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By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
TOWN OF CAZENOVIA
Madison County local elections
On Nov. 5, voters returned Supervisor Bill Zupan (DEM) and Jimmy Golub (DEM) to their positions on the Cazenovia Town Board and elected a new town councilor, Kyle M. Reger (REP).
Reger beat out Timothy L. Hunt (REP) for the position with 1,151 votes to Hunt’s 864 votes.
On Dec. 9, Councilor Thomas M. Driscoll vacated his seat on the board after more than six years of service.
Route 20 Water District
This summer, Cazenovia and Nelson initiated the Town of Cazenovia/Town of Nelson Route 20 Water District Improvements project.
The $2.85 million project will extend public water from the Village of Cazenovia Public Water System to businesses and residential properties along US Route 20.
According to a December 2017 Map, Plan, and Report prepared by Dunn & Sgromo Engineers, PLLC, the new district includes 10 properties in the Trush Business Park and 35 properties on both sides of Route 20, from Stone Quarry Road to 800 feet east of Nelson Heights Road.
Designed to improve quality of life and spur economic development, the water line extension project is the result of collaboration between the Town and Village of Cazenovia and the Town of Nelson.
During the Dec. 9 town board meeting, Cazenovia Town Supervisor Bill Zupan announced that the tank for the district was being manufactured.
“Everything is going along [well],” he said. “That’s one project that is basically off of our plate.”
5G technology
The town board had multiple discussions on fifth-generation cellular network technology (5G).
On Nov. 4, the board adopted a local law drafted by Town Attorney John Langey to address the future deployment of 5G within the town limits.
The purpose of the law is to safeguard all of the town’s legal rights and options to address and reasonably regulate the incoming technology.
“With these new regulations . . . the town will exercise what authority the FCC has given [it],” said Langey. “The FCC says that we have the right to address the aesthetic look of these poles or towers, and we have the right to impose certain fees that are capped. The law that the town board has in front of them [tonight] . . . addresses what the FCC regulations would provide for us.”
The board also passed a resolution to adopt the “Town of Cazenovia Design Standards and General Guidelines for Small Cell Wireless Telecommunication Facilities.”
Mt. Pleasant Water District
The town worked to address the concerns of residents of the Mt. Pleasant Water District regarding the contamination of their drinking water, which contains arsenic levels that exceed the New York State standard.
On Oct. 7, residents served by the water system addressed the town board to request an update on the status of the installation of a filtration system to treat the arsenic and other contaminants.
Residents expressed their beliefs that the town had failed to prioritize the public health issue and failed to keep the residents up-to-date on efforts to remedy the situation.
One resident stated he and his neighbors had not had clean drinking water in at least nine years and that they are being charged for water that is technically undrinkable.
Zupan said the town had authorized the purchase of all necessary equipment and that the first set of equipment was already installed. He added that the town was awaiting authorization from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to install the second set of equipment.
The supervisor also said he would check in on the status of the application and set up a meeting with the residents.
On Dec. 9 Councilor Patrick Race informed the board that the arsenic and iron removal system was up and running.
“We’ve had a bug or two, but it seems like it’s been worked out and everything is going well,” he said.
VILLAGE OF CAZENOVIA
Susan Light joins the board of trustees
On June 18, voters elected three candidates — two incumbents and one newcomer — to seats on the Village of Cazenovia Board of Trustees. All races were uncontested.
Mayor Kurt Wheeler (56 votes) and Trustee Fritz Koennecke (59 votes) were reelected to their seats.
Susan Light (61 votes) was elected to serve her first term as Village of Cazenovia Trustee.
Light was sworn into office on July 1.
The Landing at Burke Meadows
On Nov. 4, the board of trustees approved the zone change requested by Housing Visions Unlimited, Inc. for the construction of “The Landing at Burke Meadows” — an affordable senior and family housing complex on 14.96 acres of land east of Burton Street.
