COHOCTON WIND WATCH CWW -WHERE'S THE MISSING MONEY?

Steuben County Arrest
Reported by: WROC TV
Thursday, Nov 26, 2009 @12:36pm


A Steuben County man has been arrested for allegedly stealing funds from the Cohocton American Legion.


New York State Police charged Jeffery Palmiter, 32, of Wayland, with Grand Larceny 3rd degree.


Palmiter was charged as a result of an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of funds from the Cohocton American Legion, where Palmiter served as an officer of that organization for approximately two years (2007 -2009).


Palmiter is alleged to have stolen the funds in his capacity as Treasurer. The defendant is specifically charged with the larceny of approximately $14,000 over the two year period he served as treasurer.


He was arraigned before the Town of Wayland Court, and was released on his own recognizance. He is scheduled to reappear in the Village of Cohocton Court on December 8th.

FIRST WIND, COHOCTON OPERATIONS DONATES 200 TURKEYS TO THE LIGHTHOUSE PANTRY, AVOCA, N.Y., FOR THANKSGIVING.

Rick Towner, Ben Wolcott and Jane Towner, employees of First Wind, Cohocton helped the Lighthouse Pantry, Avoca, N.Y. distribute Thanksgiving dinner fixings to 200 families in the local area. The turkeys were donated by First Wind Operation & Maintenance of Cohocton and Hubbard Potatoes of Avoca supplied 200 -10 lb bags of potatoes for the event.

We have never been able to do anything for our pantry people at Thanksgiving. Your turkeys have been given out to households with a total of 759 members. When I went through the line to register the people and to hear their Thanksgiving plans, I got an estimated 1500 – 1600 individuals who will be eating your turkey this Thursday.

THANK YOU! And Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.



Carol Preston

Lighthouse Community Panty

8593 Jacob’s Ladder Road

Avoca, N.Y. 14809

ALL THE TRIMMINGS AND THE TURKEY, TOO!

RICK TOWNER, ASSISTANT OPERATIONS MANAGER, FIRST WIND -CPP I & CPP II, COHOCTON

BEN WOLCOTT, BALANCE OF PLANT SUPERVISOR, FIRST WIND, CPP I & CPP II-COHOCTON

200 TURKEYS WAITING TO BE DISTRIBUTED

LIGHTHOUSE FOOD PANTRY, AVOCA BEING SET UP FOR THANKSGIVING DISTRIBUTION

Three Mile Island radiation leak investigated
November 22, 2009 1:52 p.m. EST

Three Mile Island nuclear plant, seen in March 1979, was the site of the worst U.S. nuclear accident.STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Airborne radiological contamination alarm sounded at 4 p.m. Saturday
Radiation was confined to a single building and no one was in danger, company says
In 1979, Three Mile Island was the scene of the worst U.S. nuclear accident



RELATED TOPICS
Three Mile Island
Nuclear Energy
(CNN) -- Authorities at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island nuclear plant were investigating what caused a weekend radiation leak that resulted in 150 workers being sent home, officials said Sunday.

An airborne radiological contamination alarm sounded about 4 p.m. Saturday in the Unit 1 containment building, according to a statement from Exelon Nuclear, which operates the Three Mile Island plant near Middletown, Pennsylvania. The unit had been shut down since October 26 for refueling, maintenance and steam generator replacement, the company said.

"A monitor at the temporary opening cut into the containment building wall to allow the new steam generators to be moved inside showed a slight increase in a reading and then returned to normal," the company said. "Two other monitors displayed normal readings."

Three Mile Island was the scene of the worst U.S. nuclear accident, a partial meltdown in 1979 that resulted in the plant's second reactor being shut down permanently.

Tests showed the contamination in Saturday's incident was confined to the building itself, and none was found outside, Exelon said. There was no threat to public health and safety, but the workers were sent home because they could not continue until the area was cleaned, Bill Noll, Exelon vice president, said in the Saturday statement.

One worker was found to have received 16 millirem of exposure, and others received lower levels of contamination. The annual occupational dose limit for workers at Exelon plants is 2,000 millirem, the statement said.

Radiation exposure from a chest X-ray is about 6 millirem, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Although Noll said it was hoped work would resume at Unit 1 on Sunday, Exelon spokeswoman Beth Archer told CNN on Sunday it had not resumed, as the cause of the leak was still under investigation.

Two radiation specialists from the NRC were scheduled to investigate Sunday. "Numerous work activities were going on in the building at the time the alarm sounded, and Exelon engineers are working to determine the cause of the incident," the statement said.

