Dec 24 - Brian Amaral Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.
Ethics charges continue to fly, a sign that the Nov. 8 election did not close the rift between the two sides of the wind-power debate.
The group Citizens for Fair Government, some of whose members want to see wind power developed in town, are accusing their opponents of illegal and unethical tactics to help throw the Nov. 8 election to opponents of wind-power projects -- after being accused themselves of similar unethical and illegal maneuvers. They have mailed complaints to about half a dozen local officials and the state attorney general, who forwarded the complaint to the state Board of Elections.
Link here to continue reading watertown times article
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wind turbine placement should take migrating birds into consideration, ornithologist says
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By David Figura/The Post-Standard
November 08, 2009
Bill Evans wants to make it clear he’s not against wind turbines.
“I’m not anti-wind. I’m a consultant who people call from both sides when there’s a concern about the impact on migrating birds,” he said.
Evans, 50, is an Ithaca-based ornithologist who has studied bird migration in North America for more than 25 years. He helped start the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology’s research into avian night flight calls in the mid-1990s and in 1998 founded the non-profit group Old Bird Inc. The group promotes education and awareness of the nocturnal migration of birds and the use of technology to prevent bird collisions with tall, man-made structures.
Link here to continue reading
Check out the Old Bird Web site at www.oldbird.org
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
STATE AG REQUESTS TOWNS ETHICS CODE
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011
Watertown Times staff writer
There are a couple of issues in the Watertown Time’s article, concerning Cape Vincent and ethics, which need clarification.
Excerpts: From WDT story
In Cape Vincent, those who don’t want wind-power development in town have accused certain Town Council members of being conflicted pawns of the alternative energy industry with whom they hold leases.
Those who support wind power, on the other hand, complained when the anti-wind-power town supervisor, Urban C. Hirschey, leaked confidential documents to an anti-wind-power group.While both matters were referred to the attorney general’s office — during the tenure of Andrew M. Cuomo, who is now governor — neither seemed to have a state-mandated resolution in the offing.
That’s because such matters are resolved more easily at the local level — as long as the town has a well-defined and enforceable ethics code.
Clarification:
No, there does not seem to be a state mandated resolution in the offing.
However, the complaints about conflicted officials had enough merit for the AG to launch an investigation into the matter, August 13, 2010.
Additionally, there has been no formal announcement of a conclusion to their investigation.
I have posted a letter from the AG at the end of this post, announcing this investigation and requesting documents and records for their investigation.
On the other hand, the Accusations, made by Acciona and their lease holders, (including Board members, Mason & Mason, January 13, 2011 ~ (after Cuomo was elected Governor) , against Supervisor Urban Hirschey ,were put to rest by the AG’s office, under the reign of Eric Schneiderman .
Below is a letter from Town Attorney Mark Gebo to Supervisor Urban Hirschey concerning this matter .
Link here to read the FOIL request for the Documents in question
Link here to
Watertown Times article ~ State won't pursue official
Below is the letter RE: AG investigation into Supervisor Hirschey's Misconduct
Below is the letter from Attorney Generals office announcing their investigation
Watertown Times staff writer
CAPE VINCENT - Towns in New York could be in for an ethical revamping.
About time, those on both sides of Cape Vincent's wind fight say.
Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman is requesting the state's 932 towns to send his office their codes of ethics, a major point of contention in towns like Cape Vincent, where wind-power development is debated. The attorney general's office, which has received numerous complaints over the years about supposed ethically questionable conduct among members of both sides of Cape Vincent's wind-power debate, is pressing towns to become more self reliant on ethical questions that are under, or should be under, the purview of local board of ethics and strong ethics codes. Continue reading via this link to the Watertown Times
There are a couple of issues in the Watertown Time’s article, concerning Cape Vincent and ethics, which need clarification.
Excerpts: From WDT story
In Cape Vincent, those who don’t want wind-power development in town have accused certain Town Council members of being conflicted pawns of the alternative energy industry with whom they hold leases.