The project will feature 49 units — four 4-unit townhouses (16 units total) and a two-story 33-unit senior building.
The board’s determination was made following consideration of public input; recommendations for approval from the Village of Cazenovia Planning Board, the Madison County Planning Agency, Cazenovia Preservation Foundation, and the Cazenovia Advisory Conservation Commission; and the planning board’s determination that the zone change would not result in any significant adverse environmental impacts.
During the public hearings held by the village board of trustees and the village planning board, many Burton Street area residents voiced concerns regarding the scope of the project; the potential sewer and drainage issues associated with the project; its ability to meet the needs of the community; its effect on the character of the neighborhood; and its impact on traffic and safety.
Based on public input, Housing Visions made a number of changes to its proposal, including the reduction of the scope of the project from 70 units to 49 units.
“There were a lot of concerns from the neighborhood, [but] when the village board looked at [the application] objectively, most of those concerns had been mitigated,” Wheeler said in November. “ . . . In the end, all four members of the board voted in favor of the resolution.”
The board’s decision has enabled Housing Visions to move forward with its project.
Analysis and approval of the final site plan will be the responsibility of the village planning board.
South Village/South Meadow connection
On Oct. 7, the board of trustees opened up the connection between the adjoining South Village and South Meadow subdivisions.
The board passed a resolution declining to enact a local law to amend the village code to establish Atwell Ridge (southbound) and South Meadow Drive (northbound) as “limited through traffic streets.”
In 2012, the village planning board granted preliminary approval for “Phase 1” of the South Meadow subdivision subject to a number of conditions, including the stipulation that there be no general public vehicular through traffic between the existing South Village subdivision and the proposed South Meadow subdivision, and that there be signage indicating the restricted access.
The planning board recommended that the board of trustees take legislative steps to designate the boundary between the two subdivisions as restricted to emergency and municipal vehicle use only with appropriate signage.
The village did erect signage, but the board of trsutess never adopted a local law to codify and enforc the restrictions.
On Sept. 3, 2019, the board of trustees held a public hearing on the adoption of such legislation.
South Village residents expressed concern regarding the safety issues and street congestion that could result from opening up the connection to general through traffic.
On the other side of the discussion, a number of residents raised concerns that the signs and street barriers create a negative image of the community; hinder the development of a sense of community between the neighborhoods; are inconsistent with the objective of the Village Comprehensive Plan to promote connectivity between neighborhoods; create an unnecessary risk to public health and safety by inhibiting the movement of emergency vehicles; and violate NYS law prohibiting restrictions of this nature on public streets.
The board’s Oct. 7 decision resulted in the removal of all barriers and signage.
“The board ultimately voted for a solution we believe will address the legitimate safety concerns raised by the South Village neighborhood while staying within New York State law and remaining consistent with our Comprehensive Plan,” Wheeler said during the October meeting.
On Dec. 2, the board voted to adopt two local laws intended to enhance pedestrian safety and reduce traffic-related property damage in South Village.
The first local law established a 25 mph speed limit along the entire lengths of South Village Drive, Fairchild Lane and Atwell Ridge. The speed limit in South Meadow on South Meadow Drive, Gregg South Lane and Gregg East Lane remains 30 mph.
The board also passed a resolution to adopt a local law to prohibit trucks of over six tons gross weight from traveling over the following designated streets: South Village Drive, Fairchild Lane, Atwell Ridge, South Meadow Drive, Gregg South Lane and Gregg East Lane, except in case of local delivery.
According to Wheeler, the board expects to receive a report from the village engineer in January regarding the addition of sidewalks to South Village.
CAZENOVIA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Budget vote and election
District residents voted to approve a budget of $30,105,000, representing a 1.52 percent increase in spending over the previous school year budget and a 4.75 percent ($817,319) tax levy increase, which is less than the 6.78 percent allowable under New York State’s Tax Cap legislation. The budget continues all existing academic, fine arts, athletic and extracurricular activities.
