Editor:

The Gaines Zoning Board Of Appeals (ZBA) is at it again. They object to the Cobblestone Historic District signs (“Save Cobblestone Historic District, No Dollar General”), because now only 40-day “temporary signs” are allowed without a permit; yet the codes officer says it’s permissible for my neighbor to display an outdoor Trump flag permanently. Amazing.

At the recent ZBA meeting the Board refused to answer why, all of a sudden, they object to recently placed signs now, when they were permissible in the past. They have been up less than 40 days, and ZBA Chairperson Mike Grabowski, who condemns the Cobblestone signs, directed the town attorney to look into it. Could it be the ZBA is trying to protect their pet project – the ramming of a Dollar General store down our throats in violation of the Historic District?

I was told I was being disruptive for asking the question and insisting on an answer. Board member David Thom said these meetings are “business meetings,” where public input and questions are not permitted. So answering citizens’ questions is not the business of our ZBA. I have been allowed to give input and ask for clarification at past ZBA meetings. So what gives?

Obviously, there is something different happening here with the Dollar General project. Well, the Gaines Town Planning Board was abolished years ago, and the ZBA Chairperson and the Gaines Town Supervisor have an adversarial relationship at best. I’m beginning to see why. Gaines doesn’t need a rogue, closed and secretive ZBA. By the time the ZBA gets around to scheduling a public hearing on a project, they’ve already made up their minds without public input, and the applicants have already spent resources. A done deal. Sounds like a lousy system to me.

When a Gaines resident asked Chairperson Mike Grabowski to speak up over the loud noise of the Albion High School cafeteria freezer compressor, he tersely told her “there are chairs up front.” He resumed speaking in low volume monotones, so only the 4-member board, and not the 20-some people in attendance, could hear him. It was obvious. Three months ago it was suggested the ZBA utilize a PA system. That never materialized.

After the meeting was adjourned, I learned that the next ZBA meeting won’t be held at the high school where it’s hard to hear and the rest rooms are locked. Mr. Grabowski failed to announce this.

Al Capurso

Gaines

Editor:

I recently wrote about problems with the Republican Party and many of its current candidates. As expected, someone wrote and disagreed. I have learned that this will run after the election so there are a couple of comments at the end.

The unfortunate thing was that so many of the facts and conclusions seemed to come from Rupert Murdock-owned tabloids. He has 163 with Fox TV and the New York Post heading up the US arms of his empire. It also appeared that there were may have been things from equally illegitimate sources like the National Inquirer, Washington Times, and Judicial Watch;

I did recognize any of the daily lies from the Russian-based sites that one of our former elected officials publishes daily on Facebook but we have to be careful about that too.

False, misstated, contradictory material, and conclusions and programs put forward with false promises are endemic in the Trump era. But Trump did not start it. Congressman Gingrich started the trend to put partisan politics before truth even after elections were over in about 1993. His approach of putting the country second has grown to the point of ruination. Worse, with internet tabloids pervading what we see and read, intellectual slough has become a norm.

Any person who does not fact check and votes based on fear and fact free nostrums is guilty of being unpatriotic!

Here we are in the midst of the “information age” but what we are seeing is the dumbing down of America. Worse, the Russians are helping! With no common base of facts to discuss, the glue that holds us together is disintegrating. When each person lives in their own fantasy there can be no democracy or intelligent debate to sustain it. That’s why I beg all to fact check and, in this election, vote for democratic candidates.

Comments:

The first comment is that we are have no good plan for health care. You should look

this up but the Obama plan was first developed by the Heritage Foundation in the 1980’s as a was to solve our health care problems with subsidized private insurance. It was presented to Congress in the early ’90s by Senator Chaffee of Connecticut and praised far and wide by the Republican’s including Speaker of the House Gingrich. (And when the Republicans liked it they did not claim there were going to the death squads which, of course, never happened either.) The provisions which permitted subsidization are now under attack by the Republican Party so a primarily private solution is now highly unlikely.

