Drone owner Bill Waller, left, addresses the Cooperstown Village Board Monday, one of several speakers objecting to the proposed drone law that the board was scheduled to vote on later in the meeting. The drone law has become a hot topic in Cooperstown, with questions being raised as to what authority the village hold over the unmanned aircrafts, and what power is reserved for the federal government. Waller argued that the proposed regulations wouldn’t add anything beneficial to existing federal law, which is enforced by the FAA. With uncertainty still looming over the wording of some sections of the law, the board tabled the proposition to be revised before voting on it. (Parker Fish/AllOTSEGO.com)
Monday night’s Board of Trustees meeting brought about an announcement from Cooperstown Mayor Jeff Katz, pictured above, that he was looking into regulations for flying drones within village limits. According to Katz, the law would bring about a $250 fine for violating the law. Board member Richard Sternberg challenged that the law should carry a heavier fine of $500, but the maximum fine allowed by the state is only $250. (Parker Fish/AllOTSEGO.com)
Paul Frederick of Adworkshop, Lake Placid, launches a drone over Doubleday Field a few minutes ago. The DJI Inspire Quadcopter is shooting footage of “The Birthplace of Baseball” in preparing new web and social media videos for Destination Marketing Corp. of Otsego County, the county’s tourism promotion effort. DMOC’s director, Deb Taylor, right, said the Adworkshop team will be in the county through Thursday; the drone will be buzzing over Hyde Hall tomorrow, and other shoots are still being arranged. (Jim Kevlin/allotsego.com)