Residents also voted to approve the purchase of three replacement school buses; to abolish the $250,000 Liability Reserve; to support the Cazenovia and New Woodstock libraries; and to elect Kathy Hahn and incumbent Jennifer Parmalee to the board of education.
Capital Project
Throughout 2019, the board of education discussed the district’s 2020 Capital Project — the first phase of the “Cazenovia 2030 And Beyond” long-range facilities plan.
Developed with input from the community, students, the building faculty and stakeholders, the preliminary plan was approved by the voters last December.
The $15 million tax-neutral project prioritizes safety and security upgrades, educational space enhancements, infrastructure upgrades and community-shared spaces.
During the May 21 meeting, the board discussed options to enhance the functionality and connectivity of the high school.
The submitted design moves the math classrooms up to the second floor with the other core subject areas; fills in the tunnel; and places the entire career and technical education (CTE) program — including a new STEM lab, a business classroom, a computer classroom, a lecture space and the Ag department — on the first floor, which will be connected to the main building by two hallways.
The project — which is currently under review by the state — will likely go out to bid just after the first of the year.
Energy Performance Contract
The district requested proposals for an Energy Performance Contract (EPC) to provide up to $2 million of energy-related upgrades and additions to district infrastructure.
The project will be completed in coordination with the 2020 Capital Project.
The EPC will enable the district to complete all improvements (LED lighting upgrades, HVAC systems and controls, sealing the building envelope, and small rooftop solar arrays) without tapping into capital budget funds, as the project will be paid for with the savings generated from the improvements.
“There really is no risk of additional costs to the taxpayer,” said Assistant Superintendent Thomas Finnerty on Nov. 18. “The energy savings and the building aid that we receive to pay for the work that is being done will cover the cost of the project.”
On Nov. 18, the board approved an EPC referendum vote.
The vote will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020 from noon to 9 p.m. in the middle school auxiliary gymnasium.
Although a referendum is not required, voter approval enables the district to receive an additional 10 percent in NYS Building Aid.
A hearing on the proposition will be held on Jan. 7, 2020 at 6 p.m. in the High School auditorium.
Athletic facilities
In response to public input, the district began exploring potential improvements to its athletic facilities.
According to Superintendent Matthew Reilly, the renewed interest in an artificial turf project is due in part to the number of weather-related issues experienced last spring, which resulted in the repeated postponement and relocation of the district’s athletic events.
“This is also something that has been on people’s minds for over a decade,” he said
During the May 21 board meeting, community members commented that improvements to the fields would not only help to mitigate the impact of rain and increase playability, but also to make the students more competitive athletically and the district more desirable.
On Nov. 18, board member Dave Mehlbaum reported that the facilities committee reviewed a draft report from The LA Group — a firm hired to conduct a study of the district’s outdoor athletic facilities — that outlined options for improvements and established project priorities.
At the Dec. 16 meeting, Mehlbaum said the facilities committee plans to meet and report back to the board in the near future.
According to Reilly, if the district decides to move forward with an athletic facilities project, it will likely choose a path that combines three funding options — bonding through the increase of taxes; private funding through a foundation; and the use of monies put away in a capital reserve.
Work based learning
Last summer, Cazenovia CSD announced the launch of a new “Work-Based Learning” (WBL) program in the high school.
Scheduled to start in Sept. 2020, the program will be led by business teacher Christina New — the district’s certified WBL Coordinator.
The pilot program will provide up to 10 eligible seniors with the opportunity to work in a local business as part of an elective class, called “Internship.”
Through the program, students will earn course credits while spending part of their school day at a job site, where they will work alongside an industry mentor; gain first-hand career knowledge; and develop broad, transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, networking, critical thinking and professionalism for postsecondary education and the workplace.
Unified Sports
On Nov. 18, the board approved the formation of district-sponsored, interscholastic Unified Basketball and Unified Bowling teams at the high school.
