In spite of Edsall’s Planning Board declaring the current zoning law was adequate for siting a wind project (June 14, 2006 letter), the law did not spell out the kind of site plan use for a wind project nor did it prohibit wind development in the river and lake front districts. To correct these would require an interpretation from the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) and the adoption of the draft wind law by the Planning Board as a set of guidelines (the draft wind law banned commercial wind development along the waterfront).
The ZBA determined in a 3 to 2 decision on February 28, 2007 that a commercial wind project could be considered a utility as defined in the current zoning law. This is the decision that was unsuccessfully challenged by WPEG.
The courts had no knowledge, however, of some local good-ole-boy, hanky-panky and questionable activities associated with the ZBA's decision. About the time the ZBA understood it may play a role in helping Edsall and Rienbeck circumvent the town's need for a wind law, one of the members, Lori Docteur, resigned from the ZBA. Docteur is the wife of Jefferson County Representative Michael Docteur.
What remains unclear is whether Edsall and Rienbeck tried to influence Ms. Docteur in voting to support their claim that wind projects are utilities. After her resignation the Town Board appointed Paul Robbins as her replacement. Robbins voted that wind turbines were utilities, but attended only a few meetings of the ZBA, missed more than he attended and resigned a year later.
What remains unclear about Robbins' appointment is whether Edsall or Rienbeck recruited him and if there was any discussion about an upcoming vote on the wind project/utility issue and if they suggested how he should vote.
Another bit of hanky-panky with the ZBA decision was the vote of another member, John Wiley, who also voted to affirm wind projects as utilities. At the time, Wiley never disclosed any conflicts of interest, but later BP Alternative Energy listed him on their website as having a potential conflict because his brother Patrick was a leaseholder ($24,400 /yr.). In addition, Wiley did not disclose his potential conflict of interest as the brother-in-law to Senator Darrel Aubertine, who has lease agreements with Acciona Energia.
Aubertine may have advised Wiley to vote regardless of his conflicts, since Aubertine was on record with his June 15, 2006 letter advising Cape Vincent officials to vote on wind in spite of conflicts of interest.
There are a number of questions that need to be answered regarding events leading up to the ZBA's decision on whether commercial wind projects should have been designated utilities.
If Edsall and Rienbeck are found to have interfered or unduly influenced ZBA members to support their gambit to circumvent adopting a wind law, then they might have crossed the line from ethics to criminal violations.
Signed ~ The Lone Ranger
Below is the BP Disclosure ~ showing Conflict of John Wiley, Cape vincent zoning board member 2006-2009
9 comments:
Well, nullifyng it all would do just as well. Since everything these scumbags did was in conflict of interest and violated ethics laws. Why Mr. Hirschey or someone doesn't request the District Attorney to investigate the matter is beyond me. Since those who violated ethics laws and are in conflict, INCLUDING the existing town attorney, anyone has the right. It would be best for an existing town board member not in conflict to request this action. The existing attorneys would have no say in the matter since they are also in conflict. This should have been done months ago at the least.
If it has been brought to the District Attorney's attention and he hasn't done anything, then it should be brought to attention to the local News papers. The last I heard DA's are elected as well.
WTF is wrong with people? Seriously.
Ethics violations are criminal. It may only be a misdemeanor, but that's enough to nullify anything they did that favors wind, and also carries a fine. It may not be much, but it's enough to stop the nonsense and actually reverse some things. They only got Al Capone with tax evasion, but he died in prison from syphilis. These scumbags will be lucky to get off so easy. Although, they may not actually go to prison. The rest is entirely possible. It may explain the mental disorder.
I hope that none of you are suprised by any of this. This has gone on since the wind companies sneaked into town. They were like the gestapo of Nazi Germany,"just sign zee papers" they would say. "or your neighbor will" Thanks Darrel and Frank. After all, they are the ones (I am quoting Frank Giaquintto) "what brung wind to the Cape"
At the ZBA vote, John Wiley said he was voting to call wind turbines utilities because he had a friend who does electrical work and he said windmills were utilities.
He neglected to mention that the friend was also a leaseholder, probably his brother Pat, or one of the Masons.
The wind companies and even DANC hired lackeys to do their dirty work. All portraying themselves as concerned locals neighbors. As though these projects were all so necessary and everyone else was signing their property away for a good cause. Pitting people against each other is nothing new. "You're either with us, or you're against us" by Georg W Bush gave everyone the sense that anything they do can now be part of the glorious "war on terror". They even act as though they are better than those who oppose these projects. Shouting you down and repeating the same old lines every time. That's how scumbags operate. While sneaking around and robbing their neighbors by signing leases and stealing their tax dollars. They do act like Nazis. Aubertine just happened to be the in the perfect position for this scam. Since his latest position is an appointment, it shows he's sucked the right lollipops to sell out his own neighbors and town. He truly is the epitome of a faggot. The rods just happen to be ten story towers that kill birds and towns.
I think 40 stories high is more like the actually height, and yes, isn't that a great bit of wisdom to make the deciding vote to destroy an entire town along the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, "I have a friend that does electrical work and he say windmills are utilities". Lets hope we can continue to raise the bar on our elected and appointed peeps this fall.
I'm an electronics / electro mechanical engineer, and I can tell you I've never met an electrician with half a brain. Anything beyond wire colors, you'd be hard pressed to find one that actually knows anything about electronics. There are different codes in the industry as well. I work with industrial codes and military codes. Most electricians work with residential and commercial codes. Which are about half the standard. Electricians aren't qualified to make technical comments. Simply because they have a license based on knowledge of a few codes they think they know electricity and electronics. They don't. It's like asking a cab driver what his opinion is of air traffic control. To call a wind tower a "utility" is wrong. You may as well call an airplane a utility in that case. The wire is the utility. Who would even want "utility" poles on their property? These are far more than simple utility poles. More like utility poles with wings. Giant wings. Ask any electrician if he even knows how to work on a wind turbine, or what resonant frequency means. " I got no brains, I got no skills, but what that won't get me my Uncle will." Nepotism is just as bad in that field as any.
what does DANC have to do with anything? they did nothing to help the windmill companies.
DANC used the same tactics. What's the difference? If these wind company scumbags get in, they will buy DANC. Look at their prospectus. Wind, water, and infrastructure. DANC has easements across people's land and pay nothing for it, while everyone has to pay for the "betterment". Water is becoming an industry comparable to oil as a resource. Look at the water issues in other countries, it's coming here very soon. Privatizing everything means a corporation can bill you whatever they want. No regulations, no accountability. I pay for water across my property and I'm not even hooked into it. I have an acre of land tied up in their water main I can't even use. I see an acre of land goes for about 12 to 16 thousand dollars.How long do you think ACCIONA will let DANC keep the water easements? One corporation is the same as any other. Also, the answer to you question, ACCIONA wants to use the same easement. How convenient.
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