A public hearing will be held Monday, the 23^rd of October 2000 at 8 PM at the Preble Town Hall.

A month ago on Thursday September 7^th the Preble Town Board illegally removed Barb Frier and Carl Grillo from the ZBA because they didn't like the way they vote. It made headline news the next day in the Cortland Standard. The following Monday they reversed themselves when they discovered that the way they did it was illegal. Both Carl and Barb have worked diligently for the last five years in this non-paying ZBA position. Carl and Barb along with Cathy Kinne were the three who voted against the Song Mountain well.

In March of 1999 I complained to the Town Board of their interference, trying to influence the way both the ZBA and Planning members vote. At that time they all agreed that both boards should be autonomous and that no town board member should interfere. Now I guess they think it is ok if all of them interfere. You may agree or disagree with how Barb and Carl vote, that is not the issue. The issue is, do you support the independence of the two boards or would you rather have them under the control of the Town Board? If that is the case, then why bother having either board? Why not just have the Town Board and let them make all the decisions. It would save a lot of time and money. It wouldn't be America… you know… where all the people have rights, not just the town board.

This is just plain wrong and the town board is wrong in attempting it. There will be a public hearing Monday the 23^rd at 8 PM at the Town Hall. If you do not come and speak up then you will have only yourself to blame when you lose your rights. I'm sure that the Town Board will have all their cronies there and if there is more speaking up for their side then they will feel they have every right to do this. It comes down to your decision. Do you want all of the decisions about your life in Preble to be made by that group of 5 people? If so, then what will you say when the next issue like the Song well comes up? Do you want the Flying J in here without proper checking and oversight?  Do you care about these issues?

This is beyond just two people on the ZBA, it is about who controls your rights as an American citizen living in Preble.

Many of you know by now that I get very passionate when I see a select elite few think they have the right to take away the rights of others. We are all Americans and our rights are not to be tampered with. This is an issue of the Town Board using their power to stifle the expertise of Barb and Carl because of the way they vote! If they get away with it, then that will send a chilling message to the other members of both boards. If you let this happen, you will lose your rights like you lost your rights in the last local election. This same group took away your rights back then and they are about to do it again.

Be at the meeting... voice your opposition to this... OR give up your rights as an American to the Preble Town Board.

Frank Hogg

10/21/2000