Unified Sports is an inclusive program that joins approximately equal numbers of “athletes” (individuals with intellectual disabilities) and “partners” (individuals without intellectual disabilities) on teams for training and competition.
The program is offered to the district through a partnership between Special Olympics New York and the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.
New Courses
On Dec. 16, the board approved a number of new high school courses: Weird Geology, Physics of Sports, and Chemistry of Cooking in the science department; Business Internship, Advanced Metal Fabrication, Child Development, Family Relations and Partnerships, and Teachers for Tomorrow in the CTE department; and Creative Crafts, Comic Book Illustration, Public Art, and Digital Art I and II in the fine arts department.
The courses are scheduled to begin in the 2020/2021 school year.
CAZENOVIA COLLEGE
Master’s program
Last spring, Cazenovia College announced the addition of a master of science in clinical mental health counseling (CMHC) to its degree offerings.
The rigorous two-year program is the first graduate degree program to be offered at the college in its 195-year history.
The college’s new program is designed to help students meet the requirements for CMHC licensure in New York State and to develop the skills, knowledge and ethical understanding necessary to become competent counselors.
Assistant Professor Christina M. Bobesky, MS, PhD and Professor Mary Handley, PhD, LMHC, CRC serve as program directors, instructors and student advisors.
Filling the Gaps
Last fall, Cazenovia College launched the “Filling the Gaps” mentoring program — an initiative that matches students from the Cazenovia College Human Services program with local senior citizens.
The pilot program was a joint effort of the college and Community Resources for Independent Seniors (CRIS) TimeBank, with funding provided through the Cazenovia College President’s Innovative Fund.
Offered by the college as a non-credit volunteer opportunity, Filling the Gaps included nine student participants.
Throughout the academic year, the mentoring pairs spent at least two hours a week together, engaging in a variety of activities at senior homes, on campus or out in the community.
Increased enrollment
On July 24, Cazenovia College President Dr. Ronald Chesbrough reported during a community breakfast that the college experienced an upturn in enrollment following “a couple of challenging years that everybody in [the] sector experienced.”
He said the enrollment increase is due in large part to the efforts of Associate Dean of Admissions Kristen Bowers and her team.
“The simple fact is that the number of college-going high-school students in our chief recruiting region is going down . . . [Meanwhile,] the competition is going up,” Chesbrough said. “We took a couple of hits which we’ve carried with us for a few years, but the great news is that Kristen and her staff have engineered what I can only describe as a turn around in our enrollment trends.”
CAZENOVIA LAKE
Lake Summit
On Nov. 16, the Cazenovia Lake Watershed Council (CLWC) presented the 2019 Lake Summit at the Village of Cazenovia Municipal Building.
Dr. Greg Boyer, chemistry professor at SUNY ESF and director of the Great Lakes Research Consortium, delivered a presentation on Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).
Boyer reported that, while unsightly, most of the blooms on Cazenovia Lake in the past several years have been non-toxic.
The 2019 samples, however, contained measureable amounts of toxins — levels that were high enough to be of concern in terms of recreation.
The researcher clarified that the toxins cannot penetrate the skin and must be ingested in order to produce harmful effects.
He advised dog owners to hose off their pets following exposure to a bloom before the animals have the opportunity to lick the concentrated algae from their fur.
Additional topics discussed during the summit included the Cazenovia Lake fish community, the European Frog-bit Removal Project, Eurasian Watermilfoil management efforts, activity at the Cazenovia Lake Boat Launch, and efforts to minimize silt infiltration into the lake.
European Frog-bit Removal Project
This past fall, Cazenovia concluded the second season of a three-year, DEC-funded project aimed at eradicating the invasive European Frog-bit.
Since the start of the project in 2018, crews have made considerable progress, successfully removing large quantities of the plant from the infested areas of the lake.
Throughout each season, teams of Cazenovia College-employed crewmembers and community volunteers worked to hand-pull and discard as many of the invasive plants as possible.
