Welcome to Schoharie Valley Watch


A 501(C)(3) non-profit citizen's advocacy group dedicated to working for open local government that is responsive to the residents of the Valley.

Legal Defense Fund Established


SVW has established a Legal Defense Fund in preparation for a potential legal challenges of local laws passed to accommodate industrial wind developers as well as actions that may become necessary to protect our local environment and drinking water supplies from the threat of toxic chemicals associated with horizontal gas drilling.

The fund will be used exclusively for legal actions and will be maintained seperatley from SVW general operating funds. Contributions are absolutely vital but because of applicable regulations, are not tax deductible. The fund will be carefully managed, issue periodic statements and be subject to annual audits by an independent accounting firm.

Please mail your contributions to:

Schoharie Valley Watch Legal Defense Fund
PO Box 193
Richmondville, NY 12149

or call 518-294-6066


You can now contribute to the SVW Legal Defense
Fund electronically and securely using PayPal.


Our Email: SchoharieValleyWatch@gmail.com
SVW appreciates the very generous donations it has received to date.

Call for Volunteers, Interns and Grant Writers



SVW is increasingly being approached by individuals seeking guidance on issues such as a failure to enforce local laws and regulations, secretive local government process that exclude residents and conflicts of interest that impair the ability of elected officials to govern fairly and effectively. SVW has been providing that assistance and making referrals where appropriate, within the limitations of our resources.

We desperately need volunteers and interns with legal, environmental, zoning and planning expertise willing to help their neighbors. If you can donate a few hours a month or more to being part of community outreach and assistance initiatives please contact us as soon as possible.

Thank you!

SVW receives grant
from the Tri-County Arts Council to sponsor the 2010 Blenheim Art Walk



Following the success of the 2009 Art Walk, which drew more than 1,400 visitors, SVW has begun developing plans for the 2010 event which is scheduled for July 18th. Fine artists interested in exhibiting are invited to contact Renee Grabowski at 518-294-6066 to obtain information and an application. This years event will include work by the region's best artists and performances by musicians such as Tom (Wadsworth) Throws, the Upper Catskill String Quartet and others.


Important Updates



12/26/09

Town of Richmondville issues eight-point program to increase ethics compliance in wake of SVW complaint.

Nearly four months after Schoharie Valley Watch (SVW) filed a formal ethics complaint with the Town of Richmondville the Town has responded with an eight-step plan to increase ethics compliance, eliminate situations that create an “appearance of impropriety” and ensure actions taken by the Town’s governing bodies are consistent with the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).

SVW Co-Director Don Airey stated that he was “encouraged by the Town’s response and considers it a positive step.” Mr. Airey also views the Town’s eight-step mitigation plan as “an acknowledgement that conflicts of interest have not previously been addressed, nor has a level of professional behavior been maintained, consistent with the Town’s fiduciary responsibility.”

A copy of the Town’s response and action plan for compliance is available upon request from SVW. As a public record, a copy may also be requested from the Town of Richmondville under the provisions of the NY Freedom of Information Law (FOIL).

Specifically, the SVW complaint cited the present Chair of the Planning Board as having a serious and on-going conflict of interest as an employee of one, and possibly several, real estate development companies. SVW also contends that the Chair has demonstrated “a history of disregard for the provisions of local zoning and site plan review as well as the requirements of SEQRA.” SVW documented cases in which the Chair had a direct or familial interest in matters brought before his board yet failed to disclose those interests and/or properly recuse himself.


Recently, SVW confirmed with the NY State Department of State (DoS) that a planning board chair employed as a real estate sales person represents a “Prohibited Action” under NY State Municipal Law and officials who knowingly allow or conceal that Prohibited Action are guilty of a criminal misdemeanor.

SVW Co-Director Bob Nied stated that “while SVW welcomes the steps taken by the Town of Richmonville in response to this complaint, we view the complete elimination of this specific Prohibited Action and other conflicts of interests that may exist as the only responsible resolution to this matter and the only one that fully restores compliance with State Law.”

Mr. Nied also stated that “SVW looks forward to future action(s) by the Richmondville Town Board which are necessary to restore integrity to, and public confidence in, the Town’s Planning Board process and other areas of local governance. SVW is committed to pursuing this matter to ensure that it is completely resolved.”

December 8, 2009

Town of Seward withdraws proposed wind moratorium.

At last evening's meeting the Town Board of Seward presented and then withdrew a proposed Town Law calling for a moratorium on the construction of wind turbines. SVW attended that meeting and provided comment suggesting that a moratorium was ill-timed and unnecessary. SVW's position, and that of several Seward residents, was that the use of a moratorium when there was no active application or pressure from a developer would exhaust a valuable tool that the Town may need at a later date in the event that a large-scale industrial wind project materialized.

SVW further stated that current Seward zoning already provides a layer of protection as it prohibits structures such as wind turbines in the majority of Town zoning districts. Town officials were cordial and receptive to the input from SVW and Town residents and facilitated a productive discussion. SVW appreciates the opportunity to provide input on the issue of wind turbines in the Town of Seward and applauds the decision by Seward officials to reserve a moratorium for future strategic use.