The second is if you look at those states where Donald Trump successfully took his statistically false racist message about immigrant hordes at our door step worked best in the old Dixie states. It is not true they just wanted to keep slavery. They invaded the north to seize the country and caused the death of hundreds of thousands of our ancestors. Trump’s time in office is time limited but the flame of racism is harder than we thought to quench.

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Editor:

I urge Town of Barre residents to go to Know Your Facts USA, on Facebook, and watch the Town Board Meeting of Oct. 10, 2018. It’s a long meeting, but worth watching, especially the last few minutes!

You think there is bias at the federal level? There certainly is at the local level with both the Town Board and Planning Board. George, as was said a couple of years ago, “the fix was in.”

Susan Carr

Barre

Editor:

Do you know Dollar General wants to build a department store across from a National Historic Landmark (1849 Cobblestone Schoolhouse) on Ridge Road in Gaines? That would be a devastating blow to the integrity of the Historic District, and to tourism which brings revenue to our community.

People from all over the world come to visit National Historic Landmarks, including our Cobblestone Museum as it is unique to our country’s rich heritage. There are a little over 2,500 National Landmarks in the United States, and we are lucky to have one to celebrate and to add to the richness of our community.

If you believe in preserving history and the foundation of America, please join us in helping to fight the unnecessary destruction of our history.

On Thursday, November 8, at 7 p.m., the Gaines Town Board will consider a Cobblestone Museum request for a moratorium on commercial development and subdivision within the Historic District. The town has already committed to a process of studying and revamping its zoning. Therefore it makes sense to delay any development until the study and revamping are complete.

Your voice matters! After all, you don’t see franchise stores outside of the National Monument or the Gateway Arch in St. Louis? They both share with the Cobblestone School in being a National Historic Landmark, and our fellow Americans have made sure they are preserved for generations to come.

Thank you,

Al Capurso

Gaines

Editor:

Are you an organ donor? Have you talked to your loved ones so that they know your wishes? Well you could be, and you definitely you should be.

Everyday people are dying while they are waiting on a list to receive a life-saving organ. It doesn’t have to be that way. The wait doesn’t need to be so long. We all have the ability to change this. We have the ability to save lives, up to 8 lives can be saved by one single person signing an Organ Donor card.

Why wouldn’t you want to do this? After you pass away your gift of life can save a life. You can help another person live.

Your legacy could be that you lived your life well and when it was over you became a super hero, a life saver, an organ donor.

While New York State has made great strides in the past few years to sign up donors we still have a long way to go. New York State is still one of last on the list for the number of residents signed up to be organ donors. There are a few new laws in place that are starting to help with this situation.

One of the new laws on the books is that you now must check the Organ Donor box on the forms at the Department of Motor vehicle. This has helped raise awareness and the number of registered organ donors immensely. In the past when we went to DMV we would go to the information desk to ask what forms we needed, they then highlighted the form for us and we never read what was on the rest of that form, including that little box that says do you want to be an organ donor.

Now due to this law change that question must be answered, yes or no, it’s a decision we all now have to make. I hope you give this decision great thought as someone’s life could depend on it.

Another law change that has helped raise the numbers of signed up organ donors is 16-year-olds now have the ability to sign up on the organ donor list. Their parents still have the right to make that final decision for their child until they become of age, but if the minor child should pass away parents now at least know what their child’s wishes were even if they never really had that discussion. That change was a very important one.

With the use of computers many of us are no longer going to the DMV in person. Much of our business is now done through the mail or online. Even when you purchase a new car these days the dealer takes care of everything for you. Back in the day you used to have to go to DMV to register your new vehicle.

We used to have to get a new license every few years. So up to DMV we would go, but not so much anymore. For this reason it is important to have our young people sign that donor card when they go apply for their permits and get their licenses for the first time. Along with missed opportunities to sign people up due to the use of computers we also now have the ability to sign that donor card due to computers, NY DMV or Organdonor.gov are two places that are just a click away from you becoming an organ donor.

