Neighbor News
Falmouth Town Meeting In The Dark Over Wind Turbine Articles
Town Meeting Members need to question why this information was omitted at previuos Town Meetings ?
Falmouth Town Meeting In The Dark Over Wind Turbine Articles
Town Meetings Members should understand programs, goals and honestly debate at meetings. Town Meeting insures that society is safer and a freer voting in public.
Noise is a major issue with the wind turbines.
Three (3) examples of hiding noise information from the public and town meeting:
The reference to two distinct types of noise regulatory and infra sound ( human annoyance) was dropped from the Falmouth noise study because of residents health concerns over the two types of noise in Mattapoisett. The preliminary acoustic noise study for Falmouth Wind 1 was flawed and the MassCEC admitted it April 2, 2013. The Town of Falmouth hid a noise warning from Vestas wind company for 5 years. These are not three “mistakes.”
Town Meeting Members need to question why this information was omitted at previuos Town Meetings ?
The Massachusetts court system has shut down the wind turbines 12 hours per night and Sunday. The turbines are nuisnace and are going to cost taxpayers to operate and maintain the turbines for the life of the turbines. The Falmouth Zoning Board of Appeals shut down Falmouth Wind 1 and may shut down Falmouth Wind 2 on October 29, 2015. Article 1 below asks to use more money to make up the difference .
Just prior to the 2009 Falmouth Town Meeting members were told at the August 17, 2009 Select Board Meeting by the Town Manager a check from the Mass. Technology Collaborative in the amount of $1,010,623 was received as an advance payment for the REC’s that will accrue to the project as a result of the generation of renewable energy. It is guaranteed that there will be no out of pocket costs to the Town while the turbine is installed and generating electricity.
Town Meeting Members need to ask what happened to the guarantee there will be no out of pocket expenses ?
Article 2 is poorly written and deceives the reader. Article 2 is really an Eminent Domain question to take up to 200 residential homes around the wind turbines. (At taxpayer expense)
The Verbal Explaination of Article 2 , Eminent Domain : For the record the following information is the verbal presentation of Article 2 at the Falmouth Select Board Meeting Oct 5 , 2015 as shown at the one hour and thirty minute mark, 1:30 , on Falmouth CTV’s Government Channel.
The presenter describes the options of taking the homes of wind turbine victims by eminent domain.
The endorsement of Article 2 by the Select Board is almost one hour later at the two hour and twenty four minute mark, 2:24 minutes
The article presentation:
Presentation of Petition Article for November 2015 Special Town Meeting (5 minutes)
a. Present Petition Article 2 – Ronald Zweig and Richard Latime
The presentation can be viewed on the link below:
Board of Selectmen 10/5/15 part 2
http://www.fctv.org/v3/vod/board-selectmen-10515-part-2
1:30 minute mark and 2:24 minute mark
Article 3 asks Town Meeting Members to amend the wind turbine bylaw to exclude the Special Permit process. The wind turbines are in violation of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection noise regulations.
The purposes of this Zoning Bylaw is to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the inhabitants of the Town of Falmouth. Amending the bylaw would create a group of second class citizens that have to endure a noise described as torture. Only the residents around the turbines have to endure the noise.
The Massachusetts Attorney General has to approve all new and amended bylaws.The AG would be asked to allow two turbines that are breaking state noise laws and create a group of second class citizens.
The Falmouth Town Meeting Members need to ask if Article 3 the amendment in its present form would be approved by the Attorney General.
These are the three questions for the Special Town Meeting :
WARRANT FOR THE NOVEMBER SPECIAL TOWN MEETING TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2015 AT 7:00 p.m.
ARTICLE 1: To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money to the Energy Receipts Reserved for Appropriation account for further appropriation, and to determine how the same shall be raised, or do or take any other action on the matter. On request of the Board of Selectmen.
ARTICLE 2: To see if the Town will vote to support the Board of Selectmen’s efforts toward maximizing the benefits and thereby minimizing any financial burden to Falmouth’s citizens from operation of the Town’s municipal turbines at its Wastewater Treatment Facility at 154 Blacksmith Shop Road, West Falmouth, MA. Or do or take any other action on the matter. On petition of Richard Latimer, Ronald Zweig and others.
ARTICLE 3: To see if the town will vote to amend Chapter 240 – Zoning – of the Code of Falmouth by adding the following to Article XXXIV (34) Wind Energy Systems:
240-166.D (2) Any Wind Energy System owned by the Town of Falmouth and used for municipal purposes, in existence as of the date of this bylaw, shall be exempt from the provisions of this Article, pursuant to Section 240-30 .B. and may be allowed to operate as a matter of right in public use distric