The March 1979 accident at Three Mile Island brought the nuclear industry to a standstill. The partial meltdown of Unit 2's nuclear core resulted in no injuries to plant workers or nearby community members, but it triggered changes in nuclear power plant operations and emergency planning and led to tighter oversight of the industry by the NRC.

The Unit 2 reactor is permanently shut down and defueled, the NRC said. In 2001, FirstEnergy acquired it and contracted its monitoring to Exelon, which owns Unit 1. The companies plan to keep Unit 2 in "long-term, monitored storage" until the Unit 1 operating license expires, at which time both plants will be decommissioned, the NRC said.

A new generation of nuclear reactors is being considered in the United States as environmental concerns have intensified about coal-fired power plants.

TOWN OF COHOCTON
November 17, 2009

PRESS RELEASE

The Town of Cohocton is sending out this release because the anti-wind group (Cohocton Wind Watch) headed by Steve Trude, the unsuccessful candidate for Town Board, issued a statement that the Town of Cohocton was missing $600,000 out of its budget. Even after the budget was explained, they continue to insist that there are missing monies. It is their mission, since the beginning of their existence, to discredit officials of the Town of Cohocton and the work that they do for the Town.

The Town of Cohoctons’ budget is developed by the fiscal officer of the Town (Supervisor Jack Zigenfus) with the assistance of an independent financial consultant (Baldwin Financial Services) who does work for over 25 Towns and Villages in Western New York. The Supervisor presents his budget proposal to the Town Board and the Board holds public workshop meetings on it to discuss and make changes. After this is done, there is a public hearing on the budget and after the public hearing, the Board Votes on the budget. It then becomes the adopted budget for the following year.

One must remember that a budget for the upcoming year is really a best estimate as to what the Town expects will be the expenditures and revenues. In our Town most, not all, revenues come from the Host Payment to the Town from the Wind Project, property taxes (which were reduced 60% over the past 2 years) and Steuben County Sales Tax. There are other miscellaneous revenues (see attached budget sheet).

Revenues and Expenditures balance the budget. This, as said earlier, is the best guess estimate for the ensuing year. Monies that are not spent from the current years budget, at the end of the year and not appropriated for in the 2010 budget goes into fund balance. This fund balance is again a best guess estimate of what will be left at the end of the year. I estimated that there would be approximately $600,000. To make it clear, think of our budget as you would your home accounts.


Our Budget is like your checking account, you make deposits (revenues) and you pay the bills (expenditures). Our Fund Balance is like your savings account, where you put money away for some type of unforeseen purchase that might come up (for example you need a new roof or new furnace).

As you are aware the State of New York and The Federal Government are in serious financial trouble. If you talk to any County Administrator they will tell you that the next few years will be a financial disaster for many Counties, Towns, and Villages. It is prudent at this time to make sure this Town is prepared for such a disaster. Huge increases are headed to every municipality in New York State. Fortunately, for our Town we will be in good financial condition to meet these challenging times. This Town Board is using its revenues and fund balance to ensure our Towns taxes remain stable, remain debt free and that we are prepared for what lies ahead.


Submitted by: Jack Zigenfus, Supervisor and Budget Officer

Massa used campaign funds to pay himself and wife
By Jerry Zremski
News Washington Bureau Chief
Updated: November 15, 2009, 12:48 PM / 17 comments

