The Pompey Town Board held their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at 6:30pm. A video of the full meeting can be viewed on the Town of Pompey Facebook Page.
Highlights of the meeting are as follows:
Public Hearing on a Local Law to Override 2024 Property Tax Cap
New York’s property tax cap limits levy growth at either 2% or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower, unless the Board adopts a law to override that percentage cap. According to Town attorney Tim Frateschi, most towns in New York State are in a position of having to approve an override because they do not yet know what special district fees will be. If an override is not adopted and the Town goes over the allowed percentage, the State Controller can require the Town to set aside additional funds to cover the overage, thus impacting the next year’s budget.
The Board opened the public hearing and, as there were no comments, immediately closed the public hearing.
Supervisor Rotondo stated that, for perspective, a three percent increase would result in eight cents per thousand increase in individual property taxes.
Supervisor Rotondo made a motion to approve the local law, and the Board voted unanimously to approve the override.
Finance report
The Town Board must vote on the 2024 budget by November 20, 2023. A Public Hearing must be held by the Thursday after Election Day — November 7. The Board scheduled a public hearing for discussion on the preliminary 2024 Town budget for Monday, October 30, at 6:30pm.
Public Hearing to Create a Local Law Governing Short-Term Rentals
The public hearing was opened and, after a few general questions, the hearing was closed. The Board then voted to issue a negative declaration under SEQR and agreed to take a final vote on adopting the law at the next Town Board meeting on November 14.
Pivot Energy Solar Array Site Plan Presentation
Pivot Energy returned to the Board one year after having their proposed solar array project voted down to present a new proposal for a multi-acre solar “farm” to be located on Sweet Road between Sevier and Pratts Falls Roads.
Pivot stated they made significant changes to their original plans after considering feedback from the Board and town residents. Notably, they shifted the array to the west, effectively recovering six acres that can continue to be used for farming, and added more screening to protect the viewshed. The landowner also agreed to set aside an equivalent amount of acreage on a neighboring property on Route 91 that would offset the loss of the agricultural land used by the solar project.
The Board asked numerous questions about emergency response, environmental impacts, and the viewshed, noting that the proposed project would not include battery storage, which has been cited as having caused recent fires at other solar sites around the State.
Supervisor Rotondo stated that the Town Planning Board voted in favor of the project by a vote of 5 to 2. Planning Board Chair Susan Smith and Planning Board Member Carl Fahrenkrug voted against.
During the public comment segment, Fahrenkrug made a detailed statement outlining his numerous reasons for voting against the project. Several other members of the public once again voiced their opposition to the new project, citing safety issues, viewshed concerns, and detriment to neighboring properties and to the environment. One resident provided research data favoring solar energy projects.
The Board agreed to schedule a site visit. Several actions must occur prior to the Board voting on whether or not to approve the project, including review by the Town’s Environmental Conservation Committee and a public hearing.
