Otsego Board of Representatives Weighs Opposition to State Budget Rules

Otsego County

Last Wednesday, the Otsego County Board of Representatives heard concerns from three area residents about the threats to home rule posed by Part N of the Article VII Executive Revenue Bill contained in Governor Kathy Hochul’s Budget Proposal.

Dan Sullivan of Richfield, Nathan Seamon of Columbia in nearby Herkimer County, and Keith Shue of Cherry Valley all urged the county representatives to oppose Part N.

Essentially, Part N—which is opposed by the New York Association of Counties— removes the right of munici- palities to assess taxes for large scale solar, wind and battery storage projects that locate within their boundaries. Instead, the assessment power is given to the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance to adopt a model that is currently being challenged in court. And, it backdates this authority to 2021.

In his remarks to the County Board, Nate Seamon, who heads a grass-roots group called Protect Columbia, pointed out the erosion of the principle of home rule going back to 2019.

“94-c, and now Part N, are directly aimed at dismantling local communities’ authority to govern themselves. This

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appears to go against Article IX of the state Constitution, which enshrines home Rule,” he stated.

94c refers to an executive law that bypasses local zoning and land-use regulations for large-scale renewable projects if the local laws are deemed to be “burdensome” by the Office of Renewable Energy Siting.

Keith Schue, an engineer by profession who has been involved in state energy policy for many years, echoed and amplified Seamon’s comments.

“The Part N provision… perpetuates the attack on home rule. First you had Article X, then 94-c pushed by Cuomo, which basically made it impossible for communities to affect these projects,” Schue said. “And now we have a statemandated appraisal model which is another gift to the solar/wind lobby—one that prevents local governments and school districts from receiving adequate revenue for the projects they are forced to host.

“Part N takes that even further, making it impossible to even question or challenge the new model being mandated, and denying due process to communities,” emphasized Schue.

For its part, the Board of

Representatives responded quickly to the comments, voting unanimously to authorize Chairperson David Bliss to sign and send a letter of opposition to the Governor. An attempt to pass an accompanying resolution of opposition was temporarily tabled, as more time was needed to craft the language. Dan Sullivan is the supervisor of the Town of Richfield.

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Daylight Saving: Time and Time Again

Among the myriad annoying swirls of disaffection, rage, frustration and division in this country, the years-long massive popular and political debate over abolishing daylight saving, or abolishing standard, times—and then adopting either as standard—should be a mere minor tremor. But this particular time war, which was in fact first developed by the Germans in World War I (and abolished right after it) has been raging across the country, as well as across Europe and Great Britain, for nearly a decade, and it is not going to stop until a decision is made. And then, of course, as have been several cases in the past, that decision may not even hold.

The Uniform Time Act of 1966 came into being to alleviate the independent and erratic time zones and daylight saving times across the country. The messy minutes conversely affected such schedules as those of the railroad trains. The act created nine standard time zones—Atlantic, Eastern, central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaskan, HawaiiAleutian, Samoa, and chamorro—for the United States and formalized the dates, although they have been known to occasionally slide around, in the months of March and November of daylight saving time. The railroads benefited, but the people grumbled. The U.S. territories and Arizona, but not the Navajo Nation, remained on permanent standard time, as they could by federal law, which, incredibly, permits states to opt out of daylight saving but does not permit states to observe permanent daylight saving. Then, in 1974, President Nixon enacted permanent daylight saving time in reaction to the oil crisis of the previous year. That lost support and did not last a full year.

Since that time, more than 30 states have introduced bills to end daylight saving time and to make it the permanent standard time year-round. The thoughts around the country are that daylight saving time would reduce pedestrian fatalities by 13 percent (to 171 per year), increase shopping opportunities and outdoor activities during the sun-filled evening hours, make people cheerier and more productive, deter robberies, ward off fatal car crashes and even, perhaps, reduce energy consumption. On the other hand, it has been thought to also reduce sleep time: One awakens easily with the bright mornings of standard time and its dark nights enhance the production of melatonin. When nights are too light, sleep deprivation follows, bringing with it health problems such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Daylight saving time also challenges the body’s circadian rhythm—its natural clock that is aligned with the progression of the sun—which helps control metabolism, insulin production, blood pressure and hormones. Daylight saving time, it turns out, throws our bodies out of whack and adds to our medical bills. Interestingly, permanent standard time has been found to be more healthy, safe and beneficial for all of us than permanent daylight saving time. No one seems to have heard this. Last year, in March, the U.S. Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which was introduced by Florida Senator Marco Rubio and has garnered genuine bipartisan support. The bill permits states to observe permanent daylight saving time and, if approved by the House and signed by the President, it would take effect in November 2023, thus voiding the activity that most Americans have deemed obsolete and superfluous—that of exuberantly springing forward and sadly falling back. March your clocks forward this weekend.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR POLICY

