A lack of respect

Posted with the permission of The Naples Record, originally published Wednesday July 29, 2009

Prattsburgh Town Board disrespects citizens - and each other

To the editor:

Every time I go to a Prattsburgh Town Board meeting I hope that maybe this time the Town Board majority consisting of Harold McConnell, Sharon Quigley and Stacy Bottom will act in the best interests of the entire town. Last night that hope was extinguished for good. Not only did the board majority vote to ignore the advice of their own noise consultant and vote to give permission to Ecogen to keep their project maps secret, but once again McConnell allowed Bottom to speak disrespectfully to another board member. He also allowed the attorney for Ecogen to make slanderous comments as he openly disrespected a board member who tried to hold Ecogen accountable for its promises.

For months they have discussed the need for a windmill law and the need for an independent noise expert to help them write the safety regulations. Finally, two weeks ago, McConnell brought in a noise expert who was not connected to the wind projects or to the board or to anyone in the town. This guy told them point blank that the setbacks for the projects are "woefully inadequate." He sent the town a proposal for a noise study that would enable him to write the noise guidelines for the law, and McConnell, Quigley and Bottom decided that there was no value in the town spending the money for his expert opinion.

Ecogen's attorney point blank refused to reveal the project maps. Up until now every project map has shown transmission lines crossing the property of non-participating landowners. Ecogen has promised to "fix" the maps, but refuses to show the revisions. Could it be that Ecogen does not have a transmission plan and hopes to get the board majority to condemn land for the project?

I have witnessed first-hand the board majority's disrespect for citizens on a variety of issues having nothing to do with wind. In addition, they do not seem to have a good grasp of the town's ordinances and the Town Attorney repeatedly shows that he doesn't either. Prattsburgh needs and deserves leadership and integrity in its elected and appointed officials. The present board majority and lawyer consistently display neither of those qualities. November 2009 will give us a chance to make positive changes in our town government.

Al Wordingham, Cook School Road, Prattsburgh