Town Residents Speak Out On Commercial Solar Farms
More Public Discussions To Come
by Deb Alter
After introducing new Board Member Eric Sheffer to the large crowd at the January 11 Hoosick Town Board meeting, Supervisor Mark Surdam opened the meeting to public comments. Most of the comments concerned zoning and taxation issues surrounding the solar farm issue. [private]Some were concerned about the environmental and visual impact of large solar installations, others spoke about the need for alternative energy sources, encouraging and supporting new business in the Town, and an owner’s right to do what they want with their property, and others had safety concerns. To tax or not to tax the commercial farms was another aspect that was brought up, as was the importance of providing the Zoning Board with clear guidelines.
Board Member David Sutton and Supervisor Surdam both commented on how there are many communities around the state and the country who are just beginning to discuss these issues, and that the state has not provided much guidance on how to handle them. Everyone is searching out new ground. Because this is such a new issue, there is not really any precedent on which to base decisions. Copies of Local Law No. 4 of 2015, which was tabled last month, have been sent to the NYS Attorney General and the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance for feedback and advice, but the Town has not heard back from either yet.
In August of last year, Supervisor Surdam had put forward the idea of a “moratorium” on new solar farms until the Board could do more research and acquire more information, and there was a public hearing on the issue. A Solar Committee was formed to explore possibilities, gather information, and make recommendations. Their report is due in April 2016.
At that time, the public sentiment, at least that of the people who came out to those meetings, was against a moratorium. The majority at this meeting seemed to be for a moratorium, at least a temporary one, until there’s more research and information. Just about everybody at the meeting, including Board members, agreed that there needs to be more public discussion as well as input from unbiased resources. In all of the discussions, no one seems to be against solar energy per se. The concerns are are more about the proposed, and yet to be proposed commercial solar farms and the impact they will have on the town.
There will be a public workshop to discuss both the taxation and the zoning aspects of commercial solar farms in Hoosick on Wednesday, January 27 at 6 pm in the Armory. In addition, the Solar Committee has a meeting scheduled for 7 pm on Wednesday, February 3, also at the Armory and open to the public.
Supervisor Surdam reported that the Board has been working with NYS Department of Health on testing private wells for PFOA’s in the area. They are expecting results from the twelve samples that were taken in November as early as this week. The NYSDOH was in the area last week to collect a few additional samples. Councilman Sutton said that the water issue is not just a Village issue
Town Historian Phil Leonard presented a new history board that shows the old neighborhood school houses that were in use until the school system was centralized in 1961. He also included photos of what the buildings, or the sites where they once stood, look like today.
Weather permitting, the Skating Rink opens on January 16 and skating lessons begin on the 20th. Rachel Boisvert, Emma Kelly, Heather Hyde, Jane Morrisson, CJ Yavaniski, Katy Gardner, and Nathan Harwood. were approved as instructors.
On-Going Projects
The field work for the boundary line adjustment has been completed. The Board will be setting up a meeting with surveyors in the next couple of weeks to determine where the boundary lines are to be positioned.
The Kiwanis Club has been working with the Town Highway Department to remove large sections of the old wooden structures and the old swing set. The order for the new equipment has been placed; delivery of the new equipment is expected early in the spring.
In the next few weeks planning for Phase Two of the Pool Project, upgrading the Bathhouse and the Mechanical Room, will begin.
The Cipperly Road Extension was declared abandoned and Highway Superintendent Bill Shiland was authorized to remove it from Town of Hoosick Highway Inventory.
Supervisor Surdam reminded everyone that there are still openings on the Zoning and Planning Boards. If interested in either position please contact him or any Town Board member.
New Business
Adria Diehl was appointed to the Planning Board for a four-year term ending in 2020.
The Town Board received an email from the Planning Board attorney outlining concerns that many simple subdivision applications and boundary line adjustment requests are coming before the Board without a survey. He suggested reviewing the guidelines about survey requirements used by the Planning Board. Past practice has allowed for simple drawings or verbal/written descriptions to be accepted. Attorney Ryan said that best practice is to always require a survey. No decision was made.
A four-year Collective Bargaining Agreement for 2016-2019 was approved.
Upcoming Events
“Feed your Soul, Feed Your Neighbor,” a fundraising event sponsored by HAYC3 will be Friday, January 22 from 6 to 8 pm at The HAYC3 Armory.
The Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be on Saturday, March 12, starting at 1 pm. Fundraisers for the parade are ongoing. The parade is a 25-year tradition that brings people from far and wide to Hoosick Falls.
There will be a Hoosick Rising Meeting on Tuesday January 26 at 6 pm at Parson’s Corner (formerly Doherty’s Corner).
Upcoming Meetings
The Zoning Board meets the first Monday of the month. The Planning Board normally meets on the third Monday, but because of holidays the January meeting will be on January 25 at 7:30 pm, and the February meeting will be on February 22 at 7:30 pm. These meeting are held in the Court Room in the Armory and are always open to the public. Meeting minutes are available online at www.townofhoosick.org, or from the Town Clerk. The next Town of Hoosick Board meeting will be in the Armory at 7 pm on Monday, February 8.[/private]