A key member of the Watervliet planning board was dismissed as discussion continues about the future of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church site. Our Erin Vannella attended the meeting and joined us with the latest.

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

WATERVLIET, N.Y. -- A key member of the Watervliet planning board was dismissed as discussion continues about the future of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church site.

In a memo dated April 20th and delivered on Wednesday, Watervliet Mayor Michael Manning relieved Rosemary Nichols of her duties. She was the city official assigned to advise the planning board on its review of the St. Patrick's site project.

Nigro Companies has proposed to demolish the church and replace it with a Price Chopper supermarket.

Community members say Nichols was openly in favor of keeping St. Patrick’s erect, though neither she nor any board members nor the mayor offered any comment.

"Don't know if any of the city people who have spoken for or against. Only Rosemary. She's an American. She has a right to speak. But, if she's been removed, that's unfortunate," Watervliet resident John Kenney said.

"To be perfectly honest with you, my fear is that the project is being hastily rammed down everyone's throats," said Watervliet resident Christine Bulmer.

City officials say the planning board will be provided with proper expert assistance to advise and review the project in Nichols' absence.