MADISON Cty - FREE HEALTHCARE CLINIC !!!

MADISON COUNTY has a FREE HEALTHCARE CLINIC - for those OVER 16 and NOT ELIGIBLE for Medicare/Medicaid. The Clinic is open ONE DAY a week - WEDNESDAY 8AM - 4 PM in ONEIDA. Here is a link to the POST STANDARD article by Protikus (She does a great job!). Here are the basics....and yes, they could use VOLUNTEERS & DONATIONS....

The clinic’s services also includes patient education, disease prevention and screening, physical examinations, vaccinations and help finding insurance.

How it works The Mary Rose Center is open from 4 to 8 p.m. every Wednesday
in the Northside Shopping Center off North Main Street in Oneida.No appointment is necessary for medical services. The clinic phone number is 280-0855.

Patients must be age 16 or older and live in Madison County. The clinic accepts patients who are uninsured and ineligible for Medicaid and Medicare.

To volunteer or donate materials, call 684-3144. Visit www.maryrosecenter.org to learn more.Monetary donations can be sent to: Community Action Partnership for Madison County, Attn: The Mary Rose Center, P.O. Box 249, Morrisville, NY 13408. http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/madison_countys_first_free_hea.html

BROOKFIELD - Town Board Meeting - MONDAY Dec 12

REMINDER:

Brookfield Town Board Meeting -
MONDAY - 7PM -
Dec. 12, 2011 -
BROOKFIELD TOWN HALL.

BROOKFIELD: Salka To Run for Magee's Seat

Am back and will try to contain coverage to SHORT news articles affecting the local area...

In that regard...check out Supervisor John Salka's recent announcement on his Facebook page - he will be running for Bill Magee's 111th Assembly District seat. You can find John's announcement at his Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=817261391#!/profile.php?id=100000608850711

A map of Magee's District can be found at:http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/William-Magee/map/

BROOKFIELD: Gravel Pit Proposal Rt. 8

Parker Excavating & Gravel of Mount Vision has an application pending with the DEC to operate a gravel pit on approximately 46 acres of land located on the Ralph Rathbun farm off of Rt. 8 and Beaver Creedk Rd. (Near Wagoner's Store).

The Public has until Oct 21 to comment on the project by contacting the DEC person listed below.

According to the DEC filing, it has been determined that the project will NOT have a significant impact on the environment or archealogical/historical sites; and is NOT located in wetlands.

Further information and copies may also be obtained from the DEC contact: Teresa Phelps - DEC Cortalnd Region 7 - (607)753-3095 or r7dep@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Here is a link to the site & application: http://www.dec.ny.gov/enb/77087.html and click on "REGION 7".

North Brookfield Fire Department AUDIT

Attached is a link to the recent audit of the North Brookfield Fire Department conducted by the NY State Comptroller's Office. Audits are a common practice to help municipal governments meet standard accounting practices, by citing ways they can improve accountability for taxpayer funds. Pretty standard issues when compared to other department audits, HOWEVER, the audit noted the following: "In 2007 the District invested $15,000 with a local insurance agent and received a promissory note stating the money would be returned in one year along with 8% interest. ....At the end of our audit field work the monies had not been returned to the District nor had District officials sought or received any information from the agen relating to this investment."

BROOKFIELD REPUBLICAN PRIMARY RESULTS

Salka won the Republican primary over Josh Haar. Very interesting race. Other Republican winners: Clint Abrams & Jeff Mayne for Councilman over Chuck Blood. See link to the Oneida Dispatch coverage.

What ARE we thinking? DEPLETING EARTH

Very thoughtful article by Tom Friedman (NYTimes)...re: life choices and earth's depleting resources.... and really makes one wonder WHY we are poisoning our most limited and vital resource - WATER - for GAS? Just WHAT ARE WE THINKING???!

