MONROE, N.Y. -- Hundreds packed a public hearing on Wednesday on the proposed annexation of more than 500 acres of land from the Town of Monroe to the Village of Kiryas Joel.
"Is this in the best interest of the public? I will tell you, my friends, it's not," said County Executive Steve Neuhaus, R-Orange County.
Neuhaus received raucous applause as he shared some of the findings of an environmental impact report conducted on the proposed annexation.
Members of the village, however, say that as a growing community, they are in need of the land.
On Monday, two bills that would have a direct impact on the current annexation battle, including providing increased oversight over the process, passed in the state Assembly. Assemblyman James Skoufis pioneered the legislation.
"We're looking to just hold annexations more accountable. That's what it boils down to," said Skoufis, R-Cornwall-on-Hudson. "These controversial petitions should have a higher threshold for approval."
That recent momentum is not shaking the belief by Kiryas Joel officials that this annexation process will succeed.
"The county studies it, the county then has to say something is wrong that we missed and only then would it come to the point to have a meeting with super majority," said Ari Felberman, government relations for Kiryas Joel.
The finalized environmental report will be published after public comments are taken into consideration. In the meantime, members of United Monroe say that regardless of the findings, the fight is far from over.
"We know if this is approved by the two boards, the Town of Monroe and Village of Kiryas Joel board, that we will very soon thereafter be in litigation," said Emily Convers, United Monroe.