Town of Highland forms gas drilling task force

Councilman under fire for other matters

By SANDY LONG

ELDRED, NY — At a protracted town meeting on July 8, the Highland town board tackled issues ranging from natural gas exploration to actions taken by councilman Donald Rupp.

Highway superintendent Norman Sutherland charged that Rupp had inappropriately solicited quotes on a proposed highway building project without board authorization. Sutherland called upon the board to address the matter. “I wish you people would do something to put out these brush fires I keep having to waste time on,” he said. Rupp responded, “This town is spending a lot of money in the highway department needlessly. I’m looking out for your tax dollars.”

Earlier this year, supervisor Tina Palecek temporarily halted the $1.7 million project in order to investigate ways to bring its costs down. Palecek echoed Sutherland’s concerns and made it clear that the board did not condone Rupp’s actions. “Members of the committee should have dealt with this,” she told Rupp. Palecek was joined by councilman Robert Burrows, who added, “You are acting as an individual on behalf of the board without its authorization to do so.”

Palecek said that Rupp had presented a misleading estimate to the board during a public meeting without explaining that the estimate did not include major items such as site inspections and meetings with possible subcontractors. “He wasted the company’s time and fired up people with false information of saving hundreds of thousands of dollars. The estimate didn’t even include prevailing wages to pay the people building the project,” noted Palecek.

After discussion, the board passed a motion by Burrows indicating their disapproval of Rupp’s actions. The motion passed with one abstention by Rupp who said, “My heart was in the right place. A $1.7 million dollar building is absurd.”

Later during public comment, former supervisor Steve Barnes handed out copies of potentially inflammatory email messages alleged to have been forwarded by Rupp and left lying on an area lunch counter. Barnes began to question the councilman’s conduct, citing the content of the messages, then describing Rupp as “anti-scenic byway,” “anti-greenway,” and “anti-National Park Service.” Palecek intervened and asked Barnes to refrain from continuing. “I cannot allow someone to attack a board member and other individuals listed on the emails who are not in attendance to defend themselves,” Palecek later explained.

Gas task force

Palecek also announced the formation of a task force to evaluate issues related to natural gas exploration within the town. In June, the board approved a six-month moratorium on new oil and natural gas extraction activities. “The committee will be very flexible in what we focus on outside of the big issues of roads, leases, school bus hazards, emergency services (fire, ambulance), emergency evacuation planning, budgetary and tax base impacts,” explained Palecek. “It is a nonpartisan group focusing on potential impacts to the town and how we can ensure the success of everyone.”

Palecek will chair the task force and members will include councilman Fred Bosch, highway superintendent Norman Sutherland, planning board alternate Glen Goldstein, Yulan Fire Department representative Tim Schadt, Highland Lake Fire Department representative Warren Wagner, a representative from the ambulance corps (not yet established), citizens Carol Roig, Stacey Kuhn, Mildred Huberman and Vera Sclawy.

A school liaison will be included to address busing issues and potential school population impacts, and environmental council chairman Mary-Ellen Sutherland will be invited to serve. The task force will compile key information, such as important phone numbers, facts and helpful hints for developing a lease. “We want to empower our citizens and, hopefully, they will get leases that will give them financial success without hurting their land or their neighbor’s land,” said Palecek.

In other matters, Palecek shared information provided by assessor Lorry King that approximately 500 grievances were filed this year and that approximately 50 percent resulted in lowered assessments, leading to a potential 30 million dollar reduction in tax revenue. Palecek and town attorney Michael Davidoff will meet with the New York State Office of Real Property Services on July 24 to discuss this matter and more.