“The Freeman’s Journal” welcomes letters to the editor that reflect the writer’s thoughts on an article or other item appearing in the paper. They must include the writer’s name, address, e-mail and telephone/ mobile number; the opinions expressed must be the writer’s own. Hostile, offensive, factually incorrect or excessively inflammatory content will not be published. The length must be no more than 250 words. The editors reserve the right to accept, reject or edit letters for clarity and space. Please send letters to: info@allotsego.com.

FoxCare Fitness Closing Questioned

The recent surprise announcement of the closure of Foxcare Fitness comes as a real shock to many! Hundreds of clients, including hospital staff, use this state-of-the-art facility daily to help maintain healthy bodies and spirits.

As in other aspects of society, cOVID played havoc with the program, which was closed for over a year. When it opened, the extended mask policy kept some people away. However, we saw no real publicity announcing the re-opening. Was there any real effort to lure folks back? Was the Oneonta community given warning that the facility would have to close if members did not come back in sufficient numbers? could grants and county resources be tapped to give FcF longer to rebuild? There are many concerns that should be addressed before the death of a unique, vital resource that hugely impacts greater-Oneonta.

Perhaps, people felt a false sense of security about the future of Foxcare Fitness when they saw new lights above the pool and other repairs being made. Both the wonderful cardiac and physical therapy programs feed into Foxcare Fitness, as that is where many of their program “graduates” go to continue their recovery.

While there are some other area physical fitness facilities, some are overcrowded, too specialized, lacking in parking or difficult to enter. FcF is the only one that has medical surveillance on site. It is the home of wellness classes, such as Seniorcise, Stretch and Tai chi, taught by very qualified instructors. Other facilities do not include both a standard pool and a therapy pool. The facility is clean, spacious and inviting; the product of a very competent, caring staff.

As 23-year veterans of FcF, having seen Fox Hospital diminish to a mere skeleton of its former self in terms of community service, will the demise of FcF be the last nail in the coffin? Bassett, please do not let this happen!

Cynthia

and ally used as a short-term rental when my parents threw me out of the house. Both our sons lived in garage apartments under similar circumstances. When properly permitted, short-term rentals fill a need in the village. There is certainly nothing intrinsically wrong with them. After all, Jesus was born in a short-term rental.

But as long as the village is in need of affordable housing, it would be better for the Zoning Board to limit the number of short-term rentals by way of encouraging long-term rentals. If a garage apartment can be rented short term, it can be rented long term. Until an errant son is thrown out of the main house.

Chip Northrup cooperstown

Mixed Messages Threaten Article IX

Last week’s editorial, “Saving Article IX,” appropriately cautions New Yorkers to defend home rule and guard against efforts that would erode our right to govern our localities as we see fit.

At the same time, though, I can see where state government may find itself in a bit of a catch-22 when it comes to matters of siting solar and wind projects. In increasing numbers, New York voters have endorsed policies demanding the state rely predominately on renewable energy. On the other hand—and this could be a dangerous overgeneralization—many of those same groups demanding renewables are, at the same time, those leading the opposition to siting the projects necessary to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels.

One cannot deny a certain degree of “not-in-my-back-yard” going on in various pockets of the state when it comes to wind and solar projects.

An Open Letter to Fox Hospital

I have been going to a fitness center of one kind or another for 35 years; I have been a member of Foxcare Fitness for over 23 years. I have made long-term friends there, met personal goals, milestones and countless challenges in my life, and have been supported by having the fitness center at my disposal. This week, there have been some long faces and serious discussions in regard to the closing of the center in June.

Foxcare Fitness is unique to Oneonta, serving the most mature fitness population of any other gym in the area. Many of the daily attendees started there from rehab and have not left because they have found it adds to the quality of their lives. I think we all understand that the gym costs money to run but, given the facility already exists, and has had the same equipment for many, many years, it is hard to imagine how cutting the fitness center would be a significant savings for the network.

I was impressed when the gym opened, and Fox Hospital had the foresight to provide injury and illness prevention. But this gym is more— not only is there a pipeline for people emerging from rehabilitation to a lifestyle that includes exercise as prevention, but it has served to connect so many in the community. This hospitalsupported gym has supported many of us through hard times and provided us with an outlet and important networks of friends.

