Apparently I'm Not The Only One!!!

You might want to sit down before you read this one!!!

As some of you know I keep documentation and records of the Cape Vincent wind battle in many forms.  Especially if I think there are very important implications from that record that could be relevant in future matters.  And every so often I review those records when issues come up, or just to review and jog my memory. Who was doing what, when, and why?  Who is important in forming and directing policies, at local, county, and state levels.

So I was reviewing some records that could relate forward involving Mr. Hirschey’s pick for our new town deputy supervisor, Mr. Macsherry.  I came across a post I had kept from Mr. Wiley at the JLL blog.  This is only a quote from a portion of the post, and unfortunately I don't think there is a way to retrieve this or anything from the JLL archives now.  I can't find any archive on JLL.  Maybe somebody could correct me or help me on that, and I can’t find this post in any Internet search either.

Let me put the comments below in context. 

 This is after Mr. Macsherry had been appointed as CV PB chairman. And this comment isn’t that long ago. It had to be after 7/1/11 when Edsall stepped down as PB and Macsherry was appointed by this govt.

 This is Mr. Wiley quoting himself and Mr. Macsherry  in a discussion after a PB meeting.  Hester Chase is also in the discussion but she is not quoted at this particular point.  The  discussion is about conflicts of interest in CV and the impact  on siting wind turbines. 

It is obvious that Mr. Wiley is not very comfortable or happy with Mr. Macsherry's views on conflicts of interest and he posted this discussion on his blog.

Below in orange is Mr. Wiley's report that was on his JLL blog.  This portion is verbatim, and the post is much longer about Wiley’s concerns that Macsherry doesn’t seem to grasp the absolutely critical problem in the CV wind struggle…conflicts of interest.

And if you look at the record I have reported this as well that Mr. Macsherry has shown some past disregard for conflicts as he was running Dem for town board and campaigning with Rienbeck and crew.  AND he objected to John Byrne’s camera in a TB  meeting that was all about recording those conflicts in action!  We have a trend!  Maybe that is another reason Wiley is concerned. 

Wiley’s post:

"Mr. MacSherry constantly reminds us that he is a negotiator. Well, I have done a fair amount of negotiating myself, in my early years,  as a member of a union. When we started the process, we agreed to certain rules. And one of those rules was the codes of ethics that were to be adhered to by both parties.

Back to my Article X discussion. I pointed out to Mr. MacSherry that the Power NY legislation was very specific about conflicts of interest with the energy companies and that such people were disallowed from the facilities siting boards. It was up to the town supervisor to appoint two locals to the siting board and they were to in compliance with the state public officials law and be clean of any financial connection to the wind developers. MacSherry could use the Power NY language as his "opinion".

I asked, "Why shouldn't we apply the same ethical spirit to our local siting as that recommended in the Power NY legislation?" "Oh, that's different," replied MacSherry. "No it is not," I replied.

Any negotiator who struggles with the definition of conflicts of interest and will accept codes of ethics violations in the form of conflicts of interest amongst his fellow public officials and will allow those violators to participate in the process is not worth his salt. 

Mr. MacSherry claims he is big on everyone giving in a little during the negotiation process." 

WOW… I am stunned, that is real edgy stuff for JLL to be questioning and posting about a  Hirschey appointee in the powerful PB chairman position.  Geees I am about to faint!!!  To do this he must have had real serious concerns about Macsherry’s qualifications.  He even says that any negotiator who struggles with conflicts of interest…isn’t worth his salt.

And this post was accompanied by what was somewhat unflattering picture of Mr. Macsherry.

But the part that is a bit scary is Wiley saying Mr. Macsherry claims he thinks everyone should “give a little” during the negotiation process!!!!!!  And Hirschey has picked him as the  town deputy supervisor, the “big  negotiator” to defend our zoning law against BP or whomever and Art. X  This is also the same Macsherry who implied we should not take our zoning as literal…. YIKES!!!!!!!

Sounds to me like some very dangerous blending of thinking from someone who now has a tremendous amount of local power in his hands.

This is not a vendetta or attack.  It is factual record and a staunch Hirschey supporter raising questions about Mr. Macsherry very publicly inn the past.  At that time it would have been picked up and splashed all over the Internet and  seen by many wind observers, and Wiley knew that too.

Apparently he was concerned enough he didn't care.

Apparently I am not the only one who has had  concerns about our new deputy supervisor’s past.

So now you can now  all go over to JLL and scream at him for raising uncomfortable questions for the “team” for questioning an important Hirschey team member!

But more importantly,  the CV wind battle at this point had been going on for about 6  years.  Why does Wiley feel that after all that time and the OBVIOUS community crisis the conflicts have caused, that Mr. Macsherry still doesn't seem to grasp this?  AND not to mention at this time he had the powerful PB chair and the  Hirschey team who appointed him ran on ethical govt. and against the conflicts. 

And something else occurs to me in terms of power.

I might be wrong and correct me if I am, but I think Mr. Macsherry has been appointed to more positions in the wind battle by Hirschey or this board than anyone else.

Hirschey appointed him to replace Hirschey on the Rienbeck wind law committee.

As I remember he was on a 2010 Hirschey wind law attempt committee

As PB member.

As PB chair.

On either the new zoning committee and comp plan committee or both.

On the Art X advisory committee. 

And now as the new town deputy super.

 

If nothing else maybe we need a little diversity and fresh thinking.