WASHINGTON -- Eric Massa paid himself and his wife $33,000 in salary out of campaign funds during his successful 2008 race in the Southern Tier's 29th district, federal records show.
Massa's payments highlighted a review of the personal financial disclosure statements of the area's federal lawmakers.
That review -- which found Rep. Chris Lee, R-Clarence, to be the House's 25th-richest lawmaker -- also showed that Massa and several of his colleagues took the same kind of huge financial hits that most Americans took during the 2008 economic crisis.
While that loss was to be expected, it's highly unusual to see a congressional candidate paying himself out of funds he or she raised for a campaign. Such payments are legal under federal election law, but ethics experts take a dim view of them.
"Voters should be concerned," said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington, a good-government group. "When they donated to Massa, they didn't expect that he would be pocketing the money."
Yet that's just what Massa, a Democrat from Corning, did with $15,000 of the $2.16 million he raised in his second bid to unseat Rep. Randy Kuhl, R-Hammondsport.
"Eric did draw a meager salary at the end of the 2008 campaign to cover expenses after campaigning full-time for four years," said Jared Smith, Massa's spokesman. "There aren't many people who have spent more time or effort working for the privilege of serving the families of their congressional district's than Rep. Massa."
Massa paid his wife, Beverly, $18,000 to work as the campaign's treasurer, accountant and compliance officer. Smith said Beverly Massa is not serving in those roles for Massa's 2010 re-election bid.
A retired Navy commander, Massa is by no means one of the wealthiest members of Congress. He ranked 283rd in wealth among the House's 435 members, the Center for Responsive Politics found in an analysis of the disclosure forms that lawmakers must file annually.
The value of Massa's investments was somewhere between $31,039 and $674,999. Those estimates are grossly imprecise because Congress wants it that way, only requiring lawmakers to report the value of an investment in a dollar-value range rather than a specific amount.
Averaging those two figures, the Center for Responsive Politics pegged Massa's net worth at an estimated $353,019.
What's more, Massa's net worth declined by an estimated 31.2 percent last year, according to the group's figures.
That's comparable to the estimated 30.2 percent hit that Lee -- by far the area's wealthiest lawmaker -- took last year.
With an estimated net worth of $13.46 million, Lee ranked as the House's 25th richest member, the study showed. Lee made his wealth through the family business, Enidine Corp., a motion-controls equipment manufacturer based in Orchard Park, where he served as an executive before running for Congress.
Lee was heavily invested in stock funds early in the year, but his financial disclosure form shows that he shed many of them in favor of less volatile investments, presumably often at a loss.
Acknowledging he took "a huge hit," Lee also said voters should not look at his considerable remaining wealth and consider him out of touch.
Saying he's in Congress "to help improve the lives of other Americans," Lee noted that he spends so much time with constituents that he knows very well how they are suffering economically.
"I've always felt that, if you're not talking all the time with people, in any organization, you won't be successful," he said. "It's very simple, if I'm not in touch with my constituents, I won't be re-elected."
The review of personal financial disclosure statements also showed:
-- Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, D-Fairport, suffered an estimated 36.6 percent drop in the value of her investments, which are concentrated in investment funds and savings that she has held for a long period of time.
With an estimated net worth of $1.7 million, Slaughter ranked 122nd in the House.
-- Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, enjoyed an estimated 10.4 increase in the value of his investments. Higgins keeps almost all of his money in savings and retirement accounts, meaning any increase in his net worth likely resulted from increased savings from his income as a congressman and his wife's income from the Buffalo schools.
Higgins remains one of the House's least wealthy members, ranking 341st.
jzremski@buffnews.com


Reader comments
There are 17 comments on this article.

My husband and I both maxed out on Massa's campaign. He told us in early 2007 as he was deciding whether to run again that the only way he could do it was to draw a salary from the campaign. He said he hated having to do it, but there was no other way to support his family and run again. We wrote our checks to his campaign long after he told us that, so obviously, as donors, we have no problem with it. Let me say that again, it was MY MONEY he paid himself and I'm fine with it. (For those of you who are still upset, you might want to look up how much Randy Kuhl paid his son...)

I find it funny that one of the people who thinks this is evil also thinks career politicians are evil. Massa was taking on a career politician. He's not one. That's why he had to campaign full time and draw a salary from his campaign. It's the very fact that this practice is legal that makes it possible for the non-wealthy to take on career politicians.
Posted by: MariaW on Nov 16,2009 at 07:26 am
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I didn't say he was a JAG Officer I said they would be investigating HIM. If he had to retire because of cancer that is his problem. What he does in office and with politics that is our forum Comrade. If you read my lips republicans were a joke too. Most politicians do it for one thing control over people and money. The whole political system is flawed because of CAREER POLITICIANS ruling the roost. There needs to be people stepping up to the bat and getting this playing field pretty level. Instead they just seem bent on lining their pockets from campaign funds or taxpayer funds. All to stay in political control. Do you know the retired salaries most of these POLITICIANS GET. some get better benefits and salaries that would make some of the top 10 businesses CEO's eyes beam with jealousy. Look up any public records of some of these guys if you can find them. These should be available under the freedom of information act. But I'll bet if you try it will take an act of congress to get them available. He's but one of the flunkies trying to REPRESENT their constituients and pass some of these flawed laws to help him line his pockets. So take your playboy with two shotguns and vote him in if he's so good. Just make sure he's above board and does a good job while in office. I don't care what these politicians do in their private time. It's when they are on public time and their funds that's where I draw the line. BTW I served in the NAVY too so It takes one to know one.
Posted by: Repairman on Nov 16,2009 at 12:30 am
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"There aren't many people who have spent more time or effort working for the privilege of serving the families of their congressional district's than Rep. Massa." - according to spokesman Jared Smith. With a statement like that this clown is ... "
He ran a full time campaign, twice. Was proud to vote for him twice too. Glad we got rid of what we had. He was a joke.
Posted by: parmm1 on Nov 15,2009 at 11:47 pm
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"A NAVY retiree at Commander level and he's billing his campaign contributions for wages. double dipping eh. Sounds like JAG would looking his way if he was still serving. As far as these political cronies go I ... "
I take it you would rather have a playboy who pointed 2 shotguns at his wife and threatened her at a fund raising party? Right Comrade, the Republicans didn't offer much!!! I really can not figure how he got re-elected over and over again.

