Letter to the Editor: Wright Councilmen Conspire to Alter Comprehensive Plan

Dear Editor,

Three Men in a Room in Albany proved to be bad politics and bad policy.  Three Men government is just as bad in the Town of Wright.

Three men in the Town of Wright have decided that they know better than anyone else what the taxpayers and residents think and need.  Councilmen Ed Thornton, Tom Aulita and George Karlewicz feel they are best equipped to revise the town Comprehensive Plan and, unless the taxpayers and voters speak, the 3-councilmen-in-a-room majority will set a course that will take years to undo.  And it’s an unnecessary course because the Plan that was drafted in 2013 had already been through Town Board and community workshops, public hearings, and County Planning Board Review and approval.  What don’t they like?  Are they hoping to remake the town in their image?

Read their 2015 Comprehensive Plan Draft and see for yourself. 

Three councilmen are not a committee.  Three councilmen are the Town Board.  Three is a majority and when a majority of the Board works together to craft a plan, then the normal, routine components of “public input” are a sham, a joke.  Three councilmen who come to agreement are not going to be swayed or influenced by a last minute public hearing.  Three men working this closely have their minds made up.  A 3-man committee made entirely of councilmen is completely inappropriate.  It might even be ethically improper. 

Working without the benefit of a summary town survey (2007) or current survey information, they place their own voices over the town as a whole.  The summary town survey from 2007 is deleted and lacks prominence as a guide to their draft document. It is present only in an appendix, as an afterthought.  This is especially ironic because they previously stated that the ’07 survey did not reflect enough input.  They’re talking out of both sides of their mouths.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats facing the Town and voiced by residents over 20 years of planning (properly included in the 2013 document) are now somehow unimportant in their new draft and are deleted.  The original Comp plan, the revision currently in place and the 2013 draft shared the same goals for reasons residents hold dear.  The newest draft being proposed seeks to change all that.  Why is that appropriate? 

According to the new Plan, appointed boards serving the town (Planning Board, ZBA, for example) are not worthy of using the Comprehensive Plan. “The Comprehensive Plan is not intended to be…used by the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals or any other town board to enforce zoning.”  (Remember: Wright has no zoning whatsoever so there is no enforcement possible.)  But the bigger point is their specific intent to keep the Planning Board from considering the Comprehensive plan in their deliberations.  Planning Board deliberations of a proposed subdivision may not take into account the most fundamental and broad document plan of the town.  How can such a thought be justified?  I guess only 3 men know but it looks like a blatant power play to strip the Planning Board of any real role in our town.

There aren’t nearly enough column inches to detail the absurd changes Thornton, Aulita and Karlewicz want to force on the taxpayers of Wright.  A few, however, really need to be mentioned.

1. The Vision Statement has been removed.  Their proposed Comprehensive Plan specifically removes a statement of vision.  Unbelievable.  But true.  I guess the Town of Wright doesn’t really need any vision to the future.
2. Their Goals as drafted will no longer “ensure development is consistent with our rural community and environment.”  Those words are deleted.
3. They are willing to preserve the essentially agricultural character of the town but they will no longer promote active working farms. The words “promote active” are deleted.   This ignores the town’s adopted Ag plan.
4. Despite the number of residents unable to access high speed Internet, the 3 men remove references to improving telecommunications and broadband from their goals.  They are unwilling to pressure Time Warner to act in the best interests of our residents and they ignore the crucial role telecommunications play in the development of all potential small businesses in town.  How does this pretend to speak for our common good? 
5. They remove the words “improve road conditions.”  Why?  What are they thinking?  Our roads do not need improvement?
6. Despite encouraging the utilization of contemporary development strategies, they strike language suggesting that the town’s subdivision law be amended to allow conservation subdivision and cluster design.  They appear to contradict themselves.
7. The 3 men strike all language directing attention to the needs of senior citizens.  Our population is aging and we’re not exactly seeing a flood of young people moving in.  Don’t senior citizens merit a mention?
8. They delete this language from the plan: “Prevent incompatible industrial uses.“   Why?  Isn’t a major function of local government to prevent incompatible industrial use?  Why would anyone delete such specific language?
9. All language specifically prohibiting heavy industry is deleted.  If heavy industry is not prohibited, then it is permitted.  Removing the prohibition on heavy industry opens a door that cannot be shut.  This is an almost unimaginable change in direction for our town and is in direct opposition to strong public consensus against heavy industry development.  Why promote heavy industry by removing the very language that prohibits it?  Does the proposed draft promote industry over agriculture?  Read it and decide.  I think it does.
10. Almost all language referencing energy efficiency and green initiatives is deleted.  For many of us, that speaks volumes.