My husband received the gift of life in 2014 . We were one of the lucky ones. Many are not so blessed. It shouldn’t depend on luck. It should depend on compassion, education, need to help our fellow man, the need to do the right thing.

Please sign up to be an organ donor.

Sincerely,

Lori Laine

Albion

Editor:

Having listened for over two years to Mr. Sidonio’s allegations about the Town of Murray Water Districts, I am addressing his most recent letter to the editor.  The Murray Water Department is not losing money. We are not robbing Peter to pay Paul. Mr. Sidonio continues to deliberately mislead residents in an attempt to get their votes.

I have been here through construction of all 16 water districts. For 28 years, I have put together budgets for these districts and presented them to past and present board members for review and they adopt the budgets. We work hard on our budget every year and we do question our bookkeepers and often have them make changes.  Yes, it is the resident’s money and we do pay close attention.

The board members and I are residents who pay their water district charges. Residents share ownership in whichever water district they are in. If we budget an amount for the year and we have money remaining at the end of that year, it goes into fund balance (savings) for that district. If there is a year that we have a number of water breaks or unexpected costs, we may need to use some of that fund balance (savings) in order to keep taxes from going up. Much the same as our own personal bank accounts; we put money in savings and use it when needed. Money does not get transferred between districts; what residents pay for their water district stays in their water district.

As years go by and water systems age, they require more maintenance. We can all relate to more repairs on our homes as they get older. It is to be expected. We are consistently looking at the costs related to maintaining our water districts and make changes when needed. I expect Mr. Sidonio does not want to pay operating and maintenance on his water district since he tapped into the Village of Holley water system years ago. Maybe he feels that the burden of operations and maintenance should be on the other residents in his water district. This board and past boards, many years ago, decided that because a resident is a part owner of their water district, they should pay operations and maintenance, even if they do not hook up presently, it still has to be maintained for them.

Over the 30 years that our water system has been in place, we have had many different Supervisors, Board members, accounting firms and auditors. If there was something being done improperly, it would have been found and addressed. The accounting firm that Mr. Sidonio himself suggested we should hire, had in fact, been doing an annual audit of our water districts for years. Does anyone really believe that anything would be overlooked year after year?

As far as comments about the Town not listening to the residents and not hearing their voices, I have always had an open door and have welcomed and listened to any resident who has an issue. I do my best to address their concerns and help them out.

I am careful with the money I spend in my departments. The Town has only 3 full-time employees to maintain our 16 water districts, while also performing their highway duties. I am proud of my employees, who do a great job and work hard at keeping our town maintained. I am proud of my years working for the Town of Murray residents and the accomplishments made during that time and I resent the false accusations that continue to be thrown at myself and the Town Board.

Mr. Sidonio has spent the last few years attacking the current and past Town Board members in an attempt to convince you, the voter, that Murray is in financial crisis and he will save it. This is far from the truth.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

Respectfully,

Edward Morgan

Highway & Water Superintendent

Editor:

Republican Chris Collins’ latest anti-McMurray ad shows rioting in the streets if Collins loses.

Collins, running while under Federal felony indictment, has become the Law-and-Order candidate.  Voters beware.

Gerard M. Morrisey

Gaines

Editor:

I submit this letter as the endorsed Republican candidate for the Town Councilperson seat in the General Election this Tuesday in the Town of Gaines.

Not only was I born and raised in this community, but I have lived specifically in the Town of Gaines for over 30 years.

As a career law enforcement officer I have spent the last 24 years serving the citizens of Orleans County. My career began as a Road Patrol Deputy with the Sheriff’s Department where I rose through the ranks to become a Criminal Investigator. I currently serve as an Investigator with the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office focusing on drug and other major felony investigations.