BTW, Massa was not a Jag, and he would still be serving it it were not for cancer that is now under control. Had to retire.
Posted by: parmm1 on Nov 15,2009 at 11:44 pm
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"Should be removed from office immediately. He is a Democrat though so he will probably be rewarded with a committee chairmanship."
Or as a Republican given life long standing, a yacht, cocaine, some wars to start to help his buddies......
Posted by: aldo23 on Nov 15,2009 at 11:43 pm
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A NAVY retiree at Commander level and he's billing his campaign contributions for wages. double dipping eh. Sounds like JAG would looking his way if he was still serving. As far as these political cronies go I trust none of them. Especially poor Louise she really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Whats bad are the republicans really don't want to offer any good candidates just clones of those in office. So we're basically in a no win situation. Maybe we need some good independents to stand up and fight the good one against these INCUMBENT and clones trying to serve. After all they are supposed to be serving us taxpayers not themselves. Obviously this guy is just trying to get all he can from our dime. Did any of you notice it that congress doesn't want to be precise on any of their finances? Only within Vague ranges? Like they want us to be precise but somehow they seem to be exempt. Sure try that at an IRS audit. Politics are getting to be too big and people like Louise are trying to rule the roost and keep her throne in DC. No wonder our Government is into debt for over 12 trillion dollars and that is not to us. Look at Obama now he's over in China kissing up to the Chinese to let them know their investment (US) is safe and not to worry. With Politicians like these boy there really is a double standard and it's not in our favor. No wonder we are in such deep trouble as a nation. Small businesses like mine and yours Mr Freeze don't have to worry because we'll be taken over by the government and they will decide what we can and can not do. Right Comrade!
Posted by: Repairman on Nov 15,2009 at 11:16 pm
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I am not rich now and I think that way because I want to be wealthy in the future. I understand that letting me spend more of the money I earn and is rightly fully mine I will be able to spend it on my business and investments. Small business people like me will be able to create far greater wealth than pouring into the black hole of government. Even a ham and egger can understand this fact.
Posted by: mrfreeze on Nov 15,2009 at 07:51 pm
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I mlike Higgin's but come on! BOTH INCOMES, his and his wife from the public sector?
Posted by: Seenenough on Nov 15,2009 at 07:42 pm
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Lee is out of touch with reality. Constantly his legislation is "tax breaks" while a vast majority of Americans are making the more basic decision "can I afford it" not "how it will reduce my taxes". ONLY THE RICH THINK THAT WAY!
Posted by: Seenenough on Nov 15,2009 at 07:39 pm
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Should be removed from office immediately. He is a Democrat though so he will probably be rewarded with a committee chairmanship.
Posted by: abbie66 on Nov 15,2009 at 07:09 pm
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And we are wondering where political corruption comes from. Boy do we need an education. This is just kindergarten for these guys. Where's our ethics guys when we need them. May be legal but then most politicians are legal just not ethical.
Posted by: Repairman on Nov 15,2009 at 07:03 pm
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I find it very comical that anyone would find it objectional that Massa paid himself out of campaign money when ex Representative Kuhl was being paided by the taxpayers! I, for one, gave to Massa's campaign and do not object. Very happy to see Kuhl gone. Massa is a breath of fresh air when compared to the man I paid thru taxes to run against him.
Posted by: parmm1 on Nov 15,2009 at 01:34 pm
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If Massa raised money in the stock market without disclosing his intent to pay himself he would be in violation of securities law. Funny how congress exempts itself from the laws it imposes on others. Don't expect congress to be subject to the new health care bill: they'll just vote themselves more of our taxes for cadillac care. They exempt themselves from labor law, EEOC law, etc. Our imperial congress: don't you just love them?
Posted by: Obmanation on Nov 15,2009 at 11:52 am
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"There aren't many people who have spent more time or effort working for the privilege of serving the families of their congressional district's than Rep. Massa." - according to spokesman Jared Smith. With a statement like that this clown is either a lawyer or practicing to be one.
Posted by: LloydSokorski on Nov 15,2009 at 11:49 am
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This article seems to be slanted, even with the chosen headline that Rep. Eric Massa did some wrongdoing. This is NOT an example of impartial reporting.
Posted by: pjrobbins on Nov 15,2009 at 11:37 am
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Expect to see Brian Davis run for congress once he becomes aware of this procedure.
Posted by: GSBILL on Nov 15,2009 at 11:18 am
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Look at who (JK) ran against Collins a few years back, he did the same thing.
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Its common in Buffalo:)
Posted by: bullitt424 on Nov 15,2009 at 10:37 am
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A map illustrating where wind turbines will be placed in Howard.