It takes a lot of time to read the 2013 Draft and the 2015 3 Men Draft and flesh out the differences but Councilmen Thornton, Aulita and Karlewicz are walking a slippery path. 

Contact them and Supervisor Bleau.  Tell them to cease and desist with their current plan draft.  Tell them to approve without delay the 2013 Plan they have had in their hands for two years.  There is no reason to waste more time.  The public has given them the plan it supports.  Their job is to approve it.

- Jean Burton

Gallupville Fire Department Lauded by Association of Fire Districts for Energy Savings

On Saturday, the Wright Fire District (Gallupville Fire Department) was recognized for their energy efficiency efforts over the past several years at The Association of Fire Districts annual Fall Workshop in Latham, NY. The National Grid presentation "Energy Efficiency for Fire Departments" used Wright as an example that even a small district can be a leader in energy efficiency and savings. It was noted that the efficiency efforts undertaken by the Wright Fire District has allowed them to contain costs, while improving their firefighting capabilities, apparatus and tools.

Their efforts began three years ago when they undertook a lighting project to upgrade the interior lights of the station. With the utility incentives available, they were able to bring their payback down to just 14 months. The results exceeded their expectations with greatly improved lighting that was better suited to a fire house, and savings that were so significant it nearly cut their bill in half.

A year later, the District upgraded their insulation. Despite the below normal temperatures of this past winter, they were able to reduce their gas usage over previous, warmer years. The District has currently contracted for the installation of a super-efficient minisplit heat pump to further reduce heating costs. A portion of the cost of this unit is being offset by National Grid’s commercial energy efficiency rebates. They are also receiving bids on upgrading their exterior lights to LED's. The LED lights will use roughly half the electric of the current lights, while reducing maintenance costs with their 50,000 hour life. Again, the District is leveraging National Grid incentives which will cover nearly 40% of the total project cost and yield a 35% return on the investment with just a 2 year payback.

National Grid highlighted these efforts by Wright as an example of steps that they and others have taken to reduce their annual energy budget lines. These reductions have allowed them to remain within the Property Tax Cap while still making critical investments to improve their firefighting capabilities. It was noted that every kilowatt purchased is just overhead that takes away from the more important investments in equipment or training.

Energy efficiency incentives and support are available for all National Grid commercial customers. For more information on how your business can save money, contact efficiency@nationalgrid.com and mention you saw it in the Schoharie News.

Man Surrenders to Police in Gallupville Standoff

Schoharie County faced another tense standoff with police late today as a man accused of breaking a window at the Route 30A Dunkin Donuts and assaulting a woman surrendered to police at his Gallupville home.

Channel 10 is reporting that the standoff ended peacefully after police surrounded the man's home and closed off part of Route 443. The situation ended around two hours ago:

The man surrendered around 10:20 p.m. and was taken to the State Police Cobleskill barracks. His name has not been released. Charges are pending.

Expect more updates as this story develops.

Wright CRT to Hold Organizational Meeting Thursday, January 30th

The Wright CRT (Coordinated Response Team) will hold their organizational meeting Thursday, January 30 at the Gallupville Firehouse at 7:30PM. The CRT consists of the Town of Wright Supervisor, Gallupville Fire Department Chiefs, Gallupville EMS Captain, Scho-Wright Ambulance, Town of Wright Emergency Shelter Coordinators, Wright Highway Supervisor and Wright Emergency Management. 

In addition to pre and post event meetings, the CRT meets annually to review policy, provide updates and provide a venue for new leaders that may have recently taken office to interact and understand the roles the team plays. The CRT began in 2007 as an offshoot of the Town’s Emergency Management Plan and has served as a model for several other towns and has even been recognized by the State Emergency Management Office staff as being one of the most effective. 