My wife Marilyn and I have raised three children in the Town of Gaines, two of which have chosen to also become Police Officers serving our community, while our youngest is currently a full-time college student. Marilyn and I also have owned and operated local businesses and real estate.

I have experience in preparing budgets, applying for and managing grants, and the procurement process. As a taxpayer myself, I understand how important it is to be responsible with taxpayer money and to research purchases to ensure that money is not being wasted. I believe in fiscal responsibility and accountability. As a town resident I do not want to pay any more in taxes than any other resident does and, If elected, I will do everything within my power to combat raising taxes.

My experience as a Deputy Sheriff, Supervisor, Investigator, Police Instructor, SWAT Team Leader, and multiple other duties and responsibilities have taught me many things. In my job I am called upon to handle many difficult situations. I have learned how to listen, work as a team, respect others and their point of view even when it differs from my own.

I pride myself in my ability to assist others with solving their problems, even when faced with extreme crisis. I have been trained to remain calm, think with a level head, to be a leader and make tough decisions. As your next councilperson I will call upon this experience to serve and protect the best interests of our township.

I believe in serving the residents of the Town of Gaines with fairness and impartiality. I have no hidden agendas and I want to promote transparency. I believe in not wasting taxpayers’ money. With my experience I believe it will be my responsibility to you to investigate issues with which our Township is confronted and to make informed educated decisions that are in the best interest of all town residents.

I believe in simply doing the right thing for the right reasons. I believe all residents should have a voice and have the right to express that voice freely and openly without being disrespected.

Should I be fortunate enough to be your choice for town councilperson It would be my goal to be available to speak with any residents and listen to your concerns and make myself available to help you resolve any issues you may have.

My lifetime commitment to this County enables me to have an extensive understanding of our community, your needs and your concerns. As a career public servant this is simply another opportunity for me to do what is meaningful to me, helping others.

Thank you,

Corey Black

Gaines

Editor:

I write in response to Mr. Cropsey’s letter of Oct. 30 point by point.

Point 1.) You state that Republicans don’t want to hear from anyone that does not tow the line. I’ve read no reports of Trump supporters shouting during a moment of silence for the Pittsburgh victims. I’ve heard nothing about Republicans chasing Democrats from restaurants, gas stations, malls, or committing outrageous acts outside of Democrats’ homes, Nor have seen any Republican call for the above actions like liberal Democrats have done.

Point 2.) you assert that a president lying should be grounds for disqualification. I respectfully give you Obama and Clinton.

Point 3.) Republicans have and continue to support legal immigration. Mr. Cropsey, do you support allowing many thousands of people from parts unknown with no background checks as the current 3 “caravans” are attempting to do? The latest totals surpass 10,000. And looking at news reports on all channels I see many more adult males than mothers and children. Why did they deny the asylum offered by Mexico?

Point 4.) “The middle class here and everywhere is dwindling due to the depression in real wages and increased property taxes.” Look at the true facts. Wages are up, the economy is expanding, and the increasing property taxes are the result of Albany’s unfunded mandates. Granted, including Pataki.

Point 5.) You assert that the current Administration does not support law enforcement and that law enforcement is currently under attack. Only the last half of that statement is true. Law enforcement is, unfortunately, under violent attacks. I find your conclusion that it has been a result of the current administration’s demonstrated support of all first responders ludicrous. I submit to you that Obama, Holder, Lynch, and the liberals coveting minority votes escalated this trend. I would add that insofar as respect of laws witness Hillary’s documented criminal acts (home server, destroying evidence after that evidence was subpoenaed by congress) Bill’s meeting with Lynch further show which side believes in the rule of law.

Point 6.) Hostages returned, military remains returned, ISIS and other terrorist groups essentially unheard from in the last year. New trade relations with our partners. (And yes China will soon come to the table.) Do you not consider these huge strides in foreign relations?

