Select Board Fails "Due Diligence" Article 2 Puts Taxpayers At Risk

First, Town Meeting Member Dave Moriarty discusses the upcoming Special Town Meeting concerning Wind 1
Click here to watch the youtube video : Falmouth MA Wind Turbine Fiasco 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs8SwaR4KjE&feature=youtu.be

Second, Article 2 is an eminent domain article that asks to throw residential families living around the wind turbines out on the street. Basically its :” kick em to the curb ”

One member of the Select Board said the news media and local talk got it wrong . There is a link to the Falmouth Goverment CTV below where you can watch and hear the introduction to article 2 and the endorsement by the Select Board.

The Falmouth Select Board for years has been touting the figures between 12 and 15 million dollars to take down the turbines.

The Falmouth Select Board has now boxed themselves into a corner by endorsing Article 2 the eminent domain article. The board unanimously endorsed Article 2 with very little discussion only to say: “We’ve made a long term commitment to renewable energy.”

The Falmouth Select Board has again failed due diligence. They will tell you the turbines will cost 12 million to take them down but they won’t tell you how much the eminent domain article will cost you !

There are around 200 to 300 residential homes up to 3200 feet from the Falmouth turbines.

The Consensus Building Institute (CBI) conducted the Falmouth Wind Turbine Option Analysis Process (WTOP) at a cost to taxpayers of $388,000.00. The Falmouth Wind Turbine Option Analysis Process didn’t consider eminent domain because of the prohibitive costs of the litigation and takings.

The eminent domain property takings could cost Falmouth taxpayers 70 million dollars plus based on an average home price of $350,000.

The 70 million dollars takes into account homes not taken by eminent domain would petition for eminent domain damages due the taking’s perceived property stigma and subsequent property devaluation.

Town Meeting Members need to know how much the Article 2 eminent domain article will cost taxpayers.

An eminent domain contested case in Massachusetts can last 5 to 8 years. What are the legal costs ?

The residents are the original stakeholders and the turbines were illegally installed. The victims have been suffering a nuisance causing lack of sleep and health problems for over 5 years.

The town taking 10 to 40 homes would be cause for all the other residents to file litigation for diminished value loss of their property. Who would purchase real estate in a neighborhood where homes are being seized for wind turbine setbacks. In real estate it is location, location, location.

The courts will determine the measurable diminished value loss of all the other 200 to 300 homes around the turbines.

Town Meeting Members need to ask the Select Board why they endorsed Article 2 the eminent domain article and how much and how long will the process take if enacted by Town Meeting.

The eminent domain presentation can be viewed on the link below:
Board of Selectmen 10/5/15 part 2--- 1:30 minute mark presentation and endorsement 2:24 minutes
http://www.fctv.org/v3/vod/board-selectmen-10515-part-2
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This is the proposed article 2 written indistinguishably :

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.

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Last please view the presentation by Attorney Chris Senie

Falmouth ZBA Sept 17 with Chris Senie -This link :
Zoning Board of Appeals September 17, 2015 Senie & Associates, P.C. Representing Impacted Neighbors
https://windwisema.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/senie-to-zba-ceasedesist-2015-09-17.pdf