Dateline: 2 March 2012
With the hydrofracking issue rearing its ugly head in Sempronius, N.Y., some residents have felt compelled to write letters or make phone calls to the town to express their feelings about the matter. And whenever someone asks me what they can do to make a difference, I tell them to write a letter to the town board.
It is usual for any letters to the board to be on the table at each town board meeting. Based on past experience, I assured people that their letters would be seen and read by the whole board. But we have had a January and a February board meeting and there were no written letters, no e-mails and no record of phone calls.
Unless a letter for the board was handed to me to deliver (which has happened) or unless someone sent me a copy (which has also happened), I have seen no letters from people in the town about hydrofracking.
The missing letters are arousing suspicion among some town residents and I would like to address this issue.... I have asked our town Supervisor about the missing letters and he has told me that it was an oversight on his part. He has been focused on other concerns and forgot about the letters. That is understandable, and I don’t doubt it for a minute.
I’ve asked the Supervisor to make sure that all communications from town residents about the hydrofracking issue— including e-mails, form letters, personal letters, and phone calls— from the December 2011 board meeting to date, be made available to the board at our next meeting on March 26th. I’m sure they will be there.
It’s my intention to look at every letter. I may write down the names of everyone who has communicated with the town on this matter. I have no interest in making a pro-fracking and anti-fracking list—only a list of all names. Then, those of you who are wondering if your letter was there can simply send me an e-mail and I’ll tell you.
It is my hope that this will put to rest any concerns about letters that have come to the town board.
As always, if you wish to write to the Sempronius Town Board and let us know your feelings about hydrofracking in the town (or anything else) please do so. Please be sure to sign your letter. If you would like your letter to be be made a part of the monthly minutes, my understanding is that can you do this by simply requesting it in the letter.
Address your letters to:
The Sempronius Town Board
2481 State Route 41A
Moravia, NY 13118