Point 7.) We agree. I have and will always protect my wife and family. Your new party’s aim is to hinder our ability to do so by eliminating Amendments 2 and 9. What Trump said on the aircraft so many years ago is unacceptable. I’ve said and done unacceptable things “back in the day.” Have you? It does not define us as the men we are today.

With respect, I ask you to consider these realities between now and Tuesday.

Bob Harker

Clarendon

Editor:

No Town of Barre board members or Heritage Wind LLC (Apex Clean Energy) members attended a meeting on Oct. 30 at the Hoag Library. Brad Jones discussed conflicts of interest and environmental impacts from wind energy and Article 10 laws.

So it looks like all of the residents in the Town of Barre have to fight off Apex Clean Energy and Heritage Wind LLC on their own as the Town of Barre board members count all the money from the lease agreements that they have signed  and don’t forget they can not say anything because they all have a no-speak policy in their lease agreements with Heritage Wind LLC.

Please note all Town of Barre board members and the lawyer for the Town of Barre were invited to this meeting. Heritage Wind LLC and Apex Clean Energy also was invited, but none were present for the meeting.

William Nacca

Barre

Editor:

I urge your readers to consider the implications of their votes in the November 6th election for our 27th Congressional district representative.

Under a veil of carefully orchestrated suspicion, the once highly regarded (I still regard them with admiration) Federal Bureau of Investigation this year arrested at least two incumbent members of the United States House of Representatives.

Just as shoplifters, they are innocent until proven guilty.  But each—apart from the process of their arrests—has been separately indicted by a federal grand jury.  As I understand it, these Congressmen are out on bail awaiting trial.

Though my travel has been limited in the past year, I have seen only one sign for our incumbent member of Congress in three counties. We all know, however, that the absence of a sign in your yard is not necessarily an indication of how one votes.

On election day, each of us must answer only to ourselves.

Sincerely yours,

Gary F. Kent

Albion

Editor:

The Apex “forum” on the proposed Lighthouse Wind Project held on October 2nd at Lyndonville High School met all the criteria of a staged propaganda event.

This was no forum. It was slick, tightly controlled, and well organized in an effort to indoctrinate the public and suppress comment and reaction. It marked the culmination of a month-long barrage of mailings by Apex intended to convince a community overwhelming opposed to the project, of the benefits of an Industrial Wind Turbine Complex. The crowd estimated at 125 was orderly and respectful. The outside demonstrators against Lighthouse Wind far outnumbered those who supported the project.

The project, as proposed, is illegal per town laws in Somerset and Yates. These laws were carefully crafted to protect the health and welfare of the citizens and the surrounding environment. Lighthouse Wind therefore cannot be approved for construction in its current proposed form without the Article 10 Siting Board taking action to nullify Town law.

Forty-seven 591-foot-tall wind turbines will dominate the landscape of Somerset and Yates. They will be visible for miles in the flat topography of the area. Residents will be forced to view these grotesque structures every day for 30 or more years no matter which way they turn.

It was apparent from the “forum” that Apex is in denial and completely tone deaf over the  numerous negative aspects surrounding Lighthouse Wind brought to their attention over the past 5 years by an educated public.

Noise, shadow flicker, bird/bat kill, infrasound, degradation of property values and health issues were glossed over or totally ignored. A lesson was given in “acoustics 101” and we were told how silent the proposed wind turbines will be. The countless complaints of excessive noise from those who live among the turbines in other active Industrial Wind Turbine complexes were ignored. It is noteworthy that the turbine model selected, the Vestas V150 4.2, produces a sound power level of 104.9dB(A) per manufacturers specifications. This sound level is equivalent to the noise generated by a chain saw and is damaging to the human ear.

Apex vice president of Environmental Compliance and permitting spoke and continued to ignore the existence of a letter directly to him in May of 2015 from the US Fish and Wildlife. This letter was a recap of a meeting he attended, warning of the severe effects Lighthouse Wind will have on bird and bat migration.

