The Pompey Town Board met on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 6:30pm. A video of the full meeting can be viewed on the Town of Pompey Facebook Page.
The Town Hall was standing room only, as Town residents showed up mostly to express their continued opposition to the proposed multi-acre solar array project on Frank Long Road.
Town Supervisor Renee Rotondo reviewed the Town’s rules of decorum, calling for respect and order during the prescribed Public Comment period to be held at the end of the meeting. Rotondo stated that each individual would be allotted five minutes to speak so that everyone who wished to speak would have a chance to be heard.
Frank Long Road Solar Drainage Plan
Representatives from Seaboard Solar, including the company’s president, were present at the meeting to present a plan to mitigate issues with drainage that have been an ongoing concern for residents living near the proposed site.
Seaboard stated they worked with an engineering firm to develop a plan which they believe will result in a minimum of 10% reduction in runoff. The plan, they say, will capture water from above and through their property, creating a positive impact downstream to U.S. Route 91.
The president of Seaboard spoke to the public and urged residents who are directly affected by the drainage issues to contact them directly to discuss their concerns.
The Town of Pompey engineer stated he has been working closely with Seaboard for the past four months on the development of their plan. He said the current plan as presented to the Board has potential to slow the runoff rate, but it is only conceptual at the moment and he will continue to evaluate it.
The Board determined that no action is needed on their end at this time. Seaboard plans to contact and meet with those residents directly affected by the project over the coming weeks and will presumably return to the Board at a later date with further developments for the plan.
Earth Day Recap
The Board reported that the Earth Day event held in April was a big success, with 762 tires and 1,976 pounds of electronic recycling turned in at the Town Highway Department. There was no charge to Town residents, and no charge to the Town for dropping the refuse off at the OCCRA facility.
Pompey Hill Cemetery
A discussion was held on the status of the Pompey Cemetery’s articles of incorporation. Confirmation is needed before the Town Board can commit funds to go towards the purchase of software that will catalog gravesites on the property.
Historical documentation shows the Cemetery was incorporated in 1866 and filed with the county clerk. Pompey Town attorney Tim Frateschi is satisfied that the Cemetery is, in fact, a proper corporation. He recommended, however, that the Board wait to hear from the Department of State, as the Cemetery Association recently resubmitted required paperwork concerning the incorporation. The request for funds will be revisited at next month’s meeting.
Moratoriums Explained
The topic of conversation surrounding the solar farm issue in Pompey has turned towards the option of placing a moratorium on industrial-sized solar until “further studies” can be done. What exactly the further studies may be is uncertain. This prompted Supervisor Rotondo to ask Town attorney Frateschi to provide information at the Board meeting on how a moratorium works. According to Frateschi, state case law authorizes towns to put a moratorium on certain types of development if they meet certain hallmarks, which would include an influx of applications, a pending comprehensive plan, or if the Town simply does not feel they are properly equipped to handle the added responsibilities. Frateschi says that, in his opinion, solar doesn’t meet the hallmarks for a moratorium, although the Town Board could still opt to institute a moratorium if they so choose.
As an aside, Supervisor Rotondo started that, despite the recent Pivot Energy informational session at Heritage Hill Brewery, there has been no new application submitted to the Town to date for the previously proposed solar farm on Sweet Road.
Swim Program
Supervisor Rotondo stated that there are still spaces available for Pompey students in the Tully Swim Program and she encouraged parents to register their children as soon as possible.
Zoning Board of Appeals Appointment
Supervisor Rotondo nominated Seara Haines from Delphi Falls to fill a vacancy on the Town’s Zoning Board of Appeals. Ms. Haines, a 2006 Fabius-Pompey graduate and SUNY Oswego alumn, will be the youngest member on a Town of Pompey Board and will fill the seat for the remaining term.
Public Comment
Approximately 15 Pompey residents spoke during the public comment period of the Town Board meeting, expressing mostly anti-solar farm sentiments. Multiple residents asked for a moratorium on the farms, and numerous more expressed continued concerns about drainage, increased traffic and accidents, and decommissioning bonds. Town resident Nate Podkaminer reported that he spoke with Brown and Brown in Syracuse, who confirmed that it is not possible to get a 25-year bond to cover decommissioning. Bonds are issued on a yearly basis and renewable based on the financial strength of those raising the bond.
Anita Schmidt-Kyanka, the owner of the property on Frank Long Road where the solar farm would be located, spoke to the Board about the importance of getting away from fossil fuels and wanting to be good stewards of the land by putting in the solar farm. A neighboring resident questioned how the destruction of 30+ acres of forest and wildlife habitat could be considered a “green” solution.
An unexpected shift in the public comment session occurred when a non-resident candidate for NY State Senate running against incumbent Rachel May asked to speak. Caleb Slater from Liverpool, NY, attempted to connect with Pompey residents with an impassioned speech about making our voices heard at a local as well as a state level. Town Board members and the Town’s Attorney objected to Mr. Slater attempting to use the public comment session to promote his personal campaign for State Senate.
