The following is via News12:

A public forum was held Tuesday evening at Bais Rachel Paradise Hall about the controversial plan to annex 500 acres of Monroe land to Kiryas Joel.

Village leaders said early on that the meeting would be held despite impending bad weather. Critics say the decision was a deliberate attempt to keep people from coming.

A representative for Kiryas Joel said Tuesday that residents with environmental concerns on the proposal to double the Hasidic village in size can send them in writing until March 10.

Village leaders have promised a thorough and fair environmental study since being awarded control by the state, despite concerns that the municipality is unfit to oversee the process. Residents that News 12 saw in the village Tuesday did not want to comment and would not say if they were planning on attending the forum.

Monroe Dial-A-Bus offered a shuttle from the senior center in town. Those who were unable to attend the forum are encouraged to mail in public comments.

(Source: News12)