This letter was also used by candidates opposing Aubertine in various election challenges against him. One candidate asked me personally for a copy. That is also an interesting story, but not for now.
As you can see Aubertine indicates CV town officials with wind leases should basically disregard those conflicts and rule on wind issues anyhow.
In my opinion this would be a direct and blatant violation of the CV ethics codes and NY GML Article 18 sec. 809. You can Google that law for yourself. Keeping in mind the former wind conflicted CV officials did not officially disclose their wind conflicts until approximately THREE YEARS AFTER they signed leases, when they should have disclose right away.
But one thing that struck me immediately when I first saw Aubertine's letter in 2006, was why would Aubertine, himself a public official, and also holding wind leases in CV, express such an opinion, in writing, and posted to the public record that seemed to be at such blatant odds with several ethics codes, and that could come back to bight him politically and legally, not to mention his town officer friends.
Keeping clearly in mind that is basically what happened as Aubertine was ousted in an election largely based on his wind ethics issues, and the town govt he told to disregard their wind conflicts was also removed based primarily over wind ethics lapses in the mind of the CV voters.
If you have watched the CV wind battle we have all considered this letter at face value and the primary implications
But why would he do that and think he could get away with it???? This seems like a rather bold and crazy move of disregarding the wind conflicts of interest, especially when Aubertine has his own wind leases in CV.
Are you kidding????
But based on Aubertine's later state career enhancements at the hands of NY Gov. Cuomo and NY Comptroller Tom Dinapoli after Aubertine was canned from his NYS senate seat, there are some more basic questions that now arise about this letter in my opinion.
The very first thing that struck me in 2006 about Aubertine's letter ...was somebody with a lot more political clout and power, and influence in the NYS wind issue must have Aubertine's back for him to make such a blatant statement that appears to defy ethics codes and get away with it. And WHO could that be????
Now go back and read my last post again!
AND consider that a Cuomo AG investigation into the behavior of CV wind conflicted officials just
up and vanished!!!
And then when Aubertine was called on the carpet by voters and lost his senate job he slid seamlessly into cozy state jobs provided by Cuomo and Dinapoli.
Seems like the entry of big wind into CV has always had some real big players behind it to try to make it spin!!!
Very interesting Mr. Pundt.
ReplyDeleteBut frankly, we have all that information and you do not seem to be addressing
an existing problem right under your nose that you could have an impact on
that would help the issue and the community.
And, it fits right into your theme.
At a public hearing May 1 held to fix fees for Water District 2 and 3, Paul Aubertine
initiated a discussion opposing a resolution to fix a fee schedule. He then took
it one step further by voting against the fee schedule that set rates for his
mother and fathers monthly bill. Those rate only impacted three families in legal agreement
with the town. So, it can't really be said that he voted on an issue that was for the general
welfare of all citizens. It was 33% directly favorable to his family.
You can see that video on Steve Weed productions who cover CV meetings.
As you recommended to times readers, I read what you have to say. Yes, your history does
shed light on the character but as others have already pointed out you seem to have missed
what might be very timely and present conflict of interest with Paul Aubertine's discussion
and vote.
Sorry Art...you have been one upped by Perry White who has published the explainations for Darrel's behaviors.
ReplyDelete5:16
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your comments, but why is it me that has to address this. What about YOU.
For at least 8 years I have very publicly pounded on the wind issue while many people stood by anonymously. I am about tired of that.
If people like you have a passion on this issue then you need to stand up and put your name on it and go after it.
7:20
ReplyDeleteReally...White's editorial was more a "dusting off" of Darrel than it was an explanation.
One upped me...really????
I was writing or talking about Darrel and his issues starting 8 years ago when the WDT and White would barely touch it.
I also sat in a room of AG lawyers and investigators and had a discussion of Mr. Aubertine's possible ethical lapses on wind energy.
Funny, I didn't recall seeing Perry White there!
At times the WDT does some good reporting...but on Darrel and the CV wind issue I think they have been a day late and dollar short investigatively about Aubertine, Cuomo and what is going on.
Ask yourself....why is it a NYC paper uncovers this campaign donation issue and not the WDT when Aubertine lives right in the WDT's backyard?????