Bob Muller, Town Emergency Management Coordinator, credits the CRT for not only providing extremely professional and effective response to four emergency declarations since its inception, including a flood, an ice storm, the record breaking snow of February 2010 and of course Hurricane Irene, but also fostering a spirit of cooperation that has really helped all of the agencies work together when needed even outside of the disasters.  

For more information, contact Bob Muller, Emergency Management Coordinator, (518)588-6002.

Bleau Takes Seat on County Board, Wright Finally Represented

After going nine months without a voice on the county Board of Supervisors, since the unfortunate passing of former Town Supervisor Bill Goblet, residents of the Town of Wright received the gift of representation yesterday when Amber Bleau took her seat in the long vacant chair between outgoing supervisors Tom Murray and Dan Singletary.

 

Mrs. Bleau, who won November's general election by five votes over Democrat Karl Remmers and was officially named Supervisor by the Wright Town Board on December 9th, has served as acting head of the small community of 1,500 citizens since Goblet's death. However, without the correct credentials to also serve on the county board.

 

The reason for that is the fact Mrs. Bleau, who was deputy supervisor, would have to resign her position on the Town Board in order to be appointed as Supervisor. Not a big problem, except that another councilwoman adamantly refused to support Mrs. Bleau no matter what, leaving the Town Board with only three members and without a legal majority to conduct business of any kind if just one councilperson was opposed to a motion.

 

With all of that in the past, Mrs. Bleau took her seat yesterday morning and although she listened more than she spoke, she wasn't afraid to go against the majority in one of her first votes and helped to clarify a statement by Treasurer Bill Cherry in a follow up question, showing both freshmen restraint but also a streak of independence in her inaugural board meeting.

 

 

 

 

County Commission Nixes Wright Gas Project, Pending Study

 

The Schoharie County Planning Commission, which met this past Monday, voted unanimously to both call the Town of Wright Planning Board's referral (in regards to Iroquois' proposed Interconnect Project that would receive and distribute Natural Gas as a cornerstone of the Constitution Pipeline) "incomplete because of the incongruity of the environmental review," and to send the matter back to them with a suggestion that they resubmit after such review has been completed.

 

Iroquois' is seeking approval to expand the already existing Wright Compressor Station as part of the framework for the proposed Constitution Pipeline, but has yet to provide either the Town or County planning boards with a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission environmental impact statement that is required to move forward.

 

Peter Shulman, who serves as Chairman of both the Commission and the Town of Fulton Planning Board, said that he "believes the Schoharie County Planning Commission acted correctly" in their 10-0 decision on Monday evening.

 

There is considerable local opposition to both the proposed Constitution Pipeline and the Iroquois' Wright Interconnect Project, some of which was apparent at a public community meeting in the Town of Richmondville - also last Monday - where the Center for Sustainable Rural Communities presented information questioning the necessity of either project in Schoharie County.

 

However, because of the Wright Compressor Station's existence, any and all expansion of that project is reliant upon the aforementioned Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's "exclusive jurisdiction" over the process, something that concerns local activists. Worries that stem from the fact only half of county residents offered easements by Constitution Pipeline have accepted, an indication of serious and strong opposition to its construction.

Schoharie County Planning Commission to Review Wright Interconnect Project, Vital Part of Constitution Pipeline

The Schoharie County Planning Commission, which is headed by Peter Shulman of Fulton, will be reviewing a referral submitted by the Town of Wright Planning Board tonight at seven in regards to the Iroquois' Wright Interconnect Project, which would expand the existing Wright Compressor Station to enable the delivery of gas via the proposed Constitution Pipeline.

 

In documents submitted in early August to the Town of Wright Planning Board, Iroquois' detailed its sketch plan of constructing a "new compression facility with gas cooling as well as modifications to certain existing facilities," with plans to commence construction by mid-Summer 2014 to meet their proposed in-service date of March 31, 2015.