Those who support wind power, on the other hand, complained when the anti-wind-power town supervisor, Urban C. Hirschey, leaked confidential documents to an anti-wind-power group.While both matters were referred to the attorney general’s office — during the tenure of Andrew M. Cuomo, who is now governor — neither seemed to have a state-mandated resolution in the offing.
That’s because such matters are resolved more easily at the local level — as long as the town has a well-defined and enforceable ethics code.
Clarification:
No, there does not seem to be a state mandated resolution in the offing.
However, the complaints about conflicted officials had enough merit for the AG to launch an investigation into the matter, August 13, 2010.
Additionally, there has been no formal announcement of a conclusion to their investigation.
I have posted a letter from the AG at the end of this post, announcing this investigation and requesting documents and records for their investigation.
On the other hand, the Accusations, made by Acciona and their lease holders, (including Board members, Mason & Mason, January 13, 2011 ~ (after Cuomo was elected Governor) , against Supervisor Urban Hirschey ,were put to rest by the AG’s office, under the reign of Eric Schneiderman .
Below is a letter from Town Attorney Mark Gebo to Supervisor Urban Hirschey concerning this matter .
Link here to read the FOIL request for the Documents in question
Link here to
Watertown Times article ~ State won't pursue official
Below is the letter RE: AG investigation into Supervisor Hirschey's Misconduct
Below is the letter from Attorney Generals office announcing their investigation
Frank Liparula ~ Personal Turbine Application/ permit
Tax map ID &Property tax data for land that Mr. Lipurula received a personal turbine permit for
Mr. Liparula's personal turbine permit application below
Mr. Liparula's personal turbine permit application below
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Robert Shimp ~ Personal Turbine Application/ permit
Property ID and Tax data for property that Robert Shimp's personal turbine permit was granted for
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Mr. Shimp's Turbine permit application below
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Mr. Shimp's Turbine permit application below
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Hammond Officials Prepare For Lawsuit
Link here to continue reading--The Journal Hammond Officials Prepare For Lawsuit
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2011
HAMMOND - Town officials have ordered attorney Joseph Russell to defend against a lawsuit filed by residents opposing the town's Wind Energy Facilities Law.
The Article 78 action was filed by group of Hammond residents including Michele and Daniel McQueer, Steven Demick, William Hadlock and Crayton Buck.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2011
HAMMOND - Town officials have ordered attorney Joseph Russell to defend against a lawsuit filed by residents opposing the town's Wind Energy Facilities Law.
The Article 78 action was filed by group of Hammond residents including Michele and Daniel McQueer, Steven Demick, William Hadlock and Crayton Buck.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Watertown Daily Times | NY23 update: Finance and wind
Link here to continue reading--Watertown Daily Times NY23 update: Finance and wind
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2011
Times staff writers Marc Heller in Washington, D.C. and Nancy Madsen here in Watertown had some interesting pieces this morning relating to the race between Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, and Republican Matt Doheny.
The race for the 23rd, which will take place in November 2012, will be a closely watched contest. Here's what we're watching right now:
Finance
Mr. Owens's campaign had to file some apologetic paperwork after it realized that its campaign finance disclosures in 2009 were in error, Marc reported.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2011
Times staff writers Marc Heller in Washington, D.C. and Nancy Madsen here in Watertown had some interesting pieces this morning relating to the race between Rep. Bill Owens, D-Plattsburgh, and Republican Matt Doheny.
The race for the 23rd, which will take place in November 2012, will be a closely watched contest. Here's what we're watching right now:
Finance
Mr. Owens's campaign had to file some apologetic paperwork after it realized that its campaign finance disclosures in 2009 were in error, Marc reported.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Edsall Personal Turbine application / Permit
Tax map ID &Property tax data for land that Edsall received a personal turbine permit for
Edsall's personal turbine Application below
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