You really do have to wonder whether a few years from now we’ll look back at the first decade of the 21st century — when food prices spiked, energy prices soared, world population surged, tornados plowed through cities, floods and droughts set records, populations were displaced and governments were threatened by the confluence of it all — and ask ourselves: What were we thinking? How did we not panic when the evidence was so obvious that we’d crossed some growth/climate/natural resource/population redlines all at once?http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/08/opinion/08friedman.html?hp

RAW SEWAGE Dumping in Lake Ontario

Come on now...isn't it about time we stopped this disgusting practice?.... and we worry about "hydro-fracking".... ? From today's POST STANDARD: New York environmental regulators have asked the federal government to ban vessels from dumping on-board sewage into waters along its Lake Ontario shore. They want the Environmental Protection Agency to create a "no-discharge zone" running along 326 miles of shoreline from Youngstown in Niagara County to Cape Vincent in Jefferson County. http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/05/state_wants_to_ban_lake_ontari.html

MEDICARE - "Privatization" JUST SAY "No"

Sounds like the Republicans are going to have to change their butcher job (aka -"privatization") of the MEDICARE program. Democrat Kathy Hochul (D- Buffalo) won on long-held Republican turf riding a wave of voter discontent over the national GOP's plan to change Medicare. Tuesday's special election in New York's 26th Congressional District became a referendum on the health care plan for the nation's seniors may serve as a warning shot to further GOP efforts to cut popular entitlement programs. See: http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/05/medicare_key_to_shocking_democ.html

"Symbolic" PROPERTY TAX CAP

New York legislators are close to a deal for a 2% cap on property tax increases. There’s just one catch: property tax bills will likely go up beyond the advertised 2 percent cap because the proposal would allow local governments and school districts to ignore the cap if, their pension costs increase by more than 2 percent — which has happened with regularity in New York in recent years. Syracuse expects its pension costs to jump 42 percent in the 2011-12 fiscal year, to $28 million. Facing that kind of skyrocketing expense, the 2 percent cap may be a mirage. “Unless you address those cost factors, the property tax cap is really just a symbolic, at most, gesture,” said Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner. BUT - at least it's a STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.... Bravo to MAGEE & VALESKY for their Support of the CAP.

BROOKFIELD - Town Board Meeting - May 9, 2011

The Very UNOFFICIAL Minutes – Town Board Meeting…..5-9-11

Good turnout…18-20 …. IN ATTENDANCE: All Board members; and other offices: Rod Jennison (Hwy) /Bob Piersma (Codes)

6:30 PM – Public Hearing re: Local Rd. Use Law….
Discussed a PROPOSED road use law that would restrict heavy (4-ton/ “heavy industry”) road use on certain TOWN roads (to be determined). Copy available at Town Hall .. Good discussion: but hearing voided due to procedural issues/inadequate posting- ; 911 address; road inventory; other Towns’ laws. No action taken; further discussion needed.

7PM – Regular Board Meeting –
Planning Board – D. McCoach – another hearing scheduled for 6/2 ; Mary Lou Rhodes new Vice Chair; Board ok’d all PB attending 5/17 pipeline seminar; 7/21 – tentative joint meeting between Town & Planning Board.

NEW Gravel Pit – Clark: Permit pending. Off Rt. 8 by Wagoner’s store. May be another year. Clark leasing the land.

Snow’s Pond – Jennison is paying the $500 fine; the estimated cost to rebuild is $2-3,000; Perk Stalter reported wildlife returning to the Pond…. 5/11 – WED/ 1PM meeting at Snow’s Pond …DEC, Soil, Water, open to those interested.

Dog Census/License Costs – S. Kabana gave rundown of costs, need for census.

Highway – storm damage repairs to take priority; estimated damage $88,000 and applying for Federal Aid. …still discussing waste oil furnace pros/cons ….Letters from Cheseboro Rd objecting to large-scale tree removal by Highway Dept without owner approval. Hopefully, the “Paul Bunyon” Days are over ! …..Lone loader bid opened: $35,000 cash for used with trade in. Hwy to consider rent with option deals on future equipment.

Codes – B. Piersma reported revenues down by a couple thousand from last yr. Junk yard inspections coming up.

Gas Drilling Committee – so far, only K. Nowak …anyone interested should contact a Board Member or Karen Nowak. The committee will keep the Board up to date on gas drilling developments. Looking for good, factual information. Even-handed treatment.

Zoning Board of Appeals and the Board of Assessment – looking for volunteer members. There has been one applicant for the ZBA position.

Budget/Reserve Fund Balance – Salka has agreed to provide Corbin with a break down of two items that reduced the Town’s reserve account by $70,000. Basically, the reserve is like a savings account /"rainy day fund" for the Town.