This summer, the crews focused their efforts on the wetlands to the north of the lake.
According to Dr. Thad Yorks — professor of environmental biology and biology programs at Cazenovia College — eradication in the swamp area is not feasible.
To continue after the next season, the project will require a new source of funding.
Eurasian Watermilfoil management
At the end of May, 190 acres of the lake were treated with the chemical herbicide Triclopyr (sold as Renovate).
The total cost of 2019 treatment was $248,356.
Following the treatment, the weed harvester ran from June 25 through Aug. 19, making 20 trips and collecting 53.5 loads.
The town is currently working with the Cazenovia Lake Association to investigate the option of switching from Renovate to the newly approved herbicide ProcellaCOR.
“It has a lot lower rate of application, [it’s less expensive], there are a lot less restrictions on it, and they are having good results in other lakes that they used it on this year,” Supervisor Bill Zupan said at the lake summit.
CAZENOVIA PUBLIC LIBRARY
Carriage Barn Books
On Oct. 26, the Friends of the Cazenovia Public Library hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of Carriage Barn Books — a like-new bookstore operated out of the newly renovated barn adjacent to the library.
The opening marked the completion of a substantial historic renovation of the building.
The barn now features reclaimed wood floors, new walls and windows, and restored horse stalls.
The original 1890 shelving, which remained in use until 1996, was also restored and reinstalled.
Additions to the structure include glass doors, designed to work in combination with the historic wooden barn doors, a brick walkway, and an HVAC system.
“Cazenovia Memories”
In the fall, the Library Museum installed a new local history exhibit to provide visitors with greater insight into the town’s storied past.
“Cazenovia Memories” showcases locally important materials from the collection of Danna DeVaul and her late husband, Charles.
DeVaul donated the vast collection last spring with the intention of enhancing the library museum’s collection of “Cazenoviana” with items such as Cazenovia-related memorabilia, historical documents, maps, artifacts/antiques and artwork.
The display features a diverse array of historic objects, including advertising giveaways; milk bottles; a year book; souvenir plates, postcards and trays; local pharmaceutical bottles; a unique knife from Cazenovia Bakery; artwork by Merrill A. Bailey; and an advertisement for a $2 stay at the Lincklaen House.
Additional items from the DeVaul collection will be featured in the museum’s local history exhibit hall, which is scheduled to undergo a renovation starting this winter.
EMPIRE FARM BREWERY
Bankruptcy
On Aug. 20, Empire Farm Brewery, Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in New York Northern Bankruptcy Court with more than $10 million in debts.
At the time of the filing, Empire Brewing Co. Founder and President David Katleski stated his intention to reorganize while remaining open for business.
For several months leading up to the bankruptcy filing, Empire had been working with the town to bring their facility into compliance with its wastewater discharge permit. Particular attention was given to addressing violations related to problems monitoring the flow of wastewater output and controlling pH levels.
Closure and sale
On Oct. 23, a federal bankruptcy court approved the sale of the brewery to DeWitt-based Feldmeier Equipment and its holding company Rocale LLC for $3.44 million.
Feldmeier made the bid during a bankruptcy auction, topping a pre-arranged purchase offer and bid of $3.25 million from Wisconsin-based Burnett Dairy Cooperative.
The sale did not include Empire Brewing Company’s intellectual property like branding or recipes for menu items, such as beer and food.
Feldmeier, which makes steel tanks and other industrial equipment, is one of the creditors owed money by Empire.
The new owners and operators officially closed on the acquisition of the property Nov. 12.
Empire Farm Brewery closed its doors the previous Sunday.
The site will be home to a new brewery, Meier’s Creek Brewing Company, some time in 2020 according to the new owner.
ACHIEVERS
New Woodstock artist wins national prize
On Aug. 2, New Woodstock resident and fine artist Daniel K. Tennant was awarded the grand prize in the 2019 Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors (ANEAW) — an annual show held at VIEW arts center in Old Forge, NY.
