NEWS
Middleburgh Board to Pass Fracking Ban
MIDDLEBURGH - The Middleburgh Town Hall was packed for today's regular meeting of the Town Board. Many members of the community turned out to hear about whether the proposed fracking ban would pass. The proposed Slottje provisions, written by two attorneys have been passed by several surrounding towns.
The public hearing featured nineteen consecutive speakers, all against hydrofracking. The members of the audience asked the Town Board to support the ban. The law would require three of the five members to vote yes. Councilman Frank Herodes was absent for a family emergency. At stake was whether or not another member would become the pivotal yes or no vote.
Village Trustee William Morton said that natural gas development could hurt local tourism initiatives.
Supervisor Jim Buzon said that the ban should be passed and his experience seeing fracking firsthand in Pennsylvania and the threat of contaminated water. Councilwoman Sue Makely echoed his comments and thanked people for coming to the meeting. Councilman David Lloyd, who has resisted a fracking ban, was silent.
It appeared that the proposed law was about to pass as Councilman Brian DeFeo stated he would vote for them. However, Town Attorney Mike West counseled the Board to wait seven days to inform the surrounding towns, as required by law. The Slottje anti-fracking provisions should pass with a majority vote at the next meeting.
The public hearing featured nineteen consecutive speakers, all against hydrofracking. The members of the audience asked the Town Board to support the ban. The law would require three of the five members to vote yes. Councilman Frank Herodes was absent for a family emergency. At stake was whether or not another member would become the pivotal yes or no vote.
Village Trustee William Morton said that natural gas development could hurt local tourism initiatives.
Supervisor Jim Buzon said that the ban should be passed and his experience seeing fracking firsthand in Pennsylvania and the threat of contaminated water. Councilwoman Sue Makely echoed his comments and thanked people for coming to the meeting. Councilman David Lloyd, who has resisted a fracking ban, was silent.
It appeared that the proposed law was about to pass as Councilman Brian DeFeo stated he would vote for them. However, Town Attorney Mike West counseled the Board to wait seven days to inform the surrounding towns, as required by law. The Slottje anti-fracking provisions should pass with a majority vote at the next meeting.