Work Starts On County’s Energy Plan By PATRICK WAGER ONEONTA – Now, the hard work begins. What’s now called Otsego County 21-member “Energy Working Group” will convene for the first time at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27, in Old City Hall. And coming out of the Otsego County Chamber’s “Energy & Infrastructure Summit” two weeks ago at The Otesaga, the word “compromise” is in the air. “I don’t see compromise as being a dirty word,” said county Rep. Michele Farwell,…
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Koutnik Votes ‘No’ On ‘Climate Pledge’ Draft As Too Weak But SWECC Committee, 4-1, Forwards Compromise Document To Full Board By JENNIFER HILL • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – Saying the language “was softened,” County board Vice Chair Gary Koutnik, D-Oneonta, today voted against sending a “Climate Smart Community Pledge” resolution, as revised, to the full board for action March 6. However, his colleagues on the Solid Waste & Environmental Concerns Committee nonetheless agreed to forward the adjusted resolution, 4-1, for…
170 PARTICIPANTS HEAR MANY IDEAS FOR FUEL FUTURE Chamber’s Rubin: Exciting Information Exchanged, But ‘Now The Work Begins’ By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – In the end, 170 – up from 125 a week ago, and 155 a couple of days ago – today listened for eight hours to presentations on the United States’ – and Otsego County’s – energy future from some of the most knowledgeable people in New York State. The venue was the Otsego County…
MUCH-ANTICIPATED ANNOUNCEMENT KENNEDY UNVEILS ENERGY TASK FORCE AT CHAMBER SUMMIT Entity Will Develop County Policy On Economic Development, Environment By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – In an announcement awaited with anticipation, county Rep. Meg Kennedy this morning revealed the 21 people who will comprise the Otsego County Energy Task Force. Charged by the county board, the task force will determine county government’s approach to the sometimes conflicting goals of economic development and environmental projection. Kennedy, who is…
70-80 ATTENDEES FILL ROOM Energies Of Future Promoted At Forum Among Them, Solar, Wind, Geothermal, Pellets Seen As Fossil-Fuel Replacements By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com ONEONTA – Fossil fuels – gasoline, fuel oil, propane and natural gas – that power Otsego County today were like an unexpected inheritance, allowing the Industrial Revolution and the world as we know it. But 200 years later, Hartwick College Economics Professor Karl Seeley told 70-80 attendees at the Concerned Citizens of Oneonta…
EDITORIAL HOMETOWN Views and Perspectives Levels Rising On Reservoir Of Good Will Bliss Achieves Key Goal: Collegiality On County Board The amiable Dave Bliss, who is entering his second year as chairman of the Otsego County Board of Representatives, patently has achieved his first goal: A “change of culture” toward a more amiable atmosphere. “I believe we have a working relationship with departments heads and other board members,” the former 24-year Middlefield town supervisor, a Republican, said in an interview…
Will ‘Clean Energy Community’ Status Help Us? Reps Ask Or Will It Limit Natural-Gas Options, They Say In Voting To Delay Action By JIM KEVLIN • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – Is New York State’s “Climate Smart Communities Pledge” going to limit Otsego County’s economic-development future? Failing to get an answer to that question, the county Board of Representatives this morning – by voice vote, apparently unanimous – decided to delay action on making that pledge for at least a…
Editorial for November 30, 2018. Ruffles Takes First Step Against Whack-A-Mole For years now, Otsego County’s annual auction of foreclosed-on tax-delinquent properties has eaten up a lot of oxygen at the county Board of Representatives’ monthly meetings. It’s the Whack-A-Mole of county government, which suggests: There are unresolved issues. So a take-charge presentation by the new county treasurer, Allen Ruffles, at the November meeting was welcome, if partial. First, he declared, having studied the issue, giving delinquent taxpayers four years…
Low Turnout At Hearing Clears Way For ’19 Budget Due to the snow, perhaps, no member of the public appeared at the public hearing on Otsego County’s 2019 budget, which began at 6 p.m. this evening in Courtroom #1 in Cooperstown. Above, county board Chair David Bliss, left, gave the floor to Clerk of the Board Carol McGovern to officially convene proceedings. The budget keeps the tax increase under the state tax cap, and includes $500,000 in raises for 104…
Wilber Re-Appointed, Board Vacancy Filled By PARKER FISH • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com COOPERSTOWN – County Rep. Dan Wilber, R-Burlington, was unanimously reappointed today by his colleagues to fill the vacancy created when he forgot to sign his oath of office statement in January. When Wilber discovered earlier this month that his paperwork was incomplete, his seat on the board was immediately vacated.…