Richard deRosa, caspar Ewig, Daniel Francis, Ian Kenyon, Tom Shelby, Dr. Richard Sternberg, Dan Sullivan, T. Stephen Wager and Jamie Zvirzdin

Web Architect Ivan Potocnik Historian Tom Heitz/Sharon Stuart Legal Counsel Jill Ann Poulson

Editorial Board

Tara Barnwell, Faith Gay, Michael Moffat, Elinor Vincent, Darla M. Youngs

Bill Goertemoeller Oneonta

Don’t Forget: Village Election Is March 21

cooperstown Village elections will be held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Two candidates are vying for a threeyear term on the Village Board of Trustees: George Fasenelli and Joseph R. Membrino.

The polling place is the cooperstown Fire Hall, 24 chestnut Street, from noon to 9 p.m. You must be registered to vote in this election. The deadline for registration is Friday, March 10. You can check your registration status at VOTE411.org. If you are not registered, links to an online registration form are also available at VOTE411.

If you can’t make it to the polls on election day, you may vote absentee. Stop by and pick up an absentee ballot application at the village office during regular hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or call 547-2411.

Voting is your right! As Susan B. Anthony said, “Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.”

Patty MacLeish

and Maureen Murray co-presidents, LWV of the cooperstown Area

Short-term Rentals Should Be Limited

There are short-term rental permits at 25 single-family houses in the Village of cooperstown. Some were grandfathered when the village began issuing such permits in 2018. Some are exemplary applications of the ordinance—the owners are renting a garage apartment or other auxiliary dwelling unit that might otherwise go unused. Where the short-term rental is incidental to the family’s use and occupancy of the property. Where the building is not turned into a rooming house in disguise.

My family had a garage apartment when I was growing up. It was occasion-

The best way to protect the intents and purposes of Article IX is for local governments and their respective constituencies to avoid sending mixed messages to Albany. If we’re in favor of renewables, let’s make sure we’re arming our local officials with the support they need when builders are looking for good locations to generate the energy our communities need.

Ted Potrikus Tucson, AZ

Otsego Board of Reps Made Right Decision

Sustainable Otsego fully supports the Otsego county Board of Representatives’ unanimous vote to oppose three propositions in the proposed 2024 state budget, which would change Real Property Tax Law 575-b, part N.

The first local, utility-scale, solar project was proposed for the Town of Laurens in 2019. In response, Sustainable Otsego’s position was that our communities and Otsego county need to benefit from the loss of our land to this solar project. compensation should be cheaper, zero-carbon power via solar credits for our residents, and/or sufficient property taxes going to the county.

Doing away with any compensation for the land loss amounts to a subsidy for EDF Renewables, a French, foreign multinational corporation. It is beyond comprehension how this can help Otsego or Herkimer residents, since the power supplied to our part of upstate is already heavily zerocarbon. The solar power will go to the New York city market, and once again upstate bears the cost while downstate benefits. Not good for us, and not a good look for the Governor Hochul.

By using an end-around tactic to eviscerate “home rule,” the governor has overplayed her hand. We must make it known to her that she is not acting in the best interest of her supposed upstate neighbors or her own political future. Voice your concerns; call her office at 1 (518) 474-8390.

Founded in 2007, Sustainable Otsego believes in sustainable living, economic independence and home rule for Otsego county.

Wayne Mellor chair, Sustainable Otsego

Personally, there have been times when I didn’t show up for a week and the staff took the time to check in on me to make sure I was okay. There have been some rough patches for all of us, but we show up there, put a smile on and get it done. We don’t quit when things are hard, we stick it out.

We’re resilient and have maintained this through the years. I can’t speculate how much of a positive impact the facility has had on people’s lives over the years, but I know there are some members in their 90s, several in their 80s and I can only guess the majority of members are from 40-70. These are people that should be encouraged and supported to maintain fitness as a matter of prevention to avoid having a sedentary lifestyle. Yet, here we are, concerned about the members that are seniors avoiding the understandably stressful search for a suitable place to maintain their lifestyle.

From what I understand, there are about 750 members, which is low for the facility. But overflow will tax the surrounding gyms, some of which are at capacity or close, leaving people stranded. We don’t have clark Gym, we have Fox Fitness—there are many of us in the southern end of Otsego county that have come to rely on Fox. The members aren’t just from Oneonta.

