August 16, 2011
New York

Fairfield officials address sand quotes, lawsuit, wind turbine complaints

www.herkimertelegram.com 16 August 2011

Aside from the stormy public comment period, other business was conducted by Fairfield town officials during their meeting at the Community Hall last Thursday.
Items of interest included the following:
•After discussion about a number of quotes received for the purchase and delivery of highway sand, Fairfield officials decided to see what the county’s bids for sand and hauling turn up. If the county’s bids are not acceptable, Highway Superintendent William Dillenbeck proposed advertising for the town’s salt supply and transport in September.
•A lawsuit dating back to 2007-08 has been resolved. Town Supervisor Richard Souza informed councilmen that a town resident had sued the town for $50,000 because of the runoff of sand and salt from the town highway department onto her property. After several court appearances, the town agreed to erect a six-foot chain-link fence at its own expense between her property and the town’s.
Additionally, the town will clean up and remove accumulations of sand and salt from her property, replace topsoil and grade and level it.
The town’s insurance company will also make payment of $5,000 to the property owner.
Councilmen decided quotes for the fence should be solicited for consideration at the September town council meeting.
•With regard to the wind turbines, several residents sought an update on the status of noise complaints. They also wanted to know when Iberdrola Renewables plans to address repairs to area roadways damaged when the wind farm was established.
Souza said the company has about a week left to comment on a noise complaint submitted to the company in July. Town officials should have the company’s response in time for the September meeting, at which time councilmen will have to set another meeting date to decide whether the town should conduct a separate noise study, go with what the company says it wants to do or take another course of action. It’s expected the town’s attorney and experts in the field of noise study will be at that meeting.
In answer to a question by town resident James Salamone about the status of road repairs stemming from the wind turbine construction, Souza said company officials have indicated the road work will begin in September.
•Souza informed town councilmen that the state Legislature has approved a two percent real property tax cap.
•The town’s equalization rate at 82 percent is unchanged from last year.
•The date of a budget workshop for preparation of the town’s 2012 fiscal year was set for Sept. 19 at 6 p.m.
•A rabies clinic will be held on Sept. 8 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Community Hall pavilion.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/08/16/fairfield-officials-address-sand-quotes-lawsuit-wind-turbine-complaints/