Sanford NY Town Board (people are silenced on fracking), meeting Sept 11th 2012 ( 09/11/2012 )
Channel: Leland T Snyder
Date: 13/09/2012

This was the town board meeting following the previous months town board meeting where public comment was open to the public regarding Fracking.  The results of a local signature drive to show the majority of the township wanted a one year moratorium was submitted the previous month.   I feel the general understanding from the August meeting was that the town board would take a neutral position and wait for the NY DECs decision on the rules.  Evidently this did not happen, see below for the letter signed (by the head of the town board) sent between (monthly) town board meetings. 

 read here http://www.slideshare.net/MarcellusDN/letter-to-gov-andrew-cuomo-from-22-ny-town-supervisors-frack-now

Not sure how many pro-frackers seemed showed up for this meeting.  I recognized the head of the local chapter of the JLCNY ( i.e. Joint Landowners Coalition of New York ).  FYI the person at the doorway is running for a town seat.

Most of town board members are our neighbors and were or are farmers.  They worked harder than most ever will in their lives and have little to show for it.  If their was any way taxes could be reduced to allow the family farm to survive, I would be for it, and I feel the community would be for it also.  It is unfortunate many (I think) see their only lifeline being the gas industry.  My understanding is that health care benefits for public employees is a major expense in these towns.

Go here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF1m4Ky9XZI&feature=plcp to see how the view on public participation has changed (54:15 mark).