February 21, 2007
New York

Wind energy draft available for review, public hearing scheduled

Want to take a look at Hartsville’s latest draft of a wind energy law?

It’s on file at the town clerk’s office.

That information was presented at the rescheduled town board meeting Monday night, when the board voted to accept the draft of the law, drawn up by town Attorney David Pullen. Deputy Supervisor Gene Garrison noted the draft was 20 pages long, and would cost 25 cents per page, or $5 for the whole thing.

“This is the second time the wind energy law has been adjusted, and hopefully it will be the last,” he said. “The law will have been available for 31 days by the time we vote on it.”

A public hearing on the new draft will take place at 7 p.m. March 15 at the town hall, a day after the regular monthly board meeting. Garrison said he expects to vote on the law following the public hearing on the 15th.

Resident Steve Dombert then asked whether it would be able to be changed – if necessary – before the vote took place.

“We’ve changed it three times now,” Garrison said. “We’re holding up a multi-million dollar company, and we’ve got to get this in place.

“The night of the hearing there will be plenty of time for people to air issues about it,” he added.

Councilwoman Mattie Parini said whether changes would be made would depend on what objections came out.

“It could affect how we vote on it if they are significant enough,” she said.

There was little other discussion about the wind law draft, but Garrison and Councilman James Perry both stated the town is working on the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency – which has lead agency status for the State Environmental Quality Review and in negotiating a Payment in Lieu of Taxes – to obtain more money for Hartsville.

“The person who’s handling the money – and I’m not going to mention any names – they want to give most of the money to the schools,” Garrison said. “I say let’s take care of Hartsville first.”

Perry also addressed an item that appeared in Wednesday’s Evening Tribune – announcing the cancellation of the meeting – in which it was reported residents had previously voiced concern about how the law was being developed, alleging the town had gotten help from Airtricity, the company looking to development a wind farm in Hartsville.

“There was no outside influence as was stated in the paper,” Perry said. “In the paper it said it was being tailored for one company, but that is not true.”

In other business, the board voted to award the installation of doors on the town barn to Lewis Doors for $2,600. The Canisteo-based company will take the doors from the old building and install them on new building.

By Rob Montana
Staff Writer

eveningtribune.com

20 February 2007


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