Special Meeting of the Preble Town Board to hear information on the Knapp rezone.
(And then they will ignore the people and vote for it as planned)

6/25/2001, 8PM Fire Hall (draft 7/3/1) Frank Hogg

The meeting was held in the fire hall. It was a warm summer night and the big garage doors were left open to keep it as cool as possible. This caused a problem for John Steger, as a boisterous group apparently from the Preble Hotel was loud and unruly in the back of the room and out in the driveway by the fire trucks. John was not able to control this group with his gavel, at least not the way he used it. Perhaps if he had actually hit the table with it rather than just brushing against it they might have heard him. As it was he usually just smiled and let them hoot and holler until it died down and then he would ask them to be quiet. Of course we've always known that John was for this rezone so I guess it suited him to let them continue. Yeah, he'll make a good legislator, being so fair minded and all. . .

There were two factions, naturally, one for and one against the rezone. When you count the orderly people who were seated and in the room it was one sided towards not doing it. If you counted sound levels and rudeness from the people outside then you could say it went the other way. The people who spoke for the rezone all sang the same song, as if well rehearsed. It went like this... "The Knapp's have lived here a long time, we ought to let them do what they want." Or a similar refrain. I guess they were all coached to say that so I suppose Anne Brennan will just count them all as one vote just like she did with the Song Lake people at the ZBA public hearing. No other meaningful comments were made in favor of doing the rezone, at least no coherent ones that I heard.

The opposition against it was quiet but strong which makes sense when you consider that what the town board is trying to do is... after all... Illegal. Not that that small detail ever stopped them before. Several speakers made intelligent presentations outlining the problems facing the board for trying to do this.

The lawyer started it off with the comments he has presented here on the web site. He was hooted at many times by the town board supporters but was able to get his information out.

Dick Martin, past Preble planning board member and now member of the Cortland planning board pointed out that this was 'spot zoning' and that it is illegal. He quoted the law that clearly shows that this is indeed 'spot zoning'. The town board has been made aware of this but just plows on, oblivious to the law.

Joe Heath presented a lengthy letter from an appraiser that clearly shows why the rezone is not needed to get the maximum amount of money for the Knapp's. That letter is here on the site.

Frank Hogg (me) presented the board with a document (here on the site) that clearly shows the folly of their actions. Later in the second round I also pointed out that it is, was and always has been our group that has worked hard to uphold the laws of Preble in order to maintain the rural quality and protect the farms. That this action by the town board will destroy the protection of the buffer zone for the Knapp's, the law that this very board enacted just a few years ago. Their action in this rezone is against the very laws they themselves wrote. That this action is illegal. Etc etc. I feel it fell on deaf ears.

Speaking in favor of the rezone were councilpersons Betty Ann Pitman's sister and husband and councilpersons Kate Edinger's husband. We know that John Steger is for it and Anne Brennan appears to be in favor of it. Why? I haven't a clue. It is obvious it will be reversed in court so it makes no logical sense to me why they would waste taxpayer's money and time just to do a favor for Paul Knapp. Perhaps it is a favor for councilperson Peter Knapp or payback for some past debt. Who knows? I certainly don't. Logic and common sense is not a useful tool when trying to figure out the actions of the Preble Town Board. However greed and avarice might make a better choice.

The Town Board is 'supposed' to represent the whole town, not act for just one individual. Is it fair for the town board to do a 'favor' for Paul Knapp that costs every taxpayer in Preble? For three years now I have watched this town board take action after action that divides the town, pits one side against the other with the only benefactor a small group of wealthy landowners. They seem to work to steal from the poor to give to the rich. But. . . They have always done it this way and until recently they got away with it because no one was looking that could expose it. You would think that smart people would realize they were being closely watched and would act accordingly. A quote from Plato comes to mind. . .

It is time for good people to step up to the plate and offer themselves to the service of our community. In order to bring this town together and to make everyone feel that they are being treated fairly we have to bring in new leaders who have the capability to do that. Our current leaders are totally lacking and indeed are the cause of every problem this town faces. Without change at the top there will be no change and the problems we have been having will continue until the town is destroyed. Five people on the town board should not be allowed to abuse the power entrusted to them in this way. In August we will have a chance to change things for the better for everyone in Preble. Make sure you attend the caucus because if you fail to do so we will all lose.

Frank Hogg