Also recommended was a 3-mile setback of the industrial turbines from the Lake Ontario shore. Our Town laws contain these recommendations. Apex is ignoring them. With respect to bird kill, using the figures quoted of a national average 3 to 5 fatalities per megawatt per year, it can be expected that between 16,000 and 30,000 bird kills will occur over the 30-year life span of the turbines. Do the math! These estimates are low as the Lake Ontario shoreline is anything but average as US Fish and Wildlife has noted.

A tax payment of $1.5 million per year was offered as an economic benefit to the community, not mentioning that it would be divided among 6 taxing jurisdictions. Why is Apex deciding what their tax levy should be? This figure is based on a PILOT that will not be granted and is evidence that Apex is trying to get by “on the cheap” rather than paying full assessed value of their property.

It is past time that Apex cease all activity related to Lighthouse Wind. The power is not needed, the power is not clean, the project as proposed is illegal as it violates local law and the towns of Somerset and Yates are geographically the wrong location. Residents realizing all the negatives associated with Industrial Wind Turbines have overwhelmingly voted to keep them out of our community numerous times. We do not want to leave an unhealthy, polluted, distorted. noisy, bird carcass-littered  landscape to future generations. There are better ways to save the planet.

James C. Hoffman

Somerset

Editor:

Comptroller audits of municipalities clearly suggest the Supervisor bears ultimate responsibility for Town finances. The audits suggest relying on bookkeepers and department heads without oversight is not sound financial practice.

Successful businesses regularly question accountants and department heads. When it’s your money you pay close attention. Pay close attention people, it’s your money.

The Murray Water Department continues to lose money and our officials offer no solution. Town documents show losses of $78,838 for the period 2015-2017. However, a closer look at the finances show the water department actually lost $258,707 for that period. The numbers are taken directly from Town documents and not 3^rd-hand information.

By using your unamortized bond payments to offset operational losses, the water department shows misleading figures. Residents paid an extra $179,869 in water tax to reduce losses to $78,838. Depending on which water district you live in determines how much you are unfairly paying into that black hole. It varies greatly from district to district.

The tentative 2019 Murray Water District Budget is also in the red and the final numbers not yet available.

The fact remains: The Murray water department is losing a lot of money. As water district bonds mature there will be no source of cash to rob Peter to pay Paul. Then what? Build an Orleans County Water Authority??

It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. Acknowledge the facts. Numbers don’t lie. Stop using the Murray water department as the town piggy bank. Don’t rely on bookkeepers and department heads to manage your money. Budget fat is born in bad policy. Better oversight is needed. Drive the Town to a more sustainable future while reaching for something better.

Murray Government should be creating economic confidence in its community, not more government. Encourage private sector investment to create the jobs that pay real living wages.

When we enforce Murray’s strict property maintenance laws we address a symptom, not the illness. Most people struggle to make ends meet. Many can’t afford to paint their homes, buy a lawnmower, fix their cars or roof their houses. Stop ignoring the real underlying issues in our community and let’s work to fix them.

This Town election is not about signs at the side of the road or at the school. This election is about real-life issues. Free speech and better town government. Creating confidence in our government and confidence in our town economy.

Abolish the entrenched status quo mindset. Move forward where everyone has a voice that is heard with respect. Where every opinion matters. Where ideas are welcomed and not put down. Build a community that embraces accountability, vision and clarity.

Joe Sidonio

Murray

Editor:

On election day the powers that run our state will let me change my life-long registration as a Republican and register as a Democrat. It’s not that hard to explain.

There are times to stand up and be counted. This is one of them. First, when I first registered the Republican Party was fiscally conservative but centrist. Now it’s so far right it does not want to hear from anyone who does not tow the line.

Second, since Washington and how he did not, would not, lie about how the apple came off the tree, if a President lied it was considered a disqualification. Now just fact check to see that respect for the truth is not only treated as a joke but also changes daily. (28 Republican Congressmen are now running ads saying they were against excluding pre-existing conditions from insurance coverage when in fact they voted for it.)