Comprehensive Plan – still reviewing the surveys …and according to J. Visentin -- …avoiding any politics.

Leonardsville School – Mt. Markham has put building up for sale; would like to see if the district would donate some land to Leonardsville for a ball park. Contract awarded to T. Chase for mowing Leonardsville Park.

Judge’s Chambers – Verdict still pending… yes folks, we’re still discussing the renovations… one of the bidders never received the revised specs…back to the drawing board. Question: by the time it gets finished, will any of us be able to climb the stairs?…they’re already talking about one of those automated “stair chairs”….

Insufficient Funds – B. Whitacre was unhappy that the school’s check to the Town was mentioned at the last Board meeting. Some question as to whether it was…or was not marked “insufficient funds”…Whitacre did not think it should have been brought up publicly. Some Board said it was simply a matter of disclosure.

Oneida Indians 1.... County Cowboys 0

Got to hand it to the Indians on this one! Two Oneida Nation employees are suing State Comptroller DiNapoli and Madison County Attorney John Campanie. According to the complaint, over the past 13 yrs, Campanie has received an additional $800,000 for legal services in connection with the Oneida land claim and other county matters. He has done so by receiving the $800,000 out of the $15 million in legal fees that the State paid to a private law firm, Nixon Peabody, to represent Madison County in the Oneida land claim. The County says the arrangement had been approved and disclosed since 1998, but according to the lawsuit, state law forbids the County Attorney from obtaining any additional compensation for representing Madison County, even with the Board’s approval. Companie already receives an annual fee of $75,000 for representing the County, in addition to having a private law practice. Not clear if this includes County benefits as well! The County now wants to increase his salary to $140,000 ! No need to wonder why this war with the Indians is being dragged out! Madison Co. should remember what happened to Colonel Custer. Check out this article from the Madison County Courier http://madisoncountycourier.com/2011/04/20/county-attorney-under-fire/

School Budgets - 2% Property Tax Limit

2% Property Tax Proposal - It's Time Has Come!!!

The 2% property tax cap, proposed by Governor Cuomo, has passed the State Senate. It is currently sitting the Assembly.

The proposal means school districts cannot put forth a tax levy increase more than the rate of inflation or 2%, whichever is less. If a district wants to raise the tax levy more than that they would need a 60% super majority approval from tax payers. If that vote fails the district would have to submit a new plan. If the new plan is voted down a school district would have to revert back to the previous year's budget, and have no tax increase.

The Teachers' Union hates it...they should, looking at the salary increases and benefits they are used to receiving....Join the REAL WORLD.... School Districts must start living within their means like the rest of us...and STOP hiding behind "the children".... remember, they have parents who are trying to feed and clothe them. Am sure their parents are NOT getting the salary increases and benefits given out at the school.

BCS 2010 Salaries -

With the BCS Budget Vote just around the corner (May 14)...thought it might be of interest to see the 2010 salaries paid out. You can see the complete listing for 2008-2010 at seethroughny.com ....worth checking out.

Plows Jr, James H (18% increase over 2009)
96,531
Donovan, Kathleen H
84,933
Henke, John S
78,128
Green, Constance R
76,482
Howlett, Karen A
60,645
Bostick, Richard W
60,376
Owens, Cynthia K
60,081
Cossette, Sharon L
57,624
Owens, Paul T
57,467
Ciko, John R
55,831
Murdock, Brent J
55,789
Reade, Linda A
53,920
Kupris, Mark E
53,218
Van Duren, Judith E
49,653
Elliott, Lisa E
48,039
Carney, Shaun P
46,915
Pedersen, Melanie L
46,886
Peavey, Colleen J
46,369
Pavlus Jr, Ronald J
46,009
Rutherford, Colleen R
45,741
Dreier, Charity J
45,730
Manner, Judith A
45,482
Settle, Beverly J
44,564
Zaleski, Karen M
44,345
Bradley, Jodi M
44,303
Morris-Schiebel, Sharon G
43,045
Schiener, Colby L
42,841
Cucci, Leeann S
42,751
Brennan-Lee, Kim M
42,354
Phillips, Jennifer R
42,045
Roberts, Sandra L
41,993
Kupris, Paul E
41,284
Denton, Sabrina M
40,819
Dangler, Anthony G
40,706
Cosgrove, Christina L
40,598
Gates, Catherine R
39,891
Jones, Juliette K
28,332
Peplinski, Christine C
26,475
Plows, John K
26,287
Mayne, Wanda H
23,961
Keith, Ralph G
23,956
Le Fevre, James D
23,947
Cross, Alison J
23,594
Ellsworth, Laura L
21,707
Thall, Debra C
21,374
Whitacre, Jason D
20,965
Case, Christa E
18,556
Tilbe, Diane L
12,313
Brown, Marla J
12,001
Tompkins, Robert E
11,220
Beehm, Patsy L
10,868
Head, Dewitt C
5,719
Shipman, Cynthia L
7,037
Wright, Sarah M
5,700
Florenz, Sarah A
5,350
Bennett, Haylee J
3,880
Stewart, Kara A
2,877
Trevvett, Heidi
2,525

