SCHOHARIE - A divided Schoharie County Board of Supervisors voted Friday afternoon to oppose efforts by natural gas companies to utilize eminent domain as a means to secure easements through the properties of county residents for a series of unpopular pipelines.
Introduced by Schoharie Supervisor Gene Milone, who had advocated against the expansion of natural gas pipelines since coming on the board in 2012, the measure was hotly debated by legislators, but ultimately approved by a healthy 10-4 margin.
It was opposed by the following supervisors: Sandra Manko of Sharon Springs, Leo McAllister of Cobleskill, Phil Skowfoe of Fulton, and Harold Vroman of Summit. Neither supervisors Amber Bleau (Wright) nor William Smith (Broome) were present at the vote.
The resolution, citing efforts by both Constitution Pipeline and Tennessee Gas Pipeline to expand their presence in Schoharie County, will be sent by the county board to Assemblyman Pete Lopez, State Senator James Seward, Congressman Chris Gibson, and FERC.
Sending an email to supporters on Saturday morning heralding the news, the Richmondville based Center for Sustainable Rural Communities applauded "those who stewarded this resolution forward and the members of the County Board who supported it."
Correction: this piece originally accredited Blenheim Supervisor Shawn Smith with introducing the resolution, when it fact it was Gene Milone. It has been corrected.
Correction: this piece originally accredited Blenheim Supervisor Shawn Smith with introducing the resolution, when it fact it was Gene Milone. It has been corrected.
3 comments:
Who would want a pipeline coming through their property. To use eminent domain for a private company to sell their product outside of this area is absurd. Any Supervisor who voted to allow this abuse of the law should be voted out! And why are these 2 Supervisors absent from such a crucial vote?
This is the way to sustainable, rural counties. You should all have prayed to God for this solution for all that happens will fall upon your heads. Once again, decisions made in the best interest of the county residents, NOT!
What a useless formality...
Now after years of being harassed by Constitution Pipeline the Board of Supervisors passes this meaningless resolution. Yet we still had four supervisors who opposed this. No surprise one was Harold Vroman, the man is a joke. I am still waiting to hear from Pete Lopez...
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