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  • Town Of Brookhaven v. Richard A. Ball COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & MARKETS, Delea Sod Farms, Inc., Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning & Policy Commission Additional Respondent Joined as Necessary/Affected Party under CPLR 1001(a)Special Proceedings - CPLR Article 78 document preview
  • Town Of Brookhaven v. Richard A. Ball COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & MARKETS, Delea Sod Farms, Inc., Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning & Policy Commission Additional Respondent Joined as Necessary/Affected Party under CPLR 1001(a)Special Proceedings - CPLR Article 78 document preview
  • Town Of Brookhaven v. Richard A. Ball COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & MARKETS, Delea Sod Farms, Inc., Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning & Policy Commission Additional Respondent Joined as Necessary/Affected Party under CPLR 1001(a)Special Proceedings - CPLR Article 78 document preview
  • Town Of Brookhaven v. Richard A. Ball COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & MARKETS, Delea Sod Farms, Inc., Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning & Policy Commission Additional Respondent Joined as Necessary/Affected Party under CPLR 1001(a)Special Proceedings - CPLR Article 78 document preview
  • Town Of Brookhaven v. Richard A. Ball COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & MARKETS, Delea Sod Farms, Inc., Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning & Policy Commission Additional Respondent Joined as Necessary/Affected Party under CPLR 1001(a)Special Proceedings - CPLR Article 78 document preview
  • Town Of Brookhaven v. Richard A. Ball COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & MARKETS, Delea Sod Farms, Inc., Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning & Policy Commission Additional Respondent Joined as Necessary/Affected Party under CPLR 1001(a)Special Proceedings - CPLR Article 78 document preview
  • Town Of Brookhaven v. Richard A. Ball COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & MARKETS, Delea Sod Farms, Inc., Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning & Policy Commission Additional Respondent Joined as Necessary/Affected Party under CPLR 1001(a)Special Proceedings - CPLR Article 78 document preview
  • Town Of Brookhaven v. Richard A. Ball COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & MARKETS, Delea Sod Farms, Inc., Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning & Policy Commission Additional Respondent Joined as Necessary/Affected Party under CPLR 1001(a)Special Proceedings - CPLR Article 78 document preview
						
                                

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FILED: ALBANY COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2023 04:33 PM INDEX NO. 907862-22 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 37 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2023 SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK ALBANY COUNTY ---------------------------- ---------------x In the Matter of the Application of TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, Petitioner, For an Order Pursuant to Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules and Agriculture and Markets Law§ 37 -against- RICHARD A. BALL, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and DELEA SOD FARMS, INC., Index No. 907862-22 Respondents, -and- CENTRAL PINE BARRENS JOINT PLANNING & POLICY COMMISSION, Additional Respondent Joined as a Necessary/ Affected Party Under CPLR l00l(a) ------------------------------------------- X VERIFIED ANSWER, OBJECTIONS IN LAW AND ADMINISTRATIVE RETURN OF RESPONDENT RICHARD A. BALL Respondent Richard A. Ball, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets ("Department") for the verified answer to the Amended Verified Petition ("Amended Petition") of petitioner Town of Brookhaven ("Town") [Doc. No. 1], alleges as follows. The Department: 1. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 1, as they are the Town's characterization of its own Amended Petition to which no response is 1 of 17 FILED: ALBANY COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2023 04:33 PM INDEX NO. 907862-22 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 37 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2023 warranted, except admits that the Department issued an Order dated November 22, 2022 ("Order"). 2. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 2, as they are the Town's characterization of its own Amended Petition to which no response is warranted, except admits that the Department issued a final determination dated September 14, 2022 ("Final Determination") as well as the Order. 3. Denies the allegations of paragraph 3, except admits that the Order bars enforcement by the Town of certain zoning code provisions, admits that the Farm engages in mulch and compost activities, admits that the Farm is located in the Compatible Growth Area as defined under the Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act codified in the Environmental Conservation Law, and respectfully refers the Court to the Order and the Final Determination as the best evidence of their contents. 4. Denies the allegations of paragraph 4, except admits that the Department issued the Order pursuant to Agriculture & Markets Law ("A.M.L.") sections 305-a and 36 and issued the Final Determination pursuant to A.M.L. section 305-a, and respectfully refers the Court to the Order and those statutes as the best evidence of their contents. 5. Denies the allegations of paragraph 5, except admits that the Department issued the Order and the Final Determination, admits that the Final Determination contains, among other things, language substantively the same as the quoted language except for nonsubstantive errors introduced by the Town, and 2 2 of 17 FILED: ALBANY COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2023 04:33 PM INDEX NO. 907862-22 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 37 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2023 respectfully refers the Court to the Order and the Final Determination as the best evidence of their contents. 6. Denies the allegations of paragraph 6. 7. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 7, as the allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the laws cited as the best evidence of their contents. 