Naples School Board Dec. 12, 2007 Letter by James Hall

December 12, 2007

Naples School Board
136 North Main Street
Naples, NY 14512

RE: SCIDA PILOT for UPC Cohocton and Prattsburgh Projects

Board Members:

Cohocton Wind Watch seeks to protect the interests of property owners in the Towns of Cohocton and Prattsburgh that reside within the Naples School District. Robert and Chris Brautigam have children in the Naples School District and reside at 11799 Lewis Road. Their property is in the Naples School District.

The Naples School District is an independent taxing authority. Taxing jurisdictions in Ontario County are not subject to decisions made by SCIDA.
SCIDA’s authority is confined to Steuben County. Proposed PILOT exemptions for the UPC Cohocton and the UPC Prattsburgh projects should prohibit the legal authority of your Board to tax at full industrial utility rates on those portions of each project that lie within your School District.

James Sherron, Executive Director of SCIDA consistently misrepresents his authority and fails to effectively administer his duties. Enclosed is a copy of a March 28, 2007 audit of SCIDA by the Office of the State Comptroller. At an improper public hearing on the PILOT for the UPC Cohocton Project, Mr. Sherron denied that SCIDA has been the subject of a blistering audit report. His lack of candor and disingenuous conduct is only surpassed by conflict of interest violations.

The Naples School Board has a legal fiduciary responsibility to tax all properties within your district. This includes any transmission lines and industrial turbines that may be built for either UPC Project, that reside within the Naples School District. SCIDA does not have the authority to share a portion of the proposed PILOTS with the Naples School District. Therefore, it is your statutory obligation to enforce the assessment and collection of full taxes from the UPC developer and property owner of UPC leaseholders.

SCIDA and Mr. Sherron risk civil and possible criminal charges for violations of Federal & State laws and conduct designed to defraud property owners and NYS tax payers. The Naples School District need not become a party to such actions. The School Board should reject any participation or compliance in a fraudulent scheme to discriminate against Naples School District property owners. CWW urges your Board to object in writing and openly oppose the SCIDA PILOTS at the Dec. 18, 2007 10:00 AM public hearing at the Prattsburgh Town Hall.

Cordially,


James Hall for CWW