By Rebecca Martin
The Town of Ulster Planning Board from 10/21/14. Special thanks to Clark Richters of Kingston News for capturing the evening.
In Solidarity.
By Rebecca Martin
Over the past four weeks KingstonCitizens.org, which was created almost a decade ago to help to connect Kingston residents to its local government so to encourage transparency and better communication, has become the hub for information for our entire region regarding the proposed Niagara Bottling Company project.
Without a doubt, the project concerns are many. But it is the potential of selling our most precious natural resource – the public’s water to a national bottling company – that is our most pressing concern. Sure, many of us would like to eliminate plastic bottles. Some may not be fond of ‘Corporate America’ (as Supervisor Quigley proclaimed last week on-air). But the real problem here….is the concept of selling off the public’s WATER to a national bottling company. You can’t compare it to beer, to milk, to soda. We are talking about millions and millions of gallons of water each day being drained from our water source. There isn’t any comparison.
IMPORTANT MEETING / IMPORTANT VOTE: Kingston Common Council on November 4th at 7:30pm
WHAT
Kingston Common Council Meeting
WHEN
Tuesday, November 4th, 2014
7:30pm
WHERE
Kingston City Hall
Council Chambers
420 Broadway
Kingston, NY
WHY
The Kingston Common Council will vote to pass through two important memorializing resolutions. The first in support of the DEC as Lead Agency of the SEQR process for the proposed Niagara Bottling Company. The second in support of the City of Kingston being listed as ‘involved’ agency in the SEQR process. READ: SEQR: Interested vs. Involved Agencies
Kingston Water Department ‘Will Serve’ Letter Issued on September 15th, 2014
By Rebecca Martin
Today, we received a copy of the the ‘Will Serve’ letter (we had heard others and ourselves had been calling it a ‘Will Share’ letter. The proper term is ‘Will Serve’) issued by the Kingston Water Department to Niagara Bottling, LLC on September 15th, 2014.
It was done the day before Peter Romano of The Chazen Companies gave their presentation to the Town of Ulster Planning Board on September 16th (click on link to listen. Romano’s presentation begins at 1:15:26), 2014. As you recall, the Planning Board that evening agreed to pass ‘Lead Agency’ of the SEQR process along to the Town of Ulster Town Board. A resolution passed on September 18th, 2014 for The Town of Ulster as ‘Lead Agency‘ (click on link to listen. The Town Board discussion on Lead Agency begins at 16:30).
The letter ends by saying “Please let me know if this meets your requirements so that we can execute a more formal agreement that is acceptable to both parties” and “The Board of Water Commissioners looks forward to working with Niagara and welcomes you to the City of Kingston.”
10/21/14: PLANNING BOARD MEETING PRIMER: Town of Ulster Planning Board Meeting regarding Niagara Bottling Facility
By Rebecca Martin
This is a great primer for the Planning Board meeting this evening created by Jennifer Schwartz Berky, a Kingston resident and planning professional. It should help you a great deal in following along.
City of Kingston: Water Supply Permit and Water Supply Applications of 1954 & 1929.
By Rebecca Martin
Recently, we reached out to the DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) to see if we could receive a copy of the most recent Water Supply Permit by the City of Kingston. They asked that we FOIL (NYS’s Freedom of Information Law) for their records, which we did.
SEQR: Interested vs. Involved Agencies
By Rebecca Martin
Last night the Town of Ulster Town Board expanded both their ‘Involved’ and ‘Interested’ Agency list on a “Revised Resolution on Notice of Intent to Declare Lead Agency” (see pages 38 – 44) for the Niagara Bottling Facility project.
We are disappointed that involved parties don’t also include the Town of Woodstock, City of Kingston and Town of Esopus.
TRANSCRIPT: Town of Ulster Supervisor Addresses the Water Board 10/8/14
By Rebecca Martin
We are pleased to share the transcript of the Town of Ulster Superintendent Jim Quigley addressing the Water Board on 10/8/14 following their Executive Session and after the public had left.
What I Saw, Did You Know? KingstonCitizens.org Wants To Hear From You.
By Rebecca Martin
Over the past couple of weeks, our readership has grown exponentially given the concern of the proposed Niagara Bottling Company project and the amount of information provided here.
With it, citizens have done an impressive job in learning more (and very quickly I might add) to craft thoughtful speeches, ask insightful questions and to do it all with a pointed focus, grace and eloquence.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Town of Ulster Meetings Town Board (10/16) and Planning Board (10/21)
By Rebecca Martin
The following is information on what to expect at the upcoming Town of Ulster Town Board and Planning Board meetings.