Brookfield - SNOW's POND Controversy

Check out the Town Website (YOUR VOICE)... update on the pond controversy... I wish the Warners got as much attention as those beavers!!! The Warners had to move out of Town.

BROOKFIELD "JUNK" DAY - Saturday 7am- 1pm

....JUNK DAY...don't forget - this SATURDAY, April 16 from 7AM - 1PM ...one day only... BROOKFIELD TOWN GARAGE ONLY.... Items NOT ACCEPTED: building materials, garbage, trash, old cars, toxic or hazardous waste burn barrels or bateries. Call Rod Jennison at the Town Garage 899-5878.

PLANNING BOARD - Minutes???

Inquiring minds would like to know WHY doesn't the Town Planning Board have minutes to their meetings?..... we hear that the so-called "minutes" are tape recordings?

BCS - $250,000 Savings??

Just love this little "tidbit" from this week's Waterville Times re: School Budget....just think about this statement: " Students who attend BOCES for learning disabilities will be brought back and taught in Brookfield next year, saving the district about $250,000. Jim Plows (Business Manager) said the district can teach these students without hiring additional staff." So ...... WHY didn't the School Board do this before????

TOWN BUDGET Controversy

If anyone has read today’s Waterville Times, you too would wonder why all the noise is being made over the Town budget, compared to the $5.5 MILLION School budget: The school budget has a $350,000 shortfall … approximately 35% of last year’s LOCAL tax payer portion ($1,019,000). If this gap is not filled, we are looking at a tax rate of approximately $18+ per $1,000 of assessed value! ( Last year’s rate $13.54 + 35% or $4.75 increase = $18.29 per thousand. Instead, a former Supervisor appears to be making the Town budget a personal vendetta.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Area volunteer fire departments are opening their doors to residents so they can learn about what it takes to be a volunteer firefighter in their community. On Saturday, April 9, from noon to 2 p.m. and Sunday, April 10, from 10 a.m. to noon, the Leonardsville Fire Department, located at 11306 Mill St., Leonardsville, will join the initiative with other volunteer fire departments across the state as part of National Volunteer Week 2011. The event is part of a statewide program to promote public awareness of the job volunteer firefighters do. Rogers Environmental Education Center will resume programming in May, according to a media release from the not-for-profit volunteer group Friends of Rogers Inc. The Friends group has reached an agreement with the Department of Environmental Conservation to operate the Sherburne environmental center. Friends of Rogers will continue to offer educational activities and public programs at the center.and will manage some agricultural activities. See: http://thedailystar.com/breakingnews/x300775839/Rogers-Center-to-re-open