Third, Republicans used to watch out for the middle class and promote fair treatment, immigration and citizenship for all – Italians, Germans, Irish and blacks alike. Now code words are being used and facts and figures manipulated to scare us into thinking there is some great problem at hand.

Fourth, the truth is that in practice there has been scant, if any, Republican-sponsored legislation that has helped my clients for over quarter century! The middle class here and everywhere is dwindling due to the depression in real wages and increased property taxes. Our County is forced to collect more property tax to pay for services the government used to help poor counties like ours pay.

Fifth, the Republican Party I knew used to respect the law, its processes and the men and women whose job it is to protect us. Do I have to say anything to convince you that proper law enforcement is now under attack. Think about it, if we do not respect for the law and each other how long can we last as a democracy? The answer is, we can’t!

Sixth, The United States put together, and still leads, a coalition of very prosperous and friendly nations which has kept the peace for almost two generations. This coalition is being torn apart.  Our enemy, Putin, just told the world that Trump listens to him and the US is a second class power. (Of course Putin says that as he wants people to believe it be true in order that he and his rather poor country can horn in.)

Seventh, I love and respect my wife and can not in good faith condone anything that disparages her or any other woman. It’s just not funny. And to laugh at or let any situation slide by that is thoroughly investigated is a dangerous precedent.

So, I have told you why I am changing parties. But there are ways that his followers are hurting themselves by blindly following him.

A. He is not preaching the principles that have made us strong for over 200 years and will go down in history very badly – perhaps worse then Andrew Jackson.

B. History also indicts anyone who has ever proposed we vote based on prejudice or fear and his/her followers.

C. History indicts anyone who is indicted, convicted, or associated with criminals.

D. The followers get labeled as liars, naive fools, and un-American subversives.

Trump is straying for the Declaration of Independence and Constitution and those not savvy enough to know that he is crossing the line are not in for an easy ride.

So, I will not be part of how Trump is hurting our country and I hope you decide to stay on the right side of history too.

Respectfully,

Conrad F. Cropsey

Albion

Return to top

Editor:

I am a concerned resident of Barre, New York.  Please inform all the residents of Barre, New York that if the wind turbines come to our town and the Town of Barre Wind Laws does not have a ban for the following items, right of domain will occur!

Landowners will lose the right to use their land as they wish. A resident will have to go to the zoning board for variances and ask the wind company to allow their request. Wind companies have requested ROW Permits in other communities; when a statement has not existed prohibiting the granting of these ROW permits within the town wind laws.

The Right of Way Permit, if the town does not ban, will allow the wind company to come on your land even if you do not want them to install lines, cables or whatever, cross your land for construction purpose, operational and maintenance of the turbines and all equipment in spite of the fact you do not have a lease with them. You lose your rights of your land. The wind company may or may not give you a one-time payment.

This type of permit could have a negative sale market, if you should want to sell.

The Town of Barre must state in the Wind Code that the Town of Barre bans ROW permits.

De facto is portion of land around the turbine that is not allowed to be built on and in some cases may not be allowed to be used. This radius of land is derived from the manufactures’ safety code. The usual safety zone is 3 times the turbine height from base to tip of propeller.

If you have a 500-foot turbine the de facto radius would be 1,500 feet. Now if a turbine is placed and part of that radius falls on your property and you do not have a lease with the wind company, you would still lose the right to that land, even though you own it and pay taxes.

This could result in a  negative sale impact of the property.

The Town of Barre must state in the Wind Code that Barre bans defacto permits. Without this permit ban, the wind company can request a permit to kill more or less at will, without any restriction of type of species and pay no fines.

We need to protect endangered species of bats and birds and the habitat of Barre, New York, which is a migratory flyway. It is the duty of our town officials to protect this fly zone and keep our American heritage.

I urge the readers to send their comments to the Barre Town Hall to be read at the Town Board meeting.

Alexander Nacca

Barre