8. Denies the allegation in paragraph 8 that the Department has taken any "impermissible" action, and otherwise neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 8 as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted. 9. Admits the first sentence of paragraph 9, except denies knowledge and information sufficient to form a belief as to the whether the operations of DeLea Sod Farms, Inc. at its Miller Place location ("Farm") are in all respects lawful. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of the second sentence of paragraph 9, as they are the Town's characterization of its own action to which no response is warranted. 10. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 10, as the allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the laws cited as the best evidence of their contents. 11. Denies knowledge and information sufficient to form a belief as to whether the operations of the Farm are in all respects lawful, denies that the attached photographs accurately characterize the Farm, and otherwise neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 11, as they either (a) are expressions 3 3 of 17 FILED: ALBANY COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2023 04:33 PM INDEX NO. 907862-22 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 37 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2023 of the Town's opinion to which no response is warranted, not allegations of fact, or (b) call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the laws cited as the best evidence of their contents. 12. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 12, as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the laws cited as the best evidence of their contents. 13. Admits that the language of the long quotation in paragraph 13 accurately reflects language found on the cited web page, admits that the language of the long citation sets out information regarding the Pine Barrens Act and Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission, and otherwise neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 13, as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the laws cited as the best evidence of their contents. 14. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 14, as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 15. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 15, as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 16. Denies the allegations of paragraph 16. 4 4 of 17 FILED: ALBANY COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2023 04:33 PM INDEX NO. 907862-22 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 37 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2023 17. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of the first sentence of paragraph 17, as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of the second sentence of paragraph 17, as they are expressions of the Town's opinion to which no response is warranted, not allegations of fact 18. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 18 to the extent those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, otherwise denies, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 19. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 19 to the extent those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, otherwise denies, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 20. Denies knowledge and information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 20, except admits that the Town is a municipal corporation of the State of New York. 21. Denies the allegations of paragraph 21, except admits that respondent Richard A. Ball, in his capacity as Commissioner of the Department, issued the Order and participated in other ways in the administrative proceedings leading to his issuance of the Order. 5 5 of 17 FILED: ALBANY COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2023 04:33 PM INDEX NO. 907862-22 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 37 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2023 22. Denies knowledge and information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of paragraph 22, except admits that the Farm operates on an approximately 258-acres site in Miller Place, New York and approximately 10 acres of that area is used for mulch and compost activities. 23. Admits that the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission is a New York State commission comprised of the identified members, and otherwise neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 23 to the extent those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 24. Neither admits nor denies the assertions of paragraph 24, as they either (a) they are the Town's characterization of its own Amended Petition to which no response is warranted, or (b) call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, they are the Town's characterization of its own Amended Petition to which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 25. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 25, as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 26. Admits the allegations of the first sentence of paragraph 26. Neither admits nor denies the other allegations of paragraph 26, as those allegations call for 6 6 of 17 FILED: ALBANY COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2023 04:33 PM INDEX NO. 907862-22 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 37 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2023 a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 27. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 27, as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 28. Denies the allegations of paragraph 28. 29. Denies that the allegation in paragraph 29 that the Department wrongfully ignored relevant information or legal authority, and otherwise neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 29, as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 30. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 30, as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 31. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 31, as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 32. