The Western Property Owners Association (WPOA) urges all residents of the West to send in the St. Paul's survey reply form, which was included in their November meeting notice.

The survey, unlike the upcoming Dec. 2 village-wide opinion poll, contains one question; please answer "yes" or "no": Should the village pursue a development agreement with AvalonBay for the restoration and redevelopment of the St. Paul's Main Building generally consistent with the proposal as described in the recent report of the Mayor's committee?

Visit the WPOA website, www.gcwpoa.com, to read the current position of the WPOA Board of Directors. Residents who prefer to register their vote by email to the WPOA secretary should click on the website link, AvalonBay "yes" or "no" and remember to include their name and address in their response. Residents can view the Mayor's Committee report on the village website, www.gardencityny.net.

All survey responses are due by Dec. 1.

As most residents are now aware, the East and Estates Property Owners' Associations are conducting an opinion poll at the St. Paul's Field House Dec. 2 for all residents, regardless of which section they reside in. The poll will ask residents to choose one of three options: the AvalonBay development, demolition or mothballing. The Central Property Owners' Association, along with the WPOA, believes one question should be asked of residents - AvalonBay yes or no. This is the reason why these two POAs - Central and West - chose to gauge public opinion in their own ways.

It will be interesting to see how the village plans on interpreting the varied results of the opinion poll and the two surveys, keeping in mind the trustees' agreed upon plan to make a decision on which direction to move forward in by Dec. 18, the last board of trustees meeting of 2008, which marks the 15th year since the village obtained ownership of the historic St. Paul's property.

- Carisa Giardino