At last night’s Town of Ulster Town Board meeting, Town of Ulster citizens made a consistent request of their Town Board (who is Lead Agency in SEQR for the proposed Lincoln Park Grid Support Center, a gas-fired power plant project in the Town of Ulster) for a 90 day public comment period during the Scoping process.
At the end of a productive public comment period, Town of Ulster Supervisor James Quigley asked the rhetorical question, “Can I see a show of hands how many people want the Town of Ulster to comply with NYS SEQR law?”
Confused, citizens responded, “What do you mean? The 90 days?”
“No, no, no, no. I asked a question. How many people want the town to comply with the SEQR law?” asked Supervisor Quigley.
“What does that mean?” said citizens.
“Well you should have done your homework before you asked for 90 days!” he snipped.
Stunned, the citizens yelled out “Who do you think you are?” and “We’re not voting for you next time.”
“Fine with me.” said Supervisor Quigley.
“I guess the answer is no for the extension.” said a citizen as he exited the room.
That appears to be the case. We’ll see.
12:07 – 15:32
Regis Obijiski Ledge Road, Town of Ulster
“…in light of the open meetings law, please publish changes to agenda at least 24 hours in advance so that citizens can make plans to attend…second point, please extend public comment in scoping in SEQR to 90 days….the proposed project has escaped far beyond a decision to accept or reject complicated concerns such as human health, environmental impact, safety and residential properties abound….third point, comments and questions from citizens who submitted comments and given verbally to GlidePath at their 1/17 meeting should ask those questions again by submitting them during the Scoping process….lastly we are planning citizens scoping meetings to dissuade or defeat the power plant as proposed.”
15:50 – 18:20
Laura Hartman, Birch Street, Town of Ulster
“….thank you Town Clerk for adding going forward meeting schedule onto the town calendar…as representative of the TownOfUlsterCitizens.org, I am submitting two petitions this evening. One with approx. 279 of concerned citizens throughout the Hudson Valley, and one with 57 signatures from your consituents here in the Town of Ulster….it was originally written and supported by (the coalition) and I thank them for their support….we request that you provide a public comment period of 90 days and we thank you for your consideration.”
19:04 – 24:00
Fred Gnesin, Ledge Road, Town of Ulster
“…I along with 137 homeowners along with 100 or so renters in Ulster Gardens apartments who will be affected by the GlidePath project as it is currently formulated. It would seem that consideration of this location was the result of visual impairment and lack of thoughtful and humane consideration of the proximate population. It should be noted that the estimated value of the 137 residences is conservatively valued at approximately $32 million dollars. The value of such homes would decrease by 20% – 50% depending upon the selling stampede to evacuate the area due to the realistic potential of pollution and catastrophic fire hazard, water runoff, wild life eradication, noise, etc. that the project will clearly present. The proposal contemplates an unmanned facility, controlled remotely from a point in the midwest….that is somewhat akin to auto pilot airplane without anyone sitting in the cockpit. Shit happens. No facility like this has ever been built by GlidePath….its outcome at best would cause irrevocable harm to innocent residents of the Town of Ulster. Your fellow neighbors are expected to sacrifice for some fat cat hedge fund managers from Chicago, and the ToU will have gained nothing but potential three mile island….”
“15 seconds…” said Town of Ulster Town Board member John Morrow.
“You can read the rest, unless I am granted the opportunity…” said citizen Neeson.
Additional time was granted by Town Board Member Eric Kitchen.
“….the project would not hire anyone in the area. It is a no-win situation for us….I am a registered Republican all of my life, an independent thinker and fiscal conservative. Partisan opinions have nothing to do with this matter. This is personal.”
24:24 – 28:33
Dan Furman, Risely Street, Town of Ulster
“…Something disturbing has come to light. We questioned their (GlidePath) credentials and how they could do this safety. “We’re experts! We know what we’re doing”. They told us during their presentations that emissions would be 195 lbs per kWh. Their poster said this, the slides said this, and the guys in suits and ties said this….but they were challenged that night on that number she said not only is the number too low, it’s physically impossible. Apparently she as right. She said GlidePath called her and said, ‘yeah, you’re right. There was a mistake on the spreadsheet. It isn’t 195 lbs per kWH, it’s 850 lbs per KwH.” …when you’re going to build a powerplnt like this, the residents living near it have two concerns. Emissions and noise. If they’re experts in the this, how could they make such a big mistake on that number, and stand up there and tell us…this isn’t like they spelled the Town’s name wrong, or put down the wrong address. That’s a mistake. What this says to me is that they don’t know. They are going to build 80 foot smoke stakes and they don’t know what’s going to come out of them…does that bother you? It bothers me. They are not experts. They are executives. That number is not only wrong, it’s stunningly wrong.”
28:57 – 31:24
Karen Spanier, Lakeview Avenue, Town of Ulster
“I am concerned with the 850 lbs per KwH. That’s why I am asking for 90 days, to have more time to do homework.”
31:52 – 34:55
Vincent Guido, Old Flatbush Road, Town of Ulster
“The ask tonight is to have a 90 day public comment period….I would urge the Town Board to give the residents to look at these documents, get the help that they need and even help to inform you. Do we want to sacrifice a little bit of tax base and an extended water line for the quality of life in our town?”
35:30 – 36:30
“How long before the citizens will know if you’re going to grant us the 90 days?
Supervisor Quigley: “Can I see a show of hands how many people want the ToU to comply with NYS SEQR law?”
Citizens: “What do you mean? The 90 days?”
Supervisor Quigley: “No, no, no, no. I asked a question. How many people want the to town to comply with the SEQR law.”
Citizens: “What does that mean?”
Supervisor Quigley: “Well you should have done your homework before you asked for 90 days!”
Citizens:: “Wow. Stunning. We’re not voting for you next time.”
Supervisor Quigley: “Fine with me.”
Citizens: “Who do you think you are? I guess the answer is no for the extension.”
NEXT UP:
The Town of Ulster will host a public scoping meeting on Thursday, February 22nd at 7:00pm at Town Hall. GlidePath was stated to be present by Town Board members at the recent Scoping educational panel. Citizens from around the county are invited to (and should) attend.
More details shortly.