NORWICH – County supervisors are still grappling over the appropriate forum for discussing the myriad of issues that surround the subject of natural gas drilling.
At a recent meeting of the Public Works Committee, Chairman Harry W. Conley, R-Sherburne, suggested that a fellow committee member’s questions about seismic testing and environment-related concerns be addressed only during Natural Gas Advisory Committee meetings. The latter, which has been meeting monthly, was created this summer to develop policies and protocols to address the natural gas issues facing the county.
Supervisor James B. Bays expressed discontent that executives from a locally-operating natural gas company did not make an appearance at the committee’s October meeting, as previously requested. Chenango County Public Works Director Randy Gibbon said he made several calls to the gas company before receiving an e-mail that declined the offer.
In September, members of the committee sought clarification on the route for Nornew, Inc.’s gas pipeline and asked whether the company would seek easements along county right-of-ways to lay pipeline or perhaps bore under roadways.
“They said they didn’t know where the routes are going to go and would need multiple experts from the company to answer specific questions like boring, drilling, etc.,” Gibbon said. Instead, the committee was urged to e-mail a company executive with questions.
“I find that unacceptable,” Bays said. “There are individuals with certain amounts of technical expertise who could answer all of those questions.”
Bays continued to discuss natural gas-related issues, particularly those addressed at a public hearing he attended in Albany sponsored by the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. When Conley asked that Bays not take the committee’s time to discuss the issues, Bays said seismic testing, in particular, should be addressed at the Public Works Committee because it is a matter of right-of-ways.
“There are some pieces that are relevant to this committee,” he said.
Natural gas issues were also raised at a meeting of the Chenango County Planning Board earlier this month. Planner Rena Doing suggested that municipal town planning boards research and develop noise ordinances.
“Air compressors are needed to move the gas along the pipeline, and they can be loud,” she said. “Have your town boards consider noise ordinances.”
Also at the Planning Board meeting, members discussed the nation and state’s faltering economy and the affect on school taxes, road repairs and heating bills.
“The school board is going to have a tough time budgeting for next year. Can people afford a higher tax rate with the downturn in the economy?” Norwich member Perry Owen, who is also a member of the Norwich City Schools Board of Education, asked.
Town of Columbus Supervisor George G. Coates, a newly appointed member of the county planning board, said his town was “getting hammered” by road repair costs.
Supervisor David C. Law, R-Norwich, said he worried about the increasing number of unfunded state mandates on the levy.
Committee Chair Ted Guinn said more people would be resorting to wood and coal burning furnaces.