APRIL 7, 2011 - Thursday

COMMUNITY ACTIVITY: BCS & Optimists - Community Clean up! Saturday, April 9 - 11am-2pm (weather permitting). Those interested in volunteering to clean up the area & get ready for SPRING should meet at the Academy Street Park, Brookfield. REMODELING AT THE OLD "DEERPATH" - Rt. 8 - Check out the improvements being made to this local landmark. Front porch and new roof in process. Understand Roaches? now owns. Food and liquor license pending. GAS NEWS: Pennsylvania seeks more tests to determine if hydrofracking contaminates drinking water. Pennsylvania is expanding the scope of water tests to screen for radioactive pollutants and other contaminants from the state’s booming natural gas drilling industry. The tests would check for radium, uranium and the salty dissolved solids that could potentially make drilling wastewater environmentally damaging. Pennsylvania allows partially treated drilling wastewater to be discharged into rivers from which communities draw drinking water. Most treatment facilities are unable to remove many of the pollutants in the often-toxic drilling water. See the full article at: http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011 FARMING & BUSINESS NEWS: In the New York’s Creative Core’s $250,000 Emerging Business Competition today. Fisher Electric, of Munnsville in Madison County, won a $15,000 Innovations in Agri-Business prize. Fisher has developed a working prototype for a small-scale mechanical hops harvester. http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011 AUBERTINE - Agriculture Commissioner Confirmed - The state Senate confirmed Darrel J. Aubertine as Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Markets. Aubertine owned and operated the sixth-generation heritage Triple-A Farm in Cape Vincent. He has been a member of numerous farm cooperatives and organizations, Most recently he served as state Senator of the 48th Senate District in Central and Northern New York comprised of Oswego, Jefferson and part of St. Lawrence counties. He served as chair of both the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Rural Resources Commission.

TUESDAY - April 6, 2011

It has been a sad few weeks with news of Bill Beach and Azor Owens passing. On an equally sad, but uplifting side, is the on Chad Wilcox whose memory is being honored this week in Ocala, FL. On April 7, his parents and fiancée will travel to Ocala, Fla., where a brick has been placed in Wilcox’s honor in the Walk of Fame of the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing. He joins seven others at the museum who lost their lives while drag-racing last year. We also note the passing of SPEAK IT FREE, Brookfield’s public forum in cyberspace. Thanks to Aaron Boise for his time, energy and financial commitment in bringing Brookfield into the 21st Century, braving the wrath of local “politicos” and giving us a forum for community exchange. Unfortunately, there are some out there who will be breathing a sign of relief (…but don’t get too comfortable!). Horse Owners Beware: This week, Two cases of Equine Herpesvirus 1 have been confirmed at the EQuine Hospital at Cornell University. Nearly all horses in their lifetime will be exposed to EHV-1 at some point, and therefore it is difficult to detect as it takes on a wide range of manifestations, from a complete lack of clinical symptoms, to pneumonia, to abortion in mares, to full-blown fatal neurological cases. PUBLIC HEARING – April 11 (MONDAY) - Don’t forget…it starts at 6:30 PM at the NORTH BROOKFIELD FIRE HOUSE – Purpose: Subdivision regulation changes. Followed by the REGULAR Town Board meeting. JUNK DROP OFF DAYS – SATURDAY – APRIL 16 is just around the corner. One day only and one location: Brookfield Highway Dept. Barn. Questions? Contact Rod Jennison at 899-5878 or check out the Madison Courier/Waterville Times LEGAL NOTICE section. BROOKFIELD PLANNING & APPEALS BOARD – looking for new Board members. Submit your resume to Sherri Kabana before SATURDAY… or call 899-3364 Sherry Kabana – Town Clerk. BROOKFIELD GAS COMMITTEE – The Board is looking for members to serve on an advisory only type of committee to keep the Board and community advised of developments in the gas industry and their impact on the community. Looking for FAIR & INFORMATIVE information from BOTH SIDES of the fence – so to speak. Contact Sherry Kabana or John Salka with your interest. SCHOOL BUDGET – UPDATES - Mark your calendars! May 3 (Tuesday) – Copy of Budget Available May 10 (Tuesday) – Public Hearing on the proposed BUDGET May 17 (Tuesday) - VOTE on Budget With the demise of SPEAK IT FREE, we will make a more concerted effort to bring articles of local interest to you on a daily basis. Chad Wilcox remembered - Post Standard: http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/man_killed_in_cicero_snowmobil.html EHV-1 Horse Virus – Post Standard http://blog.syracuse.com/farms/2011/04/two_cases_of_possibly_deadly_v.html

GAS SEMINAR: Sat - March 26 - The Gas Company & You

THE GAS COMPANY AND YOU
9:30 AM Saturday March 26, 2011
STUAC Theater at Morrisville State College

What is compulsory integration? How are gas pipelines regulated and sited? What should I look out for in a lease? These questions and more will be addressed at a public meeting: THE GAS COMPANY AND YOU on Saturday March 26 from 9:30 – 11:30 AM at the STUAC Theater at Morrisville College.