December 3, 2009

SVW interviewed on Northeast Public Radio concerning gas drilling.

The growing concern over the potential environmental consequences of horizontal (hydrofracking) gas drilling is increasingly gaining coverage in the local and national media. WAMC, the Albany public radio station ran a lengthy story today, filed by their Hudson Bureau Chief, Susan Barnett. As part of their coverage WAMC contacted SVW for background information and commentary. Below is a link to the audio feed of that story:

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1584798

November 11, 2009

NY Department of State issues letter critical of Town of Richmondville for secret meeting.

The NY State Department of State (DoS), Committee on Open Government has issued an opinion critical of the Richmondville Town Board, indicating that the Board violated several statutes, including NY Town Law, §§30 and 62 as well as the NY Open Meetings Law, §104 when it held a special meeting without providing public notice of that meeting. The DoS goes on to state that, if the Town Board intentionally violated the Open Meetings Law, action could be taken in court to invalidate any decisions made during that illegal meeting, as per §107 of the statute.

Schoharie Valley Watch (SVW) presented this issue to the DoS for opinion and considers their response a validation of the importance of open local government while highlighting a continuing problem with governance in the Town of Richmondville.

SVW Secretary Renee Grabowski stated that “SVW is preparing a new submission to the DoS requesting an opinion on the potentially abusive use of Executive Session by the Richmondville Town Board.”

SVW Co-Director Bob Nied stated that “SVW is optimistic that newly elected members of the Town Board will restore integrity and openness to the local government process but we will remain vigilant in our oversight of that process, reserving the right to seek judicial remedy to ensure compliance with the Open Meetings Law.”

September 8, 2009

SVW Challenges the Village of Richmondville on Housing Subdivision.

Schoharie Valley Watch (SVW) is a 501(C)(3) non-profit citizen advocacy organization working for open and responsive government and sustainable rural communities. Attorneys for the organization have issued a letter to Village of Richmondville notifying the municipality of a failure to conduct the required review under the NY State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) for an extension of the Village water and sewer district to accommodate a housing development being built by Cobleskill developers Makley-Loder on Brooker Hollow Road. SVW has also informed the Village that the developers have so far failed to file a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) necessitated by the fact that the project has significantly changed since it was originally proposed more than six years ago. SVW previously notified the Village that Makley-Loder failed to provide a Notice of Intent (NOI) and to demonstrate proof of a viable Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) as required by the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

SVW has identified substantive errors and misstatements in the original environmental review conducted for this subdivision including a failure by the developers and the Village to disclose that the land being converted to a housing development has been in continual agricultural use for more than twenty-five years.

SVW has also identified a failure by the Village of Richmondville and the developers to disclose a site of historical significance directly adjacent to the subdivision. SVW has notified the NY State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historical Preservation as well as the DEC of the site and requested that the Village suspend the issuance of any building permits until such time as a full review of the project can be conducted.

While the Schoharie County Department of Public Works recommended that the water and sewer infrastructure necessary to accommodate this development be bored under County Route 22 to avoid the disturbance of the roadway, the developers declined to do so and the Village approved multiple cuts of the road surface. SVW has requested documents under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) that would detail bonds (if any) issued to cover the cost of repair of County Route 22 to ensure that costs resulting from the construction of a private development are not passed on to County tax payers.

SVW’s goal in taking this action is to ensure that large scale residential and commercial developments, particularly those that displace farmland, are subject to full and careful reviews as prescribed by law and that the Costs of Community Services (CoCS) are fully disclosed to the residents and taxpayers of the community.

July 30, 2009

Attorney General issues subpeona to wind firm that had been targeting our region- SVW supports investigation.

On Wednesday, July 29, 2009 the office of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo issued a subpoena to wind developer Reunion Power as part of the AG’s ongoing investigation of improper influence on local officials and conflicts of interest by those officials related to industrial wind development. Schoharie Valley Watch (SVW) has been actively cooperating with the Attorney General’s office and has provided extensive information concerning the activities of Reunion Power within Schoharie, Greene, Schenectady and Albany counties as well as possible conflicts of interest by public officials related to Reunion Power project proposals.

Late yesterday afternoon Reunion Power agreed to sign the Attorney General’s Code of Ethics for the wind industry after previously refusing, apparently in response to the subpoena and the continuing pressure of the investigation. Reunion Power joins sixteen other wind companies who have now signed onto the Code. SVW urges local governments to include the Attorney General’s Code of Ethics in all adopted wind ordinances and to require wind companies to sign the Code before being granted permits for industrial wind projects or installation of meteorological test towers.

SVW is committed to identifying and aggressively pursuing conflicts of interest at the local and County levels, not only as it relates to industrial wind but also in connection to gas drilling and other high-impact proposals as well as the relationship of developers and speculators in general to County, Town and Village Boards, Planning Boards, Boards of Appeal and Code Enforcement offices.

SVW applauds the Attorney General for his responsiveness to citizen groups and looks forward to additional progress in the fight to make local government more open, honest and responsive to concerns of the residents of NY State.