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 32, as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and 7 7 of 17 FILED: ALBANY COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2023 04:33 PM INDEX NO. 907862-22 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 37 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2023 respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 33. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 33, as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 34. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 34, as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authority as the best evidence of its contents. 35. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 35, as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authority as the best evidence of its contents. 36. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 36, as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 37. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 37, as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 8 8 of 17 FILED: ALBANY COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2023 04:33 PM INDEX NO. 907862-22 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 37 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2023 38. Neither admits nor denies the allegations of paragraph 38, as those allegations call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 39. Denies that the Town has made any showing of environmental harm resulting from the Farm's activities, and otherwise neither admits nor denies the allegations in paragraph 39, as they call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 40. Denies knowledge and information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations of the first sentence of paragraph 40. Denies the allegations of the second sentence of paragraph 40. 41. Denies know ledge and information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations in paragraph 41 regarding the Farm's intent, and otherwise neither admits nor denies the allegations in paragraph 41, as they call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 42. Denies the allegations of paragraph 42, except admits that the Department issued an informal opinion under Agriculture and Markets Law section 308(4) dated July 24, 2020 (the "Informal Opinion"). 43. Denies the allegation in paragraph 43 that there is a material inconsistency between the Order or the Final Determination, on the one hand, and 9 9 of 17 FILED: ALBANY COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2023 04:33 PM INDEX NO. 907862-22 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 37 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2023 the Informal Opinion on the other, and otherwise neither admits nor denies the allegations in paragraph 43, as they call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited documents as the best evidence of their contents. 44. Denies the allegations of paragraph 44. 45. Denies the allegations of paragraph 45. 46. Denies the allegation in paragraph 46 that the Order or the Final Determination rest on any flawed bases, and otherwise neither admits nor denies the allegations in paragraph 46, as they call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 47. Denies the allegations of paragraph 47, except admits that mulch is generally not used to install sod, and avers that the Farm's sale of mulch is incidental to the sale of nursery stock. 48. Denies the allegation in the first sentence of paragraph 48 that any Department conclusions were irrational, and otherwise neither admits nor denies the allegations in that sentence, as they call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. Denies the second sentence of paragraph 48, except admits that the Farm does not produce mulch at its Miller Place location and mulch is generally not used to install sod, and avers that the Farm's sale of mulch is incidental to the sale of nursery stock. 10 10 of 17 FILED: ALBANY COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2023 04:33 PM INDEX NO. 907862-22 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 37 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2023 49. Denies the allegation in paragraph 49 that any Department conclusions were contrary to any law, and otherwise neither admits nor denies the allegations in that sentence, as they call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authority as the best evidence of its contents. 50. Denies the allegation in the last sentence of paragraph 50 that the Order or Final Determination rested on any improper basis, and otherwise neither admits nor denies the allegations in that paragraph, as they call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 51. Denies the allegations of paragraph 51. 52. Neither admits nor denies the allegations in paragraph 52, as they call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 53. Denies the allegations in the first three sentences and footnote 9 of paragraph 53, except admits that the Farm does not produce mulch at its Miller Place location and mulch is generally not used to install sod, and respectfully refers the Court to the Order and Final Determination as the best evidence of their contents. Denies the allegation in the last sentence of paragraph 53 that the Order or Final Determination is contrary to any controlling law or policy, and otherwise neither admits nor denies the allegations in the last sentence of that paragraph, as they call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted. 11 11 of 17 FILED: ALBANY COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2023 04:33 PM INDEX NO. 907862-22 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 37 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2023 54. With regard to paragraph 54, repeats and realleges the responses to paragraphs 1 through 53 as if fully set forth herein. 55. Neither admits nor denies the allegations in paragraph 55, as they call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 56. Neither admits nor denies the allegations in paragraph 56, as they call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 57. Neither admits nor denies the allegations in paragraph 57, as they call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 58. Neither admits nor denies the allegations in paragraph 58, as they call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 59. Neither admits nor denies the allegations in paragraph 59, as they call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, except admits that the Final Determination cited E.C.L. § 57-0133, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 60. Denies the allegations in paragraph 60. 