Madison County Citizens for Safe Energy (CSE) promotes implementation of best practices for safe natural gas development in Madison County and is sponsoring the event. The guest speakers, Ken Holden and Jane Welsh, both attorneys, and Dave Palmerton, an environmental services consultant, will address the topic and answer questions.

Please join CSE in its efforts to secure a safe and prosperous future for Madison County.

Congratulations - ENDLESS TRAILS!!!

Congratulations to....

David and Pam Williams of Endless Trails Farm who have earned the 2011 Conservation Farm of the Year designation from Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Soil and Water Conservation District News.

(Brookfield, Hamilton, NY – March 2011) The Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District welcomes all area farmers, friends and conservation enthusiasts to a complimentary luncheon in celebration of Endless Trails Farm, LLC, owned by David and Pam Williams for being awarded the prestigious 2011 Conservation Farm of the Year for Madison County.

This special day will take place Thursday, March 24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the White Eagle Conference Center in Hamilton, which will highlight local grass-fed meat from Sunnybrook Farm, owned by Dan and Melissa Williams.

This 31st annual conservation award embodies the hard work, commitment and passion of the Williams family that founded the Endless Trails Farm in 2003 on the premise of turning the land back to an all-grass system, highlighting the farm’s interest in agri-tourism opportunities and in the words of Pam, “preserving a local treasure.”

The town of Brookfield farm encompasses 336 acres of certified organic land intertwined with woodlands, horse trails, hedgerows, ponds and riparian areas adjacent to Pleasant Brook and the Brookfield Trail System.

The grasslands are in hay production and a planned 30-paddock grazing system that feeds a 55-head cow/calf beef herd, 20 yearlings and 30 head of custom-grazed organic dairy heifers.
It is also home to a thriving agri-tourism venture featuring a six-bedroom guesthouse, accompanied by an enclosed 12-horse stall barn, outdoor event pavilion, wagon and sleigh rides with the caveat of eating beef directly from the farm.

Since 2003, the family has maintained a steady, long-term approach to implementing common-sense conservation practices that include a comprehensive nutrient management plan, a grazing management system, more than 30,000 feet of fence, 4,000 feet of waterline, spring developments, reinforced stream crossings, watering facilities, animal walkways, wetland and wildlife habitat enhancements and riparian buffers with more than 2,000 trees planted.
These measures have enhanced water quality throughout the property, with program funding and technical assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Farm Service Agency, the state Agricultural Environmental Management Program, the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Upper Susquehanna Coalition.

“In the beginning we joked about calling it the ‘Endless Work Farm’ but realize now how fruitful the journey has been to meet our longterm goals and create an enjoyable environment for ourselves, our customers and our community,” said Dave and Pam. “Receiving this award just enhances all the sweat equity put forth on behalf of protecting and conserving our local resources for future generations.”

To join for the luncheon to honor the Williams family, call the Madison County SWCD office at (315) 824-9849 to secure your reservation.

GAS: NY Times Series: Waste Water Treatment Failure to Regulate by EPA & PA

Below is a link to the NYTimes series on gas drilling in Central NY with excellent interactive slideshows that explain the procedure and issues... takes 5 minutes! Definitely worth the INVESTMENT in understanding this hot topic.

Part 3 of the series, ("Drilling Down"), focuses on the Gas industry's efforts to undermine studies of the "hydrofracking", "waste water" treatment, and environmental laws in neighboring PENNSYLVANNIA.

Due to its political $influence$, the Gas industry does not need to comply with our most basic anti-pollution laws that regulate most other heavy industries and were written to protect air and drinking water from radioactive and hazardous chemicals. For example, Coal mine operators that want to inject toxic wastewater into the ground must get permission from the federal authorities. But when natural gas companies want to inject chemical-laced water and sand into the ground during hydrofracking, they do not have to follow the same rules.

WASTE WATER TREATMENT Pennsylvania officials have acknowledged that sewage treatment plants are not able to treat drilling waste fully before it is discharged into rivers, sometimes just a few miles upstream from drinking water intake plants. Pennsylvania, has staunchly resisted calls to stop issuing permits to treatment plants handling drilling waste.

