Public Hearing on Cohocton Windmill Local Law #2 – October 24, 2006
The Cohocton Town Board has ignored all evidence and proof that this proposed Windmill Local Law #2 does not protect the public safety, property rights of residents and environmental preservation. It is clear that this ordinance violates the Comprehensive Plan. The industrial turbine manufacture’s stated specifications for setbacks are greater than written into this law. Approving a law that that does not meet such standards, guarantees lawsuits. This Board is about to take a fork in the road that will assure perpetual litigation, create unlimited liability claims and cause financial ruin for all of Cohocton.
What needs to be emphasized is that Windmill Local Law #2 is truly a moral issue. The affects of adopting this law will condemn residents to a life of continual horror. This law has no limit on the number of industrial turbines as high as 500 feet, located anywhere in the town. You are aware that Empire State Wind Energy has announced intentions to construct their own project, in addition to the two UPC projects. Now a third developer has made inquiries and has expressed interest in Cohocton since there is no restriction on the number of ventures that can be built.
Approval of this law will open Pandora’s Box with all the terror that comes with a culture of greed and sleaze. The manner upon which UPC came to town and the sordid inducements used to seduce, intimidate and even bribe people is depraved. The entire Town Board has refused to intercede and stop this nightmare of civic corruption. The real victims of this illicit scheme of theft are the residents and property owners who are being sentenced to an industrial asylum of eternal torture.
Mr. Wise and Mr. LeVesque have voted unanimous approval on each stage of the UPC projects. Windmill Local Law #2 was written to accommodate and facilitate this sole foreign developer. It benefits UPC far more than Windmill Local Law #1, while maximizing even greater harm to local residents. We know that Supervisor Zigenfus and Councilman Hunt have sold their honor to their UPC benefactor. We challenge Councilmen Wise and LeVesque to refute Jack and Wayne’s world.
It is our hope that both of you are men of conscience and moral fiber. It is within your power and capacity to reject Windmill Local Law #2. Do you have the moral courage to vote down this malicious law and save the town? Our children and grandchildren will judge and condemn any town official that sells out our future. At the very least make a motion and have a vote, for the record, on a six month Moratorium so that a serious and sincere hard redrafting of a windmill law can be undertaken.
The responsibility rests upon your shoulders. Both of you need to become community leaders. Resist the pressure to rubber stamp this destructive legislation, step forward and earn the respect and gratitude of all the residents who know in their heart that Cohocton will be altered beyond all recognition. It is NOT TOO LATE to sit down and design a development project that can benefit all of Cohocton and preserve the environment at the same time.
Mr. Hunt has proven that he is not a man of his word, has no semblance of objectivity and makes irrational decisions. Mr. Zigenfus has demonstrated he is dishonest, a liar and a little man that aspires to be a ‘tin horn’ dictator. As we speak several investigations are being conducted that could well lead to criminal charges. No wonder that many citizens within our community have concluded that both Hunt and Zigenfus have been bribed. Time will tell if such allegations will be proven in a court of law. Even the appearance that Cohocton is a “den of thieves” and a home of crooks and corrupt politicians is most unfortunate.
The conflict of interest position that Mr. Dyckman has with UPC leases must be most uncomfortable for him. Folks can empathize that he might well wish he never ran for Councilman. That leaves the critical and decisive votes and the fate of our town in the hands of Jeffrey Wise and Milton LeVesque. Search your conscience and save your own soul and that of our town. A mere six month Moratorium so that we all can come together in “good faith” and rework a sensible windmill law and update our Comprehensive Plan is not too much to rescue Cohocton from financial bankruptcy and an environmental waste land. Windmill Local Law #2 must NOT become law if Cohocton is to have a future worth living.
James Hall
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