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Residents, campers on Sandy Beach will hear city's decision Thursday

People with camps and homes on Sandy Beach will now have to wait until Thursday to hear from the city. City council ratified a decision Monday night on whether or not to renew leases for the camps and homes, which expires at the end of the year.
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Michael O'Reilly (Jamie Smith, tbnewswatch.com)

People with camps and homes on Sandy Beach will now have to wait until Thursday to hear from the city.

City council ratified a decision Monday night on whether or not to renew leases for the camps and homes, which expires at the end of the year. City manager Tim Commisso said the city owes it to leaseholders to inform them of the decision first, which will happen at a meeting Thursday evening.

Michael O'Reilly lives on Sandy Beach. He said having no input or ability to comment while the city has been deciding whether or not to renew the leases has been Kafkaesque.

"We’re the ones being thrown out of our homes. It’d be funny if it wasn't so serious,” he said after council voted to allow deputations on the matter.

"Here we are being evicted from land that's been in use this way for more than a century."

While the city hasn't said what the decision is, members of the Sandy Beach Leaseholders Association think the writing is on the wall. O'Reilly said he understands that council and administration have probably been frustrated with the process as well but he expects to get fair market value for his home.

Francesco Greco said no amount of money is worth giving up the lifestyle he and his family have right now at their camp, along with the community that's there.

"I don’t’ want your money,” he said. “I want that lifestyle.”

Greco was hoping to hear from the city Monday but left with other members of the association without anymore information than when they arrived at city hall.

"Everybody's on pins and needles in regards to their homes, their belongings and their families and friends," he said.

Greco told council that the association generated revenue for the city. If they have to leave, the only thing that land will generate is grass and trees.





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