ENERGY & RESOURCES AD HOC COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

September 26, 2011

 

** NOT APPROVED **

Members:     Kevin LaForge, Fred Sinclair, Glen Benson, Curt Crandall, Marv Covert, Mike Healy, Guy James

Others           Mitch Alger, Tom Barber, Dwight Fanton, John Foels, John Margeson

Present:        Karl Graves, Ted Hopkins, Jeff Luckey, Tom Miner, Dave Pullen, Sandra Sheldon, Steve Presutti, Tom Barber, Jill Barber, Brenda Riehle, Kier Dirlam

 

1.            CALL TO ORDER: 

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Kevin LaForge at 11:05 a.m.

 

2.            APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes from July 11, 2011 were reviewed. On a motion by M. Healy, seconded by F. Sinclair, the minutes were approved.

 

3.            REAL ESTATE TAXES

  • S. Presutti discussed the formula that is used to calculate taxes on oil & gas production in the county.  Presently accounts for approximately $500,000 for property taxes.
  • T. Hopkins noted that NYSAC passes a resolution against changing this formula.

 

4.            GUNNER REPORT

  • A report has been produced looking at the estimates of the financial impacts for the next fifty years and this is in a 250-page report.
  • Another report was completed by Ecology and Environment and is available through the NYSDEC.
  • F. Sinclair discussed a report by Guthrie System on the Troy Community Hospital.

 

5.            NYSDEC DRAFT DRILLING REGULATIONS

 

  • The Draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement [SDGEIS] is available at the Belmont Library, Howe Library in Wellsville and in the Clerk of the Legislators office. 
  • F. Sinclair discussed a comment paper on the DSGEIS by Marvin Resnikoff. On a motion by F. Sinclair and 2nd by M. Healy, the comment paper was referred to the County Board of Health.
  • Comments on the DSGEIS are due in December to NYSDEC.

 

6.            LEASEHOLDER EDUCATION

  • Lynn Bliven held a couple of training sessions during the summer in Amity and Willing and had good turnout.
  • Jill Barber has a group doing outreach also and they have had sessions in the Cuba area with good turnout with training by the Farm Bureau.

 

7.            ROAD USE REPAIR AGREEMENT

  • After discussion it was agreed by general consensus that the County should move on the draft agreement for its own road system and have this on the books at the County level as well as what was sent out to Towns and Villages.

 

8.            GOOD OF THE ORDER

  • M. Healy indicated that a letter to the Towns regarding the issues noted in the various studies should be drafted and sent out.  J. Luckey indicated that he would discuss with the Emergency Managers at the Hospitals these concerns when they meet.
  • M. Covert told the 15 Legislators that they need to work on bringing the workforce of Allegany County people up to the level of training required to be able to take advantage of the opportunities that will come with drilling in this area.

 

9.            ADJOURN:

On a motion by M. Healy, seconded by F. Sinclair, was carried to adjourn the meeting at 11:51 a.m.

 

Notes as taken by J. Foels & K. Dirlam