POTSDAM â The roughly 17-year fight over one manâs toilet gardens spread across the village was settled Wednesday.
But Jon E. Crain, of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, Albany, the attorney representing Mr. Robar, confirmed Wednesday that the case has been settled.
Mr. Crain said Wednesday that mediation between Mr. Robar and the village occurred Tuesday in Schenectady. Mr. Robar, as well as Village Administrator Gregory O. Thompson, traveled downstate for the mediation. Mr. Crain said a âsettlement in principleâ was reached Tuesday, meaning Mr. Robar doesnât yet have a âfully executedâ settlement agreement with the village.
Terms of the settlement have not been publicly disclosed, but Mr. Crain confirmed that as part of the settlement agreement, the village Board of Trustees is required to vote to approve the settlement, so terms should be made public at that time.
Thursday, April 22, 2021 - 1:15 pm
BY ADAM ATKINSON
North Country This Week
POTSDAM A local businessman and the village are finally coming to terms over a long legal battle over the Potsdam’s toilet gardens.
The lawyer for Hank Robar, owner of the gardens, told North Country This Week that the village and Robar had agreed to a “settlement in principle.”
Attorney Jon E. Crain of the Albany firm Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna LLP said terms have been agreed to but it would be a couple weeks for the paperwork to be finalized. He said until that time, he would not comment on specifics of the settlement.
Frederick J. âHankâ Robar Sr. stands for a photo at his house in Potsdam. Sydney Schaefer/Watertown Daily Times
POTSDAM â It all began some 17 years ago, when Frederick J. âHankâ Robar Sr. asked the village for a zoning change at one of his properties on Market Street.
POTSDAM â When Morgan D. Elliott was 8 years old, the villageâs first toilet garden was seed…
When the village said no, Mr. Robar decided to put about a dozen toilets on his lot at the corner of Market and Pleasant streets. The toilets have since multiplied; there are now dozens more fixtures spread across the village.
POTSDAM — When Morgan D. Elliott was 8 years old, the village’s first toilet garden was seeded. Now 22 years later, Mr. Elliott is finalizing the details of a documentary