61. Denies the allegations in paragraph 61. 62. With regard to paragraph 62, repeats and realleges the responses to paragraphs 1 through 61 as if fully set forth herein. 12 12 of 17 FILED: ALBANY COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2023 04:33 PM INDEX NO. 907862-22 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 37 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2023 63. Denies the allegations in paragraph 63. 64. Denies the allegations in paragraph 64. 65. With regard to paragraph 65, repeats and realleges the responses to paragraphs 1 through 64 as if fully set forth herein. 66. Denies the allegations in the first sentence of paragraph 66, except admits that the Farm engages in mulch and compost activities on approximately 10 acres of its more than 250-acre site in Miller Place, New York, and denies knowledge and information sufficient to form a belief as to the whether the Farm's operations are in all respects lawful. Neither admits nor denies the allegations in the second sentence of paragraph 66, as they call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 67. Neither admits nor denies the allegations in paragraph 67, as they call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, and respectfully refers the Court to the cited authorities as the best evidence of their contents. 68. Neither admits nor denies the allegations in paragraph 68, as they call for a legal conclusion for which no response is warranted, except denies that Agriculture and Markets Law section 305-a must be interpreted to prohibit the Farm's mulch and compost activities. 69. Denies the allegations in paragraph 69. 13 13 of 17 FILED: ALBANY COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2023 04:33 PM INDEX NO. 907862-22 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 37 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2023 70. Denies each and every factual allegation of the Amended Petition that is not otherwise herein admitted or denied, or for which the Department has not denied knowledge and information sufficient to form a belief. OBJECTIONS IN POINT OF LAW 1. The Town lacks capacity to sue. 2. The Long Island Pine Barrens Maritime Reserve Act, Envtl. Conserv. L. §§ 57-0101 through -0213, does not limit or otherwise alter the Department's authority under sections 305-a and 36 of the Agriculture and Markets Law. 3. The Central Pine Barrens Comprehensive Land Use Plan adopted by the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission does not limit or otherwise alter the Department's authority under sections 305-a and 36 of the Agriculture and Markets Law. 4. The laws of the Town of Brookhaven do not limit or otherwise alter the Department's authority under sections 305-a and 36 the Agriculture and Markets Law. 5. The Department's issuance of the Order and the Final Determination, and any other Department findings, conclusions, decisions or actions that are the subject of this case were not (a) made in violation of lawful procedure, (b) affected by an error of law, (c) arbitrary and capricious, or (d) an abuse of discretion. 6. The Department's issuance of the Order and the Final Determination, and any other Department findings, conclusions, decisions or actions that are the 14 14 of 17 FILED: ALBANY COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2023 04:33 PM INDEX NO. 907862-22 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 37 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2023 subject of this case were rational, a proper exercise of the Department's discretion and fully complied with applicable law. 7. The facts and circumstances do not warrant this Court ordering invalidation, rescission, vacatur, annulment, reversal, costs and disbursements, or any other relief against the Department. ADMINISTRATIVE RETURN AND AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENT OF THE GROUNDS FOR THE DEPARTMENT'S ACTIONS The Department has acted in accordance with all relevant procedures, policies, laws and regulations applicable to it, and the bases for its actions are rational, for the reasons set out in the Department's return in this matter, which includes the documents in the certified Administrative Record (February 14, 2023), the Affidavit of Kathleen E. Tylutki with exhibit (February 14, 2023), the Affirmation of Andrew G. Frank with exhibits (February 14, 2023), and the accompanying Memorandum of Law, all of which are filed herewith and incorporated herein. 15 15 of 17 FILED: ALBANY COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2023 04:33 PM INDEX NO. 907862-22 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 37 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2023 Dated: New York, New York February 14, 2023 LETITIA JAMES, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK By: A+- G _(2_(_ Andrew G. Frank, Esq. Assistant Attorney General New York State Attorney General's Office 28 Liberty Street New York, NY 10005 Telephone: (212) 416-8271 E-mail: andrew.frank@ag.ny.gov Counsel for Respondent Richard A. Ball, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets 16 16 of 17 FILED: ALBANY COUNTY CLERK 02/15/2023 04:33 PM INDEX NO. 907862-22 NYSCEF DOC. NO. 37 RECEIVED NYSCEF: 02/15/2023 VERIFICATION STATE OF NEW YORK ) ) ss.: COUNTY OF ALBANY ) Danielle C. Cordier, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am an Associate Attorney at the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (the "Department"), and was involved in the Department's issuance of the November 22, 2022 Order, the September 14, 2022 Final Determination and the administrative proceedings leading to those issuances. I have reviewed the annexed Verified Answer, Objections in Point of Law and Administrative Return and know the contents thereof. The Verified Answer, Objections in Point of Law and Administrative Return are true to my knowledge, except as to matters stated to be alleged upon information and belief, and as to those matters, I believe them to be true. The sources of my knowledge, information and belief are the records kept in the Department's files, my personal knowledge, and discussions with Department staff. ... Danielle C. Cordier Swo n to before me this { y, 2023 NICOLE PERSAUD Notary Public, State of New York Reg.No.01 PE6248087 NO Qual!tied in Kings County 3 /I Commission Expires September 12, 20© _ 17 17 of 17