 

They also included in their plan that "This Project is being developed in conjunction with the proposed Constitution Pipeline to enable delivery of up to 650,000 Dth/d of natural gas from the terminus of the Constitution Pipeline in Schoharie County, NY into both Iroquois' and the Tennessee Gas Pipeline under a 15-year capacity lease agreement with Constitution."

 

However, local review of the sketch plan seems almost foolhardy considering the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has "exclusive jurisdiction" over Iroquois' existing pipelines and the Wright Interconnect Project, leaving both the County and Town planning boards with little to no room to represent their local constituents.

 

If approved, the Constitution Pipeline would transport a natural gas equivalent of 4.5 million gallons of oil from the Marcellus Shale deposits in Pennsylvania to the Wright Interconnect Project which would then direct the fuel across New York State byway of both the Iroquois' and Tennessee pipelines.

 

There have been worries expressed across Schoharie County, some of which will be addressed in a community meeting at Richmondville's Radez School that is also scheduled for seven this evening, over the Constitution Pipeline's proposed path through the Northern portion of the county and the potential environmental risks associated with such a project.

 

Although it is still unknown whether the Constitution Pipeline will receive final approval, the County Planning Commission will have the opportunity to express their opinion on the construction of an integral piece of the pipeline puzzle, albeit with the knowledge that their decision could be rendered null and void by the federal government at any moment.

 

Community Pipeline Meeting on Monday December 2, 2013 at 7PM inside of the Radez Elementary School Gym located on 319 Main Street, Richmondville, NY. The latest information on the proposed Constitution Pipeline from threats of eminent domain and legal efforts to landowner resistance and the pipeline company's safety record will be provided to the public. This advertisement is sponsored by the Center for Sustainable Rural Communities and the Stop the Pipeline Schoharie Action Committee

Gallupville Man Arrested for Removing Handicapped Foster Daughter's Teeth

Often times reporting the news brings both the good and the controversial. Unfortunately, this is just terrible. Stephen Walker of Gallupville was arrested after the family dentist discovered something unnerving. Walker's 8-year old foster daughter was complaining about mouth pain. When  the dentist checked the girl's mouth, three teeth were missing-- allegedly forced out of the mouth by Walker. The girl is mentally disabled.

Photo and story references credit Times Union

The dentist gave the information to Schoharie County Child Protective Services, which then handed the case over to the State Police. Walker was arrested and charged with two counts of felony assault and endangering the welfare of a child on two counts. He is held on $10,000 cash bail or $5,000 bond. He is due back in court on November 25th.

Opinion: Give Bleau a Chance

In the aftermath of Tuesday's final count of absentee and affidavit ballots in the Town of Wright's too close to call Supervisor race between Democrat Karl Remmers and Republican Amber Bleau, which Mrs. Bleau won by just five votes, the response by some individuals to the Republican's victory was disappointing to say the least.

Ranging from allegations of being a replica of former Supervisor William Goblet, who's passing earlier this year led Mrs. Bleau to assume leadership as Deputy Supervisor, to concerns over her participation in a tri-party advertisement that together formed the county's Conservative Party faction, residents ranging from readers of the Schoharie News to county officials have expressed skepticism and worries over her election to the county board.

These worries are nothing new. We have been hearing them for weeks now at the Schoharie News, but after interviewing Mrs. Bleau two days before the election and reviewing her record of service in the Town of Wright, we believe them to be exaggerated and would ask everyone to give the Supervisor-elect a chance to do her job before casting final judgment.

The election is nothing more then an educated guess as to who we think will do the better job in office, particularly between two non-incumbents as such was the case in this situation, with our guess either being proven to be accurate or inaccurate by their actions in said office.

Mrs. Bleau's focus is primarily on the growth of Wright by improving public services and expanding business in the town of fifteen hundred plus citizens, a job she is well prepared for because of tenure on the town board and her de facto leadership position since early 2013, while she also eases into her equally important role of representing her neighbors on a county-wide level in the currently fluid state of affairs of Schoharie politics.

With that said, could we please give the Supervisor-elect an opportunity to prove herself before casting the first stone and disregarding her leadership experience and qualities just because of her inclusion in an political advertisement that she was invited to join and did so in good faith? Obviously, the reasonable answer would be yes... Only time can vindicate or ostracize the voters of Wright for their decision on November 5th.

