Colden Town Board hears from citizens regarding hydrofracking, Rails to Trails

During the Colden Town Board’s Dec. 8 meeting, a citizen presentation led by Roz Fishbaugh and Ron Fraser was held, voicing the group’s opposition to hydrofracking. Individuals in attendance said they felt that it was important to present their side of the hydrofracking debate and voice their concerns about the potential hazards that fracking might have if this practice is ever introduced to Colden.

Also discussed by citizen groups during the meeting were both the pros and cons of the Rails to Trails project. Both sides were focused on the topic of the trail’s safety. Those in favor of the project said that the trail needs to be brought under control and that turning the 6.5-mile stretch of the corridor within Colden into a recreation trail will make it much safer.

Presenters pointed out that the individual referred to as the “Bike Path Rapist” took more of his victims off of abandoned railroads than from established bike trails. They also told the board that crime rates have historically neither increased nor decreased with the presence of recreational trails.

The group that spoke against Rails to Trails structured its argument around the issue of safety, pointing out that the trail runs very close to many residences in Colden and that many homeowners do not want people that close to their properties. It was stated that trespassing on properties along the corridor was minimal when it was a railroad and that problems started arising only once the trail was cleared. Now that many parts of the trail are impassable, trespassing has decreased.

In other matters:

- The Colden Fire Department made a presentation in honor of retiring Town Clerk Alice Wangelin and outgoing Councilwoman Stephanie Czerniak.

- The meeting was also opened in memory of Matthew Goss.

- The New York state audit of the water department revealed $43,000 worth of water that was unaccounted for.

- The environmental review that was being done at the Colden Lakes Campgrounds at 9504 Heath Road for the addition of more camp sites was completed and approved.

- Standard work days were established for Colden elected officials. Supervisor- six hours; town clerk - hours; councilman - six hours and highway superintendent - seven hours.

The next town board meeting will be held Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Colden Town Hall.