The selected entries were painted by artists from 26 states, Washington D.C. and two Canadian provinces.
Tennant’s painting, titled “A Hard Working Man,” was awarded the $2,500 Beechmont First & Gold Medallion prize.
The artist graduated from Cazenovia High School, where he studied under nationally recognized watercolorist Merrill A. Bailey (1909-1981).
Master Gardener recognized
Last June, the Garden Club of America honored local Master Gardener Janine Golub with the “Club Historic Preservation Commendation.”
The award recognizes Golub for dedicating nearly four decades to the restoration, preservation and maintenance of the formal Ellen Biddle Shipman-designed flower gardens at Lorenzo State Historic Site.
Caz high school graduate receives Emmy nomination
Melissa Toth, a 1986 graduate of Cazenovia High School, was nominated for an Emmy for her costume work on “Fosse/Verdon” — a biographical miniseries about the partnership between director-choreographer Bob Fosse and Broadway dancer Gwen Verdon.
The show received seven nominations for the 71st Primetime Emmy Awards — which honored the best in U.S. prime time television from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019, as selected by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
“Fosse/Verdon” was one of five shows up for the “Outstanding Period Costumes” award.
The nomination recognized Toth and her design team for their work on the episode titled “Life is a Cabaret.”
Phan accepted to Master Teacher Program
This fall, Cazenovia High School teacher Thuc Phan was accepted into the New York State Master Teacher Program (NYSMTP) — a professional network of high performing K-12 STEM (science, technology/computer science, engineering or mathematics) educators.
Phan — a computer science and technology teacher in the CTE department — was one of 228 educators from across the state to join the NYSMTP this year.
CLIMATE INITIATIVES
United Climate Action Network
In March 2019, the United Climate Action Network (U-CAN) held its first Climate Action Leadership Summit — a historic event that brought together more than 40 community leaders to develop strategies to address climate change on a local level.
Formed in 2016, U-CAN is a local grassroots organization that advocates environmentally sustainable policies and actions in New York’s 22nd Congressional District.
A follow-up meeting was held on June 1, during which the attendees shared their accomplishments and divided into small working groups to set goals for the summer.
The groups focused on a number of topics, including renewable energy, agriculture, plastics and recycling, water, advocacy, communications, and networking with other communities engaged in similar work.
On April 18, U-CAN sponsored the third annual “Seize the Power” Climate & Energy Action Fair in coordination with Cazenovia College.
Reducing single-use plastics
In the fall, Cazenovia CSD made efforts to address concerns raised by a group of middle school students regarding the use of single use plastics in the school cafeterias.
During the Nov. 18 school board meeting, Superintendent Matthew Reilly said he met with the students on multiple occasions and that the district has since transitioned from Styrofoam to paper cups and eliminated straws — apart from those required by certain special needs students. Starting Jan. 1, the middle school cafeteria will transition to metal flatware.
OTHER CAZENOVIA NEWS
Chamber relocation
In June, the Greater Cazenovia Area Chamber of Commerce board voted to relocate the chamber from 59 Albany St. to the McDowell Insurance Agency building next to Buyea’s True Value.
“We have also been looking inward at how we serve our members and whether we could be doing something more,” Vice Chairperson McKenzie Houseman said. “We thought about all of the work we do and the events we put on just to keep the doors open. If we could have a space that was less expensive . . . we could do a lot more.”
According to Houseman, the board views the chamber’s physical presence on Albany Street as unnecessary, particularly in light of the prevalence of smart phones and the ease of access to the chamber’s website and other online sources of information.
The board plans to put its savings towards promoting Cazenovia as a whole, supporting all of its members (within and outside the village), and paying for newspaper advertisements.
Theophilus Cazenove Building
This fall, David and Louis Muraco of Marketplace Partners RT 20, LLC announced the opening of the Theophilus Cazenove building at 126 Nelson Street in the Cazenovia Market development.
