The Town of Highland will be facing a critically important decision soon, whether to ban natural gas extraction by amending our zoning law. Under consideration is Local Law #3, which has been approximately two years in development. The question of how the town should respond to the possibility of natural gas exploration has been under discussion since 2008. In the intervening years, the town has grappled with the issue of whether the town can control or ban natural gas extraction within the town, and should it do so.

At countless public meetings and forums, overwhelming numbers have urged that the town enact a ban against fracking. Local Law #3 is designed to do just that. However, on April 10, a large number of people came out to say, “not so fast, what about the property rights of large landowners?”

So the town board will be faced with the difficult task of determining what is best for the Town of Highland, and to this end we have scheduled a public hearing on May 4 at 7 p.m. There will be an informational briefing beginning at 6:30 p.m. The hearing will be held at the Eldred Central School because of the large crowd anticipated.

The purpose of the public hearing is to give the town board an opportunity to listen to all who are for or against Local Law #3. Whether you are for or against it, the town board will not know how you feel and what action you want the town board to take unless you speak up at this hearing.

If for any reason you are unable to attend, you may submit written comments before or after the hearing. All comments received by May 14 will be made a part of the record. Comments at the public hearing will be limited to two minutes, so if you have more to say, you can do so in writing.

Andy Boyar

Town of Highland Supervisor

Eldred, NY