive summary of best-practice planning processes from his national redevelopment experience.

Process is a Problem
What stood out at the meeting last night was not just the content but the process...how decisions are being framed and how community voices are being sidelined.

• Process gatekeeping: The session was called a “work session,” which meant no formal public comment. Materials were handed to some board members at the table, and public input was pushed to after adjournment of the scribe. This keeps residents reactive instead of included. 
• Labeling concerns as “misinformation”: Community members raised questions about equity and citing direct conversations with County officials. Instead of addressing these concerns, leaders brushed them off as “misinformation.” That chills good-faith participation.
• “Cost savings” as the only metric: Officials repeated that it would cost $2M to retrofit Reisman versus $10-12M elsewhere, treating this as decisive. No transparent analysis of other impacts such as safety, traffic, historic character, or equity, was offered.
• Public vs. “private” confusion: Leaders continue to call this a “private” transaction. In reality, Madison County and the Town are public entities spending taxpayer funds on their purchases. That makes it a public deal requiring accountability.
• Study vs. plan: The MRB report is valuable as a building-condition study, but it is not a community plan. It never asked whether residents wanted a county law enforcement hub in the heart of a school zone and business district.
• Zoning leverage uncertain: The Village attorney confirmed that once the County owns the property, they may or may not choose to follow Village zoning. The Mayor says he’ll “ask” them to comply, but there’s no guarantee that his personal request will represent community interests or that the County will comply.
• Personal Diplomacy over Public Procedure: The Mayor's rhetoric was consistently personalized rather than procedural. This creates a governance dynamic where public accountability is obscured behind his individual negotiations and personal mandate.

What to watch for in upcoming meetings

• “Work session” or other labels used to limit public comment.
• Agendas posted late or without goals/details, handouts given only at the table, not in advance.
• Vague phrases like “at this time,” “non-controversial,” or "disruptive" that stifle civil statements from participants
• Zoning drafted before community planning.
• Concerns dismissed as “misinformation.”

When you hear these, ask calmly: “Will you commit to a comprehensive planning process, with a clear timeline, professional facilitation, and public materials posted at least 7 days in advance?”

What We’re Still Asking For

• Pause the sale. The Village must advocate (to the County & Town) that the County is not a good fit. Residents need more input.
• Start comprehensive planning now. Cazenovia needs an updated, community-driven plan that accounts for today’s realities.
• Hold leaders accountable - protect community rights. This is not a “private” deal. Madison County and the Town of Cazenovia are public entities spending taxpayer money. Public process is not optional.

What You Can Do
Email Village leaders today.
cc: [email protected] so that we can document your voices.

• Richard Macheda [email protected]
• Cindy Bell  [email protected]    
• Kathy Hahn [email protected]
• Jen Lutter [email protected] 
• Village Mayor Kurt Wheeler [email protected]
• Town Supervisor Kyle Reger [email protected] 

Tell them: Pause the sale, commit to a real comprehensive plan, and ensure Cazenovia residents have a voice.

Talk to your neighbors.
Many are just learning about this issue. Share what you know, and invite them to join this mailing list.

Sign and share the petitions!

• Petition to the Attorney General
• Petition to the Village Board

Thanks to Sharye Skinner for inspiring the ad below for the Cazenovia Republican. Look for it and share it with your neighbors.

Disclaimer on this Email Group
This mailing list includes a wide range of people, including some directly involved in the Reisman/Sigety Hall deal. 

Please keep in mind:

• We use blind copy (bcc) to prevent addresses from being used for other purposes.
• If you prefer not to receive these updates, you may opt out at any time by emailing: [email protected]. 
• If you are new to this group, complete information and previous posts (transcripts, etc) can be found at https://www.arc-c.org/cazenovia-voices-coalition.html.