VIDEO: Kingston Conservation Advisory Council Meeting 10/14/14
The Kingston Conservation Advisory Council did a great job hosting a public meeting this evening with guest Water Department Superintendent Judy Hansen.
Thank you to the Kingston CAC, League of Women’s Voters, Judy Hansen and Clark Richters of Kingston News who filmed the event for the public.
Brought to you by KingstonCitizens.org
IMPORTANT marks to hit this week: October 13th – 17th
By Rebecca Martin
These are the important marks to hit as we enter into a new week regarding the Niagara Bottling Company Proposal:
* All week long *
CALL Martin Brand regional director of the NYS DEC region-3. 845/256-3033. Request that the DEC be lead agency for the SEQR review of the Niagara Bottling Company proposal. You can email him too at: ma**********@****ny.gov
* Tuesday, October 14th 6:30pm – 8:30pm *
ATTEND the upcoming Kingston Conservation Advisory Council Meeting on Tuesday, 10/14 at 6:30pm. Water Department Superintendent Judy Hansen is scheduled to be present to answer questions regarding Kingston’s Water Supply as it pertains to the proposed Niagara Bottling Co. Project. The Kingston CAC meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 6:30-8:30 at City Hall. These meetings are open to the public. This meeting will be held in council chambers, the large room on the top floor of Kingston City Hall. This event will be filmed.
* Wednesday, October 15th – 8:10am *
CALL in at 8:10am and ask Mayor Shayne Gallo all of your questions regarding the Niagara Bottling Company proposal. WGHQ 920 AM 845/331-9255 See their SCHEDULE
* Thursday, October 16th – 7:10am *
CALL in at 7:10am and ask Town of Ulster Jim Quigley all of your questions regarding the Niagara Bottling Company proposal. WGHQ 920 AM 845/331-9255 See their SCHEDULE
Niagara Bottling Company Proposal. Could Tax Abatement For 10 Years Impact Kingston City School District?
By Rebecca Martin
The Niagara Bottling Co. project is looking to come to the area taking advantage of the ‘Start-Up NY” initiative (‘Start-Up NY’ helps you start, expand or relocate your qualified business to a tax-free zone in NY State’)
In simple terms, that means that if they were to ever come to Tech City in the Town of Ulster, their taxes would be abated for 10 YEARS. Does that include school tax too?
WGHQ: Live Call-in: Mayor Shayne Gallo and Town of Ulster Supervisor Jim Quigley
By Rebecca Martin
Call-in to ask questions regarding the Niagara Bottling Proposal to both City of Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo and Town of Ulster Supervisor Jim Quigley on WGHQ 920 AM. 845/331-9255
Mayor Shayne Gallo: 8:10am
Wednesday, October 15th
Town of Ulster Supervisor Jim Quigley: 7:10am
Thursday, October 16th
Hit it Kingston citizens.
View their schedule HERE
Kingston Water Board: Members and Term Limits
By Rebecca Martin
Are you as curious as I to know who sits on the Kingston Water Board?This five member board believe that they alone have the authority to decide whether or not Kingston’s water source can be sold to the Niagara Bottling Company. Five people who are independent of Kingston City Government.
Joseph DeCicco, President
Al Radel
Robert Niedzielski
Raymond McSpirit
Dennis Croswell
Shayne Gallo, Mayor
In 1895 by a special act of the NYS legislature to provide potable water to the residents of the City of Kingston, it says that the Water Board is a “financially and administratively independent department within the City of Kingston and is governed by the Board of Water Commissioners. The Board is a continuously sitting body and each member is appointed to a five (5) year term by the Mayor. The Mayor is a voting member of the Board.”
A five year term. I’d like to see how long each member has served. I have a hunch that some of them have been sitting around that table for longer than five years.
What was relevant in 1895 – over 100 years ago – probably isn’t all relevant today. Back then, in being independent the idea was to keep politics out of water. How’s that working for us in 2014?
Have a look at the Town of Ulster Supervisor Jim Quigley addressing the Water Board after everyone left. VIEW
Furthermore, to assume that back then it was ever anticipated that bottling and selling surface and groundwater and shipping it far and wide – or climate change would be in their purview is just plain silly.
Reform is a good thing, folks.
This builds a stronger case of the need to update Kingston’s charter. I like the idea of exploring new forms of government too while we’re at it, such as City Manager Form of Government where a professional with a background in public administration could be hired. KingstonCitizens.org recently hosted a public educational meeting on the subject and it was enlightening.
Here’s how I feel about THAT.
For today, it’s important for Kingston citizens to look at every aspect of the proposed Niagara water deal and that includes who this Water Board is. Their backgrounds and for how long they have served should be made priority.