Sunday, August 05, 2007

Just Who Do You Trust? by James Hall

Once again the falsehoods and frauds are revealed at the Cohocton Town Board "Special Meeting" 7/31/07. Zigenfus states he has been negotiating a host payment with UPC. You will hear that large sums will be coming to Cohocton soon. What a wonderful virtual paradise, "a land of milk and honey" we will all get, provided by the "Town Fathers". That's strange; those most concerned and affected don't see it that way! All residents are supposed to receive, from the Town Board, a detailed summary about the UPC project very soon in the mail.

Before you go out and spend this great windfall, examine the facts behind the scam. Demand that any actual contracts be made public and the Town Board provide evidence of the comprehensive financial consequences. Pie in the sky claims from LLC corporate structures will not guarantee monies promised. But you are supposed to trust what Jack says because he says so and trust him to spend all this pledged money properly!

Anyone who has attended Town and Planning Board meetings knows full well that deception, deceit and disinformation are the only sure outcomes you can depend on. When Albany attorney Todd Mathes says it is appropriate for the Planning Board to issue special use permits for the entire project before the PILOT agreement is known, illustrates the insane lengths the current administration will go to advance UPC interests.

Other towns and many residents armed with documented facts stand ready to file immediate court actions against the Town and Planning Boards, UPC and their shell companies, developer paid consultants and law firms, UPC leaseholders. Zigenfus says that the Town is protected by insurance from liability, then goes on to note the exception of negligence and malfeasance. Well what do you think town officials have been doing for the last several years? The legal risks to every property owner, far exceeds the unfunded promises to pay host agreements.

WHO SHOULD YOU TRUST and WHO HAS A RECORD OF FACTUAL CONDUCT? This UPC project STILL needs mandatory State and Federal approval for necessary permits before any legally authorized construction can begin. CWW has been a voice of common sense and prudent caution that demands the Town Boards comply with all lawful regulations. Whatever host agreements become reality do you really think it is directly because of the great negotiating skills of Zigenfus, Hunt and LeVesque or settled completely on UPC terms? That question will be answered under oath at a deposition in some future legal actions.

Think long and hard. Reform Cohocton NOW or be condemned to continued closed door politics.

James Hall

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