I find it impossible to believe that this was anything more than a financial decision by the network accountants looking at a red line. In the 23 years I have been a member, I don’t recall a visit from the network administration to see what kind of place it is. It is, in my opinion, a very nearsighted strategy financially. I’ve seen firsthand people change their lives—establishing healthy routines, strengthening their bodies, recovering from injury and ailment, and maybe most importantly making strong social connections, sharing their lives with each other and caring. I cannot think of a more benevolent way to support a community than by providing prevention and support opposed to treatment plans and medication.

If Fox is serious about providing the best medical care that they can, prevention should be at the top of the list. To quote your statement in the paper: “Bassett is focusing its energy and resources on what we do best— providing excellent healthcare to our patients. Unfortunately, this means we have made the difficult decision to cease operations at Foxcare Fitness so we are able to re-deploy our resources toward more direct patient care.”

185 Years Ago

A recent transaction at Washington having resulted in the murder of Jonathan cilley, a Representative in congress from the State of Maine, by an adherence of certain individuals to a relic of barbarism falsely termed the law of honor, (peculiar to bloody-minded men in all ages) the undersigned deem it expedient that a meeting of citizens of the county of Otsego be called and a public expression of their opinion on the subject be made known; it is therefore suggested that a meeting for that purpose be held at the court House in the Village of cooperstown on Thursday, the 15th inst. At 12 o’clock. March 7, 1838. Signed: Schuyler crippen, H.S. Harper, Lewis Nash, S.S. Bowne, G.S. Gorham, John Hurd, E.B. Morehouse, S. Doubleday, P. Becker, c.S. Butts, W.L. crandall, G. Pomeroy, Leander Plumb, calvin Graves, Russell Brownell, Daniel Babit, Daniel carpenter, George B. Wilson, Henry P. Metcalf, Samuel Griffin, Robert Davis, Jacob Gates, A.E. campbell, Martin Bridges, O. Whiston, S.W, Bingham, Andrew M. Barber, Heman Lloyd, John Hannay, G.S. Bowne, W.H. Brainard, H.B. Sprague, John Sutherland, A. Williams, Laban Mathewson, cornelius Van Horne, Demas A. Doubleday, Timothy Waterman, Joseph Bennett, James I. Paul, Zebulon Gibbs, E.D. Richardson, Phillip Roof, Isaac Lewis, John Gaskin, David Fisk, James Aplin, Alexander H. clark, c.D. Pease, Geo. A. Starkweather, Henry clark, Thomas Bourne, Halsey Spencer, Samuel M. Ingals, H.B. Ernst, Rufus Utley, Erastus curtiss, Joseph Griffin, Jr., James Hyde, Horace c. Fish and Lyman J. Walworth.

March 12, 1838

160 Years Ago

The Skedaddlers to canada—The immigration statistics of canada show that the number of Skedaddlers from the United States who became frightened at the prospect of a draft, numbered 1,942. These persons took with them an average of $1,000 each in American silver, making an aggregate of nearly $2,000,000. This accounts, in part, for the plethora of United States coin, of which the canadians make such complaint.

March 6, 1863

135 Years Ago

Excerpts from a description of cooperstown in 1888: “In all the good qualities of the inhabitants of cooperstown we notice that the most prominent and commendable one is, they are a church-going people. Praise more worthy and merited cannot be given to any populace. Six church steeples rise above the town, and on the Sabbath Day is heard the ringing and joint echo of the solemn bells, call all, young and old, rich and poor, high and low, sinner and saint, to worship the Most High God. Wending their way into their respective churches, they listen to the Word of Truth which is so logically and fluently uttered by their beloved Pastors. One of the most delightful, profitable and indispensable improvements in this town is the electric lights. Their refection toward the blue vault of heaven can be seen for miles around. Wires are continually being put up, and the time is near when the electric web will encompass the whole village.”

March 9, 1888

110 Years Ago

In Our Town—Several little lassies are skirmishing the town for votes upon a beautifully dressed doll which is now on display in the Taylor & Ellsworth window and which is to be given by the Ladies’ Aid Society of the Methodist church at their centennial Bazaar on March 26th to the little girl collecting the greatest number of votes at ten cents each. The contest began Saturday afternoon and at the count Monday afternoon Miss Marjorie Freeman had secured the greatest number – 54 votes.

March 12, 1913

85 Years Ago

Where Nature Smiles—A new stop light equipped to meet the requirements of the Stokes traffic law enacted by the legislature last year was installed last week at the corner of Main and chestnut streets. christian Science services are being held each Sunday morning at the home of Mrs. M. Elizabeth Lloyd, 40 Elm Street, with informal group meetings Thursday evenings at 7:30 o’clock at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Greene on Pioneer Street. The public is cordially invited to these meetings.

March 9, 1938