Smith, Skowfoe and Bleau Victorious in Supervisor Races; Conesville Still Without Highway Superintendent

The Schoharie County Board of Elections convened yesterday morning for almost four hours to count hundreds of leftover absentee, affidavit and military ballots in all sixteen towns from November fifth's off-year election. Voters in the Towns of Blenheim, Fulton and Wright finally learned who they elected as their respective Town Supervisor, while the final results in Conesville left residents still without an elected Highway Superintendent heading into the new year.

Blenheim
 

One of the three too close to call Town Supervisor races was decided just five minutes into this morning's count, with Democratic challenger Sean Smith winning seven of nine absentee ballots and Blenheim's top job over twenty-year incumbent Republican Robert Mann Jr. Mr. Smith received plenty of well wishes and support from members of the county board and other officials in attendance.
 

Conesville
 

The biggest surprise of the morning came from the Town of Conesville's Highway Superintendent election between Stephen Young and Larry Brandow, with Mr. Young heading into the day with what was thought a safe eleven vote lead with twenty-nine ballots yet to be opened. However, as luck would have it, Mr. Brandow carried the absentee and affidavit count overwhelmingly by a decisive 20-9 spread, which resulted in the two candidates ending the day with 154 votes apiece. 

Fulton

 

Entering the morning not knowing whether he would retain his position as Town Supervisor in Fulton, let alone the Chairmanship of the county board, incumbent Democrat Phil Skowfoe nervously paced back and forth across the Board of Supervisors chambers as he and his Republican challenger Francis Tatten awaited the results of their highly competitive race, of which the difference was only two votes in the incumbent's favor. With twenty-seven ballots to count Mr. Skowfoe needed only thirteen of them to claim victory, instead he received sixteen and a narrow seven vote victory to boot.

Wright
 

Roughly two dozen observers waited out the remaining eight towns to hear who would win Wright's contest between Democrat Karl Remmers and Republican Amber Bleau, where the Democrat held a three vote lead on election night with forty-five ballots left to count. As anticipation built amongst the audience, the machine decided not to work - delaying the final process for almost five excruciatingly long minutes - which was followed by the Deputy on patrol accidentally turning off the room's lights, adding to the anxiety of everyone in attendance. But after all was said and done, Ms. Bleau carried the absentee and affidavit ballots 26-18 over Mr. Remmers, winning the election by five votes and finally ending the Town of Wright's ten month long lack of representation on the county board.

 

Town of Wright Final Elections Results

The Town of Wright has not seen a Supervisor since the death of Bill Goblet. The infighting left Amber Bleau as de facto Supervisor, unable to represent the Town at the County level. On election night Mr. Remmers led by a scant three votes. However, with over two-dozen absentee ballots left to count, Ms. Bleau wound up with the lead.

Bleau (R-C)- 343: 50.4%
Remmers (D)- 338: 49.6%

It is unclear if there were any affidavit ballots counted in this race but it was the closest in recent memory.

Winners to be Named in Blenheim, Fulton and Wright Supervisor Races on November 19th

Voters in the Towns of Blenheim, Fulton and Wright proved to be a indecisive bunch in yesterday's election, with all three of their supervisor races decided by six votes or less according to unofficial results posted by the county Board of Elections and we wont know who the winners are until Tuesday, November 19th. 

The reason being is that there are still uncounted absentee and affidavit ballots greater then the margins in all three towns: Blenheim has eight absentee ballots to count with Democrat Sean Smith leading incumbent Republican Robert Mann 70-64, while Wright still has 34 to count with Democrat Karl Remmers holding on to a slim three vote lead (320-317) over Republican Amber Bleau and Fulton voters submitted 24 absentees in the even tighter contest between incumbent Democrat Phil Skowfoe and Republican Francis Tatten, where Skowfoe leads by only two votes (214-212).

And keep in mind none of those totals include affidavit ballots, which are subject to challenge and according to statistics are counted anywhere from 64.5% to 79.5% of the time, further clouding their impact in this year's election. 