By Bob Clark
The Evening Tribune
Thu Nov 12, 2009, 05:00 PM EST


While Howard town officials have not been contacted recently, the company planning a 25-turbine wind project is moving forward with development.
Kevin Sheen, head of business development for EverPower Renewables’ Howard project, said Wednesday the company is pushing for a springtime groundbreaking on the project.
“Given that the financial and power markets have started to recover, our goal is to break ground on the Howard Wind Project next year,” Sheen said. “We are currently working on the final details for construction including the transportation routing. We are hopeful that all will go according to plan and we will begin construction in May of next year.”
The Howard town planning board issued the company a conditional use permit, but several more agreements are needed before the company can finalize its project application with the town board, Sheen said.
“From a permitting point of view we need to complete the county road use agreement, the town road use agreement, the PILOT agreement with the county and the host community agreement with the Town of Howard,” he said in response to an email from the Tribune. “All of those are being worked on and should be resolved in the coming months.”
Along with permits, getting turbines to put on the site also is a challenge.
The project includes 25 turbines, each rated for 2.5 megawatts of power production in optimal wind conditions. Sheen said the company is looking to buy German-based Nordex turbines, but the final deal has not been set yet.
Nordex currently builts its model N90 turbines in Rostock, Germany, the company’s Web site states, but a new plant in Arkansas is under construction, scheduled for a mid-2010 opening.
The most-important step in the project is getting funds to pay for the construction.
“We are still researching the different options that would allow us to finance the project,” Sheen said via email. “Typically, these projects receive a construction loan that is converted into longer-term financing once the project becomes operational.”
Sheen added the company is working on a power purchase agreement, which would help finance the construction.
Also helping the firm will be its purchase by Terra Firma, a private equity firm, that is in the midst of a $350 million buyout of EverPower, according to the Reuters news service in August. Sheen said the firm will help near-term projects move ahead, including Howard.
EverPower also is developing a 65-80 MW wind project in Allegany, as well as projects in Oregon and Ohio. The company operates a 62.5 MW project with 25 Nordex N90 turbines in Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

Again, the local Cohocton election shows overwhelming support for wind energy in our community. Despite the negative attacks from the opposition, the lies, the innuendo they tried to spread, the incumbents were re-elected. How many years, how many elections does it take to send the pro message to CWW? Your strong-arm tactics are not working, the Township of Cohocton has, again, spoken.

Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Steuben County Election Results 2009
2009SteubenCountyElectionResultsgen_ur.pdf

Cohocton
TOWN SUPERVISOR (2 Year) (Vote for ONE)
5A Bonnie Palmiter - DEM 217
5B W. Jack Zigenfus - REP 388
Blank - 0
Void - 0

Cohocton
TOWN CLERK (2 Year) (Vote for ONE)
6B Sandra L. Riley - REP 565
Blank - 0
Void - 0

Cohocton
TOWN JUSTICE (4 Year) (Vote for ONE)
7B Ronald C. Snyder - REP 515
Blank - 0
Void - 0

Cohocton
TOWN COUNCILMEN (4 Year) (Vote for ANY TWO)
8A Joseph Dyckman - DEM 379
8B Jeffrey F. Wise - REP 430
9A Beverly J. Kota - DEM 158
9B Stephen Trude - REP 238
Blank - 0
Void - 0

Cohocton
SUPERINTENDENT OF HIGHWAYS (2 Year) (Vote for ONE)
10B Brian Kuhn - REP 470
10C Douglas Byington - IND 116
Blank - 0
Void - 0

Cohocton
ASSESSOR (4 Year) (Vote for ONE)
11B David A. Domm - REP 487
Blank - 0
Void - 0