Cape supervisor is degrading government ~ Letter

Cape supervisor is degrading government
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2009

A recent newspaper article brought the best of our town supervisor Tom Rienbeck. He reportedly is angered by an ad placed in the Watertown Daily Times by the Wind Power Ethics Group. The ad lists the members of the town board and Planning Board who have conflicts of interest relating to wind power in the town of Cape Vincent.

Mr. Rienbeck is not angry because the information is inaccurate and untruthful. This information was quietly disclosed back in July of 2008. Apparently the disclosures were supposed to "remain under the radar" never to be discussed again. Mr. Rienbeck said the ad was "pretty upsetting" and that "it felt like a slap in the face ... it's an attempt to degrade the town government."

How does the publication of factual information slap someone in the face and degrade the town government? Is it because Mr. Rienbeck wanted the board to vote on the new wind power zoning law while most people were completely unaware of the deep conflicts of interest of three of the board members? Very, very, clever. Now who's degrading town government?

Mr. Rienbeck also said, "I heard comments by opponents of wind power and they were somewhat happy with what we put together. As much as they've said they're in favor of wind power, this makes it look more like they're not in favor." Say what?

First of all, what is somewhat happy? Is it 25 percent happy, or 50 percent happy? In the first sentence, Mr. Rienbeck mentions opponents of wind power and in the second sentence Mr. Rienbeck referred to these same people as being in favor of wind power. Isn't that referred to as double-talk?

He concludes that since WPEG ran the ad in the newspaper, WPEG members are not in favor of wind power. That conclusion couldn't be further from the truth. I know several WPEG members who are in favor of wind turbines so long as they are properly sighted. Apparently Mr. Rienbeck thinks WPEG should overlook the illegal and unethical conflicts of interest of these particular board members so that we can have a wind power zoning law on the books. Hmmm. What an interesting concept of town government.

Finally, Rienbeck says he is considering halting the process of writing a new zoning law because of what WPEG did. He's going to punish the whole community because WPEG informed the whole community about the widespread conflicts of interest of town officials. Now who's degrading town government?

Tom Gormel

Cape Vincent