Drillers throughout the country are watching Pennsylvania to see whether the EPA/federal agency will overrule the state’s decisions on how to dispose of drilling waste. The central question on this issue: Should drillers in Pennsylvania be allowed to dump “mystery liquids” into public waterways? Under federal law, certain basic rules govern sewage treatment plants. At their core, these rules say two things: operators have to know what is in the waste they receive, and they have to treat this waste to make it safe before discharging it into waterways. We need to watch developments in PA to see our future... http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/04/us/04gas.html?ref=drillingdown&pagewanted=all

BROOKFIELD - Town Board Votes to Change MINOR SUBDIVISION Ordinance

Full house Monday night --with 18-20 attending -- including Planning Board Members Jerry Cheseboro and Gail Abrams. The Town Board unanimously approved (Head absent) a resolution, recommended by Councilman George Cowen and further amended based on public input. Essentially, the requirement for a MINOR (less than 4 parcel) SUBDIVISION will no longer require a professional survey. The MAJOR subdivision requirements will remain in place, requiring a survey; but the PLANNING BOARD will have the ability to waive the survey requirement depending on the circumstances/hardships.

BROOKFIELD - Salka Announces 5 Point Economic Development Plan

John Salka, Supervisor of the Town of Brookfield, has announced an 5-Point economic development plan for Brookfield. Below is a brief summary. Email him for full copy... or he may put the full text on Town Site or Speak it Free..

1- Grant tax incentives to build in Brookfield , such as as sliding scale tax exemptions;.
2- Increase use of the Brookfield horse trail system;
3- Encourage alternative energy development through aggressive efforts to attract wind, micro hydro, and biomass to the Town;
4- Expand and improve the Fairground's potential to include flea markets and auctions, equine events, concerts, and racing, both snowmobile and auto;
5- Encourage the establishment of a local chamber of commerce.

landowners vow to work together in fight against natural gas developer

Good follow up article from Alaina Potrikus of the Post Standard recapping this evening's meeting in Lebanon. 50+ attended...Madison county residents met to discuss the recent letter from Norse gas to 16 Madison County land owners, unexpectedly voiding the lease provision for "free" gas from wells drilled on their land. Although gas officials attributed the change to liability and safety concerns, according to the article, the leases clearly place the risk on the landowner. Norse has promised to replace the free gas with a payment and make arrangements to convert heating systems to propane. The controversy over the contract change is one of many issues driving citizens to band together to negotiate with natural gas companies interested in exploring and drilling on their land. Resident Mike Khoury said neighbors should have joined forces years ago. “Anybody that tries to go it alone is a dead man walking,” Khoury http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/lebanon_landowners_vow_to_work.html

INDIAN CLAIMS: Feds Kill CATSKILL Casino Proposal

2-19-11 The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs rejected a proposal to build a Native American casino in the Catskill mountains. The decision ends the effort by the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians in Wisconsin to open a casino in the economically depressed CATSKILL area, once a destination for top celebrities at world-class resorts known as the Borscht Belt. The effort sought to combine two complex issues — its land claim and the casino effort, but it was met with great opposition by the Oneidas, who have a world-class casino in central New York, and by racetracks that operate video slot machine centers, which also provide the state with a cut of the proceeds. syracuse.com . http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/feds_kill_catskill_casino_prop.html

EDUCATION: 4 Madison Co. Schools Look into Merger Possiblities

2-14-11. Faced with dwindling enrollment and declining state aid, four rural Madison County school districts are looking into merger partnerships. Superintendents from Morrisville-Eaton, Hamilton, Madison and Stockbridge Valley met with an education consultants and paired off to discuss opportunities for sharing costs and other consolidation efforts. Instead of a four-way merger, the districts paired off based on similarities in enrollment, tax rates and educational philosophies. Hamilton and Morrisville-Eaton will work together; Stockbridge Valley partnered with Madison Central. The districts have applied for funding from the state Department of Education for merger feasibility studies. Reporter: Alaina Potrikus/Post Standard http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/four_madison_county_school_dis.html

I'm Back.....and with a new, shorter format

Apologizing again for the hiatus... due to a busy schedule and limited time I am going to slightly change the format .....with shorter explanations... more like the DRUDGE format and continue links to the articles. So much local news to cover and scattered among 5-6 local papers and blogs..... alot of news in so many areas from school mergers, gas drilling and financial situation of the state and local governments. Hope this new format is helpful and educational.