Marketplace Partners RT 20, LLC is the developer and owner of both the Theophilus Cazenove building and the ALDI grocery store next door.
The company’s new mixed-use building features 12 luxury apartments — known as the Lofts at Cazenovia Market — on the second and third floors (six per floor); two first floor retail spaces; a first floor community room; a main lobby with mailboxes; and a three story elevator.
The building’s aesthetic design is based on the historic F.M. McLaughlin building on Albany Street.
The Theophilus Cazenove building is Phase II of the Cazenovia Market development project.
According to Louis, Marketplace Partners RT 20, LLC has already received approval for the construction of a drugstore on the other side of ALDI and four additional buildings (12 apartments each) behind the Theophilus Cazenove building.
Creekside Park
On Sept. 28, Cazenovia celebrated the official opening of Creekside Park — a unique space located below the Cazenovia Public Library parking lot along Riverside Drive between Mill Street and Albany Street.
Jocelyn Gavitt, president of the Cazenovia Area Community Development Association, spearheaded the Creekside Park project, which she describes as “a playful park made by the community for the community.”
The park includes the following features: a circular story hour space with rustic, wooden seating; natural areas for kids to explore; a concrete circular area imprinted with a checkers/chess board and the letters of the alphabet; two pergolas (large and small); picnic tables from Troyer’s Country Store and a climbing area with tunnels.
TOWN OF FENNER
Local election
In the Town of Fenner, all five incumbent candidates ran unopposed and were reelected to their positions.
The offices on the ballot were supervisor, town clerk, highway superintendent and two town council seats.
Oxbow Hill Solar Project proposal
In April, Cypress Creek Renewables, LLC — a national solar energy company that develops, maintains and operates solar farms — presented a preliminary plan for its “Oxbow Hill Solar Project” to the Fenner Town Board.
The proposed 140-megawatt power plant would encompass 1,000 acres and involve a 25-year contract with five-year renewals possible for a 40-year timeframe.
On Sept. 11, the board adopted “A Resolution Adopting A Local Law Establishing An Interim Moratorium On Ground Solar Energy Facilities Within The Town Of Fenner.”
The moratorium is for one year (Sept. 2019 to Sept. 2020).
“There are a lot of misconceptions about what is [being proposed], said Fenner Town Supervisor David Jones in October. “I don’t think people realize the scope of the project. It’s huge. The solar array at the landfill is 13 acres. So you’re talking over 70 times larger than that . . . I don’t think anybody is opposed to solar, but [there are people] opposed to a project this size. It’s basically going to change what our town looks like. It would use up basically ten percent of the tillable land in our town . . . if that’s what the people want, that’s fine, but right now, the majority of the people I’ve talked to do not want a project that large.”
TOWN OF NELSON
Local election
On Nov. 5, James J. Cunningham (REP, CON, IND) defeated incumbent Supervisor Roger D. Bradstreet (DEM, STR) with 385 votes to Bradstreet’s 266 votes.
Bradstreet has served as Nelson town supervisor since 2010.
Incumbent Town Councilor John E. Laubscher (REP, IND) earned another term on the board, and John Lagorga (REP, IND) beat out incumbent Tammy Hayes (DEM, STR) and Nancy Demyttenaere (DEM, STR) for the second seat on the board.
Incumbents Deborah J. Costello (REP, GC1) and Joseph E. Deyo, Jr. (REP) ran unopposed for town clerk and superintendent of highways, respectively.
Mad Tacos
In September, Jon Phillips, of Cazenovia, opened Mad Tacos — a craft beer and taco spot with a relaxed, East-coast vibe — at Nelson Corners.
Phillips grew up in California until the age of 12, when he moved to Cazenovia. After graduating from Cazenovia High School, he moved away for a decade, living in both Colorado and Hawaii. He returned to town with his wife — who is also from Cazenovia — to raise a family.
