UPDATE - Please check this page periodically to learn the result of the hearing and what action we will be taking

Dear Carmel Reilly,

Thank you for meeting with us (O&R) on Monday February 2, to address RUSH’s concerns regarding the Vegetation Management (Tree Trimming) of our Transmission Line along Rail Road Avenue, Pearl River, NY. 

Below are my notes from our meeting, if you should have any questions please contact me directly.  I believe that our meeting was successful and extremely amicable in resolving any concerns. Thank you for the opportunity to communicate with you, Mr. Lowry and Tracy Hancock.

My sincere pleasure,
Michelle Damiani
Public Affairs Manager
201-236-6014


Meeting Notes: 
Orange and Rockland’s representatives,  Michelle Damiani Public Affairs Manager, Keith Still Chief Construction Inspector  and Mike Donovan Media Relations Manager met with the members of RUSH - Residents United to Save Hillside www.rushpearlriver.com, John Lowry, Carmel Reilly, and Tracey Hancock regarding the upcoming Vegetation Management (Tree Trimming) of the O&R’s Transmission Line along Rail Road Avenue, Pearl River, NY on Monday February 2 at Orangetown Town Hall.

Attendees included:

Town of Orangetown
Supervisor Thom Kleiner
Michael Catania, Orangetown Highway Dept.

RUSH Members
John Lowry
Carmel Reilly
Tracey Hancock

RUSH Concerns:

Buffer zone
  • Uniqueness of the location in relation to the development project
  • Tracy Hancock resident – concerned with the residential side effected by vegetation management along Rail Road Avenue
  • How far does the ROW go – How close is it to the development project  -  buffer zone
  • Proximity to water, wetlands and County Stream – why not shown on O&R map
  • Herbicides runoff and use
  • Eric Homestead was very helpful and informative with explanation  - Thank you  
  • ORU - website is not user friendly and hard to navigate, hard to find Tree trimming information, guidelines for trimming
  • On line bill pay – create a registration so that the customer doesn’t need their account number every time when accessing their account information – go see Verizon’s site  
O&R Comments:

  • O&R will address the properties along the right of way
  • O&R will continue to communicate with customers who may have any questions or concerns  
  • O&R will implement trimming of trees in accordance with the 35’ from the wire zone trimming standard
  • O&R will use at-time of management clearance requirement per O&R’s Vegetation Management plan.  There is trimming on both the East and the West side to obtain O&R management clearance of 35’.  There will not be any trees removed on the West side, there will be brush removed from the wire zone between Railroad Avenue and the tracks (the East side of the property.)  These are the only trees that will be removed from the property unless O&R sees that trees are so close to the wires or if extensive trimming on such trees would be unsightly.  O&R estimates that only a few trees would have to come down on the West Side of property. 
  • O&R will address any tress that may cause a leaning hazard or may impede service reliability of the Transmission line in accordance with this NYPSC Vegetation (Tree Trimming) Mandate  
  • Preventative herbicide application will only be applied, where needed, on non-compatible species, on the east side of the rail road tracks, between the tracks and Rail Road Avenue
  • There will not be any herbicide application on the west side due to the request of RUSH concerns of potential run off
  • Keith Still will call Carmel Reilly a few days before O&R starts trimming so that Ms. Reilly can notify her constituents of RUSH.
  • We are solving homelessness through innovative programs that transform people, buildings and communities.



December 3, 2008
On November 18, Joanne DiLorenzo attended a meeting of the Montvale Environmental Commission to speak about the Hillside development.  As a result, the chairman of that committee sent a letter to Thom Kleiner on behalf of the commission.

The letter stated that while the comission does not intend to interfere with any development, they are concerned about the potential for storm water runoff that could have a negative impact on the Montvale area.

In addition, Joanne was informed that the mayor of Montvale, Roger Fyfe, was contacting the Chief Executive of Bergen County to express his concerns.


September 23, 2008
On Monday, September 22, the orangetown Town Board voted to revise the notification laws in place for the land use boards.  In the future, residents within 200 feet of a property line will have to be notified via first class mail if the property owner applies for a hearing with the boards.  In some cases, the distance has been increased to 500 feet.  These changes are the result of actions taken by members of RUSH and Save Tappan.  RUSH members questioned why we were not notified about the proposed Hillside development, and the Town Board formed a committe to review the procedures.  Thanks to all who showed up at the Town Board meeting on that night to show support for the revisions.

September 21, 2008
THANK YOU to everyone who helped make the RUSH block party fundraiser a huge success!  More than 600 people joined us for an afternoon of music, food and fun.

July 30, 2008
New York State Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffe attended our meeting on Tuesday, July 29, and had an open dialogue with us about the Hillside project.  She offered to speak to someone at the Army Corps of Engineers for us, as well as the Rockland County Drainage Agency.  We are grateful to her for taking the time out to listen our concerns.

June 30, 2008
R.U.S.H. members notified the Town Planning Board that they had not been properly notified of the Hillside Commercial Park project.  The Town Attorney reviewed the developer's application and discovered an error in the approval process.  The environmental review form for the project was not performed before the Zoning Board hearing of January 16, 2008.  At this hearing, the developer was granted a key variance.

The Town of Orangetown filed litigation against the Zoning Board, asking that the decision on that date be vacated - R.U.S.H. filed a similar lawsuit with one differenc:  we believe that the environmental review form was not properly filled out and we are asking that the Planning Board decision of February 13 be vacated as well.

It is expected that a Judge will hear this case on or about July 16, 2008.  If the Judge vacates the decisions, the developer will have to go back to the land use boards.  This time, R.U.S.H. will be present to raise our concerns.

June 26, 2008
R.U.S.H. lawn signs are ready, thanks to a generous donation by LaBelle Printing! We want to make sure that every Pearl River resident is aware of R.U.S.H. and would like to post these signs in a variety of neighborhoods.  Anyone willing to post a sign on their lawn or business should contact Tracey Hancock at 620-9690.

This page was last updated: February 13, 2009