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Town of Enfield
Special Town Board Meeting Minutes
Enfield Community Building
Friday, March 25, 2016
5:30 p.m.
Present: Town Supervisor Ann Rider, Town Councilperson Virginia Bryant, Town Councilperson
Mike Carpenter, Town Councilperson Henry Hansteen, Town Councilperson Michael Miles, Town
Clerk Alice Linton.
Supervisor Rider opened the special town board meeting at 5:35 p.m. by leading the assemblage in
the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Resolution on Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) for Black Oak
Wind Farm:
Supervisor Rider stated the town board passed a resolution on March 9, 2016 to schedule a public
hearing, and in the notice section of the resolution it was stated that written notice would be given
to land owners within 500' of the boundary of each proposed new wind turbine generator location at
least seven days in advance of the public hearing. This notice was not given by the deadline. Since
notice has to be given to cancel a public hearing, and there was not sufficient time to give this
written notice, and in view of the fact that a board member had requested an extension of the
comment period, it was suggested another public hearing be held with an extension of the comment
period.
Councilperson Bryant moved, with a second by Councilperson Carpenter to adopt Resolution
#2015-43.
Resolution #2015-43 RESOLUTION FOR ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARING AND
EXTENDED COMMENT PERIOD FOR DRAFT
SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
WHEREAS, a predecessor-in-interest of Black Oak Wind, LLC (the “Project Sponsor”) filed
a site plan application with the Town Board of the Town of Enfield (the “Town Board”) pursuant to
the Town of Enfield’s Wind Energy Facilities Local Law #1 of 2009 for the development of a seven
(7) turbine wind-powered generating facility (the “Project”); and
WHEREAS, on June 9, 2010, the Town Board passed a resolution accepting its role as Lead
Agency pursuant to the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act and its implementing
regulations at 6 N.Y.C.R.R. Part 617 (collectively referred to as "SEQRA"); and
WHEREAS, on June 12, 2013, a DEIS for the Project was accepted by the Town Board as
complete; and
WHEREAS, on November 12, 2014, the Town Board accepted as complete a Final
Environmental Impact Statement (“FEIS”) for the Project; and
WHEREAS, on December 14, 2015, the Town Board issued a Findings Statement for the
Project pursuant to SEQRA; and
Enfield Town Board Special Meeting, March 25, 2016 2
WHEREAS, on June 24, 2015, the Town Board received a submission from the Project
Sponsor outlining two (2) minor modifications to the Project; and
WHEREAS, on July 8, 2015, the Town Board determined that a supplemental environmental
impact statement or modified findings statement was not required for the modifications submitted on
June 24, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the Project Sponsor now proposes to potentially re-locate two (2) of the
approved wind turbines to 2 of 3 proposed locations, as well as relocate a substation, add a new
permanent wind measurement tower just south of Turbine 4, and relocate approximately 8,400 linear
feet of buried collection line but, except as noted, the Project would otherwise remain as consisting of
seven (7) wind turbines generating 16.1 megawatts (MW) of electricity utilizing the GE 2.3-107
model wind turbines; and
WHEREAS, the Project Sponsor has prepared a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (“DSEIS”) assessing the potential significant adverse environmental impacts associated
with the proposed modifications to the Project as summarized above; and
WHEREAS, on March 9, 2016, the Town Board passed a resolution accepting the DSEIS as
complete; establishing a public written comment period extending from March 12, 2016 to April 12,
2016; and scheduling a public hearing on March 28, 2016.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE TOWN BOARD
OF THE TOWN OF ENFIELD AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Pursuant to the SEQRA regulations, the comment period during which the
public and involved and interested agencies may submit written comments to the Town Board
relating to the DSEIS shall be further extended to April 22, 2016. The Town Board shall also hold an
additional public hearing at the Enfield Elementary School on April 12, 2016, commencing at 7:00
p.m., and shall duly publish notice of the hearing at least fourteen (14) days prior to the public
hearing being conducted. In addition, notice of the public hearing shall be given first class mail to all
property owners located within 500 feet of the boundary of each proposed new wind turbine
generator location at least seven (7) days in advance of the public hearing.
Section 2. The Town Board further directs that notice of this resolution shall be filed and
circulated to the extent required by any applicable ordinance, statute or regulation.
Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
Discussion: Councilperson Carpenter asked how the property owners would be notified of the public
hearing.
Marguerite Wells of the Black Oak Wind Farm stated she will take the tax map numbers of
properties with turbines located on them to the Tompkins County Assessment Office and they will
provide her with names and addresses of adjoining property owners. She will then send notice of the
public hearing to those property owners as required by the resolution.
Councilperson Miles asked if it would be possible to extend the comment period until April 30.
Councilperson Bryant asked what would be the problem of an extension until April 30.
Enfield Town Board Special Meeting, March 25, 2016 3
Supervisor Rider stated this would drag the process on for ten more days. She asked what would be
the difference to the Wind Farm Advisory Committee.
Councilperson Carpenter stated the Wind Farm Advisory Committee was set up by the town board
to advise them on this issue and so far most of their recommendations have been overlooked and not
considered.
Supervisor Rider stated she needs the committee's recommendations to be given to her in writing.
Councilperson Miles stated the committee hasn't given any written reports to the town board yet, but
they have been working aggressively and will present their report at the April 13 regular town board
meeting. That is a tight time frame for writing reports and there won't be much time to review the
DSEIS at the same time.
Councilperson Bryant stated the written report should be completed by the date it is due.
Councilperson Carpenter stated no end date has been given to the committee. Black Oak Wind Farm
was given all the time they needed to put their document together and questioned why the town
board has to act so fast. He suggested other town board members should attend committee meetings
to see how hard they are working and see how complicated the problems are.
Councilperson Miles stated most of the members on the committee felt an extension of time for
comments was needed. Some felt a ten day extension would be adequate, but about half felt a thirty
day extension was needed.
Councilperson Carpenter asked for the extension to April 30 so town board members had more time
to put their comments in writing. He then questioned if the town board wanted the committee to
continue with their service.
Councilperson Miles stated their goal is to provide an executive summary and possible
recommendations and mitigation measures.
Councilperson Hansteen said he is looking forward to reading the summary and recommendations
from the committee.
Supervisor Rider stated that appointing an advisory committee did not give them the authority to set
the time line.
Vote: Councilperson Bryant aye, Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Hansteen aye,
Councilperson Miles aye, Supervisor Rider aye. Carried
Supervisor Rider went over the procedures that will be used at the public hearing on Monday, March
28, 2016.
Acceptance of Paint Bid on Enfield Town Hall:
Supervisor Rider stated five bids were received for painting the town hall.
Councilperson Carpenter stated he would like to look at references before making a final decision.
He also wanted to be sure all bids were complete and responded to the scope of work requested.
Enfield Town Board Special Meeting, March 25, 2016 4
Supervisor Rider will contact Wright Bros. Painting and First General Services of Southern NY,
Inc. for references. Councilperson Bryant will contact Marchuska Brothers Construction, LLC for
references.
Supervisor Rider will contact all bidders to advise them bid results will not be announced until April
7, 2016 at 9 a.m. The bids can then be further discussed at the April 6, 2016 Special Town Board
meeting and a decision made.
Adjournment: Councilperson Hansteen moved, with a second by Supervisor Rider to adjourn at
6:35 p.m.
Vote: Councilperson Bryant aye, Councilperson Carpenter aye, Councilperson Hansteen aye,
Councilperson Miles aye, Supervisor Rider aye. Carried
Respectfully submitted,
Alice Linton, Enfield Town Clerk