Deputy-Commissioner Sara Davies-Griffin told the Schoharie News in a email this afternoon that they will be opening the absentee and affidavit ballots on Tuesday, November 19th at nine in the morning on the third flood of the county building and that it is open for all members of the public to witness. 

Uncertainty is guaranteed to be a theme of November 15th's county board meeting, as two of the longest serving members - who challenged each other in January's organizational meeting - wait to see if they will be returning for another term on the board, while the Town of Wright's chair will remain vacant for yet another month.

Democratic Meet the Candidates Night in Gallupville October 27th

Another meet the candidates night will be held in the Town of Wright on October 27th at 6PM, sponsored by Wright Democrats at the Gallupville House. The Town of Wright Democratic candidates will be there as well as Larry Travis who is running for county sheriff. There will be cider and donuts and all are invited. The Republican event will be October 20th.

Meet the Candidates Night in Gallupville October 20th

There will be a chance to meet with the Town of Wright Republican candidates on Sunday, October 20th at 6pm. The event will be hosted at the Gallupville house.

All are welcome and refreshments will be provided.

Research Finds Bleau a Legal Candidate Despite Enrollment

Questions have been circulating about the nominating process in the Town of Wright. Karl Remmers has been nominated to fill the Democratic line, although questions have been raised about his party affiliation change from Republican to Democrat earlier this year.

However, similar questions have been raised about current Deputy Supervisor and Republican-ticket candidate Amber Bleau. Ms. Bleau is currently enrolled in the Conservative Party, which has rankled some.

At first glance in New York election law, it may appear that such a candidacy is illegal.

Except as provided in subdivisions three and four of this section, no party designation or nomination shall be valid unless the person so designated or nominated shall be an enrolled member of the political party referred to in the certificate of designation or nomination at the time of filing of such certificate.

However, a closer reading shows the process to be totally legal.

This section shall not apply to a political party designating or nominating candidates for the first time, to candidates nominated by party caucus, nor to candidates for judicial offices

In New York State it is a non-uncommon process for candidates to attempt nomination by multiple parties-- even both the Republicans and Democrats. In Middleburgh this year Town Clerk Brenda Lawyer and Town Highway Superintendent Dale Nunamann appear on the Republican, Democratic, and Conservative Party tickets. They are both registered Republicans.
The debate over whether Bleau or Remmers did the right thing morally may still continue, but the legal opinion is settled.

Allegations of Political Opportunism in Wright Supervisor's Race

The Schoharie News has learned an interesting tidbit concerning Karl Remmers, the Town of Wright Democrat candidate for Supervisor, from a citizen of Wright who thought we might want to follow up on our article last week that mentioned their town's upcoming contended supervisor race.

According to the tidbit, Mr. Remmers allegedly registered as a Republican this Spring and pursued the GOP nomination along with his opponent in the general election, but after losing the caucus battle to current deputy supervisor and elected councilman Amber Bleau, quickly reregistered as a Democrat and successfully captured their nomination just last week.

Although nothing in the tip is illegal or politically a major mishap (Sheriff Desmond switched from Republican to Democrat in 2009 to seek the sheriff's office and then again this spring), it does bring into question both the principles of the nominating caucus and the political opportunism displayed by Mr. Remmers. Does he hold public service to be his highest priority... Or that of his own interests?

In a race to finally fill the long vacant position held by the late William Goblet, which featured a rather dysfunctional Town Board that couldn't even agree on an individual to cast Wright's vote on the Board of Supervisors between Goblet's death in March and November, the electorate will have to look long and hard at the personal characteristics of both candidates seeking their town's top job.

Travis Speaks at Town of Wright Democrat Caucus

Cobleskill Police Chief Larry Travis, the Democratic candidate in this fall's upcoming Sheriff's election, spoke before attendees at the Town of Wright Democratic caucus this evening as he begins his campaign push to election day in hopes of defeating incumbent Tony Desmond at the polls.

 

photo credit: Larry Travis for Sheriff facebook page

Mr. Travis' campaign has been off to a slow start thus far, at least when compared to the machine like stumping that Todd Ethington has displayed, but with the political season getting fired up and voters attention spans turning towards the business of electing a new sheriff, Mr. Travis is ready to make the case.