{"id":84278,"date":"2017-09-03T14:30:10","date_gmt":"2017-09-03T18:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=84278"},"modified":"2017-09-02T00:23:38","modified_gmt":"2017-09-02T04:23:38","slug":"lebanon-board-to-hold-hearing-forum-at-sept-11-town-board-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madisoncountycourier.com\/?p=84278","title":{"rendered":"Lebanon board to hold hearing, forum at Sept. 11 town board meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Lebanon town officials will hold a public hearing on\u00a0Monday, Sept. 11, 2017<\/span>\u00a0on a proposed law to create a Community Choice Aggregation for local residents \u00a0to reduce electric costs through a group purchase agreement utilizing the Municipal Electric Government Association and will also seek input on significant proposed changes in the town\u2019s Land Management Local Law that have been recommended by a a local group of town officials who spent approximatley a year reviewing local town laws and codes.<\/p>\n

The town board meeting begins at\u00a07:30 pm<\/span>\u00a0and will be at the Town Office, 1210 Bradley Brook Road in the hamlet. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.<\/p>\n

The public hearing on the proposed CCA Law is scheduled for\u00a08 pm<\/span>. The public forum on the proposed changes in the Land Management Local Law will follow at approximately\u00a08:15 pm<\/span>. All residents will be sent a mailing by the town with a synopsis of the major proposed changes which are attached. Residents can respond at town\u00a0 meetings, by email or by regular mail.\u00a0 Town Supervisor Jim Goldstein has advised local residents that some of the proposed changes are significant enough that the town board wants as much input as possible from local residents and property owners.<\/p>\n

Town officials and MEGA have hosted a worskshop for residents and held several town meeting discussions \u00a0on the potential electric bill savings a CCA could provide to town residents by pooling and bidding for the best price, opt out options for residents who do not want to particpate and the reality that the town will not move forward with the CCA unless town residents in the NYSEG service area will save on their electric bills. MEGA has 40,000 residents signed up through various municipalities in the region and will be solicting bids for the best electric rates for the group.<\/p>\n

Town board members have indicated a desire to be deliberative in the proposed Land Management Local Law changes since some of the proposed changes involve allowing more residences per parcel in the township, allowing farms to rent properties to tenants who are not farm workers, changing requirements for mobile home parks and eliminating the 12 year used mobile home rule. Town board members have had discussions with members of the public the last few board meetings but only a half dozen people so far have participated. Goldstein said town officials want a larger amount of feedback as the proposed law changes have been identified in initial discussions as both being more favorable to low income residents, landlords and renters but having negative impacts on property values, and the proposed changes would have impact on the direction of the town for the next decade to come.<\/p>\n

opies of the synopsis and the proposed LMLL changes as well as the existing law are available at\u00a0townoflebanon.org<\/a>, the town website and can also be obtained through the Town Supervisor or Town Clerk.<\/p>\n

Other actions planned at the Sept. 11 meeting include:<\/p>\n