by Thaddeus Flint
The few first blades of a new grass roots movement started to take root Tuesday night at the New Lebanon Town Board meeting when some residents began to question a proposed high pressure natural gas pipeline that could one day pass through the Town. The seeds, so to speak, had been sewn at a meeting in Canaan the week before by a new group called the Columbia County Citizens for a Sustainable Future, who have begun to organize against the project which would follow the route of the Tennessee Gas Pipeline that already cuts through the area.
[private]“There are about 40 families that abut the pipeline in New Lebanon,” said resident Scott Cohen, who is one of the 40. “I was just wondering if you guys knew anything about it…and if the Town is capable or wants to challenge any application that they submitted along the way.”
Resident Judy Zimmer also brought the matter up, summarizing all the bad points of the project like possible explosions, the risk of poisonous chemicals to humans and the environment and the noise and nuisance of the compressor stations. “Every town that has the pipeline coming through needs to decide as a town do we want this pipeline coming through our Town, our land conservancy area,” said Zimmer. “Those of us who don’t want the pipeline are encouraging landowners to say ‘no, we don’t want to be surveyed.’”
The Board for the most part didn’t have much to say on the matter. This wasn’t an agenda item; it only came up during privilege of the floor so their lack of response was understandable.
Councilman Bruce Baldwin did say that he was aware that the representatives of the pipeline had been contacting landowners in the area. The Town would make sure that the assessment for the easements for the pipeline would be increased should the new pipeline come in. “They are a big taxpayer,” said Baldwin.
The Town’s attorney, Andy Howard, pointed out that right now the mapping being done by the company is mostly in Massachusetts where they have been met with a large opposition. If the pipeline project were to die there it would be highly unlikely it would still run through this area. If it did appear that the pipeline might actually go through the area, “The Town and the local municipality would be a stakeholder in the process,” said Howard, “but there is a regulatory scheme that basically governs this process.” This would fall under jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
“I understand that the taxes could bring a lot of money to the Town,” said Cohen, “but I hope that the Town Board would consider the hazards that the increase in this type of gas coming through Columbia County could do.”
Baldwin said that the current safety measures had been discussed with Tennessee Gas about twenty years ago. “That was satisfactory to the residents,” said Baldwin. “But if in fact they are looking for new easements, then, yes, it becomes a serious issue.”
Should the movement against this pipeline actually take root, as the organizers behind Columbia County Citizens for a Sustainable Future hope it does, this could just be the beginning of long discussion that residents will be having with the Board about this project.
Tennis Courts
In the meantime, a serious study of the Town’s tennis courts in Shatford Park will be made. Some large cracks have appeared in the courts’ surface which are making the sport even more challenging than usual. Someone could trip. A ball might unexpectedly bounce in a non-planned direction. Something needs to be done.
“It’s really in rough shape,” pointed out Councilman Baldwin, who noted that no major repairs have been made to the court in “a number of years.”
Copeland Coating Company of Nassau provided estimates that ranged from the simple repair at $1,600, to a major repair of sealing, painting and leveling that would cost around $15,800.
It was decided that before that much money be spent, that the Town’s engineer go out there and do a site plan.
“If we go the cheap way, it’s not going to last very long,” pointed out Baldwin.
The Board passed, with all in favor, Local Law #1-2014, which amended several sections of the Town’s zoning regulations. The amendments, concerning walls, cell towers and Town’s use table, can be seen on the Town’s website but for the most part are relatively minor and probably don’t apply to most residents. The sole concern came from resident and Planning Board Member Trina Porte who said that the word “permitted” in the Key to the Use Table would be a “significant change to what people are allowed to do.”
“No,” said Zoning Board of Appeals Member Ted Salem. “It’s not true. We’re making no substantial change…were not adding a requirement that doesn’t currently exist; we are just clarifying that it does exist.”
Something else that does exist was also brought up for the Town’s clarification by Councilman Dan Evans. Evans, when going over the monthly vouchers, noticed an expenditure for coffee at the Town Hall. This is Evan’s first year on the Board, and he wanted to know if that’s the way things are always done.
“I don’t think the taxpayer should be paying for coffee for the Town Hall,” said Evans. “If every taxpayer that walked in the door could have a cup of coffee, I feel that would be ok.”
“It’s always been that way,” pointed out Councilman Matt Larabee. “If any public member comes in and wants a cup of coffee, it’s in the kitchen.”
“Well, maybe I will stop here on my way to work then to get my morning cup of coffee,” responded Evans. Apparently everyone else would be welcome as well.
Those looking for free food, however, will have to wait until July 26. That’s the date of the Town’s annual Community Picnic. Residents are asked, though, to bring a dish to share with their fellow townspeople. There will be food, fire trucks and music from 11 am to around 3 pm.
The Town’s Building Inspector, Kent Pratt, has announced that Town Clean Up Day will be the following Saturday, June 21, from 8 am to 3 pm. Residents who can prove they are residents will be given punch cards allowing them two free trips to dispose of regular household debris at dumpsters located at the Town Hall. Up to four tires per punch card can also be dropped off. Household garbage, yard debris, nuclear waste and other such hazardous materials are not allowed. Residents who would like assistance can contact Pratt at 794-8884.[/private]